Author's Note: The dirty rhyme below was taken from the film The Sweest Thing (2002). Please read, review, and most of all, enjoy...
It had been a bright day of clear blue skies and warm, buttery sunshine. The dogs had been barking and the birds had been singing, there had been no thick traffic jams to frustrate the citizenry, nor any crimes taking place to upset the fragile peace of the bustling metropolis called Townsville. There had hardly been a thought of malice for him to feed on, but Him had learned to forgive such distasteful pleasantness in the face of his business taking off so well.
Thanks to his skill on the grill and years of building a customer base, the Otto Time Diner had fast become a favorite among the Townsville breakfast and lunch crowd.
He remembered that day, the day that everything changed. Like any major event to change the course of history, it began simply enough.
Him had been laughing at a joke he'd overheard from one of the naughtier waitresses.
"There once was a man from Bandoo,
Who fell asleep in a canoe,
He dreamed of Venus
And played with his-"
The girl had such a sharp tongue, and he should know; he made use of it regularly enough.
"Oh, Cassie, you're too much!" He'd said to himself as he'd turned back to tending the cash register.
The day had gone on in just such a way, stolen jokes in between ordered meals and small talk with the customers, the hard-working people who made up the middle class and who deserved a satisfying meal, be it a rich breakfast to start the day or a strong lunch to hold them through until they could make it home for dinner.
The demon usually delighted in mischeif and terror, but he ran an honest business.
After a few hours had passed, Him had dismissed his waitstaff for their breaks and taken to cleaning up on his own – he wasn't the one with errands to run, and he had no need to have a meal for himself. As he'd been wiping down the counter, he'd just happened to glance up to the storefront window and felt such a shock that he almost expanded his size out of an instinctive reflex.
That young woman wandering so aimlessly, her eyes so blank, it couldn't be her – it just couldn't!
But that face, that hair...
Narrowing his eyes, Him set his apron aside and left the building to follow after her down the sidewalk. He followed behind her for a few steps, simply curious as to what she was doing there on the street; she hadn't been near his diner since that day he'd fed the sisters a handful of complex riddles in a wager with their Professor.
He watched as she seemed to pause every few steps and look about herself, she seemed to be looking for something, or perhaps someone. Her gait was unsure, her posture timid - words he would never have used to describe the young woman in their past encounters. Him ticked his head to the side, very interested, and continued to follow her.
After passing several more storefronts down the street, Him couldn't restrain his curiosity any longer. Bracing himself in case she decided to attack, he called to her. "Bubbles? Bubbles, hello?"
The young woman before him paused on the street and turned around to look at him. Her eyes were empty as she took him in; no fear or recognition touched her gaze. She was simply looking at him, and was simply curious. "Who's Bubbles?" She asked.
Her voice was flat, devoid of her usual cheer. He shook his head.
"You are!" Him sputtered. It took him only a moment to put together the clues. "Don't you remember?"
Him couldn't have made a mistake, he knew Bubbles when he saw her, and this was most definitely Bubbles – so why didn't she know that?
The young woman continued to stare at him with that same blank expression. "No."
"You don't remember your own name, so I suppose that you don't remember me."
An idea was already forming in the back of his mind. A wicked, delicious idea.
It has been far too long...
She shook her head. "No."
Him smiled, showing white fangs. "Hmm…how interesting. Well, why not come in for some lunch and I'll explain everything." He coaxed, motioning for her to come with him back down the street.
She hesitated only for a moment, but just as Him had intended it, she began to follow.
Bubbles. It said my name is Bubbles. Why Bubbles? And why does it know me when I don't even know myself?
Bubbles drummed her fingertips lightly on the counter and watched as Him set out the orders for the harried waitstaff to take to the eager customers of the day's lunch crowd. Bubbles was grateful to have had someone recognize her, and even more grateful that the creature had given her such a tasty, satisfying lunch.
Him had lead her into the diner and had her sit on one of the stools lining the counter so that it could keep an eye on her. Why it wanted to watch her, Bubbles didn't know, but her concern had quickly faded once Him had set a plate of spaghetti before her. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd eaten anything.
Her eyes never left Him as he handed orders to the waitresses, all movements efficient and all words sweetly direct. Him was a strange creature, with such bright eyes and that melodic, echoing voice…not to mention the spiny claws and deep crimson skin.
Still, one question was nagging at her, and she had the strange feeling that she had been curious about it for years.
"What are you?"
Him abruptly turned to her and raised a brow. "I beg your pardon?"
Bubbles put her hands up in defense. "I don't mean anything by it, it's just...you don't look like anyone else I've seen - or can remember seeing, anyway." She amended lamely.
From behind the polished counter, Him smiled and placed a thick chocolate milkshake before her. It seemed to appear from nowhere, but Bubbles didn't think to ask as the creature moved to stand across from her. "Ah, well, that's because I'm not like anyone you've ever met."
"Is this all a costume? You are a human, aren't you?" Bubbles asked. She was genuinely curious about this creature who seemed to know her, though she knew nothing of it – not even what it was, let alone who!
Him, for his part, snapped his left claw at her and winked. "Try again."
Bubbles looked closely at the offered claw; its sharp tip, the tiny spines lining the inside, the smoothness of the crimson bone shell. No. This was no disguise, Him was exactly as he appeared to be.
"Are you…male?"
"Ahem, that's a little personal don't you think?" Him asked gingerly.
Bubbles crossed her arms and raised a brow. "So then you must be a female."
He shook his head, hesitating for a moment before answering her. He'd never had to explain himself in the past, though he had to admit it was nice to simply speak with Bubbles like this; no spells from him, no punches from her, just a pleasant conversation over a milkshake at the diner.
"Well…that sort of distinction doesn't really apply to me. I'm not one or the other. I just am!"
"Oh. So that's why your name is Him but you wear a dress?" She asked in between sips of her shake.
Him smirked. "Let's just say that I'm free to enjoy the best of both worlds. When I'm in this world, at least." He glanced at the clock. "My shift is over, come with me. I want to see what happened to you and see if there are any other PowerPuffs roaming the streets without their memories."
Bubbles frowned, "What did you call me?"
"Oh, nothing, just a nickname." He said hurriedly. "Come along, Bubbles."
"You live here?"
"Yes, do you like what I've done with the place?"
Bubbles looked about the infinite space, the moving windows into the lives of people all over the world, the floating islands of a broken home, the nightmarish lack of sense to the entire realm. "I don't…I feel dizzy."
Him looked over his shoulder and saw that Bubbles had been brought to her knees with a wave of intense vertigo. He moved to kneel with her, placing a supportive claw on her back. "Ah, yes, the short-comings of the mortal mind! You know, I always forget that your kind can't comprehend the fourth and fifth dimensions. Give me a moment."
Him waved his free claw, and the next thing Bubbles knew, they were in an enclosed room, thankfully free of the swirling noise and nonsense of before. She blinked, recovering herself, and looked about the space. Frowning, she was strangely surprised to see that he had transported them into what appeared to be a large lounge room decorated in the Gothic style. The plush carpet was a deep burgundy, while the walls were a garish shade of pink – a close match to the fur trim at Him's hem and collar. The furniture around them – from the numerous bookcases, a long dining room table and chairs, the overhead chandelier, the picture frames along the walls and the living room sofa – was all jet black, as was the wainscotting lining the walls of the room.
Him pulled Bubbles to stand, "Here, this is better isn't it?"
Bubbles shook off the last trace of her dizziness. "Yes, I...how did you bring us here? How can you do all these things?" She asked, feeling dazed.
The creature shrugged off her concern, "I have a few talents, a few tricks. Nothing you couldn't learn in your free time. Now, are you feeling better?"
"Yes I am, thank you."
"Ah, you always had the most polite manners." Him smiled at her. "Now, let me take a quick little look…"
The demon moved to cup Bubbles's face with his claws and he looked into her eyes. The girl went very still in his grip, her body losing tension, her every thought, her every emotion held captive by his presence. Bubbles felt the world fall away and every light dimmed in her vision until all she could see were the two golden eyes before her.
Him felt it, the moment of connection, when Bubbles became entirely his. He could have done anything to her once she became enthralled. It would have taken a mere breath of effort to strike her down, either with a whispered spell, a strike of his claws or a burst of energy. But there would be no challenge in that, no creativity, no inspiration.
No.
Him had much bigger plans than that.
Besides, he was curious to know what had happened to leave Bubbles without her memories. He strengthened their connection, pressing his mind forward into hers, pushing past the events of the day, past the ramblings of her own inner monologue and emotions and instinctive reactions.
Physically, Him held Bubbles close, pulling her against him as he was looking through her memories, searching, searching…there!
Hmm. Seems that pesky primate had a trick up his sleeve that actually worked for once. I'll send him a card! 'Congratulations, but you're still in 2nd place!'
Bubbles blinked as Him released her, breaking their connection. It was strange to have felt him in her mind, but what about this day hadn't been strange? She had no choice, and she had no idea what Him would do to her if she resisted. He was the only one who seemed to have any idea of who she was – she had to trust him, even if the creature was a great mystery.
Still...
"Him? Did you see what happened to me?" Bubbles asked.
Him turned to her, his eyes glowing brightly.
"Yes I did, my dear, and I'm afraid it's even worse than I thought! But have no fear, you have me now, and even better, now I have you."
