#hopefully if I don't remember something it means it wasn't important

[hapuriainen]

Hapuriainen's animation, comics & Games from 2024

Anime: Delicious in Dungeon, One Piece Fan Letter

The magical girl stuff: Wonderful Precure!, Heartcatch Precure!, Precure movies, Märchen Mädchen, Sasaki & Peeps, MahoAko, MahoAku, MahoNare, Acro Trip, Magilumiere, Samurai Flamenco

Manga: Shangri-la Frontier, Pokemon Adventures, How Do We Relationship, Vinland Saga, A Sign of Affection, Maison Ikkoku, Girls Last Tour, A Sinner of the Deep Sea, Go with the Clouds North-by-Northwest, Enidewi, Is Reiroukan still alive?, A Kingdom of Quartz

Continuing: One Piece, Undead Unluck, My Hero Academia (end), Spy x Family, Frieren, Witch Hat Atelier.

The magical girl stuff: Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card, Shugo Chara Dream Joker, Magical Girl Dandelion, Mermaid Melody Aqua, Champignon Witch, Pretty Guardian Stress, Who Said Blues had to be Cool

Games: Zelda games (Adventure of Link, Majora's Mask, Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, Minish Cap, Spirit Tracks, A Link between Worlds, Echoes of Wisdom), Pokemon Scarlet DLC, Animal Crossing New Horizons DLC, Ghost Trick. Unfinished: Some Pokemon BW2, Overcooked, Super Mario Wonder.

Movies: Elemental, Spy x Family Code White

Overall I think I watched very little animation that wasn't magical girls, and those have been extensively documented on the other blog. Dunmeshi and the second half of Frieren the only non-mahou anime I can remember, and I meant to watch many of the newer Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks movies but keep missing the chance and haven't even seen Wish yet. Hopefully next year will be better on this front, I do like magical girls but it's nice to branch out too.

The manga side had a bit more variation. I finished/caught up with several titles that were in the Humble Bundle set of award winning manga, but there's still plenty left. Vinland Saga is really good and I'm sad to see it go now that it's clearly about to end, Shangri-la is shallow as a puddle but good fun, and Sign of Affection is ok I guess but a bit bland. I also read a bunch of Harta/adjacent manga this year for the art and vibes.

Then I surprisingly started reading Pokemon Adventures, because I simply need to meet the manga version of Scarlet. I started from the beginning though and haven't even made it out of the Ruby/Sapphire arc yet so it's still a long way. So far I've been really happy with the writing of the female characters, but I hear the quality drops on that front after Platinum which makes me worried.

This year I've been quite the gamer because I played something other than one of the big Nintendo franchises I've been playing for years. Which is Ghost Trick and Overcooked, both of which were great. Mario Wonder is still in progress, it's a fun game but doesn't exactly have a gripping narrative, but I'll finish it for Daisy. Next year looks promising for game variety too since I bought a bunch of games from the Switch e-shop sale (and already finished Gris but that was in 2025).

For Pokemon I unexpectedly became a total hardcore player and voluntarily gave Protect to more than one mon. Ultimately getting into the competitive aspect is way too much upfront work with team building, but I feel I gained a lot of appreciation of the franchise in how there's some really complex mechanics under that kid friendly gameplay. And then I even got into the gotta catch 'em all aspect when I finally downloaded Pokemon Home and started filling my Dex, but that project is on pause right now since there's just no way I'll be able to get some of the rare/version exclusive mons. Also I found 3 shinies in like a week which still baffles me.

Best work: Echoes of Wisdom

Best music: Eow final boss final phase

Best visuals: One Piece Fan Letter, EniDewi

Best character design: Delicious in Dungeon in general

Best OP: Magilumiere (for the song)

Best ED: Samurai Flamenco ed1 is the one I most often didn't skip so I guess it wins, no real standouts this year

Biggest WTF: All those shinies in Pokemon. Also Mikau's death (in Majora's Mask) was really funny. The reveal of the painting in Ghost Trick was a great twist.

Best Girl: EoW Zelda, PokeSpe Sapphire for runner up

Best Boy: Thorfinn (Vinland Saga), Sissel (Ghost Trick) for second place

Best Side Girl: Hilda (a Link between Worlds)

Best Side Boy: Kieran, and also my Skeledirge! (Pokemon Scarlet)

Worst Girl: Lukia from Mermaid Melody Aqua

Worst Boy: This goes to Mermaid Melody Aqua too, forget his name but he sucks

Worst Side Girl: the other magical girl from MahoAku had a cute design but character wise was pretty worthless

Worst Side Boy: the one note big corporation boss from Magilumiere, those blue armoured freaks from Zelda 2 (assuming they're male)

Best romance: Elemental was ok, or alternatively SatoIro from Wonderful Precure

Best non-romantic relationship: I like what they did with EoW Link and Zelda but I'm not sure if I ship them

Worst romance: Lukia's drama from Mermaid Melody Aqua

Worst non-romantic relationship:

Plans for 2025:

Maybe it'll finally be the year of NGE? I should start keeping track of how many years I've been saying I'll watch Eva at some point…

Some anime that is not magical girls

Finish the backlog Precure seasons

Finish the backlog Zelda games

Wish, Inside Out 2, Wild Robot, Moana 2

The stuff from the Switch e shop sale

[itsnotmuchyet]

Okay, this is just a quick (lies, this ended up so long) and dirty articulation of why I don't like Annabeth Chase from PJO, her relationship with Percy, and what I think could fix it. (It got too long so I cut that bit. I'll write it if someone asks, but right now this is just a deconstruction of how, in my opinion, Annabeth Chase is not a well-written and compelling character.) This will be rambling and scattershot but hopefully it all makes sense, even if you don't agree.

First of all, Annabeth Chase has a lot of potential. I'm about to talk some shit, but I want to be clear, I see a lot in her character that could be interesting. I attribute most of my problems with her to Rick's writing, which, for all its good qualities, is not the strongest or most consistent imo. This isn't intended as a hate piece, just a way to organize my thoughts. I'm doing this all from memory, and am open to feedback, disagreement, or correction if I make a mistake so long as it's done in a civil way. Thank you.

I think my biggest frustration with Annabeth is that I simply don't believe her intelligence. I would LIKE to. But I think we are told that she is smart far more than we're shown, which makes the praise heaped upon her somewhat galling.

When I think about great strategies in these books, Percy comes to mind first. In The Last Olympian, he's the one who plans out the destruction of the bridges to frustrate Kronos' approach, including making diplomatic deals with the river gods and strategically deploying demigods to get it done. He's the one to realize that Poseidon is critical to success, find a way to get his attention in the middle of a war, and convince him to take heavy losses in Atlantis — and lose that battle which was very personal and precious to him — in order to win the ultimate war against Kronos. It is also Percy's strategy which is successful in defeating Typhon. Percy is constantly thinking up strategies in high pressure environments, such as fights. For example, in the Labrynth, when he realizes that his half-brother is healed by earth so he concocts a method with what he has around him to keep his brother suspended so he can be killed.

Now, other demigods also make important contributions in The Last Olympian. Wasn't it Nico who convinced Hades, Persephone, and Demeter to join the fight? And Annabeth activated Daedalus(??? spelling) statues in defense as well. But Percy is one that we are most often shown being strategic. I think it just goes under the radar because Percy does not have a high self esteem and does not praise himself internally for a lot of the clever stuff he does.

Annabeth most often contributes by knowing something. She often serves as exposition; she'll recognize a myth first, and explain it to Percy. But not only is prior knowledge and memorization not a replacement for actual strategy, BUT PERCY GETS BETTER GRADES THAN HER. I think it's in that Demigod Files book?? All Riordan's stuff has at least a month's waitlist at my library or I would double check my source, but I distinctly remember an entry where Annabeth is like, "Seriously, how is Percy getting better grades than me?? I'm the one who taught him how to put an essay together and now he's breezing through them??? Wtf." I find this intensely frustrating. Because what do you MEAN she's not even more successful than Percy academically? It's just, it's frustrating, because she's supposed to be so super smart, and I'm struggling to see where that actually gets expressed. If her only advantage is an earlier exposure to the Greek myths than Percy and a good memory, then her value as a character is highest near the start of the series and can only decline from there.

Even her encounter with the Sphinx highlights this. She had the trivia knowledge to answer the questions but not the wisdom to just, do that and not start an unnecessary fight in the middle of their quest.

I can think of several times in the books where Annabeth stutters, trying to think of something, while Percy improvises something that might be a little goofy but it WORKS.

Actually, Percy is by far the better manipulator out of the two of them. He is insanely good at reading his enemies, figuring out how to convince them to ally with him if possible, or defeat them if not. His big vulnerability is he can't do that for shit with people he cares about. Percy is actually very conflict avoidant in his personal life, I've noticed? And he's very quick to empathize with a friend and try to see things from their persepective (like when Grover kinda SABOTAGED his college applications and Percy heard him out and supported him in his emotional struggle with Percy leaving).

By contrast, Annabeth doesn't seem interested in the emotional wellbeing of her friends?

Annabeth often insults Percy's intelligence and his strategies. She says his head is full of kelp, seaweed brain, outright calls him stupid at least once (during that quest for Hermes, if I recall; was that in the Demigod Files as well? It wasn't in a main book I don't think). Everyone says that Annabeth is so smart, she's the daughter of Athena she's the architect of Olympus!! Meanwhile, the person I see actually implementing successful strategy is the person Annabeth constantly insults. She says that he's lucky, that he needs help to do anything, couldn't think his way out of a paper bag without her????????

That's what drives me crazy about Annabeth. Nobody ever calls her on her bragging or her putting down of other people. She doesn't learn. Not even when her carelessness and overconfidence gets her DRAGGED INTO TARTARUS. I'm so sorry, but is it not embarrassing for a daughter of Athena to be defeated like that??? All you had to do was keep an awareness of your environment, put two and two together that you're covered in webs just like the spider who just fell through the floor, and realize you'd better do something about that ASAP. And, like. Look. My issue isn't that she was pulled into Tartarus. My issue isn't even the way it happened. It matches with her fatal flaw.

My issue is that, like with everything else she gets wrong, she never seems to learn or grow from it. Like when Luke tricked her into holding up the sky. That to me is a perfect opportunity for a genuine character moment. It's so humbling, and would leave you so shaken. A moment for an unwanted but desperately needed reckoning between who she wants Luke to be and who he is. I'm not even saying she should have given up on him. I don't mind that she couldn't or that the whole thing was so messy and painful for her, but the way that it was expressed in the book made me feel like Annabeth was either willfully blind or untrustworthy. Her denial of Luke's worst aspects, her defending of him, her refusal to hold space for other characters feeling differently to her, all of it fostered suspicion in me when I first read the PJO books.

I remember when I first read the scene where Percy reveals his Achille's heel to her. My hair stood on end. Something about the way her eyes are described as "distant" when she asks where it is, and how Percy hesitates. In that moment I was screaming for him not to trust her. I did not want her to know. I thought his fatal flaw was going to kill him. Percy is a character who cannot anticipate betrayal.

Of course I was wrong about Annabeth there. Or was I? Other people before me have noted that when Annabeth judo flips Percy onto his back in New Rome, she does not know that the Mark of Achilles has been lifted. I don't think that the throw would have necessarily killed him if it hadn't; he lands on a flat surface. But it was certainly DEEPLY careless and foolhardy of Annabeth, EVEN BEFORE you take into account that it was, strategically, a STUPID thing to do. It makes me want to scream how dumb this moment makes Annabeth look. It's the tense, fraught first meeting in years between ancient enemies. You're the leader of your group, the diplomatic ambassador from Camp Half Blood. It's imperative that this goes well, for the fate of the world. And your emotions run so high upon reuniting with your kidnapped boyfriend — who was stolen by a god and has been through you-don't-know-what kind of godly fuckery — that you take it out on him, the VICTIM, and physically attack him. Didn't she put a knife to his throat?? If PERCY hadn't defused the moment, handled it, Annabeth would easily have destroyed the Greek-Roman alliance right there, no ghostly possession of Leo needed. With friends like her, who needs enemies?

Her relationship with Percy…I've never understood why they're the golden couple of the fandom. Annabeth seemed more interested in Luke than Percy, and when she was interested in Percy it was always…like, okay, Annabeth was vulnerable with Luke. I don't think he ever had a thing for her, but there was a tenderness to how she'd interact with him. When she interacted with Percy — think of the school dance, or how she handled having Rachel on a quest — she refuses to be vulnerable with him. If she has a crush on Percy, she hides it under glares, insults, and demands. Annabeth won't ask Percy to dance with her, she'll hit him and call him stupid for not asking her. She will not let her guard down with him.

This is a throughline in their relationship; even in Tartarus, she's thinking about how she likes to keep Percy on her toes. Yeah, Annabeth, we know. It was obvious when you manufactured a whole drama around your "one month anniversary." Which, no, that's not a thing, and it's completely normal of Percy not to anticipate that you would want him to do something special for it. I hated that whole story (it's in demigod files, I think). It's just Annabeth dangling Percy over undefined consequences if he doesn't read her mind and figure out what she wants and needs. He does all the work and she judges it. It's not cute or fun.

I do place most of the blame on Riordan's writing. What's that scene where Annabeth pushes Percy unexpectably off a cliff, triggering a very sensitive and dangerous encounter that he had to negotiate under time pressure while Annabeth watches? How does that scene start? "Get you a girlfriend who…" It's framed as a positive that Annabeth will just shove Percy into dangerous situations without warning when she absolutely does not have to do that. Isn't she supposed to be strategic? Why can't she think up a strategy and tell him, instead of shoving him at the problem and just, putting it on him to find a solution? "Give the problem to Percy" isn't a strategy worthy of Athena, I'm sorry. But my point is, Rick genuinely seems to think their romance is good and these red flag moments are cute and flirty. He is not writing Annabeth as an asshole on purpose.

I tend towards death of the author analyses myself, but Rick's writing is not consistent enough for that. You kinda just have to identify what he was trying to do, see where it failed, and decide how you wanna interpret that. And when it comes to Annabeth…I just want to either burn her relationship with Percy down or rewrite her character.

What else is there? Oh yeah, does anyone else feel like the way her family is written makes her seem…overdramatic? Like, meeting her dad and stepmom…it's an anticlimax. This girl was so unhappy she ran away from home as a child. She chose to become homeless in a world where monsters hunt her down, AS A CHILD, rather than stay with her dad. There's a deep unhappiness and loss to that. When she talks about it, she talks about being unwanted, a burden that her dad was unable and unwilling to handle, not being heard, not being believed. She is describing victim blaming. In that house, she, a six year old child, was seen as the problem.

And after that build up, we meet her family, and they are…well, they're fine, aren't they. Her step mom is concerned for her. She and Annabeth's dad (no i don't remember his name rn) seem to want the best for her, to help however they can. Mr Chase—is his name Frederick maybe???—Mr Chase takes the initiative, after Percy and his friends let him in on a sliver of what's going on with Annabeth, to melt down old weapons to make bullets and FLY A HELICOPTER to come save his daughter.

I'm honestly at a loss about what we're supposed to think here. At the end of Titan's Curse Percy gently suggests to Annabeth that she give her family another chance. If I recall, she says some things can't be repaired, but it's implied that she does actually try again with her family later. This always seemed to me to undermine Annabeth's entire narrative…the way she describes being treated simply does not match what we observe for ourselves in Titan's Curse.

I could go on but I'll cut it here. Maybe I'll make a post about I'd rewrite her if I could, because I do WANT to like Annabeth. There's a lot interesting that could be done with her. Probably not though bc all the Annabeth stans are gonna block me for this one I fear. Maybe I'll post my criticisms of other PJO couples instead lol (I won't. if you've read this far you'll find this claim dubious, but I actually don't enjoy being a hater. anyway i don't have nearly so much to say about any other pjo couple). Thanks for reading.

[mochinomnoms]

I can't stop having Jade thoughts so I'm gonna throw them at you.

I know people have talked about PTM yuu playing into Jade's dirty thoughts to get a rise out of him, but I really just... I can stop thinking of Yuu just giving Jade sudden and subtle compliments. Like they hear his thoughts and there's an insecurity he doesn't talk about and Yuu makes a comment to try to make him feel better. Or Yuu doesn't even have to be subtle in compliments. Maybe Jade did something different with his outfit or maybe is trying a new perfume to hopefully get Yuu's attention and Yuu didn't notice it but they overheard Jade's thoughts so they comment on it and Jade gets so happy.

Or Jade has thoughts of how he's trying to act cool or handsome but Yuu calls him cute or pretty instead. Like he wasn't expecting to hear that and now he's a blushy and having to hide away to get his act back together.

Also a kinds related but also not really thought. If Yuu ever comments how they can tell Jade's fake smiles vs his real ones how would Jade react? Luke his fake smile doesn't show teeth but his real one does or something. And if Yuu said they likes his real smile more or comments that his real smile is cute then what? Would he die?

Aaaaaa you can always send me Jade thoughts I love my darling Jade!!!

Would you all be surprised to hear that it's actually the sweeter things that make him fall further in love with Yuu and not just the more risque scenarios (tho he does love those too).

Jade as a character is always performing a certain way, not necessarily to please others but to get what he wants out of them. We can see it in other's perceptions in the game, his classmates know that Jade is just as unhinged as his brother and manipulative as Azul, but others don't. Trey thinks Jade is like him, trying to just placate situations and being a pushover to his housewarden and brother, when Riddle points out that it's very much not the case. Vil gets unsettled when Jade is able to perfectly perform every single task he's given, no matter how impossible. Even when his perfect image as a soft-spoken, polite man is shattered once others find out just how mean and condescending he is, there is still a general notion that he's capable, intimidating, and almost a miracle maker. In fact, he revels in how unsettled he makes others, finding it funny.

But he doesn't want Yuu to see him like that, he doesn't want them to be put off by him. But the reality is that they've already have been looking at that way, and it's been a whole year for them to develop their own notions of Jade as a person.

It's a deep insecurity he has regarding them, a fear that Yuu will never see past that image. Maybe it's why he has such vivid daydreams, ones skipping right over that roadblock and immediately turning into one where he's already won their heart, rather than fighting for it. He's a bit of a coward, he hates to admit it, the fear of not being capable for once stumping his development.

Of course, Yuu knows this, and as much as they don't want to admit it, they've grown fond of Jade the longer they hear his thoughts. He is so firm in performing a certain way, it's nice to hear how open he really wants to be with them. (It's also the fact that it's only with them he wants to be open with that makes them a bit pleased, even if they don't want to admit it.)

But it's a bit hard to do outwardly experience that when Jade is so firm on being be person he thinks they want, and the Seven know hat they won't make the first move, so they try what they can to pull him out.

"It's so rare to see you smile like that, I kinda wish you'd do it more."

"I like your hair when it's pushed back, makes you give off a different vibe...huh? What kind? Aaah, nothing important..."

"Come on, I see the gears turning in your head, you have a joke? Tell it, I don't mind!"

"I remember this! Epel's grandma really went all out with your clothes. Haha, you look kinda cute with that hat..."

It helps, Jade becomes less concerned about being a certain way around Yuu, but does become more preoccupied with trying to get them to say more things about him.

He's hoping, with how sweet their words are, that a slip of the tongue might bring out a confession. Yuu is hoping for the same. I suppose it's a matter of who will utter those three little words first.

[aakaneeee]

well people. . It's time, aka Akane's monthly revival because there's Luka content. And gosh do I have a lot to say about this. Except.. I'm not going to market these as theories, but as predictions. I think as an og fan I've seen enough to be this confident in my abilities LOL

Quickly, I'd like to address the lyrics and the title, because I will reference it later and I don't want to have to explain mid-prediction.

Wiege has two meanings, and both are so fitting:

1. Cradle. It feels.. perfect, for me. It makes so much sense. Luka was a cold child.. but I'd like to say only physically. I feel like he genuinely warmed up towards Hyuna and Hyunwoo as a child. And I'm going to bring an idea that might get me a bit of backlash but.. I've gotten worse, and that is, that Hyuna is at fault for Luka's approach on his feelings. (Audience boos) From the little we know about Hyunwoo, I feel like Hyuna treated both him and Luka.. at least a little bit similarly. Or at least, Luka couldn't discern a difference, if there was any. Luka is a tube baby, he probably doesn't know (and I am not babying him here, I'd like to add!) what "siblings" he has. For him, affection might just be all and the same. Yes, it wasn't Hyuna's responsibility to teach him, but I feel like a hint was there "Your life is mine", and she could've explained, in a way. But, back to our discussion, Hyuna was Luka's cradle. She burns as bright as the sun, while he's colder. But most importantly, she was his only true friend (Considering I don't think his relationship with Hyunwoo was extremely close, even though they were 'friends'), someone he thought truly cared about him. Hyuna was Luka's cradle, holding him close, comfortable... until at one point, he outgrows that cradle (Hyunwoo's death).

And the second meaning, beginning. In the picture we got, Luka is centered, he's in the middle.. but he's so small, and overshadowed by the tree. Luka is the best performer of the ANAKT, always first, but has no friends. But perhaps, he was better that way. Then, Hyuna comes, and it's a new beginning. He's finally not alone. What I've noticed in the new banner, Luka is missing, but across the tree trunk, in his place, is a taller shadow. Perhaps, a shadow of who Luka was, hopefully still left in there. Or, the other way around, it symbolizes his real self being left there.

And the lyrics:

When I close my eyes,

Play in paradise.

These, to me, remind me of the interview where Luka said his favorite game was hide and seek. In a way, his whole ANAKT life was a game of hide and seek: hiding all the time, but no one trying to seek him. Until Hyuna did, and found him. Something that intrigues me is the "paradise", which to me sounds like what Mizi once said: Dying in competition means returning to the Great Anakt, which I suppose is to them like Heaven.. or Paradise. This will be important later, so remember it.

And now, my predictions for the HyuLuka episode

! First of all, I think the song will be lullaby-like. When I first saw this teaser, with the lyrics, as weird as it sounds, it reminded me of Richard's song in The Hero in TAWOG, a song that always gets me to cry for some reason, and I've been really stuck on that . It would be interesting, because it would fit Luka's voice (as does everything else), but probably not Hyuna's, even though 6FU; would eat it.. which to me, sounds like their "love", where Luka loves her, but it isn't returned. I'd love to see more German in it than just in the title. And considering the nostalgic, pastel, very cutesy artstyle (that reminds me of the memory part from Jordan River animation!), it seems very viable. But the art style is also noisy, which gives an unsettling vibe. It feels like a 2020's dreamcore wallpaper.

I might be crazy, but the hand holding the flower (with only 3 stamens, like the 3 friends) looks dark-skinned, like it would be Hyuna's or Hyunwoo's, but I doubt it would be his, considering it's the account's profile picture. If this is some kind of reference to.. perhaps, an unrequited Hyuluka but the other way around, with Hyuna still not over Luka.. probably won't happen, but God, would that be awesome.

So, how do I think the round will go?

First of all, I have to say, I'm not sure if this will be a round or a Mizisua type episode.😭 I'd say "oh the wait time is way too small" but also... do you guys remember the production announcement of Round 7? Yeah. You can never be sure.

This isn't necessarily a prediction, but more of a suggestion of what could be: It would be SO cool if it would be both.. in a way, merged. This idea just appeared in my mind and I was like OH. MY. GOD. Imagine if almost the whole thing was just them, as children, having fun, a whole backstory.. but then, when Hyunwoo dies, it pans on his face, and then it's back on stage, the loser's face instead of his. It would be so heartwarming, and then DEEPLY DISTURBING and traumatizing. I also really want some Luka and Heperu backstory so I can hate Heperu even more.

On the topic of the loser... It's going to be Luka. I'm an insane Luka lover and it was hard to get accommodated to this idea, but there is no way that he will survive. First of all, the shadow in the account's banner, in place of Luka. It's implications... are quite obvious. Second, the pattern of characters shown in Sweet Dream, and he is next. Third: "In my arms, you would be protected." I feel like Luka would consider the competition "In his arms". I don't think he would break his promise: hear me out for a second. He wouldn't let Hyuna die this way, because I feel like his sense of possession over her also comes with responsibility and protectiveness. And fourth, the Paradise lyric, to me, is a foreshadowing of his death.

I also think he will die by self sacrifice. First of all, there's no way Hyuna could defeat Luka by pure odds. Yes, her stats are better, but lets be honest, her mental power would NOT be as good infront of Luka, and also, the aliens wouldn't vote her. She's a rebel, wanted for so much time, with technically no guardian: they wouldn't want her to defeat their prince, probably. And second, I have made two categories:

The "perfects": Sua, Ivan, Luka

The "rebels": Mizi, Till, Hyuna

See something similar? Both the perfects that are dead, have died by self-sacrifice. The only other dead character, Till, has been shot while reaching for his freedom, so you can't say this is for all characters. And let's be honest.. Patterns are usually being followed in this series. Id also like to add, even though it's a reach, that in a tier of how 'perfect' they are, it'd be:

1. Luka

2. Sua - not so obvious self sacrifice

3. Ivan - obvious self sacrifice

So, I'd say that Luka's might be even more backstage, as if to sabotage himself in a way that seems viable. It also kind of goes in line with his character, he's not one to break facade on stage.

I think this episode will be quite a deep-dive into their true selves. We know the least about them, so this will be GREAT. I'd love to see a more morally gray Hyuna in this. (Since I'm genuinely kind of tired of only Luka being villainized in the ship, which honestly..  is kind of in line with the other perfects. Let's let Mizi, Till and Hyuna be little freaks too) I also want to see atleast a little bit of Hyunwoo, like a little snippet of his mind, what he saw in Luka.

In conclusion, I'm SO happy and hyped about this HyuLuka episode, they're so mysterious and I really really want to see more of L- I mean, more of them. Getting 2 episodes where Luka is present one after another is literally THE dream to me. Basically, Wiege is killing me and I'm gladly letting it.

@4listr Since you asked to be tagged and also, @rockwgooglyeyes I REALLY want your opinion on this

[lucy90712]

Is it too late?- Pedri

WC: 3.2k

Pregnant. The two lines on the stick were staring back at me as I looked at them in disbelief. My mind couldn't decide whether to be happy or to have a breakdown so I just stood there emotionless until tears started coming down my face but I couldn't tell you if they were happy tears or not. Part of me is a little bit excited as Pedri and I have been together for a few years now and as much as we haven't spoken too much about having kids we both said we'd like to start a family of our own one day so why not let that day be now. The more I thought about it the more the anxiety faded as I know Pedri will be a great dad and as long as I have him I know we will figure it out together. 

Pedri's not home as he's playing so I have a bit of time to figure out how to tell him. I didn't go to the game as I've been so sick the last few days which is why I took the test in the first place. With it being late I don't have many options and time isn't on my side as it's already half time so I don't have too long until Pedri comes home. My first thought was to tell someone to get their help but I stopped myself as I want Pedri to be the first person to know that we are going to bring life into the world. I really want this moment to be special so after a lot of scrolling through Pinterest I decided to go for something relatively simple but cute at the same time. 

After the game I got everything set up and waited for Pedri downstairs with my surprise hidden waiting for him when he got home. The more time that passed the more nervous I got and I started to wonder if Pedri would be happy at all I mean his career is still taking off and he's always busy will he really want to be tied down by a child. When the door opened those thought went away for a second until I saw Pedri's face and I could tell something was wrong. For a moment I wondered if he somehow knew and wasn't happy but then I remembered that there is no way he could know as I hadn't told a soul yet. Knowing it wasn't that I was suddenly even more nervous than before as it means there's something else that's wrong. What if he's injured again that would just be soul crushing for the both of us.

"Is everything ok babe?" I asked 

"Everything's fine but there's something I need to tell you" he said 

"There's something I need to tell you too" I said nervously 

"Hopefully we are on the same page then because I think we should break up" he said like it was nothing 

"W-what" I questioned 

"I'm sorry y/n but nows just not the time for me to be in a relationship there's too much going on in my life and I don't want something always tying me down" he explained 

"Ok" is all I could reply 

"What were you going to say?" He asked 

"Don't worry about it it's not important now" I said 

"Ok well you can stay here for as long as you need I'm sorry things had to end this way" he said 

No other words left my mouth I just took myself off to our bedroom and locked the door to be alone with my thoughts. Only after I sat down did it really hit me he just broke up with me and I'm pregnant with his child. What do I do now? I have to tell him right but nows surely not the time there's too many emotions and I know Pedri will say we should get back together even though that's clearly not what he wants. Do I even keep the baby I mean can I do this on my own. 

After freaking out for a minute I decided to be sensible and write down all of my worries then figure each of them out. First I decided that I would tell Pedri just not tonight as he needs to know but it doesn't have to be right this second. Then I decided that I could do this myself I have a degree and a good job plus I never actually sold my apartment when I moved in with Pedri a few months ago so I have somewhere to live. The more I thought about it the less daunting it all became sure it will be a lot as pregnancy and becoming a single mother will be hard but I can do it. 

As I'd made my decisions I started to pack all of my things including what I'd made to tell Pedri I was pregnant because as much as it hurts to look at now I want to keep it for the memories a few years down the line. Pedri was nice enough to help me get all of my things in my car and even offered to take some things himself but I refused and I just came back for them after dropping off the first lot of things. By the time I had moved out fully it was the middle of the night and Pedri was in bed so I looked around his house one last time before leaving my keys on the side and getting in my car. On the drive to my apartment I did nothing but cry, all of the tears I had been holding in all came out at once like a river flowing down my face. The tears didn't stop either they continued all night until I physically had no more tears to cry. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Text message 

Hey Pedri there is something important I need you to know I know we aren't together anymore but can we meet to talk or at least call it's not something you should find out over text

Not delivered 

Instagram dm

Hey Pedri we really need to talk please text me 

Not delivered 

Snapchat 

Pedri please we need to talk 

Not delivered 

~~~~~~~~~~

Pedri's POV

"Where are we going?" Gavi asked as I drove us both to get lunch together 

"There's a cafe not far from here and it's really good so we are going there" I replied 

"Oh I know that one didn't you say that was y/n's favourite place" he said 

"Can we stop talking about y/n we've been broken up for nearly 7 months now" I said getting annoyed 

"Sorry it's just you mention her sometimes and I know Fermin said he saw her around here the other day" he said

"So she still lives here I thought she might go back home" I thought out loud 

"I thought we weren't talking about y/n" he said 

All I did was roll my eyes as I parked the car. He's not wrong though y/n is often on my mind and sometimes I still find myself bringing her up in conversation. It only took a few days before I regretted breaking up with her it was such an awful decision but once I'd done it I couldn't go back she always said once something was done it's done so I knew she'd never take me back. I blocked her on everything so that I wouldn't be reminded of her but that didn't help as my brain couldn't forget and still to this day when I see certain things or go certain places I am reminded of her. 

She was truly everything to me she was there for every good moment but also all of the bad ones. If I didn't have her I have no idea where I'd be now I wouldn't be as strong as I am mentally that's for sure she taught me so much and always encouraged me even on the hardest of days. Everyday I looked forward to coming home and seeing her either making dinner or sat reading a book which she used to love doing in fact I still have one book she gave me insisting I read it and sometimes I am tempted but I have yet to even turn a page on it. Letting her go was such a stupid decision I can't believe I ever thought she was holding me back let alone thinking about it for long enough to actually break up with her. I don't know what was wrong with me but I definitely regret it I don't think I'll ever find a girl like her again but honestly that's what I deserve for being such an idiot. 

Gavi and I went into the cafe and got our food before sitting down at a table in the corner so we were out the way and out of sight from the street and people already in the cafe. We were talking like normal about training until I noticed Gavi staring at something behind me. As I went to turn around to see what he was looking at he stopped me so I assumed it was a girl he liked or someone he didn't want to see. The longer he kept staring the more he looked like he really wanted to say something which had me thinking it wasn't just someone he didn't want to see. 

"What is going on?" I asked 

"Nothing" he replied bluntly 

"I know you are lying just tell me what's going on" I said 

"But you told me not to" he said 

"What the hell do you mean" I said 

"Y/n is stood over there with a friend I assume" he said 

"I don't care mate we can be in the same place I will survive" I quipped 

"It's not just that she looks pregnant well not just looks she has to be pregnant and quite far along too" he finally spat out 

There was nothing he could do to stop me turning around after that and he was right she was stood talking to a friend with a hand on her belly. She was definitely pregnant like about to pop pregnant. That's when the memories of the night we broke up came flooding back she said she had something to tell me but she never told me what it was. It really made me wonder if she was going to tell me she was pregnant because I can imagine after I broke up with her she wouldn't want to tell me and I blocked her afterwards so she'd have no way to reach out. Of course it's possible that she's not as far along as I think and she's with someone else now but I can't help but feel like that's not the case. 

Gavi tried to talk me out of the spiral I had got myself into but it was too late. How could someone forget about the fact that their ex is in the same place visibly pregnant with a baby that could be theirs. I have to know even if the baby is mine or not and if she wants nothing to do with me I would completely understand I just have to know. We did talk about having kids and we both said that we wanted to start a family together one day but what if that day is nearly here and I had no idea. Part of me was hoping it was my baby as I don't think I can handle the thought of her being with someone else that isn't me while I'm still hung up on her. 

Without really thinking I got up and made my way over to y/n Gavi tried to stop me but I didn't listen to him I continued to weave my way around the tables int he cafe until my eyes locked with y/n's. She looked at me and I looked at her before looking down at her bump which was a lot more obvious now even though she was clearly trying to hide it. The friend she was with left and I used that as my chance to make my way over and sit across from her. 

Your POV

Life is hard enough as it is at the moment with me being 8 months pregnant and doing everything alone the last thing I needed was to see Pedri especially as I was never able to contact him to tell him but there he was stood in front of me. Once my eyes caught his I couldn't look away. I watched as his eyes flitted to my bump which I tried my best to hide but at this point it's literally impossible. There was a few seconds where I was hoping he would think that I'd moved on and was with someone else so wouldn't bother me but as soon as he started walking in my direction I knew that the situation I had been dreading had finally occurred. It's finally time to face the music and tell Pedri everything or as much as he wants to hear as its a lot to take in all at once it took me a long time to accept the situation.

He sat down across from me and we just sat in silence for a while neither of us really knowing how to start this conversation. As Pedri was staring the baby started kicking like crazy it was like she knew her dad was sat across from me and was begging me to tell him. Feeling her kicks made me think about the time Pedri told me he'd love to have a daughter as there isn't many girls in his family and he wanted to spoil her rotten which now was all I could think about as I sat carrying the daughter he wanted. The only thing that could break the intense eye contact between the two of us was my phone vibrating in front us both reminding me of my doctors appointment this afternoon. 

"So how have you been?" Pedri asked finally breaking the silence 

"I've been ok busy with work what about you" I said 

"Yeah I've been ok just got back playing after a few injuries" he said 

"I'm sorry to be so straightforward but I have to know is the baby mine?" He asked 

"Yes the baby is yours I'm really sorry I didn't tell you I was going to tell you the night we broke up then when I tried to reach out but I couldn't I probably should've tried harder but there was a lot going through my mind" I explained 

"Its ok it's my fault that I didn't know I'm sorry I haven't been there to support you" he said 

"Let's not get too hung up on that I know you probably have a lot of questions so just go ahead and ask me anything" I said 

"How about we get out of here and go somewhere more private to talk about everything" he suggested 

I agreed it was best to go somewhere else and Pedri offered to drive us both to his as I didn't bring my car so that's what we did. Pedri was so sweet he helped me into his car after he realised how slow I walk now because of all the extra weight I'm carrying. When we arrived at his place he did his best to make me comfortable but there wasn't much he could do as at this point in pregnancy I'm always uncomfortable. He did get me some water and while he was gone I looked around his place. It hadn't changed at all since the last time I was here he still had all of the pictures of us up and the book I'd given him a while back was still sitting in the coffee table unread. It felt as though nothing had changed while I was sat there which weirdly made me smile. 

The last 7 months since the breakup have been chaotic but still most nights I think about Pedri and how things would be different if we hadn't broken up. I still miss Pedri because as much as he broke my heart I still think he's the love of my life and it's not easy to get over such strong feelings like that especially when you have a constant reminder of that person growing inside you. If I could turn back time and stop the break up I definitely would and honestly if Pedri wanted to get back together I wouldn't hesitate to say yes although I would definitely want to take things slow and work on our issues. 

"So how far along are you?" He asked giving me my water and sitting back down

"I'm 8 months now my due date is the middle of next month" I said 

"And did you find out the gender?" He asked 

"I did we're having a girl just like you said you wanted" I said 

"She's kicking right now if you want to feel" I said 

He nodded his head so I took hold of his hand and placed it on my bump right where I could feel the kicks. It could be the hormones talking but watching the way his eyes lit up and feeling his daughter kick and seeing the bright smile on his face nearly made me cry. The kicks got stronger the longer his hand was on my bump which was cute until they started to really hurt which made Pedri panic when I started to groan at the pain but I reassured him everything was ok. He rubbed his hand over my bump telling our little girl to settle down before taking his hand back off which again melted my heart. 

We still had a lot more discuss so I told him everything and I even gave him an ultrasound picture which I always keep on me. I could tell it was a lot for him to take in but he kept asking questions and listening to everything I said. I was worried that he would be really dismissive and want to pretend that we aren't in this situation and the baby isn't his but he actually seems to really care. After I answered all of his questions and showed him all of the millions of pictures and videos I had we again sat in silence not really knowing where to go next. 

"Do you want to get back together" Pedri suddenly blurted out 

"Sorry that was the wrong way to do that I know I hurt you and I'm really sorry I have regretted it every day since you are the one for me and I realise that now I understand if you don't want to but at least consider it" he said 

"I would love to get back together I have missed you everyday we've been apart but if we are going to give this another go we need to do it slowly and I think we should go to therapy to give our daughter the best environment to grow up in" I said

"I'll do anything you want me to if it means I can have you back" he said 

He leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips which made me realise just how much I really have missed him and how glad I am to have him back. 

[blueishspace]

Hero, Villain God 15

(Prev) (Next) (First)

*Scar's pov*

Cub has called you... He said it was something really important so you did your best to make it as fast as you could...... He hasn't really been very happy with you after the Mother Spore incident so you didn't expect him to be the one to ask to see you... You are a bit nervous...

Wait! What if he's quitting?!? You could never manage to do your work without his help! You'll have to beg! You will do it if that is what it takes.

You sigh ...Here goes nothing.

"Mayor Ren and Martyn have been taken hostage"

What? What does he mean they were taken hostage? Doesn't he have bodyguards to protect him??

"How? When? Where is he?"

"Oh he's still in his office"

Come again? What is Cub on about then?

"But you said he was-"

"Yes, it seems it is the office that's holding him hostage"

..."What?"

"Specifically, the mechanical door and windows have all been locked by an unknown attacker. The defense system has been turned into a threat on his life."

"Oh"

"We believe either an hacker or a villain with power over technology might be at fault."

You see, what you don't understand is why you were called for this. It feels suspicious.

"Do you want me to go after this hacker -"

"No. Not now at least. The mayor needs you to get him and his vice out of the building unharmed. The defenses he installed are quite dangerous when made into weapons so be careful"

"Am...am I going to work alone then?"

"Yes. Ocean Queen water manipulation could backfire around so much electronics and the building is too cramped for Sheriff's wings."

You think you understand, you nod at him, he looks at you.

"I'm ready"

"And don't stay out too long"

Cub wasn't kidding, as you dodge a literal laser you wonder just how paranoid the mayor must have been when he set up this defense system... This is a level of security you would think to find in a super secret governent base, not the mayor's office.

You don't have much time to wonder though as another laser almost hits you in the face and w- IS THAT A MACHINE GUN!?!?

You sigh as you take out one of your explosive arrows, you'll have to fight fire with fire if you want to get anywhere... hopefully the mayor won't mind a bit of property damage.

You really don't want a lawsuit right now by the mayor...or exile! Wait could the mayor even exile you if he wanted?

... You should ask Cub later.

*Martyn's pov*

You have been trapped in this office with Ren for what feels like hour now... It might have been, It's not like you can tell with the windows blacked and no clocks in the entire office... Why does Ren have literally 0 clocks in his office!?

Your thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Ren shouting in your ear.

"We are doomed Martyn! Doomed I tell you! I knew they were coming for me and now we are going to die here!"

Who was coming from him? This is news to you.

"I ... I'm sure they must have sent someone to save us Ren. You are still the mayor, pretty important guy if you ask me."

"Who knows how long that will take my dude, we might have to stay here to starve for days! We'll have to result to cannibalism to stay alive!"

Ok what, how have we got to this point.

"Woah there, how about we *don't* do that actually? How does that sound mate?"

"Right, right... I am sorry Martyn."

...You stare at eachother... Without his voice in the background things are weirdly akward... He's always seemed so confident, you have never seen him this worried before...You hold Ren's hand, he seems surprised for a moment.

"It's going to be alright, I'm here with you"

"Yeah... Yeah, you'll protect me!"

Uh... You don't remember saying that but telling him no would just be too cruel.

"Right, you can count on me Ren."

"Of course dude! I trust you more then I would trust myself!"

Ren's face is suddenly so close to yours, right in front of you. You didn't expect it so you scream and fall back.

"Ah??!"

"Oh sorry dude! I didn't mean to jump at you like that... I got excited"

"It's...it's fine Ren"

"Are you sure?"

You are staring into his eyes and he is staring into yours... It wouldn't be too hard to just lean in and-

"Hello people! Hotguy here to save the day! Is everyone ok?"

...Motherfucker.

[itsa-me-lily]

So here's y'alls first fight! Aren't you excited? Also I get to introduce y'all to one of my favorite girls.

Here is the Simon x Thimble playlist

Here is the MPS AU masterlist

Reminder, reader is fat. It's not a morally right or wrong thing, she's just fat.

Content warning;

Swearing, some weight stuff, Goggles

You woke up in bed, which typically wasn't a strange thing to do. But you hadn't gone to sleep in bed this time though. You'd crashed out on the couch after trying to read a book your mother had recommended, it was always obvious that the two of you had very different tastes in literature. So the fact that you had fallen asleep on the couch, but woke up in bed, was perplexing. Hopefully you weren't developing a habit of sleep walking. Sleep arguing was bad enough.

Padding out to the living room, you were prepared to look for clues to your mystery. Only you found Simon. On the couch. Reading the book that had put you to sleep. And judging by how much further into the book he had made it, he was enjoying it more than you had. He didn't even notice your presence until you were right in front of him. You even had to clear your throat for him to peer at you from over the pages.

"Was I still on the couch when you got home?"

"Yeah."

Ever the well of conversation your husband was.

"Did I sleep walk?"

"Negative."

Well that was not an answer you were expecting.

"Then how did I go from..."

You motioned between the couch and the bedroom door, as if the space was vast and truly impossible to have crossed other wise.

"Carried you."

"What?"

You didn't mean to sound flat in your question, but the idea that you had been carried around, regardless of if you were awake or not, wasn't one you liked. Not that Simon seemed to understand that, given how he raised a single eyebrow at how unenthused you sounded.

"That a problem?"

How could you answer this in a way that wasn't going to cause an issue. Because you could see this becoming an issue that would be annoying to have to deal with. Unfortunately the longer it took you to answer, the more likely it would be.

"No? Just wake me up next time."

Simon didn't seem satisfied with the answer given how he closed the book with a snap, giving you his undivided attention.

"You'd rather I wake you up."

You think he meant it as a question, even if he didn't say it that way.

"Yeah. Don't pick me up."

You could feel that curl of anxiety start in your gut, and it only got worse as Simon got up, his height causing you to have to crane your head back to look up at him.

"You hate getting woken up."

"Yeah well I don't like being picked up more."

"How come?"

Was this man serious? Was he honestly going to question you about why you didn't like something? Really you wanted to argue, tell him that it was none of his business and that you had made your request clear. But you remembered your mother's words that she had dispensed the last time you had complained to her about Simon, and his...lack of sharing at times. 'You don't get what you don't give'. Maybe you should stop complaining to your mother. Still, wouldn't hurt right? So with a sigh you just shrugged, meeting Simon's eyes once before looking aside.

"I'm heavy."

You had accepted what your body looked like ages ago. Understood that there were more important things than fitting into a certain size. Didn't mean you weren't aware of your body, the space you took up. You knew your body, and you knew you were heavy.

Instead of asking, or elaborating, Simon Riley did probably the worst thing he could have done. He picked you up. His arms were around your waist and your feet were off the floor before you register what he was doing. The second you did though it was like every nerve ending in your body was screaming no. You did not like this. You went tense, shoulders up to your ears and volume control wasn't your first concern as you practically shouted into Simon's face.

"Put me down. Put me down right now damnit!"

Whatever reaction Simon thought he was going to get from you, that hadn't seem to be one he was expecting. He did so, though the landing was a little jarring, most likely due to the sheer suddenness of your demands. It only served to make you angrier, you could feel it shooting up your spine. You could have been gentler as you pushed yourself out of his arms, but you didn't particularly care to be at the moment.

You didn't know if it was better or worse that he didn't say anything in his defense. Actually it was probably better that he was silent because it made it easier to cuss him out as you went back to the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind you. Fuck the sleeping arrangements. He could sleep on the fucking couch that night.

Simon had heard other soldiers complain when they had marital disputes. He didn't always listen in, but when he did he could typically agree that it was somehow the soldier's fault. Now that he was on the other end of it though? He didn't get it at all. He had only been trying to show you that it wasn't an issue for him to pick you up. He went to the gym, he could lift. But then you got all huffy and loud, and slammed the door in his face. You had even made him sleep on the couch.

And it wasn't like it had gotten better the next day. Apparently you had still been mad because you hadn't talked to him at breakfast, just gone through your usual routine and left without a goodbye. All he did was pick you up. It wasn't even like he dropped you or anything.

The puzzle left him feeling sour, though he couldn't really pinpoint what it was about it that made him feel such. Was it the cold shoulder you gave him? Maybe it was the fact you made him sleep on the couch. Either way he didn't like the fact that apparently you were still mad at him and it apparently was obvious to anyone given how Soap pestered him all morning about it until Simon finally spilled during PT in the weight room. It did make him feel better though, that Soap was equally as confused as to why you were so upset.

"I mean I don't get why the hen's mad, but have ye tried apologizing LT?"

"I would if I knew what I was apologizing for."

"Wow you're both fucking stupid."

The new voice caused both him and Johnny to whip around, hackles raised at being caught unaware. Some woman racked her weights, brushing her hands together before paying them attention again, expression such that seemed to beg what they were waiting for. Thankfully Soap bit the bullet before Simon could rudely do it.

"You are?"

"Goggles. Mechanical Engineer Unit."

She held her hand out for a greeting as if she hadn't just insulted the both of them. Simon only stared at it before crossing his arms over his chest, puffing himself up a little to sooth his ego. Again Soap stepped in since he was probably going to be the more civil of the two.

"What makes ye think we're stupid?"

"Oh it's not a thought." There was a brief pause afterwards, intentional, before she continued, "Anyways big guy here clearly wasn't listening to this Thimble person."

Big guy? Since when had Simon become 'big guy'. Clearly his reputation for being a hardass was suffering since his marriage to you. He was going to have to fix that. And what did she mean that he 'clearly wasn't listening'. He listened to you fine. He slept on the couch didn't he? Simon tuned back in at Soap's sputtering, confused as to why the Scotsman's cheeks were a little flushed. He clearly had missed something.

Clearing his throat, Simon got everyone's attention again and he could give Goggles a firm stare down. Not that it helped much given how nonchalant she appeared. He had a point to make.

"I listen to my wife just fine."

"Clearly not since you did the thing she didn't like, right after she told you she didn't like it."

Simon did not enjoy the tone she was using with him. In his affront it took him a second for the words to really sink in. Sure he had kind of disregarded what you had said, but it was just to show you it was okay.

"I can pick up my wife just fine."

The sigh Goggles gave him sounded like it came from the depths of her soul, and he couldn't quite get what she had mumbled under her breath, but Simon could imagine it wasn't flattering. He was just pointing out the truth.

"And that's why you're stupid."

"No I'm not."

The look Goggles gave him begged to differ. He was going to have to find out her rank and CO, he was not going to tolerate this kind of flack from someone ranked under him.

"You made it about you and your ego."

"No I didn't."

"Why'd you pick her up then."

"To show I could."

"But she didn't want you to. She told you that, and you did it anyways."

"Cause she said she was too heavy and I was proving she ain't."

"It doesn't matter. You still ignored what she said and steamrolled over the boundary she set."

That...might have caught Simon off guard. Just a little. Goggles seemed to have taken his lack of rebuttal as an acceptance of the point she was trying to make because she continued.

"Look I don't think you were trying to be an asshole but you still were. What if she ignored you when you said you didn't like something."

Simon wanted to argue that you basically always did what you wanted, his opinion be damned but...that wasn't really true was it? You didn't make a fuss about the face masks, you were always careful to not just go grabbing at him, and even if it was with dramatics, you respected his space. At least he hadn't seen you attempt to get a pin board into his home office. He couldn't really remember him ever having to tell you that he needed or wanted those things. You just...seemed to pick up on it. And when you had told him something you didn't like he ignored it. Not maliciously but...roads to hell and good intentions as they said.

It was his turn to sigh, in defeat, shoulders slumping as he accepted the fact that he had messed up. Without much fanfare he turned to leave the gym, firmly ignoring Soap's confused shouts to wait and Goggles' 'you're welcome' that floated to him. He had an apology to give.

Simon didn't know how to give an apology. Sure he had heard that the usual was chocolates and a bouquet of roses, but that was typically for someone you were in a relationship with. What did one get their technical wife but really more a roommate person as a way to say 'I'm sorry'? He could go with chocolates, but he knew that you tried not to over indulge in them since it messed with your sugar levels, and roses seemed to romantic. He stood in the card aisle at the shops looking at the wide selection without really liking any of them. They were either too sappy or too impersonal, or just stupid.

With a rising sense of frustration Simon grabbed the first apology card that had caught his eye and made his way over to the hot food section. Fuck it, you were saying you wanted a bird the other night. Chicken could be a decent apology gift.

When you got home, you weren't as angry as you had been when starting the day. Honestly you kind of felt stupid. Most girls seemed to kill to have a man that could pick them up willynilly, you were just...an outlier. When you had asked a coworker for advice she had told you you were being dramatic and that if you weren't going to appreciate Simon she would. You didn't think Simon was into the geriatric type but you had told her you'd pass along the message at least. So apparently you were a dramatic outlier that needed to apologize. Great.

It seemed that Simon had gotten home before you, and wasn't expecting you back so soon given how he froze up at the kitchen table, shoulders hunched as he had his back to you. Might as well get it over with.

"Hey Simon I-"

"Wait."

You weren't expecting Simon to interrupt you while you were trying to say I'm sorry, neither were you expecting him to turn around and step away, revealing an entire rotisserie chicken and a card.

"You got chicken?"

"As a sorry."

"A sorry?"

You looked from the chicken to Simon, who somehow looked both stoic and sheepish at the same time. It was probably how he stuffed his hands into his pockets, like he didn't know what to do with them.

"Yeah. 'm sorry. Shouldn't have ignored what you told me."

Oh. That was...unexpected. You had anticipated having to apologize and pretend like the entire situation hadn't happened. You didn't think he'd apologize first, or at all. You both stood in awkward silence as you tried to think of what to do next. Should you still apologize? Just accept it and still pretend nothing happened?

Before your brain could make a choice, your stomach did it for you, grumbling loudly as the scent of the cooked meat wafted to you. You could feel yourself flush as Simon huffed in what was probably amusement, turning to grab what you were hoping were plates. There was a chicken to eat after all.

"Thanks. And...I'm sorry too. For just yelling at you...and making you sleep on the couch."

Simon seemed to shrug off your apology, handing you two plates and sets of silverware before digging around in the freezer for some sort of steam bag to throw into the microwave.

"I've slept in worse places."

"Still we have an agreement."

"Hn."

You figured that was the end of your rivetingly awkward conversation as you worked on carving the bird into portions to eat and then store away. You didn't mind the silence as the two of you set up dinner together and started to dig in, though it did catch you off guard when Simon decided to have a different one.

"Is it okay for emergencies?"

You looked up from phone, blinking owlishly as you tried to understand what he was saying.

"Is what okay?"

"Picking you up? It's okay during emergencies ya?"

Was Simon planning on burning down your house anytime soon? Before you could question him on it though, an idea struck you. He was trying to ask what the boundary was, so he wouldn't break it again. You tried to ignore the warmth that bloomed in your chest.

"Yeah, it's okay for emergencies."

"Good."

You nodded, going back to your phone to wonder why the hell your friend still hadn't responded to your messages.

"And Thimble?"

Once again you looked up at Simon to see him looking back at you seriously.

"Yeah?"

"You're not too heavy."

You wanted to argue differently, but before you could he cut you off.

"Not for me at least."

You had to look away, feeling a blush climb your cheeks.

"Thanks Simon."

"Hn."

Edit;

Why wasn't Soap really talking in the gym scene? Because I imagine Goggles said something kind of out of pocket that left him reeling for a minute. She is no better than a man some days and I love her for it.

Also this isn't my favorite piece but I wanted to introduce Goggles with her calling the boys out for being dumb, because that is just so her.

As always I hope you enjoyed it and feel free to drop an ask about anything.

[sissylittlefeather]

Puppet on a String: A Rusty Wells Story

A/N: Girl Happy is one of my favorite Elvis movies and Rusty is one of my favorite characters. I had to write him a fic! I've been kicking around this idea for a long time. Hopefully you all like it!

Special shout outs to @ccab and @atleastpleasetelephone for listening to me bitch and moan and helping me when I got stuck over and over and over again with this one!

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI, cussing, kissing, fingering, oral sex (m & f receiving), p in v penetrative sex, unprotected sex, creampie, also teasing, light edging, and a fistfight, so mentions of a bloody nose

Word count: ~5.5k

Here's some Rusty to get you in the mood:

When Rusty promised your father to go to Fort Lauderdale to supervise you, he had no idea what he was in for. He'd seen a picture of you and you looked rather nerdy, so he wasn't worried about it taking up too much of his time. Then, when he saw you in Florida, looking just as dorky as your photograph, he breathed a sigh of relief and gave himself permission to play shows, pursue other girls, and leave you to your books. 

The girls had brought you along not as a friend, but as their tutor for the week since exams were not long after the Easter holiday. You were excited for the opportunity to go to the beach and didn't realize what it would mean to be there with them. They were perfectly content to leave you alone in the room every night as they went out and had fun with all the boys that chased them around during the day while you went unnoticed. 

On the third night of the 10-day holiday, Rusty gets an angry call from your father. 

"She said she hasn't had any fun at all! That she just sits in her room all the time!"

"Sir, I-I thought you wanted her to be safe?" Rusty answers nervously. 

"I do! But I also want her happy! She was in tears! When I call her tomorrow, she better be in a much better mood or I guarantee you won't be." 

"Y-yes sir. She will be." 

******

The next day, Rusty sets out to find you and try to make sure you have at least a little fun. This is too important to trust one of his friends to get it done. However, he can't remember which room you're staying in. Eventually, he asks one of the girls he knows you came with and she looks at him like he's grown horns. 

"You want y/n? You?!"

"Yeah... I just... what room is she in?" 

"She's in room 220. Either reading or crying. That's all she ever does." The girls look at each other and snicker. Rusty takes note of how they talk about you. It seems a little rude, since you're there to help them. 

"Thanks." He walks away toward your room. Before he knocks on the door, he presses his ear to it and hears what sounds like sniffling. He peeks through the window and sees you sitting on one of the beds, tears running down your cheeks. Some part of him softens and he's overwhelmed with a need to hold you in his arms. He shakes his head and tries to focus on the task at hand, knocking softly on the door. It takes another few minutes and two more knocks from him for you to finally open the door. You've wiped your face, but he can still tell your nose is a little red. 

"Hi. I'm Rusty Wells. Me and my combo play down at the Sandbar Club every night. I wondered if you might like to come with me to the beach?" He says it quickly, smiling and trying to lay on the charm. 

"Me? Why? Are you making fun of me?" You look up at him curiously. "Did the girls put you up to this?"

"No! I-I just... come to the beach with me. Or we can go sailing? Or rent a motorcycle? Whatever you want, honey." 

"Why?" You narrow your eyes suspiciously. 

"Can't a guy ask a pretty girl to go to the beach without getting a million questions?" 

"Ha! A pretty girl? Now I know you're up to something. No thanks. I don't want to end up as the butt of anyone's jokes." You go to close the door and he stops it with his hand. 

"Look, listen. I need to take you out. So will ya just...? Okay?"

"You need to?"

"Yes. I'm here because I work for your dad and he sent me to make sure you're safe and happy-"

"My father did what!?"

"He just cares about you and wants you to have a good time, okay? I told him I'd make sure you do. So will ya please just come with me to the beach or somethin'?" You look him up and down skeptically. When you think about it, it's kind of sweet that your dad cares enough to make sure you're safe and happy. And this Rusty character doesn't seem too bad. He's really cute and a part of you wishes he actually just wanted to hang out with you. Maybe you can spend an afternoon with him and satisfy your dad. You can declare the trip a failure and go home tomorrow. Then at least Rusty can say he tried and not get in trouble with your father. 

"Okay, then. But not the beach. Let's go sailing. I've always wanted to go sailing." Rusty smiles, relieved that you finally agreed. 

"You got it, honey. Let's go." You go back into your room, smooth your hair, and put some fresh powder on your nose. Then, you grab your purse and head out the door to go sailing with Rusty. 

******

Much to his surprise, Rusty genuinely enjoys your company. You're funny in a way he's never experienced with a girl and he finds himself laughing more often than he expected. He's also surprised by how attractive you are with your little glasses and clothes that look like they could've belonged to your mother. Your smile is sweet and your eyes sparkle when you get excited. It's unexpected, but he actually really likes you. He only intended to spend a few hours with you, but before he knows it the sun is setting and it's time for him to get ready for that night's show. Then he says something that shocks even him. 

"Come to our show tonight."

"Oh, no, I couldn't possibly. I'm sure you want to take a real date." He realizes that you don't think of yourself as a real date and he kicks himself for telling you about working for your father. 

"No, really. I do this song called 'Wolf Call', I'll come get you out of the crowd-"

"Rusty, it's okay. You don't have to do that. I had a great day with you. I promise I'll tell my dad I had fun. You're off the hook for today." His smile falls a little and he nods. You'll never take him seriously now. 

"Well, alright then. What will you do tonight?" 

"Oh, probably just read. It's fine. Thank you for a wonderful day."

"Yeah, you're welcome." You take your purse from him and go into your room, shutting the door before he can say anything else. He stands outside your room and is startled when he realizes he's wishing he could've kissed you goodnight. 

******

The next day, he knocks on your door and offers to take you out like he did yesterday. You know he's going to have to report back to your father, so you agree to go with him once more. He tells himself he's only doing it as part of his job, but in reality he just wanted to see you. At the end of it, he tries again to get you to come to his show, but you decline and settle in to read for the night. 

This pattern continues for the next few days. Rusty knocks on your door in the morning and you spend the day together. In the evening, he tries to convince you to come to the show and you decline. 

It's not that you don't want a date for the evening. You'd love to go out with a boy who is actually interested in you, but you never get attention from anyone other than Rusty and you know that's just because he doesn't want to upset your father. Maybe he can be helpful, though. He is a guy, so he should know what you need to do to be noticed. You start to work up the courage to ask for his help. 

By Thursday, Rusty decides he's going to insist on you joining him for the evening. He enjoys your company so much during the day that he actually finds himself missing you at night. He knocks on your door determined to get you to believe that he really likes you. 

"Hey, honey, I need to talk to you."

"Good. I need to talk to you too." His heart skips at the possibility that you might want more from him. You grab his hand and pull him into your room and he can hardly breathe. 

"I need-"

"Please come-"

You start talking at the same time and both stop. He gestures for you to keep going, so you do. 

"I need you to help me. I want a date tonight, but there's no way I'll get one looking like this."

"Oh... I-I think you look just fine... in fact-"

"No, Rusty, you don't have to be nice. It's okay. I know you don't want to actually go out with me." His heart sinks. 

"But, I-"

"Please help me. Help me know what guys like so I can find a date." He swallows his disappointment and nods. 

"Alright, then. What are you thinkin'?" You take your glasses off and toss them on the desk and he sighs. He thinks they're cute. 

"There. Now what?" He swallows the desire to say that nothing about you needs to change. 

"You need clothes that'll show off your figure. Something tight or short or both." You go to your roommate's suitcase and throw it open. 

"She said I could borrow anything. What do we like?" He reluctantly walks to the suitcase and pulls out some garments. 

"Try this." He hands you some short shorts and a cropped tank top and swallows deeply, trying to imagine what you might look like. He's never seen you in anything that shows your body, even on the beach you wear an oversized coverup, so he's not even sure what to expect. You smile and head into the bathroom with the clothes. He sits on the side of the bed and fidgets with his fingers in anticipation. When you finally open the bathroom door and step out, he has to actively remind himself to close his mouth. 

"Well? What do you think?" You spin in a slow circle and his heart skips. You have a beautiful body and all of a sudden he can't stop imagining you with no clothes at all, pressed against him and whimpering. He clears his throat and adjusts himself quickly while you're facing away. "That bad, huh?" 

You turn back to face him and assume it must be terrible since he hasn't said anything. Your eyebrows are raised and a lump begins to form in your throat. You're not sure why you want him to like the way you look so badly. Spending so much time with him has you confused and wishing it wasn't all because of your father. 

"You look..." He can't even finish the sentence. Instead, he wants to just wrap you in his arms and show you what he thinks, but that's not what you want. 

"Ridiculous, huh?"

"No! Not ridiculous at all. I-"

"If you didn't know me, would you think I looked good?"

"Yeah. I think you look amazing. That's... wow..." You roll your eyes. He really is so very sweet. 

"You don't have to lay it on that thick. It's okay." 

"No, I'm serious." He stands up and walks over to you, looking down at you. All of a sudden there's an energy in the air and it feels like he might kiss you. Just as you close your eyes to let him, the door of your room swings open. 

"Oh, wow! Y/n, you look incredible!" Rusty jumps back and your roommate walks to you. She's tired of the way the other girls have treated you this whole time. After sharing a room with you she's realized you're more than the bookish nerd everyone sees when they look at you. "I'm going to do your hair and makeup. Then you're coming out to the beach with us today. It's time you had a little fun too." 

You look over at Rusty, who is trying desperately to hide his disappointment that you won't be spending the day with him. 

"Rusty? Do you mind if I go with the girls and try to pick up a real date?" That hits him like a slap in the face and he shakes his head silently. 

"No, that's fine, go with the girls. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Maybe! If I find a date then you don't have to worry about me anymore." His heart sinks even further. Then you run to him and kiss his cheek and he feels like he can't breathe. "Thank you, Rusty. You're really very sweet." 

He nods and then turns and walks from the room. Rather than heading to the beach, he lays on his bed looking at the ceiling and wishing he hadn't told you about your father. 

******

He doesn't see you all day and there's a growing feeling of emptiness in the pit of his stomach that he can't explain. Even flirting with the other pretty girls feels flat. At the show, he tries to play enthusiastically, but he just wants you to be there. 

You eventually do appear and his eyes light up. But his hopes are quickly dashed by the group of boys that surrounds you, all fighting for your attention. With your hair and makeup done and a cute little dress on for the evening, you're positively stunning and the guys are excited that there's a new girl to pursue. They fall all over themselves trying to impress you. At first, you weren't sure what to do, but you've adjusted to the attention pretty well by the time you make it to the show. You look around demurely at each guy and respond flirtatiously, giggling and sipping your drink. 

Rusty watches this scene and a burning feeling of envy rises inside him. He noticed you first. And all these other guys just want you because of the way you look now. There's more to you than that and he seems to be the only one that cares. He swallows the lump in his throat and tries to keep singing, but the bubble of rage inside him just keeps growing. 

You sit at the table with the guys surrounding you, desperately trying to figure out which one you like best. None of them really stand out, though. In fact, the only one you really want to talk to is Rusty. You look up at him on stage and he looks so good in his red shirt and black pants. If only he would actually like you. There was that moment in your room where you thought he might kiss you. Still, he probably was just caught off guard by the way you look in these clothes. For some reason you want him to like you for who you really are and not just how you look. You're brought back to reality by one of the guys putting his hand on your knee. 

"Didja hear what I said, baby? My father owns a company in Detroit." 

"Mmm." You nod genially and try to refocus on the men that are all trying to talk to you at once. It makes you uncomfortable that this one in particular is touching you, but you figure that's just part of the game. You turn to another guy and smile, trying to listen to whatever he's saying. But when you do, the one slides his hand further up your thigh and squeezes gently. You jump a little and turn back to him with your eyes wide. 

Your discomfort does not go unnoticed. Rusty is keenly aware of the way this guy is touching you. He watches you closely to gauge your reaction. If it seems like you like it, he'll have to find a way to let it go, but if you don't...

"Please move your hand." Your voice shakes as you say it, but you try to be firm. 

"Aww, baby, come on. You mean like this?" He slides his hand even further up your thigh, so that his fingertips are under the hem of your skirt. You gasp and try to wiggle away, but he presses his hand up even further. 

Before you can say anything else though, Rusty is there. He drags the handsy guy up by his collar and punches him hard in the face. 

"Rusty!!" The other guys jump into the fight and in a flash it's four against one as Rusty tries to fight them all. He holds his own fairly well, but after a few seconds, he's overpowered and knocked to the ground with a bloody nose. You rush to his side and the other guys all exclaim and try to get your attention. Ignoring them all, you pull Rusty up off the ground and manage to get him to his feet. 

"I'm sorry, honey, I didn't mean to ruin your date.” He pauses and looks around. “Dates?"

"Nonsense. Let's just get you cleaned up." He smiles down at you gently as he leans on you. He can walk just fine, but he's taking advantage of the opportunity to have his arm around you. Something about it just feels right. 

When the two of you get back to your room, you open the door and get him inside to sit on the couch. His knuckles are banged up and his nose is bleeding pretty good all over the front of his shirt. You quickly grab a towel and stuff it under his nose and then find a first aid kit to clean out the cuts on his hand. It takes a minute, but you eventually get him squared away and then collapse onto the couch next to him. He pulls the towel away from his nose and looks over at you. 

"I think the bleeding has stopped."

"Good! What on earth were you thinking?!" He looks at you sheepishly. 

"I was thinking you didn't like being touched like that and I wasn't going to just stand there and let it happen." You melt and look up at him. 

"Thank you." He smiles softly and then looks down at his hands in his lap. 

"I'm sorry I messed up your night, though. I know you were trying to-"

"It's okay, Rusty. I'd rather be here with you anyway." He looks up at you quickly. 

"Y-you would?"

"Yeah. Because I can do this." You walk over to the desk and grab your glasses, putting them on your face. "That's so much better. I can see. I couldn't even tell if those guys were cute!" 

He chuckles as you sit back down on the couch next to him. You sigh and look down at the floor. 

"Sorry; I know that kind of ruins the illusion." He tries to catch your eye and eventually does. 

"No. Don't apologize. I like you better like this."

"Wait, really?" There's a moment of silence as his eyes flick between yours. Then, he whispers. 

"This is how you looked when I fell for you." He looks up at you through his eyelashes and your heart flutters. 

"Oh, Rusty." His eyes drop down as he prepares for the disappointment. You put a finger under his chin and make him look up at you again. "I'm falling for you too." 

He blinks as his heart pounds and he tries to process what he's just heard. 

"You're-?" But you interrupt his sentence by leaning in and pressing your lips to his. He winces a little with the pressure against his tender nose and you pull back abruptly. 

"Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking..." He shakes his head quickly. 

"No, it's okay. Do it again. Please." You smile and lean in again, kissing him as softly as you can. You hover above his lips and whisper. 

"We should get you out of that bloody shirt." He nods and lets you unbutton it and push it off of his shoulders, dropping it on the floor next to the couch. Your fingers go directly to the patch of hair on his chest and he shivers a little. He covers your hand with his and then pulls your fingers to his lips and kisses them gently. Without another thought, you crawl into his lap to straddle his hips, your skirt riding up so that you can press yourself against him. When you feel how hard he is, a soft moan escapes your lips. 

"Is this just because of the way I look now?" He puts his hand on the side of your face and looks into your eyes sincerely. 

"Honey, I've wanted you for days. You're just so stubborn; I couldn't get you to believe me that I meant it." You breathe out a laugh. 

"I am kind of a pain in the ass, aren't I?"

"The most beautiful pain in the ass I've ever seen." He runs his thumb over your cheek affectionately. 

"Rusty, I..." You roll your hips forward against him and whimper. "I want to do this... I do... I just don't know how..." 

"Is this your first time?" He raises his eyebrows. 

"No, not that. It's just never been very pleasant and... I want to enjoy it... with you..." He relaxes and softens. 

"Oh, honey. I promise I'll make it nice. If that's what you want." You nod almost frantically. 

"I do. Please." He smiles and kisses you gently. His hands run up under your skirt and he looks to you for permission to take your dress off. You nod and he slides it up and over your head. He goes back to kissing your chest, pressing his lips to the soft skin of your breasts as he removes your bra and lets that hit the floor too. You run your hands in the back of his hair and he moans quietly. After a few more seconds, he stands up from the couch, keeping you wrapped around him, kissing you over and over until he makes it to the bedroom. You whimper softly as he lays you on the bed, moving his lips down your neck to your collarbone. 

"Honey, I wanna taste you. Would you like that?" 

"I-I-I don't know. I think so?" A small feeling of fear rises in your chest as you grapple with not knowing what to expect. He picks up on your nervousness and gently moves your hair out of your face, stroking your cheek softly. 

"Okay, baby, you just relax, okay? I'm not gonna hurt ya." You nod, breathing deeply, and he continues kissing down your body, grazing his lips over your stomach to your thighs.  Your back arches involuntarily as you feel his lips on your legs and he pushes them apart to settle in between them. "I'm gonna make you feel so good, baby." 

"Yes, Rusty..." You whimper as he slides your panties down your legs. Some part of you feels like you should be embarrassed to be this exposed, but for the first time you aren't. Something about Rusty makes you feel at ease. 

"You're so pretty, honey. I'm gonna put my mouth on ya now. You just let me know if you want me to stop." 

With that, he presses his tongue to your center and you moan loudly. Nothing has ever felt this good before. He moves his tongue over and around your sensitive bud and electricity gathers in your hips. Another moan escapes you as he licks and sucks your clit feverishly. More electricity builds and he moves on you with more speed and intention. 

"Oh God... Rusty..." You're not sure what is about to happen, but it's like you're on the edge of something as he slides one of his long fingers up into you and tickles a specific place inside you. He feels your pussy tighten and moans softly. 

"Let go, baby... you're so close."

"Close to wh- OH!" You whine loudly as your orgasm crashes into you, washing over you in tantalizing waves of intense pleasure. He licks and finger-fucks you through it and you pulse and writhe and grab at the sheets. Finally, you start to come down and he backs off of you, lips glistening. 

"What was that!?" You ask enthusiastically. He smiles and chuckles a little. 

"Baby, I thought you said this wasn't your first time?" 

"Yeah, but that's never happened before. No one's ever... I mean... not with their mouth..." He kisses the inside of your thigh affectionately and then moves back up to lay next to you, rolling over and holding your face in his hand. 

"Honey, I don't know what kind of... boys... you've been with before, but a real man should always make you feel this good. I will always make sure you feel this good." 

You look up at him and resist the urge to blurt out that you love him. Instead, you pull him into a kiss and he moves his hand down to your hip, pressing his body against yours. He rolls his hips forward so that his erection grinds against your thigh and you gasp. 

"Rusty..."

"I'm sorry, honey. I-I-I-"

"It's okay. I wanna make you feel good too." You run your hand down his chest and stomach, following the trail of hair under the front of his pants and take his cock in your hand. The mild shock that he's not wearing underwear fades quickly when you notice that he whimpers and bites his bottom lip as you touch him. 

"You really don't hafta-"

"Shhh... let me take care of you." He whimpers again and his hips buck into your hand as you stroke him, moving his foreskin back and forth. "Take your pants off." 

He quickly and obediently removes his slacks, trembling slightly in anticipation. You press hot kisses to his chest, moving down his stomach to just below his bellybutton. He looks down at you, eyes dark with desire, and runs his hand in your hair as you take the base of his dick in your hand and lick directly across the head. 

"Oh, fuck, baby..." You smile at his reaction and then pull him fully into your mouth. This part you know how to do and you can't wait to see him come undone with your efforts. You lick up the bottom of his shaft and then open your throat and press your nose into the soft patch of hair around his cock. He holds a handful of your hair and does everything in his power not to thrust into your mouth as you bounce up and down on him. The skill with which you suck him off surprises and impresses him and he moans and grips the sheets with his other hand. You keep working him with your mouth, your hands on his hips to keep him still. 

"Oh, baby..." He shudders as you pull him deep in your throat again. "'M gonna cum soon." 

You back off of him and sit up, stroking him teasingly slowly with your hand. 

"Not until I say so, you're not." You smile down at him devilishly and he groans. 

"Oh, you little minx. You gonna get feisty on me?" You giggle and lick your lips sensually as you move your hand a little faster. 

"You want me to stop teasing you?" 

"No. Fuck no." His hips buck again as he begs for enough friction to reach the orgasm that is so close he can feel it in the base of his dick. 

"Okay, how about this then?" You move to straddle his hips and then rub the tip of his cock along your entrance, where it slides over your slit easily with the wetness gathered there. He whimpers and holds your hips with both hands. You sink on him just a bit, pushing the tip of him inside you. 

"Oh God, honey, please." The sight of him whimpering and begging turns you on so much more than you ever dreamed it would. You've never taken control like this before, and certainly haven't ever had the confidence to tease anyone, but Rusty is so sweet and giving that he brings out a side of you that you didn't even know is there. He also seems to be enjoying it just as much as you are. His cock is rock hard and he sweats and pants with his eyes rolled back and his bottom lip pulled between his teeth. He's beautiful like this, all flushed and needy. 

You slide more of him inside you and he gasps. Your pussy is deliciously tight around him, the little sounds that fall from your lips driving him even more crazy. He's overwhelmed with the thought that he'd like to feel you like this forever and a shiver runs through him as he bites his tongue to keep from whispering that he loves you. 

Finally, you push him into you fully and moan with the sensation of being filled so completely. His dick is perfect to hit all the right places inside you. Lifting your hips, you drop back down onto him and he groans loudly. 

"Baby, I'm so close."

"Mmm not yet. Can you make me cum again? Without your mouth?" You're not sure what's come over you, asking for it like this, but it's like the words are out of your control. Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind. In fact, it appears to be just the opposite. He smiles and licks his thumb, moving down to your center and rubbing circles on your clit. 

"Like this?" 

"Oh, God, yes..." You hiss as the feeling of his thumb on you combines with his cock pushed up inside you. "Fuck..."

He laughs a little at your cussing. He's drunk on you, drunk on your pussy, drunk on the way you make him feel, drunk on the need to be with you like this for the rest of his life. His orgasm is so close he feels like he might explode if he doesn't move soon. He pulls his hips back a little and thrusts up into you and you gasp. 

"Not until... I cum..." He whimpers and moves his thumb with more urgency. Your pussy tightens around his dick and he almost screams with the need to climax. 

"Y/n... please..."

"So... close..." He feels your walls begin to pulse around him and you throw your head back and cry out his name as the release finally washes over you, energy thrumming through your body from head to toe. "Now!" 

You don't have to tell him twice. He grabs your hips and lifts you just enough to pound you from underneath. His rhythm is erratic and frantic and it only takes a few seconds for him to slam into you one last time, cussing and moaning as his cock throbs inside you, shooting you full of his warmth. Eventually, his whole body relaxes and you collapse on his chest, both of you spent and breathing heavily. 

"Goddamn, baby."

"Yeah. Wow." He slides his softening dick out of you and settles you beside him with your head on his chest. "Rusty, that was..."

"More pleasant? I hope?"

"That was fucking incredible." 

"Two orgasms and you turn totally wild on me." 

"I'm sorry. It's true. I just never knew it could be like this." 

"Well, you're not wrong, honey. And I'm not complainin’. It was incredible for me too." You look up at him from his chest and he leans down and presses his lips against yours. After a few more minutes of laying there together, you go to get up and reach for the phone. He looks at you puzzled. 

"Baby, what're you doing?"

"Gotta tell my dad about this." He laughs and wrestles the phone out of your hands as you giggle and he puts it back where it belongs. 

"Although, I probably do need to talk to him." He says it quietly and you raise an eyebrow. 

"Why?"

"I need his permission."

"Rusty..." He looks at you for a second and decides he can't hold back any longer. 

"I love you, y/n. I'm in love with you. I think I finally found what I've been looking for on all these Easter vacations. I-I-I'd like to marry ya, if you'll have me?"

"Rusty, we just met." His face drops. 

"Is that a no?"

"No! It's a not yet." He looks away and nods. You grab his chin and make him look at you again. "But it's also an I love you too." 

"It is?"

"Of course it is." He smiles and pulls you into a deep kiss. When he backs away, he presses his forehead into yours. 

"Baby, I'm yours. You just let me know when you're ready. Until then, you can have me any way you want me." 

And that's exactly what you do.

******

The End

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[lonerwolff]

𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋 ⌇𝑙𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑤𝑠

you can also read this story on @lonerwolff on wp and ao3 !

warnings: none

author's note⭑.ᐟ I'm sorry if these first few chapters might kinda suck 😭. I just need to get a hold of this first, and then they will hopefully get better. I also forgot to mention that this is going to be a slowburn (it's just superior).

chapter 3: Convincing

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DAISY ALMOST CALLED DIBS on Lottie. Almost.

She didn't want to go to the party. She really didn't. Especially not after everything that had happened with Allie, it just felt wrong to her to go out and celebrate when less than ten hours before they all stood on the field watching their teammate's leg snap in half. Maybe the others weren't as affected by it, maybe they could just shove it in the back of their minds and move on, but Daisy couldn't. The last thing she wanted was to stand in a crowded house, pretending to have fun while images of the suffering freshman replayed in her head.

Daisy blamed herself, she knew something bad was going to happen, and yet she did nothing to stop it.

So, she called Lottie to cancel.

"You're still coming," Lottie insisted, like it wasn't even up for debate.

"I'm really not."

"Daisy-" She started, but was interrupted by the other girl.

"I'm serious. Don't pick me up, okay? I'll see you tomorrow." And before Lottie could argue any further, she hung up.

The blonde sighed, tossing her phone onto the bed before collapsing onto her mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling. Maybe she could watch a movie, go to bed early or pray a little more for Allie; either way, she was done for the night. The others could drink and dance all they wanted, but Daisy was going to sleep. Plus, they had a flight to take at six in the morning.

Who the hell thought a party was a good idea the night before Nationals? Most of them were probably going to show up hungover, and while Daisy wasn't one to judge, she wasn't about to waste one of the most important events of her life feeling like shit. Besides, she didn't drink or smoke, and for once it wasn't just because of her parents (though God knew they'd lock her in the house for a year if they ever caught her), but Daisy never understood the appeal. The idea of losing control, doing dumb stuff, and then not even remembering it the next day terrified her.

And as she considered whether or not it was too early to change into her pajamas, her phone rang. She groaned, grabbing it off the bed without checking the caller ID. "Lottie, I swear-"

An amused voice came from the other line, "it's Van."

"Oh." Daisy froze for a second before sighing, rolling onto her side and pressing the phone closer to her ear.

"Damn, don't sound too happy," Van joked.

The blonde shaked her head as if the other girl could see her through the phone. "Sorry. I thought you were-"

"Lottie?" Van cut in already knowing. "Yeah, I figured. Mostly 'cause she just called me freaking out that you're not coming, which means that I have to be the one to talk some sense into you now."

The blonde opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Oh my God..." she muttered, letting out a breathy, incredulous chuckle. "It's just one party, it's not that serious."

"It is when she starts making it everyone's problem," Van shot back. "And you know she's gonna be annoying all night about it. Just come, Daisy."

Daisy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Lottie always did this. When she wanted something, she'd get it in a way or another. She wouldn't force people into things, no. Instead, she'd insist and convince them they'd be missing out on something huge if they said no. Daisy had seen her do it a million times, to other people and to her, and it still somehow worked. Every.Single.Time.

"It's one party," she repeated, but this time, her voice lacked confidence.

"Yeah, our last party before Nationals, and probably our last high school party together!" Van's pointed out. "Come on, Daisy. Please?" She pleaded, and Daisy could almost see her pout.

She sighed, rolling onto her stomach. "We literally have a flight to take at six a.m." She reminded her. She wasn't going into that plane looking like a freaking zombie, that was something she could bet on.

"So what? Sleep is for the weak anyway."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes and as she was about to protest she heard a long, loud honk. Her entire body tensed at the sound. She sat up so fast she nearly knocked herself off of her bed. Scrambling to her feet, she ignored her best friend's questions and yanked the curtain aside, and there it was, Lottie's car parked right in front of her house.

"Oh you're kidding," she gasped.

"What? What happened?" Van asked curiously. "Is it Lottie?" The redhead asked in a teasing tone.

The blonde sighed, "yeah, she just showed up in front of my freaking house," she whispered, almost as if she was too scared to say it out loud. Van just bursted out laughing "Van stop this is not funny," she whined.

Van, still laughing, barely managed to get words out between breaths. "No, no, this is hilarious," she said. "Dude, she just pulled a full on rom-com move on you."

Daisy groaned, "shut up."

"No, but seriously, this is kind of romantic," Van said, then sighed dramatically. "I wish Tai did this for me."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Right, as if Tai doesn't already show up at your house uninvited."

Van mused. "Is she holding a boombox over her head?"

"Van."

"Okay, okay! Just go already before Lottie starts scaling the walls or something."

Daisy ignored her and let out a long sigh, dragging a hand down her face. "I can't believe her," she muttered, sneaking another glance out the window. The brunette was now out of her car, leaning against the door, smoking a cigarette.

"I'm gonna kill her." There was no way she was smoking in front of her house. Did she want to have her killed by her parents?

Van started asking questions again but this time Daisy completely ignored them and simply told her that she had to go, before ending the call.

She groaned, throwing her phone on her bed before practically running out of her room. Of course Lottie would do this. Of course she wouldn't just take 'no' for an answer. Daisy shouldn't even be surprised-- she wasn't, actually. that was such a Lottie thing. The girl just did not give up.  Daisy remembered the time her parents didn't give her the permission to go to a sleepover, and Lottie had driven all the way to her house just to talk to her parents and persuade them until they gave in. And guess what? It worked.

So, really, Daisy should've known this was going to happen.

She slowed down as she reached the front door, slipping out of it as quietly as possible since her parents were still in the living room, probably watching some boring documentary.

The blonde stood frozen on her porch, staring at Lottie with both disbelief and irritation. "What the hell are you doing here?" Daisy muttered, crossing her arms as she stepped onto the driveway. The grin on Lottie's face only pissed her off more.

"What does it look like?" Lottie asked, exhaling smoke as she tilted her head, all smug and pleased with herself. "I'm here to pick you up."

"I explicitly told you not to," she said, getting closer to the girl.

"And I don't care," Lottie said back, making Daisy groan. Lottie looked at her up and down, and her lips lifted in amusement. "You wanna go out like that?"

Daisy glanced down at herself, at her loose hoodie, shorts, and fuzzy socks. She furrowed her brows before glancing back up at her. "No! Because I wasn't planning on going!"

Lottie let out an exaggerated sigh. "Okay, but-" before she could continue, Daisy had reached out and plucked the cigarette straight from her lips. Lottie barely had time to react before the blonde dropped it onto the pavement and stomped on it.

"Hey! That was expensive." Lottie blinked, not looking like she  seriously cared for her cigarette.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Daisy deadpanned. "You're just casually smoking in front of my house... are you trying to get me killed!?" She whispered-yelled.

"Relax, Daisy. Your parents aren't even looking."

Daisy shot a quick glance toward the living room window. The lights were on, but the curtains were drawn. Still, she glared up at Lottie, who was watching her a little too amused for her liking.

"Come on," Lottie said, pushing herself off the car. "You're not seriously gonna stay home sulking over Allie, right?"

Daisy made a face. "I'm not sulking," she muttered.

The brunette gave her a knowing look.

Daisy scowled. "I just- I don't feel like partying after what happened, okay? It's... weird."

Lottie's voice softened. "Look, I get it, okay? Today sucked, and I feel kinda sjitty about it too, but it's also not gonna change anything. And that's exactly why you should come to the party. You need a distraction, Daisy."

"I need sleep," Daisy corrected, but her tone had also softened.

"You can sleep on the plane," Lottie responded with ease. "Please? Just for a little while?"

Daisy sighed again. "Fine," she muttered, and Lottie's face lit up immediately. "Just wait here."

Daisy didn't wait for an answer as she turned on her heel, heading back toward her house, but the sound of footsteps behind her made her freeze. She spun around just in time to see Lottie following her.

"What are you doing? You are not coming inside," shr shook her head.

Lottie halted, tilting her head like a confused puppy. "Why not?"

"Because my parents are literally right there," she gestured toward the living room window. "And because you reek of cigarettes."

Lottie frowned, lifting the collar of her pink sweater and sniffing it. "I don't smell that bad."

Daisy exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Lottie..." she started, but the other girl was already stepping closer, looking down at her with those big brown eyes.

"I'll be quiet," Lottie promised, lowering her voice. "Like, so quiet you won't even know I'm there."

Daisy glanced back at the house. This was such a bad idea. The absolute worst. But Lottie was looking at her in a way that she couldn't explain, but it was definetely convincing her.

"Fine," Daisy sighed, already regretting it. "But if my parents see you, I'm telling them you're the devil leading me into temptation."

Lottie snorted, "bold of you to assume they don't already think that."

Daisy rolled her eyes with a smile still tugged at her lips. The blonde then turned and quietly opened the door, peeking inside. The faint sound of the tv played from the living room, her parents' voices murmuring now and then. She reached back, grabbing Lottie's hand without thinking, and tugged her inside. Lottie followed easily, surprisingly silent as they tiptoed towards the stairs.

Daisy's heart pounded as they passed the living room. Just a few more steps and-

"Désirée?"

Lottie froze beside her, and Daisy turned so fast she nearly knocked her over. Her mother was standing in the archway of the living room, her arms crossed, a suspicious look on her face.

Crap.

Daisy gave her a fake sweet smile, "hi, mom."

Her mother's gaze flickered past her, and Daisy felt Lottie stiffen beside her. "And who is this?" she asked, her tone even but laced with something disapproving.

Daisy swallowed hard, still gripping Lottie's hand. "Uh...this is Lottie she's-"

Her mom's expression didn't change. "I know who she is."

Then why did you ask?

Lottie, feeling confident, took a step forward, "it's nice to see you again, Mrs. Duval." She offered a small, polite smile.

Daisy's mother didn't return it. Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly, and Daisy could practically hear the gears turning in her head.

"Why is she here?" she asked, her gaze darting between them.

Daisy had two options: lie or deflect. And she chose both.

"Lottie just- uhm, she needed help with something for the trip," she said quickly. "Last minute packing crisis."

Her mother didn't look convinced. Her eyes flicked down, and for the first time, Daisy realized she was still holding Lottie's hand.

Oh, sweet Jesus.

She yanked her hand back so fast it was embarrassing. Lottie didn't even blink.

Her mom exhaled sharply. "You should be getting ready for bed," she said.

Daisy nodded. "Yeah, totally. That's what I was about to do."

Her mother's gaze lingered on Lottie for another long, tense moment before she finally sighed. "Ten minutes. Then I expect you to be asleep. Both of you have a flight in the morning."

"Of course," Daisy said, grabbing Lottie's wrist this time before she could say something stupid. "Thanks, Mom. Goodnight!"

She practically dragged Lottie up the stairs, not stopping until they were safely inside her bedroom. The door clicked shut behind them, and Daisy let out a heavy breath, pressing a hand to her chest.

Lottie just grinned. "That wasn't so bad."

Daisy turned to glare at her. "Not so bad?! I almost died!"

Lottie laughed. "You're so dramatic."

"You literally reek of cigarettes," Daisy whisper-yelled, fanning the air in front of her face. "She's gonna know, and when she does, I'll never hear the end of it."

Lottie just shrugged and flopped onto Daisy's bed.

DAISY STOOD in front of the mirror, eyeing her reflection with mild disbelief. The jean skirt sat tightly on her hips, the hem a little too high for her usual comfort. It wasn't like she was a prude or anything, she liked dressing up when she wanted to, but this particular skirt was one Lottie had given her months ago, and, well...it wasn't exactly the kind of thing her parents would approve of.

"My parents would kill me if they saw me wearing this," she muttered, tugging at the hem as if she could magically add a few inches to it.

Lottie, standing behind her, laughed as she fixed a loose piece of chamise on the fabric. "It's just a skirt, Daisy."

"But still," Daisy sighed, still fidgeting.

"Hey," Lottie said, placing her hands on Daisy's shoulders and turning her away from the mirror to face her. Daisy's heart skipped a beat before she forced herself to focus on Lottie's words. "Your parents can't see you right now," Lottie said softly, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "All we have to think about tonight is going to that party and having fun before Nationals, okay?"

Daisy hesitated, but eventually nodded.

Lottie grinned, spinning her back toward the mirror. "And besides, look at you," she said, resting her chin lightly on Daisy's shoulder as they both looked at the reflection. "You look hot, so who cares what they think?"

Daisy felt her cheeks getting warm and rolled her eyes to cover it up. "You always say that."

"That's because it's always true," Lottie said, her voice dropping just enough to make the blonde's stomach flutter.

She cleared her throat, stepping away. "Okay, okay, stop trying to boost my ego. Let's figure out how I'm supposed to sneak out of here without my mom catching me."

Lottie smirked, sitting onto the bed. "Easy. You just walk out the front door."

Daisy scoffed. "Oh, sure. And then I'll walk right back inside when she grounds me for eternity."

Lottie hummed in fake contemplation. "Okay, what if you say you're going for a walk?"

"At ten pm?" Daisy raised an eyebrow.

"Late night reflection?" Lottie offered.

Daisy gave her a look.

Lottie snickered. "Fine, then we do it the classic way. I leave now, drive a little further down the road, and you sneak out five minutes later."

Daisy crossed her arms. "I dunno..."

"C'mon, Daisy live a little."

Daisy sighed, running a hand through her hair. It was such a bad idea. But it wasn't like she'd never snuck out before, just never in a situation where the consequences would be this bad if she got caught. But Lottie was looking at her with those big brown eyes again, and Daisy could already feel any logical thiking she had left disappear.

"Fine," she muttered.

Lottie beamed, hopping off the bed. "That's my girl."

Daisy huffed, rolling her eyes to hide the way those words made her stomach flip. "Go before I change my mind."

Lottie shot her a wink before slipping out the door, moving quietly as she made her way downstairs. Daisy waited, listening carefully until she heard the faint sound of the front door clicking shut.

Five minutes. She just had to wait five minutes.

Daisy took a deep breath, staring at herself in the mirror one last time before shaking her head. "I cannot believe I'm doing this."

[utilitycaster]

I think something important to remember in actual play is that character backstory is neither an itinerary for the GM to follow nor a to-do list for the player to check off, but rather a means to provide context for the character's motivations, how they got to where they are now, and how they will respond to whatever comes up. It's not a scripted work, so you can't just make a character follow a specific arc.

It's an extension of something I've said before, that creating characters outside the context of a specific D&D game has never really made sense to me because the GM's direction should be integral to your character creation. At best you can have a very loose concept that you drastically expand upon to fit a particular game. If you're about to play Curse of Strahd, for example, you aren't going to be exploring a complex personal history in Candlekeep. You can certainly be informed by a complex personal history in Candlekeep, and quite honestly should be informed by some kind of complex personal history somewhere! But in the game, you're going to be going into Barovia and dealing with Strahd. And you made a character based in Candlekeep because your GM said "we're playing in the Forgotten Realms". Your character is in that context as well: someone who'd have reason to go to Barovia, from the world in which Barovia exists.

Unsurprisingly, I'm talking about this because of Critical Role Campaign 3, and look, if I am wrong about what I say in this paragraph please feel free to bring up this post and say "you were wrong" but I just do not think this campaign is ever going to not be about the moon and the gods. I think there's ways it could have been about those things and still have had room for more downtime or personal excursions. I think that "pulpier and deadlier" wasn't wrong, but perhaps the cast could have benefited from more guidance in the same way that "this campaign is going to be spookier and deadlier" would not necessarily be a good way to tell your players that they're going to be playing Curse of Strahd, but it is what it is. That doesn't mean character backstories won't be explored (and honestly, I think they've all had at least a moment in the sun) but it isn't the focus, it's never really been the focus, and speaking only for myself that's been apparent for, at minimum, nearly 18 months.

It also doesn't mean you have to like it, nor that you can't complain. But there's always been hanging threads or unexplored elements. There's the obvious limitations of Pike's story given that Ashley was unable to be at the table much of the time, but we never really went deep into Scanlan's parents - and we didn't have to, because the purpose of Scanlan's mother being killed by goblins wasn't "we're going to avenge her"; it was to explain why he'd become a wandering bard and to inform how Sam played him. The Robert Sharpe plot for Jester never got much play because really, it was mostly as an establishing character moment and the reason why she left Nicodranas, not something that needed an extensive arc (nor something Laura seemed terribly interested in pursuing). We've never met Sabian or Tori; the twins never went back to Byroden during the campaign; Keyleth didn't find Vilya herself; Percy ended the campaign still with a lot of damage.

Which brings me to the final point which is that as anyone who's played a character-centric, GM-ed, longform advancement-style TTRPG should hopefully know, if there is a disconnect with what you as a player want to explore and with what your GM wants to play, and it's not in conflict with what was made clear from the start (ie, you didn't show up to the game the GM said would be Curse of Strahd and get mad that it was Curse of Strahd) it is the responsibility of the player to signal both in and out of game that this is something they want. If they don't, the GM will not know. But also, if you're wishing your favorite C3 character's backstory was explored in more depth, that character exists within the context of the moon plot. That is a part of who they are; they've grown around that plot and extricating them from it would necessarily destroy parts of them. You can tell a butterfly effect story, certainly, in which things were different, but that's ultimately fanfiction and neither a theory nor what should have happened nor is it an injustice to the character that it didn't happen. It's just what you wanted to have happened.

[kgyeomiex]

Three Empty Words

“It’s so hard to pretend to be friends with someone special, when every time you look at that person, all you see is everything want to have.”

Summary: Have a best friend who sticks with you through thick and thin is impossible to find. The moment you met Jackson, you know he was going to be your best friend for life. Jackson always knew how to make sure you were happy and healthy and always seemed to turn a negative situation into a positive one. However, you would be lying to yourself if you were to say you didn’t have any type of feelings for Jackson… But Jackson is just your best friend… You knew best to push those feelings away and just move on.

Previous Parts:

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 // Part 6 // Part 7

Part 8

Masterlist

This is exactly what the doctor ordered. A night out to forget about what's been happening. Lately, it feels like you were suddenly cursed…. Nothing but bad events kept piling up in your life. First, you lose someone you claimed to be your best friend and now you aren't even happy in the relationship you were currently in. 

What can possibly be next? 

When it comes to your relationship it’s weird… When Yoongi and you are together everything seems to be perfectly fine. The two of you enjoy one another's company and can talk about anything and anything. He shows that he cares about you when it's just you two and he never fails to show that you are special. However, after he leaves and you two aren't around one another, it's like he suddenly forgets he is in a relationship and acts completely different. It’s like he forgets about your existence and seems so distant and cold. 

He doesn't check up on you. He always seems to be too busy to respond and he just makes you believe you two aren't in a relationship...

In other words, this whole relationship was rather complicated. You wanted to talk to him about it, but you decided it was best to just suck it up and hope that something will change...

Hopefully... Something will change in this relationship and when you say change you mean for the better... 

You already lost someone important to you... Did you really want to lose Yoongi because of your own paranoia?

"Y/N!" That was the first thing you heard as you stepped foot into the bar. 

You look to your right and there you see your best friend Nani waiting for you in a chair with a glass in her hands already. 

You quickly walked up to her. As soon as you approached her, she got up from her seat and pulled you into a hug. 

"It feels so good to reunite like this," Nani says as you two were hugging. 

"You have no idea how relieved I am to see you..." You two pulled away and you sat down in the seat that is next to her. 

"I can't wait to hear all about it... But before we begin, I think it's important you get you a drink first... You're going to need it first," It wasn't long until Nani called the bartender over and ordered you a drink. 

She's right... Right now, a drink sounded very much needed at the moment. -

Nani's Point of View

After calling Y/N and finding out that her and Jackson were having problems... I knew right away I couldn't just sit back and do nothing about it. From the moment we all became friends I knew there was something different about the two of them. 

I always had a gut feeling the two of them would end up together at the end. On top of that from what I recall Jackson did tell me very valuable information that I can’t ever forget. 

Flashback

It was 1985 when I first lost my husband...

WHO AM I KIDDING.

One Friday night, it was the day where I decided to hold a goodbye party after being offered a new position to move away from home. I invited all my very close friends and thought it was going to be a good night... Don't get me wrong, it was a good night. 

However, it was also a very unforgettable night. 

Before I learned the fact that Jackson had a thing for Y/N I remember I had a small crush on him. I mean let’s be fair you can’t blame a girl because he is a good-looking man. 

I thought before I left Korea, I had to make it a mission to sleep with him before I left... 

But boy did that bite me in the ass. That clearly didn’t work out in my favor. 

There was of course alcohol in the party and many people under the influence. 

I remember at this party telling Y/N about my intentions of hooking up with Jackson. The thing about the situation is she never agreed or disagreed with my decision which from the start I found that oddly suspicious. But at the time I didn't think much of it. As I said drinks were involved in this party...

I remember that night I was watching Jackson from afar with a red cup in my hand, drinking to get that liquor courage in my system to make a move... After my final sip, I remember setting the cup down and before I knew it, I was suddenly walking in his direction. 

Jackson looked at me as I approached him and as soon as I was in front of him, he looked at me confused and quite taken back. 

"You me upstairs now," those are the only words that happened to come out of my mouth. He was surprised to hear me say such a thing TO HIM. Yes, I knew I had always been a bold kind of gal.

I grabbed a hold of his hand not giving him much of a choice but to listen to me and pulled him upstairs. I was under the influence of alcohol, but I wasn't drunk, so I was fully aware of the decision I was making at the time. 

By the time we got upstairs, it wasn't long until I pulled him into my room and threw him on the bed. 

I thought maybe by being aggressive it would turn him on. 

As he was lying on the bed, I closed the door behind me and made sure to lock it so no one would interrupt this moment. 

While Jackson was lying on the bed, I walked over, and it wasn't long until I was suddenly straddling his waist looking down at him smiling in satisfaction. 

I looked at Jackson and noticed how taken aback he was with everything that was happening. I was planning on kissing him, but I suddenly didn't feel right about the situation. 

What am I doing...

If Jackson was into this, he wouldn't be looking this confused...

"I'm sorry," I said as I removed myself from Jackson and he slowly sat up. 

"No, I'm sorry... I don't know if I ever gave you the impression that I was interested in you... and if I did, I'm sorry...." hearing that come out of Jackson's mouth did sting. I didn't know how to feel...

It's not like he was rude about the situation. I was at fault especially since I just read his body language wrong in the first place. 

"No, I'm sorry... I don't know why I even did that... " I was slightly embarrassed, but Jackson got close to me and grabbed my hand. 

"Listen I respect you too much as a person to let something like this ruin our friendship," Jackson was always a sweet man. 

He was someone who if he truly cared about you, wouldn't let minor situations like this interfere and that's something I admired about him the most. If I were in a situation like this, I probably would have acted awkwardly and completely killed the friendship in a matter of seconds. 

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked him and he looked at me. 

"Yeah?"

"Who do you like?" Usually after getting rejected like this a normal person wouldn't ask about their interest right after... But as you can tell I am not your normal girl. 

For Jackson to react the way he did I knew right away that he was interested in someone. It seemed like he put all his marbles in one jar, and I suddenly became curious to know who it could have been. 

"How do you know I like someone?" He asked me and I smiled. 

"Because I'm smart." Jackson looked hesitant to even open up about his feelings, but he looked at me. 

"Y/N..." 

As soon as he said her name I wasn't even surprised. I had a feeling this whole time, but I never said anything because I thought it was all in my head. The way the two acted around one another showed that the two had eyes for one another... Jackson seemed to pick up on the vibe, but I couldn't say the same about Y/N. 

She is probably still in denial or still ignoring her true feelings. 

"I should have seen it coming," I blurted out and Jackson looked at me confused. 

"Do I make it that obvious?" I couldn't help but smile. 

"Just a little... But to be honest I'm pretty sure Y/N feels the same way she just doesn't know it yet. " Jackson just looked at me and I got up from the bed. 

After that encounter, we never brought that up to anyone and I never asked any further questions about his feelings towards Y/N. I just kept it a secret because I knew that if Jackson wanted it to be known he would have said something a long time ago... 

I always hoped that the two of them would have started dating while I was gone... But boy was I wrong... I came back and I found out that the two weren't talking... 

Nope, not on my watch. 

I love both equally and I know that these two were a match made in heaven. They both just needed an extra push to talk to one another and finally confess how they truly felt. 

-

Your Point of View

As soon as you received the drink in your hand, it didn't take long until you began to take a few good sips from it. 

"Before I even tell you about my depressing news... What's new with you?" You asked Nani and she smiled. 

"No no no we must start with you... I know you probably don't want to talk about it but what the hell happened with Jackson and you?" 

Before you decided to open up, you lifted your cup and took a good chug. 

"Oh..."

After putting down the drink you looked at Nani. 

"That's the thing, I have no idea where it went wrong. We went from being best friends and everything was normal to suddenly Jackson removing himself from my life and not explaining himself. I don't know where everything went wrong. We were so good and before I knew it things went bad so fast." You truly don't understand where things had a turning point. 

Did you say something that could have offended him? He would have said something... it's not like the two of you haven't argued in the past or at least had a disagreement.

"Hmm, at what point did you notice Jackson acting up or acting distance?" Nani asked you and you sat there and had to really think about it. 

The more you thought about it... You realize he started to act towards you the moment you started to see Yoongi. 

"Well... It started after I started to see someone, but I don't feel like that could have been a good enough reason for Jackson to want nothing to do with me?" you looked at Nani and she just smiled. 

"Girl... Do I have to spell it out for you?" Was there something you missed here?

"What are you talking about?" 

"I don't know if you're acting clueless or if you really are... But I don't know... Maybe Jackson LIKES YOU?" When Nani says those words, your eyes widen. 

No way.

That sounded impossible. Jackson... JACKSON WANG YOUR BEST FRIEND liking you? 

That doesn't sound right. 

"No, he doesn't," you quickly shot the idea down and she just shook her head. 

"Okay, what other explanation is there for Jackson to cut you off out of the blue?" Nani seemed very convinced that Jackson had feelings for you, but you never got that impression from the guy. 

"I did forget to mention that Jackson has a girlfriend. What if he started to date without telling me anything and his girlfriend wanted him to cut me off? I don't know, I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation," you said, and Nani looked at you like you had 4 heads. 

"Wait... Did I hear that right? Jackson has a what?" 

Before you can say anything, you are cut off when suddenly by your surprise you look up and there you see Jackson entering the room. Why is he here? 

You noticed him the moment he walked right through the front door. Speaking of the devil...

Just seeing Jackson's presence made you suddenly want to drink even more. 

You looked over at the bartender and smiled. 

"Can I please get another one?"

You had a feeling that Nani must have invited Jackson over here. Talk about making things awkward. 

Jackson noticed your presence but suddenly looked away and looked right at Nani. You could feel the unwanted vibe he was giving off with you just being there. 

"I'll be back, Ima head to the bathroom," you told Nani, and she nodded her head. 

You instantly got up and found the nearest bathroom. Right now, you need a chance to mentally prepare yourself before facing Jackson... After the conversation you two had I felt hard looking at him. 

-

Nani's Point of View

I felt someone tap my shoulder. I look up and there I see Jackson right in front of me. Clearly, my presence was needed in a situation like this. Before I left on my trip, I was pretty sure I was going to come back home and find out that Y/N and Jackson were finally together. . . HOWEVER, it looks like the complete opposite happened instead. 

"A warning would have been nice," were the first words Jackson blurted out. 

"Well, how was I supposed to know that Y/N and you were not on good terms? I leave you guys alone for two seconds and I come to find out that you two hate one another?" I wanted to ask Jackson as many questions as I could before Y/N came back from the bathroom. 

"I don't hate her. . ." I knew he didn’t, but I wanted to hear that come out of his mouth. By the way Y/N explained it seemed that way, but I knew that she was exaggerating. 

"Well why she is away, care to share why you two stopped being friends? Or would you like to start at the part where you have a new girlfriend,"

Jackson looked over at me and then at the bartender. 

"I need a drink,"

I shook my head and looked over at Jackson. 

This could take all night. 

-

Y/N's Point of View

As you came back you felt much worse. Usually at least back then when you would see Jackson you used to be happy. But now that there was nothing but this awkward tension between the two of you... You wanted to run out of there. 

The only way you can manage being around him is if you have enough alcohol in your system. 

You raised your hand and called over a bartender. 

"Oh, so it's that kind of night?" Nani asked and you looked over at her. 

"Oh, you have no idea..." you said as you slightly glanced at Jackson, and he was already looking in your direction but instantly looked away. 

You knew that once the alcohol starts to kick in you are going to give Jackson a piece of your mind sooner or later. 

-

4 shots in and you were definitely feeling the buzz. 

Jackson hasn't said a single word to you, and you couldn't help but feel yourself suddenly getting more and more agitated. 

How can this man sit close to you and not want to talk to you? Did your friendship mean nothing to him? 

"I need another drink," You were ready to call the bartender over yet again but that's when Nani stopped you. 

"Listen Y/N I love you, but you need to slow it down with the drinks..." You knew Nani was looking for your best interest, but it didn't help with the fact that Jackson was inches away from you. 

"I wouldn't have needed to drink so much if you didn't bring him here," you said pointing right at Jackson and that's when he finally made eye contact with you. 

"If I would have known that you were going to be here, I wouldn't have come," Jackson splats out...

Those words themselves felt like he pulled out a knife and just stabbed you in the chest... 

Jackson was so cold to you... Never gave you a full explanation and suddenly it seems like he can be so harsh to you and not feel a single remorse after saying it. 

"Wow," you blurted out...

At this point, you don't think you can no longer hold back your tongue. 

You were hoping that eventually maybe in the far future, there was a chance you two could have put your differences aside and work something out but suddenly that doesn't seem like that will ever happen. 

"Guys..." Nani was trying to interfere but it was far too late for that. 

"No... Jackson tells me how you really feel," you said looking Jackson directly in his eyes. 

"You know what, let's just drop it," And there he goes trying to leave you in the dust... You were sick and tired of being confused and clueless. You needed answers. 

"No... What the hell did I do to you, Jackson? How the hell do we go from being best friends to suddenly me being dead to you? Did my friendship mean nothing to you? Did I mean nothing to you? I would have thought maybe if I ever did something wrong you would come to me and talk to me about it. But clearly, you don't seem to give a single fuck about me since it seems so easy to remove me from your life..." you were about to continue but Nani cuts in. 

"Y/N don't say something you will regret," Nani knew how much you valued Jackson as a person... But it was far too late now... 

"Stop. If Jackson doesn't give a fuck, why should I? I was stupid enough to think you valued me as a person. I wasted my time hoping that maybe we could put our problems aside and become friends again. But you know what, I don't need you in my life."

"Y/N," Nani tried again but it was no use. 

"You're dead to me the same way I am to you... Now we are even," saying those words out loud suddenly made a sharp pain appear in your chest. 

You were hoping to hear something come out of Jackson's mouth by now or even explain himself at least but he stood completely silent. 

That reaction by itself showed you everything needed to know. 

Internally you wanted to reveal how upset this situation had you feeling but you weren't going to allow Jackson to get that satisfaction. Lately, all you have been feeling has been upset and depressed, and instead of anyone showing any sign of concern... You were alone yet again... 

You lifted your head and looked at Nani.

"I'm sorry but I have to go... I think it's best if we see each other when this person is not here," you said to Nani. 

"Y/N," Nani was trying to stop you from going but it was far too late for that. 

You started to grab your belongings. 

Just as you were getting ready to leave suddenly that's when everything seemed to happen so quickly... 

Just when you thought your night couldn't get any worse... You thought wrong. 

"Hey babe," you looked over and your stomach dropped. 

There you see Yoongi kissing Nani. 

-

To Be Continued.

[strawberrykidneystone]

Turians Don’t get Jealous

summary: shepard told vega that him calling her lola doesn’t affect her relationship with shepard, but what if it did👀

a/n: @sliceoflifeshepard THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!!!

tags: porn with plot and feelings, previous talk of sexual boundaries and safe word implied, jealous sex, possessive garrus, spanking, biting, scenting (sorry not sorry), pussy eating, au where shepard can get creampied idc, playful banter, pet names

ao3 version

(post garrus date and vega hangout)

"c'mon lola, i saw you and vakarian at the casino, you've been holding out on me!"

garrus internally cringed and clenched his jaw, facing away from the two in the shuttle bay, suddenly very interested in the scope on his rifle. there's that nickname again, lola. why did it give him a pit in the bottom of his stomach? remembering the moment didn't help much either. dancing with shepard when she let go and looked at vega for a second before going back to their dance, it awakened something in him. he knew the flirting was all fun and games with vega, but that didn't mean he didn't still feel slightly perturbed. the nickname truly didn’t bother him in the beginning, but now that he and shepard were official, he couldn’t help but feel… territorial.

"and you've seen me dancing at purgatory too, the only reason I was good last time was because I had an excellent lead."

god she was complimenting him, but he still had a deep pit in the bottom of his stomach. they should go out dancing more often, he doesn't want all the lessons he took to go to waste after all.

garrus came up behind her and laid his hand on her lower back, squeezing softly. he leaned down to her height and purred into her ear, "shepard, i have something very important to show you in your cabin."

a smirk tugged its way onto her lips and she patted the eager turian on the chest, "i'll meet you up there big guy, i just have to finish up with vega."

garrus was less than pleased, his brow plates furrowing and his mandibles flaring slightly. he grumbled and rubbed his cheek against her head as if scenting her (he was) before reluctantly pulling away, "don't be too long."

as garrus pouted away towards the elevator, shepard returned to what she was originally doing with vega, fixing the damn scope of his shotgun since he apparently "had done everything to fix it but it still wasn't working!" she could sense that something was off about the way garrus way acting, but didn't want to assume anything. he knew that there was nothing between her and vega, right? he was like her little brother, and lola was just a harmless nickname. vega was the one who kept her grounded when she was forced into retirement earth. she probably would've gone insane without him, but it was solely platonic, no matter how much vega commented on her curves.

once the scope finally clicked into place, she set down the shotgun at his workstation and sighed to herself, quickly cleaning up the small mess of screws and bolts. shepard nodded to vega and stepped into the elevator, heading up to her cabin. well, at this point, garrus spent most of his nights in the private room when he wasn't in the main battery, so it was more their own shared space. the thought made her smile to herself as the elevator climbed up the floors, it felt nice to share something with someone she truly cared about. the elevator opened with a soft ding and she slowly approached her door, not knowing what was waiting for her on the other side. hopefully not an angry turian.

shepard opened the door and peeked inside, seeing garrus standing at the foot of the bed seemingly lost in thought.

“garrus?”

he turned around and eyed her like she was a tall glass of water in the middle of the desert, “fancy seeing you here.”

“in my own room?”

“awe and here i thought i was our room now.”

that cracked a smile on shepard’s face and she strolled up to garrus, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“sorry, our room.”

garrus leaned his forehead down and pressed it against hers, closing his eyes. there was still something off about him that shepard couldn’t quite place. there was a heat radiating off of him and his neck was slightly glowing blue, something she’s come to recognize as blushing in turians.

garrus leaned down and nipped at her neck, she responded in kind by tilting her head in the opposite direction, exposing her entire neck to him. he couldn't resist anymore, he needed to mark her as his and only his. shepard shivered as she felt his hot breath on his neck, gasping as she felt him bite at the side of her neck. the two stayed like that for a moment before garrus unlatched from her soft skin. the bite was deep enough for only a few blood droplets to sprout up. garrus gingerly licked up the red dots, walking the two of them back to the bed until the back of shepard's knees hit the mattress. "i-i'm sorry shepard, i lost control of myself for a moment i-"

shepard held up her hand over his mouth to stop his rambling and grinned, "i liked it."

"really?"

"really."

"c'mon you can do more than that vakarian."

the simple sentence made garrus' breath hitch, his mandibles flicking eagerly. shepard didn't know what got him all fired up, but she wasn't complaining. the side of her neck was already starting to ache, but the arousal between her legs was enough to distract her from the new punctures in her neck.

"strip, but leave on your underwear," he shucked off his top armor as shepard followed his orders and stripped down.

garrus sat on the edge of the bed and patted his lap, looking up at her with blown-out pupils, "over my lap. now."

shepard opened her mouth in surprise before a deep flush settled over her cheeks. however, she nodded and laid across his lap with her stomach across his legs, tucking her hands under her chin as her toes clenched in anticipation. garrus ran his hand from the nape of her neck, down her spine, and squeezed her ass. "so soft, such a good girl for me," he purred out and a whimper left shepards lips, feeling the wetness between her legs grow.

a slap suddenly rang out through the room, garrus rubbing the cheek he just spanked with a red mark already starting to form. shepard gasped at the sudden sting, but the pain wasn't unpleasant to her. her hands shifted to grip the blanket underneath her, glancing back at garrus through half-lidded eyes.

"color?"

"green."

garrus hummed in satisfaction at her answer and raised his hand giving the other cheek the same treatment, a 3 fingered print lightly showing up on her skin. eight more slaps came and went, tears prickling at the edge of shepard's waterline as the stinging slowly started to build up.

"my good girl, all mine," garrus practically growled out, his subharmonics humming as he rubbed her cheeks to soothe the pain.

"garrus..." she whined and loosened her grip on the blanket below her, squirming in his lap to look for some sort of friction.

"quiet," he hissed out and landed another slap to her right cheek, a yelp escaping the woman under him.

garrus manhandled shepard to lying down on the bed with her legs over the edge, giving her a wonderful view of her lover as he shucked off his lower armor. his cock was unsurprisingly already freed from his slit. shepard could feel herself practically drooling at the sight, her clit pulsing with need against her wet panties.

"look at this, such a mess already and all for me," garrus cooed as he kneeled down and observed the dark spot already forming on the material covering her pussy. he looked up at her with his pupils completely blown out, staring up at her like a cat who just caught a canary.

garrus could already smell her arousal earlier, but having the source of her scent right in front of him was enough to drive him crazy. however, he wanted to enjoy this for as long as he could, wanting to make her everywhere so there would be no doubt that she was his. he kissed his way up her ankle, nipping at her calves and rubbing his face against her soft skin to integrate his scent with hers. the rough texture of his skin and old face-missle scar made shepard shutter.

as he got to her thighs, she reached a hand down and softly ran it over his crest to his fringe, his head leaning into her hand. he ran his talons up her thighs and hooked them around the sides, slowly sliding them down shepard's legs. garrus hooked his arms under shepard's thighs and pulled her closer to him, his hands settling on her ass as he dove into her pussy like a man starved. he groaned as his tongue slid in between her lips, massaging her labia with his skilled muscle. he focused his tongue on her clit and guided her hips to move up and down more intensely, letting her completely ride his tongue. she responded in kind by crossing her ankles, the heels of her feet pressing into his carapace for leverage as she trusted her hips.

sweat started to form on shepard's brow, her hair sticking to her forehead as the knot in her stomach snapped and her juices coating garrus' tongue. he hummed in contentment as she rode out her orgasm, hips twitching slightly as he licked up her juices. garrus kissed up her stomach and slowly started to stand up from his kneeling position, moving shepard's legs from his shoulders to around his waist.

garrus unhooked her bra and threw it off to who knows where, licking up her sternum in between the valley of her breasts and twisting her nipples in his dull talons. shepard mewled underneath him and tightened her legs around his waist, feeling his cock brush against her. he chuckled and caged shepard between his arms, looking down at her full of equal parts lust and love. she looked into his blue eyes and squirmed under his intense gaze. wrapping her arms around his neck, shepard pulled garrus down into a passionate kiss with his tongue quickly finding its way into her mouth. garrus nipped at her lower lip and pushed deeper into the kiss, savoring the taste of her mouth. "you're- mine- all- mine," he enunciated each word and emphasized the end of each word with a kiss.

shepard happily kissed him back and giggled, "what's with you today vakarian?"

garrus sighed and looked away sheepishly before looking back down at her with an awkward smile, "i'm- i'm honestly not really sure. something about vega's nickname for you... it's never bothered me before we were official but now..." he trailed off and buried his face into her neck.

she cooed and cradled his head in her hands, petting his fringe, "it's just a nickname i promise, if it makes you uncomfortable i can ask him to stop-"

"no it's not that, it just makes me feel a little... territorial."

"you mean jealous?"

shepard raised an eyebrow and garrus scoffed as he lifted his head to look at her.

"turians don't get jealous shepard."

"mhm sure, then why don't you show me who i belong to big guy?"

garrus grinned down at the woman he loves and kissed her cheek as he lined his cock up with her entered, slowly pushing the tip into her tight pussy. the pair groaned in unison as he reached deeper inside of her, his tapered cock stretching her out as he bottomed out. the pair stayed in that position for a minute, shepard nodding to garrus when she felt properly adjusted.

he started at a slow pace, pulling out halfway before plunging back into her wet heat. shepard moaned as his ridges massaged her walls, rubbing the spot under his carapace that she knows drives him wild. garrus' sub vocals purred and he leaned his head back at the pleasant feeling, drilling his hips deeper into her.

"spirits shepard, you feel so good," he groaned and started thrusting more intensely, pulling out almost all the way and thrusting back into her, kissing her cervix as his hips slapped against her soft skin.

"garrus please- need more!", shepard cried out and garrus delivered, his name falling from her lips like a prayer as she tightened up with his stronger thrusts, clutching him as close to her as possible.

garrus growled and kept the same rhythm and bit down on the opposite shoulder, just like he before, reaching a hand down to circle her clit.

" 'gonna cum!", shepard's walls spasmed around him as he released his seed inside of her, slowing his thrusts as the two rode out their highs. garrus licked up the bite mark once more, soft pants filled the room as they relaxed in each other's arms.

"so you're okay with vega calling me lola?"

"yes, i think this was a one time thing."

"well if it gets you fired up like that, i hope it's not a one-time thing."

garrus nudged his forehead playfully against hers and snorted, shaking his head affectionately. shepard reached a hand up and cupped his scarred cheek, rubbing her thumb across his scars.

"you know i'm only yours right?"

"i know."

"there's no shepard without vakarian."

"there's no vakarian without shepard."

"...you know it's okay to admit you were jealous."

"i'll say i was jealous if you admit i'm the better shot."

"never gonna happen."

"well, there's your answer."

the two laughed together and cleaned up before settling down for the night, finding a moment of peace before needing the morning where the horrors still await them tomorrow.

a/n: if i'm using subharmonics wrong please lmk, i've read a lot of fan fics that use them and i think it's so cute. if there are any mistakes lmk!!!

[winxwiki]

Iginio Straffi talks about male characters, Winx's adult fanbase, Fate's failures and limitations and subversion of stereotypes. Video by Winx Club Forever Italia, translation below, with some notes

With great pride, in fact, when I conceptualized Winx more than 20 years ago, I wanted to have fun in subverting these stereotypes. So we had the Specialists that were like humble servants... I'm sure you'll remember Sleeping Beauty Sky, being saved... -You shouldn't have made Riven. I was super in love with him as a kid! It made me realize too many things now! I mean... Ha, I mean, all these things that get recognized only 20 years late... now even critics saw, understood, looked indepth. 20 years ago they were noticing the Winx changed clothes every episode, being very fashionable, so (they said) "Ah, they're superficial, all make up and hairstyles", no, actually there was content, what made (Winx) interesting, very innovative (content) which wasn't common in cartoons... the boys being servants to the girls being the protagonists and many other things. With that said, with the transposition (of Fate) we got ourselves a lot of issues. Not just making happy adult fans like you, which is who Fate: Winx Saga was aimed at, but also following Netflix's demands. (Netflix) wasn't aware, but I had a suspect that there were millions of Winx grown up fans around the world... but they (Netflix) kept saying "Eh, who knows how many of them there are really, we need to make sure this show is understandable for people who have never seen the cartoon, maybe (you refer to) countries where it was popular" (and I said) "Well, (Winx) was popular kinda everywhere..." In the end, when the cartoon came out (on Netflix?) they saw with their algorithms that we were right, that we could have been more faithful to the original spirit of Winx, the (live action) series lacks a bit of that levity. It's more made like they (Netflix) usually do, gothic, dark, dramatic... All things that in our debate we had no certainty to have the truth (on Winx adult fans), because maybe they were right, we couldn't make Winx closer to the original in live action, because (they said) maybe who's never watched the original cartoon would find (the live action) too childish, I don't know... though we wouldn't have made it identical to the cartoon but something different. In the end, we could have made an adaptation more faithful to the cartoon, because all algorithms proved us right. On the first day Winx was watched by 43 million accounts (Straffi is not clear if it's Fate or the cartoon, but seems to be the cartoon) and they identify this data as an already existing fanbase, because for original stuff, even Bridgerton, even with all the marketing they don't even reach half of these numbers. So a series of things that made (Netflix) understand from America, to Brazil, to Asia that there was an important fanbase, waiting for this product (aimed at them), which I have an idea on how to do it... So I hope next time we get the chance to make a live action, hopefully a movie, it will be more in line with what you (adult fans) expect, of course not a product for kids but for an audience of teens and adults. It will be a little different.

[ellolovely-fics]

| closeout // i. the beginning

pairing | jj maybank x childhood best friend! oc

warnings | cursing lol

word count | 2.2k

author's note | shout out to my bestie jazmine and my little sis alexa for proofreading this... again :') btw, wanted y'all to know that Nadine is pronounced like nuh-deen, and her nickname Nadi is pronounced like nah-dee. Bea is pronounced as bay-ah :)

closeout masterlist

previous // next

Thu 9:42 PM

Nadi 💖 BEA BEA BEAAAAAA OMFG MOM AND DAD SAID YESSS I'M GOING TO ✨KILDARE ✨ *CUE THE SHOWTIME AIR HORN NOISES*

Fri 1:17 AM

Bea 🌼 Oh my GOD There's absolutely no way 😭 NADI HOW?!

Nadi 💖 It was all Uncle Mar 😭 He called mom and dad and they talked it out They're letting me go stay with him while they go to Scotland~ This is TRULY a miracle

Bea 🌼 Oh my gosh Nadi, I don't think you understand This is UNHEARD OF!! I never thought in a million years that they'd ever let us step foot on that island again

Nadi 💖 I know 😭 The stars are aligning It's ✨ fate ✨

Bea 🌼 😭 So what's your gameplan now? Are you going to interrogate Uncle Mar when he takes you fly fishing or something? 😭

Nadi 💖 😭 omg not the FLY fishing B how could you ever say that into existence~ I think I'll just ask a million and one questions when I get there And thennn I'll snoop around Uncle Mar's house  for pictures, diaries, artifacts... the works. we'll see what I can find 👀 But the main goal is to figure out why mom and dad left Kildare AND dig into what happened to Jethy. What ever happened to this bald-headed, buck-toothed boy 🤓 🎵 I need to knOWWWW theeese answers, I need to FIIIIINDDDD MYYY WAYYYY 🎵

Bea 🌼 😭😭 Girl I'm gonna have to stop you right there ✋ Anymore and you'll get that cursed elephant stuck in my head 😷

Nadi 💖 . . . 😭 not TIKA

Bea 🌼 UGH don't you dare get me started She said:

Nadi 💖 PLEASE

Bea 🌼 😭😭 anyways I'm glad you get to go on a summer adventure of your own, Nadi!! Hopefully it'll be... a lot less stressful than mine 😭 What I'd GIVE to be at the beach right now

Nadi 💖 girl what Says the girl in ITALY rn You're out there eating gelato for breakfast. I don't want to hear it!!

Bea 🌼 ... you right LOL But in my defense, it's to soften the blow of all my critiques and deadlines 😭 BTW how are mom and dad?? Are they okay?

Nadi 💖 I mean for the most part... You know how they are 😭 It took them a while, but they're back to normal now. When I first told them I wanted to go, dad sort of had a moment. I'll never forget the look on his face - it looked like he'd seen a ghost.  He and mom went up to their room and I heard him rambling through the walls for an hour. Mom had to calm him down.  Then he called Uncle Mar. I overheard him talking to him in his office. Dad mentioned how he was scared and how he wouldn't know if I'd be safe... but he also felt bad because he knew how important going to Kildare is to me. I honestly felt like SHIT. Like - I knew something bad must have happened, but I didn't know it was THAT bad. I've never seen dad so upset. But it just fuels my fire even more, you know? Like - what the hell happened that was so bad that made us move away and never go back? What made them never even want to talk about Kildare to us over the years? I have so many questions 😭  

Bea 🌼 I get it, Nadi. Neither of them have been the most forthcoming about Kildare over the years.  I remember when we were kids and we used to ask to go back and visit all the time. They said no so many times that we just stopped bothering to ask. I'm glad that they let you go. Whatever it is, I'm sure Uncle Mar's going to look after you. If he wasn't there, there's no way mom or dad would have let you go. 

Nadi 💖 Literally. I'll be staying at his place for a few weeks!! I called him right after they told me I could go and thanked him about a hundred times.  He's so excited to have me over 🥹 I love that man. 

Bea 🌼 UGH I miss him. Make sure to give him the biggest hug EVER from me!! Also - you're still coming to visit me, right? Are you going to Kildare before or after?

Nadi 💖 Of COURSE I'm still coming to see you!! I'm going to Kildare before :) I should be back in DC a few days before my flight, and then I'll be running around Italy pretending to be Ezio Auditore 🦅🗡️ You have to be my cinematographer in between your classes, remember?

Bea 🌼 Haha yes I do. You better be camera ready 🎥 Speaking of classes - one of them is about to start!! And YOU need to go to bed I'll talk to you later!! 💖 Love you!!

Nadi 💖 Bold of you to assume that I'll listen to you 😭 But I love you tooooo 💖 GOOD LUCK

Kildare Island, NC Late June 2019

"Who's coming down on Sunday?" JJ Maybank gawked.

Marlon Marshall, Captain of The Mommucked and JJ's boss, skimmed a calloused hand across his greying beard and sighed. "Need me ta come clean out your ears, son? I said my niece. Little Nadine's coming down here from DC ta spend some time with us. You remember Nadine, right?"

There's no fucking way.

JJ bit down on his lip - hard - to keep his jaw from dropping. "Uh... no. Not really."

Liar.

JJ rubbed the back of his neck and turned back to face the open hood of his truck, away from Marlon's piercing eyes. He could barely breathe. It was like his chest took a hit from a baseball bat at full swing. His jaw slacked as he mouthed the words, 'What the fuck!' from under the hood before clearing his throat with a cough.

"I, uh, haven't heard that name in a long time," he admitted. He paused, before letting another lie fall off his tongue. "Can't even put a face to the name anymore."

Honey brown eyes. Flushed cheeks sprinkled with freckles. A smile so bright it felt like staring into sunshine.

JJ cringed.

Mar's hoarse voice bounced off the metal roof of the car port. "Yeah, I'd expected as much," he said. "I'd have been surprised if ya remembered her at all. She and her folks haven't been 'round these parts for quite some time. You were still little pogies when they left the island. What's it been? Eleven, twelve years?"

Twelve years?

He couldn't keep the memories at bay. Late nights watching movies. Quiet giggles in the dark. Pinky-promises in a treehouse that overlooked the marsh. Memories flashed through his brain before vanishing as quick as they came.

"Son? You all right?"

JJ blinked. "Yeah, I'm good," he coughed awkwardly. His grip tightened around his wrench until he felt his nails press into his palm. "Can't believe it's been that long is all."

Marlon hummed in agreement. "You and me both. A lot's changed since then, huh?"

"Yeah," JJ agreed. He shut his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck again, feeling a headache coming in. "They sure have."

He tried to keep himself together, but his body felt like he'd just been wiped out by a wave, and he was tumbling around underwater struggling for air. His throat burned and his lungs squeezed. Panic coursed through his veins. But Jesus - he couldn't let Mar see. He'd be damned before he let him know about any of this shit.

Keep it together, man.

JJ wiped the sweat off his head with the greasy towel he had on hand and pursed his lips in thought. There was no use in pretending to keep busy with his engine now. He quickly turned back around to face Mar, leaning back against the truck with crossed arms. "Is there, uh, anything you wanted me to do for when she gets here?"

Marlon nodded his head. "Yeah. Figured it'd be good for ya ta spend time with each other, seeing as you're both 'round the same age and used to be friends and all. You can show her 'round the island, introduce her to your friends, cause a ruckus like y'all did when you were kids. Sure beats having ta spend the entire summer 'round an ol' man like me, I think."

JJ furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey Mar, don't talk like that."

Mar shrugged. "It's true," he said. "So, what do you think?"

Shit - what did he think?

An instantaneous 'Hell no' was on the tip of JJ's tongue, but he took one look at Mar and felt himself crack.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

JJ's throat went dry, his mind racing a million miles a minute. He tore his eyes away from Mar's and looked down at the gravel under his feet and kicked at it, watching the dust lift up into the air.

It almost felt like one big fucking joke. A part of him was hoping that Mar would let out one of his infamous laughs and tell him he was just messing with him, but there was nothing. Mar just stood there, waiting expectantly. He was actually serious.

Nadine Marshall was coming back to Kildare.

JJ's head started spinning.

"All right," he started. He rubbed the back of his neck, the words scratching at his throat like sandpaper. "She... She can hang out with us."

Mar shot him a toothy grin, moving towards him to pat him on the shoulder. "Thanks, son. I really appreciate it. I think that y'all will have a good time. Really."

JJ nodded his head, but deep down he felt he just handed his soul over to the devil. "Yeah, no problem, Mar."

"Come down here on Sunday and join us for dinner - if you're free, that is," Mar suggested. "That way y'all can meet each other and get reacquainted. If ya got any qualms, just know I'm making your favorite that night: shrimp, grits, and hushpuppies."

JJ whistled, his stomach grumbling at the thought. He could taste it on his tongue already; the grilled shrimp, the cheesy, soft grits, those tiny little addictive jalapeno hushpuppies...

"God damn, Mar. You don't play fair," JJ groaned. "I should be free, but I've gotta double-check. I'll let you know."

Mar nodded. "All right."

JJ sighed, rolling his shoulders back from exhaustion. "Do you know how long she's gonna be here for?"

"Two weeks."

Two weeks? JJ's eyebrows shot up on his forehead.

"No shit! That's a while! There any reason why?"

Marlon narrowed his eyes. "Is spending time with her favorite uncle not enough?"

JJ snorted. "Hell no."

Mar rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Since you're so damn curious, her parents are going away on a trip out of the country; she doesn't want to be cooped up at their house all alone. Think she wants to find out more about our family history too. I've got all sorts of stuff packed away that she wants to take a look at."

"So... she's staying... here?"

"Uh-huh," Marlon confirmed. 

"Damn," JJ murmured under his breath.

How the fuck was he going to make it through two weeks? Why was she coming back now? Why, after all this time? She could come back on a whim to learn more about her family, but she couldn't pluck up the balls to come back and visit him over the years?

JJ felt something ugly twist in his stomach. 

"Shit, that's another thing I wanted ta bring up with ya," Mar said. "Do ya mind if she stays in your old room? I know ya cleared out most of your stuff out when moved to John B's, but I wanted to see if it was all right with ya before I set her up in there, especially since ya crash here from time to time."

JJ shut his eyes and sighed. This was just the gift that kept on giving. 

"Okay," he said despondently. 

Marlon shot him another smile before glancing down at his watch. He cursed. "Ah shit, I've gotta head down to the marina for an inspection. You let me know about Sunday, and thanks again for bein' willing to show Nadi around. I think it'll be good!"

JJ gave him a half-hearted nod. "No problem, Mar."

Marlon started making his way towards his green truck, which was parked at the end of the car port. He called out behind him, "Remember! Ya got an early morning shift on Wednesday. Don't make me drive down to John B's to wake your sorry ass up again!"

JJ groaned. "That was one time!"

Marlon shook his head and waved goodbye before hopping into his truck to start the engine. JJ watched him drive down the gravel driveway, waiting until the truck turned right at the giant oak tree at the end of the lane and drove out of view.

A whimper sounded through the screen door to the house. JJ looked up towards the front porch and spotted Marlon's retriever standing on the other side of the door.

"Pan, what the fuck just happened?" he asked.

The dog blinked, tilting his head to the side curiously, before letting out an annoyed bark.

JJ sighed, "You're right, man. Definitely bullshit."

previous // next

[gothicthundraog]

RANDOM TALES OF DRAKGO Chapter 42-50

Chapter 42 Emotionally Drained

Shego walked into the lab holding two cups of coffee and the mail under her arm. The henchmen were off for the next few days due to a wedding. Henchman Lucius had gotten married, which meant the henchmen would roll in sometime the next night, completely obnoxious. She rolled her eyes and put the coffee down on Drakken's worktable. She looked around the lair and her brows furrowed. If he had gone to the wedding without her, she was going to give him a verbal lashing. He'd opted to send a gift instead, which she had been grateful to use as an excuse not to go herself. She was not really in a celebration mood.

"Shego, good, you're here," said Drakken as he jumped out of the hover car. It had been fixed up with a new drop ladder, because someone's high hopes for a gravity beam hadn't gone well. "Just a few more minor adjustments and we'll be off for a casual drop-in to Dr. Bortel's lab."

"Bortel... Hey wasn't he the guy we stole the Nano-Tick thing from?" asked Shego, leaning against the hover car. She looked inside. "What's that?"

"Ah, like it? It's the new mini craft," said Drakken. "Finished it this morning."

"...It is morning," said Shego, indicating to the rising sun through the ceiling window.

"Last night... At some point between when you left and now," said Drakken with a groan. "Does it matter? It's done."

"Did you even sleep?" said Shego, casually flipping through the mail. "Geesh, give the henchmen a few days off and the mail just piles up."

"Anything interesting?" said Drakken, ignoring her first question and putting the panel back on the hover car.

"Bills, a postcard... So we're just giving your mother the actual address at this point? No P.O. Box?" asked Shego as she opened up a green envelope.

"The woman's a blood hound. You know, for someone whose life revolves around bingo and radios, she's pretty good with digital tracking," said Drakken with a shake of his head. "What's that?"

"A card and letter from my brothers," said Shego as she read it. "At least someone remembered."

"Oh... For what... Birthday? Was that... That was last weekend wasn't it?" asked Drakken, looking up nervously at Shego.

"Maybe," said Shego, glancing over at him with a sharp look as she read the cheesy letter.

"Uh, my bad Shego, if it was... Or was it something else, " said Drakken as he got into the hover car. "Did you want to stop for breakfast? My treat."

"I'm over it," said Shego, hopping in. Though she shot him another half-glare for good measure.

"Are you sure, because if this is going to be one of those things you bring up to inconvenience me later..." Drakken began. Shego smirked. "It is, isn't it?"

"What do you think," said Shego as she flopped in her seat. She shoved the tiny craft. "Isn't there somewhere else you can put this?"

"I haven't made the proper adjustments to the storage I've put on the hover car," said Drakken. He looked at the card as Shego shoved it in the glove box, which actually held spare gloves for both of them. "Was it a nice card?"

"Uh huh," said Shego as she read the letter as they took off.

"Do...do you want to know the plan?" asked Drakken as they left the lair. He smiled hopefully.

"Reading... You know...because someone remembered an important date," said Shego. She smirked as she saw his brows furrow and his eyes glare ahead as they drove.

++

"Well, how about now?" said Drakken a while later as Shego put the letter in the box.

"My brothers think you're my boyfriend," said Shego as she fiddled with a loose nail on her glove. She reached in the glove box for a spare one.

"That's a riot," said Drakken with a smirk.

"Yeah, really," said Shego with an eye-roll. She smirked. "I mean, a boyfriend doesn't forget special days, birthdays, anniversaries, to pick up the milk, to take out the trash... They don't whine until you bring them soup... You're more like my husband."

"...Huh," said Drakken. He narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, that would explain the lack of physical benefits too."

"Pfft, your physical benefit is me making sure Pumpkin doesn't kick your blue ass," scoffed Shego, looking at her new glove. The nail seemed off on that one too. "I need new gloves."

"Well, Shego, it's kind of your job to make sure I don't get my ass kicked," said Drakken. He opened the glove box and handed her a pair.

"The other stuff?" asked Shego. "I just put those in there. Do you even pay attention?"

"You do already take my money," muttered Drakken. Shego threw a glove at him. "Gold digger."

"Oh! Oh, really?" asked Shego, a grin on her face as she hit him with the glove again. "For all I do for you, I should get more than just money."

"I got you a necklace...which I count as an anniversary gift," said Drakken. He smirked as she shoved the gloves back in the compartment. "And birthday."

"You can't count it as everything," said Shego with an eye-roll.

"It's a million-dollar necklace...gold digger," mumbled Drakken. Shego shoved the mini craft into him. "Hey! You want your boyfriend to crash this ship?"

"Uhg," scoffed Shego with an eye-roll. "Do us both a favor and kill us both if you do."

"You mean you don't want to live to torture a new boyfriend, if I die?" said Drakken. Shego glared.

"I'll have you know, you would be lucky to have me as a girlfriend...or a wife," said Shego. "I am of high caliber."

"High maintenance is more like it," said Drakken. Shego rolled her eyes. "All right, now onto the plan."

"Really, okay," said Shego, crossing her arms as they pulled up to a building. That conversation was not over.

++

Drakken was in good spirits the following morning, even though he'd yet to sleep. He'd been analyzing the EMA in hopes of finishing up some of the incomplete designs. How could he not be in good spirits, both of them really? They'd escaped Kim Possible, got the EMA, and all in record time. He was also confident the teen would not be finding the new lair. He hadn't even gotten a magazine subscription this time, so they were golden. He wondered if Shego wanted to grab breakfast that morning, though he still wasn't sure what he'd forgotten. Whatever it was, she was hiding his date planner so he couldn't find out. He shrugged. It clearly wasn't that important, or she'd be more upset.

"Once this is finished, there will be nothing stopping me from world domination," he grinned joyously. He heard the hallway door and grinned, eager to tell his plan to Shego since she'd avoided it the day prior. "Shego, good morn-... Shego?"

"M-Morning," sobbed Shego, tears running down her face as she walked in the door. "H-How are y-yoooooou?"

"Shego? Ohm." Drakken watched her collapse in her seat by the cameras. This was new. "Hey?"

"I just...why?" sobbed Shego. Drakken stood there for a solid moment unsure what to expect. He lowered his voice, keeping his distance.

"Shego, are you okay?"

"N-No," sobbed Shego. He moved closer to her; there was no reason to be afraid.

++

He was wrong. Very wrong. There was something to be afraid of. Shego. Drakken sprinted down the road into the darkness of the parks. His chest was pounding. Twice today he'd found himself running around in there. The first time with a lovesick Shego, which at the time, made a lot less sense. The last twenty-four hours had been utter chaos, and it still wasn't over. He should have known better when he'd actually defeated Kim Possible and got the EMA without much hassle. Nothing ever went well for that long for him. Normally he would reflect longer on the ups and downs of his struggles, but the sound of his name being yelled stopped that mental rambling from continuing.

"Drakken! Where are you?" snapped Shego. He could see the grass give off a faint glow as she walked.

He pushed himself up against a tree and tried not to breathe. He swore Shego could hear that; she was a ninja after all, and he had a sudden wonder if maybe her powers gave her more sensitivity to her surroundings.

Cheating, really.

Drakken needed to focus. He needed to hear her footsteps. All he could hear however was the sound of his heartbeat in his ears, and the dizziness that wanted to take him out. He was exhausted and all the running had drained him. He was certain Shego's blasts hadn't helped him either. He heard her footsteps move away and he let himself breathe a little as he slid down into a sitting position. He was glad it was a fairly decent night. The fall air wasn't bad, but he couldn't stay hiding there forever... Or maybe he could.

Drakken leaned his head against the tree, playing over everything in his head. Why hadn't he noticed Shego wasn't in her right mind? He rolled his eyes. At first he'd thought she was joking since the previous day's conversation would have made for a perfect explanation. It would be very Shego to flirt with him to prove a point; it was hardly the first time.

Yes, because dragging you around a park all day is soooo her.

Drakken cringed. Yeah, he should have known better. Especially after what transpired in the photo-booth... He felt his stomach sink. What had he been thinking?

++

FLASHBACK

++

"Come on, let's go to the photo-booth," grinned Shego, her arms wrapped around his and her head on his shoulder, "so we can remember the day."

"I, uh... I don't think I will forget it," said Drakken, his mouth still sore from the large sucker she'd nearly chipped his tooth with. "Shego, what are you doing? This thing is honestly starting to make me concerned. Shego?"

"Come on. We don't have enough pictures together," said Shego with a pout. "Why don't we have more pictures together, Drakken? I mean, don't you like our memories together?"

"Well... Yes... Most of them," said Drakken. He felt a weird dip in his gut. He didn't like when it did that; it had been a while since it had. "I mean... But a photo-booth... Isn't that a bit, teenager-ish?"

"You're never too old for a photo-booth, silly," laughed Shego. She pulled his arm. "Besides, we get five pictures then."

"Shego, I...fine," said Drakken nervously as she began pulling him towards the closest one. What could be the harm in a few quick photos?

"It'll be fun, I promise," said Shego as she pulled him in the booth with her. "Come on, silly face first."

Drakken felt uncomfortable at the flips that were going on in his stomach. He tried to recount all the food he'd eaten that day to try to find a reason other than nerves. It was nerves. He cringed as he looked at Shego. No, he needed to make sure this little joke of hers was going to end soon. He'd been trying to kill that crush he had on her since he'd met her. He thought he had, and this little act of hers was not what he wanted. She made a silly face and looked at him. He laughed nervously. If this had been another day, then her odd flirting might have actually excited him. But something in her eyes was scaring him.

How far is the little joke going to go?

He shifted back a ways. That odd look from earlier was back. Her dark lips smirked and her eyes dropped.

"Uh... Sh-Shego?" asked Drakken. Her hands moved quickly, and for a split second he expected her to attack him with violence like she had the other day.

What he hadn't expected was the pain of her jaw smacking into his. Her arms were like vipers, wrapping around him with all her strength. They fell together to the ground of the booth. He heard the shutter clicks, but he had other concerns. With one hand he tried to grab the seat, while the other was on her arms. Her legs slid on either side of him as he was backed into the corner, her lips ferociously attacking his. His hand pushed on her waist, trying to push her away but not hurt her.

"Sh-..." He tried to say her name and voice his confusion, but she took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.

No, this was way past a joke, and he felt a wash of panic run through him, his mind racing with the ramifications of what this would change... What were they doing? What was she trying to prove? His mind was racing to what they should be doing. They should be working on the plan for Middleton Days, not making out in a photo-booth. He was trying to take breaths through his nose, but she was biting his lip hard; he could feel the bruising forming. She kissed harder, and he realized she was getting annoyed he wasn't reciprocating. Maybe if he didn't they could get back to the lair and back to their planning... But he found his hand that had previously been trying to push her away and slide to her hip.

"Why won't you kiss me?" asked Shego, pulling away only to look at him. "Don't you want to?"

Drakken stared at her. His chest was pounding. He was expecting at any second for her to roll her eyes and smirk, to say something sarcastic even—something to bring them back to any other day. But it hadn't been a normal day, or a normal two days... His hand slid around her waist as she leaned into him. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. Maybe this was just him being nervous... He kissed her back. Maybe it wasn't something he'd regret.

++

Currently

++

He regretted it. Boy, did he ever. He had almost instantly; they'd kissed for a few more minutes before a park attendant had caught them and yelled. It had been an immediate problem as they got back to the lair. He was still thankful the henchmen had gotten home in time. It had felt wrong, like he'd crossed a line between them. He'd begun wondering what it would mean for their dynamic, which they'd both fallen into easily. Now, as he sat there in the dark with only crickets for noise...he knew that those feelings were right. She'd basically been under mind-control and he had done nothing to stop it. He felt sick at the idea of what might have transpired because of his schoolboy crush and a little pitiful hope that things were going in his favor. He took a deep breath, trying to stop the nausea that his flipping stomach was causing him. His heart had slowed at least.

"There you are!" yelled Shego as she slid in front of him, her eyes narrowed, and a look of pure hatred and rage locked on him.

Drakken stared at her. Something about that look reminded him of the mind-control device he'd used before. His mind swam back to it, but then the look of betrayal her eyes had held in them then had made her seem less demonic. His mind raced a million miles a second as her hands glowed brighter. He had crossed a line. Unknowingly, but he had. He was smarter than that. He knew something was wrong with her, didn't he? He cringed as the light flared, but that's all he remembered.

++

Shego felt her head spin. She felt everything mentally hurt, and a migraine like no other. A wave of exhaustion hit her. She looked around. Why was she in the forest? Images, vague and off, flooded to her through a fog. She mentally tried to remember if they'd gone out with Motor Ed again, but she didn't recall that. The last clear image she had was fighting with Possible and escaping with Drakken. There were flashes of laughter, of crying, of anger...all at Drakken. Well that sounds right, she thought to herself. Then something else... Something different. She gulped, but only as the last emotion clicked. Blind panic and fear. She looked down where she saw smoke and jumped back. The base of the tree was burned so badly that the tree had a small fire going. Inches from it was Drakken, who'd jumped out of the way and head-first into another tree. She looked at her hands. He'd jumped away from her?

"Dr. D.?" asked Shego as she crouched down by him, her hand giving off the only decent light as she turned him over.

Shego cringed at the knot forming on his head and at a small trickle of blood. He looked rough to be honest. Scorch marks littered his jacket, his hair was a frazzled mess, and his lips even looked slightly bruised. She looked at the tree, trying to figure out the angle he'd hit it at. She touched her own lips in thought and flinched. Her eyes shot open as the flash of an image came to her mind. So that wasn't her imagination, then. She cringed and went to wrap his arm around her neck. She nearly dropped him when a sharp pain shot through her, and she pulled a small device off her neck. Her heart sank and she thought about just dropping him right there and then. Had he put another mind-control chip on her? She looked at him, rage boiling up as well as other things. She shook her head. She'd deal with that later.

"Yeah, that's right. I'll patch you up... Then rip you to shreds," muttered Shego as she practically picked him up and headed towards the lair.

++

Shego shoved Drakken on the lab table. It was the closest room to the side entrance, and she wasn't about to haul him across the lair. Naturally, not a henchman could be seen when she could have used a hand. She rolled her eyes and glared at Drakken. He hadn't moved or even made much noise the whole way there. It would be her luck he'd be in a coma or something, and she wouldn't be able to get answers. She looked at the wound; it didn't look like he'd cracked his skull or anything. The cut was from bark, it looked like. She sighed and grabbed the first aid supplies. She could easily use the smelling salts and wake him up, but it would just be easier this way and would give her time to try to clear the fog in her mind.

"What the hell is this?" said Shego as she looked at the bottle cap shaped thing. She wanted to crush it, but she tossed it on the table instead.

She began thinking. The last time she'd been under mind-control, she'd been aware of everything, not just bits and pieces. There was also something different about it; she felt like she'd been through an emotional blender. Her eyes even burned like she'd been crying. The idea made a quick swell of panic come in. She had been crying...more than once.

Shego couldn't piece it together. Why had she lost it over a nail? She looked at her glove. The nail was still broken. She glared and wiped the wound on Drakken's head, and he groaned. She rolled her eyes; at least he was alive. She looked around the lab for where they'd put the smelling salts kit, as the normal one was empty. Her eyes fell onto the wall and she did a double-take. Written in a burned-out heart was "D.D. + S.G." She looked around the lab. A chair was turned over, and was it cold and damp in there? None of it made sense to her. She looked at Drakken again. The scorch marks on his jacket made her look back at the wall. Her hand found her lips. Had they kissed? She glared. There was no way she would kiss him without some substance or device telling her to do so. She felt anger come over her and she glared as Drakken began to stir.

"Drakken, you have something to tell me!?" yelled Shego before he was even fully alert.

She expected him to snap at her or look at her in confusion...even be sheepish. Instead, his eyes shot open and he rolled off the table to hide behind it. She was shocked for a second, but a renewed sense of rage found her. Clearly he'd been the cause of all this emotional turmoil she'd been having. It was different and familiar, the feeling—worse than when he'd first tested a mind-control device on her. It felt painful, even. It was the knowledge that he now knew more about her reasons, and he'd still done it.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...for whatever I did!" came Drakken. She could hear him moving. He was going to try to run.

"For whatever you did? Are you kidding me!?" yelled Shego. Her hands flared and her eyes burned.

"Listen, Shego, I'll make you dinner. I said I would... You want to go on a trip together? My treat," said Drakken. He was still hiding, but he held up a white sheet of paper. She shot it. "Shego, whatever you want...name it. Anything... I'll do it... I just don't understand. How did Stoppable get Possible's thing to stop working again..."

"Excuse me, you did it to me and Possible!?" yelled Shego. "I can't believe you!"

"Did... I didn't do anything to Possible, that was all Stoppable... Okay a little me, but I didn't know it would affect you," said Drakken. He peeked up from behind the desk. "I didn't know there were two."

"What?" asked Shego. She was even more confused and getting angrier at herself as she felt tears break. "You didn't know you put mind-control devices on Possible and I?"

"What? I..." Drakken slowly stood up, hands in front of him. "Shego, I didn't do anything... Shego?"

"Really?" asked Shego. Her hands flared more.

"No, I..." Drakken looked at the small device on the table, and Shego was shocked when he gave a sigh of relief and leaned against the table, a faint smile on his lips. "Oh thank god, it's off."

"Yeah, back to how it got on," said Shego. She wasn't sure of her emotions in that moment—not until he explained.

"It attached to you when we were in Bortel's lab," said Drakken. "I'm not sure how exactly it worked or what caused everything, but it was more of an emotion-control than a mind-control. A...Mood-U-Lator?"

"So... So you didn't put me under mind-control..." said Shego, her rage dwindling and a sense of relief washing over her. This might also explain why her emotions felt so raw.

"No, never again. I promised you, I would never do that again," said Drakken. He looked around towards his desk. "I even put it clear in the contract... Wait, you don't remember?"

"I remember some things... My broken nail making me upset," said Shego. Drakken made a frantic movement and shoved a box towards her: new gloves, express delivery.

"I ordered them... You know, after the park... Well, I guess you don't know," said Drakken. Shego saw the flash of relief in his eyes and an unease to his shoulders. "Doesn't matter, I'm just glad everything's back to normal."

"What happened at the park?" asked Shego. Drakken shrugged it off, and a wave of exhaustion hit her as she went to approach him. He took a large step back. "Did I threaten you?"

"No... Shego, it's nothing," said Drakken. He looked around. "It's been a long night, and I think we need sleep."

"Fine..." said Shego, the emotions and sleepiness mixing to a downing cocktail anyway. "We'll talk about it in the morning."

++

Shego retired to her room, reluctantly, and froze. Her clothes were all in shambles on the floor. She glared and then cringed. She held up a purple and white faux fur jacket she'd thought she'd tossed—a gag gift from Mego back in her hero days. Why she'd even kept it was beyond her. She wasn't about to deal with whatever had happened there that night. Her head was pounding, and she already had too many questions that were not getting answered. She picked up the jacket as she slid all the clothes to the closet door with her foot. She tossed it in the trashcan after righting it. All of her stuff was knocked off her dresser, even. She stared at the items on the floor, willing to at least know what had triggered that. Her first thought was anger, but that wasn't it. That hadn't been the emotion she'd been feeling when she'd been in her room, but what was it? It was like a block. All she felt was the memory of feelings: pure craving and lust. She was relieved at whatever part of her that had some sort of clarity had helped steer away from the feelings.

"I hope he's not planning on avoiding this topic," said Shego. She laid in her bed, but as she closed her eyes, nothing but restlessness followed. "Great."

She stared at her ceiling, trying to will the pieces to fall. She tried singling in on one emotion at a time. The easiest was anger; a few foggy memories pushed together, but when it came to the park again, it was all red. No memory, just pure rage, adrenaline, and the rush of violence. She'd never felt that anger before, pure and unadulterated, like an animal. She remembered a small part trying to stop the anger, but it was useless. Whatever consciousness she had still maintained had been useless. The flaming tree returned to her head. Drakken was lucky he'd jumped. She turned in her bed. Sleep was going to fight her tooth and nail.

++

Drakken lay in his own bed, glad the day was over and things would go back to normal...he hoped. He mentally began spinning excuses, if Shego didn't remember. Maybe it was for the best. That way, everything could go back to normal, no harm and no foul. Drakken enjoyed living in oblivion sometimes; it kept his expectations focused... It also kept other thoughts far away. His mind fell back to the photo-booth again and he cringed. What had he been thinking? Honestly, there was no rhyme or reason for the day's events and he should have known better. His stomach knotted at the memory. Especially the memory that followed, the reason why he'd had the henchmen make dinner and had been so grateful they returned when they did. Fear.

++

FLASHBACK

++

Drakken's arm was locked with Shego's again as they walked into the lair. His stomach had been doing flips the whole way back, mixing from excitement to horror to concern... It was a battlefield of ups and downs. Everything in his mind told him to abort, to put up a finely-made wall and put his world back together. Then the other part of him, the one he ignored and kept buried, fought back—the part of him that wanted to give in to his primal desires and throw reasoning to the wind for once.

Stop questioning everything, just go with it. For once, you get what you want.

He gave a half smile and looked at Shego. It faltered. This wasn't what he wanted, was it? He looked at her eyes. They seemed unsettling to him. This was a momentary lapse in her sanity... It had to be, right? Her hands found his coat collar and pushed him against the wall.

"Shego?" asked Drakken, a wave of panic hitting him. It had been a joke... He knew it... The joke was over, and she was going to snap at him. "I'm sorry."

"I don't know what for, but you can make it up to me," smiled Shego, and her lips were on his again.

"Shego..." His hands found her shoulders, half-heartedly pushing her away. This was getting to be too much.

His attempts were swatted away as his hands were pinned against the wall. His lips already hurt from earlier, but they stung now. His internal battle became a war now, his reasoning winning as his arms pulled away from the wall. It was harder than he thought. Shego wasn't exactly weak, but neither was he. He took a shot and gave Shego's lips a sharp bite. She stepped back but her grip didn't loosen. Her eyes flared wide and her grin became devious.

"Oh, I like that," smiled Shego, letting go of his wrists only for her hands to slide around his neck and up his chest.

"Shego, I don't know what's going on, but this is getting out of hand," said Drakken, his brows furrowed as his hands grabbed her wrist on his chest to try to remove it. "Is this some sort of joke, because it's gone too far."

"Does it look like I'm joking, Baby?" said Shego as she yanked into another frenzied kiss.

Drakken cringed at the pain, but his mind was battling back again, wanting to give in. She wasn't joking? Still, it felt wrong. Something felt off about her. He'd never seen her act this way before.

You've never seen her like this because she wasn't interested before.

Something made sense, but still didn't. How could one day shift things so quickly? He felt himself take steps back as she directed them and he followed, his hand still firm on her wrist and the other clenching and un-clenching as his thoughts ran rampant... He heard a beeping noise and he stumbled backwards a bit. His eyes opened and then shot open wider. He yanked himself away from her.

"What?" asked Shego, her eyes hooded and a playful grin on her face. "Nervous? Don't be. I don't bite... Unless you want me to."

"Uh, Shego... We're in your room," said Drakken, taking a step back towards the exit.

"I know. Why? Did you want to go to your room?" smiled Shego. She lunged at him and he dodged.

"Ohm, this is going a little too fast," said Drakken. His reasoning side was back, and it was panicking.

"I can go slower," grinned Shego as she pinned him against the short dresser. He jumped up on it, but it did little to give him an escape route.

"Shego," said Drakken as Shego pounced on him. He literally had no leverage to escape her at that point.

"Ohm...we're back," came a voice at the door. They both looked towards the open doorway to see Henchmen Mitchell and Davis standing there, the others behind them.

"Holy shit," came a mutter behind them, but any anger Drakken might have felt at their intrusion fell to relief.

"Ah! Good, glad to see, how was the wedding?" asked Drakken, managing to slide Shego off him in her sudden confusion and then get off the dresser.

"Not as good as this, I'm sure," said Henchman Davis. Drakken wanted to yell at him, but chose the escape opportunity instead.

"Well, you should tell us all about it," said Drakken. He glanced at a pouty Shego, and he worried about her bursting into tears again. He looked back and forth between her and the henchmen. "Mitchell, would you and Daniels mind making Shego and I dinner?"

"Uh, sure," said Daniels with a wide grin as he yanked Mitchell with him towards the kitchen.

++

Currently

++

Drakken was grateful for his henchmen in that moment, for more than one reason. It also dawned on him, he would need to have a conversation with all of them come morning, because none of what they had seen could leave the lair. Thinking back over it all, he felt the nausea come again. His chest hurt at the idea of unknowingly crossing boundaries, and another thing clicked as he thought about it—he had no thoughts about Shego in that way at all anymore. He'd be lying if he didn't think about it once in awhile, but after that day...he just felt disturbed at the thought. He felt some sort of relief that any residual crush he had from when they first met was finally gone.

XXXXX

Chapter 43 Blame Game

Shego shot up with a bolt as the image of Drakken panicking while she had him pinned to her dresser came flying back to her. It had to be a nightmare; there was no way that had happened... She lay back down and took a deep breath. It was her imagination, it had to be.

Everything on the floor, though.

She would ask him. She couldn't have been so insane...so aggressive.

You, aggressive...? No.

She rolled her eyes at her own sarcasm. She hoped it wasn't real. She'd practically assaulted the man.

No wonder he was so afraid and willing to do whatever you wanted.

She flashed back to him cowering behind the table, to him hiding in the wooded park.

"Focus. Just focus... Try to remember," she said to herself and focused on a small spot above her, pushing her dream away and stitching what she remembered clearer together.

Shego stared at her ceiling, her hand touching the back of her neck every few minutes. There were small blackouts for which blanks were finally filling as best she could, based on other clear memories. She'd figured out that the mood-control thing had keyed in on what was most relative to the emotion. Sadness: her broken nail, thinking Drakken was hurt, or feeling ignored. Anger: Drakken telling her she overreacted, ignoring her... All of it checked out. She'd even explained away the other one. Love. She cringed at the word; honestly it was more like lust or infatuation than anything. She was certain it was because he was the only man in the lair at the time... Sure, she cared for the idiot, not that she was about to tell anyone or him... It was nothing like that.

"Photo-booth," she thought to herself. She was still confused by its significance, but she knew it was relevant to something.

Maybe to the dresser.

"That might be a delusion... It better be."

She'd put together forcing him to join her on a park date, that they'd had dinner, that she'd practically threatened to blast him if he wasn't her date... She rolled her eyes, of course she had. She had been a massive emotional whirlwind in twenty-four hours of insanity. She remembered that tree; it had to have been what caused the device to crack. She'd blasted where he'd been, and the rush of blind panic came again. She gulped. She took a deep breath and saw the rising sun through her skylight. She tossed back her blankets and got up. She went over to her vanity and grabbed her brush, not exactly sure what the day was going to bring. She knew Drakken would do one of two things: pretend it never happened or want to talk about it in depth. She hoped it was the latter. She looked at the mirror and froze. A strip of photos was taped to the top of it. She yanked it down and stared at the scenes.

"The photo-booth," she muttered to herself. She'd taped the strip there before dinner the night before; she had a flash of memory about it.

She looked at the photos. The first one showed her making a silly face and looking at Drakken. The look in her eyes was unsettling as she looked at it. She looked to Drakken; discomfort, nervous...terror, even. She smirked a little bit at his reaction and moved up the photo. He was at least laughing in this one, still with a look of concern. Her eyes were closed but she was grinning like mad. Her eyes looked up to the next one. Utter fear in his eyes, and... Her stomach twisted at her expression. It felt unnatural and off as she looked at it. Pure emotion, something no normal person would ever show she was sure... The next image explained exactly why her lips had hurt and Drakken's were bruised.

The hallway.

A flash came back, and it played like a fast-forward clip. She looked at her dresser again. Claw mark from her gloves rested along the mirror's edge. She looked closer. The knob on her drawer was knocked off, as if someone had kicked it trying to get up on top.

"Oh my god," breathed Shego. Her head was pounding, relieved Drakken had had some sort of clarity in the situation.

Or oblivion...

Or perhaps deep, gut-churning disgust.

"Shego," came the knock at the door. It wasn't Drakken, who was normally the only one brave enough to do so.

"What is it Williams?" asked Shego as she opened the door. The henchman looked sheepishly at her and cleared his throat.

"Dr. Drakken told us what happened at the meeting. You have a solemn vow, we won't say anything," said Williams. He indicated where the group of henchmen stood around a corner. "We...as a group...decided to tell you this so you don't feel like you have to chase us down later."

"We signed a contract," said Daniels, looking at his feet.

"We also wanted to know, since Dr. Drakken left, did you want us to destroy the footage on the security cameras?" asked Williams. Shego's eyes shot open.

"What do you mean, left?" asked Shego. The henchmen scattered at her voice. Williams froze. "Where is he?"

"I-I don't know," said Williams. He took a step back and his hands shot up. "He left after the meeting this morning... Just...wanted...cameras...be clear...yeah."

"Well..." Shego looked at her glowing hand and took a step back. Her emotions were still raw. She took a deep breath. "I'll take care of the footage."

"Right...ohm," Williams gulped, and Shego closed her door, leaving him outside.

"Maybe I'll get some clear answers," said Shego at the thought of the footage, but her stomach was flipping and her chest hurt... Was Drakken avoiding her?

++

Drakken scoured the park carefully, trying to find those stupid photos. He cringed. He'd had time to sleep on it and form a plan: pretend the whole thing never happened. Seemed fool-proof. He knew Shego would remember eventually. Possible had seemed back to her own thoughts before he got chased off by Shego. Perhaps, the longer you wore it the harder the fog. Shego had been wearing hers a good five hours after. Either way, he was doing damage control before she did. That way she would see it as him trying to make amends for not getting his head straight faster. He knew she was going to ask him why hadn't he known she was off, and he didn't have an answer... Well, one he was comfortable with telling her anyway.

"Oh, well I thought it was a joke, but then I figured...why not," said Drakken, mocking himself as she looked at the photo-booth. He didn't know where the photos went but he could make sure there was no memory of it. He shot his solar laser gun at it and watched the thing dissipate in blue flames. "Well, that's done... Now the security footage of any nearby cameras downtown... The...cameras... Damn it."

++

"This is a nightmare," said Shego as she watched the clip of herself in the purple jacket. It was the only clip that wasn't causing internal panic. "It's like Dollmaker, all over again."

Shego hit delete and stared at the screen. She slumped against the keyboard with a loud groan. She sat back up and took a deep breath.

You were under control, this wasn't your fault.

She nodded to herself. She hadn't been mentally stable, clearly. She nodded to herself. This could be fixed.

You practically mauled him in the hallway.

She glared. Her mind was back now, the evening had finally registered. The clips had looped every missing thing together clearly. The only one that didn't seem to fit was the photo-booth. Every mental image and clip showed Drakken avoiding her attempts to seduce him. She cringed, because she knew that's what had been on her emotionally deranged mind. Clearly, it had been far too long and Drakken got the full brunt of it. Yet the photo-booth, she clearly remembered him participating. The image of them returning to the lair showed him walking casually with her. Her thoughts were pushed aside as she heard running and Drakken slid into the lab. He froze.

"Shego?" asked Drakken. He cleared his throat and stood up straight. "Afternoon."

"Where were you?" asked Shego, spinning around in her chair to look at him.

"Ohm, out... What are you doing?" asked Drakken. His attempt to casually lean against his desk caused a stumble as he missed. Shego felt a click in her head.

"Were you doing damage control?" asked Shego, her brow raised.

"Yes," said Drakken. He glanced at the screen. "You?"

"Yes," said Shego. It was a strange sort of awkward now; not like the night before, but shifting and silent.

"So...you saw the videos? Jog any memories?" asked Drakken. His awkward attempt at sitting on his desk caused Shego to raise her brow.

"All of it actually," said Shego. She watched his unease.

What's wrong with him?

"Oh," said Drakken. He looked uneasy, and it confused her further when he gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" asked Shego.

I should be apologizing?

"Yes, I'm sorry. I should have known something was wrong with you sooner, and dealt with it before it even progressed... But...I did think you were pulling my leg at first...for forgetting... And the crack about you being a gold digger," said Drakken. Shego opened her mouth but he motioned his hands in deference. "If we could...could we just pretend this never happened?"

"Hmm," said Shego. She weighed the odds; not having to apologize and also holding something on him...

You attacked him.

"Well?" asked Drakken. She looked at his hopeful eyes and then to the bruising on his face and the cuts on his head, and she groaned internally.

"No," said Shego. She hated these tugs of conscience she got from time to time. She was going to blame the rawness of her emotions for it this time. "You shouldn't be apologizing, I should."

"You?" asked Drakken. He looked confused and she really wondered if they should get his head scanned from the tree impact. "You shouldn't have to apologize, you were not in your sound mind. I was."

"Fine," said Shego. She wasn't going to argue with whatever insane logic was running around Drakken's mind. "Let's just move on."

"Okay, good..." Drakken looked around. "So I still have parts from the device. I was thinking of creating a less concentrated form of it. Think of the mass chaos..."

"Veto," said Shego as she spun in her chair to look at the cameras again, making sure everything was cleared.

"The utter... Veto?" asked Drakken. He froze and Shego didn't have to see the realization he was having on his face. "Perhaps another time, you're right. It's too dangerous."

Shego listened to Drakken mess with his desk, most likely moving things around. It wouldn't take him long to come up with something to steal or another insane scheme. She gave him that; every failure or problem, he bounced right back up. Her conscience kept clicking and it was really starting to annoy her. She was trying to find out any moment he would have thought he was at fault. The photo-booth came to mind again. He had kissed her back. She had just started thinking it was because she was terrifying and had literally pummeled him earlier for a simple comment. Now, she had other thoughts. She shook her head to herself. She should just let it go and move on... Chalk it up to an insane weekend that normally might have involved tequila and get back to normal.

Just move on.

She nodded. She was going to let it go and move on.

"Drakken," said Shego. Apparently her mouth had other plans. "I changed my mind, we should talk about it."

"What?" She spun around to see him drop the graph he'd been staring at. "But, you said..."

"Yeah, and I changed my mind," said Shego sharply, crossing her arms. "I have questions."

"Questions? Like?" asked Drakken.

"Not here... I believe you promised me dinner," said Shego. She crossed her legs and swung her toe idly. "Twice, if I recall."

"Dinner?" asked Drakken. His brow furrowed. "Shego, really. After all that, you want me to make you dinner? Don't you think the henchmen have enough gossip?"

"You've made me dinner before," said Shego. She looked upwards. "Come to think of it, why did you stop?"

"I've invited you a few times, to eat with me...because, well..." Drakken's eyes narrowed now. "I have other things to do than cook you dinner, Shego."

"You stopped after those weird nightmares," said Shego, her eyes flaring wide, but she ignored it. "Well, you know what. You promised me dinner, I want dinner."

"Fine, how about this weekend?" sighed Drakken, pulling out his recently located date book. Pages were missing, but he ignored it. "You know, this weekend doesn't work. We have the bowling finals... How about..."

"Tonight," said Shego. "You are not putting this off. I know what you're trying to do. You're hoping that if you put it off long enough, I'll forget it. Tonight."

"I was not," said Drakken sharply, and Shego saw his eyes shift. He groaned. "Tonight? I guess... There's some chicken in the freezer we should use."

"Excuse me? No, I want a nice dinner," said Shego. She scoffed. "I mean, normally I get at least that before second base."

"I...you...but." His face darkened and he looked a whole new shade of uncomfortable. "You accepted my apology!"

"This is an extension of your apology," said Shego, making a hand gesture as if presenting it. "A nice dinner, and a good talk. Then...in the morning. We never speak of it again."

"Never?" asked Drakken. His eyes focused. "Meaning nothing is held over anyone's head?"

"Never," said Shego. She hesitated though. "So, dinner?"

"Fine," sighed Drakken as he began heading towards the door, muttering to himself.

"Nothing reduced or because it was on sale!" yelled Shego after him.

"Fine!" yelled Drakken. She heard the door slam.

"Hope he gets wine," said Shego. Her cocky smirk faded into unease. "Dinner? What the hell was I thinking?"

XXXX

Chapter 44 Dinners and Flames

Drakken may have taken things a bit too far. Why? He didn't know. He reasoned it was because of guilt, and the other part because if the dinner was to Shego's liking, then the whole week would be over and come the next morning he could return to scheming... Particularly, the plan. There was a thought that perhaps he should share his plan with her, but he shook his head. If Shego couldn't figure it out, that meant Possible didn't have a chance, and he wasn't going to risk it. As he turned off the oven and turned around, Shego sat at the table with a cocky grin.

"Nice apron, Dr. D.," smirked Shego. "You know, if we got you a maid's costume..."

"Shego, we're here to talk about this week, not any secret kinks you have," said Drakken. Her eyes shot wide and she snorted.

"Well, perhaps that can be a topic," said Shego, giving him a serious look. Drakken backtracked.

"Let's not, the week's been weird enough," said Drakken. He really didn't want to know what that topic may include.

It wasn't long before the two sat at the dining table in their shared kitchen. Drakken had made sure all the doors were closed. The last thing he or Shego wanted was for more jokes and ideas for the henchmen to run with. He already knew the moment Lucius got back, the gossip...contract or not...would start. As he looked across the table, he gulped. It was too similar to the other day; he and Shego, alone, eating dinner. He suddenly wished the henchmen were there, sitting in the distance. It was quiet again, and it felt off. Drakken shrugged. Might as well get it over with.

"So, that jacket..." said Drakken, attempting to start a light conversation.

"Yeah, no, that is not a topic for this evening," said Shego, pointing her fork at him. "This is about the awkward situation that occurred for two days, not a questionable keepsake."

"I found it to be a key awkward moment," said Drakken. "It made me question what else is in your wardrobe."

"Fine, it was a gag gift from Mego," said Shego. "Ages ago, mind you. No idea why I kept it. It's gone now."

"Is it?" asked Drakken. He gave her a devious look. "Did you throw it out, or burn it?"

"...If that thing is somewhere in the lair...I will strangle you with it," said Shego, giving a menacing glare. Drakken gulped, but he could tell she was bluffing. He shrugged, and her eyes narrowed. "Drakken I swear..."

"I'm not saying I did anything with it, just that... you really wanted it gone, you have fire at your fingertips," shrugged Drakken again. Suddenly something came back. "There was a burned tree in the park."

"All right, so before that... I remember nearly all of it now, but there's still a few patches. Do I remember you sitting in a fetal position?" asked Shego. Drakken sighed.

"I did that a lot this week," said Drakken. He shrugged and gave her a strong stare. "Wasn't the first... Doubtful it's the last."

"Yeah, I can see that," said Shego. She looked at her dinner plate and then back at Drakken. Drakken was playing with his food as well.

Shego looked at the food before her. Filet mignon. He hadn't skimped out either; they were prime meats. Seasoned garlic potatoes, and a hefty helping of her favorite vegetables. She watched him spin his fork a few times. He was searching for a way to continue the conversation without it being awkward. She'd shut down the little jacket joke he'd been trying, and honestly she should have went with it, but it was silent again. Judging by his expressions, he didn't like the awkward feeling either. They both needed to suck it up and just get it over with.

"So, when did you notice I was acting off?" asked Shego. It was a simple question, but Drakken's eyes shot wide as he stared at his unmoving fork. She'd hit the nerve right at its source. "Or...did you not?"

"Ohm, of course I noticed," said Drakken. He looked nervous and his eyes shifted. Shego put down her fork and raised a brow. He sighed. "I didn't... Not until after I used the EMA on the little device. I thought it would only affect Possible. As I said, I had no idea anything was effecting you."

"Really? So...me crawling across a table at you, busting your lip with my face, and pretty much assaulting you... No red flags?" asked Shego. She felt her chest tighten. "Me acting that violent and sexually charged...came off as normal?"

"Well, honestly...at first I thought you were kidding because of what we'd talked about on the way to get the device," said Drakken. He looked a little defensive now. "You said yourself, the conversation wasn't over...even when Possible and Stoppable were there."

"What made you think that I'd act out a dramatic and violent flirtation?" said Shego. She stabbed her potatoes.

"Well, I thought you were still mad about whatever date I missed, then the thing about the boyfriend... I just went along with it because I thought you were joking... And then when I thought you were serious...well... There is a spoon," said Drakken, indicating to her fork in the potatoes.

"I know there's a spoon... And you didn't forget anything, I just said you did," said Shego. She sighed. She wasn't trying to see his logic. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for her to try and annoy him with dramatic behavior but still, he hadn't noticed anything wrong?

"Wait, but the card...and the letter," said Drakken. He looked around. "My destroyed planner.."

"Dramatic effect. It was a 'get well' card to you," said Shego with a sigh. She froze. She had seemingly proved his point about her dramatic actions. She hoped he missed it.

"Why? I'm not sick," said Drakken. He looked perplexed, and she smiled. "Nice they sent a card though, but why?"

"I told them you were sick when they invited us to a dinner," said Shego, relieved Drakken had missed his window to counter.

"Well that sounds nice... I would have liked to go," said Drakken. Shego glared at him. "You're always telling me I need to meet more people."

"Yeah, preferably, no one I'm related to," said Shego. She glared at Drakken. "Back on topic... So what, when you thought I wasn't joking...you just...went with it?"

"In my defense, you're very aggressive and terrifying," said Drakken. Shego nodded, and smirked.

"You know, I saw us coming back from the park... Were you into it?" asked Shego. "I mean, you kissed me back... Or was that terror?"

"You may be an aggressive, insane, deviously neurotic gold digger, but..." Drakken shrugged, Shego's grin making him less tense.

"Are we back on the gold digger thing, because there is still expired milk in the fridge, and someone went to the store today and has yet...five notes later...to replace it," said Shego sharply, but Drakken's grin didn't fade. "So, what? You have a crush on me...seriously?"

"I did," said Drakken with a shrug, "but nothing to worry about."

"Oh no... You have a crush on me. I knew it... Wait, is that why you tried to make me nicer to you?" Shego glared. Drakken shifted, and she rolled her eyes. "You know...for future reference... If you have a crush on someone...you ask them out to dinner. Not use mind control devices. That should actually be your last instinct."

"I learned that, thanks," said Drakken. He cleared his throat. "Well, what about you? Anything you want to tell me?"

"There could be more garlic in this," said Shego with a shrug. Drakken raised his brow but went back to his food. "So, nothing to worry about, this crush then?"

"God no, that's officially gone. Not even an inkling, " laughed Drakken with relief. Shego felt a sharp pang.

"Wow, way to toss one to the gut," scoffed Shego. "I mean, I'm glad, but way to stab an ego."

"I didn't mean anything negative by it," said Drakken with a glare. "Shego, can we just discuss this so we can move on, without feeling like we're insulting each other?"

"Hey, I didn't insult you... I made a crack about garlic," said Shego. "But someone saying they were attracted to you but got over it after you kissed them... Well, that's a pretty tough pill to swallow...relief or not."

"For the record, that's not why I'm over my crush... Well it is, but..." Drakken sighed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "Listen, Shego, I should have known something was wrong with you, and whatever residual feelings I had for you in that way... Well, they blinded me to what was happening. That bothered me enough, apparently, that those feelings are finally gone. It has nothing to do with you, it's me... No this is not a cliche 'it's not you, it's me' speech before you start."

"It totally is," said Shego, but the flip in her stomach couldn't choose how to feel as he glared. "I get it, but you didn't do anything wrong... Well, no more than usual. Subconsciously you obviously knew something wasn't right. You stopped anything from getting out of hand... And there is a dresser that tells a story that it could have easily gotten out of hand."

"I was never more glad for the henchmen," said Drakken with a deadpan look, and Shego snorted. "What?"

"You look like you're having a horrible flashback," said Shego, and Drakken shrugged. "I have the exact same feeling... Oh god, you bit me to try and stop my kissing."

"Which, you apparently liked, which is a questionable moment at best," said Drakken with a smirk.

"Let's just agree, the last few days were not our best moments," said Shego. Drakken nodded, and she looked at him. "The photo-booth wasn't too bad though."

"Yeah, well, the attendant didn't think so," said Drakken with a shrug. "Wish I knew where those photos went. I scoured the park..."

"You mean the ones where you look terrified and I look deranged before I pinned you?" asked Shego casually. Drakken looked at her, and she reached into her pocket. "These ones?"

"Wait? When did you..." Drakken stared at her for a second and rolled his eyes. "So what do we do with them? It's the last evidence, you know."

"Well, save for a few bruises," said Shego with a shrug. She looked at Drakken and smirked.

"The one part looks like bad Botox," said Drakken casually, and they both snickered. "So...destroy it?"

"Well, I suppose we have to," said Shego. She looked at her empty plate. "Remember, this isn't supposed to leave here."

"Never speak of it again," said Drakken with confidence.

"Right." Shego looked at the strip of photos. "You know..."

"Oh god," said Drakken. She smirked at his unease, almost wanting to laugh at her own idea. He continued warily. "What?"

"We have kissed four times now that we can clearly recall, because we're not counting that weekend with Motor Ed," said Shego. Drakken nodded.

"Still wonder where that tape ended up..." said Drakken. "Your point?"

"I think, minus the attack, this was our best one," said Shego confidently. "Seems a shame to destroy it. Could be our last one?"

"I seriously doubt that," said Drakken. His face darkened for a moment and he cleared his throat.

"Really? I thought you were over your crush... Yet...are there plans?" asked Shego. She poked him with her foot.

"No," said Drakken confidently, but he shrugged. "But it's always good to have a backup for New Year's."

"Oh, I'm having a date this year," said Shego sharply. "Call your bartender girlfriend or boyfriend."

"Well, he was a better kisser than you," shrugged Drakken. Shego gasped and he snorted. "So...bonfire and ice-cream?"

"Is it wine floats, perhaps?" asked Shego with a grin.

"Is there any other way to destroy photos and hang around a fire?" asked Drakken with an eye-roll as they grabbed their usual equipment.

++

"So...do we wake them?" asked Williams as he and Daniels stood on the roof.

"I think this is one of those...see something, say nothing things Dr. Drakken mentioned," said Daniels. He looked at the sunrise. "I say we just go clean up the kitchen and pretend we saw nothing."

"Man, Lucius is missing out on a lot of stuff," said Williams. "Are we going to tell him?"

"Uh, yeah. Dude just got married, we have to rub in all the gossip he missed. Guy lives for this shit... It'll kill him," smirked Daniels as the two closed the door and headed back into the lair.

Drakken heard the door close and opened his eyes, giving a slight yawn. He went to stretch but froze as he was unable to do so. He assessed the situation and his memory. Three bottles of wine, an empty container of frozen yogurt, the dwindling of what was once the rooftop fire-pit, the rising sun, and Shego.

They sat on the lawn chair normally reserved for Shego's sunbathing, Drakken's coat pulled over both of them. His memory danced back to them talking idly in the cool fall air. They must have fallen asleep. Shego's head was leaning on his shoulder. He shifted, trying not to wake her up, partly from knowing Shego wasn't a morning person. As he tried to move, he felt something poke him. He shifted and pulled out the photo-booth strip. He rolled his eyes. The whole reason they'd come up there and they hadn't even burned the thing. He looked to see papers in the ashes, wondering what on earth they had burned. He shook his head and went to crumple up the strip, but stopped. He looked at the one photo that looked normal: Shego laughing with her eyes closed and his attempt at making a silly face. Shego had been right about one thing under the Mood-u-lator... They didn't have nearly enough photos together. He glanced at Shego and slid the picture into his pocket.

"I saw that," mumbled Shego, head still on his shoulder. He froze, but she kept her eyes closed. "Better make me a copy, Drakken."

"Fine, but stop drooling on me, then," said Drakken with a sigh. He smiled, and Shego made a slurping noise. "You'd better not."

"Better not what?" asked Shego through a mouth full of liquid. He jumped up and she laughed. "Your face."

"Were you going to intentionally drool on me?" asked Drakken. He squirmed.

"Maybe," laughed Shego. Drakken cringed, and she rolled her eyes. "Please, your tongue has been in my mouth."

"Well, that's interesting."

They both turned to see Duff Killigan standing there, a smirk on his face. "Shall I come back later then?"

"Killigan? What are you doing here?" asked Drakken as he pulled his coat back on. "This is a surprise."

"I tried calling, but I can see why ye didn't answer," said Duff. He winked at Shego.

"Okay, I'm going to let you deal with this," said Shego. She shot daggers at Duff. "Because this isn't what it looks like."

"It's none of my business what happens in this lair," said Duff, putting his hands up. He turned to Drakken as Shego left. "I got a bit of a wee problem I could use some help with, Drakken."

"All right, let's talk about it inside... But first, just to clarify," began Drakken.

"I saw nothing. I heard nothing," said Duff. He scoffed, "I'm not Fist, I can keep a secret."

"It's not... This week just keeps getting longer," sighed Drakken as they entered the lair.

XXXX

Chapter 45 Prison Break and Sea Monsters Part 1

Shego finished off her coffee as she walked into the lair on Thursday morning, her four day mini-vacation having really done the spot. She'd been able to spend some quality time getting her emotions in check, gotten a nice deep-tissue massage, and had blown off some tension with a flight attendant. She was back and ready for whatever Drakken had to throw at her. She was actually hoping to get out and steal some things. They hadn't raided HenchCo in a while... She walked through the henchmen's lounge to see a gaggle of them hanging out, and at the center, Lucius. They all fell silent when they saw her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Filling him in on what he missed?" asked Shego. They all scattered. "Welcome back, Lucius."

"Thanks," said Lucius nervously. "Also, thanks for letting me use Dr. Drakken's time-share in Punta Cana... I didn't know he had a lair there."

"Neither does he," muttered Shego as she headed through the doorway.

"See you tonight," said Lucius. Shego froze and back-pedaled.

"What?" asked Shego, raising a brow.

"Game Weekend. It got moved to tonight because Dr. Drakken has plans tomorrow night," said Lucius. "He posted it on the board, see?"

Shego looked at the break room wall, where a note posted stated just that. Friday night and Saturday afternoon were labeled Game Weekend instead of Saturday and Sunday. Shego raised a brow. Drakken forgoing karaoke night for game night? That was odd. She shrugged. Perhaps karaoke got switched.

Shego continued on her way to the lab. Perhaps a small theft or scheming was still game for the morning. She heard a familiar voice. Duff was still there, which meant... Shego groaned as she heard splashing. She entered the lab with a deep sigh. The massive tank was still there. Inside, a creature the size of a pony swam around.

"So, this is still here," said Shego as she walked into the room. Drakken and Duff were staring at the tank. "I thought this was only going to be a few days?"

"Yes, well DNAmy was no help," said Drakken with a shrug. Duff was patting the glass.

"She wanted to do experiments on her, the batty woman," scoffed Duff, his eyes narrowing. "Not on my Buttercup."

"Okay..." Shego mouthed the word 'Buttercup?' to Drakken. He rolled his eyes and shrugged. "So again, how did you get a baby sea monster?"

"Crashed into my underwater lair," said Duff with a shrug. "I was spending some time there while the castle got repainted."

"Right...okay," said Shego. She mentally began to question the sanity of her fellow villains as she took her normal seat.

"I think it's something neurological," said Drakken as the creature seemed to swim left more than anything, its flipper twitching. "DNAmy was really the only animal specialist we had, and Monkey Fist is no help... Shego, you got anyone?"

"A vet who specializes in sea monsters? No," said Shego with an eye-roll, though it wasn't outside the realm of possibilities. "Isn't that candy villain a neurologist or something...? If it's neurological...that's the best case... Otherwise we could find someone to kidnap... It's been a while," said Shego with a shrug. She looked at the computer. "I could take a look."

"No, then they'll know about Buttercup." Duff's eyes shot open. "Aye, you know it has to be someone from our circle. Who's this candy villain?"

"Dr. Carmella Sweets," said Drakken. Shego saw his brow furrow. He looked agitated. "She's otherwise detained at the moment."

"Well, Shego's itching for some violence," said Duff, and Shego nodded. "She could go bust her out."

"It beats watching a prehistoric fish swim in circles," shrugged Shego. It would be nice to facilitate a breakout... Last time was when they busted out Hector, which she still was foggy about.

Stupid Motor Ed...

"I don't know about that..." Drakken looked uneasy and Shego rolled her eyes at him. Drakken saw the look and continued. "What? Do we really know her? I mean, is she trustworthy?"

"Ohm, she's a villain," said Shego, indicating to the three of them. "The answer is no... But if we break her out, she'd probably be willing to at least look at...Cupcake?"

"Buttercup," said Drakken and Duff. Shego shook her head in annoyance.

"Yeah, whatever, Buttercup," shrugged Shego as she stood up. "Any objections?"

"No," said Drakken with a sigh as Duff grinned and patted the glass, Buttercup swimming around where it was placed.

"All right, I'll be back in a few hours," said Shego as she jumped up. "Try not to get dizzy."

"You know, it's funny to you, but me Buttercup doesn't like it," said Duff, shooting a glare after her as she left. He looked back at Drakken. "I do appreciate the help, Drakken."

"Yeah," groaned Drakken with an eye-roll. He was agitated as he sat on his desk. Duff rolled his eyes. "What?"

"You going to tell me, you're over your 'crush' on the green lass, but a woman you barely talked to hit it off with a henchman at a party... And that, you're not over?" said Duff, lifting his hands to make air quotes.

"I'm a complicated person, Killigan," said Drakken. He held up his fingers. "What was with the air-quotes?"

"I was emphasizing 'crush' with them," said Duff. Drakken glared.

"Either you're implying something more to the word crush, or your using air-quotes wrong," said Drakken. Duff shrugged and looked back at the tank, and Drakken grimaced. "Well, which is it?"

++

Too easy. Shego rolled her eyes as she impersonated a guard. It was honestly too easy. No one even batted an eyelash at a green guard. It wasn't like she hadn't been there before either. She walked among the cells, hearing chatter, noise, and singing. She froze. Singing wasn't unusual, but it was the yelling that accompanied it. Shego had to take a moment to realize the yelling voice sounded familiar. It was Cleopatra's... She'd actually forgotten she was in there. The sound was followed shortly by another familiar voice.

"Will you shut up!" yelled Pandora from across the room, her hands on the bars. "You're not even that good."

"Shut it!" came the yell of Cleopatra. "Both of you."

"Oh, I don't miss this," smirked Shego, but the singing stopped and the cheery voice of the person she was there to bust out replied.

"Why don't you mind your own business, Ruby!" said Carmella. Pandora growled.

"It's Pandora!" she yelled back.

"Well, she is stuck in a box," laughed Cleopatra. The giddy laugh of Carmella followed. "Shut up!"

"Pandora was never in the box, ladies. She opened it," came a male voice from the other half of the cells.

"I don't need your help, Hermes!" yelled Pandora. She moved away from her cell door and Shego saw her flop on her bed angrily.

"I could use some help, Hermes," came a male reply from farther down the hall.

"Keep dreaming," scoffed Hermes. Shego rolled her eyes and walked towards the cell in question to gain perspective. Cleopatra and Carmella were in fact sharing a cell, and it didn't look very kosher.

"Keep your bloody shit on your half!" yelled Cleopatra, her normally flawless attire and gold adornments replaced by a clashing bright orange.

"For the last time, there are...no...halves," snapped Carmella, her voice not conveying the anger on her face. "Otherwise your bed would be on the other side, not above mine!"

"You're a nightmare, you know. Your stupid singing, all this pink crap," snapped Cleopatra. "When we get out of here, I don't ever want to work with you again!"

"Fine by me, because I can't stand the way you're sending the title of villainess back a hundred years!" snapped Carmella. Shego had never realized how short the woman was without heels. Cleopatra practically towered over her; it was very comical.

"It's called playing my strengths!" snapped Cleopatra, stomping her foot in anger.

"Well I guess it's not like you have any other strengths," said Carmella, tapping Cleopatra's head.

"How dare you! I have a PhD too, you know," snapped Cleopatra. Carmella began to sing again. "Oh no, not this time!"

Shego watched the display of idiocy with a mixture of disgust and amusement. She watched as Cleopatra grabbed her pillow and covered her head. Carmella stopped singing and seemed to finally notice Shego, her brow raised as if trying to place who she was, and Shego smirked at the dawning expression on the blonde's face. Shego made a hush motion with her hands and unlocked the cell. Shego half expected her to grab Cleopatra, but without so much as a glance, Carmella shrugged and followed, a giddy grin on her face. She was quiet all the way to the entrance hall.

"Oh, this is fantastic! You're breaking me out right? Because I don't go that way, not that you're not a lovely woman... And Pandora has told me things," said Carmella. Shego clamped her hand over the woman's mouth.

"Shut up, we have to get out of here before head count," said Shego with a glare.

Carmella nodded and they walked swiftly through the hallways to the door beyond where Shego had blasted a way in, the female guard still unconscious and missing her clothes. It was still daylight out, so they had to walk cautiously away from any entrances. Shego was still shocked that her blast hadn't alerted anyone to her entry. The prison system was really getting sloppy considering this one held a good number of actual villains. If it was that easy, why didn't more just walk out? The sound of an alarm went off and Shego sighed.

"Run...hey!" snapped Shego as Carmella had already sprinted off. For someone so short and wearing slip-ons, Shego had to give her credit. "Left, the car's on the other side of the hill."

"Do you do this often?" asked Carmella as they slid down the hill to the hover car. "What is this?"

"Drakken's hover car, hop in," said Shego as she landed with grace. Carmella...not so much. She was barely in when Shego put it into drive, causing the other woman to fall in with a screech. "You okay, Dr. Sweets?"

"Ca-Carmella," she breathed heavily as she pulled herself off the hover car floor and sat down. Looking around, a grin began spreading on her face. "What a rush."

"The running or the flying?" asked Shego as she headed back to the lair.

"Both," said Carmella. She had a deranged sort of smile as she looked around. Shego raised a brow. "Cleopatra's going to beEEee sOOoo angry!"

"Yeah, well, didn't seem like the whole roomie thing was working out back there," said Shego. "Listen, in case you were wondering. A friend of Dr. Drakken's needs a little help with his...pet...and he thinks it's neurological. Since we sprung you, mind taking a look?"

"Of course not!" said Carmella, but then she looked hesitant. "But, if you don't mind, could we swing to my lair first? I have some of my old medical equipment there and orange really isn't my color."

"Why not," said Shego. Carmella put in the coordinates, and something clicked in Shego's head. "What did Pandora say about me...exactly?"

"Pandora? Oh, yeah, that," said Carmella with wide eyes. "Well, she said..."

++

How long does a prison break take?" asked Duff as he paced. Drakken rolled his eyes, tapping away at his plan on the desk. "Ay, are you drawing a man?"

"No," said Drakken, sliding his paper away. "I'm designing a new synthodrone. It's very creepy how they all look alike."

"That's the point ain't it?" asked Duff. He raised a brow and slid the paper back out. "Why are you making them so...cute?"

"Never you mind," snapped Drakken and he shoved the paper in his drawer.

"You know, I'm starting to think I should start asking more questions," smirked Duff. Drakken rolled his eyes, but they heard footsteps. "Thank the greens, they're back."

"About time," said Drakken. He raised a brow as Shego and Carmella came in, confused by the lack of orange and by the brilliant pink lab-coat. He blinked at its brightness.

"Hellooo," hummed Carmella in a sing-song voice. She froze and looked at the tank. "Is that...what is that?"

"This is Buttercup," beamed Duff, patting the glass. "Duff Killigan."

"Carmella... Wow," said Carmella. She looked to Drakken and gave him a smile. "Hello there Dr. Drakken, it's been a while."

"Ahem, yes it has," said Drakken. He looked at Shego and then to the pink-clad woman. Shego shrugged. "Do you think you can help Killigan with this?"

"A brain's a brain," shrugged Carmella. "Can we get her out of the water? Buttercup? How...sweet."

"Shego," said Drakken. Shego rolled her eyes and went to get the tarps. "She keeps swimming left."

"Has she had any head trauma?" asked Carmella. Drakken and Duff looked at each other. "I'm taking that as a yes?"

"Who in this room doesn't have head trauma," muttered Shego as she tossed down tarps and watched the other three stare at Buttercup. "Fine, I'll do it myself."

XXXX

Chapter 46 Prison Break and Sea Monsters Part 2

Drakken sat in his office, finally making leeway on The Plan, after having lost his lab to a baby sea monster, and Duff. It had officially been three days since Carmella had done her tests on Buttercup and while the strange creature seemed to be doing better, his lair had become a host to the two villains and the monster. He put down his pen and glared. He needed to set better boundaries with other villains. His lair was not a hangout nor a pet hospital. He began internally dialoguing his anger and preparing a speech to order them to leave, but he rolled his eyes and went back to his plan. If ever he hit on hard times, at least he could harass Duff without question. He looked at the emotional ranges he'd figured out for the synthodrones, but he needed them to be better, and he needed something...inconspicuous.

"Dr. Drakken?" came the cheerful voice of Carmella as she knocked on his slightly ajar door.

"Yes, Dr. Sweets?" asked Drakken, shoving papers over his project. "Is my lab flooded again?"

"Oh, no," said Carmella with a cringe. "Sorry about that, by the way. I actually wondered if you happened to have a nifty toy for amplification? I tried finding Shego, but she seems to just...vanish. Very mysterious."

"Sound?" asked Drakken as he got up. "I'm sure I have an old one laying around. Kind of a standard mad scientist thing. I think I attempted to use it to cause partial hearing loss and confusion."

"Really? Seems a bit drastic," said Carmella, but she grinned. "I would be far more discreet and create a sonic sound that puts someone in a state of hypnosis."

"...That...yeah," said Drakken. He paused and shook his head. "Why may I ask, do you need it?"

"To test Buttercup's signal reading with sonar dubs. Her little spins are adorable, but I need to make sure it's because of what she wants to do, or see if the trauma is still persisting," said Carmella, following as Drakken walked down his hallway. He slowed.

"I can have Shego bring it to the lab when I find it," said Drakken. Carmella slowed her walk as well.

"Nonsense, four eyes are better than two," replied Carmella, patting his arm. "Besides, it'll give me a break from Killigan. He talks an awful lot about golf for my liking. I'd much rather talk scientist to scientist for a while."

"He tends to do that, kind of his thing," said Drakken. He shrugged as they walked. "I'd think you'd be used to mundane repetitive conversations. Weren't you working with Cleopatra?"

"Oh, don't get me started." Drakken for the first time, saw the woman glare. He smirked as she went on. "Have you ever worked with Cleo?"

"Once," said Drakken. He began recanting the laser debacle.

++

"Hey, where's Pinky?" asked Shego as she walked into the lab to see Duff tossing a ball in the tank.

"She went to go ask Drakken if he has an amplifier to test Buttercup's sonar," said Duff. He raised a brow at Shego. "I thought you'd be with him?"

"Why?" asked Shego. She leaned against the desk. "Contrary to popular belief, I don't just linger around him all the time. I have my own things to do, you know."

"Sorry, what were you doing?" asked Duff, nodding apologetically.

"Enjoying the sunshine," snapped Shego. She wasn't about to tell Duff she had actually been looking for Drakken.

"It's raining," said Duff. Shego rolled her eyes, but he went on. "That wasn't sarcasm... You were looking for Drakken, weren't you?"

"No," said Shego with a scoff.

"Shego, Williams said you were looking for me?" asked Drakken as he and Carmella walked in with a large machine. Both looked in good spirits.

"...Don't even say it," said Shego with a glare at the smirk on Duff's face.

"Let's have some fun," grinned Carmella, her voice very sing-song as she began helping set up the machine. "I've got a few audio clips we can use for this. Thanks again for letting me use your computer."

"It was nothing," said Drakken as he plugged in the machine, grinning. Shego raised a brow and then rolled her eyes.

"Uhg, not this again," muttered Shego. Duff raised a brow at her. "What?"

"Nothing," said Duff as he kept his eyes on her as he walked over towards the two, an unreadable look fixed on his face. "Just observing."

"Don't you have your own lair to do that at?" muttered Shego, giving Duff a death glare.

"This lair has a lot more subtext," said Duff. Shego's hands flared and he moved behind Drakken. Shego shook her head... As if she wouldn't blast them both.

"So after we test this out and see if she's all patched up, Buttercup will be ready to head home," said Carmella. "Hopefully this all goes well."

"So if the dino fish can swim straight, you're all out of here?" said Shego. She smiled. "And we can get back to our plans?"

"Oh no, I hope this wasn't keeping you from anything important," said Carmella looking between Drakken and Shego.

"No," said Drakken with a shrug. He ignored Shego's scoff. "Just typical world domination, it can wait a few days."

"Or decades," muttered Duff. Drakken hip-checked him. "Hey!"

"Well, it's all set up, so let's give it a shot," said Carmella as she flipped a switch.

Most wouldn't hear anything but a fuzzy noise as the unique frequency sounded, but Shego cringed. She couldn't register what, but something hurt. She covered her ears and they all watched as Buttercup did several different movements, but still turned only left. Shego looked at Carmella, who looked mildly annoyed as she flipped another switch. The creature did a few more swims and held still. Another flip of the switch and finally Buttercup swam straight. Shego sighed with relief. There had been too many people there for too long.

A sudden cracking sound caused everyone's smiles of relief to fade and in an instant, the tank shattered. Water gushed around all of them. Shego attempted to dive out of the way of the rushing water, but was sent flying into her chair as the impact hit them. Duff yelled for Buttercup and ran towards the rush of water, as if the creature couldn't swim. Shego looked around to see where Drakken went. His desk had been shoved over and he sat soaking wet next to a coughing Carmella, the amplifier busted against the wall along with several other things.

"It's all right, she's fine," said Duff as he struggled to hold the baby sea monster. "Mommy's got you, Buttercup."

"Oh no, your lab," said Carmella looking around. "I must have had the volume up too high."

"You think?" said Shego as she sloshed through the wreckage. "Well looks like we won't have to mop for a while. Dr. D., you good?"

"I'm fine," said Drakken, rubbing his head. Shego waited for him to snap as he took in the wreckage. "It did need a good cleaning."

"Yeah...what?" asked Shego. She'd been all geared up for them to double team the other two, but Drakken stood up and helped up Carmella. "That's it...? No tantrum?"

"I already told him from the big mess, that if there's any damage he's welcome to my equipment... Oh dear... My henchmaids can clean this up if you'd like. They're used to big messes. I told you about my Mute Gum, right?" laughed Carmella. Drakken snorted, while Duff let Buttercup splash in a larger puddle of water, and Shego was just confused.

"Sorry about the lab, Drakken," said Duff, looking around. "We'll be out of your hair in a few hours."

"I'll call my lair and have this sorted out in no time," said Carmella, pulling out her glitter phone. She cringed. "As soon as I can call them."

"It's fine... Why doesn't everyone just head out of here and get on some dry clothes," said Drakken. Shego found him concerningly calm as he sighed.

"Dr. D.?" asked Shego as Duff and Carmella walked out of the room.

"Yes, Shego," said Drakken, his face unchanged.

"You're handling this really well," said Shego. She raised a brow and saw the devious look on Drakken's face. "Dr. D.?"

"Oh, it's all a part of my plan Shego, all a part of my plan," grinned Drakken evilly. "Everything is falling into place."

"Wait, there's a plan...? It involved flooding the lair?" said Shego. Drakken's onset of evil laughter halted.

"Why would I want to flood my lab, Shego?" asked Drakken with horror. He indicated to the mess. "This was my plan getting away from me...clearly. Why would I..."

"Oh my god, just stop," said Shego with a head-shake. "Just...tell me...what's the plan?"

"Dr. Sweets has an assortment of candy-coated chaos that could benefit us in getting a head up on world domination. What better way to access them...if not getting invited to her lair," said Drakken. "And this is going much better than I planned."

"So, you made up a plan for this...when?" asked Shego with a sigh. This was going to implode.

"Two hours ago, give or take," said Drakken with a shrug. Shego rolled her eyes. "What?"

"So this is a make it up as we go, thing?" asked Shego with a sigh.

"How many of our plans do you think aren't being made up as we go?" asked Drakken with a raised brow.

"Point...terrible point...eye opening point... Glad I'm salaried, point," said Shego as she began walking out of the room with a splashing sound.

"Yes, one step closer to the plan," grinned Drakken as he picked up a floating water-damaged image. "Soon, Kim Possible, you will meet your match."

XXXX

Chapter 47 The Games We Play

Shego had to admit one thing: Carmella had a lot of candy. Or...candy related things? True to her word, she'd allowed Drakken use of her lab's equipment—things he might need while their lab was being cleaned up. Problem was, Drakken had come up with several faulty schemes in order to do so. What he really wanted, for whatever reason, was particular candy inventions.

Shego looked at the candy wall. It looked like it belonged in an old-school shop, like an apothecary for candy. Jars with labels were filled with different treats and tricks. Shego smirked. It would be one hell of a Halloween with those things. However, the organization made it much harder to simply loot.

"So, what do you need with this again?" asked Carmella, leaning around Drakken as he fiddled with...honestly Shego didn't even know if he knew what it was.

"Well, this would be much easier for the cellular disintegrating laser testing," said Drakken. Shego nodded; apparently he did.

"True, but if you really want to test it, we should use them on cells," said Carmella. Shego raised a brow at her excited sing-song voice, Shego didn't get paid enough to even fake that energy. "Listen, I can make a few calls and we can have cadavers here in a few hours!"

"...I...uh..." Drakken looked to Shego for help. She suddenly found the Mute Gum interesting. "Well, it's not really ready for the testing phase just yet."

"Well, if you don't mind...I could give you a hand?" said Carmella. Shego raised a brow. "I mean, it's not like I have anything scheming at the moment... Well, there is a revenge plot against my former colleagues, but that's still in the works... Timing, you know."

"Timing is important," said Drakken with a nod. Shego wondered how he was going to back-pedal from this. "Shego, would you mind getting it from the lab?"

"Hmm?" said Shego, raising a brow. Drakken had literally never mentioned this to her prior, and had assumed it was a ruse while they figured out a plan. "The what?"

"If you'll give us a minute Carmella," said Drakken. She nodded and headed over towards the other side of the lab. Drakken moved quickly. "Shego, here's the plan..."

"We're still in the middle of the plan," said Shego with an eye-roll. Drakken rolled his eyes. "What now."

"You pretend to head to the lair, I'll lay the charm on her as a distraction. You get the Mind Mints...and a few others for some fun, and then we book it," said Drakken. Shego stared at his smile and it faded. "What?"

"She knows where we live," said Shego, rolling her eyes again. "Why don't you just 'charm' your way into getting a few?"

"I don't like the air quotes Shego, " sighed Drakken, "It's a principle thing, just put your earpiece in and I'll let you know when it's a go."

"...Hmm, interesting. See when I asked if you wanted me to carry that, your actual words were, 'Like we're ever going to use them, Shego,' and then you proceeded to roll your eyes," she said, crossing her arms and smirking at his agitation.

"Well, I brought mine," said Drakken. Shego's eyes shot open, and she felt annoyed. "Okay, fine, you actually go back to the lair, get yours, and then proceed."

"Fine, whatever, it's your plan," said Shego. She walked off muttering, "Could just take it now, but no, always about the over-complications."

"Everything all right?" asked Carmella. Drakken jumped, his glare at Shego melting quickly into a slight chuckle.

"Oh, everything's fine," said Drakken. He cleared his throat and gave his best charming smile. "It may take Shego a bit to collect it, so why don't we..."

"Would you like some tea?" asked Carmella. Drakken raised a brow. "I loOOove afternoon tea. It's never any fun alone, and since Shego's going to be a while...perhaps we can catch up since last you and I got to actually talk."

"I...ohm... Yes," said Drakken. He cringed. Maybe he needed to tone down the charm.

"Oh delightful, so let's see... The last time we truly started to talk, minus the other day looking for the amplifier, was at your party," said Carmella, her arm slipping through his as she walked him to another part of her lair. "Clearly, you've not taken over the world yet, but any good plans to do so?"

"Ohm, well..." Drakken had to fight the sharp look he wanted to give her at the mention of the party and his lack of world domination. "Been taking some time to work on more smaller projects..."

"So Possible and the blond boy haven't foiled any plans?" asked Carmella. Her quirked brow made it clear she was in the villain gossip circle, and the realization Cleopatra had been part of a botched plan.

"Unfortunately," said Drakken. He smirked. "Ah, you met them. At the Global Justice party raid?"

"Yes," said Carmella with a sour look that faded back to a smile. "It was a nice break from Global Justice, they tend to be a bit...theatrical. They didn't like it when I started playing music when they'd stage a break in."

"Shego could tell you stories about Team Impossible," said Drakken, "if you want theatrics."

"So, we never did get to that topic at the party... Shego?" asked Carmella as they entered a room.

Drakken raised a brow. The room was a stark contrast to her over-the-top lair with custom pink equipment. Drakken praised anyone who was listening, because the bright colors were going to give him nightmares. He had honestly started to wonder if there was some sort of villainess protocol to decor. He momentarily wondered if he should start reading Shego's magazines.

They were clearly in Carmella's office, two large white wingback chairs sat next to a golden tea trolley that had lines of different sweets on it. He wondered when she'd gotten one of her henchmen to do that... Though as she indicated for him to take a seat he came back into focus.

"Shego is my side-kick... She was my assistant, but there was a whole brouhaha about that," said Drakken firmly, back in control. "That's all."

"Oh, is that all," said Carmella as she handed him a cup of tea. Drakken saw her lip twitch. "I assumed when you two came back to the lab when you went to get the gas, there might be more."

"No," said Drakken, a flash of just a week ago cementing an unease with talking about the idea. "Just a hired hand."

"You must be very close with your hench-people," said Carmella. She sipped her tea and looked towards the fire. "Have you heard from Hector Ortez? He was your henchman before he was let go, wasn't he?"

"Ah, yes, Hector." Drakken raised a brow at Carmella, and his eyes drifted to the fireplace which looked like it had been made using an ornate gold-colored chair. "Sometimes it's best not to get involved in everyone's personal lives, such as you and Cleopatra. Tell me, what happened there?"

++

"I am never going to hear the end of this," scoffed Shego as she dug through her drawers. The one time she misplaced something, she couldn't even find someone to blame.

Shego looked around her ransacked room, wondering where else she might have put the thing. She tried to recall the last time she'd used it and played it back in her head. She looked at her clock. This was taking longer than either had planned. She cringed. The lab was the only other place she would have put it. She couldn't believe she was leaving Drakken this long, using his 'charm' to distract Carmella. She rolled her eyes. This was going to be the DNAmy thing all over again, and she was not dealing with that... He'd been so moody, and the amount of drawings she'd had to see for so many plans was unbearable.

"Wish we still had Puddles, could blame him," scoffed Shego as she stormed down the hallway. There had to be a spare somewhere.

++

"Clearly I've learned to choose my acquaintances wiser," said Carmella as she offered a sweet to Drakken. She'd told him the entire evening of the heist and beforehand. She smirked. "Or make sure I have more control over them."

"Well, henchmen go with the tide," said Drakken, trying not to smirk at the memory of Hector sabotaging the two. "Clearly that put an end to that little fling then?"

"If you could call it that," said Carmella, and Drakken sat up straighter as she leaned on the armchair and stared at him. "So tell me Dr. Drakken, how many ruses are you going to send Shego on before you confess you have no business in my lab?"

"Excuse me?" asked Drakken, choking on his tea.

"Well, you've changed your plans and schemes no less than four times in the past few days, so what are you really doing here?" asked Carmella. Drakken gulped.

He assessed the situation. Carmella, despite her appearance, was not unintelligent. Why he thought he could casually skate across his plans was beyond him. He began spinning a farce again, perhaps telling her she had so many devices, his mind ran rampant. It would be a good time, as Shego suggested, to suggest a possible teaming up. He took another drink of tea. He could play this out. This was an easy switch, and she'd already set him up with the talk of being unattached. His mind raced back and forth before Carmella continued talking.

"See, there's only a few reasons you would be here right now..." Her playful grin widened as she leaned on her hand. "Are you here because you have a little sweet tooth for me?"

"I uh...yes," said Drakken.

Phew, dodged that.

Drakken sighed, "So my ruse didn't fool you."

"Really?" asked Carmella, a flicker of confusion across her face as she sat up. "You wanted to spend quality time with me?"

"Of course," said Drakken. His hand slid over hers; this was going perfectly. "We never did get to talk more about your candy delights and their fun little tricks, and I wanted to know more about them and the brilliant mind behind them."

"Hmm," she smiled, and Drakken considered for a moment possibly playing this up, but his mind fell back to the party again and the heist, weighing the present needs against his inner pettiness. "Well, I have lots of them, as you've seen... All for various reasons. Mute Gum, can't complain if you can't talk. Stitch Licorice, it's a little darker, but sometimes you really need someone to zip the lip... But as you know, my specialty..."

"Mind control candies?" asked Drakken. This could work... He could learn which ones Shego needed to steal, but she'd yet to get back into his ear.

Where is she?

"Mind control in general," smiled Carmella. She looked at the clock and smiled. "Working with the brain is such a fun thing. Tricking it is even better. People rant and rave about their intelligence, their memories, everything all up there... What most don't know, is that a little push here, a little nudge there...and everything's different."

"Interesting, continue," said Drakken, leaning on his own hand to mirror hers. "How do they nudge and pull without electrical sensory adapters?"

"Chemical," said Carmella with a shrug, "and hypnosis... My candies aren't instant, they need trigger words, but it has to be something that person uses or says to gain control. Certain words can trigger a reverse...but you have to give them a hefty supply to keep it going... Nothing's permanent. Well, it can be, but I haven't got a chance on that front."

"So, you don't just give someone one of your candies and then...poof...instant control?" asked Drakken, cursing internally.

"Oh no, then someone could take my candies without asking," said Carmella. Her lip twitched again and Drakken felt warm all of a sudden. "That's the other reason I wondered why you were here. You see, you didn't seem interested in me at your little party...or when you and Shego were disguised at the ball..."

"The ball?" asked Drakken. It really was warm in there... "You mean...you knew?"

"Not until after. I replayed it over and over again, why Hector would betray me. Not that he was a prize or something, but I had no warning signs for it. He had no aspirations of playing the villain social games. Then I remembered Dr. Lipsky's little word game and Hector's reaction. I mean, I was busy keeping Cleo's mouth shut, but I wasn't blind. Then when Shego sprang Hector, it solidified what I wondered." Carmella stood up and Drakken felt like he should book it. He took a deep breath, but he couldn't move. "Don't be too shocked, people always underestimate me and my attention to detail. My former colleagues always did, because it's the same problem again and again—I don't, in many people's minds, look like I should be a doctor."

"Not all..." Drakken was having trouble talking. He was feeling dizzy.

"Shh, shh," smirked Carmella. She gave a small chuckle and smiled. "No need to be defensive, Drakken or make a little quip about it. It's typical, even in villainy. I had hoped someone who employs a bombshell like Shego had more brains than to take someone at face value. I mean, if you'd played this right and gone about simply asking me, things might have been more favorable. I am shocked you sent Shego away though."

"Perhaps we could talk about this then," said Drakken. He took another drink of tea; his mouth was dry.

"Ideally that would be a real treat... But that would go against my plan," said Carmella. Her sweet voice didn't match the look on her face, and Drakken wondered where the hell Shego was. "Ever heard of the term 'villain hopper?' Terrible really. It implies the only way a woman can be a villainess is if she climbs up the villain social ladder. Another reason working with my former partner was a migraine. Cleopatra thinks it's smart, because it means if you fail, it falls on them... I think it's cliché and trashy, though she always had a point; the world tends to be a men's playground and villains don't take villainesses seriously. But they treat other villains, no matter how many failures, at least with some interest... Problem is, it's hard to find a decent one."

"Is it warm in here?" said Drakken. He tapped his earpiece. Where was Shego?

"I had high hopes for Hector, but that proved to be a waste of time... As I said, no more partnerships unless I have more control," said Carmella. She smirked. "How's the tea, Drakken?"

"...Ohm." Drakken put the cup down as his eyes shot open.

"Nothing personal, I just need a little help acquiring some vengeance and...you did blow me off... I can be a little...what's the word... Petty?" said Carmella. She sipped her own tea and giggled. "I'm immune because I have a defense against it... But we have to find the words for you."

"Carmella, this is..." Drakken felt angry but his body didn't react to his movements, like he held no control. His mind became a mess of panic. "What is this?"

"It's called mind control... It means...once I find the right word...I'm in charge," giggled Carmella as she booped his nose and then began tapping her chin. "Let's see, it has to be something that triggers you well..."

Drakken felt ill, like his stomach was knotting and unknotting. He was having some sort of panic attack now. He didn't know why, but his chest was hurting. He wanted to move, wanted to get out of there, but he couldn't. The idea of someone he barely knew telling him what he couldn't and could do without a say was terrifying. He'd let his guard down and now he knew how Shego had felt... His mind froze on it again, the anger, the panic, and the betrayal all swam back. Carmella he barely knew, and he was having a panic attack. He didn't like this at all. He kept hoping Shego's voice would play in his ear.

"Shego," he said as he heard shuffling in his ear. "Shego!"

"Shego?" asked Carmella. She raised a brow and looked towards the doorway. She smirked. "Do you have a little birdy in your ear Drakken? Is that your...what did you call her, Dumpling?"

"Sh...Shego?" Drakken heard her voice in his ear, but he felt foggy. His head was spinning.

++

"Stupid thing," said Shego as she wiped it off. She could hear talking coming from it as she shook it. "Uhg, water damaged..."

"Shego!" came the voice over the earpiece. She rolled her eyes.

She fiddled with it in her ear. She could hear muffled words back and forth. Drakken wasn't saying anything. Carmella must have been talking. She wasn't hearing that well on it, the damage must have blown the speaker's sensitivity. Normally she could hear much better than that with the thing. The sing-song melody seemed to be all she could make out. She tapped it a few times to try to get a signal. It was silent, but the sound worked again.

"Dumpling?" came Carmella's voice with a giddy chuckle. Shego raised a brow.

"Sh...Shego?" asked Drakken, and it was silent. Shego raised a brow. What had she missed?

"Dr. D.?" asked Shego .I got the earpiece on now, what's the plan...Drakken?"

"New plan, Shego," his voice sounded cheerful suddenly. "Carmella and I have decided to team up. Abort the original plan, Shego."

"Okay," said Shego. She raised a brow and rolled her eyes. "See, told you this ruse was stupid. So, you want me to head back?"

"Not yet, Carmella and I have some plans to go over," said Drakken. "Take the weekend off, on me."

"Well I just got back, but I guess," shrugged Shego. Who was she to turn down a paid weekend? But something about his voice was unsettling. "Dr. D., is everything okay?"

"Just fine, Shego," said Drakken. He laughed and Carmella made a hushed noise. "Just having a good time, that's all. Oh, and Shego?"

"Yes?" asked Shego. Her skin crawled at his statement, but she didn't know why.

"Fire Hector again," said Drakken, and the earpiece clicked off.

"Right," said Shego as she took it out of her ear. She stared at it. Something didn't feel right but she couldn't place it. "Uhg, this better not turn out like last time...Hector!"

"What?" asked Hector as he mopped up a part of the lab with the others.

"You're fired," said Shego. He raised a brow. "Hey, I didn't fire you this time... This is Drakken's orders."

"Seriously?" sighed Hector. The other cleaning henchmen shrugged.

"Dude, how do you keep getting fired?" asked Henchman Williams. Hector shook his head and tossed his mop.

XXXXX

Chapter 48 Tea Time

"Smile a little less," said Carmella, trying to direct Drakken in his mind-controlled state back in his own lair. "Okay, maybe she won't notice. Let's just go over the plan, shall we... Hah of course... Say something witty?"

"What would you like me to say?" asked Drakken, a pleasant look on his face.

"See, this is why I need to get these ingredients... So it's more natural, because you're starting to creep me out," said Carmella. She shrugged. "This is the list of things that I need you to make Shego get."

"How do I do that?" asked Drakken. Carmella sighed and hung her head.

"I think I dosed you a little too much Dr. Drakken..." Carmella nodded to herself. "Ask her or tell her, however you normally do this... I should have paid better attention to that."

"Dr. D., I'm back!" yelled Shego as she walked through the lab door. "Thanks for the weekend by the way... Oh, Dr. Sweets, you're here."

"Shego!" smiled Carmella. She side-swiped her foot against Drakken's shin. "Act normal."

"Yes," said Drakken, "Carmella is working with us here at the lab."

"Okay?" asked Shego. She raised a brow, but shrugged. "Whatever, so what's this new plan you got?"

"Actually, it's my plan," said Carmella. Shego shrugged again. "I need some new equipment and a few ingredients to make my mind control candies a little more...automatic."

"Here," said Drakken, handing Shego the piece of paper. Shego looked at him in confusion and saw Carmella let out a deep sigh. "We need them immediately."

"Right...okay," said Shego. She looked between the two. "So am I just...winging this?"

"Oh, there's a list of locations to get them," said Carmella. "Drakken and I have our own list of things to get. There's a few sources who, I'm hoping with Drakken, will take me a bit more seriously on my purchases."

"Oh, so...you two are...excuse me?" asked Shego. She indicated to herself and the paper. "Why don't all three of us go?"

"Because it's easier if we split up," said Drakken. He shrugged as Shego raised a brow. "We will go meet with Carmella's sources, and you grab those things."

"But..." Shego looked between the two, both smiling. "Did I interrupt something?"

"...Yes," said Carmella. She grinned and grabbed Drakken's arm. "We were going to make a date of it... Tell her, Drakken."

"We were going to make a date out of it," said Drakken. Shego nodded.

"Okay, I mean... Dinner is more... You know what, none of my business I guess," said Shego as she slowly left the lab, her eyes looking between the two.

"The sooner we get those ingredients, we can try to make you more...natural," sighed Carmella. She saw Drakken's eye twitch and she looked at her watch. "Tea time."

++

"What the hell is this?" asked Shego as she looked at the list. It wasn't even Drakken's writing. She rolled her eyes and started the hover car. "Well maybe this way I'll actually get something done without him messing it up."

As she drove off, her mind thought back over the list. It wasn't something she could complete in just a day. By the time she'd get to the third stop it would be nightfall and that's if Possible hadn't been alerted. She stared. There was some sort of plant she needed to get? She thought whatever plan Drakken was going along with for this had better be worth it. The first stop was a person's lab outside of New York. She rolled her eyes. It was going to be a long day...

++

Shego threw the machine in the hover car angrily, her hair fried and her body aching. Three days. The list had taken three days, and when she'd stopped at the lair, Drakken and Carmella were nowhere to be seen. Shego was pissed. The list had not been easy; it had been ridiculous. It had really needed three or four people to pull it off. Shego smirked. She had done it herself, but it was the principle of the matter. Meanwhile Drakken and Carmella were off on some sort of date or something. She glared and dialed angrily on her phone, getting a small spark from it. It rang but went to voicemail. Shego growled and hung up. She fought the urge to flare it up in her hand and took a deep breath as she began driving the hover car.

Fine, don't answer! I'll just...

sHer thoughts were interrupted as the phone rang. She raised a brow at the number.

"Hello?" asked Shego. She groaned at the answering sound of Carmella's voice.

"Hi Sheeegooo! Sorry Drakken didn't answer. He's been busy... Drink your tea, Drakken," her voice was less sweet at the end and Shego looked at the phone. "You called?"

"I want to talk to Drakken. No offense, but I work for him," said Shego. The arrangement was getting on her nerves. At least with DNAmy, they had all been working together.

"He can't right now..." Shego hung up and glared.

"That's it," said Shego as she put the hover car on its fastest setting.

++

"Great, now she's probably speeding back here! Drink the tea," said Carmella as Drakken was in and out of his mental fog.

"Of course... No!" said Drakken as he staggered around the desk. "I am not your guinea pig."

"I'm not saying you are, but apparently this was too little a dose," said Carmella with a sigh. "Just drink it."

"Not going to... No!" Drakken yelled at his own hand as it reached for the cup.

"Oh come on, I almost have all my ingredients and then...you can use it too," said Carmella.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" scoffed Drakken. He smacked his own hand away. "I'm warning you Carmella, you're playing a dangerous game with me."

"Uh huh, sure," said Carmella with a smirk. "As intriguing as that might be...drink the tea."

"I don't think so, a few more minutes and whatever hold this poison has over me will be gone," said Drakken. His legs shook. "Right?"

"More like an hour... Just drink it," said Carmella. She cringed. "Listen, the side-effects are a little iffy. If you want to avoid some horrible burning pain and exorcist-style vomiting...you should drink the tea."

"What?" asked Drakken. His eyes shot open. "You want me to willingly put myself back under your control?"

"If you don't want to wish for death, I really would... Another reason I'm making a new batch," said Carmella. "Less side-effects and more personality... I can switch you over then."

"Are you mad?" asked Drakken. His mind was a mess of chaos at the notion. "I can't wait to tell Shego this insanity. Hope you like plasma blasts. They hurt like a..."

"DRAKKEN!" yelled Shego as a door was slammed open.

"Shego!" yelled Drakken in relief. Something was thrown in his mouth and he choked slightly on it. He glared at Carmella who put a tin back in her pocket.

"Shego, welcome..." Carmella began but Shego held up a hand.

"Not talking to you right now," said Shego. She glared at Drakken. He was grinning at her. "Knock off the grin, Doc. What is going on? Are you two partners or something now, because that's a crock and you know it. I have been running this way and that way... What the hell is a Pupiguana flower?"

"Sh..." Drakken coughed and tried again, but nothing. He glanced at Carmella with wide eyes.

Mute Mints... Shit.

"It's a type of exotic orchid," smiled Carmella. "Drakken, sit down, I'll get the tea."

"Listen, I'm not talking to you. My contract is with Drakken and these lists and orders from you are starting to irk me. "Drakken...what are you doing?"

Drakken was reaching for anything with his opposite hand, something to write with. His frantic hand movements only served to anger Shego further. He tried mouthing words, but Shego wasn't in the mood for charades.

For good reason, his legs were burning and even his one functioning hand had started to ache. He glared at Carmella. He'd give her one thing; her little tricks were insane, but potent. Carmella took over the conversation again. Drakken could see the rage in Shego's eyes. He reached for Shego's crossed arms, trying to get her attention back on him.

"We're not partners, so no need to feel threatened," said Carmella. Shego glared.

"Threatened. Listen, I don't feel threatened, I feel pissed okay," said Shego. She swatted Drakken's hand away. "Knock it off. What happened after I left the other day? One moment he wants to get revenge on you for choosing Hector over him at that stupid party... Then suddenly you two are skipping through orchid patches making candy... I want answers. What?"

Drakken frantically motioned to the tea. His hand was burning now and could barely move but the other was coming out of its control finally. He tapped his head and the tea and then pointed to Carmella. Shaking his head frantically. Shego looked more and more confused as he did so, and he was feeling very tired all of a sudden, as if all the energy was draining from him. His eyes felt heavy. Carmella wasn't kidding about the side-effects; he was feeling cold now and as if his skin was crawling.

"Have you been on a binge again without sleep or something?" asked Shego, trying to figure out the motions Drakken was making in her blind fury.

"Shego..." began Carmella.

"I can honestly say, I don't want to hear anything from you," said Shego. She watched Carmella's lip twitch before she looked back at Drakken. She sighed at his heavy eyes. She wasn't about to argue with whatever insanity was happening; she was too tired and annoyed. "Whatever, I'm not getting this orchid until you tell me what's going on."

"Shego, why doesn't he tell you...over tea," said Carmella. Shego raised a brow at her lack of cheerful voice. Her smile even seemed forced.

"Tea?" asked Shego as Carmella indicated to a single cup on the table. She rolled her eyes and reached for it. "Sure, fine, let's have a tea party."

"Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Drakken?" said Carmella. She smirked at him. "Perhaps, someone else would appreciate it."

"It's just...hey!" yelled Shego as Drakken yanked the glass out of her hand and downed it. "What is wrong with you? You know what, I'm not dealing with anymore of this insanity. I'm going to bed."

"'Night," said Carmella as Shego stalked off. She looked at Drakken as he glared at the cup. "Interesting. You'd rather be the guinea pig after all... Hmm, I may have misjudged you Dr. Drakken... Well while that settles in, let's get back to work, shall we?"

++

Shego flopped on her bed in anger, less so than previously. Sure she was tired and annoyed, but why had she snapped? Why had Drakken sat there acting like an idiot? She didn't know. Not enough sleep perhaps... Shego stared at the ceiling and sighed.

Green is the color of jealousy...

She scoffed at her own mind. She wasn't jealous... Not really... Maybe? Perhaps it was the effects of the emotion-thing still lingering. She nodded. That was it. She'd gone on tasks and missions without Drakken plenty, but perhaps she'd gotten used to it so much it was mingling with the weeks prior. She rolled her eyes. No wonder he'd been so silent; the last time she'd busted in a room like that she'd nearly killed him. She shook her head. She would pretend nothing happened in the morning.

"Still," said Shego to herself as she thought about it. "Dr. Sweets?"

Their little friendship...romance...whatever it was, just seemed off to Shego. Drakken was consistent on a few things; overworked schemes, exhausted madness, and pettiness. It seemed so odd that he would brush off what had fueled the betrayal in the first place. Dementor had outsourced him once, and that petty feud had been going on for years now.

Dementor's an ass.

She could chalk it up to Drakken regaining his short-lived crush on the blonde candy doctor. She supposed that would be reason enough to woo it up. He'd fallen for DNAmy in a day... Perhaps a weekend had resulted in the same with Carmella. She didn't want to think about that, but her mind was clear on one thing: if that woman was going to be a regular around the lair, Shego was going to make sure she knew her place. Drakken's girlfriend or not, Shego was there first.

As Shego turned off the lights, she smirked.

Maybe I'll pay Cleopatra a visit on the way to that stupid flower.

XXXX

Chapter 49 Bonding and Villany

Shego looked down the hallway and at the door to guest room Carmella was staying in. After a few brief hours of sleep, she'd decided that the only way to get answers without Carmella butting in was to isolate Drakken. She looked at his door, her hand raised to knock, but she glanced at the other door. Something wasn't setting right about Drakken's little game of charades earlier. He'd looked like he'd been trying to talk. Perhaps it had been her sleep-deprived mind, but she needed answers. She weighed the odds. Normally his door was locked but she gave it a shot. She raised a brow as it opened, but she slipped in, her eyes fixed for another second at the guest bedroom door.

"Dr. D.?" whispered Shego as she walked through the dark blindly. Her hands ignited. "Dr. D.?"

There was no response, but she could see the figure in the middle of the bed. She sighed and carefully stepped through his room, raising her brow at the mess of his entire wardrobe all around. She stopped and looked at it. Drakken may be a mess with papers and ideas, but his private stuff was normally put together. She tried to imagine why, but the only thought was he had ransacked it looking for outfits. Shego felt a wave of nausea hit her at the idea of him trying to dress to impress the other doctor. She got to the edge of his bed and held up a glowing hand. Drakken was deep asleep it looked like. She raised a brow.

"Drakken? Hey, wake up," said Shego. He didn't move, but she saw him sniff slightly. "Are you kidding me? Hey...wake up."

Shego glared at him. She shook the bed, but it only caused his head to flop. Shego thought for a moment. It was odd for him to sleep so soundly. The man was up nearly every three hours because he couldn't sleep long.

She felt a rush of panic suddenly, and she jumped onto the bed and began aggressively shaking him awake. His eyes opened slightly and she glared at him as he groaned. She dropped his shirt collar and waited for him to respond as his head fell back to his pillow.

"Geesh, are you awake yet? I thought you'd lapsed into a coma or something," scoffed Shego. Drakken stared at her but didn't respond. "What? Say something."

"Uh..." Drakken's eyes seemed foggy and his mouth kept moving. "Carmella."

"...You should know I am refraining from punching you right now," scoffed Shego. She waited for him to jump up and react to her being in his room, but his eyes started to close again. "Drakken? Hey...what is wrong with you? Wake up."

Shego stared at him as he drifted back to sleep. Something was off. She jumped off the bed, practically walking on him, but nothing.

There is a mind-manipulating nutcase next door.

Shego thought for a moment. The wall of candies flew back to her mind. The woman was a mad scientist, wasn't she? Her thoughts ran back to what Drakken had said about Carmella: she was known for testing her little treats on people. Shego yanked open his door and stormed to the guest room. The door was locked. She furiously pounded on it.

"Carmella!" snapped Shego, and there was a scuffle before the door slowly opened.

"Shego?" asked Carmella. She didn't seem shocked, more...uncertain as she looked at Shego's hands.

"What did you do to Drakken?" snapped Shego. Her hands flickered, and as Carmella's eyes shot open Shego saw the nerves. "Did you give him one of your little nutcase candies?"

"Why would you think that?" Shego knew by Carmella's features that she had.

"If I slapped you awake, wouldn't you be a little more shocked than to fall back to sleep?" said Shego. She had the urge to blast the woman in front of her into the wall of the guest room.

"Sleep..." Carmella sighed and gave a slight chuckle. "Oh, poor dear said he had trouble sleeping, so I gave him some sleeping medication I normally take. That's all... It's not like a side-effect of some candy I've tricked him into eating, if that's what your worried about."

"Oh," said Shego. She looked at her hands and let them slowly relax. She couldn't tell if Carmella was being honest or not by her suddenly relaxed shoulders. "Sleeping medication... How'd you get him to take that?"

"I...slipped it in his tea," Carmella. She made a shushing motion. "Promise not tell him."

"Uh...sure," said Shego. She glared. So much for talking to Drakken that night.

"You know, we're both up," said Carmella, her voice back to its cheerful tone. "Why don't you and I chit-chat?"

"Pass," said Shego. She spun on her slipper and headed back to her room. A hand grabbed her arm, and her hands flared.

"Sorry. Sorry," said Carmella, taking a slight hop backwards, obviously following Shego. "I was just thinking. I feel like you're not exactly fond of me, and perhaps if we spent some time together...villainess to villainess...you may not want to use your fun little powers on me."

"I doubt that," muttered Shego, but she weighed the odds. She wasn't sure how long Carmella might be around and she smirked.

Knowing her weaknesses wouldn't hurt.

"What did you have in mind?" said Shego as she crossed her arms.

++

Shego jumped out of the hover car as they pulled up to some sort of facility in the middle of the city, Carmella right beside her. The conversation on the way there had been mostly one sided. Meaning Carmella had talked and Shego had simply listened for anything that may be of use, but the history of plants was not something she might ever find useful.

They snuck into the facility with ease at first. Carmella seemed familiar with the layout and Shego assumed it was because she'd been planning the scheme for some time.

"If we can get down to the third corridor we should have access to the vault," said Carmella. "The security features are a little over the top."

"You know this place pretty well," said Shego as she shot a blast towards a camera and it fizzled out.

"Well, this used to be my facility, so I'd better," said Carmella. Shego saw her eyes narrow.

"Well experimenting on people illegally would do that," said Shego with a smirk. Carmella's expression didn't change. "Too soon?"

"It's not that simple," said Carmella. They made their way to the stairwell.

"That's what every mad scientist says," said Shego. She froze as Carmella poured something on the door handle and it melted. "That's not candy."

"Oh it is...was... No one should eat it though," said Carmella, holding up what looked like a wax candy bottle. "It only does that to metal though... No idea why yet."

"But...people eat it?" asked Shego as they snuck down another hall. She shook her head in warning when Carmella was going to respond; there were actual people there.

Shego motioned for Carmella to go left and she right. Shego doubted the woman would be much for fighting, but if anything, a good distraction would help her. She could see the vault. Titanium...perhaps steel. She'd have to overpower the mechanism if anything. Perhaps Carmella's little liquid trick could help. She momentarily kicked herself for not grabbing the decoder, though it did usually take a few minutes to work. She snuck behind the guard and grabbed his gun before moving her arm around his neck for a quick sleeper hold.

"Ma'am, release him and put the gun down," said the other guard, pulling out his gun.

"He's just going to take a little nap," said Shego with a smirk. She saw Carmella behind the other guard. "So are you."

"What...?" the guard was hit hard in the head with a pole and dropped.

"Where did you get that?" asked Shego as she released the man she held.

"Found it behind the desk," said Carmella indicating where she'd been hiding. "I think it's for the secondary door lock...which they didn't lock, so lucky us!"

"I thought you had something to just knock him out...like a powder or something... Pixie Stick Sleepy," said Shego with a shrug, yet she smirked at the man lying on the floor. "But violence works too."

"It's a lot harder than that," said Carmella. "So far the only things I've made that cause someone to sleep is my Mind Liquor and my Twisted Taffy...and that's just a side-effect."

"Twisted Taffy?" asked Shego as they looked at the vault door.

"Causes temporary madness," said Carmella. "Only lasts a few minutes though. Wouldn't want someone acting on basic violent instinct for too long. Great distraction though."

"Do you just sit down and make up a bunch of names and then try to make them into something?" asked Shego as she flared up her hands.

"...Yes," said Carmella. Shego smirked and rolled her eyes. "Your powers..."

"No," said Shego. Carmella nodded.

"Not there yet, got it," said Carmella as the vault door started to slowly melt.

"This is going to take a while... Got anymore of that liquid of yours?" asked Shego. Carmella pulled out the vial. "Pour it above the keypad."

"You know, this is kind of fun," grinned Carmella. She frowned. "Cleopatra always wanted to have henchmen do this stuff."

"What did you expect," said Shego with an eye-roll. "I've only met her twice, and I could tell you that. She doesn't like to 'get her hands dirty.'"

"You do a very good Cleopatra impression," giggled Carmella. Shego cringed but smiled.

"What other impressions you got there Shego?" came a voice from behind them. They spun around to see Kim standing there. "Jailbird must be your best one."

"Kim Possible," said Carmella. She jumped up with Shego.

"This is new," said Kim with a raised brow.

"You know, it's nice to see that Drakken and Shego are branching out," said Ron confidently. "Freaky...but it's nice to see variety."

"What are you two doing here... Come to steal formulas for whatever you're... Where's Drakken?" asked Kim, looking around.

"Sleeping," said Shego and Carmella at the same time.

"We're bonding," said Carmella with a sing-song voice.

"Lightly..." said Shego looking at Kim, who raised a brow. Shego shook her head. "Long story."

"Why don't you tell us about it in a letter from prison?" said Kim. Shego shot another heavy blast at the safe, busting through the center part.

"Tell me you brought more than just that goo?" asked Shego. Carmella grinned. "All right Kimmy, let's do this."

"Ron," said Kim, indicating to Carmella. "You take care of Dr. Sweets."

"On it, KP!" said Ron as he sprinted to where Carmella worked on the lock.

++

"We got the flower!" sang Carmella, holding the jar of purple liquid. "This is going to strengthen the potency of my Memory Sweets, without causing such horrid side effects... You know it was the only way I ever got caught in the first place. Unable to act without keywords, and always deliriously jovial."

"You take your own stuff there, Doc?" smirked Shego as Carmella practically danced holding the jar.

"Of course, only way to build up an immunity and properly test it," smiled Carmella. She grinned at Shego. "Thank you by the way."

"Drakken apparently needs whatever this is just as much as you," said Shego. "Anything to move on with whatever plan he's on now. I'm still curious how this whole team up even started. I mean, Drakken tends to wallow over things that others just ignore. What happened after I left on that ruse for the...whatever he made up?"

"I have a question," said Carmella. Shego raised a brow. "Then I'll answer yours. Hector, was he working for you when he was working for me?"

"God no. Drakken canned him after that party we threw," said Shego. She rolled her eyes. "We found out who actually cleaned."

"What about the ball?" asked Carmella with a raised brow. She looked at the flower again.

"You know about that?" asked Shego. She wanted to ask how much she knew, but kept that to herself.

No one's getting that necklace but me.

"No, actually we were only joking about possibly hiring him back... Then I accidentally broke him out when we were...indisposed... Not even sure who hired him back, we just went with it when we got back... Come to think of it...did we even hire him or did he just show up? Eh, he's gone now again."

"There may have been a misunderstanding," muttered Carmella. Shego raised a brow and she grinned at her. "On my part, that's what we talked about...when we decided to work together!"

"Right, so what is the plan?" asked Shego. Carmella stared at her with shifting eyes. "You don't know either?"

"...I... No, I don't," said Carmella. She looked relieved. "Glad neither of us know."

"Hmm, oh and nice shot with that taser gun... Is that Drakken's?" asked Shego, indicating to the one Carmella had in her bag of tricks.

"Yes..." said Carmella. She looked out the side of the hover car. "I got it from him before tea today."

Shego was enjoying the silence on the ride back to the lair. Internally she was at war with herself. On the one hand, she couldn't place why, but she really wanted to drop Carmella into a field somewhere. There was something about her she just didn't trust, or maybe it was her sudden presence in the lair that bothered her. She was used to it being just her, Drakken, and the various henchmen around. At least the henchmen never overstepped their bounds... Mostly because they feared her on some level.

Territorial much.

She hated her inner monologue sometimes. Perhaps she was being overly territorial of her home. She blinked to herself.

Home? When did I start calling it that?

Apparently now, she decided. Had she called it home before? She couldn't remember. It was silly to call it that, they went through lairs like Dementor went through underwear, so how could it be home? She looked at Carmella.

Yeah, back on that.

Yes, so perhaps she was annoyed by the woman's sudden intrusion on her turf, but on the other hand...

She is useful with those little sweets of hers.

The idea of sending some of the less nasty ones to her brothers did amuse her. She looked at the woman next to her and groaned as Carmella was singing a mantra under her breath to the weird flower and its purple liquid.

"So, what's so amazing about that flower?" asked Shego.

"It's not just the flower," grinned Carmella. She turned in her seat dramatically to face Shego as she drove. "It's the principle. Sure, I could find a way to cultivate it, and I will. But this was part of my project that those misogynistic tools stole from me."

"...Okay, elaborate," said Shego with a raised brow.

"My original mind control serum that I used in my candies was a joint project, which I did all the work on... All the hours...all the meticulous procedures... And it worked. I was able to make temporary mind-altering formulas. Of course, my so-called colleagues went behind my back and tried to patent it. When I argued it to our superiors, they laughed at me... Because, in their words, they doubted someone like me had the ability to create such an elaborate concoction... Nothing new mind you... These are the same people who found it appropriate to pick me up instead of shake my hand because of my stature. But it was a top facility," Carmella vented quickly and excitedly, apparently glad Shego had finally taken an interest.

"So...the original mind control test?" asked Shego.

"Vengeance...little bit of fun," smirked Carmella. She shrugged. "So I put all their kids under mind control for a few days... Did they expect me to take being betrayed quietly...am I quiet to you?"

"So, villainy," smirked Shego. Carmella nodded. "Tasted the sweet delight of it?"

"The idea of finally being able to do my own work with no restrictions and no one stopping me from testing them...yes," said Carmella. She frowned. "Unfortunately."

"It's not easy being a villainess, yeah I know," said Shego. Carmella raised a brow. "What, you think just because I can blast a man through walls that I don't hit metaphorical walls myself? Yeah, don't be shocked. Also, plenty of leeches, I'm sure you've noticed. Your former partner probably dated a few. I worked for a fair share of them before working for Drakken."

"Easier?" asked Carmella. Shego snorted out a laugh.

"Hell no, that man gives me a migraine on a daily basis and over-complicates everything! Or, my favorite, forgets to think things through at all. Don't get me wrong, some of his plans are pretty solid, but Possible normally saunters in and bursts our bubble. No, it is not easier, it's way harder," said Shego. She sighed. "But...pay's good, he's driven if anything, he's not a leech, great benefits, and there's plenty of wonderful mock windows."

"You're his side-kick?" asked Carmella. Shego cringed.

"Yeah, sure, contract-wise...that's the title," said Shego with a shrug. Her hands tightened on the controls and she glanced at Carmella.

She'd better not think because she's 'dating' or whatever with Drakken, she has more say than I do.

"Is it morning already?" asked Carmella as they came over the mountains to see the sunrise. She looked uneasy.

"Well, yeah," said Shego. She looked at the time. "Dr. D. should be up already... How long does that sleeping medication last, actually?"

"Another thirty minutes or so," said Carmella. Shego noticed she looked uneasy before looking at the flower, and then at Shego. "Do you think you could swing by my lair and pick something up for me? That way I can get this serum started."

"...Why don't you?" Shego looked at Carmella. Her leg was shaking and she was clutching the plant. Shego rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"I'll call my henchmen with the details, I really appreciate it," said Carmella jumping out of the hover car and sprinting into the lair.

"Sure, whatever," said Shego. She stared after the doctor. Something still didn't seem right. Shego smirked. A stop by the prison might shine some light on why she felt that way.

++

Carmella sprinted down the hall just in time to see a disoriented Drakken sneaking out of his room. He glared at her, but the tea still had enough hold on him that he couldn't directly turn from her. Drakken internally yelled at himself for not willing himself to reach Shego's door faster. He slowly moved towards it, his legs not yet hurting, but not compliant with his actual needs yet. He needed to get Shego's help before Carmella forced that horrible concoction down his throat again or tried to trick Shego into it.

"Sh-Shego?" said Drakken, as he leaned against the door. Carmella walked over to him with an uneasy smile. "Not this time, Dr. Sweets."

"Shego's headed to my lair," said Carmella. She held up the plant and grinned. "We went and got the final ingredient."

"You better not have..." He felt the pain again and glared at Carmella. "Your little poison tea."

"No. No," said Carmella, slowly stepping towards him. "So, bit of a teeny-weeny misunderstanding. Listen, just one more dose of tea, and I'll be able to give you the new stuff. Then we can talk."

"...You're madder than me, you know... Seriously," said Drakken. He cringed as his stomach twisted.

"When this wears off, it won't hurt," said Carmella, holding her flower.

"Unless it's permanent," glared Drakken. "That was your plan, wasn't it. A permanent...automatic version."

"This one won't be," said Carmella. Drakken's legs gave out and he slid to the ground. He glared as Carmella crouched down beside him. "Just trust me."

"Not like I really can go anywhere, is there," cringed Drakken as his body felt painfully numb.

XXXXXX

Chapter 50 Misunderstandings All Around

Shego kicked at the bars angrily. Two times she'd broken someone out of that prison. Two times, and the time she was making a casual drop-in...she got caught. What was worse was the fact that after nearly a week, Drakken had yet to make an appearance to break her out.

Shego glared. When she got out of there she was going to pummel him. She looked at the reinforced cell they had her in.

They're getting smarter.

She cringed. It looked like Global Justice had started assisting in making cells outside their own facilities now. She'd been on lock-down for the week; they weren't going to take a chance; she'd book it until everything was set up to avoid her powers.

Shego collapsed on her 'bed' angrily. Her emotions were running rampant, and she knew that she could no longer blame it on side effects from the Mood-U-Lator incident. She felt angry, betrayed, bitter, and depressed. She kept looking out the window, expecting to see the hover car. She'd gotten one phone call and he'd answered in that cheery voice; that had been a week ago. She glared and threw a plasma blast at her scorched wall. She blamed Carmella... Well, him too, but mostly that obnoxious little blonde pixie.

If she wasn't distracting him...

"All right, you're cleared to come out, but no funny business," said the guard. There was a new device on her hip, and Shego groaned. Global Justice was definitely outfitting prisons with more high-tech defenses.

"Sure," said Shego. Her fingers itched, but then she saw the person she'd come here for; Cleopatra was not too far away. Shego smirked. "I'll behave."

"Doubtful," muttered the guard, hand still on the device.

Shego gave her best innocent smile and walked past the guard. She glared. She could have easily kicked the guard over the railing, made a dash along its rails through the windows above the cells, then one hefty blast and she'd be out. Avoid any gunfire by staying in the shadows, then down to where she'd hidden the hover car...if they hadn't already located that. Yes, it would be easy, comically so, but she came there for a reason. She saw Cleopatra make her way to the lunchroom and took her shot. She darted forward, weaving. Her foot hit something, and she spun instead of falling.

"Well, look who actually got caught," smirked a familiar face. Shego was not in the mood to deal with this.

"Pandora," said Shego, but she couldn't resist. "Orange suits you."

"If you're trying to get a rise out of me, you know I know better," said Pandora with a raised brow. She gave Shego a pitying look. "Listen, I know being dumped is hard, so if you need to cry...please...and I mean this... Make sure someone alerts me to come watch."

"Well, someone got cynical over the years," said Shego. She glared and her fists balled. Lucky for Pandora she didn't want to cause a riot and get sent back to her cell, yet.

"You're a really good teacher," glared Pandora as she walked off. "I hope you got ripped off on that necklace."

"Okay, let this one go Shego," the green woman muttered to herself as she looked for Cleopatra. She glared back at Pandora. "For now."

++

"Okay, so it tastes horrible," said Carmella as she slid a cup of tea over to Drakken. "But since we're trying to hurry this up, I didn't have time to sweeten it or add..."

"So, you're asking me to trust you that this," groaned Drakken—his whole body ached as he came off the original tea—it was getting much worse, "is only to wind me down from this other concoction you have me on?"

"I told you, had I known the actual situation, I would not have used you as a guinea pig... At least not right away, but...vengeance... Hard not to pass up," said Carmella, giving a wide grin. "May I remind you? I put you under mind control for the ball and the party because I thought you were messing with me... You sabotaged Cleopatra and I at the ball because you thought I had only been messing with you. Misunderstandings all around. The sooner you drink this, the sooner this whole this is over."

"Yes, well, villainy and vengeance go hand in hand," said Drakken, a small smirk on his face before it fell back to a glare. "You're certain that there are no sub-side-effects from overlapping these two chemically enhanced zombie-makers? Because so help me, once Shego figures this out and comes back—she will come back mind you—puppet-me will not be able to help you and real me is going to stop me if I do."

"Understood," said Carmella. She looked towards the door. "You know, it's so weird. I thought we were bonding and then she just...never came back. She never even went to my lair."

"Shego doesn't like labeled bonding," said Drakken. A new wave of pain ran up his spine. "What in the... Why would you make something so horribly painful?!"

"To make people not want to get off the mind control tea?" shrugged Carmella. She slid the cup towards him. "One drink and in twenty-four hours you'll be off the mind control, no side-effects."

"Guarantea'd." Drakken smirked at his own joke. Carmella snorted with a high-pitched laugh.

"That was cute... Oh, yeah you should probably drink that. You haven't done the exorcist vomiting I warned you about, so that should be coming soon," said Carmella. She cringed as he drank it, and Drakken raised a brow.

"What's that look for?" asked Drakken. He watched her look change to a forced smile. "Either you're tricking me..."

"No, just going to miss our afternoon tea chaos," sighed Carmella. "I kind of enjoyed the running from the laser and dragging you from one room to the other while you did everything in your power to stop me...which was very little power I might add."

"Yeah, well, you're pretty strong for your stature," said Drakken. He looked at the empty cup. "Well, here's hoping you know what you're doing."

"Me too," said Carmella nervously. Drakken's eyes shot open. "There's never a guarantee in science, you know that."

++

Officially one week and two days, and Shego had not been able to have a single moment to find Cleopatra, and she was just about done with the catty prison world. One would assume a prison full of other villains would be interesting, informative, or bonding on an evil level even... No, it was catty, obnoxious, oversharing, and watching the strongest look like utter children. Yet another reason Shego never stuck around for long when they did get caught. Some liked that social aspect of being a villain... She'd much rather just go to a villain party or mixer. She was waiting until lights out and she was getting out of there. She just needed a key to her cell—easy, if she could find Lopez; he was an idiot and spent far too much time distracted by issues with his ex and telling everyone about it.

"First thing I'm doing is kicking Blue Boy's ass," glared Shego. She still couldn't believe he hadn't come to spring her yet. This was the first time she had been the only one caught.

"Are you breaking out of here?"

Shego jumped and looked to see the very person she'd come there to see, Cleopatra.

"Well, are you?"

"You. It's your fault I'm in here," snapped Shego. Cleopatra's confused look was warranted.

"Okay, sweetheart, we'll get back to that," said Cleopatra. She sat uncomfortably close to her. "Take me with you."

"Why would I take you with me?" asked Shego, scooting away.

"Listen, I don't look good in orange... And is not the new black no matter what Hatter says in Cell Block 6... And I have a few bones to pick with my former partner, just like you apparently do... Come on, take me with you," said Cleopatra, pouting.

"Uhg, stop that," said Shego. She rolled her eyes. "Speaking of former partners..."

"I know you sprung her," said Cleopatra. Shego raised a brow. "You don't think she didn't write to me to gloat about it? Clearly you don't know Carmella well. She may come off all sweet and friendly like some sort of Disney princess gone bad...but she is the most petty, conniving, manipulative, insane nutcase I've ever met... Isis and Seth, I miss her."

"You can have her," scoffed Shego. "Since Drakken and her have started working together, it's like he's not even the same person."

"Interesting... Is he happier?" asked Cleopatra after a moment's silence.

"Yes," scoffed Shego.

"Shadowing her?"

"Yeah..."

"Obsessive and isolating even?" said Cleopatra. Shego glared. DNAmy again.

"The dolt has a crush, I get it... But he left me here for a week," said Shego. Cleopatra raised a brow.

"Come now Shego, I only worked with him once," said Cleopatra. She rolled her eyes. "Do you think he would just leave you here? He spent the entire time plotting the Ruby Laser and trying to get you to rest. I'd like to think I am more of a distraction than Candy Queen."

"...He's under mind control," said Shego as she played back the awkward scenes. The 'tea-time,' the sudden change in demeanor... "He must have been coming down off whatever is in that tea."

"Tea? She's using the tea?" said Cleopatra, her eyes shooting open. "I mean, I know she was upset about the ball, but that stuff is wretched. I watched a henchman cry like a baby and projectile vomit when she first tested it."

"Excuse me?" asked Shego. Cleopatra nodded. Shego felt a wave of anger and stupidity. "How could I have possibly missed the signs... The man never shuts up about his plans, him not telling me a thing, is just...just weird. I can't believe I misunderstood everything."

"In your defense, men also act off when they are getting some action, so you might have just thought he was smitten and satisfied," shrugged Cleopatra. "How do you think I got my lair?"

"Eww, why would you say that?" Shego cringed at the idea of Drakken and Carmella. "All right, let's get out of here."

"Really?" asked Cleopatra happily. "You're taking me with you?"

"Yeah, well, we both have issues with the same person, so why not," said Shego. She smirked. "So tell me more about her little 'tea-time' situation."

++

"Shego... Dementor... Possible... Mom... " Carmella sat at the table with a now restrained Drakken, trying to see if words made him react differently.

"How about you, Dr. Sweets?" smirked Drakken with a raised brow. "How about you untie me and we take things a little more...evilly."

"Well...okay, no," said Carmella. She looked at the teas. "This isn't good at all... I mean, I now know mixing them creates a pseudo-love potion... Something that might come in handy for Valentine's villainy... But not what I was going for... Maybe a little less of the orchid."

++

"Wow, she's never done it long term before," said Cleopatra as the rode in a stolen cop car. "Normally a few days."

"So she has no idea what she's doing then?" asked Shego. Her hands tightened on the wheel. "Big mistake using Dr. D. as her test dummy."

"Never use another villainess's man, I told her that," said Cleopatra with a shake of the head. She screamed as green flames flared up in front of her face.

"Get it right, Cleopatra. Drakken and I are not a couple, okay," snapped Shego. She wasn't dealing with that right now and Cleopatra nodded. "The correct statement is, never use another villainess's lair... If there is one pink thing in that place other than pictures of Commodore Puddles, the apron, the four Christmas ornaments, or the earrings his mother gave me for my birthday...she's dead."

"That was a specific list of pink items," said Cleopatra. Shego glared and it was silent. "His mother got you earrings?"

"Yeah, very tasteful. Pink diamonds in gold. I don't normally do pink, but she said they were hers and since she mostly wears pearls..." Shego said calmly, "who am I to say no?"

"His mother gives you family heirloom jewelry?" asked Cleopatra. Shego was about to snap at her reading too much into it, but Cleopatra pouted. "Only jewelry I ever got from anyone was if I stole it myself."

"Oh, that's...sad," said Shego. She fought the evil grin. "A lair...no jewelry? Must be hanging around the wrong villains."

"Never met anyone's mother, either," said Cleopatra. She raised a brow and smirked. "You're certain that..."

"His mother and I have a completely separate relationship," said Shego quickly. "He avoids her calls and I listen to all the juicy details about his childhood to later mock him with."

"Sounds like a couple to me," muttered Cleopatra under her breath.

"...You want to run that by me again?" asked Shego, eyes narrowed. Cleopatra looked at Shego, the cop car, and her hands.

"Sounds completely normal to me," laughed Cleopatra with a slight nervous tone.

"That's what I thought," said Shego as she hit the gas. "I can't wait to see the look on her face when we bust in."

++

"Oh thank god!" cheered Carmella as Shego and Cleopatra burst in the door, Drakken gagged and tied to a column behind her.

"That's not what I was expecting," said Cleopatra, holding a large gold scarab-styled laser. "More terror and shock honestly."

"Works for me," snapped Shego. She fired a plasma blast at Carmella who screamed and dodged. "Get your pink frilly princess ass back where I can blast you!"

"Wait!" yelled Carmella. Shego froze for a second only for a laser to shoot at her from Carmella. "It's only fair."

"Fair! I'll show you fair," yelled Shego as she dodged the blast and fired back.

"All you need is the flying monkeys, and this is some sort of deleted scene from the Wizard of Oz," muttered Cleopatra as plasma blasts and bright lights flew back and forth to screams and maniacal laughter.

"Kim!" came a yell from above as Ron Stoppable flew across the room with a rogue grappling hook.

"...Close enough," shrugged Cleopatra.

TO BE CONTINUED

Either follow the link above for more or wait for more or find on A03

[bunbeeplays]

Since I hardly paid attention to Wren on her own dang birthday, let's check in on her.

She got a new Voidcritter Battle Station for her birthday, which Lulu so kindly decided to help her test out.

Lulu: How's this thing work anyway?

Wren: Just mash on the buttons until something cool happens.

Lulu: That's stupid.

Wren: If it works for the Watcher, it'll work for this.

Hey! It's true but she shouldn't say it!

Whatever Lulu did clearly worked.

Lulu: Best Voidcritter Master ever!

Wren: When I asked you to play with me this morning, you said Voidcritters were for babies.

Lulu: That's before I knew I was good at it!

Despite Lulu coming in strong at the beginning, Wren is ultimately the victor.

Wren: AHAHA! Kneel before me, mortal!

Lulu: Are you sure you didn't get the Evil trait?

After changing out of their pajamas and heading down to lunch, Lulu has a proposition for her young minion- I mean sister.

Lulu: You're gonna be way more fun to go to school with than Gemma and Jaden. They're such goody goodies, but you've got potential.

Wren: Potential for what?

Lulu: Being my partner in crime, of course!

There's all kinds of pranks they'll be able to pull now that Wren's old enough. Lulu may be about that zen life, but you need to balance all that zen with a little chaos now and then!

Lulu: We're gonna wreak havoc! We can release the gerbils, sell test answers-

Wren: You had me at havoc. I'm in!

The two new partners in crime shake on it, followed by their best evil laughs. Lulu's is a little too convincing.

While her sisters are planning their own hijinks, Gemma brings Jaden along for a ride to the Sato Boarding Stable to check in on Maple Stirrup.

Hopefully she runs into Mr. Ben, because he's her only shot at a certain mission of hers.

Gemma skids to a halt in front of her hoofed bestie.

Gemma: Hey, girl! Miss me?

Maple very much did but horses have a hard time conveying that so she just neighs.

Gemma: I brought you a treat from Mom's garden. Jaden, do you wanna feed her?

Jaden: No, I'd like to keep all my fingers.

Gemma: Suit yourself!

As Maple munches down on her apple, Gemma spots Mr. Ben approaching from the corner of her eye.

Jaden: Hi, Mr. Ben!

Ben: Well hey there, kiddo. You taggin' along with your sister?

Jaden: Yeah, I need more screentime.

He's actually there for moral support but two things can be true at once.

Gemma: Mr. Ben, I have a very important question.

With a chuckle, Benjiro nods.

Ben: I'll try to give you a very important answer.

Gemma: You talk to lots of people who buy horses, right? Have you heard about anyone buying the Esposito family's horse?

The Espositos' former luxe ranch house wasn't too far, so he had definitely heard all about the goings ons there.

Ben: Ah, yeah. They auctioned that gal off not too long ago. The missus put in a bid on her but my buddy got her to keep his other horses company.

Gemma: Remember my friend Claudia? That was her horse.

Ben: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Gemma: Me too. I was hoping I could buy her back. Is there any chance this friend would be willing to sell her to me?

Ben: I don't know, darlin'. He's a nice fella but he's probably not willing to part with her without breaking even.

Gemma: I've got a ton of birthday money saved up!

He sighs. Maybe Ben's too much of a softie but he can at least say he tried.

Ben: I'll give my buddy a call.

Gemma: Oh, thank you thank you!

Ben: I can't promise anything but I'll at least see if he's willing to hear y'all out.

As he pulls out his phone and turns to leave, Gemma squeals at Jaden.

Gemma: We're getting Dahlia back!

Jaden: Uh, we?

Jaden: You don't know how much it's gonna cost to get her back, and that's if this guy's even gonna want to sell her at all.

Gemma: Dahlia belongs with her family, Jay! We're helping our friends, and Mom and Dad say you always gotta do whatever it takes for the Sims you love.

Whatever it takes? Jaden's starting to get worried.

Jaden: You're not gonna, like, POISON this guy, are you?

Gemma: What, no! Don't worry, this is my greatest idea ever!