Chapter 11: A Joint Mission
The days leading up to the mission were nothing short of torturous for Kevin. Each time Dr. Betty summoned him, he knew exactly what was expected. The covert ops were one thing—assassinations, sabotage, and high-risk intel gathering that Global Justice didn't want to get their hands dirty with. He could almost compartmentalize those tasks, convincing himself it was just the job. But the personal toll... that was harder to bear.
Dr. Betty had no qualms about making their arrangement personal. Every time they were alone, Kevin felt a chill run down his spine. It wasn't just the physical intimacy she demanded—something that, in itself, made his skin crawl—but the psychological manipulation. She loved to remind him that everything he did was for Shego. Every kiss, every touch, every moment of intimacy was a reminder that he had traded his own dignity and self-worth for the freedom of a woman who, in many ways, didn't need him to.
After another particularly humiliating encounter with Dr. Betty, Kevin sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his hands through his hair, wondering how long he could keep going like this. He had managed to avoid thinking too much about the cost—what it was doing to his soul. But as time dragged on, he couldn't help but feel like he was becoming someone he barely recognized.
Every time he thought of Shego, however, something in him softened. He knew she would never forgive him if she found out what he'd done, but in his heart, he believed that it was worth it if it meant getting her out of that prison. He loved her in a way he hadn't loved anyone else before. Even though she had never explicitly said the words back to him, there were moments, brief and fleeting, where Kevin saw a tenderness in her eyes, felt the warmth in her touch. It wasn't the typical storybook love he had imagined, but it was real.
It was during one of those nights, as he lay awake staring at the ceiling, that the call came.
When Kevin walked into Global Justice headquarters, he immediately noticed the tension in the air. Agents moved briskly, their faces tense, as though something big was brewing. He had been on enough missions by now to know when the stakes were higher than usual.
Dr. Betty stood in front of a large monitor, arms crossed over her chest. Her usual steely expression was even more unreadable than usual. Kevin suppressed a shiver as her eyes flicked towards him, but there was no time for pleasantries. Not this time.
"This mission is high-priority," she said, cutting straight to the chase. "Monkey Fist has managed to get his hands on an artifact of immense power. It's called the Soul of the Dragon. We don't fully understand it, but it's believed to be a relic from ancient Yamanouchi warriors, capable of summoning a force strong enough to raze entire cities."
Kevin's heart skipped a beat. Monkey Fist was no joke. His obsession with all things mystical and powerful made him one of the most dangerous enemies they had ever faced. The fact that he now had an artifact capable of leveling cities didn't bode well for anyone.
"I've called in additional support for this mission," Dr. Betty continued. "You'll need someone who understands Monkey Fist's tactics—and someone with a bit of firepower. She's waiting for you in the briefing room."
Kevin's stomach dropped. He had a sinking suspicion of who that someone might be.
As he walked into the briefing room, his suspicions were confirmed. There, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, was Shego. The sight of her after months apart hit him like a punch to the gut. She looked as fierce and dangerous as ever, her signature green-and-black jumpsuit hugging her curves. Her eyes, however, held a sharpness that hadn't been there before—a hardness that prison had no doubt carved into her soul.
"Well, well," Shego said with a smirk, though her eyes were colder than Kevin remembered. "Look who's back in the game. Did you miss me?"
Kevin swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions in check. He had no idea how to respond. It was the first time they had seen each other since he had bargained for her freedom, and the tension between them was palpable.
"Shego," he said, his voice low. "It's good to see you."
Shego's smirk faltered for a brief second, but then she raised an eyebrow, her sarcastic edge firmly back in place. "I bet it is. So, what's the deal? You need me to save your butt again?"
Before Kevin could respond, Dr. Betty walked into the room. "Enough chit-chat," she said brusquely. "You're both here because I need results. Monkey Fist is dangerous, and I expect you two to work together like professionals. This mission is about stopping a catastrophe, not settling your personal issues."
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
The flight to the Tibetan monastery was long, and the tension between Kevin and Shego only grew thicker as the hours passed. Every so often, Kevin caught Shego glancing at him from the corner of her eye, as if she wanted to say something, but the words never came.
He, too, struggled with the words. So much had happened, and there was so much he wanted to tell her—but where would he even begin? How could he explain the last few months without destroying whatever was left between them?
As the plane neared its destination, Kevin finally broke the silence.
"Shego," he said softly, turning to face her. "There's something you need to know."
Shego, who had been staring out of the window, turned to look at him, her green eyes sharp. "What? You finally gonna tell me why the hell you put yourself in this mess for me?"
Kevin took a deep breath. "I didn't want to leave you in that prison. I... I did some things I'm not proud of to get you out."
Shego raised an eyebrow, her expression hard. "Like what?"
Kevin hesitated, his heart pounding. "I made a deal with Dr. Betty. I did... missions for her. Dangerous ones. And... more than that."
Shego's eyes narrowed. "More than that? What the hell does that mean?"
Kevin's stomach twisted in knots. "It means... I did whatever she asked. I let her use me, Shego. I sold myself to her because I couldn't stand the thought of you rotting away in that prison."
For a moment, Shego just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she stood up, her hands clenched into fists. "You sold yourself? For me? You stupid, stupid boy."
Kevin flinched at the venom in her voice. "Shego, I—"
"You think I needed you to sacrifice yourself like that? You think I wanted this?" Shego's voice was rising, and there was something raw in her tone—something vulnerable that Kevin had never heard from her before.
"I didn't know what else to do," Kevin said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Shego. I couldn't just leave you there."
Shego's eyes flickered with something—hurt, maybe even betrayal—but she quickly masked it with anger. "You think love is throwing yourself on a sword for someone? You think I wanted you to give yourself to that ice queen just to get me out? I never asked you for that."
Kevin felt his heart shatter. He had expected anger, but this... this was something different. "I just... I couldn't stand to lose you."
For a long moment, Shego said nothing. She just stared at him, her green eyes searching his face for something—maybe an answer, maybe an excuse. Then, with a frustrated growl, she turned away from him and stormed toward the cockpit.
"We've got a mission to focus on," she said coldly, her back to him. "Save your explanations for later."
The mission itself was a blur of adrenaline and violence. The Tibetan monastery was crawling with Monkey Fist's henchmen, but Kevin and Shego made quick work of them. Their fighting styles were perfectly complementary—Kevin's brute strength and tactical experience, coupled with Shego's agility and plasma attacks, made them an unstoppable force.
Despite the tension between them, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. It was almost instinctual—the way they covered each other's backs, the way they moved in sync without needing to speak. In those moments, it was easy to forget the turmoil simmering beneath the surface.
It wasn't until they confronted Monkey Fist himself that things went sideways. The villain was every bit as dangerous as Dr. Betty had warned them. He wielded the Soul of the Dragon with terrifying power, summoning ancient forces that shook the very foundations of the monastery.
During the battle, a shockwave from the artifact sent Shego crashing into a stone pillar. Kevin, disoriented from the impact, saw Monkey Fist advancing on her, his eyes glowing with malevolent glee.
Without thinking, Kevin threw himself in front of her, taking the full brunt of Monkey Fist's attack. Pain exploded through his body as he was sent flying across the room, crashing into a wall with a sickening thud.
"Kevin!" Shego's voice was filled with panic—a sound he had never heard from her before.
Through the haze of pain, Kevin managed to push himself to his feet. "I'm... I'm okay," he grunted, though he could feel blood trickling down his side.
Shego, her eyes blazing with fury, unleashed a torrent of plasma blasts at Monkey Fist, forcing him back. She moved with lethal precision, her attacks fueled by a rage Kevin had never seen from her before.
When the dust finally settled, Monkey Fist was unconscious, and the artifact lay shattered at Shego's feet.
Breathing heavily, Shego rushed to Kevin's side, kneeling beside him. "You idiot," she muttered, cradling his head in her lap. "Why do you keep doing this?"
Kevin smiled weakly, his vision blurring. "Because... I love you."
Shego froze, her expression softening for the briefest of moments. Then, to Kevin's surprise, she leaned down, pressing her forehead against his. "You idiot," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I know."
Back at Global Justice, the aftermath of the mission hung heavy in the air. Dr. Betty had been surprisingly gracious in her praise, offering Shego the promise of a reduced sentence for her cooperation. But the victory felt hollow to Kevin.
As they stood outside the headquarters, the cold night air wrapping around them, Shego finally turned to him. Her expression was guarded, but there was something vulnerable in her eyes.
"You're a fool, Kevin," she said quietly. "A brave, stupid fool."
Kevin swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Shego. I didn't know what else to do. I just... I couldn't stand to lose you."
Shego looked away, her jaw clenched. "You didn't lose me. But you might've lost yourself."
Kevin felt the weight of her words settle on his chest. "I know," he whispered. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."
For a long moment, Shego didn't respond. Then, without warning, she reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Just... don't throw yourself away for me again," she said softly. "I don't need you to be a martyr. I need you to be you."
Kevin nodded, his heart aching with both hope and regret. "I'll try."
Shego gave him a small, sad smile before releasing his hand and turning to walk away. "I'll be around," she called over her shoulder. "Don't screw things up."
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Kevin standing alone in the cold night, his heart full of unanswered questions and a love that felt more complicated than ever.
But despite the pain, despite the sacrifices, one thing was certain—he wasn't going to give up on her. Not now, not ever.