11-23-10

1:00am

Summary–The symptoms are different. The feelings similar. The realization...the same. The RRB reflect on that one moment where they knew their relationship with the PPG would never be the same.

Disclaimer–I do not own The Powerpuff Girls, which belongs to its respective owner(s) and is only being used in a fan-made, fictional story.

xoxo

Title–Knocked On My Ass

Chapter 2–Embrace It

By–Moon Prynces

xoxo

He was tired. He was covered in sweat. He was...grinning to himself as the ball was snatched away by one of his own teammates.

And it was no surprise who it was. The most aggressive player on their team; Buttercup.

Their school had some weird funding problem that was never fully explained and so boy's and girl's soccer was combined, not just during gym class but also the school teams.

Since it wasn't a full contact sport no one minded (except the girls who refused to play with perverted guys and the guys who moaned about girls not being good enough...).

Buttercup and Butch had proved most skeptics wrong about the two sides not being able to cope with the merger. In fact, it was the craziest thing... They were almost perfect teammates (maybe because the desire to win was so strong) and yet they rarely talked or got along off the field.

He pretended to cat-call her as she pulled off the jersey before even getting to the locker room, not caring if anyone saw her sports bra or undershirt. She rolled her eyes and made backhanded comments about the girls he was always dating, because he was a serial monogamist with bad taste (in her opinion).

Still, differences weren't noticed when they both had on the same colors with the same goal in mind.

Butch would even go so far to admit (not out loud) that he admired her. She was good, no one could deny it.

Anyway, right then wasn't the time to reflect on their relationship (which only really consisted of being teammates) because they were in the middle of a very important game against the only other high school in the area with a huge ego.

It was almost over and he didn't have time to glance over to make sure they were in the lead with the ball coming his way. He was so caught up in running, the ball moving with him by his feet and the rush he was getting that he didn't notice until it was too late as someone came sliding on the ground, their feet knocking the ball away from his control and towards another member of the opposing team.

Shit, he thought while whipping around quickly.

People were shouting, cheering, screaming. Coaches were yelling, along with teammates. And if he had time to really pay attention he would have seen they were nearing the end and this last goal counted. They needed it.

But then Buttercup came out of nowhere, kicking the ball swiftly out from beneath the person while shouting, "Butch!" as it came back in his direction.

He grinned, glad to be back in control but soon realized that the volume of everything just got louder.

Instead of attempting to get around defense, he faked a right pass and shot the ball over to Jess, another teammate, who almost immediately got them a goal and then...! Then it was over.

He was still in some state of shock and happiness as Jess jogged over to where he was, and the rest of their team did the same, congregating to shout in celebration. They were raising their arms in the air, slapping each other on the back with enough gusto to cause bruising and jumping on each other in random hugs.

Butch didn't have time, once again, to think as he was immersed in the crowd, one person after another congratulating him and him responding the same.

"Yes!" someone shouted, jumping up to throw their arms around his neck in another celebratory hug (damn, was he gonna be sore tomorrow). "We won!" she shouted again in the excitement.

When he finally looked down with the same proud, victorious grin on his face he saw Buttercup had been the person to jump in his arms. And seeing as everyone (including the both of them) was so caught up, he hadn't given a second thought to letting her and wrapping his arms around her waist so she hadn't fallen.

Wait a minute, he said to himself as his brain slowed down to a halt.

Were they hugging?

Were they...were they touching?

He almost dropped her on her ass in that moment, but managed to control the surprised expression and let her land on her own.

Buttercup pulled back, still grinning up at him and throwing her hands into the air again as someone shouted something about a party.

Holy crap, he looked around in alarm. I think my heart just stopped.

And it had.

Or at least that's what it felt like.

Wait, what? he asked himself.

But as he looked around in panic it was clear that Buttercup had moved on and people were too busy enjoying the accomplishment and no one noticed he was freaking out (just a little).

After who-knows-how-long, the field and stands cleared – the team shuffling off to the locker rooms and everyone else heading to this fabulous party being promoted (where the players would eventually end up as well).

Butch was sitting idly on the grass over an hour later, legs propped up in front of him as he leaned forward on his knees, thinking.

Seriously, what just happened?

They played. They won. The team and students all jumped up to begin celebrating as soon as possible. Buttercup touched him with no intention of causing him harm and his heart stopped.

Maybe it was just a natural reaction because he still kind of feared getting a real beating from her. He was sure it was overdue, and every time she initiated physical contact it was usually to hit him over the head or elbow him in the gut or trip him – all during practice.

That had to be it. He was just afraid she was going to...

Okay that didn't make sense, and he knew it wasn't fear that had run through him.

Well, maybe he was just surprised because it was the first time she touched him and it wasn't to hit or kick him in any fashion.

"Hey."

Butch looked up to see Buttercup walking towards him. She had showered and changed into a pair of shorts and t-shirt, her favorite sneakers on her feet as she came closer.

He looked down at his own clothes, the soccer team's jersey and shorts. He hadn't left the field at all yet.

"What're you up to? I thought you'd be out looking for your next girlfriend at the party," she said with raised brows, leaning over him.

He grinned back. "Sounds like a plan."

So she offered him a hand without being asked, prompting him to stare in surprise a few seconds before grasping it so she could pull him up.

And then...it happened again. He had another heart-stopping moment.

Butch stood upright, his head spinning from the rush of blood.

"You okay?" Buttercup asked after letting go of him.

I...I like her! he realized, brows coming together as he stared at her in amazement.

After all the time they had spent together (because of soccer), after all the time spent admiring her form (on the field, and okay maybe when she pulled off the jersey without a care), after all of it...was this inevitable? When did his simple, innocent admiration turn into... that?

"Not a chance in hell," Butch responded, walking past her confused form. "I'll see you there," he added, questioning himself with...when.

xoxo

11-24-10

3:52pm

Hope you enjoyed. Sorry I'm not a team player kind of person, and I don't watch sports really. Tell me if the vagueness was too unrealistic. I try not to write about sports and certain things that I really don't know enough about. But if I do, I commit to a lot of research and even then I still try to keep it vague enough but still believable.

Thanks for reading and tell me what you think!

4:25pm

I am posting this chapter now instead of waiting another 15 hours like I wanted to for a few reasons.

1) I am caught up in trying to decide on and order Xmas gifts for people and so I'm spending of a lot of my online time trying to find things.

2) I feel pissed and guilty because I had an amazing idea for a Blossom/Brick one-shot but when I attempted to write it out yesterday it turned out awful (in my opinion) so I'll have to rewrite or edit things. Hopefully I'll be satisfied with it in the week and post it. Seriously it was such an awesome idea... DAMNIT.

There's one more chapter to this fic and then it's totally done. It'll be out in about three days.

As for reviewers, thanks for the support. To canzie, a drabble is...uh, well from what I understand it's a piece of writing that doesn't have a real plot and is usually pretty short. You can look up the definition somewhere, like or urbandictionary I suppose. Sorry if that wasn't really helpful.

11-30-10

12:01am