-----March 15th-----
Bonnie parked the little red Honda Civic along the street, in front of a Greek restaurant. A present from her grandparents, for her 16th birthday, since the immediate family didn’t celebrate it. Stepping out of the car, the brunette couldn’t help but grin, as she locked the vehicle and walked into the dinner. It was a bright Saturday afternoon, and she was meeting Shego.
After the New Year’s party, they had been meeting occasionally, but recently, more often. Meeting and talking with the obsidian-haired female was something she looked forward to every week. Even if half the time all they did was argue, the cheerleader found she actually enjoyed the arguments. What they argued about was easily forgotten, all that mattered was the interaction, and she valued every minute of it.
Taking off reflective sunglasses, aqua-eyes scanned the restaurant quickly, as a small smile played across her face. Shego was sitting at one of the back tables playing with the straws and listening to the iPod. Making her way to the pale woman, Bonnie sighed, it was 85 degrees outside, and the Goroda heir was wearing a black turtleneck. Just what is she thinking, Bonnie wondered. She could appreciate the fashion, but a turtleneck? Vowing that she would do something to correct the older woman’s attire, the brunette approached.
Grinning smugly, Bonnie pulled the wooden chair out. Sitting opposite the raven haired woman, the tanned female picked up one of the straw fishes and examined it briefly. “Having fun I see.”
Turning off the mp3 player and placing it to the side, Shego regarded the teen. Ignoring the smug look the younger girl was giving her, Shego smirked. “Of course I am. Don‘t tell me you don‘t like fishes?”
Aqua-eyes danced with amusement at the pale woman’s mock horror. “Fishes are fine, but I prefer stars.” Taking one of the straws from the obsidian-haired female, Bonnie smiled as she bent, folded, rolled, and pinched the flattened tube into a star. Handing the little trinket to the older female, her heart swelled at the look of astonishment in forest-green eyes. She knew Shego was beautiful, but when was she cute, she briefly wondered, as the pale woman took the star.
“Make another.”
Bonnie blinked at the order. “Huh?”
“I said, ‘Make another.’”
The serious look in those green eyes set her aback as she stared at the pale woman. How un-cute, Bonnie frowned, as she mentally corrected herself. Beautiful, yes. Arrogant, certainly. Fickle, without a doubt. But cute? Definitely not. The younger was surprised the word even entered her mind, let alone become associated with the woman opposite her. Leaning back into the wooden chair, Bonnie crossed her legs and gave Shego a pointed look. “No.”
Shego shrugged, and opened the menu.
Bonnie blinked and craned a brow. That was it? She had expected the pale woman to argue for at least five minutes, as usual. Not just shrug and drop it. Warily mimicking the older female, Bonnie opened the menu, and read the various dishes that was served for lunch. She would find out what was going on sooner or later.
“Nice ride.”
“Thanks.” Bonnie blushed, despite herself, as the pale woman examined the red Civic. Climbing into the driver’s seat, she stated the engine, and smiled at Shego’s approving nod. “So…did you finish listening to the music I’ve downloaded to your iPod yet?”
“Yeah. I like the MC Honey stuff. The Smash Mouth…eh, not so much.”
Bonnie chuckled as she pulled away from the curb and popped in a CD. “So you’re more into Hip Hop and R&B, huh? Okay, this is Honey’s new CD, it came out two weeks ago. I’ll update your pod.”
“Just don’t keep it for a year again.” Came Shego’s sarcastic reply, as the teen turned onto the freeway.
“Well I wouldn’t have, if somebody wasn’t so bi-polar.” They shared a laugh as they headed towards the theater.
-----July 10th-----
Shego was walking towards her building, idly kicking a rock as she went. They had just returned from Florida, and she was feeling incredibly low. To think, they’ve been beaten by senior citizens, she groaned at the memory. Having Kimmie show up was entertaining, at least they’ve had a chance to fight. Shego always looked forward to fighting with the little redhead, it was one of the reasons she had stayed with Drakken for so long. Smiling to herself, she replayed their last fight. Perhaps next time, she’ll try that new move out; she just need a little more room than that swamp house had.
The night air was cool and the sky dark; there was no moon tonight. Rounding the corner to head down the street, Shego stopped abruptly. Did she just hear someone scream? She felt her stomach drop and her palms begin to sweat, as she stood up straighter. Scanning the dark streets and listening for any noise, she broke out into a run in the opposite direction of her building. Someone was definitely screaming for help. Instincts kicked in, as she ran through the dark, empty alleys and streets.
Hearing a scuffle and muffled cries, the pale sidekick stopped at the opening of a deserted alleyway. With her back pressed to the dirty brick wall, she carefully looked around the corner. The narrow opening was littered with toppled over trash cans and beer bottles. Heroin needles scattered about haphazardly, mixed with countless cigarette butts, and the reeking smell of urine. Forcing herself not to gag, forest-green orbs tried to pierce through the darkness. What she saw horrified her. Two dirty, and ragged men were attacking a young woman.
Without thinking, Shego charged, throwing a ball of plasma at one of the men. The man holding the woman’s arms was knocked back by the impact of the plasma blast. He crashed into the dumpster and left a dent, as he crumpled to the dirty street. The man’s torn coat began to smolder in the darkness. The other man stared agape at his comrade, before he turned to face the oncoming glowing green blur that crashed into his face. His head was shot back by the impact, as his limp body slid across the littered ground to join his friend by the dumpster, a hunting knife clattered by his side.
The alley was lit by the dim glow of plasma, as Shego stared into wide aqua-eyes. The pale thief didn’t want to believe it, couldn’t believe it, but there she was. With a shaky voice, and disbelieving eyes, Shego spoke softly. “Bonnie?”
Bonnie exited the bathroom in a fresh, mint-green, silk bathrobe. Dark-brown hair was still damp from the shower as she crumpled onto the black leather sofa. Shego sat beside her and began to dry wet hair. The hum of the hair dryer the only noise that filled the airy room. Neither spoke, both still absorbed in her thoughts.
The cheerleader wasn’t sure what to make of it. The pale woman sitting behind her just shot a ball of green fire from her hands, and knocked-out both men single handedly. What was she supposed to say to that? So you really are some kind of demon mermaid? I figured you weren’t human? Gwad, that would go well. She mentally palmed her face, since her actual arms weren‘t responding. She was grateful to be saved from those two men, but the sight of the pale woman was frightening. The bright glow of plasma fire emanating from clenched fists, as she stood there staring at her, sent shivers down her spine. She had never imagined such a person existed. Was the woman behind her really that? Bonnie desperately wanted to believe so.
Shego was parked on the sofa, staring out the huge bay windows that reached from floor to ceiling, and stretched from one side of the loft to the other. After a shower of her own, and helping the teen settle into her queen-size bed, the pale woman took out a pillow and blanket from the closet and went to the couch. That was two hours ago. Not moving in the slightest, she stared blankly into the inky darkness.
What I am going to do? The thief repeated the phrase like a looped track. She had seen the bruises on Bonnie’s arms and legs. The wounds looked old, so it couldn’t have happened tonight, although there were some fresh ones. The sheer extend and quantity of the teen’s injuries was sickening. There was no plausible way the cheerleader could have received all those injuries from that scuffle alone.
What was she even doing all the way out here, the pale woman wondered. Although they had been hanging out together, this was the first time the Rockwaller had ever been to her home. So how did she know to go to Lowerton?
Unless she didn’t, Shego cringed at the thought.
Standing up, the obsidian-haired woman headed to the table that held the house phone. She gasped at what she saw. Blinking in bright red letters, ‘47 messages missed‘, pulsed in the dark. Standing numbly, emerald eyes stared at the number blankly. She was only gone for a month! A pale hand reached out hesitantly, and touched the play button. As the electronic, female voice announced the date and time each message was received, Shego’s heart sank, as Bonnie’s recorded voice echoed in the spacious loft.
Hey Shego! What is up with your cell? I can’t seem to get through, did you already leave for that trip or something? Anyways, I’ll try again later. -Beep.
Ugh! Turn your cell on already! heavy sigh Look I know you’ve said you’d be gone for a week, but I really need to talk to you. Call me back. -Beep.
Shego, are you there? This isn’t funny, pick up! -Beep.
Are you mad at me or something? Please Shego, I need to talk to you. -Beep.
Shego…I really need to talk to you. …It’s…about… frustrated exhale Never mind. -Beep.
It’s been two weeks… When are you coming back? … Why won’t you contact me?… -Beep.
Shego, can we talk? Please?… -Beep.
It’s been three weeks! Shego, where are you! If you don’t want to talk to me, can’t you at least tell me! Gawd… Shego… -Beep.
…Shego… Please… Pick up… -Beep.
…Shego?… -Beep.
………click -Beep.
Reaching blindly for the edge of the table, Shego tried to steady herself. All the messages were the same. All were from Bonnie desperately asking her to talk. Dragging herself back to the sofa, she collapsed on the leather cushions.
The bruises made her cringe, and the messages still echoing in her head made the thief feel ten times worse. However the thing that really weighed heavily on the pale woman’s mind was Bonnie’s actions. Shego was actually upset, and pissed, the teen stiffened when she embraced the girl back in the alley. Bonnie was still in shock, she could tell, but that wasn’t what caused her heart to drop into her stomach. It was the fear she saw in those clear aqua depths that shook her to the core. Was her powers that frightening? Was it so revolting that she had glowing-green hands, that Bonnie had to shrink away from her touch? It pissed Shego off. Even if it was the first time the teen had witnessed her ‘gift,’ did she have to pull away? She was trying to save her for god’s sake!
Shego sighed heavily. She was actually relieved, and happy, the teen didn’t know who she was. Bonnie didn’t seem to know she was ‘Shego, Dr. Drakken’s assistant.’ Didn’t know her as ‘Shego of Team Go.’ The young Rockwaller only knew her as ‘Shego. The egotistical heir of Goroda Labs; Sumire Goroda’s granddaughter.’ That was enough. That was all Shego wanted.
Cradling her head in shaky hands, Shego cursed the powers she had never asked for. She must think…I’m some kind of monster.
It was past noon when the teen padded out of Shego’s bedroom. Still clad in the silk bath robe, Bonnie self-consciously ran nimble fingers through brown hair in an attempt to get some of the tangles out. Shego was sitting on one of the high stools facing the kitchen. Dressed in jeans and a white tee, her elbows were on the bar-top, as she sipped coffee. A plate of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon was sitting next to the pale female, wrapped in plastic.
“Lunch.” The obsidian-haired woman motioned to the plate, as Bonnie sat next to her.
“Don’t you mean Breakfast?”
Shego gave the teen a half smile at the attempted joke. It was a sad attempt. “It’s past noon, so it’s lunch.”
Bonnie said nothing as she unwrapped the plate and scooped up some eggs. They were still warm, she realized with a smile.
After setting the used plate in the sink, Bonnie turned to face her host. The pale woman looked deep in thought as fine obsidian-brows were drawn together. Shego was staring into the empty mug as she contemplated what to do with the Rockwaller. When the teen coughed, emerald-eyes snapped to the younger woman.
“Thank you.”
Looking at downcast aqua-eyes, and the cheerleader’s constant fiddling with her hands, Shego sighed heavily. “Show me your back.” If Bonnie had bruises on her exposed arms and legs, there was no telling the condition of her back. Just to thought of finding more wounds made her feel sick, but she had to know for certain.
“What?” The brunette was taken aback. She had just thanked the woman, and what does she want? To see her back! Well that ain’t gonna happen, she vowed, more than annoyed. “No way!”
Standing up, Shego stalked around the table that separated them, and stood in front of the teen. That was the wrong answer. Glaring at the younger female, Shego snarled. “Show me your back.”
Clenching the front of the robe close, and balling it in her fist, Bonnie glared back at the slightly taller woman. “Hell no! I say ‘thank you,’ and you just ignore that. I called you, and you just ignore that too. What the hell is up with you! You can’t just drop out of my life only to appear out of no where and demand to see my back. Despite what you may think, things don’t work that way, Shego.”
“I did NOT ignore your calls! I was still out of town, my cell was out of range, I had no idea you even called!”
“And you didn’t even bother to check? You were gone for a month. A whole month, Shego! I needed to talk to you then.”
“So talk to me now!”
“I don’t want to!”
Shego growled as she tightened her fist. Green flames softly lapping up her wrists. The shouting match was wearing thin on her patience, as she ground her teeth. Bonnie saw the pale hands aflame, and took a step back, eyes wide. She gulped audibly.
Seeing the fright in aqua-eyes, the obsidian-haired woman powered down and sighed. Pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing deeply, the owner of the building stepped back and regarded the teen sadly. “I’m sorry.”
The Rockwaller blinked at the sincere apology. Was it possible the obnoxious heir could feel regret?
“I just arrived in town last night.” The pale woman continued, green eyes averted. “I was heading towards home when I heard you scream… I really didn’t think I’d be gone that long.”
Despite the anger she still felt, Bonnie felt hot tears run down her cheek, and tried to wipe them away furiously. She hated this. She hated the pale woman that made her feel like this. So why did she just want to rush into that same woman’s arms? As the older woman took a hesitant step forward, the teen couldn’t hold out any longer, and threw herself into Shego’s startled embrace.
Warm, was the last coherent thought the teen had before everything was drowned out by her tears.
AN: Ehehehe ; Sorry about the long delay, I know I said I’d update sooner, but I’ve been stuck at work. Ah, if only I didn’t need the money. ;
This chapter is actually really long, but I’ve decided to split it into two chapters. Although I’ve got the rough--and I mean rough--draft done, I honestly don’t know how soon I can finish the second half. DX. The last thing I want to do is make another promise I can’t keep. XC However, my goal is a week. ;)
Also, many thanks to the readers. Your reviews mean a lot to me, and I really appreciate all of them. When I first started writing this, I honestly had no expectations to receive any reviews. So every review I receive, it’s like ‘wow! Someone’s actually reading this stuff?’ Anyways, just wanted to say thanks. You guys/gals rock. XD