So slightly mixed feelings about putting this chapter after the last one but it's done now. I'll get over it.
I had a lot of fun writing this chapter though! It was one of the few ideas that I kinda had before I even started writing.
Quick note, chapter 14 there was a scene where I used the name Melvin instead of Merrick. I've updated it to be Merrick. Thank you to purplebird76 (AO3) for pointing that out! (I have no idea where Melvin came from. I mean, I know a Melvin but since I haven't talked to him in years...no idea.)
Also, school is making me a little loopy so sorry if my notes are leaning a little more to the crazy side of things. (I have never and will never claim to be sane. I simply handle the crazy better on some days than I do on others. Tonight is a cray-cray night :D)
As always, thank you for the likes, follows, and reviews! I love seeing them! Hope you all enjoy!
"I still don't get why I can't just go break the fucker in half," Butch grumbled under his breath from where he sat on the chaise. Brick sighed loudly in the opposite armchair as he continued to flip through channels on the TV.
"Because Butch, then you'd be in Lockdown and that's the last fucking thing we need."
"We also maybe kinda don't want Bellum yelling at us so maybe no f-bombs bros," Boomer said casually. He was laying across the sofa playing a game on his Switch. Butch whined loudly, just to be that extra bit of annoying.
"She's in the kitchen."
"Which is literally right next to this room and neither of you are talking quietly. Cuss all you like when I'm not around so that I don't get dragged into the lecture too. Just keep me outta it."
"Fine! I don't see why I can't go and rearrange Ace's face."
Brick groaned loudly. "I literally just told you why Butch! Because then Buttercup would be forced to drag you off the Lockdown and I'd like to not have to worry about what sort of visitations hoops a place like that has. Just deal with it."
"How can you be so chill about this? He literally is the reason why an 11-year-old girl watched a woman accidentally commit suicide probably without any-"
"Butch! I don't need you to remind me of the details of what I told you. I remember it well enough so thanks. Can you please just drop it? What's done is done. We just have to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"I still don't get why she doesn't want her sisters to know. Would it really be that bad?" Boomer asked as he paused his game to look at Brick.
Brick shrugged. "They'd be pretty upset I'm sure. She should have told them a long time ago, but I guess it probably has to do with a weakness thing. She doesn't want to seem like she can't handle things, especially since they rely so much on her orders."
Boomer made a face before going back to his game. "That's dumb. They wouldn't care about that."
"Yeah well, I think this is one of the few times where logic isn't the only thing in play here Boom."
"Shouldn't that just mean she has all the more reason to tell them? I mean, they'd be there for her."
Brick shook his head. "That's her problem. She doesn't want them to feel like they have to be there for her. Not for this at least. Crime fighting is the thing she feels like she has to show she's the one they can go to about things, not the other way around."
Boomer made a face. "I don't get it."
Brick sighed as he tried to find the right words for it. "She's a leader Boom. The leader and commander. She has to show that at the top of things there isn't any weakness. If anyone saw her sisters trying to coddle her it would make her seem weak and that's something she can't afford to be. Weakness at the top would mean that the whole thing is weak."
Boomer thought it over a bit, frowning. "I guess. I still don't get it but if you do then I'll guess it makes sense on some level. You'd have pushed more otherwise."
Brick hummed slightly that before finally landing on a channel he could be happy with.
"I still want to rearrange Ace's face. Why can't I again?"
"For fu-Shut up and go away Butch before I rearrange your face!"
"So. Wanna tell us why the boys kept giving you weird looks through your recital?" Buttercup asked as she went about getting the turkey and ham ready.
"Not particularly. Are you sure I can't help with anything?" Blossom replied. She was sitting on one of the few counter spaces left clear by her two sisters. Bubbles glared at her, wagging a whisk in her direction as well.
"We are not having a repeat of last year. That was a disaster. I want a proper Christmas dinner this year."
"And I want answers on why the boys were giving you weird looks. Why were they doing that Bloss?" Buttercup added. Blossom groaned.
"Fine. I won't touch anything food related. I'm setting the table though. And you're not going to get answers Buttercup. It was nothing."
Nothing short of annoying. Blossom couldn't help but think maybe she shouldn't have let Brick tell his brothers after all. If they didn't get over it, she was going to end up doing something rash just to make them stop with those…looks.
"Can we please not fight today? Please? Its Christmas guys," Bubbles whined as she went back to her cookie dough.
Buttercup huffed but turned back to what she was doing as well. "Fine. I'm not dropping this though."
Well, that was fine. Blossom was used to that already. She'd have to just find something else to distract her sisters. Maybe she could use her crush on Brick as a diversion.
...No. That would be much, much worse.
Blossom sighed before turning to look out the window. They all stayed there, quietly enjoying each other's company while they did their own things. It wasn't long until Blossom giggled though. Both of her sisters looked at her confused. She pointed to the window.
"Looks like you'll have your white Christmas after all Bubs. It's snowing."
Buttercup and Bubbles looked at each other grinning.
"Fuck yes!"
"Language."
"Oo! We can make a snow family tomorrow! Or! Or! Snow angles! Oh my gosh I can't wait. We'll have to get the heating pads out for you Bloss."
Blossom shrugged. "What else is new? It'll be nice though. We can curl up in front of the fire afterwards too."
"Heck yeah! Movie marathon after a snow day? Best way to spend the day after our Christmas gift exchange," Buttercup said, getting back to cooking with a renewed vigor. Both her sisters giggled at that.
"Exactly," Blossom said.
They went back to the quiet, but the air hummed with joy this time. And Bubbles humming Christmas songs under her breath but that was normal. Until the house made a strange sound. The three exchanged looks.
"What was that?" Bubbles asked. The other two shrugged. It hadn't come from the lab so there weren't too worried but still.
"Pipes?" Buttercup said hesitantly.
Blossom shook her head. "No. That sounds different remember?"
Buttercup gave her a look. "All I remember was it took forever to get all the pipes fixed and we had to use Robin's shower more than once."
Blossom blushed, huffing and looking away. "I said sorry didn't I? I haven't lost my temper in the house like that since. Doesn't that count for anything?"
"Not really."
"No."
Both her sisters said at the same time. Blossom huffed again before the same sound went off. Now slightly concerned, Blossom hopped off the counter.
"It didn't sound like it came from the lab but maybe we should check?" Bubbles said. Blossom nodded slowly.
"Yeah, let's-"
"Girls! Did you hear a strange sound by any chance?" The professor yelled as he started up from the lab. The three exchanged a look.
"Yeah. Something happen down there?" Buttercup yelled back. The professor made it to the top of the stairs and went into the kitchen.
"Well, not really. The problem wasn't exactly the lab."
"What was the problem then?" Blossom asked. The professor sighed.
"I was messing with the heating system. Trying to see if I could make it more efficient. Then I realized that there were a few pieces close to breaking. I tried to replace them but..." he trailed off.
Blossom immediately paled. "No. Please tell me that wasn't-"
"I'm sorry honey. It was. The system was old and couldn't handle the tinkering. It was bound to happen at some point this break."
"But it just started snowing!" Bubbles cried. The professor winced as he looked out the window. They all silently stood there for a moment looking out the window.
"I'll go get the heating pads," Buttercup said as she whooshed off in a flash of green.
"I'll grab some extra blankets," Bubbles said doing the same. The professor sighed before turning to a frowning Blossom.
"I'm so sorry honey. I'll go light the fire before seeing if anywhere is open. We should be able to have it fixed in a few days tops."
"I know dad, its just-we were literally just talking about having a snow day and it's so frustrating that I- it's just not fair! It didn't used to be like this," Blossom said huffing and trying not to cry. The professor sighed before going over to hug her.
"I know. If there was anything I could do I would but..."
"I know. There isn't anything anyone can do. I'm doomed to being the physical embodiment of winter and all the downfalls that come with it," she said bitterly as she hugged her father back.
"Now, now. It's not that bad. You always love it during the summer after all."
Blossom gave a hiccup of a laughing cry before nodding. "Yeah. I guess. I'm just being moody I guess."
The professor was silent a moment before speaking up. "Do you want to talk to me about it? Or someone else?"
Blossom looked up at the man to see him frowning, concerned, down at her. She shook her head.
"No, no I don't need to see-I'm okay. I just was doing something that reminded me-I'll be fine once I have a nice family dinner and a cup of hot chocolate in me."
He watched her for a second before giving her a gentle smile. He kissed her forehead before letting go. "Well then I'd better go get that fire going. You know though that if you need-"
"I know dad. It's fine. I'm okay."
He gave her a hesitant nod after a second before turning away. Blossom sighed once he was gone and looked out the window. Just a couple days. Then everything would be okay again.
"Oh. Oh my. Oh, please no-Ugh! That is sooo gross!" Bubbles exclaimed as she turned away from the T.V. Blossom grimaced at it.
"It is rather gruesome isn't it."
"Are they all gunna be like this? Cause this ain't very hero like," Buttercup said as she popped a handful of popcorn in her mouth. Blossom shot her a look.
"And yet you look like you're enjoying the show."
Buttercup shrugged. "It's entertaining. Like a good slasher movie just without any plot."
Blossom supposed she could see that. She bundled down into the blankets she had around her some more as she continued to watch the fight on the T.V.
Sorry. The slaughter.
"I mean, at least they joined us and can- oh no. Oh groooooosss!" Bubbles exclaimed again as they watched Boomer burrow straight through the monster's stomach.
"He's gunna regret doing that. Monster guts are hell to get out of hair," Buttercup commented idly. Blossom sighed.
"Yes, it is good that they joined us since I can't exactly go out like this." And she knew that it was going to be gory after her talk with Brick, but this was…
Butch formed a shield and threw it like a frisbee at the monster's arm, cutting it clean off.
Yes. Gory was a good word for this.
"Can we turn this off now please? It's Christmas time. Not Halloween," Bubbles cried, her face in her hands. She couldn't stand watching the T.V. any longer.
"Come on. This is good stuff here. Plus, Christmas is over. It's New Year's time now," Buttercup said with a cackled.
"Good stuff it is not. Still, I'd prefer to watch to the end. I need to see what the boys still need improving on," Blossom said.
"Ha! Love to hear how you plan on getting them to improve on it. Butch started to throw hissy fits about how he still needs a babysitter."
"Yes well, he'll live. I also need to review the code system we had and see if there's any way to salvage it."
"You know, I'm okay if we don't."
"I thought it was helpful?"
"I mean, it was. When we were younger. Nowadays? There aren't too many things out there that are tough enough that we need short code. Usually you can find a chance to explain things in more detail which is helpful."
"I mean, you aren't wrong. Still…"
"Plus, do you really think Butch would even try to bother learning a code like that?"
Blossom made a face at that. She could already see the arguments with him about how important it would be.
"You know, I don't think I'll be able to look Boomie in the eyes for a few days after this," Bubbles said as they watched Boomer tear one of the monster's horns off its head."
"He does kinda seem to be enjoying himself, doesn't he?" Buttercup said as she popped another handful of popcorn in her mouth.
"They all do…"
Blossom sighed. They did but that was the point. Anyone watching this wouldn't be able to not think about the ruffs during their villain days. She hoped that this didn't come back to bite them when they finally had their press conference about the boys.
A problem for another day. For now, Blossom decided she needed another cup of hot chocolate.
"It's so hot in here," Buttercup groaned loudly. Bubbles sighed while Blossom buried herself deeper into the blankets.
"Well I'm so sorry that my power's drawback is so inconvenient for you in the living room with the heater out," she mumbled into the blankets. Bubbles glared across Blossom's head at Buttercup.
"That's not what Buttercup was saying Blossom. You know we wouldn't rather be anywhere else right now. Would we Buttercup?" Bubbles said harshly. Buttercup sighed loudly and lazily waved a hand.
"Yeah, sure. Not like Mitch is out with the ruffs having a snowball fight or anything. Or hey, Robin and Mike are totally not having a blast sledding down that one hill in the park. Definitely wouldn't want to be anywhere other than right. Here."
"Oh, if you're going to be like that then just go Buttercup. I'm starting to get annoyed," Blossom said.
Buttercup huffed before throwing an arm across her sister's shoulder. "And miss then end of this masterpiece? Never."
"Your choice is next! So stop complaining about mine!" Bubbles snapped. Buttercup stuck her tongue out at her and Blossom sighed.
"Girls please, I can't hear the movie."
"Not like it matters. Bubs wants us to watch this thing every year. I'm sure you could quote the thing by memory by now Bloss."
"Doesn't mean I'm not going to try and enjoy it Buttercup."
"Exactly Buttercup."
Buttercup groaned as she buried her face in Blossom's blanket. She hated when they teamed up on her like this. Even when it was sort of, just kind of justified.
"Whatever. Rob said she'd bring us back some snacks from that one bakery by the way."
"Oh! Tell her I'm dying for a cheese Danish because ugh, I ran out of what I need to make them and I soooo want one!" Bubbles said as she threw herself across Blossom's lap and poked Buttercup's knee. Buttercup gave her a look.
"You have a phone. You do it."
"Buuuut Buuuuutercuuuuup, pleeeeeaaase."
"Just do it Buttercup before she really starts to whine. I don't think I can take that right now," Blossom said as she leaned forward to grab her hot chocolate.
"Fine! Though you never want to handle it. I swear the only reason she does this is because you always give in. Want anything in particular?"
"No thank you."
They lapsed into silence, somewhat watching the movie. Buttercup's phone went off after a few minutes and she checked it. She laughed at what she read getting her sisters' attention.
"Oh my god. Butchie boy apparently destroyed a tree and the park groundkeepers are calling the Mayor about it. Cap head's melted half the snow in the park he's so pissed."
Both Blossom and Bubbles giggled at that.
"I'm sure Boomer's regretting going with them," Blossom said. Bubbles nodded.
"Oh no doubt."
"Speaking of blue boy. What's with the weird vibe between the two of you Bubs? I mean, not that you've really seen much of him since cap head put him in math boot camp but still. He's so…weird around you lately," Buttercup asked as she responded to Robin.
"Oh, that's probably because he tried to confess to me."
Blossom couldn't help but choke slightly on her hot chocolate and Buttercup accidentally cracked her phone screen.
"Shit."
"Language."
"Really? I just cracked- you know what? Not important right now. What the hell Bubs?! Why didn't you tell us?!"
Said blue puff shrugged. "I dunno. It was that first night of patrol and he got interrupted. I'm not 100% sure he would have gone through with it. Poor thing looked like a ghost he was so pale."
"Well details!" Blossom encouraged. Bubbles rolled her eyes.
"Well we touched down in the park and the moon was so pretty that I just started to walk around the lake like I normally would. Of course, Boomie followed and next thing I knew we were staring into each other's eyes and it was such a soft and gentle moment. Then he said he had something he needed to tell me, he rambled but just a bit, and then I heard a scream. I had to rush over to the crime scene and that was that."
"That's it?! And he hasn't tried again?"
"Nope."
"Pussy," Buttercup whispered as she texted someone vigorously on her phone. Blossom gave her a look.
"First, language. Second, who did you just text?"
"First, no. Second, Butchie boy. I asked him to give little boy blue a punch for me."
"There won't be any snow left in the park at this rate," Bubbles noted idly. Blossom sighed.
"Whatever. Still, that does explain a lot. I wonder why he hasn't tried again."
"I don't. He's scared," Buttercup said bluntly. Bubbles hummed at that for a second before responding.
"I think it's a little more complicated. All the ruffs still feel like they have to make up for what they did in the past so it isn't really fear and more of he doesn't feel like he should even be asking me out. He's not actually afraid of asking but afraid I'll say yes, you know?"
"…that makes no sense at all," Buttercup said. She scowled at her phone and sent off another text. Blossom raised an eyebrow and Buttercup sighed. "I asked him to also apologize to cap head for me. Not like I want him to melt the whole park."
Blossom sighed before putting her cup down again. "Well, hopefully Boomer will get over it now that he and his brothers are helping us officially."
Buttercup rolled her eyes. Probably not. Still, Blossom was known for being able to talk some sense into the ruffs when she had to so Buttercup wasn't too worried. All said and done, if Boomer didn't man up, Blossom would be on his case.
"Speaking of the ruffs, did Butch ever find out who ruined his painting" Bubbles asked. Buttercup whipped around to face her.
"What?"
Bubbles blinked at her sister's reaction and exchanged a look with Blossom who simply shrugged. "You mean…you didn't hear?" Buttercup shook her head and Bubbles winced. "Oh. Oh dear. Maybe-um, shootie shoot. Maybe I wasn't supposed to say anything. Can we maybe…forget that I did?"
"Hell no! What the hell happened?"
Blossom sighed and continued to drink her hot chocolate. Brick had already told her about it, so it wasn't news. She wasn't surprised that Buttercup wasn't told though. Everyone knew the greens could get a bit carried away, greens included.
"Well, it was like right after they signed the new contract. Butch uncovered the piece he'd been working on for the competition, but it was covered in black spray paint. He said he had an idea on who it was but I didn't really hear anything past that. I mean, well, Boomie went in one day after school to help him fix it. I'll admit it actually looks pretty cool now. Butch likes it a lot more than he did the original piece."
"What the hell?! That's still not okay! How the hell did someone even get in there? It wasn't one of the art kids was it?"
"I don't think so? Butch didn't seem to think it was at least. If he did, he would have just confronted them then I think."
Buttercup's eyes narrowed and Blossom decided that she didn't like that look. That look led to headaches. "If Butch did know who it was and did handle it then I haven't heard anything. If he hasn't handled it already, the school and teachers are aware. They'll make sure at the very least that it doesn't happen again."
"That's not good enough!" Buttercup all but yelled. Blossom gave her a look and she settled down. Slightly.
"It'll have to be. Butch isn't upset. The school is aware. I do not want to hear about you having taken this into your own hands. Am I understood?"
Buttercup crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine. So still not cool though."
Blossom made a face. "Noted."
"Oh for- NO! I can't wait until tomorrow! This is urgent! Do you not- hello? Hello?! Are you-!" the professor yelled from in the kitchen. All three girls turned to look in his direction.
"Everything okay daddy?" Bubbles asked. The professor came into the room with a huff.
"No. No it isn't. It looks like we have to wait another day for them to fix the heating. And this company just hung up on me too! This is honestly getting ridiculous. Maybe I should-"
"No!" All three puffs yelled. The professor blinked at them before Blossom cleared her throat.
"You have other, more important things that need working on. I'm fine and I'll be fine for a good while longer. We can wait."
"Hmmm, well if you girls think so. Speaking of other things to work on, I need to get back to that one machine! Oh, you girls are going to love this one! See you all at dinner."
They waited until they heard the door to the lab close before sighing in relief.
"Close. How much longer do you think we can keep him from trying to fix it himself? I don't want the house to end up a failed spaceship or something cause he gets an idea mid fix," Buttercup asked. Blossom groaned.
"Hopefully long enough."
"Do you really think it would be that bad though?" Bubbles asked. There was a moment of silence as they thought about it. "You know what, never mind. I'll hide his tools if I have to."
"I'll help," Blossom and Buttercup said at the same time as they all went back to watching the movie.
"Are you sure you're okay to go to school Bloss? You're shaking like a leaf," Robbin said as she parked her car. Said girl was snuggled between her two sisters in the back seat, two blankets wrapped around her and eyes half-lidden with what looked to be exhaustion.
"Ye-yeah. Its f-fine. I'll be o-okay," Blossom said through chattering teeth. The other three girls in the car exchanged looks before Buttercup finally sighed.
"Right. With you having successfully convinced us of that," she said sarcastically, "let's see if we can get you into the school without you going all ice cube on us."
"That s-sounds like a g-good plan," Blossom said with a shaky smile. Bubbles and Buttercup exchanged a look before Bubbles pulled out a few new heating pads.
"Here Bloss. These should keep you warm enough until we get inside."
Blossom grabbed them and then quickly retreated back into her blanket burrito. They gave her a few seconds to secure them to herself before they all grabbed their bags, Buttercup also grabbing Blossom's. They all grabbed a door handle and exchanged another look before turning back to the pink puff.
"Ready?" Robin asked. Blossom nodded and then, at the same time, all three opened their doors. Blossom moved as quickly as possible behind Buttercup. The second she was out of the car all three girls rushed to huddle around her as they made their way for the school's doors.
"This was such a bad fucking idea," Buttercup mumbled.
"L-language," Blossom just barely managed as they rushed through the doors. The surrounding three girls backed off a little expecting the heat of the school to help keep the pink puff warm.
Only to be wrong.
"Why the heck is it freezing in here?!" Robin exclaimed as all three girls pushed back around Blossom.
"I don't know. We need to find a teacher or something," Bubbles said. Buttercup made a noise.
"Don't bother. Mitch just texted me. He says that some punks ruined the school's heater over break, and nobody knew about it until today. Surprisingly wasn't a prank from the looks of it. School says it'll take a good couple days to fix. Not that I trust that seeing as how our house has been out of heating for two weeks already."
Bubbles frowned and turned to Blossom. "Bloss, maybe we should-"
Blossom shook her head. "I'm a-already h-here. Let's t-try t-t-to get th-through t-today. J-just t-today."
Bubbles frowned and turned to Buttercup who shrugged in response. The shivers were getting worse and Blossom's teeth were audibly chattering together at this point but they both knew how stubborn their sister could be.
"Hopefully the classrooms are warmer with the body heat. We can ask Ms. Keane if she has a portable heater too. I know she used to have one on hand back in middle school just in case," Bubbles said as they all began to shuffle down the hall.
They weren't the only ones bundled up close. Just about everyone looked to be huddled close to friends to try and stay warm. They stopped by lockers quickly to grab what they needed, grabbing Blossom's for her when she couldn't unzip her own bag. It only got worse the longer they were there too.
"Shit. Bloss I really think we need to get you home," Buttercup said. Blossom barely managed to shake her head in response.
Startled at the lack of a reprimand Buttercup looked down at her sister.
"Your lips are turning blue. That's it. We're going home," she said.
Bubbles turned to look and made a sound of distress at the back of her throat. "We'll never get her back in time. Let's get to the classroom and see if there's a heater or something. There has be at least one, right?"
"Hell, if there isn't, I'll find a way to make one at this point," Robin mumbled. The two functional puffs nodded in agreement.
"Almost there Bloss," Bubbles murmured as they turned the final corner. Buttercup and Bubbles were the main reason she was able to continue walking at this point.
"Fuck it. We need to get her home Bubs. She's nearly catatonic level cold and we can't afford that again," Buttercup said.
Bubbles's hand twitched but she couldn't tug on a pigtail like she normally would and support Blossom at the same time. "I know. We just need to find something to keep her warm enough to get back. If we take her outside again like this, we won't even make it to the car."
Robin rushed in front of the two to open the door. "I'll go see if I can find something?"
"Yeah, that might be best," Bubbles said as they finally walked into their homeroom classroom only for them all to stop. "It's not so cold in here?"
The room was significantly warmer than the rest of the school. They were about to look around to try and find out why when Blossom zoomed through the room in a flash of pink.
"What the fuck?!" Brick yelled.
All three girls whipped around to look at said ruff only to be slightly stunned. Blossom had blasted straight into his lap and was now curled up in it, her arms around his waist. Brick's arms were up in the air as he looked down at the puff in pure confused shock. Boomer's bag fell with a thud as he stared at Blossom, stunned. Butch, who had been drumming his fingers along his table, accidentally put a hole through the top of it as he blinked at the sight.
"Oh no," Bubbles said. Buttercup grit her teeth as the two made their way to the four.
"I'm going to try and keep more people from seeing this," Robin said as she slowly, as if she really couldn't believe what she was seeing still, turned and stepped out of the room.
"Just keep Abigail out," Bubbles yelled after her.
"Okay Pinkie. This is weird. You can knock it off now," Brick said.
Bubbles noted that his ears were a bright red and couldn't help but squint at his face. She was sure that was a blush on his cheeks.
Blossom whined and snuggled in closer, her head burrowing into his neck and causing Brick to tense up more.
"Nooooo, too cold," she sighed. Brick turned to Bubbles and Buttercup and in any other situation they would have laughed at the look on his face.
"Okay. This isn't real right? I'm having a really weird dream right now right?" Boomer asked. Bubbles sighed.
"Sorry Boomie. And sorry Brick. We knew it was a bad idea but..." Bubbles said trailing off.
"What was a bad idea? Far as I'm concerned this was an excellent idea. Dude, black mail material for life!" Butch said as he pulled out his phone to snap some pictures.
Brick reached over and tried to snatch the phone out of his hands only to miss as Butch leaned back. Blossom cried out when she nearly tipped out of his lap and, purely out of shock, Brick quickly reached down to steady her.
"What's going on?" Brick asked once Blossom was quiet again. Buttercup and Bubbles winced.
"The heating went out like literally Christmas day and they haven't fixed it yet. She's been half frozen for almost a week and a half now. Having to go out for the odd monster fight, thank god there weren't many and you three could cover half of them, made it worse too since she kept getting exposed to the cold. Hell, she's been sleeping in front of the fire just to stay lucid enough," Buttercup said.
"We told her coming in today would be a bad idea but she said the school would have heating and it might help her to get up and moving. We agreed so here we are. We just- well who would expect the schools heating to be broken too! Don't they cancel when these things happen?!" Bubbles huffed out.
"Sorry. I'm so not following," Boomer said. He was rubbing his eyes and frowning at the sight now as if he still wasn't quite believing what he was seeing.
"It's the cold. She like me but the opposite. I didn't think much about how that affects her though. Why is she-" Brick said, cutting off to gesture at the pink puff.
"When she gets to cold she starts to freeze from the inside out. At the beginning of that whole process though, Bloss's body kinda goes into instinct mode? She'll obsessively try to find something to warm her up. In this case, her polar opposite and the walking hot water bottle. She'll be hanging onto you like it's a life or death matter for a bit," Bubbles said. She was getting tempted to take a few pictures herself. She'd get Butch to send her the ones he'd taken.
"I'm sorry. How long is a fucking 'bit'?" Brick snapped. Blossom hummed happily as he heated up from the anger. Brick winced and tried to pull away only to have her snuggle back up against him.
Buttercup snickered before sobering. "Depends. Either way we can't stay here. You're going to have to carry her back."
"Carry-what the hell?! What about class? And you expect me to fly through the city with her like this?!"
"I mean, I'd totally take your places if I could bro. I'm not the walking talking hot water bottle though," Butch said sounding forlorn. Buttercup gave him a look. He shrugged. "Just bein' honest Butternut."
"We'll call Ms. Keane and let her know. She'll excuse the absences. We should also call the professor and let him know. Hopefully he can have a fire going by the time we get back and she'll be ready to let go of you before bed," Bubbles said as she pulled out her phone.
"Before bed?! All fucking day?!"
"Hell, at this point I'm also calling the Mayor. I know leader girl's gunna kick up a stink about how we shouldn't abuse our privileges, but she can't fight crime like this and we need heating. Not just at home but here too. I don't think I can stand another day bundled up next to her again either," Buttercup said as she walked to the window.
"Hey! Listen to me! I asked a question!"
"Is this why the patrol schedule was mixed up? I was wondering why you were pairing up with Brick," Boomer said to Bubbles. Butch snorted.
"Let's not forget that you were half the reason for it too Boom. Nearly failing math, you idiot."
"Enough ignoring me! How the fuck do you expect me to get her back?!"
"Shut up Butch. Least I didn't break the tree in half."
"It was an accident!"
"Cap boy, if you really need me to explain how to get her home than imma have to call your so call lady killer skills into question cause it should be pretty obvious."
"Maybe cookies would help her warm up. Ooo! We should definitely make some hot chocolate when we get back! That always helps her."
Brick glared at them all before sighing. "I hate you all."
He looked down at the puff in his lap but couldn't keep the glare up. She had her eyes closed and a small smile on her face looking content. Sighing, Brick carefully adjust her so her could carry her and stood. She complained and resisted a little until she realized he wasn't setting her down.
"Let's just get this over with."
"You really are unbelievable you know. And I don't mean that in a good way," Brick said with a sigh. Blossom hummed and he supposed that was a good sign. It was the first time she'd reacted to anything he'd said since they'd gotten back.
She was curled up in his lap still as he sat in the sofa of her house, one arm wrapped around her as he laid the other across the back of the sofa. The fire was lit and she was bundled up in two blankets. He could hear Buttercup yelling into the phone in the kitchen while the professor tried to calm her down and Bubbles made another cup of hot chocolate. Butch was chuckling at something, probably angry Buttercup, and Boomer was quiet.
"How long do you have to stay like this again?" He asked, not really expecting a proper response.
"Longer," she mumbled. He sighed.
"I can't believe this. You know none of them are going to let us live this down so thanks for that."
She huffed at that and he could feel the glare.
"Yeah, yeah. You weren't yourself or whatever. They won't believe that or, well, they won't care at least."
Buttercup screeched and he could hear the sound of something hitting the wall. Hard. The professor seemed to lose it at that and jumped into a full-blown lecture. Apparently this wasn't the first phone she'd thrown and broken.
"You better find a way to make up for this. There were a few other in the room after all. Tomorrow everyone will know that you literally threw yourself into my lap."
"'E quiet."
"Nah, don't think so. Abigail's really gunna go at you I bet next time you see her. Though, maybe this'll help with the Howie situation. He been a bother lately at all?"
He felt her shake her head.
"Well, that's good. The creep was seriously starting to annoy me."
"'M worried."
"About Howie? Why?"
"Too quiet."
Brick hummed as he thought that over. "You think he's planning some big gesture or something to get your attention? Still remember last time he did that."
She shook her head.
"If not that then what? Not like he does much else in his life other than follow after you."
"Rude."
"Yeah well, that's me puff. Seriously though, why are you worried?"
She shrugged.
"Well, that's helpful."
She huffed.
"Fine. Did you want me to poke around or something? I know I'm better with computers than you and all but I doubt I'd be able to out-hack Howie. I'm sure he uses some serious level protections."
She hummed in thought before shaking her head.
"Just keeping an eye on it then?"
She nodded.
He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. I'm sure that's not gunna be a problem. We have to start meeting with him more often anyways now that were halfway through the year. I still don't know what his plans for the competition are. Any clue?"
She shook her head.
"Again. So helpful."
"Oh, Brick cut her some slack. She's probably barely getting enough oxygen to her brain right now. She nearly froze solid back there so it'll take a bit for her to recover," Bubbles said as she came in with the hot chocolate. Blossom immediately reached out for it.
"Yeah well it's not like I asked to be used as a personal heating device. At least let me complain."
Bubbles raised an eyebrow. "Without any cussing? I didn't think it was possible for you to censor your rants."
Brick grumbled slightly before glaring at Blossom. "Now that she's lucid enough to understand what I'm saying she gets upset when I cuss and her temperature drops. Since that's what I'm here to help stop, I'm stuck."
Bubbles giggled. "Well, small blessings I guess."
He could feel the winner's grin on Blossoms face. He couldn't see it, but he could still feel it.
"Just-is there anything else we can do to speed this along?"
Bubbles shook her head. "Nope. She has the blankets, the fire, the heating pads, and you. She'll thaw when she thaws."
"And I have to stay here for all of it?" He grumbled.
Bubbles giggled. "Well, without you it could take up to a week. That's how long it took last time. Buttercup and I would rather our leader wasn't out of commission for a full week."
"And what I want doesn't matter."
"See? This is why you lead the Rowdyruffs. We don't even have to explain these things to you," Buttercup said from the hall with a smirk. Brick turned his head and glared.
"Just since you lot clearly haven't heard it enough, I hate you all."
"Yeah not gunna happen."
"Brick, you've already put up with it for an entire day. Just one night and then poof! Normal pink puff," Boomer said from the armchair with a cheeky smile on his face. Brick glared. His brothers were enjoying this too much.
"I'm not sleeping with a puff."
Both Butch and Boomer raised an eyebrow at that and Brick could feel his ears heat up.
"You both know what I meant."
Butch shrugged. "I mean, she's still not speaking sentences bro. Gotta say, hella weird to have Bossy be...not bossy."
Brick sighed and let his head fall back on the back of the sofa. "Fine. She's not back to normal. I should be able to go home for the night and then come back tomorrow though. That should be okay!"
"Apparently you're gunna have to fight Buttercup and Bubs on that one. That's assuming you can even get Bloss to let you go. She's barely moved all day," Boomer said.
Brick groaned. He wasn't wrong. Anytime he needed her to move Buttercup and Bubbles had to pry her out of his lap. Even then, she literally waited for him to be finished with what he was doing before pouncing again. He'd nearly fallen onto the bathroom floor the first time he'd had to use the bathroom because of it.
"Shouldn't this be not okay though? She's not really completely cognizant of things right now. They really shouldn't be this okay with making her sleep in the same bed as a guy literally made to destroy her when she can't even say no."
There was a pause as Butch raised an eyebrow and Brick's face went red. Boomer sighed while Brick rubbed a hand across his face.
"You know what I meant," he hissed.
Boomer barely covered a snort.
"Look, bro. It's just one night and it isn't even in her bed. You'll be sleeping out here. The prof even said he'd be leaving his door a jar and I'm sure the other puffs will be doing the same. Even if they didn't super hearing. It'll be like a giant slumber party."
"I just don't like it."
They paused again before Butch spoke up.
"Why?"
"What?" Brick asked as he looked at his brother. Butch looked confused.
"Why don't you like it? Any other girl and you'd have no problems. Well, kinda. If she said no and they still made it happen then you'd be pissed as hell and I know that but cuddle time with a hot girl to keep her warm and safe? Especially with it being 100% platonic. You'd have no problems if Kelly was the one curled up in your lap."
Brick couldn't help but swallow thickly at that. "I just-look, it's just that's it's Bl-Pinkie and it feels weird. I'm sure if she were her normal self she'd have tried to murder me about a thousand times over by now."
"I mean, I'm sure if it were Howie it wouldn't matter, he'd be a Howie-sicle. Warm or not. You're not frozen solid so something tells me she doesn't actually mind much. So why do you?"
"Good question actually. Why are you so uncomfortable Brick?" Boomer asked leaning forward. He had a sly grin on, and Brick didn't like it one bit.
"I'm not uncomfortable. It's just not right!"
"I mean, she's okay enough to fall deep enough asleep that you aren't waking her up with all your yelling. Anytime she tries to nap at school she always has to have sugar cube or Butterbutt nearby so she feels safe enough. If she really is asleep then she clearly trusts you, and us, as much as her sisters. She knows that you're not going to do anything so she's enjoying being a lap-puff," Butch said.
Boomer nodded. "He speaks truth bro. So, what's the issue here? I'm like, 99% sure that if it was Bubs, you'd grumble for like 5 minutes then get over it."
"Yeah well it ain't Bubs now is it? Seriously. Both of you can go fuck off. I'm done talking about this," Brick said as he attempted to stand.
Attempted being the key word. The second he moved to stand up Blossom woke up and all but hissed at him.
"Don't you dare move," she said sounding rather terrifying to all three ruffs. They stared at her as Brick slowly settled back down in the chair. Once he was sitting, Blossom fell back asleep in minutes.
"Alright. So that was a very good reason to be not be around the pink puff here in your lap. Imma go get food," Butch said as he stood and walked off. Boomer continued to stare at his brother.
"I'm gunna let this go for now but you and I both know what's really going on here. We are so talking about this again soon," he said before getting up to follow after Butch. Brick huffed.
"You're delusional Boom."
He really hoped nobody came in to see him pouting.
Blossom jerked awake and quickly sat up. She was in the living room on the futon, where she'd spent the last week or so sleeping in front of the fire. No. That couldn't be right. She'd been at school. She heard a slight huffing sound from next to her and turned to look. There, laying on his back and turned slightly towards her, was Brick.
Blossom barely managed to clamp down on the scream, a very soft squeak coming out instead. Brick's brow furrowed and she held her breath waiting. In a second or two the expression eased away and Blossom heard his breathing even out. Back asleep.
Gulping, she looked around. She was in her uniform, so was Brick she idly noted, and the fire was lit. So, she had gone to school. The last thing she really remembered was...
Oh. Oh, dear lord no. She didn't. She did not do what she thinks she did.
She could feel the blush and knew that no amount of ice breath would help this time. Very carefully she pulled out from under the covers and floated over to the kitchen. She needed water. And space. And time. And to think!
Okay, so the heating had been out in the school. Of course it had. Why would she dare even hope her luck wouldn't be that bad?! And that sent her dangerously close to her ice catatonic state. Like, she had holes in her memory she'd been so out of it. Then she'd entered the classroom.
It had taken a second for her body to process the heat. Another to figure out where it was coming from. All she could remember thinking was 'want' and 'warm'. Then she was in Brick's lap.
In. His. Lap. That was it. She was dead. There wasn't any coming back from this.
She was sure the whole school probably knew by now, gossip always spread like wildfire around their school after all, particularly when it was about a super. Everything after the lap jumping incident was blurry but became clearer the longer she'd spent in Brick's lap.
Because she'd done that. She'd spent all day curled up in her counterpart's lap. Like a cat. She swears she remembers almost purring once or twice. Please let that have been her imagination. The machine's effects had been fully reversed already! No cat DNA here so she shouldn't be able to do that right? Right?!
She groaned into her hands. Okay, she thinks she left her phone out there. That was okay. She probably didn't want to pick it up anytime soon. More than likely she'd have a dozen or so missed texts from friends asking about yesterday. Maybe she could make them all believe it was a trick? Someone made a clone of her? It was all a very lucid dream that several people in her homeroom class shared?!
Yeah. Right. She was dead.
"Morning Bloss. Seems like you're doing better. Heating people should be here soon so the house'll be back to normal by the end of the day. You'll be able to hole up in your hot as hell room soon," Buttercup said as she walked into the kitchen scratching at her head. She snarled out a yawn while Blossom stared at her, blinking owlishly.
"Wh-" Blossom swallowed and cleared her throat. She'd never squeaked like that before! "Why was Brick- why was I- what?"
Buttercup blinked at her sister. She'd never sounded so confused. Finally, it clicked and Buttercup couldn't help the Cheshire like grin that spread across her face.
"Oh, do you wanna know why you woke up next to cap boy? Hmmm? Or maybe you want to hear about how you spent all day curled up in his lap? How you pounced on him anytime he came back from a bathroom break? Or- or maybe-"
"Nanananana," Blossom said as she covered her ears. "I don't want to hear any of it! Forget I asked! I'm going to-shoot. You said this afternoon? So I have to go back don't I? My room's not warm yet is it?"
Buttercup snickered. "Nope. Only room warm enough for you right now is the living room. Go on. Get back there before you start to freeze over again. I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate."
Buttercup shoed Blossom, or really, shoved, out of the kitchen and back into the living room before running back.
Blossom gulped when she saw Brick sitting up on the futon, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. Why did he have to do that?! Especially when it was so cu-
"Well. You look...better," Brick said, not sounding quite awake yet. Blossom gulped again and really hoped her face wasn't still bright red.
I mean, wasted effort she was sure but a girl could hope right?
"I am. Thank you. Um, I'm really sorry," Blossom said with a wince. She threw her hands behind her back and tightly squeezed them together in an effort to not fiddle with them in front of him. No need to make this more awkward by letting on how uncomfortable she was.
Brick yawned and stretched. Normally Blossom would have looked away but she couldn't help but drink the sight of it in. Even through his school shirt, he wasn't wearing the blazer she noted, she could see the muscles of his back bunch. She bit her lip with a wince and managed to drag her eyes away before he turned back to her.
"It's fine. Wouldn't have been an issue if you had just used your hero status to get the heating fixed sooner though. Would have saved us both the headache."
She frowned at him as he lazily got up. "Excuse you. I will not abuse my hero status willy nilly just to save-"
"The city?"
Her mouth snapped shut as Brick raised an eyebrow.
"Fine. I shouldn't have waited so long. In my defense they did keep saying they'd come today. Only to, you know, not show up."
Brick sighed as he took his hair down, he slept with it in a bun again, and Blossom squeezed all the tighter on her hands as she willed herself not to react. He quickly pulled it back into his usual messy, low ponytail and grabbed his hat, throwing it backwards on his head.
"Right, well, we're both going to hate school for the next week or so. If we're lucky some other big thing might happen and we won't be grilled all day long but I doubt it. So, thanks Pinkie," he said sarcastically. She glared.
"Don't do that. I wasn't exactly myself you know."
Brick sighed and rubbed at an eye again. "Right. Sorry. Still half asleep. Look, just- next time a heads up? If we're working together now don't you think I should at least know when you might be out of commission? I could have also swung by and heated the place up. Not like it takes a lot you know."
Blossom knew she was pouting but she couldn't help it. "I know. I'm just not used to having to tell anyone. Normally we keep it on the down low so villains don't get wind of it."
Brick sighed. "I get it but next time, I need to know."
"Fine." She turned away, knowing she was still pouting.
Brick chuckled a little as he walked over. "On that note, I think I'll head home. I've spent a little too much time in this house in the past month and a half. Any longer and I think the prof might just start using my as a Guinea pig."
"He wouldn't- well, he might run tests yes. He does like to run his tests on things. Even my sisters get dragged into a few and he does wish he had more data on you ruffs..." she trailed off with a wince. "Yeah, okay. He probably would."
Brick shook his head with a wry smile on his face. "Yeah, nice try though. See you at school Blossom."
He ruffled her hair as he walked past her to the front door, causing her to shout after him indignantly only to get a chuckle in response. Blossom pouted at the door once he was gone.
"So cap boy just left huh?" Buttercup said suddenly behind Blossom causing her to jump.
"Buttercup! Don't do that!"
Buttercup cackled as she held out a cup of hot chocolate.
"He looked uncomfortable as hell by the way but not at the same time. Bubs says its 100% proof that he likes you. He wouldn't have put up with it if he didn't after all. Swears she even saw a blush at one point."
Blossom took the cup and hid behind it. Buttercup gave her a look at that so she turned away instead.
"It isn't proof. It was him doing his job. He would have done the same thing for either you or Bubbles. And I'm sure you heard him. He just needed me to be back in commission."
"Yeah, I heard, which is why I know he didn't say that that was why and you're deflecting but okay Bloss. I'll let it go."
"Bloss! You're awake! And Brick's gone! O. M. G. We so have to talk."
Buttercup gave her elder sister an evil grin. "I'll let it go but good luck convincing Bubs to."
Blossom kind of felt like crying right then.
A little early for Christmas, so I'm sorry about that! Just the way things planned out to be honest. Kinda close though right? For most of the world the next big holiday is Christmas right? So good enough?
I thought about adding the scene with the ruffs at the park but I don't have time. Might do it as an extra chapter some other time.
Now. Time to thank you amazing people who left me reviews. Especially the first few. Seriously guys, you three put a smile on my face so big that my cheeks hurt. I was not expecting to get three reviews within like an hour of posting. It was so amazing. Thank you Trase, Artemis Raven Courtney, and RainbowColoredHumanBeing.
Speaking of reviews...
Trase! You're up first. Hope you enjoyed the gruesome monster fight. I didn't really go into too much detail so feel free to supply your own details (the more gruesome the better. Like Buttercup said, good slasher without the plot). I'm also a firm believer in what goes around comes around so Ace will get what he he has coming around eventually for sure. Glad your loving the story! And the slow burn! And for confirming that this is a slow burn! (I'm so bad at judging these things but I guess over 100,000 words does make it a slow burn huh.) Hope you enjoy what I have coming next!
Hi again Artemis Raven Courtney. How have you been? I feel like you post all the time. I love it. Hope you liked the little bit of Brick warming up Blossom in this chapter haha. I've been trying to build up to it only since like the Halloween stuff. It was fun to write for sure. I'm glad you enjoyed how I had the puffs handling Ace because even though Blossom is being overprotective they really can still handle it themselves. They aren't afraid to put Ace in his place. Glad you're enjoying the green chemistry! I'm personally a huge reds fan reading wise but writing? Greens are so much fun! I'm also starting to build on that idea you gave me. You'll love it. (Probably hate me a little bit but you'll love it I'm sure in the end...)
RainbowColoredHumanBeing! Yo. I always want to put a u in your name (my parents are from the UK so some words, like colour, throw me off a bit sometimes. Especially when I'm half loopy from school haha... T.T) We are most definitely both gaining from this relationship and I defs agree it isn't toxic. I'm happy to hear that you think I handled it well. I definitely tried to. I promise you you're blue moments. They are coming. Soon. Once I find the time to edit them. (School is rough my friend, very rough.) Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Marsnoesunplaneta! Last but not least. Yeah, I like to reply to all the comments. AO3 makes it easy cause I can just directly reply to them but on Fanfic I put them here in my notes section. I haven't actually ever checked out Wattapad. Any good recommendations for there? Or has pretty much everything moved over to Fanfic and AO3? Also, glad you thought I handled it well. I definitely wanted to give off that impression that they really aren't kids anymore. They've had to grow a lot and faster than their peers and it shows sometimes more than others for sure. Growing up is rough and I can only imagine how much rougher it would be as a super hero.
Anyways! I have one last chapter in stock and then I will be all the way through my stockpiled chapters. I'll need to go on a content break (and school break cause tests and projects T.T) after my next post. On the bright side, I have one more chapter I can post before that!
See you all again in two weeks (my sanity should still be in tack for that). Ciao!