Here's the next chapter! Thanks to everyone who likes it! And yes, I received some flames and nitpicks. But, oh well. You can't please everyone : )
Sorry it took so long. But without further ado...
Chapter 3: Exposed
"Brains!"
"Brawn!"
"Brains!"
"Brawn!"
"It's the brains, and I'll prove it to you!"
"Oh no you don't! You're not stealing all the glory!"
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"Come on in Buttercup!"
"The water's fine!"
"Don't you know that only big fat sissies take baths?!"
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I am not scared! I am never scared!
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Oh yeah? I'll show you!
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"...stinky old blanket..."
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"Buttercup? Buttercup, are you alright?"
Buttercup snapped out of her thoughts, "Oh. Hey, Professor! Yeah, I'm fine! Today's got me kinda worked out. Just tired is all."
Professor faintly smiled at her response, "Well, why don't you rest while baking cookies? That should take your mind off of the day's troubles."
"Ok."
Slowly making their way into the kitchen, Professor and Buttercup sat at the table. Bubbles was kneeding the dough while Blossom preheated the oven. Noticing Buttercup's presence, Bubbles flew over to Buttercup and gave her some flattened cookie dough and a cookie cutter, "Do you want to help?"
"Sure.," Buttercup busied herself stamping out the cookies, As long as I don't have to move. And at lightning fast speed, she was done, "Ok! Can someone put the cookies in the oven now?"
"Come on, Buttercup! Can't you just stand up put the cookies in the oven? We're all busy doing something else!" Blossom glared impaciently.
"Well I like this spot! I'm not moving!" Buttercup's stamped the cookie cutter at a faster rate, dicing the cookies she had already cut into tinier pieces.
With a deep sigh, Professor continued mixing the extra cookie dough, "Buttercup, could you please put the cookies into the oven for me?"
In a flash, Buttercup shot her laser eye beams at the cookies on her tray, making them black and crispy. Buttercup innocently smiled at the Professor, "All done, Professor!"
Rolling his eyes, the Professor stomped over to her while reaching his hands out to her, "Buttercup! There's only one way to punish you now."
Buttercup howled in laughter as Professor began tickling her under her arms and then her sides. However, that laughter was cut short. Unable to bear the pain anymore, Buttercup screeched in pain, "Ow! AHH!" Toppling to the floor, she grasped her leg as tears streamed down her face. She was exposed.
Professor quickly rushed to help her, "Are you ok, honey? What's going on?"
I have no choice, Buttercup bit her lip in defeat and pain, "I...I broke my leg when fighting the monster today," she clenched her teeth as the pain ripped through her like a flaming knife.
Blossom was freaking out, concern splashed on her face, "Why didn't you say anything?!"
"Now now, we don't need to jump all over her. Right now is not a good time," Professor picked Buttercup up in his arms, "Let's go to my lab. I'm pretty sure I can fix her up there."
Just then, the hotline rang. Blossom dashed over to it and scooped up the receiver, "Yes, Mayor? A robbery? We'll be right there!"
Bubbles looked at her afflicted sister, "But what about Buttercup?"
The green Powerpuff struggled to sit up in the Professor's arms, "I can go! I'm tough! I can take him d-OW!" She grasped her leg.
Professor shook his head, "No, Buttercup. You have to rest. Blossom and Bubbles will take care of it."
Blossom nodded in agreement, "You bet! Take care of her, Professor!"
"Get better, Buttercup!"
They flung the front door open and took off to the skies. Back at home, Buttercup frowned in embarrasment and in pain, "I know. I pulled a stupid stunt, didn't I?"
"Well, I wouldn't say 'stupid'. I would say 'reckless'. Why didn't you let us know sooner?"
Entering the lab, Professor quickly, but gently set Buttercup down on a small experiment table. Tears were starting to form in the green Powerpuff's eyes. She searched desperately in her mind for an answer. And taking a deep breath, she began to open up her heart and mind to the one person she knew she could trust, "Professor, I really don't know how to answer," she lowered her head to look away from him, "Heh. I'm sure smartypants Blossom would know what to say. And bubbly Bubbles would just chatter away exactly how she feels. Just more great qualities they have that I don't."
Professor listened intently as the foggy parts of Buttercup were finally beginning to clear up.
Buttercup scoffed, "Everyone loves them for the special little girls they are. And me? Well, everyone nags me to be more like them. No one notices me for who I am. They only notice what I'm not. I'm the tough tomboy with no feelings! Is that what everyone expects of me? Is that who I have to be in everyone's eyes? Well, NEWS FLASH! This just in! I have feelings, too!"
The pain of the broken leg surged through her again and she moaned in agony. Professor was absolutely speechless, "I-I didn't know."
"Nobody knew. Nobody cared to."
Professor thought for a minute, then finally responded to her sad demeanor, "We should probably get that fixed."
"My leg?"
Professor planted a gentle kiss on Buttercup's forehead, "...and your broken heart..."
Well, almost done! I guess that this is almost the end! I kinda thought about what one of my reviewers said about Buttercup not telling them right away about her broken leg. I dunno. Maybe she would have. Then again, she is a superhero with superpowers and can probably stand the pain a bit more than we can. Oh well, I've gotten so far into the story already! So I might as well finsh. At least Buttercup didn't wait a week until she told them. Now that would have been really unrealistic. ; )