The rest of town had gathered down at the park. No monsters had invaded and everyone pretty much left well enough alone. The brilliant scientific monkey had re-invented many of his inventions, passing them around as rocket launchers. Him had resigned himself to creating magical swirls of light. Princess had gone out and bought the most expensive works known to man. Mitch had gone around with a lot of other kids, setting rockets in everyone's yards - only to be pulled just as the fireworks begin.
The Powerpuff girls and rowdyruff boys have come together for once, relying on their powers to create the most magical experience. The Ameoba Boys didn't bother trying to prove their villainy. They simply collected sparklers and handed them out to the children. Almost everyone had been a part of the Fourth's spectacular. Big Billy, Li'l Arturo and Grubber of the Gang Green Gang have even arrived to celebrate in the birth of America.
Left alone in the dumps on the outskirts of Townsville, are Ace and Snake. In a particularly harmful encounter with the girls last week, the leader and his second-in-
command had been temporarily blinded. The gang is positive it is only temporary. It happened six days ago and Ace is pissed. He gave Snake a pair of his old shades, thinking them much better than the crud any doctor would dish out. They are sitting on opposite sides of the couch in their shack hideout.
Snake is pretty mad at the turn of events but figures it could be better. He's attempted a few preschool-aged jigsaw puzzles through feel and managed to complete one in only seven hours. After tripping over some magazine piles for the eighth time, he had worried the others by ordering the "sight-hounds" to clean up the mess. Ace could feel the glances his team shot at him when Snake had ordered them like so. Proud of Snake but not willing to admit it, Ace had snapped "Youse heard de reptile. Get cleanin'!"
After a few hours, Ace and Snake could just barely hear distant 'works going off. They could hear the bursts, as well as an echo of the Banner. Sighing loudly, Snake pushes himself to a sitting position and turns to where he supposes his boss is sitting.
"Why'd youss agreesss with me, Bosssss?"
"Whatcha mean?" Ace asks immediately, head snapping 'round to the voice.
"Earliersss. With the magazinesss and the gangss."
"Youse was right." He shrugs.
Snkae moves closer to the voice, arms out front, attempting to feel for his boss. Ace feels the arms reach around his neck and he lets out a steady breath against one. Snake jerks back slightly but continues to feel around. Intrigued by the attention, Ace slightly moves himself to an upright position, moving closer to his subservient. Louder bursts are heard outside, but Snake can barely hear them over the beating of his own heart.
"Youss really thinksss I wass right, Bossss?" Snake whispers with a considerably lower voice.
The tone shocks Ace, but it also makes the older boy smile and arch forward. His hand grazes along the edge of Snake's face and moves downward. His grin widens as he hears the boy's breathless gasp. He stops moving once his fist has a good grasp on the reptilian boy's shirt. Ace leans backward, scooping Snake's feet with his own. The younger teen lets out a soft yap as he is pulled down. Their lips connect in a hungry, passionate kiss. After a few minutes, the kiss is over. The first thing either boy sees is the other's eyes.
They smile. Snake rolls off of Ace but remains at his side as their arms wrap tightly around each other. They happen to look out the window at a perfect time at a perfect angle. The rest of the gang is outside, folling around with discarded fireworks and rockets. They set a very nice fire show while their leader and second-in-command heat up the inside in a different, but very beautiful way.