General Disclaimer: I do not own the PPG. I am not writing this story for profit, only for fun. I hope you enjoy :)
After making his coffee, Brick departed for Boomer's house. Since he had sent Butch to get Boomer, it only made sense that they should fly to New York City from there. What Brick hadn't expected was to be greeted by the faces of three unimpressed Puffs when he arrived.
"What are they doing here?" Brick demanded as he landed. Boomer looked sheepish and Butch looked just as confused as he felt. "Boomer?" Brick asked, an eyebrow raised.
"We were in bed when you called! With our enhanced hearing, there was no way I would be able to keep this from her? She heard everything Butch said, and Butch isn't quiet to begin with," Boomer defended.
Brick sighed. He should have known that this would happen. Bubbles he could understand. In fact, having someone as empathetic as Bubbles with them might actually be a good thing. But Bubbles' presence didn't explain why Buttercup and Blossom were here.
"Alright, I understand Bubbles. But how did Buttercup and Blossom find out?" Brick asked.
"Because I told them!" Bubbles exclaimed, her hands on her hip and her expression concerned. "Boomer is my husband, and you are my brothers. We're a family. If something happens to one of us, we're all going to be impacted. How could you even think that any of us would turn a blind eye to the fact that Mojo was arrested and is sitting in jail?"
Brick glanced at Buttercup, who shrugged to signal that what Bubbles had said was correct. Blossom was giving him a disappointed stare, probably hurt that he hadn't told her himself.
"Ok, now that we're all here…" Brick started, only to be interrupted by the squeal of tires on pavement. Brick grimaced, sorry for whatever fool decided to trash their brake system.
Brick's head turned when the car ground to a screeching halt beside the group. Out stepped Princess in her regal glory, looking mighty pissed, her anger evidently addressed at him.
"Excuse you, why was I not invited to this family meeting?" Princess demanded, whipping off her sunglasses.
"Family meeting?" Brick questioned? What the fuck was happening?
"I wouldn't have known about any of this if I hadn't gotten texts from Bubbles and Blossom. How the fuck could you not tell me Mojo was arrested? Hello?" Princess demanded.
"Tell you? No one was supposed to know except for the three of us!" Brick said, exasperated.
"Don't start with this, shit. Please, I dealt with enough of it after your breakup." Princess said, rolling her eyes dramatically. "You don't need to do everything alone or put up this tough front."
Brick bristled. Tough front? He was a Rowdyruff Boy! Toughness was in his genes. Nothing about this was a front!
Before Brick could start arguing, no, defending his wounded pride, Blossom interrupted.
"Shouldn't we get going?" Blossom asked, glancing at her watch.
Brick glanced down at his own watch, feeling the slow feeling of dread creep into his stomach. Between perfecting his coffee, making his way to Boomer and Bubbles', and now this unintentional family meeting , time had sped up considerably. It was now closer to 5:00 a.m. than 4:00 a.m., which meant that Him could very well beat them to New York City!
Brick looked around the group, trying to decide on the best course of action. For some reason, the group didn't seem to be feeling the same amount of urgency he felt. Butch and Buttercup had moved off to the side and were having a harried, whispered conversation or argument. Boomer was holding Bubbles in his arms, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Princess had pulled Blossom to the side and was talking animatedly, no doubt complaining about him, while Blossom alternated between nodding at whatever Princess was saying and shooting him concerned looks. Well, maybe Blossom could understand his urgency.
Watching Princess and Blossom presented another problem. Now that Princess had included herself in the retrieval mission, transportation was going to be an issue. Traveling for short distances with Princess in his, or in any of their arms or on their backs, wasn't hard or dangerous, but a cross country trip was out of the question. The speed and height they needed to travel at to get to New York City was too dangerous for Princess. As much as Brick loved and respected that powerhouse, who was also his boss, she would need to stay behind.
Now, Brick had to break the news to Princess. Since Brick had known Princess since childhood, he knew the best way to break news to her was to rip off the bandaid.
Brick marched over to Princess and Blossom, grabbed Princess by the shoulders, looked her in the eyes and said, "You're not coming with us. We can't carry you to New York City."
Instead of reacting in the manner Brick had expected, Princess looked at him as if he had grown a second head, which had happened one year, to his humiliation.
"Of course you're not carrying me to New York City," Princess explained, as if Brick were 6 instead of 26. "I'm flying myself!" Princess explained, as she hit a button on her keyfob.
Brick turned towards Princess' car, which was rapidly transforming into a small one-person jet.
"Like what you see?" Princess gloated. "It's one of Crown Industry's own designs. It's a prototype and not ready for the market, but Mike and I have been working on it for a while," Princess explained as Brick let out a low whistle of admiration.
"I take it back. You're coming with us," Brick conceded.
Princess smirked. "Of course I am! You should know that I always get my way, Brick," Princess chided as she made her way to her jet.
Brick made eye contact with Blossom, trying to get his bearings about him and his head back on straight. Brick didn't know if he'd be able to handle anything else not going according to the plan he had created.
Blossom smiled at him, seeming to understand his inner turmoil, and held out a hand which Brick gladly accepted. Brick took Blossom's hand, holding on for dear life. Now that Blossom's hand was enclosed in his much larger one, Brick didn't know if he'd be able to let go.
Brick found himself staring at Blossom in awe. He knew he probably looked like a complete simp, Butch's barely disguised snort from somewhere to his left confirming his suspicions, but he found he didn't really care. Brick gladly let Blossom take the lead, following behind her as she slowly floated into the air before taking off in the direction of New York City at full speed.
With Blossom having invaded every part of his conscious and subconscious mind, Brick could only hope that the others were following close behind as they headed towards the rising sun.
By the time they all touched down in Times Square, Brick had resumed control of the group and their retrieval operation. Blossom was only too happy to fade back into the background.
At the time, taking Brick's hand had felt like the natural thing to do. Blossom could tell that Brick felt out of his element, and she had wanted to provide him with some comfort and encouragement. What Blossom hadn't anticipated were the jolts of pleasure that had shot up from where their hands connected when she had taken his hand in hers.
The contact had made Blossom blush, and part of her had wanted to pull her hand back out of embarrassment. However, another part of her never wanted to let go of Brick's hand. Feeling flustered with her own actions, Blossom decided to start heading upwards. Hopefully the cooler air would help with the flush that had decided to take over her face.
Blossom was embarrassed to admit that it had taken half of the trip to New York City for her face to return to its normal color. She could just imagine what her sisters were thinking. Blossom could hear them giggling and gossiping with Princess from somewhere behind her.
It wasn't until they had finally landed in New York City that Blossom, or Brick, had finally let go of the others' hand. Now that Blossom's hand was free, the heat from Brick's hand was sorely missed.
Blossom forced her mind to snap to attention at the sound of Brick's voice. They were here to help Mojo out, not for Blossom to daydream about holding a man's hand! What, was she back in middle school? Blossom blushed, feeling betrayed by her own thoughts.
"Butch, you said Mojo made it through Times Square?" Brick asked.
"Yeah, apparently it wasn't until he was outside of Times Square that people started complaining. Apparently seeing a monkey in his underwear isn't the weirdest thing people have seen around here," Butch explained as some Naruto cosplayer ran past them.
"Right…" Brick said, trailing off, staring confusedly after the person running with their arms trailing behind them.
Blossom couldn't help the soft smile that made its way onto her face. Although a very smart and accomplished man, Brick had always been easily distracted by some of the strangest things. Perhaps it had something to do with the puppy dog tails that were part of his DNA? In either case, Blossom felt it was her place to step in and keep the momentum going.
"Butch, which precinct is Mojo being held in?" Blossom asked.
"According to my source, he got picked up somewhere between Times Square and Brooklyn. He was taken to the 99th precinct," Butch said.
"Alright, let's head that way then," Brick said, before taking up into the air.
Blossom followed closely behind, knowing that with their powers they'd be in Brooklyn in less than a minute. Blossom didn't know what she expected to find when they landed, but pink, sparkly gas emanating out of the police station was not it.
The last time Blossom had seen this gas was that one Thanksgiving at Brick's where Mojo and Him had attempted to cook a traditional turkey dinner for them. Since neither Him nor Mojo were good cooks, the food had literally ended up going up into flames. By that point Brick had needed to separate his bickering fathers and put out the fire before the house burned down. Him had been so angry that the pink gas had been seeping out of his pores.
This was bad. Brick had wanted to get to New York City before Him, and Blossom couldn't help but feel she and her sisters were responsible for the lost time. If they hadn't showed up, maybe guys could have gotten her sooner.
Blossom understood that Him was Brick's father, but part of her could only remember the villain he used to be and the torment he put her and her sisters through for fun. Sure Him had given up his evil ways, but he was still manipulative, vindictive, and he loved mind games. Blossom was sure that Him was truly here for Mojo, but with Him, straightforward situations tended to become complicated. If Him sensed weakness or anything out of the ordinary, he would pounce.
Blossom heard Brick sigh to her left. Glancing at him, she could see the look of determination and resignation on his features. This was the outcome everyone wished to avoid- a public reunion with Him and Mojo- but it seemed that was what was going to happen.
With a sigh of her own, Blossom made to follow Brick into the station.
Brick hated cities. He only tolerated sticking around Townsville because his brothers were there, and because he had a really good paying job. If Brick wasn't so close to his brothers, and Princess hadn't offered him the job, he would have bounced ages ago. So why was it that he needed to go to the shittiest city of them all to rescue his father?
Brick knew they were in for it from the moment the group had touched down in Times Square. The city smelled like literal shit, there were people in costumes running all over the place, and the bright lights were already giving him a headache. It was such a simulation overload that he managed to completely check out of the conversation, choosing instead to watch the weird guy run funny. Tch, what horrible form.
Brick tore his eyes away from the weird guy just in time to hear Blossom asking where Mojo was being held. Right Mojo. His dad. The reason why the seven of them were in the blasted city. Brick shook his head, trying to get his mind to focus. They were here to collect his dad.
Brick indicated that the others should follow him before taking off for the Brooklyn precinct. Before the group had even touched down, Brick could sense something was off. It was that uncomfortable feeling that traveled down his back whenever his fathers were in close proximity to the other. Sure both his dads had mellowed out and agreed to co-parent after giving up evil, but it became readily apparent that they needed to co-parent separately after what Brick and the others unfondly named, "The Infamous Turkey Catastrophe."
After his fathers almost burned down the house the five of them had lived in, it was decided that Him and Mojo would live in separate residences and that the boys would take turns living with them. The fact that Brick's back was tingling meant that his fathers were in the same room, or rather, the same precinct. It meant that Him had arrived before them.
Brick's fears were confirmed when he saw that Pink gas emanating from inside the precinct. It meant that Him was here, and he was probably angry. With an angry huff, Brick made his way inside, his brothers and the girls close behind him. It was time to face the music.
Blossom coughed and sneezed, trying to squint through the pink gas. She had forgotten how thick Him's gas could be. As her eyes focused, she could see Him, sitting on a makeshift throne in the center of the room, clearly annoyed.
A flash of red to her left indicated that Brick had also seen Him, and had gone to talk to him. Boomer and Butch also headed over, their faces purposefully blank. Blossom hung back with the girls, watching the interesting family reunion occurring before them.
Brick and him both looked tense and annoyed, Boomer had a slight sheen of sweat breaking through his blank demeanor, and Butch's eyebrow was starting to twitch. Blossom wasn't sure what would happen. Despite his flair for the dramatic and love for all things sparkling and beautiful, Him had been the disciplinarian while Mojo had been more laidback with the rules.
Surprisingly, Him broke into a large, toothy grin, grabbed all three men, and pulled them into a giant bear hug. "My boysssss," he purred, making sure to squeeze them extra tight.
Blossom felt Buttercup physically relax beside her and Bubbles' chuckle of relief. Princess let out a low whistle, indicating that she had not expected this turn of events.
Blossom watched as the three men in front of her once again took on their preteen demeanor. Brick's face flushed red with embarrassed anger at being hugged in front of his peers, Boomer looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor, and Butch was struggling inside Him's vicelikegrip. "Let me go ya old man!" Butch demanded as he struggled frutilely.
Blossom couldn't help the small snort of amusement that escaped. Brick, with his enhanced hearing, picked up on the sound, and flushed an even darker red. Blossom's snort turned into full on giggles. The other girls quickly joined in, taking pleasure in the men's embarrassment.
This was an unfortunate miscalculation on their part because the men weren't the only ones with enhanced hearing. Upon hearing the giggles from across the room, Him's attention unfortunately turned to Blossom and the girls.
Upon feeling Him's eyes on her person, Blossom visibly stiffened. The dormant powers within her flared to life, sensing an impending danger. However, it wasn't her life that was in danger, just her pride. Blossom fidgeted under Him's appraisal, uncomfortable as his eyes took in her form.
Blossom watched as Him suddenly let his sons go, Butch falling on his ass as he was released. Faster than a blink, Him was suddenly looming over her.
"Well, if it isn't little Blossom Utonium," Him hissed. "Not looking so little anymore are you?" Him asked as he circled her. Blossom stood up straighter, not willing to be intimidated.
"How many years has it been now? 8?" Him questioned, before stopping in front of her.
Before Blossom could answer, Brick appeared by her side, subtly shifting her out of Him's direct line of sight. "Father, this isn't helpful," Brick said through grit teeth.
"But Brick, this is the first time I've seen dear, sweet, beautiful Blossom in ages! It's been 8 years since you chased her away," Him said with a pout.
For the first time in her life, Blossom was at a loss for how to deal with Him. Blossom glanced at Brick, hoping to get a sense of Him's game from Brick.
Brick grunted in frustration, embarrassed at the scene his father was making. First it was the theatrics with the throne and the gas, and now it was questioning Blossom like she was the one who had questions to answer.
"Why are you here?" Brick finally asked. Seriously, if Him was going to play games, why did he bother coming in the first place?
Him gasped in fake offense. "Why son, can't a father visit his loving children? Afterall, it was Mojo who called me. If I hadn't called you would you have even known what happened to your dear dad? If you asked me, I've been away for too long," Him said.
Brick sucked in his lips. He really didn't have a defense for how he or his brothers had neglected Mojo. Yes they were adults living their own lives, but how hard would it have been to check in more often? If they had done that, maybe Mojo wouldn't have been kidnapped in the first place.
"Fine, fine," Brick tried to dismiss, very aware that both Blossom and his father's attention were trained on him. "What we should be focusing on is Mojo," Brick said.
"Mojo is fine. I have him set up at the finest hotel in the city. He's probably taking a long bath and ordering room service as we speak," Him said with a wave of his claw.
Brick's eyebrow twitched. "If dad isn't here, then why are we? Why wouldn't you tell us he was at the hotel?" Brick grit out.
"Oh my dear son, that wouldn't be very fun would it?" Him cooed. "Besides, don't think I didn't know that you would do your best to avoid having the two of us get together."
Brick looked around for the nearest hard surface. If he could just slam his head hard enough against it, then maybe he'd wake up from this absolute nightmare. Brick's search for a hard surface was stopped by the feel of a warm hand slipping into his. Brick's eyes widened as he glanced towards Blossom, who had a subtle pink tint to her cheeks.
"Well, isn't this interesting," Him slurred as his eyes focused on their intertwined hands.
"Hello, Him," Blossom said. "It's nice to see you again."
So that was a lie. Blossom wished she was far away from Him and his games, but that wasn't the hand, pun intended, she had been dealt. Yeah, she had grabbed Brick's hand. It was a sign of comfort and a show of solidarity against the mind games Him had already started. Was she blushing? Maybe, but it could also be because the precinct was unbearably hot since Him and his gas were taking over the room.
"Have you and my son gotten back together?" Him asked as he stroked his goatee.
"Nope," Blossom said with a pop of her lips. "We are, however, friends again," Blossom said.
Blossom could feel Brick's shocked eyes boring into the side of her head, and could hear her sisters and Princess tittering behind her. But Blossom didn't care... much. Blossom stared at him, her back straight and her head held high. She wasn't here for Him's mind games.
"How interesting," Him said contemplatively.
Blossom watched as Him went back and sat on his throne. Him was appraising the group of them; it almost seemed as if he were trying to stare into their soul and learn their secrets.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Him stood up and addressed the group. "Mojo is at the Madarin Oriental in one of their Oriental Suite. Although I put him up with all the niceties one could want, Mojo is itching to get back home. I suggest someone take him as soon as he is finished with his bath," Him said.
Blossom let out a low breath of relief. It seemed that Him was momentarily done with his mind games, and that the group could finally do what they had come for: collecting Mojo.
As much as Him was annoying him, Brick couldn't help but nod when Him suggested that someone in their group collect Mojo and take him home. Mojo was, particular, to say the least. He was a creature of habit, and he did not like change that he did not initiate himself. Brick could picture him in the nicest, most expensive suite pacing around the room like a caged animal, frustrated that he wasn't in his cozy basement lab.
"Alright, let's figure this out," Brick said, immediately more comfortable now that they were back to their original plan. "Someone needs to take Mojo back to Townsville and keep an eye on him, and someone should probably stick around and talk with the police and find out as much as they can regarding Mojo's state when they found him," Brick said.
"Bubbles and I can take Mojo back to Townsville," Boomer said.
"Mojo can stay in one of our guest bedrooms while we figure out what to do with his house and his lab," Bubbles added.
Brick nodded in agreement. It would make the most sense for the Blues to take in Mojo. They had the more space than Butch, Buttercup, and Brick combined, and Brick couldn't ask Blossom and John to house Mojo. That could lead to very awkward situations.
"I've got the police," Butch said. "You wanna interrogate the interrogators?" Butch asked as he shot a wicked grin. Buttercup grinned back, a devious gleam in her eyes.
Brick blinked, a bit unsure now that he saw the manic look in the Greens' eyes. He trusted his brother not to go overboard as a fellow officer of the law, but Buttercup had been mighty pissed last night, and he doubted her anger had completely subsided.
Brick's thoughts were interrupted by Blossom's question.
"Buttercup, are you sure that's a good idea?" Blossom asked, as she sucked on her cheeks.
Brick watched as Buttercup's head whipped towards her sister, a scowl replacing her previous grin. "What is that supposed to mean? You don't trust me? I already knew that," Buttercup spat.
Brick watched Blossom recoil from her sister's acidic tone. "That's not what I said!" Blossom defended.
"No, but it's what you meant," Buttercup said. "You don't think I can handle my emotions! Everything is fine and dandy when we're just sisters, but as soon as something serious comes up you think I'm that same impulsive 14 year old I was in high school!" Buttercup accused.
"I did not say that, and that's not what I meant! But if I did mean what you're accusing me of, you'd be proving my point," Blossom said icily, her eyes narrowing in annoyance.
"Please don't fight!" Bubbles said, her eyes darting between her sisters.
"You guys are being pathetic," Princess added, her hand to her forehead.
Boomer and Butch looked uncomfortable, unsure of if they should step in or not.
Brick knew that if he talked over Blossom when she was getting into it with one of her sisters, she'd most likely turn her ire towards him, so he decided to shut up and blend in with the ugly red paint on the wall.
"Whatever," Buttercup finally said with an eyeroll as she turned back to face Butch.
"What I was going to say," Blossom said pointedly glaring at the back of her sister's head, "is that someone should probably do an independent investigation. From what it sounds like the police found Mojo some time after he escaped whoever was holding him, so someone needs to try to find out where he was being held before he was picked up by the police. Since Butch is a detective I thought maybe that would have been something he'd be interested in, but apparently I'm not only a bad sister, I'm a bad leader with bad ideas," Blossom sniffed.
Brick watched as Buttercup's head turned towards Blossom as she talked, beginning to look a bit guilty. Blossom for her part, was glaring at the opposite wall, obviously offended.
"Well isn't this interesting," Him said from his throne, eating some conjured popcorn.
Brick had forgotten Him was there, and it seemed so had everyone else as they jumped at his interjection. Why was Him here? He had never answered that question.
Blossom was fuming. Not only had Buttercup interrupted her before she could finish her thought, but she had insinuated that Blossom was a vindictive person who couldn't see that people could grow and change! She didn't hold grudges. She wasn't a judgmental person, at least not more than the average person! Blossom was letting Brick back into her life and getting to know the man he had become, so what was Buttercup's problem?
To make matters worse, Him had been there to witness their sister spat. Had Him still been evil, this would have been ammunition he could have used to tear the sisters apart. Blossom couldn't believe that Buttercup could be so careless and immature to start a fight.
Blossom removed her glare from the wall to glare at Buttercup. Red eyes met green. Both were gauging the other, neither one wanting to take the first step and apologize. With a huff, Blossom turned away first. Really, they were too old for this behavior.
Blossom heard Brick clear his throat, and Boomer's large feet shuffling against the floor. Both sounds were heavy against the background of silence. Blossom took a deep breath. Ok, she would need to be the bigger person, she would need to be the one to-
"I'm sorry."
Blossom whipped her head towards the sound. Buttercup was standing before her, looking contrite. Butch was behind, her a hand on the small of her back to both guide and support her.
"What?" Blossom blinked.
"Look, I'm sorry I went off on you. It's been a long night. Between Dad, not being told, and now this shit, I'm sorry, Ok?" Buttercup said, hugging her arms against herself self consciously.
Blossom blinked. Buttercup had apologized first? This was new, and nice. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't be so hard on you. I was a handful after finding out Dad told Brick and not me, just ask Brick," Blossom joked.
Buttercup cracked a small smile. "I hope you gave him hell," Buttercup said.
"No, I just ugly sobbed all over his nice shirt," Blossom said.
Buttercup let out a loud guaf at Blossom's admission.
"Oh you two!" Bubbles cried as she flung herself at her sisters.
"Dude, are you recording this?" Boomer asked.
Blossom glanced over to see Princess was indeed recording them.
"What? This is prime entertainment!" Princess defended. "Oi spiky head, get out of my shot!" Princess said, shooing Butch away.
"Ok, ok!" Blossom said, starting to disentangle herself. "Now that we've got that sorted out, someone should still investigate, right?" Blossom asked, looking towards Brick for confirmation.
Blossom watched as Brick nodded. "That's a good idea. I can't believe I didn't think of it," Brick conceded.
"Well, if Butch and Buttecup are going to talk with the police, maybe we should go investigate?" Blossom asked Brick.
"Yeah, we'll do that. I want some answers," Brick said.
Him followed behind the two Red-heads as they wandered the streets of New York City. They knew he was there, but after a while, they had started to ignore him. Since they didn't want to play his games, Him was content to just watch them.
They were an interesting pair, the most interesting pair of the three superheroes. No one had been surprised that the Blues had developed feelings for each other. They were both sensitive souls. The Greens had been inevitable. Once they got to high school their fights were less about hate and more about… Well, Him wouldn't know about it anyways.
But the Reds, they hadn't been lovey like the Blues or fierce like the Greens. The Reds had been slow and steady, a fire that had to be stoked and prodded. And then cold water was poured over the fire, leaving only the embers glowing in the coals. And now that Him was watching them, it seemed like the embers were gaining new life. A new breeze had come by and was starting to fan them, slowly but surely.
As much as his sons tried to hide their thoughts and feelings from him, he had always known and would always know. There were no secrets between them. Him knew just how strongly Brick felt towards Blossom all these years later, and judging by the way Blossom looked at his son, Him reckoned that deep down she felt the same.
The issue with the Reds though, was their stubbornness. So knowing that, where did he come in? Him was a planner, a schemer, a dreamer. Despite all the bumps in the road, Him wanted the best for his sons. Blossom was clearly the best for Brick.
So how to get the two of them together? That was the question that needed to be answered. With a sigh and a sly smile, Him rubbed his claws together. Soon it might be time for another game.
After deciding on their roles, Bubbles and Boomer had headed to the Mandarin Oriental to pick up Mojo. Bubbles had asked Princess if she'd like to accompany them, but Princess had declined saying that she had business to take care of in the city. When Bubbles had asked her what business she had, Princess gave a non-committed answer about something to do with her company, Crown Industries.
Bubbles gasped, her eyes going comically wide. Stepping inside the Madarin Oriental was like stepping into high society. They definitely weren't in Townsville anymore.
"Boomer, look!" Bubbles exclaimed, pointing towards the fancy art on the walls.
"Wow, it's so fancy!" Boomer said, looking at the furniture.
"Can I help you?" a receptionist asked.
"Oh, um, yes," Bubbles said, embarrassed that she and Boomer had been caught gawking.
"We're looking for a Mojo Jojo? I think he's in the Oriental Suite?" Boomer asked.
"One moment," the receptionist said as she looked at her computer. "Yes, it seems a Mojo Jojo was checked in very early this morning by a, Mr. Him?" the woman asked, confused.
"Right, thank you! Would we be able to see him?" Bubbles asked.
"I can ring the room. We don't allow visitors up in the rooms unless they have permission from a guest," the receptionist explained.
"Yes, please do. I don't think he has his phone," Boomer said.
"Alright, we'll give him a ring!" the receptionist said.
Bubbles watched the receptionist's face change as she was on the phone. It went from pleasant, to confused, to miffed. The receptionist hurriedly shoved the phone towards Boomer, who said, "Hello?"
Bubbles winced. Even without enhanced hearing she could hear the complaints of Mojo from the other end. He was mad.
"Alright, Dad! Stop yelling. Yes we're here to take you home. No we didn't know or else it never would have happened!" Boomer sounded like he was having a one-sided argument to anyone that wasn't Bubbles or the receptionist.
"Boomer, just hang up. Mojo can come down to meet us and then we can leave," Bubbles said, very aware that people were starting to give them judgemental stares.
"Dad, just come down. We'll leave as soon as you're ready," Boomer finished before apologizing and handing the phone back to the receptionist.
Brick was tense. He was well aware that his father was watching him from a distance away. Brick didn't like being watched, and he especially didn't like being watched by someone who was prone to meddling and manipulation.
However, Brick knew his father. If his father sensed weakness or hesitation, we would pounce. Brick would need to act as naturally as he could knowing that Blossom was walking beside him and his father was floating behind him.
"Just so you know, my father is watching our every move," Brick said, so quietly, that Blossom would need to strain her ears to hear.
"I'm well aware that he is because my powers are swirling under my skin," Blossom whispered back.
"You know what he wants, don't you," Brick asked, making sure to keep his voice low enough that Him wouldn't be able to hear.
"Probably to play with our emotions or something," Blossom said.
"Exactly. He's going to want to play with us, so we need to ignore him. Eventually he will get bored," Brick explained.
"I agree. The most logical course of action would be to act as if he isn't here," Blossom responded.
"Great, now that we've understood that, where should we start looking?" Brick asked.
That was the golden question. They knew Mojo had made it through Times Square down towards Brooklyn before he got stopped by the police, but did he start in Times Square? When Boomer had asked Mojo, he hadn't been able to provide a concrete answer. All Mojo knew was that he exited two sets of doors and ended up in the city. After that he had begun wandering around, looking for something familiar.
"We should start in Times Square and try and work our way backwards. Brick, you know how Mojo thinks. Once we get to Times Square, we need to imagine what Mojo would have done," Blossom said.
Brick nodded in agreement. He did know his dad, and how he thought when he was under pressure. Retracing Mojo's steps would be hard, but not impossible. If he really focused, Brick could potentially pick up on Mojo's lingering scent trail.
By the time they had reached Times Square, Blossom had all but forgot that Him was following them. Sure she was still cognizant of his presence, but the fact that he hadn't tried anything funny had put her seldom used powers at ease. Blossom was able to relax.
Blossom looked around the busy square, even more active than it had been in the early hours of the morning when they had arrived. There were more people, performers, and tourists. School children on their senior trips were wandering around taking selfies. Food scents were wafting through the air, and the ever-present smell of sewage permeated the senses.
If Blossom was having a hard time with the olfactory simulation, Brick had to be dying. The multiple scent trails would make pinpointing Mojo's even more difficult.
Blossom glanced to her left, to see how Brick was faring. As expected, he wasn't faring well. Brick's face was scrunched up in pain. One hand was plugging his nose, and the other was rubbing his temple. If Brick hadn't been plugging his nose, Blossom was sure he'd be retching.
Blossom thought about asking whether Brick was OK, but figured it would be a wasted question. Instead, she began rubbing her hand on his lower back, trying to give some comfort. It wasn't much, but there really wasn't anything Blossom could do to help. Due to Brick being made of puppy dog tails, his sense of smell was the most heightened of all of them.
Blossom kept rubbing circles on Brick's back, feeling utterly helpless. Her mind was coming up with really stupid tricks that might help, but that in the end wound't do much. Coffee beans, scented salts, none of those tricks would work on Brick.
Blossom glanced up, feeling Him's presence getting closer. He was floating towards them, a concerned look on his face. Blossom wasn't doubting that Him was concerned, but she could tell that behind the concern was playful mischief.
"Oh dear. Are your senses going haywire?" Him asked, as he descended in front of Brick.
Brick's answer was a glare. It was as if his eyes were saying, "No fucking shit."
"Well, this isn't good, is it Blossom?" Him asked, turning towards her.
"No?" Blossom questioned, trying to figure out Him's angle.
"I only assume that your plan was to have Brick use his keen nose to pick up on Mojo's scent," Him said.
Blossom raised an eyebrow. How very specific of Him. Perhaps his hearing was better than they had anticipated.
"But how will Brick do that if his nose is plugged," Him said with false sincerity.
Brick snorted through his plugged nose, signaling that he was unamused.
"I don't know, Him. How will Brick do it?" Blossom asked. At this point she had a strong idea of what game Him was playing.
"Oh my dear, he wouldn't be able to!" Him said, clapping his claws together.
Blossom rolled her eyes. Seriously?
"However, I can help. I can make it so all those nasty smells disappear," Him tempted.
Blossom's eyes flicked to Brick's face. He looked suspicious, just as she felt.
"How very nice of you, Him," Blossom said.
"Oh, but I haven't used my powers in ages. It would be such a drain," Him dramatized.
"But don't you want to help your son?" Blossom pressed.
"Of course! But I'm old now, and I get tired so easily. If my darling son, or you, offered me something in return, I'd feel much more energized," Him replied.
Right, and there it was. Him wanted a trade. But what was on the table?
A hacking cough broke Blossom's concentration. Brick had unplugged his nose, and seemed to be trying to speak through the pain.
"We don't… cough… need… cough… your help!" Brick managed.
Yeah… that had been really convincing. Blossom frowned as Brick rushed to plug his nose again. With a sigh, Blossom realized what she needed to do.
Brick was focusing on breathing through his mouth. He had a headache and felt nauseous. The smells were blending together into a vile monolithic scent, and it was near torture.
Brick was aware that his father was playing a game and trying to rope him and Blossom into it. Brick didn't want to play, and he sure as hell didn't want Blossom to play, but Him was persistent and he couldn't' talk right now without hacking up a lung.
Through his breathing Brick heard Blossom agreeing to Him's deal. If Brick could talk he'd be chiding Blossom because Him's deals were never fair! No they weren't evil deals anymore, but they still ended up benefitting Him at the expense of the person making the deal. Who knew what Him would make him or Blossom do.
"Oh Blossom my dear, I knew you would come through. Seeing Brick suffering must have been so difficult," Him cooed as he patted Blossom on the head.
Brick snorted again. If Blossom could see the look on her own face!
"You see, my son is still hopelessly in love with you, even after all these years," Him started. Brick unplugged his nose in shock, and then immediately started coughing and hacking. His eyes and nose were running from the stench and his face was red with humiliation. What the fuck was his father doing? Did he want to kill him?
Through his hacking, Brick heard Blossom squeak in surprise, and Him continue on as if he hadn't just ruined his eldest son's life.
"Now Blossom dear, I am aware of what went on between you two and how uncharming my son was, but the past is the past. Surely we can all move forward. My son needs you in his life," Him said.
Brick hurriedly replugged his nose, turning to look at Blossom, who, for her part, looked shell shocked.
"All I request of you dear Blossom, is to give my son a chance," Him said.
Brick turned to glare at his father. There had to be more to it than this deal. What was his game?
"I, you... All you want is for me to give Brick a chance?" Blossom asked, confused.
Brick turned back to his father, who was nodding solemnly.
"I know that there are artificial ways to simulate love, but we both know that those methods are underhanded," Him said. "I don't expect to force you to fall in love with my son, but I want you to give him another chance," Him explained.
Seriously, what was his father doing? Was Brick seriously that incompetent that he needed his father to fix his love life for him?
"I'll do it," Blossom said firmly, causing Brick to refocus on her.
Blossom looked like she did back when she was the leader of the Powerpuff Girls and needed to make a decision that could determine the outcome of a battle. She looked sure of herself.
This was surprising. Brick hadn't expected Blossom to agree so readily, especially since Him was devious and could be working the deal in a way that wasn't as straightforward as it sounded. However, with Blossom's agreement, their fates were sealed.
Blossom wasn't sure what possessed her to agree to Him's deal, but she did it. The deal was set, and she was part of it whether she liked it or not.
The deal was to "give Brick a chance" because he was apparently still in love with her. Blossom knew that Him liked to stretch the truth and was a manipulative devil, so Brick probably wasn't still in love with her… But he had been incredibly nice to her and sometimes she felt as though he was looking at her with some deep and intense emotion in his eyes…
Anyways, giving Brick a chance was what Blossom had been doing. She had been giving him a chance since she had come back to Townsville. How is what Him suggested much different than what Blossom had been doing? Especially since Him had specified that she wasn't expected to fall in love with him even though Him could create artificial feelings of love.
That part only served to remind Blossom of how Him could still revert to evil if he wished, but for now she would have to trust him. Easing Brick's pain and getting to the bottom of the mystery was much more important to Blossom. Her dad's life and that of who knew how many others were at stake. The longer they were in the dark without answers, the more dangerous the situation became. More people could be being infected. More people could be turning.
"Alright, I agreed to your deal. Now you need to help Brick," Blossom said, her hands going to rest on her hips.
"Oh how wonderful!" Him said. Blossom wasn't sure what Him did, but suddenly Brick was able to remove his hand from his nose and breath without coughing.
"Better?" Him asked, turning to his son.
"Yes," Brick replied moodily. He was glaring at his father, who had a shit-splitting grin on his face.
"Absolutely splendid! Now you can do what you set out to do!" Him mused happily.
"And what will you do?" Blossom asked. She was feeling skeptical regarding the deal she had just made with the Devil.
"My role here is done. Mojo has been released, and I have some unfinished business in Europe. I'll be heading back there, but I'll be back in plenty of time. The wedding is only weeks away now, and I need to make sure my darling sons are presentable. It would be horrible for my brand publicity if I left you and your brothers' to your own devices," Him said as he appraised Brick's choice of clothing. "Really son, your sweatpants are stained," Him tsked.
Blossom glanced at Brick. In truth, she hadn't focused on what he was wearing since it had been dark. Brick did indeed have a stain on his pants, his shirt was inside out, and he had mismatched socks on. Blossom quickly glanced at her own person, relieved that her black yoga pants and sweatshirt looked somewhat presentable.
"I was in a hurry!" Brick snapped, his face flushing.
"Yes, I will definitely be back before the wedding," Him said with a frown. "Anyways, I'll be on my way. Remember Blossom dear, I always collect on my investments, and you are a good one," Him said with a cheeky grin, as he began to disappear.
Blossom frowned, her mind turning. Him considered her an investment? The deal itself seemed innocent enough, but what could he mean by investment? In the business world an investment was a way to make a profit, so what profit would Him try to make off of her? Unless the profit wasn't actually a profit? Money was nothing to Him, so what other profitable goal would he want to achieve?
Blossom's train of thought was interrupted by a hand to the small of her back.
"Don't worry about it. If my father's up to something, I'll deal with it," Brick said as his hand guided her forward. "We need to focus on following Mojo's scent trail."
Blossom nodded, her lower back tingling where Brick's hand was placed. "Are you OK?" Blossom asked, referring to his heightened sense of smell.
"Whatever my father did helped eliminate all the other smells. I can clearly see Mojo's, and it's heading that way," Brick said, pointing. "Let's go," Brick said, finally removing his hand. Blossom missed the warmth, but nodded. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of trivial matters.
The next time Brick saw his father, he was going to murder him. Brick led the way, following Mojo's scent trail, but his mind was on Him and the deal he had made with Blossom. No matter how many times he mulled it over in his mind, Brick couldn't figure out Him's angle.
No, since giving up his evil ways, Him had become even more predictable. The Devil by nature, Him had fun messing with peoples' heads. Was this all an elaborate game to mess with their heads? Did his dad truly think he was so incompentent that he needed help in "love" department? That very thought was humiliating. Or, could his love life be the red herring, and Him's main goal was Blossom? Brick knew his father wasn't evil, but if he target was Blossom, it seemed almost like a rehash of their shared pasts, but under a different game.
Brick shook his head to clear his thoughts. He had told Blossom to not worry about it, and he was doing the very thing he had instructed against. Brick wouldn't have to worry about Him for a few more weeks at least.
Now that he was no longer distracted, Brick glanced at Blossom, who was walking beside him. Blossom's hair was thrown up in a messy ponytail, reminiscent of the style she wore when she was five. The only thing missing was that red bow.
All in all, Blossom seemed to be doing alright. It didn't seem like she was overthinking or that her anxiety was taking control. If anything, Blossom seemed more focused than he was.
Brick was startled when pink eyes suddenly met red. "Are we almost there?" Blossom asked.
"Almost," Brick noted, aware that they were getting to a seedier area of the city.
"Hmmm," Blossom hummed, hyper aware of their surroundings.
"The trail ends here," Brick said, indicating a dilapidated and abandoned building in front of them. It would be a great place to keep someone, Brick thought darkly.
"Shall we?" Blossom asked. Brick nodded, before leading the way into the building.
As their eyes adjusted to the dark, Brick could tell that something was off. The building's interior did not match its outward appearance. The inside was clean, and even though it looked like whoever was there had cleaned out in a hurry, Brick could make out the spots where the advanced machinery would have stood. Had the place been fully furnished, the inside of the building would have looked like a lab that rivaled John or Mojo's.
"What in the world?" Blossom questioned, her mouth dropping open in a horrified wonder.
What in the world indeed. The lab looked as if it had been running smoothly before being cleared out. All of the equipment would be perfect for experimenting, perhaps on someone, someone like Mojo Jojo.
As Brick went over to examine the remnants of the machinery, he heard Blossom gasp behind him. Turning quickly, he was able to see the ends of Blossom's long hair disappear into a corridor that hadn't been there when they had arrived.
Brick made to hurry after Blossom, not wanting her to explore alone, even if he was confident she could take care of herself. Brick allowed his eyes to adjust to the dark as he walked down the corridor, stopping once he saw Blossom's still form ahead. Curious, Brick stopped next to her, determined to see what it was that gave her pause. What he saw made his stomach drop.
Blossom hadn't meant to open the secret corridor. She had been investigating like she and Brick had planned when she had pressed something that had opened the hidden door. Once the door had opened, Blossom had hastily entered, knowing that Brick would follow.
As she walked down the dark corridor, Blossom couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation build up in her gut. It was the same feeling she used to get before she and her sisters entered a battle. It was the thrill and terror of the unknown. Despite all the planning and training she and her sisters did to make sure they could win their battles, the fights themselves could become unpredictable, hence the uncomfortable feeling of anticipation she would get as a child. As an adult, the feeling was much worse now that she understood more of the world and the evils it could contain. Who knew what could be waiting at the end of the corridor?
In front of Blossom stood a door, which she cautiously opened. Inside was a room, no a cell, no a torture chamber? Blossom wasn't sure what to call it, but she was sure that this is where Mojo had been kept. The bed with the straps designed to hold someone in place. The machines that were there for poking and prodding and extracting. Just what had Mojo been subjected to while he was here? The thought of it made Blossom's blood run cold.
Blossom was vaguely aware that Brick had caught up with her, and that he too was seeing what she was seeing. Whatever Mojo had gone through, it must have been painful.
"Fuck," Brick breathed, from beside her. Glancing to her left, Blossom could see Brick's pained expression. The expression on his face most likely mirrored her own.
"We- We have Mojo. He's safe now," Blossom said. She wasn't sure if she was saying it for her benefit or Brick's.
"I'm going to fucking murder them," Brick said, his eyes suddenly blazing a furious red as he stepped further into the room. Blossom tentatively followed him.
There wasn't much left in this room. Much of the more advanced machinery had been taken away, leaving the more crude instruments behind. With a determined expression on her face, Blossom began to take pictures of the room.
"I can't believe I didn't know Mojo was gone. None of us did!" Brick exclaimed. He was picking up the tools, some of which still had Mojo's blood on them.
"Brick," Blossom started.
"No, don't. This is on me," Brick said, as he angrily stormed from the room.
Blossom let out a low sigh as she hurried after Brick. He was in a mood, and there was no talking him out of it. Blossom knew she would need to ride it out with him before they could talk and she could help him see that this wasn't his fault.
By the time Blossom got back to the main part of the lab, Brick had exited the building. She could see him outside, talking on the phone. He was most likely calling Butch to update him on what they had seen so he could explain it to the police.
Blossom resigned herself to taking more photos, this time of the lab. She made sure to get all the angles so that she could better explain the machines and where they would have gone had they not been cleaned out. Blossom was no expert in criminology, but perhaps looking at how the lab and the room where Mojo had been kept would be able to help profile the ones responsible for the crime? At least, that's what Blossom hoped could happen because she and Brick didn't find much information during their investigation.
It was all Butch could do not to crush the phone he currently held in his hand. He had just gotten off the phone with Brick, who had explained what had happened with Mojo. Knowing what his dad had gone through made his blood boil. Butch could feel his hands begin to twitch, something that hadn't happened since graduating high school.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Buttercup asked, quickly setting the coffee she had gotten for them on the table in the waiting room of the precinct.
Butch shook his head furiously. He couldn't form the words right now to explain.
"Ok, why don't we go take a break and go spar? I saw a gym on my way to get the coffee," Buttercup suggested, as she eyed his twitching hands warily.
Butch nodded wordlessly, as he followed Buttercup out the door.
Buttercup was winded from their spar. Butch hand't been that out of control since high school, but the fight had been refreshing. All in all, Buttercup was a bit worried. Maybe the stress of his job and what happened to Mojo was too much for him? Buttercup was almost regretting agreeing to allow Butch to fight with them.
Buttercup sighed as she drank from the water bottle she had purchased at the vending machine. Butch had gone to the bathroom, and she was sitting on the steps outside of the gym. Buttercup was about to get up and check on Butch when her phone dinged.
Buttercup glanced at her phone, seeing it was a group message from Blossom. She had included everyone, including John, Him, and Princess. After opening the message and looking at the images, Buttercup could immediately see why Butch had started to twich again. She considered herself a strong individual, but those images were enough to cause Buttercup to feel nauseous.
"Shit," Buttercup breathed, as she closed out of the message.
"Now you know," Butch said from behind, startling her.
Buttercup turned to look at Butch. He was no longer twitching, but he looked defeated. It didn't sit right with Buttercup. "We should show this to the police," Buttercup said.
"Yup," Butch replied, with a sigh.
Buttercup raised an eyebrow. It was unlike Butch to seem so, uninspired.
"Is everything alright?" Buttercup asked, concerned.
Butch looked like he wanted to say something, before shaking his head. "Nah, let's go."
Buttercup's eyebrows furrowed. She and Butch weren't the most communicative of couples, but they still talked about shit. It kind of bothered her that she and Butch weren't talking, especially during a time when they really should talk.
Boomer threw his phone across the room with such force, that it left a dent in the wall of their kitchen.
"Boomer!" Bubbles exclaimed, alarmed by his actions.
Boomer's hands were shaking. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this angry. No, he was the calmest of the brothers. Brick and Butch got mad. Boomer, he could control his anger. So why couldn't he now?
"Boomer, look at me!" Bubbles commanded, yanking him around so that he was facing her.
Boomer's eyes flashed wildly around the room, before settling on Bubbles' face. She looked both worried and determined. Belatedly, Boomer realized they were floating. When had his feet left the ground?
"Boomer, it's OK. It'll be alright," Bubbles soothed, using her hands to rub calming circles over his face.
Boomer sighed, feeling some of the tension and rage leave his body with Bubbles' administration. "I'm sorry I dented the wall," Boomer said sheepishly.
Bubbles cracked a small smile. "At least it wasn't our new marble countertops," Bubbles joked. Almost immediately after, Bubbles' face fell into a small frown.
Boomer felt his expression mirroring hers, remembering what had made him angry in the first place. He had seen the photos that Blossom had sent. The room where his father was tortured and experimented on, as if he were some common animal in a testing lab. Seeing what his father had been subjected to, his creative mind filling in the blanks the missing machinery left, had brought to life feelings he had thought he had gotten rid of long ago.
"Boomer," Bubbles began in a small voice. Boomer glanced down at her. "What do you think we should do?" Bubbles asked, clearly asking about how they would approach what they now knew.
Instead of bringing Mojo back to his house and lab, Boomer and his brothers had decided it would be safer if Mojo had stayed with him and Bubbles, at least until they could figure out what had happened to him and why he had been kidnapped. Now that Boomer saw some of the evidence of what had happened, he was even more worried. Having Mojo stay with him and Bubbles made the most sense considering they had the largest space, but could having Mojo stay with them put Bubbles in danger? If Mojo's kidnapping was connected to John's condition, having Mojo here would further entangle Bubbles in the mess. Boomer didn't want that.
"We could-," Boomer began, about to say that they could back out of having Mojo stay with them, even if it made Boomer feel like a shit son.
"No, Boomer. Mojo is staying here for as long as he needs," Bubbles scolded, as if she had read his thoughts. "What I meant was, how will we approach this subject with Mojo? I've taken enough classes in trauma-informed care to know that Mojo might have difficulty accepting and adjusting to what he's been through. Combine that with his previous mental health issues…" Bubbles tapered off nervously, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.
Boomer sighed deeply. He had no idea how to approach the subject with his father. The journey home with Mojo had been relatively silent, both father and son contemplating silently. Bubbles had attempted to engage them in conversation, but she too had quieted when she realized neither had their minds on socializing. After arriving home, Mojo had gone into one of the spare bedrooms, locked the door, and had succeeded to pass out. Boomer and Bubbles' enhanced hearing could make out his slow, rhythmic breathing and soft snoring.
"I don't know," Boomer finally managed. As he looked into Bubbles' eyes, he could see the confusion and apprehension towards their situation that he was currently feeling. However, Bubbles' eyes also held another emotion: determination. Bubbles was determined to see and make the best of their situation. She was going to pour her heart and soul into it to try to help. Maybe it was because she was, no is, a superheroine, or maybe it was because she was always the better of the two of them, but whatever the reason, Boomer was grateful.
"Well, then that settles it," Bubbles said with a small clap of her hands. In seconds, all traces of Bubbles' uncertainty seemed to vanish. In its place stood a self-assured woman with a plan. "Right, well, this dinner isn't going to make itself! Boomer, you should make the salad and I will prepare the vegetarian burger for myself and the regular beef burgers for you and Mojo. Tomorrow you'll need to fix that wall," Bubbles stated.
"Yes ma'am," Boomer said, watching as his soon-to-be wife started preparing the seasonings for the burgers. After a few self-indulgent seconds of watching the woman he loved, Boomer too decided he should get the vegetables out to start chopping them for the salad.
Princess's heels clacked along the deserted side street, a loud sound that broke the silence. She had felt bad about ditching the Puffs and Ruffs in their time of need, but her reason for coming to New York City was valid. Princess would be able to catch up with them later.
Princess stopped in front of an inconspicuous door. Three knocks later, a beedy pair of eyes peered out from the darkness within. "Who is it?" A raspy voice asked.
"It's me," Princess said, making sure to stand up proudly.
After a couple of seconds, the door swung open slowly, revealing a set of stairs leading down. Princess barely glanced at the man who had opened the door for her before descending the steps self-assuredly, her heels clacking loudly to announce her arrival.
The stairs eventually stopped, leading to a short hallway. Beyond the hallway was a room, with all manners of machinery and surveillance equipment. In front of the computers, was a man. Slowly, or for dramatic effect, the man turned around.
He had a scar on his face, and anger issues. But, he was good at his job, which is why Princess paid him well for his services.
"Well, if it isn't my most valued customer," the man cooed. Princess had to bite her tongue. The urge to comment on his slimy voice was almost too strong.
"Do you have what I asked for?" Princess demanded, her eyes flashing.
"Ah, ah, ah," the man said. "My payment first. You know the rules," the man chided.
"Fine," Princess huffed, throwing her purse at him.
The man opened the purse and performed a quick mental calculation of the stacks of money hidden within. "As always, you manage to hold up your end of our transaction," the man said, quite pleased.
"Now, what I asked for?" Princess demanded again, her tone becoming harsher.
"It's all right here," the man said, waving a flash drive enticingly through the air. "Although, I don't know what you could possibly want with this information and such a mundane sounding man," the man sighed.
Princess's eyes flashed angrily. "It's none of your business! I paid you for a service, not for advice or judgement," Princess growled, snatching the flash drive out of the man's hands.
The man sighed, as if bored of the whole situation. "Well, it looks like our business is done. You know where to find me if you need my assistance in the future," the man said, his eyes shining bright in the low light of the room.
"With luck, we'll never interact again," Princess drawled, slipping the flash drive into the pocket of her blazer. "This should go without saying, but part of that money buys your discretion. The money can always disappear should you break my confidence," Princess threatened before turning to leave, confident her message had been received.
The man watched Princess leave, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. When he heard the outer door close, he took out his phone, and sent a quick message. A few seconds later, his phone buzzed with the reply.
"Did she take the bait?" the text read.
"Yes," the man replied.
A buzz sounded a few seconds later.
"Good. You know what to do," the text read.
Oh, the man did know what to do. Money talked, after all.
What is Princess up to?
Will Mojo be alright?
Will Blossom survive Him's game with her heart intact?