Hold On to Me

Kim moved quickly, slipping through the crowded streets with practiced ease, tracking her stalker now. Shego had lost her, and Kim felt as though she knew exactly what Shego would do next—start searching the bars. Sure enough, after a few minutes of patience, Kim spotted Shego pushing through the doors of a dimly lit place, scanning the street one last time with sharp, narrowed eyes.

Kim followed, quiet but not overly cautious.

The entrance to the bar opened into a spacious, dimly lit room. The first thing that caught Kim’s eye was the inviting, smile-shaped U-bar buried in the back of the space. Before it stood a standard long bar against the wall, it's polished wood gleamed softly under the warm glow of overhead pendant lights. To the left, a sleek staircase with an ornate railing spiraled upward, disappearing into the shadows of a second level. Kim didn’t really have to think; the safest option was to take position on the upstairs deck, hidden by the lack of lights, where she could watch undetected. Below, Shego prowled through the bar, tense, alert, and clearly irritated that she’d lost track of Kim. Yeah, I’d be annoyed, too, if I were you. Kim smirked, watching as Shego’s frustration built. 

There was something about the way Shego leaned against the bar, so effortlessly at ease, as if she belonged there more than anyone else in the room, that made Kim feel a little self-conscious. Do I look like that when I enter a bar? Does anyone? Her dark hair cascaded in loose waves, catching the light as it framed her face, and her outfit—casual yet somehow sophisticated—clung to her form flawlessly. Kim noticed the sharp, perfectly manicured nails that rested on the bar top, the way the dinginess of the room made the subtle sheen of her skin stand out. Shego’s every slight movement seemed deliberate and precise, as if she was completely in control of the space, her space.

Kim liked looking. She didn’t want to think about why or what it meant, but it was hard to look away. Every little detail seemed to draw her in further, pulling her gaze back again and again. Shego wasn’t dressed for a mission, but that didn’t necessarily mean she wasn’t on one, right? Why was this Shego more enticing? This is the same Shego that you fight and bicker with it's just-- Kim’s thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt. 

Mark showed up.

Kim saw him before Shego did—the moment he noticed her, the way his almost sinister grin widened as he approached. Oh, this should be good. Shego wasn’t exactly the friendly stranger type, and Mark was too dense to read a room.

From her vantage point, Kim watched it all unfold. Shego didn’t seem interested in conversation, but Mark wasn’t getting the hint. He leaned in, all confidence and bad cologne, his mouth moving in a way Kim knew was probably saying something dumb. Shego’s expression barely flickered, but Kim saw the shift—the way her muscles tensed, the way her hands curled slightly. 

Kim saw it, the tension in Shego, and she stood up fully. She saw Shego skip the moment before first contact. Kim loved the anticipation and savoring the moments before, Shego loved diving head first and consuming the feeling after.

Then, without hesitation, Shego swung.

The first punch was fast, controlled. Mark stumbled back, caught completely off guard. Kim stepped closer to the balcony, abandoning her hiding spot, eyes narrowing. What the hell?

Shego was pissed. Not just annoyed—angry.

Kim’s brain worked fast, breaking it down. Shego had lost track of her, she was already on edge, and now Mark—who, yeah, was an ass—had said something to set her off. But this? This reaction? It didn’t add up.

Mark wasn’t a threat. At worst, he was an irritant. Shego should have stopped after the first hit, but she didn’t. She took another step forward, her jaw clenched, her fists still ready.

Kim hesitated. She didn’t move, her thoughts racing. 

Shego wasn’t just mad at Mark. She was mad at Mark, with Kim. 

No, it couldn’t be...

Was this—was this about her?

Was Shego pissed because she had seen Mark with Kim?

Kim’s breath hitched for just a second. The thought slammed into her like a freight train, and suddenly, her own heartbeat felt too loud in her ears. Is she—No. No way.

But then, why did Kim like the idea?

Why did she like the idea of Shego being jealous?

Her thoughts were shattered—literally—by the sound of breaking glass below.

Enough.

Before Shego could land another hit, Kim stepped forward, placing her hands firmly on the railing.

“That’s enough,” she called, her voice cutting through the bar like a whip.

Shego’s head snapped up, and for the first time that night, Kim let herself be seen.

Their eyes locked.

And just like that, Kim felt the game change again. 

Kim knew Shego would recognize her voice immediately. She always did. It’s similar to the way that Kim knows Shego’s voice by the commanding tone. Kim stood at the top of the staircase, arms crossed, her expression a mixture of exasperation and disbelief.

“Really, Shego? A bar brawl?” Kim couldn’t help the dry amusement that crept into her voice. She watched as Shego lowered her leg, stepping back, but Kim knew she wasn’t done. The fight wasn’t over yet, but the mission had just taken a very different turn.

“This guy was asking for it,” Shego muttered, her voice low, still in a half-fighting stance. Kim could see the frustration in her eyes. She was angry, but it wasn’t directed at Mark anymore.

Kim raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking up in the smallest of smirks. “I’m sure he was. But I’m pretty sure you didn’t come here to play bouncer.”

Kim didn’t wait for Shego to answer. She turned and bounded down the stairs. The crowd had parted when Kim’s voice carried through, and now they parted again as she moved. Her gaze flicked briefly to Mark, still dazed and leaning against the table, but she had no intention of dealing with him right now. Her focus was on Shego.

Shego didn’t even look like she was paying attention to Mark anymore. Her eyes flicked over the mess she’d caused, the patrons still staring at her. Kim could almost feel the tension radiating from her. Hmm, Shego hadn’t planned for this. Whatever mission she was here for, it wasn’t supposed to involve this kind of chaos.

As Kim entered the scene, her world seemed to slow down for just a moment. She didn’t hear the ambiance of the bar anymore, as her focus was trained on Shego. 

Shego’s gaze landed on her. That look—a mix of annoyance, frustration, and maybe even a hint of something else—was there, as always. But this time, Kim didn’t mind. She was used to that look, used to Shego’s sarcasm and temper. Kim didn’t flinch when she saw Shego’s posture shift, though it was slight. She was sizing Kim up, trying to figure out what her next move would be.

Is she really going to fight me? Wow, I really fucked up her night. Wait, Shego just got into a bar fight? Well, it wasn’t really a fight cuz it truly was a beating. Oh shit! Shego beat up a guy, in a bar all because she lost her mark. This. Is. Hilarious. 

And then it happened. Kim started laughing. A light, genuine laugh that filled the bar. The sound of her laughter seemed to catch Shego off guard, making her blink in surprise. Kim could see the moment Shego realized that this wasn’t just some victory dance or mocking chuckle—it was pure amusement. It was true though, Kim was actually laughing.

Kim kept her distance, but her amusement didn’t fade. 

“You. A bar fight? Really? I mean, you could’ve just called me if you wanted to make an entrance, Shego.” Kim was trying lighten the mood, but she saw Shego analyzing her. Kim knew it was annoying Shego, but she’d rather have the anger directed at her, rather than Mark or any other patron. 

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Princess,” 

Shego muttered, crossing her arms defensively. Kim liked this. She liked being smug with Shego, but she also liked how she could see the cogs turning in Shego’s brain. Kim didn’t let up, stepping closer now, her tone shifting just a little. 

“Look, if you want to talk, we can do it somewhere less… dramatic.” 

She was leaning into the challenge now, the way she always did when she was in control. And for a second, Kim swore she saw something stir inside Shego that wasn’t quite anger—but something else, something that gave Kim pause. 

Kim’s gaze never wavered. She was calm, but there was no mistaking the certainty in her eyes. Kim wasn’t going anywhere. And as Kim realized a few seconds later, neither was Shego. Not yet. 

For a moment, Kim considered that Shego would just walk away. Letting the whole thing blow over. But when Shego met Kim’s eyes again, something clicked. Shego’s brow wasn’t furrowed anymore and Kim suspected that Shego knew she had miscalculated, and Kim had just made her move.

Neither Kim nor Shego said a word as they walked out of the bar. The air outside was cooler, and the buzz of the city streets was inviting compared to the scene they’d just left behind. Kim could feel Shego trailing behind her, not making a sound but still close enough to feel her presence like a heat wave at her back. It wasn’t something Kim was used to, Shego so close on her heels in a nonthreatening manner. The two usually kept their distance when they weren’t fighting, but tonight? Tonight, there was something different.

Shego wasn’t here for a simple mission; that much was clear. And Kim wasn’t about to let that slide.

When they reached the bar where her friends were, Kim realized she had a slight problem. Even with the burgers and water, the three girls were still plastered. Granted, they all looked content, but Kim was not going to leave them to their own devices. 

Kim stood at the head of the table and sighed. She knew a solution, but it required cooperation from everyone, Shego included. Kim stepped back a bit and turned to face Shego, her voice low and commanding, with just the right mix of authority and challenge. “Walk us back to my place. We can talk on the way.”

Shego didn’t respond immediately, but Kim didn’t need nor expect her to. She could see the wheels turning behind Shego’s eyes—the wariness, the suspicion, the hesitation. She knew Shego well enough to know she wasn’t the type to follow orders easily. But this wasn’t an order. Not really. It was more of a statement, though Kim wasn’t actually telling Shego what to do. It was all optional. 

One water spillage, a few attempts to get Kim to sit, and Four minutes later, Kim stepped back with Monique leaning on her and headed towards the door, her hand brushing lightly against Shego’s arm as she made her way out and into the night. Although Kim felt Shego tense, Kim was sure Shego understood it was a I silent ‘thank you’.  

Kim couldn’t recall the last time her curiosity felt this powerful and uncontrollable. Kim didn’t look behind her as they embarked on the walk to the Airbnb, but she so desperately wanted to. She heard Liv thanking Shego for helping Tash stand up, and she heard Liv start giggling as Tash started calling Shego her hero. Kim actually stumbled a bit when she heard the word 'hero,' half expecting an 'oomph' sound from Tasha due to Shego leaving her to her own devices. Realistically, if Kim turned around, it wasn’t like Shego would drop the girl, but Kim didn’t want to test that. 

As they walked further into the night, Kim’s thoughts ran wild— Shego just on a mission? Right? Is there more to it? Kim had seen the cracks, the moments where Shego let her guard down, and she wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by. Whatever Shego’s endgame was, Kim was ready to figure it out.

And if Shego wasn’t willing to talk yet, well, that was fine. Kim would get what she needed, one way or another, because even on vacation, Kim was a professional.