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 81: Lost Cause – Black Pistol Fire

"So, this is it huh? You're leaving?"

Buttercup whirled around as a familiar voice cuts through the quiet, night air like a knife – shattering the silence that had surrounded her at the top of the skyscraper that she had been overlooking her familiar city on.

She turned around just in time to see a forest green streak fade away in the dark sky to reveal a tall, dark-haired man striding towards her. He stopped a few paces from her and crossed his muscular arms, tapping a foot expectantly. "So."

If it had been several years ago – when they were both teenagers, and full of rage competitiveness – she would have lunged at the newcomer without a second thought, but they were not teenagers anymore, and they didn't hate each other anymore – if anything, they were surprisingly good friends that sometimes dipped into a grayer territory.

Of course – no one knew that last part, and no one was ever going to know.

Instead she nodded at him. "Butch."

"So, what's going on here?" the forested eyed man ignored her greeting and gestured around. "You're really going to leave? Is that what I'm seeing?"

She shook her head inwardly. Butch was smarter than people gave him credit for. He could pick up on hidden cues that hadn't been said and could read body language like a professional. At least, when it came to her, that is. She didn't need to tell him anything. He already knew, and that was what she liked about him.

"Yeah… just for a while, I think. I don't really know how to explain it – I think I need a change of scenery… something about Townsville is becoming suffocating to me. I just want out for a while. My sister's will still be here to keep the town safe too, so I'm not worried about monsters destroying the city or anything."

He snorts in the back of his throat, but it sounds off to her for some reason. "You didn't honestly think that you could leave without saying goodbye, did you?"

She raised a curious brow at him. "Didn't think that you cared enough."

"Neither did I. Guess some things change with time."

He lifts one massive hand to scratch at the back of his neck, almost nervously – but this is Butch, she knows him better then anyone. He doesn't get nervous, she's fairly convinced that he doesn't even know what that feeling is. But she does know when he has something on his mind. He has a distinct expression that he wears on his face when he wants to say something, but doesn't quite know how to, and it's there now.

"Is there something that you want to say to me?"

She's never been the best at prompting responses.

He fidgets – that old twitch he's had since they were children is back – he suddenly looks uncomfortable. "Yeah. Actually, there is." She raises a brow. "Well then? What is it?" He doesn't say anything and instead, clenches his jaw tightly.

She sighs, exasperated. "Look man, if you don't have anything to say to me, I've got to get going, I'll see you around… maybe." She turns to walk away when suddenly he speaks, catching her off-guard.

"I need you here." As uncomfortable as he looks, there is a sureness in his voice as he responds to her question. She stops in her tracks. What…

He laughs now at her baffled expression. "I know right? Shit, I guess you could say I would be a bit of a lost cause if you weren't here to keep me in line. Things would be pretty damn boring if you weren't around. For me, that is."

She takes a few tentative steps towards him, and he lets out a few more snickers. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really just don't want you to leave. I want you here… with me."

He coughs, again almost looking nervous. "I want you around. Townsville will be even more shitty if you leave… so stay. Here. With me."

He clears his throat and runs a hand through his midnight spikes. "Fuck that was so lame. There has to be an easier way to say that. What the fuck is wrong with me right?"

"I ask myself that question a lot actually." Buttercup hears herself respond, prompting a laugh out of him. She raised an eyebrow. "But seriously though, what brought this on? This is very… not like you… at all."

Butch turned his eyes skyward for a moment as he tried to formulate an answer to her question. "It's kinda weird, because I'm not completely sure. I feel like something's missing if you're not around… pretty weird, right?"

"Yeah, well, you are pretty weird." Buttercup snorted as she nudged his shoulder.

She let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes playfully. "I guess I can stay for a little while longer then." He let out a barking laugh and reached out to tuck a loose strand of jet-black hair behind her ear. "Good. Because I had no intention of letting you leave anyways."

They laughed.

.

XxX

I'd be lost without you

I'll be back to make you mine

I'd be lost without you

Coming back to make you mine