Flash Bangs and a Cold Heart

Brick let out a yawn as he stood in the kitchen. A gift from Langston was pouring black gold into a mug Brick was waiting for. He was starting to see how Langston could so easily be found with coffee in his hands. It had been a few days since the press release, and the boys we're entirely free. They no longer had any ties to a contract or a probation officer. The smell of his coffee sliced through his hazed mind as he took a testing sip to make sure it tasted alright.

It wasn't even dawn yet, but he had just finished his route and didn't feel like going back to sleep. He stepped out onto the fire escape and made his way to the roof. He found a certain calming call to the city lights at night. Even with the buildings being light-less silhouettes at this early hour he found the white and red lights of the light traffic soothing.

The empty feeling he had as of late was ever present, and he was starting to notice his brothers worry. They often would go out and do stuff over their days while Brick would just hole himself up in his room. He would make an excuse that he was just tired, and didn't want to deal with the heat. However, he never did much. Usually it was listening to music on his MP3 player laying on his bed. Occasionally he would venture out for food, but it was never much more than that. His hygiene was only held up out of willpower. He just felt so at home in the night. There was a silent contentment to the night. Nothing to judge him, nothing to expect anything from him. He reveled in it.

As he finished off his coffee, he just set it to the side and sat on the edge of the building, and starred out into the city. Dawn was beginning and he decided to watch. It always amazed him how people thought it was beautiful. The sun never revealed anything new. Everything that was there in the light was still there in the darkness. After the early glow of the city in the morning sun had caused the last street light to shut off he collected his mug and went back inside.

Noticing the calendar he made a note of it being late June. Only a few more weeks until the Fourth of July. The city was already preparing with tents and mobile stores selling fireworks throughout the city. He had purchased a few for himself and his brothers. He found himself buying mostly bright flashing pyrotechnics while his brothers bought firecrackers and M-80s.

Brick enjoyed toying with the idea of creating his own flash bang, and was wondering how to do it himself, but he settled on just watching them go off with his brothers.

The morning dragged on in empty peaceful silence until his brothers decided to wake up. He was always amazed at how they seemed to wake up at the same time, and how even half asleep they could argue. This morning, it was who got the last of the cereal and who had to settle on toast.

"You know if one of you just woke up before the other you wouldn't have to argue about this every morning." Brick called out from his spot on the couch.

"I like sleep too much." Both grumbled.

"Then flip a coin hearing you both argue is becoming trite" He chuckled as he relaxed further into the couch.

Taking his advice Boomer cheered as he won his coveted bowl of cereal and Butch threw the coin across the room in protest, but still he accepted the results.

Boomer sat down with a smile plastered on his face, "So guess what I did." he said shoveling his food down.

"Will I be upset with the answer?" Brick said half joking.

"Nope, I managed to get on as an assistant at the Zoo." Boomer said then slowly wiped his hand across the air in front of him, "I'm a landscaping attendant."

"Doesn't that just mean you pick up trash all around the park?"

"And sometimes help mow the lawns." Boomer added like it made it more important.

"Well good now I won't be the only one making money around here. What about you Butch you gonna get a job?" Brick called out to his half asleep Brother yawning over the toaster.

"I already did, I start tonight." He said with a grunt.

"Where at so I can visit my little brothers at their work and beg them for money for a change." Brick laughed.

"I just got some lame register job at the gas station down the street. I wasn't even serious when I asked about the hiring sign."

"you could have said no you know."

"Yeah and what allow myself to be the only one without a job in this apartment. Boomer was already gloating about it last night when we were getting slushies." He said retrieving his finished breakfast.

"My little brothers are growing up. I'm so proud." Brick said feigning wiping a tear.

A little bit later Boomer was showered and rushing out the door. Leaving Brick and Butch by themselves on the couch. They were both watching something on TV chatting between the commercials. "So what do you got going on today?" Butch asked as they entered the commercial break.

"Probably just lie around the house unless something else pops up." Brick let out a sigh as he spoke.

"Dude, you need a hobby. You can't just stay inside all day every day. Get out meet a girl do something." Butch laughed while he playfully punched Bricks arm.

Brick stared at his brother seemingly contemplating his words. "I guess you're right. No more school leaves an unhealthy amount of free time." He said after landing a punch on his brother.

"Well, do what you want, just get some sun, I don't want people thinking I'm related to Dracula or anything." Butch laughed as he collected his things. As he walked from the kitchen he called out, "I'll probably be out until I gotta get ready for work. Talk to ya later bro."

Brick was lost in his own thoughts when Butch left, standing up and stretching he decided to take Butch's advice. "I've learned everything else by books, might as well see if the book store has anything." He sighed dropping his arms from over his head.

Making his way to the street his decided against flying and enjoyed walking to the downtown area. It didn't take long even with his leisurely stride and was walking into the familiar scent of books and coffee. The smell drove a craving home and before he even looked at a book he was paying for a black coffee. Enjoying the taste he made his way over to the hobby section and was browsing through trying to figure out what he could enjoy doing.

The morning was more or less the same thing for Blossom since she came home last Saturday. She woke up before her sisters, and would often be the first in the kitchen. Since Miss Keane moved in she actually had someone to talk to in the early mornings. The professor was often working late nights, and as a result would usually be a little earlier than her sisters in waking up.

"Morning Keane." Blossom beamed at the site of her sipping on coffee and working on a crossword puzzle. Blossom at first wanted to help her with them, but Keane insisted doing them herself to keep her mind sharp. They ended up bonding by spending time preparing breakfast together in the few days she has been here. Blossom was happy to have someone who was confident in the kitchen, finally finding someone who could teach her some of the stuff you cant learn in a cookbook.

"Morning sweetie." She returned the smile. "How did you sleep?"

"Wonderful, what about you? How are you enjoying living here?"

"I slept fine, and I must say it's marvelous how easy I find it to adjust to this. I guess I was just worried for nothing." She leaned in and gave Blossom a light hug. "So any news on your hunt for Brick?" The first Sunday back Blossom told the professor and Keane about her task to keep an eye on the boys, but lamented how hard it was actually finding Brick.

"I'm sure it would be better if I actually knew anything about him. Bubbles and Buttercup got lucky, just being able to find them so easily." She let out a frustrated sigh. Buttercup had already managed to run into her counterpart. She even claimed she was heading out to the gym later today to have some competition with Butch. Bubbles was having a harder time finding him, but she never seemed to concerned about it.

"Oh come on Blossom, you were the best at gathering Intel on anything. I'm sure you'll find your way." Keane gave an reassuring squeeze on Blossoms shoulder. That lit a fire in her chest, and was soon figuring out a plan to find him.

"Thanks, I really needed to hear that. I think I'll take off here in a few hours. I know a good place I can some youthful psychology books maybe they can shed some light on him."

"Well, that and it never hurts to have some psychological edge on someone." She gave a friendly wink. From there they worked on making breakfast, just simple pancakes and bacon. Bubbles was the first sister to wake up, and she helped by squeezing oranges for their drinks.

The professor shuffled down, and was staring at his coffee pot with lust. Keane heard him waking up and already had a mug full for him as he sat down. Blossom felt a flutter in her chest as she watched Keane give a kiss to the professor as he thanked her for Breakfast.

After blossom finished eating and getting ready when she saw Buttercup devouring the Bacon that was still left. "You know, if you just woke up early you could probably have gotten more bacon." She teased. Buttercup turned around, and Blossom took notice how her hair was already brushed, and had light eyeliner on. She was wearing green track pants and a trainer shirt on. Her retort to Blossom was muffled by the bacon occupying her mouth as she ran past grabbing her bag. Finally swallowing, "We all can't be miss morning-glory like you." She said with a playful smirk. "Anyways I gotta jet, I got a boxing match to win." Before anyone could reply she shot out the door with a flash of green following her.

Blossom shook her head knowing she could handle herself, she just hoped she kept her temper in check. With a final kiss on the cheek to her family she flew off towards the Book-N'-Stuff. Practically skipping through the door she found herself in the juvenile psychology section. Picking out a few books she found herself in her usual corner landing in pink bean bag the store kept there. She had only just started the introduction when she heard his voice, "Hey, could I get a medium coffee black please."

Standing up she walked to the corner of a book shelf to see if she heard right. She was met by the sight of Brick being handed a cup of coffee. She never understood why people drank that stuff, much less a chemical X being. Their bodies usually resisted the stimulant so the caffeine had to be out, and there was no way it was just for taste being the bitterest thing she ever drank. Yet she watched as Bricks face lit up as he took a few sips. Blossom moved out of his line of sight, but kept an eye on him through her X-ray vision. She saw him walking towards her and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't place a logical reason behind it, but still felt the relief when he made a left turn to some other part of the store.

Following him she noticed he was in the craft and hobby section. He was looking at each book and seemed to have a small conversation with himself on each different topic. Focusing on his voice she could hear him mumble, "Cooking? Nah I could always just use a cook book. Remote control cars and planes? Doesn't sound appealing, but I guess I could give it a try, I'll keep that as a maybe." He continued on reading titles and finding someway to talk himself out of it.

"Why is he looking for some way to kill time?" Blossom asked to herself. "Wait, what am I doing? I should just walk up to him and talk to him." Looking through the books she set her books down, and slapped herself in the cheeks to drive her.

Turning the corner she let out a surprised voice, "Brick? Oh hey what are you doing here?" She asked with a smile.

He turned his head to meet her. His eyes dropped the remnants of life and color they had only moments ago as he locked eyes with her. "Nothing."

She tried not to falter and keep the conversation going. "I wouldn't take you for someone in need of a hobby."

"I'm not, I just happened to be browsing." He lied. "Doesn't matter anyways, I'm leaving." He moved to get by her. She moved in front of her never dropping the smile she had.

"What's your hurry? I haven't seen you in weeks."

"Yeah that was kinda intentional." He said trying to slip by. As He was about to pass she tried to place a hand on Bricks shoulder, but her hand struck his coffee sending it all over his shirt.

"Shit." He growled stepping back and looking down at the mess.

It was an accident, but Blossom is nothing if not an opportunist. "Oh jeez I'm sorry." She said sincerely then looked into his eyes, the color deepening with rage. "Come on let me buy you another one." She said dragging him to the cafe before he could answer.

"It's fine I would rather just get home and change." He scowled as he yanked his arm away. "Now let me be." He said storming out of the store.

She watched as he threw his cup into the nearby garbage can, looking over to see the coffee didn't reach the floor she followed him. "Oh come on Brick quite being so stubborn." She called out as made her exit.

He either ignored her or didn't her as he took to the skies. A streak of red, followed by a streak of pink, filled the skies nearby.

"What the hell is she doing tailing me." He screamed inside his head. "Can't she take a fucking hint?"

"Why is he being so difficult even before spilling his coffee?" She cried out internally.

Brick didn't want to go home with her following his every move so he increased speed and flew randomly through the streets. She never let up following him even as he descended into the subway entrance. He flew onto the tracks and headed into the tunnels. Looking back he saw she was still following him. "Seriously take a hint." He growled. Looking forward he began to fly and zig zag throughout the labyrinth of tunnels before him.

"I won't let you get away this time Brick!" He heard her yell.

"I didn't do anything so buzz off sissie!" He yelled in turn. "I swear her mouth is only so big so she can take in all the oxygen she wastes." He thought to himself. His face lit up as he formed a plan. He flew through the tunnels keeping her close until he heard the tell tale call of a train on tracks heading his way. Looking back he smirked and activated his afterburners. With no escape she found herself running right into his smoke trail. Letting out a slew of hacks and coughs she heard the horn of the on coming subway. She managed to rush to the side of the tunnel barely missing the passing train. As her vision returned she saw Brick hanging on the tail of train. He was holding something that looked like a weird grenade and with a smirk dropped it on the tracks. "A gift for you Pinkie!" He called out as he left her sight.

"Is he crazy!" She panicked and rushed to it trying to kick it away, but before she could kick it a white bright light blinded her, even more so with her super sights being used to the dark environment she was in.

She let out a cry of pain holding her eyes, "It was a stupid firework!" She cried out. It was a few minutes of blinking away the blurriness from her eyes before she could see clearly again. Looking around she couldn't see any sign of the train or the boy attached to it. With a defeated sigh she followed the tracks to the nearest stop and made her way out side.

"Now what? He could literally be anywhere in the city." She said with a huff. Crossing her arms she floated to the skies when she heard the thunderous roar from a creature a few blocks away. "Well, at least I got some work to do still." She thought as a small smile appeared on her face.

When she reached the monster attack she felt her skin grow cold and lose color. Standing tall with determined rage in it's eyes was the tall orange monster that appeared many years ago. In its claws was the top half of a skyscraper, and it was shaking it over it's open mouth like a bag of chips. Thankfully between the building and the open jaws of the beast was a line of red dancing between roofs at high speeds. "Lady luck I knew you would help me out." She said knowing Brick wouldn't run from her now.

She dashed forward to see a haggard Brick floating with his hands on his knees. "Good job rescuing those citizens." She sad patting his back. The sudden voice and physical contact made him jump from the startled fright.

"Fuck Pinkie maybe don't sneak up on people, god!" He let a shout between swallowing his dry breath.

"Well excuse me, but had you not ditched me I could have helped with the rescue." She said sticking her tongue out.

"Not the time, It got a few people we need to stop this thing." He said dashing forward.

"That's not going to work." She sang while watching Brick slam against the skin and bounce off with a few choice words. "Told you." She said with her arms crossed when she floated down to him.

"Fuck off, at least I'm trying what have you done, besides make sarcastic comments?" He spat wiping the dirt from his ball cap.

"Wait here let me try something." Upon floating eye level to the monster she took a deep breath "Excuse me, I know you're probably angry, but I do not feel your acts of violence against our fair city are justified. If you could be so kind, could you please vacate the city?" She placed both of her hands in front of her and pleaded, "Please."

"Oh what the fuck is she doing?" Brick asked as he watched. Much to his surprise the monster did in fact turn around and seem to be leaving. Looking up he saw Blossom staring down at him with a smile on her face. She looked about ready to say something when the monster's tail rose and slammed her into the concrete, the tip missing Brick by a mere few inches. "What the hell was the supposed to do? It's a monster it doesn't have empathy!" He yelled at the crater Blossom laid face down in.

Shooting up pointing at him she yelled, "It worked once before!"

"Well shit Pinkie, maybe you should have added sugar lumps on with that please." He scowled down at her, "The fact remains it's still here and it's taken lives with more planned. We need a plan!"

"You took the words from my mouth." She said shaking out the debris from her hair, "It's skin is too thick for any physical attack, we need an edge over this monster." She said raising an hand to her chin. As they stared they watched as a news helicopter flew too close and was struck by the claws of the creature flicking it away.

"Shit!" Brick yelled and took off before Blossom could say anything. Brick managed to grab a hold of the helicopter and slow it down, but it still crashed through a few floors of the building it ran into. Hearing groans of pain over the slowing blades he looked inside the cabin he saw three people including the pilot. "Are you all alright?" They only answered back in grunts and nods as one reporter seemed to vomit off the side. Looking up he grabbed the blades of the copter stopping them completely. "I hope you don't mind if I borrow this." He said out loud and ripped it off the turbine.

With the blade beneath him he flew back to the monster, "Hey shit lick lookie here!" He screamed as the monster turned his attention from Blossom under his foot to Brick. Blossom gave a grimace as she watched the blade get rammed into the monsters left eye. The sudden shock managed to get the monster to release it's foot off of Blossom clutching the effect eye ripping out the object and slamming on the ground in front of him.

"I leave for a minute and comeback to find you literally ground into the dirt by its heel." He said helping her up.

"Don't ask." She said ripping her arm away from him. "Well that's blinded him and made him even angrier, I don't think the prettiest please in the world will get him to leave." She said looking down to the creature still clutching its eye as blood spilled between his fingers. "We need to take it down, now. You got any ideas?" She said turning to Brick.

"We need to take it down from the inside. We're ants in size compared to it, we just need to get inside somehow."

Blossom rolled her eyes, "You know it's skin will be just as thick inside as out."

"You forget I'm a master of taking things down from the inside." He said with a sneer, "You have that ice breath right?"

"Yeah why?"

"Look I'll distract it, when it opens its stupid halitosis infected mouth fly down to it's lungs and freeze the bronchial tubing, it will suffocate it, if nothing else freeze it enough and break them."

"That's disgusting." her jaw dropped into shock.

"Hey, I would do it, but I don't have that power." He said with a shrug.

"Fine, just make it quick." She said shaking her head in preparation for the task.

Brick flew and landed on it's snout in front of it's right eye. "Hey don't be so mad, I hear the eye scar thing is really in this year!" He called out with a smug smile. The lid of the monster shot open and looked at the boy standing inches away. Bad move on the monsters part, as Brick shot bright focused near white blast from his eyes into the creatures retina. The monster let out another scream clutching both eyes at this point Powering through the hot humid breath Blossom made her way into the lungs best she could.

After it closed it's mouth it opened the eye, and Brick was met with a gleeful look on his face to the hole he created in the eye. "Hey just think; if you live through this how bad-ass the other monsters will think you are!" The monster couldn't feel or see the boy, but tried to smack where he thought he was, but missed ripping his hand on the horn on the edge of his snout. "So the only thing to cut you open is yourself huh? Very fitting." He thought to himself as he watched the blood drip from the fresh wound.

Blossom inside the creature was wondering how she got talked into this. "I can't even see in here, how did he think I would find it. Focusing her hearing she heard the muscles around her steadily contract and expand. "Screw it, just blast the whole thing." She thought, and let out as much ice as her breath would allow.

On the outside the monster was swinging it's arms wildly until it stopped and clutched it's chest. It seemed to try and scream but barely a whimper was escaping. Looking down at it's chest where it was repeatedly striking Brick could see frost forming. "I wonder what would happen it I managed to pierce that spot." A smile formed on his face. Seeing the tear on the monsters hand he could the joints to one of it's fingers. "I hope this works." He laughed and shot as fast as he could into the joint. The pain he felt upon striking the bone was almost unbearable until he heard the bones snap and break. He broke through the other side of the knuckle slammed painfully on the monsters chest. "Well, I didn't plan that part too well did I?" He laughed as he fell to the ground next to the freshly amputated finger.

Blossom was keeping up her attack inside. She was thankful there seemed to plenty of usable oxygen but was still finding it hard to keep it up, needing to pause each time for more and more breath.

Brick was wobbling to the finger and upon flopping on top of the appendage he shook away his dizziness and lifted it into the air. Looking at the face of the monster he could tell it was growing weaker, it was struggling for breath, its left eye and right finger were bleeding profusely. With a yell brick charged the frostbitten spot on it's chest with the claw out. He was beginning to feel the fatigue of the battle, but something he couldn't explain pumped energy from his chest throughout his body.

Blossom was hovering feeling the affects of her ice attack all around her, She was unable to think of a way out knowing her laser wouldn't cut through the skin and she couldn't find the opening of the lung anywhere in the frosty darkness. "That jerk tricked me into giving my life for this." She thought bitterly. Just as she was about to let loose a slew of curse words she could hear something breaking through the ice wall in front of her. As light flooded the area around her she saw Brick breathing hard in a tunnel of light he created.

He dropped the finger he was holding and yelled, "It's dying you better get out of here!" As he flew back through the hole. She followed so fast she nearly passed him as they exited the creature. The monster now was motionless, a small river of green blood running from the corner of it's mouth. Brick cautiously flew to it's chest and tried to listen. "Huh, I've never seen something die standing up before." He said looking at the face of the monster.

"So it's dead then?" A shivering Blossom asked, letting out a fire filled sneeze.

"Yeah, you did such a good job I could see the frost forming on the outside of the monster, you probably froze its heart in the process. Looking at the hole Brick created she could see ice falling from the top of the opening. She had to admit it was a good plan, just too dangerous for her own liking. She was about to let out a lecture at him, but turning around she found him gone. There was a crowd of people appearing from the nearby streets, she guessed Brick was hiding among them. Unbeknownst to both Brick and Blossom, Mayor Bellum was holding a phone ready to call the rest of the boys and girls, but never did. She had a smile on her face seeing the two leaders work together to solve this unexpected problem. As she redialed to have the national guard to come collect the monster carcass as they usually would after these attack she looked down at the police report in front of her.

They detailed a small string of jewelry store robberies happening in the dead of the night. She was holding off turning this over to either the boys or girls for a moment, but came up with another plan as she informed the guard of the new monster body for collection. After the call was made she made a mental note, "Let's see if they can work together as detectives."