CHAPTER 9: WHEN A ROSE DIES
ME: So I'm am back...again! And Brick, you can't use that bat! I have a chainsaw!
BRICK: Humph.
ME: *smirks* Awesome. Soo I own nothing besides my own OC's and the story!
Chapter 9: When a Rose Dies
Bliss sat down, dazed. She couldn't believe that Banana had almost been..."sexually assaulted", and that Blaster had gotten so many wounds. It was so...scary.
Bliss herself had gone straight home after Him and Mojo had shooed the workers out. She hadn't thought about waiting for her sisters because she had already told them she'd have to go straight home.
But now she felt bad about leaving early, because look at what had happened to Banana!
The door swung open and a blushing Bunny raced in. "I-I'm home," she announced.
"Bunny...! Are you okay?" Bliss demanded, leaping up.
"Y-Yeah; why...?" Bunny raised an eyebrow.
Then Bliss explained about what had happened to Banana and Blaster.
At the end, Bunny shuddered. "Oh my God; poor Bansy and Blaster! I had no idea―I-I was with Bandit the whole time..." She trailed off, and then she blushed then.
Bliss raised an eyebrow but didn't press any further because at that moment...
The two yellows walked into the living room.
"Banana; Blaster..." Bunny greeted them softly. "I-I'm so sorry―"
"It's fine," Blaster replied, taking a seat on a couch's arm. He leaned forward with his arms on his legs. "Banana got me all bandaged up."
"And I feel better now too," Banana agreed, sitting down on the actual couch. She leaned against Blaster. "I mean...thanks to him."
He just smiled at her.
Bunny bit her lip, thinking back to Bandit's own smile...
"Bunny...? What's wrong?" Bliss asked.
"I...I gotta go," the purple Puff stammered, racing off.
Bliss raised an eyebrow from her seat on the floor.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Hey, Powerpuffs!"
Jumping, Bliss leapt up and smoothed down her hair. It was Josh's voice! She raced for the door and threw it open, blushing. "H-Hi, Josh!"
"Hey," he greeted back, flashing a smile. "Is BC home...?"
Bliss' face fell. "Oh, well―"
"Hell yeah I am," another voice called.
Bliss turned to see her green-eyed sister walking down the stairs. Her face crumbled. "Oh...hey, BC."
"BC! So good to see ya," Josh said, spreading his arms out wide.
Buttercup nodded, giving him a brief hug as she turned back to her siblings and Blaster. "Josh will be taking me out, but you guys be careful, okay...?"
Josh only then noticed Blaster. He raised an eyebrow. "Dude...what happened to you...?"
"Long story," Buttercup responded, grabbing his hand. "C'mon; I'll tell you along the way."
"Be careful!" Banana called.
"I will!" Buttercup shouted back over her shoulder.
Banana shuddered as she snuggled closer to Blaster.
"Are you cold...?" he questioned, looking down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"No...well, kind of. I was just thinking how bad I'd feel if BC or any of my other sisters would have to go through the same thing," Banana said softly.
Blaster tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Hey; BC's strong―she'll be okay. You're strong too, but you just froze up. If BC freezes up, she has Josh, right...?"
"Mmm; right... Thanks, Blaster." Banana snuggled closer to him.
"...No problem," he murmured back, draping a nearby blanket over them and leaning his head against hers. "I'm glad you're okay." The two closed their eyes.
Bliss began to back away, not wanting to intrude. She only wished she could be as close as they all of a sudden were with Josh.
Sighing, Bliss then went into her room and looked out the window. She could see Josh driving Buttercup out with his motorbike. Then all of a sudden, when a bird was chirping, Bliss saw something―or someone―else:
...Braker.
He was walking down the sidewalk, shuffling the way boys did. He then drew his hood over his head as he approached the Utonium household.
Bliss raised an eyebrow. What was he doing here...?
She flew to the stairs, an orange streak behind her. Then she watched from the top as the doorbell rang.
Banana and Blaster's eyes blinked open from their seat downstairs, and Blaster told Banana to stay where she was. Then he went to open the door.
Braker nodded a greeting to his brother. "So...I got your text. What's happened to you exactly, now...?"
"Okay; c'mon in and I'll explain," Blaster said, allowing his brother into the Utonium household.
Braker nodded as he took a seat across from Banana, raising an eyebrow at her bare legs and the blanket around her. Blaster then sat back down on the arm of the chair, placing an arm around the yellow Puff, beginning to explain...
Bliss noted that throughout the story, Braker's hands tightened into fists and he began shaking. When Blaster was done, Braker jumped up.
"Who the fuck do they think they are!? I can't believe those assholes! I would've finished them off!" he snarled.
Bliss jumped back. She'd never seen this part of Braker for...a long time.
"Braker; relax. It's over now." Blaster nodded at Banana, who was shivering. "I don't think we need to talk about...this."
Braker let out one last growl as he sat down, folding his arms and grunting. "...I still wish I could've beaten them up."
"I know you want to, but we aren't bad guys anymore. You can't just go killing people."
"Those guys aren't people," Braker corrected, "they're scum."
"That's a bit harsh," Blaster commented with a raised eyebrow as he passed Braker some scones.
"After what they did...? NOT. HARSH. ENOUGH," Braker muttered, crushing a scone in his hand.
"...Braker; I'm fine," Banana said softly.
Braker sighed as he leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "...Sorry, Bansy. I just...I don't know." He got up then. "I should go." He nodded at Blaster. "You coming...?"
Blaster stood up, but Banana grabbed his arm. "Blaster...can you stay for the night...?" She blushed. "You...You can borrow my sleeping bag and sleep in my room..."
"...Didn't think so," Braker said with a raised eyebrow. "Have fun then!" Then he walked over to the exit.
"Hey; wait―!" But then Blaster turned back to Banana. "Okay; I guess I'll stay the night then...if it's not too many trouble."
"...Don't worry; it's not. I...I am the one who asked you in the first place," Banana murmured softly.
Bliss snuck down the stairs and went to the entrance doors. She didn't know why, but she wanted to follow Braker and see what he'd do.
She slowly opened the door and then went out, closing it and locking it. Then she floated upwards and spotted Braker's bright orange hoodie.
Bliss floated after him, making sure to stay high enough so he wouldn't take notice her.
Braker suddenly shot off with an orange streak behind him, and Bliss sped up as well, wanting to see where'd he go.
Soon enough, Braker skidded to a stop somewhere around the bad streets of Townsville. Descending, Bliss watched with wide eyes as she she hid behind a wall.
Spotting the misplaced orange-hooded boy, some men began advancing toward him. "Hey, man...what are you doing here...?"
Braker didn't reply.
"Oh; what a cocky attitude, huh...?" one man sneered, pulling out a switchblade.
Braker suddenly leapt into action, slamming his foot into the man's head and causing him to skid through the ground and into a wall. Potted plants fell on the man's head.
"Cocky little prick!" shouted another man, running forward and swinging a punch. Braker dodged to the side, the man's fist smashing into a glass window.
Howling in pain, the man waved his bleeding hand around before Braker slammed his fist into the man's chin. Then the orange-eyed Ruff smashed his foot into the guy's chin as well, sending him flying into the bottom of some stairs attached to the building wall. The man then fell down into a garbage can.
"Who's next!?" the orange Ruff snarled, holding up his fists. "I need some more of you fucking scum to blow off my steam!"
The men left had been watching with wide eyes, but now one man raced forward. "I'll show you to be so cocky!"
"Go ahead; be my guest!" Braker shouted, ducking down from the man's punch. Then Braker did a half-somersault backwards as he slammed his foot into the man's elbow. It bent upwards making a snapping sound, and the man screamed.
Braker then slammed his feet into the man's chest, making him fall back as Braker landed safely on his chest. "Who's next?" demanded the orange Ruff.
"You...little...show-off!" one man shouted, pulling out a gun. "Take this!" He pulled the trigger.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Braker appeared behind the man in a flash of orange, grabbing his neck and beginning to choke him. The man made gurgling noises as Braker said, "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with guns?"
The man had saliva gurgle down his mouth and Braker dropped him. Then he advanced on the last guy standing. "Want some...?"
"Stay back!" the man shouted, scrambling backwards.
"I don't―"
Bliss was watching with wide eyes, but suddenly hands clamped down over her mouth as someone grabbed her. "Mmph!"
"Shut up!" the man holding her hissed, shoving her forward. "Hey, kid!" he shouted.
Braker looked up and his eyes widened as he dropped the man he'd been choking. "...Bliss...?" he finally managed to say.
Bliss cringed. She didn't know what hurt more―Braker's piercing eyes, or the man's tightening grip.
"Get outta here if you want her to be safe," the man snarled, pulling out a blade.
Bliss swallowed.
Braker put his hands into the air. "Okay, guys. No need to be brash."
"Says the guy who races in here and picks a fight!" shouted the man, eyes wide as he laughed almost crazily. His eye twitched.
Braker raised an eyebrow as he took a step forward. Suddenly, a bullet whizzed through the air and shot him in the side.
Braker looked down in surprise before turning to look at the man he'd been choking earlier but had let go. The guy was holding a pistol and smirking.
"...You bastard," Braker snarled, reaching for him...
"Ah, ah, ah! The girl!" the other man shouted, gripping Bliss' hand really hard.
"Ow!" shouted Bliss. She stomped on the man's foot.
Shouting in surprise, the man let her go.
"Don't you dare touch me!" She shot him with her laser vision as he blasted backwards into a wall.
Braker smirked before turning back and advancing on the second man, whose eyes widened.
"I-I got a gun!" he stammered, fumbling as he held the black item up.
"I can see that," Braker said with a smirk, knocking it out of the guy's hand. "But y'know...I have superpowers." His hand began to glow as he shot something like a light arrow into the guy.
Soon Bliss and Braker were back-to-back, panting as they were surrounded by men on the ground.
"These guys must be new if they don't know who we are," Bliss commented.
"...Yeah," Braker agreed, but then he turned on her. "What the fuck were you doing, following me!?"
"I-I was just concerned!" Bliss shot back, recovering from her surprise. "Why do you have to be such a jerk!?"
"A jerk!?" he repeated in disbelief. "You follow me all the way out here, get me shot, and accuse me of being a jerk!?"
"Yes! You're a jerk!" Bliss repeated, glaring at him. She raised her hand and slapped him. "YOU JERK!"
Braker stared at her in surprise, touching his bruised cheek.
"I was worried, okay!? You just snuck out here all on your own, and I just happened to see!" Bliss cried.
Braker just stared at her. "You...slapped me."
"...O-Ohmygod I'm so sorry," Bliss said, gasping as she covered her mouth with her hand. "Just...Just come back with me and I'll get Bubbles or Banana or someone to heal you―"
"...Nobody can heal a broken heart."
Bliss stared at him in surprise, but then he flew off, with only his signature orange streak left behind.
When Buttercup returned with Josh and kissed him goodbye, Bliss didn't have the heart to even go down and say bye to him.
She kept replaying what happened today over in her head...
And it was tearing at her heart as guilt clawed at her stomach.
Braker scrutinized the food on the table as he tried to decide what to eat first.
"Sooo...Blaster's not coming home tonight, and he got shot...? And Banana got nearly 'sexually assaulted'...? Then you got shot as well...?" Boomer asked, looking confused. "What did those guys do...? Slap you as well...? Is that why you have that bruise on your cheek...? Why did you go looking for a fight...?"
Taking a deep breath, Braker did a face-palm. "Yes Boomer; that's what happened," he groaned, slamming his fork down on the table.
"I'm just trying to figure this out," Boomer replied, holding his hands up.
Braker snorted as he glared at the blue Ruff. "...Go text Blaster or something. I'm NOT. IN. THE. MOOD."
"Not even in the mood for an eating contest...?" Butch tried, holding up his plate.
"...No," Braker sighed, setting down his utensils. "...I'm not hungry. I'll eat later." He got up and walked off.
The brothers shared amazed glances.
"...Braker...? Not hungry...? This must be bad," Butch commented.
Boomer nodded, stabbing a spoon into his mashed potatoes. "I agree―I wonder what's wrong...?"
"Let's give him some space," Brick suggested, flipping through a book.
"Brick, honey; please don't read while eating," Him said, beginning lightly but finishing in his masculine voice.
Brick sighed as he set his book down and rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine."
Bandit picked at his food. "...I'm not really hungry either, to be honest."
"You must eat to remain healthy," Mojo said, frowning at the boys. "See―"
Brick rolled his eyes. "Oh be quiet," he said, interrupting Mojo's lecture before it even started.
"I just keep thinking about the events of today," Bandit said quietly, staring at the mashed potatoes on his plate.
"You mean when you and Bunny went out for karaoke...? But no, seriously. What exactly happened...?" Boomer asked.
Bandit's face flushed. "I said I don't want to talk about it!" He got up and stormed off.
"...That's -2 from our dinner..." Brick commented.
Mojo sighed. "Might as well. Let them eat when they're ready."
Bliss held her orange chicken pillow closer to her chest. "...I can't believe I...slapped him..."
A knock sounded at her door.
"Who's there?" Bliss called, rolling over.
The door opened and Buttercup's green eye appeared. "Hey, Bliss..."
"Hey, BC. What's up...?"
"...Josh just told me he likes someone else."
Bliss stared at him. "What...?"
Buttercup sighed as she took a seat on Bliss' office chair at her desk. "Well, we went to a bar and...umm...he got drunk. He said he liked a different girl, and...I don't know. He got sober later, but doesn't seem to remember it..."
"Oh, BC; I'm so sorry―"
Buttercup stared into her orange eyes. "What should I do...? Should I tell him that he said that and ask him about it...?"
"I-If you can take it..." Bliss said, hesitating.
"...I don't know if I can," Buttercup admitted.
"Maybe..." Bliss hesitated. "Maybe while he was drunk and was imagining he was talking to someone else...? Like he meant that he loved you."
Buttercup stared at her disbelievingly. "...Suuure," she said sarcastically. "But then who would he have been talking to?"
"...I don't know," Bliss finally managed to say, shrugging sheepishly with an apologetic smile. "Sorry..."
"It's fine," Buttercup sighed, getting up.
"Blaster...?"
"Mmm...?" The yellow Ruff rolled over in the yellow sleeping bag he'd borrowed from Banana, staring at her glowing yellow eyes with a raised eyebrow.
"...Are you comfy?" she murmured.
"Mmm; very," he said, snuggling in deeper under the covers.
"You're not too cold...? Not too warm...? Not too thirsty or anything...?"
"...Nah," Blaster replied softly. Then he sighed. "Bansy, try and get some sleep, 'kay?"
"I'm just...I don't know. I can't sleep," Banana mumbled.
Blaster sighed as he got up and stretched, before wincing at the popping pain from his wounds. "It'll be okay; just get some night's sleep."
"I don't know..."
"Banana," Blaster said firmly, walking over and leaning against her bed. He raised an eyebrow. "I'm right here, m'kay?"
"...Okay," she agreed, managing a smile.
Blaster nodded as he said, "I'll get the two of us some water."
"Don't take too long, 'kay...?"
He smiled and nodded as he paused at the door. "I won't," he promised, before vanishing.
As Blaster walked down the stairs for the kitchen, he heard voices. And so he paused, before floating back to an orange door upstairs.
"Well, we went to a bar and...umm...he got drunk. He said he liked a different girl, and...I don't know. He got sober later, but doesn't seem to remember it..." It sounded like BC talking.
"Oh, BC; I'm so sorry―" Bliss...
"What should I do...? Should I tell him that he said that and ask him about it...?"
"I-If you can take it..." Bliss said, sounding like she was hesitating.
"...I don't know if I can," Buttercup's slow voice sounded.
"Maybe..." Bliss hesitated. "Maybe while was drunk and was imagining he was talking to someone else...? Like he meant that he loved you."
"...Suuure," she said sarcastically. "But then who would he have been talking to?"
"...I don't know," Bliss finally said. "Sorry..."
"It's fine," Buttercup sighed.
The door began to creak open, so Blaster dived into the kitchen. He busied himself by opening cupboards and closing them slightly loudly.
"...What are you doing...?"
Blaster looked up to see Buttercup, leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded. "Oh; I'm getting Banana and I some water..."
"Did you hear anything...?"
Blaster paused, hesitating. "That depends on what..."
"...Josh," Buttercup finally answered. "It's okay; I won't get mad."
Blaster sighed. "I'm sorry I eavesdropped... I just happened to pass by, and―"
"It's fine," Buttercup interrupted. "Now hurry up before I change my mind."
"Oh; right," Blaster said, quickly filling the two cups with water before zooming off back up the stairs.
When he got to Banana's room, the yellow Puff scrambled upwards. "Blaster...!"
"Here's your water," he said, handing a cup to her as he started to walk back to the sleeping bag.
"Wait...!"
He turned to her and raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of his drink. "What's wrong...?"
"Can you..." She hesitated. "Can you...join me for awhile...?"
"...Okay," Blaster sighed with a slight smile. He took a seat beside her and finished his water, before snuggling down beside her. She draped her blankets over the two of them.
"...Do you want to chat...?"
"Sure," Blaster said. "How's about we start with those items we're auctioning for the charity event...?"
Banana smiled. "...Okay."
Braker couldn't help but toss and turn in his sleep. No matter what position he was in, his gun wound (which was on his left) would sting, or his slap wound (which was on his right cheek) would sting, and if he lay with his right cheek up and his left side up, his neck would ache. Lying on his back was making him see shadows on the ceiling and he would get a headache, and lying on his stomach made him lose his breath as well as his wounds would hurt.
Groaning, Braker stared forward at his wall. He reached out to touch the small place where the wallpaper had peeled slightly.
Suddenly, he heard something ringing downstairs.
DING-DONG. DING-DONG.
"SOMEONE GO GET IT!" Butch's groaning voice shouted.
Braker rolled his eyes before zooming downstairs and throwing open the door, wondering who the hell it could be so late at night. So imagine his surprise when he saw that it was...:
...Bliss.
"...What do you want...?" he demanded, almost self-consciously touching the bruise on his cheek.
Bliss bit her lip when she saw the purple bruise. "I'm...I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"...It's fine," Braker said, turning away.
But then he felt something around him, and when he turned:
...Bliss was hugging him.
"I'm so so sorry," she whispered into the darkness of night.
ME: Yay! Another chapter done! Next chapter will have the greens, and then I'll move on to blues (does not mean they'll end up together at the end of the chapter) before working on more info about the killer!
BRICK: ...I think you forgot about the reds.
ME: Relax; you guys are pretty prominent, so you'll be in a lot of chapters. Oh and I last edited this 3 days ago, but decided to wait. The next chapter is done too, but it'll also have to wait...until tomorrow.
BOOMER: Remember to review!
ME: Okay guys, just gonna tell you I haven't been doing too well.
I've been having a cold... Yeah, well for some reason it just got worse. Yesterday we went out and I felt dizzy and tired. Then when we got back, I later got a headache.
...Even later, I tried to throw up but couldn't.
...Then I did after awhile.
Yeah. I threw up. It was pink, tan, and red, and I think I saw some cranberries.
And also...something lovely came up―something that's monthly. Y'know what I mean, ladies.
Today I still feel sick, and my nose won't stop needing to be blown. My head is as if it's heavy, and I've been spending time at home, watching vids on Youku (Chinese YouTube).
And yeah, about the throw up... When I have a headache and I eat too much, I throw up. But it hasn't happened in a long time, so I didn't expect it too. But I knew it might. At first it was just spitting, but later in night came the big you-know-what.