Days

Shego walked by Drakken's lab on her way to their shared kitchen. It was after hours for her, which meant free time. She could go out and do something and familiarize herself better with the island or the surrounding ones, but she just wasn't in the mood. She was becoming more comfortable in this longer contract. She could go out, and there was no looking for her next job. Still, she wasn't about to become too comfortable. She glanced in the room expecting to see the lights off and Drakken had gone, but instead, he was tinkering away at his table, the only light from the lamp that was on. She shrugged and continued on her way. His mind was still lost on his current project.

Three days. It had been three days now. When Shego returned from the kitchen she leaned in the doorway of the lab and sipped her soda in thought. He had been working on this thing for a solid three days. She had come into the lab this morning and had helped tinker around with a few things, but he had nothing really for her to do. She'd gotten some scrap metal the other day and basic things. He'd asked her to get the mail, but that was it. She didn't care too much. She was getting paid either way, right? She took a drink again, wondering if he ever slept. He obviously did, but he was in the lab at night, and there before she arrived in the morning. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was eight in the evening. She saw him crumple up something and toss it. Piles of papers were littered around a trashcan.

Another failed mission, another new plan. Shego had watched as for days Drakken tinkered away at yet another toy of his. She wondered if he even knew she was there, as he hadn't asked for anything. In fact, she'd actually had lunch and offered him something and he'd only muttered to himself as she'd left him a sandwich. She assumed he wasn't exactly used to someone being there. It was sad really. She rolled her eyes and looked at her watch.

"Dr. Drakken, I'm going to head out," said Shego. She hesitated as he nodded. What was he stuck on? "Hello?"

"Uh, what? Yes, 'night," said Drakken, but he made a frantic motion. He looked as if he wanted to ask her something, but shrugged and went back to his project.

Shego left, but found herself back in the lab an hour later with food and sitting in her chair. She was annoyed now. What on earth was he working on that she had to sit around all the time? She wondered if he could make an amendment to the contract so that she could do other missions. She was getting restless. She put her food down and walked over to his desk and looked over his shoulder. She saw an elaborate completed plan and a bunch of notes.

Her eye twitched and she bit her lip. She turned on her heel and began walking away. She was going to keep it to herself. She left. She walked back in. She left. Walked back in and grabbed her food. Left. Stormed back in and up to his desk. She was getting paid, what did it matter? She was a foot away and was about to leave again before he crumpled up another paper, and she finally snapped.

"Have you been wasting all this time, choosing a color?" asked Shego. Her voice came off sharper than she had honestly meant. "A color?!"

"Color is important, it sets a precedent!" he snapped back, confused momentarily at her being right behind him. "I'll have you know, I've only been thinking about that today. I finished the design last night!"

"You're telling me...if I go through that trash bin, I won't find colors written down all over?" said Shego, her finger pointing at the trash bin.

"It's a process Shego, not everything is instant," said Drakken, though she saw his eyes darting to the bin.

"I'm not sure, but...I think it's going to be, wait for it...blue," said Shego indicating to his other projects, some unfinished.

"...Maybe I don't want blue this time," he said defiantly. He shook his head. "Does it matter how long it takes? You're getting paid."

"Well...yes, but why would you want to waste time instead of taking over the world," snapped Shego. She crossed her arms and sat down. "Apparently, you need to be babysat."

"I am not a child, and I don't need a nanny," snapped Drakken. "I am capable of picking out colors on my own and managing my time."

"I'm sorry, how long have you been trying for world domination?" asked Shego. She may have pushed too far going by his angry expression, but he sighed and spun around in his seat. It was silent as she sat there.

"I'm making it white," he said casually as he got up and began to walk out of the lab.

"White gets dirty too fast," said Shego. His fists clenched and he spun around as if to yell. "Try red."

"Too overdone," sighed Drakken. He sat down. He glared. "Blue."

"Blue it is," sighed Shego as she picked up a magazine.

Messy

"Now what are you doing?" asked Shego as she looked up from the new comfy chair she'd purchased.

"What does it look like I'm doing," asked Drakken as he poured a pile of parts all over his work table.

"Making a mess," said Shego. She rolled her eyes and looked back at her magazine.

"If you must know Shego, I had an idea..." said Drakken. He saw Shego take a deep breath and shake her head. "You'll see."

"Yup," said Shego as she aggressively flipped the page.

Drakken began putting pieces of discarded parts together. Every once in a while when he was struggling with putting together a Henchco product or couldn't find the right source for his new plans, he liked playing with puzzles as a break. Seeing what could fit together, and making something new... It was therapeutic; some sort of control when things weren't working right. He glanced over at Shego, wondering how many other villains' work she compared his too. He shook his head and focused on putting something together. Time seemed to drift away as he tinkered absently, his small welder joining in as he played.

"What's that?" asked Shego. Drakken nearly jumped at how close her voice was. He cleared his throat.

"I am making a portable laser pistol," said Drakken proudly.

"Like, from a science fiction movie?" asked Shego with a raised brow.

"...Yes," said Drakken. He felt embarrassed now.

"That's...pretty cool," said Shego, and he saw a smirk on her face. "What kind of power source, electric? Battery? Self-powered?"

"I was thinking about it being charged for now, but maybe solar-powered," said Drakken. He grinned as Shego nodded and looked at it.

"Okay, I get it. Sometimes messes are best," said Shego, and she went and sat back down in her seat. "I hope you're not expecting me to clean up after."

"Actually..." said Drakken looking at all the parts on the floor.

"For crying out..." she scoffed and threw her magazine down and began picking up the discarded parts.

So it Continues →