Author's Notes:

This will be a place for all the little ideas and oneshots that come to me. Whether it be color-code, color-crack, or color-clash. I may even have some oneshots including the Powerpunk Girls.

The first story of this oneshot series is centered around a pairing I recently grown to love and feel need a little bit more appreciation. Hopefully I portrayed both characters accurately and will get to create more content for them once I start writing more oneshots.

I do want to say I might update less often here since my two other stories are my priority. This project will be a new little vacation for me from all the angst and melodrama my other writing includes. It is also nice to dip my toes into something a little bit more fluffy and, perhaps, cheesy at times.

Lastly, I would like to say Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2019 will be a great year for all of you!

I look forward to everyone seeing what other content I will be posting in the new year—Whether it be my other stories, some oneshots here, or something else I have planned...

With that said, please enjoy my first oneshot for this series.

It had been seven days.

Seven days since the incident on Christmas Eve.

Buttercup grumbled to herself at the memories. The flashbacks in which have plagued her mind for the entire week.

Some of it was blurry.

The lingering warmth she felt in her chest from the good amount of spiced punch she consumed—Buttercup was pretty sure someone had spiked it with rum earlier in the night since Bubbles had originally made the clear innovative to use ginger ale instead of alcohol in the drink.

The odd banter she carried over with him. The remembrance of words and phrases came to her at odd times, making her wonder how she did not predict what was to come next. They had obviously been flirting with each other the majority of night. Even before the spiked punch touched either of their lips.

The lazy steps made towards her bedroom. Her back pushed up against a wall. His mouth hot and heavy against her's. There were fumble touches she did not recognize in the moment until days later. The memory of the touch of his fingertips tracing along her skin taunted her now.

All of it was a blurry. A blur Buttercup could not tell if she wanted to relive or not.

It was all one big mess of red branded loosely into her mind.

And while she preferred to avoid any situations in which she would run into him, Buttercup could not find a good excuse for why she could not attend the annual Townsville New Year's Eve celebration. Being a Powerpuff Girl and all, it was expected for her to be there with her sisters as they have done so since their creation.

Which also meant, since their decision to turn a new leaf and join in on her and her sisters' crime fighting exploits, the Rowdyruff Boys have become a fixture at the New Year's Eve celebration for the betterment of the past five years.

This left Buttercup with the knowledge it may be nearly impossible to dodge a certain ruff, even if she did her damn best too.

But that did not mean she was not going to try.

The moment her and her sisters saw the boys fly in to join the celebration, Buttercup has made it her own personal mission to keep moving.

Do not stay anywhere too long. Do not let anyone have an exact location to pinpoint her in case someone asks.

Not that she expected for him to ask, Buttercup acknowledged to herself. He was probably doing the same as her. Perhaps, she did have better chances of missing out on the impending awkward interaction between them before midnight.

The New Year's Eve celebration was held outside of City Hall. Three city blocks were shut down for the night as the entire town gathered together. A twenty-foot Christmas tree decorated in gold and garnet ornaments and tinsel was the main centerpiece of the celebration despite the holiday for it having passed. About thirty tall, round tables were set up for eating appetizers that were being served by the wait staff hired for the event. A long table full of sweets and a wide punch bowl was placed close by the steps of City Hall. There were three projection screens pointed towards flat brick walls of different buildings, broadcasting Time Square in wait for the ball to drop at midnight. A dance floor was created from wooden floor tiles laying on the concrete of the city street in front of the Christmas tree. Strings of white lights hung overhead from building to building, twinkling brightly against the dark night sky.

She kept her rounds going. Her eyes darting in any and every direction to make sure there were no splashes of red for her to avoid.

Instead of him, Buttercup found her sisters enjoying the night as she took a moment to pour herself a cup of—non-spiked—punch.

To her left, Bubbles and Boomer―who was her secret-but-not-so-secret boyfriend―were dancing slowly along to a melodic Daniel Caesar song. Her ruby-colored dress fluttering gently in the breezy December air, made Buttercup's heart drop to her stomach. She could not look at them long as the color sent her mind into a tizzy with memories of the incident.

In the other direction, Blossom was busy getting her ear chatted off by Butch. The green-eyed ruff has had an obvious thing for her sister for awhile now. And as much as Blossom swore up and down she had no feelings for him, Buttercup knew her orange-haired sister had to carry some sort of flame for Butch. Why else would she not politely tell him to move on after all this time?

Buttercup chuckled to herself as she took a sip of her cup of punch. Yeah, her sister definitely had a thing for Butch—

"Buttercup?"

The dark-haired puff crunched her paper cup in a reflex, squeezing out a few droplets of the red-colored liquid to the ground, narrowly missing the black suede heels she was borrowing from Bubbles.

She quickly glanced over to where her name had been called. Lime green eyes met the crimson ones in which have been burned into the back of her mind for the past week. Buttercup did not even bother to keep eye contact as she settled her crunched up cup onto the table as her gaze fixated on the display of sweets next to the punch.

Let's see... There were cookies… eclairs… Petit fours… Cake pops...

"Hello? Buttercup?"

Oh… and there were pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate… mini cannolis… pre-made s'mores…

She heard an agitated snort behind her. "So you're just going to ignore me?"

Yes. Yes, I am, Buttercup thought to herself as she focused on the tie dyed frosting on the sugar cookies in front of her. She hoped the longer she did not say anything to him, the sooner he would leave and they could forget all about what had happened.

After all, the last thing she wanted to do was sort out the feelings she did not even understand nor know where they came from. All she knew was that they had came and settled into her fast and strong.

Too strong.

He scoffed at her continued silence. "I don't even know why I bother."

Buttercup rolled her eyes. So over-dramatic.

She glanced up, expecting him to have moved but, in fact, he had stayed in the exact same position. Just about two or three feet away from her. His crimson eyes burning from the frustration she was causing him.

Her eyes involuntarily traced him up and down. She scrunched her nose up, noting how he did not even bother to dress up for the occasion. Unlike his brother who wore dress shirts and pants appropriate for the event, Brick wore a tee-shirt layered by a green flannel and dark jeans.

She had even decided to dress up for the event, wearing an off-the-shoulder, little black dress. So what made him feel as if he could be the exception?

Her vision slowly made it's way back up to his face. Her mind lingered on the sight of his soft, full lips.

Oh god. Why did she want to kiss him again so badly?

This was Brick Jojo, of all people. They were not even close friends. Sure, they were cool and all, but what exactly led to this? Why did he suddenly start flirting with her on Christmas Eve? Why did she flirt back?

And why, oh why, did she finally come to the realization Brick was undeniably hot? To the unsettling discovery she may actually have genuine feelings for him? When the hell did that happen?

"What do you want?" She questioned with an exaggerated annoyance.

Yup. That would get him to leave her alone. Just push him away like she did with everyone else who got too close.

"To talk," he said in a frustrated huff. His eyes narrowed at her, trying to dissect whatever angle she was playing.

He always had to do that. Him and Blossom both had to hyper-analyze each and every situation. It was so annoying. Why could he not just let things be?

To let her suppresss whatever it was that she may feel for him.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Buttercup," he sighed. His head full of dark auburn locks shook slowly. "Don't… don't do this."

"Do what? I'm not doing anything," she replied with aloofness.

Brick ran a hand across his face. A groan expelled from his lips as he looked up to the white string lights above them. "Why did I let Boomer convince me to come last minute?" He remarked to himself in frustration. Well, that explained his outfit, Buttercup noted to herself. "I should have known you would be like this."

Buttercup sharpened her stare on him. "Excuse me?"

Brick threw his hand out like it was obvious. "You're impossible."

"I'm impossible?" She fumed. "What about you? You're the one who randomly started flirting with me out of nowhere—"

"Out of nowhere?" Brick repeated, letting out a wry laugh. "Buttercup. I've been trying to… understand you for months now."

Buttercup blinked at him. She was completely dumbfounded by his words.

No.

There was no way he has been trying to…

No.

No way at all.

She tossed her head to the side, unable to meet his eyes. Her arms folded, "I don't believe you," Buttercup mumbled. A wicked amount of heat arose in her cheeks despite her mind telling her not to care.

To neutralize whatever this obnoxious swirling in her stomach was.

To forget how attractive but infuriating Brick was to her.

"Fine. Don't then," he dismissed.

Buttercup peeked out to him, finding him taking a few steps away from her.

Do not say it, she thought to herself.

And she would have not said anything if she was not so damn impulsive. If the annoying worm of caring about him did not bother her so much. If she did not have all these pesky, newly founded feelings for him.

"Why did you sleep with me?"

He stopped. His entire body frozen as he had his back towards her. His shoulders, which had been perched up from the tension and frustration bubbling up inside of him, gradually sloped down.

Time seemed to slow down. Nothing else mattered to them.

Not the citizens around them.

Not her sisters and their own romantic trials and tribulations with his brothers.

Not even the loud countdown going on around them as the minute to midnight was rapidly approaching them.

He turned back around to her. Crimson eyes melted into lime green ones, daring for Buttercup to never look away.

Buttercup was pretty sure she did not want to anyways—not that she would tell anyone though.

"I don't know," he said quietly.

Brick, by nature, has always been cocky to Buttercup. Whether right or wrong, he was over-confident in whatever he engaged in.

School. Sports. Girls. Fighting. Etc...

The epitome of self-assurance, he was.

But now…

It was the first time Buttercup has ever seen Brick apprehensive about something.

"So it was just some drunken mistake?" She questioned with a judgmental eyebrow. In the distance, she could hear the crowd shouting along with the countdown.

"What? No!"

"Then why did it happen?"

Ten...

He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know..."

Nine…

"But you do, Brick," she pushed. "Just admit it was a mistake."

Eight…

"For fuck's sake, Buttercup! It wasn't a mistake!"

Seven…

"I don't know why, okay?" He exasperated loudly. A hand pulled on the roots of his auburn hair. "You keep me on my toes all the damn time—"

Six…

"You're such a smart-ass. But also, incredibly stimulating to talk to. And you don't care about what others think—"

Five…

"You're the best fighter I've ever seen. And–And so damn infuriatingly gorgeous. And I'm not good with—" He took a quick moment to grimace as the word came out of his mouth like it was poisonous. His cheeks inflamed, just as her own were at the moment. "Feelings—"

Four…

"What are you trying to say, Brick?" She cut in impatiently. Her foot tapped against the ground anxiously from the thought of whatever he was about to say.

Three…

"I…" He floated over to her, stopping just a few inches away. The heels she was wearing allowed her to meet his six-foot-two stature evenly. "I like you, Buttercup. So badly, it's impossible for me to ignore it anymore."

Two…

All of her thoughts of wanting to ignore whatever this was between her and Brick had quickly fled in a second. There was nothing left for her to ignore. Brick had put everything out there for her.

And Buttercup did not know what to say. The right words could not be found inside of her.

So instead, she let her actions to do the talking.

She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, bunching up a fist as she crashed her lips into his' desperately.

One…

Happy New Year!

His soft and warm lips greeted her instantly. Hands held onto her waist tightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her fingers wove themselves into his hair.

Confetti had fell and floated it's way onto them, sticking to their skin to help celebrate the New Year, but neither paid any mind to it. Nor to the other couples or individuals around them. Or to the loud booming of the fireworks bursting in the sky above them.

Their sole focus was on each other and the moment between them.

Buttercup found much better fireworks in her mind anyways.

The nerve endings in her fingers crackled from touching him. Her mood skyrocketed into a beautiful array of emotions. It was a pleasant explosion. A blending of reds and greens and any colors in between.

It felt right and natural. Every single bit of it.

Even if her heart felt caught in her throat from the rush of emotions. Even if things were a bit messy between them and there was a lot they needed to discuss—if they could be lucky enough to learn how to sit down and talk about their feelings. Even if Buttercup was no sure where this would lead them.

She knew, right here in Brick's arms, was how she wanted to spend the rest of the night. To just watch the fireworks flying between them.

Besides, they had a whole new year to figure themselves out...