You're On Princess
Kim and Shego walked in near silence for most of the way, the only sounds coming from the occasional scuffle of their steps and the distant hum of the city at night. Kim didn’t mind the quiet—it gave her space to think. But Shego? She hated it.
Silence left too much space for thoughts she didn’t want to entertain—like why she was really here. She told herself it was to keep tabs on Possible, but for what reason? What could possibly justify Shego being in New Orleans?
More than anything, the quiet made her think about Kim. She noticed the way Kim walked just a little ahead, shoulders squared, as if carrying the weight of the world—even though all she was holding up was Monique. Did Kim walk like this unconsciously, or is Possible hyper-aware I’m trailing behind her?
Or worse— her thoughts drifted to how her own chest tightened every time she glanced at Kim.
It was stupid. And Shego didn’t do stupid.
The moment shattered when Tasha, in her drunken oblivion, nearly face-planted onto the pavement.
“For fuck’s sake,” Shego muttered, grabbing the back of Tasha’s jacket just in time.
Kim craned her neck, glancing over her shoulder, her arms still wrapped around Monique to keep her steady. “Sorry?” She barely got the word out before she heard the commotion behind her.
“Wha—hey! Put me down!” Tasha’s slurred protest was laced with giggles as Shego effortlessly hoisted her over one shoulder. Any struggle on Tasha’s part was purely for show—Shego had already made up her mind.
At the stoplight, Kim let a small smile curl on her lips. She didn’t have to look at Shego to know the woman was grumbling under her breath, probably cursing the entire situation. The thought amused her more than it should have.
At the stoplight, Kim closed her mouth around a knowing smile as Monique, still leaning against her, let her head rest on Kim’s shoulder. The moment felt still, almost surreal until the light turned green. Kim had no intention of moving, though; Monique lifted her head groggily and caught Kim’s expression—a grin, slow and creeping, almost wicked.
Monique blinked, suddenly wary. “Kim? What?” She clung to Kim’s arm much like a non-New Yorker would hold onto the subway poles, her arms almost hugging Kim's arms, adjusting her stance as if preparing for whatever was going on inside Kim’s head. Monique moved her body back a little, indicating that she had absolutely no idea what was going on in Kim's mind.
Then, as if a light flicked on in her mind, Monique’s eyes darted from Kim to Shego—back and forth, back and forth—before realization fully dawned. Kim felt the second Monique’s brain caught up, the exact moment she realized what was about to happen.
“NO! KP, NO!”
And just like that, Monique bolted.
Shego barely had time to process the shift before Liv shot after Monique, calling her name into the night. The two of them disappeared down the street, but Kim? Kim didn’t move.
Shego shifted Tasha's weight on her shoulder and glanced at Kim. “Are you gonna chase after them, or…?”
“Or.”
Kim stretched her arms before folding them, looking completely unbothered. “The house is on this street. They’re both in my line of sight. It’s almost 3:30 AM, and I haven’t seen a single car pass since we started walking.”
Shego frowned. “So why the hell were we stopping at all the damn lights?”
Kim turned her head just slightly, her grin widening, causing Shego's stomach to drop just a bit, but enough for Shego to look ahead.
“Honestly?” she mused and resumed walking towards the house. “I wanted to see if you’d say something.”
Shego’s entire body went rigid. “Wait. Wait. Wait.” With her free hand, Shego pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply before letting go; her gaze lifted to the sky as if there was something up there that could give her more patience.
Kim hummed, truly entertained, as she looked back at Shego who was standing still, looking up. Instead of backpedaling, Kim walked back towards Shego and, with a smile, uttered, “Waiting.”
Shego turned to her so fast Tasha actually flinched. But Kim? Kim wasn’t fazed in the slightest.
“You’re telling me that the only reason we waited at every single damn light… was because you wanted to annoy me?” Shego started walking closer to Kim now, continuing to ignore the tightening in her chest the closer she got to Kim.
Kim tilted her head, feigning innocence. “It never occurred to me that you wouldn’t call me out for being a goody-two-shoes.” The two were on the move again, now shoulder to shoulder, and Shego briefly debated pushing her into the upcoming pothole.
Shego scoffed. “Are you?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Kim blinked at her. “Am I a goody two-shoes?”
“That’s what I asked.” Shego didn’t turn to look at her this time.
Shego kept her gaze forward, her jaw tight. But she could feel Kim’s eyes on her—studying her, trying to pick her apart. And God, did it make her skin itch and crawl with something unfamiliar.
Kim let the silence hang for a moment too long before exhaling. “Well,” she started, her voice softer now, deliberate, “I guess I did have a card for that club for a bit.”
Shego frowned, glancing at her; where are you going with this princess?
Kim smirked, shifting closer—just slightly, just enough that Shego felt it.
“But I wouldn’t describe myself as a good girl.”
Jesus. That was bold, Shego thought to herself.
The words hit like a slap across the face. Shego had taunted Kim countless times, but now, for the first time, she wondered if this was how Kim had felt. Her lower abdomen tightened, and Tasha's weight no longer felt light across her shoulder. Every muscle in Shego’s body fought to conceal the physical reaction she was having, but the tension coiled inside her, threatening to break through.
Shego swallowed, but it didn’t do much to fix the sudden dryness in her mouth. Kim’s voice wasn’t teasing—not exactly. It was something else, something quieter, something... charged. Shego failed to hide her physical reaction—Kim caught it. It was so fleeting that, even having seen it, Kim doubted she had actual proof.
For a split second, Shego forgot how to breathe.
Kim noticed the way Shego swallowed, licked her lips, the way she stiffened, the way she imagined Shego would act if her pulse jumped just a little too fast. Kim was loving this.
Shego wasn’t supposed to react like this. She wasn’t supposed to react at all.
But Kim had seen an opening—just like in a fight.
And she took it.
Shego clenched her jaw and forced her expression into something unreadable. “Good to know,” she said, voice smooth but just a little rougher than before.
Kim didn’t believe her. Not for a second.
By the time they reached the house, Monique and Liv were sitting on the neighbor’s steps, looking utterly exhausted.
“Oh, thank GOD!” Liv groaned dramatically. “I have to pee sooooo badly!”
Kim chuckled. “Monique has a key…” She trailed off, plus this is the wrong porch, Kim thought, but she quickly waved a hand. “Eh. Irrelevant. Let’s get you inside.”
As she helped Monique up, Shego finally exhaled, flexing her hands as if trying to rid them of the lingering tension.
Kim had done something to her.
And Shego wasn’t sure she liked it.
But God help her—she wasn’t sure she didn’t, either.
Kim completely forgot the state in which they had left the house. That is until she shuts the door behind everyone and locks it. And somehow, that was the least pressing thing on her mind.
The room wasn’t messy, but it wasn’t clean either. It carried the aftermath of a night well spent—beer bottles and shot glasses scattered across surfaces, damp paper towels tossed aside without much thought. On the pool table, discarded tops rested in a haphazard pile, a reminder of Monique’s insistence that Kim try on every option before settling on the one she currently wore.
Shego shifted slightly, adjusting the weight of Tasha, who was sound asleep against her shoulder. Her voice was low, measured. “Where do I…?” She didn’t finish the sentence, just gave Kim a pointed look and a subtle nod toward the girl in her arms.
Kim hesitated. “Right, um.” Her gaze darted around the room before landing on the couch. “That should be fine. I’ll move her later. Thanks, Shego.”
Shego’s brow furrowed slightly. “No, where do you want her? It’s fine.” There was no edge in her voice, just quiet insistence, her sincerity reinforced by a small head tilt.
Kim swallowed, nodding. “Uhm, follow me.”
Leading Shego into the office, Kim moved quickly, stripping the couch of cushions and yanking at the bedframe. Shego watched, appreciating Kim’s efficiency. Or maybe it was nerves. If Kim was trying to make this as easy as possible, she was doing so with a frantic energy, as if she could will away the awareness between them by keeping her hands busy. If she hadn’t known any better, Kim looked like she might have ransacked the place. With a little grunt, Kim got the bed to pull out.
“Put her down; I got it from here.” Kim juts her head for Shego to put Tash on the bed. Shego nods.
Shego nodded, lowering Tasha with a care that caught Kim completely off guard. She was…gentle. Purposeful. The way Shego cradled the back of Tasha’s head before easing her down was almost reverent. Kim couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized, as Shego reached for a cushion, guiding Tasha onto her side with practiced ease. The cushion, Kim realized, was intentional. A precaution so Tasha wouldn’t end up on her back. Thoughtful.
Kim’s throat felt dry.
“What?” Shego was still a little bent over, but she looked up at Kim expectantly.
“Huh?” Kim blinked.
“You're giving me a look.”
“A look?”
“Yeah, a look.” Shego straightened up, standing at her full height, and turned to face Kim. For a fleeting second, Kim swore Shego was going to step closer. Instead, Shego slipped her right hand into the back pocket of her pants, shifting into an effortlessly casual stance. It was infuriatingly attractive.
Kim had seen Shego in countless scenarios—fighting, scheming, smirking with that signature arrogance, and after tonight, Kim saw Shego being gentle. But this? This version of Shego, the one standing here now with relaxed confidence, quiet and unreadable? It was new. And Kim thought it might be her new favorite version of the woman.
Shego felt this weird pull. The room seemed so impossibly big, and Kim seemed far. Shego contemplated closing some space between them but chose to stand her ground, literally. She shifted to a comfortable position. But she knew Kim was studying her the same way she was studying Kim.
Kim let out a breathy, nervous laugh. “Shego, I’m not giving you a look.”
"Kimmie," Shego drawls, her tone dripping with skepticism, making it clear she isn’t buying a word of it.
Perhaps it was the lighting, but for the first time all night, the two women actually looked at each other. Each woman shifted a bit underneath each other's gazes as they spoke.
“Thank you for helping me with them tonight.” Kim gestured vaguely behind her. “I appreciate it.” Kim looked at Shego before her eyes dropped to the floor.
Kim didn’t mean to, but her eyes trailed back up a little too slowly. Shego was wearing a very dark purple, almost black looking, collared long sleep button-up, the kind that has only two or three buttons and a breast pocket placed for style, not practicality. It was open, exposing her chest a bit, and her arm sleeves were folded up, showing off her watch and forearms. Shego looked absolutely amazing. Her pants were black and looked light maybe linen? Her shoes were dark grey suede boots that screamed designer, as opposed to her biker boots or combat shoes.
Shego smirked inwardly, feeling Kim’s stare the same way she had felt the pull moments before. Kim was playing it off, but Shego could see the small tell. The way she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, the way her weight shifted just slightly, the way her breath slightly caught.
Kim swallowed. Shego looked—
She didn’t finish the thought.
“Yeah, no big. I mean it was either leave with you, stay, and probably end up making a bigger scene.” Shego shrugged a bit and shook her head slightly in a g-awful attempt to hide that she was giving Kim a once-over.
Kim definitely dressed the part of a college party girl. Kim’s hair was slightly curled, and Shego noticed when she would put her hair through it periodically throughout the night. Kim’s necklace hung down to her clavicle and led to a triangle-shaped top. Her satin bandana, triangle crop top, a smooth dark brown and her light blue jean shorts left little to the imagination. Shego’s brain latched onto Kim’s legs. It seemed as though they ran for miles; miles of just muscle and-
Kim interrupted Shego’s train of thought.
“You could have left alone.” Kim’s voice was soft; it wasn’t accusatory, but Kim also hoped Shego would answer because it would answer more than just the question.
This was bait, and Shego knew it. Shego had to stay with Kim; that was the point of her being in New Orleans. Kim was baiting her because if Shego said, ‘Yeah, I could have,’ it meant she had chosen to stay with Kim. If she said, ‘No, I had to leave with you,’ it meant admitting she was following Kim. However, Shego began to suspect that Kim already knew about this. So Shego threw a curve ball.
“Sure,” Shego said matter of factly.
“Why didn’t you?” Kim pressed.
“Didn’t feel like it,” Shego narrowed her gaze, a slow smile tugging at her lips “I didn’t want to.”
There was no smirk, no teasing lilt. Just honesty.
Kim's heart started pounding. Her face felt hot, no, not just her face, her entire body felt alive. She recovered quickly, though, using Shego’s own words to get herself out of this one.
“Good to kno-” Kim’s line was interrupted, her smirk fading as well.
“Kayyyyy Peeeeeeeeeeeea,” It was Monique slurring a bit as she stumbled into the door frame. Kim moved instantly, stepping past Shego to catch Monique before she could collapse into the doorframe. She glanced back at Shego. “I’ll be right back.”
It wasn’t a statement. It was a question. A request. Stay ?
Shego nodded.
It took a few minutes to make sure all the girls had brushed their teeth and had water and Advil sitting on the bedside tables. While Kim was going back and forth in the house, she noticed Shego standing, taking in her surroundings and called out to Shego, “Make yourself at home. Fix a drink.”
Maybe 15 seconds later, when Liv wanted cookies, Kim poked her head out the guest bedroom door and told her to make her one too.
That’s how Kim found herself grimacing in the kitchen at the strong drink she held tightly in her hand.
“Jesus, this is so strong,” Kim coughed a bit, laughing.
Shego took a slow sip of her drink, watching Kim over the rim of her glass with an unreadable expression. "You’ve got quite the collection here, Princess. Stocking up for the apocalypse or just trying to impress?" Shego barely lifted her arm to gesture to the bottles laying on the counter.
Kim didn’t touch the bar cart in the Airbnb and opted to put the hard liquor on the counter, ironically next to the coffee maker. Greygoose vodka, Don Julio tequila, Bacardi, and Woodford Reserve whiskey were a collection Kim was proud to have, but for some reason, when Shego mentioned it, Kim felt it seemed a little stuck up to own those bottles; it felt almost… pretentious. For Kim, the alcohol was an investment. She never quite developed a palate for liquor and assumed the bottles would last, that was until the college girls showed her just how much they party.
Kim huffed out a laugh, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. "I don’t know, Shego. Should I be trying to impress you?"
Shego’s lips twitched like she was holding back a smirk. "Depends. Are you?"
Kim rolled her eyes, but she could feel the warmth creeping up her neck. "I just didn’t know what people would want, so I got a mix. Thought that was the smart thing to do."
Shego tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, always the strategist. Makes sense. You wouldn’t wanna take any chances, right?"
Kim took a sip of her drink, letting the burn give her a second to think. She didn’t want to overstep—but was Shego? "I take risks sometimes," she said carefully, setting her glass down.
Shego quirked a brow, taking a step closer—not too close, just enough that Kim noticed. "Yeah? Like what?"
Kim exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. "I don’t know. I invited you into my home, for starters.."
Shego let out a short chuckle, nodding slowly. "Ah, so this is a risk?" She gestures at the space between them.
Kim hesitated, suddenly feeling like she’d just walked onto a chessboard without knowing how the pieces moved. The only thought in her mind she is flirting with me. right? With a final swig of her drink Kim finally spoke. "Could be. You are kind of unpredictable."
Shego grinned, leaning her hip against the counter. "I like to keep people on their toes." She paused, swirling her drink. "So… why exactly did you let me into your humble abode?"
Kim raised her glass. "I’m gonna refresh this, want anything?"
Shego smiled wide but then took one last big gulp before handing Kim her empty glass. "Ice and whiskey," Shego said smoothly, smug as ever. "You know, strong, classic, smooth, maybe a little dangerous."
Kim snorted. "Right. Because that’s exactly how you’d describe yourself, huh?"
Shego shrugged, eyes flicking to Kim’s lips for just a second—so quickly Kim almost convinced herself she imagined it. "I don’t know. You tell me."
Kim’s breath caught for half a beat, but she played it off, getting ice from the freezer.
"I think you’re not quite sure why you followed me here.” Kim paused, thinking as she poured Shego’s drink first. “Or, I think you don’t have a good explanation, you don’t have a good enough lie other than the truth.." Kim said as she poured herself a drink (not as strong as Shego’s pour).
Shego laughed, nodding her head and looking down at her feet. "Smart girl." Shego was expecting to see a small smirk on Kim’s face as Kim extended the now whiskey-filled glass, but when no movement caught her peripheral vision, Shego finally looked up.
Kim made her way to the couch, setting Shego’s drink on the low table before sinking into the cushions. She leaned against one armrest, one knee tucked under her while the other leg stretched out, resting casually on the table.
Shego leaned her right hip against the counter, her right hand drumming absently on its surface. She was half-facing Kim, the slight tilt of her body suggesting a quiet, measured tension. With a subtle shift of her weight, she pushed off the counter, her right hip leading the motion as she stepped forward, using her body’s momentum to move smoothly like the counter actually just gave her a push.
Kim watched as Shego snatched her drink and sat down, all her movements controlled. Kim wondered if Shego had ever fallen onto a couch in front of anyone before, willingly.
“I suppose you won’t stop asking me questions about tonight?” Shego cradled her drink in her lap with both hands wrapping around the glass. Shego was trying to feel the coolness on her hands, but Kim was too caught up in the memory of how gentle Shego was earlier.
Kim continued to look away for a few seconds, “I assume you won’t answer any of them willingly.” Shego held the glass in her right hand, her left arm resting casually against the back of the couch. Her forearm leaned on the armrest, with the weight of the drink supported by the armrest itself.
Shego raised an eyebrow. “Willingly?”
Kim leaned her head back in an attempt to nod behind her. That was a bad move for both women. Kim immediately felt dizzy, sure the alcohol didn’t help, but recovering from a concussion meant her head still needed time to adjust to sudden movement. She had to blink a bit before regaining focus.
Shego was ready to laugh. She was. That is until Kim’s neck was so exposed, vulnerable. It was not supposed to be sexy, but Shego felt her core tighten, her body heating up. She took a sip, but only to suck on an ice cube for a moment, as if that would cool her down.
Kim, distracted, didn’t see Shego’s reaction and continued.
“I was going to say, I’ll play you for em.” Kim wriggled her eyebrows, grinning.
“You- you to play me in pool, so you can get answers out of me?” Shego was in disbelief
“Yup,” Kim popped the P
“What makes you think I won’t lie.”
“Because all you have to do is beat me, and I won’t ask the questions again.” Kim challenged.
After more than a few seconds, Kim bit the inside of her cheek, debating if she should give more incentive. Shego just watched her, like she was waiting for something. Finally, Shego spoke,
“You’re on Princess.”
The tension lingered, warm and electric, neither one rushing to push off the couch. The women took their time clearing off the table, getting all the balls out of the pocket, and using the triangle to rack up the 15 pool balls.
“Who breaks?” Shego asked. Kim knew she was referring to who would start the game, but she couldn’t help herself as she thought
You.