Chapter 1 – Alone (edited 06.24.11)

That hurt.

Damn that really hurt.

Yet I keep running. I've got a job to do, and the sky be damned I will see it done.

I'm not really cut for this stuff, y' know? Not at all. I used to have a reason to put myself in this kind of sitches, albeit unwillingly, but anymore? Why then? What do I have to fight for?

Nothing, that's why.

When you've got nothing left you've got nothing to lose. Simple as that.

So I keep running. Under the rain. Alone.

I can see it now. In front of me stands the lair of evilness and corruption.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The shrine of all that was good and pure, now reduced to a mockery of its former glory. Twisted and polluted by the goals of a madman. It's an heart-wreaking sight.

It doesn't matter. It ends tonight. I will see to it.

They don't expect me. They never would. They would expect her, but not me.

I don't matter. I'm a nobody.

That's why I can do it. That's why I have a chance. I'm always underestimated, always overlooked. I will slip right under their noses and hit them hard and fast. It's perfect. It's foolproof.

Slipping past the security grid is a joke. I've did this so many times in the past that it's almost boring. Always the air ducts. Do this guys ever learn?

The path is downward. This road will probably take me all the way to the basement. If I'm lucky it won't be too much populated if at all. Getting inside is easy enough, getting out will be another matter altogether but I will cross that bridge when I'll get to it.

Finally I've reached my destination. I remove the last grid in front of me, placing it inside the duct before taking a peek in the room below me. Bingo. An underground storage room. Nobody's around.

I drop myself to the ground without a noise. Perfect. Sensei would be so proud.

"Hello sidekick." I freeze on the spot at the sound of the familiar voice. Damn. I turn around and Shego is standing right there with her hands of her hips, grinning like that cat that ate the canary.

Foolproof, indeed. What an idiot.

What was I thinking? Did I really believe I could pull this out? Me? The ultimate loser? Oh, please.

"Where's Princess?"

Not here and you know it, bitch. No need to gloat about it.

"Oh, right. She's with her Prince at the ball."

Right. Twist that knife into the wound a little more, will ya?

"You came alone? Not even the naked rodent?"

Nope. The rodent has another duty tonight.

"You've got balls, I'll give you that.

Gee, thanks. I'm flattered.

"So… how are we going to do this? Will you come quietly and watch our victory from the sidelines or are you going to struggle until I kick your ass and drag you away tied up? Honestly I would prefer if you put up some resistance. It's been pretty boring around here lately, y' know?"

I answer her by shifting lower, almost crouching on the ground. My fist raised in front of me in a fighting stance. It's a odd position for a battle but it just feels so natural to me.

Her eyes widen a little in surprise. She didn't expect that. Why would she?

She would expect me to whine, to cry, to beg and to run, but never to fight. I can hardly blame her. Not even I can remember when was the last time I fought. Did I even ever fought before? The image of a certain park and a red headed girl crying flashes through my mind for a moment, before I shake it off. This is not about her.

Surprise turns to amusement in the eye of the green skinned villainess. Her mouth quirks up in a smile that's close to a grin.

"You want play? For real? You really are out of you mind."

My answer is yet again silence. I haven't uttered a word since I've got here. That's not like me at all. I'm the one with a joke always ready on his lips. The one who can't take any situation seriously.

Right. Not like me at all. I don't cry, I don't whine, I don't run. I stand my ground ready to fight.

She looks in my eyes and she finally see. She sees that she was right.

I've lost it. I'm crazy. Utterly bonkers. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

As she stares into my madness I look at hers. There is something familiar there. Something I know well enough. My closest companion. Fear.

She's so far that she doesn't even realize that, but it's definitely there. I've seen it once already. She witnessed my madness already once already in the past. Oh, it was induced, all right. And it was different.

I couldn't keep my mouth shut back then, and that makes this even scarier. There is no joke in this madness.

The Buffoon is gone.

I can see her swallow. Hard. Her eyes lose the look of amusement. I don't think she even realizes that she just assumed a defensive stance. I can't help but notice just how tight that green jumpsuit wraps around her curves. I run appreciatively the tip of my tongue on my lips. I'm definitely insane.

Whatever she saw in my eyes as I did that is enough to send shivers down her spine. I can almost smell /smell?/ her fear now.

Our stares meet again. A small grin splits up my face. She master her fear. The fighter in her ignites along with the familiar glow of her hands.

I tap into my newfound madness a little more. My grin widen. Any doubt, any fear, any phobia is wiped away by this new, yet old, feeling of expectation.

I'm a child again. I'm a child in an amusement park without grownups and no height or age restriction for the rides around me.

No mistakes. It's gonna be an hell of a ride and somebody in bound to get hurt. Badly.

One split second of tension between us. It's coming. We both can tell.

She speaks with a tremble in her voice.

"Stoppable?"

Ooh? Wouldn't you like that?

That impossible grin plastered on my face it's all the answer she could ever need.

I'm back.

Her voice now is but a whisper.

"Zorpox."

I leap at her.

Boo-Yah.

Author Note

Essentially unchanged after rewriting it. A few minor mistakes have been corrected.

Original author notes:

Author Notes: Ta-da! Chapter one is here.

A little short? Perhaps. But it's quality over quantity in my book.

Review would be truly appreciated. At least to know if what I've written makes sense.

Chapter 2 will follow soon.

Bye.