I do not own the Power Puff Girls or the Rowdy Ruff Boys
Chapter Twelve: Break Before We Snap
"Professor Hughes, here is the doctor's note requesting that my mid term be moved to a sooner date, as my due date has—."
"Miss Utonium, I've already told you that the mid-term date is final and can not be adjusted for anyone. If you can't make it then I'm afraid your grade will have to be based off an accumulation of your previous grades." The professor said, without looking up from her quizzes that she was grading.
"Professor Hughes!" Blossom started, leaning on the desk completely interrupting the teacher's grading process. "I have an official doctor's note, stating that my due date has potentially been moved up to either the week of the midterm if not sooner. If you do not allow me to take my mid term when I need to, I will go to the university administration to report that you haven't been in any shape or form tried to abide by my needs."
The ice forming from Blossom's hands stretched across the Hughes' desk, causing the English woman to back away. She looked up from the frozen over papers to the superpowered pregnant girl before her. Sighing, she stood up and rubbed her hands to fight off the chill. Blossom stood back to her full height as well and folded her arms over her protruding belly. "Miss Utonium, if you are quite finished with your display, then let me tell you that I will not be swayed."
Blossom's eyes burned red with her laser vison. "You old crony!" she grumbled.
"Excuse me?" the normally taciturn woman's brow rose in shock.
Blossom leaned forward to get into the older woman's face. "You heard me!" She snapped at her obstinate educator. "You are an old crony! I've done everything that is required of me regarding this class if not more. I've twice shown you official notes from my doctor saying that I needed my exam pushed. I've been civil, whereas you have been unyielding and completely insensitive."
"Insensitive? Says the girl that comes into this school, my class flaunting—."
"Flaunting?!" Blossom yelled at her indignantly. "What have I been flaunting?"
The professor gestured to Blossom's almost to term belly. Blossom glanced down before her face turned red with her righteous anger. Her normally pink eyes were glowing red with her rage and laser beam eyes.
"You're far from married and as a freshman, I'm guessing you're barely a little over eighteen. What makes you think you are capable of raising a child at this age?"
"Women have babies all the time. Planned or otherwise."
"And for everyone of you that does at this age, the child there is someone else that really takes care of the child."
"You mean someone like you?" Blossom guessed.
The professor then scoffed. "Women like me are the reason children of young mothers like yourself and those trophy wives have a chance. They rely on us to make sure they have a wholesome life. Not the material goods a trophy wife can give or the cheap promises of childish television show that has no value. Also, with his lineage what kind of child do you think you'll have?"
"How fucking dare you!" she yelled with fire sparking from her mouth. "You have no right to judge my pregnancy or who my child will be based on who his parents are!" Her body was warming up with her anger and the baby was kicking wildly with the excitement around him.
Before she could stop herself, Blossom raised her fist and brought it down onto the desk. Oak wood was shattered into splinters from the force and miscellaneous items were now strewn across the wreckage. the professor registered for the first time just how dangerous the girl in her class could be. The stern professor didn't have the chance to say anything to the young woman about her behavior, as Blossom gripped her belly and then walked as quickly as she could out of the office, her body releasing smoke as her body heated to quickly uncomfortable levels.
Anyone who saw her, gave her a wide berth of space, unsure what to make of the smoking pregnant freshman. When she was outside, she braced herself against the large flowerpot in front of education building and gasped as her body continued to heat. Gripping the edge of the pot, her knuckles brushed the leave of the flora. Much to her surprise and that of the few students passing by, the flowers and greenage in the pot burst into flames. She stepped back from it and tried to conjure her ice but found that she couldn't. Her body was just too hot for her to use ice. This only made her angrier and it rose the flames higher, before she felt someone take her hand. The flames were extinguished and when she turned, she was more than glad to see Brick standing there, concern showing in his crimson eyes. "Brick."
"What the hell happened?" he asked looking between her and the burned plants. "And why are you so hot? Warm!" he amended when she gave him a look.
Blossom looked between her baby's father and the burnt campus flowers, and burst into silent tears. They ran in hot rivulets down her cheeks, creating steam that rose off her still burning body. She yanked her hand out of Brick's and wiped at the tears that were burning off her face before she could reach them. I'm going home to take a cold shower."
She was about to take to the air, when Brick wrapped an arm around her waist and held her to him. The heat between them was intolerable and she had to use her super strength to get him away from her. "Please keep your hands off me. I'm hot, uncomfortable, and too pissed to use my ice right now." She ran her hands through her hair, and sighed releasing a breath of fire. Her hands went to her throat and she groaned, before spinning and running away from Brick. Her signature streak of pink followed her, showcasing her speed.
Brick was about to follow her, when a hag of a professor come out of the building. She looked around before her eyes landed on Brick. Stalking toward him with such agitation put Brick's back up. "You. You're the sire to Blossom's child, aren't you?"
The phrase that the English woman used caught Brick off guard and it took him a moment to comprehend what she'd asked. When he was able to answer with a nod, she steeled herself with a deep breath and stood up straighter.
"Please inform the mother of your child that I will no longer be having her in my class. Her display of violence is not one that I will tolerate." She said just barely holding back the tremble of her frame.
Brick's brow furrowed in confusion, not knowing how to respond or what he should do in that single moment. Therefore, the first thing that did come to mind was the least intelligent thing he could say. "Huh?"
"I'll be speaking to the dean of the school to have her removed. Pregnant or not, she cannot simply do as she wishes." She spoke with a bite in her tone, but fear shining in her eyes. "I've told her more than enough times that the dates I have for the midterm are set. If she can't make them, then her grade is going to have to be based on an accumulation of her other grades."
Brick rand and hand over his face and looked skyward. "Look lady, I don't see any reason why she can't take her midterm sooner than the rest of the class. She's given you two doctor's notes, and aside from whatever it is she's done—."
"She smashed my desk with her fist!" She yelled, before taking a breath and composing herself.
"From what I've heard about you, you deserve it." Brick countered back. "You sound and appear to be a bitter, old nanny."
"You are a punk and she's a—."
"Choose your next words carefully." Brick said before he took a step over the spinster. The fear in her eyes grew tenfold at the imposing image of Brick with his red eyes glowing red in the shadow of her face. "Blossom has a level of restraint that I don't."
The spinster inhaled deeply and dropped her eyes. "I'll be speaking with the dean about this incident."
"Fine, I'll speak with him too about how you're a nasty old croon, expecting a girl almost nine months pregnant to practically give birth during her midterm because you won't expediate it." He retorted before snorting a thick black cloud of smoke into her face. As she stood coughing, he turned and went in search of where Blossom could've gone. He didn't like the idea of her being so upset while this far along. As he was walking, he noticed Bubbles looking around frantically. Thinking she saw Blossom, he sped towards her with his own red streak appearing behind him. "Bubbles! Have you seen Blossom?"
"No." She shook her head before looking around Brick. Seeing his confused stares, she sighed and ran a hand through her own loose hair. "For the past few days, Jamie and I were supposed to be studying together, but I can't find him."
Maybe it was his worry for Blossom, his anger at the child care professor, his frustration with his brother and his girlfriend, or his own stress from having to study for midterms—whatever it was literally had Brick burning up as he raised his head and released a brilliant burst of red and orange flames.
Bubbles flinched at the sight, but otherwise didn't move from her place. "What is your problem?"
When he brought his head back down, he looked incredulously at the not as ditsy, but sometimes just as ditsy as his brother blond before him. "My problem is that I seem to have to take care of everyone's problems! Again!" he yelled. "Butch is sleeping on my couch because your dad won't let him stay until he gets a job. Boomer's jealous over a guy you're too stupid to see likes you—!
"Stupid!" she exclaimed.
"I have to find a way for Blossom to take her midterm, because her crumpet shoving professor has some issue with her. And out of everything, I still have my own fucking midterms to prepare for! I should only be worrying about myself, Blossom, and our baby. Not a bunch of babies." He snapped at her.
Bubbles wasn't given a chance to respond as Brick left to hunt down Blossom. She was really fired up, and with her emotions being what they were, the flowers by the Education building were just a small dose of what she could do. He also worried this would send her into an early labor, not that they weren't ready for their son to arrive, but he at least wanted it to be under calmer much happier circumstances.
Blossom wasn't sure of where she was going until he found herself on the doorstep of her old home. She fumbled with her satchel, looking for her keys when the door opened and revealed her father, dressed and looking ready for an appointment. However, any thoughts of going were thrown out the window as he took in the sight of his distraught and visibly steaming pregnant daughter.
"Blossom?" he said, watching her face crumble and tears fall, practically evaporating off her hot skin. Careful not to touch her, lest he burn himself, he guided her through the house to his lab. Once downstairs, he led her to the simulation room and helped her to sit down in a chair he'd brought in. After she was settled, but still crying he left to go to the controls and began creating a setting of snow and ice. A soothing tundra landscape that would feel just as cold as liked. Hopefully, it would soothe not only her flaming body, but her frayed nerves as well.
While she was calming down, the professor had the machines take note of her and the baby's vitals. His more advanced machinery was a bit more refined as his girls and their counterparts' vitals were a little different. Blossom's and Brick's temperatures for one were something to keep in mind. Brick's normal temperature was always a few degrees higher than his brothers. Blossom's was typically lower than her sisters', but not right now. Her core temperature was closer to Brick's when he was at volcanic temperatures. The source of her rising heat was her belly, or more who lied there. Her son's temperature had risen to rival his father's. He wasn't sure how long he'd been running that high a temperature, but he hoped it wasn't for much longer. Blossom's body was better adapted for the cold over the heat. Another thing that concerned him about her vitals was her blood pressure.
"Blossom, I want you to try to relax. Your blood pressure is too high to be safe for you or the baby." The professor told over, speaking over the intercom into the simulation room.
Blossom tried to calm her tears as she let the coldness seep into her body. It was hard for her to feel it initially as her body was so hot, but soon the chill got to her and she felt able to relax. Still, she could feel her blood pumping rapidly through her body. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of something that would help in relaxing along with the cold. Under her breath she started reciting the countries of the world in alphabetical order.
"Afghanistan. Albania. Algeria. Andorra. Antigua- Barbuda. Argentina. Armenia. Australia. Austria. Azerbaijan. Bahamas." She muttered under her breath.
As she mumbled to herself the professor kept an eye on their monitored vitals. Her body temperature had dropped a few degrees. "That's good, Blossom. Very good."
She nodded absently as she kept reciting the countries.
While she was doing that, the professor reached for his cell phone and called Sarah Bellum. He was supposed to meet her to discuss her upcoming plan for a more efficient plan for energy conservation. "Hi, Sarah. I can't make it today."
"Oh? Blow yourself up again, John?" Bellum laughed on the other end of the phone.
The professor chuckled despite the situation he found himself in. "No, I'd still be able to make it if I suddenly blew myself up. It's Blossom. She came over upset and I'm helping her to calm."
That got the mayor's attention. "Is everything okay?" she asked him.
"I'm not sure." Suddenly his phone rang, and he pulled it away from his ear to see Brick's name flashing across the screen. "It's Brick calling me. I'll get back to later, Sarah."
"We can talk about my plans tomorrow John. Take care of your girl and grandbaby." She hung up and allowed the professor to answer Brick's call.
"I can't find Blossom." Brick said in a stressed voice. "Please tell me she's there with you."
The professor glanced through the glass to look at Blossom and checked her vitals. Her temperature and blood pressure numbers were dropping slowing back to their normal rates. "She's here."
A relieved breath escaped Brick. "Aww fuck. Good."
Glancing back at Blossom, again, he saw that she was looking and him and was now shaking her head. Seeing she didn't want him to speak with her baby's sire, he quickly thought of a reason to hang up. "Sorry Brick. I've got to see Bellum. Blossom just needs some time to rest."
"Hey—!"
The professor ended the call and turned to see Blossom settling back into the chair and closing her eyes again. He pressed the button for the intercom. "Want to tell me what happened today?"
Blossom sighed and the professor saw her blood pressure pick up, but thankfully her temperature remained low. "I couldn't get my midterm moved to a sooner date."
"I thought this was handled at the beginning of the semester?" he asked.
"It was. I just needed to remind the teachers of the choice. I'm taking most of them next week, but this one professor is just…spiteful. She told me I was flaunting my pregnancy, and that I wouldn't be able to take care of my child. Her way of punishing me was by not moving my midterm." She then mumbled under her breath. "Mean old bitch."
"Blossom," he sighed. "People are going to say things. However, I don't condone the lacking in being a proper teacher over a prejudice. I'll call the university and have her removed."
A heavy sigh that was closer to frost than smoke left Blossom as she slumped in the chair. "No, I've got to handle this myself. I'll go to the dean tomorrow and tell him about this. She won't be getting away with this."
"Your temperature just went up three degrees." The professor informed her. "Blossom, don't get too worked up too much over this. Handle this gently."
Blossom thought about how she smashed the desk and groaned. "Gently might be hard to do. I might have…smashed her desk to bits."
This time the professor sighed and rubbed his temple. "Blossom." This was something, he expected mercurial Buttercup to do, not sensible Blossom. However, he had to take into account her fluctuating hormones.
"I know. I know." She breathed. "She just made me so angry. Making assumptions about what kind of parents Brick and I would be. What kind of person my baby would be? I get it, already. I'm a teenaged mother. I'm not the first and probably won't be the last."
"But unlike a good number of teenaged mothers, Blossom, you're infamous in Townsville. The Power Puff Girls are well known, as are the Rowdy Ruff Boys. My grandson is already a celebrity in his own right for being the first one of you to be born." He told her in a matter of fact tone. "There are highs and lows to this, honey. Different from when you were just a superhero. Right now, you're in a low but not the lowest."
Blossom considered that in silence. Her father did have a point. She—and her sisters—used to have thicker skin. It would have to be toughed up once her son came. He was going to need her strong for the both of them. Brick couldn't be expected to handle everything—and try to handle everything he did. There was no doubt that she loved him, but she couldn't let him take all the worry and do all the planning for everything. She had to do some things herself; at least solve her own petty problems herself. "I just wish one thing about our lives could be normal."
Outside the simulation room, the professor turned his head at the sound of his lab door opening and falling closed. Looking up, he saw Buttercup dressed in a quarter sleeve white button down and a pair of black slacks. "Hi sweetheart. How'd the interview go?"
A week after having returned from her trip, she'd been looking for work. She'd gotten a few interviews, but just waiting to hear back from them. She couldn't believe finding a job was so hard. She searched for employment in waitressing—which she hoped to never have to do—and personal trainer jobs or mixed martial arts instructors—which she hoped to hear back from. Her recent job interview was at gym across town that wanted her to teach self-defense. The establishment was nice and gave a lot of space for working with students, also with it being full time she'd have great benefits after working there for a few months. The salary wasn't all that bad either with twenty-five dollars an hour. The green Puff hoped she got this job. "Well enough. The guy really like that I was a Power Puff girl. I thought you had an appointment with Miss Bellum."
"I did." He said while sitting down in the chair behind the control panel. "But Blossom needed a bit of…attention."
"What happened?" Buttercup asked as she leaned on the panel while looking at her elder sister.
"It's just stress." Blossom said having heard her sister ask. "I'll be fine once I cool down."
Buttercup had a feeling that they wasn't all, but decided not to pry. Instead she asked about something that had a bit more relevance to her. "How's Butch? Brick hasn't kicked his ass yet, I hope?"
"No." Blossom said laughed as she stood and turned the chair around to fully look out the glass window. "Though I almost did a few days ago when he ate the last slice of pizza."
"Sounds like him." Buttercup said, with a small smile on her face. Her husband—it still felt weird to think of him as such—and her met up a few times at the cabin during their separation, but still had yet to have sex. They'd secretly gone to a clinic and their STD results all proved that they both were clean. However, she wasn't feeling all that comfortable with her body yet. She felt like they were starting from scratch with their kissing, mutual masturbation, and groping each other. She knew he wanted to get back to their normal, but she didn't think they could ever be at their previous normal ever again. "He told him he had a few interviews for mechanic apprenticeships."
"Mechanic, huh? Sure, he can probably take apart any old rinky dink car engine and put it back together," the professor start, drawing an eye roll from Buttercup. "But can he outfit a rocket engine from scratch, and have it run on vegetable oil?"
"Professor." Buttercup groaned. "Butch is trying."
"Trying my patience." The professor told her.
Buttercup pushed off the control panel and left the lab, but not without slamming the door behind her. The professor looked back at where his daughter went and sighed. He turned his attention back to Blossom and caught her staring up at him. "What?"
"I hope you two haven't been fighting the since she got back." Blossom said with a worried gaze.
The professor shook his head in the negative. "We haven't but things…aren't the same. She's married now and I don't necessarily have a problem with Butch, but he's…I've seen Buttercup broken up over his bullshit before. This marriage is just the lit candles on the already iced caked."
"He does love her." Blossom told him while relaxing into the chair again.
As loathe to admit it as he was, the professor grumbled unintelligibly under his breath about the validity of the statement. He'd seen firsthand how much the Neanderthal of a boy turned man showed how much he loved his daughter. He remembered finding the two of them on his couch after said boy had snuck out of the hospital when she hadn't come to see him. Shaking the thoughts about his married daughter and her husband—he couldn't even think the word without getting angry—from his mind, he turned to look at Blossom and the baby's vitals. While Blossom's temperature regulated itself to her pregnant normal, he turned his attention to the fetus. His temperature was still a bit higher than he'd like. "Blossom, I want you to stay in there for a little while longer."
She nodded her head as she settled into place and closed her eyes. The professor gave one last look before deciding to head upstairs. Hopefully Buttercup had retreated to her room and he wouldn't have to face her cold shoulder in person. Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky as she was in the kitchen with a glass of cranberry juice in front of her. When she glanced his way, glared, and then turned his head away he sighed heavily. "Buttercup—."
She didn't give him a chance to say anything as she stood up from her place with her glass and left the space. He didn't try to stop her as he remained silent. Walking toward the stairs she caught the sound of tires squealing to a stop and looked out the front window to see Brick haphazardly parking and practically flying out the car to the door. With a roll of her own eyes, she went to the door and opened it. "She's in the lab."
Brick nodded and started to walk past her when she asked, what he did now. "I haven't done anything, and I really don't need your attitude, Butterface."
Feeling a particular sting in the comment had her staring after him shocked, but annoyed. "I don't need yours either Hothead."
Brick glanced over his shoulder with a scowl. "You can really go fuck yourself, especially since I know you aren't fucking anything these days."
Her own temper flared at the sex comment. "The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Your husband—my brother—is staying at my house. I know his habits, so I know when he's using up my fucking hot water, he's yanking it because you aren't doing it for him."
The level of concentration it took to not crush or throw the glass she held was an amazing feat for Buttercup. However, that was the only physical reaction she could control as her face flamed and other muscles bunched in preparation for a fight. "What Butch and I do is not your goddamn business."
"It is when he's sleeping on my goddamn couch!"
"That's enough, both of you!" the professor said as he walked into the room. Ruby and jade eyes turned his way with flaring tempers shining in both of them. "Brick, go to the lab and check on Blossom."
The elder Ruff boy didn't need to be told twice as he quickly went to do just that. Buttercup took an angry sip from her cup before going to the stairs. The professor glanced her way and reached out to touch her shoulder.
"I already told you want happened." She said in passing referring to the rushed-out explanation of her Vegas trip.
Now left alone in the main room of his home, the professor ran a hand over his face and groaned softly. "Teenagers."
A loud banging on the glass drew Blossom's attention from her relaxed state. Opening her eyes, she looked and sighed at the sight of Brick standing there with a worried look on his face. "Hi Brick."
"'Hi'? I spend the better part of an hour and a half looking for you to make sure you're okay, and all you can say is 'hi'?" He blurted unthinkingly his own nerves frayed and temper still running on high.
Blossom chose not to take it personally. "I just worked myself up."
"You were practically on fire." Brick commented to her. "I'd say you were more than just worked up."
Standing up from her place, she went to walk over to glass and placed her palm against it. Brick's own hand immediately lifted to cover her own. "I'm sorry for running off like that."
"I'd hope so." Brick grumbled. "I didn't like not knowing where you were."
"I know."
"You're pregnant. Eight months pregnant." Brick emphasized.
"I know." She smiled at him softly.
"You're laughing at me." Brick grumbling with a ring of steam coming from his hand on the glass.
Blossom then started laughing as she leaned her forehead against the glass. "Not so much you, but the situation, Peaches."
"I wish you hadn't given me that nickname, Cherry." Brick chuckled as he rested his own head on the glass. "Are you all right now?"
"Yeah." She said before lifting her head and looking up at him. "I'm really sorry. I just needed to get away for a while."
Brick hummed in understanding. He too felt like he wanted to get away sometimes. It was reason why he wanted to go to school in the first place. "How long do you think you'll be?"
Inhaling deeply, Blossom exhaled and was glad to see an icy breath appear on the glass. "I think I'll stay the night here."
Red eyes flickered up before he lifted his head and his brow furrowed. "What, why?"
"I need a little time to get my head straight after my…scene today. You…you could use a break from all this too." She said sympathetically.
"This is our family, Blossom. I'm not just going to walk away—."
"Brick, it's just for one night, okay?" Blossom said. "I'll meet you on campus tomorrow."
Being away from Blossom while she was this far along was not appealing to Brick, but he knew she wasn't going to relent. Also who knew, a night apart blowing off steam would do them some good. Maybe he could call his brothers and have a night out or maybe just a nice fight.
As if they had a telepathic link to each other, Brick's phone began ringing. Pulling it from his pocket, he saw Boomer's name flashing across the screen. When he answered, he barely got a word in before Sonic Boomer started yelling through the phone.
"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU GET OFF CALLING MY GIRLFRIEND STUPID!?" He started yelling. "SHE CALLED ME IN TEARS ABOUT HOW YOU SCREAMED AT HER BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T FIND BLOSSOM! YOU DON'T GET TO TALK TO HER THAT WAY FOR NO FUCKING REASON!"
Brick pulled the phone from his ear and scowled at the phone before turning away from Blossom. "If anyone's got some fucking nerve, it's you. Having me practically be your spy because you don't trust your girlfriend with the guys she hangs around. You're just as stupid as she is. A true match if you ask me."
"Just you wait till I get off work, I'm going to kick your ass." Boomer promised in a low voice.
"I'll be on Monster Isle if you're serious." Brick told him with a snarl.
Boomer scoffed at the challenge. "Oh I am, you fucking asshole." The called ended with a harsh click and had Brick's teeth grinding in his mouth.
When he glanced back at Blossom, her own face was creased with worry. He looked to the control panel and looked for the button to the door. Pressing it, the simulation disappeared leaving Blossom in a stark white room and opening the door. When she stepped out, he took her into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, a complete contradiction to the harsh threat of violence he just spouted to his brother. "See you tomorrow."
"Are you really going to fight Boomer?" the mother of his son asked. "I mean, do you have to?"
Brick sighed and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. "Not particularly, but if he's rearing to go, then why not? It's not like he can beat me."
"Not the point." Blossom shook her head. "Why's he so mad anyway? My super hearing doesn't work so well through the simulation room."
"I…" he hesitated in answering not sure how Blossom would take the news. "…I might have yelled at your sister earlier while looking for you."
"Oh Brick."
"I'll apologize, and tell her I didn't mean it." He promised, before cupping the back of her head. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
Blossom nodded her head and wrapped her arms around Brick in as tight a hug as she could get with her belly in the way. "We'll be fine." As she said it the baby kicked them both as if agreeing with her sentiment. "See, even he agrees with me."
Brick snorted and rubbed his hand over her belly. He then kneeled down so that he could kiss her belly and whisper, "Take care of your mommy."
Blossom laughed and pulled off Brick's cap so he should run her fingers through his hair. "All right, now go on, and don't beat up Boomer too badly. You know how Bubbles gets when he's hurt."
"Yeah, I'll try to go easy on him, if only so you don't have to patch me up when she tries to kick my ass. I'm kind of surprised she didn't do it herself." Brick mused aloud. "You know I used to hear stories about Bubblevicious from Mo—." The smiled that was creeping on his face fell and he cleared his throat before continuing. "I know how violent your sister can get."
"Brick, have you—."
"No, I haven't and I don't know when or if I will talk to him." Brick cut her off as he stood and took his cap back from her. "Oh, that professor is going to the dean to try to get you removed from the class tomorrow."
"What?!" Blossom was thankfully distracted from any Mojo talk by that. "But she can't—."
"And she won't. I'll go talk to the dean as well—."
"No, I'll talk to the dean on my behalf. You do too much already, and you have your own midterms to study for." Blossom reminded him. "Wouldn't want you to get a B." she teased.
"If I recall you're the one that got a B on a quiz recently." Brick joked back before placing a lingering kiss on her lips. "I'll pick you up in the morning."
"I'll meet you on campus." She said firmly. "For the next sixteen hours, don't worry about me." She gave him another kiss. "Now go."
With that parting gesture, Brick left and Blossom to return tot eh simulation room, the icy tundra falling around her again.
Boomer quickly exited the truck and went to Kevin to finish the needed paperwork for the day before going to kick his brother's ass. Alice had tried to talk to him, but his anger had him blocking everything out of his mind. It didn't go unnoticed by his coworkers as his writing was for forceful that he broke the pen in his hand, as well as the board his paperwork was sitting on in half. "Damn it."
"What's got you in such a bind?" Kevin asked.
Reaching for another pen, Boomer restarted his paperwork. The ink from the pen covered his first stack. "Nothing that I can't handle."
"Your girlfriend stepping out on you?" Jeff asked falling into laughter, missing the exasperated look on Kevin's face and the thunderous one on Boomer's.
Before any of the other guys say anything, Alice walked up and scoffed. "If she is, then she's not worth your time Boomer." She told him leaning against the counter Kevin was sitting behind. "Besides what kind of girl would cheat on a sweetie pie like you."
"She's not cheating on me!" He shouted, voice ringing in with a bit with that supersonic vibration he was powered with. He then finished scribbling in his report with a signature and dropped the keys to the truck on the counter. Hastily clocking out, he was already unbuttoning his work shirt and stomping out of the room in irritation.
Jeff, Kevin, and Alice watched with mixed reactions as the blue Rowdy Ruff boy left. Jeff was the first to break from his stupor as he took Boomer's paperwork and placed it with the other reports to file. "I wish you two would quit messing with the kid."
Alice turned to look at Kevin with a raised brow. "What do you mean messing with him?"
"You're flirting with him." The blunt man said while turning to his computer screen and continuing to do his job.
Alice felt no shame about that as she shrugged and looked away. "It's just flirting." She said before frowning irritably. "Besides, it's not like he notices."
"Let the girl have her fun, Kevin." Jeff told him. "We all can't not have fun."
The taciturn man turned to glare at the man in his third marriage and shook his head. "It's because you let women have their fun that you're on wife number three."
"Asshole." Jeff said as he pushed off the desk and walked away.
Kevin cracked a small smile at getting under the skin of the frequent divorcee. He then noticed that Alice was still there and had a disgruntled look on her face. "Alice?"
"I don't see what the big deal is." She mumbled. "He's a cute guy—"
"With a girlfriend."
"Yeah, yeah. I know." She groaned. "Bubbles this. Bubbles that. She's in school. She loves animals. She's going to be a vet. He talks about nothing but her."
"Then give it a rest." He told here, now only half paying attention to the young woman who liked to tease the male employees. "Alice, I usually don't care who you flirt with, but do you really want to flirt with a guy whose girlfriend can and possibly will break you in half?"
He took a moment to see her really contemplating that possibility. When the female lead caught him staring at her, she glared and stormed off so she could clock out. Seeing his point was proven, he turned back to his work.
Boomer was flying at super speed to the isle, cobalt blue streak flaring behind him, when he caught dark forest green cutting in front of him. "Butch?" He sped up to meet his brother, flying by his side and taking noticed of his annoyed expression. "Did Brick piss you off too?"
Butch not having paid attention to his surroundings startled and flailed a bit in his flying, before righting himself and turning to look at his younger brother. "Fuck, don't you know better than to do that shit?"
"Not my fault you weren't paying attention." Boomer could honestly care less about proper flying etiquette at the moment. "Why are you going to the Isle?"
"Why are you?" Butch returned the question.
"Brick made Bubbles cry."
That had Butch looking to his younger brother with a raised brow. "That's it?"
"He called her stupid." Boomer said, getting angry all over again. His fists clenched at his sides as he turned his attention forward keeping an acute eye out for the Isle. It wasn't particularly small, but with how high up they were, they were likely to miss it if not paying attention. "I don't care why he said it. The point is he shouldn't have."
Butch strangely enough found himself being tactful. Boomer has been touchy regarding being called stupid as of late. He wasn't sure why, but he knows if he were in a less Sonic Boomer mood, he'd have teased him about it. Also, he wasn't in a teasing mood, he had his own frustrations to work out.
"You didn't answer me. Why are you going to the Isle?"
"Going to blow off some steam." He said flatly, hoping that his little brother didn't put together the kind of steam he needed to blow.
Unfortunately, his brother knew him just a little too well. Boomer regarded his brother for all but a few moments, before scoffing out a laugh. "So, what they say about marriage is true. It kills sex."
The emerald glare Butch laid on his brother could've peeled paint, but as it wasn't enough Butch reached forward and dropped his fist hard onto Boomer's head. "It's nothing like that."
His statement wasn't believe for a second, despite how true it might've been. It wasn't his marriage that was killing the sex, it was Buttercup and her insecurities. Butch knew she was still feeling weird about having had sex with someone else. Hell, he felt a little weird too, but he felt it everything would right itself as soon as he and Buttercup finally did the deed. Her hand and his own could only do so much.
Lost in his own thoughts as he was, he wasn't braced for the sudden and completely low blow that had his balls shrinking away within themselves. Cupping his crotch, he stopping his forward momentum and sunk a few feet in the air. Looking forward at the culprit, his face twisted into a fierce snarl. "You'd better have a good goddamn reason for that snips for brains." He groaned as his balls dropped back down in released tension.
"I'd almost forgot that you stole my condom out of my wallet, you fucking asshole." He floated in the air with his arms crossed over his chest.
Narrowing his eyes in confusion, Butch's eyes wandered as he thought about when he'd done such a thing. When he did, green eyes widened in remembrance. "That was well over two months ago!"
"Three, and I haven't—." Boomer quickly cut himself off before revealing more information than his brother needed to know. There was no telling how severe the taunting would be if he knew Boomer hadn't had sex in such a long time. Though he could just as easily remind Butch of his own blue ball status.
"You just decked me in the balls because you're too stupid to go buy more condoms?!" Butch yelled at him, not believing he deserved such a strike from his brother.
"Don't call me stupid and that's not the only reason." Boomer grumbled at him. He then turned and resumed his flight toward the Isle which was just now coming into view. He didn't get far as a hand wrapped itself around his ankle and jerked him to a stop.
"What else did I do?" Butch asked, only to have to let go of Boomer's ankle to avoid the kick that was aimed at his head. "What the hell is the matter with you?"
Instead of answering, Boomer faced forward and broke the sound barrier as he flew toward the Isle. He was there to fight Brick, not Butch. Though he was sure by his previous action that he wouldn't have much of a choice in the matter. He'd unwittingly awoken the beast and was now going to have to pay for it.
This came true as Boomer felt the impact of being attacked from above. Boomer just barely managed to grab a hold of Butch and start laying his own blows while Butch tried to keep his hold on him until they crashed into the far side of the Isle. The monsters that were nearby fled the area from the impact that was caused by two of the Rowdy Ruff boys. When Boomer managed to throw Butch off him, he immediately got up and went after him. Laser vision shot from his eyes, catching his brother off guard as it struck him in the shoulder. While he was distracted Boomer came down with his elbow onto Butch's shoulder, easily dislocating it.
Butch groaned in pain, but didn't let it deter him too much as he used his still workable arm to catch the knee that would've smashed his nose in. HE then threw Boomer back as he stood up and tried to gauge how badly the dislocation was. He wasn't given much of a chance as Boomer charged him, forcing the green Ruff to defend himself one handedly. He blocked as well as he could with only one functioning arm, taking more blows to his left side as Boomer clearly took advantage of his injury. When Butch managed to land his own blow, by spinning into a kick that caught Boomer by surprise as the suddenly had to block with his arm otherwise be hit in the face. The force did send him through some of the trees and disturbing a group of monsters were trying to hide. Their snarls and yelps of irritation and fright were ignored as Boomer landed in a shallow puddle that was a color that made him briefly question what he really fell in.
With the reprieve from attacks, Butch looked around and upon seeing a rather large boulder rammed into it shoulder first. Feeling the joint pop back into place was painful in its own right, but at least he now had function of both his arms. "That fucker." He grumbled partly proud of his younger brother, but mostly annoyed. Seeing the break in the trees he ran though them, seeing Boomer standing at the ready with his fists up. Butch took a dive and slid between his brother's legs and through a kick to the back of his knees. As Boomer feel Butch wrapped him in a headlock before getting body slammed to the ground. His legs them came up to wrap around Boomer's neck and he pulled him forward with enough force to smash his face into the ground. Scrambling to get atop his brother he brought an elbow down onto his stomach knocking the wind out of him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt to hold him in place and lay punch after punch on him.
Boomer in turn grabbed the hand that was holding him down and twisted until the joint couldn't withstand the pressure without breaking. He then through his own punch toward Butch's face throwing him off. Moving into a crouch, he surged forward, not realizing that there was a downward slop behind them. Blue and green blurs tumbled down the slope in a dizzying tangle of limbs striking flesh wherever they could, be it a kick, a punch, or even a bite—which Boomer got two of them in. Once at the bottom of the hill, their fighting was less refined and more of a mindless brawl at this point. The only thing that brought them out of their fight was the sudden monstrous roar that was much closer than either of them imagined.
The creature wasn't the typical mutant like some oversized octopus with a single eye or the Godzilla-esque monsters breathing fire or radiation. It was one of the rarer chimera types that was an amalgamation of bird, alligator, rhinoceros and ape. What also made the creature rare was its ability to speak. The girls in their younger days had a bit more difficulty with these as they tended to be smarter than the other monsters of the Isle. "Humans on my Isle? In my territory? Death must be a wish for you two to be here."
The two brothers broke apart and glared at the monster, who they felt they should but couldn't pity. It was clear the monster didn't recognize them, otherwise, he'd have stayed clear of them. The smarter—a term used very lightly—monsters shied away from the Rowdy Ruff boys when they were fighting. The trio usually came to their domain when they really wanted an all-out brawl with no regards to damage or to the beings around them. Any creature unfortunate—or in the case of the chimera monster, dumb enough—to cross their paths were subject to be part of the brawl. It was just unfortunate that the boys' attention would now be solely on the monster and not each other.
Butch stood up and rolled his neck, enjoying the feeling of the kinks cracking away. "When was the last time we fought a monster?"
"I couldn't tell you." Boomer said and rolled his shoulders and hopped in place at the ready. "I bet I can take the first shot before you can." He then jumped into action and raced toward the creature.
Butch was quick to follow after him with a shout. "It doesn't count if you cheat!"
He was ignored as Boomer jumped and landed the first blow, a kick to the neck, throwing the monster to the ground. He was about to strike again when the monster's skin seemed to shimmer and he then blended in with his surroundings. Boomer kept his eyes trained on the empty space and slowly looked around for any shifting in the light or movement. Butch landed beside him and looked around, before the two of them were struck with what felt like a swinging tail. Falling to the ground and tumbling over one another left them in shock more than in pain. Still, when they managed to look up at the now smug monster.
"That thing is so dead." Butch growled lowly as she pushed himself up from the ground off his stomach.
Boomer curled his body and throw himself forward to land on his feet. A smile and a manic Rowdy Ruff Boy glee shining in his eyes. This fight was going to be a good one.
About maybe an hour later, the boys were laying on the back in the middle of the carnage they'd caused. The monster had taken a bit longer to defeat than expected, but they weren't complaining. Its use of his camouflage made keeping an eye on it difficult, as well as its quickness, brute strength, tough hide, and sharp claws. Butch and Boomer both sported their own injuries of bleeding gashes, lumps, and bruises. Those were nothing compared to the now dead monster whose body was torn apart and littering the ground around them.
"So…" Butch spoke in between deep breaths. "…feel better now?"
Boomer's breath was slow as he tried to catch it. He was splayed out on the ground looking up, his clothes a complete mess. He was glad he changed out of his work clothes before he came to the Isle. "A little. What about you?"
"I blew off enough steam. That monster really helped." Butch answered from his place propped against a tree.
An acknowledging hum came from Boomer before he closed he opened his eyes. "So why aren't you having sex with Buttercup?"
Butch glanced his younger brother's way and wondered if he should tell him or not. His temper had cooled considerably after fighting so he was sure he wouldn't get too pissed. "She's…not comfortable with it yet."
That wasn't the answer Boomer was expecting and turned his head to look at his brother. "What do you mean not comfortable? I'm sure she's seen every inch of your ugly ass by now, and you've seen all of her."
Butch titled his head back and blew out a breath. "Can I trust you not to run your mouth to Bubbles?"
"What makes you think—?"
"You told her I was sleeping with Buttercup before she could even say anything." Butch reminded him.
"I thought they knew." Boomer defended himself.
Butch rolled his eyes in annoyance. "My point remains. Why haven't you had sex with Bubbles?"
Boomer clammed up, while his face burned with mortification. "Can I trust you not to laugh at me?"
"Don't count on it." Butch told him honestly. If he found Boomer's reasoning to be dumb, then he would tell him so and laugh as was needed. "So why're you giving yourself blue balls?"
"I've been working. She's been studying." Boomer started, hesitating on telling him the real answer. "And I wanted to try something, but she didn't want to."
"What was it?" Butch asked, though he had a bit of an idea.
Boomer brought his arms over his face and groaned. "I wanted to…go down on her."
Even though Butch suspected that's what his brother did, his eyes still widened in shock. "What happened? Did she kick you in the teeth?"
"No!" Boomer rolled over to glare at Butch. His anger left as quickly as it came. "She tried to throw me off and we both fell to the floor in her room."
Now Butch couldn't hold back the laugh if he wanted to. It was loud and boisterous and made Boomer scowl in indignation. That only made it funnier as it made Butch realize that his blue balled brother had tried and failed to liven up his vanilla sex life. "Wow, you truly are one vanilla couple."
"Stop calling me vanilla!" Boomer snapped at him. "Besides, you're not getting any either. Otherwise you wouldn't be here."
Butch reclined more against the tree and folded his arms behind his head. "Right, you were here to fight with Brick." His brow then furrowed as he looked up to the sky, noticing how dark it was getting. "When was he supposed to be here?"
Boomer seemed to remember then that he was supposed to meet and fight Brick, however he'd yet to see his red eyed brother. "That asshole!" Boomer growled out as he stood up, only to sway in his place still tired from the fight he'd just had with his brother and the monster.
"I wouldn't have expected Brick to send you on a wild goose chase of a fight." Butch mused. "Maybe he sent you here so he could go balls deep in Blossom. You know he told me that giving a girl an orgasm while she's this close to birth with help send her into labor?"
"He'd better be with Blossom after yelling at Bubbles and sending me here to wait around for him like an idiot." Boomer grumbled, before running his hand irritably through his dirty blond hair. "I'm really going to kick his ass now."
Soft snores took over living room from Brick's place on the couch. Once after leaving the Utonium home, he thought of going to Monster Isle, but then thought that he could buy himself a few hours of quiet to study. Unfortunately for him, as soon as he sat down and closed his eyes, he fell asleep. In his deep sleep he had shifted from sitting to being sprawled out, the pillows Blossom bought to "complete" the couch shoved to the floor. His sleep was deep and one couldn't be sure that he'd wake up for anything.
The partial silence was broken by the ringing of Brick's phone. Hot Blooded, the song his brothers thought was so clever broke through the sound sleep that Brick found himself in. Rolling over until he fell off the couch with a heavy and loud thud. Groaning he sat up and rubbed the remaining red haze from his eyes. He was in a red haze again, and he found himself looking down at who he believed his son to be. He was yelling at the poor boy and calling him names. Even when the tyke started to cry, he didn't relent on berating the child for the whatever trivial thing he'd done. However, that wasn't what had him the most disturbed. It was the laugh the he could hear over the crying. A laugh that he hoped to never hear again.
"He's dead. He can't hurt us anymore." He grumbled drowsily as he tried to banish the nightmare from his mind. With his phone still ringing, he reached for the arm of the couch until he found it and answered blindly. "Hello?"
"Hey." Blossom's voice came through on the other end of the call.
Brick yawned and glanced at the clock stating it was seven in the evening. "Hey." He yawned.
"Were you sleeping?"
"Yeah." He answered while scratching his stomach tiredly.
"What about Boomer?"
"It'll be a while before he realizes I'm not showing up." Brick answered. "I meant to study, but fell asleep."
Blossom sighed on the other end of the phone. "You probably needed that more than you know."
Brick hummed as he reclined on the couch and rubbed his eyes. He thought about whether he should tell her about the bizarre dream he had, but decided against it. There was no reason to worry her about something that no longer existed. "Yeah, I probably did. Are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah, I was just about to get us something to eat."
"Nothing too—."
"Nothing too spicy. I know, I know." Blossom laughed. "I don't want you worry about me tonight. You just worry about you. I just called to see how you were doing."
Stretching and getting up, Brick shuffled to the kitchen so that he could make himself something to eat. "You know I can't help but worry about you. It's not like you got pregnant by yourself." He said, with a sudden bite in his tone while looking in the fridge. He saw the Tupperware with the macaroni and cheese from the other night and pulled it out. "I mean, it was my dick that got us here."
"Brick, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" he said as he used his shoulder to hold the phone while using his fire power to heat his dinner.
"It's just…It's just I never heard you talk this way about the pregnancy since the beginning." Blossom said in a small voice.
As if a veil was lifted from his eyes, Brick blinked and nearly dropped his dinner as he turned and haphazardly placed it on the counter. "Fuck, Blossom. I'm sorry."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Brick rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "I…I don't know. Look, I'll talk to you tomorrow when I come to pick you up."
"You don't have to—."
"Blossom, I said it's okay." His tone was tense and for a second didn't sound like his own. Shaking his head, he glanced at his phone and then put it back to his ear. "Blossom, I—I…"
"Your voice changed." Blossom said worried, but not for the reason Brick thought. "Maybe…"
"I've got to go!" He said, before hanging up the phone and taking a deep breath. The heated macaroni was forgotten as he went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.
"Troubles in paradise?"
Looking up, Brick saw a face he hoped to never see again, smirking back at him from the mirror. Spinning around, Brick was met with nothing, but empty space. "He's not here. He's not here. H.I.M is dead. I killed him."
"Did you?"
A yell broke out from Brick as he spun and saw his nightmare in the mirror. H.I.M was exactly as he remembered him to be with his clawed hands, red skin, yellow eyes, and feather boa. "No."
"Yes."
"NO!" Brick smashed his fist into the mirror, just barely holding back from breaking through the wall. Stumbling back, he backed into the wall and slid to the floor. "You're just tired. You're stressed. This means nothing. Nothing!"
Though he said the words, he wasn't sure that he believed them to be completely true.
Hello my Lovelies.
Sorry for the long wait. I hope everyone had been taking the time to take care of themselves, but also not forgetting to still enjoy the little things, like a favorite movie, a joke between friends, or a even a story. Speaking of stories, I hope you guys like this chapter and the intrigue that goes with it. Trouble is a brewing and...I think it's almost time, but will it be before or after Blossom has her midterms. And what of Brick? Is H.I.M back or just pre-daddy jitters getting to him? Who knows what I'm planning to do next, but you'll find out soon enough.
Until Next Time