Hola, friends! I'm hoping you'll find this chapter somewhat interesting!

I'm not usually one for songfics, but I REALLY like The Knife and thought I could maybe see a parallel between Blossick and the two songs I quoted. They're called 'Heartbeats' and 'Pass this On' if you're interested.

Please do tell me if you're still following the story, would appreciate some feedback! I'm aware it's a bit fucked and twisted, but I guess I felt the need to take it there? rr tho

XOXO

'Did you have a good time?' Brick asked as they strolled on the Champs Elysées.

'Yes, very much so. Thank you.' she returned his smile. It was almost sunrise, Bloosom could see the sunlight attempting to creep in on the horizon..

'The Airbnb I got for us should be close enough. He double checked on his phone.'

'You got us an Airbnb?'

'Yes, it's easier than trying to find a vacant house this close to the city center. And I'm guessing you wanted the whole Paris experience.'

He soon spotted the place, a friendly looking man was waiting for them and waved hello.

'Hello, Mr Taylor? I'm Jacques, we spoke on the phone yesterday.'

'Yes, good morning, Jacques. I suppose everything has been adequately prepared for my arrival?

'Of course. Everything that you asked for is inside. Here is the key. I will come to retrieve it when you're ready to leave. I hope your stay with us is pleasant.'

Blossom's jaw dropped as they entered the apartment, she had never seen one decorated with such taste before. Hardwood floors, elegant furniture and tapestry, all of it clearly inspired by art déco. A small balcony opened into Champs Elysées, the Eiffel tower completing the view.

'Are you hungry? I asked him to bring us some appetizers and wine.'

'Oh..Blossom nodded, eyeing the several types of cheese, croissants and meat on the kitchen table.

'You can also take a bath here, I know the Iceland cottage only has a shower.'

He was right, she did prefer baths, and this tub seemed spacious and luxurious. Aside from the tub itself, several types of bath bombs were placed on its edge.

'I know you like it.' a sly smile appeared on his face as he dug into a slice of cheese.

'Why are you so sure?'

'Because I like it. I enjoy quality, luxury goods. We're similar. We have high standards.'

Blossom squinted at him:

'That's very presumptuous of you. I like to think I'm not that shallow and wealth obsessed.'

'Nothing shallow about enjoying life. Do you think it gives it extra depth if you serve it with a side of tedium and suffering? No, it only makes it worse.' he added, opening a bottle of wine and pouring it in two nearby glasses.

Blossom took it and reluctantly had a small sip.

'Damn, it's REALLY good. Should have some of that cheese, too.'

She grabbed a piece and went on the balcony, a small table for two was conveniently placed there. People and cars had started flooding the street, as it was a weekday.

'Does it even matter what day it is? Their lifestyle is a perpetual vacation. Might as well enjoy the ride.'

She looked at the people below, some likely tourists, some hurriedly going to work. It was interesting to witness such a vibrant city stepping into motion.

She took the glass to her lips and realised in shock that she had finished it. Stepping back inside she noticed Brick had started browsing into the vinyl record library.

'They've got a good collection here.' 'Oh, he exclaimed. 'Didn't expect to find this . 'Do you know The Knife?' Brick asked, grabbing the disc and making it for the vinyl player.

'I don't think so.'

'I think you'll love them. Only found out about them recently.' the disk started playing, playful synth filling the air.

'So, you like electronic music? she asked, her foot starting to mimick the rhytm.

'Among other things, yes. I don't have favourites. How about you? he encircled her waist and started swaying to the music.

'I think I like jazz the most, John Coltrane is probably my favourite.'

'To call for hands of above

To lean on

Wouldn't be good enough

For me, no'

'What is the song about?' Blossom asked, not knowing if the warmth she felt in her chest was from the wine or his proximity.

'I think this one is about unlikely lovers.' he whispered in her hair.

Blossom felt light-headed as the upbeat synths kept playing, Brick's hands now resting on her hips as they danced.

It was hard not to stare in his eyes, their unusual color had her ensorcelled. His hair was tied in a messy bun, a few rogue strands framed his face, and he sometimes ran his hands through it when it got in his eyes.

'Why don't you tie it again since it keeps slipping?' Blossom felt the courage to ask in her tipsiness.

'Wouldn't it kill the mood if I stopped to do that now?' he replied as they continued swaying.

'Do you think the mood's that fragile?' she asked playfully.

'I'm not taking any chances.'

'You could just take it out altogether.' she swiftly reached for his tie and the red hair cascaded on his back.

'Oh, no. Why does he have to look... like this?'

Another song started, and Brick got closer and closer, their bodies now touching, holding her tight, his hands firmly on the small of her back.

'Never thought I would slow dance on electronica.' she mumbled in his ear. Blossom felt him smiling against her cheek.

'You can slow dance on anything as long as you've got the right partner.'

'I wasn't really looking for some more than

Some company on the dancefloor and

Does he know what I do and

You'll pass this on, won't you and?

If I ask him once,

What would he say?

Is he willing, can he play?''

'Can you play?' she heard Brick's husky voice in her ear. Blossom broke the embrace to face him, and before she could look him in the eye his lips crashed into hers hungrily.

She could feel herself losing any semblance of self-restraint as his hands grabbed her all over: her hair, travelled along her back and dug into her hips.

She grabbed into his hair to steady herself, but he had picked her up and was already taking her to bed.

Laying Blossom on her back, he bent over to reach her mouth and deepened their kiss, their tongues fighting for dominance. He straddled her and took this time to remove his shirt, then noticed Blossom was staring at him in shock as if she had had an epiphany.

'Are you in awe of my naked body, or what?'

Blossom swiftly got out of the bed, almost toppling him over.

'I don't want to ruin this apartment.'

Brick initially seemed dumbfounded, then laughed hysterically as he realised the implication.

'You're not being serious. I'll pay the guy for the damage. This is what you're thinking about now?'

'No, I don't want to destroy it like we did with the Italian villa! ' Blossom snapped, crossing her arms together.

'You didn't seem to mind it then, Miss New-Skylight-in-the roof!

'It was an empty summer villa, this is an apartment complex. People live here on this block, they might be hurt or even die if anything happened.'

'You, with the fucking humans again! he interrupted, seemingly exasperated. Blossom sat herself on the edge of the bed, avoiding his gaze.

'Fine, have it your way, then.' he said, putting his shirt back on. 'I'm not forcing myself on you, if that's what you're thinking.' he erupted at her.

'And I'm supposed to be extra grateful for that? Well, at least he's not a rapist, thank God!' she bit back at him.

Brick got closer to her, his eyes shooting daggers:

'Then, tell me, Blossom, if you find me so despicable , why did you respond to my advances? Surely, Miss Everything Nice must have better taste, yes?'

'...It's hormones...I'm physically attracted to you.'

'So you're telling me you don't feel anything in me that draws you in? Nothing? Boomer and Butch are my twins, do you wanna fuck them too?'

'No, I..'

'Because if you do, don't let me stand in your way. I'm sure they're more than willing to assist you.'

'Stop.' she said sharply, looking down and clenching her fists.

He attempted to make it to the window, but she grabbed his hand and murmured under her breath:

'I am attracted to you. More than your looks.'

His gaze softened as he sat next to her on the bed.

'That doesn't mean I don't chastise myself for it daily. ' she slowly raised her head to meet his gaze.

'Some advanced form of self-loathing you're practicing there.' he whispered, cupping her brow.

'It's only justified. You treat people like commodities.' she replied blankly.

'This again. It's getting a little old, don't you think?' he continued in the same strangely soothing tone.

His eyes had caught hers, Blossom felt something softening in his look and dared to say:

'Maybe you should try meeting me halfway.'

'How do you suggest I do that?' he kept stroking her brow.

'Not killing or harming people would be a start.'

'I think I already solve my problems through different means in most cases, simply out of convenience. Have you seen me killing anyone ever since you joined?'

'But Townsville..'

'In Townsville I wanted to prove a point. I don't care for human life and neither should you. I told you, I treat them like they treat their bees or cattle. They're not worth us sacrificing our time and lives over. Humans are spiteful, pitiful creatures who will throw you under the buss as soon as your existence inconveniences them, as soon as your existence endangers one of their own. '

A flame was lit in Blossom's eyes as she spat at him:

'You didn't change my mind. If anything, you managed to draw a wedge between us that wouldn't have been there if you hadn't been so violent.'

'Would you have preferred for me to hide my true self? Come to your college in disguise, dazzle you, make you fall in love with me and then reveal it all?' he said, seemingly amused by the prospect.

Blossom looked away, then asked gravely:

'Did you really need to kill all those people?'

'I had to show you somehow that they don't deserve you!'

'And you do? Just because we both can shoot lasers through our eyes?' she yelled, waving her hands in frustration.

'We're the ONLY ONES DOING IT. So, yes, I do.' Brick replied in exasperation and began to walk around the room.

'What about Alex? Why kill him specifically? I'm sure his death had a role in your philosophical mumbo-jumbo.' he sneered at him.

'Yes it did! I told you before, you need to let go of your human attachments.'

'Human attachments, eh? And you conveniently went straight for my ex!'

'I merely crushed an ant. A trembling boy. He was nothing. You don't see the lion repenting for killing a gazelle.'

Blossom interjected, feeling that she had reached her wits' end:

'Why is it so damn hard for you to accept that you cannot change my opinion about people? You've been at it for quite some time and it's NOT working the way you expected. Only a fool would persevere with something proven to be wrong time and time again.'

A long pause followed, Brick pacing up and down the room like a caged lion. He stopped at times to glance outside, at some point he realised the disc was still playing, so he paused it suddenly, almost damaging its delicate surface. Blossom studied him intently, a slew of emotions passed on his face in the span of a few minutes, one could even liken them to the five stages of grief, it was almost comical.

At some point then Brick turned his head and looked at her:

'Wait here, please.'

He swiftly went out the window leaving Blossom dumbfounded. She stood on the bed for a few minutes, still processing the conversation, then paced about the room, occasionally looking out the window.

After an hour she realised he's not coming back too soon and decided to draw herself a bath. She dropped one of the bath bombs in, and the delicate scent of lavender enveloped her. Blossom slipped in, finally feeling the storm in her mind subsiding, and a single stream of thought slowly started unraveling.

'Where the hell did he go?'

The image of Brick attacking Townsville entered her mind, but then she remembered his promise.

'He wouldn't. I'm still with him. Theoretically at least.'

'Where is he then? This is taking an awful lot of time. Maybe he went to look for his brothers.'

Blossom started washing her body, starting with her hair then methodically cleaning all of her limbs. A glimpse of his sweaty torso suddenly burned on her brain, her hands appearing in the fantasy, lathering him up.

'Jesus, Blossom, get a fucking grip.'

To avoid any further scenarios, she dried herself up, ate some more of the cheese then hopped in bed, anxiously waiting for his return. Several hours passed by, her brain was boiling from the anticipation. Blossom felt exhausted from all the mental energy she had expended, her eyelids were attempting to close every few seconds. The redhead opened the TV, trying to bypass the overwhelming desire to sleep. She soldiered on, anxiety keeping her alert.

It was almost midnight when Brick flew in panting, his clothes and hair in disarray. He looked around in panic until he noticed her hiding under the covers and opened his mouth to release an avalanche of words:

'Fine, I admit to maybe it not being the best tactic to get you to join me. Hurting humans, that is.'

Blossom was shocked, the last thing she'd expected was for him to finally take her rant into consideration. She came from under the covers and approached him.

'I didn't expect for you to be so...'He pinched his forehead in frustration. '...self flagellating. I thought you'd have enough of their nasty, self-entitled behavior and finally see the light.'

'Entitled behavior? Says the man who waltzed in and demanded I join him just because.'

'Because we're kindred.' he finished her sentence. 'And because we can handle eachother like nobody else can. But, yes, that was entitled of me, as well. I see why you wouldn't respond well to that. I should have tried to convince you in other ways.'

'Do you reckon we can agree to disagree?' he said tentatively, looking at her in expectation.

Blossom furrowed his brow at him: 'What does that entail?'

'You can keep your affinity for humans as long as it doesn't interfere with our wellbeing. Meaning: you will never choose humans over us.' he casually motioned towards himself.

'And what's your contribution ?'

'I will not kill or harm any humans from now on, I will only...collect what I need.'

Blossom was skeptical, she had never expected to have this conversation with him, and never in such civil terms.

'But you havent changed your mind about people.'

'No, I haven't, of course. But I will do this, because it pleases you. For our sake. It's...a compromise.'

'What about Butch?' Blossom couldn't help herself from asking.

'What about him?'

'Will he continue hurting people?'

'You know I can't vouch for my brother's behavior. I can vouch for what he does when we're together, but I can't supervise him 24/7. I'm guessing it's the same with you and your sister.'

Blossom nodded and swallowed the saliva that had pooled in her mouth:

'You're not wrong about that.'

He approached the redhead and tucked a rogue strand of hair behind her ear.

'Is that acceptable for you, Blossom? Can you live with that?'

'Can you?' she retorted.

'I'll try. We'll see how it goes.'

The kiss that followed overwhelmed her senses, it was gentler than usual and he took his time to explore her mouth.

'I can try.' she drew her breath, and Brick seized her lips again, his scent intoxicating her.

She felt a pang of guilt, Blossom remembered the promise back home, what awaited for her at the end of the month. A mixture of dread and excitement engulfed her, the thought of Antidote X loomed above her head as she gave into Brick's embrace.