Lords of the Playlist

Authors note: The Powerpuff girls do not belong to me and as always, they have human appendages.

Greens ages variate between late teens/early twenties.

Track 57: Nobody Move - Hanni el Khatib

"Put the bag down asswipe. Not going to lie: dealing with you is probably the last thing I want to do today."

Butch froze for a fraction of a second as the familiar voice came from a few feet behind him. He stifled a groan as he slowly stood up, hoisting the budging bag of money over his shoulder, and turned around to face the speaker.

"Well what a coincidence 'Cup, because dealing with you is so not on my to-do list today either."

Buttercup stood with her arms crossed in front of her in the gaping hole in the concreate wall that he had created when he had busted into the sealed bank vault – backlit against the light streaming in from behind her, as alarms wailed in the background.

He squinted his dark green eyes at her figure – trying to make out her features. He couldn't quite see her – but he didn't have to. He knew that it was her from the way she carried herself and from her familiar rasp in her voice.

Judging from how she sounded – she was pretty irritated.

Not that he was really surprised. After all, he hadn't pulled a stunt like this since they were in high school, and god knows how badly she wanted to pummel him into the cement for it.

Or maybe – if her earlier comment was anything to go off of – she didn't.

He took another step forward and watched as the muscles in her forearms twitch dangerously. Despite how irritated she was at the moment, he couldn't help but think that he heard an underlying tone of exhaustion in her voice.

She sounded worn out – more so then usual anyways.

He shifted the bag of cash on his back and sauntered over to her with a slight smirk on his face. He knew it wasn't a good idea to fan the flames and make his counterpart even more upset then she already was – but he was intrigued. "Wha's the matter Butters? You sound tired. Criminals been giving you the runaround lately?"

"More so then usual. Not that it matters right now anyways. I swear to god Butch – I am not in the mood for your shit today. If you don't drop the bag right now, I will make you drop it."

"Oh feisty today, I like it."

"You have until the count of three."

"Normally you'd be pounding my face in right now. What's up with you? Haven't been getting enough sleep lately or what?" he asked, half teasing, half serious as he leaned towards her, allowing him to see her darkened features more clearly.

Sure enough, he could see dark purple circles underneath her piercing green eyes, indicating to him that she hadn't been sleeping enough, if at all. His brows furrowed.

"I could ask you the same thing – you haven't committed a robbery since like sophomore year of high school. I though this sort of thing was beneath you or something, so why the hell are you pulling this shit now?" She shot back through gritted teeth, but he could see that one of her eyebrows had lifted slightly – meaning that she was just as curious about his own motive.

He averted his eyes. He really didn't want to get into it now – especially with her of all people. She didn't need to know why he was busting into vaults after a six-year retirement.

That was his business, not hers.

"None of your damn business." He muttered as he shifted his deep green eyes away from hers, only for her to roll her own predictably. "You're robbing a public bank – therefore that makes it my business." She countered, looking at him weirdly. "What's up with you? You're not acting right."

God damn her and her overly perceptive personality. Why couldn't she just leave him the hell alone?

"Butch." He flinched involuntarily. The flat tone that her voice had taken on told him that she wasn't going to back down unless he gave her an answer.

"I'm not going back." He finally muttered – still not looking at her. She frowned, narrowing her eyes in confusion. "What the hell do you mean you're not going back? Back to where?"

"Home." he answered bluntly. "I'm done with this place. I'm just… done." He sighed defeated. He shifted the bag on his shoulder. "Figured that this would be enough to help me make a fresh start somewhere else. Preferably a place that isn't near Townsville."

Her eyes widened in realization at what he was implying. "You're… you're leaving?" she finally managed to sputter out – the muscles in her arms relaxing slightly. "Don't sound so happy about it." he scoffed, as he ran a hand though his jet-black spikes. "I'm leaving on my own accord – it's not like you forced me to go or anything."

To his surprise, Buttercup only shook her head, looking almost sad. "That's not what I meant." She told him softly as she met his gaze. "It's just that… you were the last person I expected this from. Townsville won't be the same without you. You're the only one that gives me a challenge anymore."

"I can't stay here anymore." He told her quietly, suddenly feeling almost guilty. "I tried to make it work – but I just can't. I'm tired." He offered her a crocked grin as he gestured to the money bog over his shoulder. "Figured I would go out with a bit of bang."

To his surprise, Buttercup said nothing in retaliation – she just stared him down for a solid minute. Then she did the most surprising thing of all.

She daintily stepped aside – giving him full access to the hole he had created – or rather, his exit. She jerked her head towards the exit. "I'll give you a ten second head start." His mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Have you lost your damn mind Cup? What the hell are you think you're doing?" he asked, stunned by what she was implying. She only shrugged in response.

"I guess it's because… I know where you're coming from." She admitted softly, dropping her vivid green eyes to the floor.

His eyes widened.

Oh. Oh, maybe… maybe she did get it after all.

He took a hesitant step past her and out into the light. She didn't move to stop him. He looked back at her with a new understanding. "I'll keep in touch. …Maybe once I'm settled… you can come visit me sometime." He muttered soundlessly – knowing full well that she could hear him.

Her mouth set itself into a firm line.

"Ten seconds Butch."

.

XxX

I ain't going back where I came from

Been treated like trash where I came from

Feel the life in the street and it feels good

Nobody better hold me down