Seeing Red
The sun was breaking over the city skyline as Brick was racing across the dark blue sky. He was dressed in a red plaid button down with a black undershirt showing underneath. He also had new blue jeans on, but kept the same sneakers and hat he's always had on.
The three brothers had visited Langston yesterday, Boomer practically pushing them through the sky when he found out. They learned Langston would be out of the hospital in a few days, and was talking to a prosthesis for a prosthetic leg. He had plenty in savings, plus health and renters insurance would give him a good deal of money to help him pay bills and relocate. Brick had let it slip that he had plans of spending the day with Blossom, and after their visit Boomer and Butch dragged him to a store to get his new shirt and jeans. Brick protested, but his brothers were adamant.
The blue sky was brightening as the sun rose and the early summer sun stared warming the cool oceanic air of the city. He felt out of place heading out to her house, but something inside him kept pushing him to give this day a sincere chance. He left the city limits and had entered the suburban town housing his companion for the day, and slowed down as he approached her house. He dropped from the air to her front yard and pulled out his phone. The display read 6:59 before pocketing the device and knocking. The wait wasn't long and the door swung open to show an angry green eyed Powerpuff.
"Hello Buttercup." Brick said with apathy.
"Brick." Was her simple reply. Her eyes looked like they were trying to pierce him with how angry she looked at him.
"Are we still mad about losing that fight this morning?" He asked with a condescending tone.
Buttercup bit her tongue hiding back what she learned a few nights ago. "No, I just don't trust you."
"A long list of reasons I'm sure." He replied returning to apathy.
"You're not wrong there." She said glaring and grabbing his shirt, "Just remember Blossom is more important than you'll ever be, and if anything happens to her today, You won't be prepared for what me and Bubbles will do. You got that?"
Brick in turned raise a brow and fought back a snicker, "I don't plan on attacking my partner today, nor anytime in the future, so let go of me flower power." Brick hissed back. She let go of his shirt pushing him back slightly never ceasing her glare. Brick felt on edge, she had a look to her like she knew something, something that didn't bode well for him. "I'll have to keep an eye on her." Brick thought as she retreated inside.
Brick kept standing at the door, waiting for either Blossom or an invitation inside. What he got instead was a stoic professor Utonium staring down at him from the doorway. "Hello Brick."
"Professor." Brick said matching his glare.
The professor looked down at the young man with contempt, he held no pity for the boy, and would love to put him back in his cell. Death would be too easy for the boy in his eyes, but as much as he hated to admit it Blossom seemed eager to spend this day with the boy, and he trusted her judgment more than his own. "Come inside, you're wasting my cooling bill more than you're wasting space." He said after a few minutes of the pair staring at each other.
"The whole family is just so friendly today." He said with a small chuckle following the professor inside and closing the door.
Jack turned away from the boy and trekked to the kitchen where Blossom finally showed herself. She was wearing a blue skirt with stars dancing across it diagonally, a white blouse with pink flowers printed on one side, and her red bow sticking up with her hair clipped in it's usual pony tail.
"Right on time." She said smiling walking up to him. She had to admit he didn't look bad, his shirt made his eyes pop with the dark rings around them. Giving him an intense look, but his calm demeanor betrayed any threatening aura he had.
"I just didn't want to hear you complain for being a minute late." He said with a shrug.
"Punctuality is always appreciated." She said with a smile. "You look nice today."
Brick felt his face warm up to her compliment, and failed to hide his blush, "Thanks, you're looking really good yourself." Brick had to internally thank Boomer for nagging him to find some new clothes for today as memories of yesterday played inside his head.
"You know Blossoms going to wear something nice, do you want to look like trash standing next to her?" Boomer had said as the three were looking through some stores for some decent clothes.
"What do you care if she looks better than me?" Brick asked lazily sliding hangers down a display. He forced back his contempt with how they were treating it like a date.
"You're our leader, and if you look like a slob by their leader, that directly makes us look bad." Butch said picking out a shirt for himself.
"Besides, you'd be saying you don't care if Blossom is better than you if you don't dress up a bit." Boomer said handing Brick the plaid shirt they eventually bought.
Back in the present Brick was still failing at hiding his blush as he tried to look Blossom in the eye, "You look very patriotic."
"Oh you noticed, Good." She said beaming at him.
"You ready to go?" He asked shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, I just need to grab a few things." Blossom said turning back into the kitchen. She was gone for a few seconds before she walked back into the room. This time a muffin in her hands, and with a blue bag attached to her back. "Bubbles was insistent you have one of these."She said as she handed him the muffin,
"Thanks." He said before taking a rather large bite. He was more concerned with being on time than eating breakfast so he was thankful for something to eat. The muffin was made with bits of cream cheese, blue berries and cranberries, making the final product sweet, warm and surprisingly juicy. "Oh damn this is good." He said taking another large bite.
"Thank you!" Bubbles voice rang out from the kitchen.
"You're welcome!" Brick called back after a moment of confusion. "So ready to go now?" He asked watching her slip on her mary janes.
"Yep." She said with a pop and the pair walked to the door. She made sure to grab her pink her purse on the way.
"What's with the book bag?" He asked as she closed the door.
"Oh it's some stuff I'll be needing later today." She said with a sly smile.
He rolled his eyes as she walked past him. He tried to take a peak inside with his X-ray vision, but couldn't see past the bag material. "Are all your bags lined with lead?"
"The professors invention, he created lead lined bags and boxes to hide our presents for Christmas and Birthdays." She said, happy he was curious enough to try and peek. She pulled a flier out from her purse and handed it to him. "It's a surprise for this."
He looked at the paper as he read about some couples pie contest the festival was holding later. "You expect me to make a pie today?"
"No I expect you to eat it." She said with a small giggle. "Read the rules, one bakes it, one eats it." She said pointing to the fine print at the bottom.
"Okay, I guess I can do that." He said cautiously, "But this thing says it's for couples, don't you think that's going to send a certain message to people?" He asked handing her back the paper, and the two floated off and flew to the city.
Continuing the conversation while they flew Blossom spoke, "Yeah I do. Something has been bugging me for a few nights now."
"And what would that be?" He asked over the wind.
"Isn't it strange during our stakeout the moment we left to deal with a fire was when the store was robbed cleaned?" She said looking back at him.
"It is." He said nodding his head, "Almost like they knew we we're watching."
"Exactly, so I think we're being watched." She said slowing down her pace just so to match his speed, "So today I think we should pretend like today is a date, and that we're a new couple."
"What?" Brick yelled, shouting more out of shock than anything.
"Oh calm down, it's just pretend," She said rolling her eyes, "If we make people think we're dating, and that's why we were out so late that night, they'll get clumsy if they think you and I are distracted."
"A sloppy criminal is an easier catch," He said continuing his nod, "But do you actually think this is wise?" He asked with hope she'd reconsider.
"Yeah I do." She said with a curt smile, "We don't have to be all doe eyed and lovey dovey, but just enough it gets the potential spies attention."
"I can't see any obvious flaw in it." He grumbled, "But I doubt anyone would believe I would date you." He said picking his words carefully.
"Hey you would be so lucky to get me as a date." She said feigning hurt, "I'm smart, tough and cute. I'm the whole package." She said holding her hand to her chest and a prideful look on her face.
"Yeah yeah pinkie, whatever you say." He replied looking down, "There's my roof, it's right on the parade route you wanna land there?"
She didn't fail to noticed how he didn't disagree with her, and her excitement grew, "Sounds great." She said with a wide smile as they descended.
They landed gently on the roof and noticed they still had some time before the parade started, not that they'd lose their spots, him and his brothers were the only tenants to venture to the stone roof. "We got time, you mind if I grab a coffee?" He asked as she looked for something to sit on.
"Not at all, maybe we can find some kind of blanket to lay out." She said looking around.
"Afraid you'll get dirty?" He said with a friendly teasing voice.
"No, but these are new clothes, I'd like to avoid it if I can." she said crossing her arms.
"Fine fine, though I don't know if we have a spare blanket or anything like that." he said raising his hands in surrender. The two floated onto the fire escape and entered through the window. Boomer and Butch we're both awake and in the kitchen arguing over the cereal. Again.
"Hey! Quiet you two we got a guest." Brick called out silencing his brothers. He walked into the kitchen area and both brothers gave Blossom their greetings. Brick looked over the two and saw they we're both in their work uniforms. "Butch let Boomer have the last of the cereal you can pick something up at work he can't."
Butch gave a small noise of protest but relented. "You've taken his side more and more lately."
Blossom giggled watching the brothers argue while they went on to their tasks. Brick making coffee, Boomer making his breakfast and Butch floating off to his room. She looked around and saw how barren their living room was. A couch, a folding chair, and a small stand with a outdated TV sitting on top of it. "Brick? Do you think you even have a blanket? Or would that be too luxurious for you rough and tough boys?"
"What do you need a blanket for?" Boomer asked taking the first bites of his breakfast.
"She wants to sit on it, she doesn't want to get her dress dirty." Brick said watching the coffee pot with lust.
"Oh, makes sense." Boomer said looking up in thought. "I think there was one in the closet when we moved in. Be right back." He said retreating to his room. He walked back after a few moments, holding an orange cotton blanket with a plaid design. "I guess the last people to live here left it behind." He said handing it to Blossom before returning to his food.
"Thank you." She said with a smile, it was a simple and made of cotton, maybe the last family used it for picnics. Folding it over her arms she stood in the center of the room.
Brick saw this and felt weird about her standing there, "You wanna sit down or something it'll be a few minutes still."
"Is it safe to sit down?" She asked teasing him.
"I assure you it's clean." Brick said returning her teasing tone with a smile.
She did have to admit the room was clean. She heard horror stories of how filthy teenage boys were. However, their apartment was just as clean as her room. Though they had so little, maybe they didn't have the means of making it a mess. "Okay I'll trust you." She said sitting down waiting for Brick to collect his drink.
"You want a cup or anything?" Brick asked growing tired of the only sound in the apartment was Boomers chewing and Butch throwing clothes around in his room looking for his wallet.
"I don't drink coffee, thank you." She said with a small smile.
"We got powdered apple cider." Boomer said looking up to the fridge top.
"That sounds nice actually." She said standing up.
"I'll get it for you, just relax." Brick said just as quickly as she stood up. Boomer, and even Butch, who just reentered the room, noticed the tone in his voice as he seemed adamant to be a good host for his once hated enemy.
"I'm heading off." Butch called out.
"When do you get off today?" Brick asked, filling up a ceramic cup with water.
"Around three, why?"
"Just making conversation, have a good day." Brick said setting the full cup down on the counter.
"Same for me," Boomer interjected, "The Zoo fair last's until 2 in the afternoon, so me and Bubbles will probably be off after we help clean up."
"If only we could all meet up for some barbecue." Butch said putting his hands in his pockets.
"I'll put a grill on the shopping list once you find out where we're gonna put it." Brick sneered as he carefully blasted the water in the cup with a low heat vision.
"Deal." Butch said with a smile, looking at Blossom he nodded, "If you see BC tell her I said hi." He said before leaving the apartment.
The water in the cup came to a boil and Brick spilled the powder in the cup and stirred. He grabbed the piping hot cup and brought it to his guest. Blossom gave her thanks noticing how hot the cup felt in her hands. They'd be fine, but if anyone else touched the cup they'd probably throw the cup halfway across the room. She gave it a few cooling blows as Brick returned to the kitchen and finally poured his coveted cup of coffee.
Walking back into the room with his coffee, Blossom and him made their way back to the rooftops. Blossom laid out to blanket over the ledge while brick held their drinks. After she had it evenly laid out he handed her back the drink and they sat over the ledge. The parade started at city hall and worked it's way through a few miles to the city park where the festivities happened afterwards. They could see the starting marching marching band setting up and getting into position.
"Anything you hope to see during the parade?" She asked, as she was feeling like a little kid again waiting for the parade.
"No, not really what about you?" He asked looking her up and down he could see anticipation growing on her face. "You seem a little too animated for a bunch of people to walk or drive to a place really slowly." He said placing his chin in his hand and looking at her. "Well apart from the marathon runners that is." He said as a few of the runners made their way past the marching band. The runners would usually be sprinkled in throughout the parade, sharing the same route for half the marathon.
"This is the first parade I get to just watch in a long time." She said losing some of her energy for a moment. "Me and my sisters we're once apart of it, but we almost always just run security." She said holding her legs close to her.
"You could have said no if it means that much to you." Brick said watching more runners make their way down the street.
"No, no I couldn't, the city needed us." She said looking at him, "I mean yeah I could have said no, but something inside me would never let me. I always just want to help make sure people are safe."
"Sounds like you I guess." he said sipping on his drink. She looked down at her drink and her companion for the day, and she let out a cheerful laugh. "What's so funny red?"
"Just the fact I'm here today, with and because of you." She said calming down a little. "If someone had told me a year ago I would be sitting here with you, willingly and cheerfully like this, I'd have to think they were insane."
"Yeah I guess neither of us would have expected this, even a few months ago." Brick said with a nod.
"Yeah." She looked at Brick and moved a little closer to him, "Can I tell you something?"
"If I say no are you going to anyways?" He said noticing the lack in distance between the them. She nodded to his question and he rolled his eyes, "Go ahead."
"When you started playing hero, I was confused. I mean you showed up almost out of the blue, and just started stopping banks robberies, muggings, saving people and helping the police. It didn't really bother me, not at first." She said with a heavy sigh, "But then the day of the graduation I announced your name and GPA, you graduated with perfect marks, and before I did." He kept looking at her wondering where this was going, "I felt so low for the first time in a long time. I mean, you were stopping crimes before I could even learn of them, and then you beat me in school as well?"
"It wasn't handed to me Red." He said, "I stayed up throughout the night working and studying more times than I slept through it." He said looking down at the road. "I mean these rings around my eyes didn't just happen you know." he said, and to her relief she chuckled and seemed to cheer up.
"I understand it must have been hard, but I started in kindergarten, I was in school years before you started getting an education. You caught up and passed me in five years. So when I saw you we're taking an effective stand against crime, and managed to be a better student than me, it hurt." She said looking down at the road. "My whole identity is tied to being the leader of Powerpuffs, the protector of the city, and the hero people look up to." She looked at him gently cupped his face making him look her in the yes, "Then you pulled the carpet from under me. You outdid me so easily it seemed."
Brick felt his face grow hot to her touch and looked in her eyes with shock he could actually see pain in the pink orbs. "It wasn't easy remember. A lot of work, and besides I did it to impress you, remember?" He said trying to stop the guilt the pain in her eyes was causing.
"I do," She said letting go of him, "But that's why I'm glad we're partners on this case, and even hanging out today. Don't you think we work better together than against each other? I think after this case is over we should partner up more." She said with a soft smile.
"What if crime is over in Townseville?" He asked staring into her eyes as if in a trance. "There is always the possibility we may never team up again."
"Then just be my friend Brick." She said, "We aren't as different as we thought so long ago, Surely us being friends isn't out of the question."
He slowly tore his sight away from her, his chest hurt and he felt nauseous, "But... but what if I'm not a good friend for you pinkie?" He said intent on watching the marching band warm up.
"Then at least we tried, but I don't think that's the outcome we'll have." She said looking at his profile.
"Okay, okay." He said, "I guess I'd like that."
She smiled, and couldn't help but tease him. "Like what Brick?"
"Oh, you're gonna make me say it aren't you?" Brick said squinting at her.
"Yep." She said nodding and again popping the P.
He let out a groan of frustration and spoke, "I'd like to be your friend." He looked over at her and she had a radiant smile on her face. He noticed his chest no longer hurt, and the guilt seemed to melt away as he said it.
"Then from this day on, we're friends." She said never ceasing her smile. She was determined to get him to drop whatever plan he had for her, and from the sincerity of his voice she felt like she did just that.
He on the other hand was still skeptical. He was going to give this friend thing a go, but he felt like something inside him just couldn't accept it. However, he did have to admit, only to himself that is, that he liked the fact he felt less empty. He had been going through the days lately wondering what to do with himself. He felt like he was losing touch with his brothers, and found people in general tiring. In spite of the gut feeling this would only end in disaster he looked to his friend and internally promised himself he'd try to be a good friend to her.
The brass sound of a marching tune blasted through the air as a man called the parade to begin. Blossom looked down eagerly and watched the parade slowly move from the point down. Brick chuckled to himself as she hummed along with the song playing, tapping her hand against the building in sync with the rhythm.
As the marching band descended the street the floats and displays started making their appearance as they rounded the corner. Brick was surprised to see so many independent businesses showing floats, or just marching down the street handing out fliers.
Both were surprised to see a float that someone made displaying paper mache versions of them and their siblings. "That's kinda creepy aint it?" Brick asked as the colorful float passed them.
"I think it's sweet someone put so much work into a float like that." She said looking down at it. "You're a hero now, you'll probably meet kids dressed up as you, or stuff that has your face on it."
"That's still creepy." Brick said with a small laugh.
"It's harmless, for the most part." She said giving him a playful push. "You might have fans from when you were a villain as well, who knows how many admirers you have."
"Yeah, yeah ok. I still think it's creepy."
"Yeah it is at first, but you get used to it." Blossom said returning to the parade.
The next float to show up in the show was the local government float with the Mayor sitting on a mache replica of her office chair waving to the crowd. She had a strained smile on as she greeted the crowd. They we're nice a nice enough crowd, but she'd rather be in her office, working on something with AC blasting her face. She also knew this was just part of the gig and did her best not to melt in the early summer heat. She looked side to side, seeing the kids wave back, or eating the candy already passed out by earlier floats. "Only 4 more miles to go, keep smiling." She thought to herself.
She could make out the slightest sound of familiar laughter, and turned to the other side of the crowd, but she couldn't see the source. "Mayor! Mayor! Up here!" She could hear someone crying out. Looking up she saw the two leaders sitting on the ledge of the apartment building she owned, and Blossom saw calling out to her waving like mad. She was surprised to see either of them, let alone both of them together like that. She gave a more sincere smile and waved back. "They seem to be getting along. Good. Good!" She thought.
The parade kept going, and Brick noticed a small kid walking down the street pulling a cooler on wheels selling drinks. Brick pushed himself off the roof and floated down to the boy. "Hey ya got anything good?" He asked the boy who turned around with wide eyes.
The boy was just a little kid with dirty blond hair, green eyes, and freckles decorating his face. "Woah, you're Brick!"
"I am? Oh my goodness thank you I was worried I was someone else for a bit." He said with a silly smirk on his face. "But back to my question, anything good?" He asked pointing the cooler.
"Soda's 75 cents, bottled water 50. I also have ice cream sandwiches for a dollar each." He said stopping in his tracks to open the container.
Brick pulled out a few bills, "Give me 2 sandwiches and 2 waters." He said handing them to the boy. He pocketed the money and dug deep in the ice pulling out the treats and handed them to Brick. "Thanks man, I hope you make some good money today." He was about to float back up when he heard the boy speak.
"Umm before you go can I get a picture with you?" The boy asked pulling out his phone.
Brick turned back around, "Uhhh why?"
The boy grimaced for a second, "It's just... I think you're cool. You see I have an older sister and younger brother, neither are helping me sell these by the way, but my brother always gets mom and dads attention and my sister bosses me around. But you? You don't let nobody boss you around. I want to be a good strong leader like you one day." He said holding his phone hoping Brick would oblige.
"I'm not such a great leader kid, I got me and my brothers locked up for a long time." He tried to explain and saw the boys posture fall a bit. "So if I take this pic with you, promise me you'll become a better leader than me one day got that?" Brick said. He felt weirdly sad about letting down some kid he literally just met, and when the kid smiled, he felt strangely proud being able to make that smile happen.
"I promise!" The kid yelled excitedly. Brick knelt down by the boy who took a quick selfie and wouldn't stop thanking Brick.
"Good luck kid!" Brick yelled out before ascending to the roof. To a smirking Blossom. "Hey got you a water and snack." Brick said handing her the items. He sat down, but noticed she still hadn't stopped that infernal smirking. "What?"
"So was that boy creepy?" She said sitting down.
He took a bite of his ice cream and spoke, "No, I guess not."
"I heard every word you know, I told you you've got fans and admirers." She said in a singsong voice unwrapping her treat. "Nice save by the way making him promise to be better than you and all that."
"Hey a pic isn't exactly the same as someone building little statues that look like me. Probably in some dim lit garage." Brick said taking a sip of water and looking at her.
"You'll get used to it. When a fan isn't a crazy stalker it's quite enjoyable." Blossom said, "But thank you for the ice cream."
"You're welcome." he said as the two continued watching. Remarking every so often on float designs or songs that other bands were playing. The parade lasted until a little after nine in the morning, and the festival didn't start until much later.
"So what do we do now?" Brick asked helping the puff back to her feet.
She took his hand and gave it some thought. "Well, the festival won't start for almost another hour," Blossom paused to think about it, when Brick's stomach practically roared at her. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"I had a muffin." Brick said letting go of her hand to fold the blanket up.
"Well, I disagree with you delaying meals, but it does set up an opportunity to go get a bite to eat." She said collecting her bag.
"I guess, though we should avoid the salt and pepper diner. They'd probably lose their mind if they saw us in the same place again." Brick said with a small laugh.
"Whose fault is that?" Blossom said killing his laugh.
"I thought we agreed you wouldn't hold that against me." He said giving her a cold glare.
"You brought it up," She replied, and he calmed down. "Besides I know a nice cafe nearby with the most delectable pastries."
"Oh, are they delectable? Or maybe tantalizing? Maybe even scrumptious?" He asked striking exaggerated poses with every word.
"Are you really making fun of my expanded vocabulary?" She huffed.
"No, not really, but the way you talk is somewhat funny. Most people just say the best cakes or muffins. Delectable makes it sound fancy." He said backing off.
"I believe communication is key."
"No, comprehension is key." He interrupted. "You can communicate until the cows come home, but if people don't understand you, you're wasting your breath."
"Is that why you talk like a layman? You seem to have no problem understanding me." She asked.
"Maybe, who knows? But people communicate in a multitude of medias. Spoken word, sign language, writings, art, music, and body language. If you can't understand the meaning behind the signals, what's the point of making it." Brick said as they flew into the apartment to set the blanket aside.
"I guess that makes sense. It would explain a few things." She said.
"Well, my exhilarated companion, where is this cafe?" He asked.
With an eye roll she led him outside and down a few blocks to a small hole-in-the-wall cafe. He was looking at it with skepticism. "They do have the best muffins." Blossom said just before the duo entered.
A.N. Read and review would you kindly