Surrender

Eighteen. As of yesterday, they were eighteen. It hadn't been any big event. Not at home, anyway. People scattered around the city strung up banners, balloons, and streamers. The city was hardly covered, but from up in the air the girls could see these small sites of well-wishers dotting the city here and there.

Well, there'd been that and another attack from Mojo. Nothing too exciting this time, either. By the day's end they'd just settled in for a little cake. Not bad for a Sunday.

Over a decade of serving, protecting, saving, and risking their lives and only now were they considered legally mature. They'd saved the lives of two U.S. Presidents (one of them twice) but only now had the privilege of voting for one.

It had also left Buttercup thinking again about something that had come up over the summer. She'd used the family computer in the middle of the night to do some research. By the end she was feeling just a little better. Technically, she figured, she and her sisters weren't, legally speaking, sisters. They didn't have a common parent--even their father was more an adoptive father. Despite what some disgusting classmates had said in middle school, his genetic material hadn't entered into the equation at any point.

Buttercup didn't think there was much legally against she and Bubbles having a relationship, especially since they couldn't have children.

But that just proved the law had nothing to do with this. Not being wrong didn't make it right. Not being illegal didn't mean society or Bubbles herself wouldn't react badly.

But now she was eighteen. She was an adult. That meant she was mature, right? She had a right to make her own decisions, now, even if other people thought they were wrong.

And if she still thought it was wrong?

That didn't matter any more. She'd given up. Gone for broke. She was tired of wondering, tired of waiting, tired of crying and not sleeping, tired of holding back. She didn't even try to think of how, but she knew she was going to tell Bubbles. Tell her how she felt but that she could control herself and just enjoy their friendship. She'd kept herself under pretty tight control for these last few months; that was proof enough. Most of her problems had come from wondering and struggling with keeping that secret.

"Buttercup, are you sure everything's all right?" Bubbles asked as the bell sounded. Lunch had already ended. That bell signaled the start of class. Mike had left early to do some last-minute homework. Buttercup had convinced Bubbles to wait while everyone else filed off to class.

Buttercup smiled at her sister. "Yeah, I sure. Don't get your pigtails in a twist over it."

Bubbles put on a Blossom-esque folded arms posture. "Well, now we're late, I hope you realize. We should get going before we get any later." A smile slipped through that demeaning look as she offered a hand to her sister. Buttercup took it and let her sister pull her up.

To the hallway. You can wait until the hallway, but that's it! Buttercup thought.

Her sister on her feet, Bubbles twirled and jogged towards the school. She was wearing her blue summer dress again and the skirt billowed out as she took off.

Buttercup caught up easily, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder just as they neared the doors. This is better. Private. No windows. No see-through doors.

"Hey, Bubbles, hold on a sec."

Bubbles took a deep breath and sighed before she turned around. At least she still managed a smile. "Buttercup, are you really, really sure that everything's okay?" Seeing Buttercup's troubled expression, she grew concerned. "Buttercup?" She reached down and gently grasped each of Buttercup's hands in her own, shifting a step closer. "Whatever it is, please just tell me. You can trust me."

Buttercup smirked, though it was shaky at best. "Yeah, I know. Trust me, I know..." Buttercup cleared her throat. "There's something I've gotta ask... I'm just not sure how, I guess." She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Bubbles, I want you to... I need to know... I mean, it'll probably a bit of a shock at first, but--"

Bubbles interrupted, "It's okay. We're sisters, right? I'm always here for you."

Buttercup smiled and nodded, blinking a few times to clear her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak several times to no effect. After a few seconds, she realized she just couldn't say it. But she wasn't going to let this slide. Words had failed, but there was still one course open.

Buttercup surprised herself as much as her sister when she stepped forward, freeing one hand to rest on the back of Bubbles's head. She closed her eyes and for several seconds kissed the stunned girl in blue.

Bubbles had gone stiff, and Buttercup felt no reaction, no movement. So much for controlling my actions, she thought.

She pulled her head back a little and looked at her sister's shocked, almost vacant expression. Buttercup smiled uneasily and took a step back, letting go of her sister's now-limp hand. Bubbles's brought her other hand to her lips as if seeking to confirm what had just happened.

"Well...what do you think?" Buttercup asked. No, no, stupid! That's not what you were going to say!

Bubbles's eyes were still wide. Doe-like. Almost fearful, Buttercup felt, especially as Bubbles took a few steps backwards. "Late... We're...running late. I..." She didn't finish whatever half-formed thought had come, however. She turned and ran into the school.

Buttercup took in a shuddering breath and tried hard to put herself at ease. Well, that's it. It's out. She knows. You made an ass of yourself--big surprise, huh? Just try not to think about it. You took her by surprise. You deserve it... Just let her think about it. Give her some time. You can explain yourself later. You're not what she needs right now.

Or ever, for that matter.

Buttercup walked slowly to class.

Danny swallowed hard. He watched the replay from the camera-like device. With its quality zoom and directional microphone, he may as well have been standing right beside them.

"There's something I've gotta ask," Buttercup said, for the third time (in his car, at least). "I'm just not sure how, I guess."

He could run. Skip town. No, that wouldn't work. He could try to bury this then wait for Princess to bury him. Probably not literally. Probably. Maybe.

"Dear God," he moaned.

His hand shook as he flipped open the lid of his new laptop. In all, he'd spent over a million on this assignment. He didn't want any of it back.

He knew what they'd agreed on, but he had to do this now or he'd never be able to hand it over. So, despite the no-communication degree, he prepared to send a message. Given what this was, Princess would probably let the direct contact slide. He'd send it and then leave this car. He'd hail a cab. Buy something new with cash. "Danny Rye, Private I." was getting the hell out of this city today.

He hesitated briefly before he clicked Send. "Happy birthday, girls," he said, fighting back nausea.

Princess frowned when she saw the sender. She'd see if he felt like breaking their agreement again after she cut his pay in half. No, to a third!

As Danny had expected, Princess soon had other things to think about.

"Excuse me," she said, interrupting the teacher and leaving the classroom, laptop under arm.

From a bathroom stall, she watched the video twice before flipping open her cell phone as she watched it a third time. "Fionna, pick me up. I have something important to do."