NOT MY TYPE by katocchi


7. She works so fucking hard.


warnings: dislocated shoulder mention


Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be caught off-guard like this, but of course, the one time he's not on top of his game, she's here.

Blossom tosses the frozen monster arm over her shoulder, grinning down at him as she offers a hand. He ignores it, pushing to his feet and dusting off the back of his pants. If she thinks she's getting a thank you or any gushy form of gratitude like the other residents of Townsville, she's sadly mistaken, and it seems like she knows that, too, because she drops her hand and her smile.

"Tentacles...looks like another leviathan type?"

She shakes her head. "Giant octopus. Some of the seafood places are already placing orders for the leftovers."

Ew, looks like he's skipping those restaurants for the next two weeks, or at least until heavily discounted octopus is off the menu. Blossom flicks something off her arm, and it's only now that he notices the dark brown apron she's wearing on top of a familiar uniform. He takes a step closer and hooks a finger into the front pocket. A notepad, a pen, and some folded candy wrappers. Perfect little squares that are unsurprisingly on brand.

"You work at a cafe now?" He raises his eyebrows at the embroidered logo on her chest. "Do you even have the time? Aren't you in, like, every after-school club?"

"Not officially. I only help with the clubs when I'm needed."

"Seems like you're always needed."

"Worry about yourself, Brick."

"Who said I was worrying? Just don't let it affect your performance."

She huffs. "You're one to talk about performance; everyone's been fighting without you for the last ten minutes," she says before launching into the sky, a ray of pink shimmers. "If you don't hurry, I heard Butch say something about bringing some home to eat tonight!"

He tsks and shoots up after her. "You still haven't answered my question!" he yells over the wind. "You're working at that mom and pop cafe now? Why?"

She purses her lips and shrugs. "I need the extra money."

"Why? Doesn't the Professor make a shit ton already?" He's seen their house plenty of times. To afford that as a single parent of three, the Professor has to be more than comfortable.

"Yes, but constantly relying on him for pocket money...it'd be nice to have some of my own. It's not like being a hero is a sustainable long-term career either, and other than fights monsters every other day, my resume is embarrassingly empty."

"Okay. Don't overwork yourself."

"I won't," she says and gives him a look. "What happened to not worrying?"

.

.

.

He was right to worry. Not because he wants to, but because he knew the inevitability of her spreading herself too thin, though it's hard to gloat over his victory now, weeks after their last conversation.

She dropped out of the sky.

That has to be the only explanation for her sudden disappearance. One moment, she's right on Boomer's tail, a bright streak against his brother's navy blue, and the next moment, she's gone, light sputtering into fading sparkles. Brick scans the air before he sees her―free falling through the air, limbs slack. Boomer is moving too fast to turn around; he's planning to ram straight into the monster's side. It'd be more dangerous for him to force a mid-air stop, and the others are busy distracting the monster, drawing it away from the town, and Brick...

"Buttercup!" He chucks his cap at her. She catches it and pulls it backwards over her hair. "Take over!"

She looks confused but nods, pointing out new formations to Bubbles and Butch. Brick chases after Blossom.

Too far, he thinks, eyeing the distance between them, but he can't afford to continue that thought. At this height, hitting the water would bruise the hell out of her, if not fracture several bones. They'd heal fast, but injuries still hurt like a bitch. If she wasn't a Super, the impact would snap her neck, and if she's really unconscious, he doesn't know how she'll get out of this one by herself.

The wind shrills in his ears, burns at his eyes, a high-pitched whistling in his ears that rattles him straight to his core. His arms stretch out, muscles screaming as he tries to reach her. Just...just a little bit more...he leans forward, racing against time and gravity, an arrow of red and desperation.

His fingers latch onto her elbow, and as soon as he gets a solid grip, he yanks. Probably dislocated her shoulder―he'll apologize for it later. Pressing her into his chest, he shifts and kicks his legs out and into the water, shoes drenched as he breaks the surface for friction. It kicks up waves on both sides, but he doesn't slow down, not until he hits the shore, reaches asphalt, and tears up the road with his feet. A gash in the ground at least three blocks long, but this place was overdue for road maintenance anyway.

"Hey, Pink," he says, voice shakier than he can help. She groans, burying her face in his collar. Okay, she's moving at least. He exhales. "When you're better, you're going to tell me exactly what the hell happened back there, alright?"

He looks around. Most of the stores are empty, but there's movement in the restaurant to his left. People.

Brick hefts Blossom into a princess carry, careful to avoid her injury, and makes his way over. Behind him, the monster roars, swinging at his siblings, but he trusts them. He kicks down the door.

"Get me a hot drink," he snaps at the owner cowering behind the counter. "Anything you have. Tea, hot chocolate. Hell, give me hot water if it's faster."

The owner nods and prepares a cup of hot tea that Brick holds close to Blossom's lips until it dribbles into her mouth.

"Do you have anything for her to eat?"

"Ah, good news and bad news about that." The owner fiddles with his fingers.

"What's the bad news?"

He gestures at the state of his restaurant. "The attack kind of has my wares in a mess. I might have a cheeseburger that was being prepped, if that's okay."

"That's perfectly fine," Brick says, tongue already tasting fire in the back of his throat. He'll just heat it up for her. "What's the good news?"

"It comes in a double meal set! You're already getting a drink and sandwich, but for a few dollars more, you can get a second one."

Brick stares at his outstretched hand. "For the love of Him, we're fighting a giant lizard, and you still―okay. Fine. Fine." He shoves some bills at the man. "Just hurry."

When the stupid cheeseburger comes out, he nudges Blossom into a sitting position. Her eyes, though hazy, are at least blinking open, and her brow furrows as she tries to focus on his face.

"Brick...?"

"Be a good girl and eat this." Thankfully, she listens without much fuss. "I'm saving my I told you so for later, just so you know."

"Yeah, yeah," she says, rolling her eyes. She leans forward for another bite. "Give me a few more minutes and I'll be good to go again."

He snorts. "If you can get up without my help," he quips, but God, is he glad she has the energy to banter. His heart nearly dropped into the ocean with her. Fuck, he doesn't know what he'd do if...he leans his forehead against the top of her head.

.

.

.

"The Mayor will see you now, Mr. Jojo," Ms. Bellum says, stepping back for him to enter the office.

Brick takes a deep breath, grip tightening on his briefcase before giving the two his best winning smile. "So for our discussion on implementing a hero's salary."


a/n.

aeris here. wow, i really said 2021 and then showed up a year later. i spent the last semester in paris if that forgives my absence at all :) thanks to the old and new readers for reading! there's only 3 more chapters, but i'll make it worth your time, i promise! i know it always seems like brick is saving blossom, but i needed the set up to connect this to what he said in chapter 4...and YES, i should let you make your own connections, not put a giant billboard sign, but please indulge me in this moment. if you know what i'm talking about and/or if you liked this chapter, leave a comment!

next chapter: she ruins every fucking experience. some monday, 2022.

TROPE BINGO: hot drink cure. bad news, irrelevant news. (see my carrd for other accounts)