I interrupt your usually very cute, happy, and fluffy one shots to pull you into an AU full of feels. As some of you might know, January is a... Pretty tough month for me... On the fifteenth, it will be three years since my mom died and I... I honestly am still in a lot of pain... So I thought I might write a one shot that's a little sadder. It just kinda turned into a sort of song fic at the end. It's in a totally separate universe than usual, so don't worry and I probably won't continue in this universe (but who knows what the plot bunnies demand). Mainly Red with mentions of the Blues and Greens. The whites are not in this AU, sorry. Listen to Once Upon A December from Anastasia for the full effect.

Once Upon A December

Dancing bears,

Painted wings,

Things I almost remember,

And a song someone sings,

Once upon a December.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway as the young man walked with purpose. He wasn't very imposing, just a boy who had barely gotten into his twenties. If one looked at him, they'd just see someone average.

Not really standing out.

But he was far more than that. This young man was also a masked superhero who donned the name Catalyst. He had been in the superhero game for three years now. He brushed his dark brown hair back and stopped at a door, fear building up in his stomach.

Which, when he thought about it, was ridiculous.

He had no reason to fear the man behind this door. He'd trained Catalyst for two years now, changing him from a reckless vigilante to a semi-respectable hero. He was the one who was always the first to knock sense into Catalyst when he went too far and he knew he could turn to him for anything, be it advice or back up.

He had absolutely no reason to fear Brick Utonium.

But, now, he did. Because he was going to break one of the biggest rules in the superhero world. Every superhero had an unspoken rule that others abided by. No one in their right mind wants a royally pissed off superpowered person on their case, after all.

But this time it was unavoidable. Brick was in pain, it was so obvious. And he was like an older brother to Catalyst. He couldn't just watch him die inside. And after watching Brick lose it, in a way he had never seen before (and Brick, while an amazing hero, had a crazy short fuse), Catalyst knew he had to do it.

He just hoped Brick didn't kill him.

Knocking gently on the door, Brick responded roughly. "Get in here, moron." Used to Brick's "tough love", Catalyst opened the door and squinted. He didn't have as many powers as Brick did, just flight and super strength. So, he didn't have Brick's night vision (or fire breathing, super speed, indestructibilty, etc).

The warehouse turned apartment was dark. The television was on, but the sound was turned off. It was turned to a channel that had news coverage on the epic battle that took place in the metro area and the devastation that followed. There were beer bottles littering the coffee table and kitchen dining room. Catalyst glanced around.

The place was a mess. Which was strange since Brick liked his place to be organized.

Which meant Brick trashed his own place. "Well, are you just gonna stand there starin' or are you gonna get over here?"

Said man was seated on his couch, with just jeans and a black tank top on. His red eyes were tired, his hair was out of the signature ponytail, and his hat laid on the floor. Bruises, which were rapidly fading, littered his knuckles and arms. Catalyst walked over, avoiding a downed beer bottle, and sat on the opposite couch.

They sat quietly before Catalyst spoke, "dude...you okay?"

"Do I look okay?"

"Not really..." Okay, so far so good. Catalyst glanced at the television, the news still going strong over Brick's fight with that weird lobster-crab thing in thigh high boots. The thing knew Brick, seemingly better than Catalyst. Brick had freaked out over what he had said, a strange message that Catalyst knew laid buried in Brick's past.

"Oh, dear, how does it feel? Knowing you couldn't save her? To know that she was ripped away before you even had a chance to hold her?"

Obviously, that creature was talking about a girl. But who? As far as Catalyst had known him, Brick hadn't dated anyone. He was strictly business. Girls loved him, but he didn't bother. Guys even tried and were put down.

So, whoever he/her/it was talking about had to have been someone from his past. And Catalyst had to ask.

Catalyst was going to ask Brick about his past.

God help him.

"Who was it talking about?" Brick blinked before glaring, his eyes glowing.

"You got balls comin' here and askin' me that. It ain't any of your business."

"Brick, you practically destroyed the metropolitan area. You completely lost it... I've never seen you lose it like that, it was like you were... possessed. We're lucky the public is blaming whatever that thing was!" Brick stayed quiet, "I'm sorry, but... I need to know why... what was it talking about...who was she...?"

The red eyed man stayed silent for a while. Then, with a defeated sigh, he started to talk. "You ever hear of the Powerpuff Girls, Cat?"

"Yeah..."

"Well... her name was Blossom Utonium and she was the leader of the Powerpuff Girls. She was one of the most perfect girls you could have ever met. Her laugh was... amazing. And she was my worst enemy when we were kids.

I was created by a crazy, mutated monkey scientist named Mojo Jojo and I had one purpose in life: to destroy the Powerpuff Girls. And for years, my brothers and I fought them..."

Catalyst's sea green eyes widened, "you were a villain..."

Brick sighed, "can't help how you're raised, kid. I'll admit, I did some things I ain't proud of, but I was only a child who didn't know any better. It wasn't until Blossom and me were older that things changed. Blossom started realizing that the world ain't black and white, but different shades of gray. She just happened to be raised in the lighter gray while I was in the darker one. I started to wonder if this was really what I wanted... if I really was nothing more than a living gun.

We got older, started talking instead of fighting. Pretty soon, I wasn't robbin' banks or beatin' people up. Blossom was still a superhero, but she'd started talking about things she wanted to do and what she really thought." Brick gave him a tired smile, "I was sixteen when I told her I loved her... I was scared... what would my brothers say? What would the world say? But she didn't care... she was happy, she wanted to be with me for the rest of her life. And I guess I wasn't the only one turning a new leaf. My bro, Boomer, was gettin' into photography and he was at Bubbles Utonium's beck and call. Butch was crazy for Buttercup Utonium... hell, the sap even saved up and got her a ring. Idiot was gonna propose to her right out of school. They officially introduced us to their friends and family and... for a good long time... my life was perfect...then it wasn't."

"What happened...?"

"Hell happened... it was a normal thing... Blossom and her sisters got a call that Townsville was in trouble. That thing we fought, they called it HIM. I call it Mom."

"That's your... but... I thought it was a guy!"

"It is and it isn't and no, I don't really get it either."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, well, HIM wasn't too thrilled on my relationship but had never really done anything about it. So, she goes with her sisters to fight it and... walks into the biggest trap of the century... I didn't even know, until it was too late..." Catalyst watched as one of the strongest men he knew nearly broke down. Tears were streaming as Brick relived the nightmare that took away the love of his life. "I tried to save her... I flew so fast... I prayed... but I didn't make it... by the time I got there, she was... dying... her sisters were long gone... I've never heard Butch scream like that...Boomer hasn't been the same..."

Catalyst had only met Brick's brothers a few times. Butch stuck to Detroit, running a mechanic shop during the day while also busting up bad guys. Boomer was a floater, who took world famous photos and helped solve cases for police. Boomer had always been a cheery guy, but, looking back, there was always a deep sadness in his eyes. And Butch? The man was cool, but there were points where he'd seem to drift away in his thoughts.

They had lost the loves of their lives when they were sixteen? How does one even get through that? Brick continued, "I held her... I begged her to keep fighting...to hold on...she... she couldn't...it was too late... Blossom begged me to protect the people. She begged me to complete what was, essentially, her life's purpose... she begged me to...fight for her..." Brick sucked in a breath.

"Brick... I... I never..."

"You don't know what it's like to lose, kid. To really lose. I went after that monster and I slammed him back into that same hellhole he came from, people cheered my name for months, my brothers and I were called true heroes...but I still lost everything." Brick stared at him with vacant eyes, "I lost my everything. I really turned my life around after that... changed my last name to hers... and protected the world in her place...because she was my everything...and I lost her."

"...You didn't lose her, Brick... HIM took her."

"She's still gone, Cat. I can't hold her, I can't kiss her, and I can't hear her! And I wake up every day, hoping it was all a bad dream, but it wasn't!" Brick was suddenly in his face, eyes glowing sinisterly. "She's still six feet under! If I'd gone with her it would have been different! I knew exactly how HIM thinks! I could have stopped her or at least... I could have died with her!"

"Dude, do you think she would have wanted th-"

"YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU!?" His voice roared through the air, causing the television screen to crack and spark. Windows cracked as well. The temperature rose in the room as Catalyst was shown a side of Brick he had just learned about.

A side that screamed villainous rage and agony. A side that clawed at one's heart, shrieking at them to cause the world the same pain that they feel.

"YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW IT FEELS, TO WATCH THE ONE PERSON WHO WAS CREATED TO DO GOOD DIE IN YOUR ARMS WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE WAS MADE FOR NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE EVIL!" The temperature was getting higher. "OR WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THE ONE GIRL...the only girl... in the world... that believed you were more... that was willing to forget what you've done...and start a life with you... to bring... something..." The temperature slowly dropped as Brick crumbled to the floor, sobbing. Catalyst could finally breathe comfortably, but he could feel his heart in his throat.

People say one of the saddest things to watch is a man cry. Not those single tears, but heartwrenching sobs. They sound like pure, unadulterated agony. They speak of a man truly broken, who no longer cares about looking masculine and upholding such frail pride... and now only begs for support.

Brick was one of the toughest men Catalyst had ever known, often looking into the abyss with a sneer and an insult. Now he sat on the floor, sobbing his eyes out. "Days later... I went into her room... I found a card she had been writin'... with our anniversary gift right next to it...telling me how happy she was...and that I was gonna be a father..."

Catalyst now understood why Brick's rule was to never ask about his past.

Brick was in pain, it was so obvious. But, he was also like an older brother to Catalyst.

And there was nothing he could do to help him.

Far away,

Long ago,

Glowing dim as an ember,

Things my heart used to know,

Things it yearns to remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December