XI

Back in Citiesville, Butch had arrived in the suburbs his blonde bloke of a brother was staying. It already looked like a much better neighborhood than he lived in and that annoyed him. He knew how much the Old Man preferred Boomer's company over his, it was really no big secret. Especially now that the reason the three of them had to split was because of Butch's fuck up in a bar, Butch was definitely not in the Old Man's good graces and probably wouldn't be for a good while. But just because it was so obvious that Butch caused more problems than he solved them didn't make it okay for the Old Man to pick favorites. Scowling, Butch withheld his bubbling temper. It'd be best not to add more fuel to the fire, he supposed.

Landing pretty light on his feet, Butch rolled his shoulders and popped his neck. Citiesville wasn't much of a journey from Townsville but hopping rooftops was not his forte and it usually ended with stiff muscles, not that he cared to understand why. The green-eyed Ruff looked around the area and resisted a snort. Even at the ungodly hours of the early mornings, Citiesville still managed to look like shit. Booze was a stench he grew accustomed to and there was enough Mary Jane in the air to have him scrunch his nose is disgust. More of a tobacco and ass man, Butch didn't have any tolerance for weed or any other sort of narcotic drug that the lowlifes of Citiesville opted for. It was, probably, his only good trait and he was damn proud of it.

Butch made his way towards one of the rundown shacks that Boomer had stayed in for some time. It was his typical refuge when things got heavy and he needed to lay low for a while. Usually, the three brothers would have bunked out at the same shit hole but that just proves how bad the trouble was. Instinctively, Butch looked over his shoulder and his emerald eyes took on an inhumane glow. No sudden movements, no silhouettes, no sign of sober, intelligent life anywhere. His body twitched, an old habit that aroused when he was excited or nervous.

He was a mixture of the two at the moment. A part of him was daring for somebody to come out and give him a good show but another part, the more dominant part, was wary of the shit he'd pull his brothers into. Boomer may not be vocal about how displeased he was of Butch's constant desire to pick a fight but Brick sure as hell was and, dammit, Brick was one scary son of a bitch when he wanted to be. It amazed the Old Man how, over the years, Brick became masterful in taming his rough-and-tumble brother, even being the only one strong enough to restrain him when his temper flares overpowered his consciousness.

Without delay, Butch crept into Boomer's place and hid himself from the open. Boomer's place wasn't anything to brag about, none of theirs were, but it was undoubtedly in better condition than Butch's. He twitched again and slowly surveyed the area. A decently sized bed with no sheets or pillows, a ratty old kitchen, a pathetic excuse for a bathroom, and then some. By no means was it fabulous but it wasn't a complete—complete—shit hole either. "Tch." Butch was already jealous.

He ran a pale finger atop the countertops and raised it to eyelevel. Dust and grime coated the edge and he frowned. Boomer was a complete clean freak and would obsessively clean for days if he saw so much as one spec of dirt somewhere. Why it was so unkempt when Boomer's OCD was off the charts was a mystery to Butch. "The hell have you been staying?" He questioned himself. None of Boomer's belongings were inside. His lone duffle bag was nowhere to be seen and it wasn't like there was really much space to hide it.

When they first came looking for him, Brick and Butch were annoyed to see that he wasn't around. But from the looks of things, it seems like Boomer hadn't been around town for a long time. Butch's eyes widened in realization.

He was out the door and hopping roofs back to Townsville before he could waste any more time. Something was up, he knew that, but he couldn't understand what.

If he did some growing up and actually learned something in the past few years, it'd be that tackling these sorts of issues head on by himself was not ideal.

"Who are you, really?" Blossom began her interrogation the best way she knew how. Save the idle chatter and get straight to it. It was her most effective motive and proved fruitful in her previous engagements with past criminals. The blonde man shifted awkwardly on his feet and didn't meet her eyes—or more like, he couldn't. Buttercup was still heaving up the empty contents of her stomach and his eyes were focused slowly on her.

"Stop it. You're going to pop a blood vessel." He said quietly to her and she only halfheartedly slapped his leg. Bubbles continued to offer her aid to their sister while Blossom asked the questions.

"I asked you a question."

"You know me."

Blossom's eyes narrowed. "How?"

"Look, can we talk somewhere else? These cameras aren't doing me any favors." Blossom looked over what remained of the curious onlookers and noticed that the cameramen of multiple talk shows were present. They weren't interested in the spontaneous apartment fire that destroyed the entire complex but of the potential stories they would have and the gossip they could spread by hanging back to catch the action between the three sisters and one pretty attractive blonde.

She ignored the attractive part.

Gathering Buttercup, Bubbles followed after Blossom as she led them away from the scene. Boomer stayed very close to them than Blossom but Bubbles figured it was due to his ever watchful eye on her sister. While she wasn't as weary of the blonde's presence in Townsville as she should be, her insatiable curiosity was getting the better of her. She wanted to know what their history was, how close they were, and why Buttercup kept it a secret.

Blossom stopped the group in an alleyway, her eyes glimmering into the dark in search of potential danger. Finding none, her large optics returned back to their normal hues. Turning on her heel, she glowered at Boomer, who awkwardly patted Buttercup's head as she continued to heave.

"Get your hand off her." Blossom hissed.

Boomer raised both hands up in defense and took three steps away.

"God dammit." Buttercup moaned and coughed up some more bile.

"The GHB is trying to get out of your system. You didn't eat much. This is how it'll get out without—"

"Without me taking a rancid shit, I know." Buttercup grumbled and spat onto the pavement. Straightening up, she stretched her back and heard a few satisfying pops. Looking over to her friend (Blossom assumed they were more than acquaintances), she sighed and clamped a hand on his shoulder.

"Who is he, Buttercup, and why is he here?" The coldness in Blossom's eyes told Buttercup that she better tell the truth as the pink-eyed leader was definitely not interested in gaming around.

The two shared a look and the blonde man sighed. "I'm Boomer. Me and my, uh, brothers… we tried to kill you a few times back when we were kids." Blossom's eyes widened as did Bubbles, but he was sure that Bubbles was just surprised that he was being so blunt about it. The orange-haired woman glared daggers at Buttercup.

"Are you kidding me? You brought the Rowdyruff Boys here?!"

Buttercup knitted her brows. "Whoa, I didn't bring anybody anywhere. He's been here!"

"And why haven't you disposed of him and his brothers?" Blossom hissed.

"My brothers aren't here. They won't come into Townsville."

"How can we be so sure?"

"I think I know them a little better than you do."

"I doubt it."

"Excuse me?"

Buttercup and Bubbles eased in between the bickering pair, who, with each hateful spew of their mouths, took a heated step forwards. "Chill, Bloss. He's with me."

"You're siding with the enemy?" Blossom asked incredulously. After a few quick seconds of staring her sister down, the pink-eyed woman laughed bitterly. "You're serious. You're going to stick up for this… this asshole who—not once, but TWICE—tried to kill us when we were kids! You haven't learned a damn thing about loyalty, Buttercup!"

"I'm siding with the guy who saved my life, Blossom!" The trio all looked at her in shock. Boomer was just surprised that she actually admitted it out loud. Buttercup, the woman of complete badassery when it came to protecting her city, was admitting that she needed rescuing and that he was the one who gave it.

"He saved your life?" Bubbles repeated questioningly.

"How did he—"

"Back at Ricky's party. I ran into Ace. He's the one who spiked my drink with GHB, I think. He followed me up. It's not something I'm proud of but… he came in and decked out Ace. He saved me, Bloss." Blossom looked flabbergasted, unsure of whether to believe her gut instincts or her sister, who never once gave her a reason not to trust her. "I didn't really know he was in town."

"I'm not supposed to be, obviously."

"Then why are you here?" Bubbles asked, seeing as Blossom wasn't going to be asking anymore questions for the time being.

Boomer smiled somewhat. "I don't know? I was supposed to stay at Citiesville for a bit. I wandered out too far looking for a good place to eat. Ended up here and nobody knew who I was. I… I guess I just stayed to see how long it'd take." With a humorous glance to the green-eyed Puff, he smirked. "Of course, it didn't take long for Buttercup to smoke me out."

"Why were you at Citiesville to begin with?"

"Ah, my brother got caught in some trouble and we all had to split up. They haven't come looking for me yet, so I figured I was good to hang for a little while."

"Figured wrong." A cold voice broke the conversation. Boomer immediately stiffened and he, instinctively, pushed Buttercup behind him along with her sisters. Turning, he faced the stone glare of his brother, who stood a few feet away, arms crossed and no facial expression of note. "You've said enough. Let's go."

I raised a brow curiously as I took in this new face. I could only assume he was Brick as his red eyes were distinctly similar to Blossom's own pink ones. He didn't have that red cap like I remembered. Hell, he wasn't anything like I remembered. He was tall, taller than Boomer from what I could see, and his wild red hair trailed down to his waist, being held back by a thin hair tie. His entire figure stood solid and power literally oozed.

Boomer kept me behind him, standing with his back close to my front, and I could feel the tension roar through his muscles. "What are you doing here?"

"The question is: what are you doing here?"

"Taking a little detour. I was heading back."

Brick didn't respond. His eyes trailed over my sisters before they landed on me. I met his stare evenly and even scowled. "When would that have been, Boomer? Before or after you hit it?"

Bubbles gasp did not escape the rest of us. We all heard the grinding of Boomer's teeth while I was busy trying to keep my fury under control at Brick's suggestion. Brick's eyes did not waver from mine and, for the briefest second, I saw that they had given me a quick once-over. I bristled and clenched my fists. Just what was he playing at? I tried to step forward but Boomer's arm kept me at bay and that only added more to my anger. "What?"

"We're leaving."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Brick's eyes snapped to his. "You don't have a choice."

"I'm staying."

The two brothers stared each other down. "I think it's time for the both of you to leave." Blossom growled. She was unsettled to be in the same presence as her rival, as the rest of us were, but hers hit right at home.

"Boomer—"

"Forget it."

Something flashed in Brick's eye. A dark, dangerous glimmer. He took a step forward, his body language threatening. "You don't know what you're doing. Let's. Go."

Before Boomer could retort, a pair of headlights shined in our direction and just as quick, Brick vanished.

I blinked tirelessly, trying to scourge his silhouette from behind the high beams. I couldn't see him, sense him, almost like he was never there to begin with. "What the fuck…?"

"Where'd he go?" Blossom growled, shielding her face from the car headlights. Out of us all, her eyes were the most sensitive to bright lights and she'd sometimes lose her sight temporarily when she wasn't too careful. "Bubbles?"

"He's gone! He just… like he disappeared."

I shot a glance to Boomer and saw the unsettled frown resting on his face. He cracked the knuckle on his thumb but his eyes were shooting everywhere. He muttered something under his breath and then looked down at me. The opening of a car door forced our attention.

A woman stepped out of the sleek silver Jeep, worn out sneakers adorning petite feet, long pajama bottoms and a bathrobe. As she was exiting her car, she shut off her high beams and brought Blossom immediate relief. I furrowed my brows when I met the woman's baby blue eyes, aged face, and familiar gentle smile.

"It's not what it looks like, ma'am. We were interviewing residents of the apartment to see what would have caused the fire." Blossom excused in her most professional-suave voice.

The woman laughed, the sound similar to wind chimes. Soft, delicate… who was she?

"No need to make excuses Blossom. I saw what happened. I…" a pretty blush dotted her cheeks, "I wanted to see if my girls were okay." My eyebrows shot up. Her girls?

"Ms. Keane?" Bubbles beamed excitedly, bouncing her way to the woman and embracing her tightly. Blossom and I stood back, flabbergasted, while Boomer only arched a brow in curiosity.

"As in… Poaky Oaks Ms. Keane?"

As in the Professor was keen for Ms. Keane?

Bubbles looked back at us and waved us over. "You guys! Come say hello! You too Boomer!" She returned back to squeezing the life out of our old teacher, squealing all the while. Blossom was quick to regain her senses and hurried to greet Ms. Keane. I, on the other hand, kept hesitating.

Dammit.

I was terrible at reunions.

Boomer nudged my shoulder, quietly urging me forward. I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the floor. He grunted when he landed but he got what he wanted. I took slow steps to Ms. Keane and my sisters. She looked up from what Bubbles was blabbering to her and she smiled at me as I approached her.

God dammit…

She looked like I remembered her. All small and sweet and motherly…

"Hello, Buttercup."

I tried to smile, I did, but I think it came out like a grimace. She laughed anyway. Separating from Bubbles and Blossom, she approached me and welcoming me into a warm hug. I stiffened and awkwardly patted her back. Was I doing this right?

"Buttercup," Blossom scolded, not approving of my stiffness with Keane.

"How have you been, Buttercup?"

"All right."

She shot me a knowing look, the type of look she used to give me when I tried to lie or weasel my way out of trouble. Sighing softly, she continued to smile fondly at me like I did something she was proud of. Like I'm somebody that surpassed her expectations and made her… proud. It was a weird feeling. I looked away.

Suddenly, her attention turned to Boomer and she frowned heavily. "You," she called to him. He looked surprised that she was even addressing him but nevertheless approached her. "You've gotten us into some very bad trouble." My eyes widened at the accusatory tone she took with him.

"What?" He looked nervous at this point, anxious even, as he continued to wearily meet Keane's eyes.

"I should call that man right now and tell him where you are and what you've been doing."

"What are you talking about, Ms. Keane?" Blossom asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, she's talking about nothing." Boomer piped in quickly. With a pleading glare at Keane, he added, "Don't. Don't start this."

"I think you've done enough damage with the girls. They deserve to know."

I stepped forward. "What haven't you told me? I thought it was nothing but the truth."

"It is! I've told you everything you needed to hear." Boomer cursed and ran his hand through his hair.

"But what about what happened—"

"Stop, please! I… that's not me, Edna, you know that."

"Does she?" Keane jerked her head in my direction. "Do they?"

"I just barely ran into Blossom and Bubbles not even an hour ago. I hadn't had the chance to—"

Keane crossed her arms tightly and stepped forward to Boomer, standing toe-to-toe with him. "I'm talking about your brothers, Boomer. Do they know?"

"No, you know what? Enough games. You are going to tell us everything right now." Blossom demanded loudly. Boomer looked up at her, eyes wide with anxiety. "I'm not joking!"

When she was met with silence, Blossom let out a frustrated growl and stomped towards Boomer. Furrowing my brows, I stepped in her line of fire. "What are you doing?"

"We need to get everything out in the open, Buttercup. Get out of my way. He's going to talk or I'm going to make him!"

"Calm down, Blossom." Keane said, eerily calm. "Get in my car. I'll take us to my house. We'll continue this there."

"We're doing this now!" Blossom bit back defiantly. I nearly stumbled in shock at her disrespectful tone. "The longer we're in the dark, the more danger he could bring to this town! I'm not taking that chance."

Ms. Keane didn't bat a lash. Putting a hand on Blossom's heaving shoulder, she forced her back somewhat. "Get in my car, all of you. I'm not going to repeat myself."

I couldn't explain what it was, but there was a certain way Keane talked that scared me and I sure as hell wasn't the last one in her car. I was squeezed in the far right, Bubbles in the middle and Boomer on the left. Blossom, in her fury, had taken the passenger seat to get away from her anger. While Ms. Keane drove, the slow melody of Frank Sinatra lulling in the speakers, I kept shooting Boomer glances from over Bubbles' head. He kept his face turned to the window, ignoring me completely.

I don't know why but that actually… hurt?

Copyright © 2013 by scorpialin
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