Robin honestly couldn't wait it was so disappointing when that stupid evacuation interrupted everything. She only wished that the other girls could be off today but then again Bubbles would rather skin them alive then let them see their presents.
Finally grabbing everything she needs she headed down the stairs ready to leave only to be stopped by her father.
"Heyo Robbie your goin out with Bubbles today right?" He asked with his usual wide smile.
"Yeah we might be a bit late you know how Bubs is with shoppin" she called back to him.
"Well that's no problem, just make sure to be home before tomorrow" he laughed a bit happy to see his daughter going out with the girls again.
"The mall closes at 10 ya know" she in a matter of fact tone.
"That girl will find a way" he answered walking in the entrance hall holding a tin.
"Your mother said that this is for those Powerpuff girls" Robin stared at him for a couple minutes with a blank unreadable expression. "Those what?" She asked confusion ridling her voice.
"Utonium girls geez Robbie are ya losin your hearin'?" He answered, giving her a confused look. "You ok Robbie really you looked possessed" he asked her hand going for her shoulder. "Yeah dad i'm fine just thought you said ...something else ya know ya just confused me"
"Right.. You got that 40 for the trip right?" He asked. "Yeah" she answered absentmindedly, patting her pocket. "Listen do you mind buyin somethin for your mother for me?" He asked, waving 30 bucks around.
"Why?" She asked, looking at the money.
"Well you got her a better gift then I did last year I had to drive her back up to the store for her to exchange mine" he answered head hung a bit. "Brutal" her voice sympathetic toward her father.
"Yeah so mind doin this for me?" He asked, looking at her with pleading eyes.
"Yeah I'm sure Bubs won't mind" she answered shrugging putting the money in her pocket.
"Thanks Rob have fun" he told her with a smile as she made her way to the door. "Your welcome i will" she called back.
It was convenient that they lived right next to each other. It made it easier, she thought to herself as she walked over to the P- Utonium residence. Walking up to the familiar red door she knocked lightly she had learned over the years that you don't have to knock loudly or much in this house. It also never took long for someone to answer. Within a minute a tired looking Blink opened the door.
"In your natural element i see" Robin commented taking note of her light grey nightgown and dark grey robe accompanied with a pair of fluffy slippers.
"Not really, sometimes I just tie a blanket around my neck," the usual monotone voice answered, sounding a bit deader than usual.
"Robin" she could hear Bubbles call from the kitchen.
"She awaits," Blink remarked in dead playfulness.
Walking with Blink she passed the living room stopping for a second there tree was up already covered in color coded tencel and ornaments. Each represents the people in the household she knew that much white for the Professor (they had got her calling him that too) Pink for Blossom, Green for Buttercup, Grey For Blink, Blue for Bubbled and some purple. Something she had never understood the girls usually stuck to their signature colors but there is a day where they all wear purple. Not even she knows she has asked but it's only met with silence.
There was even a small purple stocking hung on the fireplace. She once tried to guess they stayed silent so she thought it was an ok idea it wasn't. She guessed mother, brother, sister, cousin and only ended with Buttercup snapping that it wasn't any of her fucking business so she dropped it. Even the presents under the trees were color coded but no purple presents she could only guess it was a close relative who died.
"Robin get in her" Buttercup yelled from the kitchen.
"Coming" she called walking away she cast a final glance at the small purple stocking she could only think of how the stocking seemed to grow with the girl they used to have stockings the same size now they were normal size. It was the only hint she had. Sometimes it was all too clear how distant and closed off her friends really were.
Walking into the kitchen she could see the Professor (their father) cooking in his signature apron.
"Hello Robin how have you been?" He asked, looking at the brown haired girl.
"I've been good Professor, it's been awhile" she told him, flashing a smile.
"Yes it has been a while, would you like an omelet?" He asked, flipping the one he was working on.
"Yeah, do you remember how I like them?" She asked, causing him to laugh a bit.
"Now Robin, I'm a scientist, I don't forget formulas," he responded with a chuckle.
"Isn't that the truth right girls" Blossom giggled in amusement as the other three joined.
"Just add an unintentional accident and he never fails" Bubbled added causing them to laugh harder. Another inside joke she didn't understand.
"Hey Robbie what's that?" Blink asked, looking at the tin in her hand.
"Oh it's for you from my mom it's probably her homemade fudge hang on let me check" she opened the lid to look inside. "Yep its her fudge you guys really enjoyed it when you tried it last year so she made more" she told them with a smile.
"Right can we have it?" There was some sort of urgency in Blossom's voice as she stuck her hand from across the table. "Yeah sure you just gotta share" she felt off with the odd look in their eyes as they stared at the tin. What were they looking at? "Is something wrong?'' she asked, feeling uneasy.
"Yeah just hand the stupid thing over" Buttercup started. There was an odd aggression in her voice. Well there was usually aggression in her voice but this was directed at her.
"I didn't know you liked fudge so much honestly don't look at it like hungry wolves" she attempted to joke with the uneasiness coiling in her stomach.
"Heh you know how much I love your mom's chocolate" Buttercup's voice finally calmed down when Blossom had the tin.
"I thought you liked it the least Buttercup?" Robin asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah Buttercup you did like it the least" Blossom reminded through gritted teeth.
"Well I want to give it another chance," she said, attempting to take the tin from Blossom's grip.
"Buttercup I can take care of the tin" Blossom attempted to reason.
"I think I'll take better care of it"
"No just give it to me"
"Stop being so bossy"
"Stop being so stubborn"
"Buttercup" Bubbles cried she seemed to notice something that Robin couldn't see but whatever it was it distressed her. Maybe it was the fighting Bubbles hated as a child but she would be calling both of them.
"Buttercup" Blink called along with Bubbles but being on Buttercup's side she grabbed her arm.
"Buttercup" this time it was the Professor he to seemed know something she didn't.
"What?!" Buttercup blurted out of frustration.
He didn't say anything but it seemed his look was enough to get her to let go of the tin.
"Now what is it that you two are fighting over?" He asked, walking over. "A tin?" He asked, looking at the tin in their hands.
"Give it to me" he took a look at it he seemed to spot something that had his eyes wide for a second.
"Oh I see Robin, do you mind if we keep this I'll buy your mother a new one," he said in a more cheerful voice.
"I guess that would be fine. What is so important about that one?" She asked, confused.
"Oh it just brings back memories right girls" he answered with a smile looking at the girls who nodded.
"Oh how so?" She asked it was just a dumb old tin that they had for years it was worn and had almost all its color rubbed off.
"It just reminds us of when we first moved into the neighborhood. Your mom came over with this tin she'd used this very tin every year. It's pretty special" that made sense to Robin at least but why were the girls fighting for it.
"Here you go Robin eat up you girls get ready for work ok?" He continued placing an omelet in front of her.
"Buttercup, can I talk to you for a moment?" His voice was a little harder as they stepped out to talk.
