A/N

This chapter is mostly centered with Butch messing with Ace's head (lol). But it has a pretty heartfelt moment at the end. I thought it was pretty emotional. Enjoy!

Butch and Him followed Buttercup and Ace as they walked the empty streets. Butch was deep in thought, waiting for the perfect moment to put his plan into action. All he needed was something he could use, something that he knew would work. But what?

Him detected the lack of protest coming from the Rowdyruff and sneered. "Don't get any ideas," he hissed.

"What's the point?" Butch shrugged. "She's already in love with Ace. There isn't much left for me to do besides watch." He rolled his eyes when Him bought the pathetic speech. He may be hurt by the fact that his girlfriend was all over some guy, but he wasn't about to give up without a fight. He was going to get her back.

Ace glared at the clock tower and groaned when he realized that it was three o'clock in the morning. "Buttercup," he said, "we should really be gettin' you home soon."

"The nights still young," she winked, peering up at the sky. "We have all night to just be together." Leaning against him, she ran a hand up his face. "You and me, alone," she whispered. "Isn't that what you want?"

Ace slid her hands off of him. "I want you to tell me what's goin' on. You're acting different."

Him panicked and quickly replaced her odd behavior with a more convincing demeanor.

"I'm sorry," she said lowly, turning away. "I guess I'm just not used to being so alone. I feel like a part of me has been ripped away ever since Butch left me." She squinted her eyes, but peered back casually to see if he was buying the guilt trip.

"It's really eating at you, ain't it?" He had a feeling something else was up; the very reason being he wasn't all over her, hugging her to give her comfort. Something was definitely wrong…

"It's times like these that I wonder if I should even give love a chance. I mean what's the point? You're only going to get hurt in the end anyways."

It was killing Butch. He had to do something now or never. He scanned the area for something he could use, but there was only concrete for the streets, skyscrapers, and windows. Wait a minute. He grinned, eyeing the windows.

"You've got to take your chances," Ace said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It'll all work out. You'll see."

She glanced at his hand, moved closer to him, and breathed, "Are you willing to take a chance?"

Ace gulped. The feeling was growing. He wanted to kiss her. From the seductive wave of her curved eyelashes to her smiling lips which called his name, the temptation was growing stronger and stronger. He reminded himself over and over that she loved Butch, not him. He did not know what to do; should he reject her and hurt her even more or give in and kiss her? He glanced above her, below her, around her; everywhere but her. Seeking a way out, he saw something else instead. Though it was far away, he stared at the window of the building standing behind Buttercup.

Was that…writing?

Butch breathed onto the glass once again and used his finger to trace the letters into the vapor. He saw that his plan was working for it had definitely caught Ace's attention. He squinted, lowering his sunglasses as he read the writing. Scribbled across, he saw the message as plain as day: kiss her, Ace. I dare you.

He stuttered, but Buttercup paid no mind as she moved her lips closer to his. He was still gaping at the message when she kissed him. He yelped and peered fearfully back at the letters scrawled across the glass. Right next to them, nails dug into the window and produced an ear-shattering shriek. Whatever or whoever wrote that was angry. And it was probably angry at Ace. Ace cupped her face gently and pulled her back. She shook her head in question, but he simply pointed a shaky finger back at the words. Right as she turned though, the note was scrubbed away.

"What is it?"

"Uh…I-I—N-Nothing, I guess…" He shook his head. "I must just be tired."

"We can go home," she suggested.

"That'd be great."

"You want to sleep at my house?"

"Buttercup!" he scolded. Oddly enough, her lack of innocence embarrassed him. In his eyes, she was still a little girl. She giggled at his shyness and poked his nose flirtatiously. He groaned. When will this night end?

They were almost to her house and he couldn't wait for the day to just be over. He could not help but to keep a constant lookout over his shoulder. When they were nearing her street, he heard a squeak from behind and turned to find a car floating in midair. He inhaled sharply and staggered back. Of course, Buttercup paid no mind.

Butch snickered as he balanced the car on his shoulders. True, Ace hadn't made any move towards his girlfriend. Still, he couldn't help but to get a kick out of his reactions each time Butch showed his presence in one way or another. Him growled at Butch and swiped a claw at him, sending him flying back. All Ace saw was the car abruptly drop and a shattered crater appear in the building next to the car where Butch had been tossed.

"Great," Ace mumbled. "I have a girl who switches moods every two seconds and a ghost with a temper."

Butch rubbed his throbbing head. Him stepped up and bent over to his level. "If you think you can win by getting his attention, you're wrong! And don't think you will get away with it." Butch groaned at the pain and Him frowned, extending a claw his way. "Sorry to be rough with you, but a father must teach his son some respect, right?" he snickered.

Butch pushed his claw away and shook his head. "I am not your son." He whispered harshly. "I am not Mojo's son. I have no father. I was just an accident with a predetermined destiny."

"But that's where you are wrong," Him taunted. "You were no accident. Mojo made you for the sole purpose of destroying the Powerpuff Girls. He simply did not know how to make you right. Thanks to me, you are no longer defected."

Butch squinted up at him and blinked. "Defected?" he asked weakly. He knew that he was not like the others, but he never thought of himself as a defect. "I'm a…defect?"

"You are nothing but three simple ingredients, Butch. You and your brothers. Without me, you would still be rotting in the ground all because of some cootie kiss. No worries, though. I stepped in and enhanced you. Now you are indestructible to the common threat. That is, save for me," he smirked.

"You did nothing for me," Butch snapped. "Buttercup was able to see through my messed up life. She saw that I really did have some good in me and she loves me for who I am. Buttercup—"

Him growled and pierced his claw around Butch's neck, slamming him against the wall. "Buttercup! Buttercup! Buttercup! You need to forget her, Butch! Soon she will die and if you don't leave her in the past where she belongs, then you will go down with her."

Butch tried to pry his claw away, but could not. Instead, he gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes shut. "So be it," he whispered.

A/N

Oh Butch…You're going to stick up for Buttercup even in death? That's sweet. I hope you enjoyed it! Sorry if it is kind of moving slow but I am building it up for the story finale which shall come soon! Chapter… whoa! I didn't realize we were this high up in the numbers! Well, chapter 11 will be up soon :D!