(14)

"Oh my."

HIM sat up from where he'd been languishing on his sofa and slid to the edge of his seat, yellow eyes widening as if to take in the scene that much more. HE watched as Bubbles fled her home and out into the pouring rain, running past her father despite his shocked cries for her return. Behind them stood Blossom, shell-shocked as she watched her sister disappear into the dead of night.

HIM clamped down on the cushions as he leaned forward even further, trying to savor the disaster in its entirety. Bubbles and Blossom's fight had been glorious!

"All these years watching those BRATS drift apart until they've become perfect strangers to each other, totally unable to get along or even communicate without it turning into a federal case." HIM giggled, slender legs kicking outward with unbridled glee. "And the last straw just so happens to be something so trivial and PATHETIC!"

HIM's giggles grew louder until he was full-on cackling. The all-seeing monitor in front of him distorted and blipped until it turned into incomprehensible snow. The eerie glow of it only accentuated HIM's form as it too distorted, form shifting, drifting and re-materializing due to the excitement.

"Who knew little crybaby Bubbles could be so naughty?" HIM drawled as soon as he calmed down. The television screen flicked back on, running through various scenes of said Powerpuff girl and her green-skinned beau. "Tearing her family apart for a little bit of fun with an older former convict."

The racing images on screen stopped on Bubbles ambling into Ace's apartment while supporting his battered frame to the bed. The two landed in a heap on the mattress before Bubbles sprung up and ran to the bathroom. She returned with the already opened First Aid kit and pulled out gauze and disinfectant with shaking hands.

Ace breathed heavily beside her before reaching out to take Bubbles's wrist. He mumbled something, smoothing over her hand with his thumb as Bubbles looked up with fresh new tears pouring down her crumpled face. She let go of the gauze to hold her companion's hand and squeezed.

"Aww." HIM cooed at his unwitting silver screen stars. "Look at you two star-crossed lovers, trying to beat the mountain of odds stacked against you. It's just like Romeo & Juliet!"

"How did that story end? Oh yeeeeeessss." HIM's face-splitting grin was feral, claws snapping with excitement. "They both DIED."


(16)

"Dah, good morning Snake!" Big Billy shouted as he slammed the door to Snake's apartment wide open.

Both Snake and Buttercup jumped - Snake doubly so as the mug in Buttercup's hand shattered with the force of her surprise.

In front of the behemoth stood frozen Arturo, one arm poised to knock. "… Lo siento, Snake."

"It'sssss fine. Not the firssssst time tonight." Snake rose from his seat with a sigh and made a beeline for his door as Billy wedged himself inside, pushing Arturo forward with his distended belly alone.

"Buttercup!" Billy practically squealed when he noticed the woman. He was just shy of bouncing on his toes when the Powerpuff smirked genially.

"Nobody says good morning at 3 AM, Billy." Buttercup said just as her friend was within distance to scoop her up and crush her to him. It was nice for the 20 seconds she allowed him before slipping out of his grasp.

"Oh well it's kinda morning though, right?" Billy questioned while pivoting in his spot.

Somewhere beneath that red mop of hair, Billy's eye searched around Snake's cramped kitchen. "… Where's da boss?"

Buttercup's tenuous smile wilted at the sound of his innocent confusion while Arturo, who'd just managed not to be bowled over by Billy's enthusiasm and was standing parallel to herself and the cyclops, shook.

"No, Billy, I told you. Ace isn't here." Arturo said. "He's -"

"You said Ace was with a Powerpuff girl!" Billy raised an accusatory finger at his much shorter companion. "Powerpuff Buttercup is right here!"

"There are two more Powerpuff girlssss, Billy." Snake said, joining their impromptu circle. "Ace is with Bubblessssss and theyssss left town together."

Billy took a moment to process Snake's words, but once he did, the cyclop's lowered lip trembled. "Boss left again?"

The room went silent as the rambunctious yet jovial atmosphere took a nosedive. Buttercup felt a lump in her throat at the heartbreak in her oversized friend's voice and she had to look at the scuffed tile floor below to keep herself grounded.

She exhaled through her nostrils, fists clenching and unclenching before finally looking up at Big Billy. She laid a hand on his forearm gently.

"We're gonna bring him back, Billy." Buttercup stated. "He can't run away this time. Especially not with Bubbles."


(21)

Bubbles stared ahead, looking at the TV screen blankly as she watched excited show hosts gushing over a new Gorillaz album.

They'd singled in on a shot of Noodle and a "stranger" on her arm, speculation running rampant on just who it was accompanying the famous guitarist.

Jealousy was working its way into her heart, and to will it away she changed the channel.

Bubbles's stomach dropped as she came face to face with her own Senior Year photo. The newscaster's droning voice was barely decipherable against her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

"If you have any information that could help locate Bubbles Utonium, please contact Townsville police at 555-7007."