Moments Missed
Shego combed her hair idly as she sat in her room. Her mind was in turmoil. That night had been both a huge success in getting them more villain allies, but socially a total disaster. A room full of exes, bosses, lovers, and love interests... What had she been thinking? She knew why she'd invited some; it had been a while and she'd hoped dancing would have led somewhere else, yet there she was...alone...in her room... After, according to the guests, a fantastic party. She felt pathetic as she looked at herself; she was attractive, strong, witty...but times like this reminded her she was only human... And with it came doubt and loneliness. She threw her brush down and got in bed.
"Don't be so pathetic," said Shego as she stared at the ceiling. "Loads of people are probably feeling like that right now."
Her own comforting words did little to help. Plenty of people had gone to their respective homes and lairs alone, so it wasn't like she was the only one. Her mind fell on the person a few doors down from her in particular. He'd had a similar rough night to hers: exes, former colleagues, and rejection. She narrowed her eyes as she thought about it. Carmella was an idiot. She hoped one of her candy treats broke Hector's fillings. Then DNAmy, following Monkey Fist like a lost puppy who he didn't even acknowledge... In fact he'd been chatting up Cleopatra most of the night until Jackal cut in. Poor, pathetic, obnoxious DNAmy... Shego felt hostility towards her when she knew she shouldn't. It was mostly due to the fact Shego felt no self-respecting villainess should act like that for any other man or woman. It was also partly out of anger she was sure; anger that she'd rather follow a genetically altered monkey man around than actually be respected and cared for. Compared to her current situation, Drakken was a prize for sure. Sure he could be whiny, annoying, arrogant, petty, and obnoxious. He could also be witty, caring, confident, and honest. Monkey Fist was just... She rolled her eyes.
"She's an idiot," scoffed Shego as she rolled over on her side and looked at the door.
It figured that the two hosts of the party were spending the evening alone. She imagined Drakken must be feeling similar to her right now... Alone, bitter, and petty. It made her smirk, wondering what names he was calling people in his head right now or out loud. Her smile faltered. She always felt like he seemed lonely, though he never once indicated he was. Even before the party, he'd said he was never lonely with her around... Did that mean he was when she wasn't there?
Wow.
She was reading a whole lot into things, even not having had any drinks that evening. She was glad she'd decided to stay sober that night; there was no telling what she would have done with a chemical push.
"I would have made a fool of myself," she laughed to herself and stared at the door.
Her mind wandered over what she would have done in an intoxicated state. She would have told off DNAmy for sure, causing a scene perhaps... She would have done something wicked to Carmella, she was sure of that. She would have probably tried to make out with Pandora, and that would have been a whole can of worms that didn't need to be opened. Drakken would have witnessed all of that, and he'd already seen her in terrible states before and she didn't need another one added. And there it was again—Carmella and DNAmy had no idea what they were passing up. They could make a fool of themselves in front of him and he'd shrug it off. Monkey Fist and Hector probably wouldn't.
She rolled her eyes at herself at what she would be doing right now under the influence. In her self-doubt and pity she would have marched over to Drakken's room... Her eyes shot open and she shook her head. Great, next time she drank it was going to go there... Might as well dedicate her life to sober living right then. She tried to close her eyes to get some sleep.
Would it be the worst thing? Yes... Yes it would. Don't ruin an already shitty night. Maybe it wouldn't change anything... It didn't the last time I did something stupid. Shego sat up and shook her head. She was feeling emotional, that was all... Rejection and being ignored does that to a person.
She spent the next ten minutes tossing and turning before she made what was probably the stupidest decision of her life, and she was completely sober no less. She walked out of her room and smoothed out her hair and nightgown; she'd forgone her robe because...well...who cares. She knocked on his door and tried to keep her nerves down.
"What... Shego?" asked an angry and the concerned Drakken when the door opened. "What is it?"
"Ohm," said Shego, her mind racing. She had nothing, so she gave a nervous smile. "The heat seems to not be working in my room...and our stay-over guests are in the guest rooms..."
"Oh," said Drakken. He seemed unsure of what to say.
"Maybe I could stay in here?" asked Shego. She'd said it. She'd done it. She felt her stomach twist.
"I... Yeah," said Drakken, stepping aside to let her in. "It's fine."
Shego felt a wave of both relief and panic as she walked past him into his dark room. She noticed the sound of water flowing through the moat, which also gave a faint green glow to the room. It wasn't like she hadn't been in his room before...this was just for a whole different reason. The round bed had music playing in its built in speakers, soft and calming. It was a reality that she had come in there, completely sober, and was still walking over to the bed as if it was nothing. She should really contemplate her actions more...
No...no reading into this. It was just...just a night.
"Thanks," said Shego as she slid under the silken covers. They felt thick and rich, and she wondered where he'd bought them.
The faint glow of the water showed his silhouette as he closed the door and walked to the back of the room. She waited for him to join her, the whole while her nerves making way for annoyance at how long it was taking him. She made herself comfortable, but he still hadn't come into bed and she didn't see him in the water's glow anymore. She sat up and looked around. Where was he?
"Drakken?" she asked a little urgently. She jumped as his voice came from behind the bed.
"Yes, Shego?" he asked with a sigh. "Do you need another blanket?"
"Where are you?" asked Shego, leaning over the bed-frame. Her hand lit a green glow.
Drakken squinted his eyes from a couch behind his bed where he had a small lounge set up for himself. He covered his eyes slightly as they adjusted to the intrusion into his corneas. Drakken lay on a black couch, snuggled up with blankets and looking slightly agitated at his guest's need to find him. Shego looked at the situation and sighed. What had she been thinking? She should just go back to her room, nothing was happening... Well...maybe...
"You don't have to sleep on the couch," she said softly. She felt the nerves again. "Your bed is huge."
"I... I think it's best," said Drakken. He gave a slight smile. "'Night Shego."
"Oh... 'Night Drakken," said Shego as she diminished her hand and slid back into bed. She gave a deep sigh before closing her eyes and attempting some sleep.
"'Morning Killigan," said Drakken as he entered the shared kitchen. The Scotsman and the Seniors had stayed over in the guest rooms the night before.
"Morning Drakken," smirked Duff. Drakken couldn't place his mischievous expression.
"What's with the look, did someone make an acquaintance last night?" asked Drakken, rolling his eyes. It would figure.
"No such luck on my part. Same can't be said for you, ay?" smirked Duff as he drank his own beverage as Drakken sat with coffee.
"I don't follow," said Drakken. Perhaps Duff had mistaken what he said. "I meant..."
"I know what you meant, but I didn't have a beautiful lass sneaking out of my room at the wee hours of the morning," sighed Duff. He rolled his eyes. "How long has that been a thing? Can't say I'm surprised."
"Wait... Shego?" asked Drakken. He nearly choked on his coffee and glared. "Nothing happened."
"Really?" asked Duff with a chuckle. "It's none of my business what goes on in your lair."
"Before gossip starts, I'm ending it here. The heat in her room went out last night so she stayed in my room. I slept on the couch in my private lounge," snapped Drakken, suddenly panicked over Shego possibly hearing gossip. The last thing he needed was for her to blow up at him and bail.
"Really?" asked Duff. He seemed to look at Drakken longer than normal and then sighed. "I believe it. You're as daft as they come, you know."
"Excuse me?" asked Drakken, he was confused by the statement.
"The only time a woman comes to a man's bedroom late at night in attire like that and asks to come in, it ain't the heat she's fretting over," said Duff, sipping his drink again and shaking his head. "If she was cold she'd grab another blanket, not another bed."
"That's not how it is between Shego and I," said Drakken. He felt his stomach flip at his words.
"How do you know she didn't want to change what was between you last night?" asked Duff, winking at him.
"No," said Drakken with a deep sigh, the bowling alley in cinders flashing in his head. "Those cards are definitely off the table."
The Tables Turned →