A.N. Read and review would you kindly.

Flashbacks and Determination

Brick's heavy breathing was creating small puffs of vapor with the deep drop in temperature the tropical island night brought him. Juices from a few berries he just threw in his mouth was dripping down the corner of his lips. He was trying to catch some breath and hide from a few of the monsters still alive and looking for him. The biggest ones he already took care of, but the smaller ones had a huge strength in numbers. He was fighting back tears, not from pain or fatigue but fear.

For the first time since he decided to enact his plan for revenge he felt afraid. Something finally snapped in his head and martyrdom didn't strike him as pleasing. Besides who would know about his current predicament to make him one in the first place. He did after all leave without telling anyone where he was going. What coerced him to try this alone was nothing short of an enigma. "I should have brought Butch and Boomer with me." He growled as he cleared his dry throat. Cursing the berries for not quenching his thirst as he hoped.

Falling to his knees, he considered retreat and regroup. Looking up he saw a patrol of flying monsters, of varying parodies of natures own flying creations. Swimming was out of the question, from his darkened hiding spot he saw a ground patrol keeping him from the ocean. The screeches and howls of the monsters nearby sank in the fact he either succeeded or died. Falling to his knees he let a few drops fall from his prideful crimson eyes. "I can't die! Not here and not me!" He cursed himself inside his head. He felt so stupid for doing this.

He could hear Blossom's words echo in his head. "I wish you could have been a little good, but you're not. I beat you because I'm a good person, and smarter than you."

"I'm smart now, I'm more powerful, A master at strategy." He pounded the ground with his fist. As he ranted internally. "This should be a cakewalk for someone like me. I'm the whole damn package in terms of a soldier and fighter." Another fist broke the ground around him shaking the island with each strike.

Just then something rang out in his head. "You've only held yourself back. Quit playing with your prey and fight like you mean it." A new voice rang in his head. Familiar yet strange. "You have more power waiting to be unleashed. Stand up! Forge you're path! Live!" As the voice grew more intense it rang and echoed in his head. His skin began to glow red, his eyes lost all color as his eyes became white shapes adorning his red silhouette. His skin felt like it was on fire, letting out a screech of his own shaking the very ground of the island he dove after the monsters. Red flames shot from his body and he proceeded to fly through any monster he came across. A few of them he grabbed with a sadistic grin hidden in his energized form and impaled them on the first sharp thing he could find, usually a horn or talon of another larger monster. Many smaller monsters we're left with with Brick sized bullet holes in their throats. Using the beak on one pterodactyl creature he carved a large gash from the chin of one monster down to its gullet. The flood of blood doing nothing in terms of cooling his temper or fiery state. So no matter how his instincts chose to finish off the beasts, each one felt fire encase them and burn down to the soul of the creature.

After exterminating the island, even those foolish enough to beg for mercy he unleashed yet another scream shaking and ruining the foundation of the island. His skin returned to normal and he fell forward passing out in the sand. The instant before he landed in the sand he shattered the sleep in his eyes, and he shot up.

Looking around he was back in his room, he was wearing his pajama bottoms, and sweat was shooting from his skin like bullets. Seeing the towel he was wearing yesterday, during Blossoms little lecture, brought him back to the present. Shaking the memories from his dream, he slid his feet over the side of the bed. "Fucking flashbacks." he said stretching his arms over his head.

Shaking the sleep from his eyes, as well as a few hair strands he stood up and placed a simple black tank top on his being before he made a sluggish trek to the kitchen. It was very early, the sun hadn't even broken the darkness surrounding the city. He prepared himself a cup of coffee and lazily leaned on the counter. The clock on the oven blinked just past four. He let out a sigh of satisfaction as he sipped on his freshly brewed coffee, and went up to the roof to observe the city skyline.

Memories swirled inside his head from the past few days. The images from some of the way he ended the monsters were plastered inside his head. Some he managed to grab and lodge inside the bigger beasts throats, others he burned, some were impaled among trees he broke, one he remember tearing apart like an angry kid with a tissue.

Strangely enough for Brick another set of memories played inside his head, the fight with the big orange monster. He had to admit, it was neat teaming up with the Puff. She knew a good plan and didn't mind acting without asking why. His brothers always followed orders, but planning new attacks was hopeless unless he could add flare to it to make his brothers think they would look cool performing the formations. Being able to relay a plan and having it be absorbed the first time he found pleasantly different.

He found himself lost in his memories of the last few days. More and more he found himself remembering the chase and fight with Blossom. He justified it to himself as a character study. He never had the chance to observe her behavior outside a fight. He ignored the fact that interacting with her made him feel less empty inside. Hell he won't admit to anyone, not even himself, he had fun interacting with her. As the sun began to rise he had long emptied his cup, but never found himself leaving his spot until Boomer rose up in his sight.

"Hey Boom, what's up?" Brick casually said.

"Hey, saw your bedroom open and you were absent, wanted to make sure you didn't run off on any new suicide missions without us." He said punching Brick in the arm.

"Yeah, hey listen I'm sorry I should have brought you and Butch along." He said leaning back rubbing the spot Boomer hit with feigned pain.

"Oh wow, is that our fearless leader admitting he was wrong?" Boomer asked with a teasing smirk on his face.

"About as close as you'll ever hear from me." Brick gave a small chuckle. "So why are you up so early today?"

"I got to be at work in a little bit. Doing some landscaping and stuff like that. They need me on first shift today for training. I guess it'll be my first time using a mower." He said with a sigh. He turned around and was about to head inside when he turned back to Brick, "Hey Butch said Bellum needed to talk to you when you wake up, give her a call at some point." And with that Boomer removed himself from Brick's sight.

Boomer was still mad at Brick for his ludicrously idiotic choices, but the relief of seeing him alive and well outweighed the anger he had. After he made his leave Brick raised a brow. "What does the Mayor need now?"

Collecting his stuff he made his way back inside. He managed to catch Boomer on his way out and gave him a wave off. He found the satellite phone sitting on the counter he left it on. Seeing a few missed calls from the mayor he clicked her number and listened.

"Mayor Bellum speaking." Her authoritative voice made it's way into his ears.

"Hey Mayor, I was told you needed to talk to me." He responded with apathy.

"Yes, I need you in my office in about an hour. See you then." Before he could respond she ended the call. Brick rolled his eyes and went to shower.

Strolling in through city hall Brick had his hands behind his head and was walking briskly to the office housing the mayor. His mood grew cold as he heard someone call his name. "Brick?" A slight twitch covered his left eye as he turned around to see Blossom standing there. He spent little time trying to figure out something to say, but instead scoffed and continued his trek.

"Well that was rude." Blossom thought crossing her arms across her chest. "Hey! Wait up." Despite her calling out to him he remained ever driven in his path. Catching up to him she grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look at her.

He glared at her hand with a demon's growl escaping his lips. "What do you want?" He finally said as she retracted her hand.

She matched his glare with a sass filled smirk, "I could ask you the same thing. I was told to come here."

"Bellum told me she needed to talk to me. Can I go now? Or do I have some new lecture to listen to." Brick said.

Her smirk dropped as she recalled the memory of their disagreement. "Well, if you weren't so reckless I wouldn't have to lecture you."

"And I reiterate, why the hell do you care?" He spat.

"Because, dumb dumb, I just do. I don't need a reason to care about someone." She decided to play into his ego to get him to act civil. There was no way they were both called her coincidentally. "Especially someone who values strategic planning." His face seemed to soften at the compliment, "Look clearly Bellum wants us both, so we may have to work together on something. We can at least try to be friends can't we?"

"Easier said than done." He said looking to the side.

"Bullshit," He looked at her surprised to hear prim and proper Blossom cuss, "We're both leaders, tenacious, goal oriented, and together we get stuff done." She glared at him. "It might be a surprise to know that me and my sisters couldn't beat that stupid monster me and you took down."

"Well of course not." He refused to look her in the eye feeling heat flush his cheeks. "I have a much more brutal imagination."

She let out a sigh and spoke softly. "Who else is gonna understand you Brick?" she took a slight pause and placed a hand on her chest, "who else is ever going to try to understand you like me? If our siblings can get along like they do, then we should be able to be better friends cause we're far too much alike to be enemies any longer."

Brick had to concede to one point. No one else could understand the stress of being a leader like her. "Tch, whatever." he said and walked off, though he did turn around, "If Bellum wants us both are you coming?" With a smile gracing her face and a small feeling of satisfaction growing in her heart she caught up to him.

In her office Bellum watched the door swing open with Brick and Blossom walking in. Brick had his hands behind his head, and Blossom was almost marching to her desk. "You wanted to see us?" Blossom said taking the initiative while Brick lazily floated in the air.

"Yes I did, first off however," She paused and spoke with a considerable casual tone, "I wanted to say congratulations on defeating that horrendous monster a few days ago." She said with an earnest smile.

"It was nothing just some clever thinking and teamwork." Blossom said with a smile to match the mayors. Brick rolled his eyes and listened.

"Yes I am aware it was Brick's idea that finished it off." She looked at the teenage boy and smiled, "Good job." He floated up and laid out on his back in the air to hide the blushing he had going on. He wasn't used to anyone but Langston complimenting his thinking. Hearing it from the two people who locked him up was unbearable. Bellum seemed a little put off by his behavior but continued. "That teamwork is exactly what I want to see from you two more often. Which is why I'm offering you two a job."

Brick looked down from his spot in the air, "You mean something that actually pays? Or just some community service?" His paper route fired him for his absenteeism, and was wondering what else he could do for money.

"I will be hiring you two as special investigators. There has been a string of robberies, and I feel the two smartest teenagers in town would be the perfect duo to figure it all out." Looking up to Brick she let out a sigh, "And yes I will be paying you."

Brick liked the sound of that. Not to mention special investigator would probably look good on a resume of sorts for his future goals. Something didn't add up in his mind though. "Why aren't the police doing anything about it? Isn't this kinda their job?"

"Well, that's the issue. There is nothing for them to go off of. No prints, no camera footage. Or even a time when it happened. The owners just walk into their shops ransacked the next morning." She handed Blossom the file she had on her desk. "Besides Blossom here has plenty of experience helping with these."

"Then why waste my time if she is all you need?" Brick asked. Blossom looked up at him with an annoyed look on her face.

"Because you operate on a different level. You know the criminal underground and how they work. You think outside the box. You two compliment each other perfectly." Brick still didn't seem convinced. Bellum, however, remembered one thing from his extensive criminal file. He never liked having his intelligence belittled or being shown up by Blossom. "Or are you saying you're less effective than Blossom? With that kind of thinking you just might be dead weight, I at least know Blossom would have the right attitude." She smirked while she seemed to examine her nails.

"The funny thing is, I know you're playing me," A competitive feeling bubbled in his chest as he showed a cocky smirk. "but I'd be damned before I let her get gloating rights over me."

"As I understand it you were damned once before already." Blossom giggled at Bellum's remark.
"That was that! This is this! I accept the job." Brick said grabbing a file from Blossom.

"It's always the ego with men isn't it." Bellum laughed inside her own head. "Well good. I trust you two won't let me down, but I want to say this before I hear about this cliché happening. You two are partners. Neither one of you is over the other. So I expect solid teamwork from you two." She said with a stern voice and expression.

She handed them both an envelope with a check written out for a grand each, and a pay-stub. "Your first paycheck. You should find a spot in the archive room in the prison sectioned off for you two. Don't let me down." She said with a wave as they left her office.

Blossom and Brick had a hard time letting their eyes leave the piece of paper they held. "A whole grand," Brick said. "Even after all the taxes were taken out." Blossom finished in awe looking over the second piece of paper.

They both decided to head to the bank first to drop off the check before it would close that day. Once each had deposited their money, Blossom into savings with a few hundred into checking, Brick just kept his in checking. They made their way to the prison house.

"Well well well, Mr Big-shot has finally come to see his ole pal Jerome." The receptionist greeted the two as they walked in. "I don't hear from you for what? A few months? You're gonna break my heart with that kind of treatment Brick." Jerome laughed as he feigned chest pains.

Brick rolled his eyes, "Sorry man, would a fist bump help?" He said extending his arm.

"It just might little man." Jerome laughed as he extended his fist into Bricks. Noticing Blossom behind him Jerome decided to have some fun.

"Awe you brought a girl with you." Jerome laughed as he rested his chin on his left hand. He faked surprise and spoke, "Wait she has a pretty red bow just like the one you keep in that jacket of yours. Ohhh is this the special little lady it came from?" Jerome was unfazed by the heat of embarassed anger radiating from Brick. Feeling the familiar eye twitched and he stormed past the desk to the stairs.

Blossom hearing the exchange couldn't help but feel confused. Until she recalled the fact he happen to get his paws on her bow right before she trapped him. "Nice meeting you." She waved and walked past to the stairs in a vain attempt to catch up to Brick.

"Meeting the famous Blossom? I'm sure the pleasures all mine." He laughed and went back to the work he had before the two redheads entered. A few minutes passed and suddenly Brick was standing back at the desk with a scowl.

"For your information I got rid of that stupid thing a while ago." Brick hissed at Jerome.

"Well, come see me and I might know these things now wouldn't I?" Jerome laughed. Brick threw his hands in the air and walked back to wherever he was heading. "Enjoy the awkward feeling telling her you got rid of it when she asks!" He called out with a laugh.

"I hate you so much right now!" Brick growled.

"I know you mean love!" Jerome said sealing in the final word.

Brick made his way up the stairs and walked into the archive room. The room had a few tables with lamps on each of them and a multitude of filing cabinets. Blossom was no where to be seen and he was rather thankful for that. He did not need to explain that horrid trinket he held onto. His relief didn't last long as he could hear her voice coming from the back. "I found the section Mayor Bellum mentioned." Walking to the source he saw a little setup with a cork-board, a table with two lamps and two chairs. Utonium and Rowdyruff was printed on paper and taped to the chairs.

"Not a bad setup I guess." he said looking at the three files sitting on the table. Opening them up he tacked up the pictures of the three jewelry stores to be hit so far. Two were actually pawn shops specializing in jewelry. Each has a different owner, is placed in random areas of the city, and had minor security systems.

Blossom was sneaking peaks at Brick. She couldn't help but wonder if he really did keep that bow from all those years ago. "See anything?" Brick asked not looking away from the three pictures on the board.

"No, there isn't a pattern beyond no trace evidence. Two of the places have CCTV security the other has both CCTV and a small laser trip system."

"The first two were the pawn shops right?" Brick asked turning around. Blossom nodded looking down at the file. Brick furrowed his brow. Something seemed off. They were in and out in under a few minutes. The gates to the buildings unlocked, Cameras disabled, and any alarm system shut off. It was too quick and clean for it not to be planned. Now they've graduated to the more expensive stuff.

"So why do you think they stopped hitting pawn stores?" Brick asked.

"It's likely to pay more money?" She said unsure of herself.

"Or they needed an added challenge to get the same thrill, but only two hits and they need more? Something tells me their moving along to some sort of plan." Brick said looking through one of the files.

"Well whatever they're doing we will stop it. We're the two smartest people in town." She said with confidence.

Brick shook his head and took his seat reading the file detailing the jewelry store. They sat in silence for a while each trading files when the other was done with theirs. The sneaking glances Brick caught Blossom doing started building aggravation. "What is it?" He said not looking away from his file.

"So you did actually keep the bow?" She said with a knowing smirk.

Brick dropped his head to the table, "Does it matter?." his voice muffled by the table. Turning his head he saw the look in her eyes telling him she wouldn't just drop it. "Yeah, I did." He said returning his face back into the desk.

"So where is it now?" She smirked and placed her cheek on her hand.

"It's dust and scattered by the wind. I burned it at graduation." he replied coldly. Blossom felt a little hurt hearing it. She was amazed he held onto it for so long, but didn't like the thought of it being ruined.

"You could have given it back instead you know."

"That was the original plan." He mumbled.

"What was that?" She let out a small laugh, "So you did graduate early because of me." She was holding back a fit of giggles.

"Well it's irrelevant now isn't it." He said sitting up with a scowl.

"Oh no your caught!" She teased, "You also only started playing nice after we were reunited that day. Is becoming a hero because of me too?"

"Shut it Pinkie." He glared.

"All this to impress me?" She crossed her arms and feigned amazement. "If you wanted to impress me you didn't have to go all Alex Delarge on the criminal populace you know." Looking over she saw Brick's face frozen with a face of rage, the only thing moving was his left eye in a twitch.

"I've seen enough of these files. I'm out." He said standing up fast enough to knock his chair back. Storming out he yelled, "I'll keep an eye out for anymore break ins. You get whatever is in your head out!" Right after Brick left the room, Blossom let out a slew of laughs and giggles. She honestly felt a little bad for laughing, but she couldn't help it. After failing to pin him down psychologically, she just easily broke the wall of an act he put up and got straight to the smooshy side of Brick's motives.

As Brick stomped out the door he looked at Jerome, "If I had a middle finger I would be sending it your way right now." He growled. Just as he went the the door of the police station he could hear Jerome snickering behind his desk.

Flying off Bricks head was a swarm of angry thoughts. "That was too close!" His thoughts raged in his head. "She can't learn about my plan just yet." Brick was racing across the skies just trying to blow off some steam. "Why the hell did I even talk about it?" He gritted his teeth and cursed himself. "I should have just lied about it, I could have avoided that stupid conversation. I haven't felt this embarrassed in a long time. When I find whoever is robbing these dumb stores, I'm going to make them pay." These were some of the thoughts that kept looping throughout his head over and over and over again for the rest afternoon and well into the evening.

Blossom ended up spending more time looking through the files when she started feeling like she'd seen this all before. Perfect robberies like this didn't happen often, and the last one she remembers was pulled off by the Gangrene Gang. "I better have a visit with those boys." She thought as she organized the desk for tomorrow. She would tell Brick about it tomorrow and they could go see them together, after all Mayor Bellum demanded they act as partners.

A.N. this was a hard chapter to write, it went through rewrites, loss of focus and motivation, so many times I stopped working on it all together. But it is done, hopefully now that i have this awkward transition period over I can continue easier knowing where I want to go.