This blues fic is for redjack7. Kinda dark, but then again, I don't think you can associate 'blues' with 'emotionless' and still get something lighthearted. Enjoy. ^_^
EMOTIONLESS
With an uncharacteristic scowl she wiped the blood from her split lip, raising shakily to her feet. She stood with her back erect, glaring halfheartedly up at the figure floating above the city. She simply could not muster up the appropriate amount of contempt...
Smoke raised from the various building that had been set on fire and shrouded overhead, dark and opposing.
She threw her body aside, seconds before a beam of blue light smashed into the already cracked concrete. The impact sent rubble and dust flying at her, and a rock with a sharp edge left another scar on her cheek.
Her hair was loose, disheveled, and matted with dirt and grime. Her white t-shirt, jeans, and navy jacket were ripped and torn.
It took more out of her to stand but she managed. This time she glared off behind her attacker, able to feel the correct form of hate for this person.
The tight-lipped, arrogant smile he sent her in return reminded her that He was not a person at all.
Her opponent, who for the last several seconds had been content with simply staring at her, shot forward. He wore a V-necked navy blue shirt and baggy brown pants that were tucked into black combat boots. His hair whipped wildly as he sped forward.
In the next second he was inches away, boot aimed for her face. She through up her arm, bracing it with the other in an attempt to block. Her body was weary, however, and while she'd managed to save herself a cracked skull the force of the hit shattered her forearm and threw her back by miles.
She hit the ground hard, skidding and bouncing lightly before coming to a stop. She was sure the back of her jacket would be in tatters and knew her shirt wasn't far off.
The throbbing in her arm pulsed with her heartbeat, but she ignored it. Even when she felt like screaming from the bloody pain of moving it closer to her chest so she could sit up.
She held it back; she refused to show weakness now.
The surrounding fires that blazed ferociously and warmed her face cast an eerie glow on the otherwise dark town. She dared not actually observe her surroundings, not wanting to face the many bodies that littered the streets and sidewalks.
He landed infront of her, arms at his sides and blank gaze directed on her face.
''How do you like him~?'' An ominous voice drawled, slightly feminine in tone. It was disembodied at the moment, so she had nothing to direct her rage at, other than the teen infront if her.
She felt a chill go down the back her neck and shivered violently, glancing behind her. She caught sight of a heeled boot and flinched.
''Isn't he wonderful, Bubbles~?'' She couldn't help but glance back to the boy towering over her at the moment. His dark blue eyes were dulled, looking almost gray. ''Look at him~!''He chimed. ''Who would've thought that out of all three, our most degraded Rowdyruff would turn out to be the most deadly? I do believe the town has been rendered a miniature apocalypse in the span of twenty-six minutes~!''
The fact he had the power to destroy a city in the middle of the night in twenty-six minutes, all the while facing off with her sisters, his brothers, and herself, yet nobody ever knew was a frightful thought indeed.
''What did you do to him?'' She hissed.
Him curved his mouth upwards in a slow smile that she couldn't see since he stood behind her. ''I simply influenced some of his older ideals.''
''What?'' She asked sharply.
''Oh, now you didn't think Boomer didn't have the same goals as his brothers when he was younger, did you? The poor child's deepest desire was to be as smart and tactical as Brick...and as ruthless and strong as Butch. Little did he know he had the potential for both all along; I simply brought it to the fore is all~!''He chuckled to himself.
''But now he's-''
''An emotionless killing machine~?'' Him offered, walking around to stand in her line of sight. ''Death on a platter~? Why yes, yes he is. It seems the only thing holding him back was that stubborn conscience of his. Once I got rid of that he more of less became this way on his own~.''
Bubbles stared horrified into the face of her corrupted friend, who could only stare back expressionlessly. Then her eyebrows furrowed, mouth set in a grim line. She stood up slowly, letting her battered arm hang uselessly at her side.
''You...you MONSTER!'' She shouted, rage pouring off her in waves and eyes alight with righteous fury.
Him frowned, but did not comment as she began to close the distance between them.
''Boomer would have never asked for this! He-you-you made him turn against his brothers! Who knows if they're even still alive right now?''
The silent blonde flinched, gray eyes briefly flashing blue; neither of them noticed.
Him idly flicked a claw, giving her a bored look. ''Yes, that is a problem, isn't it~? It seems I may be short on children...''
Bubbles was now standing directly infront of Him, her anger so mounting it started to manifest itself by sending sharp blue sparks flying around her. Him's lips dipped lower.
''...I'll kill you.'' She stated. Despite the fact she was shaking with her ire, her eyes were strangely calm. ''I'll kill you,'' she repeated, this time sounding quite deadly.
Him gave her a smirk, placing both claws on his hips. ''How do you intend to carry out this threat, hmm~? I am evil given physical form; you can't kill me, silly girl~!''
Bubbles grinned then. It was hollow, and in such a way that looked so wrong on her face that Him stepped back in surprise. ''Then I'll just break every bone in you god damned body.''
She lunged at him, ready to bash his face in with her good arm. Her wrist was caught and held tightly, and Bubbles suddenly found herself staring into the handsome, yet completely closed off, face of her counterpart. ''Boomer?'' She gasped, the better part of her anger leaving her for panic and distress.
Him laughed -though it was more of a giggle- when Boomer's grip began to tighten, and she winced.
''Boomer please, it's me! It's Bubbles!'' She didn't know why she was trying this again. If it didn't work half an hour ago it probably wouldn't work now.
His hand did not let up from its assault, and he actually squeezed her wrist tighter. She gasped in pain, fearing he would break it like her arm. Instead he simply held her, peering down at her with an odd look. For the first time since he'd undergone his sudden personality change his eyebrows were furrowed with something akin to curiosity. Or perhaps confusion?
''Kill her,'' Him ordered, his voice deep and coming out as a half snarl.
Boomers mouth set in a light frown but he did bring up his free hand and wrapped it around her neck. He did not choke her, simply held his fingers firmly around the fragile area.
''Boomer,'' She whispered. It came out as a broken sob as her eyes welled up with tears. Not for her own life, but for his. What would happen to him when she was dead? And what about the others? Would he be forced to go back and finish off their siblings, who were probably still buried beneath the rubble somewhere?
The hands on her neck and wrist began to shake, and the teen threatening her life wore a grimace, as if battling with some invisible force as he struggled to follow the command he'd been given.
'Is he...?' She thought hopefully. Burning, nearly unbearable pain cut through her fractured arm and up her shoulder as she lifted her free hand to his face, brushing his cheek softly with her thumb, even as her tears spilled out heavily from the effort.
The hand on her neck, still shivering, slid slowly from its hazardous position and rested instead on her collarbone.
''Boomer, it's me. You know me.'' She murmured.
''What are you waiting for? Kill her!'' Him snapped, only this time it was accompanied by an ominous and very deliberate wave of his claw.
Boomer's eyes began to glow a lightening blue, the color drowning out the whites of his eyes, along with his pupils. He released her briefly, then wrenched her hand from his face, jarring her broken arm. She cried out but he simply clamped both hands on her upper arms, trapping her.
His eyes glowed a darker blue, and she recognized the attack coming, but she didn't try to struggle. She knew her Boomer was in there somewhere.
She raised to her tiptoes, and he allowed it. She pressed her mouth to his lightly, but he made no indication the action had affected him.
She squeezed her eyes shut, pulled back...
...and headbutted him for all she was worth.
He was sent flying over the city's wreckage, while she stumbled back and fell gracelessly to her rear. It was when he was only a faint dot soaring over the roaring embers that she saw the flash of blue headed in her direction.
Only, it didn't hit her.
It hit Him.
He screeched in pain and outrage as the blast cut effortlessly through his chest and out his back. Bubbles watched with morbid fascination as what appeared to be green blood sprouted from the gaping whole in his body.
Apparently that headbutt had knocked something back in place.
''YOU GOD DAMN BASTARD! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!''
She whipped her head to the side in surprise as a streak of dark blue shot upward from the direction Boomer had been thrown, then soared directly at Him; the rush of air as he swept past lifting her choppy blonde hair and the tatters of her clothes.
There was a sickening crunch as a very livid Boomer shoved Him to the ground with so much force it seemed to shatter the demon's entire left arm and snapped the adjoining claw in half like a twig.
''I'LL KILL YOU FOR MAKING ME HURT MY BROTHERS!'' This threat was accompanied by a fist bashing into the side of Him's face, breaking his jaw. ''I'LL KILL YOU FOR MAKING ME HURT SO MANY PEOPLE!'' He took Him's shoulders, pulling the dazed demon off the ground a few inches before smashing him back down again. This completely destroyed his shoulder blades.
Boomer's eyes, which had never stopped glowing, brightened with the intensity of his attack charging up.
''I'll kill you for making me hurt Bubbles.'' The Eye-Beam let loose, resulting in a blinding flash of light that forced her to shield her eyes with her arm.
When the light dissipated Bubbles warily lowered her arm and opened her eyes. Her vision was immediately blocked when her face was pulled into a lean chest. The arms that held her trembled with the effort and his chest rose and fell in jerky spasms.
She felt him bury his face in her hair, and couldn't help but notice when drops of water began to hit her scalp, even though it wasn't raining.
''I am so sorry, Bubbles,'' he whispered brokenly.
She hugged him back, turning her head upwards to place a soft his to his chin. ''I know. It wasn't your fault.''
Bubbles shot up, skin flushed and covers in disarray. Her eyes were impossibly wide as she peeked over the side of her bed, spotting the blue Ruff. He slept on obliviously in his pile of blankets and pillows Though it was dark she could also see the outline of Brick and Butch close by, as well as her sisters in their respective beds.
Wasting no time she scrambled out of bed, tripping and falling onto Boomer, who woke with a start.
''Bubbles, what-?'' She smashed her lips against his, sending them backwards onto the covers Boomer had been using as a makeshift bed while he slept over.
''Get a room,'' Butch mumbled tiredly from his spot at the side of Buttercup's bed. The green Puff grunted in agreement while the two reds decided to ignore them all together in favor of falling back to sleep.
As the red-skinned demon let the image fade away from the swirling vortex floating in the middle of the room, he smiled wickedly.
Him liked his mind games, after all.
So how was it? Terrible? Awesome?