A.N. heya, I would love to see some reveiws if your reading this. It helps keep me coming back to this laptop to get some chapters out.
The Cats at Play
Blossom was sitting in the car looking at the glove box housing the hotline phone. They arrived at their camp site moments ago, but while she was getting out her supplies her eyes wandered to the glove box. She was fidgeting with a hairpin wondering if she could somehow pick the lock with it. She'd seen it done in movies and she could use her X-ray vision to see what she was doing, but she doubted a hairpin could open a double pin lock. She was about to step out of the car when she heard the familiar sound of the professor speaking to her.
"I have to wonder if you somehow inherited my workaholic habits." He said leaning his arms against the roof of the car. He made no effort to make eye contact with her as he watched his other daughters fight over where the tent was going to go.
She let out a small smile, "I think that is an argument for nurture over nature."
He slid his arms off the roof of the car and knelt down by the passenger door, "You know honey, I have always been proud that you and your sisters have sacrificed so much for the good of the city," He began.
"But?" She turned and looked him in the eyes. He was a little lower than her eye level kneeling while she sat in the car.
"I have seen you girls give up your childhood for it. It saddens me knowing you three all wished to be normal little girls. I've seen you make the toughest calls, give in to temptation, fought tooth and nail to fix mistakes both yours and the citizens. I only wish you could have had time to yourself." He took in a sharp breath, "I hate to say that I'm happy those boys seemed to have reformed." She looked him in the eye. There was a darkness to them as he brought the boys up. "I hate them so much, after what they did to you. Self defense my ass." He grumbled. She would have called him out on his language, but felt silly telling her father to watch his tongue.
"We deserved it." She said looking down. "Had I just taken a few more seconds to gain the context I wouldn't have led the girls into that fight. We were tricked so easily, again." The thought of the Gangrene gang crank calling them rattled through her head.
"You said it yourself, You all are still human. You will make mistakes, and it's important to learn from those, But out of all the things you deserve; I think a break is at the top of the list." He reached over and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and the softest smile she had ever seen him give. "It's been the highest honor I could think of to be the father of the Powerpuff Girls, and all of my proudest moments of our family are when we get to enjoy the peace you've fought for. So please lets enjoy it."
"Okay," She said with a smile. She fell out of the car and gave her father a hug. The tender moment was soon broken by Buttercup yelling from across the campsite.
"Hey Blossom be the tie breaker, should we set the tent up by the lake or the woods?" She called out wrestling the tent from Bubbles.
She looked back up at the Professor, "Do they know you packed four tents?"
"That's what they get for not taking inventory with us this morning." He said with a wink.
Blossom opened the trunk and pulled out the two final tents and tossed one to Bubbles hands. "Pick a spot and enjoy it." She said with a chuckle in her voice.
The professor looked at his daughters clearing a spot to set their tents up. Buttercup by the Lake, Bubbles closer to the woods, and Blossom chose a spot in the middle, maybe to act as a buffer for any late night bickering. He was trying to figure out where he would place his own tent when he felt a vibration coming from his pocket. Pulling out his cell phone he saw cutie-pie dance on the display and answered. "Hey Margaret." he said walking away before the girls could hear.
"Hey Jack, so how is the camping trip?" she asked, apparently in the middle of eating something.
"Oh you know, the girls bickering where to set tents, a long car ride, stuff like that." He said resting his back against a tree. "Sorry about not bringing you."
"Oh don't worry about that. This will be good that you all get one last time to be the four of you before that changes." She seemed to take a bite of whatever she was eating. "Have you told the girls yet?"
"No, I wanted it to be a surprise when we get back. So what are you doing?" He smiled to nothing as he talked.
"Oh eating some Froyo, the place by my soon-to-be-ex apartment brought out some new summer flavors I had to have." She took another gulp then let out a hum of satisfaction. "I have most of my stuff packed so I guess it'll be ready by Thursday. What day did you say you would be back?"
"Saturday, so I guess that gives you all of Friday to figure out where you want to put your stuff." He looked over making sure the girls couldn't hear him. "We will be back in early Saturday probably around 9 in the morning."
"You don't think it's moving a little fast? We have only been going out for a few months now." She said a hint of doubt and fear in her voice.
"Time is relative, we've been friends since middle school, have had amazing chemistry and you know the girls already see you something as a mom. Plus with both of our busy schedules, what with me in the lab and your being Miss superintendent this will give us better chance to spend time together."
"And if it doesn't work out?" She let out a sigh, "All I'm saying is it's a big commitment."
"Well, I hope we've done everything we can to make it work first, but if it doesn't it we can handle it then."
"Ever the optimist Jack?" She let out a giggle over the line. "That sounds like a bad pickup line."
"I have three, no scratch that, four reasons to be an optimist in my life now." He saw Blossom looking at him and decided to ask, "How is Townsville doing?"
"Oh same old, Mojo attacked today. Mayor Bellum called asking if his statements about the girls being on vacation were true." He was about to ask when she continued, "The boys took care of it. They used their usual brutality and swore to the news Mojo won't be a threat. Honestly though, That is one thing I will not miss about living in the city." A feeling of relief washed over him. The resentment he held for the boys, no just one of the boys, was slowly fading with time. He didn't really care about Butch or Boomer, It was Brick he hated. He knew he had something to do with the setup, but he just couldn't ever get the proof and ranting to the mayor would only do more harm then good. He found himself trusting the boys just enough for this vacation, but Brick had a lot to make up for, if he ever wanted the professor to see him without disdain. Pushing the thoughts to the back of his head he figured it was the best time to end the call.
"Well, we will all see you Saturday morning, love you."
"See you then, love you too."
He hung up the phone and walked back into the campsite. Blossom noticed him walk away, but gave him the privacy she could tell it wasn't serious by his face when he answered the phone. "So who was that?" She asked. She was about to complain about her own phone being locked up when the professor answered.
"Margaret," He smiled, "She wanted to make sure we made it to the site alright." Blossom opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted again. "I asked about Townsville, she said it's fine if anything maybe a little safer than usual." He said it to cheer her up, but it had the opposite effect. "Not that you being away is making it that way, just everyone seems to be behaving." He wanted to keep Mojo's attack a secret. He didn't want her fretting over it the whole week. He made a mental note to check for any surveillance equipment, seeing as Mojo some how knew about their week retreat.
"Okay, so how is Miss Keane?"
"She is doing fine as well," Again keeping that a surprise he changed the subject, "So where should I set my tent up miss location location location?" He said with a smile picking up his tent and walking into the site by his daughter.
Across the country the Mayor was crossing the street and was storming up the apartment housing the boys. Margaret didn't say how long the girls would be gone, so leaving the city up to the boys was the only option she had until they returned. She hated how they operated, it was too cruel and harsh, but both the police force and public loved it. She could see it with her approval rating being the highest any mayor has achieved within the history of the city. She took a moment to give herself a few calming breaths and knocked on the apartment door.
The door swung open and she was greeted by the sight of a 16 year old sociopath red head. "Hey Mayor what brings you by today?"
She clicked her tongue and placed her hands on her hips. "I wanted to come talk to you three." She spoke in the most authoritative voice. Brick in turn raised a brow at her. It seemed like he was thinking about it but he eventually conceded.
"After you," Brick said motioning with a slight bow, opening the doorway for her. She walked past, and walked into the living room. Looking around she saw everything was pretty much the same from the day they moved in. The familiar scent of teenage boy was lingering in the air, but the place was clean. "Boys!" Bricks voice thundered behind her, "The mayor is here get out here!"
She turned around to be greeted by the rest of the boys floating out around the corner. Each one adorned with a smile. "Good afternoon Mayor." Boomer greeted.
"Hello boys," She said with a weak wave. "Listen I need to talk to you about the attack today." She lost all animosity as she saw each toothy grin greet her. Each boy looked at her expectantly waiting for her to continue. "I really want to understand your thought process when you decided to paralyze and quadruple amputate Mojo Jojo."
Brick's face dropped from friendly to cold and dead. The color in his eyes turning into a dull red. "What do you mean? He had attacked the city, and we took care of it."
"Yes but I think it is fair to say you crossed a line. You are not judge jury and executioner." She started.
"We didn't kill him, what more did you want?" Butch said.
"What if he decides to press charges? Police brutality? Vigilante justice? He has a case." She began.
"How many people died in today's attack?" Brick asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I saw corpses from his stupid robots, how many people did he kill today?"
"We don't have that official number yet." She responded.
"What about property damage? Or threatening the mayor?"
"What about that?"
"He has no case. Even if he tried all a competent lawyer has to do is bring up the fact his actions have costed immeasurable damage to both city property and even civilian lives. He knows no judge or jury would side with him." He said glaring at her, "Besides what we did was simply end the threat, permanently." He squinted his eyes and pounded one hand into the other on his last word. "Would it have been better just to break every bone in his body? Bruise the oversized brain he has? Cave his face in? Cause that's how your precious girls handle it every time." He had shot a hand at her with every question he asked. The Dull red hue in his eyes barely visible between his slits in his eyes.
"He would have healed from that at least. You severed nerves, and removed limbs." She placed her hands on her hips and tried to seem imposing. Her confidence almost worked if it wasn't for Bricks lack of care.
"And he would have escaped, yet again, then work on a new way to ruin lives in his idiotic lust after power." His gaze was cold enough to freeze the air between the two red heads, "We did you and this city a favor."
"I see you're point, but there has to be an attainable middle ground."
"Why, cause it's prettier to paint over? Sorry, but we do things our way or not at all." Brick said venom saturating his voice. A sudden smirk and spark of life flashed in his eyes. "I guess the real question is: Are you wanting us to stop fighting crime?"
Bellum cursed the red headed youth in front of her. She couldn't leave the city without protection, and the boys had been doing everything of their own will. If they stopped, the consequences could be dire. "You know that's not it."
"Well what do you want then? We're not apologizing for Mojo I know how quickly word travels in the criminal underground, We made an example out of him, everyone should think twice before doing anything dumb now. That's worth getting our hands a little dirty."
"I need you boys to cover for the girls." She let out a defeated sigh, moving the conversation on. Speaking any more was just beating a dead horse at this point.
"Where are those girls anyways?" Boomer asked. "They never even showed up when Mojo attacked."
"Vacation, but we still need protectors." She started.
"We're not protectors, we're a last resort." Brick said.
"Well that doesn't change the fact that until the girls come back you three are all we have. Please I'm asking you to at least temporarily operate like the girls would and fight crime in a more humane way."
Brick eyed her and after a few seconds of starring he broke the silence, "Let me talk to the boys." He then motioned his brothers to follow him. Bellum sat down and rubbed her temples, finding her ever present headache throbbing.
Meanwhile in Bricks room the boys were talking. "So that's why the girls never showed up." Butch said.
Boomer was holding his tongue he was actually hoping to hang out with Bubbles again, but was worried about admitting it to his brothers. "Well what can ya do?" He finally said shrugging his shoulders.
"It's irrelevant. Look we're gonna take her up on her deal." Brick said.
"I don't want to hold back though." Butch said. "If we're gonna be kicking butt I want to go all out."
"We're not even going to have a chance you idiot." Brick said. "After Mojos attack nothing will happen for at least a few weeks, even more so after they hear our warning and see what we did."
"So why even agree if it doesn't even matter?" Boomer asked.
"Cause we need something from her." Brick said. "Just let me do all the talking." He said clutching his door knob glaring over his shoulder.
"How is that any different than usual?" Boomer said following Brick with his hands behind his head as he walked.
"Nice one." Butch chuckled as he slapped Boomers hand approvingly. Brick shot them a glare but couldn't hit them without risking jeopardizing his goal.
"We thought it over, and we decided no." Brick said walking up to Bellum.
"What do you mean no?" She had a painfully annoyed look glued on her face.
"It's too much of a hassle to fight like those girls. If we decide to fight we will fight. If we feel like it." He said.
"You know I can't accept that."
"Yeah, but what can you do. That contract we all signed never said we had to be heroes. We were doing that for fun, and to show you how grateful we were for this place, but it's too much a hassle if this is the thanks we get." He said shrugging his shoulders. "So are we done here?
Her lip trembled, from anger more than anything. She knew she was cornered. Hell if she had left them alone, they probably would have fought crime without putting up such a huff. "What do you want?"
"If we fight crime like those girls until they show back up we get a full pardon." Brick said with a heavy steady voice.
"Fine, many citizens would argue you've earned it anyways." She huffed. She opened up her purse and tossed a cell phone at Brick. "That's a satellite phone meaning I should be able to reach you anywhere on earth. Keep it charged." She finally stood up. "When those girls return you'll have a pardon to sign." With that she marched out the door.
As she walked back to her office she was cursing the boys. She let them have all the power in that conversation. It drove her mad that she was cornered so easily into bargaining with those boys. She couldn't do anything legally and she knew it. Any power she had in that conversation was destroyed with a gaze Brick had given her. Couple that with how earnest, happy and proud the boys were for saving the day, and she waived her confidence and power to them.
She busted through her office doors and reclined in her office chair. Swiveling around to look out at her city she saw cleanup crews disposing of Mojo's mess. He had crossed the line this time. Property damage was one thing, but his last few attacks actually cost lives. Mojo was guilty of manslaughter.
Her approval rating were tanking with people hating how he was always just thrown back in jail to escape. After this time dealing with those boys, she knew escape was near impossible, and even if he managed, the boys destroyed his hideout, and all of his equipment. They had a point. This city was now safer, but she hated how they made it happen. It left a sour taste in her mouth. She returned to her desk and started typing out her pardon orders. "Play it by ear Sarah. The city is safe, and the people are happy. Just play it by ear."
Back at the apartment Brick tossed the phone onto the kitchen counter. He was rummaging through the fridge for some soda when Boomer popped up. "So you think anyone is gonna do anything until those girls comes back?"
"Doubtful, the only thing that could happen is a monster attack, and we're allowed to go all out for those." He said with a shrug cracking his can of soda open.
"I have to ask though Brick." Boomer said meekly. "Do you hate the girls?"
The question was simple enough, but it made Brick think. eventually he sighed, "Is this about you hanging out with the blonde one?"
"Well, I mean a little, but it's more about why we are doing anything we are anymore?" Boomer asked.
"What do you mean?"
"We became 'heroes' to stick it to the girls, but why?" Boomer asked, "Why are we doing anything against them?"
"Are you happy you spent three years in lockup? Or two on probation?" Brick snapped.
"Not at all, But you kept telling us those girls were beneath us, until we got this apartment." Boomer retorted.
"That was to keep you and Butch in line and not seek them out for a fight. I didn't want our probation ruined." Brick defended.
"But even you have to admit, now, they aren't all that bad. Blossom even kissed your cheek at graduation," Brick winced at that almost crushing his can. "Me and Bubbles both love animals, and even Butch seems to have calmed down a bit hanging out with the green one. So are they really beneath us and inferior? 'Cause I think if they were we would have never wasted this much energy on them."
"What's your point."
"Are we making a mistake trying to hurt them this way?"
"No," Brick reinforced, "This needs to happen one way or another."
"But I like hanging out with Bubbles."
"Then I won't stop you from doing so, as long as the plan proceeds accordingly. Got it!" He seethed through his teeth.
"Y-yeah Brick I got it." He stammered.
"Good." Brick let both his voice and body relax. Seeing Boomer genuinely intimidated sent a small wave of guilt in the pit of his stomach. The last thing he needed was his brothers to grow to resent him. He let out a sigh, and decided to do something as brothers for the afternoon. "Hey, you and Butch wanna catch a movie or something? I got some leftover money from the route this week."
Boomer's eyes lit up. "There are like three movies out I wanna see!" He cheered happily. Taking off to get Butch, Brick scowled inside his head.
"The boys and puffs hanging out is making things a little complicated." He let out an audible sigh between his thoughts. "Whatever, I'm sure there is a way I can use this somehow." Grabbing his jacket he waited for Boomer and Butch to join him in the living room. Once they showed up they drew straws to decide who got to choose the movie. Butch won, and they took off to the theater.
In her office Bellum had finished typing up her pardon orders, and was now reviewing the cleanup budget for this latest attack.
Across the country, the girls were engaged in their own activities. Bubbles was climbing trees trying to get the squirrels to pose for her sketches, Buttercup was floating in the lake wearing a two piece bathing suit, and Blossom was relaxing in a cloud reading a book. The professor had texted Margaret a few times, but had resigned to napping in a hammock he brought.
The following week went by quietly as the camping trip allowed the girls to explore several nearby sites for hiking and exploring. They even found a cave they explored. The professor stayed by the site, relaxing in his hammock, or enjoying his pipe as he strolled through the nearby woods.
Back in the city, no crime had taken place, and after the week passed they were usually found lazing about in their apartment avoiding the summer heat. Butch would go to the pool every afternoon. Boomer read his comics, and Brick would usually kill time on the internet, reading articles or watching documentaries. The week was quiet for all involved.