CHAPTER 14: WOLVES, FRIENDS, AND FOES
BRICK: What the hell. Why are you updating so early nowadays.
ME: Okay, let me admit something: in March 2013, I wrote two stories revolving Ross that would tie in with the Call of the Wolves. It would just be from Ross' POV rather than the greens' POV. I'm writing based on that, so there's some copying and pasting, but with editing. Oh, and anyone want to see that published? Like after Call of the Wolves is done?
BUTCH: Uh, no. This is my story.
BUTTERCUP: It's actually mine, you—
BUTCH: Shut up.
BUTTERCUP: Oh excuse m—
ME: *laughs awkwardly* Anyway, let's move on before a fight breaks out! *sweat-drop*
DISCLAIMER: I only own the story and my OC's! Powerpuff Girls and its characters belong to Cartoon Network.
Chapter 14: Wolves, Friends, and Foes
"Oh, right. And here's the new student; Ross. Say hello, Ross. Class, please welcome him," Mr. Apocally mentioned.
"What are we? In—"
"—Gr. 1? No, but welcome him all the same." Mr. Apocally shot the speaker a glare.
The speaker shrank back.
"WELCOME TO POKEY OAKS HIGH, ROSS!"
"Uh...thanks...?" mumbled Ross.
Mr. Apocally smiled coolly. "Wonderful." He surveyed the room. "No, Flash; you can't tease him; and no, Ashleigh; you can't 'hit on him'." He did air quotations on the last few words.
"Who said I was?" Flash protested.
Mr. Apocally smirked. "I read your minds." When they gave him funny looks, he laughed. "I'm just joking; I can tell by your facial expressions."
They groaned.
Mr. Apocally simply smiled coolly. "Great. Now...Ross, go sit beside Butch and Brick, please."
Buttercup snuck a glance at the two Rowdyruff Boys. Butch's eyes were a dark glare, and Brick seemed to be studying the newcomer, who'd been confirmed as Ross.
Mr. Apocally raised an eyebrow, shooting Ross a look that said "go on!"
Ross sighed, took a deep breath, and walked up to his desk. "Uh...hi...?" he managed. It sounded more like a question than a statement.
Brick smiled a half-smile. "Hi."
Butch simply turned around, snorting. "Humph!"
Ross awkwardly sat down, pulling out his pencil case and books.
"There's no homework for today," Mr. Apocally was saying up front, "because Ross needs to catch up. Ross, you'll be doing yesterday's homework. I'm sure you don't need to catch up on everything we've been learning, seeing as you've probably learned it already. I am simply assigning yesterday's work to you so that you can figure out what we're learning."
Buttercup smirked. Mr. Apocally probably wanted to torture the new student with homework.
Walking into Mr. Evan's class, Buttercup quietly got into her seat. Butch was sitting beside her, and Mr. Evans was busy writing something on the board. The helper teacher, who only showed up once or twice a week, lingered in the back.
Finally, Mr. Evans turned around and said, "Alright, class; settle down." The students stopped chatting to stare at their teacher. "As you should all know, we have a new student joining us today."
Buttercup nodded, glancing at Butch. He shrugged, blowing black hair out of his eyes. Boomer was sitting nearby, eyes lingering silently on the door. Since Boomer wasn't in the same Math class as the greens, he hadn't met the "Ross" kid yet.
Mr. Evans turned to the door. "Please, come on in."
Buttercup held her breath as the door opened slightly. She already knew who Ross was and what he looked like, but the suspense was still hanging in the air. When the door creaked open all the way, the boy who stepped through smiled sheepishly. His green eyes glowed as he tugged at his white scarf. His brown hair fell into his face.
Butch snorted from his seat. Buttercup didn't know why, but it was obvious he didn't like Ross much so far. She offered the boy a stiff nod. She still had the suspicions that she'd seen him somewhere before, but there wasn't much she could do about it at the moment.
"Okay, class. This is Ross. I want all of you to welcome him warmly with open arms," Mr. Evans stated.
Shamus, the helper teacher, visibly straightened. He coughed quietly.
"Oh, right. Class, Shamus has something to say," Mr. Evans stated, glancing at his colleague.
Shamus stood up and walked over to the front of the class, placing a hand on Ross' shoulder. Ross looked embarrassed. "This is my nephew, Ross."
Whispers immediately shot through the class.
Buttercup's own eyes widened. Ross is Shamus' nephew?
"I knew something was off about that kid," muttered Butch. Buttercup nudged him.
Mr. Evans looked over the crowd of people, before his gaze rested on Boomer. "You can sit with Boomer, and join him in working on his project."
Boomer sneezed as if that were his reply.
Buttercup tried to hide her smirk. "His cold's acting up again."
Mike Believe raised his hand. "So then we'd be a group of three...?"
Mr. Evans nodded. "That's okay, isn't it?"
"Yup!" Mike gave Ross a warm smile. "Welcome to Pokey Oaks High."
Ross said his "thanks" before shuffling toward the empty desk at the corner of the front of the class. When he sat down, Boomer gave him a smile, which he returned.
Buttercup glanced at Butch, who was studying Ross. When he noticed her look, he huffed and turned away. Buttercup sighed. Still won't fully talk to me, huh...
"Let's begin our session," Mr. Evans continued, "any current events?"
Mike's hand shot up.
"Yes, Mike?" asked Mr. Evans.
"The Powerpuff Girls and Rowdyruff Boys fought back a monster just yesterday night," he announced.
Excited murmurs of agreement rippled through the class.
"Ah, yes. I saw that on the news." Mr. Evans smiled then. "And I saw that happening outside my window."
Laughter sounded.
Buttercup fiddled with her pencil, feeling slightly embarrassed. No matter how many times she and her sisters saved the world; no matter how many times they got positive feedback; and no matter how much she liked the feedback... Buttercup still felt a little awkward about how she should react. As a kid, she could be extremely proud. Now she would react similarly, but she'd be more cautious.
"You guys did a great job," Mr. Evans said, smiling at the RRB and PPG in the room. Shamus nodded curtly, while Ross seemed mildly curious.
Buttercup wondered if he had heard about the PPG and RRB's "legacy" yet.
"Anything else?"
A few hands appeared, and they talked a little about current events.
After that, Mr. Evans said, "Alright then. Let's move on. We'll be working on our project today." He glanced at Ross. "Boomer and Mike will get you all caught up."
Ross mumbled a "thanks".
Buttercup shoved her desk into Butch's, so it'd be easier to work. "You ready?" she said casually—or at least she tried.
The green Ruff just nodded. "Yeah, sure."
Silence stretched out between the two of them as Buttercup pulled out her supplies. She hesitated, setting her pencil case down. Then she finally blurted, "What is with you and Ross?"
Butch's first visible reaction was one of surprise, causing Buttercup to flush red. Then he turned to study the new boy, before sighing. "I don't have a problem with him. He's just...got this weird thing to him that slightly irks me. It doesn't mean I hate him or anything."
"...Oh," Buttercup mumbled.
"Let's get to work," Butch suggested, obviously wanting to change the subject.
"Sure," agreed Buttercup. She held up popsicle sticks, turning to Butch. "You brought normal glue this time, right?"
Butch dropped his grumpy act briefly for him to laugh. "Yes, I brought normal glue," he confirmed, holding the container up to prove it. "Got enough of Mojo's superglue?"
"Duh," Buttercup responded with a roll of her eyes. She smirked. "Being stuck with you was pure tor—" She trailed off, noticing Butch's wounds and remembering what had exactly happened that day. The battle with Vix... She couldn't just say her original joke without sounding—
"—Torture?" chuckled Butch, finishing her sentence for her. When she blushed and nodded, he placed a hand on his heart, looking exaggeratedly hurt. "Oh, the pain; the pain! You have hurt me, BC; you are too cruel!"
She hit him.
Butch continued to laugh. "Okay, I agree that that day was torture. For the both of us." His face suddenly turned concerned as he reached for her shirt collar. "Are you okay? That jackass grabbed your neck and—"
"I'm fine!" Buttercup pulled away, grabbing her shirt collar and tugging it up. The red finger marks were still there, and they hurt when she touched the marks. However, it was practically nothing compared to what Butch had suffered from.
Butch seemed hurt, so Buttercup took a deep breath. She pulled her collar down slightly. "I'm fine," she said in a gentler tone, her face red. "I-I just didn't want you to see, because it's...I have pride, okay?" Her cheeks heated up even more if possible. "Oh...and it's awkward because you're a guy touching my shirt and..." She trailed off.
"Oh; right." Butch's own face was red. "Well, I'm glad you're okay," he sighed, "but those marks look harsh."
"It's nothing," Buttercup said, shaking her head.
"It is so something! I am going to smash that Vix's face in when I see him again—"
"Butch, it's nothing compared to what happened to you!" she said in exasperation.
Butch offered an attempt at a cheerful joke: "Which is all the more so why I should beat the shit out of him! He injured the both of us!"
"Why do you care so much?" blurted Buttercup.
Butch paused. "...You're my friend, BC," he said quietly. "Of course I'd care."
Buttercup stiffened. "Butch..." She suddenly felt awkward, with her stomach doing flip-flops. Both of their faces were red. "I'm s—"
"Umm, are we interrupting anything?"
Buttercup's eyes widened as she looked up. "Boomer; Mike! And Ross!"
Boomer looked concerned. "Are you two okay?"
"We're fine," Butch said quickly, his face burning. "What do you need?"
"I wanted to borrow scissors—" Boomer began.
"Here!" Butch shoved the thing into his brother's hand.
"Uhh...thanks." Boomer nodded at his companions before walking back to his desk. His partners followed.
Butch turned to Buttercup. "Sorry about all that," he mumbled.
Even though Buttercup knew he was technically apologizing for his brother's interruption, she also knew that he was apologizing about the whole conversation they had just had. "...I'm sorry too," she sighed.
The rest of the class had the two of them working on their project in relatively awkward and quiet silence.
RIING!
Feeling relieved, Buttercup packed her things and headed to the door. It's finally lunch! Her mind was screaming at her to hurry up, as all of the other kids dashed out the door. Buttercup was about to follow suit, but then she heard quiet voices nearby. Turning, she could see Shamus talking to Ross. Smithers told me that you forgot your lunch; I told him not to dress up too fancy. Having a butler deliver lunch is not a 'normal' thing to do." As he said "normal", he did air quotations.
Ross' only reply was "okay".
"Keep up the good work," Shamus murmured.
Buttercup swallowed, ducking out of the door and taking a deep breath. Ross walked out into the hallway, breezing right past her and not noticing.
Relieved, Buttercup dashed to her locker and shoved her things inside, before grabbing her lunch bag. Her heart was still pounding from "spying" on Ross and Shamus.
Just then, an announcement came on. "Will the new student, Ross, come to the office and pick his lunch up from his neighbour, Mr. Smithers?"
Buttercup paused, deciding to follow the announcement's directions and go to the office even though she wasn't Ross. Based on Shamus and Ross' conversation, she wanted to see what this "Smithers" looked like. After opening the door, she saw a roundish man holding a bag out to Ross.
"Here's your lunch, Ma—err, Ross." The man coughed a little. "My cold just won't go away."
"Alright; thanks, Mr. S," Ross said, taking his lunch.
"No problem," Smithers said, coughing again.
"Get better soon!"
"Thanks," Smithers answered before disappearing.
Buttercup took a deep breath and entered the office. She watched Ross double-check the things in his lunch bag before she chose to speak: "...Strange your neighbour sent you the lunch, huh...?" She remembered how Shamus had said "it's not normal for a butler to send lunch". So Smithers was a butler? Figures; this Ross guy is just full of surprises.
Ross looked up, clearly not expecting the green Puff. "Umm...my only guardian is Shamus, my uncle. But he's a teacher. Mr. S and us are really close, so it's pretty normal, actually."
His story's pretty sound. Buttercup sighed. "Here's your phone," she said, tossing it to him.
He blinked in surprise. "Oh! Th-Thanks; merci—"
"Is your uncle strict?" Buttercup pressed, interrupting his "thanking".
"...I wouldn't say he's really—" He paused before smiling. "I wouldn't say he's that strict."
"And Mr. Apocally...?" she pressed.
"He's okay; playful, but not strict," Ross responded absentmindedly. He appeared to be thinking.
"I still feel like I know you," Buttercup warned, raising an eyebrow.
"I—"
"Merci," Shamus' voice sounded.
"De rien," the person he was talking to said.
"Au revoir!"
"Au revoir!" His companion waved and walked off.
"Salut, mademoiselle Buttercup," Shamus greeted her, walking into the office. "I trust you're doing well...? Ça va?"
"I'm doing fine," Buttercup grumbled. "Comme-ci-comme-ça; ça va bien... Whatever."
"C'est magnifique!" Shamus remarked. He turned to Ross, smiling a half-smile as he raised an eyebrow. "What do you say you come along with me, Ross? Que dites-vous que vous venez avec moi, Ross?"
"Oui; merci," Ross answered, raising an eyebrow.
"De rien," Shamus chuckled coolly.
Buttercup raised an eyebrow. He's trying to "save" Ross from me.
"Au revoir, mademoiselle Buttercup!"
"Au revoir," she said, waving reluctantly as she watched them leave.
"Later, Brick." Butch saluted his brother sarcastically before making his way down the hall. He blew a bubble from the bubblegum he was chewing, relaxing at the taste of mint.
He felt tired. The revelation of the new kid had slightly unnerved him. He thought back to what he'd said to Brick as soon as Ross was introduced.
Flashback
"Brick, he looks just like him..." Butch hissed.
"Shhh," Brick shot back, eyeing the boy. "He may be the same guy, but we can't just show him that we're agitated."
Butch snorted angrily. "'The past is in the past', huh?" he quoted sarcastically.
"Yes." Brick shot Butch a warning look on the edge of being a glare. "Now keep your damn mouth shut."
Butch returned the look with one of his own, before turning to glare at Ross. "I will as long as he doesn't provoke me." He sniffed. "There's something foul in the air."
Brick opened his mouth to speak, but he never got to say anything, as Mr. Apocally had just announced: "Great. Now...Ross, go sit beside Butch and Brick, please."
Ross turned to stare at the two agitated brothers. Butch caught Brick forcing himself to stay calm as he studied the new student. Butch, on the other hand, had no intention of studying Ross. Instead he snorted at his brother's approach, before turning pointedly and glaring at the wall.
Seemingly sensing the unwelcoming tension that was being emitted from the two Rowdyruff Boys, Ross stood there, looking unsure. It wasn't until Mr. Apocally gave him a look that said "go on!" that Ross ventured forward.
Ross sighed, took a deep breath, and walked up to his desk. "Uh...hi...?" he managed. It sounded more like a question than a statement.
Brick smiled a half-smile. "Hi."
Butch simply turned around, snorting. "Humph!"
Ross awkwardly sat down, pulling out his pencil case and books.
End Flashback
Butch looked up, catching Ross walking quickly away from the office. If one good thing had come of Ross joining Pokey Oaks High, it had to be the lack of homework other students were getting... As well as the amount if homework Ross was gathering.
Thinking back to Socials, Butch knew Boomer hadn't realized who Ross was. Butch's mind wandered and he blushed at the memory of his conversation with Buttercup. Curses... I'm going to make Boomer pay for interrupting later.
Just as he was thinking that, Butch caught Ashleigh advancing on Ross like a cat on her prey. The very thought of it made Butch bristle. He tuned in with his super-hearing.
"Hey, wanna eat at our table?" Ashleigh cooed, her hand on her hip as she smiled coolly.
"Uh...I-I dunno," stammered Ross. Butch assumed that Ross knew what Ashleigh wanted: to flirt with him.
"...What!?" she screeched, her arms becoming straight and falling to her sides. "Are you considering saying no to me!?"
"S-Sorry," Ross mumbled, looking like he was struggling to remain polite. "I-I just don't know if I should..."
"Aww, how cute," Ashleigh purred. "But it's okay; I'd like it if you joined."
Ross looked panicked. "I-I um..."
Butch sighed from his spot, rolling his eyes. Looks like I'm going to have to save him. Marching straight over to where Ross and Ashleigh were standing, the green Ruff planted his feet firmly on the ground and leaned against the wall. He folded his arms and cleared his throat loudly. "Actually, Ashleigh; what this shy guy won't and probably can't tell you is that he's already agreed to come to our table." He walked over and yanked on Ross' arm as he dragged him off.
Ashleigh could only stare after the two boys in shock.
To be perfectly honest, Butch himself was surprised by his choice of words. I don't like him, he reminded himself. And yet why did I say that? Why did I save him anyway!?
"Umm...thanks for the save?" Ross mumbled, drawing Butch out of his crowded thoughts. "C'est magnifique; merci!"
"Don't. Speak. Fancy," Butch growled. "And de rien. But be careful next time; I don't plan on saving you everyday, y'know." He figured that Ross would be surprised he knew what "de rien" was.
"Ummm...right," Ross said sheepishly. "S-Sorry."
Butch sighed, feeling some of his hostility melt away. "...Don't apologize either," he finally added in an awkward mutter.
"Then what do you want me to do!?" Ross shouted in frustration, acting out of character. It was as if he was slipping out of an act.
I knew it, Butch thought. He's not entirely a shy scaredy-cat after all.
"...Be yourself," Butch finally announced, turning around and finally offering a smile...or at least a smirk. Butch still wasn't sure why he was telling Ross this or why he'd saved the kid. I don't like him, he repeated again, but faltered when he saw Ross' reaction.
Ross looked surprised, but managed a smile. "Th-Thanks."
Maybe he's not so bad after all... Butch sighed. Oh well. Let's take him to our lunch table; seeing as I've already promised him that and introduce him to everyone properly. Butch rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide his second smirk.
ME: Ta-da! Another chapter done~ The next two or so chapters will take place all in the same day, because I'm focusing on introducing Ross so much. Next chapter will be what happens during lunch and stuff!
BUTCH: I still don't trust that Ross kid.
ROSS: ...I'm right here, you know.
BUTCH: I don't care.
BUTTERCUP: *rolls eyes* Just ignore him. He's an arrogant asshole.
BUTCH: Hey!
ME: *sweat-drop* You guys...
BRICK: Review. Right now. Kuku will be going back home to Canada soon, so the next chapter might take a little while as she prepares for school... Or at least I hope so.
ME: *rolls eyes* Just review...