Authors Note:
Okay, let's get this out of the way. Yes: this is inspired by TPower12's (KimUniverse777, TPower12 2.0, TPowerR, step up) or whatever alias of this person's story. Given that they had made acceptable concepts of some stories, their repeated deletions and consistent blunders of making stories coherent leaves me disappointed, and I know that it's making those who do like the story disappointed (using the term lightly).
First things first, it's not gonna have a Ron x Bonnie pairing, because it's been done in the other story and presented itself as a forced plot line. For example, Bonnie is introduced in the first chapter and IMMEDIATELY has sex with Ron, then there's her slapping him for defending himself and kicking him out of HIS bedroom after he fought. There's a lot of things that were crammed into the romance that made it look bad, if not toxic.
Second, there's no threesomes (subject to change). The Ron x Bonnie x Monique idea he had when he was writing his story, where Ron CONSCIOUSLY cheats on Bonnie with Monique as Lotus… that's not happening. It was horrid, forced and God, the dialogue was just too much. I'd rather try to actually build a romance with someone in this fic, rather than have it predetermined.
Third, Rufus is sticking with Ron other than Kim. There's no sense in having our lovable naked mole rat away from Ron like that. Rufus would be someone who'd understand what Ron was thinking, but then again, maybe the previous author did not know how to include him.
Finally, the villains will serve a better purpose than random crimes and the plot will be something that flows with the story. It'll be original and not take too much from movies or be a carbon copy. The last one had a Sam Raimi Spider-Man copy in it, so… avoiding that. There's also the Jackal ring thing, which felt… corny. I mean, I like wrestling, but it didn't have that authenticity to it. The trash talk or that attitude that came with it.
So let's see where a story like this leads to.
One more thing: I don't own Kim Possible, it belongs to its respective company.
Things were supposed to be normal, just as they were. It should be "another day at the office", if anyone wanted to use such a quote, but it wasn't.
At least not to Kim.
She didn't know how it happened, but the redhead was smart enough to pinpoint when it did. It happened after a certain someone went to Japan for a while. At first, she chalked it up to the school there treating him better than he was treated here. That it was something of a vacation for him to get away from the craziness and hounding. It seemed like a logical conclusion.
But there was more to it, she only scratched the surface.
There were days where Ron was being unusual, but she couldn't discern if it was a good or a bad thing. Yet her mind held much skepticism. He hasn't been spending time with her as he would in the usual sense. Every time he would blow her off, the same line was always fed to her: 'there's something I need to take care of'.
The redhead thought about what it could have been. His parents? They were not home as they should have been. Homework? They go to the same classes; they could go through it together. All of this secrecy could be pinpointed when he left for that exchange program.
When Ron got back, the differences in him were clear. Without a doubt, he still had that playful nature, but lately, he was more focused on something. Kim could've attributed this to distractions like normal, but there was a feeling in the pit of her stomach that suggested much more.
That feeling disturbed her, day by day it worryingly increased. Kim wanted to know, she demanded to know why he was like this.
"Everything's been different about him, Monique. He's just not the same Ron." Kim said.
"Is it bad?" Monique asked her. "Baby boy is just working on himself, new style, getting into shape. I don't see anything wrong with it." Kim inwardly scowled at the comment. She knows that Monique is concerned for the both of them, and that she's trying to mediate things… but it almost felt as if she took his side for a moment.
"Monique, he's hiding something." Kim looked back regular students talking, then looked to her friend. "We've been friends for a long time, if there was something that was bothering him, he knows he can come to me." She crossed her arms.
"Whatever's he's hiding, it can't be that bad. But think about it like this… he's not lying to you."
"Lying, keeping secrets, what's the difference?" Kim argued. Whatever was going on with him, she has to know. Even if the phrase "it's none of your business" is used. Their friendship is her business, and these secrets weren't healthy for anyone.
"Let's say he's keeping secrets; don't you think that it's something that he hasn't really made sense of yet? Like he's just trying to work something out?"
Kim huffed at the notion. "I don't know Monique; I just have a bad feeling about this." Kim stated. She leaned towards her locker and tilted her head upwards.
"Phew! Another class done!" A voice that came from neither of them made itself present. They looked to see that it was Ron. He looked to see the both of them silent, from a range, they happened to be chatty. Whatever it was, it had to be girl stuff or something. "Uh, is everything okay? You two are pretty quiet when you're usually… y'know… chatty."
Ron was capable of picking that up. He did not let the suspicion of the conversation be a whisper in the wind. While Kim had a stoic look on her face, Monique attempted to break the ice. Bless Ron's oblivious mind and his heart, but it could sometimes bite him in the ass.
"It's alright Ron, we're good… aren't we Kim?" Monique said. She tried to break the tension that was coming from Kim.
"Yeah, we are." Kim said. Monique caught how she was forcing herself to say her words. Ron didn't. "So, Ron, I'm about to head to Bueno Nacho soon. You wanna come with?" She asked.
"Uhh… I can't. I'm a little behind on work assignments and knowing Barkin, he'll just put on more assignments I won't even finish." Ron said.
Monique agreed with him on that notion, Barkin was a pretty difficult teacher to deal with. If she had to deal with Barkin in college, she'd drop out right then and there. Ron would share that sentiment if not more.
If only Kim understood that stuff.
"So now you're taking school assignments seriously? When was this happening?" Kim scolded Ron on the matter, attributing his behavior as a deviation from his normal self.
"When I saw that I might be falling behind. The sooner I get the work done, the better chance I have of graduating with you all." Ron countered.
Kim wasn't buying it. There was more to his new self, more than what he's letting on. The fact that she's being forced in the dark about this was irritating her to no end.
"First, you don't want to hang out at Bueno Nacho, then you're too focused on schoolwork, and now you're doing this whole transformation thing! Ron, you need to tell me right now… what are you hiding from me?" Kim apparently blew a fuse with his… well she wouldn't call it insubordination, rather it was just plain secrecy. Her hands were on her hips, her foot tapped the ground impatiently, expecting an answer.
"KP, there's nothing going on. I just want to work on some things… is that wrong?" He asked.
"It's not wrong… but this isn't you! There shouldn't be a point in you doing this at all! Ever since you got back from Japan, everything about you is different."
Everyone was taught that change is an essential part of life, from the seasons to puberty. It was something to not fear as it was natural, a part of life.
Yet here Kim was, hissing and condemning the sudden change or attempt to change. She dared to ostracize it, cast it out with an exorcism of scolding and repudiation. Condemning what she has yet to understand.
Expecting Ron to reflect on the change he's going through, his body language stood firm, staring her down and standing upright. Before Kim could conclude what was implied, the tension was temporarily benched when her Kimmunicator beeped.
"What's the sitch, Wade?"
"Hey Kim. Drakken and Shego are on the move. Looks like they're trying to steal a diamond." Wade gave Kim a quick overview of the diamond and CCTV of the location at hand. Of course, Drakken and Shego were caught on camera… along with a couple of their henchmen.
It began like clockwork, a repetitive cycle of "stopping the evildoers" as they say. Kim let out a huff, seeing that her confrontation with Ron would have to wait.
"Another world domination scheme? We're on it." Kim said. She shifted her attention towards Ron. "Drakken's on the move again, we need to move now." Kim said.
"Now?" Ron questioned.
"Now!" Kim answered as she took his arm and dragged him outside.
"Hey, I'm coming on this mission too! You don't have to drag my arm!" Ron complained. He closed his eyes and sighed to himself. Seems Drakken and Shego weren't the only people that ran like clockwork.
Kim tapped her knees, enjoying the flight she attended. Yet there was one unsettling thing that made such enjoyment questionable. Which, of course, was the silence in the flight.
Kim and Ron hadn't talked to each other yet. Ron was in another part of the flight, getting himself changed. She did the same of course, not wanting to encounter Shego and the rest of them in her everyday outfit. Ron had seemed to take his time, maybe he'd pick up the pace and come out.
From there, Kim heard his footsteps, turning her head to see Ron wearing a different version of his regular mission suit. This had more of a form fitting figure, compared to the last one and he had a belt for the pants… that's a plus.
"Huh. Feels a lot better than the last one." Ron said as he walked out and sat in front of Kim.
"What's up with the new outfit?" Kim raised her brow. Looking at the outfit, it seemed less baggy and loose. The outfit complemented his newly attained figure, while not as muscular as a bodybuilder, he did earn a modest amount of muscle, aiding in augmenting his lean figure.
"I asked Wade if he could get me something new. The last one felt a little odd to wear." Ron said.
Kim did admit that the new look was nice to have, and she would have her face flustering red. Yet, she tried to combat it by averting her gaze, refusing to look at him further to hide any signs of embarrassment.
Rufus had perched himself on Ron's shoulder, stretching his limbs and looking at Kim. Seems like she was not her normal self.
Ron not wishing to sit in silence for this arduously long flight decided to speak to her. "I get the distinct impression that you're mad at me."
Kim's ears perked up. "What? No. I'm not mad at you." She turned to face Ron, attempting to deny the accusations. Of course, she was mad, but she didn't want Ron to know that. But with the way things are going right now, there's a fat chance of that happening.
"Really? Back with Monique you seemed a little… snippy." Ron said. The blonde boy fumbled the bag on such notions, one was saying that she was 'snippy', instead of 'if you're mad, it's okay to tell me'. Hence forth, the reaction elicited from her tone.
"I wasn't snippy!" Kim exclaimed. Not masking her anger toward Ron. "You've been changing lately, and you haven't been honest with me! I don't know where this is coming from, but this isn't you!"
"So, what exactly is supposed to be me? Am I supposed to act how you want me to? Be the same old Ron you're used to?" Ron didn't notice it, but he was raising his voice at Kim. Something that took the both of them on shock.
"No! That's not what I mean!"
"Then what do you mean?!" Ron said. He took a breath after the last sentence. Knowing he was losing his cool. "I just want to make a change, be better. You of all people complained about wanting me to grow up, now that I'm doing it… you want me to stop?"
"Ron, no. I meant…" Kim was interrupted by the sound of the hatch opening, a buzzing sound and a red light turning green.
"Upperton museum is just below you. Get ready to jump!" The pilot announced.
"We'll talk about this later." Kim said as she placed on her parachute and jumped. Rufus went to Ron's pocket, and he zipped it, ensuring Rufus's safety upon the jump. Before he made the jump, Ron mumbled beneath his breath.
"Change is good, right? Change is good?" He asked himself. Slinging the parachute on, he jumped after Kim, activating his parachute and landing next to her as she's already on her Kimmunicator with Wade.
Approaching Kim from behind, he sided next to her. Before he could hear Wade and Kim's conversation further, she cut off the connection.
"Hey. What's the news?" Ron asked her. He leaned forward, looking at the turned off device. His eyes gazed upon Kim's as her attention was toward the building.
"Drakken and Shego are still inside the building. Wade was able to shut off the security cameras, it'll buy us time to get in. They should be in the central hall."
"Okay. Why don't we split up? Approach them from two sides, give them multiple distractions and get the diamond without too many problems." Ron suggested.
"Look, it's good that you have an idea and all, but maybe we should do it my way. Go in together, fight, and get out." Kim explained. The formula had always worked out for them, so what was the point of changing it?
"Wait a minute… can't we…" Ron asked. But Kim interrupted him.
"No time. Let's get moving." Kim rushes into the fray, leaving Ron behind.
Ron unzipped the pants pocket that Rufus was inside, and he crawled up to his shoulder. Rufus looked at him in confusion, wondering what's happening. "I don't know man… but I think I wanna go with my idea. What do you think?"
Rufus tapped his cheek and thought about it, and his response was a thumbs up. Ron went to smile at his friends response, at least someone had faith in him.
While Kim was charging in one direction, Ron decided to find another way in. The diversion will work, he knows it… Kim would probably be thankful for it later.
Drakken had examined the diamond in all its glory. His fingers twiddling as his desire to take it gnawed with every passing second. "Oh sweet, diamond. It is only a matter of time until my plan comes to its utmost fruition."
"Yeah, sure. That's great. Y'know, of all things that's happened, you announcing that your plan is coming together always spells disaster." Shego remarked. Of course, her snarky nature would seep into the moment, which Drakken had to tolerate.
"Ha! That may be what you think, but soon, you'll eat those words and see that the world will soon be rocked by what is to come!"
"I so doubt that's going to happen." With a front flip, she gracefully landed in front of Drakken and Shego and assumed a fighting stance.
"Kim Possible!" Drakken said in surprise. After such a reaction, he caught himself by clearing his throat. "Of course, Kim Possible is here. If you're coming to spoil my plans, then you have another thing…" Drakken was so close to finishing his sentence until someone crashed down on a henchman. The person landed on their feet, of course and they had their hand grabbing the poor guy's face, pressing it to the ground.
"Hi guys! Sorry to drop in, would've done something different, but this was what I had." Ron said. The henchman beneath him groaned in pain.
"Sorry. Hope health insurance covers it." He commented.
"Ron! I thought you were behind me! Wait, why did you have to do that in the first place?!" Kim would fold her arms if she didn't keep her focus on her green skinned adversary.
"We've done this before! I'm pretty sure that this isn't new!" Ron said. "Besides, he isn't hurt that bad. Hey man, are you okay?"
The henchman could only groan in agony, slipping to and from the realms of consciousness.
"Ah, who asked you?" Ron responded.
Shego chuckled at this. "You need a minute, Kimmie? Seems like you and your new boyfriend is having trouble." That smile on her face and her comment was successful in getting under Kim's skin.
"Ron is not my boyfriend!" Kim agitatedly said.
"Hold on a minute, who is that guy?" Drakken started. "I thought the buffoon would be here." Drakken barely caught the twitch Ron had in his eye.
"Dude, it's me! I'm Ron Stoppable! C'mon, you're a doctor or whatever, remembering someone's name doesn't take that many brain cells!" Ron insulted him for the forgetfulness.
"Well, buffoon, perhaps we should cut to the chase! SHEGO!" Drakken commanded.
"I'm going to enjoy this!" Shego declared as she went to battle Kim.
"Oh, forget this!" Ron went to punch a guy to his right. A clean left straight did justice for him as that guy staggered back.
Shego and Kim were focused on each other during the battle. The green skinned villainess tried to punch Kim twice. The first strike was easily parried, the second one made the redhead duck under and attempted a counter with a roundhouse kick to the liver. Shego was capable of catching the kick and push her away. But Kim used that momentum to flip away from her adversary.
Shego stayed her ground as Kim charged forward as she was on the offensive now. With a butterfly twist, she tried to kick Shego, to which she was just out of range for the kick to land. A snap jab and a straight, missing its mark, she lunged forward to deliver a knee to the body. Kim landed that one, but the sweetness of the attack was short lived as Shego caught the attack and took her down. The villainess tried to land a blow, but Kim held her wrists.
Ron did a side kick to the henchmen behind him. Ron felt that someone was coming at him from the right side, possibly to strike him with a baton to the head. Ron weaved and countered with a left uppercut, left hook combination. He then did a shoulder tackle to the staggered foe and turned his attention to the henchman to his left. Ron lifted his leg and did a front leg hook kick, which got the henchmen off his guard.
Before Ron could savor the strike, a henchman brought his baton and struck his face. Another henchman grabbed him, attempting a double leg takedown, but Ron sprawled and brought his knee to the would be wrestlers skull twice.
Ron saw another baton strike coming for him, so he trapped the hand of the henchman holding it, attacked him with his elbow, then tripped him to the ground. Disarmed with the weapon, the henchman was defeated with his head stomped on. Ron now fought with the baton, disarming and knocking out one guy after the other.
Kim and Shego continued their match, elbows, hooks, and uppercuts at a clinch range were the only things available since they want to get up close for this fight. Of course, their attention had shifted towards Ron and his more… aggressive style of fighting.
"Looks like your little sidekick got some bite to him. Maybe he should fight some real competition instead of those lackeys."
"Yeah, I actually doubt that."
"Worried I might hurt your boy toy? I mean I'll be gentle with him for the first time." Shego remarked. Of course, she was conversing about combat, but just to get Kim out of her groove with the double entendre, it's worth it.
"Uh, eww. Get real, Ron would so not go for you." Kim stated. She said it with quite the confidence in her voice.
Drakken could only stand and watch the fight… only to realize that the two heroes were distracted with their enemies to see the diamond unattended. So, he shrugged his shoulders and went to snag the piece of jewelry from its casing.
Ron placed a guy in a sleeper hold, then smashed his head on a table. From the corner of his eye, he sees Drakken go for the diamond.
"Rufus. Stop him." Ron said. As Rufus scurried to get to Dr. Drakken, Ron couldn't see the other baton attack that went for his cheek. Ron felt the baton being pressed onto his throat, cutting off his oxygen and revoking his ability to have a more resounding voice.
"KP, a little help?" Ron said as he struggled. Kim was attentive to her fight with Shego, and he already sent Rufus to get the diamond from Drakken.
His lungs were begging to inhale, flaring up and his neck wanted less weight pressed upon it. He looked at the thug straight in the eyes and bore witness to his natural fight/flight complex, his survival of the fittest mindset kicked in and desired to eliminate him.
Ron was not going to be choked out because of some random thug's fear.
'Forget this!' Ron thought as he performed an oblique leg kick, the scream of the thug echoed around the center. The fighting stopped between the two ladies and Drakken flinched upon hearing the scream.
The henchman's leg was bent unnaturally, his strength receded as Ron found his own and punched him square in the nose. The crimson nectar of blood splashing all over the henchman's nose and Ron's fist.
Ron coughed and caught his breath again. "Oh, no. Don't worry about me, I nearly got choked out, I'm fine." He said with a hint of snark.
"Well, that was an entertaining show, but it's time to go." Drakken tried to escape, but Rufus crawled onto him, and it caused the blue skinned man much discomfort.
"Ahh, get it off, get it off! Why won't this rodent…" Drakken could have finished it, if it wasn't for Rufus biting the one of the fingers that held the diamond and snatching it from his hand. Rufus scampered away from the enemy and went to Ron's side.
"You okay, bud?" Ron asked. Rufus nodded in agreement. Ron still held the baton that strangled him. He pointed it at Drakken, Shego, and the rest of the beaten henchmen… the ones who were still conscious at least. "This is the part where you run." He suggested.
Drakken, getting his bearings, decided to get onto the hovercraft with Shego in tow. "Mark my words Kim Possible and the buffoon, this is not the end. There will be more in store for you." As they got out of eyesight, Rufus handed the diamond to Ron who put it back in the case where it was found.
"We should probably leave, the police will take care of things." Ron did look at Kim and addressed that situation to her, but what he didn't catch was the scowl she sported on her face. They got away from the museum, the flashing lights of red and blue were seen at a distance. The cops and an ambulance were present. But even Ron and Kim looked at the view, a sense of uneasiness crept its way between them.
"Ron…" Kim started. "How could you do something like that?" The tone of voice showed both disbelief and disappointment, yet there was an underlying sliver of fear that was barely present.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked. "We stopped them from getting the diamond, right? Sure, they got away but…"
"I mean why did you break that one guy's leg and go on to break his nose? You didn't have to go that far!" Kim folded her arms and wait for an explanation, one that could justify his actions, but knowing the redhead, her stance on it would not be on his side.
"Wait… you didn't see him choking me out? While you were fighting and Rufus was getting the diamond, I got a guy strangling the literal life out of me! What was I supposed to do, let him do it?" Ron couldn't believe that he had to defend his actions. They risk their lives on a daily basis and the one thing she chastises him for was protecting himself?
"No! But there were other ways to stop him without going that far!" Kim argued.
"I tried yelling for you, but you were busy with your fight! Besides, he had it coming! Am I supposed to let some guy like that walk all over me?!" Ron argued back. To hell with this, Kim was snippy about all of this. Ron wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt… lotta good that was doing her.
"So, your option was to maim him and enjoy it?!"
"I didn't enjoy it! Was I cracking a joke when I broke his leg?! I mean, please, let me know the joke! I'd like a good laugh right now!" Ron said.
"That's not the point! What you're doing right now, this is something that you can't just do!"
"But you can?! You can kick butt and look good?! You can make someone bleed, and everyone looks at you like some angel?! You punch someone, people cheer. But when I do, you're on my ass and say that it's wrong?!" Ron argued back. Kim stayed silent on that question. Which only allowed Ron to state something else.
"I'm not doing this because of some evil intent, I just wanted to be better! For you! I wanted to do more, pull my own weight! It's like you just hate it when I do something, and I don't get your permission for it first!"
Kim stopped for a minute and decided something had to be done about Ron's behavior. She knew that it was risky, but this was a way to salvage their friendship. At least that what she believed.
"Ron. You're scaring me. After that mission, after Japan, I don't know what's happening to you, but you're not the same. Until you can get yourself together… you're suspended from the team." She concluded.
Kim saw the hurt in Ron's eyes. Their blood ran cold with the immediate decision and the atmosphere was more tense with each passing minute.
From that disbelief, birthed the immediate anger he felt. "Are you kidding me?! You're just gonna kick me out of the team because I actually fought back for a change?!"
"Ron, I can't accept what this is! You're not yourself! Keeping secrets, fighting and breaking bones! I don't even know who you are right now!" Kim had put her foot down on this, her eyes watered, showing her inner conflict in the matter.
"You don't want me to be my own person. It's always what you want." Ron turned and walked away from her.
"Ron, wait! If you can stop all of this, just be honest with me, then I swear to you that I will lift the suspension! I promise you, I promise! This just isn't the way!" Kim wanted to reach out to him, even as she pushed him away.
"It isn't the way, because it's not your way." Ron and Rufus left Kim… and he didn't bother to look back. Ron didn't want her to see the pain in his eyes, and if he was honest, he felt ill to his stomach looking at her right now.
Kim prayed that this would blow over soon, that he'll come around. Ron always comes around, that's just the kind of guy he is.
Ron opened and slammed the door to his house and tossed his backpack to the couch. He rubbed his eyes, reddened and stained with tears over what happened in the mission. "Mom, Dad. Are you home… I need someone to talk to. He walked to the kitchen and saw that a letter was placed on the fridge.
But of course, it was a letter saying that they were out of town and that it was his way of telling him. He sighed at the revelation and crumpled the paper in his hand, tossing it into the trash.
"Hm, you think parents would actually take the time to be there for their kids." He snarled. He snatched the thrown backpack from the couch and went to his room.
Flopping down on his bed, face buried beneath his pillow, his voice was muffled, but clear for Rufus to make it out.
"How did this happen, buddy? We want to do something for ourselves that involves us getting better, and it just blows up like that? Why does everything gotta be her way?" Rufus went to pet Ron's forehead. Ron turned to see Rufus and holding back tears. He smiled at the naked mole rat for the gesture.
"Thanks Rufus." You always know what to do. Ron sighed and allowed himself to relax. Knowing that stressing over Kim is just going to make things worse.
Question is what could he do now? Going to the Possibles is out of the question. He was barred from missions and now he was at a loss for the next move. Kim had always decided what to do on that. With her gone, it's like going towards a certain direction without a compass. He didn't have a clue.
Looking at his backpack, he did remember the loads of homework he had to complete. Maybe cracking open a book, getting a pen and paper out and completing the assignments would be a way to numb the pain for tonight.
He didn't know a long-term solution, but this was practically a start.