Sparkling Fire and Smokey Sighs (READ DISCLAIMER)

3: Still Deceived With Ornament

"You've been quiet," Shego said. "Stop it."

"Easy for you to say," Kim said. "You didn't have your whole life just taken away from you."

Shego wagged a finger at her between strokes. "Ah-ah. It wasn't was taken. You left it."

Kim groaned and kept paddling in sync with Shego. It turned out there weren't any other boats left on the abandoned private island so they had been forced to use the lifeboat. Kim had made a couple oars out of debris found on the island and helped Shego row the boat south, towards Cuba. Between the rowing and the motor, they would arrive at the airport and be ready to leave by the time that Señor Senior, Junior landed.

"Face it, Princess," Shego said, "you're one of us now."

"Hardly," Kim said. "This is all just a misunderstanding."

Shego laughed. "Yeah, how many ways can you interpret a giant hole in your military base?"

"Are you going to be like this the entire time we're together?" Kim said.

"Oh yeah," Shego said.

The sea was fairly calm and they had little trouble going along at a good pace. In fact, Kim already saw land up ahead. Her arms were starting to hurt, though.

"You would think," Shego said from the opposite side, "that with all the high tech gadgets Nerd Linger sets you up with, you'd have a better lifeboat."

"His name's Wade," Kim said, "and this lifeboat is powered by a tiny trilithium power cell. It should last for a month going at this speed."

"Woo," Shego said flatly. "So what are you planning on doing, anyway?"

-o0O0o-

Kim sat stiffly on the couch and struggled to maintain an awkward smile. Across from her, Junior sat in a recliner and looked slightly confused. Bonnie, in the recliner next to him, sat with crossed arms and glared. Shego, on the opposite side of the couch Kim was on, draped herself lazily across it. Strangest of all, however, was Señor Senior, Senior, who sat in a plush chair between Junior and Kim.

"Thanks so much for the ride, Junior," Kim said to break the silence.

He held up a hand to wave her off. "It is no trouble," Junior said. His eyes kept making passes between Bonnie, Shego, Kim, his father, and back again.

"So, Kim Possible," Senior said, "it seems you have finally decided to join the forces of evil. I must admit, this is most unexpected."

"Oh, you know," Kim warbled, "I'm just full of surprises."

"Indeed!" Senior said. "Perhaps I will get us some refreshments to celebrate your new life of villainy and give you some time to catch up with Junior and your old friend."

Bonnie glared at him, but Senior didn't seem to notice. Instead, he stood and walked towards the back of the luxury jet, leaving the three teenagers (and Shego) to themselves.

Bonnie scoffed. "Doesn't he have, like, servants for this sort of thing?"

"Father believes in what he calls a 'hands on approach,'" Junior said in a tone that told Kim he'd heard this line from his father many times. "Honestly, I do not see the appeal of such things."

"And that's why I like you," Bonnie said with a satisfied grin. "What are you smiling at, loser?"

Kim, perked a brow but smiled. "Nothing. I was just thinking about how the world being invaded by aliens doesn't seem to have changed you much."

"Whatever," Bonnie said. "It's not like there were a lot of them. It was just some freak show couple and their toy robots."

Kim ran her fingers into her hair and laughed.