A/N – I figured it was better that I, you know, explained some things. I like to cuss like a sailor; this is why this is rated M. Seriously. There will also be one scene that includes sex, although – you – see – nothing. I didn't feel it was necessary. It is implied sex, and the event will later be talked about, but not in graphic detail.

So, because of the rules here, this is rated M. I would rather rate it T, seeing as I think most teens can deal with a lot of strong language and implied sex, but prefers it otherwise. Sorry.

And of course, all characters and specific places belong to Craig McCracken. "Harvard" belongs to Harvard, and if New York is like Kentucky and decided to copyright their name, I suppose "New York" belongs to New York, too. Other than that everything is pretty much mine.

Oh! And this is first draft. Please excuse minor grammatical mistakes. Any questions or comments, feel free to read and review.

Enjoy!

Oh, and another thing: these next few chapters were supposed to be split into three sections, telling the story of each "team", for lack of a better term. Then I realized I wrote them too long to make one big chapter, so they will just be separate chapters. I might even just throw a few together every now and then, if they're short enough.

Anyways, thanks for waiting. There's more to come!

Chapter 8

As they flew to the port, Bubbles and Boomer were not fighting or hating each other, surprisingly. Actually, they were completely awkward. They tried not to make eye contact, but sure enough, they did. A lot. They flew next to each other, a few feet between them, and every now and then, one would catch the other's eye, and both of them would quickly look away.

They made it the port in a few short minutes, and Boomer led them to a decent-sized cabin cruiser. Bubbles leapt into the cabin, taking the seat a few feet away from the helm. The seat was simply a comfortable, padded bench, that allowed Bubbles to place her next to her, and lay out the biology books she brought along. They weren't biology books per se, but simply books about animals, islands, and the sea. Blossom had bought them for her before college, since Bubbles was going to study zoology anyway. Bubbles had found them useful throughout school, and imagined they would be useful now.

Boomer untied the boat from the dock, and a little bit later, sauntered into the cabin. Avoiding eye contact again, Boomer sat at the helm, started the boat, and pulled into the sea.

They drove for a while, Boomer staring straight ahead into the empty waters. Bubbles tried to read her books, but every now and then, she would look up and observe Boomer. He had sandy-blonde hair that swept past his eyes in a messy, shaggy hairdo. He was very lean, with a hint of muscles, visible through his tight black tank top. His skin was much darker than his brothers, and Bubbles wondered if he either went tanning or spent a lot of time in the sun.

Boomer suddenly glanced at Bubbles, who squeaked and put her nose back in her book. Boomer bit his lip and continued looking forward. Bubbles slowly looked up, staring at Boomer again. Then, Boomer looked at her again.

"WHAT?!" he cried.

"What!" Bubbles squeaked.

"You keep looking at me!" Boomer squeaked back.

"Am not!" Bubbles yelled.

"Are, too!" Boomer said.

"Am not!"

"Are, too!"

"Well, you're being weird!" Bubbles said.

"I am not!" Boomer retorted.

"Are, too," Bubbles said.

"Am not!"

"Are, too!"

"Am not!"

"Are, too!"

"Christ!" Boomer spat. He turned off the motorboat, letting it glide through the water. He spun in his chair to face Bubbles.

"What's your problem?" he asked her.

"You're Boomer," she replied. She held the book tightly in front of her, almost as protection.

"Really? I didn't know," Boomer said, exasperated.

"Well, no, you're just… you're a Rowdyruff Boy!" Bubbles cried.

"Yeah, but… no…" Boomer stammered.

"I don't know, this… this is just weird," Bubbles said. She loosened her grip on the book. "I'm… I'm just…"

"Scared shitless?" Boomer grimaced. He spun back around, facing the sea again.

"I guess so," Bubbles said. She closed her book and laid it next to her. "I'm sorry. I'm really just… scared."

"Yeah," Boomer agreed. He looked back at Bubbles. "Me, too."

"I don't want to fight with you," Bubbles said. Boomer shook his head.

"I don't either," he said. He slowly spun back in his chair to face her. "This is really awkward."

"Yeah," Bubbles said with a nod. Naturally, they sat for a few minutes in silence – a long, painfully awkward silence. Bubbles rubbed her arm.

"Boomer—"

"What?" Boomer jumped. Bubbles gave him a strange look.

"I just wanted to ask a question," she said slowly. Boomer chuckled and nodded.

"Well, uh, go ahead."

"Why are you jumpy?" Bubbles questioned. Boomer chuckled again.

"No reason," he answered. His eyes darted around the room. Bubbles noticed his leg shaking. Boomer glanced at Bubbles again, and asked "Was that your question?"

"No, actually," Bubbles said. Then, Bubbles moved in her seat, and Boomer jumped dramatically.

"What are you doing?" Bubbles shouted. Boomer glared at her.

"You moved!"

"So?"

"I don't know!" Boomer sat back in his chair, breathing long and heavy, trying desperately to calm down.

"Are you okay?" Bubbles asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine," Boomer replied, unconvincingly. Bubbles stared at him for a moment… then it clicked. She giggled.

"You're afraid of me?" she said more than asked, a little bit of ridicule in her voice. Boomer threw her a dirty look.

"No! I'm just… nervous. That's all," he explained. Bubbles giggled some more.

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Yeah, well, you're a Powerpuff Girl," Boomer said. "You've been beating the crap outta me for years. I don't know what to except from you."

"Seriously?" Bubbles laughed. "You're afraid I'm going to do something? You haven't done anything."

"I know," Boomer said. "And I'm not afraid of you. I… I don't know." Boomer relaxed a bit more, and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked up at Bubbles, as she sat Indian-style on the bench. He looked at him curiously with her big blue eyes. Her hair, held back into two small, loose pigtails, blew lightly in the sea breeze. Boomer smiled weakly.

"So, um, yeah… how are you?" he asked. Bubbles giggled again. Boomer frowned, starting to get annoyed.

"Scared shitless," Bubbles replied, cursing uncharacteristically. She grinned. Boomer raised an eyebrow, unsure of how to take the situation.

"Okay, that's… that's great…"

"Why are you so tan?" Bubbles interrogated. Boomer's uncertainty practically overflowed. He was utterly perplexed by her.

"Well, I'm in the sun a lot," he explained. "I've been traveling for a while now."

"Where've you been?" asked Bubbles.

"Ehh, everywhere, really."

"Wow," Bubbles whispered. She didn't even know why she was so curious. But she wanted to know more. "Where exactly?"

"Everywhere," Boomer insisted. "Lately I've been in Africa. Before that, Australia."

"Why?" Bubbles asked, suspicious. Boomer chuckled.

"Honestly? You won't believe me," he smiled.

"Try me," Bubbles prompted. Boomed sighed.

"I just wanted to see animals, mostly. Nothing criminal, even. I've just traveled all over the place by myself, just… seeing everything. I just like animals."

Bubbles did not speak, but just looked at him admirably; she was totally fascinated. Boomer was still confused, but felt himself calming down the more they talked. Though no matter how calm was becoming, he felt uncomfortable being the topic of conversation.

"What about you?" he asked. Bubbles blinked.

"Me?"

"Yeah."

Bubbles didn't really want to talk about herself, either. She was more interested in other people, and talking about herself just seemed selfish. She answered him anyway.

"I've just been home. Not at home, exactly, but Townsville. I go to school. I'm studying zoology and veterinary. I like animals, too."

"Animals," Boomer repeated. He smiled, genuinely, for the first time that day. "So we both like animals."

"I guess so," Bubbles said.

The two of them felt much better than how they felt only an hour or so ago. Boomer turned around, started up the boat, and began steering again. Bubbles quietly watched him. They sped through the water for a while, and in about an hour, after some more meaningless chitchat between the two, they noticed a small, shadow on the horizon.

"That's it," Boomer said. Bubbles stood up. They stared out into the ocean, watching the little shadow grow bigger and bigger. They were soon so close that Bubbles could pick out the colors on the island. Then suddenly, Boomer stopped the boat. Bubbles look at him.

"Why did you stop?" she asked. Boomer took the key out of the ignition, grabbed his bag, and hoisted it over his back. He stood up and walked around Bubbles, who followed him with her eyes.

"We're getting off," Boomer announced. "Grab your stuff."

"Why are we getting off the boat?" Bubbles inquired, grabbing her things regardless.

"We're can't leave traces of us being here," Boomer explained. He leapt into the air. Bubbles let herself hover in the air after him.

"What are doing with the boat?" she asked. Boomer flew higher, Bubbles following, and they stared at the boat. Then, when they were high enough, Boomer blasted the boat with his laser vision. Bubbles gasped.

"It's no big deal," Boomer laughed. "I have plenty of 'em. Come on, let's go."