As Time Goes By: Book I

-0-

"In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong."
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

September 8, 2008

10:45 PM

This place was filled with suckers. Seriously- all this loot and they barely had any security what so ever! Talk about a bunch of idiots!

Oh well… not like it mattered to him- their loss not his. Heh.

His two companions continued piling the cash in their satchels, and he himself kept look out. Not that he had any fear what so ever – but dealing with some overzealous security guard would be rather tiresome.

"Hey idiots! Get your asses in gear and hurry up!" He barked.

"We're going as fast as we can boss!" The first moron whined.

"Yeah give us a break! How about you come and help us out if you're so hell bent on getting out of here!" The other muttered. He narrowed his eyes.

"I'm supervising! Now move it!" He ran a hand through his red locks- idiots. He was surrounded by idiots! Finally- after another tongue lashing the two were ready- they hoisted the huge bags over their shoulders and looked at him for instruction.

Heh it was good to be leader- yes it was. He gave a curt nod and the three climbed out through the smashed window and began to make their getaway.

Ha! Like taking candy from a baby!

Though oddly enough the idiots seemed to be nervous. Pfft- they'd made a clean get away- a few more blocks and they'd be home free-! They entered the alley where they'd stashed their getaway vehicle but then he stopped in mid stride.

…Where was the car?

UGH!

He knew he shouldn't have trusted the blonde with the keys! He whirled around, "Idiot where the hell did you put-!"

He blinked.

"… Boys?" The alleyway was empty. Both his accomplices had vanished. Oh hell no! They did NOT try to screw him out of his thirty percent! Why he oughta-!

There was a crash- and the money bag suddenly came sailing from behind him and hit the brick wall in front of him, the dough went flying around him- The…HELL!?

"What the- Jack quit playing around!" His voice trailed, the alley was empty still… so where had-?

Another clamber, and the other bag landed at Ronnie's feet.

Though this time he heard… a giggle?

… What the hell was going on here!? He fingered his gun.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you asshole." A raspy voice echoed around him. He heard a distinctive pop as if from bubblegum before a raven haired beauty emerged from the shadows. She blew another bubble listlessly as she leaned against the wall with her arms folded. She looked distinctly unimpressed.

"Yeah guns are totally not cool – they can hurt people!" This voice was high pitched, but it had a melodic quality to it that in different circumstances he wouldn't have minded hearing in…other ways. Sure enough, a little…well damn all this one could be described as was an angel skipped into view– with curly gold pigtails bouncing as she walked and a pair of huge baby blue eyes that probably could melt the hearts of any person who saw them. She put her hands on her hips looked at him disapprovingly.

He cocked the trigger regardless- what were a bunch of little girls doing here anyway! Wasn't it past their bedtimes!?

He said as much, "Shouldn't you fine little things be in bed by now!" He snarled. "Why don't you run on home and-."

"As soon as you're in police custody we shall gladly do so." Another one! The hell man! He was here to cash in not babysit a bunch of stupid girls! Although…heh maybe he and the little blonde could go have some fun… he cocked the gun.

He heard a clicking of what sounded like heels, and the two others immediately moved to their respective right and left, almost like they were making a path as a tall, statuesque young woman strode towards him, a hand on her hip and ridiculously long red hair swaying behind her as she moved. She was also oddly enough for this time of night sporting a pair of sunglasses.

"I would highly suggest you drop the weapon and come quietly." Her voice was low, cool… slightly… bored sounding. He grit his teeth and tightened his hold on his gun.

He sneered, "Fraid' not babe, see I have places to be and-." He smirked, "I think I might be taking your little blonde friend with me and we'll be on our way." He suddenly aimed towards the blonde, the bubble popper stiffened,

"The hell you are asshole!" She snarled, "Leader Girl can I kick his sorry behind now!? "

"I'm not going anywhere with you! When's the last time you even showered P.U!" Blondie held her nose, and he grit his teeth.

"I wasn't asking bitch!" The woman in front of him snorted,

"Always have to do it the hard way don't you?" She sighed sounding more exasperated rather than fearful- like she should have been! She removed her sunglasses with a flourish to reveal a pair of glowing fluorescent pink eyes.

"I will give you one more chance- Surrender." She ordered coolly. "Now."

"We already took care of your goons' sorry asses- three to one asshole." The black haired girl suddenly cracked her knuckles, and slammed a fist in her palm. The blonde held up her little fists and made an adorable impersonation of some boxer beside her.

Pfft! He could take on a bunch of stupid little girls! His finger settled on the trigger, and he whipped around and placed it clear on the redhead's temple. A little intimidation went a long way-

"I see." She said quietly "Very well."

Before he could even blink he felt a crushing pain in his foot, - a heel had gone clear through his boot – He screamed but she grabbed him by the wrist with one hand, wrenched the gun out with her other and slammed him down on the pavement.

All in all…. It had taken maybe six…seven seconds.

She sniffed and flexed her wrist. "Every time." She shook her head. "Right that's that."

"Aw c'mon leader girl! How come you always get to have all the fun?" The dark haired girl whined. The redhead gave her a withering look.

"Just go get the rest girls." She ordered quietly while placing a heel over Ronnie's chest.

The brunette frowned but nonetheless flounced off the little blonde angel skipping behind her.

"Who… the fuck… are you!?"

She looked down at him disdainfully, but made no answer only idly began skimming her phone.

"Lemme go ya crazy bitch!"

"Yeah what he said!"

"Well you should know better than to take things that don't belong to you honestly!" The blonde snapped.

The two were dragging Kevin and Jack behind them before they threw them like yesterday's trash on the ground next to him. The infuriating redhead put her phone to her ear. "Suspects apprehended – location Alley on the corner of Harding and 57."

Oh hell no! Hell no! He wasn't going back to jail! Not again! Jail sucked! The food sucked! And no way was some stuck up bitch with a superiority complex sending him back there!

He eyed the gun. It was almost in reaching distance…

"It was all Ronnie's idea!' Jack whined to the blonde, she looked unconvinced.

"Yeah! We're just the innocent victims of circumstance here! He forced us to come here!"

Smack

"Shut up." She popped another bubble. Kevin quieted.

Almost… got it.

"You two will have plenty of time to come up with a good sob story for the judge don't worry." The redhead suddenly cast her eyes in his direction and they narrowed but it was too late for her. His smile became maniacal and he whipped it up with a flourish.

She snarled and made a grab for it curling her hands around the muzzle like some kind of idiot! He smirked as he pulled the trigger and she wrenched herself back with a howl, blood pouring out of her palm.

"BLOSSOM!" The two girls screeched in unison before smashing Kevin and Jack's heads together and jumping over their now limp forms to get to the redhead

While they were distracted he whirled around and booked it out of there.

"GET BACK HERE ASSHOLE!" The bubble popper spat out her gum and bellowed .

"Leave him Buttercup! Oh Blossy- does it hurt show me where it hurts!" The blonde sobbed.

"Oh my God Bubbles! Of course it hurts! Move over-! Wait…Leader girl what are you- OH GOD GROSS!"

"EW! BLOSSY DON'T DO THAT!"

"JUST GET ME TO AN ER!" The redhead snarled.

Their voices soon became a faint memory. Ha… good riddance! Score one for Ronnie! Stupid bitches were probably all weepy and crying now! HA!

He zipped around a corner. And knowing he was home free paused to take a breath. Man… what a weird town: Why the hell would a bunch of stupid girls be walking the streets this time of night anyway: Ha! Like a bunch of wannabe vigilantes- they probably thought they were superheroes or something!

…Though that glowing eye trick was kind of creepy.

Especially the pink one… He shuddered- that shit wasn't normal… oh well. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and put on an air of nonchalance. He even whistled for good measure. Heh- no sirens, no nothing. Free!

He snickered.

Piece of cake.

He entered another alley. It was a shortcut he'd found when he'd been scouting the place: a few tight squeezes but then he'd be back at the hideout. Sucked about Kevin and Jack but meh- he'd find a new bunch of idiots soon enough.

Crash.

Ronnie whipped around. A cat came flying out a trash can. Christ- he was being paranoid. Those three weird girls were probably still weeping and crying in the alleyway- no way had they followed him. Pfft-

He snickered again, fished though his pocket to grab a cigarette, and flicked his lighter nonchalantly – And only then did Ronnie notice him.

He froze. And his feet stumbled backwards,

"Stay away!" He bellowed, and fished for his gun once again. It was yanked out of his hands and crushed almost instantly before it was tossed behind the young man who still advanced upon him.

His unnaturally glowing eyes a terrifying scalding red.

"You must be new in town. Let me explain to you a few rules."The deep voice intoned before Ronnie hit the dumpster.

"One. You don't walk around like you own the place - !" A ratty sneaker kicked him backwards with such force parts of the wall fell around him.

"Two, you respect the claims of others- you were intruding dangerously close on Rowdyruff territory back there." He hissed. Rowdy what territory? What the hell did that mean-!? The crimson eyed teenager's hand shot out and clasped around Ronnie's throat- seriously what was in this dumps' water!?- The boy lifted him clean off the ground, before he growled in a deep, gruff hiss.

"Three-." The grip on Ronnie's throat tightened. "The only one allowed to mess with Pinky is ME!

Act 0: New Beginnings

"Good morning Townsville!- our top story this morning: a robbery at Amberlyn's Gems and Jewels was stopped last night thanks to the heroic actions of those spunky super heroines – The Powerpuff Girls! And now the weather – Jay what's it looking like?"

"Well Barb- it's going to be another beautiful Fall day in good ole' Townsville - High 70's with slight chance of rain later this afternoon- but the rest of the week is just looking gorgeous! Look at those temperatures! Perfect for a nice jog, or one last trip to the beach I'd say!"

"Thanks Jay. In other news- Police are still investigating reports of the mystery vigilante going by the "Trickster" – Police are urging any with information to please-."

Brick downed the last of his coffee- pitifully weak but hey that's cheap instant for you. He sneered and glared at the two insipid anchors on the television. They were too… cheery… especially this early in the morning… ugh. Gag me.

He turned off the cracked television before they could go back to their inane chatter and he picked up the newspaper the monkey had left lying on the table before storming away with a slew of curses in his wake.

Powerpuffs save the day once again! Commander and Leader set to make a full recovery!

He scoffed and threw it down with a snort. Stupid fools- they were desperate to make a story even if it was out of nothing! His eyes rolled skyward- he took a deep breath and bellowed up the metal grated stairs that led to the boy's loft.

"HEY TWEEDLE DEE! TWEEDLE DUM! LET'S GO!" He heard a medley of what sounded like cursing out from the bathroom, and the telltale sound of his youngest brother falling out of bed- again. He squeezed the ridge of his nose: Patience. They can help not their idiocy.

The elephant stampede crashed above him- Butch swore out loud as he apparently had misplaced his backpack while frantically gelling up the last of his spikes.

"In the living room moron!"

"Oh… thanks Boss!

With a long suffering- long resigned sigh Brick opened the fridge, and took out the milk though he soon frowned. Empty. Damn it. He made a mental note to go grocery shopping sometime this week- the fridge was beginning to look a little… threadbare. – he tossed the empty bottle behind him and balanced a carton of eggs in his elbow while he grabbed a beaten up frying pan with his other hand- a nonchalant kick closed the fridge door behind him. He cracked a few eggs and listlessly tossed the pan heating it with his own special brand of fire. Heh.

"Big Bro-!"

"On the coffee table!"

"Oh… thanks!"

Idiots. He buzzed his lips before he scooped out a portion, then another and balanced the two plates on his arm.

"Thanks!" Boomer grabbed the first plate as he zipped past him gathering his never ending supply of sheet music which had like always ended up strewn across the observatory.

"Yeshtwankwu!" Butch had already taken his and was devouring it at the table. Brick rolled his eyes as he made his own breakfast.

"Idiot we eat there- Feet off!" Brick snapped as he pushed Butch's legs off the table before he plopped himself down across from him and began sorting through the medley of mail the monkey had thrown to the side in a fury.

"Yes Dad." Butch snickered and ducked a red heat beam that went crashing his way. Brick gave him a warning look before he settled back to enjoy his eggs as Tweedle Dum came crashing into the kitchen mere seconds later with an armful of sheet music in one hand and his backpack in another. The blond scowled and his tongue stuck out like an idiot as he attempted to squeeze yet another cluster of paper into the already gaping black hole that was his youngest brother's school bag.

"More love songs Romeo?" Butch snickered and Boomer flushed pink all the way to the ridge of his nose,

"N-No." He sputtered as he slammed his own plate down. The three ate in a relative silence for a few glorious seconds. Brick chewed his eggs thoughtfully before his gaze fixed on a particular envelope in the pile. The big red ATTENTION was hard to miss after all- he opened it ignoring the fact that no- he was not a Mr. Mojo Jojo…who…was apparently behind on their…electricity bill.

Again.

He scowled, Cripes. The big red number on the bottom was ominous- and so was the "cutoff date" – final warning bullshit the letter was spewing. He had a feeling the cable bill just under it was something along similar lines. He could just hear the monkey now…

How dare they! These inferior beings dare to tell me that I' The great MOJO JOJO the single most brilliant being in this universe- that I must PAY for such insipid things as electricity! BWAHAHA FOOLS! They shall regret ever challenging the Great Mojo Jojo in-!

Brick scowled and threw the paper down with disgust before taking another mouthful of egg.

"Oh yeah Big Bro?-." he looked at Butch from above his fork, the spike head seemed slightly…sheepish. What had the idiot done now!?

"What?" He said darkly, if Butch had destroyed another wall so help him-!

He shoved a piece of paper in his face, "Uh… permission…slip." He mumbled. Boomer's eyes widened and with a muffled curse ripped open his bag again- a flurry of papers escaped from their prison and Boomer grabbed one of them and handed it to him nervously,

"Band…dues." He said quietly. Brick raised an eyebrow, but with a sigh leaned back, grabbed a pen from the counter behind them and snatched both the papers from his brothers' hands before artfully forging the Monkey's signature on them both- though how such a smart and observant woman like Keane had yet to figure out the striking similarities between Mojo's signature and Brick's was something lost on the Red Rowdyruff. He'd caught the assistant principal giving him suspicious looks occasionally when he dropped off say…their medical forms or whatever else all last year - but seeing as she had yet to say anything - shocker- Brick figured he was in the clear.

Or maybe she was just glaring at him for having the sheer audacity of being alive. There was always that ever present possibility.

Boomer wrung his hands nervously, no doubt because once again that school was attempting to rob them blind with an even bigger increase in dues this year. With a roll of his eyes he dug in his wallet.

"Um Big Bro I swear I'll-."

"Don't worry about it." He said as he counted out the cash and plopped it next to his plate. "What about you dumb ass?" He raised an eyebrow as Butch looked particularly sheepish – a good look for him, humility went a long way when being a moron. –

"Um my cleats are kind of... -." A wad was thrown in his face. He scanned his wallet, right… guess groceries would have to wait another week. Tweedle Dee and Dum both finished the rest of their meal in silence before looking at Brick expectantly. He tossed his keys listlessly before swallowing them with his palm and then stood.

"Shot gun!" Butch bellowed and zipped off with a forest green streak behind him.

"WHAT! NO FAIR WHY DO YOU ALWAYS GET FRONT!" Boomer whined as he rushed after him, his navy blue wisp followed. Brick's eyes went skyward once more as he trailed behind them. His red Camaro waited for them outside, the new leather seats he only just installed last week shone in the early morning California sun. He trailed a hand over the hood reverentially as he walked past it - his baby was just itching for some exercise. The two idiots were still bickering even as he slid in effortlessly in the driver's seat,

"Because I'm better and older!" Butch snarled. Brick flipped open the glove compartment and removed his black aviators before slipping them on and adjusting his rearview mirror.

"Bullshit you're older! It was like Five seconds!" Boomer continued to whine. "And how come Brick always get to sit in front?!"

"Oh My God…Cause he's driving you idiot!" Butch whipped around and smacked him over the head.

"Oh…Oh yeah." Boomer muttered while holding his head. The streets of Townsville zipped by them, Brick chose to ignore the scathing looks and harsh whispers from the pedestrians. He slowed down slightly as they passed a parked cop car. His grip on the steering wheel slightly hardened.

"You really are the dumb and the dumbest!" Butch snickered.

"I AM NOT!" Boomer bellowed and kicked the seat hard jolting Butch forward.

"HEY!" Brick slammed the wheel in emphasis, "CAN IT YOU TWO! " His brothers immediately quieted.

"He started it." Butch finally muttered.

"I did not! You're the one who-!"

Another argument. Another shouting match.

Brick wondered idly how much jail time fratricide merited.

-0-

Thankfully…for his brothers at least Townsville High came into view. The looming campus, and the two major buildings it comprised of cast an ominous shadow over the Camaro as it pulled into the parking lot. A few nervous glances towards the car followed, their peers hastened their pace- even a few teachers seemed to suddenly decide to cross the street so as not to directly face the car. Butch scowled, Boomer frowned and averted his gaze but Brick merely opened his door and slung his bag over his shoulder. The two morons scrambled after him.

A hasty path was made for them, one freshman even yelped and tripped in his haste to get away as they entered the building. Once again his youngest brother's face was easy to read despite the pansy's best efforts. A trace of sadness… even hurt lined the blonde's dark blue irises. Brick's grip on his backpack only grew harder.

"Yeah well fuck you too." Butch muttered next to him. His face was like a storm, fury flashing through his green eyes which made half the student body tremble in their shoes.

"Down Butch." Brick mumbled, and the idiot reluctantly followed his order but not before he smacked the blonde over the head – though gentler this time.

"Fuck em' Boom, c'mon." The blonde sighed and followed after him. Brick however froze, the hairs on his neck rose straight up like a cat's and he grit his teeth. Butch paused and looked behind his shoulder at him, he cocked an eyebrow and then smirked as their fellow students made yet another path quickly for the torrent rushing towards them.

"She's heeeeere." He sang obnoxiously. Boomer snickered.

"BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Oh… fuck my life.

A blur of orange and gold that was otherwise known as Princess Morebucks latched onto his arm, a nauseating combination of cigarette smoke and the over bearing perfume the wretched girl wore to mask it assaulted his nose and he instantly pushed her away – he'd prefer to keep his breakfast!

His brothers burst out laughing as they casually opened their lockers, leaving Brick to deal with the insipid screeching banshee! Traitors. God damn it this chick had a strong grip. He attempted to wrench his arm free, but she was still chattering away – going on about…whatever she was wont to- Brick just tended to block it out.

"Oh Bricky! Did you miss me?"

"Not in the least." He said dryly.

"Oh you're such a silly!" He nuzzled his arm. Shame. He'd liked this jacket.

Butch snorted behind him, and he caught the leering gaze of his brother,

"Hot as anything but dumb as a post." He muttered too low for the spoiled brat to hear but Brick could hear it just fine. He smirked. Unfortunately Morebucks seemed to think it was meant for whatever she had just said, as her squealing grew even louder and high pitched- if that was possible. Seriously how the glass in this place had survived so far was a mystery to Brick -.

Boomer stiffened next to Butch and immediately straightened. Murmurs and whispers began flying around them.

Heard she took it out herself!

Damn talk about hardcore!

Did the guy ever get caught?

Brick scowled as a sudden commotion began, the student body as one seemed to surge forward, lockers slammed shut, the whispers only got more frenzied and rampant as the crowd grew more and more cluttered around three individuals.

So… they had arrived.

"Move aside people! Nothing to see here!" A raspy snarl. Butch scowled as a black haired girl dressed in an over sized black hoodie and jean shorts strode forward, holding her hands out- taking the high fives given with a casual nonchalance as she popped another bubble. She brushed past them with a sneer and an especially forceful push past Butch as she shrugged her ratty camouflage patterned bag to her other shoulder.

"If you wouldn't mind giving us some room please we'd appreciate it!" A gentle yet forceful command…followed by a giggle. Boomer flushed at the sound of it which only deepened as the little blonde skipped past them- seriously there were times it was hard to believe the chick was in high school- Her golden pigtails bounced in sync with her flouncy little sundress and obnoxious glittered backpack covered to the brim in buttons and key chains. She beamed and waved cheerily in their direction,

"Good morning boys!" She giggled again. Brick and Butch both stiffened but Boomer- the moron- merely waved slowly, a dreamy little smile growing on his stupid face- ugh- Butch scowled and kicked his ankle.

"Idiot." He seethed.

Boomer instantly cleared his throat, folded his arms and sneered- a pathetic attempt to look menacing. The blonde frowned and cocked her head before she sighed quietly and gave his brother one last lingering stare before she hurried along.

Boomer released the breath he must have been holding.

"Moron!" Brick hissed. The blue Rowdyruff frowned and rubbed his neck sheepishly. Ugh! Lovesick fool! Speaking of… he attempted ONCE AGAIN to free his arm from the insane bitch's iron grip.

Princess who had yet to get the hint to just LET GO only sneered as she gripped his arm to her tighter- ugh he really had liked this jacket! - "Look at them-, always making such a production out of everything! Stupid bitches!" She hissed. Brick rolled his eyes -look who's talking…

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

"Blossom does it hurt?"

"Can I take your bag for you?"

"I can handle myself thank you." He stiffened at the cool authoritative tone which had made the crowd dissipate instantly. The svelte redhead strode forward, unperturbed and evidently unmoved by the huge crowd that had swarmed her. With her ever present black pumps having signaled her arrival long before she had decided to grace these mere mortals with her presence – the almighty Powerpuff leader, the so called "everything nice" of the trio ( Bullshit) and his so called counterpart Blossom Utonium sailed past the gushing crowd with the barest of acknowledgements. Her long Rapunzel locks- ridiculous in length and surprisingly running free versus confined with that ridiculous bow of hers hugged her hips as she walked though her adoring public. The bag in question hung loosely off her shoulder- nestled at her side and a heavily bandaged hand in a brace rested atop it. Her free - uninjured - hand flipped up the sunglasses nestled on her nose, and rested them atop her head as she walked past him, before flashing him a silent piercing pink stare. It was fleeting, and only lasted a moment- but it nonetheless made Brick mash his teeth together and clench his free fist.

"Pfft. Too bad the guy didn't get her in the head. Stuck up bitch." Morebucks hissed under breath. Brick ripped his arm free finally.

"Fuck. Off." He hissed.

The bell rang the first warning and the stupid girl didn't seem to be phased in the slightest by his menacing tone. She merely giggled obnoxiously and ran a hand down his chest with in her pathetic little insipid excuse for a brain that is – a sultry goodbye and a sickening wink she flounced off.

Butch snickered next to him, "You know if you just fuck her she might lay off."

" I'd rather eat rat poison." He muttered.

"Would that hurt us?" Boomer asked curiously.

"I don't know want to find out?" Brick snapped.

"Whoa touchy- damn bro what's up with you- you've been mad cranky since last night!" Butch said with folded arms. "Speaking of- why did you get home so late anyway?"

"Yeah, we heard you around midnight and shit sneaking back in." Boomer put his hands in his pockets and looked down on him curiously – stupid growth spurts! To be looked down on by his youngest brother was nothing short of maddening!"- Brick bristled under his scrutiny, the overly tall beanpole of the blue Rowdyruff raised an eyebrow and Brick sneered.

"First of all I didn't sneak anything, the damn monkey doesn't have any fucking say in what I do! – Second -None of your goddamn business." He snapped. "I had shit to do." He scowled.

"What kind of-?" Butch began suspiciously but the second bell sounded and he cursed. "Aw crap I can't be late again, detention sucks man!" He pounded the two on the shoulder, "See you losers later!" He zipped off.

"HEY NO POWERS IN SCHOOL MR. JOJO!" The hall monitor yelled uselessly. Like his brother would listen. "And you two! Get to homeroom!"

"Yeah yeah we're going." Brick muttered peevishly, Boomer flashed him another long suspicious look and also rubbed his shoulder meaningfully but at another irritated huff from the damn teacher the two nonetheless separated.

Time to start another glorious day in hell.

-0-

Clink. Clink. Clink.

He grit his teeth harder and harder as the obnoxious clinking continued three rows in front of him but he could hear it as clear as if she were right next to him! Kellan droned at the front about the merits of Shakespeare or whatnot but it wasn't like he could hear her! Oh no. All he could hear… Was that... Wretched… never ending…

CLINKING.

"Does it hurt Blossom?" The willowy brunette whispered next to the clinking queen with her god damn BANGLES!

"I'm fine Robin don't worry. It was a flesh wound." Low chuckle. Clink. Brick tapped his finger on his desk repeatedly.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Flesh wound! A guy shoots your damn hand off and you call it a flesh wound?" Their supposed class president and the so called "official" best friend of the "puffs"- like that was some kind of glorious title- hissed.

"He didn't shoot my hand off Robin, honestly stop being so over dramatic." Clink. Shift of the shoulders. "And besides… I got it out." She twirled her pen listlessly.

Clink.

Tap.

"Uh yeah. About that- um EW! Bubbles told me- Why-Why in the hell would you do that?!" She demanded sounding utterly revolted.

"It had to come out." She said simply with a shrug.

Clink.

Tap.

" Blossom Utonium you seriously frighten me sometimes." Another voice, male, joined in the utterly fascinating conversation…Brick may or may not have been eavesdropping on. She turned to him with a dower look but the sandy haired boy next to the willowy brunette met her gaze evenly. Huh. Impressive. Most of the slavering idiots here wouldn't even look Pinky in the face let alone partake in a damn staring contest with her…. Who was this guy again..?

"I'm more concerned about the fact that fool got away Michael." She said peevishly, "God knows what hole he'll crawl out of next."

If he can still crawl. Heh.

"You were lucky and you know it Bloss!" He hissed. She frowned. So did Brick as he gripped his pen.

"I can handle myself!" She hissed- ooh someone was getting testy.

"Like you did for the last one… And the one before that-?" He said snidely. This kid… clearly has a death wish.

"Shut up Michael!" She snapped likely louder than she'd intended since Mrs. Kellan whirled around.

"Is there a problem Miss Utonium? Mr. Believe?" She flinched from the sharp tone and the kid scowled.

"No Ma'am." They muttered, the teacher seemed satisfied and went back to her droning about Shakespeare. Seriously…he'd already finished the play last night… Caesar gets stabbed. The end. The kid was still mumbling under his breath…speaking of stabbing. Robin kicked the moron in the ankle.

"Cool it!" She ordered in a hiss. The kid scowled more but nonetheless quieted.

Brick's mouth curled into a gloating smirk, and he snickered quietly to himself, too softly for any of these mere mortals to hear but nonetheless she stiffened and whipped backwards,

Clink

His grip on his pen increased as her eyes glowed ominously. Brick met her fierce gaze evenly, even as they narrowed more and more in suspicion but slowly she turned back around.

Clink.

His grip strengthened.

"What's up?" Robin murmured.

"Nothing." She mumbled, "Just thought I heard something." She grimaced and held her wrist,

"Doesn't hurt huh?" The idiot guy mumbled again with folded arms and a nasty look towards her,

"Shh!" She gestured towards the front

Clink.

Brick grit his teeth.

Clink.

"I'm just saying Bloss!" Grip increasing… "You can't blame me for getting worried."

Grip… getting… tighter.

"You've always been a worrywart." She said irritably. The girl snorted and the moron next to her frowned.

"Oh gee excuse me for caring." But then a smirk slid on his face. " I mean someone's gotta be lookin' out for you lovely ladies eh?" She chuckled as he winked.

SPLAT.

Brick blinked, looked down then jumped back from the mess of ink pouring from what once had been his favorite pen- now leaking all over his favorite shirt!

"Shit!" He cursed and grabbed his notebook holding it away from the black ooze that now seeped down his desk onto the floor.

"Mr. Jojo!" Kellan screeched with that harridan voice of hers. "Watch your language young man!"

Snickers surrounded him though they were quickly muffled with one fierce glare. He scowled and inhaled sharply. "May. I. Be. Excused?" He said through grit teeth and shook out his now soaked sleeve in emphasis. The old hag sighed and wordlessly waved him off. He reached down grabbed his backpack and stormed out- leaving an inky trail as he went.

He heard a barely stifled snort. A very feminine sounding snort.

Clink.

-0-

"Uh…what happened to your-?" Boomer cocked his head curiously even as he tuned his guitar listlessly and leaned back in his chair. Brick scowled and leaned against the door frame.

"Don't ask." He ordered. Boomer blinked but nonetheless nodded,

"Okie dokie." He said airily before he began strumming the strings, "Damn it-." He mumbled before digging in his shirt and bringing out a guitar pick on a chain. "Thanks for the cash by the way, I owe you one- seriously how much do I owe ya?"

"I said not to worry about it lame ass."

" … Well yeah but-."

"But what?"

Boomer looked discomfited, never a good sign. "Big Bro... I saw the bills-."

Aw hell. He shook his head, "Boom we're fine just… focus on your- whatever you do in here-"he gestured towards the empty band room. Boomer snorted,

"Easy for you to say." He mumbled, Brick rolled his eyes, as once again the blonde ruff's eyes trailed to the hall- sure enough a familiar high pitched giggle wafted in from the nearby art wing. His brother sighed and his strumming became more frantic.

"Boom you know why I'm here."

He started mouthing some words. More listless playing.

"Boom." He said again.

The playing got louder. Brick strode over and pulled it out of his grip. "Boomer!"

The blonde scowled, " What!" he snapped and reached up for his precious guitar, his navy eyes flashed ominously before he stood up to his full looming height and snatched the instrument back.

"Boomer, what did we talk about last week?"

He stiffened. "I don't remember" He mumbled.

"Boomer…." He said menacingly.

"Damn it Big bro I can't help it!" He whined and Brick fought the urge to slap his own forehead this time. Of all the stupid-! He inhaled sharply, gathered every single ounce of patience he could have possibly possessed and then exhaled.

"Boomer. If you keep giving goo-goo eyes to the Puff than sooner or later someone – i.e. Mojo is going to notice. Or worse her sisters." His scowl grew. "Do you really want to deal with the insane green one? Because I don't." He folded his arms. "And God help you if Pinky finds out." He mumbled listlessly.

He raised an eyebrow, "What is with you and not calling her by her name? Seriously…it's kind of weird no offense."

Brick's scowl grew dangerous and Boomer immediately clammed up. Good Boy. He cleared his throat.

"I'm just… trying to spare you some grief bro. It ain't gonna happen so just… get over it I guess." Boomer's face wilted.

"…I know." He finally murmured quietly. Brick sighed, and put a hand on his shoulder,

"Boomer there are other girls-." He was trying. Damn it he was trying to be sympathetic he really was!

"Not like her." He said miserably.

Well… in fairness there were exactly two more girls just like her… but he understood his meaning.

"It just ain't fair." He mumbled and shrugged Brick's hand off, he didn't protest, Boomer simply slung his guitar over his shoulder, upped the volume of the speaker, closed his eyes and played away his heartbreak like he was wont to do lately.

Damn it… Pansy. Brick felt a burning in his gut, and he turned around hastily only to bump into someone, he muttered an apology without looking up then stormed away.

Though…strange. Why did the scent of sugar cookies suddenly invade his nose?

-0-

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

He continued scribbling away in his notebook. Not like he was taking notes but giving off the illusion he was usually kept Morris from bothering him in this asinine class.

He felt the chair next to him move and then a faintly sweet strawberry aroma wafted next to him, he gazed to his right subtly as she removed her textbook and own notebook from her bag- impressively done using one hand and kept her gaze glued to the table- clearly avoiding his gaze as much as possible. Her mouth was set in an iron line. The others in class around them were chatting listlessly with their partners. The two of them merely sat in stony silence.

Oh yes… Gotta love their new seating arrangement- in some perverse little joke that old geezer Morris had decided that his two brightest pupils should become lab partners early last week. Or maybe he got a kick out of watching them seethe with hatred towards each other…and him for doing it. Or maybe the man was just an oblivious idiot.

Regardless, he was now stuck- at least until further notice- with her.

At least he noticed with some relief she had removed those obnoxious bangles! Her injured hand rested closest to him, and he saw the cast was covered in signatures – she flicked an annoyed look in his direction.

"Can I help you?" She snapped irritably as she flipped open her notebook, clicked a pen – pink of course- and began writing. He raised an eyebrow,

"Hey Pinky-." She stiffened and her grip became dangerous on the pen.

"What. Brick." She hissed.

He smirked, "Today's the ninth, not the eighth" She blinked and then looked down at her paper, scowled and looked away. Though he noticed sardonically she hastily crossed out what she had written. He fought the urge to roll his eyes but she paused in mid word and grit her teeth as her free hand squeezed the cast.

He clenched his fist unseen under the table and then leaned towards her with a leering grin on his face, "Aww did Pinky get a boo boo?"

She bristled, "I had an altercation last night- yes." She drawled. "I was fighting crime, making a difference you know… doing something worthwhile with my life." She said dryly.

"Spare me the lecture Pinky." He said peevishly. She grit her teeth,

"Is it simply impossible for you to call me by my proper name!?" She demanded.

He grinned sadistically, and shrugged, "Sorry Pinky- it's in my contract- you know pissing you off at any given moment is my job- me being your evil counterpart and all." He snickered as her glower increased. He merely smirked wider in retaliation. His eyes wandered to the cast,

"And well aren't we miss popularity today?" He pouted mockingly, "Aww looks like there's no room for little ole' me. Maybe next time"

She stiffened and cupped it, "Well then prepare to forever be disappointed– There won't be a next time" She hissed.

"Okay people!" She immediately sat attentive, his own eyes went skyward as Morris sailed into the room, "Today we're going to be going into the wonder that is Newton's Third law-!"

The class groaned... it was going to be a long year.

-0-

SPLAT!

Oil spattered everywhere- and the kid jumped back with a curse. Brick rolled his eyes, barely looking up as he was too fixated on his own work to care really. The shop class was the only place in this joint where Brick actually bothered to pay attention.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and only then did he look up, Mr. Walter raised an eyebrow and looked at the engine he was working on before giving a slight nod and slipping a wad of cash in Brick's hand.

"Good work last week." The head mechanic muttered and Brick nodded quickly before pocketing the cash.

"No prob." He turned back to the engine.

"Jojo. I have a few more in the shop." He said meaningfully, Brick raised an eyebrow,

"Yeah and?" The burly man folded his arms,

"Damn it kid when are you just going to come and work for me for real?"

" I'm not certified." Brick muttered.

"And you're better than half the louts I have that are." No doubt about that.

"How much we talking?" Brick hissed. That electricity bill wafted through his brain.

"Three hundred."

"Three twenty five." Brick retorted.

The man frowned, "Three hundred." He repeated forcefully.

"Three twenty five." He said even more firmly. The two glared at each other, but then the teacher shook his head with a smile,

"You drive a hard bargain, but fine. Three twenty five it is. Weird number though."

Brick frowned, "Monkey has bills." He muttered and Walter shook his head.

"And leaves you to pay them?"

"Someone has to." He mumbled.

"You're sixteen."

"In theory."

There was a silence but Walter- as he was wont to do which Brick was forever grateful for merely nodded, and dropped the subject instead of trying to meddle like some of the other teachers in this place were prone to doing. "So Saturday? Around 2?"

Brick nodded, "I'll be there."

He nodded. "Good man Jojo." Another clap on the shoulder and then the burly man slapped his own brow. "Damn it Wilson It's a car not a piece of wood! Smashing it with a hammer won't do anything!"

Brick buzzed his lips and wiped his brow, shrugging off his hat and waving it listlessly – it was always hot down here in the car shop but nowhere else did Brick feel so… he supposed comfortable might be a good word to use- Mr. Walter had been the only damn sap in this entire place who had actually given a flying fuck about Brick and even recognized Brick's talents – instead of judging him for his… past like all the other asses in this hellhole did.

Sometimes Brick wondered if they were expecting him and his brothers to- he didn't know- attack or something! Did they think he was stupid?! Like HELL would he ever- ugh! It was bad enough during their one stint in Juvie- Never again.

Never again.

He gripped his wrench tightly, blocking out the harsh memories of his youngest brother sobbing in fear, and Butch's own hiccuped whimpers desperately being disguised as a coughing fit –of them being completely incapacitated, drugged and in chains- because mere handcuffs weren't enough for the mother fucking Rowdyruff Boys – oh no they had to be completely restrained- despite the fact they had only been TEN years old!

It had been the worst three months of his life. And all because that stupid… wretched… monkey who still dared to call himself their father had abandoned them to the wolves during a robbery gone bad- one they hadn't even wanted to participate in in the first place mind you- but like that had meant anything to those cops. Despite his vehement protests as they were forced into the armored police van.

He hadn't even seen the girls…. Seeing as it had been near four in the morning… he had no doubt she and her sisters had probably left as soon as Mojo had hightailed it out of there. And so the Powerpuff Girls had been tucked back into their beds- while the Rowdyruff Boys were being thrown into the slammer.

For doing nothing.

NOTHING.

Three months of pure hell… pure… living hell.

Never again…

Brick was never letting his brothers go through that again.

If that meant working under the table behind Mojo's back- anything to keep them afloat and away from public notice… so be it.

There was a loud explosion and the room shook ominously. He looked up slowly, what was-?

Suddenly from the corner of Brick's eye he spotted something…green… flying out into the courtyard. Oh hell.

He hissed under his breath, and then with a quick nod from Walter; Brick slapped his oily rag down, slammed his tool box shut and sprinted up the stairs.

-0-

Pinky's heel tapped up and down ominously. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall with a scowl. The Assistant Principal cleared her throat and steepled her fingers.

Butch squirmed in his seat and studiously avoided Brick's dark look, Buttercup merely scowled and folded her arms, crossed her legs imperiously and leaned back in her chair but a harsh look from Pinky immediately made her straighten.

"I hope you understand the severity of this you two." Keane said acidly. The Green Puff's face twisted, and Butch exhaled, flinching more and more under Brick's livid gaze. Good! Little shit!

"The damage… is quite severe." Brick willed himself not to curse out loud. Great… just GREAT -another bill! Pinky's face was calm and controlled- as usual.

"And what exactly is the damage Miss Keane?" She said coolly. Her sister whipped around to give her a nasty look, but the Pink Puff was completely unfazed. The assistant principal folded her hands,

"The gym wall will have to be repaired, and the basketball hoop replaced… all in all... fifteen hundred."

Brick's mouth went dry. Pinky only nodded, "I see." She murmured.

"Luckily no one was injured… so… as long as the damage is fully paid for… I will allow this to pass with a warning."

"No punishment?" Buttercup said hopefully.

"Young lady, I will leave that up to your father." Miss Keane said acidly. Buttercup went white and sank into her chair.

"Brick." He flinched as the principal turned to him, "The same applies to your brother." He almost sunk to his knees in relief. "But if this happens again-."

"I know." He said quickly. "It won't! Of that I can assure you." He glared at Butch who shrunk into himself more and more.

She nodded. "See that it doesn't." She stood. "Now. I'll leave it to you to decide how this is to be taken care of." She nodded at them before giving a dismissive gesture. Pinky took hold of her sister's arm, Brick had somehow managed to keep himself from knocking out his brother but shoved him forward anyway.

"Who started it?" Pinky had whirled around as soon as they were out of ear shot of the office,

"Who do you think leader girl-!"The green Puff screeched as Butch stiffened, "It was completely-!"

"OH HELL NO! UH UH! I DIDN'T DO SHIT! BIG BRO IT WAS ALL-!"

"LIKE HELL IT WAS ASSWIPE!"

"BITCH IF YOU HADN'T GOTTEN IN MY FACE-!"

"WELL MAYBE IF YOU HADN'T-!"

"ENOUGH!" The two of them stopped in mid screech, Buttercup stiffened immediately, even Butch backed away slightly, Pinky put a hand to her brow, clearing her throat slightly after her loud ringing bellow which still echoed around the empty hall.

"I don't know who- or what started this- but Buttercup I know you and I highly doubt this was all one sided!" she flinched. Brick raised an eyebrow, "You're lucky we're simply being told to pay for it and you're not being suspended… or worse."

"But I didn't DO anything! LIKE HELL AM I PAYING A CENT-!"

"You can and you will Buttercup do I make myself clear!" Pinky was seething, and clearly in "commander and leader mode" her sister paled, "And if anything and I mean anything happens like this again you will be without your powers for a month do you understand!"

"You and Bubs won't last a day without me-!"

"Do I make myself clear?" She said in a sinister hiss which made even Brick slightly shudder. The Green Puff gulped before she gave a sulky nod.

"…. Crystal Ma'am." She mumbled.

"Good. Now get to class." She ordered and Buttercup scowled, threw her bag over her shoulder and stormed off. Butch slunk next to him as Brick grit his teeth and turned to face him. The idiot was shaking all the way down his boots. He raised a finger pathetically.

"B-Big Bro I-." He began but Brick only threw a hand out.

"Butch. Get your sorry ass to class." He hissed, he could feel himself trembling with rage. Fifteen Hundred-…. Where… The HELL... Were they going to get that much-!?

"But Boss I-I" The little weasel had a death wish clearly he was aiming for a day on a pyre! Brick could practically feel the flames gathering in his throat already.

"Butch. Get. To. Class." He repeated.

"B-But!?"

"NOW!" His voice shook the hall, windows rattled ominously; his brother went waxen, before he gulped and immediately bolted tripping over his own feet like the moron he was!

Fifteen Hundred… oh God he was going to be sick. God…DAMN IT! Brick gathered up his bag in a rage.

"Brick." Her voice cut through the silence and he grit his teeth. What the hell was she still doing here!? Here to gloat probably!

"What!" He snapped churlishly.

"I apologize for this." She muttered. "My sister's behavior was inexcusable."

… What? He blinked and then blinked again. She sighed once more and shook her head wearily.

"My sister….should know better… and frankly…" She frowned. "I don't doubt she very well could have started it." Her sigh this time sounded resigned…. Long suffering…. Strange it sounded… oddly familiar.

He folded his arms, "So… what you're saying is we'll never fucking know what happened and yet we'll still have to fucking pay for it because I know that Keane will put the blame entirely on my-!"

She put a hand up, "One. There's no need for cursing- I understand and sympathize with your frustration: I'm sure you can agree with me that by now the two of them should both know better. Two- With that in mind I'm sure you also can agree that we will never get the full story out of them and frankly the truth is likely in the middle anyway. Whether Butch or Buttercup started it or if it was a mutual antagonization we will never know – so." She crossed her arms, "There's only one fair solution."

Oh here we go-!

"We'll split it evenly- seven fifty each." She said simply.

He blinked. What? "You're not… just making us take the blame?" He said slowly. She frowned.

"Of course not. Such a thing would be both completely unfair and utterly unethical. There's no possible way of knowing what happened so therefore we're both equally responsible." She crossed her arms, "Are we agreed?"

Well… seven hundred and fifty was a lot better than fifteen hundred… He shrugged. He'd still likely be fixing cars every weekend now for the rest of the damn month but at least it wouldn't impede on their ability to eat…

"Yeah sure whatever Pinky." He muttered. She narrowed her eyes at the hated nickname but nonetheless swung her messenger bag over her shoulder. The cast slowed down her movement slightly he noticed- she could be as nonchalant as she damn liked about it- but there was no way that was just a flesh wound. How deep the bullet had gone in Brick could only guess- but frankly seeing as she had had to literally dig it out it must have been pretty far in.

She noticed his gaze and immediately put her hand out of sight, "Its fine." She said with a growl and a flinch.

He narrowed his eyes but said nothing. The two walked side by side as they made their way back to their respective classes.

"Will you have missed much?"

"Nothing major unless Peter managed to blow up an engine again." he mumbled.

"Oh- that's right you take a shop class don't you…? "Her voice trailed. "Funny I never took you for the handy type." She murmured.

Shocker. "Yeah well there's a lot you don't know about me Pinky." He muttered and she paused,

"Yes… I suppose that is true isn't it." He raised an eyebrow and looked at her suspiciously,

"What's your angle Pinky…?"

"No angle Brick, simply making idle conversation."

"… Why?" Now… he was slightly weirded out.

She blinked, "Well...never mind then if you're going to be so hostile." She murmured and then sniffed, " But one thing I do wish to make clear Brick- despite our personal differences you are still a citizen of this city and I protect all citizens from any injustice… you and your brothers are included in that equation whether you wish to be or not. Therefore I would never have allowed Miss Keane to unfairly put blame on your brother simply due to whatever prejudices you believe – wrongly might I add - she may have. Remember that." She said simply. "Have a good rest of your day. See you in physics tomorrow."

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

He stared after her for a long moment, and then slowly turned to head back down to the shop. Head reeling.

Her words continued to haunt him even later that night as he was prepping for dinner. Boomer was scribbling away on his sheet music in the living room while some stupid game show was on in the background as Butch sulked on the couch – idly tossing a football up and down.

"Man this is such bull." He tossed the ball up higher. "I mean she gets in my face and yet I'm the one being blamed!" He grit his teeth. "And you-!" he pointed to Brick, "You just stood there!"

Brick idly greased the pan, "What the hell did you want me to do Butch?"

"Uh gee I dunno Big Bro- maybe defend me!" He gripped the football tightly and grit his teeth before sending it flying upwards once again.

"Against what?" Boomer quipped, "Bro you threw a basketball hoop-"

"In self-defense!" he snapped.

"Uh huh… and the big hole in the wall…?"

"ALL HER!" Highest toss yet.

"What the hell were you two fighting about anyway?" Boomer demanded.

Butch scowled, "The bitch CHEATED! Like hell did that ball hit the ground! Like hell! That was MY POINT!"

"… Oh my god Bro REALLY!" Boomer slapped his forehead.

"I know right!"

"You destroyed a gym because she beat you at a stupid GAME!?"

"… WE TIED!" He snarled.

"So you threw a basketball hoop – and she threw you through a wall… Jeez you two are something else…" he shook his head. Butch scowled more.

Brick rolled his eyes as he began dicing up the chicken, "So what you're saying is that she basically got the upper hand then? Totally kicked your ass?"

He bristled, "HELL NO! I made her regret fucking with me!" He slammed his fist in his palm but the football went crashing down and smashed his nose. Butch howled, screamed a medley of obscenities and clutched his throbbing nostril. Brick smirked and Boomer snickered.

"Aw did Butchie Boo get a boo boo?" Boomer purred, Butch flipped him off.

"Crazy chick has a good right hook I'll give her that…" he muttered. " But Jeez I swear to God what the hell is her damn problem lately! She's been going after me for the lamest shit!"

"Yeah… isn't this the third fight you two have gotten into this month?"

Butch scowled more, "More like fourth- I don't know what her damn problem is but like hell am I being blamed for her constant case of PMS lately! Seriously it's like I breathe and she goes off her damn rocker! What the hell did I do to her!?" He demanded. "… Today don't count!" He snapped.

Boomer snorted bitterly, "You exist. We're enemies remember- it doesn't matter what we do…they'll always hate us." His voice went quiet. "No matter what we do…" He repeated sadly. Butch's scowl faded and he averted his gaze.

"Yeah well… it's stupid." He muttered darkly.

"I protect all citizens from any injustice… you and your brothers are included in that equation whether you wish to be or not."

Had she meant it? Would she really have gone to bat for his brother if it had been necessary? The thought rankled him and his common sense screamed Hell no. She was all talk- like she'd ever-… he scowled. Why was he wasting his valuable time thinking of anything to do with her anyway!? Protect him and his brothers? Pfft! Did he look like some kind of idiot! As if he'd EVER actually believe that!

Butch scowled, "Damn it whatever-! Big Bro I'm starved when's dinner!"

Brick rolled his eyes, "I'm not listening to the monkey again- we eat when he gets back from….whatever he's doing."

"Aw c'mon Boss!"

"I ain't listening to him Butch! Him with his stupid Respect for your Elders spiel again- Seriously I won't do it!" He scowled and stabbed a particular stubborn piece of chicken viciously with the knife. He suddenly swore- it had gone clean through the cutting board into the counter… again. Whoops. He attempted to pull the blade free- but it was stuck fast. Well… shit.

He rolled his sleeves up, time to pull a King Arthur apparently – c'mon Excalibur he was getting hungry too damn it! He continued to try to free said knife from deep within the counter.

"We interrupt this program to bring you a Special Report. Trish can you hear me? What's going on out there?""

"Aw what! C'mon I was watching that!" Boomer whined.

"Bob, I'm coming to you live from Downtown Townsville where super villain and Arch nemesis of the Powerpuff Girls – Mojo Jojo has-."

Brick stiffened and both his brothers mirrored the gesture. The Television showed downtown being completely trashed… by a giant… Robot. God… could he be more unoriginal.

"Aw damn it!" Butch bellowed.

"Well… there goes dinner." Boomer muttered.

With a grunt Brick freed the knife finally and wiped it clean with his shirt. "Fuck him then I'm hungry." He declared. Butch cheered.

"MWAHAHAHA RUN YOU FOOLS RUN FOR I MOJO JOJO HAVE-!" Their simian guardian's voice rang through whatever speaker he had installed into his robot as the hapless citizens ran amuck underneath him, screaming and yelling like a bunch of hopeless idiots. It could be almost comical if it weren't so pathetic.

There was a crash and three familiar streaks of light filled the sky, the crowd cheered, Butch slapped his forehead, Boomer calmly upped the volume.

"Not so fast!" Pinky's voice rang out clear. Brick mouthed her words perfectly in sync with the television

"Mojo!" Butch mirrored Buttercup with a mocking sneer.

"Jojo." Boomer finished it with a sigh as Bubbles pointed an accusing finger on the television.

"Wonder how long it will be this time?" Butch said sarcastically as the fight began.

"I'll give it… ten minutes." Boomer said with a sigh.

"I was thinking five-." Butch muttered.

"Hmm…yeah you're right- looks like a crappy model this time." Boomer rested his chin in his hand.

Brick darted a quick gaze at the television, sure enough the idiot was using a M78-1: Why he had no idea, that model had been deemed "obsolete" months ago-Because you know the lasers weren't big enough and the seat wasn't comfortable- not due to the fact that the battery life had been deplorable- oh god of course not for none of the Great Mojo Jojo's machines could ever fail because of something so insultingly basic as a terrible battery life or unstable Power cores! Oh no- nothing as elementary as that!

"MWAHAHAHA! I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU TO DO THIS YOU SILLY GIRLS! AND NOW YOU'VE FALLEN RIGHT INTO MY TRAP! FOR YOU SEE I MOJO JOJO! THE GREATEST GENIUS THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN WHOSE INVENTIONS CONTINUE TO STRIKE FEAR IN ALL WHO SEE THEM-!"

"He's joking right?" Butch muttered and turned around to face Brick, he said nothing despite his brother's hard look.

"Son of a bitch." Boomer hissed. "His inventions who the hell is he fooling!?" Boomer also whirled around to face him. Brick's grip on the knife tensed but nonetheless he continued his cooking.

No point. No point. Brick's mind raced.

"Big Bro!" Butch snarled.

"Leave it be Butch." Brick snapped

"But-!" Boomer joined in.

"I said leave it alone!"

The blonde scowled "UGH! Damn it Kick his ass Bubbles!" He snarled at the TV.

"Yeah! Butters knock out a few of ole' Monkey ass's teeth for me will ya!" Butch pounded the arm rest in emphasis.

The girls despite obviously having no means of hearing them seemed to nonetheless grant his brothers' wishes- Mojo was getting the tar beaten out of him by them both. Pinky was hanging back- assessing the situation ordering her sisters in this direction and that- the robot's uselessly dense arms were simply too slow to combat the little blue puff's speed and the cheap ass materials used were no match for the green puff's brute strength. All in all… Brick gave it maybe… three more minutes.

The ape bellowed outraged.

Okay…make that two.

"ENOUGH YOU WRETCHED GIRLS YOU HAVE ANGERED ME FOR THE LAST TIME FOR I MOJO JOJO HAVE ALREADY SEEN THROUGH YOUR PATHETIC UNINTELLIGENT SCHEMES!" Pinky bristled. He was going to regret that one. Brick found himself smirking, he folded his arms with a raised eyebrow.

"Calling Pinky stupid… not a smart move." He murmured with a snicker.

"So… thirty seconds and counting?" Butch snorted.

"If that." Brick said simply.

Boomer's eyes however widened, "Uh guys?"

Mojo suddenly had made a huge… -sigh- laser come out from the core of the robot. Blasting them? Really? When had that EVER worked you stupid unimaginative – he froze. Where was Mojo even going to get the battery power for a laser that obnoxiously….big…?

"HA FLEE FOOLS! FOR I MOJO JOJO NOW HAVE THE MEANS OF YOUR ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION IN THIS VERY MACHINE!"

Boomer turned wide eyes towards him and even Butch grit his teeth and flinched. Brick slammed the knife down on the counter- he didn't even care that it went back in the granite.

"Uh Boss?" Butch began but Brick zipped past him, down the stairs, ripped open the garage door and stopped dead.

Paw prints… nasty…greasy…paw prints… littered his desk. His papers were strewn everywhere- and then he saw his worst nightmare come to life.

It was gone.

"… FUCK!"

He bolted back upstairs, just in time to see Buttercup laughingly kick open the robot's glass dome which now lay in pieces everywhere and pluck the enraged ape out by his cape. The remains of the robot littered the ground, as Bubbles nonchalantly tossed them in a pile. Pinky meanwhile was examining the laser – destroyed beyond repair including everything inside.

She knelt down and ripped open the latch before she dug inside- and then his heart sank.

There it was. Mangled beyond repair – the damn ape had just shoved it in there- most likely not even caring that it wasn't going to fit! He stared at it lying uselessly in Pinky's hands.

"Brick..?" Butch said timidly.

Boomer floated over to sit beside him. "Brick... C'mon man… say something!"

She looked at it confused- as well she might not like the damn ape had any clue how to- how to- his head went to his hands and he sunk to the floor by the coffee table, gripping the wood for dear life.

His prototype… his god damn… his work… for the last…six…months… it would have... More power… more battery life… more efficient… Gone. Destroyed. All… his… work… wasted.

"What's that Blossy?" Bubbles zipped next to her sister and idly plucked Brick's beloved power converter from her hands, she tossed it carelessly from one hand to the other. Brick sucked in a breath.

"I haven't the foggiest." She murmured. "I suppose this is what he was raving about would result in our destruction." She said dryly.

"FOOLISH GIRL! RELEASE ME AT ONCE DO YOU HEAR OR I MOJO JOJO WILL-!" Mojo screamed as he still dangled from Buttercup's grip. The green puff yawned.

"Yeah yeah, can it monkey breath we've heard it all at this point. Leader Girl can we just dump the trash and go home already- My shows on in 15 minutes!"

"TRASH I AM NOT TRASH YOU FOOLISH LITTLE GIRL I AM MOJO JOJO GREATEST GENIUS THERE EVER WAS- CURSES!" Buttercup carelessly tossed Mojo into the armored vehicle headfirst. She wiped her hands clean, acknowledged the slew of cheers from the growing crowd and zipped off with a lime green streak. Bubbles was still playing with the remains of Brick's converter but she tossed it behind her and zipped after her sister –

Brick's hand went out following it as it fell on the screen– his brothers both grimaced as it hit the ground with a sickening crash alongside the rest of Mojo's destroyed robot and with it all of Brick's hopes and dreams.

"And so the day is saved thanks to the-!"

Boomer shut the television off.

"Uh Big bro…?" Butch stood.

"Brick…." Boomer raised a hand to him, but Brick's head abruptly hit the coffee table.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

"BRICK!" Butch jumped up.

Four times…

"Brick you're gonna give yourself a concussion STOP IT!" Boomer bellowed.

Five times.

Six times.

-0-

"Whoa check out Jojo."

"Damn think he was in that fight last night?"

"I dunno dude I didn't see him or his brothers…"

"Wouldn't he be in jail if he was though?"

"Shh! Man he might hear you!"

"Just a few more to go Big Bro." Boomer said in a fake cheerful voice that made Brick want to smash his head into something… again as the blonde continued reapplying bandages around Brick's head. He had made the mistake of walking past the band room in a desperate attempt to lose the screeching banshee and Boomer had taken one look at him and pulled him in here having decided he was going to play "Doctor"

"I told you I'm fine!" Brick snapped peevishly and grabbed his hat and plopped it back on despite the sloppy job his idiot brother had done with the bandages.

"You're welcome!" Boomer said peevishly.

Brick rolled his eyes, "Thank you." He mocked, "Thanks for cutting off my circulation! You did it too tight!" He growled and began pulling at them irritably.

"Well excuse me for not wanting you to bleed out!" He crossed his arms and scowled.

"It's a CUT it'll heal!" IDIOT! So… he'd gone a little overboard with the coffee table... it wasn't a big deal! God damn it this was itchy! He scratched it furiously.

"Brick don't do that!" Boomer snapped and slapped Brick's hand away from the bandage. "Leave it alone! It's gotta heal!"

Brick scowled and stood, "Boom you're no damn doctor so just lay off! – Just… go play your damn guitar or something." He waved him off. The blonde narrowed his eyes, but nonetheless went to do just that.

"I didn't talk to her today." He mumbled. Brick paused in mid step, Boomer's voice was low, "I didn't even look at her… "He sighed deeply, Brick hesitated from the misery emanating from his brother's voice, but nevertheless he nodded.

"Good." He folded his arms and cast him a backwards glance, "You know I'm just looking out for you right?"

He nodded sullenly, "I know Big Bro… you always do." He murmured and smiled wanly, "So now that the monkey's in jail… guess we're on our own again huh?"

He sighed heavily and nodded, "Yep… we are." Brick muttered, though he couldn't stop the bitterness from entering his voice.

"It's bullshit." He said savagely, "You worked so damn hard-."

He put a hand up, "Don't." He said quickly. "It is what it is Boomer."

"But he always does this!"

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes it does!"

"I don't need a lecture from my little brother!" He folded his arms, "If I say its fine, its fine got it!"

"But!"

"Enough Boomer!"

The blonde quieted, he idly began tuning his guitar and the bell rang shrilly.

"You're not skipping class are you?" Brick asked darkly when Boomer made no move.

"I got a study hall- I have permission from Edgar's." He smiled wanly again, "You wanna see my note Dad?" He snickered as Brick's face darkened.

"Idiot." He mumbled and grabbed his bag, Boomer flipped open his sheet music and soon the room was filled with his little brother's admittedly talented playing, and soon enough his singing. It was ironic in a way- that for a being created solely for destruction and evil supposedly… his brother sure had hell of a set of pipes.

He opened the door and stepped into the hallway, only practically tripping over something on the way out before he was assaulted with the smell of sugar cookies once again.

"Oof!" he paused, and looked downwards as the blonde puff scrambled upwards from her position on the floor dusting off her shirt hastily as she did so.

"Oh! H-Hi Brick!" She said quickly, "Fancy meeting you here!" She giggled- though…it sounded slightly… more frenzied than normal. She began twirling a pigtail listlessly around her index finger- faster and faster, with more of her nervous giggling but then her eyes widened,

"Oh my goodness! What happened!?" She demanded. He rolled his eyes,

"I had a bad fall." He muttered. She gasped like a little ninny,

"O-Oh! You… you should totally go to the nurse!"

"Last night." He said dryly. She blinked,

"Oh… um…okay guess you don't need to go then." She mumbled.

He looked at her scathingly, she wrung her hands and avoided his gaze, "So um... I uh…" her gaze trailed to the band room door but then back to him, she gulped slightly "I gotta go!" She said quickly scooped up her glittered mess of a backpack from the floor that had been left mysteriously close to the band room door and then zipped at full speed down the hall.

He sighed and made the trek to Morris's classroom. The class was already gathered mostly, Pinky sat with her nose engrossed in a book. The brace was gone- and she seemed to have recovered. Ah the merits of X' – gotta love it.

He sauntered over and plopped himself in his seat, she turned a page idly, and he fished out his notebook and a pen, her eyes flickered in his direction for a moment but then returned to her book.

Only to abruptly shut it. "What on earth happened to you!?" She demanded. He scowled,

"None of your damn business Pinky." He snapped and irritably scratched at the heavy bandage on his head. Lopsided and probably upside down.

She frowned and leaned closer, her eyes scanned the wound, "That… looks bad." A hand went out and Brick abruptly scooted a good few feet away from her.

"Oye lay off! It's fine!" She scowled but nonetheless dropped the subject, and reopened her book with a huff. He grimaced as another wave of pain hit his head. Damn it Boomer! He scratched at the bandage again it was itchy as all hell! He heard a low growl next to him, he returned the nasty glare she was sending him with equal if not more venom.

"If you keep scratching it you'll just irritate it more!" She hissed. "You need to get that looked at!"

He snorted, "When I want your opinion- I'll be sure to let you know!" Her eyes narrowed more but the door abruptly opened and Morris sauntered in with the "glorious" news that they'd be looking at Newton's Third law… again- the senile bastard had taught them this same lesson three times now! Brick slumped in his seat- he heard an exasperated sigh next to him, and she put a hand to her brow.

Mercifully, the old geezer only lost his place three times versus the usual five so they only had to endure him repeating himself over and over again three times versus the entire class period. The lunch bell rang –– He didn't even wait to hear what the so called "homework" was- he'd had the same assignment done for the last week or so after all. Cripes if there was any argument against Tenure that old fart was it!

Clickclackclickclack.

His arm was violently seized and before he knew it he was being dragged backwards by his enraged counterpart.

"What the!? Lemme go Pinky!" He snarled, she whipped around to face him.

"I don't know who is responsible for that catastrophe but they did a terrible job of cleaning that wound!" She snapped "And furthermore do I WANT to know why you have pieces of wood sticking out of your head!?"

He flinched.

Damn it... Boomer.

"I... fell into a coffee table." He muttered.

"Must have been hell of a fall." She retorted.

"You can say that." She snorted and dragged him further out of the hallway and into the courtyard, a few people were already milling about with their lunches but she found an empty bench and pushed him down on it.

"Pinky the hell are you-?"

"Hold still!" She said snappily, she grabbed his hat and shoved it in his hands. He grimaced as she undid all of Boomer's… doctoring. "A fall… right…uh huh I believe that-." She shook her head, "Did you even put any sort of antiseptic on this?!" Her scowl grew fiercer and he moved to rise but she slammed him back down. "That's going to get infected. Now. Sit. Down!" She ordered and began mumbling under her breath as she rummaged through her bag- he caught a few choice words about his intelligence and the apparent lack of it – before she pulled out a white plastic case with a red cross plastered upon the front of it.

He blinked, "You seriously walk around with... a first aid kit?" He said dryly.

She gave him a withering stare, "Lucky for you I'm always prepared." She retorted acidly, before she removed some gauze and a pair of tweezers." Now hold still."

He grimaced as she began removing every single splinter that had apparently lodged into his skull. He flinched away but with an irritated huff she pulled him back. "Hold still I said!" She snapped. She mumbled something under her breath, so low even he couldn't hear it- before she sucked in a breath in a hiss "Dear God Brick- what did you do!? Fall into a wood grater!?"

"Coffee Table." He retorted instantly.

She rolled her eyes and began applying pressure to the reopened wounds to staunch the blood that had already begun flowing. Shit… maybe he…had overdone it a little bit… she was going through gauze like nobody's business.

She frowned and chewed on her bottom lip. Wordlessly she grabbed his hand- the hell!?- pressed a fresh piece of gauze in it and held it against the wound.

"Hold that." She ordered quietly as she dug in her little box of tricks again. He felt the gauze grow warm and heavy and begrudgingly... he had to admit being impressed with her medical skills despite the mess of what had once been his forehead she didn't even seem to flinch from it. Then again, she probably had had to patch up her sisters' hundreds of times over the years. He heard a click – and with a surprisingly gentle touch she moved his hand away and began dabbing the wound with an ice cold cotton ball. Seconds later however that pleasingly icy touch had turned into a painful stinging heat.

He grit his teeth and jerked away with a hiss, and her lips curled slightly before she pulled him back.

"Pain means its working Ruff." She murmured.

Ruff?

The stinging continued as she dabbed at his head again and again, completely unmoved by the ugly face he was making and grunts of pain that seeped from his mouth. "So are you going to tell me what really happened now?" She said simply, "Or are we going to continue on with this "falling" nonsense."

He opened his mouth to deliver a scathing reply but all that come out was another hiss of pain as her cotton balls of torture fell upon him once more. He flinched away once again.

"Stay still!" She admonished him in a hiss "The more you move the more it will hurt!"

He scowled and gripped the metal, but nonetheless was a good boy and didn't move.

Stupid… oh when he ever got his hands on that damned dirty Ape!

"Fucking monkey…" he mumbled. She paused in mid dab.

"Mojo is responsible for this?" Her voice broke him out of his parricidal fantasies. He looked up at her- She had raised an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly- like she was actually expecting him to answer her. His scowl only grew and he averted his gaze, that look was he'd admit… slightly intimidating.

"Well?" She snapped, her grip on the white box had tightened. He buzzed his lips and shrugged.

"Somewhat." He finally mumbled. Well… it was half true he guessed- it was his fault after all. She narrowed her eyes,

"I see." She murmured slowly before she returned to her torture by cotton.

They fell back into a silence, she finally ceased with her wretched dabbing, and removed a roll of bandages – seriously what else was in that magical box she had there!?

"Where did you learn to do this? He murmured, her eyes flicked upwards briefly to meet his,

"It's a necessary skill set for my line of work." She said flippantly before measuring out a long thin strip of linen with her fingers.

Ah. Of course- what other answer had he expected?

"After all… ensuring my sister's continued existence in a world filled with flying basketball hoops is a full time job." Her lips curled and she shook her head slightly with a low chuckle.

He snorted but then hesitated. Had she just... was that a joke!? Had she just made a joke!?

"I got her side of the story by the way… well albeit from what limited words that were actually legible and evidently human versus beastly snarls and illegible shrieking. "

He felt his mouth begin to twitch- Damn it stop that! He forced a deeper scowl on his face in retaliation. She didn't seem to notice as she continued, "It seems that once again their gym teacher thought it a good idea to put our dear siblings on opposite ends of a volleyball court. People truly astonish me with their lack of good sense sometimes." She ripped the measured bandage off daintily.

He snorted again – then stopped. Damn it cut that out! Pinky wasn't supposed to be amusing – she was supposed to be a stick in the mud goody two shoes! He was…unnerved.

"So we owe the school over a grand... Because of...a ball game." He muttered.

"Evidently." She stood up and went behind him bandage in tow.

"I'm gonna kill him." He muttered.

"Violence never solves anything Brick." She scolded quietly, "Though… is that what this stems from?" He fought back the involuntary shudder that suddenly threatened to consume him as her hands made contact with his head, each gentle twirl of the bandage seemed like… An unconscious caress. His grip on the bench increased at each minute touch on his bare skin.

"What do you mean?" he demanded gruffly- trying to distract himself from the fact that this infuriating girl's fingers seemed to be made of silk.

"I meant to say -Is this-" She touched the bandage meaningfully, "A result of a scuffle between you and Butch?" He growled under his breath and she hesitated in mid touch.

"You know my brother might be an idiot but he ain't some kind of psycho Pinky!" He made to get up. Like hell was he listening to this! She held him down with a grunt.

"I never said he was!" Her voice trailed before she sighed, " I just know how hard it can be to calm Buttercup down when she… gets like that…am I wrong to imagine Butch is the same?"

That…wasn't the response he'd been expecting.

"No… I suppose not." He mumbled. "He can be…a handful I guess." She nodded – sympathetically?! –

"I can imagine…" She murmured. "It's astounding how alike they are sometimes… shame- sometimes I wonder if in different circumstances…" She trailed again. He raised an eyebrow, she frowned. "But regardless he has no business causing you such harm- angry or not. He's lucky your head didn't split open!" She snapped.

He flinched, "Butch…had nothing to do with it.". She raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. "I told you … I fell into a coffee table." He muttered.

"Back to this again are we?" She scoffed. He grimaced.

"I fell… into it… a few times…" he mumbled. She paused in what she was doing and leaned down to give him an odd look.

"How many…is a few?" She said slowly.

"… Like six." He muttered.

She gave him a long hard look. "Six?" She repeated.

He shrugged, "Six."

She blinked but then retreated back to her… doctoring.

Though…To be honest… It might have been more than six… He couldn't exactly remember much after the dumb asses had pulled him from the table he only vaguely recalled an exchange of insults and maybe socking Butch in the nose… and cursing out that- his mouth twisted and he bit back another anguished moan.

Stupid… stupid monkey!

She paused immediately, "Too tight?"

He shook his head, "No. Its…fine." He said through grit teeth.

Stupid… stupid… asshole…wretch … thief…

"I don't suppose our throwing your father in jail last night had anything to do with your sudden lack of coordination." She said quietly.

He grit his teeth. Father? Like hell was that…that MONKEY anything to him! Like hell was-! What the hell was he doing?! He stood up and turned to her with a snarl.

"The fuck do you care!?" He demanded harshly.

She pursed her lips and folded her arms, "If you're expecting an apology from me prepared to be disappointed– He was going to hurt innocent people, he needed to be stopped." She said icily.

Yeah… but did she have to let her sister trash the damn robot so… mercilessly. Couldn't she have just given him… five minutes? Five minutes is all it would have taken! Hell he would have gladly thrown the wretched ape out of it himself even thrown him into the damn police truck. It would have taken…five… fucking…minutes to get it out. Just…five…

He squeezed his eyes shut but couldn't stop the anguished moan that escaped from his mouth. She frowned more. Oh God. Not now. Like she would understand! She'd probably just laugh at him

Oh he could almost hear her cutting words and see her mocking smug smile as she would just laugh and laugh.

Poor Brick… how's it feel be a failure again? Did you really think you could actually be worth something more than the pathetic toilet spawn you are?

He crammed his hands in his pockets- to hell with this. To hell with her. He was hungry. Time to grab some grub and-.

He heard a rustling behind him before a telltale clink of what sounded like metal echoed through his ears, "Then I don't suppose you would have any idea what this is then?" Her voice pierced the air.

He froze in mid step. Despite every instinct in his body screaming for him to keep walking he turned anyway, she was examining a piece of mutilated metal idly, he felt his chest clench.

For welded in it, as clear as the day he had so proudly put in that finishing touch with his brothers' enthusiastic cheers and congratulations… were the seemingly random letters… B.A.J.

Brick…Anthony…Jojo.

"A remarkable piece this- The Professor was… stunned quite honestly when I showed it to him" He couldn't stop the involuntary flinch and her sharp gaze pierced him further. "To think…Mojo had such technological capabilities but didn't even think to measure it properly before shoving it in that ludicrous machine. Shame." She said as she idly passed the mangled metal from one hand to the other. Her brilliant pink stare never left him, it only seemed to grow narrower and narrower as the tense moments passed.

She finally sighed and tossed it to him- his hand shot out to catch it instinctively. He traced the blocky letters of his initials, feeling in each indent every hour, minute…second he had spent. Every failed equation and formula, every drained pot of coffee as he had worked long into the night… every hard earned victory… every bitter failure. Unconsciously… he pressed it to his chest.

He was gently pushed back down on the bench. He saw another flash of white and she silently wound the last of the bandage around his head before smoothing it down almost… reassuringly.

"There. Now it won't end up gangrenous." She murmured. "Just remember to keep it clean and change the bandage at least one more time. X' may make us heal faster but that's sometimes not a good thing- it doesn't give us much time to counteract infection." He should have made a snarky comment, given another eye roll at what was clearly a lecture… but… truth be told his heart wasn't really in it today.

"Thanks… I guess." He mumbled.

"No need to thank me- it was the right thing to do." She said quickly.

"Yeah Yeah, whatever you say Pinky." She gave him an exasperated sigh,

"Would it kill you to call me by my name?" She muttered.

He chuckled slightly, not even a snicker- damn it what was wrong with him today!? "Like I said. Contract." She groaned but nonetheless didn't start the fight he was expecting. She moved past him; A few strands of those ridiculous Rapunzel locks brushed his nose and his nostrils flared instinctively, drinking in the faint combination of strawberries, aromatic spices and powdered sugar which seemed to follow her everywhere.

His grip on the bench tightened more.

Damn it. Damn it.

She raised an eyebrow and frowned, he avoided her gaze like the plague. But then he realized that piercing stare wasn't directed at him but rather at the piece of mangled metal that he still held so closely. She sighed quietly,

"You're better than this Brick." Her eyes had fixed on him. "I just wish you'd realize it…" She finally whispered.

He froze and jerked his head back up. Her eyes had softened… he couldn't look away. No matter how much he wanted to from those flawless pink diamond irises. She tilted her head slightly, and frowned, once again her fingers brushed his temple as she made an adjustment to her handiwork. A long copper strand dangled listlessly out of place.

Unthinkingly he moved to tuck it back behind her ear. She froze in place and so did he.

Before he slapped his hand back down.

Damn it…

A shrill beeping erupted from her bag and she immediately whirled around. Heads whipped up at the sound – even he found himself tensing.

"This is Blossom." her voice was cool and full of authority- the so called Commander and Leader in the flesh. That other…girl… whoever she was from a few moments ago had vanished...shoved back wherever Pinky kept her. She stiffened, her jaw clenched and he saw the grip on the phone slightly tense, "Class 2 behemoth?" Her mouth was set in a grim line. "Understood. We're on our way." She clenched a fist so hard her knuckles had nearly turned white.

He raised an eyebrow. Hmm? Was that… apprehension he sensed? As quickly as the odd moment had come it passed and her face was drawn into that emotionless cold gaze he was so familiar with. Their peers were watching her with dread lining their faces- Of course. There wasn't one citizen of Townsville who didn't know what that sound meant.

As if on cue suddenly the ground began to shake ominously, her feet left the ground slightly as the glow in her eyes increased. She however turned to him once more, "Don't forget to change that bandage Ruff." She ordered quietly once more with that odd address- before with a bright pink light she zipped into the sky. A streak of baby blue and lime green soon joined her and the courtyard filled with cheers and applause.

The fire alarm rang soon after the streaks had dissipated from view. Brick's eyes went skyward as the students immediately gathered and began filing single file back into the school. He scowled… Cripes this city was fucked up.

His eyes darted however back to the bench where her bag still lay where she had placed it before attacking him with her cotton balls of death. – The idiot had probably forgotten all about it.

Teachers had begun rounding up any stragglers – Yeah Yeah … he heard em' – Into the school- don't run, piss your pants as usual- He'd heard it so many times- that's right usual procedure- fucking hell.

It wasn't like this was anything new. These things had had been dropping on the city for months now. Coming in, messing shit up, getting the daylights beaten out of them, and ultimately being destroyed. Typical monster of the day shit.

The denim messenger bag with its tricolored heart badge and large embroidered 'B' seemed to be mocking him. Condescendingly judging him- he could practically see her scalding gaze reflected in the bronze clips. He scowled and scooped it up, sliding it over his shoulder against his own backpack- he ignored the venomous gaze the nearest teacher directed at him as he sauntered back through the doors.

The cafeteria was a cacophony of noise and chaos. Everyone was talking at once – he looked around idly- finally catching sight of Tweedle Dee and Dum leaning against the wall- Butch complaining loudly of course while Boomer looked around warily at the chaos around them.

"Do you think they'll be okay Mikey…?" He paused as he recognized the voice.

"I don't know Robin…" The boy's voice was hushed and Brick saw him embrace the willowy brunette who buried her head in his chest while he soothed her.

"This is like…the third one this month." She whispered.

He sighed, "Tweety… there's nothing we can do… we just have to wait." Brick almost snorted. Tweety? Of all the stupid – his mirth ended however as the boy continued. "These things…they're just… you know "monster of the day"… Bloss…will figure out how to get rid of em'…somehow…heh...heh?" His voice trailed in a nervous laugh.

"Mike you heard Buttercup at lunch! This is getting out of hand what if-!" Her face crumbled and she simply buried her face deeper into his shirt, he soothed her quietly and pressed a kiss on her brow.

Brick's face twisted and with a scowl he dropped the messenger bag at their feet. The girl whipped around, the guy followed suit and looked at him oddly with disturbingly grey eyes. He held back an involuntary flinch. Those… were kind of…creepy. The sand haired kid raised an eyebrow. Brick cleared his throat.

"Your name's Robin right?" Brick said gruffly. She blinked.

"Uh yeah. You know…We've been in the same class since… like first grade."

Second actually. He fought the intense urge to roll his eyes and instead gestured towards the bag at her feet.

"Pinky left that outside like an idiot." He said simply, now the guy's eyebrows both rose and Robin frowned before wordlessly she bent over and retrieved the bag.

"…Thanks?" She said slowly. Her boyfriend was giving him an odd look still, but another bout of shaking made him quickly turn back to Robin who had begun flipping a shit once again.

He turned on his heel and left them to their hapless panicking. Boomer rose a hand in the air and waved him over. Butch continued loudly bemoaning the fact that he had apparently been interrupted from his lunch. And sporting.. a new rather large bruise on his temple.

"Alright everyone settle down please!" Keane shrilled into a megaphone as she climbed atop one of the lunch tables. The commotion continued. She frowned, lowered the megaphone before putting a finger to her mouth and suddenly whistling shrilly.

The chatter immediately ceased and they all whirled around to face her. The admittedly tiny assistant principal nodded and the megaphone came into use once again. " I've just had word from the Mayor's office and due to the situation downtown we have been urged to release you all for the day –" Once again the cafeteria erupted and she clapped her hands, " Settle down everyone! As you all know your safety is of course our number one concern- if you deem it safer to stay on campus you are of course free to stay here- however we've just had word that public transit has been suspended as of now." She put a hand up to still any more panic before it began, "Therefore we urge those with vehicles to offer aid to their peers if possible – Now." She folded her arms. "You may use your cell phones if you wish to contact family. Have a good weekend everyone, I'll be in my office if needed." She abruptly stepped down from her makeshift podium.

Everyone began speaking at once. Brick frowned at the noise, Butch sneered.

"You heard Keane. Time to blow this joint." He scoffed before pushing through the crowd, dragging Boomer by the shoulder. Brick made to follow but an odd feeling crept his up his neck.

He turned slightly. He had a distinct…feeling he was being watched.

His eyes scanned the crowd, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to him.

The hell?

His eyes found the two brunettes once again, Pinky's bag was now hanging off the guy's shoulder while Snyder was digging through one of those oversized purses that Brick honestly could never see the point of and was mystified as to why women bothered with them in the first place. The guy looked up then.

Cool gray eyes met his before they narrowed suspiciously.

With a scowl Brick turned away.

-0-

"BUBBLES! TO MY LEFT! BUTTERCUP RIGHT- NO MY RIGHT!"

Pinky's voice rang shrill on the television, barely heard amidst the chaos and screaming that surrounded her. The giant… squid looking… thing currently making downtown Townsville its bitch sure was taking its sweet time in becoming calamari. He frowned and folded his arms imperiously, the two morons were glued to the television.

Boomer hissed out loud as the small form of Bubbles went flying into the street – followed by her older sister- and finally even Pinky went crashing to join her sisters. The three were left in a pile –

"Damn it! Get off me Blossom!"

"Ouchies! Buttercup you're on my foot!"

"Girls are you alrig- OW! BUBBLES MY HAIR YOU'RE SITTING ON MY HAIR!"

The monster roared again and they jumped back up. Pinky's eyes were wide and her expression looked… frenzied.

"WHERE ARE THESE FUCKERS COMING FROM!?" Buttercup shrilled before throwing her hands in the air and pointing wildly to the squid.

"BUTTERCUP! WATCH THE LANGUAGE WE'RE IN PUBLIC!" Pinky screamed just as shrilly back. "And- LOOK OUT!" She screeched and threw her sister out of the way of another tentacle.

The red head on screen grit her teeth and whipped around before zipping into the air. Buttercup gave another shrill scream before zipping off in the opposite direction. Bubbles only whimpered and wrung her hands before she too flew high into the air.

Brick's eyebrow rose even farther. Pinky's movements were wild, erratic… she was… pissed.

This… was new? The Green Puff- now her losing her shit- that was normal and the blonde… bah she always let her emotions rule her every move but Pinky?

This… was weird.

"They're taking their sweet time s lately." Butch mumbled while inhaling some more popcorn. Boomer wordlessly popped a few kernels in his mouth. His eyes hadn't left the third of the screen dedicated to the blonde – ugh… moron!-

The squid was suddenly hit with a blast of subzero air before with a savage kick one of its tentacles was violently knocked off. Then another and another. A high pitched scream disoriented it and finally its eyes were being pummeled with a savagery even Brick had never thought the Green Puff was capable of.

One more roaring bellow and suddenly the squid toppled over. With a resigned sigh, he saw Pinky take a deep breath before she snapped her fingers- three red hot beams hit the creature.

Before it exploded into millions of disgusting chunks and pieces- enveloping the cameras, civilians, bystanders and three very enraged teenage girls.

"EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Bubbles shriek pierced the night air so loud Brick could have sworn he actually caught a trace of it all the way here at the observatory. Certainly Boomer's head popped up. "I'M SO SICK OF THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!"

The three were covered head to toe in… monster unmentionables. Brick snorted somewhat- Pinky's face, a hilarious combination of trying to keep her composure mixed with an utter revulsion was almost too good for words.

The idiots now swarmed them. Itching for a statement- interview whatever- he snickered.

"Bubbles! Bubbles a word?"

The blonde puff paused and grimaced while holding up one of her golden pigtails…now thoroughly covered in monster guts, "Can you make room please I really need to shower!" They only seemed to close in on her. Boomer stiffened.

"Buttercup? Any comment on the fight!" The Green puff paused and then turned furious green eyes at the reporter before storming over to Bubbles and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She flipped the camera off as she led the whimpering blonde puff away.

"FUCK. OFF." Butch whistled lowly before giving a slow clap.

The reporters meanwhile had found a new target. Pinky in her usual icy countenance was calmly answering questions.

"There's no need for alarm. The Powerpuff girls will continue handling the situation."

"But what are these things Blossom? Why are they coming in such large numbers?"

Pinky's eyebrow twitched. "No further comment."

"But is it true Miss Utonium that -."

"I said no comment."

That twitch was growing more and more dangerous. Brick straightened,

"But what about the reports of-"

Suddenly her hand shot out and grabbed the camera. "DAMN IT I SAID NO COMMENT!" Brick's eyes popped open as the camera went black with a loud fumbling sound and the insipid anchors returned on screen with their forced cheerful smiles before making another lame ass comment.

Butch and Boomer were silent but nonetheless they turned to Brick with questions in their stupid eyes.

"What?!" he snapped. "What are looking at me for!?" His brothers quickly looked away. Yeah! They better! Stupid… idiots!

His gaze darted back to the television. The picture had returned, the girls were gone and the cleanup had begun.

"Powerpuffs overwhelmed? What are these creatures? And can our girls handle them by themselves? More at 11-."

"Turn it off Boomer." Brick ordered. He quickly complied.

-0-

Overwhelmed? Pfft? Pinky? Gimme a break. It was just a damn squid.

His thoughts rankled him as he lay in bed later that night. The morons both were snoring up a storm and Brick scowled. What he wouldn't give for his own room… he buzzed his lips as Butch made a particularly loud snort and Boomer's legs were hanging dangerously close to the edge- he didn't doubt soon enough that one roll over and his idiotic baby brother's face would meet the floor.

Again.

He rolled his eyes skyward.

Idiots…

They all were idiots.

Panicking over nothing.

… Why did he care!?

God damn it! He scratched at his head irritably… aw hell. He was supposed to change these wasn't he? Crap. With his luck she'd be proven right and he'd end up with a damn infection or something shitty like that. And he'd never hear the end of that!

Cripes...

He floated upwards out of bed so as not to wake the two slumbering morons. He rolled his eyes more as Boomer rolled over with a muffled mumble of words that sounded mysteriously close to a certain Blue Puff's name. His dopey lovesick smile and the disgusting smacking sounds as his brother began making out with his pillow only confirmed Brick's dark suspicions….

Idiot. His brother was truly an idiot. To be so enamored with a Puff of all people! He strolled into the kitchen and took out what little medical supplies they had. His hands drifted to the tightly wound bandages around his head… well they weren't soaked with pus or anything…maybe he could get away with-.

"Don't even think about it." He stiffened and whirled around. She was sitting casually at his table- examining her nails and-.

Why the fuck was a Puff sitting at his table…?

He scowled, "What the hell are you doing here!?" he hissed. She looked up at him imperiously.

"I knew you wouldn't listen to me you foolish boy." Boy?! Who was she calling-!? She got up smoothly- he scrunched his nose and backed away instinctively. She smirked and wordlessly took the useless rolls of bandages from his hands.

Uh…Was she always wearing such a low cut shirt?

Her velvety fingers traced his brow again, before hooking the rest of the bandages and removing them with an effortless ease. He jumped when he felt her suddenly behind him.

"Lucky for you I'm always prepared Brick." She breathed quietly seemingly directly into his ear. He couldn't stop it. His entire body shuddered.

Another silky touch, damn it! Last time he checked his neck wasn't what was hurt- or…or his… chin?

He clenched his fists. His mouth had grown… mysteriously dry. He increased his scowl.

"Pinky… what the hell-!" Her fingers stopped their little… wanderings and to his utter outrage quickly descended on his mouth. Blocking it.

"Shh you're breaking my concentration. " Another silky whisper. Another shudder.

Cripes… Cripes…

He stiffened and his throat was growing dryer by the minute. Her hands trailed along his hair, twisting it in between her fingers. Was she… even bothering with the bandages anymore? More liquid touches – little circles in his brow, an occasional caress or two…

Holy…holy shit…

He sucked in a breath. Another low chuckle,

"You'll wake your brothers shush."

Wait… brothers? Oh…yeah he had those…didn't he?

He felt a flutter of fabric and the cool touch of fresh linen on his head. She wound the bandage expertly – he shuddered again at each brush of bare silken skin against his own. With a satisfied hum, she pulled away from him.

Okay… thanks for the help so... door that way...so you should just…leave. Right. Now. No… no … keep your little velvet fingers to yourself!

He clenched his jaw. She continued running those same clever little fingers up and down his neck- probably relishing in the fact his neck hairs were standing up at each god damn touch! Damn it! What was this- psychological warfare!?

That was it! She was… she was just trying to… to… mess with him! Yeah that was it! Well… he…wasn't going to fall for it!

He whirled around to face her, "Your stupid little plan won't work Pinky! I can see right through it!" he hissed. She raised an eyebrow.

"And what…plan are you talking about Brick?" Her voice was like liquid velvet, smooth and cool. Her bright cerise irises flashed and she cocked her head to the side, "Can't a girl be worried about a boy without an ulterior motive?" Her smile curled wider.

"Not us." He snapped. A little too loudly. He heard a grunt and he stiffened. Oh God he'd never hear the end of it if the idiot woke up and found… a Puff in his kitchen.

And…if said Puff continued to run those little… fingers down his throat… towards his…chest…which… Oh…right…he had… apparently forgotten to… put a shirt back on…

Uh… um…what were they talking about again?

And was there a reason she was biting her lip… like…that?

His throat was growing ever dryer and dryer… and finally he managed to wrench his eyes away from those full tantalizing... lips and then he saw the mischievous glint in her pink succubus gaze!

He growled and grabbed her wrist in mid…whatever the hell she was doing and held it away from him.

"Back off Pinky! – I don't know what your damn deal is but it's not going to work!"

She pursed her lips, but then her smirk seemed to grow. …uh what? His grip went limp and she pulled out of it smoothly. Seemingly without a care in the world.

"Brick." She seemed to chew on his name for longer than was necessary, before she tilted her head and looked at him underneath her thick eyelashes. "Are you truly incapable of using my name?" She murmured. "I always have been curious as to why- Your excuse changes all the time you know." She linked her arms behind her back and…began… walking towards him.

He quickly took three steps back but he hit the table with an agonizingly loud clatter. Shit! His eyes flew to the loft. No movement yet but… but it was only a matter of time…

"You- You need to go!" He pointed a finger. Shaking. Damn it! She ignored him.

"Not until I have an answer." She chuckled when she reached him. His only means of escape involved snapping said table in half… which would obviously wake the morons. Her finger trailed his chest again. "I'm waiting."

"Because- Because I… hate you!" He snapped. She chuckled.

"You don't hate me Brick. Try again."

He blinked. "B-Because I like…to piss you off!"

Another chuckle. "Close." He felt his body quiver again as her hands trailed up his bare skin – "But not quite." She fingered a tuft of Brick's own fiery locks and twisted it around that long index finger. His eyes fastened to the gesture- up. down. around...and around.

"P-Pinky?" He stuttered. Oh God. Oh…Oh God. Was it getting hot in here? Shit…he really did need to get that electricity bill taken care of! It was just one of those Septembers you know! Super… hot… they…needed…to…keep that…AC…going. They were almost nose to nose, unthinkingly his hand went to cup her waist while those silken hands came to rest on his shoulders.

"I want to hear you say my name Brick." Again she chewed on those simple syllables like they were some kind of decadent sweet. His grip grew tighter… and… were they sinking…? His back hit the table. She leaned over him, those cotton candy irises piercing him down to his very core. Her eyes flickered downwards before another mischievous smirk curled on her face. He felt his insides twist and curl and his entire body grow hotter and hotter.

"P-Pinky." He was ashamed of himself at that moment. There was no justification for a male's voice to go that… high ever. She frowned and once again they were nose to nose.

"Blossom." She breathed with lips dangerously close to his own. "My name is Blossom."

Oh…fucking yes- yes it is!

He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her down on top of him but her fingers pressed against his mouth stopping him before he could get a taste of those strawberry candies. She leaned over him more until- that... blessed low cut masterpiece of a top was pressing against his bare chest.

"Say it." She purred- her bottom lip brushed his for a moment as she spoke. "Say my name Brick…" He sucked in a shuddering breath and nodded slowly as she climbed further on top of him.

"Blo-." He began in a daze as she leaned down and pressed those soft sugar sweet lips to his-.

CRAAAAAAAAAAASH

His eyes shot open and the source of the clatter was revealed to be the book he'd been reading splayed on the floor. He blinked again. The large dome of the observatory greeted him, he blinked and sat up slowly – his fingers traced the old bandages that still lined his head. He sucked in a breath.

It'd just been a dream.

He groaned and fell backwards on his pillows.

God…damn it.

The two idiots continued to snore on oblivious to the world and Brick mashed his teeth together and pounded his head in the pillows again. And again.

And a third time for good measure.

Damn it!

He grabbed his phone – 5:45 AM

Well fuck it- he was already awake! At the crack of dawn. On a mother fucking Saturday… STUPID-! He bit back the loud slew of curses that threatened to escape his mouth on this wretched Saturday morning and instead he merely kicked the remains of his blankets off the bed, looked down, scowled as he hated himself even more this morning before he stormed into the bathroom.

For...One... very...very... cold shower.

-0-

Stupid... Stupid... STUPID!

A furious not to mention freezing hour late he shoved his cap in place before he ripped the old bandages off his head- the dry scab was basically gone already- bah! Infection his ass! He was a Rowdyruff! He didn't need to worry about stupid infections and…stupid… bandages and… stupid…little velvet fingers applying them-.

He shook his head quickly and slammed his hands in his pockets.

He was set to go to the shop around… two so… now what did he do? His plans before he'd been so…rudely awakened had been simple. Sleep until noon like the other two morons, hit the grocery store… and then the garage. Simple! Typical Saturday! But… but… DAMN IT!

He made it outside, and the cool dawn hit him in the face like a sledgehammer- dew was still on the grass below and there it was. The thing that would always make him feel better…. His baby. A good morning exercise would calm him… yes. That was it. He needed to relax more- his stress levels were just getting to him… and making… his brain do stupid things.

He floated down the ridiculous steps aimlessly, and hopped in. A quick adjustment of his mirror and he was off. In a blur the observatory grew smaller and smaller and downtown Townsville soon was upon him. He slowed down slightly, he really had no urge to get pulled over- God knows those cops looked for any and all excuses to harass him and his brothers anyway. He scowled and scanned the remains of the battle from the night before. Trees were down, yellow police tape completely cut off a few streets, and Brick saw the remains of icy patches in random spots. He frowned and flipped up his sunglasses. Shit…

They really had gone to town this time hadn't they?

He saw he wasn't the only curious bystander. Entire crowds had paused in their early morning commutes and were staring. It was a spectacle… no matter how many times they were witness to it… Townsville was never going to get used to … seeing their city trashed… time and time again.

And saved by the same three… young women. Over and over. He cradled his face and tapped a finger listlessly on his cheek. There was an imprint in the ground where the girls had ended up – and Brick couldn't help but grimace. It was deep.

They'd been thrown… hard. No wonder Tweedle Dum had reacted so harshly when he'd seen it.

He buzzed his lips- he needed coffee. He frowned. And… of course his favorite coffee shop was in the quarantine zone. Figures.

Were there any other decent ones? He drove listlessly then paused in front of a little café looking place tucked away near Townsville City Hall plaza.

The building was bright yellow with lacy floral curtains in its window. How... quaint.

Janey's.

Never heard of it but maybe they had decent coffee. The parking lot was empty at least- it was pretty early on a Saturday…. He frowned. He could have been sleeping… he grumbled another round of unheard and illegible obscenities mostly concerning pink eyed succubi and their evil little fingers under his breath even as he stepped through the annoyingly cheery front door with its irksome little bell. It was a small place- he frowned. Looked empty. Was it even open?

He cleared his throat before an older brunette woman peeked out from behind the counter.

"Oh goodness! You're a new face." She smiled kindly, Brick fought the urge to flinch, couldn't help it really – he removed his sunglasses completely bracing himself for the immediate shriek and call for help.

Err… Any minute now.

Her face remained impassive. Brick blinked. But the middle aged woman made no immediate reaction.

"What can I get for you?" She smiled again. And Brick was so taken aback he simply blurted,

"Uh… coffee. - Uh black- mocha shot… if you have those?" The woman nodded and immediately turned.

"Anything else?" She asked politely and gestured below her at the pastry case. He blinked and his eyes scanned downwards. Damn… they all looked… pretty good if Brick were to be honest. Worthy of any of those lame ass cooking shows...that Brick... occasionally watched if nothing else was on... err never mind.

"Your cinnamon rolls any good?" He mumbled. She laughed and set down the steaming cup- a white porcelain mug versus the usual Styrofoam to-go he noticed immediately- that was odd… even Margo's with all the business Brick had given it for years always put it to go and made it pretty clear he was to leave immediately.

"Well not to toot my own horn but I've been told my cinnamon rolls are…" Absolutely extraordinary and a gift from the bakery Gods." She chuckled again. Brick couldn't himself or the small curl to his lips. Just a bit over dramatic for his taste but hell if that was indeed the case then-. He shrugged,

"I'll take one then." He decided. She beamed and a mouthwatering aroma soon filled Brick's nose-talk about gooey cinnamon sugar perfection. Brick actually if he hadn't known better could have sworn that sensation in his mouth was drool. He paid quickly, a much nicer rate than Margo's too and hesitated. Right… no to go cup. He scanned the cheery dining area and found a secluded nook near the window. Well better than nothing he guessed. There was even a newspaper just waiting for him all nice and folded. He opened it casually. The nice brunette- he was going to assume she must have been the " Janey" in question continued cheerfully polishing her counter and didn't even give him a second look.

Powerpuffs Save the day again- but the question remains… Can they keep it up?

He raised an eyebrow. Well aren't they a cheerful bunch at the Townsville Tribune. He took a sip of his coffee… holy shit even the coffee was amazing.

Huh… well screw Margo's. This place was clearly the better coffee shop. Wonder why he'd never come in before…?

There was a faint tinkling of the bell again.

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

He stiffened.

"Oh good morning sweetheart! How are you feeling?"

A low sigh and Brick dove behind the paper.

"Hi Janey… I'm fine I suppose… just can you add an extra shot of espresso today?"

The older woman frowned. "Rough night huh?" She said gently.

Who is the "Trickster"? Friend or Foe?

Brick looked over the asinine article - the crazy guy in question was clearly a lunatic- what did it matter what he-. Holy shit- she looked... terrible. There were black circles under her eyes, and her hair was piled high in a messy bun, save the ever present heels… Brick wouldn't even have recognized her.

"You can say that." She whispered. Cripes she even sounded awful! When was the last time this chick had gotten any sleep!? The truly exhausted and well... rough looking Puff yawned loudly and then looked around the shop worryingly- Brick dove behind the paper again. She sighed- as if in relief before murmuring.

"Do you have any of your-." Janey chuckled.

"Of course Blossom. You know I always make sure there's a hot steaming one all ready for you."

But Boss' a monster stepped on my car! - 5 easy ways to keep your property and livelihood safe in the course of a monster attack.

Whoever was in charge of the Townsville Tribune needed a new headline writer.

"You're a saint."The whisper was so tiny, Brick felt a twinge in his gut, the stupid paper and its even more idiotic articles forgotten he merely watched her over the trite sorry excuse of journalism. Next to said raccoon eyes and rats nest of a hair style: Pinky was wearing a hoodie. A hoodie. The almighty commander and leader...was walking around in public... in a hoodie...and heels. Who the hell wore a hoodie with high heels?!

Well... this girl did apparently. And she also had tied her ever there stupid red ribbon that Brick was just itching to steal all around her goddamn head - probably in an effort to mask the jarringly obvious fact that she likely hadn't brushed her hair this morning as copper strands were sticking out everywhere and... he took a quick gulp of his coffee. a big gulp, that hair was an untamable mess.. and another sip.

Really... untamable.

Sip.

Almost like a lion's mane... yeah he didn't blame her for giving up- it wasn't going to stay anyway and- cripes her hair was long... holy hell that was a lot of hair... and...uh. Um...

Sip. Sip.

It fell around her face like a fountain of melted copper, bright and shining, even as she ran her fingers through it, shaking it out- blowing away the irritable strands that clung to her lips like-.

Sip. Sip. Sip.

She piled it back up, the flash of crimson wound around her head again, she gave a little hum and turned back to the counter as Brick sucked in another shuddering breath.

Cripes...

The cash register rang up the Powerpuff's order and Brick once again stiffened as the clicking of heels grew closer to him. He ducked behind the paper again. She didn't even seem to notice, only continuing walking right past him before slipping into the booth across from him. He took a bite of his decadent pastry.

He couldn't help though- seeing as she had placed herself more or less right in front of him – noticing the slight tremor in her hands as she drank her coffee in silence. Oddly enough she also after having taken three hearty bites of her own cinnamon roll removed of all things… a Marine Biology textbook.

He furrowed his eyebrows. Odd… she was skimming it- mumbling to herself, and she had begun taking notes in a rather worn looking pink notebook.

What for? She ceased writing for a moment and shook out her wrist. Still bugged her he bet. He cautiously lowered the newspaper more. She had paused and was mumbling under her breath, another shaky sip of her coffee. She looked… upset. . She sighed quietly, her pen clicked as she began to write furiously once more.

He was almost finished with his coffee, he looked down on it mournfully. Shame. He'd miss this place. But hey- this place was obviously claimed territory he wasn't about to deal with a snippy Puff and her stupid-. He heard a growl. Speak of the devil. He flicked his gaze up expecting to meet a furious pair of pink irises but instead she was hunched over her book.

"Dosidicus gigas? Yes… that seems to fit with the aggressive behavior…"She bristled. "…Damn it…not good." She hissed before she let her head hit the back of her chair. "Damn it… damn it…damn it!" She wiped her face mournfully. "Okay…focus Blossom… maybe if…we approached… no…not enough… damn it!" She buried her head in her hands for a moment before she abruptly stood up, packed her things and hastily exited the shop.

Brick frowned and feeling a strange curiosity he booted up his phone's internet. – Good Wi-Fi too- He was probably going to get the spelling wrong but close enough-. Hmm?

He tapped the first link that popped up.

Dosidicus gigas: Humboldt Squid

He raised an eyebrow. A squid? So he was right… he skimmed the entry but then paused as he reached the end of the bio.

Also known as diablos rojos (Red Devils) due to their aggressive behavior towards divers and fishermen. Approach with caution.

-0-

From Tweedle Dee:

Sup Boss! So me and Boom are gonna be at the garage in like… 10 seconds. There's this new smokin chick workin at Freddy's and well u kno how I just LUV their Pizza ;) heh heh

There was a crash and Brick's gaze went skyward, he shook his head as the two idiots touched down after thoroughly freaking out the chick waiting at the front. He buzzed his lips and slapped the oily rag down. Idiots were going to get him fired someday…

The idiot blonde looked around him and then waved enthusiastically.

"Hey Big Bro!" He called. Butch meanwhile was trying to put the charm on the flustered chick – failing of course- but like that ever stopped the idiot before.

"Aw Sweetheart I didn't mean to scare ya. Guess I just don't know my own strength sometimes you know." He flexed his arm, but the girl just continued to stare at him with wide fearful eyes. Cripes… Brick slammed down the hood of the car he was working on and wiped his hands clean. Walter looked up from his own work and gave Brick an approving nod before he dug in his pocket and slapped the cash in Brick's hand. Brick quickly counted it and frowned.

"We agreed on three twenty five." He said slowly. The burly man nodded,

"Yeah?"

"There's four hundred here."

"Call it a bonus. You saved my ass when that idiot called out today."

Brick blinked and then slowly pocketed the cash. "Okay…" He mumbled. There was a loud guffaw and a strong hand clapped on his shoulder.

"Go and enjoy yourself for once Jojo- why not take some nice girl out on a date eh?" He laughed louder Brick grimaced. As if he'd bother with any of the insipid females this city had to offer. Bah. For his teacher and mentor's sake however he simply shrugged.

"Yeah, Yeah. Sure whatever." He muttered. Another shaking of his shoulder and Brick was released to go collect his moronic brothers before they caused any more damn trouble. Boomer was snickering like a rabid hyena as Butch' attempts at courtship failed miserably. Brick rolled his eyes and grabbed the wannabe Casanova by the ear.

"Let's go idiot." He dragged him backwards.

"What the hell! Big Bro you cock block!" He whined.

"I thought you wanted pizza." Brick said witheringly. Butch immediately perked up,

"Oh yeah- Seriously I've heard this chick's legs go on for miles."

Whoopee. They piled into his car- luckily Freddy's wasn't too far from Walter's Auto shop so he wouldn't have to deal with Butch's inane chatter longer than necessary.

"Say Big bro what's this?" Boomer queried from his position in the back, and Brick stiffened as he flipped through the large book that had been sitting on Brick's backseat…which he had completely forgotten about. "Didn't know you were into fish dude," Brick's face darkened and he reached behind and grabbed the book from Boomer's stupid hands. Butch however stole it right back.

"Marine Bio? I thought you were in physics? What you doin' with a Bio book?"

"It's called getting an education moron." Brick snapped. "You could do with getting more of it."

Butch scowled, "Jeez that's just cold man." He muttered and flipped through it, "I'm already stuck in Bio now I don't need more of it. Ugh."

Brick rolled his eyes.

"Say…can I see that?" Boomer asked tremulously, Butch shrugged and tossed it carelessly behind him.

"Knock yourself out." Butch said casually. "Guess you both can be nerds."

Boomer however wasn't listening, he seemed fixated on a particular page. He frowned.

"Hey… Isn't this what attacked em' last night?" Boomer murmured. Brick's eyebrow rose even as he pulled into the parking lot. He saw Boomer was still skimming it as he walked in the door.

"Attacked who?" Butch turned around with a mocking look. "The Puffs?"

"Y-Yeah… I mean look at this thing." He held up the book. "Looks like it to me."

"All monsters come from Monster Island though remember." Butch said scathingly. "That's the whole deal." He muttered. "Now where's this pizza goddess I've heard so much about." He muttered.

"I don't think so bro…" Boomer said quietly. "I heard… Buttercup talking Friday… before she got called in to fight that thing."

"Before or after she threw the chair at me." Butch grumbled still scanning the room. Brick merely opened the menu. Meat Lovers pizza was on special today. Well that made life easier.

"Before… but I'm serious guys. I think something's up with these things…" Brick continued to remain fixated on the menu. "She sounded… really pissed."

"And that's so different than every day how?" Butch snapped.

Boomer hesitated and continued to look at the marine biology book Brick may or may not have checked out from the library earlier that day. "No bro… not pissed as in… angry… but… pissed as in… freaked… upset… scared."

Butch immediately froze. "Scared? Butters? Please-that would mean she's actually a human versus a crazed bitch bent on making my life hell!"

Brick continued to be utterly fascinated with the various toppings they could put on their pizza.

"Bro I'm serious! Something's up! Look at what they're saying on the news!"

"It's just the news idiot- they'll say anything to get morons like you to watch em'!"

"Then why are they acting so weird lately! Look at you and Buttercup- seriously four fights in a single month?! Even for you two that's a lot and look what happened to Blossom of all people! Why the hell would she have put her damn hand on a muzzle of a gun?! That makes no sense! She should know better!" He scowled and looked back down at the page. "I'm just saying… something ain't…right."

"And so? One – Butters can take care of herself like the bitch she is. Two-Why do you care?" Butch scoffed again. "When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that you and the blonde just ain't gonna happen!"

Boomer scowled even Brick flinched, "I know that." He hissed. "I know that damn it! But that doesn't mean I'm not-."

"Not what?! Boomer listen to me- Brick tell him will ya! I'm worried dude- we both are you can't go on pining like this forever bro- and you've been after the puff since what… grade school!? That shit ain't healthy! Look tell you what- I'm gonna find you a hottie so fine you'll forget all about -Hello what's this!" He immediately jumped up- apparently the so called "pizza goddess" had made her appearance. Brick eyed her, well… she was pretty…hot. Long legs… nice body…nice hair. Hmm…

"Like can I help you?"

And just like that Brick decided his brother could have her.

Boomer scowled more and buried himself back in the book but Brick wrenched it from him.

"You're going to drive yourself insane. Listen to the dumb ass and just- will you just forget it you idiot!" His baby brother gave him a dark look but finally after receiving one in return from Brick, turned away from him and fixated on the television where his stupid game show was on. He shook his head.

Twenty minutes passed. He grunted as he tried to choke down another slice of the grease trap that this dump called pizza. Boomer had already set his plate aside, soaked as it was from so much grease that it almost made Brick want to puke. Butch the so called Lady's man hadn't even bothered, he was simply leaning against the counter…still trying to talk up the insipid bimbo who looked completely unimpressed. He rolled his eyes, Boomer was still fixated on the television, and he literally hadn't said another word to him – great- the silent treatment from Boomer again. Great…

Not that Brick would have particularly cared because of course he was in the right in this situation but Butch didn't take the silent treatment well… which almost always resulted in a physical scuffle… which usually resulted in a broken wall…table… television…fridge… Brick scowled more.

"Like I don't know like who you like think you are but-."

"Babe- Listen I can be anything you want me to be."

"Like I haven't like heard that one before."

Brick groaned and buried his head in his hand. Somebody shoot me.

Clink.

He blinked and looked up slowly.

Clink. Clink.

Boomer stiffened immediately and turned around.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Their glasses had begun to shake.

"Like... What was that!?"

Butch had tensed, and he caught Brick's eye for a moment before he threw his smooth smile back on.

"Don't worry Susie – probably just a-."

A huge Boom echoed through the place. Brick grabbed his chair for balance and Boomer immediately shot up,

"The fuck was that!?" He demanded. Brick whirled around to the door.

Where people had already begun running outside.

And sure enough shrill sirens began blaring in the street.

"You gotta be shittin' me!" Butch snapped. "We just had a fucker yesterday!"

The waitress began flipping a shit.

"Like Oh my God! Oh my God! I've heard about this! When I like moved here! Oh My God I don't wanna diiiiiiiiie!" She shrilled. Even Butch the ever chivalrous one grimaced and covered his ears.

"Oh My God shut up!" Boomer snarled. The news had already cut in. Boomer sucked in a gasping breath and sunk into his chair. Butch cast an odd look to them before he too joined them back at the table.

The creature on screen was almost twice as big as the monster they had seen yesterday. It was blood red in color… and it was already trashing buildings left and right. It was on a literal rampage. His gaze trailed to the book where it still lay open on the table.

It…was uncanny. The resemblance this creature had… to that thing on the television the news was simply calling a monster. Same old same old. Monster… attack.

Images flashed through his mind.

This month alone there had been four…no scratch that now five attacks… same pattern. Different creatures. Some had legs. Some hadn't. Some had teeth. Some didn't.

Some had had a temper. Others had just been after blood.

They came out of nowhere. A relentless never ending rampage that made it so the girls had no choice but to destroy it… instead of chasing it out of town…like they'd done in the past. As per... the treaty's... conditions.

These things… openly attacked people. He'd seen last week the slew of people that had been trapped in that thing's jaws… and he highly doubted... He clenched his napkin.

"These things…they're just… you know "monster of the day"… …"

Buttercup was like a walking time bomb-the slightest move could set her off on a literal rampage. His brother had found that out the hard way for months now... but even if she was... finally losing her grip... this just seemed... weird.

Bubbles was afraid of her own shadow... more than once he'd seen the blue Puff scream bloody murder and shoot a good few feet in the air... for seemingly no reason, a friend had snuck up on her, a teacher had called on her... it was... bizarre.

And Pinky had looked like the walking dead this morning…... something... was off. He still had a hard time believing the so called genius of the Powerpuff Girls... had not only let some idiot thug get the upper hand... but then she'd put her own goddamn hand on the muzzle of a gun. And that... was just plain... wrong.

What... was going on?

Cheering erupted around him and his eyes flew to the television. The three of them stood on a rooftop. Uniforms present, gone was the messy bun replaced instead by the ever present flowing ponytail tied with that obnoxious bow of hers.

But the black circles remained even as she pointed towards the monster and then to her sisters. Her mouth was moving rapidly.

Bubbles was biting her lip and practically shaking in her boots clutching onto Buttercup's hand as if for dear life. The Green Puff on her part kept a solid grip on the blonde. Pinky stopped speaking and then did something even odder.

She embraced both of them and their heads all touched in a single moment of singularity before she released them and floated upwards. They followed after. A curt point to her left- Buttercup shot off. Another to her right. Bubbles gulped but nonetheless zipped in a dizzying baby blue blur. The fight began.

It was typical Puff formation as Brick had come to see over the years. Buttercup with her superior strength but lack of speed was kept as far away from the monster as possible when not attacking directly and she always had either Bubbles or Pinky close by. Bubbles with her superior speed but weaker strength kept to the outskirts, spiriting civilians out of danger, keeping a lookout but ready to jump in if necessary with a sonic scream or back up her slower sisters. Pinky however -she stayed closest to the match, keeping a close eye on everything, her pink irises flitting back and forth surveying every inch of that battle field- every move that monster would make Pinky would be three steps ahead of it. It was a constant tense game of chess where its stakes would grow with each and every fight.

But if there was a wild card. A move that she wasn't expecting… once again his gaze went back to the marine biology book.

A scream. A crash. And there went a city bus. And another. And another.… Was it trying to eat the fucking bus!? ... It was trying to eat a goddamn bus!

And… there were people on that bus.

He heard the war cry before he saw it- The flash of lime green- the flash of the green puff breaking formation. Breaking the strategy. More screams – more crashes. Another furious roar. Another flash. Pink this time. The bus went down.

And so did the Puff.

Like a limp rag doll the girl was being held in one of the tentacles by a single arm- she tried to break free as the other two screamed her name but before they could do anything- even Bubbles' speed wasn't enough-The behemoth slammed her with a sickening thud in the side of a building. Blood splashed down in a bright red deluge- he saw her arm wrenched out of its socket before it snapped with an ominous crack. He saw it do it again. Her head lolled back.

And then he watched her fall.

And fall.

And... fall.

Before she hit the concrete.

And lay still.

She was …Pinky was…

Blossom… was…down.

Her sisters stared agog at the scene but soon Bubbles made a high pitched murderous scream and rushed the monster. Buttercup followed suit- but Brick knew it was hopeless. Their commander was gone and they had no sense of direction. No strategy.

A tentacle shot out and grabbed the blonde who had paused to issue a sonic scream, it held her aloft for a moment before slamming her headfirst into the concrete. She went down instantly, crumbling to the ground. Unconscious. Boomer shot up. His face was waxen.

He heard Buttercup's bellow. But her insufficient speed made her an easy target, one more whip of its tentacle was all it took- the green Puff went flying into one of the very buses she had so desperately tried to save with an ear shattering crash. Her limp form lay immersed in bed of broken glass and mangled metal.

Butch swore out loud. Boomer's face was growing paler and paler.

The restaurant followed suit. It became a medley of high pitched wails and screaming. The reporters on screen had reneged into full out panic. All the while running for their lives as the monster began its rampage anew. The annoying little hindrances fully taken care of apparently.

… Why was… it pausing?

Boomer sucked in a breath and his little brother's eyes had widened to the point of being saucers. The tentacle wrapped around the unconscious blonde and lifted her high into the air. It moved to the side and suddenly Brick saw it.

A beak.

It was a fucking squid!

A fucking Humboldt Squid-… Red…Devils… as they were known.

It was a squid. A carnivorous squid. An aggressive… carnivorous creature already known as a menace to man and supposedly responsible for countless missing divers and fishermen alike.

This thing wasn't a random monster of the day

It wasn't attacking anything.

This fucker… was hunting.

And it had found its next meal.

Slam.

His brother's fist hit the table, and his eyes were wild and crazed with a crackling navy light, he shook his head wildly. "Bubbles…" He whispered. The girl was lifted ever higher. "Bubbles…" He said louder.

Its beak began to open.

"BUBBLES!" His brother roared, jumped over the table and with a blur of light zipped out the door at a speed even Brick hadn't thought him capable of knocking over nearby tables and people alike!

Butch jumped up. "BOOMER!" He bellowed and wrenched the table aside. "BOOMER COME BACK!" He darted a quick panicked look at Brick but nonetheless shot out after him.

He'd never make it. It was over. The Powerpuff girls… were finished.

A coughing sob made him turn back around- and he watched stunned as she apparently had come too. She was screaming. Screaming bloody murder. In both pain and…

He turned away. His grip on the napkin increased more.

Her sobs invaded his ears. Her screams stabbed him in the stomach.

His fist clenched.

-0-

No… No. No. NO! NO NO NO

Oh God. No. No. Please! Not her sister! Anything but that! NO! NO! DAMN IT!

She clenched her one good fist left and tried to pull herself back up only to fall back down. Oh god were her legs broken too!? Her arm was completely- oh god she couldn't even look at it.

Oh God. No. Bubbles… Bubbles wake up! Please!

Her vision was growing hazy again. She shook her head wildly. NO! She would not! There was a way! There had to be a way!

The world was beginning to spin, she caught the flash of her sister's golden pigtails as she went higher and higher in the air and the beak of the Dosidicus gigas opened. Another mutated nuclear hybrid stemming from that god damn testing out in the Pacific!

Her teeth clenched and she pulled herself up – attempted to at least - Had to… had to make a distraction… had to… give them time… her sisters…just needed…time…

Her eyes had begun to grow heavy. Blood. She was losing…too much blood.

No… she had to give… Bubbles… Buttercup… a chance.

Ice breath…maybe… make it… cold? Would that work with a squid… they were cold blooded…right…? No… yes… she had done so…much…research this morning… why…couldn't she… remember…?

Bubbles was still unconscious. She had to do something. She had to… her baby sister… her… sis-…Her vision went black. Then abruptly came back. Her head felt heavy and she felt herself slump back to the ground.

"BUBBLES!" A deep booming bellow pierced the sky.

She gasped hoarsely. Was that-!? She made herself look up just in time to see a ball of pure electricity go hurling towards the mutation and hit it square in the face. Its grip on her sister loosened and she slipped out of the slimy appendage only to be caught in midair by…

Her eyes widened.

Boomer…Jojo!?

The Rowdyruff cradled her sister in his arms, before shooting a safe distance away from another angry tentacle.

"Bubbles! Bubbles wake up speak to me!" He cupped her sister's cheek. "Oh God I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He hugged her close. "Bubbles please…please wake up!" Her sister lay still. Another roar, and the creature dove towards them. Boomer turned a wild gaze at the mutation and with a murderous roar of his own sent another shot of electricity flying at it. Then another. And Another. "YEAH YOU LIKE THAT! PLENTY WHERE THAT CAME FROM MOTHER FUCKER!" He snarled. "TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!"

Oh God… Don't taunt it. Get her out of here!

"Get…out…of…here." She managed to croak out but the blonde Rowdyruff wasn't listening. He was simply too enraged to think clearly.

A tentacle went crashing towards him. He dodged it. Another. Another. Good lord he was fast! Boomer's speed… was unbelievable! She watched him literally be on one side of the creature then one blink later he was at its other side- she hadn't even seen him move!

Even…Bubbles couldn't…do that…

He whipped out a hand and a surge of electric sparks engulfed his palm before seemingly solidifying in midair into a literal…electric baseball bat.

Oh…yes she had forgotten about that little trick of his. With a sadistic looking smile the blonde boy began bashing the tentacles flying at him.

But the impacts were sending…him backwards.

Her eyes widened, Oh god. It was doing it again. He was dangerously close to a building. Oh God. The same thing it had done to Buttercup! She tried to get up again, make her vocal cords work but she was simply too dizzy, and to her horror she saw he was pinned more or less to another building. He dropped the bat and whipped around, he was going to shield her with his body. She bit her lip. Oh God… no.

No… No… A tentacle rose up ominously. It was going to crush them. Crush them against the building- knock him unconscious…the same strategy…she had failed to see…

The tentacle went crashing down and she whipped her head back with clenched eyes.

But the crash never came.

"YOU LOVESICK MORON! I'M GONNA BEAT YOU TO AN INCH OF YOUR MOTHER FUCKING LIFE YOU FUCKING IDIOT-!"

H-Huh!? She opened her eyes again. The furious raven haired form of Butch Jojo stood with his hands outstretched in front of the two blondes. A green light was emanating from his fingers and a literal wall had formed between them and the mutant. Her eyes widened. The creature roared again but the Green Rowdyruff only sneered and slapped his hands together. The shockwave of the dissipating shield sent the creature flying back.

"Bro-I-!" Boomer's voice was tremulous even as he cradled Bubbles ever closer to his chest. Butch grit his teeth and put up a hand.

"Save it! I don't wanna hear it!" He scanned the area. "Jeez this fucker likes to make a mess don't it?" His eyes suddenly widened and he dove downwards towards the destroyed line of buses.

"B-BUTTERS!?" He sputtered. "S-Shit you're really…h-hurt aren't ya!?" He picked up Buttercup's unconscious form, pieces of glass fell with ominous clatters around her. He brushed off her arms and face quickly. "H-Heh v-very funny- Butters…o-okay time to wake up and…kick some ass right?" He shook her again. There was another roar and Butch whipped around and put up another shield quickly. "OH FUCK NO! BUTTERS AIN'T YOUR DINNER FISH FACE!" He snapped before he hoisted Buttercup over his shoulder and zipped back to Boomer. He peeled her unconscious sister off his shoulder and held her up.

"C'mon Butters wake up!" He snapped. "You tellin' me that a fucking fish beat your ass when I couldn't! Fuck no! Nuh uh! WAKE. UP!" He bellowed again.

"Actually…. It's a cephalopod not a fish." Boomer muttered.

"… WHAT ARE YOU BIG BRO NOW!? Who the fuck cares what it is!" He bellowed.

"I'm just saying I read it in that book Big Bro had!"

"Well whoopdy doo for you the dumb and the dumbest actually knows how to read!"

"I AM NOT THE DUMB AND THE DUMBEST!" He screamed back in an outraged roar. "Just because I'm not some kind of genius like Big Bro doesn't mean-." His voice trailed and his eyes widened. . "Uh speaking of… smart ones… where's Blossom!?" He looked around wildly.

Butch's eyes also had widened, "Shit I dunno…. Fuck man! Where is she!?" He stiffened and whipped around just in time to put another shield up. This time the tentacles slammed with such force he was thrown back slightly. And they continued to pound on it.

"SHIT! WHERE IS SHE!?" Boomer bellowed.

"I. DON'T. KNOW!" Butch snarled with a grunt as he did his best to keep the shield up and keep a grip on Buttercup. "SON OF A-! DAMN IT! KNOCK IT OFF FISH FACE GO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO MUNCH ON!"

A shadow crossed her vision and she bit her lip before looking up.

Meeting the cruel black gaze of the Dosidicus gigas. She heard both the boys yell. Her breath caught. Her vision was going hazy again. Her arm was numb.

"I DIDN'T MEAN LITERALLY!" Butch bellowed as another tentacle smashed into his wall. It was beginning to crack.

"FUCK! BUTCH TAKE HER-!" Boomer grabbed his brother's arm and tried to shove Bubbles at him but Butch shook his head with another grunt. The shield's crack increased.

"I CAN'T YOU IDIOT- I CAN BARELY HOLD ONTO BUTTERS AND KEEP THIS FUCKING THING FROM- AGH!" Another crack formed. And another. She sucked in a breath. It wasn't going to last long at this point and they were still pinned to that building.

They... Needed…distraction.

Just…one. She bit her lip. Her eyes fixed on the limp forms of her sisters in the boys arms. She took a deep shuddering breath. The agony was extraordinary as she willed herself to move. But move she must.

She wouldn't die here crumpled on the ground- No. She was a Powerpuff Girl. She was a leader…

She had enough strength to maybe make one more attempt. Enough for... A single blast of cold air- it would give the boys the time they needed to get her sisters out of here. She looked up they were still arguing.

"Go!" She croaked. The two stiffened and turned to face her. Boomer's eyes widened and his grip on Bubbles increased. Butch backed away slightly with Buttercup in tow. She clenched her fist.

She would go down fighting. She grasped at the concrete, her strength making an indent she needed to pull herself back up even with one good arm. She felt a gush of warm blood trail down her head and arms as she stood on two shaky legs. Not broken after all.

"WHAT THE- YOU CRAZY CHICK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Butch sputtered.

"HOLD ON I'M COMING TO GET YOU!" Boomer bellowed.

She held a shaky hand up and shook her head.

"Go!" She repeated again. "Get. Them… Get them…!" She pointed frantically up.

"B-but!" Boomer's voice cracked.

'N-No Time…Go!" The Shield was almost broken. They had moments. Seconds even. She clenched her one good fist and squeezed her eyes shut as she sucked in a deep breath. Feeling the inside of her throat grow colder and colder-

What sounded like broken glass filled the air. Butch's bellowed curse and Boomer's cry of alarm echoed through her ears.

Now.

She expelled one long icy blast that engulfed the mutant completely. With a howl of agony the mutant fell back and the path was clear for them. But they only had one chance. They were hesitating- still trying to figure out a way of getting to her. Blossom bit her lip harder, before she took in her beloved sisters' faces. Willed their voices in her mind-willed every moment they had ever had together to meld into one memory. Before she pointed a shaky finger upwards again.

"GO!" Her voice cracked from the long anguished scream and finally she saw them zip high into the sky- a navy and forest green streak following them in their wake. The creature bellowed more and more in outrage at the loss of its prey.

But then it turned back to her.

She didn't flinch. She didn't even look away as she stared her death down. Her sisters… would survive.

She simply smiled and continued to do so even it approached her. The world spun. And everything seemed hazed. The shadow grew closer. She closed her eyes.

She heard her sisters' laughter- Buttercup's sharp raspy snickers and Bubbles' melodic giggle filled her ears. Images flew through her brain- her sisters laughing and smiling. Cheering and doing a victory pose. Bubbles in her studio- Buttercup at her games.

She saw her father's warm patient gaze, holding her up to see the chemical reaction up close.

"When two elements react sweetheart that's called a compound. A compound can form a new substance-

"So that's how we were formed right Professor?"

A low chuckle. "Yes sweetheart. That's exactly right."

Her vision blurred.

Robin and Mike. Her two dearest friends in the world wafted by her. Beaming like fools as Mike threw his arms over the brunette's shoulders and Robin blushing like mad cupping his face to keep his fervent kisses at bay. He flashed Blossom a thumbs up and a cheeky smile before lifting Robin by the waist and spinning her around. Their laughter mixed in perfect harmony. They turned to face her. Wide ear splitting grins plastered on their faces.

"Don't you worry Blossom! It'll happen to you someday! Every girl will find the guy who just worships the very ground they walk on- like this dork over here" Giggle.

"HEY! You love me! Bloss trust me-you'll find your dream guy someday!" Wink.

More images. Triumphant battles. The mayor and Ms. Bellum embracing her and her sisters- awarding them keys to the city- peaceful days in school- Ms. Keane sitting quietly reading a book out loud with her- aiding her in learning the arduous task of writing with fingers- sitting on the side of her bed with the professor on another as she awoke in that uncomfortable hospital bed– whispering comforting words as she wept at her reflection in the mirror, blood staining the porcelain sink as they stood staring at the foreign entity forming in the middle of her face... before another agonizing round of pain began. - Embracing her tightly as she sobbed out her latest heartbreak-cheering their latest victory...

Her mother... her beloved... mother... it didn't matter... whether it was official or not.

"We're the Rowdyruffs and we wanna fight!"

Boomer walked silently. His lips moving to whatever song was playing in his headphones before he happened to see her sister. He slowed and so did Bubbles- their eyes lingering on each other- a desperate longing that had been there since childhood emanating from them both.

Be…happy.

A cackle of raucous laughter from Butch. Her sister's sharp biting laugh. Their victims backing away. The first dodge ball thrown. Then another. And another. They are unstoppable. One by one their opponents fall. A fist bump. A moment of cooperation. Buttercup's face however unknowingly is a picture of reluctant admiration. His is a matching reflection. Then their roles are remembered. They scowl. Back away. Enemies once more. He goes to the left. She to the right.

Forget the past… Live for the future.

The machine was unlike anything she'd seen Mojo come up with. It was small but extraordinary. The Professor had said this single machine had somehow managed to recycle whatever energy that ludicrous robot was using and thus kept it going for longer until it finally had burned out. It was…hard to believe that Mojo had such technological capabilities. She picked it up idly- shame it had had to be destroyed… when would that wretch learn-? She froze however when she saw the lettering.

B.A.J?

Her eyes widened. The blocky initials welded in the side…She grabbed one of the work sheets they had reluctantly been forced to cooperate on just the prior week. She examined the handwriting- the neat efficient numbers and letters- her gaze whipped back to the welding in her hands.

They were identical.

His crimson eyes had been full of pain- bitterness which only grew as he clutched the piece of mutilated metal to his chest. Her long held suspicions proven correct. He was better than this. She knew it – she'd always known it. And this just proved it.

Be something… extraordinary. Don't hold yourself…back.

She sunk down to her knees. Her strength was gone. That last showing of power had been her last. She looked up- the green and blue flashes were far away – out of reach. The shadow returned.

The blow came from the side. She hit the concrete face first. Blood poured down her head in gushing streams and she saw her ribbon go flying in the air. Her hair flew free around her- she hoped it choked on it- this mass of hair would make the world's biggest hairball imaginable. She chuckled harshly...Buttercup would have loved that one.

Another blow. She landed on her bad arm. Another Crack. The world went black before it rushed back.

Black. Light. Flash.

Red…? A deafening roar and the creature went flying back.

Her ribbon. Clenched in a fist.

Another shadow. Narrowed eyes- hand still out, legs spread, mouth in an iron line as he stood over her. The hand outstretched still glowing from the attack that he had just sent out lowered. His crimson irises flickered down to meet hers.

Before he turned to face her.

And held out that same hand.

Brick?

He looked over his shoulder- it was recovering. The hand remained where it was. No time. She took it.

She stumbled as she got back to her feet. Her voice failed her. Her vision was failing her. His grip was strong. Fierce. She stumbled again.

A hand went under her legs. Another cradling her back. Effortlessly. Like she weighed nothing. Perhaps she didn't. Perhaps… this was one long… dream. He kicked upwards into the sky- the red streak of light that followed after him filled her vision.

Her vision was growing more and more hazed and unfocused.

A dream…

Her eyes closed.

She…must have been…dreaming.

-0-

The roaring continued behind him. Fucking hell. He grit his teeth and despite his intense desire to turn the over sized calamari into a piece of fried seafood he suppressed it. Damn it he should have known that wouldn't be enough to bring it down!

He'd seen her hit it with that last attack before she had collapsed again, the puddle of blood at her feet had been foreboding. He'd just barely made it in time. She'd lost consciousness almost as soon as he'd scooped her off the ground.

She looked like hell. Her arm was almost at a 90 degree angle…. Was that before or after the second attack? Blood stained his shirt and her uniform which had once been pink he thought ominously –was now more a murky brown. Her hair was flying free and he realized dimly he was still clutching her ribbon.

When that scarlet piece of silk went flying out of her hair and he saw it wafting in the breeze…he had just…snapped. Not when she had first been hit. Not when he saw the fucker bring all three of them down. No- he'd still remained calm- pissed he'd admit but relatively still thinking straight- he'd seen his brothers arguing with her- he was about to intervene- call her out on being an idiot- but then she'd attacked it. How she had managed to gather up enough strength to stand let alone attack the slimy fucker he hadn't a damn clue! But when that stupid bow… that stupid obnoxious childish bow… had been ripped out of her hair and left dangling at the mercy of the wind…

All Brick had wanted at that moment was blood. Pure… cold blooded… squid blood.

He only wished he had had time to relish in its agonized screams as he'd incinerated its goddamn EYE!

He grunted and shifted her position again, the last thing he wanted was to shift that arm any more than it already was. Now the question was... where were the morons and the other Puffs? He'd seen his brothers go flying off to the east...but with the speed Boomer was going- seriously since when was Tweedle Dum THAT fast!? Yeah... the kid was quick... but.. that... that had been... unbelievable!

He suddenly heard a commotion coming from ahead of him.

Bingo.

Tweedle Dee and Dum had paused in a cover of thick clouds...and were now screaming at each other. What else was new?

"How could we just leave her?" Boomer demanded harshly.

"She told us to dude!" Butch retorted though his voice was shaking. "She… She wanted us to get her sisters out of there!"

"But But- Oh God Bubbles will never forgive me!" He was near tears.

"D-Damn it idiot… quit your b-blubbering! Act like- a fucking…m-m-man!" He sniffed loudly. "You think- you think I'm ever…g-g-gonna hear the end of it f-from B-Butters!?"

Cripes.

He floated towards them.

"Look alive idiots!" He bellowed. They stiffened

"Big Bro!" Boomer yelped as Butch paled.

"Shit Brick! I-I-We-we-!?" He gulped. "Please don't kill me." He squeaked.

"BRICK I TRIED- I TRIED TO GET TO HER BUT SHE WAS TOO FAR A-A-AWAY!" Boomer's voice broke and he collapsed in a torrent of tears.

"DON'T KILL ME! I TRIED TOO DAMN IT!" Butch said in a whiplash. "SHE MADE US G-G-GO!" He broke down as well.

Brick frowned, rolled his eyes and then cleared his throat. The two blubbering idiots stopped in mid sob and then Butch's eyes widened.

"You got her!?" he yelped. Boomer staggered backwards, and only his continued hold on Bubbles kept him from falling.

"Oh thank God." He breathed.

"So…I'm not gonna die…" Butch stammered. "Oh thank you merciful-."

Brick cleared his throat again. "Focus. Morons." He hissed. His shirt was becoming dangerously soaked. He peered down at her. Her face was waxen.

Shit. Shit.

They immediately straightened and looked at him expectantly.

"So what's the plan Boss?" Butch demanded as he shifted Buttercup's limp form now perched up on his shoulder. "Damn it this chick is heavy!" He grunted. Boomer only cradled Bubbles closer as he looked at Brick imploringly.

Brick's eyes flickered from left to right. He hadn't really thought that far ahead truth be told. He closed his eyes.

This creature was in hunting mode. It wasn't going to stop until it had found its dinner…or something along those lines. It also wasn't going to be happy that they had more or less stolen its prey.

Humboldt Squid according to what he had read were extremely territorial. And they had just intruded on what this thing had now claimed as its own. In short it'd be out for Rowdyruff blood.

So… first thing was first. Much as it pained him to do this.

Hide.

-0-

An office building had miraculously not been destroyed in the carnage and they zipped to the roof. It only took one strong kick from Butch to wrench the emergency door open and wordlessly they descended the stairs with their counterparts in tow.

The building had already been evacuated. Brick looked around quickly, searching for somewhere anywhere he could set her down. Butch set Buttercup down on the carpet before he seemed to catch Brick's drift and he shoved aside the contents of the closest desk to them. The computer fell with a clatter- Brick grimaced. The last thing they needed was to make excessive noise. Who knew how good this things' hearing was…

Still beggars couldn't be choosers. He set her down as gently as humanly possible in the circumstances. Butch wordlessly went back to trying to revive Buttercup. Boomer had already knelt on the floor with Bubbles.

He turned to his own counterpart. It didn't look good. He grimaced as he leaned over her – the scent of blood was overpowering. He grimaced again but he had no choice- they were on their own. He sucked in a deep breath and held it as he peeled off the remains of her jacket and let the soaked garment hit the floor. He almost gagged.

"Shit." He hissed.

It was worse than he'd thought. Her arm was broken alright… and sticking out in a hideous angle he realized grimly that in reality it had almost been clean wrenched off. Her head was still bleeding- no gushing blood.

He touched the scab that had formed on his head gingerly but there was no time to dwell on the cruel ironies of life.

First things first. That arm had to be taken care of. Quickly he shoved the ribbon in his pocket and he moved to pop the arm back in place but hesitated.

Her eyes remained tightly closed and the grey pallor her skin had taken was... extremely worrisome. Tentatively he touched her cheek before he jumped back with another hissed obscenity.

Cold. Her skin was going ice cold.

She was going into shock.

SHIT!

He had paid some attention in First Aid last year. Not a lot… not as much as he should have clearly… but even he knew that going into shock was the worst possible thing that could possibly happen in these kind of circumstances. They were by themselves, alone, the Emergency crews had high tailed it out of there as soon as Pinky had gone down- COWARDS – and…shit… SHIT!

Uh… Uh… HEAT! WARMTH! Right! Keep the victim warm! Uh… He looked down at the sleeveless high collared uniform shirt…dress… whatever the fuck she was wearing. Yeah… that wasn't gonna cut it. He immediately unzipped his jacket and wrenched it over his head before he threw it over her. He patted her cheek. "Come on Pinky. Come on." Her skin was still cold to the touch. Brick's hand shook. "C'mon Pinky…" He murmured.

No choice. He closed his eyes and cupped both her cheeks before willing every ounce of heat in his body to his hands. The red aura was dim in the emergency lighting of the office building as he held his hands against her face- before sliding them downwards. Cupping her neck, down her collarbone, her arms – the uniform was ripped at the bottom so despite feeling like a complete letch he stuck his hands beneath it warming up her stomach and hips- her chest was to be the absolute last resort- he was no pervert. Her leggings were torn- revealing more bare skin – he shifted downwards and raised her legs up slightly to get both of them at the same time. Then he mirrored the process. Up. Down. Up. Down. She couldn't do this. No. She was not allowed to give up. And… lose to some...some overgrown piece of seafood!

No… Not on his watch! He patted her cheeks again.

"Pinky. Wake up!" He ordered. "COME ON!" He shook her. She was still. He felt a welling in his throat. "… Wake up. Wake up damn it!" He repeated the process again. Butch and Boomer were having no luck either. He heard Boomer's voice becoming higher pitched. Hysterical. Butch's was growing angrier and angrier.

…Why had he hesitated?

Why hadn't he… why had he just... Why had he just… fucking… watched!?

He'd seen her… he'd seen her damn it! She'd been in no condition to fight! Her hands had shook as she'd taken those tremulous sips of coffee. She'd been terrified. These weren't mere "monsters of the day", they were vicious… abominations! She'd known… god damn it!

No wonder she'd embraced her sisters that last time. She'd just…known.

And he had just sat there.

And watched.

Watched like any of those other idiots. Watched like all those other times. Like he had seen every bruise. Every cut. Every broken bone. Every punch. Every kick. Every Bite. Every scratch. Every Knife. Every Laser.

Every…Gun.

He could have done something.

He should have done something.

But he hadn't.

Instead… he had done… nothing.

With shaking hands he lifted her up, her head lolled back even as he held her.

He should have done something. And he hadn't. And Why?

Because of a petty immature rivalry that stemmed from what!? Some stupid kiss on the cheek!? A grinning green haired monkey with an attitude telling them what to do! Because she could do her multiplication tables faster than him?! Because he finished Tom Sawyer first!? Because they tied for top of the class every year!? Stupid… it was all…so STUPID!

"You're better than this Brick… "

Damn right he was! They both were!

And he wasn't… letting her go down like this! Suddenly his eyes widened as her voice rang through his mind.

"Lucky for you I'm always prepared."

He put her down quickly before he lifted her leg up again. He'd felt something before. He hadn't thought much about it then but if he was right… YES!

A small metal box was attached to her left calf. Come on…come on… please Merciful whoever the hell was up there… he wrenched it open and nestled inside was a small syringe between two little bottles.

One white. One black.

He couldn't help it. He started grinning like a lunatic. The beauty that was Chemical X stared up at him. Miraculously the bottle had survived the attack. He didn't know how. He didn't care. Maybe something was up there after all and had taken pity on him. Who knew? Who cared!

He popped the bottle and set it down beside him before he bit off the plastic tip of the syringe and spat it out. The small ping when it hit the wall caught his brothers' attention.

"Is that…?" Boomer began hopefully.

Brick nodded. "Left leg. Small box- should be somewhere." He said curtly as he ripped off a piece of his shirt to soak in the antidote X before he applied it to her arm. Boomer wasted no time, his exclamation was almost close to a sob as he gingerly removed Bubbles' matching box before he tore it open and shakily removed the bottles. Butch on his part lifted Buttercup full off the ground, and wrenched the box- and the leggings piece that went with it clean off.

Brick lifted her again, and quickly inserted the syringe straight into her arm- luckily… this at least he knew how to do. He'd had to patch up the idiots enough times after scuffles. He set her down gently before he grabbed the bottles and syringes from Butch and Boomer and did the same with the other two girls.

" Keep em' warm and keep em' still." He ordered. "You both know this ain't gonna be pretty."

Boomer nodded determinedly and Butch gulped. He looked greener than normal. Brick rolled his eyes Pansy. He had to get over that stupid phobia one of these days! He smacked him over the head and pointed to Buttercup. Butch grabbed her shoulders as the first convulsion started.

Boomer bit his lip and did the same to Bubbles. A hoarse gasp behind him made him whirl around. She lifted her good hand gingerly to her head- but a convulsion made her hit the desk again. Shit! Her arm! He zipped back to her. Her eyes were glazed and glowing a brilliant pink- but the arm… shit… he couldn't let the bones fuse back together at that angle.

"Pinky." He hissed. Her eyes seemed to focus slightly before another hoarse gasp of pain escaped from her. Nonetheless she gripped the table.

"B-Brick?" She demanded. "I-Is that you?" He fought the urge to slap his forehead.

"No it's the boogie man- of course it's me!" He snapped. She frowned.

"W-What are you doing…here?" Again. Urge to slap his own forehead.

"Oh you know- I was just in the neighborhood and happened to see you get your ass handed to you by big bad and ugly out there- thought I'd stop by for a chat." Her frown deepened.

"Spare me the sarcasm Ruff…" She moaned as another spasm went through her. Again... with the asinine nickname? Was this supposed to be revenge? Because... she sucked at it...if that were the case.

He grit his teeth and leaned over her.

"Pinky." He began but then stopped.

This… was going to suck.

"Pinky I had to give you X." Her eyes widened and her gaze flew to her arm, she paled and her mouth opened but he cut her off in mid rant, "Pinky… I know. Okay. I know. If there had been another choice I would have taken it alright but- there wasn't. You were going into shock." She stiffened. "You know what I have to do." He touched her arm and she flinched. He sighed. "Pinky I promise I'll be quick okay- trust me. I've done this before – you know how many times the idiots have gone and broken a bone during one of their scuffles?" He snorted but she still shook her head and tried to scoot away from him. He grabbed her back and she whimpered.

Damn it...did she think he was going to-? ... Of course she did. He took a deep breath.

"Pinky-. I. Will. Not. Hurt. You. I give you my word okay... my word as a Rowdyruff!"

Her eyes went wide, but finally she seemed to relax. He exhaled and wrapped his hands around her arm and began to shift his weight.

"Okay. On the count of three – alright count with me." She bit her lip. "Just…try to spare my eardrums." He laughed nervously and a ghost of a smile curled on her face before she nodded.

"One." He began. She bit her lip. He shook his head. "C'mon Pinky! Count with me! One!"

"T-two." She said shakily. More pressure. One solid motion. Quick. To the point. That's all it would take. He took a deep breath.

"THREE!" Down.

CRACK.

Her scream was shrill and her sobbing was worse. Not the usual high pitched whining he was used to from the fairer sex but instead these were deep hoarse gasps that she was trying to swallow down but failing miserably.

Cripes… he hated crying girls… but Pinky crying… this was even worse.

Not to mention… loud. Again… he had no idea how good of hearing this fucker had. So...again... no choice.

He leaned over her, "Pinky! Pinky! It's okay! See all over. Told you I'd be quick." Her crying continued. He felt a stabbing in his gut. He cupped her cheeks and wiped the offending tears away with his thumbs. "Shh… Shh… It's okay. It's okay." He murmured. She swallowed and hiccuped as he continued to hold her cheeks before finally the sobbing fit began to subside.

Though….her hand had reached around his.

She continued clutching it for dear life as another spasm hit her. He heard the sound of bones snapping back into place and her grip on him only grew tighter. She bit back another moan of pain- squeezed her eyes shut – the tears continued to flow but they were silent now…. Which….to be honest was almost worse. He leaned down and wiped them away again. Finally… it was over.

She exhaled a long gasping breath, her chest heaved up and down. Slowly… her grip loosened until he could feel the circulation returning to his hand and fingers. She swallowed hard before her eyes opened again.

He never thought he'd be so happy to see the color pink in his life. They were focused. And… she was back.

Her eyes darted back and forth, he leaned back as she attempted to sit up- he braced her as best he could and her good hand went to her head, and she brought her fingers to her eyes and rubbed the dried flaky blood in between them.

"I…" She began but then she hissed in pain and grabbed her bad arm. He blanched- right. Almost forgot. He scanned the room and found a chair- one quick wrench and the leg was off. It wasn't the best splint-… but it'd have to do. She grimaced as he lifted her arm up gingerly before he took her other hand and rested it firmly on the splint.

"Hold that." He murmured. She silently complied- her eyes were wide. He turned around - thankfully these pants were too tight anyway- he removed his belt. She flinched but he wound the black leather around the make shift- half assed he was loath to say – splint. She looked down on it but she was still more or less silent.

The morons were beginning to have luck. Boomer was tending to the large cut on Bubbles' forehead, and Butch… well shaking them out was one way to get the foreign objects out he supposed. Her gaze followed his and she gasped.

"Girls!" She began. The sound of her voice apparently did the trick. Two feminine groans and a hissed obscenity later at long last the two had begun to stir.

"Ouchies… my head." Bubbles whimpered.

"The fuck happened?" Buttercup hissed. "God damn it son of a-!"

There was a little gasp. "B-Boomer?" Bubbles suddenly whispered. His brother swallowed and nodded. Wordlessly- shakily the blonde's hand cupped his baby brother's cheek.

"The…fuck!?" Buttercup said hoarsely and tried to wrench herself up but immediately fell back down. "B-Butch! What the… what the fuck are you doing here!?" Butch grunted as her hand went flying out wildly. He caught her pathetic attempt at a punch.

"Saving your sorry ass." He grumbled." Why I don't know."

She growled but then she recoiled and hissed in pain. "God damn it! Son of a-"Her hand went to her arm where pieces of glass and metal still lay embedded in her skin. Her face twisted, "Son of a bitch…." She moaned and she slapped her hand over her eyes.

"What happened?" Bubbles whimpered, Boomer helped her sit up, "Did that-." Her eyes popped open. "BLOSSY!?" She screeched.

Buttercup gasped. "FUCK! LEADER GIRL! WHERE'S-!" She turned furious eyes at Butch and grabbed the scruff of his shirt. "WHERE'S MY SISTER ASSWIPE!?" She demanded.

Pinky finally cleared her throat, Bubbles gasped again and Buttercup released Butch before the two jumped – well hobbled- to their feet and limped over to her.

"B-Blossy!" Bubbles whimpered and threw her arms over the Pink Puff. She flinched and Brick stiffened- Buttercup's lime green gaze drifted to him and then wordlessly she took hold of Bubbles' shoulder and gently pulled her back.

"Bubs. Careful." She murmured lowly and then gestured towards Pinky's broken arm. The blonde gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

"Oh my God! Blossy- that looks-!"

She waved it off, "Its… better than it was… believe me." She murmured- "Brick set it-."

She gasped again. "Brick!?" She demanded and then looked up at him with wide eyes. "W-Wait…what…you're here too? What-what are you three even doing here?" She wrung her hands. Buttercup scowled and she turned to Butch. Eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"We saw what happened." Boomer's voice was low. "That thing… it was going to…going to..." his voice trailed.

Butch met Buttercup's fierce suspicious glance evenly, "It wanted a Puffy meal starting with the blonde." Buttercup went white and staggered backwards. "You're lucky we showed up woman or else you'd have been big bad and ugly's dinner."

Bubbles started to sway. Boomer zipped over and grabbed her shoulders before her knees buckled. Her hand went to her mouth before Boomer grabbed a wastebasket and held it to her as she was suddenly- violently sick. Whether from the obvious concussion or the mere thought of what had almost happened to her was what caused it was anyone's guess. Buttercup had sunk into a chair, her head in her knees. She was mumbling a slew of obscenities that could have made even the toughest of sailors blush.

Only Pinky remained seemingly calm. Her eyes were stone cold. Emotionless.

"Pinky." She stiffened and their eyes met. "Pinky what the hell are these things?" He hissed. Her frown deepened as she clenched her good fist but remained irritably silent. He grit his teeth. "Pinky. Answer. Me." He said louder.

Bubbles wiped her mouth tearfully and Buttercup looked up with a haunted expression. Her fist grew tighter but finally she took a deep breath.

"I don't know." She finally whispered.

-0-

"What... do you mean YOU don't know!?" Butch sputtered and Boomer's jaw had dropped.

"W-Wait... but aren't they from Monster-!?"

A loud snort from the green Puff stopped Boomer in mid word.

"You think these things... are natural?" Buttercup snapped.

Wait... what?

"One day... Boomie...They just…starting showing up." Bubbles whimpered.

"At first we thought the same as you-. That these were same old same old shit from Monster Isle… Just…less cooperative." Buttercup snapped. "But then they just kept coming."

"And coming." Bubbles sniffed loudly.

"The mayor and Ms. Bellum finally intervened about six months ago- demanded Monster Isle put a stop to it- it was too much." Pinky said with a harsh laugh. "Turns out they had no idea what we were talking about."

"They weren't even coming from there." Bubbles moaned.

"So where ARE they coming from then!?" Butch demanded. "Back up! I thought we had some kind of stupid treaty or whatever! That's what the news is always saying!"

Pinky snorted, "And you think they have any idea? Do you have any idea the panic that would cause if the populace knew these weren't monsters of the day-?" She air quoted the phrase. "Their very nature is nothing but erratic. One day we can be dealing with what can only be described as a nuisance-.

"Like that yucky one last week." Bubbles gagged slightly. "That was seriously the most disgusting thing I have ever dealt with in my life." She shuddered and Buttercup put a hand out.

"Don't. Do not remind me. I never… so long as I live… want to see another one of… that again." She snapped.

That had been a nasty one. The girls had left that battle so covered in… he didn't want to know quite honestly – that they had had a particular… odor emanating from their clothes even a few days later. Pinky especially with that mane of hair had been particularly miserable.

He'd laughed then.

Now he wasn't.

She wrung a long strand of that same hair in between her fingers, "And others… we're left dealing with…" She sighed mournfully and gestured towards them. "You saw." She murmured.

"So… we really don't know what they are then? No clue whatsoever?" Boomer's voice was trembling. Pinky's face darkened and her sisters even Bubbles scowled dangerously.

"Oh we have one theory." Buttercup hissed.

"We just can't prove it!" Bubbles snarled. Boomer jumped slightly at the vicious tone the usual ebullient Puff had taken. Truth be told even Butch backed away slightly from the savageness of it.

Pinky pursed her lips. "Four months ago… a particular battle went….bad. Civilians were directly threatened and for the first time this creature seemed more interested in them versus well… destroying us…and wrecking a few buildings. It wasn't… there to cause havoc… we realized… it was there to…feed."

Bubbles gulped loudly and even Buttercup averted her gaze.

"Thankfully. It wasn't very intelligent. In fact… its eyesight was absolutely deplorable. It was biting buildings, vehicles left and right- like it had no idea what it was going after…" Brick stiffened. He remembered that battle. Walter's car shop had been in the immediate vicinity and he had almost flown in there to make sure his teacher was okay before it had been subdued and eliminated by the girls.

The fucker had left a shit ton of damage though. It had been erratic. Biting everything in sight… he looked at the blue Puff, she was wringing her hands. He'd seen her zipping people left and right that day- growing more and more frenzied as the battle had raged on.

Pinky continued, "The threat was terminated… finally... but the damage was… extreme. And one car… in particular had been chewed to pieces." Buttercup bit her lip and hugged her arms. Bubbles put a hand on her shoulder but she was shaken off.

"But…it left a clue." Pinky sighed heavily. "A very ominous clue."

Brick's eyebrow raised further. " Clue?"

"The fucker left a tooth- the size of a fucking wheelbarrow – in the middle of it." Buttercup snarled before she jumped up and started pacing irritably.

"One later identified as containing Carcharhinus leucas DNA."The Pink puff's voice was soft, deliberately correct. "Otherwise known as the Bull Shark."

"A Bull SHARK!?" Boomer yelped. "What the- how the fuck did-!?"

"Like I said… we don't know Boomer." Pinky cut him off in mid rant.

"Yes we do Leader Girl we just can't prove it." Buttercup railed and slammed her fist in a nearby desk. Bubbles suddenly clenched her fists,

"You know its true Blossy!" She stood up, "And those poor little things are suffering for it!" She stomped her little foot.

Butch raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean poor little things?" he scoffed. "That thing ain't little. And uh news flash- it tried to eat you remember!" The blonde's eyes widened and she looked slightly green again but she shook her head,

"It's not that simple Butch." She murmured. "They can't help it…"

Now…Brick was confused. Buttercup slapped her brow, "Not this again…" She groaned.

Bubbles however remained firm, "They can't! They're just… acting… naturally- and….they're scared." She whispered.

The Green Puff snorted. "I'll give them something to be scared of!" She grunted and slammed her fist in her palm.

"Buttercup." Pinky said in a warning tone. Brick couldn't help but agree with the crazy green one on this one. Fry em' all. He'd gladly oblige.

"Bubbles… I understand your point of view I really do… but you know we have no other choice." Her voice was firm. "These creatures are not natural... at least not anymore- they are dangerous mutations that must be dealt with. We have discussed this… numerous times."

"But it's not even their fault!" She grit her teeth. "Those-those doo doo brains had a meltdown and then what did they do-! They DUMPED IT!" She stomped her foot through the floor.

"Bubbles! We. Have, No. Proof!" She slammed her good palm down. "You think I like this! You think I like having to deal with this-that I like having to clean up after this travesty as much as you do!?" She rested a finger on her brow and squeezed her eyes shut- her dark circles only seemed to increase. Brick stuck his hands in his pockets- he had no desire to give in to that insane urge he suddenly had to put a hand on either of her shoulders. She sighed heavily, "You think I like having to cover for a bunch of wretched fools and their pathetic attempts at playing God."

Brick tensed. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He said slowly. She nodded.

"Do you remember that terrible accident last summer? The one that was all over the news- the oil refinery?"

He nodded silently.

"Turns out it wasn't an oil refinery. It was a front." She scowled and for the first time Brick began to see real traces of anger in her expression. "The only reason we even found out about it is we were called in- no begged to come help."

"You mean to clean up their fucking mess." Buttercup snapped.

"So… what was it then?" Boomer asked quietly. Nervously. It was a rhetorical one. The answer was obvious.

"So the fuckers were messing with things they shouldn't I take it- and something went out of control." Butch scowled and leaned against a wall.

Pinky only nodded. "The facility was abandoned and all evidence destroyed and… as Bubbles said… disposed of."

"They dumped it." Bubbles hissed angrily. Pinky sighed in exasperation but nevertheless nodded.

"They very well may have…" She murmured. "But all we know for sure is… things were quiet for a while… but… then these… things started showing up and- we've been dealing with them ever since."

" So in other words- a bunch of morons played God- failed- and dumped their shit in the ocean- so every single one of these fuckers is some kind of sea creature?!" Brick hissed.

"That… is one theory…yes." She rubbed her brow again. "We've been lucky so far… but the creature in question out there is… I have my suspicions that it is a mutation of a-."

"Humboldt Squid- Six foot alpha predator- already known to be a threat to man." Brick recited tersely and she blinked.

"Y-Yes… how did you-?"

"My business." He snapped then turned to the window. "One attacked yesterday too I thought- not normally one to travel in groups."

She frowned. "Yes… I believe the one we fought yesterday was a juvenile and today… In fact… I think… it may have...been." Her voice trailed. "I believe that… thing out there…may have been chasing it…" She mumbled.

"Chasing it?" Butch raised an eyebrow but Bubbles slapped her hands on her mouth.

"We killed its baby!?" She screeched.

Pinky shook her head, "No… Bubbles… I think not."

Brick folded his arms. "Humboldt Squid don't balk at cannibalism. If it's weaker they'll eat it." Bubbles gasped in horror and Brick scowled. "Basically you stole its dinner. Which explains its little temper tantrum out there."

"A crude… but effective way of describing the situation yes I agree." She sighed bitterly. "I knew it was only a matter of time before some of the larger predators started showing up…" She mumbled.

"A bull shark ain't big?" Butch scoffed. "That fucker looked pretty big to me." He grumbled.

"Would you rather deal with a Great White!?" Buttercup snapped. Butch paled and cleared his throat uneasily.

"Err...No." He mumbled. Brick rolled his eyes skyward and shook his head.

Boomer snickered." Ooh watch out Butch- Big sharkie coming to get ya!"

"Shut up dumb ass!" Butch bellowed. Buttercup snorted.

"Aww is Butchie afwaid of the bwig sharkie warkie?"

"N-NO!

"HA! You so are!" She snorted and his brother paled more.

"IT TRIED TO EAT ME!"

"It was a dolphin dumb ass!" Brick slapped his forehead.

"Like hell it was! Dolphins don't have that- fin thing!"

"Uhh... Yeah they do..." Boomer said dully.

"No they don't! And how would you know you're just a dumb ass!"

"HA! This is rich! Big bad Rowdyruff is afraid of sharks HA HA! Hmm... Na Na."

"I-I AM NOT SCARED!" He bellowed but nonetheless began backing away very quickly as she advanced on him still singing. Pinky put a hand to her mouth clearly trying to stifle a laugh as Bubbles openly giggled.

"Was it a dolphin?" She murmured conspiratorially.

"Hell if I know- I just told him that so he'd stop crying like a wuss." Brick muttered back. She snorted then and he felt his lip curl slightly. But he quickly repressed it. What…what the hell was going on here!? Why was-!? His eyes scanned what he suddenly realized was happening around him. The blondes were giving each other goo goo eyes… and no one was stopping them… the two… idiots over there were arguing… but no chairs were being thrown…and Pinky and him…

"Cut it out Butters!" Butch demanded although he was still backing away.

"HA! Make me asswipe! Na Na Na Na nanananana—OH SHIT!" She screeched suddenly and plastered her face to the window. "L-Leader Girl!"

Her sister stiffened but immediately jumped down – with some help from Brick that is it wasn't like he could just let her fall to the floor damn it!– Pinky joined her at the window. Her eyes went wide and then she did something Brick in a million years never would have expected-.

" … SHIT!" Her voice cut through the air. "Shit! SHIT!"

Had… had little Miss Priss… just CUSSED!? Her skin had gone a pasty white before she began frantically searching her pockets. Another out of character curse even more obscene this time- Brick could have sworn he heard a word starting with the letter F' emerge from her mouth- she threw the remains of a bright pink Ephone to the ground with a breathy scream. Bubbles paled.

"Blossy!?" She demanded. She whirled around to face her.

Brick narrowed his eyes but before he could get to the window her hand shot out.

"Bubbles… Buttercup. Phone! One of you!" She demanded. Quickly they began searching their own pockets. A moaned curse and a tiny whimper. The light blue and lime green phone remains respectively went the same way as their pink counterpart.

Her breathing was fast and for the first time Brick saw what looked like true panic lining her features. He caught his brother's dumbfounded gazes and wordlessly… he went to her side. Curious is all. Not to keep her from slumping to the ground or anything!

He saw the fucker in the distance- it was leaving Downtown Proper- well… wasn't that a good thing… it was headed for the harbor… well… so it was going home? That…was a good thing. Right? Let it go- once the coast was clear he could- err THEY could get Pinky and her sisters to a hospital and…yeah… just go home he guessed? So…this had never happened… then they could go back to being…uh enemies and shit.

Right…enemies.

"Brick." He stiffened at the smallness of her voice. He forced back the involuntary swallow and turned to her directly. Her hand was outstretched. "May I use your phone for a moment?"

He flinched back from the feel of her silky skin as their hands brushed for a moment but his phone was swallowed up and immediately she began dialing.

"Blossy-?" Bubbles whimpered as she gazed out the window. Buttercup put her hands on both her shoulders and squeezed tightly. Her face the color of paste.

Pinky slammed the phone to her ear. "This is Pink Ice- authorization code TVS6771 "

Pink Ice? What kind of stupid codename was that!?

"I am calling to issue a Code E- I repeat a Code E-– This is not a drill. – I repeat! - THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL!"

Bubbles burst into tears and Buttercup threw her head back and bit her lip while her gaze shot to the ceiling. Her grip on Bubbles' shoulders seemed to tighten. Brick caught his brother's confused stares and knew he mirrored them- but all once a shrill siren Brick had never heard before in all his time here in this dump sounded around them. The sound only seemed to make Bubbles cry more.

"What the fuck's a code E?!" Butch sputtered.

"What the hell JEEZ that shits loud!" Boomer covered his ears.

It was… obnoxiously loud. Like… one couldn't ignore it or grow used to it like one could…reluctantly get used to the usual "monster alert" blaring that Brick had so wearily grown used to over these last few months.

This one though... this was… you couldn't ignore it... no matter how hard you tried. Shrill. High pitched.

Ominous.

Bubbles sniffed loudly, and Buttercup's grip on her loosened.

"It's an evacuation alarm." The Green Puff finally murmured. Her tone was… dead. There was no other way of describing the hopeless… emotionless vibe her voice had taken.

"E-Evacuation!?" Butch demanded. "What kind of-!?"

"City wide. Everyone needs to go." Same dead tone.

"Bull shit- that ain't no monster alert- and shit- I've heard that plenty of-!"

"That's because we've never had to use this one before Butch." Bubbles had taken on the same miserable tone. Her eyes looked haunted as she peered out the window. "It's heading for the power plant…" She whispered. "Blossy…" She whimpered.

Brick's eyes flew to his counterpart who wordlessly handed him his phone before extending her good hand back out. He looked at her oddly but her gaze rested on the ribbon that was sticking out of his pocket. With a murmured curse he fished it out and held it out to her- she took it wordlessly and Buttercup lifted her hair before Bubbles silently tied the scarlet ribbon back into its proper place. Pinky turned to both her sisters before she began floating off the ground.

…She wasn't serious.

"C'mon girls…Townsville's…in trouble." She whispered. Silently they too floated upwards.

Fucking hell she was.

His brothers were quicker than him.

Quick as a snake Boomer had pulled Bubbles down by the waist while with a snarl Butch had wrenched Buttercup down by the arms.

"YOU CAN'T!"

"GOD DAMN IT WOMAN! ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?"

No screams. No wails. Only… silence. Their eyes were blank. Taken aback he saw Butch release Buttercup's arms, but Boomer's grip on Bubbles only tightened.

"It's my job Boomie." The blonde whispered and finally she pulled out of his brother's grasp which had gone limp at her words. "You need to go."

"NO!" Harsh. Strangled. His brother seemed near tears.

"It's… suicide you…stupid…bitch." Butch's voice was small… confused. "You don't stand a fucking chance…"

"You think I don't know that asswipe." She murmured. "Now get the fuck out of here!" She clenched her fists.

"But-!"

"NOW!"

Pinky wasn't getting away that easy. Oh hell no. She was already up higher than her sisters but a single jump and Brick was at her level.

"Pinky!" He snarled. She turned away from him. Her good fist clenched, but her balance was dangerously off. He grit his teeth and before he even knew what he was doing he grabbed her shoulders and wrenched her around.

"You won't last five minutes out there!" Her face twisted as his spittle hit her in the face. "You're in no condition to fight Pinky!" Her balance was completely off. It was glaringly obvious. The makeshift sling her arm was wrapped in wouldn't last another beating.

"That may be Brick… but we have to try." She glared at him. "That thing… is heading for the Nuclear Plant."

"And whose bright idea was it to put a goddamn nuclear plant in the middle of a city like TOWNSVILLE!? This dump gets attacked every fucking week!" The idiocy of people truly astounded him sometimes. Seriously… some of these "officials" and their decisions made Boomer look like the next Albert Einstein!

She seemed to follow his frustration because her lip curled slightly before she sniffed sardonically.

"Exactly. We're here to protect it." Her mouth twisted into a sneer like she had ingested something vile. Perhaps she had- a good steaming pile of bullshit.

"That makes no sense."

"Welcome to my life." Irritation. Bitterness… resignation. Her eyes flashed all these and more in the single moment their eyes met before she cast them down again. She looked down where her sisters were still arguing with his brothers. She frowned and her clenched fist grew tighter.

"Now…valued citizen." His eyes widened. "Please evacuate the premises.

I protect all citizens from any injustice… you and your brothers are included in that equation whether you wish to be or not.

He clenched his own fist. "You don't stand a chance Pinky."

She turned from him. "Evacuate citizen." She repeated. He clenched his fist more.

"I'm. Not. Going. Anywhere!" He reached for her arm again- he would drag her out of here kicking and screaming if he had to! He was about to issue the order for his brothers to do the same to her sisters. Stupid stubborn-!

"I MEAN IT BRICK!" He jumped. The argument below them abruptly stopped. Her eyes were blazing and was it just him or… were they…darker? He squinted but she didn't let him look for long. A crack in his jaw and he was sent flying back into the wall. "GET YOUR BROTHERS OUT OF HERE!" She shrilled. "BUBBLES! BUTTERCUP! MOVE!" She commanded as he cradled his throbbing chin while his brothers rushed towards him. The two other girls zipped to her side before crashing through the window raining glass and plaster down upon the three of them as they zipped downtown.

"The fuck! Talk about ungrateful!" Butch roared. "CRAZY-! FINE! GO OFF AND GET KILLED YOU STUPID- STUPID… GIRLS!"

Boomer clutched his head and shook it, "They're gonna get killed!" He moaned. "Oh God…Oh God! Bubbles... Bubbles!"

The shrieking alarm kept going around them, they saw people running at full speed down the street – in mass droves the city was literally emptying. She…wasn't kidding. If that thing… was really…some kind of mutation… of… human origins…and if it hit and got into that nuclear facility…

His jaw ached. Cripes he'd forgotten how good a right hook Pinky had! He rubbed it again. Crazy… stubborn… woman. Boomer was continuing to moan incomprehensibly while Butch just ranted various obscenities at varying levels- Brick heard an occasional mention of the Green Puff's name mixed in a few times.

"What the fuck is gonna happen!?" Butch finally managed to get a coherent legible sentence in between rants. "So what Big Bro?! Do we bolt like they said to!?"

What other choice did they have? He frowned and stood up- slightly shakily he'd admit- again damn good right hook. Butch slapped Boomer over the head to snap him out of his pity party-

" . Time to-." The hairs on his neck suddenly stood straight up as a shriek pierced his ears. A shrill high pitched scream. An agonized… -.

"Blossom…" His lips traced the unfamiliar syllables that nonetheless escaped his mouth before he could swallow them back. His feet began to move and he didn't acknowledge his brothers' bewildered cries as he jumped in the air and out the window the girls had so helpfully destroyed. His eyes darted back and forth until he saw what he was looking for. Two streaks of light were zipping around the fucking abomination- Blue. Green.

No Pink.

Brick saw red. He felt a whiplash of air behind him.

"BIG BRO!" Boomer's voice was harsh. "Wait up!" Electricity had already begun crackling around his brother's fingertips.

"Orders Boss!" Butch snarled. He slammed his fist in his palm.

They were glaring. Poised for battle. Brick straightened his cap.

"Time to make some fucking calamari." He hissed.

-0-

Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!

She bit back a moan of pure agony before she peeled herself off the roof she had been thrown on. Wretched… Wretched… BASTARD!

With a snarl she zipped off and rejoined her sisters.

Bubbles screamed and barely dodged another tentacle as it went flying her way. She grit her teeth. It was… It was completely erratic in its behavior! This was worse than the Carcharhinus leucas – the destruction was unbelievable!

It didn't take a genius to figure out why either.

Its entire left eye… was blistered and swollen and half hanging out. It was literally running blind.

Part of her wanted to scream. Part of her wanted to rail. But she couldn't.

He'd only done what she couldn't at that moment. He had brought it down. Were it not for what Blossom was beginning to darkly suspect was its mutation at work this creature would never have survived such an intense flame.

It was covered in scorch marks. And not just from pure fiery burns- these were electricity burns. Boomer's voltage must have been extraordinary. She scanned its red flesh- a few traces of frostbite lingered on its left side- it's right side was flayed. There was no logical reason this thing should have still been standing.

Yet here it was.

So… her worst fears were realized.

They were getting stronger. The mutations growing more and more erratic. The long hours she had spent holed up with every text on marine biology she could find… useless.

All useless!

Buttercup screeched an obscenity and landed a kick in its injured eye- this only seemed to agitate it- and Blossom could have cursed- she did curse- as the tentacle sent her sister flying backwards. A light blue streak kept her from crashing headfirst into another building. Her sisters both cried out and barely dodged another hit.

Damn it… this thing was smart!

Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!

She paled and barely dodged one of the tentacles. A burning in her shoulder almost brought her to her knees. Oh God… The burning soon turned into a blistering raw agony that threatened to seep through her whole body. Her knees shook- NO! She grit her teeth- it was still heading for the plant.

Another one of her more ominous predictions proved correct.

Their instincts would begin craving more- like an essential vitamin of sorts- and like any animal it would instinctively go for what its body needed.

Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!

Her head went to the right. Then to the left. They were exposed. Surrounded on all sides by buildings – the bridge out of Townsville was covered in cars- and she saw a few smudges of color on the bridge- they were all gawking- watching the battle having exited their cars. IDIOTS!

She could scream. She did. Oh of course the gaping fools would- would- UGH!

"ARE THEY NUTS!" Buttercup bellowed.

"OH MY GOD WHAT ARE THEY DOING!?" Bubbles shrieked in an utter panic. Oh God... not what they needed now! Blossom bit her lip.

There were two directions this creature could go in. Towards the Plant. Or towards the bridge.

Either one… couldn't happen.

They had to get it to turn back. Head towards downtown once more!

… But how… it was fixated on the plant! It was craving its sustenance! And after that… it would search for a meal… and there was an entire buffet right there for the taking.

Right. Left. Right. Left.

"Blossy! What do we do?" Bubbles whimpered.

"Ideas Leader Girl!" Buttercup demanded.

Ideas?! She was already-! Her sisters were looking at her expectantly.

Right. Left. Right. Left.

Plant. Bridge. Plant. Bridge.

"Blossom!" Buttercup snapped her fingers in her face. "Leader girl! Focus! What's your order?"

"Blossy tell us what to do!"

Right. Left. Right. Left.

Plant. Bridge. Plant… bridge.

"Leader Girl!"

"Blossy!"

Plant… bridge… left…right… Oh God… Oh God…

I don't… I can't…

I…don't…know.

Buttercup suddenly stopped her snapping and Bubbles went a ghastly white as a shadow descended on the three of them. She looked up dully. How a 70 story leviathan had managed to sneak up on them she hadn't a clue but it was too late. The tentacle so ominously close and covered in tooth lined suckers- which explained the sorry state of their uniforms- was about to come crashing down on their very heads.

Bubbles threw her arms over her head and screamed. Buttercup wound up a punch. Like that would do anything.

And Blossom just stared at it. Her mouth trembled. Her mind flew with different scenarios- all rejected.

It was just too late.

She sucked in a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. Bracing for the agony about to come as those be toothed suckers ripped her apart.

She suddenly heard heavy breathing beside her before she was unceremoniously shoved aside and fell into something… warm? A chest? Who-!?

There was a loud boom. The monster howled. Another boom.

"Try all you want fucker I'm ready for ya this time!" Butch's voice mocked. Wait…WHAT!?

"The hell!? BUTCH!?" Buttercup screeched.

"The one and only!" He grunted as the tentacle slammed against the shield that had surrounded them once again. "What did you think we were just gonna run away like a bunch of pansies! We can't just let this dump get destroyed! All our shits here!" Another grunt. Now there were two.

"Boomie!?" Bubbles yelped. She was wrapped in the blue Rowdyruff's grip and it didn't look like this time she would be getting out of it anytime soon. She saw her little sister practically collapse in relief.

But… But!? What were they-!? Blossom whirled around and came face to face once more with the Red Rowdyruff who looked deathly serious.

All three of them did.

Buttercup found her voice first, "We told you idiots to leave!" She bellowed.

"It's too dangerous here!" Bubbles yelped in agreement but Boomer's grip on her tightened in reply.

"Like hell are we just gonna sit here and let some oversized seafood destroy the place!"

"You three are in no condition to fight!" Brick's voice was a hiss, but then he grabbed Blossom's good arm and pointed to the makeshift splint, "And as for YOU! Are you out of your goddamn mind! Look at your arm! Do you want to end up LOSING it!?" He roared.

She bit her lip- the savage scarlet glow in Brick's eyes was… slightly discomfiting.

"You girls need to get out of here!" Butch grunted as another tentacle shot out so he was bracing against three at once. Boomer nodded and with a surprisingly vicious tone.

"We'll take care of this shit head- you girls run for it!" He snarled before he released Bubbles and pounded his fist in his palm- electric sparks crackling between his fingers.

"And you need to get to a hospital. Now." Brick said it in a tone like it merited no argument. She felt herself bristle. How…Dare…-!

"I can take care of myself Brick Jojo!" She hissed. "And while your assistance before is appreciated- This is... out of your league! So for once in your fucking life you stupid Rowdyruff do as I say and GET OUT OF HERE!"

He seemed taken aback by her foul language for a moment – Pfft typical – but then his eyes narrowed into slits and his nostrils flared- she could have sworn she saw steam emanating from them but she didn't back down. It was for his own good damn it! Butch cried out again. Four.

"You- you-"he clenched his fist and grit his teeth so savagely she almost flinched. "Out of my league!? Look at you! You got the ever loving shit beaten out of you by an overgrown piece of calamari! And you're saying this is out of MY league!"

She growled. "It is a mere… setback I can assure you I have everything…under control."

She did! She just…-. His eyes narrowed and his mouth opened but then his arm shot out in front of her as Boomer shoved Bubbles behind him Butch bellowed again- her eyes widened as the green Rowdyruff was now desperately trying to keep five tentacles at bay.

And cracks were beginning to form already.

Buttercup swore and threw her arms around his chest from the back- bracing him as best she could before another swooping pounding began.

"I- Hate- To- Interrupt- but- we-have-a situation-here!" Butch grunted in between hits and Buttercup continued to brace him from behind. The cracks were however spreading. It was only a matter of time before the shield shattered again!

"C'mon you two! Think! You're both the geniuses here! Think of something!" Boomer snapped.

The two stiffened and she narrowed her eyes at the blonde boy but to her surprise Bubbles nodded quickly.

"He's right! You're the smartest kids in school! If anyone can figure this out you guys can!" She pressed her palms together. "C'mon you two- just work together!"

"Yeah- Preferably- soon- like in the next… ten minutes!" Butch grunted. Another crack. "Okay… make that five!"

"Yeah- c'mon…Einsteins!" Buttercup snapped- another blow. Another crack. "Get geniusing!"

She stiffened. But what other choice did they have? She darted a look at Brick who looked as much- if not distinctly more unhappy with the idea but he had obviously come to the same conclusion.

"Alright… what do we know?" She said stiffly.

"Humboldt squid are territorial – we've pissed it off by stealing its prey now twice- it's in pain and not thinking clearly." He answered quickly.

"And whose fault is that?" She snapped.

"Whose sorry ass is still here because of it?"He snapped right back.

"… Touché." She mumbled. He smirked. She swallowed back the urge to smack it off him though Blossom had to wonder how he had suddenly become such an expert in marine biology. But that was irrelevant!

"Listen Pinky- the thing wants to eat right- and humans usually aren't on the menu- according to reports these things will only attack when they feel threatened…or pissed off. But they're animals- they're easy to distract- we just have to bait it somehow." –

Again… he hadn't been in her biology class last year… in fact she was pretty sure he'd been in a completely different kind of science class all together…! How did he know all this!?

He grunted and had begun scanning the area. "There! See look- Townsville Aquarium. Plenty of nice little fish for the fucker to eat! Distract it- then hit it with everything we got!"

"I like that plan!" Butch and Buttercup both yelled.

"We are not sacrificing innocent little sea creatures Brick! That's murder and Powerpuffs don't MURDER!" Bubbles screeched and stomped her foot.

He blinked and Blossom slapped her forehead. "You've gotta be kidding-." He began but Blossom slapped his mouth shut.

"Don't bother. Just… trust me "She hissed. Oh God the last thing they needed right now was a Bubbles fit. And judging from the fury in her animal minded baby sister's eyes this was a distinct possibility. "Your plan is sound but find another angle before we have a sonic scream fueled temper tantrum on our hands!" He narrowed his eyes but nonetheless shoved her hand off with a grunt and a nod. She scanned the area and then she saw it.

Fishing Boats.

Lots of them. All moored in the harbor. Filled to the brim with today's catch before the fishermen had fled.

His gaze had followed hers.

"Think that'll be enough?" He said quickly.

"Like you said it's an animal- instincts override everything."

"Agreed. It'll be so busy stuffing that over sized mouth of theirs it won't know what hit em'!"

Mouth. … MOUTH!

He stiffened when she suddenly threw her good arm around him. "Brick! Brick you're a genius!"

"I know." He pushed her off and cleared his throat, "Your point?"

She whirled around to face the two blondes who were watching them with agog faces. "Boomer how fast can you fly!?" She demanded. The tall blonde stiffened.

"Uh… fast?" He mumbled.

"No an exact-!" At his blank look she changed her approach. "Bubbles can hit speeds of close to 80 to 90 miles per hour- can you keep up with her!"

Boomer gulped, "I-I dunno Blossom I've never-."

"Can you keep up Boomer?"

"Easily." Brick's voice interrupted them both. " I have no idea how fast he was going when he left Freddy's. But it was fast. He's your man if you need speed Pinky."

Boomer's eyes had gone wide. "Big…Big Bro?" He whispered. "You really mean that-?" Brick ignored it. Blossom continued.

"Okay Boomer, Bubbles listen carefully- We need you two to lure that thing over to those fishing boats-they're already dead Bubbles! – And once you're there it needs to stay there understand- infuriate it- keep it busy- Just keep it there!"

The two stiffened but then nodded before she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled shrilly. The raven haired Puff turned around slightly

"Oh good finally come up with something have we O' smart ones!?" She grunted and held Butch steady as another savage blow hit. "Oh please do enlighten us!"

She ignored her snark and turned to Brick – "Get some fire started." She mumbled and he raised an eyebrow but nonetheless sucked in a breath. They had one shot. One chance- she could see the smoke rising from his mouth. She clenched her fist. Steady… steady.

She raised a hand and Bubbles tensed- ready to fly at a moment's notice. Boomer confusingly followed suit- both were spring boards ready to go into the air.

Steady…

The smoke was slightly thicker- he was almost there…

"Butch." She called out. The Green Rowdyruff grunted.

"What!? I'm a little busy here!" He snarled as another tentacle hit the green barrier. Another crack.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, and instead cleared her throat. "Butch when I say so bring the shield down!"

He looked at her like she had two heads. And Buttercup followed suit.

"Um excuse me!?" She sputtered.

"The fuck Red! Did Big Bad and Ugly knock you on your pretty little head too many times or something!?"

She scowled. "Just trust me!"

"Big bro she can't be ser-!" He stopped in mid rant- Brick's gaze was like literal fire. Glaring at his little brother he raised a warning finger and slid it across his throat in a slicing motion. Butch gulped and hastily nodded."Never mind- Red wants us to get a beating then a beating we will!"

The smoke was thick. She raised her index finger.

Steady…. Steady…

She cleared her throat and then floated upwards slightly until she was level with where its eyes would be.

"HEY SHARK CHOW!" She screamed as loud as she could. The onslaught paused and the cruel black gaze shifted onto her.

"NOW BUTCH!" She bellowed. "BRICK FIRE!"

With a howl the shield went down and Butch's knees slightly buckled but Buttercup ripped him out of the way of Brick expelling the fiery blast straight on the squid which like she knew it would -had learned to dodge and jumped back to avoid another roasting -they had the window they needed.

"BLUES GO!" The two blondes zipped high in the air and began circling the squid.

"Na Na Nanana! Come and get me mother fucker!" Boomer stuck his tongue out before sending an electric blast at it.

"Follow me Boomie"! Bubbles yelled and the two blue streaks zipped out towards the fishing moor.

"C'mon you son of a bitch…" Brick muttered. "Take the bait."

Like clockwork the behemoth with a roar began chasing after the blondes. He smirked but this was no time to celebrate just yet. Butch was breathing hard, and Buttercup was fanning him idly with her hand.

"Are you alright Butch?" Blossom was alarmed. He truly looked exhausted- how much energy did one of those shields take!?

"Just- Just need a sec to catch my breath Red. But…you know you're kind of sexy when you're all bossy and shit" He said with a wink. Buttercup slapped his head.

"Keep your nasty thoughts away from my sister ass wipe." She mumbled but continued to fan him.

"What's wrong Butters… jealous?" He snickered.

"In your dreams." She hissed.

Blossom decided to ignore it. "Butch- is it possible for you to make another shield in say…" She looked behind her where the blues were making zig zag patterns in the sky around the increasingly infuriated mutant. "Ten minutes give or take?"

Butch smirked tiredly. "Well gee Red since you asked so nicely-." He mumbled and his head began to loll. "I think I can manage… one more… just because the Butch can never say no to a pretty girl like your sweet self."

She blinked and another smack ensued. "HEY! What did I say!" Buttercup snarled.

He flashed her another wink and Blossom cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Err…yes thank you Butch. Buttercup-."

"Yeah Yeah I know leader girl- time for the toughest fighter to give ole' blubber gills the beating of a lifetime!" She snickered and cracked her knuckles.

"Well actually I need you to stay here with Butch and back him up." Buttercup stiffened.

"Say what!?" She demanded. Butch laughed.

"You'll see! Just… trust me." Her sister scowled but nevertheless folded her arms and floated listlessly in the air.

"What are you up to Pinky?" Brick's voice was slightly tense and he was gripping his folded arms with a dangerous scowl.

"You mentioned its mouth before- Everything we've hit it with externally has been… ineffective- we have to hit it from the inside out." How she hadn't thought of that before she decided not to dwell on.

Either way…

"And how do you plan on making it open its mouth?" Brick raised an eyebrow. "The things not stupid- it'll guard its most vulnerable area with all it's got."

"Simple." She smirked. "We make it fall."

"…Say what?"

Bah. No imagination that one! She grabbed his arm.

"I'll explain on the way- come with me! Greens- get that shield ready on my signal!"

-0-

It was an oddly brilliant plan. He'd begrudgingly admit.

Make the behemoth stuff its face- piss it off- make it less… alert to dangers by focusing on two annoying ones basically playing keep away with a fishing boat – heh he'd give Tweedle Dum that one… - that was one way to keep it busy- and when the time came…

He grunted and shifted the cables in his arms.

"So… Lemme get this straight Butch is gonna sneak up behind it and trap it then you and I are going to literally trip a 70 story squid so it falls on its more or less ass- exposes itself for the whole world to see and then… we hit it with everything we got?"

"That's the plan yes."

Again… strangely brilliant.

"And… Why didn't you think of this before?"

She stiffened and gathered up the remains of the telephone wires, "I…wasn't thinking clearly I suppose." She murmured.

He frowned. "Pinky how much sleep did you get last night?" He muttered. She tensed again.

"I don't see how that's any of your business." She mumbled. "And… no less than usual."

He raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh…so what's no less than usual?"

She scowled. "Like I said. None of your business Brick." She said acidly.

"Mmm yeah gotta say Pinky you really know how to pull off the raccoon look – real nice." She stiffened.

"Well that's better than your brother calling me sexy I suppose." She muttered.

Yes but Butch was still going to get the beating of a lifetime as soon as they got home… and Brick didn't know what this " Red" shit was about… but… that was stopping too.

But speaking of nicknames…

"Pinky… by the way what was with the "Blues" and the "Greens" shit back there?" She paused.

"Oh well I don't know… it seemed to suit them..."

He snorted. "In a juvenile way I suppose it does." He folded his arms. "So what does that make us? - the Reds?"

She chuckled. "Err yes I suppose in that mindset it does. Ugh I need coffee." She mumbled. "As soon as this is over I want a big steaming cup of Janey's coffee with cinnamon…oh yes… that would be lovely- you ever been to Janey's? Best coffee in town I assure you…"

He snorted despite himself. "Yeah… it does have a decent cup I was there just this morning actually-." He froze.

Shit.

She was looking at him with wide eyes,

"You were?" She cocked her head, "Funny so was I… I don't remember seeing you- huh small world." He shrugged and mentally berated himself for allowing such a slip. Her eyes focused on the Greens- damn it! Now he was doing it! – Behind them. Butch was still slightly out of it- he had expelled a lot more energy than he was used to- slightly…worrisome Brick would admit. But nonetheless his brother would recover.

"Hey Red! What's the hold up!?"

From the shield exhaustion. Whether or not Butch would be alive afterwards was up for debate.

"You two ready!" She was quick and to the point. Buttercup nodded stiffly and Butch folded his arms with a leering grin.

"Ready as I'll ever be Red you just tell the Butch when to pull it out and I will." He snickered. Buttercup growled almost in sync with Brick. Yeah… Butch's life was really up for debate at the moment.

Pinky on her end just ignored the badly hidden innuendo. "Glad to hear it…" She said with an eye roll. "Alright…" She mumbled and looked behind them. "Here they come…positions everyone!"

"Oh Red the positions I could show your sweet little bossy-!"

SMACK

She blinked and even Buttercup looked impressed. She gave a slow clap in Brick's direction. He grunted and shook out his wrist.

"OW! Jeez Big Bro what the fuck was that for!?"!" The little shit whined as he rubbed his head where a big knot was already forming.

"Focus moron!" He snarled right back. "Now get into position like Pinky said!"

"Jeez…touchy…." He muttered.

Pinky flashed him a hard look- but it wasn't malicious- it was purely serious-… he had to admit... Despite her missing of such an obvious weak point… she was hell of a leader. Nothing to him of course but… a worthy… second best he'd acquiesce.

She whistled shrilly- the Blues- DAMN IT- stopped their game of keep away and looked at her. She waved them back. Immediately they began their game anew only heading back towards them.

"Greens get behind it! – Here they come!" Butch shot upwards and Buttercup followed before landing atop a roof where a billboard was dangerously unstable. "Brick! Get ready! We have one shot!" He gave a curt nod and dove behind the building- while she did the same directly across from him. In a rage the creature was chasing after the Blues –aw screw it if you can't beat em' join em'- With a blue flash Bubbles zipped past him and Boomer tossed the boat high in the air before joining her.

"NOW!" Pinky roared while Buttercup on her part with a roar of her own pushed the billboard over so it landed on the mutant's head- it bellowed and she zipped past it – with a cackle and an outstretched finger just for good measure - the creature roared and turned around to chase after her but Butch immediately sent up the single biggest shield Brick had ever seen him produce which the idiotic squid smashed against at full speed. It fell back and Pinky immediately zipped out of her hiding place and froze the street turning it into an ice rink before grabbing her end of the cable.

"NOW BRICK!" She bellowed and he pulled the cable as tightly as he could as the creature went slipping and sliding backwards- he grunted as the full weight of the thing – seriously it must have weighed a good ten or twenty tons at least- hit his cable and he heard her cry out- Crap! One arm wasn't going to cut it! Thankfully Bubbles zipped over and grabbed the cable and pulled- he heard movement next to him and saw Boomer had done the same for him. The four of them braced themselves as the creature began to teeter.

"C'mon! C'mon you mother fucker!" He grunted.

With a loud crash … it went down straight on its back- took a few office buildings with it but that was what insurance was for! - And then Brick saw it. The milky white flesh and the sharp jagged beak.

Wide open in a roar.

Brick immediately released the cable and Butch let down the shield.

He met her gaze and she nodded as her eyes began to glow.

"HEAT VISION!" They both bellowed and all at once six beams burst towards the core. One loud agonized scream escaped from it before-. Aw shit he'd forgotten about this part.

He put a hand over his eyes as the deluge fell upon him in a hot mess of intestines, blood… flesh…and… he didn't care to know what else.

He wiped his face- and removed his cap before shaking it out- a piece of what he believed must have been an eye once dripped off the rim- crap… this would never come out! He looked at it mournfully but it was suddenly snatched from him- he grit his teeth but it was abruptly shoved back at him mere seconds later… dripping wet but clean otherwise. He raised an eyebrow but saw that she was using her ice breath on her ribbon-as a sort of impromptu wash he realized.

Their eyes met and he nodded his thanks. She merely nodded back.

Before she smiled.

His insides jolted. It was small… but it was genuine: Not a sneer, not a grimace not even a smirk.

A real true…genuine smile.

…For him.

A loud squeal broke him out of his thoughts as he saw a blue blur tackle his brother "OH MY HERO! MWAH BOOMIE YOU WERE SO BRAVE MWAH OH BOOMIE! MWAH MWAH MWAH MWAH MWAH MWAH" His brother's goofy dazed smile only grew wider and wider at each enthusiastic acclamation from Bubbles and each kiss on the cheek until Brick was sure his very face was going to split open.

"YEAH! THAT'S RIGHT! DON'T FUCK WITH US! HOW'S IT FEEL SHIT HEAD! OH WAIT CAN'T HEAR YA! CAUSE YOU'RE DEAD!" Buttercup sang out, bent over and smacked her butt. "KISS MY ASS MOTHER FUCKER!" She continued to taunt…the creature's dead insides.

Butch who was throwing similar diatribes stopped dead. His brother's eyes widened to the point of saucers before a leering grin spread over his features.

"Daaaamn! Butters shake that booty!" He cackled- she stopped in mid taunt and flashed him a murderous look.

"Kiss my ass asswipe!"

"With pleasure baby!"

Brick slapped his forehead at the ensuing outraged howl and loud SMACK that echoed through the empty streets.

"Worth it!" Butch said dazedly and flashed Brick a thumbs up as Buttercup seethed next to him fist still outstretched.

Idiot.

The loud lip smacking going on behind them still continued but he heard Pinky give a small clearing of her throat. Almost immediately the Blues jumped away from each other. Boomer scratching his neck sheepishly covered in lipstick marks, Bubbles twiddling her thumbs with an embarrassed smile on her face. They gave each other little side glances.

There was a low chuckle but all at once she began to slump downwards.

"Whoa! Easy there Pinky!" He caught her before she fell. The adrenaline of the battle having worn off-exhaustion soon had overtaken her and she wasn't the only one: Bubbles too slumped over slightly as Boomer caught her, and even Butch grabbed Buttercup. Sirens blasted around them- the Emergency crews had finally arrived – Pfft better late than never.

They dropped down wordlessly. She was barely conscious at this point, and sure enough as soon as her legs hit the ground they buckled completely. He scooped her up in his arms without protest- Boomer had followed suit with the blonde and even Butch had lifted the Green Puff onto his back despite her moaned protests and rebuffs.

There was a screeching of tires and loud gasps and exclamations as emergency crews piled out of the ambulances in front of them.

And the crowds…had gathered. He heard Boomer gulp loudly and Bubbles' soft reassurances, Butch had slowed down considerably to a snail's pace- only Buttercup's weak jeering made him continue.

And…Brick silently swallowed the frog that had gathered in his throat, tightened his hold on the barely conscious girl in his arms and he continued on.

He was covered head to toe in monster guts. He had a badly injured counterpart who needed urgent medical care. He didn't have the patience to deal with this shit right now!

They were silent. Staring. Brick saw both his brothers stiffen. As the huge crowd just…gaped at them. Wordless. Wide eyed. Finally…

"Oye move it! We got injured Puffs here! Step aside!" Butch demanded.

Brick grimaced, but at another slight moan from the girl in his arms he took a deep breath and stepped forward so he was face to face with some tall man in a business suit at the very front of the crowd.

Who suddenly moved to the side making an opening for him to pass.

He stiffened when something was suddenly placed on his shoulders. His eyes darted to the left -A towel? Then a hand. And another towel. Another hand as he was ushered through the crowd- the silence was…deafening. Each step he took seemed to echo as the strangers' hands guided him to the ambulances waiting.

One of the paramedics was already waiting with a gurney and Brick set her gently down on it.

Work done. Puffs saved. Time to go.

Another EMT approached him but he waved him off, "I'm fine damn it!" He muttered. "Focus on her!"

She moaned again as her arm's makeshift splint was removed. He grimaced with her- that… was going to hurt. A lot. Both his brothers had also placed their counterparts in the capable hands of EMT's. He flashed them a look. Boomer stiffened and shook his head before he leaned down and gently brushed the hair from Bubbles' eyes as the EMT cleaned the raw wound on her brow.

Murmurs began around them. Aw no.

"Boomer." Brick hissed. The lovesick fool ignored him.

"So Butters… how long you had that luscious little booty- and where have you been keeping it all this time?" Snicker. Leer. Wink. Butch was leaning dangerously close to the Green Puff's face as her vitals were being checked.

"PERVERT!" SMACK.

"Aw man… I love it when you get all feisty!"

"I'll show you feisty!" Smack. "Letch!"

…Idiot.

The murmurs were growing louder…and louder. He flinched when he saw eyes beginning to turn in his direction. Cripes. Okay…now it was really time to go-!

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat. He turned to her. She was watching both the scenes with her sisters and his brothers… with surprisingly warm eyes. Even…Butch and Buttercup…despite the violence… were now nonetheless smiling. This… this was weird. Okay… yeah back to reality- He cleared his throat,

"Right. Pinky it's been fun but -."

Rowdyruffs….Rowdyruffs.

He froze in mid-sentence. His brothers stiffened. Before slowly…Brick turned.

"Rowdyruffs! ROWDYRUFFS!"

W-What?

"ROWDYRUFFS ROWDYRUFFS ROWDYRUFFS!"

The cheers were only growing louder and spreading before the entire crowd erupted in the chanting.

And then the applause started. The whistles. The screams. The cheers.

Boomer's eyes were the size of saucers, Butch's jaw dropped and Brick…

Brick just stared.

Two familiar cries and clapping closer to them joined the frenzy. Bubbles clapping wildly and even Buttercup had joined in with a slow clap of her own.

"YAY! YOU BOYS WERE AWESOME!"

"Not bad guys… not bad at all."

Boomer finally seemed to recover from his shock and tentatively raised his hand. The cheering grew louder and his brother's face lit up as he began to wave more enthusiastically. Butch the idiot had also begun waving- before flexing his muscles.

"May as well give the crowd what they want eh! YEAH! WE ROCK!"

The crowd seemed to… agree with him. Their cheering only grew louder…and louder the more his brothers waved and acted like a bunch of… fools… smiling like idiots the entire time. Right…okay now it was really time for Brick to-.

A gentle touch on his wrist kept him from his escape. He stiffened but nonetheless turned to meet her soft pink gaze. She was smiling that smile again which seemed to make his stomach do flip flops. The smile grew bigger and she gestured behind them before giving him a gentle push forward.

"Take a bow Ruff… you've more than earned it." She murmured. He stiffened more but nonetheless his hand raised slowly, stiffly to his brow before he gave the crowd a quick salute.

The cheering exploded then. Boomer's whoops and shrill high pitched whistle, Butch's cackling sardonic glee, Bubbles' high pitched gushing cheers and Buttercup's hollers

His name was suddenly echoing everywhere. His brothers' joined it. This was… this was...-.

"Brick." He turned back to her, "Brick." She repeated again. " Thank-." Her eyes closed and she collapsed down on the gurney itself.

"Pinky what-!?" He demanded and flashed a menacing look at the paramedic who was wiping down a needle. The man smiled at him- wait… smiled? Where was the glaring? The frightened wide eyes- what was… the cheering that still continued behind him?! What the hell was going on-!?

"Relax Mr. Hero. Just a sedative. She's gonna be just fine thanks to you." He smiled broader and two more paramedics lifted the gurney into the back of the ambulance. Buttercup and Bubbles jumped down from their respective perches and his brothers followed them.

…Hero?

"Yo cap boy." He stiffened again. Buttercup's lime green gaze was hard as she looked at him with narrowed eyes but then a smirk crossed her face. "Thanks." She gave him a mock salute, tousled Boomer's hair and smacked Butch in the arm with a wink before hopping into the ambulance beside her sleeping sister.

Before Brick could even think of a coherent response Bubbles threw her arms around him before dragging Butch and Boomer in the embrace as well. "Yes! Thank you! Thank you! See you guys later!" She gushed and pressed one more loud kiss on Boomer's cheek before she made a little hop of her own into the vehicle. She waved jubilantly and Buttercup shot them a quick wave of her own before the doors shut and the ambulance sped off.

He blinked and watched it go on its way.

Hero…?

"MR. JOJO! MR. JOJO! A word!" Eh? A microphone was suddenly shoved in his face and he saw his brothers had fallen into similar predicaments.

"Tell us your thoughts on the battle!"

"Why did you seek to help the Powerpuff Girls!? Aren't they your enemies?"

"Mr. Jojo have the Rowdyruffs turned a new leaf?"

"Mr. Jojo!"

"Do you have a comment Mr. Jojo?"

His brothers looked at him and he nodded.

Time to go.

The three floated upwards, Butch dragging Boomer who had fallen into a lovesick daze once again and to the cheering of the crowd still chanting their names- they sped off back to the observatory.

-0-

"Bubbles…" Boomer murmured dreamily. "Bubbles kissed me… and I didn't explode…" He laughed crazily before he did a backflip in the air and gave a loud whooping holler. "BUBBLES UTONIUM KISSED ME! YAHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Soon a dark blue streak was whizzing around the observatory- creating among other things a blue "heart" in midair.

"…He's gone." Brick muttered as the idiot's loud hollering continued around them.

"Yep..." Butch peeled off his shirt which was still covered in guts. "Aw man this shit's never gonna come out." He lamented. Brick rolled his eyes and removed his own shirt- gone. Not even a chance of saving it- next to the squid guts the coppery smell of blood- her blood -still lingered.

He scrunched his nose and chucked it in the wastebasket. Butch raised an eyebrow but said nothing before taking the first shower. Boomer was too busy literally floating on air to care about the state of his appearance.

Idiot.

Said idiot descended next to him, legs still crossed with that goofy smile still marring his face. He hummed happily. Cripes. He turned on his heel but another whoosh and suddenly the blockhead was in front of him again- still smiling away like the world was made out of kittens and rainbows!

"Soooo by the way Big Bro…" Well what do you know the lovesick idiot was capable of speech after all. But…why didn't Brick like that look?

That… strangely belligerent little smirk…did not belong on his brother. He scowled at the very sight of it.

"What?! Jeez you reek! Seriously you're stinking up the place- Go take a shower then come talk to me moron!"

Boomer continued to smirk. And followed Brick even as he tried to escape his awful stench. His brother laughed madly and then cocked his head.

"You said Blossom's name back there ya know." Brick stiffened.

"And so what if I did?" Brick snapped- Boomer's smirk increased. And his eyebrow raised. The hell!?

"Just sayin.'" He said airily. Another round of crazy laughter.

"Fuck off Boomer." Brick ordered irritably while flipping him the bird. But his lovesick moron of a brother was persistent. Brick jumped back The idiot was now floating upside down and practically nose to nose with him. His chuckling…was starting to sound…slightly unhinged. His brother had officially lost it.

"Can I help you dumb ass!?" Preferably into a straight jacket.

His brother only continued to laugh with the same deranged smile.

"It's just… weird you know." Boomer continued with a sly look on his face. "I mean… you never say her name…and the way you said it too." More deranged laughing- no… at this point it had reverted into literal giggling!

Twitch. Twitch.

"What about it?" He hissed. The moron gave no answer only threw him a mocking salute with that wretched smirk before he zipped away leaving hysterical laughter in his wake.

What…just…happened?

"So Big bro!" Butch called from the bathroom.

"What? And will you hurry up in there other people live here you moron!" He needed a shower. An aspirin. And to go to sleep.

"I just realized… what are we going to tell the monkey?" Butch called out simply.

Brick blinked. Groaned. And let his head hit the wall.

-0-

"Look there they are!"

"Did you see how fast the blue one was going!?"

"Forget about that! What about that awesome shield thing the green one had!"

"And that fire! Holy shit man! The Red one…is a major bad ass!"

His fellow peers continued to stare at him- through class, in the halls, through lunch, everywhere Brick went he had the uncomfortable feeling of being watched.

Of course his brothers were loving it. Boomer following after Bubbles like a lost puppy dog- tail wagging as he insisted on accompanying her where ever she went- holding her books and such- until she was one hundred percent recovered. Said blondes walked by him then, she waved with a grin and Boomer gave a wave just as hearty despite the glittered concoction of a book bag now slung over his back next to his guitar.

Cripes…

He closed his locker with a roll of his eyes but nonetheless returned the waves- albeit awkwardly and sort of stiffly which seemed to make Bubbles only giggle more before with one last wave she dragged Boomer by the hand behind her to their next class– Boomer flashed him a wide dreamy smile like the lovesick fool he was.

Moron.

He slung his backpack over his shoulder and began the trek to Morris's classroom.

A flurry of girlish giggles wafted in his ears as he passed the gym, Butch exited then- surrounded by a harem of giggling freshmen.

"And then I was like- please bitch like I was gonna just leave Townsville hangin' all my shits here!" Butch chuckled and tutted one of his new "adoring fan's" chins. "Not to mention how could I let down a bunch of cuties like you." He leered and flashed Brick a wink as the gaggle of freshmen girls giggled as they hung over his arm.

"Oh my God seriously!" Butch's grin only widened as there was a stomping of footsteps and the girls scattered. Buttercup grabbed his brother by the ear. "When you gonna learn asswipe!" She snapped, her eyes darted to him. "Sup' Cap boy." She gave a small "mock" salute. "Excuse me while I teach your brother about respecting women."

"Ooh any time any place Butterbabe!"

She growled. "Do. Not. Call. Me. That!" She yanked Butch's ear and began dragging him away. "Let's go Casanova!"

"Ow! Damn it woman! Watch the hair! See ya big bro!" He gave a thumbs up. "I'm off to get a lesson."

SMACK. "Pervert! Lesson one! Don't turn everything into an innuendo ya letch!"

His brother's laughter echoed through the hall.

He shook his head.

Idiot.

Morris's door was closed. He frowned.

STUDY HALL

Due to Saturday's incident I will not be in until Wednesday at the earliest.

Oh…right. Morris lived Downtown didn't he? Brick wondered idly which destroyed apartment building he had once inhabited. He shrugged idly, well at least he didn't have to deal with endless reviews today…

CLICK. CLACK. .

Hmm? He turned around and was met with a solid whap as diamond rings scraped his cheek in an angry slap.

"BRICKY! YOU- YOU TRAITOR!" Morebucks' face was twisted into an ugly sneer. "YOU TRAITOR! HOW COULD YOU!" She stomped her foot and started wailing before grabbing his arm and shaking it like a crazed banshee."THEY WERE GONERS! GONERS! WE WOULD HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN RID OF THEM YOU STUPID-! BRICKY WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY!?"

Why had he done it!? …. Why had he done it? He was silent. He couldn't give an answer- not that he owed the crazy chick one in the first place – but… truth be told…Brick still didn't…know. He'd just acted… he'd had to act. She was still screaming and then another foot stomp before she wound her hand for another slap but her wrist was grabbed in midair.

"I believe Princess that violence is very much discouraged on school property." Pinky's voice was low and firm but the crazed girl whirled around and practically spat in her face.

"YOU! YOU STUPID BITCH!" She railed. "YOU- YOU!"

"Sticks and stones may break other people's bones but I assure you Morebucks your words aren't even worth the air it takes to make them- now move along." She dropped the girl's arm and Morebucks sneered.

"You stupid- ugly- C- EEK!" A flash of pink and copper and the girl was suddenly hoisted in the air-even with her arm in a cast and all there was a wide smile on Pinky's face but it was a dangerous one.

"I will give you exactly five seconds to vacate this hallway starting- now." Dropped like a piece of trash the spoiled bitch glared up at her, "Four. Three. Two-." The girl scrambled up and bolted. A high pitched whine in her wake. Brick shuddered and touched his still stinging cheek. Cripes.

"Oh dear." She murmured quietly and he froze as she touched his cheek idly. "Well not too bad in the way of things I suppose diamonds are better than coffee tables when it comes to you…" She laughed quietly and despite himself he felt a curl to his lips. She led him to her locker idly, and once again the magical first aid kit made its appearance.

"You're not going to attack with me with your cotton balls of death again are you?" She snorted and placed a band aid over the cut.

"No. Not this time. You've earned a respite. "She chuckled again and he found himself joining her. His gaze lowered to her cast arm- covered to the brim with signatures, some bigger than others- Bubbles' name was plastered right in front in huge silver glittered swirly letters, right next to it was Robin's, just as big…if slightly less loopy…and outlined in gold. Buttercup's while less obnoxiously large was lined with lime green sparkles, and tucked in her elbow next to that guy Mike who surely must have been enjoying the bright orange shiny stuff being attributed to his name.

She caught his gaze and chuckled again.

"Bubbles…went a little glitter crazy." She did her best shrug. He nodded. Suddenly however she frowned and averted her gaze, "Um…Brick by the way-."

The bell rang then. They both jumped.

"Shit. Sorry Pinky-I uh…gotta go – Uh Class you know." She frowned more

"But Brick we don't have-."

He had already booked it down the hall.

He had stayed after school ended in the garage- thankfully Walter wasn't the type to care much- so long as the assignment was done his teacher didn't give a shit and staying late gave him plenty of time to just.. Think he guessed was the right word. The work was mindless after all- he could do this in his sleep. Not to mention… well at least here he could be sure that-. He frowned and shook his head fervently.

Damn it. Focus. Just… get a head start for tomorrow…yeah that's it. He twisted the wrench idly. And did his best to keep mesmerizing light pink eyes from invading his thoughts.

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

He froze. What in the-!?

"Good afternoon Mr. Walter... I'm wondering if one of your students is still here? Brick Jojo?" Her voice cut through the stillness of the car shop and he almost bent his wrench.

He heard Walter chuckle. "Sure is Miss Utonium- head right on back there. He's been huddled in there for the last few hours."

TRAITOR! He grit his teeth and became fixated on the engine he was working on- looking for any flaws…did he have oil on his shirt?

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

"Brick?" Cripes… cripes. He didn't look up. She'd get the message. Then she'd leave. Simple.

"That seems to be tight enough in my opinion but I'm no mechanic." She was practically cheek to cheek with him! His eyes widened and he jumped back but slammed his head up on the hood. She gasped,

"Are you alright!?" She put a hand out but he waved her away.

"Fine." He hissed.

Smooth Jojo SMOOTH!

He cleared his throat, "Cripes Pinky don't sneak up on me like that!"

She blinked but then gave a nervous titter, "Sorry, I didn't mean to...I mean I thought you'd heard me?" He glowered but at her genuinely concerned face he checked himself then shrugged.

"I get caught up in what I'm doing- don't feel bad…not your fault." He mumbled. Cripes… "So… do what do I owe this… pleasure?" Moron. He subtly wiped his oily hands clean and stuffed them in his pockets for good measure.

She frowned- again nervously, then began digging in her bag- not an easy feat- a cast was much more cumbersome than a wrist brace. He moved to help her but she seemed to succeed in whatever she was doing. A flash of red caught his attention- and so did the familiar red jacket she now had over her good arm.

"Emergency crews found it- when they were… looking at the damage to all the buildings- I tried to get the blood out… but dry cleaning can only do so much." She looked at the floor. He blinked. Then wordlessly took it.

"Thanks." He mumbled.

"You're welcome." She said quickly. "And um. Well… I was… uh-." She cleared her throat. "I just wanted to tell you that- the bill- for the gym I mean it's um…. All set."

His eyes widened but just as quickly narrowed.

"What do you mean all set- I don't need your charity-!"

"It's not charity. Buttercup admitted to it. She started the fight- we're responsible for it."

He blinked. "She admitted it!?"

She nodded quickly. "Yes. She was… stressed… as we all were…and took it out on your brother- it wasn't right… and she apologizes… profusely actually- and she meant to find Butch to apologize to him personally after lunch-."

Her gaze fixed on the floor again. The awkward silence grew worse and worse.

"Um Brick… I-." She began.

"Uh Listen… Pinky I've um got work to do- thanks for the jacket and the…good news." He turned back to his engine. She frowned and her eyes seemed to dim but she nodded.

"Of course… well…bye then." She murmured and turned before heading back up the stairs.

"Bye…" He whispered though it was more to himself.

Slap.

He jumped back from the oily rag that was suddenly whipped in front of him.

"The hell!?"

Mr. Walter folded his arms. "You're done. Get going."

"Wha-?"

"Brick. A little piece of advice. When a girl wearing white comes down to a smelly dirty garage to talk to a boy more or less covered in oil – said boy doesn't tell her he has work to do and blow her off."

Brick frowned and averted his gaze from his mirthful teacher's eyes.

Cripes.

He slammed the hood down, pulled his sweatshirt on over his shirt, grabbed his bag and hustled up the stairs.

-0-

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

Surprisingly she hadn't just flown home. He frowned however, she was still pretty far away. He took a deep breath.

"Hey Pinky wait up!" Dignity be damned. The school was basically empty at this time of day anyway- what she was still doing here was anyone's guess to be honest.

She paused and he caught up to her easily, shifting his backpack over a shoulder, she mirrored the gesture with her own bag.

"I thought you had work to do?" No malice. No teasing. Just genuine curiosity. This was… new. He shrugged.

"Finished."

"In the five minutes since I left?"

Damn it.

"Err… yeah turns out it wasn't as big a deal as I thought."

"Ah." She said nothing more but nonetheless didn't move away either. "Well I'm sorry anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt- your brothers said you were down there when I asked so-."

"Meh like I said- no big deal." She shifted her weight again, he frowned. "You uh okay with that?"

She flinched. "I can take care of myself." She mumbled. The bag slipped again. He rolled his eyes and grabbed it before she could protest.

"Uh huh sure." He swung it over his shoulder. Then paused.

A few new signatures had been added to her cast… but two now stuck out like sore thumbs.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum's names. Lined respectively in dark blue and green glitter. Boomer's to the left of Bubbles' large swirling master piece. Butch's relatively close to Buttercup's. He frowned, and she followed his gaze.

"Like I said… Bubbles has a little too much fun with glitter." She chuckled.

"Evidently." He drawled. An awkward silence again.

"Brick… um." She murmured. He raised an eyebrow, she suddenly whirled around to face him. Her expression so earnest he was taken aback. "I…I wasn't able to properly thank you before- no don't interrupt." She sighed. "Brick I was… you were absolutely right… I was in no condition to fight… and my sisters suffered for it." She looked down at the ground. "I owe you… my deepest… gratitude… Thank you." She murmured. "I don't even want to…want to think about what would have happened to them if you and your brothers hadn't come when you did." He was stunned but she continued.

"Brick… you… you saved the city- you succeeded where I failed- you… you're a hero Brick… You saved my sisters' lives! You saved the city, the citizens and-"She took a deep breath. "You saved my life." She finished in a whisper. "But…Morebucks was right… you would have been rid of me…" He tensed. "…Why? ...Why did you do it?"

A million answers raced through his brain, sarcastic retorts, angry denials, laughing it off… but then came the right one.

The honest one.

"Because…It was the right thing to do." He finally murmured.

She sucked in a breath. And finally looked up at him. Her eyes were wide and round, luminous with a faint pink glow that only seemed to be increasing as she stared at him. ". I mean-"He ran his fingers through his hair, "You girls were…fucked- no offense He mumbled. " And… I dunno it…it just wouldn't have been right…leaving you there."

She was silent.

"Plus... you think Boom would have ever let me hear the end of it if anything had happened to his "precious little angel"." He air quoted. She put a hand to her mouth and stifled a laugh,

"You too huh?"

"Oh God you have no idea!" He shook his head, "Every day- Bubbles this- Bubbles that-!"

She laughed out loud- she had a surprisingly nice laugh, "No no, trust me I can imagine- I have it just as bad believe me. Oh Blossy do you think Boomer would notice this- oh oh did you see Boomer do that-" She said in almost perfect imitation of the exuberant blonde.

He snorted, "Lovesick fools."

"Yes… I suppose at least one good thing has come out of this." He raised an eyebrow,

"What do you mean?"

She smirked, "Oh come off it Ruff- it's only a matter of time… and may I say it's about time too." She shook her head with an indulgent chuckle.

He raised an eyebrow, "And you're…okay with this?"

"My sister's happiness is my primary concern Brick. Isn't Boomer's yours?"

He was silent. The idiot's love sickness had been a thorn in Brick's side for years… no matter how much he had tried Boomer just had refused to quit… and equally refused to listen to Brick's reason-. … Aw hell.

He found himself nodding. "Yeah." He murmured, "Guess it is."

They continued to walk.

"So where are your sisters?" He finally asked, she hesitated,

"Oh." Her voice trailed. "We got an assignment call so-."

"An assignment call? So…why aren't you there then?"

"Oh well Bubbles wouldn't hear of it- my arm is still recovering after all and your brother said he'd-." She put a hand over her mouth. Ah… that was it.

"The moron went with her didn't he?" She flinched but nevertheless nodded.

Cripes they were never gonna hear the end of it from the monkey.… Pfft payback's a bitch asshole.

"And what about the uh…Greens?" She blinked. He shrugged. "It's… catchy I guess."

"Oh…Well right after the robbery call the Blues went on we got another call about the Gang Green Gang causing trouble at the park and Buttercup… jumped on that and Butch well…"

He sputtered. "Wait. Both of my brothers went!?"

She nodded. "Butch said something about wanting a workout… along with some lewd innuendos about my sister's." She coughed awkwardly. "Behind."

"Right… Am I going to have two brothers after today?"

"That remains to be determined I'm afraid."

He snorted a laugh and she joined in but just as quickly the laughter died and they descended back into an awkward silence.

"Well… injury or not… I should probably-"She took her bag back and turned to go.

No... Not yet.

He fiddled with his cap before he cleared his throat.

"Wait-. Blossom." Once again the unfamiliar syllables stuck in his mouth, he lingered over it for over long once again- like he didn't want to it to cease- his stomach jolted when she froze and whipped around- sheer disbelief clouding her face.

"So you are capable of using my proper name." She finally managed to spit out. The shock on her face was almost comical. He swallowed a laugh but then shrugged airily,

He shrugged airily, "When the occasion calls for it... Every contract has a loophole." He smirked.

"Oh really? And what kind of loopholes are those Ruff?" she smiled wryly with a raised eyebrow.

Hello.

That was a new face. She looked positively… devious. He averted his gaze away from this new piercing… strangely captivating sly look…that Pinky… didn't do… she was a goody two shoes! A look like that belonged on… not Pinky! The jolt in his stomach this time almost sent him to his knees as he gazed at that sly curling of her pink lips and the arched eyebrow above half lidded eyes shadowed by those thick curly lashes. He felt his throat go dry- bone dry in an instant. He cleared his throat hastily,

"Tch- not important." He waved it off. The eyebrow rose higher… he coughed again." But… Listen. - you know when one those big bad and uglies come around again and it sounds like they will-!"

She frowned, "Don't remind me." She muttered. He didn't blame her in the slightest. The mere notion of what these things actually were… infuriated him. Mutations stemming from a bunch of government idiots' incompetence and now the girls had to clean up after their mistake… what a load of bull! Butch and Boomer respectively had been raging about it all weekend…and Brick… didn't blame them either. He was pissed off too.

He stuck his hands in his pockets. "Listen Pinky-." She rolled her eyes at the return of the nickname, "I just…want you to know if it's ever too much- just know that-I'm…I mean to say my brothers and I… we're here." He averted his gaze as he finished lamely. She sucked in a breath.

There was a silence. Cripes…what had he been thinking? Where had that even-?!

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

A pen was suddenly in his face. He blinked.

"What's this for?"

She continued to hold it, "Its…well I've gotten everyone else… I just need one more."

She wanted him to…sign her cast? Slowly he took the pen from her fingers and examined the cast. Names covered every inch of it, he gave a small regretful smile, well… so much for that…

"Sorry Pinky… doesn't look like there's any-."

Riiiiip

He blinked again as a blacked out piece of bandage under Bubbles' silver glittered masterpiece suddenly came off the cast and fluttered to the ground leaving a pristine white space just big enough for… his eyes widened.

"I wasn't sure when I'd find you since we didn't have Morris's class today." She murmured. "So…" She smiled again "I saved you a spot."

He stared at her. Then at the blank space just big enough for one more… solid name. Slowly, carefully he lifted her arm before he uncapped the pen and entered his own blocky script right below Bubbles' huge glittery masterpiece.

"Perfect." She said matter of factedly, "That's everyone." - Their fingers brushed as she reached to take the pen back. "By the way Ruff do you mind if I ask you one more thing?"

He nodded briskly. "Nothing's stopped you yet Pinky."

She frowned but then rolled her eyes, "So… the loophole was temporary apparently."

"Yep." He smirked. "Besides you're one to talk- what's with the "Ruff" business all of a sudden?"

She bristled and then flushed pink down to the very tip of her nose… d'aww she was embarrassed that was kind of cute-… wait… WHAT! NO! BAD BRICK! BAAAAAAAAD! His mind screamed at him.

"W-Well that's different! After all isn't Ruff your designation? It's like I'm calling you… a title. "Pinky" on the other hand is offensive." She scrunched her nose adorably- GAH! STOP! BAD RUFF-Err ROWDYRUFF...DAMN IT!

"Well we can agree to disagree. Pinky." He smirked. "And with that argument you should be calling me "Rowdyruff" technically- Ruff sounds like you're calling me a dog."

She snorted and cleared her throat. "Well you are a third made of-."

"Finish that sentence and-." He hissed.

"Relax Brick I was only kidding." She smirked that dangerous half smile again… and he couldn't stop staring at it especially when one of her long graceful fingers suddenly rested on her chin and her alluring smile only grew- wait…- AW HELL! BAD DOG! STOP! - "But regardless… do enlighten me on something Brick."

He folded his arms tightly, she was suddenly uncomfortably close, her pink eyes narrowed and shadowed still by those thick lashes- She put her good hand on her hip and leaned closer to him. He sucked in a breath as they were practically nose to nose "So tell me Ruff." Her voice was low… and slightly hypnotic and he could feel her very breath as it escaped those… plump lips that were… actually…sort of…very…close… he leaned closer.

"Yeah Pinky?" He breathed. Woof.

"Where on Earth did you get so much knowledge on marine biology?" His eyebrow twitched. His eyes widened. And he went stiff as a board. "I mean I had no idea you had such an interest in it I didn't think you took biology last year." She continued to go on…and on.

… FUCK.

"Uh…" Dumbass! "Well…" Idiot! "I mean I was just-…" SHIT FOR BRAINS!

She cocked her head. "Yes?"

A loud high pitched familiar squeal interrupted them. Instantly a flash of navy blue light touched down revealing his dumbass of a younger brother- following shortly by a flash of light blue as the over exuberant blonde Puff touched down with a cry of utter elation dragging their two raven haired siblings behind her.

"What the fuck Bubs!?"

"Oye! Blondie watch the hair!" Butch snarled.

Bubbles abruptly released them both and they fell down with a cry. The exuberant blonde rested her eager blue gaze on them both. She squealed and continued to jump up and down. "YAY! Blossy you found him! Good everyone's here! Boomie has something he'd like to say!" She giggled and his brother paled and began scratching his neck.

"Uh now?" He squeaked. Dumbass.

"Yes now!" She continued her jumping, oh god what had his idiot brother done now?!

"Boomer?" Brick folded his arms, Butch scrambled upwards,

"Dude what did you do?"

"Oh it's nothing BAD!" Bubbles gushed. "Tell em' Boomie!" She grabbed his arm. "Tell em! Tell em!"

… So help me if the idiot went and proposed to the blonde or something I'm going to scream…

Butch seemed to follow Brick's thought process, "Dude… what did you do…"

Boomer was white as a ghost, and he began coughing like mad. "Uh… um…well you see…" Suddenly he stiffened and then all at once seemed to straighten. His mouth went in a firm line and he looked at Bubbles for a moment before he took a deep breath. "Guys… I...I-." One longer look at Bubbles who had clasped her hands together, and gave him a broad smile. …Why did Brick not like the look of this…? Tweedle Dum cleared his throat again, and this time managed to spit out a coherent sentence. A miracle. "Brick… B-big Bro listen... After everything that's…happened… I've… I've come to a decision… and I don't … I don't care if you don't like it!"

Brick blinked. Then slowly, stoically, "Okay Boomer… let's hear it." He said as controlled as possible. His brother was practically shaking in his shoes for all the "brave" show he was putting on. Butch was watching agog, and he looked from Brick to Boomer repeatedly.

Boomer flinched, and then took another deep breath, "I… I don't wanna be evil anymore!" He declared "grandly" and then he folded his arms and nodded determinedly. " In fact- I'm -I'm gonna help Bubb- the girls! I mean the girls as a whole- not just Bubbles, I mean I wanna help Bubbles but if Buttercup or Blossom need help too." Pinky's eyebrow raised, "I mean! Not that I'm saying you girls NEED help but uh… um…I mean-." And with that all of Tweedle Dum's "courage" began to fail him as he began to ramble.

Bubbles luckily for him came to his rescue. "He wants to join us Girls!" She squealed. Boomer stopped his mindless rambling and nodded gratefully,

"Yeah that." He scratched his neck sheepishly.

Butch's jaw dropped, "BRO! You can't be serious- we're the Rowdyruff boys! We're the bad boys of Townsville- you know, you can't just drop everything and become good overnight that's totally crazy- " He paused in mid rant however and suddenly held his chin. " Cept'… ya know… the last couple days have been pretty sweeeet – I've had so many babes swarming me…and... Getting to beat up punks like that Ace guy…-." He turned to Buttercup whose jaw was hanging practically to the ground. "Say Butters… you tellin' me you get to do shit like that all the time?"

She sent him a withering look. "Duh. What the hell do you think I do all day asswipe? Sit home and knit?

"Not lately! You still haven't finished that scarf you promised me!" Bubbles lamented and she stiffened.

"SHUSH!" She stuck a finger to her lips frantically. …The mental image of Buttercup Utonium… sitting home and knitting… was just too… strange for Brick to even begin to countence. His brother however snorted out a laugh and then put his arm around the enraged Green Puff.

"Aw Butters… that's so cute!" He leered at her, "I never knew you were such a domestic." Her nostrils flared and her fist clenched. He turned to Pinky then, "Fuck it- Hey Red sign me up I'm in too!" he winked.

"What!?" Buttercup exclaimed, "No way am I working with a perverted piece of shit like you! No way! Veto Veto!" She stamped her foot and wrenched herself away from him. "LEADER GIRL! FUCK. NO!"

"Sorry Butterbabe you and that cute little ass are stuck with me."

She stiffened again, "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!?" She grabbed the scruff of his shirt. "You want to die Jojo?!"

"Ooh Feisty." He grinned lewdly. "How's about you and me take this somewhere private eh?"

"PERVERT!" Smack

Boomer groaned and held his forehead but Bubbles grabbed his arm again and hugged it close, "Blossy! They can join right! Right!"

…She wasn't serious.

The four of them looked to Pinky who was standing straight as a board as she eyed both Butch and Boomer carefully.

"This is no game boys… and don't be acting like it is one." She narrowed her eyes.

"I understand Blossom I won't let you down I swear!" Boomer pounded his chest in emphasis and Bubbles nodded eagerly as she bounced up and down on her toes.

"Please Red, the Butch isn't one to not take things seriously-." There was a loud snort next to him and he flashed the Green Puff a withering look but then smirked and flashed a wink in Pinky's direction, " Sides Red, I'll follow any order from you anytime any place sweet cheeks." Another wink. Brick's fist tensed.

SMACK "LETCH!"

How unfortunate Buttercup was closer.

Pinky's cheeks had gone crimson as she cleared her throat awkwardly, "Err… right that's…good to know Butch…." She mumbled but her face softened as she saw the Blues were looking at her eagerly. Slowly a small smile crept on her face and sighed," Very well…" The air echoed with a high pitched sonic scream and Boomer's own bellowed yell of triumph before the two blondes fell on the concrete due to one of Bubbles' over exuberant hugs.

"YES! HOT BABES HERE I COME!" Butch cackled and rubbed his hands together gleefully though it was short lived… "OW! WOMAN! LEGGO MY EAR OWOWOWOWOW!" Buttercup wordlessly with a face like thunder continued pulling on Butch's ear before she pulled him down to her level.

"If you think… for a second I'm going to listen to your perverted fantasies all day asswipe you have another thing coming…" She hissed dangerously.

" … What's the matter Butters? Jealous?"

He hit the ground and her sneaker dug him deeper in the crater that had formed underneath him.

"OOOH KINKY!"

She only continued to press him deeper into the concrete.

Pinky's smile curled more in a smirk as she watched the scene, "Well then boys… Welcome to Townsville's own personal squad of sou chefs…." She mumbled with a sigh.

Brick bit his lip and squeezed his bicep but he couldn't stop the loud snort that escaped from him and she flashed him a wry look with a slight curl of her lips which he found himself returning with one of his own.

There was a slight gasp of breath, "Whoa… I don't think I've ever seen Brick smile before!" Bubbles said in a hushed whisper to Boomer's whose eyes had grown wide.

"Holy shit… so Cap Boy is human." Buttercup cocked her head to the side. "Well whaddya know." Butch mumbled something in between mouthfuls of concrete but Buttercup sneered and simply pressed her foot in deeper. "Quiet asswipe." She ordered. His brother made a combination of a groan of pain and an affirmative muffled Yes ma'am… She smirked.

He folded his arms. Idiots… the monkey was going to kill them. Boomer and Bubbles had begun chattering excitedly like the lovesick loons they were would be prone to- Buttercup had allowed Butch back up and they were already in the midst of a heated argument- though oddly Brick saw no sign of thrown objects yet… odd. He shook his head again, idiots. He felt his lips curl further despite himself.

"You should do that more often." Hmm? He turned to face her directly. She was looking at him oddly her head tilted slightly to the side.

"I should do what?" He said slowly. She gave the oddly melodious chuckle again.

"Smile." He blinked and she cleared her throat, "I mean- it's a nice change from that usual intolerable arrogant smirk of yours." She huffed.

"Oh you mean this one." He demonstrated said 'smirk' and she narrowed her eyes,

"Hilarious Ruff." She drawled. He raised an eyebrow.

"Hey now Pinky what'd I say about nicknames?" He snickered her eyes narrowed more.

"Oh aren't we painting the kettle black…" She mumbled. "Well I suppose I should tell you now that their help is very much appreciated… we need all the help we can get truth be told…" She murmured and her face fell. "Though I'm sure Mojo won't be…happy"

That's the… Understatement of the year.

Brick scowled. Oh he could hear the lectures now… the long winded never ending screaming that was in his future and-. His eyes narrowed. His eyes darted to his brothers' impromptu celebrations. The light in Butch's eyes despite the screaming match he was currently in… there was no sign of the bitterness or fury that usually emanated from his brother's peridot eyes… and Boomer's smile… Brick couldn't… honestly remember the last time he had seen the dumb ass smiling so widely… so… toothily.

They were…happy.

… Fuck monkeys. Fuck them and their fucking vendettas and useless thieving paws…

She was watching the scene with warm eyes.

"You're better than this Brick…"

Damn right I am…

He cleared his throat and both the morons immediately stiffened and stood at attention. He saw her eyebrow raise- Heh- Pinky wasn't the only leader in the vicinity after all. Her pink gaze centered on him but even she seemed taken aback when he extended his hand.

"Big Bro!?" Boomer gasped.

"No…way!" Butch breathed.

"Guess this is a truce eh Pinky?"

"Truce?" She repeated.

He shrugged, "Please… Like the idiots will be able to handle shit without me- I can't just sit by and let em' get killed by some sea urchin or something."

She bristled and even her sisters flinched.

"Ugh! Not again!" Bubbles whined.

"Don't you dare jinx us Cap Boy!" Buttercup snarled. "You have any idea how long it took to get those damn quills out of City Hall!?"

He blinked. "Wait seriously?" He whistled under his breath. "Jeez what the fuck did they do out there!?"

"Who the hell knows." Pinky said with a sigh but then her eyes seemed to glimmer. He felt another jolt in his gut. Suddenly she clasped his hand in a strong grip- a jolt went through his entire body this time. "Welcome to the team Brick…" Her voice was soft and his hand tingled, quickly he snatched it back from her disturbingly warm grip. He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. She seemed unperturbed and completely unfazed…

"YAY!" Bubbles squealed and jumped up and down. "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! THIS IS AWESOME!" She gushed…. Like she was in a hyperactive sugar high. "WE TOTES NEED TO GO CELEBRATE- PARTY AT FREDDY'S!"

Boomer nodded eagerly… though Brick didn't doubt that if Bubbles had said they should all jump off the nearest cliff while dosed with Antidote X he would have been just as eager. Cripes… idiot.

"Good idea Bubs! I'm starved!" Buttercup cracked her knuckles, "Beating that green piece of shit always builds up a girl's appetite!" She snickered.

"Yeah- hey wait… you mean those punks right?" Butch demanded. Buttercup's snickers only grew and she floated up in the air.

"Oye! Times a wastin' let's go already!" She zipped off.

"H-Hey! Butters! You meant that Ace punk right? RIGHT!?" Butch sped after her.

The Blues floated up in sync. Bubbles looked down at the Pink Puff in concern,

"Oh Blossy- here lemme take your-." She stopped. Brick had already grabbed the bag and slung it over his shoulder once again. She blinked and Boomer made a little hum under his breath but one sharp crimson glare was enough to shut the little shit up real quick. Bubbles only giggled, "Never mind. See ya there! Hey Boomie…" She smiled. "Race ya!"

Boomer grinned again, "You're on!" The sonic boom that followed them was almost enough to knock them both over. Jeez… how fast was Tweedle Dum going anyway!?

"We have got to measure that boy's speed." Pinky's said awestruck. Brick nodded.

"Agreed." She smirked then.

"The Reds Actually agreeing for once… my goodness what has the world come to?"

He smirked back- if only at the ridiculous nickname…that was also infuriatingly catchy.

"Yeah well if we're going to work together I guess we've got to learn to tolerate each other." Her smirk increased as did his. She nodded.

"Agreed." Her eyebrow raised challengingly. "Although… There is the small matter of leadership."

Now his eyebrow rose. "Oh?"

She shrugged with her good shoulder. "Well… unfortunately Brick the position of "leader" is technically taken so-."

He snorted out a laugh, "Oh no - don't even- I'm not following your orders you can forget it-."

Her smirk increased, "Then what would you suggest?"

He put a finger to his chin in a showing of "thought" and then snapped his fingers. "We co-lead- two sets of eyes are better than one."

That eyebrow only rose higher, "Why…but that would make us partners."

He shrugged. "Yeah… I guess it does." He extended a hand out. "So… partner what do you say?"

Another firm hand shake. Brick actually managed to control the jolt this time. "You drive a hard bargain Ruff… but I accept…" Another firm shake and she was in the air. "You coming?"

He shook his head, "I'll meet ya there- my car's-."

"OH!" She exclaimed. "Right… uh I knew that." She mumbled. He snorted again but then a thought struck him. A rather… odd… but strangely exhilarating thought.

"You want a ride?" She paused then turned. She looked… confused but a small smile had crept on her face.

"If you're offering."

-0-

"OK! So we got a triple cheese pizza,a meat lovers special, one extra spicy hot wing plate, one double chocolate shake with extra whipped cream annnnnnnnd a nacho supreme- enjoy guys! Oh by the way- on the house." The brunette winked and Butch sighed as he followed her swaying steps- she giggled and flashed him a wink.

"Oh man! I'm so gonna tap that!" He sighed. Buttercup snorted next to him and leaned over to take a glob of guacamole. Bubbles and Boomer both lunged for the pizza on their right, while Brick took a satisfying bite of his chicken- their pizza sucked… but these things… holy shit man. He heard a slurp next to him, and Pinky was happily… sucking down at an alarming speed that chocolate monstrosity… Brick didn't know whether to be impressed… or disturbed.

"HEY ASSWIPE GET YOUR OWN!" Chomp.

"But I'm huuuuuungry!" Sip. Half empty.

"Hell no! My nachos! Damn it Butch hands off!" Chomp

"Damn it you owe me woman!" Sip. Empty. She looked down on it mournfully.

"Excuse me!? For WHAT!?" Chomp. She signaled to the waitress. Almost immediately a new one was placed in front of her. Again… impressed…or disturbed?

"I saved your sorry ass from becoming squid food!" Sip. Sip. Sip. Half empty. Brick was beginning to lean towards disturbed.

"THAT WAS A FLUKE!" chomp. These wings were gifts from God.

"LIKE HELL IT WAS!" Sip. Dear God empty again.

"WHY YOU-!" Chomp. The empty glass was put down. A clearing of her throat and a savage jolt under the table and Buttercup howled. Butch laughed. Another jolt. Another howl.

"Enough Buttercup!"

"BUTCH! Can it!"

The Greens-… again…it was infuriatingly catchy- immediately quieted and the tug of war over the nacho plate ceased, though Butch had a glob of guacamole shoved in his hair for good measure. Brick returned to his god sent wings and Pinky… signaled for another milkshake. Dear…God how was this girl not in a sugar coma!? Her sisters seemed…completely uncaring of the fact Pinky was about to drink herself into a permanent sugar high.

The Blues however had ceased in their feasting. Bubbles immediately tapped her glass with a fork and Boomer enthusiastically followed suit- where it promptly shattered... all over Brick of course. The blonde looked down on the remains of his glass- and then at him with wide eyes.

"Shoot! Sor-!"

Brick grunted and held out a hand.

"Big bro here lemme get you a-."

Another grunt. Shaking of the hand.

"But-!"

Grunt. Shake of the head. Urge to commit fratricide… must be controlled. He pointed to Bubbles.

"You…were about to say something I take it?" He muttered the blonde nodded quickly and cleared her throat. A napkin was wordlessly extended to Brick- another milkshake had come for her. This was… okay time to stage an intervention! – The blonde interrupted him before he could forcibly remove the chocolate drug from the clear addict at his right.

"Well… Boomie and I were talking and we need a new name!" She giggled and clapped her hands together.

…Say what? He raised an eyebrow. Butch's followed suit.

"What do you mean…?" He said warily. "We're the Rowdyruffs…and you're the Powerpuffs…"

"Exactly!" She raised a finger. "We're not just them anymore! We're a team! And we totally need a team name!" She giggled. "How about…." She tapped a finger on her chin. "How about the PowerRuffs!"

… Cripes. He slapped his forehead. Butch snorted loudly. Both her sisters groaned. She frowned.

"Okay… guess not." She murmured and tapped her cheek. "Uhh…."

"How about the Rowdy Puffs!" Butch cackled and Buttercup slapped him across the head.

"How about no!" She snarled.

Pinky shook her head slightly and flicked her gaze to him as a new argument arose on that side of the table. Her eyes rolled skyward.

"What's wrong with the Power Ruffs!? I think it's cute!" Bubbles pouted.

"Exactly Blondie! The RowdyRuffs ain't cute we have a rep to uphold ya know!" Butch said with a smirk, "Now the RowdyPuffs see that's not a nice ring to it-."

"Like hell am I calling myself a rowdy anything!" Buttercup snapped

"Oye! I take offense at that!"

"Good you were supposed to!"

Boomer however had finished mourning his lost soda and cleared his throat.

"Um…what about…the X Team?"

The table quieted.

"…The…X….Team?" Buttercup said slowly.

"Yeah! I mean- we've all got X in us after all and I mean- it's not just about the Puffs or the Ruffs anymore… it's like… we're a team and all… you know." He scratched his neck sheepishly.

Butch narrowed his eyes. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever-!"

"Actually… I kind of like it." Pinky murmured and she set her glass down. "It's… simple… yet effective. You have my vote." Boomer's eyes widened.

"X' Team! Go X Team! I like it Boomie!" Bubbles clapped her hands together. "I vote it too!"

Buttercup shrugged, "Anything's better than Rowdypuff-." She ignored the indignant HEY next to her. "You got my vote little boy blue."

Butch scowled, "Well I think it sounds stupid!"

"Your whole face is stupid!" Buttercup snapped and threw a finger in his face "Now shut up, stop pouting and deal asswipe!"

He blinked. Then blinked again. Then slowly he nodded, "Y-Yes Ma'am." He mumbled. "Fine whatever- X Team it is." He waved it off.

Five sets of eyes whirled around to face Brick then. He bit the last chunk of his wing. "What?" He mumbled.

"Well what's your vote Brick?" Bubbles said eagerly.

He blinked then returned to his meal. "Uh sure yeah- Brick votes yes."

There was a cheer from the Blues and Bubbles raised her glass high in the air. "YAY! TO THE X TEAM!"

Boomer grabbed one of Pinky's discarded milkshake glasses and held it aloft and faced her. "TO US! Her cheeks went pink and so did his he hastily turned back to the middle" Uh- US as in the whole group not just me and Bubbles… I mean-. You know TO ALL OF US!" He laughed nervously.

Buttercup's eyes rolled and Butch snorted. He grabbed his own glass. "Here's to kicking some ass!"

Another snort. Another raised glass. "And taking names while doing it!"

They looked to both Pinky and himself expectantly. She tilted her head for a moment but then she smiled and gingerly raised the glass- broken arm and all. "To new friendships." She said simply. Bubbles giggled and nodded eagerly. He frowned when the stares were directed at him.

"To everything you all said." He shrugged.

"Aw c'mon Brick!" Bubbles whined.

"Big bro no offense but that was lame!" Boomer shook his head.

"That shit don't count Boss!" Butch snorted.

"Jeez Cap boy you gotta at least try!" Buttercup scoffed.

Pinky chuckled lowly next to him. And raised an eyebrow, "C'mon Brick… you can do better than that."

He scowled. And raised his glass like a good little boy.

"Okay…fine… to…to…" He scanned the table for inspiration. Any inspiration. …any minute now… right… over eager Blues… smirking greens… … Pinky and her... small… little smile. Directed…at him… Cripes… Focus on lame ass toast. Thing. Not… Pinky's… nice… smile. DAMN IT! NOT AGAIN! He cleared his throat.

"Uh… to…" He repeated again. The five of them looked at him expectantly.

But really… The fact they were all… here was enough of a shock to merit its own toast. It was surreal. To go from… hated to… tolerated…to… friends? To go from… villain…to hero… it was…almost like a new-. A new…

A new… beginning.

Wait…

He smirked triumphantly and raised his glass higher. "To new beginnings." He declared.

"Aw! I like that!" Bubbles exclaimed.

"Yeah kind of sums shit up don't it?" Butch nodded approvingly.

"See wasn't so hard was it dude?" Buttercup snickered.

"I'll drink to that!" Boomer grinned.

That sly alluring smile only seemed to broaden and she nodded approvingly. "To new beginnings." She repeated.

The six glasses clanked together.

And it really was… a new beginning.

-0-0-0-

...Next Time on As Time Goes By

"My sisters and I…we were never given a real choice Brick… now I'm giving you one."

Act 1: Choices

Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed and have a moment please feel free to leave a review.

See you next time.

- Carrie