The children looked to their teacher and then to the boys. Almost frozen completely until one of the kids spoke up. "The, the Rowdyruff boys?"
"Yes they are. And I know what you're all thinking. No need to worry. They've been adopted by a parent and have been deemed safe enough to go to school" Mr Scott explained. He kept his teacherly demeanor but inside he was slightly anxious how his students would interact with them.
"They have?" questioned another student with a surprised tone.
"Yes. In fact I've just had a pleasant talk with them earlier this morning and their mother, and well, I'm still here aren't I? They're perfectly fine, now if you would take your seats" he ushered, and reluctantly, the children took their seats.
There were sounds of tables and chairs scooching away from the table the boys were sat at. The three ruffs stayed silent, just taking nervous glances at the other children.
"Okay then class, first off is maths. Now I have these worksheets which I'll hand out, and I'll show you on the board how to do these sums" Mr Scott announced.
It was five minutes into the lesson, and Boomer and Butch could see why most kids found this sort of thing boring. Though they were more concerned about the other kids occasionally side-looking at them from their tables.
Even Brick felt slightly uncomfortable at the opinions of the children. He decided to get his mind off it somehow by focusing on what Mr Scott was saying, even though he had read about this all before in books in the offshore prison library. When handed the worksheets, which turned out to be simple sums, he wrote the answers in like it was some inconvenience he had to get out the way.
Brick had often heard from other children that school could be difficult, academically wise anyway. But these worksheets were easy. All the maths problems that were presented or that were written on the interactive whiteboard, Brick worked them out almost instantly. He would've put his hand up to solve the problem when Mr Scott asked, but he preferred not to draw any more attention to himself than there was to him and his brothers already.
The bell rang and the other kids got up, grabbed their things and headed out of the classroom rather quickly than usual. "Wait, what happens now?" wondered Boomer.
"Oh that's recess. The kids go out for a break in the playground, come back for another lesson, have lunch and go out again, then one final lesson, that's usually the way it works" Mr Scott joked. Clearly the boys needed a lot of catching up on this school routine.
"So, we've gotta go out there?" Butch eyed the playground outside the window.
"Yeah you-, uh, yes you will go out there and have fun like the other kids. Just, try to make as many friends as possible, and be nice to them. If there's any trouble, inform one of the teachers okay" Mr Scott explained, encouraging them to go.
Although a bit reluctant, the ruffs floated up and headed outside the classroom into the corridor. "'If there's any trouble inform one of the teachers', in other words snitch" Butch scoffed. "They would've murdered us in the prison if we did that!"
"This is an elementary school with children our age, it's not quite the same here Butch" reminded his leader.
"The first lesson was kinda boring, but I'd much prefer that to the menial activities we were forced to do in prison" Boomer commented, finding this whole school thing no too bad after all.
"Well let's just try to get along with the others. Just, try to find something to occupy yourselves, like we did in the prison courtyard" Brick sighed.
"I have a feeling of deja vu coming on" Butch complained.
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The other children on the playground pretty much had the same reaction to the kids in the boys classroom when they saw them. Some of them had heard from said kids that the Rowdyruffs themselves were here, though most didn't believe it until the boys floated out.
Boomer and Butch heeded Brick's advice, and split up to find something to occupy their time. Both floated around the playground, the other children turning away as soon as one of the boys came close. The brothers didn't have much hope.
Butch did eye a ball on some sort of tether on a pole, which three other kids were hitting around. Floating over, he at least figured he'd make an effort to greet them.
"Uh, hey there" he gave a small wave with his hand. "Um, so what's this game then? Do you just hit the ball around?"
The three children had visible fear on their faces and weren't sure how to respond. "Look, i-if you want this just, take it" the kids backed off leaving the ruff.
"No you don't have to- ugh" Butch groaned.
Back in the day he used to love gaining this type of respect, but now it just felt, alienating. He left the tether ball, knowing it would look like. As if he had just threatened those kids or something.
Boomer wasn't having much luck either. Spotting a group of children drawing with chalk on the floor, something that he enjoyed doing, he wondered if he could join. Summoning up his voice he said "Hello. Uh, you're drawing with chalk, could I draw with you?" He sounded polite and genuine.
And since the children knew the blue ruff used to be the least violent of the ruff trio they were more confident talking to him. "A Rowdyruff, drawing with us? No thanks" dismissed one boy.
"Yeah you're too dangerous. Go away" said a girl.
"I only want to draw, honest!" Boomer tried to persuade, but the kids were having none of it. He was turned away from not just them, but every other group of kids he tried to talk to.
Brick was just as clueless as his brothers on how to socially interact with other children. He was so used to avoiding people and reading in the prison library instead, that he had no idea what to say. So he just floated down by a tree and sat under it, thinking, until the bell rang to go inside. Floating together, he turned to Boomer and Butch.
"Any luck?"
They sighed. "No."
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It was lunch time, and the trio already knew the routine of collecting your food on trays and finding a place to sit. And of course, they sat on their own.
"Well I'm certainly enjoying the great experience of learning and receiving an education as all little kids should" Butch sarcastically moaned slumping down, putting his chin in his folded arms.
Sighing, Boomer shook his head. "Oh it's no good Brick. Everyone's too afraid of us. I mean look at them" he pointed behind. "They're standing up eating their lunch because they don't want to sit with us."
Brick turned and saw the other kids too. This was no way for the ruffs to start their school life. Sighing, he spoke up to the kids behind him. "Hey, uh, you can sit down on our table if you want?"
The kids stopped eating, and eyed them suspiciously. "With, you?"
"I promise, we're not going to hurt you or anything. If we were they wouldn't have let us into this school" Brick tried to explain in his most convincing tone.
"I, dunno, you three use to be criminals-"
"Look, we're harmless alright, will you stop being so scared of us!" Butch interrupted turning around, startling one of the kids, causing him to throw his tray up into the air and hit another at a table.
Angry, the kid that was hit turned to another behind him, whom he normally got into fights with. Accusing him of hitting him, he threw a piece of his lunch at him. But the kid retaliated, and threw back. This chain reaction caused a food fight in the cafeteria to break out, and by then pretty much every kid was throwing their lunches at someone else. The three Rowdyruffs immediately took cover.
"Nice going Butch, another fight in a cafeteria started by us" Brick scorned.
"It wasn't intentional" Butch defended.
"Are they going to dislike us even more now?" Boomer wondered, with an unsure nervous voice.
"Don't worry Boomer, it'll all be fine in the end" Brick tried to assure.
It wasn't long until the teachers finally got control of the kids and the fight stopped. The principal was called into the cafeteria of course and demanded who started it. The students all argued at once, trying to point to the first kid who was hit with the tray, or trying to guess who threw it at him.
It wasn't until Brick floated up and made everyone stare at him in surprise when he announced "Actually sir, I started this."
Butch and Boomer, not being able to watch their offer himself up like this, spoke up too. "And us, sir" they both said.
The principal didn't look surprised but did seem as if there was some hesitation to speak to the three ruffs. "Well, in that case, you three are going to have to clean this up. The rest of you clean yourselves up and head out for recess."
The principal was surprised however when the three boys, within 10 seconds, cleaned up the cafeteria perfectly with the mops and bucket, leaving it spotless. "All done sir."
"Um, yes, indeed. But you three realise that doesn't mean you can start fights like this every lunch time. I'll have to tell your mother about this when she picks you up." He left with that.
"Oh great, Wendy's not gonna like this" said Butch.
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It was finally time to go home. The students in Mr Scott's class walked out muttering amongst themselves. "I knew those three couldn't be trusted."
"They shouldn't be in a school like this."
"Pretty cool how they took the heat for everyone in that food fight though."
Staying behind, as their mother had to talk to the principal, each ruff sat in their seat not really saying anything, just looking at the table with disappointed expressions. Their new teacher couldn't help but notice.
"I heard about what happened. Though I hear, from what the other children have said, that it wasn't really your fault?"
Brick explained what happened and the three boys floated out of their seats and towards the window closest to Mr Scott's desk, recognising their mother's car parked outside.
"Yeah, first day's always the worst, and not just for students" Mr Scott stood up from his chair with a mug in his hand, walking over to the boys side by the window. "You get the feeling that coming here was a big mistake; that maybe you should just not come back the next morning."
"And?" Boomer wanted him to continue. Actually very eager to hear what he had to say.
"And, I'm still here aren't I?" Mr Scott grinned, taking a sip from his mug. "They'll warm up to ya, just gotta find the few kids that are willing to talk to you."
"And how we supposed to do that?" Butch questioned helplessly.
"Perseverance" was all Mr Scott said to him taking a seat on the windowsill.
"Is that what you did?" asked Boomer.
"Of course. You see Boomer," Mr Scott rested his mug down with a more serious look on his face. "A lot of parents, well, how do I put this? They tend to, get wary, of people like me, working in an elementary school with young children. And you've just gotta show 'em how good you are."
"What d'you mean, people like you?" the blue ruff tilted his head.
Mr Scott paused. "Well, the classroom next door, who teaches that?"
"Mrs Jones."
"And the classroom next to that?"
"Miss Williams."
"And the one next to that?"
"Miss Layman."
"And who teaches this class?"
"You do sir" Boomer answered, though he still didn't quite get it.
"And like I said Boomer, just prove yourselves" he ruffled the blonde's hair. Just then they heard a knock at the door, and turned to see Wendy walking in.
"Wendy!" Butch and Boomer both said usion. Brick just stayed silent.
"Hello boys." She turned to the teacher "Thanks Alfie. How were they?"
"In my class, they were great. I haven't given the marked worksheets back to the students yet, but I'll break a rule and say that Brick here scored the highest" he informed.
The scientist formed a smile. "Glad to hear. I'd better take them home now, thanks again Alf."
"Looking forward to teaching them again. Bye boys."
While Boomer and Butch followed Wendy out, Brick turned to Mr Scott just before leaving. "I saw the test scores up on the wall for the past few weeks. Well done on your class scoring the highest."
"Prove 'em wrong Brick, prove 'em wrong."
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"So, what did the principal say Wendy?" Boomer asked, floating alongside her in the corridor. Rubbing his stubs nervously and lowering his head. Something any little normal child would do in his situation.
She took a breath. She was just as inexperienced in this as the boys. "Just what you told him really. Though I have a feeling not all of it is true?" she responded.
Butch explained to her what happened.
"I knew it was unlikely for you to start something like this on your first day. And Butch," she stopped walking and knelt down to his level. "I know it must be frustrating that the other kids avoid you like the plague, and still treat you three like criminals, but snapping at them isn't going to help. You gotta be patient sweetie. Just try okay?"
He folded his arms hesitating. "Okay" the green ruff quietly said.
"Good boy" Wendy smiled at him and stood up. "Now, let's get you boys home, there's a surprise waiting for you."
When they finally got home and headed up to their room, both Boomer and Butch's large eyes lit up at a video game console in front of their TV which was brand new. Along with a few games. They had seen these in shop windows all the time and always wanted to try them.
"Just thought you could use some entertainment" figured their mother.
"Thanks Wendy!" both zoomed towards it, instantly setting the system up. Meanwhile Brick had picked up a newspaper, reading the latest crime statistics in Founders city.
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The second day, as expected, didn't change things overnight. The boys were still sitting on their own, with hardly any other kid saying as much as a whisper to them. Something Mr Scott took a mental note of.
Brick breezed through the work given, leaving himself with nothing to do until recess. Of course he didn't actually go outside, preferring, like he did in the prison, to stay in the library, sitting there reading or on the computer. Always making sure he was by a window to keep an eye on his siblings. Maybe it was a force of habit he'd developed subconsciously.
Outside Boomer and Butch's situation had not improved since yesterday. Butch was right about deja vu in more than one way. The toughest ruff decided to kick a few leaves around the tree. Hands in pockets, looking down at the floor.
And wherever Boomer floated, the kids of the playground repelled from him like magnets. The blond ruff sighed, practically giving up on being accepted anytime soon. Until he heard something, which was usually what was prone to getting himself involved in some form of situation or another.
"What's wrong with these clothes? I think they're fine" a girl's voice said trying to defend.
"They're tacky, and ragged" said another more stuck up girl's voice.
"They're not ragged" pointed out a boy's voice, before the sound of a tear was heard and the girl gasping.
"Why d'ya do that?" the boy's voice demanded.
Boomer followed the voice out of curiosity, to the other side of the playground, setting eyes upon a group of girls in front of two boy and girl twins. The girl of which, had a torn jacket. Boomer had always been told by Brick to not interfere with issues, no matter how big or small. But even Brick went back on that and Boomer had disobeyed it before. Besides, the upset girl reminded him of Bubbles when Octi was torn.
Not knowing what to say, he just came out with "Hey, you girls!"
The group of girls turned their heads and were startled to see a Rowdyruff floating towards them.
"A Rowdyruff?"
"What does he want?"
To say they were afraid was an understatement.
"I just, want you to leave these two kids here" Boomer demanded, trying to put on the most intimidating tone as he could. As even when he was a criminal, he still had difficulty looking threatening. "Alone."
"What? We weren't doing anything, uh, right girls? Let's just go" the leader girl, trying to hide her fear, ushered the group away.
Boomer looked back to the twin boy and girl, and seeing their surprised faces, he realised that maybe he should just go. He turned but then heard the boy's voice call to him. "Hey uh, thanks?"
Confused, the ruff just stared before replying "Uh, your welcome. Just thought I should do something." He eyed the girls jacket. "I'm sorry about your jacket. I don't think it's tacky like those girls said."
"How'd you hear that?" the girl wondered.
"Super hearing" Boomer tapped the side of his head where an ear would've been.
"Oh. Well, thank you, uh, Boomer. And it's okay. Really."
"Hm, y'know I could sow that back up for ya. I sowed a toy back up for a friend once and it was perfect" he offered.
"You have friends?" the boy wondered, then he instantly regretted it. "I mean, it's just that, we don't see you with-"
"I know what you mean. And I'm just as surprised. Look, I'll just leave if you want?" the ruff turned again.
Getting the feeling that this boy genuinely wasn't like how everyone portrayed him, the twins called out "Wait!" The ruff stopped once more to look at them. "I'm Matt, and this is my sister Rebecca" the boy introduced.
"You know how to sow?" asked Rebecca, quite intrigued.
"I wonder if we can find a thread and a needle?" Boomer looked around with a determined expression.
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Butch, still kicking around leaves, not frustrated, but more or less just fed up, wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. So much so that he didn't see or hear the soccer ball narrowly miss him and hit the tree instead. Turning to the direction it came from, he saw a group of kids by a goal post looking in his direction, and as usual, they were all hesitant to go and get it.
"It's by him, that Rowdyruff."
"Well I'm not getting it."
"He might-" they all whispered amongst themselves.
Butch rolled his eyes. "Oh just take it." He kicked it so far and hard that it flew straight past the kids and goalie and into the back of the net. Scoffing and throwing his arms up into the air, the ruff floated off to another part of the playground, leaving the other kids amazed at a shot like that.
Even with superpowers, the trajectory of that shot was remarkable.
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Walking back to class, with an old needle in his hand, Boomer floated alongside Matt and a cheerful Rebecca, in awe of how perfectly her jacket was sown up. "It's like it's brand new! Thanks ever so much Boomer!" She gave him a quick hug.
"Heh, well, it's not the first time" he laughed.
"You're nothing at all like what the news reports say about you" admitted Matt.
Later that day, to Boomer's, but mainly Brick's and Butch's amazement, Matt and Rebecca actually asked if they could sit with the three boys. The red and green ruff looked to their brother.
"I helped them earlier" was the only explanation he gave.
On the way home in the backseat of Wendy's car, the parent asked them about their day. "How was it this time boys?" With hope of some improvement.
"About the same," Brick shrugged.
"Miserable, still" Butch muttered.
"Eh, it wasn't all bad," Boomer figured.
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The city of Townsville, and the Powerpuff girls had just come home from school, floating through the front door.
"All I'm saying is, I didn't know there was a pond there" Buttercup defended.
"Yeah ok, whatever Buttercup" replied Blossom rinsing out her bow before tying it back on.
"Need help with that professor?" Bubbles asked her father, who was carrying a bunch of shopping bags inside.
"No no Bubbles I can- whoa!" he was about to drop it all but thankfully Bubbles caught and carried all of it to the kitchen.
"Oh, thanks dear" the Professor called out.
Floating into the living room, Blossom and Buttercup sat themselves down in front of the TV, taking off their school bags and grabbing the remote.
"I'm just as tired as you are anyway from gym class Bloss. Could we just rest until the phone rings for a crime or something? It's bound to anyway." Buttercup switched on the TV before flopping down on her back.
"Alright. I want to see if any more science facilities are robbed anyway. We always just miss those robberies for some reason" Blossom commented before turning to the TV with a news report coming on.
"Ugh, can't we watch something else?" complained Buttercup.
"I want to see if that report about those Townsville robberies comes on. It's very mysterious" dismissed Blossom.
Bubbles was in a cheerful mood as always, having gotten some good grades back. She put away the groceries humming to herself.
The news reporter was speaking as Blossom and Buttercup continued. "We'll worry about that later! Give me the remote."
"In other news the police force in the city of Founders have locked away the suspects in the recent riot, ready for trial."
"This is important Buttercup!"
"There are still conflicted feelings however in the FDPD and in the citizens of Founders.."
"What's there to know that we don't already?"
"...Of the release and apparent bail of our own Townsville's notorious Rowdyruff boys, who took part in the riot."
"There's a lot-, wait, Rowdyruff boys?" Blossom and Buttercup, with questionable looks, turned to the TV, attention now focused on that.
Bubbles, still putting away the groceries, stopped in her tracks when she heard Buttercup say "The Rowdyruff boys are in Founders city?"
Bubbles dropped the shopping bag. "Oh no" she whispered, zooming out of the kitchen to see the news report on TV. Her sisters watching it.
"The boys have been put into the custody of someone, whom we don't know the identity, as the police have found no apparent evidence of them committing any crime. We have Townsville's crime correspondent here, as the Founder's one is unavailable, to give us some incite."
Bubbles watched the screen, slightly frustrated, as all the correspondent was doing was making blind accusations and guesses about the boys, which she knew personally were all false. She however was more concerned about her sisters right now.
"I knew they couldn't stay out of trouble for long!" proclaimed Buttercup.
"But why move to Founders city?" Blossom had a 'thinking' look on her face.
"Probably too scared to face us again most likely" Buttercup mocked.
"That, or maybe it's to do with a lack of competition from other 'super villains'. As crime ridden as I've heard Founders is, there aren't really any 'super' criminals like we have here" Blossom hypothesized. "Though you could be right in a way Buttercup, maybe they are trying to avoid us."
"Uh, hang on a sec girls, it didn't say whether the boys actually committed any crimes or not" Bubbles reasoned, trying not to reveal anything about herself.
"C'mon Bubbs, a riot which they just happened to be in. In a city which attracts a lot of scum like that, apparently" Buttercup argued.
Bubbles badly wanted to tell them that the boys were actually saving lives and apprehending rioters. That she was the one who convinced them in the first place to get involved in it. But she couldn't reveal anything. What would their reaction be if she came out and told them she'd been secretly meeting with them for over several weeks now?
"We can't be sure what they're doing. But we know from experience how dangerous they are. And although Townsville is the city we protect, we can't let another city suffer or become endangered because of them" Blossom said determinedly, causing Bubbles to become even more worried and unsure.
Hey everyone. This chapter is where the boys get their first impression of what school is like, and how they would interact with other students their age, which I thought would be interesting since it's something they're not use to. Sorry if this chapter was a little boring, not much action in this one.
However the girls, or at least Blossom and Buttercup, have finally found out the boys location. Obviously they're not going to just go charging in, as they don't whether it's true that they're committing crimes or not, but they'll probably try something to apprehend the boys at some point. Anyway, thanks for reading.
Powerpuff girls and Rowdyruff boys belong to CN.
