Awkward
Shego walked around the lair trying to familiarize herself with her new temporary place of employment. The island was isolated and it was a reality that besides the postal boat, she and Dr. Drakken would be the only ones on it for a majority of the time. The place was also massive, with a series of long halls with secret doors and chambers. Typical villain overcompensation; she added to her list for figuring out her new boss.
Shego found herself in the lab as she heard a noise that turned out to be the graphite laser. She watched as Drakken fiddled with it, muttering away to himself. Perhaps he'd forgotten he'd asked her to start today.
"Dr. Drakken?" asked Shego. Drakken dropped the tool he was working with and hit his head as he stood up. Shego covered her mouth to hide the grin.
"What?! Oh, Shego." He looked shocked to see her there, and his apparent anger faded as he rubbed his head. "When did you get in? I said 7 am, it's..."
"6:58," said Shego. She'd been there longer but why bother?
"Oh, so it is," said Drakken. Shego noticed he looked a little uneasy compared to the other day, but he seemed to shake it off. "Have you had a chance to look over the final contract then?"
"Yes, signed and dated," said Shego. She indicated to his desk where she'd dropped it. "For the next six months, I'm all yours."
"Ah, yes," said Drakken. Shego watched him closely. He hadn't made an inappropriate comment. Point to him. "Well we should get you settled then. It shouldn't take long to get the laser polarizing the metal for my hovercraft. I will need a few things yet, though."
"Am I following you?" asked Shego as Drakken drifted out of the lab. He was still muttering to himself. "Guess so."
Shego followed behind him as he seemed to be ticking things off verbally, things he would or wouldn't need she supposed. She wasn't sure this salary-based pay was going to be better or worse than a single job, as he seemed to be saying a long list of things. She walked casually behind him, waiting for him to say something specific to her. She rolled her eyes as he prattled, but said nothing.
"Right, so here you are," said Drakken as he indicated to a door. They had walked to the other side of the lair. "I had it cleaned, so all you have to do is fill it."
"What?" asked Shego, as Drakken messed with the door handle of the room.
"I will have the handle replaced, sorry," said Drakken as he tinkered with it. Shego gestured for him to move and he did so. "I can get—"
"I got it," said Shego and with a small plasma blast the door came loose. "It needs a new knob now."
"Did you...? Well that's rather...fascinating," said Drakken. Shego saw him look at her hand. "Is that natural or induced by a power source?"
"Natural," said Shego with a shrug. Well as natural as it could be. He didn't look terrified like most—something she would have to work on later.
"I'm sure that's very useful," stated Drakken. She noticed his grin, which he quickly shook off and looked in the room. "Well I'll get this changed tonight then, but here you are. Mi casa es tu casa."
"Mi casa su casa," corrected Shego. She smirked, he raised his brow as she looked in the room. "Is this an apartment? In the lair?"
"Yes, it makes commuting far easier and in case of emergency...I find it gives more privacy as well. There is your own entrance and exit too," said Drakken. Shego noticed him shift a little like he was trying to remain on topic or avoid saying something. She frowned. "Is… Is this okay?"
"Depends. Are you a creep?" asked Shego. She gauged his response: shock, confusion, and then an eye roll.
"No," he said firmly. She shrugged and walked inside her new apartment. "Have you run into many?"
"Unfortunately," said Shego as she looked around. The room held a dresser, single bed, television, and lamp; standard.
"I assure you, I have far too many things to do than harass my assistant," said Drakken. Shego smirked and nodded. "Once you get settled, I'll be in the lab."
Drakken made his way back to the lab and let out an audible breath as he relaxed. Or, tried to. Why was he so nervous around her? He hadn't been the other day.
He went back to his laser and rolled his eyes. He knew why. Having a bumbling assistant wandering around was one thing, but she was not an idiot. She was a sought-after mercenary and he'd managed to secure her for six months as his assistant. The last thing he wanted to do was have her think he was a creep and book it, and he wasn't one. Evil megalomaniac, twisted, conceited, and petty at times. He wasn't delusional about being those things, but a creep he was not. He also didn't need that gossip in the villain community. He smirked as his laser began to glow the proper color.
"Finally, took long enough," said Drakken as he twisted the laser spectrum and placed a test metal under it. "Won't be long now and the hover car will be running flawlessly. I do need a couple of parts, but first the metal. How much fuel do I have from the first test? Uhg! None? How, but when? That idiot Piers or Paul or…doesn't matter, he's gone."
"Do you talk to yourself a lot?" came Shego's voice. Drakken spun around. She sat in his chair watching him.
"I find myself to be great company," said Drakken with a shrug. He waited for her to say something, but she only sat back in the chair. "Unpacked already?"
"I travel light," said Shego. "Anything I can assist you with?"
"I'll have to move the hover car closer after I've stabilized the laser, so if you could get the pallet, that would start the process," said Drakken. He indicated to where the pallet sat. "Do you know how to use one?"
"Why wouldn't I?" asked Shego. Drakken saw her brows furrow.
"Well, I ask, because my former henchman and assistants did that," said Drakken, indicating to a large dent in the wall. He watched her un-stiffen. "It's automatic, but it has a kick to it."
"I can handle it," said Shego as she got up and walked over to the area he indicated.
"All right, so let's test this... Oh...okay, that's not good," said Drakken as the piece of metal seemed to vibrate. With a loud shuffling sound, the round test metal flew and connected with his belt. "Oh come on... Nope... Ow. Are you kidding me? This is not what it's supposed to do."
"Where do you... What's happening?" asked Shego as she halted with the hover car on its temporary lift.
"I seemed to have reversed the polarization on the laser," said Drakken. He attempted yet again to remove the large circular plate.
"Have you tried clipping your belt off?" asked Shego, tilting her head as she walked over to him.
"Can't reach it at this angle. Shego can you turn that laser head and switch the knob to yellow? I'll just have to neutralize it," said Drakken. He saw Shego's eyes go wide. "What?"
"You're going to have me fire a laser at your crotch? Is this some sort kink or something?" asked Shego. Drakken froze in horror. "I mean, it's not the first time I've come across it, but most slide this in at the end of my contract terms...except that one time."
"No, this is not—what?" asked Drakken. He had a serious concern about other members of the villain community at that moment. "I just want this thing off of me so I can finish working."
"Just checking. At least you don't have to go to the bathroom," said Shego as she fiddled with the laser.
"...Why?" asked Drakken. The mere mention of not having to go made him remember the four coffees he'd had that morning.
"Hmm, this isn't going to work," said Shego, flipping the switch up and down. "The toggle is broken."
"Oh, just great," scoffed Drakken. He went to kick a nearby stool but found his leg could only move so far with the plate.
"Calm down," said Shego. "I'll get your belt. You know I usually charge extra for this."
"Excuse me?" asked Drakken. He felt a wave of discomfort hit him.
"I'm kidding." He rolled his eyes as her hands reached around him from behind. "So does it latch or clip?"
"Both," said Drakken. He grabbed the plate. "If you can clip the top and bottom, I can pull this and it will let go."
"Uhm hmm," said Shego. She was attempting not to touch him, but if anyone walked in it would look like she was hugging him from behind. "Hey Dr. Drakken? Fact. I have gold in my claws."
"Why is that... Your claws are titanium with infused gold? So they're magnetic and you're stuck then," asked Drakken taking a deep breath. "May I ask why?"
"I liked the sheen and they were out of diamonds," said Shego with a sigh. "So, how fond of this belt are you?"
"Not too much, but I'd rather we'd fired the laser than you using your nifty powers near my lower half," said Drakken. He knew that was what she was going to do because her shoulders slumped. "Can your gloves come off?"
"Can you pull the release switch for them? It's under the flap of the sleeve," said Shego. Drakken looked down and began fiddling with her wrist armor. "Hey Dr. Drakken?"
"Yes?" asked Drakken, as he felt the clip on her wrist.
"This is awkward," said Shego.
"I agree," said Drakken. He felt shaking. "Shego? Are you...are you laughing?"
"No," but she was.
"I'm glad you find this funny," Drakken grumbled, but he smirked a little.
"Is this going to be a normal day around here?" asked Shego.
"I hope not."
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