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Kim landed on the roof of the warehouse and allowed herself a moment to take in the night sky. It was a warm, cloudless night in early July, and this far out, she could even see the Milky Way. Its thousand tiny stars lit up the sky in an alien white. The moon had already set behind the trees. Kim checked the time on her Kimmunicator watch and sighed. 11:43. It would take her over an hour to get back to her Upperton dorms, even in the Sloth. So much for her plans to get in two more hours of studying tonight. If she skipped breakfast and showering, she could afford to sleep until half past seven, no, twenty past. Could she pass finals on just four hours of sleep? She’d have to sacrifice some of her studying time.
“Why tonight, Shego?”
She dialled Wade. Almost immediately, the static on her Kimmunicator was replaced by his face. “What’s up, Kim?”
“Hi Wade, we just got to the warehouse.” She looked back down the side and saw Ron still climbing the rope. His grappling hook had malfunctioned so he had to do it the old-fashioned way, but when he saw her, he gave her a thumbs up. She nodded back. “Are you sure Shego and Drakken are still inside? It’s so peaceful and quiet here.”
“Let me see,” Wade said, and for a moment all Kim heard was the thocking of his keyboard. “I’ve got satellite images that show Drakken’s hovercraft parked out back. That was less than ten minutes ago, so they’re probably still inside. You would have seen them leave.”
Kim walked over to the other end of the warehouse and glanced down. Sure enough, there it was, taking up three parking spots at the back of the building. She supposed nobody would mind at this hour.
“Yup, still there on the private parking. Thanks, Wade.”
“Any time, Kim.”
Kim walked to the skylight and knelt down next to it. There were no lights on inside, only the stars illuminating rows of wooden crates. She couldn’t make out any movement, but when she opened the window, she could hear faint noises. Drakken digging through crates for some piece of tech, perhaps.
Ron came up to her as she fastened the rope of her grappling hook next to the skylight. “See anything?” he whispered.
“No, but hear that? I think they’re still searching.”
“Why didn’t they turn on the lights? That would help.”
“Beats me. You ready to go in?”
Ron grimaced. “I think my grappling hook is broken for good. I’ll have to slide down your rope after you.”
Kim gave him a look. “Ron, you can just hold on to me. It’s no big.”
How did Ron manage to look surprised by this? It had been years since they had broken up. They’d gotten over the awkwardness a long time ago, Kim was sure of that. Was he just embarrassed to need the help?
After a moment Ron snapped out of it and stood up, arms stretched out to the sides. “Ok, KP, I’m ready,” he said, forgetting to whisper. Kim embraced him with one arm. He grabbed on to her and she pushed slowly off the skylight, making sure to keep her line taut.
They descended into the warehouse slowly. The winding mechanism in the sleeve of Kim’s suit could handle this weight, its faint whirring a reminder that nothing was wrong, but slow would be safer. Over its sound, Kim could still hear those rummaging noises from her left, and something else. Mumbling. Definitely Drakken then.
They touched down and Kim unhooked the line from her arm. She pointed Ron down one row of crates in Drakken’s direction and went down another.
The warehouse wasn’t that big, looking at it from the outside. But Kim had had a lot of fights in warehouses over the years and they all felt bigger on the inside. Something about these endless rows of crates everywhere you looked, even up, took you out of your world entirely and into this separate, lifeless dimension where nothing existed but shelves and artificial ceiling lights. They seemed to stretch into eternity even when you could see the walls in the distance. In this warehouse, lit only by the stars above and dimming as she walked further from the skylight, Kim couldn’t see that far. She tried not to let it get to her and focused on following Drakken’s voice. She couldn’t make out the words yet, but he sounded frustrated. Serves you right, at this hour, she thought as she followed his voice down a right, then left again.
After one more turn, she finally found them.
Drakken was bent over the edge of a crate, his upper body vanishing into it and his feet comically dangling in the air. “Must be here somewhere,” he grumbled and threw something out of the crate. The piles of handheld electronics and plastic toys around him suggested that whatever he was trying to steal, it was proving elusive. A single beam of golden light was the only source of color in the scene. And standing behind it in the shadows, leaning against a shelf and holding the tiny flashlight, was Shego.
As if to worship her, the last remnants of distant starlight highlighted Shego’s silhouette in a cold, ethereal light. It washed out the beautiful green tint of her skin into a pale glow, and even the deeper green of her eyes and catsuit appeared merely gray, but the way it intensified her bushy eyebrows arced in boredom, her black-painted lips always ready to tease, the contours of her cute little nose… Kim wished she had a camera on her to capture this tranquil moment forever.
What she wanted was to sneak up on her girlfriend, to hug her from behind and snuggle into the crook of her neck and just stay like that while Drakken was distracted. She could feel herself melting into Shego’s comforting warmth even just thinking about it. But it wouldn’t work. She’d have to go back a corner, down the other row and sneak all the way around them. Plenty of time to get caught by Shego’s sharp ears. It would have to be a frontal entrance, with a cool one-liner to get their attention. She’d never been good at those but Shego encouraged her. “Looking for me?” she thought. No, too corny. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?” Shego was six years her senior and Drakken had studied together with her dad. That’d just set up Shego for an infantilizing comeback, and Shego did not need her help with lines.
She stretched in silence while thinking about what to say, just some quick warm-ups to reduce the chance of tearing something, but got distracted looking at Shego lazing around. No wonder Shego was always bored. Her talents were wasted just standing around as Drakken’s hired muscle. She was a world-class thief all on her own. Had he really brought her here just to, what, hold that light and stand by in case Kim showed up? Half the time, Kim and Ron didn’t even need to be there to sabotage his inventions, Drakken managed that just fine on his own. She had talked to Shego about it, but Shego insisted she liked the easy job. She didn’t have ambitions for more, it paid handsomely, and she always managed to slip some additional benefits into her contract renewals.
Kim shook out her shoulders and stepped forward.
“Would it kill you to turn on the lights?”
Shego’s eyes met Kim’s immediately, her lips a smile.
“I told you,” Drakken shouted from inside the crate, “the thunderstorm last weekend must have blown them out.” Then he started, jumped up and gazed at her in open-mouthed shock. “Kim Possible!”
Shego rolled her eyes. Kim shrugged at her and answered, “In the flesh.”
“Shego, get her!”
“With pleasure,” Shego smirked. She threw away the flashlight and dropped into an open stance, but Kim was faster. She jumped into a handstand, then bounced off it, launching herself at Shego with her feet extended forward like a dart. Surprise flashed onto Shego’s face for just an instant, then she ducked under Kim’s assault into a roll. Kim hit the side of a shelf. She let her knees bend and used that force to kick off the shelf again into a backwards somersault to avoid falling down. When she landed, Shego was ready for her. She was met with a series of punches at chest height, forcing her to stay down in the crouch of her somersault. She kicked at Shego’s legs but found only air and was suddenly grabbed from behind in a chokehold.
“Excited to see me, princess?” Shego’s breath was hot on Kim’s cheek. Her mouth betrayed her, and a whisper escaped her lips: “Always.” Shego relaxed her grip at that, just a bit. She probably hadn’t even noticed. Kim leaned back into her. Not to enjoy her touch, certainly not, though if that happened, the feeling would be welcome. As soon as Kim got some space between her chin and Shego’s arm, she twisted out of the hold and kicked off with her legs into a backflip. She grinned into Shego’s surprised face as she passed over her, sure to maintain eye contact for as long as possible, then grabbed Shego at the shoulders and launched her with the momentum of her flip.
She glanced back as Shego flew off into the darkness. Drakken and Ron were wrestling over some tube and Rufus was pulling at Drakken’s ear to get him off Ron. They could handle it. Kim started running after Shego. A distant thud marked her impact. She winced at it. That sounded like it had hurt.
She caught up just as Shego was getting back up. The wooden crate behind her was broken, and the metal bar of the shelf was bent. She was on her girlfriend in a second, hands rushing over ribs and spine and searching for injuries.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry, I didn’t think you’d hit it so hard.”
“I’m fine, Kim,” Shego said, though Kim could hear that her voice was strained. Shego pulled her into a hug. “I’ve had worse. Hurt like a bitch though. It’s been a while since you’ve thrown me like that, I’m not used to the landing.”
“Hmm,” Kim purred into the hug and rubbed her hand over Shego’s back, “I’ll have to change up my style then. Accommodate your aging reflexes.”
“Excuse you?”
“My beautiful and graceful girlfriend’s aging reflexes, who gets only more beautiful with every year.”
Shego chuckled. “Damn right I do. But if you go easy on me, I will beat your ass.”
“Promise?” Shego didn’t respond but hugged her harder.
After a while, Shego started, as if she suddenly remembered something important. She pulled out of the hug and assumed a dramatic pose entirely unsuited to fighting. “Hr-hrm. I meant to say: ‘I’ll show you who’s okay!’” Her plasma ignited at her hands and cast their surroundings in a deep green light that somehow managed to look dark and lifeless, except where it reflected off her features and her glowing smile.
Kim looked at her in awe. It was far from the first time Shego had shown off for her like that; she knew exactly the effect she had on her. One time Kim had actually clapped in excitement, and even now it took all her self-control to not rush in for the kiss. Instead, she took on a real fighting stance, beckoned Shego over with her hand, and said in her deepest voice: “Then bring it on!”
Shego came in swinging at her head. Left, right. Kim dodged the first to the side, then ducked below the second. The plasma-lined fist passed just above her head. She could feel the heat, but it didn’t burn her, never did. She punched straight ahead at Shego from her crouch, but Shego twirled to the side and used that spin to launch a kick aimed at her waist. Kim had to block it with her arm. That locked her in place for just a moment, and left her open to Shego’s left hook. It clocked her right on the cheek and knocked her over Shego’s leg. Pure reflexes allowed her to land on her hands instead of her head, and she flew away on a series of backflips to put distance between them. She landed standing straight on her feet, as she had done hundreds of times in cheerleader practice, but she wobbled and had to take a step backward until her head stopped spinning.
Shego had paused for a moment, but when Kim steadied herself, she resumed the fight and started throwing bolts of plasma. Kim dodged them, first side-stepping and then rolling. When she finally found a moment to breathe, she shouted, “Wait!”
Shego frowned, but stopped. “Why?”
“Can we not do the bolts today?”
“What, scared you’re gonna lose? You should have stayed up close if you can’t handle the range.”
“No, but you’re going to set the whole place on fire.”
“Duh,” Shego pointed at herself, “Villain, Kimmie.”
“Ughh, I know you don’t care, but I don’t have the energy to deal with a warehouse fire tonight. It’s already late.”
“Past your bedtime, princess?”
“Yes, actually. Can we just fight normally and then I leave, without having to deal with shelf domino and burning crates?”
Shego looked at her incredulously. “Kimmie, you were the one bouncing off these shelves and knocking me into them.”
“Oh. Uhhh, I won’t do it again?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, please?”
“Fine,” Shego extinguished her plasma and charged at her. “What’s so urgent,” she asked between punches, “that you need to get back to?”
“Just my bed,” Kim sighed. She kicked at Shego’s head and Shego ducked under it, into a grapple. A familiar dance. Kim moved to leap over Shego’s shoulder with the momentum of her kick.
“Tempting.” Kim missed the moment and Shego tackled her to the ground. She hit it hard, her leg pinned under Shego’s arm and her own arm underneath that leg. Shego secured her other arm, then lay down on top of her, her soft body holding her tight against the floor. “I win, princess.” Her face was hovering just inches above Kim’s.
Kim struggled against her but had to admit she couldn’t get out. And increasingly didn’t want to. She looked up at Shego’s lips, then her eyes. “Yeah, you do.” She raised her head as far as she could, but couldn’t quite reach her. Shego took mercy on her and gave her a peck on the lips.
“You free after this?”
“No,” Kim sighed. “I wish. I’ve got finals tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Shego released her. “That was tomorrow? Not next Tuesday?”
“Definitely tomorrow.”
Shego sat back and helped Kim up to a sitting position. “I’m sorry, Kimmie. I completely forgot. Are you gonna be fine?”
“I was thinking of getting in some last-minute studying tonight, but it’s late now and I’m probably too exhausted. What were you stealing anyway?”
“Some amplifier or another. Some scientist Drakken follows discarded it as a failure, but Drakken thinks he knows how to use it.”
“And of course you weren’t paying attention,” Kim rolled her eyes. “I suppose I’ve got another laser cannon to look forward to then?”
“Probably, yeah. It looks like the kind of thing he’d plug into one. But don’t worry about that for now. You focus on your exams, I’ll make sure Drakken doesn’t finish it before you’re done.”
“I was hoping I’d see you tomorrow? After finals, not like this.”
“Hmm, you drive a hard bargain.” Shego leaned in and kissed her again. “I can’t delay him if I’m not there. But I could come over tonight and help you study.”
Kim tore away from her and gave her a look.
“What? I’m serious, I could help you study and then we go to sleep. I can keep my hands to myself for one night.”
“You’re sweet.” Kim climbed into her lap and kissed her. Shego’s lips parted for her and she pushed further in, Shego’s heat enveloping her tongue. Shego moaned into the kiss and her heat transferred into Kim, first into her mouth, then spreading into her chest and shoulders. Her heart beat faster than it ever did during their fights. After a blissfully long moment, they separated and caught their breath.
“But I don’t think I can.” She smirked at Shego and stood up. She took Shego’s hand in her own and, instead of helping her up, kissed her knuckles. “Call me when you need me? Or beep me.”
Their moment was shattered by Drakken’s cry. “Shego!”
“You don’t think—” Shego asked.
They turned toward the sound and saw Ron strolling toward them, the flashlight in the sleeve of his combat suit lighting the way. He was juggling the amplifier in his hands. “Ooh-yeah. Stoppable saves the day, again!” He struck a pose and caught it behind his back. He held out his other hand and Rufus jumped up into a high-five, shouting “Boo-yah!”
“Ron! You beat Drakken?”
“Oh, hi KP!” Ron turned to her with finger guns. The sudden focus of the flashlight was blinding. “Who da ma—Aah!” He jumped when he saw Shego. “Uhh, Hi! Shego! Ma’am!” He trembled in a salute, trying to hide the amplifier behind his back.
“Stoppable,” Shego laughed. “Relax.”
He held his salute. “We, uh, we good?”
“Yes, we’re good, I’m not going to attack you.”
“Oh, phew. Anyway, KP, check this out! It’s the thingy Drakken was after.” He tossed it toward her, then froze as soon as he realized what he had done. Shego caught the device easily.
“Ron,” Kim facepalmed. But Shego handed it off to her.
“No, you earned this. You beat him fair and square?”
Ron glowed with pride. “Nothing fair about it! He didn’t stand a chance against my Monkey Kung Fu!” He performed an embarrassingly bad imitation of direct-to-DVD kung fu moves, while chanting “huuuooo-aaaahh.”
Kim and Shego made faces at each other. Shego stepped closer to her, and Kim’s breath caught. Her world narrowed in on Shego’s lips.
“Princess, this is great. Change of plans.”
“It is?” She leaned up into Shego’s face. Shego’s palm against her face stopped her.
“Yeah. Without the amplifier, Drakken’s plan is done and you can focus completely on your finals.”
“Mh-hm.” She kissed Shego’s palm and watched her blush. In any light but this, it would be the most beautiful color on Earth. “And I’ll see you after?”
“I’ll take my paid leave tomorrow and I’ll pick you up for vacation as soon as you’re done.”
That snapped Kim out of her trance. It had been ages since they’d had a vacation together. “You are? Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I’ll need to pack!”
“You just focus on your finals. I can let myself in while you’re taking the test and pack for you.”
“You’re the best.” She gave Shego a quick peck on the cheek. “I can’t wait!”
“Kim...” Shego covered her cheek with her hand, clearly embarrassed.
“Ron’s known the entire time.”
“I know that, I just—”
“And I don’t want to keep hiding you forever.”
Shego’s eyes grew serious at that, as if she’d just decided on something. She leaned down and kissed Kim on the lips. “I don’t want that either.” Then she grew flustered at her own actions and looked around nervously. “I should get going, Drakken’s probably worrying already. And you need to get back to your dorm.”
“See you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I-I love you too,” she stammered, and fled.
When Shego was gone, Ron came back up to her. “So, you’ve got a date out of this?”
“Whole vacation apparently!”
“Boo-yah!” he pumped his fist in the air.
Kim turned on her flashlight, now that they didn’t need to be stealthy anymore, and they made for the exit.
“Because we stopped Drakken from stealing this thing?”
“I’ll have you know that we were already planning the date when you showed up.” With one glance at his heartbroken face, she added, “But you were awesome. You da man, Ron.”
“Thanks, KP.” His spirits immediately recovered and he started dancing on the way out. “Uh-huh, uh-huh! There is nothing he can’t do, beating villains with kung fu. Whenever there’s trouble, go call Ron Stop-pa-ble!”
They got to the car and Kim put it on autopilot. She was way too tired to drive safely, especially at her speeds. As the Sloth pulled onto the highway, she dialled up Wade.
“Hi, Kim. How’d it go?”
“We stopped Drakken and got the device. Actually, Ron got it.”
“Uh-huh!”
“Awesome. Well done, Ron! Any clue what it does?”
“Shego mentioned something about an amplifier for a laser.”
“Wait, for real?” Ron cut in. “Why is he amplifying his lasers? The lasers work fine! It’s the self-destruct buttons he needs to worry about!”
It was quarter past two when Kim got back to her room and she was dead tired. She slipped off her combat suit and into her pyjamas. It was only while brushing her teeth that her brain switched back on. She rushed into her room and dug into her closet, tossing aside shirts and pants to reach the little white box hidden in the back. Shego could not be allowed to find it when she came to pack Kim’s bags. Kim held it to her chest reverently. Her entire future resided in that box, one small rose gold and emerald ring that would change her world forever. She’d taken the money out of the savings account she kept, the one with all the donations from rich people she’d saved who had insisted she accept their money. More than one she’d saved from Shego.
It could not stay here. She emptied her school bag and put it at the bottom, then filled the bag back up. She’d take it with her to finals tomorrow, and she’d have it on her when Shego picked her up for their vacation afterwards. Wherever it was that they were going, perhaps she’d find the perfect moment there.
She grabbed the framed picture of Shego from her nightstand when she went to bed and she hugged it close as she fell asleep. That night she dreamt of white beaches, of clear skies and clearer water, of deep green eyes and black lips drawing her in.