Blossom stepped out, flanked by Bubbles, and she could just make out the trembling hands of the Professor at the wheel: he never could get used to confrontation. Blossom's steps were quick and light as she swept past Butch and just stared at the green puff.
"Awesome." Buttercup said. "You girls are here? I'm saved."
Blossom's lips thinned, but she remained silent and turned to face Butch. The only sign that she was even remotely disturbed was the stray wisp of hair that clung to her neck. Buttercup had never seen her sister's ponytail so messy.
"How did you find Buttercup? Why are you here? And where are your brothers?" Bubbles moved to stand on Blossom's right, and Buttercup limped to her left. "You have five seconds Butch Jojo. Give me answers before I decide they're no longer worth hearing."
Butch shook his head, slowly. "Perfect. You're more aggressive than this one," he said, nodding towards Buttercup.
"Two seconds." Vapour escaped from Blossom's mouth, and Buttercup noticed the now dulled hue of her sister's lips. It wasn't the storm – this was an entirely different level of cold.
Butch took half a step back and chuckled. "Hey. Whoa. No need for that. I'm always happy to hear the sound of my own voice. Let's see…Counterparts have a connection. I want to try out the whole 'hero' thing. And my brothers are far far away."
The corners of Blossom's eyes crinkled in annoyance. Butch's grin never slipped, but Buttercup noticed that his shoulders were beginning to tense.
"That tells me nothing. You stroll into Townsville, injure my family, and then have the audacity to joke around?" Blossom's voice was a low hiss.
Bubbles placed a hand on Blossom's arm, and her red-haired sister took a deep breath, smoothed out her ponytail, and looked to the ground.
When she raised her head there wasn't a trace of emotion. Buttercup had seen this stoic expression so often growing up that she wondered if this was the real Blossom. This side of her sister was cold, indifferent, and calculating – Buttercup called it 'leader mode'. Bubble's simply called it 'creepy'.
"We'll let you 'try out the hero thing'," Blossom intoned. "You'll do what I say, when I say. I'll make use of your abilities, your time, your knowledge, and the second you become useless, you'll serve your twenty years in Townsville Penitentiary."
Butch's grin faltered. "I'm a hostage?"
"You're a criminal. Records don't disappear just because you do." There it was. That superiority.
She'd given Butch exactly what he wanted, but somehow, she'd won.
Bubbles stepped forward and held Butch's elbow. It looked like she was using a lot of force, but Butch didn't even budge. It wasn't until he'd taken a breath and nodded his acceptance that Bubbles was finally able to move him.
Whatever his plan, he wanted this.
Bubbles led him towards the Hummer. When they travelled out of ear shot, Blossom turned to Mitch. "Thanks for calling."
Buttercup's lips curled. "Don't sound so grateful. I'm pretty sure I would have escaped with my life."
"Well, good to hear," Mitch said, "bye."
"'Bye'?" Buttercup parroted. "We're not done here."
"I'll walk back to town. No need to give me a lift."
"Mitch."
"Buttercup, there isn't anything to argue over. I know you think there is. But… no." He looked away. The weather was starting to clear up, so it was easy to hear the slight edge to his voice – the one that meant she was annoying him. "You can't be mad that I'm looking out for you. Just…. I don't know, head home and cool down. I'll drop by some time and if I'm still enemy number one, then you can yell at me."
"You're always enemy number one," but her words had no bite; her anger was fading fast.
"…So I guess I won't be visiting at all then." It almost sounded like a question.
"Good." She replied. She wasn't angry exactly. But… Mitch had as little faith in her as she did. It was jarring to discover that.
He paused, and then slowly, he nodded. "Alright then…Just text me when we're okay."
Buttercup said nothing, and he left.
"You two seem close."
Buttercup startled. She'd forgotten Blossom was there. But now that she knew, it felt like her relationship with Mitch would be cross-examined in the near future.
"Even when you're arguing, there's a fondness between the two of you," Blossom mused.
Ah. Nearer than she'd thought. "I noticed. I'm actually one half of the friendship."
And then, silence. It occurred to Buttercup that she never spoke to Blossom. Besides the arguments and obligatory greetings when they were in the same breathing space, they didn't talk like sisters should.
Buttercup felt guilt twist in her stomach. "So, he's my best friend, you know? Been that way since Kindergarten."
"Why hasn't he made a move?" Blossom muttered.
Buttercup's head snapped towards her.
But the pink puff wasn't even acknowledging her. Blossom's gaze was glued to the Hummer that Butch occupied. "He's in a confined space with super strength," she continued, "he has two potential hostages. But he just… sits?"
Hostages. Huh. Buttercup suddenly remembered why she had a non-existent relationship with the pink puff. Blossom was a hero first and a sister second. If she had to toss her family under the bus for the 'greater good', she would, without even asking if they minded the damn tire tracks.
"The moment he falters, he's gone."
Buttercup should be used to this – to her. But she wasn't. "And what's stopping you from hauling his ass to jail right this second? Release your inner bitch. We all know you have one."
Blossom's expression turned to stone. "Buttercup, if you want to lash out, I suggest you find a better time and a more accepting target. I don't have the patience to be caught in one of your tantrums."
Buttercup scowled. "Yeah? You ever wonder why there are so many 'tantrums' around you Bloss—" She paused. Blossom wasn't just irritated, she was angry.
Why? Because of Butch, the super strong Jojo who she controlled? The same Jojo who was currently an angel of peace? "You can toss Butch in jail at any point. Why are you stressing out?"
Blossoms lips thinned, ever so slightly.
Buttercup didn't even try to dampen the grin stamped across her face. "You lied. Blossom the almighty lied." Buttercup cackled. "The second Butch finds out, poor Blossom loses control. You have nothing to stop him from…from…"
Tearing Townsville apart. Ending the Powerpuffs.
Buttercup hadn't realised that Blossom was at a disadvantage. She commanded the earlier situation with so much authority that she didn't think, for even a second, that her sister was anxious.
"Butch and his brothers were 10 when they attacked Townsville; the Mayor kept that in mind. It didn't matter how many times they threw someone over a building, held up a bank, or terrified our citizens. They were still just… children. So the Mayor gave them immunity until they become adults. He didn't want their 'childhood mistakes' to ruin their lives."
"That's crazy." The Mayor's one moment of clarity, and he used it for insanity. "'Childhood mistakes'? It's not like those guys refused to eat their veggies, or forgot to leave out cookies for Santa Claus. We're talking about attempted murder, blackmail, robbery –"
"I know Buttercup. I said the same thing to him six years ago. But what's done is done." Blossom glanced at the Hummer. "We'll just have to work around the Mayor's oversight."
"Again." Buttercup spat. It wasn't the first time the Mayor had made a stupid-ass decision without consulting any of the people it would affect. Buttercup scrubbed a hand across her forehead. "So… what? We can't touch him until he turns 18?"
Blossom nodded. "We'll have to keep an eye on him – keep him close… At least this way his super strength will be put to good use."
"Don't tell me you're seriously thinking of fighting side by side with that joker."
Blossom inspected the cuffs of her pink button down shirt. "We'll all be doing exactly that. But think of it more like babysitting."
The green puff folded her arms. "I don't babysit."
Blossom pulled her cuff forward, swift and sharp. "Look. Buttercup. Stop being so difficult; this is a win-win situation for us. We'll use Butch's fire power and our battles will be easier, quicker. When the time is right, and he commits a crime—any crime—we'll convince the Mayor to end the Jojo's immunity. Problem solved."
Right. Win-win. Except that at this very moment, Butch held all the cards. Blossom was ignoring that in favour of the future 'benefits'. Buttercup blew out a breath. "Whatever. Let's just hope this 'counterpart connection' thing doesn't transfer intelligence."
Blossom made a sound of disbelief. "There's clearly no such thing. If it were true, the Professor would've told us."
Buttercup just shrugged and made her way towards the car. How did Butch know exactly where to find her if there was no connection? He was weirdly accurate.
Her steps slowed. She was now only a meter away from the Hummer, and her lips curled in distaste. She actually had to sit in that car with him – just to prove that the girls were truly in control.
Butch caught her eye as she limped closer. He reached across Bubbles and wound down a window. She flinched. "So," Butch dragged out the word, "If I'm a hostage, does that make you my kidnapper? I wonder who the villain in this situation is?"
When Buttercup remained silent, he flashed a smile. "What do you think, Ballerina?" He said, clearly referring to her busted ankle.
"Irony. Funny." The douche.
She opened the door that Bubbles was cowering against, and barely caught her sister as she fell. "You're practically taking up the entire row Bubbles. Just sit in front with the Professor."
"Uh… I'm okay. I mean, Blossom said –"
"It's fine. She can sit back here with me." Buttercup shouldered her way inside before Bubbles could gather her words. Every muscle in her body was tense, but she forced herself to slouch against the leather cushions.
Butch was close – too close for comfort. He was the one who was supposed to be uncomfortable, but he looked like he was completely at peace. Ugh. The douche.
Hope you liked it. Thoughts and opinions welcome.