Author

Author's Note: Contact me at theak472@aol.com. Thanks again to Sh'moona. Don't worry, the action's coming soon. I don't expect this one to be particularly long.

Maybe I'm Twisted
by Rey

Chapter 5 - Mealtime Dilemma
"Brunch is better than breakfast. People fall in love over brunch, you know."

The six of them flew over Townsville, creating a rainbow of colors which seemed to fall and fade from the sky like golden rain. Blossom flew up front alone, leading the way for their cavalcade, Bubbles after her, with Butch following. Boomer was second to last, with Brick and Buttercup together bringing up the rear.

Blossom, whose hair bow fluttered as she flew, had, strangely, a scowl on her face. Buttercup went and brought back one of our strongest enemies, and she says they're nice, huh? Nice, my... In her mind, she used a word that she normally wouldn't have out loud. Oh, dear... They're beginning to affect me already.

Bubbles was happily chattering away to a Butch who flew alongside, though he didn't appear to be listening. "And then we went to the park, an' Buttercup went and sat by herself on her favorite tree an' me an' Blossom played ball -"

"Football?" Butch perked slightly, trying to humor Bubbles. He glanced towards her, adopted an expression of interest, and she smiled at him.

"Nuh, we played catch with a beach ball, but I don't mind playing football with Buttercup. She always wins an' stuff, though."

Butch chuckled slightly, turning his eyes back down to the buildings that they passed. "Huh. Cute. Maybe we can have a game some time, the six of us. Not football, since you don't seem to like it."

"Okay!" Bubbles giggled, as her usual cheerful self.

Boomer, a yard or two behind them, seemed rather sulky. Or at least thoughtful. He streaked along, a slight frown on his face. Yeah, well, like I said. The hell do these girlies know?

Buttercup, who had more or less gotten over her embarrassment, was opening up to Brick. "And then I mixed it all together and you guys came out..."

Brick laughed to himself quietly. "Yeah, I know what happens from there. Anyway, have you figured out the reason why we 'xploded last time I remember?"

Buttercup shrugged, doing a half barrel roll to continue flying on her back, adopting a relaxed posture. "Dunno still, but maybe it's 'cause we were nice to you guys. Didn't seem like you enjoyed it very much, anyway."

"Yeah, well, who'da figured? I mean, we exploded, no big deal." Brick smirked sideways at her, Buttercup simply rolling her eyes.

Blossom interrupted their conversation by calling back, "We're home!" and plummeting downwards towards the Utonium household. One by one, like fighter jets answering a radio order, they each took the plunge.

Once all six of them had touched down safely, Blossom, who had her hands on her hips, exclaimed, "Alright, then. Bubbles and I will go in to get you boys some brunch, and you boys will stay out he ~"

"Hey, who are you to order us around?" Boomer impulsively snapped.

Blossom frowned. "Unless you don't want brunch, you should stay outside. The Professor's having a nice quiet day inside and he would object if you came in to ravage the house and he wouldn't give you b ~"

Butch interrupted her, "Yeah, alright. I'm starving. Shut up, Boomer," he glared sideways. Boomer muttered to himself, looking away.

"W-well... Okay..." Bubbles smiled nervously. "Buttercup, keep an eye on them, okay?"

"..Mhm," Buttercup shrugged, as if she wasn't really paying attention to Bubbles. It did indeed appear as if all her attention was focused on gazing at Brick, who studied her carefully with a smile.

"Yeah, I'll help you keep my bro's in line," Brick pronounced, reaching over to touch Buttercup's cheek. Behind him, Boomer gagged, and Butch stuck a finger down his throat.

Blossom appeared impervious to their reactions, but Bubbles giggled and waved at them. "We'll be right back!" And streaks of baby blue and pink disappeared into the house.

"Come on, dude," Boomer yanked on Butch's sleeve. "We'll leave the lovers alone," he scowled, laying emphasis heavily on the word 'lovers'. But neither Buttercup nor Brick responded.

In the kitchen, Blossom pulled bread out of the cupboards. "How about sandwiches?"

Bubbles giggled brightly, taking out a jar of peanut butter and some grape jelly. "Yeah! Peanut butter and jelly, mm."

The pair set about making the sandwiches.

"Brick?" Buttercup said, after a while of them sitting side by side on the Utonium front lawn, admiring the blue sky. She reached to lay a hand on his shoulder, and smile. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Try me," He glanced to her, tilting his head slowly, and smiling back.

"Well, um..." Buttercup turned her eyes back to the sky, a slight blush reaching her cheeks. "I was wondering... if... you liked me?"

"Kind of soon to be asking that, Bee-Cee," Brick grinned slyly, "But yeah, I guess I do. Kinda. You're cute," He said, tweaking her cheek.

Buttercup laughed softly, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Thanks. You're cute too."

"Brunch is served!" Bubbles beamed, streaking out with a tray of sandwiches and a picnic table cloth, Blossom following behind with some Pepsi. They spread out the food, Boomer and Butch hurrying to feed themselves. Brick and Buttercup took their time, though, arriving after Brick's two brothers had eaten three sandwiches each. Blossom winced, watching them.

"Boys, don't you have any table manners?" She snapped.

"Skrrnf," Boomer mumbled through a full mouth. "Noo. Good food."

"Sskryeah." Butch agreed.

Bubbles frowned, hovering down to them. "If you're going to eat around us, you haffta eat like normal people."

"Nnph. Stupid blon -" Butch began, but he was cut short by Boomer elbowing him hard.

"Hmrrph." Boomer glanced up, scowling slightly. "Fine. You want us to do what? Eat slowly? Chew our food two hundred times?"

Brick flew across, smacking the back of Boomer's head, grabbing a drink, and landing in front of the tray of sandwiches, across from his brothers. "Even chewing it at all would be too hard for you."

"Yeah, well," Butch smirked at Brick, "Not all of us are weaklings that spend all their time readin' sh_t books on manners, yanno."

Buttercup landed next to Brick, her sisters landing to complete their small party. "I could take you on, Butch."

"Oh yeah? Bring it."

"... Right after brunch," Buttercup grinned.

Bubbles' brow creased into a frown, laying a hand on Butch's shoulder. "Don't fight with him, Buttercup, it wouldn't be very nice at all." Butch winced, tucking his head down into his shoulders, attempting to hide his reddening cheeks.

"Um... Bubbles, do you mind?" He grated. Bubbles blinked at him, removing her hand to take a sandwich and begin eating neatly. Buttercup, a seat away from them, snickered, but otherwise was silent. She didn't feel like embarrassing Butch further, no matter how satisfying it would have been. Not at that moment, anyway.

Rey: Nope. It wasn't long at all. I won't be submitting many (if at all) fics/chapters for the next week and a half, or so. Major exams coming up. After that period, I'll be back in writing. Thanks for reading.