CHAPTER 10: A ROSE FOR SLEEPING BEAUTY

ME: Okay, after this, I'll work on the HUOY chapter; I promise!

BUBBLES: You really should, what with the Art Contest coming up...

ME: There's about one more chapter before that!

BUTCH: ...She owns nothing. Blah.

ME: ...I own my OC's and the story!

Chapter 10: A Rose for Sleeping Beauty

Buttercup fumbled for her phone, trying to figure out if she wanted to contact someone. She decided against a text because someone might not hear it if they were already asleep.

She flipped a coin; heads was Mitch and tails was Butch.

...It landed on heads.

Scrolling for Mitch's contact, she pressed "call", but he didn't answer. "The cell you are calling has currently been turned off."

Buttercup sighed as she gave up after a minute, before dialling Butch's number.

"Well I'm ridin', ridin' on the wind

Yes I'm ridin', ridin' on the wind."*

"Hello...?" Butch's groggy voice sounded.

"Butch...?"

Suddenly he sounded like he'd just snapped out of sleep: "BC...? What the fuck? Why are you calling me so late?"

"Can you come over...?"

"...What...? Fuck no! I need my sleep!"

"But Butch..."

"...Shit; something happened, didn't it...?" He sighed. "Okay; how's about you come over?"

"...Okay."

"See ya later, BC."

As soon as he hung up, Buttercup sat there for a few moments. Then she leapt up and started getting ready:

She threw on a green jacket and raked a comb through her hair. Then she kicked on her shoes.

Buttercup flew out her door and down the stairs, careful not to wake anybody. But when she got outside, she thought she saw something red in the sky.

...Then she noticed the rose petals.

They were flying through the sky like droplets of blood.

She shuddered as she flew off, a green streak lighting up the night.

When she got to the Ruffs' house, she didn't even have to knock before the door was opened.

Butch greeted her, letting her in before shutting the door. "Yo, BC. This better be good."

Buttercup blushed. Butch...was shirtless.

He was shirtless.

Butch had abs and lots of muscle, but not so much he looked gross. He was nicely toned and slightly tan. He was wearing a cross necklace and ripped, tattered jeans.

Butch raised an eyebrow when he caught her staring. "You can look, but don't touch."

Buttercup flushed even redder as she cursed her pervertedness. "I...I wasn't looking."

"Suuuure. Because I totally didn't catch you ogling my body." Butch rolled his eyes.

"...I was just wondering why the heck you decided to greet me shirtless," Buttercup muttered, pouting.

Butch smirked. "Because I didn't have enough time to throw on a shirt. Soon after you called me, I nearly fell back asleep. Just threw on some pants before racing down here 'cause I saw your streak in the sky."

Buttercup's face burned as she imagined Butch in his boxers.

"So what's up?" Butch asked.

"Wait...can we check on Brick...?"

Butch raised an eyebrow. "Why...?"

"Because...I thought I saw something red in the night," Buttercup explained.

"Okay, okay," Butch said, rolling his eyes.

They went upstairs and Butch approached the red Ruff's door. When he opened it, there was a lump under the blankets. Butch let Buttercup see it, and then he closed the door.

He turned to Buttercup. "See...? He's asleep―like any sane, sensible person would be; like I should be."

Buttercup's face burned red. "H-Hey!" she called, racing after Butch as they went back downstairs.

"Now, what did you wanna talk about...? You sounded upset, which hardly ever happens."

"...Josh told me he liked someone else."

Butch froze, before thumping his hand into his fist. "He what!? That asshole! I'm gonna go beat the shit outta―"

"Wait, don't!" Buttercup grabbed his arm.

Butch turned to stare at her, raising an eyebrow. "And why the fuck not?"

"Because...Because he was drunk. He didn't know what he was saying, and...he doesn't remember anymore."

Butch sighed. "BC, it's said that men are more honest when they're drunk." He tore his arm out of her grasp and began cracking his knuckles. "Now, I―"

"Butch!" cried Buttercup, exasperated. "Why do you care so much!?"

Butch turned to her and snorted, crossing his arms. "Because, no one makes my friends sad. That includes you, Butters."

"Oh..." Buttercup dropped her hand. "Friend" huh...

"Now...where does the little shit live again...? Wasn't it near our school...?" Butch muttered, twitching slightly.

"You're not beating anyone up," Buttercup said, recovering from her earlier quietness. "Just wait until I've talked to him."

"Then I can beat the snot outta him...?"

"Noooo. Well...if he pisses me off, maybe."

Butch smirked. "I like the way you think, BC. Alright; it's a deal then."

Buttercup rolled her eyes. "You know I'm not seriously gonna let you beat him up."

"I know."

Buttercup looked up in surprise. "Butch...?"

"Buuut you might let me beat him slightly," Butch said jokingly, waving off what he'd said earlier.

"...Maybe," Buttercup said with a roll of her eyes.

"You and your sisters don't get enough sleep," Butch suddenly said with a yawn, enjoying the pop in his muscles as he stretched.

Buttercup's head snapped towards him as she raised an eyebrow. "Say what...?"

"Just a few moments ago Bliss came along and knocked on our door," Butch explained, shrugging. "Braker answered it, but I dunno why she was here."

"...Bliss is here...?" Buttercup said in surprise.

"I know right?" Butch agreed with a shrug.

"I wonder why...?" Buttercup muttered in disbelief.

Butch shrugged. "Who the fuck knows? Well, I mean Braker knows, sure―but that's not what I mean. He's got his hands full, so I doubt we can ask him...or her."

Buttercup sighed. "Yeah...you're right."

"C'mon; let's go up to my room," Butch said, gesturing at the stairs. He raised an eyebrow. "After you, princess."

Buttercup snorted before she floated up the stairs. "...Thanks."

"No problemo," Butch replied, following her. "So what do you wanna talk about...? Do you want water...?"

"Butch, since when do you get water for me...?"

"I don't," Butch smirked. "I was gonna tell you to go get it yourself."

Buttercup rolled her eyes as she reached the Ruffs' green door. "...Whatever."

"Geez, I was just joking! See, I'll go get some water and snacks," Butch said, throwing his hands into the air. Then he zoomed back down the stairs.

Buttercup stood there before she sighed. "...Thanks, Butch." Then she went into his room.

When Butch got back, he had a cookie in his mouth as he balanced plates in his arms with glasses of water. "Yo; lend me a hand here, will ya...?"

"Sure," Buttercup said, taking some of the plates and one of the two cups. She then set them down before sitting on his bed. "And...thanks."

"Mm-hmm; no problem," Butch replied. "I grabbed some of what you like."

"And how do you know I will like it...?"

Butch smirked, his eyes glazing over. "...Because we like similar things. And y'know, I'm your friend." He chuckled then. "Heh; isn't it weird...? I was made from a fucking toilet in a prison cell, made to hate you and kill you. And yet...somehow, we became friends."

"...Yeah..." Buttercup agreed softly, staring at the the glass of water in her hand. She could see her reflection, and it seemed to swirl into Butch's. "...We're rather alike."

"We are counterparts, after all," Butch agreed, setting the plates down on his desk. He flopped down on the bed beside her. "And y'know...I still remember that time I gave you some snickerdoodle cookies and you chucked them at my face."

Buttercup flushed. "Sorry...I didn't really trust you..."

"It's fine," Butch chuckled. "Then I offered chocolate chip or oatmeal, and you reluctantly took them..."

"You gave me those cookies because Mitch was trying to get us to interact, right...?"

Butch nodded. "Yeah. The guy winced when you threw those cookies in my face. Still...they tasted pretty good."

The two greens laughed.

Then Buttercup flopped down beside Butch, their hands touching. "Y'know...those were the good ol' days."

"...Better than when you used to beat the shit outta us...?" Butch smirked. "I still say I could've beat you if you guys weren't always embarrassing us or kissing us."

Buttercup blushed, hitting him playfully as she sat up, her weight on her elbow. "Oh shut up, you cheeky little devil."

Butch smirked as he got up, also leaning his weight against his elbow. He caught her fist. "Easy, Butterbabe; don't kill me."

Buttercup's face burned, and she pulled her hand back. She fell back down, pouting. "Whatever."

"You say that a lot now," Butch commented, rolling on top of her.

Buttercup's face burned. "Butch; what are you doing...? Get off of me!"

"Nah..." Butch murmured, leaning in closer. "Not until you tell me how you really feel."

"About what?" demanded Buttercup, struggling.

"Josh, duh," Butch said like it was obvious. "I know you were 'just dating' him, but...how much do you really like him...?"

Buttercup pouted. "I...I don't know."

Smirking, Butch rolled his eyes as he flipped off of her and back onto his back on his bed. "...You never know about these kind of things."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Buttercup demanded, still pouting as her face burned red.

"Well...I still remember that day..." Butch muttered with an almost pained smile.

"...You mean...―"

"Yeah," Butch confirmed before she was even finished. "...I still remember."

"...Sorry," Buttercup finally managed to say.

Butch stared at the ceiling for awhile, but then he sighed. "...It's fine," he finally said. "Honestly." Then he rolled over onto his side, not facing Buttercup.

"Butch..." Buttercup murmured. She grabbed his hand then. "It's not fine. And I'm sorry, but―"

"I know, I know." Butch rolled back over to face her, letting her grip around his wrist slip into holding his hand. He entwined his fingers with hers, holding them up to the light. "...It's fine."

"...I'll give you a real answer someday," Buttercup finally said, staring at his face.

Butch shrugged. "I guess you could say that was a real answer... I mean, look at us..."

Buttercup sighed, turning to look at the ceiling. "...I'd hardly call it a real answer, Butch."

"Mmm," was all Butch murmured in reply, closing his eyes.

Braker pulled Bliss into his room and plopped her down on his bed before locking his door. He turned to her. "Okay. What's wrong...?"

"...I feel guilty," Bliss finally admitted.

Braker shrugged. "About slapping me...?"―she winced and he sighed―"Look, it's fine. Boomer and Bandit helped to heal it."

"Well...there is that, but...there's also the fact that..."

"What...?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"...You said there wasn't anything that could heal a broken heart," Bliss finally said slowly.

Braker stared at her in surprise, but then he recovered and sighed. He leaned against the door and pushed a hand up his hair. "That...It was just something stupid that I said―"

"It wasn't stupid!" cried Bliss. "I'm so sorry―"

"I said it was fine," Braker interrupted, turning away and pouring himself something.

"...Is that tea with honey...?" Bliss finally asked after moments of silence.

Braker just nodded, closing the lid of the pot. "...How'd you know...?"

"...It's exactly how I also like to make tea," Bliss finally answered.

Braker turned to her in surprise and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Bliss studied his movements. He was shirtless and had bandages around his back and chest, as well as on his arms and hands. There was nothing on his cheek though.

"...Are you sure you're okay?" Bliss asked softly.

Braker just nodded curtly. "...I'm fine. Seriously."

"...You don't look like it," Bliss finally said.

Braker turned around with a snarl, causing Bliss to jump back. "Look; I said I was fine! I don't know why you're even here. Seriously."

"I-I'm just worried, okay!?" Bliss cried, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes.

Braker was taken aback, but then he recovered and turned away. "...If you're worried, then you should've stayed away."

Bliss felt tears coming, and she ran over and hugged him again.

Braker froze. "Bliss―"

"I'm so sorry; I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I just..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't stay away."

Braker sighed, wrenching her arms off of him. He turned to look into her eyes, and felt something inside of him shrivel slightly. He wiped her tears away. "Stop crying, you idiot. That makes me feel worse."

"I'm the one who's feeling awful," Bliss mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Braker smirked slightly, a sad gaze in his eyes. "...I feel bad when you cry, m'kay? I don't want to hurt you Bliss."

"But I've hurt you," she replied.

"...That's my own fault," Braker said, turning away and sipping his tea. "...I'm fine." His hands shook and tea spilled onto his pants, and he winced.

Bliss helped clean up the stain. "...You're not as okay as you make yourself out to be."

Braker raised an eyebrow. "Oh really...?"

"Really," she confirmed. Then she sighed. "Braker...I need to tell you something."

"Shoot," Braker said. "You've already done a lot of surprising stuff today, so I don't see why not―after all, what else can surprise me today...?"

"Well," Bliss said with hesitation, "this isn't what I've done. Josh..."―Braker froze at the name―"Buttercup was with him and―"

"...Stop," Braker said, getting up.

"Braker...?" Bliss asked, looking up, paper towels still in her hands.

"...I don't know," Braker finally said, leaning against his desk as his hands clenched into fists. He gritted his teeth, something sparkling dripping down his cheek.

"Braker..." Bliss' surprised gaze softened. She sighed before walking over to him. "...Josh told Buttercup he likes someone else."

Braker looked at her in amazement. "He...what...?"

Bliss took a deep breath. "...He was drunk, and didn't seem to recall ever saying that. I...I don't know if BC's okay."

"That...jerk," Braker finally said, his fists tightening. "I don't even―"

"Braker," Bliss finally said.

"...What?" he asked, looking up.

"...I need you to do something for me."

He raised an eyebrow. "That depends on what..."

Bliss took a deep breath as she leaned in...

"Hey, it's already really late," Butch said, suddenly sitting up. His fingers slipped out of Buttercup's. "...Do you wanna stay the night...? I have a sleeping bag―"

"Sure," Buttercup said with a sigh, closing her eyes. "Thank God tomorrow's a Sunday."

Butch chuckled. "Buttercup, it's the holidays. We don't have school."

"I know, but...still; it's the weekend," she said, curling up in his bed.

"Hey, I'm sleeping there," he reminded her with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.

"...Shut up. I'll get up when you set the sleeping bag up," Buttercup muttered.

Butch rolled his eyes as he went to his closet to grab the green sleeping bag. He then draped it down on the floor and began to unroll it, preparing it.

Buttercup watched as he worked, his tongue poking out.

"There; it's ready," Butch finally said, getting up and stretching.

"...Thanks," Buttercup said, leaping up and diving into it.

"Whoa, BC!" laughed Butch, jumping backwards.

"Mmm; goodnight, Butch," Buttercup said, rolling over. She had come over in her PJ's, but with a jacket on.

"You're just gonna go to sleep...?"

"Well, that's what you wanted, right...?" Buttercup said with a yawn. "Besides, I'm beat."

Butch smirked. "Yeah, you make a fair point. Okay; 'night BC. Sweet dreams."

Buttercup's eyes flashed open in surprise, but then her lips curled into a small smile. "...Thanks, Butch."

Butch stared at the back of her head in surprise, but she didn't say anything more. Then he just smirked and shook his head, before turning off his lamp...

"Sweet dreams."

*(A/N: Reference to my other fic "Riding on the Winds"!)

ME: I finished two chapters (the last one and this one)! But I decided to wait to upload this.

BOOMER: Okay; good. Now you can work on HUOY's chapter, right...?

ME: Yeah, sure. Okaaaay. But I hope you're all excited for the Art Contest!

BUBBLES: Well...yeah. This is what we've all been waiting for...

BLASTER: Leave a review~!