A Blue Eyed Perspective
The rain finally died down in the late afternoon. Brick was sitting on the couch in a fresh change of clothes thinking about everything that had happened during the day. Images of Langston missing a leg had practically tattooed themselves in his mind, the shame of losing control and choking Boomer, the odd feeling of pride of seeing Boomer refusing to back down until he was heard, and the fact his mind inserted Blossom into every other thought drove him insane.
Letting out a sigh he watched Boomer walk out in the living room, "Hey, did you wanna come with me on the stakeout tonight?"
"I don't know, I do have the day off tomorrow. The zoo is having a big event for the fourth later this week, so they've changed up my days off for it." Boomer informed. The city was preparing for a big city festival and parade for Independence day in two days. The boys actually went every year. The giant crowd and people lost in their celebrating was one of the few times no one ever paid them mind.
"So you're working on the fourth?" Brick asked.
"Yeah, in the morning to help clean up and make the stands look presentable, but I'll be off around 2." He said looking at the clock on the wall.
"OK," Brick wondered what he'd end up doing that day. If they didn't catch the robbers soon he'd probably end up working himself. "But back to the stakeout, you wanna come along?"
"Will Bubbles be there?" Boomer responded.
"I don't know. For all I know Buttercup could be there." Brick replied with a groggy sigh. He really hoped Bubbles wouldn't be inserted into every topic the two brothers talked about.
"Eh, Sure. Why not." Boomer answered looking over himself one last time. "Could be fun."
"It's not about fun, it's about getting the job done." Brick shot back with an annoyed glare.
"If it's not fun then why do it?" Boomer shrugged.
Brick felt like he had an answer ready, but paused when his mind came up entirely blank. Again he had to question why he was doing anything anymore. His hatred of Blossom and her sisters died when he fought her head to head. He really didn't care about the city or it citizens. He felt his plan would only come to fruition simply from the fact he was in too deep to stop, and not from his own will. He felt like all his motivation was sucked out.
"Well, when you think of an answer let me know, I'm headed out for a while." Boomer said killing the silence between them as he walked to the window.
"Yeah, OK just be back by seven, or at least be at the police station then." Brick said lazily waving his brother away. Boomer was already out of the apartment taking off quicker than Brick could finish his sentence. Brick wasn't worried about Boomer missing the instructions, and reclined back into the sofa.
He hated having to wait, and yearned for something to occupy his time, and mind for that matter, but crime had reached record breaking lows outside of this string of jewelry stores. So even that, however frivolous it felt to him, was out. "I should really take up a hobby." He mumbled to no one in particular as he turned on the television and tried to endure the next three hours with out anyone or anything to distract him.
Time seemed to slow down for him, but he felt merciful relief when something occurred to him. With Boomer joining the stakeout they would need a way to keep in touch. He was almost too happy for something to do as he jumped out of the window and headed to the nearest store. The errand wasn't long, but he walked out of the store with three burner phones in his brothers colors. He would have liked to get one of those newer smart phones, but being unable to guarantee his future pay and not able to legally sign a contract until he turned 18 made him resort to the prepaid phones he had in the thrift store backpack he bought while he was out. He still had a few hours to kill so he stopped by a grocery store and got a few snacks and energy drinks for the night.
He walked to a few places to kill more time, and still ended up being at the station early. He made his way to the archive room and sat down waiting for someone to show up.
The silence was still maddening, but was given mercy as Blossom, Bubbles and Boomer made their way into the room. Boomer was laughing and Bubbles was hiding her smile behind her hands, judging from the pained looked Blossom had Boomer had told yet another terrible joke. He acted annoyed by the sudden noise but was grateful for the feeling of life it actually brought to him.
"Hey Brick," Blossom greeted, "Good thing Boomer came over, otherwise I would have never known what time you wanted to meet up." She finished with a smile.
"Oh? Yeah I guess we did meet up later last time, sorry." Brick replied. "So since we're all here should be a quick meeting." He continued as everyone sat down. Boomer and Bubbles were stifling their laughter and giggles while Brick tried to talk over them.
"So did you figure out where we are going to be looking tonight?" Blossom asked as the Blue couple managed to quiet down.
"No need, we've got three potential targets and four sets of eyes, me and Boomer can each take one, you two can take the other."
"Oh come on man that sounds boring." Boomer whined as he laid his head on the table.
"Yeah, plus what if you or Boomer see something going on? You leave your post to come find us?" Bubbles added. "It's better to work in pairs, me and Blossom have the hot line the mayor gave us and so do you."
"It's a job, if it was fun we'd be paying them to do it." Brick shot back while he reached into his bag and pulled out a blue cell phone, "I actually got me and my brothers a prepaid phone, so we can all remain in contact." Boomers eyes widened at the small device powering it on. Brick continued, "It's prepaid, so only use it when you have to, Back to the job, me and Boomer will take a store each and you girls will take one."
"I think it's best if we work in pairs. Just in case someone falls asleep or gets otherwise incapacitated." Blossom interjected looking through the bag she brought with her, doing another inventory check.
"But we have three stores to watch. What we should just abandon one of them?" Brick asked getting annoyed.
"No," Blossom replied moving up to the map, pointing at one in the center of town she continued, "This one is owned by the Morebucks family, apparently when Princesses dad found out about the robberies he hired night security."
"How do you know that?" Brick asked giving a skeptical stare.
"I went out to the other stores, earlier today, I walked in on the new security team being walked through the store. Three in total each with arms."
"I thought we we're supposed to do everything as partners." Brick said, really only mad that he didn't think of that.
"Well, I still didn't have your number and I didn't know if you were still sleeping." She noticed the slight feeling of guilt in herself at the implication she was keeping him out of her side of the investigation. "Next time I'll be sure to pick you up I promise." She said with a playful tone.
"Whatever, so I guess we can go in pairs tonight..." Brick started, but was interrupted by an overly excited Bubbles.
"Oh, oh, I vote we do Puffs with Ruffs."
"I second that!" An equally excited Boomer said with an arm raised.
"I don't think that's really..." Brick tried saying before Blossom cut him off.
"That sounds good." She said smirking at Brick, "I think you got outvoted."
Brick could feel his anger grow, he was almost ready for the maddening silence over this. He took a breath and glared at the trio smiling back at him, "Fine, Bubbles you're with me, Boomer listen to Blossom like you would me." The other three were starting to make protesting noises before he silenced them with a glare and forced his voice over everyone else "Me and Bubbles will take the south store, you and Boomer will take the upper east. Good plan? Great plan. Lets go." He finished stomping out of the door.
"I don't think he understood what we wanted." Bubbles whined in her seat now dreading the night she was only minutes ago ecstatic for.
Boomer chuckled, "Oh he knew exactly what we all asked for, he just got mad we changed his plans on him and this is so he gets his spiteful way." Boomer explained patting Bubbles back gently. "So Blossom, I guess we better take off."
"How are you okay with this?" the two sisters asked.
"I got my reasons." Boomer said with a shrug, He was hoping this would be a good chance for Bubbles to see Brick as his brother and not just a rage powered machine, which admittedly he often was. "I think he just got mad that we steamrolled him in his own meeting, he'll calm down and probably let us switch at some point." The three made their ways out of the building and found Brick floating in the sky waiting for his partner. With an encouraging wink to Bubbles, Boomer and Blossom flew off to their stake out.
Bubbles hung her head and floated to Brick, who raised a brow, "You ready to go?" She only nodded her head and the pair flew off to their point. Touching down on the roof Brick noticed she still hadn't cheered up, rolling his eyes he took his bag off and fished out a pack of mini powdered doughnuts and tossed them to her.
"What's this for?" She asked catching the sweets.
"You were looking lethargic, thought maybe some sugar would help." He replied placing the bag by the ledge.
"I'm not lethargic, I'm disappointed I have to spend the night with you and not Blossom or Boomie." She shot back but still opened the package and tossed the powdery treat in her mouth, "But thanks I guess." She finished between chews.
"This is a job, I don't want you and 'Boomie' making doe-eyed faces at each other all night long." Brick said placing heavy emphasis on his brothers nickname.
"What makes you think we would?" She asked placing her cheek on her hand as she looked over the jewelry store.
"He won't shut up about you as of late." Brick mumbled, "Besides I got my reasons for making you my partner tonight."
"Why cause we took control of your plan from you?"
Brick scoffed before replying, "I'll let you know later." He felt anger rising in his throat, but he let out a deep breath and joined Bubbles in watching the store.
Bubbles sat bored and absentmindedly ate the small donuts Brick gifted her. Her mind drifted from just earlier in the afternoon when Boomer bought her a small mountain of sweets to share, and from there the lunch they shared the day before. "But still, if we're friends give him a chance. For me?" Boomer's voice rang through her head and she slid her eyes over to the red ruff she was forced to be around.
"So, uh." She struggled to find something to talk about to kill the silence and keep her promise, He looked at her with a curious brow raised. "What do you do for fun?"
He looked at her and a flash of rage showed on his face, but it was gone as quickly as it came, "I guess I don't do anything for fun anymore." He sounded angry and disappointed in himself as he answered her.
"Oh come on, everyone does something to unwind. I draw, Buttercup swims, and Blossom reads." She goaded an answer unable to believe he had nothing to do outside work.
"I," He let out a deep sigh, "I have worked since the day I got locked up." He looked at her with sorrowful eyes, "I was constantly working to get out of lock up, earn my diploma, become a hero, and now I'm working on this case." his shoulders shuddered as he spoke as if he dropped something heavy. Even his breath was a little ragged, "I don't know what I would be at this point if I stop working. I take small breaks to watch the city at night, but even then, I'm usually planning something." He stopped himself there worried he would let his plan slip out, and when he looked at Bubbles he was surprised to see a soft look of empathy painted on her face.
"It's kinda twisted now ain't it?" She spoke with a soft voice as she picked at the stones on the ledge. "When you three ran through the streets terrorizing the city, my sisters and me, you seemed to have all the freedom."
"What do you mean?" He asked with a growing venom, "You had a home with a loving parent, a kitchen that was never barren, a warm bed to sleep in at night and no one hunted you down if you got out of control."
"True, true. But we had to give up our childhood." She smiled as Brick seemed to lose his scowl and looked at her with curiosity. "We rarely got a day to ourselves. We devoted so much time to protecting the city we lost our best friend when she moved back to the city. We even gave up vacations and holidays to fight crime. Once the professor dragged us away on a camping trip, but even that was in the Townsville forest. If a monster attacked we'd have to leave to fight it. Thankfully, or not, instead we spent it with Fuzzy and his nephews, who drove us crazy."
"Where you going with this Puff?"
"Now today, you and your brothers, it would seem mostly you now, have taken over and in exchange lost your freedom." She looked at him with pity as she continued, "Boomer and Butch have at least one friend, and apparently a hobby, but you? It would seem you've forgotten how to take a moment for yourself in the last five years."
"I have my moment, it's when everyone is asleep and I'm staring at the city. It's like meditation." He said refusing the Puffs sympathy, "Plus I listen to music."
"Surprise surprise, the man who always works only has hobbies one does by themselves." she said and playfully tapped his forehead, "Learn to get a friend, not a soul on this planet is meant to be alone, Your brothers seem to get the message now you need to."
"Not like I have a long list of willing candidates." He said slapping her hand away.
"You have at least one, I'm sure Blossom wants an actual friendship with you."
"What makes you say that? I think she just doesn't want to be outdone by you and your sister." He responded with apathy.
"Cause she was just as let down you made us be partners." Bubbles let out a sigh, "Since you've become a hero Blossom has been a little off. She thinks all people see her as is a hero and a smarty." her eyes hardened as she continued, "But you apparently not only beat her in school, but also managed to reduce crime making her feel useless. I don't know if you knew what you were doing, or if you're just trying to actually pay back your debt, but you've cut her in a weird way." Her eyes closed for a moment then reopened to a softer look, "Yet I saw the way she looked at you on the TV and the subtle way she acts around you, letting you lead the meeting, and only giving you opinions and advice, on some level she admires you and what you've done, so I know she just wants to be your friend. If you're smart you'll take her as a friend, or else you'll lose your own sanity."
Brick was effectively left speechless at her words, crossing his arms and looking back over the jewelry store he relented, "I thought Blossom was the smart one."
Bubbles let out a giggle, "I take it that means I won?"
"I'll take you're advice, but I doubt it can be as easy as you think."
"That's because you're thinking, you should just let it happen and grow with it. It's not something to analyze and pick apart like some sort of science fair project."
Brick felt a weird lump growing in his throat as he pushed some pesky memories back into his subconscious. "What if you're wrong though? What if there is something in me, or more accurately something missing in me, that prevents me from being her friend?"
"I doubt it's missing from inside you, maybe missing from around you, but I bet buried somewhere deep in that anger and other icky stuff, whatever you think is missing is actually there."
"Icky stuff? Really?" He said with a bored expression.
"Blossoms the smart one, remember?" She said sticking out her tongue playfully. "Doesn't make what I'm saying any less true. You just may need some help digging it up is all. If you can ever learn to let someone in."
"you should be a therapist Bubbles." Brick said as he looked away from her to the store.
"Nah, I'm thinking Baker, or artist. I just don't think I have the focus for all that college." She said shrugging but a smile growing ear to ear.
"Whatever you say." He said dropping his arms onto the ledge and wished for something to happen to the store, but it was still a few more hours until the store closed, and nothing was standing out to him.
As the hours passed and the sun set, Bubbles had attempted more conversations as the night drew on, but she found Brick lacking in conversation skills, or at least motivation. She grew more and more frustrated by the fact he rarely answered her, and when he did it was in short final answers. The moon had risen and she felt like she only knew trivial things about the boy in front of her, his favorite color, food, music, and etc. She let out a huff and asked, "Why did you even want me to be you're partner if you aren't going to actually talk to me?"
"I told you this is a job, we have to watch the store."
"Yeah, sure, but that doesn't explain why you would work with someone you can't be nice to."
"What more do you want?" He growled in annoyance. He was determined not to let her get too much into his head, their earlier conversation had freaked him out as she so easily brought things he didn't want to admit were within him.
"Well why don't you ask me a question or two, that's typically how a conversation can keep going." She said tapping her foot.
"I know how conversations work Puff," He started but was interrupted by her.
"Do you? You've barely said a word, and my name is Bubbles learn to use it." Her eyes narrowed into an intense glare Brick was unaware she could make.
"What is my brother to you?"
The question was simple enough, but she didn't expect it. "Right now? He's my friend. Why?"
"Because one reason I find friendship with you puffs harder than you think it is, is because you three locked us away. I don't like the fact he hangs around the one person solely responsible for locking him away." He seethed between gritted teeth.
At first she felt guilty until flashbacks of their last encounters before they trapped them bubbled to the surface. "First of all the only person truly responsible, outside Boomer himself, is you." Bubbles said jabbing Brick in the chest with a harsh poke, "Did you forget how terrible you were before we locked you up?" She asked pushing him back, "You somehow, would beat my sister unconscious in minutes. Then help Boomer or Butch beat me and Buttercup and fly away. You became so dangerous we had to do something. So if you want to blame anyone blame yourself." She wanted to keep going until she saw memories of Boomer's face in panic fly through her mind, and her voice softened "We all made mistakes, and I'll probably hold regret about how Boomer was locked away until I die, but you forced our hand."
Brick looked at her with contempt, they always had the moral high ground, always had the last word, and always knew how to make him feel like trash. "What happened to you to make you hate us so much?" She asked as he glared at her. Images of snow and lights danced in his mind, and rage boiled like lava in his heart.
"You locked us away." he said before she stopped him.
"Before that."
"You killed us." He started again, but she cut him off.
"No something else happened, after you came back you weren't that deadly, you didn't even attack us so harshly when you grew to the size of semi trucks, something happened right before we locked you up. What was it?"
He was internally screaming and shaking inside, but outside he kept his glare, "It doesn't matter. All that does matter now is Boomer won't shut up about you, and I'm worried you just being nice to him, to keep an eye on him like Pinkie does to me."
She hung her head in defeat, "If you think so low of me and my sisters, you don't deserve Blossoms attention." She saw his eye adapt a twitch, but held her ground. "I promise you I'm not playing parole officer for Boomer, I actually like being around him. He's funny, so full of energy, is refreshingly spontaneous, can talk to animals and I think he's cute. I don't want him going anywhere his smile wouldn't follow."
He spat and looked away down to the shop, the owner had long ago locked up and gone home, and nothing was missing. "Well, for whatever reason he feels the same way, he told me earlier he doesn't want to live in a world where you hate him."
"Why did he say that?"
"Doesn't matter," He quickly said careful not to let too much information loose. "Look puff, all I want, is my brother to be happy. He has made it clear you're apart of that. So I just wanted to have a moment alone with you to make sure you're not planning on shipping him back."
"Didn't expect that." She was surprised to hear he was just worried about his brother, "Well I'm not planning anything."
"Yeah, I believe you." he said softly returning his attention to the store. That was the last thing said for a while. The duo sat in silence watching over the store. Brick was afraid to say anything else as it seemed she was able to dig into him emotionally in a way he never expected. She wanted to talk more, but he walled off anymore questions. She took comfort in knowing on some level he trusted her, but she could still feel some anger in him. Something he wasn't letting go of and it rattled her. He looked through his bag occasionally and whenever he grabbed a snack he offered one to her. The silence was strange and uncomfortable, and as midnight grew closer Brick felt a craving for coffee.
"I think we've suffered enough." Brick said standing up to stretch. She looked at him grabbing his pack waiting for him to explain what he meant. "I'm going to go grab a coffee, then I'll send Boomer over." he explained as he floated from the roof.
"You sure that's wise? Didn't you say we'd be too distracting if we worked together?" She said with a sly smirk.
"Well, if you insist I guess I can just come back..." He said trailing off the sentence.
"No, no, please send Boomer over." She said quickly.
"Thought so." He snickered, shaking his head and departing.
She returned her attention to the store and had to admit, he wasn't as bad as she thought at the start. Lost and confused in the soul somewhere, but she'd have to hope Blossom could help him find whatever it is he can't find.
Brick had touched down in front of the gas station and walked in. He saw Butch sitting behind the counter looking wound up and angry. Before he could greet his brother the stores light flickered on and off repeatedly. Butch turned to the door and waved at his brother.
"What's wrong with the lights?"
"I don't know, for some reason whenever someone enters the lights have been doing that for the last hour or two." Butch informed as Brick walked to the coffee stand.
Meanwhile across town Blossom and Boomer had been watching the store dutifully. The night had dragged on as neither could hold a conversation. Blossom tried to ask about Brick, but Boomer just shrugged and repeated, "Ask him yourself when he decides to switch."
She'd ask how he was sure Brick would switch and he always just shrugged and said, "Just a feeling."
It was getting close to midnight and she was keeping her mind busy by doing mental exercises in her head. She was entirely put off by his relaxed and laid back nature she couldn't find away to initiate conversation. "How do you think our siblings are doing?"
"Probably about the same as we are. I doubt Brick and Bubbles are having an easier time talking then we are." Boomer said with a shrug and smile. "I can't see him taking much longer, unless he really got spiteful." He let out a small chuckle.
Blossom rested her cheek in her hands and doubled numbers in her head to fight the boredom, closing her eyes she felt the night time wind run through her hair. "Sleeping on the job?" A familiar voice called out to her. "Sheesh Boomer, did you bore her to sleep?" She opened her eyes to see Brick floating in front of her holding a fresh cup of coffee in his right hand.
"Hey Bro." Boomer said walking up with his hands in his pockets, "We switching finally?"
"Yes you can head over to..." He didn't bother finishing his sentence as Boomer had taken flight when the letter Y left Bricks mouth.
"Wow he took off quick." Blossom said with a small smile.
"I'm surprised there isn't a Boomer shaped dust cloud floating where he stood." Brick laughed as he floated down onto the rooftop. "So any activity?"
"None whatsoever, what about you?"
"It's dead as a door nail over there." He said sitting with a grunt. He seemed a little annoyed about something.
"Everything OK?"
"Hmmm? Oh yeah. Just had a talk with Butch, nothing too bad just... annoying." He finished after a small pause.
"What was it about?"
"Oh you know brother stuff, I'd feel bad sharing the embarrassing details." He laughed.
"Whatever you say, so up for another game of chess?" She asked holding the little folded board in her hands. She had a small smile and some light in her eyes as she asked.
"A few games can't hurt." He replied matching her smile with a smirk and sat across from her picking up his pieces.
Back across town Bubbles was watching the store growing anxious for Boomer to arrive, she had waited for about ten minutes before she heard something tearing through the air and saw a blue streak race towards her. "Hey sugar miss me?" He asked rolling to a stop from his hasty landing.
"Sugar really?" She asked with a giggle.
"Well what's a more fitting nick name?" He responded with a toothy grin.
"I guess it's fair since I call you Boomie all the time. Hardly sounds like the name of a notorious super villain." She replied continuing her giggling.
He stood up and dusted himself off, "I hope my big bad brother wasn't too bad to spend some time with."
"Not too bad, but bad nonetheless." She said with a sigh. "How can he be so grouchy all the time?"
"I wish I knew, I really do." He said with a solemn nod, "That's why I was hoping you would rub off on him, but I guess you two didn't mix well."
"He was just too serious about everything."
"You're preaching to the quire on that one. I don't think he has taken a day off since lockup. It's almost admirable, but he needs something besides work to do."
"He knows it, and I hope he finds it." She said crossing her arms, and her voice filled with sadness. "But enough about the lump on the log." She returned to her normally happy voice and spoke excitedly, "I hear we're doing something special for the fourth of July at the Zoo. What do you think that'll be like?"
The two spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing while keeping an eye on the store. The store was undisturbed through the night and well up until the sun rose and the streets slowly flooded with citizens.
Boomer had just gotten off the phone with Brick informing him about the vast amount of nothing that happened throughout the night. "Well looks like we've been given the go ahead to clear out and head home." He said placing the phone in his pocket.
Letting out a yawn she smiled, "Well good I'm ready for bed."
"You and me both, after some sleep you wanna catch up and grab a bite?" She stretched and nodded, "I'll pop by your place when I'm ready."
"Sounds like a plan," He replied through his own yawn, "I'll see you then." With a smile between the two, blue streaks rocketed off the roof and into the clear blue skies.
A.N. Please read and review would you kindly.