I
The room was dark and chilly. She sat within the chair, tied down with chains that would break a normal man's bones. Her hair was tangled and messy and her eyes were hollow, as if she wasn't truly seeing anything. The air escaped her in misty clouds, the only sound was her labored breathing. It's like a small little storm, she mused.
It made her remember.
Just a little.
Christmas time.
A time that Bubbles once looked forward to with stars in her eyes and warmth in her heart. But not anymore. She didn't really look forward to anything anymore. Bubbles had stopped feeling joy and happiness a long time ago. Easier, she had decided, to lock up her heart than to risk it being broken. She sat at the table of their dark, tiny apartment, swaddled in blankets with a steamy cup of discount hot chocolate in front of her. Blossom sat at the other side of the table, reading a book she had read several times before. Buttercup had left to go and get dinner, mumbling about not wanting to cook and "it's not like we eat much anyways". Bubbles had tuned her out as she left, lost in her own thoughts as the snow swirled and winds howled outside.
"Bubbles," Blossom's voice was still clear and firm, even after what had happened. Bubbles glanced over to her older sister, who sat with her hair in a messy bun. Blossom had changed in the past few years. They all had, honestly. Blossom became colder, less caring about anyone outside their circle. Buttercup was angrier, if that was possible, not allowing anyone other than her and Blossom in...and even that was a stretch. And Bubbles?
Well...it was stated before that she was numb.
"Yes, Blossom? What is it?" Why was her voice so raspy? How long had it been since she had spoken? Bubbles often went days, sometimes even weeks, without a single word.
"...We should go out tonight." Bubbles blinked, her blue eyes becoming focused as her leader's words settled in her mind. Blossom rarely wanted to go out. Buttercup was the one who went to clubs and bars almost every night, drinking away the pain and rage and partying until the wee hours in the morning before she got back for a two hour nap. Then she stomps off to work at the mall as a security guard.
"...We...should?" Blossom nodded, a smile slipping on her face.
"It's almost Christmas, after all. Buttercup will be too busy at the mall and I'll be at the museum that night. I want to spend some time with both of you guys before then," Bubbles smiled shyly. She liked it when they all spent time together. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend it was just as it was before...before...
Bubbles opened her eyes again, her gaze glossy once more. But the smile stayed on her face.
"Where should we go?"
"Why don't we go with Buttercup to one of those clubs or bars she usually goes to?"
"What about a club or bar?" Speak of the devil. Buttercup came in with Chinese food and a case of soda in her grasp. She shook the snow from her boots and shrugged off her coat, removed the forest green hat last. Her eyes narrowed at Blossom, "don't tell me you're going to lecture me about my life style again?" Blossom had done so before. Buttercup rarely slept and it showed sometimes.
The aforementioned girl laughed, "actually, Bubbles and I were going to come with this time. Spend some time as a family, you know?" Buttercup blinked. It was rare to see Blossom in such a mood to party. She had never really been big on dancing and loud music before, but ever since what happened, Blossom became even more of a recluse when it came to social gatherings.
After all, they had loved to go to crazy parties.
Buttercup grinned, "well, why didn't you say so, Leader Girl? I thought I was going to have to drag you out! Hell, even Bubbles parties harder than you do."
"I take offense to that," the blonde grumbled. "So, when are we leaving?"
"After we all get ready, let's head out."
"WHOOP! LET'S TURN UP!"
Blossom pulled her coat a little tighter to her body as she stood outside the pulsing club with Buttercup and Bubbles. Buttercup was a regular at this club and was currently talking to the bouncer like they were old pals. They probably were. She didn't know what possessed her to want to come with her ebony haired sister, but Blossom had to admit that staying home was getting really boring. So what if she had been betrayed and crushed? She was a person before she was a Puff and she deserved to have fun just like anyone else. Buttercup and Bubbles had raided her closet and pulled out something she had forgotten that she had. She was currently dressed in a grey form fitting pencil mini skirt with a black, semi-see through top with black straps. Her copper hair was parted on the side and curled (courtesy of Bubbles) and she had smoky black eyeliner with nude lipstick. The ankle length black studded boots on her feet were nice too, even if they killed her toes.
Bubbles looked equally as stunning with a royal blue plaited skirt that reached her knees and black tights with matching stilettos. Her top was an off shoulder, skin tight black shirt with long sleeves and her hair was down in beach waves. Her eyelids were smoky too, but she had opted for red lipstick.
Buttercup was a bit fiercer with a black, lace top to show off the midriff she wore underneath. Her pants were leather and she wore a spiked knee high boots. She had chosen black eye shadow and made her eyes pop even more than usual, along with the black lipstick she wore too. Her hair was not brushed, Buttercup made that look good. Bubbles didn't think it was fair. She shifted her coat over her shoulders and smirked at the bouncer, "come on, Bruno, you know me."
"Yeah, but-"
"Do I have to call Corey?"
"Bu-"
"Ah, ah, ah. What?"
"...Blake, your sisters-"
"Rarely come with me. And it's almost Christmas. Do me a solid?"
"...Fine...Come on in."
"You're the best, Bruno! Catch you later!" Bruno shook his head, but moved to the side to let the girls in. Blossom flashed him a smile while Bubbles nodded meekly, following her sisters inside. The club was loud and the beat of the music pulsed through the air. The lights were seizure inducing, the dance floor was packed, and so was the bar. Blossom felt claustrophobic just being there, but she pushed the feeling aside. Tonight, she was going to enjoy herself and not think about how she used to cuddle with him around this time. Tonight, Bubbles was going to dance and maybe even meet a guy and not think about how she used to run around in the snow and make snow angels with his brother. They were following Buttercup's example tonight! They were going to party until their memories became fuzzier and when they began to clear up, they'll party more.
"What do we do first?" Blossom's voice was barely heard over the techno rendition of Dragula playing. Buttercup smirked.
"Bar or boys?"
"Ummm...what?"
"Do you wanna get a drink yourself or do you wanna see if someone will pay for your drink?" Blossom considered the question. The last guy who paid for her for anything was-
"Let's go see if I can get a guy to buy me a drink...Maybe I'll even give him my number."
"Leader Girl, you are wild tonight...I like it." Bubbles followed behind, expertly dodging other people. Buttercup sauntered over to the bar and sat next to a group of guys, Blossom followed suite. Bubbles could already feel the looks they were getting as they ordered their drinks. "You guys gonna stare at us or are you actually gonna come over here?" At Buttercup's snarl, the guys hurried over, eager to meet her challenge. "That's right, come over. I don't bite...hard."
"Oooh, someone's catty. Any chance I can get you to pull those claws back," one of them smirked. He wasn't too bad looking...or maybe it was the lighting because Bubbles could no longer tell. The music was booming and the lights were seizure inducing. The sight of bursting dance floor made Bubbles wish for space and she hadn't even left the bar yet.
Jeez, she thought, has it really been that long? The last time Bubbles went to a club like this had been with-
Bubbles grabbed the fireball that had been brought by the bartender and downed it like a fish. One of the guys whistled, "Blondie's ready to go, ain't she?" She smiled shyly at him.
"Bad break up around this time a few years ago. I came here to help forget it," he smiled back.
"Well, don't let me slow you down, Gorgeous. Oi, how about another round for the supermodels here?" By the time the song finally changed ("Thank God, I can't dance to Rob Zombie, Techno or no. " "Aw, Leader Girl, you didn't even try.") Bubbles was pleasantly buzzed. Not drunk enough to forget why she was numb all the time, but just enough to not care. What was this guy's name again? John? Jack? Jim? She didn't know but she wanted to dance.
Bubbles grabbed his hand and flashed him a million watt smile, "dance with me!" Before he could respond, the blue puff dragged him to the dance floor. The song changed to One Night Stand by Divide The Day and she began dancing in a way that, normally, Blossom would have scolded her for.
Buttercup probably would have joined her.
Right now, Bubbles didn't care if this guy had his hands on her hips while she didn't even remember his name. She just wanted to forget why she cries to sleep most nights.
Not far from where Bubbles had been sitting, a lone man sat at a booth. The lighting wasn't as good as usual there, which most couples took advantage of.
Not him, though.
He had been casing this place for weeks after reports had flown in about that green puff being spotted here. He'd almost given up.
Then he saw her one night, partying it up with a bunch of college seniors, drinking like it was the end of the world. Her hair was wild like a black maned stallion. Her lime eyes would glow, even in these headache inducing lights. She moved from group to group, dancing and joking and flirting, a blush from her buzz ever present on her face. He'd descretly taken pictures sending them back to Rowdyruff Patrol Headquarters before Butch Jojo confirmed.
Buttercup Utonium had been spotted.
He heard Butch had to be restrained.
He heard that Butch was determined to come here himself and drag her back to his home in Townsville.
He had heard that Butch had screamed, "SHE BELONGS HERE WITH ME!"
But Brick Jojo said to wait and his orders outrank Butch's.
Wait and remain at your post. They had to know if her sisters were nearby.
Never mind that Marcus Wilston had his own family to go back to. He was to stay there, miss his only son's fifth birthday, and report back if Bubbles Utonium or Blossom Utonium showed up and for months, no sign. Now here, a week before Christmas, they appeared. All three, raring to go and dressed to kill. Buttercup had led them straight to the bar and immediately men swarmed the girls, but Marcus saw the pristine, golden red hair that was the trademark of Blossom Utonium.
He also got a better look at Bubbles as she led some poor sap to the dance floor, where they began to dance and gyrate to the pounding music.
Once Boomer sees that picture, he'll burst a blood vessel. The poor sucked is doomed.
Marcus stood up, finishing his water-no drinking on the job, after all- before he maneuvered his way through the crowd and out a door near the back. He slipped a hand into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed the one number he only calls when he's sure enough on something that he'd bet his marriage on it.
"What is it?"
"Sir, I've spotted them. I've spotted the Powerpuff Girls."
Minutes to one in the morning, Blossom dragged her two sisters from the club as they drunkenly sang.
"Ooh, so tell me what you want! What you really really want!" Buttercup howled the lyrics into Blossom's ear.
"I'll tell you what I want! What I really really want," Bubbles wasn't any quieter. Blossom sighed and waved a taxi over, stuffing the magical duo into the yellow car when it stopped. She had half a mind to leave them in the cold, but she was fairly drunk too and Buttercup was better at putting the key in the door when she was intoxicated.
Plus, there was the fact that she loved her sisters. That was a thing.
She slid in and smiled apologetically at the driver, who laughed. It was not the first time he'd driven a group of drunk girls. "Where to, Miss?"
"Downtown, please." Bubbles bounced, a smile on her face. Blossom was reminded of how she used to be. Her blonde hair bounced with her.
"We should, like, get McDonalds! I want chicken nuggets! Can we get chicken nuggets?"
"No," Buttercup's shout boomed through the taxi. Blossom groan was drowned out by her next loud declaration, "we should go... To Taco Bell!"
"No, Taco Bell sucks!"
"You suck!"
"You know what doesn't suck... Twinkies."
"I haven't...had a Twinkiein like... Five years." Bubbles gasped like Buttercup had just confessed to cannibalism.
"But Twinkies are, like, the bestest best...like... Thing!"
"I know, right!?"
"I'm gonna... I'm gonna steal all the Twinkies...in the universe...and I'm gonna make sure... You get to eat them with me." Now Buttercup squealed as Blossom hid her face.
"You're so...you're so nice, Bubsie!"
"I'll...I'll do it for you, Butters... Just for you..."
"I love you, man!"
"I am... I'm the Twinkie Lord!"
"Twinkie Lord!" The can jerked to a stop.
"Why are we stopping," Blossom finally lifted her head from her hands and swore as she saw dozens of Rowdyruff Squad cars around their apartment complex. Their lights flashed in their signature colors of red, green, and blue as agents milled about, waiting. "Girls...GIRLS.," Her two sisters were still -loudly-declaring Bubbles the sovergn of Twinkies but a slap to each of their faces sobered them both back up.
"Jeez, what the F-"
"Are those Rowdyruff Patrols?" Bubbles' eyes grew wide as she gulped. The flashing lights reflected off the white snow.
"Sorry, ladies. Seems someone gave them a tip about three fugitives hiding out here, so it might be a while. I can stop the meter until we get moving again," Blossom shook her head and pulled out her clutch purse, giving him two twenties.
"No thanks, keep the change." She reached over a stunned Bubbles and Buttercup before shoving them out the door and onto the sidewalk. Bubbles stumbled but the chilly air served to wake her even more from her drunken stupor, though the Chemical X seemed to be expediting that. Buttercup had no falter and whirled on Blossom.
"How the Hell did they find us!?"
"There must have been an agent in that club. Did anyone seem suspicious back there?"
"Yeah, the guy in the green shirt next to me and you... But I think he was just trying to look down your shirt," Blossom rolled her eyes.
"Duly noted. Let's move, it's not safe here." Bubbles whimpered.
"Where are we going to go, though?"
Blossom's eyes hardened in rage as she glanced at the scene. Everything that still mattered to them was in that apartment. Momentos of their lives that they managed to grab before going on the run, birthday gifts that they had given to each other these past five years, even gifts from the few associates they made at every odd job...now they had to leave their lives behind again.
Because. Of. Them.
Suddenly, Blossom chuckled and a dark look came over her face. "We're going away, Girls. But don't worry... We're not running this time." She turned around and slunk into one of the alleys by the street, with her sisters following behind, before the wind and snow and overall darkness covered their steps.
Wow, I forgot what this story was like. It's my favorite but it is hard to write. Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter of Green Maiden. My system is probably going to be that every time I post a chapter of Green Maiden, I'll also post a chapter of Serpentine. Get ready because both stories are going be doozies.