Blossom explained the situation briefly to her sisters about what had happened between her and Brick. Buttercup, of course, was not happy with what she had done for Brick. Bubbles felt sympathy knowing that Blossom was just trying to help someone in need.
Blossom vowed to them that it wouldn't happen again.
She didn't tell them the entirety of it. How she would comfort him as best she could those late nights while he was in pain. How she would hold him for as long as he needed her to. The way she would catch Brick looking at her while she cleaned him up. In a way that maybe they could be something more.
Stupid. She thinks bitterly at this.
She honestly didn't know what she expected from Brick. He wasn't meant to be good, especially to her.
His brothers though? They showed some compassion for her. The day after they both had texted her to check up on her. Boomer thanked her for her help and apologizing for Brick's behavior and Butch just seeing if she was alright.
All she knows is that she let her emotions run loose for Brick. Now, having to squash her feelings for him was a hard task to do.
She focused more in school, accepting a full ride scholarship to Townsville University, and having gone to prom with the captain of the football team. Of course, they won prom queen and king. Their photo with their golden crowns plastered on the front page of Townsville's newspaper. Shortly after, he had asked her to be his girlfriend. He was also accepted into TU so he felt that everything was aligning for the both of them.
Blossom, however, was not exactly over Brick, so she told him that she'll think about it.
On top of that, Dexter has shown an interest in her as well. Maybe it's the universe telling her that she needs to forget Brick.
Despite all this, Townsville's crime rate hit new highs that they haven't seen since they were children.
Unusual crimes that they've never seen before. Not the typical monster or bank robbery from the typical villains in Townsville.
No. Murders. Is what the citizens of Townsville whisper. At first, it was marked as suicide, but further investigation highly suggests otherwise.
Of course, the citizens are scared out of their minds. Never having seen anything like it. The police are on high alert, but the investigations all run into a dead end. Some government officials are victims, and they suspect the targets are those in government positions. That gets thrown out the window when a random citizen gets killed.
The girls try to even take shifts throughout the day to see if they can find anything, but nothing ever comes up.
The girls are so paranoid about the events that they make the Professor install cameras and have the lab locked up tight when he is working and they are not at home.
It's dead at night when Blossom gets a text waking her up.
Butch: Can you meet us please? I know you probably don't want to hear from us anymore. We don't know what to do.
Blossom's phone flashes bright. The words are a little blurry from sleep. Her eyebrows furrow in confusion.
What happened now? She thinks.
Before she can fully think of a response another text appears.
Butch: It'll just be Boomer and I, you don't have to worry about Brick being there.
Blossom rolls over on her back and stares at the ceiling as she thinks. The light of her phone illuminating the room. Should she answer? The last time she helped a Rowdyruff didn't end so well.
Butch and Boomer didn't do anything to her, she reasons. They wouldn't be asking for help if they didn't need it.
Blossom: When and where?
She sends it without a second thought. He sends her an address for a 24 hour diner that's not too far from her house and to meet them in 20 minutes.
She gets out of bed to change out of her pajamas and heads to the bathroom to fix her hair and brush her teeth.
Once she's ready, she heads over to her window, quietly unlocking it and slipping out into the dark. Shutting the window as she floats.
She stares at her reflection for a moment in the window. What the hell am I doing? she thinks. With a sigh, she flies up in the air and makes her way to the diner.
Landing on the sidewalk, she makes her way to the entrance and goes in. A bell ringing above indicating her arrival.
The run down diner has been operating for several years. The look never changed since its doors opened and the wear and tear is evident. It keeps business since it's one of the few places that's open 24 hours.
A few people are there either drunk or having a bite after working night shift. In the back Blossom spots Butch and Boomer and makes her way there before the waitress approaches her.
Butch spots her first and gets up from his spot on the booth so she can sit and sits on the same side that Boomer is on.
"Thanks for coming." Boomer says. Blossom nods. "Of course." She says. The waitress comes by and drops off some coffee for the three. "Will you be eating?" She asks. Knowing that most people only come in for coffee at this time.
"No, we're good, thanks. Here." Butch says. Handing her some money to pay for the coffee and a tip. "We'll be here awhile. No need to check on us." He says with a wink.
The waitress happily accepts the money and is off tending to the other tables.
"So what's going on?" Blossom asks. Dumping creamer into her coffee to sweeten it up.
"Look. Ever since Brick came back he's been…different." Butch says. Trying to find the right words. "Different? Different how?" Blossom asks. Mindlessly mixing her coffee with a spoon.
"He snaps and flies off the handle at the most random things. He won't see reason." Boomer says. "Yeah. He's not himself. He's usually the calm and collected one. Sometimes he acts like he didn't just punch some holes in the wall and is back to his old self." Butch adds.
Blossom doesn't know what to think of this. What could she possibly do for them?
"So he has temper problems now? Doesn't surprise me." She says. Almost bitterly. Butch sighs. "Look Pink, I know he was the biggest asshole to you when he came back, but I can feel it. It's not like him." He says. Boomer nods.
"What are you saying?" Blossom asks. Taking a sip at her coffee. "What I'm saying is he goes into these rages and his eyes turn nearly black. It's like he's…" Butch trails off. "It's like he's possessed." Boomer finishes.
Blossom raises an eyebrow at this. Possessed?
"Okay…and what do you want me to do about it exactly?" She questions. Boomer looks at Butch nervously. Butch sighs and shuts his eyes before he says, "You know those murders that have been happening around Townsville?"
Blossom can feel her heart stop in her chest. Feel the color drain from her face. He can't mean…
Butch sees the look of panic on Blossom's face. "I'm not saying it's him, but we're not ruling it out either. If it is Brick…it's not him, not really Pink."
She doesn't know how to respond. Doesn't know what to think. She feels like she's going to be sick.
"Blossom?" Boomer asks. Snapping her back to reality. "Why do you think he's involved?" She asks. "We've been keeping track of what time he leaves and when he comes back and they match the times of the murders." Boomer says. Blossom's head is absolutely reeling.
"Why are you telling me this? You know I can put him behind bars." She responds, shakily. "Yeah, like a jail cell has ever held us back before. We're not murderers." Butch starts. "Even then, the problem will get worse. If they somehow find a way to contain him, he won't have a leg to stand on since he's already painted a criminal. Whatever is controlling him will remain, Pink. More people will get hurt. They can even try to execute him for something he has no control over. Where's the justice in that?"
Butch's words ring true to Blossom. There would be no justice in that.
"We can't keep letting more people get hurt." Blossom says. Both ruffs nod in agreement.
"We think those letters we found still hold some weight. I think the people who got to Brick are trying to get to us through him." Boomer says. "Yeah it's like he's trying to trick us into going somewhere with him." Butch adds.
"We can't let that happen." She says quickly. "What choice do we have Pink? This will probably be the closest thing we can get to start getting answers." Butch says.
Panic rises in Blossom. Racking her brain for another possible solution.
"We'll be careful, Blossom." Boomer says. She sighs in defeat knowing that they have already made up their mind. "If you go through with this, we need to have a plan. I can't be the only one who knows on the outside." Blossom says.
They nod. "We figured as much. We have never been good with making plans, Pink." Butch says. Knowing that his counterpart would be involved in this.
"We need to get answers before you guys go through with whatever Brick wants." She says. An idea pops in her mind. "Ace! He has to know something."
"We tried that route already, remember?" Boomer says. "Yes, but we can try a different way." Blossom says. Butch and Boomer look at each other and shrug. "You and Brick have always been the masterminds. We've trusted you so far." Butch says.
"Right, I just have to get my hard headed sister to agree." She says.
Butch stares at her for a moment. "If I'm thinking what you're thinking, then good fucking luck." He says.
"Wait, you want me to do what?" Buttercup says, with disbelief. "I just need you to get some information out of Ace. We all know he has a soft spot for you." Blossom says. Hoping to convince her.
"Okay…but for what? I thought you were dropping this whole Brick thing." Buttercup says.
Blossom didn't quite mention the severity of getting this information. She just needs to get her to agree.
"I know, but Butch and Boomer think that he may be in trouble. More so than what we originally thought." Blossom says. Trying to convince her sister for this one favor.
Buttercup seems to think about it. Weighing her options. "I just don't see why you care. It sounds like he was a major dick to you. Why not let him solve his own problem?"
Blossom doesn't want to say the boys suspicions to her, not wanting to set her off. "They think he may be possessed and that's why he's acting up. We have to stop him before he gets too out of hand." Blossom says, giving her a bit more information. "Possessed? Let's just beat the spirit or whatever it is out of him." Buttercup says. Blossom rolls her eyes. "Violence isn't always the answer, Buttercup." Is her response. "Hey, we don't know that for sure until we've tried it." Buttercup deadpans.
"Are you going to help me or not?"
"It's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that being friendly to Ace? I'd rather let Butch sucker punch me in the face." She says in disgust.
Blossom nods in understanding, having been on the receiving end of Butch's punches and Ace's crude comments. She would pick a punch to the face as well.
"Just think though, you'll be challenging yourself. Just in being nice." She says. Hoping to get that through with the green puff. She has always liked a challenge.
Buttercup rolls her eyes. "If you haven't noticed. I'm not the nice one. Bubbles would be a better option. Better yet you would be the best option. Miss everything nice."
"True, but we all know Ace likes you the best." She says.
Buttercup huffs out. Can't fight Blossom's logic on that one. "Fine, but you owe me one. Does Bubbles know about this?" She asks.
Relief washes over Blossom, finally getting her to agree. "Thank you, and no. Not yet at least. I'll need to talk to her to get her help as well." Blossom responds.
"Help with what?" Buttercup asks, absentmindedly. Blossom smiles at this. "To help me make you nice."
Buttercup laughs at this. "Oh you two in trying to make me nice. That's not my main ingredient, don't forget that."
"Never."
A/n: Thank you so much for the reviews! They keep me motivated to keep writing! Next chapter will be ready in early February As always, reviews appreciated!