Breakfast Shenanigans

Boomer was brushing his hair out to the sides, he was excited to get to work, they were asking him to help clear the guest exhibit to bring in the rain forest display. The exhibit was going to be held in a few different rooms in the guest building each containing different animals. While the mammal selection would contain some big cats, and the birds coming in were cool, he was the most excited for the reptile exhibit. It was going to house a Green Anaconda, two Komodo Dragons, a few vipers, and one of the last Orinoco Crocodiles.

He had spent half the day after learning how to work the riding mower yesterday clearing out the hippo sanctuary. The dragons would be the temporary residents while the hippo was sent to a neighboring zoo during the month. Today they we're going to be cleaning and moving tanks in for the smaller animals, and he was almost rushing through getting himself ready.

With a final check in the mirror to make sure his teeth were clean he stepped out of the bathroom, only to hear weird grunts and moans coming from Brick's room. Their leader came home nearly tearing the door down with his foot. His foul mood was left to be questioned by both of his brothers. He barely said anything beyond a hello to Butch and Boomer, and went on into his room. Last night he only sound to come out of his room was from him grunting during his workout. Despite those annoying noises Boomer never felt the need to try and get him to stop even after Butch left for work last night. Whatever caused him to get so pissed it was good just to let him work the steam out.

These new morning noises, however, sent a shiver of worry up Boomer's spine. He was beginning to feel conflicted, on the one hand, he was still upset Brick did something as stupid as monster isle by himself, but on the other hand, they're still brothers.

With fraternal love winning out in the end Boomer lightly turned the knob and entered Brick's room. Boomer was shocked to see his brother asleep still, he usually was the last to bed, but the first to rise. The initial shock was overtaken by the look on Brick's face. It was covered in sweat, his eye brows were pushed down, and his teeth were shown through a snarl. The moans of pain and suffering was constant now, and getting louder.

Brick was having a nightmare.

Boomer had never seen Brick in such a state, and seeing it now, trapped by his own subconscious unnerved Boomer to no end. Butch's room was right in between Boomer and Bricks room, how he managed to sleep through this was a mystery. Although Butch sounded like a chainsaw in his sleep every night so maybe they learned how to block each other out. Boomer went into the bathroom connected to Brick's room. He got a washcloth and soaked it in cold water. Walking back into the room he stood over Brick, wondering how to wake him up. With a shrug to himself he sent his hand across Brick's cheek, slapping him awake, hard. Brick's eyes shot open, but before he could register what or even who did it Boomer threw the cool damp cloth on his face.

Brick's body tensed up, but soon relaxed. His hands went up to the cloth and wiped it from his face. Pulling it down, he locked eyes with Boomer. "Thanks." Brick said sitting up, "I needed that." Boomer let a smirk grow on his face.

"So what was that Brick?" He said folding his arms to match his smug smile. "Never seen you have a nightmare before."

"It wasn't a nightmare," Brick said shaking the damp hair from his eyes. "It was a stupid flashback."

"Of what?" Boomer had to ask, Brick didn't scare easily, not even when the brothers were in hell.

"That dumb island." Brick spat. "This is the second night I've had a flashback about it." Looking up at Boomer he noticed the curiosity in his eyes. Brick let out a sigh and went on to explain his flashbacks. The dark cold island, the voice, and the weird form he took to the end. Boomer just listened, "That power though, I'll be the first to admit it was intoxicating, but having to be that harshly beaten down to get that kind of last resort power, it's just not worth it." Brick said shaking his head. Standing up he went to go put on a clean shirt shirt.

"Well," Boomer said landing on the edge of Brick's bed, "At least you don't have to do anything that stressful ever again."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Brick let out a sigh as he collected a clean pair of pants and walked into his bathroom.

"Why not?"

"The mayor is having me and Pinkie work together to solve a string of lame-ass jewelry stores." He called out from behind the door.

"You actually agreed to work with a puff? Blossom no less?"

"The pay is great, plus adding special investigator to a resume sounds kinda awesome." Brick said opening the door.

"I sense a but coming up." Boomer said.

"You remember how I used to hold on to that bow I got when they locked us up?" Boomer nodded trying to stop the smirk growing on his face. "Well, Jerome thought it'd be a good idea to tell Blossom about it." Brick said letting a deflating sigh out as he plopped on his bed.

"Ohhhhh so big bad Brick is too embarrassed to face Blossom now?" He let out a small snicker.

"It's not that, but she kept bugging me about it."

"So? Dude come on there is no way dealing with Blossom is anywhere near as stressful as fighting a legion of monsters." Boomer laughed, then a look of surprise washed over his face. "Unless you have some sort of feelings for her." Boomer leaned in with a smirk.

"You've said a lot of dumb ass things Boomer but that one tops the list. It's stressful because I'm planning on destroying the girls, remember dumb dumb?" Brick snarled with a few taps on Boomers head.

Slapping his hand away Boomer let out a laugh. "Yeah sure bro, whatever you say." Boomer ignored the hateful glare of his sibling as he sat up. "I better take off, I heard one person quite so even though they got me, we might be short handed." Boomer said walking out the bedroom door. He turned around and gave another look to Brick. "Hey though, if this job means you're taking someone down, how about including me and Butch this time. We're a strike team remember?" And before Brick could answer Boomer walked out of the room. Walking past Butch's room he could still hear the sound of snoring filling the room. "Damn, Butch can sleep through anything." he laughed inside his head. With a rush of early morning city wind and sunrise hitting his face he took off to the zoo.

Brick finished brushing his teeth, and wanting to keep his own schedule, skipped breakfast and went off to the police department. Arriving at 7 am sharp he walked into the makeshift office finding it lacking his partner. Both a feeling of relief and annoyance washed over him. He really didn't want to face her after his little fit yesterday. But he knew he needed her here to start talking about their next step.

After about fifteen minutes of debating whether or not he should wait for her, productivity won out in the end and he left to go get her. A short flight later he landed in the Utonium lawn. Despite feeling strange he reached out to knock on the door. Just as he was about to hit the door, it flew in and he felt the impact of a body running into him. Looking down he saw gold hair and blue eyes slowly moving up to his eyes. "Bubbles?" Brick said uneasy.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed with her eyes closing to slits.

"Didn't Pinkie tell you we're partners in a case now?" Brick said with apathy laced venom.

Looking back into the house she called out, "Blossom you've got a visitor!" she turned back to Brick and spat, "You're lucky I've got orientation soon." With that she flew past Brick and headed into the city.

"What's with the hostility?" Brick internally scolded while he eyed the retreating puff.

"Brick? What are you doing here?" Blossom's voice rang out behind him.

Turning around he saw her standing in the door frame. She had her hair tied behind her, she was in a pink blouse, with the hem hanging over skinny black jeans. "It's past seven and we've got work to do." He said plainly.

"Well, had you not just shot off yesterday we could have talked about a daily start time, but since you did, I'm going to follow my own routine and I'm not doing anything until I've eaten breakfast with my family." She said with a smirk dancing on her face leaning against the door frame. "Unless you're feeling anti-social you may come in and join us."

Brick was about to object when his empty gut betrayed him at the prospect of food. "I could eat, but I'll just pick up something and wait for you back at the station." Brick said trying to keep from embarrassment.

"Oh quit being so macho it's free food, and you can't do any work without me." Looking up at Brick she noted he didn't seem convinced, "Or the lead I got." Brick's face relented and she smirked at her own little victory. With a gesture she led Brick into her home.

Looking around he noticed the smell of pepper and spices in the air as well as the sound of something frying. She sat him down in the living room "Wait here, I'll let you know when breakfast is ready, you can just have the plate Bubbles was going to have." and retreated into the kitchen.

The feeling of regret built up inside of him, until he singled out a familiar scent. Standing up and walking into the kitchen he saw a full pot of coffee sitting on the counter. Keane had noticed Brick walking into the kitchen. If Blossom hadn't warned her of their guest she probably would have let out a terrified scream, but instead she gave an earnest smile seeing Brick stare at the coffee with desire. "Would you like a cup?" She asked.

Brick lost in his trance snapped back into reality. "Uhh yeah, if that's alright." Blossom took notice of Brick and let out a relieved sigh. She had been worried he would just leave. She was taking her promise to the Mayor very seriously, and if all it took to keep Brick in her sight was a fresh cup of coffee she would have an easier time of it.

"Here, we don't have any creamer but milk is in the fridge and sugar on the counter." She said handing him a white mug. She noticed how he put three spoonfuls of sugar in then poured the liquid in. The professor, who was the only coffee drinker in the house with all the girls preferring tea, did the same thing almost daily. "Maybe it's a male thing?" She thought to herself and watched as Brick went back into the living room.

Sitting down with the mug Brick felt a little more comfortable. Until he heard the sound of groggy footsteps coming from the stairs. Looking up he locked eyes with a very angry looking man in a white robe. "Professor." Brick said matching the intensity of the stare.

"What are you doing in my house."

"My partner insists I eat with her before we head off to the station." The hostility here was understandable. Brick had to admit the aging scientist managed to give him a run for his money in their fight.

"Blossom told me the mayor asked you two to work together." The professor said walking up to Brick, then through gritted teeth he leaned over the youth, "But why couldn't you have just stayed gone?"

"And miss your smiling face? Never." Standing up and matching the glare he continued, "and besides I think you know exactly how resilient I am Professor." Brick retorted through a forced smile. It had begun a battle of wills neither one wanting to be the first to break eye contact, until the sound of Keane clearing her throat destroyed the silence.

"Uh, Jack I see you're getting along with our guest." She said holding a mug of steaming coffee for him. He took the cup with a thanks, and headed into the kitchen lost in his cup of coffee. "He isn't usually like that." Keane said smiling down at Brick.

"He doesn't usually wake up to see me sitting on his couch." Brick said with his eyes half closed. "So are you their mom or something?" Brick asked trying to kill the awkward feeling of her standing over him with a smile.

She sat on the armchair next to him and spoke, "I'm probably one of the closest things they have had. I do hope I get that far one day, but I'm just the Professor's live in girlfriend for now." She never dropped her smile as she spoke. "I have known them pretty much all their life though. I was their kindergarten teacher, and the eventual superintendent of their school system." with a thought she finished, "And yours too I guess." With a small chuckle she asked, "What about you? Any parents?"

"Not really, Mojo created us, HIM resurrected us, but the closest thing to someone who actually cared enough to raise us would be our probation officer." Brick noticed how easy it was to tell her this. He wondered what kept him at ease enough to open up, but he didn't dwell on it.

She looked like she was trying to decide what to say to the boy, but decided against everything. Maybe it was too much time had passed and anything would have sounded insincere, whatever the case she stood up and walked to the stairs. "I better get Buttercup up, Breakfast is almost ready after all." She said through her uncomfortable giggle.

"That was weird." Brick thought to himself. He himself never really talked to anyone besides his brothers or people with some sort of business with him. Small talk was certainly something he should work on. Lost in thought and sipping on his coffee his barely even noticed the streak of green light dashing past him.

Buttercup herself was too focused on the kitchen table holding her breakfast to pay attention to the red head on the couch. Landing in her seat fast enough to make it rock she looked at the food and licked her lips. If it wasn't for the glare from Blossom holding her wooden spoon up just waiting to hit her with it she would have already filled her plate up. Instead she waited for Keane to make her way back to the kitchen.

Her empty stomach made her feel an eternity pass before she saw Keane round the stairs, but just before she entered she heard her look to the side and tell someone the food was ready. She went back to mentally picking what food she was about to grab when she finally took notice of the extra male presence sitting down across the table from her.

Brick rolled his eyes to the obvious question Buttercup nearly yelled at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I invited him in, when we're done eating we have a case to work." Blossom said sitting in her own chair.

"Make him get his own food." Buttercup said stabbing a few pancakes and dropping them on her plate.

"I was going to, your sister insisted I join you instead." Brick replied, grabbing a few bacon strips before she got to them.

"Great I have to eat with a Ruff and it's not even the fun one." She moaned.

"I take it you mean Butch? He's home sleeping." Brick said trying to be polite.

"Yeah at least with him if a fight breaks out I can enjoy it. You're a boring fight." She eyed him with a smirk. "After all, what fun is a fight I'd know I win."

"Are you just feeling particularly aggressive this morning or are you always suicidal. Cause that's a problem you should see a professional about." Brick retorted.

"I bet you could give me a few different recommendations. Remember you're the only one at this table who had to have court mandated therapy." Buttercup leaned over squinting her eyes. Blossom and Keane's protests fell on deaf ears while the two argued. The professor chuckled a bit at his daughters remark. He didn't bother even trying to stop the bickering.

"Only one, but I kinda like the guy. I'd hate to waste his time on you." Brick said matching her gaze.

"If he is so stressed on time maybe I should do him a favor and take you out and put you in your place." She leaned back with a smirk. "F.Y.I. That place is the bottom of my shoe."

"I'll take you on anytime flower power. Name the time and place." Brick growled. Shoving more food in his mouth.

"How about after breakfast then. The professor is always getting on me to take the trash out more."

"You're on." He spat then the two took to eating like they hadn't seen food in ages.

"Guys come on there is no need to fight." Blossom whined but the two we're locked in eye contact while they quickly devoured their meals. Only a few minutes later and both plates were licked clean and two lines raced out in the backyard.

"I'm not missing this show for the world." The professor said grabbing his coffee mug and following the two out. Blossom just stared at the open door slack jawed.

"I better make sure no one gets hurt." She quickly finished her meal and joined the professor.

Standing in the yard Brick and Buttercup we're standing apart from each other both yelling insults at each other.

"Awe does the big bad man not want to get started?" Buttercup said edging on Bricks growing temper.

"Ladies first, unless you're too scared that is." Brick laughed, and Buttercup snapped.

With a scream she rushed him sending a foot into his face forcing him off into the now destroyed fence. Charging after him she extended her arms and aimed for his cheek, seeing this he managed to grab her arm and use her own momentum to flip her into the dirt. Landing his heel into her rib cage he took off to the sky. With a growl escaping her throat she pursued him. Upon reaching him she struck the back of his head with both her arms forcing him forward a bit. Leveling out they locked eyes and Buttercup rushed to him again. This time it was her throwing punch after punch to him in the air, and him blocking each would be hit. Seeing her drop her speed in fighting him he latched his hands on her head and forced her face into his knee, punched each cheek and kicked her away from him.

Blossom was watching their retreating forms get further and further away. "I better make sure neither one takes it to far." She said with a defeated sigh.

"See if you can tape the moment Buttercup wins." The professor called out. She admired his confidence in Buttercup, but Blossom knew first hand Brick enjoys getting into his opponents head and toying around with them. If their last fight taught her anything that is. Buttercup would have to do more then just blindly attack him with brute force.

Back at the fight Brick was smirking and taunting Buttercup. "I thought you said you wanted to fight, but the most you've done Butterball is flail angrily at me."

Rage filling her eyes she charged at Brick who just flew off to the side. The game of cat and mouse went on for a few minutes, Brick's smirk grew into a cocky smile when he placed his hands behind his back as he dodged her. "Come on!" She yelled, "Why don't you try to hit me, or are you afraid."

Blossom had caught up to them and was watching Brick. "This is a good chance to see how he fights." She thought to herself. "Hopefully I can learn something."

"Not at all, I've just been thinking." Brick laughed before buttercup interrupted.

"That's what makes you a lame fighter, you have to think about everything it's a wonder you actually do anything in a fight!" She yelled between easily dodged punches.

"I think I figured out why you're so aggressive." He chuckled.

"Cause I'm the toughest fighter, duh."

"Are you? Because believe it or not I did spend a lot of time at the library. And I don't know if you know this or not, but they keep a newspaper archive. A lot of which contain your teams exploits." He said dancing around her punches and kicks.

Blossom knew this was him attempting to get into her head. She could see rage growing on her sisters face, and hoped she would remain calm.

"A few times, I read about how you failed at fighting. My personal favorite when Princess dominated you." Buttercup was growing more and more pissed as he lectured her in combat. "Then Blossom didn't even have to try to beat her. She just did." Brick sank a fist into her cheek sending her flying. "Kinda like that." He said with an eat-me-grin plastered on his face.

She screamed back to him, eyes glued on the red head. "Shut up! I know I can beat you!" She yelled landing both her hands into Bricks gut. With a smirk she said, "You're the weakest Ruff after all." Then spun her foot around crashing it into his cheek.

Steadying himself he looked at her, "What makes you say that?" A fierce anger building behind his eyes.

Blossom mentally cheered on for her sister, hoping his own temper would make him waiver.

"You have no special abilities dumb ass!" She stuck a curled out tongue at him and placed her hands on her hips.

"Yeah let's talk about that shall we." He hissed. Lunging forward he slammed a knee into her solar plexus knocking the wind out of her. Blossom sucked air in threw her teeth at the sight. Brick held her head up by her hair as he continued to speak, "Another story I enjoyed reading was how you and your sisters nearly destroyed the city because you were throwing a tantrum about not having anything special yourself." He grabbed her head and bashed his forehead into her nose.

Blossom felt guilt bubbling in her gut at the memory. "Not exactly our proudest moment as sisters." She thought.

"That's not the only time you've failed as a hero. One short article was how you went around knocking as many teeth out of peoples mouths for greed. That's just plain assault." He growled and threw her to the ground with a harsh kick.

"Shut up, you're one to lecture me about being a villain!" She retorted and fired a few blasts from her eyes to him. She didn't notice Brick closing in on her through the blasts and he sent a deep punch into cheek.

"Let's recap this so far. Blossom is the better fighter." he said cracking her in the jaw again. "And she has that special ice power. Bubbles is the most likable and has multilingual powers." an elbow into her rib cage this time. Buttercup was so focused on trying to tune him out that she couldn't do a thing to defend against the attack "Both are better heroes than you never throwing fits destructive enough to make the papers." A knee dug into her left upper thigh. "And even your name makes no sense. Blossom opens up to people easily, and Bubbles is sickeningly self-explanatory, but you? Buttercups are a yellow flower. How does that apply." A few more punches landed into the defenseless Buttercup. "I bet you we're only named that to keep the alliteration." he grabbed her by the head and crashed his head into her again. "So all this means," Grabbing her collar he whispered in her ear. "You're. Not. Special." Brick didn't even strike her, once he saw her eyes bolt open he knew he won. He didn't even care when she dug a knee deep into him right beneath his rib cage.

"At least I'm not a complete ass like you!" She said and blasted off leaving Brick behind. He let out a laugh watching her form into a small dot heading for the city.

"Maybe I over did it, but damn did that feel good." He said floating in the air. Turning around he was met with the angry gaze of Blossom.

"Was all that really needed?" She glared at him.

He rolled his eyes, and his good mood was gone. "Not really babe, but hey she asked for it. You don't just get to call the leader of the Rowdyruffs weak." He defended.

She let out a rush of ice encasing his body and let him fall to the earth below. Floating down and standing over his body he let out a groan. Glaring down at him she shoved a hand in his face, "You don't get to call me that first of all. Second, you didn't have to throw everything in her face like that."

He slapped her hand away and got up, "Whatever you say. So can we get to work now." He said showing no regret for his actions.

"Ugh, if I wasn't working with you right now I don't even think I could look at you." She said turning around.

"You don't have to look at me to tell me about this lead you got." He cockily said behind her.

Taking his advice she kept her back turned on him, "I think we should pay a visit to the Gangrene gang."

"You know where they hang out?" Brick asked. She simply nodded and they both took to the skies with Blossom leading the way.

A.N. How was that? I don't know if these chapters are worth the wait anymore or not so you tell me. The fight was something I wanted to play with, and there are times where I see Buttercup as very emotionally vulnerable, so this is how I figured this would go, since Brick seems to like more psychological and emotional tactics, like using the girls to play hockey with, and making bubbles eat a cock-a-roach. If I did a poor job let me know.