III

I woke up the next morning feeling a little less than a million bucks. My head was ripping me a new one and my stomach wasn't any better. The lights were blinding and my eyes weren't even open yet. This is the worst I've ever felt after a party. But you have to admit, with a hangover this bad it must have been a wild night.

It took me a while to fully wake up and, when I tried to sit up in my bed, I hissed. My body felt like it was on fire.

"What the fuck…?" I plopped back down, groaning when the pain didn't go away.

I heard the door open and somebody gasped. "Buttercup! You're awake!"

Bubbles.

She came to my bedside and put her hand on my face. "Your fever went down, that's good."

I had a fever?

I grabbed her wrist and cracked on eye open, glaring halfheartedly up at her. "What the hell happened?" How did I get home?

Bubbles' face fell and a nervous sweat began to break out on her forehead. "You… you don't remember anything?"

"No."

If there was one thing Bubbles didn't do, it was sweat. She doesn't sweat. Not at the gym, not when we're kicking ass—she just doesn't. But now here she was, clammy hands and anxiety and all.

"Bubbles," I warned.

"Good, she's awake." Again, I craned my neck to the doorway. I cursed under my breath when I saw the Professor standing stiff with Blossom at his side. She didn't look as worried as Bubbles did, but I knew her better than most people.

That stoic stare, the one she's giving me right now, was reserved for when I got into shit with the Professor. She called it her neutral stare. I called it her kissing ass stare.

She wasn't really a sister when he was around. He's been working her as his protégé so she obviously has to stay on his good side. Again, not that I mind. I knew who she really was underneath the lab coat and glasses.

Bubbles helped me sit up on the bed and shakily handed me a cup of water.

Now I knew why she was so nervous.

The look the Professor was giving me didn't exactly scream relief.

"Where would you like to start, Buttercup?" He asked as he walked up to the bedside, Blossom following behind him. "The fact you were out partying rather than at home with your sisters like I told you or that you were brought home on gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid?"

What?

"GHB?" I repeated incredulously. How the fuck did GHB get in my system?

"You do realize that any form of drug can have a disastrous effect on your body?" Here we go. "Especially since you're genetically enhanced to the tenth power more than a normal human being, gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid can quite possibly kill you."

I huffed. "Well don't sound too worked up about it." I grumbled sarcastically.

The Professor only stared. "Were you thinking at all of the consequences about going to these parties?"

"I never had to before."

"You know who says that, Buttercup? Idiots who just barely escape death. Perhaps maybe you should have been at home like you were supposed to be instead of out there." He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What were you doing at a party where alcohol and drugs were present?"

"To drink."

He glared. "I will not have underage drinking in my house. Superhero or not, you will not be breaking any laws just so you can have fun."

"I was just taking a break from all this. Press conferences on top of those parties the Mayor likes to throw. All these interviews and coverage… it stresses me the hell out."

The Professor didn't look convinced. He never did. Whenever I even tried to talk to him about how I felt, he took it as me making up excuses after excuses. "You knew what this was, Buttercup. You knew that with this life comes all of that. You've been doing it for the past fifteen years, why is it suddenly a bother to you now?"

"I never said it was a bother. I'm just saying that this isn't… it isn't what I—"

"It isn't what, Buttercup? It isn't what you thought it was going to be? You thought you could just stop a crime, come home and be done with it? Don't be ridiculous. From day one this is what you girls have been doing. Bubbles and Blossom aren't complaining."

"Of course they're not! Why would they? They love all that crap!"

"Language," he warned with a stern glare. "Enough of this, Buttercup. You're a grown woman, stop making excuses for yourself. You disobeyed me and went out to a party. Like always, you're trying to put the blame on somebody else besides yourself. Take responsibility for once in your life."

My body shook. I glared at him with all the frustration and anger that I've kept bottled up. "Stop talking like you know me, Professor. You don't know a damn thing!"

"Language!"

"No, fuck that! You know what, you think you have me all figured out. You think that just because you made us all at the same time that we're all alike. I'm nothing like Bubbles or Blossom. I'm never going to be anything close to them. I go out because it's something like therapy. Nobody here listens to a damn thing I say!"

The Professor stood eerily quiet. I felt Bubbles grasp my hand and squeeze. She didn't have the balls to speak out against the Professor, none of us did—hell I don't know where this sudden courage was coming from—but she was giving me something I haven't had from anybody else in a while.

Support.

"I'm tired, Professor. I'm so fucking tired. It's like there's no me, there's no Buttercup. It's always been and always will be the Powerpuff Girls. We have to turn the switch sometime, dammit! I'm not going out like this. I'm not going out like I'm just one-thirds of superhero rag-tag gang of crime stoppers. I—I want something more."

"I'm sorry, is this life not good enough for you?"

"No! It—it's too much!"

Silence.

Bubbles squeezed my hand tighter, nearly crushing it in her vice grip. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs and her other hand busied itself by wiping the tears from her face. She knew my feelings about this life better than anyone. She knew how fed up I was. But as I tuned to look at Blossom, I felt a gut-wrenching pain in my chest when she gave me a cold stare.

How could you do this to him? That's what she wanted to say.

I felt like I was suddenly in a cage. I could prowl around and scare off anybody who came too close but as soon as they opened the doors, I was only expected to go do what I was designed to do. After everything was said and done, they would shove me back in, seal the door shut, and forget about me. The people only saw Buttercup Utonium, the green one, the tough one, the badass one. They didn't see that there was more to me than just kicking ass. They didn't see my potential or who I really was.

After some time, I stopped seeing it too.

"I just want a chance, Professor. I just want to be normal."

He looked at me and I visibly shrunk back. Sure we've gotten into fights before but they were always petty. We forgave each other by dinner. But I've never seen him so… betrayed. The way he stared made you think I just tore his heart out.

Which, in retrospect, I might as well have done.

He nodded slowly, absentmindedly, and turned on his heel. I wanted to reach out and take back what I said but I just couldn't. How could I just take back fifteen years of being… this? How could I just take back what I feel?

The Professor paused in the doorway and breathed deeply. "You can leave tonight."

The girls and I blinked in surprise. He looked back at me from over his shoulder and pain was evident in his eyes, "If this life isn't what you want then you can turn the switch off permanently."

"Professor!" Bubbles exclaimed, now speaking up for the first time.

"I've never given you the chance to be normal. Truly, absolutely normal." He murmured thoughtfully, as if it was just now coming to him. Again, he sighed. "I can't force you to fight crime, Buttercup. I can't force you to do anything. If you want to go out with your friends and be like any other young adult in college, then go. I won't stop you."

Even as he said this, I felt a swell of hope build up in me like a balloon. This is what I've always wanted. Freedom… normality.

"But you can't stay here."

The balloon popped and my heart stopped for a second.

I can't stay here?

"But this is my home."

The Professor shook his head, "This isn't the home for normal girls."

"You're kicking me out?"

He just left without another word.

I hissed when Blossom patted my thigh clean with the cotton ball from hell. "Don't be such a wimp, Buttercup." She muttered to me distractedly, looking attentively at the wound on my body.

After I had taken a shower, Blossom, being her nosy ass self, came in to check on me and saw that I was sporting a gash on my leg. I'm not sure how this escaped anybody, especially me, but it probably happened when I was down on GHB.

I gritted my teeth, not from the sting of alcohol. Some bastard decided it'd be best to play a Powerpuff? They must be looking for a death wish. Nobody fucks with me and gets away with it.

Blossom clicked her tongue. "It's infected. Explains the fever. Not the bruises."

I had bruises too?

I immediately took a good look at my body. Blossom at least allowed me some decency before she went doctor-in-the-house on me. Looking at my hips, I saw finger-like bruises fading against my skin. "Someone touched me…" I mumbled, eyes wide. Blossom looked up at me with concern etching across her face, but she didn't say anything.

I hopped off the bathroom counter, forcing my sister to back up, and clenched my fists. "Buttercup, you need to calm down."

"The hell I do!" I shouted, glaring at her. I wasn't always so cross with her; she was helping me after all. But just the thought of some low life scumbag taking advantage of me while I wasn't all there…

With a loud growl, I whirled around and punched the mirror. Nobody takes advantage of Buttercup Utonium. I thought furiously, removing my fist from the glass. It cracked under my force, but didn't shatter. That was fine.

I needed to see the face that failed me.

Blossom just watched me. She knew better than to intervene when I get like this. I might end up hitting her.

I saw her reflection standing just behind me and I couldn't shake the familiarity of this scene. Where have I seen this before?

"Where have I seen this before?" I repeated in a hushed whisper, body shaking as I stared at our mirror image, disfigured by the webbings embedded in the glass.

Blossom looked like she wanted to comfort me but she just didn't know how. Detaching herself from Bubbles and I so she can go under the Professor's tutelage left her in the dark most of the time.

We weren't kids anymore. We've grown up. She just grew up without us.

I subconsciously flinched when her hand neared my shoulder. Don't touch me. My mind whispered darkly. You don't get to be a sister. Just as quickly as it came, it went. But the lingering guilt stayed. Even if I didn't say it out loud, my eyes betrayed me as they always did. Judging from the look she gave me, she knew just what I was thinking.

"Who brought me home?"

"Mitch."

"Who else?"

"Just Mitch. He said the party got raided just as he was leaving."

"Did he—"

"He didn't tell me anything."

I couldn't be in the house right now. I needed to find out what the hell happened to me. "I'll be back."

She just stood by the doorway and watched me get dressed. "Where are you going?"

"Mitch knows something. He won't tell you because he knows you'll chew his ass out." A small quirk pulled at the corner of her lips, but she remained rather impassive. I looked up at her expectantly. She was still dressed in her lab outfit. "You coming?"

A firm shake of her head. "I have things I need to do for the Professor." I scoffed.

"Bubbles?"

"She left when you were in the shower. She needed to gather her thoughts."

I looked at her blankly before shrugging. "I get it. Nothing's more soothing than maxing out the Professor's credit card when you're blue." Blossom narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"The Visa… that was you?"

Shit.

"Stop distracting me, Blossom!" Her eyebrow twitched. I grabbed a jacket, and pulled it over my shoulders. "I'll be back before dinner." She gave me a look and I held out my hand. "I promise, Leader."

"Your word isn't exactly golden."

I rolled my eyes. "Damn, you're hard to please." I looked back at her and smirked, my little finger extended out to her. "Pinky swear I'll be back on time."

Blossom swatted my hand away. "Don't you have somewhere to go?"

Well, she sure knows how to kill a mood. I took it in stride though. I've gotten used to her distance. But it still hurt that she felt too good for a little ball busting from her own sister. I've mastered a mask around her. When she started getting so unwelcoming, that's when the mask came on and I just had to bottle it up inside because she's my sister.

The talks I have with Bubbles usually helped me empty the bottle. For the most part, anyway. Bubbles and I were close, but aside from everyday conversation and teasing, we mainly sought each other out to vent. I found a safe haven in Bubbles that I couldn't find with Mitch or Darlene or Kathryn because this time she understood my pain. Even so, I feel like there shouldn't have to be a bottle in the first place.

The old days, I mused as I was leaving the house, catching sight of a picture in the hallway. It was back when the girls and I were still 5 and Professor wasn't so… worked up.

The good days.

"Get the door, Mitch!"

"Piss off!"

Ah, Mitch's place was always a breath of fresh air. He's been living with his aunt after his grandmother passed away eleven years ago. Their neighborhood wasn't the nicest, full of abandoned houses and crack shelters. Their place was the only one not a complete shit… but it was still bad.

His aunt and him weren't exactly on best terms. They hated each other. The only reason she's letting him stay is because he pays the bills. I keep telling him to stay somewhere else but he's got no other family. His dad's dead and his mom is making a cozy home in prison. His aunt was all he had and, even if he couldn't stand her, he can't find it in him to leave.

Mitch, shirtless, stepped out of the house, letting the screen door slam against the house. "Pick up your pants, Mitchelson."

"Bite me, Utonium." He hoisted his jeans higher up on his hips. "Why are you here?"

He never liked me coming over. After being at my house a couple times, he felt ashamed of his own. I rolled my eyes at his sudden attitude and made myself comfortable on his steps. "You know what happened last night?" Mitch sat down next to me and sighed.

"Not really. You were a mess after Ricky's toast. You said you took a swig from the devil's cooler." I stole from Kat's shit? Damn it, I'm going to be paying for that later, I just know it. "I was going to take you home after you washed up a little bit." His shoulder shook as he chuckled. "You were disgusting, BC."

"Someone spiked my drink. The Professor found GHB in my body." Mitch looked at me, shock etched on his face.

He ran both hands through his hair, pulling a little at the roots, "Who gave you Kat's beer?"

"Why?"

"Because I saw that little shit taking one when she wasn't looking. I saw him put something in it and hand it to Ace." Arturo. "I thought they were going to spike Snake again like they did last time. I didn't think he'd actually—" Mitch punched the concrete between us and growled.

"Ace… spiked my drink? Did he follow me to the bathroom?"

"I don't know, maybe? I wouldn't put it past the guy."

"You didn't stop him?" Was this hurt? Is that why my chest is aching?

"Dammit, everyone was going bat shit over Ricky. He went streaking but nobody had seen him in the neighborhood. They were trying to get me to lend the truck to go find him. Apparently he texted everyone saying he was going to jump the Townsville bridge."

"Did he?"

"Nah. High or not, Ricky doesn't have the guts to do something like that." Mitch looked at me and hugged me tight. "Don't give me that look, babe." He said in my ear. I resisted the urge to rest my head on his chest—this isn't us anymore. "If he did, I didn't see. You know I'd rescue you. You're my chick."

I smiled faintly and pushed him playfully. "I do the rescuing, Mitchelson."

He laughed a little and looked back at me. "I was too preoccupied anyway."

I frowned. "You were getting some while I was up there?"

"No. Taking care of Darlene's skank ass, more like it." I snorted.

My phone started blaring in my pocket and I sighed loudly, annoyed. Taking it out, I saw Kat's name flash on my screen. I furrowed my brow. She never called me. Text, maybe if I was lucky. But never called. "What?"

"You wanna know what my brothers are doing right now, BC?" She did not sound happy.

"If this is what your brothers killed and are now playing with, then not right now. I got shit on my mind."

"And I got your shit in my apartment." I froze and Mitch looked at me strangely.

"W-what?"

"Your dad called. Scary calm and all that. Said that you were moving in so he had my brothers go get your stuff." Kat paused and I heard her sigh. "You really messed up this time, didn't you?"

I didn't answer. "I'll fix it." I didn't wait for a response.

I hung up and turned to Mitch, who looked a little alarmed. "Whoa, what's going on?"

"I... think the Professor just kicked me out. My shit's at Kat's." He whistled lowly.

"Good luck living in hell." I punched his shoulder and he winced. "Ah, crap BC. You know I bruise easily."

"You can take a hit." I grumbled, taking off into the sky.

"Yeah, but not from you!" I heard him shout after me.

I heard Kat's voice echo in my mind. Yeah, I thought solemnly, I really messed up this time.

Copyright © 2013 by scorpialin
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