Blossom~
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!" His voice booms while Bubbles shrinks into me. Brick quickly tries to defuse the situation.
"A misunderstanding right Boomer?" Brick asks gently, coming between my sister and me. He wraps his arms around our shoulders, "The ladies were just getting some fresh air."
"Fresh air?" His voice is low and dark. Boomer lets out a small wince and I can hear his bones in his neck creak under the pressure of Butch's grip, the bruises already making their way below the front of his collar.
"Fresh air. Right Pet?" He asks coolly but I see the dark undertones in his eyes. That was my excuse and he's angry that something happened, the one time he trusted me out of his sight all hell breaks loose.
"Y..yes." I stammer. Buttercup sits up and spits blood before trying to stand. She wobbles for a moment before catching her balance to right herself. Blood is streaking down her bruised throat as her red cheeks slowly turn back to their normal sun kissed glow.
"See?" Brick asks, tone still even, "Now put Boomer down."
Butch doesn't budge as he looks at Brick darkly.
"I should snap his neck for touching her." Butch growls, placing emphasis on snap as he squeezes harder. This time Boomer lets out a yelp and thrashes in his hand. Butch smirks enjoying that someone is squirming under his touch. I shudder, Brick pulls me closer. Brick and I both know that he can no longer sway Butch one way or another and neither can Boomer. Especially after this tantrum his thrown. Brick told me since Him started the world anew that Butch is getting harder and harder to compromise with, to reason with.
"Butch please…he isn't…" Bubbles begs and his green eyes find her blue ones shining with tears. He slams Boomer into the concrete hard enough for a large fissure to form.
"We are at a party remember brother?" Brick ass, Butch bares his teeth at both of his brothers.
"How am I supposed to return to the party with my mate looking like this?" Butch gestures to Buttercup's bleeding throat and gnarled hands.
"You know I can only heal broken bones." He tosses to Brick, "Anything else broken Butterbabe?"
She shakes her head no but he inspects her anyway, his hands trailing gently up her right then left side. When she stiffens under his touch he glares at her, hand glowing over the protesting rib.
"How am I supposed to return to the party with my doll looking like this?" Boomer howls, finally finding his voice. Buttercup is flexing her hands, eyes glowing green in the moonlight. She looks like a lethal panther as she sizes up Boomer again, ready to break her bones over and over for Bubbles.
"And why is that do you think?" Butch asks, turning away from Buttercup, facing the three of us head on. His eyes flare with energy as he spies the start of the commotion. A bloody B stares Butch in the face, causing him to turn on his brother in a second.
"What have you done?!" The question comes out as a complete growl as he reaches for Boomer.
"Maybe we should discuss this later?" Brick says, "When we are no longer at Father's precious party."
Butch still stalks towards Boomer, who's still barely getting to his feet from their first exchange. I feel a tremor go through Brick's hand as he inches us towards the party to spirit us both away. He's worried, maybe even scared of what Butch will do. I've only seen his eyes glow that way once before, I swallow the burning memory and desperately look toward Buttercup for help. She's probably the only one who can stop him now. Buttercup catches my eye and sighs angrily. Her hand finds Butch's bicep and she gives it a gentle squeeze.
"He isn't worth it." Her voice is all venom and I know three are only two reasons why she's stopping him. One is for me and the other is because she wants to finish him off herself. Butch stops in his tracks and looks at her. In that moment the energy in his eyes dissipates and something else replaces it. My gut clenches as he stares at her with nothing but admiration. I squeeze Brick as Butch wraps muscled arm around Buttercup as if to ground himself before he speaks.
"Baby brother you always make a mess of things." He coos, voice dipper lower, "Maybe I need to hold onto your doll so you don't break it any further."
Boomer goes to counter but Brick cuts him off.
"I think it would be a good idea for Bubbles to get away for a while." Brick offers and Boomer turns on him, hand outstretched for Bubbles who shrinks behind Brick. Her hands shaking as she presses herself against his back. I glance over Brick's shoulder and fight back tears. Bubbles used to love Boomer with all of her heart; nothing could make her tremble in his presence like this. My heart breaks watching my sister look so defeated, hurt.
"Maybe Blossom should go too." Brick says giving me a good squeeze, "Do you need a break pet? Could you keep an eye on Bubbles for Boomer?" I open my mouth to answer but Boomer shakes his head.
"No I can send Hector to watch her." Boomer's eyes flicker to his dark haired brother and the look changes to detest, "If that's alright with you."
"He wasn't doing too good of a job watching her tonight now was he?" Butch states, seeming bored as he looks his brother over, "She got out here without notice and without him."
"That's because I got word of a breach and sent him on his way."
"A breach in what, brother? Surely not a physical one."
"We know it impossible to penetrate your army King of war." He sneers, "It was a communication breach on our date. Don't worry I don't enter any of your reports, they are all to blood stained for me to read."
Buttercup's stare goes blank for a moment and she leans away from Butch ever so slightly.
"Oh boo hoo." Butch taunts, Brick bites his lip.
"What of my reports?"
"They couldn't get past the last firewall to get into the system but I know they are still trying as we speak."
"Why didn't you handle this yourself?" Butch and Brick ask in unison then exchange a knowing look.
"This isn't as big as you think it is. It's some low life who's bored. Hector can more than handle this." Boomer rubs his open wounds, looking through everything clearly lost in thought. Solving the algorithms in his head. Boomer is the dumbest of the dumb in every subject but computers.
"I'll take the girls and the body guard." Would you be opposed to him sleeping in the same room or am I going to have Hecate renovate?" Butch asks pulling Boomer back to reality. Those sapphire eyes flash towards Bubbles who is still shaking behind Brick, fighting a sob and fisting his jacket. After several long seconds Boomer finally looks away.
"I will leave the choice up to her." He says softly, head hung low.
"Then I will make arrangements for them to come to my manor later in the month. I need to keep this one on a schedule for now." Butch gestures to Buttercup, who rolls her eyes. Butch saunters over to Brick and leans down to Bubbles level.
"Unless I need to take you earlier bijou." Butch's voice comes out softer than I've ever heard, Bubbles shakes her head no.
"I can wait. I can wait until you're ready." Bubbles whispers so low I can barely hear.
"I'm always ready for you. Hecate would be delighted to see you." Butch reassures, she chokes on another sob.
"I want to wait for Blossom and whenever you're ready." She repeats and Butch drops the topic. Give her slender shoulder a tight squeeze.
"I'll make sure Hecate makes all the cake and pie you can eat." His eyes are weary as he looks over her ever shrinking frame.
"I would love that." She giggles and finally looks up with red rimmed eyes. Butch smiles softly before beckoning Buttercup to his side.
"Come mate we have to get you cleaned up. Are you still up for that dance I promised you?" Butch laughs at Buttercup's sneering face, "What you don't the way I dance?"
Butch guides Buttercup into the dim light and around the fringes of the party to the closest powder room. I barely see Hecate appear to enter into the washroom with her. I'm wondering now if she's ever allowed to be alone, if she is suffering the same 'hostage' situation we are. But it doesn't seem too much like it. I chew my lip while I overthink before Brick squeezes my arm to get me to stop.
"That's a bad habit you've got." He whispers lowly.
"Bubbles would you like to go home love?" Boomer asks softly as if talking to an injured pup.
"Yes." Her voice is short and clipped when speaking to him. She takes another moment to collect herself before separating herself from Brick. She tentatively grabs onto Boomer's outstretched hand, Boomer grabs onto her waist tightly and gently flies to the other side of the castle.
"What about you pet?"
"I think I've had enough of an eventful night. I just want to curl up and read." I slap my hands to my mouth when I realize what I've said but Brick doesn't react. For once he doesn't seem to care that I want to read, that I actually know how to read.
"Sure pet you can sit on my lap in the study, read what you want while I work on some notes and check what reports I had given Boomer." He hums in my ear before wrapping his arm around my waist. We jump from the balcony and walk the grounds until we find ourselves in front of our apartment door.
Butch~
I'm beyond livid as I stand waiting outside of the bathroom doors for Hecate and Buttercup. I cannot believe Buttercup picked a fight with Boomer. I smirk to myself and swell with pride as I see Boomer's face in my mind's eye. She got him good. A busted lip and a shredded cheek with his own damn crown. I summoned Hecate through the bond to help clean up Buttercup and dress her wound. She wouldn't let me help her but agreed to Hecate. Her crushed hands flash in my head and I growl audibly, searching the crowd for either brother. But I neither smell nor sense them. I've seen everyone in the Inner Circle except for except for two people, Sedusa and Princess. I have been avoiding them both. I love Sedusa, I do but every time I come around she scolds me for not keeping Hecate as my lover. The intricate band on my bicep ripples in protest as I have hard feelings for Sedusa for continuously reopening the wound. It wasn't me who broke things off, it was Hecate. I was still and kind am head over heels in love with her. One day she just woke up, moved her things from her bedroom, the one connected to mine by a set of black curtains, and said 'You are no longer mine and I am no longer yours.'
Just like that. I grind my teeth, pathetic that I'm salting my own wound. The rejection stings but what can you do? When a woman says no she means it. Hecate pulls on the bond again to get me to stop thinking about it but it makes it worse. I growl again to myself and settle into the wall assuming it's going to be awhile. I watch the crowd ebb and flow with the music, taking mental notes of who's dancing with who. That's when I see a certain curly red head making her way towards me. I groan audibly as I find myself with nowhere to hide.
"Hello King Butch." She purrs, bowing low. The sound makes my skin crawl. I'm on edge as it is but I have to keep my body relaxed. Even if I was noticeably irritated Princess can't take a hint. I swear she can be dumber than Boomer at times.
"Hello Princess." I say looking her up and down, trying so hard to keep the malice out of my gaze. The dress she wears is not only tacky but classless. It's red as if to match Brick, mostly sheer and skin tight where she thinks it counts. It serves no purpose but to show off her skeezy body. Princess is shapely, pretty even, probably the same proportions as Blossom and could even pass as her had her hair been straight and eyes pink. But there is just something about her that's a huge turn off. I don't remember much before the Great Beginning, don't care too. But I remember rejecting her more than once, especially after making the mistake to sleep with her to use her for both monetary resources and a free home. It didn't last more than a year. She's about as useful as a stripped screw, bout as smart as one too. 'Be nice.' Hecate hisses in my mind and I roll my eyes.
"You look," I let my eyes linger over her a finally time to really sell it, "Ravishing." She blushes deeply while a big grin forms on her face.
"I see you don't have a date. I could be your dance partner this evening." She waves a hand over her dress turning it into my signature green, "Look I even match you now. Crowned Jewels and all."
"Mmmhmm." I say and hiss down the bond, 'Hurry up.' to Hecate who cackles in response.
"Why don't we have a dance your majesty?" She places a hand on my chest and I cringe but she reads it as a shudder of pleasure, "We can't have a lonely King. Brick and Boomer have 'companions' I think it's time to show them what proper company looks like. No pet, no doll, no witch. Just a Princess." As if on cue Hecate emerges from the powder room with knowing eyes followed by a snarling Buttercup.
"You're right I do need to show them proper company but I was thinking more of a Queen than a Princess." I say, beckoning Buttercup to stand under my arm. For once she obeys but mostly I think she's doing it just to piss Princess off.
"Isn't that right Buttercup." I ask face nuzzled in her coconut smelling hair. She leans into me, placing her hand on my chest, eyes flickering to some tender emotion.
"Yes king, I concur." She purrs and a shiver goes down my spine to hear her call me king. Princess huffs and crosses her arms her mood clearly soured.
"And who is this?" Her voice comes out like venom and it causes us both to smile. I take in a breath to answer but Buttercup beats me to it.
"Didn't you hear? I'm his Champion," Her smile turns wicked and she leans closer to Princess as if sharing a secret, "and his mate."
Princess' dress turns black as her face turns red.
"This is your mate?!" She yells, causing a few people on the fringe to look her way, "You saved that rotten cheating champion?"
"I've watched almost every match she's been in Princess and she hasn't cheated in any of them." I growl while Buttercup stifles a giggle.
"There is no way my Etta could have lost to that starving girl THREE TIMES!"
"Three?" I ask Buttercup and she just shrugs her shoulders, "I've only seen two."
"In training when weapons are not permitted. She threw arrows at her!"
"I was only returning the favor dear." Buttercup chimes in with a nasty smile and a nastier tone.
"Last I check Etta had the advantage in her last four fights. Have you seen any of her fights?"
"N..no. I am busy but she is a true champion that is why she gets the advantage and the starving 'champion' gets punished."
"How can you make such claims without witnessing a fight? Regardless I think you should trust my word when I say that Etta is nothing to boast about. I should know I have far better eyes than you even with your magic."
"His Greatness will hear about this! I know she threw those arrows first!" Princess huffs shoving her hands under her armpits to stop them from glowing. It's been what two years since Him has taken over and granted everyone in the Inner Circle something. Sedusa good fortune, my brothers and I an empire and Princess power. Of course nothing like what my brothers and I possess but power none the less. Magic power was better than nothing. It's evident that she hasn't trained a day in her life, using it only for petty things such as dress color. I grip her chin and tilt her face to look fully into her hazel eyes before leaning in close.
"Who do you think Father will believe? Me or you?" I ask sweetly with an underlying edge. She tries to shrink out of my grip but I squeeze a little bit harder. Any harder and she'll have bruises, the lights above us flicker. Malice laces my eyes while true fear fills hers. I feel Hecate pull on the bond as Buttercup places her hand on my arm simultaneously.
"I want that dance now, King." She plays up her tone to something flirty and it grabs my attention instantly. I drop Princess and smile wildly at Buttercup.
"Let's enjoy that dance then." I purr, pulling her to the dance floor with me.