Phew, it's been a while.
I chose this specific quote for this chapter based solely on the fact I love it. Plus, at this point I should just call this story "The Puffs and Ruffs going through it"
Chapter 11: "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Boomer gazed at the door.
...Was that a knock?
He glanced at his stained shorts, scratching the golden 5 o'clock shadow on his chin.
"You should grow it down to your chest and braid it, man." Butch had told him that morning.
After the "incident" Boomer coped by turning off his phone, putting on the first pj's he picked off his bedroom floor, going to bed, and staying there, counting the cracks in the white ceiling as the memory of that shameful moment replayed several times on his head. Now, because of Brick's (many) protests, he had moved to the couch, staring at the TV.
Another knock.
The boy groaned, accommodating himself further. The morons took the key, why would they knock? If Brick was outside, he'd be yelling his lungs out. Maybe a neighbor? Welfare check?
It could be the queen of England; Boomer was not getting up from the couch for anyone.
"Boomer?" His head immediately shot up, "It's Bubbles. Open up."
He paled, slouching as if she still had X-ray vision.
She can't see you. Just play dead.
"Boomer, I know you're there."
"F-"
The former RowdyRuff let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, angrily slapping his forehead.
Bubbles knocked again, "C'mon. Let's talk." The boy swallowed dry. He could just play dead, she can't wait forever- "I'm not leaving."
Boomer took a deep breath. Bubbles wasn't that strong-headed but she could put up a good fight.
Plus, she deserved apologies... And closure.
He swallowed as his chest clenched. It hurt to even think about it, but there was no help. The least he could do was to put on clean clothes.
Dexter's messages had been so adamant about privacy, Blossom had to take her laptop to Professor's computer station in the lab.
"Away from your sisters' prying eyes! Bubbles is just like Dee-Dee, they can't keep a secret."
"Dexter, you never-"
"Am I wrong?"
He wasn't wrong.
It didn't take long for him to show on the screen, grumpily scratching the top of his fluffy, orange head. His skin was beet red, and there was a transparent goo dripping down his face.
The girl jumped in her seat, "Dexter, what happened!?"
"Dee-Dee forced me to hike." He sighed, "She has nothing but 'natural'" he air quoted, "...sunscreen. Which I am sure is bullshit. And she expects me to treat my sunburns using..." The boy scrunched his nose, scooping some of the goo with a finger, "Aloe vera... Because it's natural. I swear I'll never forgive Oregon for making her hippie-ness so much worse."
Blossom frowned, "Well... did you have fun hiking?"
Dexter sighed, "The sights were pleasing. We took pictures."
The girl raised her eyebrows, "...So, you did like-"
"I said the sights were pleasing!" Dexter shouted out, "Could do without the physical effort, nature, and sunlight."
"Alright." Blossom grinned. She knew that just the fact Dexter had accepted to take pictures was proof he'd loved it, and had a great time, "If you say so... I'm sorry I didn't answer your messages. It was late, and I'm so, so sorry, Dex."
The boy shrugged, "Wouldn't have made a difference, I was just worried about you and your little mission."
Blossom swallowed the guilt. What could she say, 'sorry, I was busy chewing Brick's face'?
"No need for that." She shook her head, "I am part spice, you know?"
Dexter rolled his eyes, "Got the pen drive?"
Blossom held the tiny metal piece up, "Right here." She smiled, injecting it into her laptop USB port.
Dexter nodded, "Great, now it'll ask for a password."
Blossom stared at the computer screen, "Nope. Dialogue box opened as usual."
The boy narrowed his eyes in confusion, "Wait, what? It was supposed to... Ok, what are you seeing on the screen right now? You know what. Let me have access to your laptop-"
"Hey, hey! Hold on, I can do it myself. I may not have a giant secret lab but I'm not an idiot. It's just a pen drive, for Pete's sake." She muttered in annoyance, "...It is showing the icon for the City Hall's email inbox."
"Look, you need to give me access-"
"Open!" Blossom chirped, grinning cheekily at her webcam.
"What!" Dexter yelled, "No! No. I, it was supposed to ask for a password. What the hell! It doesn't make any sense!"
"Wow, look at that. Mr. Morebucks is in contact with Senator Sandler... of course." Blossom scoffed, "He needs support to run for Senate, after all... or maybe he wants Kristian there. Oh my gosh, Dex, is he bribing a Senator?"
Dexter paled.
Blossom smirked cheekily, "Well, he is trying, isn't he...? Ha! See? I am smart too, did you forget? Now, how much public money-"
"Blossom, maybe we should talk-"
The girl's jaw fell.
...What's my name doing here?
Butch fidgeted again. Park benches were not the most comfortable, and his butt cheeks had just decided to notice it. Maybe if he crossed one leg over the other... No. Sissy move. He stretched them out in the grass, thinking it'd be comfortable, but his back-
"I swear to God, you move again, I'm socking you in the mouth."
Butch growled, "You are the slowest fuckin' reader."
Buttercup side-eyed him with a scowl, noticing the boy's legs had started twitching. It either meant he was tense, or excited. Like a puppy wagging a tail or growling, Butch Jojo twitched whenever he was either excited or tense.
Hum, he was made of puppy dog tails...
"I'm serious." He stated, "Can you hurry up? Say literally anything after a goddamn paragraph."
Buttercup squinted, "Dude, I just learned you write and that you're taking Lit AP. The least I can have is some time to digest..." The brunette motioned at the pile of papers in her lap, "this."
"What, why? Waddya mean, digest?" The boy's mouth curled down, "Digesting like what, like a taco bell? That bad? I mean. In your opinion, would you say it ranks where, exactly, on a scale from Taco Bell to Burger King? I know you like comics, and I ain't no Bukowski or Kerouac. I mean, I would love to, but every other dude that writes wants to be Kerouac, and they are so far up their asses, I don't wanna be like those idiots-"
"Shit." Buttercup muttered, raising her eyebrows, "Writer Butch is insecure? Damn. I'm starting to like it."
The boy scowled, "Bitch."
"Whatever, Shakespeare." Buttercup chuckled, picking up another text, "How long did you take to write all this? Since freshmen year?"
"...Freshmen?" The boy raised his eyebrows, "Yeah, right, as if. It's all burnt down to ashes." He scoffed, "These were left from this year's acceptable batch, the rest gone."
The brunette gaped at her counterpart, "What do you mean, batch? Do you just... burn your writing?"
"Just the shit I hate." Butch shrugged.
"Why?"
"Because it's too embarrassing! I can't bring myself to look at it!" He stated, dramatically.
Buttercup rolled her eyes, Well... how much stuff do you get rid of, after one year?"
Butch looked up at the cloudless, blue sky for a moment.
"Around..." He gestured, "...Over half of it. I wanna say, 75%?"
Buttercup snorted, "Shit, I don't know what's worse: you write this much, and then burn everything, or that you can start a fire at all."
"It's not like a bonfire!" Butch retorted, "The neighbors only had to call the firefighters once."
Buttercup chuckled, looking down at the paper in her hands. It was a poem, not the pompous shit from school, nor the deep-fake stuff from social media or God forbid, all that cringe stuff from fanfiction websites.
It was a poem about Frankenstein's monster if he'd turned out like an average dude... and somehow, it was worse for him. He was still Frankenstein's monster, a freak nobody wanted anything to do with, and was still abandoned by his creator.
'Limited by human mediocrity, too monstrous for dignity.'
The girl squinted, noticing he'd originally written 'creators', but the 's' was hastily erased.
SMACK!
"Hey!"
Butch's large palm ripped the paper away from as he shoved it in his pocket, "Oops."
The brunette glared at him, "What the hell! I was reading that!"
"Yeah, no..." Butch looked ahead, "I should've burnt it-"
"No!" Buttercup protested, "No, it's good... It's good, and I was reading it, you ass!"
"Was. Past tense."
Buttercup fumed, "Give that back."
He averted his gaze, pressing his lips together and puffing his cheeks like he was 5.
"Or what...?" He challenged, "...You gonna come get it from my pants?"
SMACK!
"Ouch...! Damn, woman, what you been eating this whole time!? You got hella stronger!"
"Phew! Finally!" She chirped, walking past the door, "What took you so long?"
Boomer walked back to the living room, scratching his neck. The girl frowned, noticing he didn't even look at her.
"...Boomie? Are you ok?" Bubbles asked, "I called you. And left a message, well, a couple. Maybe a little more... And voice messages, too."
Oh, now he'd never touch that phone, ever again.
"Boomie, are you ok?"
Was he? No, he was not. He was expecting her to start hurling insults at him, he wasn't expecting her concern.
"Bubbles... I'm sorry." He apologized in a small voice, hanging his head down, "I'm so sorry."
Bubbles looked down at her feet for a moment. She came all the way there with no plan in mind, all she knew was that they didn't have sex, and Boomer left in a hush.
And now he was apologizing.
What could she say? 'I'm not a boy, I don't have guy friends and I got a D in Biology 101, so I have no idea what happened, and I'm afraid it might've been my fault'?
Or maybe, 'You don't have to apologize?'
...But what if he did? What if he had to apologize? He had made a mess in that ridiculously large bed and left without a word. Maybe he was feeling bad about that.
Bubbles looked up, noticing he was frozen in place. Why won't he face her? They'd never spoken a word without looking into each other's eyes.
"... I'm sorry, Bubbles."
The girl frowned. Something felt off, he wasn't apologizing for the mess.
This was so frustrating, it made her wish she'd never brought up sex in the first place. Like, ever... That's why people don't kiss former-enemies-turned-art-friends.
"... Apologize for what?"
The pause was excruciatingly long.
They were supposed to have a secret relationship to make things simple, and it still lead to emotional confusion.
"For everything."
Now the joy and laughter was starting to lose her patience.
"Everything what?"
Boomer exhaled like he was the one that had just taken a smelly bus ride from suburbia to downtown.
"Everything you can think of." He turned around, "Whatever comes to your mind."
Bubbles sighed, looking into his eyes, "Boomer, that's not how apologies work... What if I can't think of anything? I... If something is bothering you, just say it. We'll work it out."
The lump in his throat was gigantic, "I don't think that's possible."
"Sure it is silly!" Bubbles chirped, although she was starting to really lose her cool, "You can take some time to think, and we can and go somewhere to talk. Maybe the park! We can go to the park, and we'll paint, and talk while we-"
That was too much, her enthusiasm was breaking his heart.
"No, Bubbles." Boomer turned around with his head hanging low, "We can't talk. I'm sorry, I just can't do it."
There was a long silence. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Boomer mustered the guts to look up to Bubbles, and the vision was heart-wrenching.
She frowned in confusion, "Wh, what do you mean?"
Boomer slouched his shoulders, looking for words. What did he mean?
"I just wanted to make you happy."
Bubbles pouted, "And I want to make you happy too." She stated, "So, let's make each other happy."
"I, it's not the same. The other night, you were counting on me." Boomer insisted, "You were counting on me to make your night incredible, and special... And I, I just-"
"It's ok!" The blonde walked up to him with a shaky smile, "It's ok, Boomer. We were a bit clumsy, is all. We can figure it out, and-"
"No! No, I was supposed to be the man here!" He stomped.
"Wh... what?"
"I was supposed to be a real man, but I fucking blew it!" Boomer shouted, trying to conceal his anger, "I was not man enough for you."
"Boomer!" Bubbles cupped his face, "Will you stop that! I, I don't want a man, I want a partner and a friend, and usually, you are both!" The boy took her hands off his face, "Come on! Boomer. Boomer, what's up with all that man talk? Where is it coming from?"
Boomer started shaking his head, staring at her equally glassy eyes, "I can't do it. I'm sorry, I can't do this shit."
Bubbles went silent, staring at him like a confused puppy.
Her shoulders fell, "B... B, Boomer? Boomer. Are you... You're breaking up with me?"
The boy balled his hands into fists, vigorously shaking his head, "I don't know... I don't even know what I'm supposed to break up, or if I'm supposed to break up anything! You just said we're partners, but we're intimate... I want to make you happy, like a couple, except you don't want to be a couple, and I'm trying to respect but... Fuck. This is so frustrating! I'm just trying to make you happy, and this is Hell!"
Bubbles swallowed down her cry.
"What about you!" She retorted, walking up to Boomer "What about you, I just said I want to make you happy too! That's how relationships work!"
"So, are we in one now!?" Boomer shouted back, "You don't want to be a couple, but you want to be more than friends, and I'm standing here like an idiot trying to figure it out, it's exhausting!" He threw his hands up in frustration, "I'm exhausted! I don't know what you want from me."
The blonde silently stared back, watching him shout, rant and gesture. A part of her asked: truly, what did she want? A friend or a boyfriend? Both options alone terrified her. She wanted both, and none, at the same time.
Before she could come up with a rational response, she was already shouting back.
"Neither!" She shouted, startling Boomer.
He stared at her for a moment, "Neither what-"
"Yeah, that's right. Since I'm so exhausting, I guess you're better off on your own! I don't even want to be your friend anymore!" She shouted, turning away. Glittery, heart-shaped backpack and ponytails bouncing along. She stopped at a halt, and turned back, "Friend or anything else!"
SLAM!
Boomer stared blankly at the door for a long moment, slowly slouching his shoulders as his face fell along.
"...I like the backpack."
'Fuck my life', Boomer concluded, hastily making his way to the shower. Better cry it all out before his brothers come home.
Senator Sandler:
So, you guarantee she is a virgin? I don't like gingers, but I'll make a compromise for a teenage virgin.
Mayor Morebucks:
Guaranteed.
Desperate. First week, she was wagging her tail over the electric chair hooligan.
Senator Sandler:
You threw her a bone... Now I have to throw another?
Mayor Morebucks:
Not a big one. You have a say on that scholarship.
Senator Sandler:
Is that how much it's going to cost me?
The Sandler Foundation scholarship, plus your commission? Pricey.
Mayor Morebucks:
All I ask of you... is an endorsement.
Senator Sandler:
My endorsements are intangible, Morebucks. Priceless. You expect me to give it for some... orange aberration.
Mayor Morebucks:
Just turn off the lights.
You wanted a high school virgin, I got you one.
Senator Sandler:
Fine. I'll be in the state next week. I'll call when I land. Bring her along to an "official" meeting, and we can go from there
"Ok, Blossom... Bloss, look at me." Dexter stared in fear at the girl on the other side of the screen. Had their video call frozen somehow? "Blossom? Blossom, are you there?"
His answer was a sharp breath, "I need some time."
"Wait, what d-"
Blossom shut their call, blankly staring at the screen. Her muscles and thoughts remained frozen, until...
'The last one'?
Robotically, the girl started searching for last year's City Hall intern.
It was Townsville High student Janette Kubs. Oh, Blossom knew her... Kinda. From afar. Nice girl. Janette's sister was in the debate club.
Blossom typed in 'Jane' in the email search bar, and a myriad of messages was listed down on the screen.
Governor Smith: 'A thank you for his endorsement. She's 18. Slender, tanned blonde. Would fit in the barely legal girls market like a glove... Unemployed dad. She won't say no.'
The redhead felt a sting in her chest.
Were the Kubs going through financial hardships? She hadn't noticed anything different in the sisters... from the very little contact they had.
Mason Smith Oil Gas: 'Get me a brunette, Latina, no older than 21, for Martin Janeson's help on the case... Maybe Janelle, Jacqueline? You know, the part-timer.
Blossom checked the date. Yes, the message aligned with the time Mason Smith got away with an oil spill in the northern Townsville Bay, just last year.
Bubbles had spent weeks cleaning up the beach with that NGO, hadn't she? Not like Blossom could tell, they hadn't been close since middle school.
All of this was happening right under her nose. If she had paid more attention, she might've noticed something. Maybe if she conversed more with her sisters, or colleagues...
So much for helping people, what a hero.
Blossom closed her eyes, heaving. When she opened them, everything had become blurry, and the air wasn't coming in anymore. The deeper she breathed, the less air came in.
She shook her head, swallowed again, and kept browsing names. Former High Schoolers, community college students that interned at City Hall, University students, postgrads. Even employees.
Dakota, Suzy, Kris, Ana, Samantha, Maria, Joanne, Ben, Li, Patricia, Olivia, Emma, Noah, Samira, Rosa, Bella, Ali, Fatima, Fen...
The list was endless.
All of them had been used for political votes, bribes... That's why the mayor had picked her, it had nothing to do with academics, it was all her age, her lack of experience. It was alluring to 57-year-old senator Sandler.
She took a deep breath. And another. And another one. And...
SLAM!
The slap was strong enough to hurt her palms.
Why won't the fucking air come in?
Blossom shut her eyes again, aching hand absent-mindedly went to her trousers. Susan's orange tube in her purse still had, at least, more than half of its content...
...Still.
The professor should have something down there, right?
Right.
She started searching, taking deep breaths in-between steps, fighting the fog clouding her usually oh-so sharp mind.
Such a sharp mind, it always got her ahead in school, and left people in awe...
'Oh my God, Blossom!' Bubbles chirped, "AP!? We've barely started high school and they moved you to...You're so smart!"
"Hell yeah, that's my sister!" Buttercup put an arm around Blossom's shoulders, "A badass genius!"
The redhead grinned reluctantly, "Girls it is nothing-"
"Nothing! Are you kidding me! We should go out and celebrate!"
"Really?" Blossom felt a genuine smile form. The first one in weeks, "The three of us?" She beamed.
Bubbles and Buttercup nodded with wide smiles.
"Oh ok so... Friday?" She suggested.
Her sisters' smile slowly faded.
"Hum, Bloss, didn't you hear?" Bubbles questioned.
"What?"
"...Princess is throwing a party on Friday." Buttercup quietly trailed off, "Like, a massive one."
The ginger's heart sunk, "Oh? I was not-"
"No way!" Bubbles interjected, "Again!? She invited everyone... And I mean, everyone-"
Blossom gulped and shrugged, "I know! She's so mature, right?" She rolled her eyes with an awkward giggle, "It's ok You guys should go, have fun."
Buttercup pulled Bubbles into a hug, "You bet we bring the life to the party! Right, Bubs!?"
Absent-mindedly, Blossom started rubbing her arms, "Bet you guys are."
Bubbles frowned, "...Are you ok with-"
The redhead waved it away, "Sure! I, I have so much homework. You know, APs. I'll be so busy Friday night."
"So... Saturday?" Buttercup suggested.
Blossom beamed again (wow two in a day, that's a record), "Saturday it is!"
On Saturday morning the redhead did her full beauty routine, going out of her way to curl her hair using the robe belt trick everyone's doing. She had so much hair she had to go find another robe belt, not without cursing under her breath. She'd debated the night before whether to wear makeup. Maybe a minimal, graphic eyeliner. She was feeling bold, and the banter with Buttercup was worth it. She could almost hear her sister's snark.
'Oooh... Blossy is a rebel now? Oooh...Bubbles, Blossom drew a couple of straight lines-'
"Shut up, Buttercup" Blossom would reply with a playful slap.
"Well, I liked it!" Bubbes would interject.
She looked everywhere in her closet for an outfit: a cute slip dress, men's button up, and the knockoff Prada loafers grandma Utonium had lovely gotten her. Counterfeit was inherently wrong... but they were the cutest shoes she owned.
So, Blossom sat and waited.
Meanwhile, the night before, Bubbles and Buttercup had taken the party to one of Princess's massive bedrooms and improvised a sleepover with Robyn, Julia... and Princess. Followed up by brunch in the morning, and a shopping spree sponsored by Miss Morebucks.
Blossom only realized it when she saw their posts on social media... in the late afternoon.
Bubs_theArtist: A picture of her sisters and their friends smiling, with Princess in the middle, in a luxurious bedroom: 'guests at Prinny! love y'all""
Buttercup69lol: A picture of an avocado toast with bacon, cheese and egg, with a tall glass of black tea on the side: 'LOL sry my toast is better than urs Bubs_theArtist'
Bubs_theArtist comment: omg remember...? That was soo funny! Can't believe she fell 4 that! lol ly, carnivore
A sting. Could it be they were talking about her...? They must think it's hilarious naive Blossom thinks they're all going to hang out together.
The next picture was from someone she didn't follow, but you know, algorithms. They'll throw in your face anything with a little more engagement, and no one in Townsville had more social media engagement than the richest heiress in town.
Iam-Princess-kissthemfring: The picture was of Princess in a group hug with Bubbles and Buttercup, smiling, with a plethora of fancy shopping bags in the background: 'Ly gals! Missed u, Bloss_Utonium'
Blossom stopped in her tracks, taking another big gulp, and exhaled.
Biology classes never explained why her brain will come up with... random, unimportant memories. What use was it?
It hurt a lot back then, but the redhead had simply decided to not hurt. And no, she was not going to make an exception for the mayor. She couldn't control the circumstances, but she could control how she felt about them.
You have control, you have everything.
She needed to gloss over that, and focus.
Professor did have a bathroom down at the lab, he spent so much time down there.
...It was minuscule.
A tiny toilet across the door, a sink, and a cabinet guarding a toothbrush, paste, deodorant, and 3 orange tubes. Fighting the mind fog, Blossom inspected them: Prinivil, for high blood pressure, take once a day; Theophylline, for asthma control, take once a day, and lastly... Niravam, full to the brim.
She sighed in relief, instantly putting a couple of pills under her tongue. Best to take a couple of them right away. Professor wouldn't miss it... And it was not like she was sneaking in to drink his scotch or to steal cigarettes.
"Oh my Einstein, you're back!" Dexter sighed, with a palm on his chest in relief, "You scared me, what took you so long?"
Blossom shrugged her shoulders, "I needed to... digest... this. "
"I know... We were supposed to talk about it before." The boy groaned, rubbing his palms on his eyes, and didn't even realize Blossom's wince, "But Dee-Dee had that stupid idea to go hiking, and I swear, the connection in her place is horrible."
Blossom bit down her lip. It wasn't Dee-Dee's fault.
"You only see each other a couple of times a year, Dex... It's only fair, she-"
"Excuse me! Did you read this shit?" Dexter gasped, "That's the most criminal thing I've ever read! It's unfathomable... the mayor looks you in the eye, and walks by you with those things in mind, it's disgusting!"
"I know."
Her voice was so firm, it made the scientist shut up. Blossom awkwardly ran a hand through her tousled hair.
"...I know." She sighed, "And thank you, Dexter. So much. I... Without you, I wouldn't have found out a fraction of that."
The boy pressed his lips together, "Did you know about it?"
Blossom sighed. Should she tell the truth? All of it? Dexter was her friend, he was helping, he was supportive, he deserved to know...
'Oh yes. The mayor is looking forward to closing this deal soon. He wants to speak on Monday. No wonder, with the way I have been letting men get away with-'
"I... You know Dex, I... I, I kinda sensed th-"
"And you didn't say a word to me!"
"Dexter-"
"You said things were fine!" He bellowed, "Every single time, you said it was ok, not much going on..."
"Because there wasn't!" Blossom retorted, "I, I was just following a routine."
"... but?" Dexter pressed on, "You sensed something was not right. What happened?"
Blossom rubbed the back of her neck, "I... I can't put my finger on it. I, I'm not sure."
The boy sighed with a head shake, "No. No, no, no. You sensed something was up, objectively, an event must've triggered that."
Blossom fought the urge to growl at her best friend, "Dexter, things are not black and white." She took a deep breath, "People are complicated, ok?"
Dexter stared firmly at his webcam. What a load of crap. But they didn't have time to bicker around.
"Ok, whatever." He scoffed, "But you know, it's not too late for science, right?" Blossom rolled her eyes, "You would never have this problem with a test tube."
"Dexter-"
"I'm saying! You chose politics, and now you need to go all the way down to the police station, and deal with a bunch of paperwork!" Dexter raised his shoulder with a scoff, trying to be morbidly humorous.
The former Powerpuff paused with a frown, "What...? Oh, Dex- I, I'm not doing that. I mean, yes, no, no, we're not doing that."
The boy squinted, "What do you mean?" He asked, "What, do you need a lawyer? I don't know how these things work."
"Dexter, this is a cybersecurity breach. This is... illegal." Blossom nodded to herself. Yes. That was the issue. She couldn't go to the police, look them in the eyes and show them all these things because she'd invaded the City Hall's intranet, "What we did, it is illegal. And, what if they find out it came from your lab? Dex, you don't even have a city permit to build a lab, let alone run an entire operation, it might carry serious implications-"
Dexter's face twisted into an outraged grimace, "City permit, what are you talking about!? That's what's worrying you? Blossom. This man is using people as... huh, as... Ugh! Blossom, he's bribing a senator with your hypothetical hymen!"
"Ew!" The girl cried out, "Dexter! That's disgusting!"
The boy grabbed his laptop screen and shook it out of frustration, "But that's exactly, literally what he's doing! We have to come up with a plan!"
Blossom scowled at the screen, and sighed, "You're right. There has to be a way to tell authorities. I should wait until you're back, though." Blossom Utonium? Stalling? No. "Obey the law, and report the mayor. It's your technology, we can file an anonymous report, and try to... make the evidence untraceable."
Blossom's throat became bitter. If you had to make something untraceable to the police, are you really following the law?
"Fine. But first, you have to be safe."
Blossom's face twisted in confusion, "I'm always safe, what are you talking about?"
Dexter grumpily rolled his eyes, "I'm talking about... this whole thing. You can't go back to this man's office."
The girl's face twisted again, but in annoyance, "Don't tell me what to do! I'm not a quitter, I'm going back there-"
"What!? Are you kidding me! You can't do that!" Dexter shouted, "For Einstein's sake, this is not the same as giving up smoking. Blossom, this man does not see you as a human being, and he holds an unimaginable amount of power. You have to quit, resign, call in sick, I don't know-"
Blossom glared, crossing her arms "No."
Dexter furrowed his brows in retort, "Yes!"
"No!" Blossom repeated, "I'm not going to quit, Dexter. I'm going to go back there, and search for more evidence, and if there's none, that's alright."
The scientist buried his face in his hands with a growl, "Can you stop being so intransigent for one damn second-"
"Kettle. Pot."
"This is frustrating!" Dexter yelled, "You won't budge, and... I can't do anything here, I don't have my lab, I'm stranded in this hippie commune Dee-Dee calls 'home', and everyone wants me to come out to my parents. Every damn conv-"
"So, you're using my problems to distract yourself." Blossom cut off, raising an eyebrow.
Yes, Dexter was worried, and she was lucky to have him, but all these measures were too much to process. It was extremely overwhelming.
Dexter knew about it all beforehand, so he had had time to process her situation while ignoring his own. It wasn't the first time he did it, and it didn't make him a bad friend. He was just avoidant.
"Don't be ridiculous." Genius-boy scoffed, "I am moving away for college in one year or so, I have plenty of time. You, on the other hand-"
"I can take care of myself." Blossom cut him off, defiantly, "I have this information, thanks to you. I'll watch my back. Now, you should be spending whatever time you have with Dee-Dee." Blossom paused for the imminent dramatic groan from Dexter, "And once you're back, if you still want to... huh, to figure it out, we will come up with a plan."
The boy sighed, resting his chin on a hand. Dexter wanted to throw her a jab, 'oh I thought you didn't anyone's help', be snarky, but it was not the time, and he knew that. Oh, the woes of maturity and a ridiculously high IQ.
...But Dexter was not beneath the cold shoulder treatment.
"If you want to." He shrugged.
Blossom wetted her lips, looking down at her lap, "Ok."
That wasn't much of a negative nor a positive answer.
"Fine." Dexter grunted, ending the call.
Brick thought he'd be floating on air by now. Instead, he was laying down in bed, staring at the ceiling.
So, he did it, got the girl (or maybe she was the one who got him). Now what? Does he ask her out, and they carry on happily ever after?
'You think she likes you?'
The boy tried shaking the intrusive thoughts off.
It sounded too good to be true, too easy, and one thing Brick learned from the moment he was born was that nothing in life was easy.
So, what was the catch?
'She's going to spit you out as soon as the acceptance letters start coming in...'
The parental support checks will stop dripping in when the boys turn eighteen. They have money saved, but the redhead knew the three of them would have to start hustling to make ends meet.
'Meanwhile, she'll be in the arms of a pretty ivy league baby.'
Brick vigorously shook his head. He had come all the way here, he'd not let her go, that's not who Blossom was...
'Now, are we sure about that?'
Had his creators dropped him as soon as he was no longer useful? Yes, but Blossom was not like that at all, again, Brick knew her. He just didn't know where to go from here.
'Pathetic.'
..Despite the gnarly thoughts in the back of his head.
"What's this for, Professor?"
The man recoiled, "Blossom, I didn't see you there!"
The middle schooler floated to his side, "What's this?"
The man sighed, opening his palm, "It's Oxycodone, sweetie... It's not for kids."
The girl squinted at the label, "Well, why do you need it, Professor?" She repeated the question, "Is that because of your back operation?"
His hand immediately went to the tail of his spine, "It's just for when it feels really bad... a crisis, if you will."
"So, it's for taking away the pain."
"It..." The man sighed, and thought for a moment, "It helps me manage."
"How so?"
"By... acting on my brain." He shrugged, knowing the redhead's stubborn curiosity would not let go, "So, if my brain is tricked into feeling better, the pain won't bother me much... Your uncle Eugene used to take them when he was undergoing treatment."
The redhead frowned, "But Professor, how-"
"C'mon sweetie," He swiftly put the small container back in his drawer, "you'll be late for class."
Blossom's gaze fell on the drawer.
CAUTION: OPIOID. RISK OF OVERDOSE AND ADDICTION.
She swallowed dryly. The mere sight of that warning was scary and carried a heavy energy to it. Blossom had watched the PSA's at school (unlike her inattentive class colleagues), and had volunteered at shelters, and rehab centers.
Yes, the warning was technically true but... it wasn't for her.
People get addicted because they are in pain, traumatized, and need to escape, whereas she had grown up in a stable household with a loving family. Her brain just needed to feel a little bit better at the moment.
The redhead took a pill, thinking she'd fall asleep, but instead, she was involved in a lulling, relaxing sensation, akin to being adrift in a solitary boat. All the uneasiness of the day, of the week, of the year floated away, leaving her to... nothing.
Weirdly, that felt much better than sleep. She had never felt that much peace.
The air started coming in again, her breathing slowed down. Of course, there was drowsiness, but not one from being sleepy or tired. It gently crept in as Blossom silently made her way back to bed.
Before that, she had laid down, terrified, without knowing why.
It was fear, plain and simple.
Hours had passed, and Blossom had closed her eyes, very much awake, listening to her sisters come to bed. More hours passed, once Bubbles and Buttercup were fast asleep, she'd opened her eyes again, and stared at the ceiling, struggling to breath, thinking of all the scenarios that could happen in the week, the things she could've done, if she could've helped Janette Kubes, what she'd do if she still had her powers, etc.
...Now?
It was all gone, she finally felt capable to face whatever curvy ball the mayor or life threw at her.
Except she'd find out no amount of opioids could prepare her for the next morning.
The man grunted, folding his arms, "Are the surroundings are clear?"
The other man, his security chief, nodded curtly, "Yes, Mayor."
Another grunt.
"Where the fuck is that brat!?"
The other man cleared his throat, "Our agents guaranteed-"
"I NEED IT NOW!" mayor Morebucks snarled, "WHEN I SAY SOMETHING, I NEED IT DONE!"
The security chief fought the urge to sigh, and roll his eyes. Mayor Morebucks was not a man used to waiting. He had been born wealthy and had everything he wanted at the tip of his fingers all his life until now.
...Now?
A sixteen year old girl was making him wait.
"This CANNOT," Morebucks shoved a finger at his employee's face, "absolutely, CANNOT leak ok? I was never here! All words that have been, or will be spoken within this car," he pointed to the luxurious car seat, "never will exist, and have never existed. Got it!?"
Another curtly nod, "You can rest assured, sir."
As if on cue, the car door opened, and a reluctant figure was led inside by security guards.
Steve glanced at the stiff, jarred girl.
There was a stark difference between the mayor's sharp suit, and the girl, clutching a pink binder for dear life, in her yoga pants.
His eyes wandered to the binder. Steve's daughter had had one in middle school, except it looked worn out. It was probably the ginger's own middle school binder.
What did she plan on doing, taking notes? Thanks to security being instructed to search her beforehand, that'd be the only thing she was going to get from this "meeting".
When the mayor told him that a 16 year old intern had hacked into his email, he was sure of it, and didn't need to prove anything, he was the mayor, Mr. Morebucks business mogul, he knew stuff, etc., Steve was sure the man had gone mad.
But now Steve was starting to think maybe there was some genius to Mr. Morebucks' madness.
His train of thought was interrupted by the Mayor clearing his throat.
Steve stood up, buttoning his suit, "Miss Utonium?" The girl silently furrowed her brows, seizing him up and down, "I am Mr. Morebucks' personal security chief, and I believe you have something in your possession that you acquired with ill intent, through illegal means."
The redhead swallowed, pressing the binder against her chest, back pressed hard against the car door.
"Miss Utonium. Are you aware you have committed a felony?"
"I did not." She spat back.
Steve sighed under Mr. Morebucks' steel glare, "Miss Utonium-"
"I did not breach the City Hall intranet!" She stubbornly retorted, "You can't breach something that doesn't exist."
The mayor scoffed, "She's on drugs."
"Mister Morebucks..."
The teenager continued, "The City Hall intranet system was open-"
The mayor scoffed louder as he turned to Steve, "She's mentally ill!" He shouted, motioning at Blossom, "She is out of it, she's insane."
"I am not!" The teenager shouted.
Before the mayor could say anything else, Steve cut in, "So, you admit you are in possession of sensitive information belonging to Mr. Morebucks?" The girl paled, "Do you, Miss Utonium?"
She swallowed, handing Steve the pink binder, "This is some of the things I know... And it's wrong."
So, that's what had taken her so long? Printing out evidence?
Steve furrowed his brows, while the mayor scoffed. He hoped his client wouldn't say anything else, but trying to stop it would only get him fired.
"Miss Utonium..." Mr. Morebucks' tone was mocking. Blossom silently looked away, taking in deep breaths, "I understand being young, but your naivety is almost... it's pitiful."
The girl was silent for a moment, "I know wrong from right." Her index finger meekly pointed at the binder, "And this is wrong."
Blossom wondered if the men could see she was shaking, or how she tried to avert her gaze from Mr. Morebucks' direction. The mere sight of him made her stomach turn. She was an idiot for believing she could just carry on with the internship as usual.
"What about the gifts you accepted from my client's employee, Daniel?"
The girl froze, "What!?"
Steve took a deep breath, as he pretended to examine the binder. So many years of experience, but he couldn't look that child in the eyes as he... metaphorically... as they say... "ripped her a new one."
"I have records and eye witnesses that confirm you've accepted bribes from Mr. Morebucks' employee, Daniel. Expensive clothes and shoes... I'd say that's wrong-"
"T, th, those were not from Daniel! I, it was all from the City Hall!" Blossom bellowed, pointing a finger at Mr. Morebucks, "H, he sent them!"
Steve still didn't look up, "Can you prove that without a shadow of a doubt, Miss Utonium?" Her mouth hung open, and Steve looked into her teary eyes, "Even if you could, any outsider that knows of you... of your intelligence and maturity as a former hero... would say you objectively accepted gifts from older men and were ready to take more."
"No!" Her shout was horrified, "That's not true! The, they gave me the... the... I, I- I'm-"
"...And that you were aware that crying over your young age would shield you from any personal responsibility. From a legal perspective, at least."
"No!" Oh, that cry came directly from a slasher horror movie, "That's not true! That's not true, you know that! Y, y..." Exasperated, she turned to Mr. Morebucks, who merely raised an eyebrow, "Y, you did this! That's it... That's it, right? That's all part of you, your disgusting, horrible scheme-"
"You had no complaints up until now, Miss Utonium." Mr. Morebucks' voice was blank, "I have eye witnesses that can testify you have no issues over being touch-"
Steve stopped his client, "Mr. Morebucks, please."
"I only accepted those things because I was told it was for work!" The girl bellowed, "If not, I wouldn't have-"
"So, you admit you accepted personal gifts paid by the City Hall's budget?"
"Th, that's not what I meant." Blossom nearly growled at Daniel, "I mean, not in the way you're making this sound!"
Steve nonchalantly looked back at the binder, "I'm just going from your statements, Miss Utonium." He sighed, "These are just point of views you're offering us with your version of events."
"I, I don't care!" Blossom shouted, "Ok, I don't give a fuck about what you think! I know what-"
"What did you intend to do with... this information... Miss Utonium?" Steve asked, pointing his chin to the binder.
Blossom's lips shut tightly, as if to stop herself from answering.
"I don't suppose you'd open wide such a pandora box by going public, especially with so many holes in your narrative." Steve sighed, "Did you think you could file an anonymous report, unnoticed?"
The girl bit her lower lip.
Bingo.
"In this case, I hope you're aware of the illegality of the means you used to acquire this information... which makes yet another hole in your heroic narrative." He shrugged, "There's no place for grey areas in Law, Miss Utonium."
There was a long silence inside the car, as Blossom's head hang down, and Steve went back to examining the binder content.
"So?" Steve looked up to see the girl's hard stare had gone from her lap to the mayor, "Are you going to blacklist me? That's why you're here, mayor?"
Steve raised his eyebrows. It was impressive how her voice almost didn't crack (it was shaky at best), or that she'd directly ask such a bold question to Mr. Morebucks.
"Blacklist you?" The mayor smirked, "Miss Utonium, I would blacklist an enemy's son. You? I pity you. I'm just here to do you a favor."
The redhead's jaw dropped. Terrified and confused, she blinked from one man to the other.
"A favor...?"
"Hey Bubs... Gosh, are you ok!?"
The blonde gritted her teeth, tossing the dirty pancake bowl in the sink, "I'm fine."
Buttercup eyed the burnt pancakes sitting on the table, and her flour-stained sister. Her eyes were red, and her face, swollen.
Had she been crying?
"Do you need-"
"Buttercup, it's fine." Bubbles gritted her teeth again, forcing a smile across her face, "It's just, crispy pancakes! That's it. You know." She giggled, scanning through the kitchen cabinet, "Life. One day you have perfect fluffy pancakes, the other day they are soggy, you tell yourself you can fix the soggy pancakes... But guess what!?"
"What?"
"They burn!" She announced, gesticulating with pancake syrup in hand, "You can't save soggy pancakes that want to be soggy, so they burn like it's all your fault when you're just trying your best!"
Buttercup slowly nodded as she took a seat at the table, "Couldn't agree more, Bubs."
The brunette maintained a grin on her face as one hand reached for her cellphone.
Buttercup to Butch: 'Dude. My blu is havin' a moment. Wat bout urs?'
The response was instantaneous.
'LMAO Booms bein weird af 2'
'ugh so u the normal 1?'
'IKR!'
The brunette lightly bit down her lip to stop herself from laughing. She could almost see Butch's maniacal smile behind the three-letter text.
"Dumbass Shakespeare..."
The loud rattling of the front door opening made the brunette's head shoot up. Even Bubbles stopped in her tracks, exchanging frowns with Buttercup.
"Hello...?"
A moment of silence passed, followed by Blossom's quiet voice.
"...hey, guys."
Buttercup marched to the living room, her sister following behind.
"Blossy?" Bubbles called, "Did you go out? Bloss, are you ok?"
Blossom's head shot up, and she was silent.
"Bloss...?" Buttercup raised an eyebrow, noticing her sister was discreetly smothering an envelope, "You good?"
The redhead swallowed with a fake grin, "Yes! Huh, yes. Yes, I'm fine."
The brunette cocked her head, "What were you doing outside? I didn't even know you were up, and..." She turned to Bubbles, "I think blondie was up pretty early."
Bubbles shrugged, "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to make breakfast! I was trying a few different recipes, and it got a bit messy because you know how-"
"Good! See!?" Blossom cut off, "Bubbles was busy in the kitchen, that's why she didn't see me leave. Pft, it's not like I snuck out or anything, I'd not do that, I don't have a reason to. Why would I do that?"
Buttercup squinted, "Then what were you doing outside?"
Blossom froze.
Worst liar on the planet.
"Mail."
"Mail?"
"Mail! Yes, mail!" She awkwardly waved the massacred envelope, "See?"
"Oh?" Bubbles cocked her head, more out of curiosity than suspicion, "Is that all?"
"What?"
"Is that all mail?" Bubbles repeated, "Are you sure you got all the mail, Bloss? This is just one envelope-"
"Oh my God, yes!" The redhead angrily gave in, storming past her sisters "Yes, you got me. I got the mail for myself, ok!? You happy? I selfishly went outside to look for my mail. Ugh! What's with you two, it's just mail! Gosh."
"Then why you acting like a fuckin' cunt!?"
SLAM!
Bubbles gasped, "Buttercup! You can't say the C-word!"
The brunette scowled, taking a mental note Blossom had marched to Professor's room, not theirs.
"Fine." Buttercup took a deep breath, and shouted, "Why you acting like a fuckin' soggy pancake!"
Again: worst liar on the planet.
Steve shook his head, walking the tall halls of the Morebucks mansion with the old binder in hand. As if its color wasn't obnoxious enough, the very distinct cover was handmade... And of course, Steve was tasked with the noble mission of making it disappear.
The little girl had been quite brave with her bullshit, saying she didn't have the pen drive, it was with a friend, it's all copied to her computer disk, etc. All of that after getting a letter of recommendation from Mr. Morebucks, in name of the City Hall. How ungrateful.
No wonder Mr. Morebucks went so hard on her, and so did Steve. It was cowardly, but the two of them basically cornered her, and made damn sure she'd never even think of going public.
Now, to making a bonfire-
"Hey!" The voice sent chills down his spine.
Steve slowly turned around, "Miss Morebucks, how may I help you?"
The brat pointed her chin to the binder, "What you doing with that?"
"Oh, this?" He waved the binder, "Huh it's my daughter's."
Princess narrowed her eyes, "Your daughter's name is Blossom?"
Steve looked at the cover.
'Property of Blossom' in equally obnoxious little girl glitter
"Hum, yes, Miss." He grinned, "May I help you in-"
"I want to go to my mom's private beach, and I need a team of security guards."
Steve sighed in defeat, looking around.
"Miss, what about-"
"I don't like these guards!" She stomped her foot again, "So drop that ugly thing and get to work! Now!"
Steve looked down at the binder, and sighed, "Ma'am-"
"I said now!"
The man nodded, "Yes, ma'am. Huh, Consuela?"
He called for the maid, "Put this in Mr. Morebucks' study."
The woman grinned in silence before walking away with the binder under her arm.
Steve grinned as he walked past Miss Morebucks, "Your new security team will be ready soon-"
"I don't care! Do it right! I want John, Caroline, Jamal, and Chi in my security team, you heard me!"
Steve rolled his eyes tiredly. Surely the brat cherry-picked the hardest to get, most demanded security guards in Townsville.
He was making a ton of money, but no money was enough to deal with Princess Morebucks.
A/N: I bet Butch would have a secret fanfiction account.