Chapter two: Vigilante

The simulator became a repetitive game and didn't quench her need for a fight as much as it would if she was truly going against someone skilled. As she kept the goggles over her eyes she will always see countless computerised villains. Professor Utonium had created it for her so she could train or just play for fun, finally acknowledging the girl's love for physical activity. He had gone over the boundaries of just making human criminals and even mimicked Mojo Jojo or other villains. However, a game couldn't compare to reality.

Buttercup skidded to a halt already in a fighting stance as she dodged a black clad criminal's kick to her torso. She leapt again as she manoeuvred out of the line of fire of a gun wielding terrorist and then back flipped, sending two kicks to another's face. She launched punch after punch, her hands glowing green as the make believe characters surrounded her. When she trained she tried not to use her powers, at least not to fly because that gave her too much of an advantage. It was fair to say she was the equivalent to a black belt in karate or some other martial arts.

She pushed a red button on her wrist guard and collapsed, breathing heavily on bended knee. Sweat dripped from her nose as she tried to regain composure after a hard day of working out. She had been at it for almost three hours and only stopped to take drinks and she usually only stopped when she couldn't fight any longer, she could still fight now…just her mind was elsewhere.

Buttercup thought of the earlier events before they were sent home by the school. She thought of Butch who was incredibly arrogant and annoying and some how made her feel uncomfortable and nervous. Grabbing a towel from the hook and wrapping it around her neck, Buttercup exited the lab compartment and thanked her father for monitoring her training. She didn't stay to hear his verdict, instead making her way upstairs to the bathroom.

"Ew," Blossom uttered as she stepped out of the kitchen, her brown eyes wide, "you stink and look horrible." She said, manoeuvring around her sweaty sister and into the lounge.

"The smell of victory Blossom," she pointed to herself and then inhaled, dry retching and then nodding her head, "yea…I stink…bad." She breathed through her mouth as she clambered up the stairs.

After her shower she entered Bubbles' room unannounced and sat on her bed, watching her blonde haired sister as she practised playing the violin. Bubbles' was the most creative sister out of them and had devoted her life to all kinds of art forms such as music, acting and dancing. Buttercup liked watching her practice, it was calming for her and even though the music wasn't like her usual Fallout Boy or Sum 41 it was still refreshing.

Blossom barged in suddenly, her eyes wide. "You wouldn't believe who's here right now," she said, a pen sticking out from behind her ear.

"Those Boys?" Bubbles replied innocently before beginning to play again.

Buttercup stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "why…would we care?" She asked even though her heart began beating erratically.

"Because they're in our house…" Blossom frowned and then shook her head, "it makes me worried that they even know we live…"

"Well…go deal with them," Buttercup replied flippantly.

"Tell them I'm busy practising Blossom," Bubbles added.

A thought occurred to Buttercup and she stared at both her sisters carefully, studying each of them. "Whose turn is it to cook dinner?" She was met with unimpressed eyes from Blossom and bright, laughing one's from Bubbles.

"Yours," Blossom uttered huffily, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I can't cook if they're here," the black haired girl argued.

"She's right, it's impolite not to invite them," Bubbles stopped playing for a minute to evaluate the situation.

"Ok, simple. We ask them to join us, I'm really hungry-"

"You're asking them to join us? We hardly know them!"

"Why are you so against it Buttercup!"

"I don't know…" Buttercup trailed off, tapping her foot impatiently, "because it's unusual that we're asking strangers, boys in the least, to dinner."

"Buttercup doesn't like boys very much-"

"Yea, they're only good for one thing and that's a punching bag," Bubbles rolled her eyes at being talked over. Buttercup fidgeted nervously, she liked boys very much but it was the right assumption, she could play with that and if it meant the boys wouldn't be there then it was a good idea.

"She assumes they're going to flirt with her and try to get to know her-"

"Buttercup…are you really uncomfortable around boys, you never seemed to have a problem." Blossom looked at her guiltily and Buttercup sighed, plopping onto the bed and pouting.

"It's not a matter of them flirting with me or anything…I have a feeling those boys aren't interested. It's more or less me being uncomfortable around them, especially after what happened this morning."

Blossom sat beside her sister, her eyes trained to the blue walls. "This is an opportune moment to ask them questions. I mean, they obviously know about us with superpowers, so they have to know something about controlling them." Buttercup looked up, the situation dawning on her. It wasn't what she originally thought as it being merely a flimsy night to flirt with boys; it was more to learn about whom they were…why they knew how to help her. "Now, I'll go ask them to join us for dinner, Bubbles you are free to continue practising and Buttercup the waters boiling on the stove for pasta."

The red head left leaving the door open and Buttercup stood tiredly, rubbing her legs and stretching. Bubbles turned a page in her music book. "You know Buttercup…the black haired one, Butch, he's really cute but the blonde is cuter." Her giggles rang throughout the quiet room and Buttercup couldn't help laughing either, picking up one of the numerous stuffed animals and throwing it at her childish sister.

"You promised Dad no more boys." Buttercup stood beside the bedroom door, her hand on the door knob.

"Yes…but this one is really, really cute." Bubbles hugged her bow to her chest and sighed allowing for more laughter to erupt from her tough sister.

Buttercup walked down the stairs still giggling, her long black hair pulled into a pony tail. She shivered slightly as she passed underneath the air-conditioner for she was only clad in her shorts and t-shirt, highly indecent things to wear in front of guests. So she hoped that whilst dinner was cooking she could go throw on some pants despite the warm weather that she despised. She ran across the hall not stopping to glance into the lounge where Blossom was entertaining the three boys, though she could feel the awkward tension rising.

As she threw in a bag of pasta into the boiling water Buttercup felt Blossom's presence in the kitchen, it was like she was suffocating in her sister's anger. "The nerve of him," she was muttering to herself, pulling glasses from the cupboards, "he called me a bossy, spoilt brat! Could you imagine?" She turned to face Buttercup who was trying in vain not to laugh or look remotely interested.

Buttercup turned her back to her sister to rifle through the cupboards for the salt shaker; she bit her lip to keep from remarking in her sarcastic tongue. Instead she deemed it fine to ask a simple question, "Did you find out anything?"

Blossom glowered at the door, her legs crossed as she leant against the counter, "he hasn't given me any openings." As Buttercup turned around to finally face her sister she found her gone with the door slamming shut, sighing she placed the remaining ingredients into another pot.

The walls muffled Blossom and Brick's voices as she made her sneaky way up the stairs towards her bedroom. It seemed they were arguing over meaningless name calling and that the red head was inconsiderate towards her sister for staying for dinner. She merely rolled her green eyes and grumbled under her breath about boys and heroism, chivalry being dead and other little things that she found insignificant at that moment.

Her eyes strayed from the chiselled chest that was evident behind a black shirt to a stony face, one she found unwelcoming. Buttercup stared down at her body and then at him, noticing that he was checking her out in the slightest of ways. She felt uncomfortable under his piercing gaze. "If you're looking for the bathroom it's over there, now do you mind?" She asked impatiently, side stepping him and making her way to the stairs.

"You're really beautiful," Butch said quietly, stopping Buttercup in her tracks.

The girl of eighteen turned slowly, pushing her hair behind her ears to get a clear view of him. "That was…improper of you." She replied slowly, breathing deeply as they stood opposite one another.

"Are still the girl I met at school? Calm, collected and the like? Seductive? Or are you like this now, meek and arrogant?" Butch stared at her, something he felt the need to do but he hardly minded.

Buttercup felt insulted and shuffled her shoulders, standing straighter and looking intimidating. "I'll have you know that I am everyone of those things but you're straightforwardness and haughtiness has made me feel slightly inferior. I have never met anyone just like me before," she glared at him fiercely, breathing deeply.

"How do I make you feel inferior? You hardly know me," the boy took a step towards her and motioned to himself.

"Because I don't know you, because you seem to be invading my mind you make me feel uncomfortable." She couldn't seem to hold in her words or her feelings. "I can't stop thinking about this morning…or you." She admitted quietly, averting her eyes.

"Me either," Butch turned around and walked towards the lounge, "I'll help you, you know."

She shivered as the air conditioner came on above her and she found herself rubbing her arms, "with what?" she asked, stepping out from beneath the cold air.

"You can't control it…your powers I mean." Butch turned back and smirked, "if you'll have me…I can turn into someone really, really powerful. That's what you strive for don't you? Power?"

Her lips curled in distaste and she glowered at him, hating that smirk on his face. "I'm already powerful," she replied easily grabbing his wrist as he suddenly appeared in front of her. Butch stared at her hand and relaxed in her strong grip, "if you try and attack me again Butch, I'll truly hurt you." She tightened her grip, watching his eyes flutter to a close and then released him, pushing him slightly to get some breathing room.

It was true; she strived for power and to be strong. If she was stronger then those reoccurring villains would truly disappear from her life and if she was stronger she couldn't be manipulated or used by the mayor. If she was stronger she'd be feared and she always liked to manipulate people.

"You're kidding yourself Girl. You could never hurt me." He called from the first floor.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Buttercup turned slowly and regarded him coldly, "Girl?" she uttered impassively. She threw herself down the stairs towards him; a green streak trailing behind her but was thrown into the wall harshly by a glowing, green hand.

"Shall we take this outside?" Her eyes twinkled with the challenge and they both raced through the lounge, over their respective families' heads and into the open air.

Buttercup twirled slowly before landing on the lush grass in front of their house. It was a warm night with barely a hint of a breeze which she basked in as perfect fighting conditions. They tried to size each other up by having a staring contest, neither of them winning but she thought that he lost simply because he made the first move of trying to tackle her.

She pushed with her feet and leapt into the air, glancing at the ground at his back as he tumbled and landed firmly on his feet. Buttercup welcomed the heated gaze but that didn't deter her from her plan of attack as she took in their surroundings, where only one tree graced their yard and with no other houses in their neighbourhood. Landing on the tree's branch she waited for him once again to make a move but hardly expected the blast of green being shot at her.

She fell backwards to dodge it which made her fall through the tree at a high speed, branches snapping around her. Growling, the girl who enjoyed this fight more than anything flew forwards, appearing in one spot and then disappearing again, something high speeds achieved. Her hand collided with his chest and she was able to manoeuvre her legs around his torso, making them fall heavily against the grass, her on top of him.

They stared at each other darkly, Buttercup enjoying the feel of adrenaline coursing through her body. Being able to fight was like a drug to her and she couldn't get enough. Butch breathed heavily, watching her wide eyes and taking in her dishevelled appearance. As he inhaled, the sweet smell of apples, woods and grass reached his nose and he closed his eyes for a moment reserving it to memory.

She was over him, a light weight that was warm and welcome with her hair cascading over her shoulders, tickling his face and neck. "What's wrong?" Buttercup breathed.

"Nothing," and he twirled them around so he was on top, feeling it was his rightful place as a man.

"You held back," she added, staring at him as he remained below her calm and collected.

"You're hardly worth fighting," he got off her and offered her his hand.

"I wasn't even trying." Buttercup replied, still out of breath.

"If you weren't trying you wouldn't be breathing so heavily nor trying to defend yourself."

"Is this just a way of manipulating me so I come begging to you to help me get powerful?" She acknowledged that part of her that really did want to get stronger out loud.

"I don't want you to beg. I want you to want me to help you."

"Why would you want to help me?" She asked incredulously, rubbing the blood from her forehead.

"Because I think you're cool," he smirked and raised her arm around his shoulders, helping her towards the house.

Blossom looked at the scene and rolled her eyes, making her way towards the kitchen to finish preparing dinner and to get the first aid kit ready. Brick and Boomer watched her go appreciatively, watching her hips sway mesmerised. "Why were Buttercup and that boy fighting?" Bubbles entered, holding her violin close to her chest as she stared wide eyed at the two boys.

Boomer took in her appearance acknowledging the long legs and the naivety that seemed to radiate from her. Her blond hair fell over her shoulders like a sheet of silk and her blue eyes were bright, cautious. He stepped forward and stared at her dazedly, "If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it." He quoted from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Bubbles giggled and stared at him with raised eyebrows, "excuse me?"

"Shakespeare-"

"Yes, Shakespeare, I know the play, don't worry." Bubbles continued on her way into the roo, passing the boy with a sultry look in her eyes, "what was my sister and your brother, I assume, doing out in the front yard?" she repeated.

"Flirting I guess," Brick replied dismally, "don't ask me, Butch craves for a fight and she was a perfect candidate."

"She gets riled up easily but it doesn't mean your brother should pick on her-"

"He didn't pick on her perse," Boomer held out his hands for her violin which she handed over uncomfortably, "he…," he waved around the bow trying to think of the right words to say. "He, offered her some help…you know, with her powers. We figured that if she couldn't control it that one time today, then she's probably having trouble doing it most times." He placed the bow to the strings on the violin and played professionally.

Bubbles watched him in awe, forgetting the awkwardness and enjoying the music that overwhelmed her senses. He was a good deal taller than her with collar length blonde hair and kind, blue eyes. He was watching her, she knew, but hardly minded. The tempo of the music increased and was getting faster by the second…suddenly it stopped. "What?" she asked dumbly at the silence.

"Ah, yea…I only wanted a go," he handed it over smugly and stared at Brick, who was glaring at him impatiently.

Bubbles nodded and sighed, "How did you learn to play like that?"

Boomer scratched the back of his neck seemingly uncomfortable save for the arrogant smile. "Well, it's a string instrument and I play the guitar, easy really when you know the notes but using a bow is quite different than a pick." He smiled, shrugging his shoulders, "I like music." He said charmingly.

"So do I," breathed Bubbles, biting her lip.

"So, um, wanna hang out some time?"

"Oh dear god," Buttercup's voice rang throughout the lounge room as she hobbled through the door. She felt sore all over and wasn't looking forward to dressing herself with all the numerous bruises that would appear on her back. She waved a hand at Brick who had made himself comfortable on the couch, legs propped up on the coffee table and the remote control in hand. Grunting Brick shuffled over to the other chair and made himself comfortable but glanced every few seconds at his brothers and the two girls.

"I'll go get the first aid kit," Bubbles hurried off towards the kitchen leaving the one girl with the three boys.

"You're an idiot for going against Butch," Brick mumbled as he channel surfed on the large television. "He's out number one fighter."

"And you're the strategist?" Buttercup wondered briefly to Blossom who was their number one strategist.

"And I'm the clumsy one," Boomer put forth, smiling brightly.

Bubbles rushed out of the kitchen with a wet wash cloth in her hands and the kit. She settled beside her sister and went to work. Over the years she had become efficient at nursing her sisters back to health having been the one less injured out of the lot, not saying she hadn't had her fair share of bumps and bruises. Carefully Bubbles pulling out little twigs from her sister's long hair and went to work by wiping at the blood on her neck and forehead and then bandaging a nasty cut on the back of her neck. She pulled up the back of her sister's shirt and cringed slightly but smiling as the boys grunted from the look of purpleish bruises and a few more scratches.

"You've done yourself a big one this time," Bubbles reprimanded, poking childishly at her sister's face.

"Well…it was fun," Buttercup grunted as the disinfectant in the new wash cloth settled into her wounds.

Bubbles sighed and pulled out a bright, pink liquid, "you know…these will probably scar," she placed the cloth over the vial top and turned it upside down.

Buttercup sat bolt upright despite the pain and glared heavily at the vial. "You will, in no way, use that on my skin. I am quite fond of scars little Bubbles, battle scars are a greater reminder of what one fights for-"

"Shut up," Bubbles sat on her sister's legs and rubbed the cloth over the writhing girl's back, "see, our father is a scientist and he didn't like the fact that we would get scarred, we as girls minus Buttercup, didn't like that fact either. He created that stuff, a scar remedy I guess which does stop things from scarring and it's great, apart from the great amount of pain it inflicts on the user." She said over her sister's cursing and she smiled toothily at the boys who were drawn in by the look of agony on Buttercup's pretty face.

"Would the pain be equivalent to a boy getting kicked in the balls?" Brick mused quietly.

Buttercup pointed her finger at the red head and sent a blast of green energy at his hat which she found clashed horribly with his hair. "I wouldn't know," she grunted, "I've'nt got balls to be kicked in."

"All done!" Bubbles got off her sister with some difficulty and started to pack away the utensils, "and Blossoms calling us, it's time for dinner guys." She pointed towards the dinning room pleasantly as if no whining or moans of pain had ever occurred within the household. She then leant a hand to Buttercup and pulled her up slowly, she didn't bother with helping her into the dining room though because she knew her stubborn sister would never accept her help. She watched her walk away placidly before entering the kitchen to help her sister.


Ok, chapter two is done! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. There's more to it but yea, I haven't written it yet so please wait until the action starts happening. It's mostly dialogue and I apologise but I'll be sure to describe more. Next chapter will be up soon I guess, if I get my homework done on time. Cya.