I. The Missing Piece
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Shego slowly opened her eyes and blinked her heavy eyelids. She sat up in her bed, yawning and wiping her eyes. She began to remove the bonnet from her head and began to undo the pins in her long, black hair. It was time to start another day of evil shenanigans once again. She slowly got up, threw her comforter to the side, put on her robe, and walked into her closet, adorned with green wallpaper and marble tiles. She selected one of her many suits, all uniform. She gathered her boots, gloves, and belt, then threw them on her bed.
She lumbered over to her vanity and sat down, turning on the globe lights that lined the mirror. Her tired, bright green eyes met their reflection, and she gave a long gaze into them. She entertained some momentary introspection, and with fuzzy thoughts she came upon a rather unsettling epiphany she always quickly denied and dismissed.
I can't believe I'm even thinking this... but I wish-. She sighed a little sigh of melancholy. I wish I could be loved unconditionally, without any drama, this or that, hardships and all other such hang ups. But my life isn't made for simple love, I'm not built for that.
She stared absent-mindedly at her green walls, the sounds of mechanical workings echoing down the hallway of her studio dwelling within the lair Dr. Drakken leased. The main console had been turned on just then, at precisely 5:30 am like clockwork. She looked down at her hands, adorned with wicked stiletto acrylics, black and green ombre flames and a slight sparkle. They would not last long, like always, even with her nano-carbon finger-tipped gloves. They would be broken in the next few days, from bumping into one of the countless sharp corners and hard surfaces in the lair... but more likely the next fight she would have to get into with Kimmy.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled with a forced resolve to continue her work for the blue mad scientist she had grown to be more agreeable with. He paid well, after all. Dr. D had an endless stream of work for her, the source of which was deluded megalomania, schemes, and inventions that were never lacking an ounce of panache. Still, even with his company, she seldom experienced any sort of camaraderie, much less the warmth of a great relationship.
She thought about her family, which brought her some cold cynical sentiments. They melded together as a unit, a force, that turned from her and despised her with an unwavering condemnation. So there she was, left only the memories of childlike innocence and joy, unfortunately tainted and seemingly ruined by years of anger and division. She searched through memories and other parts of her life, sifting thoughtfully in the hopes of finding something to evoke this precious sentiment...
Nope, still nothin'... Wellll- eh, nope.
Just then rubber squeaks and footsteps where heard in quick succession, then a yell, a sharp thud, and lastly, a small dog's yipping and whining.
"ARRRUUGH! NYEH! FOR SHITS'S SAKE COMMODORE PUDDLES!"
Drakken's angry shouts and curses reached the solitude of her room, his tone of annoyance a familiar sound to her. Shego rolled her eyes, pulled on her second boot, looked in the mirror to put on mascara, and moseyed with a groggy gait into the main chamber of the lair. The echoes were nauseating to her half-awake senses. It was 6 o'clock in the freak 'in morning, and already he was up to his antics. Though not surprised, she was still peeved.
"Drrrrakken! What the hell is going on now?"
She found him on the floor, knocked down, groaning as he rubbed his head and knees. He shook his leg at the dog, who was frantically jumping and circling him, licking his face and his arms. Puddles put his front paws on his thigh and looked at him with a great deal of concern, unaware he was the one who had caused the accident. Running about on his tiny paws, weaving around Drakken's legs and the various bits of machinery about the room, this morning Puddles was being a pill.
"This little shmuck decided my feet were the perfect place for him to goof around, causing me to take a spill right next to my workstation, right beside my new Colossal EMP Emitter!"
"Mmhmm... you need to take him out more often. He's bored! Have you walked him yet today?"
"Ugh! I have-"
Shego raised an eyebrow. "Come on Drakken... You literally slipped in his piss puddle. It wasn't just his little self that caused you to fall on your ass," she snickered.
He frowned, narrowing his eyes as he turned sideways to get up. "-not."
Shego nodded. Drakken shrugged and gave an apologetic look to his small dog, clasping his pointy gloved hands. Commodore Puddles looked up to his face, pressing his tiny paws on him urgently, still waiting for some fun outside. "...Sorry my dear doggie, I will try not to snap at you ever again. You don't know any better. I'm working to be a patient master, little friend." Puddles happily licked his face and wagged his manicured little tail as Drakken stood up and re-tied his black hair. A smile warmed his strange features. "Ah, Shego, look! A man's best friend indeed. Always obeys, always forgives... though I may not have... um... trained him that well yet...". He turned around and looked backward, his tunic bearing a wet spot which could only be attributed to Puddles.
"Eh, put in the work and we'll see how it goes, Dr. D."
"Alright little man, let's go outside. The world awaits you!" He and the pink ball of curly fur jogged to the wet room to walk along the base level of the lair's outside. His fading laughter was alight with his usual bravado, but rang of joy and playfulness, devoid of mischief or malintent.
Shego shook her head. She felt that little melancholy void in her heart... and a smidge of... envy?