Fires of Pride

Leaving his apartment Brick shoved his hands into his pockets and made the short walk to the Police station. He didn't know what made him allow Bubbles to stay, but something in him screamed at him to give her a chance. If it failed he would be alerted no doubt, but something said she wouldn't. The warm summer evening was just beginning as he walked through the front door. Giving a small nod to the night time receptionist he made his trek up the stairs to the archive room.

Looking around he found it devoid of his Puff partner. With a shrug he found his seat and resumed looking through the files. He managed to find some online sleuth sites that seemed to point her to some crimes happening outside the city. She had disappeared years before the boys were even locked away. It would seem she stuck to her habits and was smart enough to just operate where the girls weren't. Well, that's what the theories he found online were saying, though many crimes these days have only progressed due to armchair sleuths so it held some weight.

He reached for the newspaper he left from his afternoon visit. If she came back here, the risk had to be for something incredibly valuable. He was looking through the papers to see if anything was coming to Townseville worth stealing. Nothing was popping out as he scanned over the articles in the paper. In a way he was happy to have this job, with the sudden apathy of crime returned to him, this was still something he could do to keep his mind occupied. This was just a job with a puzzle attached. Flipping over the paper to the final page he saw an image of a diamond. Snapping the paper straight he read about a rare blood red diamond making its tour around the states, with Townseville being one of the next stops. The article contained the Diamond's history, it is believed to be one of the original diamonds of royalties, before being taken by vikings and from there all over the world. If one had a good enough fence, this would set someone for life, even at the exchange rate of 10 cents on the dollar.

He was certain this was the end goal, looking back up at the board he noticed the four shops left untouched. Three of them had similar security of laser grids CCTV and bolted shutters. One had a simple laser trip system and CCTV, that was the next target. It all clicked in his head, they weren't after the thrill of stealing they were setting up seed money and training. All he had to do was stop them at this store and they would be stopped long before the jewel ever came to the city.

What then though. It seemed to him he lost his drive. He never really cared about the crimes in the city, he was doing this to remove the girl's purpose. A goal he had nearly achieved, but it seemed like there was always going to be a need for them unless the city actually started defending itself. If he continued he would have to completely remove the super aspect of all crime, or else never be free of this city. He already dealt with the chimp, Fuzzy was more than long gone, monster attacks were wiped away, the Gangrene Gang had gone straight with their leader becoming a professional bass player. He heard the Amoeba boys had been killed when they swiped a bottle of ever clear and drank their stolen spoils. He himself made sure Princess was going to stay in juvie this time, and with that all that was left was this Sedusa woman.

As far as Brick was concerned, the police could handle the bank robberies, and other duties expected of a police officer. They took a pay check to protect the city, but most never seemed to earn it. Not in his eyes at least.

Brick was starring at the ceiling lost in his thoughts when Blossom walked in holding a hot cup of coffee. Placing it down in front of him broke him from his trance. Looking down at it he smiled and grabbed it. "Thanks Blossy."

"Yeah well I owed you a cup anyways." She said rotating her hand in the air. He eyed her while sipping his coffee. She was wearing a black long sleeve shirt with matching jeans that would have allowed her to blend in entirely if it wasn't for her bright red bow on her head. Although he did notice her long hair was tied in a braided bun as she sat down. "So any idea where we should stake out tonight?"

"The Ferrero jewelry on third and fifty sixth street." he said pointing at the board. "I think they're training themselves for an end goal." He slid the paper over to her slapping his hand over the article. "That would be this right here."

Taking the paper she studied the article. "This is assuming Sedusa is actually behind this, but it seems as good a place as any. We stop them tonight we'll be done." She nodded thoughtfully.

"My sentiments exactly."

"The real question is how we detain her if she is behind it all."

"How do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean Brick. I saw what you did to Mojo. Was it effective? Absolutely. Was it right or moral? Not in the slightest."

"I did what I had to do to keep the city safe, I removed the threat then destroyed his base so no one could use his tech against the city." He looked at her with a glare, "Sorry I didn't just pummel him and call it good, but I'm after the long term goal here."

"Brick," Her eyes softened as she spoke to him, "I understand where you're coming from, but those choices? Those actions? Not only are they right wrong, but they aren't your call to make."

"It became my call when the city asked me for my protection." He then pointed to the small window by their desk, "Those people, no matter how much they make or what they do with their lives all could have died because that hyper imbecile wanted world domination. They live in a state of apathetic fear that any day a monster or villain could end them before you get to stopping them. I do what I need to do to keep them safe, cause I wont be around forever. I know first hand you could take your last breath on earth at any moment. So how is it not my choice to make." He said all the right words he felt, but they felt hollow and empty coming out of his throat.

"You aren't wrong," She relented. "But there is always a better choice, and I just want you to stay on my side. You are too good a force against crime to think of you falling back into it."

"I guess..." a drawn out sigh escaped his lips. "We will just have to see what happens when we get there." He gave up arguing. It felt... pointless.

Noticing the time they stood up and walked out of the room. It was a short flight across town before they landed on the building towering over the little jewelry store. The store would be closing soon, and red and pink eyes scanned the area for anything suspicious.

"It's going to be a long night Blossy." Brick lamented as he sat down keeping an eye on the small building.

"Well luckily for you, I am always prepared." She declared happily as she pulled off her bag. Looking up at him she noticed a wire leading from his pocket to his ear. "Oh, already got your music on." She mumbled.

"Just one bud, still need to be able to hear anything." He said looking at her from the corner of his eye.

"Oh, ok." She looked over the store and back to him. She was hoping he would be a good conversationalist, but it seemed like he was already taking steps to wall her off. "So, uhhh." She thought for anything to ask, "What kind of music is it?"

He didn't say anything at first, he seemed to weigh the option of telling her or not in his head. "Just some classic rock right now. The MP3 player is on shuffle."

"Oh? Which band?"

He smirked as he handed her the other bud, "Why don't you listen for yourself."

Taking the invite she grabbed the bud and placed it over her ear. The song sounded familiar, but the singers voice gave it away. "You know considering Alice Cooper is still putting out music and touring can you really call this classic rock? I'd say more classic Cooper."

A look of surprise hit him. "You listen to Alice?"

"Me and my sisters love classic hair bands. Alice Cooper was a favorite of mine with his many concept albums." She gave a shrug as she sat down, "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good story." A smile on her face as she continued listening, "Personally I loved his album Welcome to my nightmare." She held the bud with her hand to listen better, "But this is from his album Hey Stoopid right?" He gave a nodd. He had taken to the song windup toy. The song resonating with him deep down, but he was more impressed by the pink eyed girl in front of him.

"What about your sisters?"

"Bubbles enjoyed AC/DC the most. She always had the energy to match their music. BC seemed to enjoy Kiss and Ozzy, but she has the biggest spectrum of musical tastes. You wouldn't know it but she loves everything from electric dance music to smooth jazz. Well everything but disco." Blossom gave a small giggle at a memory of Buttercup seemingly in pain from the professors old records.

"I pegged you for a classical music fan." He chuckled.

"Oh very much so, Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach have wonderful symphonies, as well as continuing to inspire musicians today. Trans Siberian Orchestra wrote an entire album and story focusing on Beethoven battling the devil on his last night alive." Her smile grew as they continued on for hours watching the store and talking about music. He was impressed with how no matter what song came on she was able to name it before the chorus came on, from classic rock to contemporary metal.

She was just happy he wasn't walling her off, and even found it endearing when his MP3 player picked a love song, even if he would quickly switch to another song. His excuse was it was setting a weird mood to be sharing ear buds with that kind of song, but she could tell he was just embarrassed to have a small collection of love songs, some even from the oldies era.

Hours passed and the owner had long closed up shop as the summer sun was finally setting and twilight was giving way into night. Popping the music from both their ears they settled into a more focused watch over the store. Brick had grown accustomed to the conversation and was now feeling the uncomfortable silence. Seeing the bag lean against her sitting form he ventured to kill the quiet. "So what's in the bag anyways?"

"Hmmm? Oh yeah," She grabbed the bag and opened it up while he kept watch over the store. "I brought some snacks," She pulled out a few personal sized bag of chips, a couple of power bars, and some bottles of water. "A set of two way radios, with earpiece and mic for stealth reasons, encase we need to separate." He nodded as she kept pulling out everything from her bag, wondering further how it all managed to fit inside. "a pack of zip ties for restraints, a few rags in the event we need a clean cloth for blood or first aid, and finally a small magnetic chess set."

"Why a chess set?"

"Why not? We could play a few games while we wait. It would keep our minds sharp as well as allow us to understand how each other think strategically." She held up the small folded box. "Chess might seem lame to you, but I for one value it as both a game and mental exercise."

"I haven't played since I was released on probation, I would play with Langston at least once a week, but when we got released no one wanted to play." A slight tinge of red spread on his face, "And I don't know what my brothers would have though of it anyways."

"Well then let me set it up, you want to be black or white?" She smirked.

"Whichever." He replied as he kept watch. "But we really shouldn't allow ourselves to be too distracted."

"Whose ever turn it is will be looking at the board while the other keeps watch, deal?"

"Yeah sounds good."

It had been another hour of them playing and keeping watch when Brick spoke, "And that's checkmate."

Blossom looked at the board, he had his rooks cornering her king. This was the third game in a row he won, she let him win the first one, but he proved to be better than she anticipated and couldn't manage to get him in checkmate yet. "Okay how do you do that?"

"You keep avoiding me taking your pieces, you wall yourself off with your own forces, and I protect the king with sacrifices. Keeping him free to move." He informed casually. "Plus I kept setting up traps your queen couldn't pass up. I love the poison pawn technique."

"Ugh, fair point." She relented as she noticed if she moved her three corner pawns she could have escaped his checkmate. "I shouldn't be surprised it's how you used to fight when we were little." She sighed as she packed up the chess board. They hadn't seen anyone or anything suspicious this entire night, They even used their X-ray vision to make sure no one managed to sneak in while they were trading turns. As far as crime fighting was concerned they had wasted four hours of their lives. But she still managed to learn and even bond with her anger ridden counterpart.

She was about to ask him his opinion when she noticed him sniffing the air, "You okay Brick?" He didn't answer he turned to her then started to sniff her. "Woah down boy." She joked as she pushed him away. He barely made notice as he kept on smelling the air. "What ya got boy, is someone marking your territory?"

"I resent that, just cause I'm puppy dog tails doesn't mean I'm a dog." He responded. As he looked between some place far off in the distance and the jewelry store.

"Well talk to me and I won't talk to you like that, whats up?" She retorted.

"You think anyone will show up?" He asked looking at the store.

"It's always possible, just like its always possible they already hit one of the other stores, we wont know until it happens. Why?" She noticed the conflicted look on his face.

"Something is burning, I can already see smoke, it's white. We need to move fast." He informed.

"What does white smoke say about a fire?" She inquired.

"The color of smoke is determined by what is burning, white or gray smoke means plastics and painted surfaces, you know like many apartment buildings, is lit ablaze." A look of horror washed over her face as they both took off from the roof.

They passed the stadium and found a small apartment building already engulfed in flames, the smoke having turned black since they took off, "Black smoke, not good. That does as much damage as the fire itself charring what the fire would be." She looked down and noticed the fire department still hadn't shown up. They were in the bad side of the neighborhood, it could take many more minutes for a the fire department to show up time that could cost lives.

"So how do we stop it, we try to breathe in that fire we could cook our own lungs." Blossom asked as she watched him scan the building.

"They have central air ducts throughout the building." He paused lost in though. "I have a plan follow me!"

Placing his shirt over his mouth and nose as a makeshift face mask he dove into the middle of the flaming building. She followed placing one of her rags over her mouth.

As they landed on the floor surrounded by fire Brick was looking for something on the ceiling, finding it he looked at Blossom, "Now when I give the signal, I need you to hit me with a powerful ice breath." She only nodded as she started inhaling through her rag. She had no idea what was going to happen, but she wanted to trust her partner, and that was going to take giving him a chance. It was his plan that defeated that monster just a week ago.

Brick had covered his body with his own fire as he stood in place, "Now!" He ordered and she removed the rag and blew as hard as she could. Brick spun around letting his own fire battle with blossoms breath, the result was a powerful mist that flew through the hallways and central air ducts. Her blast lasted a good forty seconds and soon the air stopped burning and started freezing over. "I think that did it." She called out making Brick turn off his own flames and fall over in a dizzy state.

Rushing over to him, "Are you okay?" She asked helping him up. He said nothing as he looked down at the floor.

"The lobby is still on fire?" His anger grew as he shoved off blossom and shot through the halls down the stairs.

Racing to keep up with him she was surprised to see the fire still raging on. "No problem Brick I'll just freeze it."

"No, we need to stomp it out or something." Ordered as he grabbed a fire extinguisher, "Damnit only class A!" He tossed the device and started throwing himself against the fire smothering it with his body.

"He's been right so far, but there is a better way of doing that." She thought to herself, she managed to spot a fire emergency kit. Breaking it open she found two fire retardant blankets, "Brick catch!" She called out as she tossed him one.

"Good call Bloss." He answered after inspecting the fabric. Using their super speed they made quick work of the remaining flames, and soon the buildings fire was completely out. Covered in scorch marks and panting as they walked out the entrance they were met with an armada of fire fighters and EMTs. A few of the EMTs sat them down by an ambulance and have them some pure oxygen. They soon left the pair as they helped the people fire fighters were now pulling out of the building.

"Hey Brick." He looked at her in response. "Why did you order me not to blast the lobby with my ice breath?"

"I was picking up the faint smell of alcohol on the walls." He informed. "Your breath would have spread it more than we already did with our first move."

She nodded as she looked over at the now ruined building. Moving her gaze over the fire fighters she saw families huddled up in loving, but scared embraces.

"You did a good thing Brick." She nudged him to get him to look at the families. "You saved some lives today."

He was about to respond with something cocky when he heard a firefighter yell he had wounded him. A gurney was quickly rolled over as he helped the middle aged man onto the bed. He dropped his oxygen pump as he walked over. He recognized that face anywhere, being lifted onto the bed was a barely breathing Dr. Langston.

"Doc?" He yelled as he shot over to the man.

With a pained chuckle he greeted him, "Brick? Oh hey what brings you to my neck of the woods."

"Did you know he lives in a shitty part of town?" the memory of Butch telling him raced through his head.

"What happened to you?" He asked looking over his body covered in second degree burns and his right leg crushed and highly burnt. Blossom had walked up behind him and held back a gasp as she saw him on the stretcher.

"I was in bed when the fire started. The floor above me gave out and crushed my leg pinning me to the ground. I'd be dead if it wasn't for that miracle mist." He chuckled as he observed the pair. "I take it that was you?" He didn't wait for an answer, "I'm proud of you Brick keep being a hero." He laughed as he fell unconscious. A man was pulling out a needle from Langston's arm.

"Sorry kid I had to sedate him, the pain he has to be in would be inhuman to keep him awake for the ride." The EMT looked at brick with sympathy, "He'll be fine I promise." He then looked to his partner. "Lets get him loaded up and get him to the ER STAT." He ordered as they pushed Langston over to the ambulance.

A few seconds later Brick was staring at the empty space that had held the ambulance that now carried Langston. Rage and fury filled the youth as he seethed in his own thoughts. Blossom reached out to comfort him, but decided against it letting her arm drop to her side.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered and was watching the building and families still pouring out of it. A news van had pulled up and the reporter Ash Appellant had almost danced out. A wave of disgust washed over Brick but he pushed it to the side and walked off as he looked around.

"Panic in the streets and the worst light show anyone can experience happened yet again this night in our city." Ash said in a serious voice and solemn expression. "I'm standing out in front of yet another building lit ablaze. Is this the sad coincidence of unseasonably dry summer heat, and poor electrical work, or do we have a serial arsonist on our hands? Whatever the case, this time it ended with no casualties, but some wounded. The reason our ever loving protectors the Power puff Girls." Blossom had been watching her speak and didn't notice Brick had already left her side.

"Blossom can we get a word?" Blossom only nodded. "So this tragedy could have been worse than it was due to your intervention, so as always we as a city thank you and your sisters."

"Always happy to help, but it wasn't me and my sisters but me and Brick again."

"Ah So was this yet another coincidence or were together prior to the fire?"

"Brick and I have agreed to a partnership and we were working on another problem when he picked up the scent of smoke."

"Can you shed light on this other problem?"

"I don't feel comfortable discussing that just yet, we wouldn't want to tip off anyone who might be involved."

"Fair enough." She gave a smile, "So can you give any insight as to what caused the fire and where is your partner?"

Blossom kept the interview up while Brick was sniffing around. He could still smell the alcohol. It wasn't subtle anymore and was getting stronger, he walked up to a windowless van and it reeked of gasoline, kerosene, and pure alcohol. "The sweet smell of probable cause." Brick growled as he ripped the back door open and saw four milk crates filled with bottles with rags sticking out. Each bottle filled with a different kind of flammable liquid. The smell was nauseating as he slammed the door shut. He flew to the top and grabbed it flying to the clearing.

Blossom was still answering questions in her interview as everyone screamed in surprise as Brick slammed the car down behind her in the clearing. "Whose van is this?" He roared making people flinch. No one answered, "No one wants to own up to it?" He yelled. Ash was completely silent but kept her camera man focused on Brick who jumped down to the passenger side. "Let me make it easier for you all!" He said ripping the door off and opened the glove box. He grabbed a paper and read it. "Brent Johnson! Anyone know him?" the crowd murmured to themselves in response. "Brent Johnson you better come out and explain why your van is filled with Molotov cocktails! And why it's at the scene of an arson!" The crowd grew silent and Brick picked up the sound of foot steps quickening in pace. Following the sound he saw a man in a scarf and hat run off in a hurry. "Or we do this my way I'm cool with that." He growled and shot off to the man. He had no chance of escape as Brick was on him almost instantly. Tackling him to the ground he stomped on his back to keep him still while he fished out his wallet. "So Brent, you're not all that bright to carry all that in your own van." He spat as he confirmed the mans identity. "Say something!" He barked at the frightened man cowering on his stomach. Brick flipped the man over and grabbed him by the collar, "Say something you sack of shit!" He pulled his fist back ready to strike.

"I-I-I-I" The man stammered.

"Keep saying I and I'll take you for conceited, Why does your van look like an arsonists wet dream?" Brick seethed through his teeth.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm sick and need help, please don't hurt me." The man wept as Bricks face grew in fury.

"I'm going to do more than hurt you, I should kill you." Brick was having trouble just forming sentences his anger was so high.

"Brick stop it." Blossom grabbed his fist and threw it down. "He needs to answer for his crimes in court. Beating him here will feel good, I know it will, but the real victims need to know he is going to pay for his crimes. Let them have their revenge." her voice was cold as she looked at the man, but her eyes were soft when she placed a hand on his shoulder. "He just isn't worth it. Hand him over to the cops." She urged.

"You're right, a coward like this? Isn't even worth the grit on my shoe." He dropped him and stepped away. The police eyeing the scene had moved in to cuff the blithering man who couldn't stop apologizing. Brick felt a welt of disgust in his throat looking at the man and shot off back to the scene of the stakeout. Blossom stayed making sure the man made it into the squad car safely. The families of the homes he just ruined threw debris, insults and even shoes at the man as he was locked in the back seat of the car. He just kept shedding crocodile tears in the back as he was escorted to jail.

She flew back to the stakeout to see Brick practically foaming at the mouth as he stood on the roof. "Brick? Listen I know you're mad, but we, no you. You caught him. He will pay back his debt to society with his freedom."

"I don't care about that sack of shit look pinkie just look!" He ordered pointing to the jewelry store. It had been ransacked clean. No alarm, no police in sight, they came and went in the hour they were gone.

"Oh I see. Well we call the cops, we begin investigating the fresh crime scene and we move on." His mood didn't calm down. "It's no reason to get upset."

"Of course it is, I failed! I pulled us away from here and let them rob this place clean." he ranted.

"But you saved so many lives at the same time. These things the owner lost tonight, they're just things. We will get them back when we find them. Those families we saved, they can't be replaced. They cant even be the same after tonight, but they are alive. We did the right thing."

"We should have had your sister with us, She could have stayed or went with you to put the fire out. We failed tonight Blossom doesn't that bother you?"

"No, cause we didn't fail. We're here to investigate robberies and that's what were going to do. We saved lives and children Brick I'll take that over saving shiny trinkets. Rule one of being a superhero Brick, lives come first. No one will fault us for taking off to deal with that fire, and this shop is insured. His shiny bobbles will be replaced. We did the right thing."

He calmed down a bit, "That feeling right here." She placed a hand over his heart, "You feel it right now I know you do. You did a good thing Brick and I know that same pride I feel when I save people is burning inside you. Doesn't that outweigh the pain of these guys getting away this time?"

"I, I guess it does."

"And look, you were right, they hit the very store you thought they would. You predicted their movements, you can do it again. They got lucky, but with me and you on this their luck is running out." She gave an encouraging smile and squeezed his shoulder. He relented a small smile from her words.

Stepping away she dialed her phone for the police. Brick noticed she didn't have any missed calls from Butch, and he let out a sigh of relief knowing, somehow, Boomer was okay. Looking over the shop he felt that pride boil inside him. It felt good. He didn't need to end it here to be a success he needed to keep fighting. Langston is alive because of him, that felt amazing. "Maybe it won't be so bad being a real hero for a while." Eyeing his partner, he thought. Plus being around this pink ball of surprises wasn't a bad thing either.

A.N. Well this update took a while, I know some might think ill of me posting four chapters at a time instead of one in quicker intervals. I may resort to that, but who knows its how I keep my thoughts focused. Anyways I wanted to include references to the comic series published by IDW. Even more so since the last issue had a rowdyruff powerpuff team up. So the musical taste section of this chapter was my little nod to that. Anyways as always would love to hear your thoughts on it. Please leave a review would you kindly.