AN: So if the last two chapters stressed you out a bit, this one should be a little bit of a breather… kinda. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3: Challenge 3
Buttercup's POV
BEEP BEEP BEEP SMASH
I snuggled back under the warm covers after destroying my alarm clock. I could've just turned it off, but where's the fun in that? Blossom must've thought differently since not even a minute later, she started banging on my door, scolding me for breaking yet ANOTHER alarm clock.
"Buttercup, I thought you were done with this childishness! Those cost money you know?! And open the door, we need to talk!" I scoffed loud enough for her to hear, she only wanted to interrogate me again about my "publicity stunts".
"As if Bloss, you just want to interrogate me and it's not gonna happen. We're having fucking Cheerios this morning because frankly you've already managed to piss me off and I don't feel like making you breakfast now!" I could almost feel her glare burning through my door.
"Buttercup this is just childish! Get out here, talk with Bubbles and me about what's going on, and make a real breakfast!" I rolled my eyes at her and abruptly flung the door open, making sure it hit her in the process.
"Ohhh, I'm sooo sorry! I didn't know you were there dear sister, could you ever forgive me?" Her scowl deepened as I completely mocked her.
"I'm trying to be nice here, Buttercup. I don't know what's gotten into you, but you better fix it soon! What are you trying to accomplish by doing all this stuff? I just hope you know the professor is probably sitting somewhere on his business trip wondering where he went wrong with you!" That caught my attention. She didn't fucking know the half of it! Everything I was doing was to save his fucking life! How could he be disappointed when I'm risking my life to save his?
"Shut the fuck up Blossom. You don't know anything. I have my own reasons for doing this stuff, but it's none of your fucking business. You'll find out what I'm trying to accomplish WHEN I accomplish it. And just to let you know, that thing you said about the Professor, it's false." I stormed downstairs and poured myself a large bowl of Cheerios and milk.
I finished my meal in record time with Bubbles staring at me in fascination, almost as if she was wondering how I could down a bowl of Cheerios in eight seconds. I smiled and winked at her, making her giggle at my antics, she thought I was the funniest thing ever. I ran upstairs to my bedroom and slammed the door in a still frozen Blossom's face. I felt pride swell in my chest that I could have that effect on the perfect little know it all. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate her, not at all, she just gets on my nerves a lot easier than Bubbles, so I find more satisfaction in winning every argument.
My good mood was put to a screeching halt as I saw a red piece of paper with a medium sized bag from Victoria's Secret on top out of the corner of my eye. I wanted to scream and could only imagine what horrors he could possibly put me through with whatever was in that bag. I decided to avoid it for as long as possible without making me fail my challenge.
I jumped in the shower and used my spiced apple shampoo and conditioner and taking my sweet time. I shaved everywhere within normalcy and opted to shave my legs twice, breaking yet another record of taking the longest shower of my life, totaling at one hour and fifteen minutes. I took a full four minutes to brush my teeth and made sure my hair was completely devoid of any tangles before blow drying it until it was completely straight. After stalling for as long as possible, I read the letter first: "My, my dear, those reporters are quite relentless aren't they. Well they should have a lot of fun with your next challenge. Today in Townsville, there is a polar plunge, you are to participate. Don't think it's easy yet though, you are to strip down to your gift in the bag before jumping in. I hope you like it Buttercup." I openly growled at the letter, if one thing would tell the press I was going crazy, it was stripping in public and jumping in a pool of ice water in the middle of the damn summer. Who even hosts a polar plunge in the summer anyways?!
I begrudgingly pulled out the contents of the bag and immediately dropped it as if it had burnt my hand. I stared down in disgust at the offending undergarment. Despite being designed to cover my midsection, the teddy style lingerie had alarmingly little fabric. The top part consisted of black lace bra cups, the bottom a black G-string that was lacy in the front, connected to the bra with a sheer material that crossed just above my navel. I looked down at the piece in disgusted horror knowing I would have to wear that, while wet, in public. I could already feel the humiliation and loss of dignity.
I stared at it for at least twenty minutes before realizing I didn't have all day. I gagged as I put on the slutty number. I threw a black v-neck t-shirt over it as fast as possible and covered the rest with a pair of dark denim shorts. I put my hair in a high ponytail, threw on some black flip flops, grabbed my favorite green towel, and left the house. I walked the whole way, hoping not too many people were there, but lucky me turned the corner to see what could've been half of Townsville crowding around the pool of ice water. "Fuck."
I tugged nervously at the bottom of my t-shirt, receiving judgemental looks from all the people around me, mostly soccer moms. Even without my powers I could hear their "whispers", which just sounded like they were talking in a whisper tone.
"That's that crazy Powerpuff Girl… My kids would never act like that, I wonder where their father is." I fumed and wanted to snap this woman's neck, but I knew I couldn't afford that kind of publicity, especially with so many reporters in the area.
"I heard he's on a business trip. You would think she would be able to behave somewhat decently while he's gone…" I only grew angrier and I knew I couldn't just hold it in.
"You would think you'd be able to whisper somewhat decently while I'm standing RIGHT HERE!" I let my voice raise with the last two words to emphasize the point that I had heard everything they said. "What are you soccer moms doing at a polar plunge anyways? It's not like your PERFECT little children would ever do something so INCREDIBLY STUPID!" Their whispering came to a halt and I felt satisfied with myself for getting them to eat their words.
"Look, we're sorry-" I didn't want to hear their bullshit excuse.
"You aren't sorry. If you were, you wouldn't have talked about it at all. Just leave me alone and keep your judgement to yourself!" I decided to leave it at that so I wouldn't draw even more attention to myself. It's not like I needed it.
I pushed past the soccer moms, making sure to knock shoulders with one that looked especially like a soccer mom. She turned her head to glare at me, her semi-short brown ponytail whipping around with her. "My kids would never do that!" I rolled my eyes, managing to piss her off more.
"Whatever Stacy, just go argue over a fucking coupon expiration date or something!" The woman took on a very aghast look as if Satan had pissed on her new Sketchers.
"You are intolerable! And my name is Susan, not Stacy!" I rolled my eyes, she had just revealed her name to be even more soccer momish. I didn't even bother to turn around and just gave her a finger to look at. I could practically hear the bomb going off in her brain as she shrieked in frustration. I laughed it off and got in line for the polar plunge. I was in for fifty of these challenges, might as well embrace it, even if it is going to completely fuck up my life and reputation.
Professor's POV
Him came in and turned on the TV. "You're going to be sooooo proud of your darling daughter!" I turned my head to face him, he had to be joking, there was no way she already completed that challenge! I looked at the screen to see her in a heated argument with a middle aged woman, obviously pissing her off. Then I heard it. "Whatever Stacy, go argue over a fucking coupon expiration date or something!" I recoiled in disbelief that she would ever say anything like that to someone older than her.
"Buttercup…" I groaned in frustration, she knew better than that!
"Soon enough you'll get to see the pretty little outfit I put together for her!" I didn't like this at all, not one bit. I already saw the dare and hoped to God it was just a swimsuit, but from the tone in his voice I knew better.
Buttercup's POV
As soon as I got in line, most of the guys turned around and stared at me, possibly because I just told off one of their mothers. "Buttercup! You totally just TOLD Brent's mom!" They all began cheering me and I received a good amount of bro fists because apparently his mom is a total bitch.
I talked with the guys and they let me go in front of all of them and I almost forgot about my awkward situation until we got to the front of the line with only three more people in front of me. I suddenly realized that I had willingly walked in front of a group of college boys to do a polar plunge in some of the skankiest lingerie I had ever seen in my life, probably theirs too, and they were going to get a full view of my ass.
"Next!" A man, probably going through a midlife crisis yelled as he jumped into the frigid water in just his swim trunks. That leaves only two people before me. The careless lifeguard watched the man until he got out of the pool.
"Next!" A slightly younger guy jumped in and came up with his mouth open as if he wanted to scream but couldn't. He stiffly made his way out the pool and I realized my turn was coming up too close for comfort, but I wasn't about to act all soft and ask the guys to go first!
"Next!" I slightly flinched as I saw the only person between me and humiliation walk to the high diving board. I had to swallow the lump in my throats and turned to look at the guys, forcing a cocky look on my face, I want about to embarrass myself completely. I decided I was at least going to look confidant in this.
"Don't get too excited." They looked at me confused until I pulled off my shirt and my shorts. They all stared at me in awe and slight disbelief, a few even got a nosebleed, and despite my order, they all got a little too excited.
"Next!" I turned around to climb the ladder and felt twenty stares burning into my back. As I passed the lifeguard, his uninterested persona disappeared completely and his eyes almost popped out of his head. I smirked and climbed up the ladder, receiving multiple cat calls and wolf whistles from the group of guys I had been talking to earlier as they got a great view of my G-string going right in my ass crack. I heard appalled gasps from mothers and reporters all around as I got on the high dive. Without hesitating, I performed a perfect triple flip dive into the FREEZING water. I pushed off the bottom of the pool and popped my head above the water, happy that I wore waterproof makeup, but mad that my straightened hair was not very straight anymore. I started to pull myself out of the pull and the lifeguard was a little too eager to help me out of the pool.
He positioned his hands on my hips and lifted me out of the water with ease, I wasn't that heavy, but it didn't get past me when he took the opportunity to squeeze my ass. I turned around and slapped him hard, making a VERY noticeable sound. "Don't touch my fucking ass, dickhead!" He stood there flabbergasted but pleased with himself at the same time and I felt disgusted. "Brent, toss me my clothes hun." I shot a smug look at his mother as he brought my clothes over to me, his face like that of a lost puppy.
"Here ya go…" He was struggling to keep his eyes on my face so I helped him out. I lifted his chin so he was looking me in the eye and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks babe." Blood rushed to his face and another place that showed just how much he enjoyed that kiss. As I put on my clothes I looked over at Susan, a shit eating grin plastered on my face. "Bye Susan! Can you remind me who's bringing the orange slices to tomorrow's game?" She didn't even have time to respond before I walked away leaving her behind with a red face.
I soon realized that a hoard of reporters were following me. "Umm… can I help you?" I sounded a tad rude, but sometimes it's the only way to get rid of these leeches.
"Why did you wear that to a polar plunge?"
"Are you going crazy?"
"How could you disrespect your elders like that?"
"What's your bra size?"
"Are you a virgin?"
I cut them off with an angry glare that somehow always got them to shut up.
"I wanted to, no, she was gossiping about me and I hate gossipers, not important, and yes." Nobody really seemed pleased with their answers but I couldn't've cared less. I turned my back and wrung out my wet hair as I walked back home without waiting for a second round of questions.
I walked down the street and I got perverted looks from almost every guy I passed which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. It wasn't too long of a walk home and once I got home I already heard the news station reporting all about me.
"Buttercup Utonium not only disrespected and humiliated a mother at the downtown summer polar plunge, but also wore a jaw dropping getup to jump in." A picture of me in my skanky lingerie showed up on the screen and Blossom whipped around with a disgusted glare directed towards me.
"What are you aiming at, Buttercup? Are you trying to make the Powerpuff Girls lose every shred of respect we have?" I glared right back at her, but I managed to make her flinch.
"I'm not aiming at anything! I'm just trying to live! Maybe you should try it sometime!" That seemed to shut her up and I plopped on the couch next to Bubbles and continued watching my story get covered.
"What do you think about Buttercup's behavior today?" She asked a boy that I recognized as Chase.
"That chick is sexy as f-" they cut him off before he could finish the word he was about to say, even though everyone knew what it was. Finally they pulled up my interview, something Blossom was somewhat pleased with.
"At least you didn't put out too much there…" I chose to ignore her and changed out of the lingerie, flinging it across my room in disgust and saw another red paper on my bed.
I walked over and read it: "My, my, what a show you gave everyone! Your dear professor informed me that you would probably destroy that little number as soon as you take it off, so part of your challenge is to keep it. It can serve as a reminder of how helplessly under my control you are!" I wanted so badly to scream and destroy something, but that would get the attention of my sisters and I couldn't let them find out about that mess for their own good, I didn't want them anywhere near this mess. I walked over to the skimpy suit and hung it up in my bathroom, getting changed into a pair of short mint green cotton shorts and a large black t-shirt.
I walked back downstairs and started to cook dinner for my sisters and myself. We ended up agreeing on chicken alfredo and I got to work boiling the pasta, breaking the chicken, and once that was in the fryer, making the alfredo sauce. I managed to put together the meal in just under an hour. I slid a plate in front of Bubbles and Blossom before sitting down with my own plate in front of me. "Bon Appétit!" After saying that, we all began to eat and I was proud to say that it tasted amazing! I had a civil dinner with my sisters and to me it was like a breath of fresh air.
With a nudge from Bubbles and an expectant look, Blossom started a conversation. "Buttercup, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for treating you the way I have been for the last few days… The truth is that we're both worried for you and if you ever need anything, we have your back." Happiness and gratitude fluttered around in my chest at her words and I allowed a genuine smile.
"Thanks sis, both of you, I appreciate it." I couldn't keep the smile from my face for the rest of dinner even though I tried not to. I was just so relieved to have them on my side, even if I couldn't tell them what was going on. "I love you guys." I don't really know where it came from, but I felt like I needed to say it. They looked up at me, surprised and with good reason, I don't usually say things like that unless I really mean it. Bubbles was the first to snap out of it and smile a huge smile, Blossom soon following her example.
"We love you too, Buttercup!" My smile grew bigger if possible and I gave each of them a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight, I'm tired." I ran up to my room, feeling happier than I had in a long while.
HIM's POV
I crushed my glass of water in anger as I saw her make up with her sisters. This challenge was suppose to be tearing them apart! Not bringing them closer together! Maybe I had to step it up a bit… Get ready Buttercup, these challenges are going to get a lot harder!
AN: so there's the third challenge! Hope you're enjoying this so far! Are the challenges going to start getting harder or is HIM bluffing? Keep reading to find out and please review!