Ghostly green flames licked the tips of Shego's fingertips. Snapping her fingers, the tea candles placed around the bath ignited in green fire, then quickly subsided and was engulfed by the common orange flame.
“Show off.” Kim grinned from her place in the water. Submerged to her neck, she watched Shego slip into the water soundlessly. These past few months had been so sweet. Their relationship took some getting used to, with both of them trying to find their comfort zone. The first few months of their relationship was not smooth sailing, to say the least. Sure, there were times when both of them were right there in that spot where they both enjoyed this relationship and never wanted it to end. There were other times when they would fight and argue with each other horribly and they both wondered what they had gotten themselves into. They had come a long way.
“Shove a bum, princess.” Shego sat down next to Kim. Giving an exaggerated yawn, she stretched out her arms and placed one innocently around Kim's shoulders. The redhead smirked at the pale-skinned woman and leaned against Shego, sighing contently.
Kim found out a lot about Shego as she travelled a whole new territory with Shego. The relationship was constantly changing as they reached different stages. The first stage was all heated passion and blazing emotions, where the lovers tried their best to accomodate each other. But then came the fights, as they drew inexplicably closer. Both were to blame as Kim revelled in this closeness and Shego seemed to be deathly afraid of it to the point where she started isolating Kim again. Their way of working things out always resulted in violence and sex. And when they lay there in the aftermath of their destruction, sweaty, naked and clinging on to each other, they both wondered if it was worth it.
One wondered why she ever started this in the first place when she grappled with her own demons. At the end of the day, she didn't know what sacrifices she'd be making…
The other wondered if this was how a normal relationship worked, constantly fighting and bickering. But what about their relationship was normal? What was normal anyways?
And they clung to each other, each with their own selfish and selfless reasons.
Right now, they were at that stage where the fights were at a minimum and these times could be filed under the heading ‘good times’.
Kim nuzzled Shego's chin with her nose and Shego dipped down to graze the redhead's lips with a kiss.
“So you wanna tell me what's been bothering you recently?” Shego asked.
Kim twined her fingers in Shego's, appreciating her lover's concern. Months ago, Shego would not have bothered asking. It was only after a lot of fights, a lot of long talks and a lot of compromising that they had come to this stage.
“So when you're upset, I'm just supposed to guess why you're upset?!” Shego threw up her hands in exasperation. “I'm not a mind reader, Kimmie. I can't just find out whether its something I did that's gotten you angry or if you're pms-ing again!”
“This is why I'm always angry at you!” Kim tried her best to keep her voice down, but it was so hard as Shego scowled at her. “You never make the effort! You see that I'm upset but you don't give me any support--”
“What do you want me to do?” Shego asked, grabbing Kim's hands in her own. She fumbled with them furiously, impatiently. Impatient because she didn't know how to make it better. “I just thought that the best thing to do was let you deal with whatever yourself.”
“Ask me, if that's what I want, Shego.” Kim squeezed Shego's hands. “Shego, I just thought you didn't care…”
“Do you have to hear the words?” grumbled Shego. The fighting was over as quickly as it started. “You know I… care about you. Just. I don't know how to deal with you, Kim.”
“When in doubt, ask.” Kim teased. “You know I'll try my best to answer all your questions, Shego.”
After all that, stressing to Shego that she would be as straight-forward and honest with her as possible, Kim was doing the opposite. But this was something she didn't want to to tell Shego about. Really didn't. This was something Kim wanted to figure out for herself.
“Its nothing, really.”
“Alright.” Shego's reply made Kim wince a bit. She knew the tone of that voice. Shego was bothered.
“Its really nothing.” Kim reiterated and kissed a smile on to Shego's lips. They had come a long way, but both approached the subject of Kim's family carefully. Contact with them was forbidden. And going to the outside world was a subject that just wasn't touched. Kim didn't even mention to Shego how much she missed them. After Nam Ho revealed to her her brothers and her friends were nearby, she had tried to bury that need to see them. But it screamed in the back of her mind. Now more than ever. Everytime she was happy with Shego, she wanted to share it with someone, and that brought up the memory of her friends and family.
“Okay. I'm getting wrinkly. That's enough soaking for me.” Kim tried to get up but was quickly pulled back into Shego's arms.
“Aw, you leaving so quickly?” Shego teased as a ticklish Kim squirmed in her arms, laughing. “Stay with me for a while.”
“No, no, seriously, I'm getting sooo water-logged.” Kim pushed away shyly. “See you later?”
“You bet your sweet ass on that.” Shego tried on a southern drawl for size and slapped Kim's ass good-naturedly as the redhead climped out.
“Fresh!” Kim mock-gasped and splashed some water on Shego. The dark-haired woman laughed and swam off to the middle of the bath.
“Gonna make me pay, Kimmie?”
“Maybe later.” Kim smiled. Deaf to Shego's jeers, she left the bathing area. Soon as she closed the door, the smile fled from her lips and she breathed out a sigh of relief. Slipping into a silken robe that clung to her wet body, Kim slowly made her way to her room while towelling off her short hair. Though it was winter outside, it was somehow significantly warmer within the house and she didn't mind that short walk to her room which she knew would be toasty warm from the lit braziers. Kim watched the bath house doors for a few seconds just to make sure Shego wasn't coming before ducking back into the warmth of her room and closing the doors firmly.
It was late winter. Since Fong's son's one month, Shego and Kim had visited the village numerous times. It was on one of those visits that Kim encountered Tigger. She Cun's residents knew the smart dog as Blackie, but Kim knew better.
Kim went into her closet and riffled through her underwear drawer. Shego didn't go into her closet for any reason whatsoever. New clothes for Kim would be placed on the bed waiting for the redhead to put away. So the closet would be the last place Shego would go into. With trembling hands, she retrieved a small roll of paper from the back of the drawer. Unravelling it, her eyes scanned over the words and she could feel the onset of tears.
For the eyes of Kim Possible only. Meet the newest member of the Possible family. His name is Tigger and he will obey all your commands. Please send missives through Tigger.
It was when Kim was alone at She Cun in Shego's house, trying to mend one of her shirts when the dog had shuffled in cautiously. Spying her, he ran forward and dropped a tiny wooden tube in front of her.
“What's this, Blackie?” Kim chuckled, recognizing the affectionate dog. It had stuck by her everytime she was in Er Mei and had even won Shego's affections.
Picking up with tube, she could see it was some kind of container… with a careful twist, the tube split in half and a tightly rolled piece of paper fell out.
We're here to save you.
Each word in ‘We're here to save you’ was written by a different person. Monique's elegeant scrawl. Jim's tight handwriting, so different from easy-going Tim's. Ron's messy ‘save’. Rufus’ barely legible ‘you’.
Girl, if you can, make your way to the exits! Seems like we can't get in!
Last line was written all by Monique. The note was short, with only those couple of lines written on the tiny scrap of paper. It was different when Nam Ho told her that her family and friends were here; different from actual proof, actual writing from their hands. They were here for her. What should she do? They were about half way through her second year here. Only a year and a half more with Shego and she could leave. It scared her slightly when a voice in the back of her head asked her if she really wanted to leave… Was it wrong to like this time she spent with Shego? Sure, it was hard work almost everyday as Shego pushed her to the limits. But it was fun. So much fun. Away from the hustle and bustle of life as a superhero, as world saviour. Away from school, friends, politics, life. She understood why some people who had left the village would come back. Everything here was easy. They were provided for. There was no lack of food, no poverty. Everybody seemed happy here. There were no cares.
Kim was suddenly aware of Shego's approach, and quickly stuffed the scrap of paper back into the drawer and closed her closet hurriedly. Her intuition was right as Shego knocked on the door before letting herself in.
“Are you going to stay awake?” Shego headed straight towards the bed, shivering as she shed her heavy overcoat. Kim watched in amusement as Shego burrowed under the covers. “Its so cold!”
“Its boiling in here,” Kim replied with amusement.
“Says you.” Shego was barely keeping her teeth from chattering. Kim approached, a bit worried at how pale Shego looked. Well, the woman's skin was normally pale. But it was paler than usual right now. And her dark lips had lightened to a bluish tinge.
“Come on,” Kim slipped under the sheets and felt alarmed when she touched Shego. The woman felt almost ice-cold! “God, you're freezing!”
“I've been trying to tell you this the whole time,” Shego pressed her nose against Kim's neck, drawing out a shiver from Kim. She quickly withdrew. “Sorry. You're cold--”
“Not as cold as you.” Kim pulled Shego back into her arms. Shego was so very proud. And stubborn. She tried her best not to act soft, or when she did, she would do it covertly. But Kim was always aware of those times when Shego did those things that showed Kim she cared. The redhead only pushed Shego to say it because she selfishly wanted those words too, even though the actions were enough. She wanted everything from Shego. And Shego was slowly giving her everything.
“How could I even think about leaving you?” Kim whispered when Shego had fallen asleep, curled around Kim. How could Shego survive without Kim? Shego had brought her here for reasons, some which Kim didn't know. One thing Kim was sure of was that Shego needed her here. The note's message and the senders were vanquished from her mind as Shego tightened her embrace around Kim briefly, mumbled incoherently before slipping deeper into slumber.
“I'm here, Shego.” Kim planted a kiss on the older woman's forehead. “I'm here.”
“Maybe the message was intercepted?” Drakken rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “How long has it been?”
“A couple months,” Jim spat out. Monique reached over and put a hand on the young teen's back. “No luck. She should have. Tigger still comes and goes as he pleases. I would think that they'd… kill him if they found out.”
They were in enemy territory. Jim knew the risks of sending his beloved pet into these situations. But to get Kim back… he was confident in Tigger's abilities. He would risk it because he knew.
“She musta gotten our message,” Monique reassured. “Maybe she just can't get a reply out. Maybe Tigger dropped the message.”
Jim shook his head. “My puppy knows better than that.”
“Its true.” Tim sat by Ron. Gathered in the meeting room of Team Possible's HQ, they all had a cup of ‘cocoa-moo-moo’ that Drakken had thoughtfully made for everyone. He was an excellent secretary/receptionist.
“Maybe Rufus--”
“No, Ron.” Jim's voice was strained. He had been under a lot of stress lately. The bad guys, as they were want to do, always seemed to come out at the most inconvenient times. And always in droves. There would be a calm for a while, and then they would crawl out of the woodworks. How did Kim deal with this? And even though they've been doing this for a year and some now (has it been that long?), they still got no respect from the underworld. Even beaten, they would make fun of them and ask them where their precious Kim Possible was. As the leader of the group, Monique had to keep professional and keep a tight reign on her anger. It was a tough enough job. Some times, she almost gave in. Some times, she thought of how easy it was to lash out and not have to pull back. But holding Jim back put things into perspective for her. She couldn't lose control. She was the adult here. She was mature. Kim wouldn't manhandle the criminals. She would deliver them to the authorities. So Monique did what she knew Kim would do.
But goddamn it was hard!
Ron sat in his seat sullenly. Since the new Team Possible, he rarely did much. Sure, sometimes on missions he was a great distraction. But with Kim, he was an integral and much-needed member. Him and Rufus. But with two Possibles doing the job, he hardly got to do anything. And it really bothered him, as Kim's best friend, that he was pushed to the sidelines. Even though he tried not to be, he was a bit resentful of Jim's authority in the group. Everybody had a set job! Even Drakken!
“I could do something--”
“No.” Jim shook his head tersely and stalked out of the room before anybody could stop him.
“Yo, Ron.” Tim placed a companionable arm around Ron's shoulders sympathetically. “Don't worry man, we got this handled. Why don't I get Wade to get someone and take you home? You've been missing a lot of classes--”
“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Ron shrugged off Tim's arm angrily.
“Ron--”
“Monique, don't.” Ron snapped. He had finally reached that point where he couldn't take this anymore. “Rufus, come on, we're not needed here.”
The small pink animal jumped into Ron's pocket quickly, knowing his owner had been pushed too far. The young freckled man made it a few steps towards the exit before he turned back angrily. That line had finally been crossed. “You guys think you're the only ones who miss her, you think you're the only ones who care, who-who-who,” Ron was so angry he was stuttering. He had to stop to gather himself.
“Ron--”
“No!” Ron shook his head furiously. “Don't you DARE tell me to be calm! I've been calm for the longest time! She's *my* best friend! She might be your sister, she might be your friend, but I was closest to her! We went on missions together! We dated for a while! She's my best friend! You guys forget that! And-and…” Ron took a deep shuddering breath, on the edge of tears. “I feel so fucking useless. You guys make me feel so fucking useless. Thanks a lot. I know I'm being selfish here, but you guys aren't the only ones hurting.”
Ron left the speechless team. The remaining members exchanged glances amongst each other. Tim was the first to move, about to run after Ron. Monique held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“Let Ron go.” Monique sighed. “He needs some time alone.”
Tim looked at the exit then back at Monique questioningly.
“The buffoon… is right.” Drakken held his mug in both hands. “You guys have been pushing him to the side.”
“There's nothing he can do.” Monique said helplessly.
“Every sidekick needs direction, something to do.” Drakken said sagely. “Lend him to me. He can help around HQ.”
“Thanks, Dr. D.” Monique sighed.
Dr Drakken gave a sad nostalgic smile. “Say that again.”
“Thanks?”
“After that.”
“Dr. D?”
Drakken smiled. “Thank you, Monique.”
It was so cold… so cold…
Shego grit her teeth in a grin as she watched Kim doing her exercises. On top of her pole, Kim spotted Shego and gave an excited wave. Shego waved back and watched as Kim continued her training.
‘She's good,’ Shego's eyes studied Kim's stance. The redhead was centered, her arms spread at the correct length and moved in the prescribed path and speed called for. The pole exercises trained not only your balance and dexterity, but also the inner strength one needed that could only be attained by the mind-numbing almost meditative state that repetitive exercise promoted. Only in that state could that gift that Xaio Qing had placed inside Kim, grow. Slowly, of course. Without the right direction, the gift would slumber, wouldn't be used except maybe unconsciously, uncontrolled. Hidden. Useless.
Shego shivered again, fearful of that niggling thought in the back of her mind and the exhaustion that arrested her body. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't help thinking that she should be hibernating… she just couldn't get warm by herself.
“Hey, do two more rounds and then come up for dinner, k?” Shego shouted up, the cold finally too much for her to handle.
“Alright!”
Shego struggled up the snow-slick steps on one side of Er Mei back to Xaio Qing's house. She felt like her feet and fingers were falling off and just barely managed to step over the threshold before she collapsed onto the floor. A weak flick of her hands closed the door behind her.
“God…” Shego curled in on herself, shivering so hard it hurt. But the house was considerably warmer than outside. Courtesy of a remant spell from long ago that had not been renewed by Xaio Qing. Shego had only found out about the spell after she commented once on the difference in temperature. Outside the walled dwelling, it could be cold as hell, but inside the walls, it was considerably warmer even though the house was very open concept. At full strength, the temperature within the garden would never drop below that of a warm spring day.
Urging her sluggish limbs to pick themselves off the floor, Shego made her way to the kitchen. She had lit a fire a while ago in the wood stove. It had died down a bit, but nothing a few more pieces of firewood couldn't cure. When the kitchen felt like a furnace, Shego finally shed her coats and leaned close to the stove in relief as the cold was finally banished from her bones and a boiling anger replaced it.
“GOD DAMN IT!” Her fist swept out, knocking over pots and pans on the wooden table that served as both preperation area and chopping board. “FUCK!” A fist pounded on that heavy table and it cracked under the force of the woman's strength.
“Fuck…” Shego said more quietly.
Spring was just around the corner, Shego could smell it. Soon, Xaio Qing would be stirring from her rest. But she still had a good month or so, but she was going to be cautious and pull that deadline back two weeks. So two weeks. Shego planned to make the most of it. She looked around the kitchen and sighed. First, she had to clean up the mess she'd made.
“Goddamn.” Shego swore under her breath before rolling up her sleeves and getting to work. She had made a mess. The responsible thing to do was clean up.
It was getting dark when Kim headed back to the house, taking the steps two at a time, the thought of Shego making her dinner pushed her to quicken her already fast pace. Even if Shego didn't think she noticed, Kim did notice. The headstrong woman had probably gotten sick in this weather, she had been shivering so much… Shego would never admit to it so Kim didn't bother pointing it out.
‘Honestly, sometimes she's just so stubborn.’ Kim thought fondly of her lover. The dining room was empty, which meant Shego was still in the kitchen. Sneaking along the wall, she peeked into the dark recesses of the furnace-like cooking area.
“Babe, one more second.” Without turning around, Shego knew Kim was there.
“What are you cooking?” Kim entered, feeling a bit disappointed that she couldn't surprise her girlfriend. Shego put the lid back on the pot of foodstuff she had been stirring before and gave the young woman a cheeky grin.
“You'll see.” Kim began to pout, but Shego saw it coming and quickly turned around. The best defense against that look was to not be caught in it. “Don't even try it. This is part of the surprise I have planned.”
“Surprise?” Shego cursed as she realized she had just signed and sealed her own fate. Kim would NOT leave her alone now. That thing about ‘curiousity killing the cat’? Well, if Kim were that proverbial cat, she would've used up her nine lives LONG time ago. If there was one thing Shego had learned about Kim in their time together, it was that the woman was insatiatably curious. And she wouldn't rest until she knew what the surprise was. Like the time Shego had secretly gotten a really nice cheong-sam dress made for Kim and Ting Ting had let slip that Shego had a surprise for her. Kim had hounded the poor child until the girl burst into tears; torn by her duty as confidante to Shego which required her to ferociously guard the secrets the pale-skinned woman imparted on her, and to please Kim Possible.
Presently, Shego didn't have the benefits of Ting Ting's tears to keep Kim away. She stiffened as arms wrapped around her waist from behind and Kim pressed herself against Shego's back enticingly.
“Sheeego…” That soft wheedling voice in her ear made the villainess shudder. “What do you have planned for me?”
“Kimmie,” Shego growled warningly.
“What?” was Kim's playful reply.
Shego turned around, careful of the hot stove behind her. “You wanna know?”
“Yes,” Kim's answer was followed by a gasp of surprise as Shego advanced, backing her up against the heavy wooden kitchen table, lifting her on it and pinning her down. Kim grinned up at Shego, eyes wide with pleasure. She had grown accustomed to Shego's spontaneity, and even if she would never admit it to keep up the pretense of modesty; Kim was starting to love it. Especially when Shego was being dominating, like she was now.
“Well, you can't.” Shego said gruffly.
“No?” Kim used her legs to urge Shego on top of her, locking her ankles behind Shego's back so she couldn't escape. She knew exactly what Shego was trying to do. Distracting her. And it was working mighty well. Kim loved ruining surprises. Loved it. She was one of those people who would go on the internet and look up spoilers for her favourite episodes. Or use the x-ray goggles a certain boy genius had given her to find out what was beneath the wrappings of her Christmas presents. Kim loved spoilers. But she loved Shego even more.
The dinner had been great. All of Kim's favourite foods were laid out for her. Shego had taken extra care to cook only the best for her. And, sated, Shego had motioned for Kim to sit with her on the dias.
“What's going on?” Kim asked curiously.
“You'll see.” Was Shego's mysterious answer. Her question was answered quickly as a wide sweep of Shego's arm suddenly cleared the place of dishes and mess.
“How did you do that?!” Kim gaped. Then her eyes narrowed accusingly. “Why don't you do that every night instead of making me clean up?”
Shego smiled mysteriously. Clapping her hands, the room suddenly dimmed, then suddenly brightened as if a flashbang had exploded in the room. There were eight beautiful Chinese girls there, dressed in bare costumes, wisps of silk that showed just enough to make your imagination run wild. An anklet was worn on each of their ankles, and several charms and small bells hung from the simple ornamental jewelry. Besides that, they wore nothing else. Their bodies, supple, oiled and ready; were poised to begin whatever Shego had planned.
“Who…?” Before she could get out the question, music played by unseen musicians started and the girls began their dance. Slow, slow, arms and fingers spread out, they moved in synchronized conformity as the music played, the sound of heavy drums overwhelming for a few seconds. Suddenly, the dancers stamped their foot down, setting the charms and tiny bells on their anklet jangling in a cacophony of tinkling soungs that melded well with the dance and the music.
“This is a date,” Shego grinned, pleased that Kim watched the dancers with rapt attentiveness. “I thought a little treat now and again would be good. Just so you're not bored with just me here to keep you company.”
“Don't even think that.” Kim tore her eyes from the dancers to capture Shego's lips with her own. A sweet, thankful kiss for this wonderful spectacle. “Being with you is the best.”
They grinned at each other, pleased. Then settled back into each other's arms to watch the dancers who hadn't paused in their performance and moved with a fluidity that was almost not human. Their delicate feet, stamping on the floor to produce that jangling musical beat, the calm motions reminded her of the carp swimming in the small stream that criss-crossed the courtyard outside…
“They're really good!” Kim commented appreciatively. The compliment wasn't missed by the dancers, and the lead dancer, cast lidded eyes at Kim, who froze under that gaze.
“Oh, I think she heard you.” Shego laughed and nodded to the dancer, giving her permission to approach. Draped in orange silk, she approached, weaving an intricate dance that was both shy but teasing. If there was one way of describing her dance-style, it was… cock-teasing at its best. A bared leg here, flirtatious glances there, and one time the orange-clad dancer reached forward to quickly trail her fingers down Kim's thigh.
“Yowza,” Kim shuddered at the erotic touch.
“Yowza?” Shego laughed, but her eyes narrowed at the dancing woman. Too close. Shego had a possessive streak in her, there was just never an opportunity for her to exercise it, but now there was. The lead stepped back into the line of dancers without missing a beat, laughing at the look Shego gave her.
“Hun?” Kim's voice brought Shego's scowling face down to look at Kim and she was surprised by a kiss. Getting over her surprise, Shego returned it enthusiastically.
“What was that for?”
“Reassurance. You have nothing to be jealous about.”
Shego tightened her grip around Kim's shoulders as Kim relaxed back into her arms. “I'm not jealous.”
“Right.” Kim rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and armour clad men, eight altogether, rolled in. A group of four first, then the next group of four. The dancers parted, squealing in fear as the men looked about. Theatrical make-up made bold marks across their scowling faces as they stomped to the middle of the dance floor, apparently part of the elaborate performance Shego was orchestrating. They carried drums, slung across their backs and shoulders and held oddly shaped drum sticks, almost sickle-shaped. That solved the mystery of the disembodied drums that had accompanied the dancers.
With a bow-legged swagger, the leader of this troupe stomped forward, each step making the red-orange armour on his back shake. He beat his drums in two quick strokes, then all the male dancers simultaneously stomped one foot on the floor and held up one sickle-shaped drum stick in the beginning pose of their performance.
“Wow.” Kim breathed out as all the dancers burst into motion, the women and the men melding into a dance. That was both passionate and powerful.
Sometimes words were not enough. Sometimes words fell embarassingly short.
‘I can't believe the best words I could think of to describe this is passionate and powerful.’ Kim was glad Shego couldn't read her thoughts. She could imagine her girlfriend making fun of her. Fifty years down the road, when they were old women, she could totally see Shego bringing it up again. ‘Oh, Kimmie, look at that! Its *passionate and powerful*!’ Followed by snarky laughter.
Caught up in the thought of older Shego making fun of her, Kim pinched Shego childishly.
“Ow!” Shego turned a wide-eyed gaze at Kim. “What was that for?!”
“That was for being dumb.” Kim said mysteriously, letting Shego flounder in her confusion.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Kim decided to change the subject. “Where did these people come from?”
“People?” Shego's tone was casual. “Who said they were people?”
Kim turned to stare at Shego. “What do you mean?”
“Meet the carps that swim in the courtyard.”
“The… the fish?!”
“Transformed. Like Xaio Qing is.” Shego explained patiently. “They can't do it all the time, of course. I… encouraged them a little. The fact that they can dance instead of flopping around on the floor like fish out of water; that they can create music instead of gasping for air, is that I made it so. They are human now because I force them to be. Once they become fish again, they lose everything that was associated with this form. Their thoughts won't be human anymore.”
“That's… strange.”
“Er Mei is a strange place.”
The two fell into silence as they watched the dancers. Kim watched with utter fascination now. Carp? Were they really the carp that Kim some times fed?
“So… Xaio Qing…” Now that Shego had brought it up, Kim finally asked. Their master--more Shego's than Kim's--was shrouded in obscure fiction. “She's really a…a…”
“A really, REALLY big snake.”
They settled again to watch the show, as Kim contemplated this new tidbit of information. She had been told… but it was something else when Shego waved her hand and the dancers all started shrinking, molding, until they were fish. Kim recognized them all. Feeding them, she had come to recognize them by the markings on their back. These WERE the carp in the stream… Shego clapped her hands twice and they disappeared, supposedly back into the stream they came from.
A really… REALLY big snake…
It was like talking to Nam Ho again. She was suddenly hit with the gravity of living in the house of a snake. A demon.
“Come on.” Shego tugged her up. “Lets go take a bath, then we'll go to bed.”
A lot of preparation had gone into Shego's romantic evening. The bath was lit up by the soft glow of coloured candles that dotted the room, some floating in lotus boats on top of the waters, melting in the corners of the room or burning quietly on the edge of the water. Flower petals, hard to come by in the cold weather, had been strewn over the water.
“Oh my god, Shego…” Kim's eyes grew wide with delight. “Did you do all of this?”
Shego held Kim from behind and kissed her girlfriend's pale shoulder. “Damn right I did. Took a hell of a long time too. So lets not just stand around admiring it.”
After their wash, Kim and Shego decided to just soak. All through this, Shego had a frown on her face.
“What's wrong?” Kim finally asked.
“Well… Just… I have something to ask you.”
Kim felt a trickle of trepidition.
“So this whole night, you had an ulterior motive to this?” Kim asked calmly.
Shego knew to tread lightly. When Kim was right on the edge of being relaly pissed off, she sounded very much like this. “No. Sorta. Not really? A little bit.”
“Which one is it, Shego?” The way Kim enunciated her name at the end of the question made the dark-haired woman wince.
‘Might as well get it over with.’ Shego thought. Taking a deep breath, she blurted out everything she had to say. “Xaio Qing's coming back soon. And I need us to take a break from… ‘us’.”
Shego knew that look was coming but couldn't help feeling extremely horrible when Kim directed the full force of her hurt expression at Shego.
“Just until she goes back into hibernation again.” Shego reassured. “Pumpkin, please. I want to be with you, but its risky with Xaio Qing around. She accepts us as disciples only when we follow her rules. If we don't--” Shego stopped there, cutting herself off before she could say anything more. “Just, she wouldn't be happy.”
“What are you afraid of?” Kim's hurt look changed to one of determination and worry. A look Shego had seen many times before back when Kim was in high school. The look Kim always had on her face when she was on one of her world-saving missions. Determined to save, determined to solve. She was Kim Possible, she could do anything.
‘Not everything, princess. I wish you could. But you can't.’ Shego thought sadly. Her Kim was a woman who was used to taking care of people. But she didn't even know what she was up against. She's never seen Xaio Qing in all of her horrible glory. Never seen Xaio Qing's insane rage. Never understood Xaio Qing. And she never would. Or if she actually managed to, it would be far too late.
“Just do this for me.”
Kim caught a floating lantern and concentrated on the light emitting from the candle in the middle of the cleverly constructed floating decoration.
“When is she coming back?”
“To be safe, I'm moving back to my room in two weeks.” Shego whispered.
Kim nodded emotionlessly, still looking at the flickering candle. “Fine.” She was concentrating so hard on the candle that surprisingly, tears were dripping out of her eyes.
“Kim,” Shego cradled Kim's face, stroked back errant locks of wet hair away from Kim's eyes. “Don't cry. Princess, please… I love you.”
Kim turned shining eyes at Shego. Did she hear wrong?
“Say it again.”
“Don't cry?” Shego teased. Kim slapped her lightly on the arm and pouted. “Ow! Alright, alright.” Banishing the grin on her face, she kissed each of Kim's eyelids then rested her forehead against Kim's. “I love you, Kim Possible.”
“Once more.”
“I love you, Kim Possible.” Shego said again, breaking into toothy smile. Kim hugged Shego close and laughed out of pure joy as Shego rained eager kisses down on Kim's brow, her cheeks, her lips, her eyes; every inch of her exposed face. The redhead had never felt so overwhelmed with the urge to cry from happiness.
“You finally said it.” Kim brushed her thumb across Shego's lower lip.
“Yeah. I did,” Shego drawled, suddenly nervous and chewing her bottom lip. “Just waiting for a ditto?”
Kim's smile changed to a mischevious one. “Maybe you'll have to wait.”
“What?! Why?!”
“Because we're on a break, baby.” Kim kissed Shego.
“In two weeks! Not now!”
“Well, you can wait, can't you?” Kim smirked. Shego swam away from Kim, who followed Shego, laughing happily. “Come on! Shego, its only until Xaio Qing goes back into hibernation!”
“I take back that ‘I love you’.” Shego grumbled.
“Oh, don't be such a grouch, Shego.” Kim caught Shego around the waist and pressed her lips against her lover's ear, eliciting a shiver from the dark-haired woman. “Come on. I'm DYING to see what you have planned for me in the bedroom.”
Shego's face finally split in an evil grin at the thought of the other surprise she had planned. “You're going to be DYING to tell me you love me after tonight.”
“Oh?” Kim let herself be carried out of the water. On the way out, Kim grabbed a large towel and draped it over the both of them. “What do you have planned?”
“You'll see,” Shego chuckled. As the doors to the baths closed behind them, the candles in the room all snuffed out automatically.
end: Yo. That was so long. Done this chapter, and I dunno if I said it before, but we're fast approaching the end. :D Who's happy? ME! This took so frickin’ long and its my longest work ever. I got stories floating around that are all half-finished (I'll finish them some time soon!), and this one looks like it'll be my only completed one. Ever. lol.