Robin honestly couldn't wait for the day it was so disappointing when that stupid evacuation interrupted everything. Groaning, she was reminded how those damn earthquakes seemed to be hell bent on ruining her life. First they pushed her big game to the 18th, then they ruined one of the first outings she's had with her friends in months. She couldn't express how relieved she was when Bubbles suggested they reschedule for her other day off. 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 needed including comfortable shoes cause she knew how Bubbles liked to shop till she dropped 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 though there was something more in his eyes, something Robin had seen before. Her father had always been as transparent as glass of water. Something was wrong.
"Yeah we might be a bit late you know how Bubs is with shoppin" She answered slowly stopping looking at father more thoroughly with a more suspicious glint in her eyes.
"Well that's no problem, just make sure to be home before tomorrow" He laughed happy to see his daughter going out with the girls again but as the corners of his lips dropped slightly Robin felt her stomach sink he was worried about something.
"The mall closes at 10 ya know" She in a matter of fact tone though her voice was becoming a bit hard she never liked it when that looked crossed her fathers face. It always meant bad news like when they had to move from Doxsin to Townsville back in kindergarten and she had to leave all her friends.
"That girl will find a way.'' He was laughing, sounding far to nervously for Robin's liking. Turning away from her gaze he moved to pick up an old washed out looking tin from the table, turning it in his figures that looked like he was about to drop the poor thing.
"Oh um before i forget your mother said that this is for those girls." Robin took the slightly heavy tin though her eyes never left her fathers face she stared him down for a couple seconds her eyes narrowing as her suspension became more solidified. "Speaking of your mother." He started pausing for a moment swallowing thickly his eyes trailed over the top of the old tin before he looked back up at her.
"I was wondering if you could get her a gift while you're at the mall. You got her a better gift than I did last year. Remember how I had to drive her back up to the store so she could exchange mine" She remembered very vividly of the ugly green tube socks that her mom had very openly hated last Christmas but that wasn't what was bugging him she knew that from the way his blue eyes were still avoiding his daughters matching pair.
"Yeah I'm sure Bubs won't mind" she answered, her eyes still narrowed as he sheepishly handed her the tin before fishing around his pockets for some extra cash. "So what's really buggin you.'' She had waited until he came to the conclusion that the money was not in his pajama pockets and had retreated into the kitchen to grab his wallet.
"Well uh." The fact that he wasn't deflecting meant this wasn't his bad news and he was just the massager.
"Dad, what's going on? Did something happen, are grandma and grandma still coming for Christmas eve?" she asked, peeking through the window between their dining room and kitchen.
"Well of course there still coming Grandma is as healthy as a peach and unless one of us gets sick nothing will keep them away.'' His voice was confident so it couldn't be that so what could it be? Thinking of last night's dinner, her parents were fine. Her father didn't have that strange look of constipation that he usually got when he had bad news. So whatever it was he must have found out about it after she went to bed.
Then she thought back to lunch the Blossom was talking about the museum and how they would be doing grand openings throughout the week including on the 20th for the Dimand of despair.
"No." She whispered in desperation, her eyes locking with her father who immediately avoided her gaze. "Moms gonna be working the day of my game isn't she?" She watched as her fathers body languages dropped his shoulders folding in on themselves.
"She was called in last night to help with the preparation and the presentation last night and with Christmas around the corner we needed the extra cash." His voice dripped with unspoken apologies.
"I can't believe this! It's my biggest game! This game has been pushed back so many times and now she can't even come." Dread and irritation flooded her body. She could argue that the girls came to more games than her workaholic mother.
"I'll be there Robbie." Her father said again in a smaller voice which actually made her smile. Her father was always there at every event she's ever had even when she got into the spelling b in third grade sure she lost but he almost got kicked out from how much he cheered her on.
"I know dad." She told him softly looking at his stubbly face he had the softest eyes in the family and while they shared the same color she was more like her mother with her ability to get harder and colder when situations got harder while her father got softer and more pandering.
"Hey listen, your mom still wants to spend time with you. I know it's not ideal but she wants you to come to some of the openings. She's been raving about how interesting the dog head thing is and she jumped on the opportunity to work on the Cleopatra stuff. You can even get in free and you can bring friends if you want, maybe the girls." He smiled, always trying to make the best out of any situation. Her mother was a huge history buff so it was no surprise that going to the museum for free was her mothers idea of a fair trade.
"I don't know about the girls there usually pretty busy with work but I'll ask.'' At this point she was edging for the door drowning her previous disappointment with her fathers positivity. He smiled at her saying that there was still a chance and she should still ask.
Gripping the tin in her hand tighter she walked down the length of her driveway past the thick bushes leading to the Utonium residence. It had always been convenient that the girls lived right next to her. It made sleepovers, birthdays and just hanging out so much easier. Walking up to the familiar red door she knocked lightly she had learned over the years that you don't have to knock loudly in this house. It also never took long for someone to answer and as if proving her right the door swung open revealing a tired looking Blink.
"In your natural element I see" Robin commented, taking note of her dark grey thermal shirt, light grey plaid pajama bottoms and fluffy dark grey robe accompanied with a pair of fluffy slippers.
"Not really, sometimes I just tie my blanket around my neck," The usual monotone voice answered, shrugging her shoulders.
"Robin!" Bubbles' eager voice called loudly from the kitchen.
"She beacons the i wouldn't leave her waiting it's dangerous," Blink remarked playfully in bit of a whisper moving aside to let the brunette slip by.
Walking with Blink she passed the living room stopping for a second not surprised to see their tree already up covered in color coded tinsel and ornaments. She took a moment to observe the different colors. She knew from years of knowing the girls that each color represented a person in the household; it became a pride of hers knowing them all. Like how she was the only one to know that white was for the Professor (they had got her calling him that too) Pink for Blossom, Green for Buttercup, Grey For Blink, Blue for Bubbles. Then she frowned, taking in the purple there wasn't a lot of that particular color it didn't have it own garland or wreath but it was the only color she could never guess or understand. She knew the girls usually stuck to their signature colors but there is a day where they all wear purple and not even she knew what that was about. The question had come up only once or twice in their entire friendship.
The first time she had ever asked about the purple they were 7 it was a little bit after they moved in she had come over while they were putting everything together and she had asked about the tiny purple stocking in the box. She could still remember the eerie silence that enveloped the room, the cold dark eyes that turned to look at her or in Bubbles case away from her. Being so young she didn't exactly read the room properly and pushed further thinking maybe they didn't hear her. She remembered even now 10 years later the way Buttercup snapped at her telling her that it wasn't any of her fucking business. She remembered looking at the other sisters expecting at least one of them to come to her aid but none of them even looked at her. Blossom didn't even tell her green sister off for cussing. So she stood there shaking a tiny purple stocking in her small fist. She remembered sobbing to her father when she got home but refused to tell him why she was crying.
After that she scarcely asked about it even though her curiosity could have killed her. There was a day about a week after New Years when the girls would just skip school. At first people went to her specifically to ask why they would miss this specific day especially Blossom who always maintained perfect attendance but it was never truly answered due to the fact that she had no idea. She did know that the girls would wear the color purple on this specific day and didn't leave the house. At some point she came to the conclusion it must have been a loved one that died. At first she speculated that it was their mother but the stocking was small just like there's were when they were small so maybe it was a sister or brother. She really didn't know why they refused to talk about it.
"Robin, did you get lost!" Bubble yelled from the kitchen.
"No, of course not." She called playfully, walking towards the kitchen. 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. Even though she didn't mean to, her blue eyes zoned on the black eye patch that covered his left eye. Small thin lines protruded from under the fabric showing the damage. Throughout her years of knowing the gentle man she had never seen his left eye uncovered; it was just another huge question mark of the Utonium family.
"Hello Robin how have you been?" He asked, smiling broadly, looking over at the brown haired girl.
"I've been good, Professor, it's been awhile" she beamed at him, flashing a smile diverting her eyes from the eye patch.
"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, moving to sit in the fifth unused chair at the table she absentmindedly placed the tin in her lap.
"Now Robin, I'm a scientist, I don't forget formulas," he responded with a chuckle.
"Aint that the truth" Buttercup snarked in amusement as the other three joined with closeted giggles.
"Just add an unintentional accident and he never fails" Bubbled added causing them to laugh harder. She suppressed an eye roll; it was just another inside joke she didn't understand.
Taking a moment she waited till they quieted down then she looked at the line of girls remembering her mothers offer she thought she would give it a try at least.
"Hey!" She started quickly gaining the girl's attention. "My mom is working at the museum's new grand opening and she wanted me to come but you know history bores me to death so I was wondering if you guys would want to come." Under the table her fingers crossed for good luck hoping she could cash in on Bubbles previous offer.
"That's a great idea, what do you think girls?" Blossom answered breezily her eyes flickering up to her father before skipping over each of her sisters eyes.
"Sounds a bit boring to me but whatever, but we need to hang out at some point, which opening?" Buttercup answered after stuffing her meat filled omelet in her mouth.
"I hope it's the Dog head thing since I've never seen it before." Blink continued the line of yes's her head lifted from its resting position on her palm to tighten her pigtail.
"No the diamond of Despair is definitely the most interesting exhibit."
"I'm sure we'll have fun at both of them. What do you think, Robin?" Blossom asked her pink eyes penetrating the stunned teen.
Doing all she could to maintain control of her jaw, she looked at each girl in astonishment; they had just agreed to go out with her to the boring museum! Suddenly all her earlier disappointment evaporated from the pits of her stomach.
"What about the diner? It's a three day grand open. I mean, are you sure you can get the days off?" She wanted to kick herself for giving them a reason to doubt their sudden agreement.
"The old mans just gonna have to deal with it." Buttercup shrugged, moving to take the food from Blinks plate the grey girl didn't even bat an eye at when her food was snatched right from under her. She had noticed that Buttercup had been extremely hungry since Thursday eating from her sister's plate and they haven't been putting up much of a fuss about it, which was strange.
"Wait, so you're just gonna ask for the days off? But I thought that your granddad was super strict." She didn't know what possessed her to question them. She usually would be so happy that she would just start planning basking in the fact that she could have a fun day with all her friends.
Deep inside she knew though she really did not want to start asking questions. Questions like why are you guys so eager to go to the stupid museum but when it comes to my big game its suddenly all closed off answers about how they have to work. Or why They were gonna be open to see the diamond of despair when it's the same day as her game.
"He wants to do another winter blowout and we'll just tell him we can not do another and he can not subject us to that kind of torture three times in a row." Buttercup grunted out through a mouth full of food.
"He should honestly see it coming i mean on Monday and then last night he can't expect us to keep it up i think we deserve a good day off for all of us." Bubbles giggled as the Professor set a plate under Robin's nose. The golden egg smelled delicious. The steam warmed her insides as she picked up a fork.
"Can I get another one Professor." Buttercup called and while she expected someone to tell her that she had already had one plus Blinks there dad only gave a chirpy 'sure thing'. She did see Blossom roll her eyes but it seemed like Buttercup missed it.
"Oh Bubbles think you could bring me lunch i don't really feel like diner food today." The blonde stiffened in her chair and Robin's fork stilled right before it reached her mouth.
"Of course Buttercup what do you want?" Robin was extremely surprised when the blonde agreed, since everyone in the room knew how much Bubbles hated interrupting precious shopping time to do some random and outputting task.
"I'm not sure yet I'll let you know through the coms." Putting her fork down Robin's head turned slowly to look at the green girl who was smirking at her blue sister.
"You'll let me know? Why don't you just tell me know now." Bubbles sweet voice was slowly starting to wane as at the thought of having to interrupt her shopping trip. She hated having time restraints or time limits though what she hated even worse was not being able to plan out exactly what was going to happen and of course Buttercup knew all this.
"Come on Bubs just bite the bullet and get me some lunch." Her eyes penetrated her sister narrowing causing her Bubbles to huff crossing her arms.
"Of course I can do that for you Buttercup." She smiled sweetly but even Robin could see the tightness of her jaw as she turned her head.
"Thanks Bubs really sweet of you, be sure to listen to your coms kay sis." Bubbles sucked in hastily at her sister's sugar coated words. Robin looked in between the girls in confusion. It was extremely hard to get Bubbles to just change her plans when it wasnt her idea something must have happened that put Bubbles in Buttercup's debt. She had seen it happen a few times where Bubbles would feel bad enough to go to drastic measures to make it up but usually the blue eyed girl would be the one trying to force her apology on her sisters with big spontaneous gifts or her interesting cooking choices.
"No problem." Bubbles' voice squeaked slightly as she pulled out the remnants of vegetables from her omelet pushing them around her plate, obviously not happy with the sudden change in plans. After a moment of straight silence other than the sizzle of the pan, Robin took the opportunity to go back to the slowly cooling omelet of her own picking up her fork greedily when a weight slipped from her lap and a very audible sound bang exploded from under the table. Looking down she could see the tin upside down on the floor and to her luck it didn't open in its fall leaning over she carefully picked up the round tin.
"Robin what's that?" Blink asked her eyes, scanning the old tin like it was some expensive artifact.
"Oh it's from my mom, it's probably her homemade fudge hang on let me check '' Opening the lid to look inside and as expected there were the usual chunks of special fudge her mother made. "Yep, it's her fudge. You guys really enjoyed it when you tried it last year so she made more" she told them with a smile.
"That was so sweet of her here I'll take it?" Blossom spoke her hand sticking out across the table which was odd cause she had gotten on to Blink for doing the very same thing the other day. "Yeah sure you just gotta share." She joked but something 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 another joke with the uneasiness coiling in her stomach. She handed the tin to Blossom who took it lightly.
"Heh you know how much I love your mom's chocolate" Buttercup chimed there was a certain edge to her voice as she eyed the top of the tin.
"I thought you liked it the least Buttercup?" Robin asked, tilting her head slightly she remembered that Buttercup said it was too sweet for her taste last year.
"That right Buttercup you did like it the least" Blossom reminded through gritted teeth passing a pointed look over toward her sister whose eyes narrowed as if she had been challenged.
"Well I want to give it another chance," she said, attempting to take the tin from Blossom's grip and while it didn't seem like much Robin watched the oldest knuckles turn pale as she tightened her grip.
"Buttercup you've already had enough to eat this morning you don't need fudge to." Blossom hissed, prying the tin out of the raven haired girl's hand and setting it to the side. Of course if that was enough to stop Buttercup from being Buttercup the family would probably have an entirely different dynamic. The green girl basically launched herself from her seat roughly grabbing hold of the old rusty tin jerking it roughly toward her chest.
"Buttercup" Bubbles cried she seemed to notice something that Robin just couldn't see but whatever it was it really upset her. Maybe it was the fighting since Bubbles hated when they fought but she would be calling both of them.
"Buttercup let it go your" Blink called along suddenly halting her words as her silvery eyes darted towards that Snyder that sat among the Untoniums.
"Now girls what's going on" This time it was the Professor who had just sat down Buttercup's third or maybe fourth omelet. His eye moved over to the tin observing it slowly.
"What?!" Buttercup blurted out of frustration as the silence fell over them. "I didn't do nothin I just wanted the stupid thing is that crime!' She barked her voice coming out horse and irritated.
"A tin?" He asked, looking at the tin pressed against her chest then he slowly put his hand out Buttercup hesitated for a moment before reluctantly placing it in his palm. The old scientist observed the old case then he smiled a soft small smile.
"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 turning away from the girls now looking at the Snyder girl.
"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 though it was a stiff almost suffocated nod in fact Blossom looked like she was going to faint.
"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.
"Well see when we moved into the neighborhood we gave this to your mom our first Christmas it was in its prime used introducing ourselves see if you look at it." Gently the Professor raised then tin showing the front cover his hands firmly pressed on both sides. "See that is all of us. It was a painting by Bubbles, one of her very first. A family portrait so we customized this tin for one of the sweetest, most welcoming family yours." Robin couldn't stop the overwhelming grin that spread across her face at his words and he was right, looking closer at the lid she could see the tall figure of the professor and faint colors scribbled around his legs.
In the middle right in front of him was an obvious Blossom with her big bow and the faint pink outline. Then to his left were the two blobs that she made out as Buttercup and Bubbles with the little bits of yellow and black that were left of the green and blue outlines. Then standing alone to his right was what she guessed was Blinks blob which was lined with gray. His fingers were positioned a bit strangely as they covered the space next to Blink but were at the very edge of the other side. There was writing on the top but the words were so faded that it was extremely hard to read. At most she got out the word 'puff'.
"Oh wow Bubbles it's so cute." Suppressing a giggle she didn't look in the blonde direction.
"I was 6 don't i didn't want to hear it!'' Bubbles groaned as her fork scraped more violently across her plate.
"They don't even have hands there, just little blobs!" She wasn't doing a very good job keeping her composure as she tried to hide her giggles. Her eyes floated over the bug eyed blobs again with little nub hands.
"It's not funny!"
"Yeah sure but yeah of course Professor you can have it back I'm sure mom wont mind." Shrugging she turned back to her omelet, completely missing the way that the older man's hand stayed over the right side of the tin all the way until it was in the cabinet. She also was completely unaware of the haunted looks that crossed over each girl's face before they snapped back to normal. Their normal and cruel reality.
Maybe if she would have looked harder and inspected it more thoroughly she would have noticed the purple streak hiding just under his figures or the crushed sides that weren't there this morning. Maybe had she had just squinted just a little bit she would have been able to read the three words on the top.
Pink, green, grey, blue and white eyes watched her suspiciously as she ate completely oblivious of their gaze but that's how she's always been. Oblivious. She was the closest one to them and yet in a cruel twist of fate she was just as far away from them as everyone else.
She didn't know them and they were perfectly okay with that.