Third POV

Buttercup walks down the empty hallway of her high school. She had decided to skip the seventh period because her teacher was later than usual. She also didn't want to be in a class full of rowdy, hormonal teenagers.

Teenagers would stare at her as if she was a strange artifact. Truthfully, the teenagers weren't far from the truth.

Buttercup was always abnormal.

She was born from a pot of chemicals and nursery rhyme ingredients. She was instantly five years old with superpowers and sisters like her. Soon, the world got used to her and her sisters, which was great considering they saved their butts from evil and chaos.

She was the toughest of the three and the tomboy with a temper and cravings for fighting and violence. Despite her vicious reputation, Buttercup had redeeming qualities, so people got used to her. As she grew, she changed a bit, and everyone got used to that until she made the most significant change.

Buttercup became introverted and lost her will for nearly everything.

Everyone questioned, but the girl kept her stubbornness and glued her lips shut. So the people resorted to theories and conspiracies. Some were about her few relationships, like the little crush on Ace of the GangGreen Gang. Others were about her childhood with crime-fighting, and few had to do with her relationship with her family.

Now, Buttercup didn't say much, but she defended her family. It had nothing to do with her father naming her Buttercup because it starts with a 'B' like her sisters or how much attention her sisters got. Sure, it hurt a lot when dealing with her insecurities, but it never stopped her strong willpower. She found ways to deal with her hidden turmoils.

So, what caused the girl, now a young woman, to change?

The world will never know, but she always will.

Buttercup sits on the grass and leans back into a tree.

She inhales the scent of wet flowers and grass. It reminds her of her blanket, and she wishes she had it. A security blanket and peaceful nature would be bliss to her depressing thoughts.

"I guess you'll have to do for today again." She whispers to her journal. She got into journaling after her mentor saw bonsai cultivation wasn't helping.

Distracted, Buttercup didn't hear the commotion until she turned to another page. Her face scrunches in irritation, and she reluctantly looks up. Great, another dummy in distress. She huffs, seeing Gerry the groper punched into the grass. If it were concrete, that would've hurt. She waits to see who punctured the boy. Let's see if he deserves it.

Butch comes into view. Whatever little hope Buttercup had for peace vanished. Butch Kieran Jojo was infamous for destroying peace, specifically hers, and she wasn't in the mood for it.

"You're disgusting," Butch growls as he lasers the spot near the boy's hand. "A fucking wannabe. You'll never be on my level without standards. What you did was fucked up, and you'll pay for it." He was a young man of few words, so hearing this interested the hidden girl.

"L-look, I didn't mean it, alright!" Gerry stammers as he backpedals. "Please, man! Don't hurt me!" He frantically glances around for safety, but he finds none. If he were smart, he would've dug a grave to hide. Being buried alive was better than getting his lungs crushed.

Butch grabs the boy by his shirt and slams him against the tree.

"Help!" Gerry screams as tears stream down his pale cheeks. When Butch lifts his fist, Gerry's eyes roll up into his head. His body limps, and he's quickly thrown aside by the angry superhuman.

"What a poser!" Butch punches the tree. "Can't even handle a punch. Toughest guy on the block, my ass!" How could anyone believe a guy who faints before a punch to be intimidating? How could that girl let him feel her up? She could've slammed his ass like, like-

"Not everyone is who they make themselves out to be."

Butch froze at the recognizable raspy voice. He turns to see his counterpart on her feet with a journal pressed to her chest and face blank. He blinks, wondering how long she was here before cracking his neck with a lazy grin.

"Enjoyed the half-ass show, sunshine?"

"Piss off, creep."

"I should be calling you that, hun." He leans back, casual for now. "Why didn't you tell me you were here? You know, I missed you in class earlier." His tone was far from endearing. He could never miss her, and he'd never will because she was always here.

"I said, piss off."

"How about a little fun first?" He saw her body tense, and a slow smirk crept onto his face. He walked toward her, and because she was defiant to show panic, she let him come close. "I promise I won't half-ass it, muffin top."

Buttercup inhales to calm her irritation. "Find someone else. I'm busy."

"With what? Writing?" His eyes drift to the journal, and it taunts him pressed against her body. He didn't understand her necessity to write in that thing. What's it for anyway? "Is it a hate list or maybe a shopping list? Or-"

"None of your damn business."

"Let's make it, then!" Like a child, he snatches it. She immediately lunges for it, but he's quick to hold it above her. He snorts at the frustration she has for his immaturity and her height. "Aww, too short, shortcake?"

"Give it back! I'm not playing with you, Butch!"

"But I like to play, shortcake." But there was something he liked more than playing with her. He tosses the diary and yanks her by her arm so she can't go for her journal. "But you know I get bored of that. Want to know what we should do next?"

Buttercup smacks him, but he doesn't let go. He chuckles. "Your punches are much better than that little thing, dear."

"I swear if you don't let me go, Butch, I will-"

"Marry me? Oh, sweetheart, I thought you'd never ask." He bats his eyelashes, and she glares at him. "Oh, you meant to fight me. Whoo, that's what I dream for because marriage would bore me." He likes to joke for her blood to pump, and it always worked.

Buttercup didn't want to fight, but damn it, he was begging for it.

Beggars weakened her control.

"Let's play our game."

"Wha-"

He pulls her close. "You hide in the clouds, and I'll seek." He stares at the conflict in her eyes, and he leans her forehead against hers with a teasing sigh. She saw the taunts through his eyes, and she glared, making him whisper gleefully. "Let's make you bleed, honey."

Buttercup pulls away with a harsh glare before flying into the clouds.

Butch, with a crazed smirk, flies after her when she's gone.

Word Count: 1150