A/N: And at long last- here is the conclusion to the "cheating" saga rabbit hole that tumblr prompt sent me down and just in time for my planned return in two weeks! hooray! Again apologies in advance for any formatting goofs. this app is honestly... not too hot on iphones xD

Enjoy my lovelies!

-o-o-o-

"Obvious"

-o-o-o-

She looked absolutely horrified- Brick had heard one word from Bubbles: fight and he knew exactly what it was an who it had been with- and he'd just acted.

And now here he was her by the shoulders with those huge pink eyes looking up at him so… so innocently just… fuck he didn't want to let go.

But… fuck he had to. He released her immediately… hesitantly but she averted her gaze completely as she took a step back.

"Oh… Brick um… hello?"

"... hi." He mumbled. Well this was awkward.

"Oh good! You found her! My job is done." Bubbles quipped from behind him and…. ugh. He knew what this was. He stiffened.

"This is the big emergency I had to follow you for?" He said dryly.

"Well duh- I mean isn't it obvious? You're both stubborn and clearly need a push in the right direction!" she grinned.

"So tricking your sister was the solution? C'mon Blue…" he groaned. "That shit isn't cool."

And no doubt would rightly piss her off. She looked ready to kill regardless. It had been a nasty fight- her hair was askew and everything. Their siblings all gathered round them then- effectively trapping themfrom making quick dignified exits. "Well maybe we're just as sick of seeing you both mopey as hell!" Butch folded his arms and BC rested her elbow on his shoulder.

"Exactly! So put on your big boy pants Brick and the two of you talk- hey! Bloss where you going!"

She stiffly turned and gave Buttercup an icy glare "Isn't it obvious- I' going to class."

"... but the fire drill-. Classes aren't coming back for a-." Boomer put a finger up.

"Then I'm going home!"

"But-!"

She didn't answer. She only turned on her heel and left.

"MISS UTONIUM! BOTH OF YOU! MR. JOJO!" Keane's voice rang shrill and Brick swallowed the snicker as their vice principal came storming over. The blondes looked like their entire world had just ended, the green eyed only shrugged and sauntered away.

"I mean it Bro- just go talk to her- don't let her get away!" Butch declared.

"Seriously man, I'm sick of hearing her cry." BC threw over her shoulder.

Wait… cry? Why was she-?!

…. he hadn't seen a pink streak. He still had time to fix this! He… he had to!

… he'd already fucked up enough.

-o-o-

Blossom was going home. She was going to put some ice on her bruised cheek because the witch has a stronger hit than perceivable so she'd likely have a bruise for a hour-.

It stung still when she touched it. Okay maybe two. Bitch.

"You have an explanation for that or can I take a guess?"

She stiffened and clutched her bag strap on her shoulder.

"I had an unfortunate encounter with an angry beast." She murmured.

"Who sounded strangely like my ex girlfriend?"

"... you do know how to pick them."

"I wasn't the brightest."

"Don't say that. It's not your fault hormones fuck with your brain."

"Such language Babe."

"... I wish you'd stop calling me that."

"...alright then… I'll stop."

"Thank you."

The silence was awkward. She continued walking.

"Is there a reason you're following me?"

"The four of them are getting nailed by Keane. I chose to make a quick exit… and this is the shortest way back home."

"...Ah."

They continued to walk.

"Why aren't you flying?"

"Why aren't you?"

"... touché."

"... I needed time to think."

"...I see."

More silence.

"... my brother is a moron."

"He kept me from ending up suspended so I owe him."

Brick stiffened at that. "... You don't get suspended."

"When I'm pushed to my limit it becomes quite possible."

"... she's a bitch." He murmured

"Who you said you loved."

He froze. She bit her lip unseen in front of him.

"I…"

"... hormones are the worst. I know-."

"But I-."

"... and with that in her head perhaps that explains Penny's entitled attitude in all this."

And also the stab in her stomach and chest was almost painful at this point- she kept her mouth a thin line. She would not… would not fall to-!

Her arm was suddenly caught and she stiffened.

"Let me go please."

"You need to listen to me for a second!"

"Brick… please this… this is already hard enough!" She hissed. "This… just leave me alone!"

"I never said that Blossom! She's lying! She's trying to make me into this… this fucking devil or whatever so people are on her side!" Now she got a little shake. "Blossom. Blossom please I might be an asshole, a hyper sexual asshole who… who had no fucking right to treat you like I did and… I'm sorry… okay babe I'm sorry!" He stuttered. " I… i mean Blossom! I get it don't call you that But habits but- no i respect you too much to ignore what you said - but-!"

" But what!" She snapped.

"I...miss you." He finally whispered.

-o-o-

I miss you.

There. He'd finally said it. The lingering ache burst out again- the look of sheer… not horror but… bewilderment just… his chest felt thick again.

Her breathing was labored. Shaky. Even as she gently placed her hands on his chest to push him calmly away. He made no protest- he'd fucked up so badly already that… Tch there wasn't anywhere lower he could fall.

"... I do." He repeated. "I miss you. I miss the way we used to talk and argue and just… I fucked up. I fucked up so badly I just can't…. Why didn't you tell me Blossom?" It spilled out. "I'm sorry. I'm so… fucking sorry I get it okay. I fucked up! Just… what do I have to do to… to make it so it all goes back to normal! Just tell me! Be honest with me!" He felt his throat thicken. "God fucking knows you're the only one who ever is-was… fuck I don't know! just- why didn't you tell me?!"

He plopped down on the bench and his dignity was already in tatters. So fuck it.

"Tell me what to do Blossom. Tell me what to do so it can alm go back to normal!"

"... I can't." She murmured. " I… I don't know if it'll ever…. be the same again Brick…"

"Because I fucked up!" He whipped his hat off and clutched it. "I don't… blame you. "I don't blame you… for hating me. I hate me too. For fucking up… the best fucking thing I had in my life…." she stiffened. "... and all because I needed to feel like… like I was worth something you know. That someone…" He shook his head. "... like I was worth being loyal to. I wasn't just… a glorified booty call but then… look how I treated you….I'm… I was bad. I was a villain. But… but I'm not anymore… and even if I was you don't… you don't do this!"

"I don't do what?"

" not you! I mean- in… in general! Just you don't… you don't do shit like this, you don't treat people like this… you don't cheat! That's worse than being a fucking super villain! Even at my worst… I never.. no one ever-!

"... oh Brick." She whispered.

"Why did she do this?! Was I not good enough! Other girls seem to think I was! So why…." He took a deep shuddering breath. There. There it was.

She was silent. And there it really was. The end. Clearly

"Blossom… maybe you should-."

"... I'm not going anywhere." She murmured.

"Why?"

She didn't answer him. She only pulled him into a hug and held him there.

And Brick had nothing left to lose.

So he talked. And talked. He told her everything- from start to finish: he spared no details- the utter humiliation had won the day- he knew he was a goddamn mess but all he did was just cling to her tighter.

His future was in tatters. Everything was an utter disaster. He never should have gone for that twit - he never should have even looked at girls, just focused on his studies! On sports! On making sure his brothers weren't idiots just…

She didn't speak much. She let him talk. In varying volumes. In varying tones.

He didn't remember when his head had ended up on her shoulder. Or when she'd started running her fingers through his hair.

It just… sort of happened.

-o-o-

They exited the park together, walking side by side- not touching but… close enough.

"Does it hurt?"

"Hm?"

"Your face I mean… does it still hurt?"

He reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. It twinged a little bit but nothing that time couldn't cure.

"Yes" He frowned but she held his hand steady… silly as it was she rather liked the feeling of it there. "But you know…. I think it's starting to go away."

"Yeah?" His stepped a little closer. Slightly, still respecting her boundaries. "So you're okay?"

She nodded.

"Yeah." She sidled over and looped her arm in his. "I think it will be." He exhaled.

"Good. Penny's got hell of a hook."

"I hope that's only inference on your part."

"I witnessed her telling off some girl at a game. And by telling off I mean sucker punching her."

Silence. Blossom tightened her grip. No other words were spoken.

"Bitch." Well almost. She was only human. He sighed again.

"She had jealousy issues."

"Isn't that ironic." She muttered.

He averted his gaze. "Yeah no...no I know." More tightening of a grip. More silence. Until:

"...so what now?"

She paused in midstep.

"You said it can never go back to normal again… but we can't even try?"

She frowned but then shook her head.

"No. You and I both know that our prior "normal" is well…. over now."

His frown deepened. "...I know… and it's all my fault."

"... but normal… is a relative term and change happens- it occurs… we just… you know have to go along with it."

"Blossom?"

"... I'm not…. jumping into bed with you." His cheeks flushed red and he groaned.

"I am such an asshole…"

"Yes… sort of… but people can change… and well… maybe… we can you know take it slow maybe?"

His eyes widened. She put a hand up quickly.

"And I don't mean now. We have… a lot of things… you have a lot of things you need to sort through."

"You mean my nonexistent future." She narrowed her eyes.

"Her lies are just that- lies. She'll be exposed soon enough. But...yeah." She rubbed her arm. "College is sort of my priority this year… I'm not really ready to get into a relationship right now even though…"

"No...no I get it. I probably shouldn't just jump back into it either."

"No. I don't think that's a good idea. Much to the sadness of Townsville High." He laughed somewhat and he flashed her a wry smile.

"Yeah… my bros won't be too happy."

" Nor will my sisters." She smiled back.

And they continued to walk.

" So… uh when all that's set and done with… you got a prom date by any chance?"

"No one has asked me yet."

"... can I get a headstart?"

"perhaps."

He smiled then and she returned it and silently their positions shifted to walking hand in hand the rest of the way. Nothing else was said and well it wasn't needed either.

Because well… some things… just didn't need to spoken out loud.

And just were well….

Obvious.

Fin