Chapter Text
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"Under the Stars"
Part I
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The halls of Townsville University were… thankfully deserted at this time of night. Good. Just… very good.
She'd sailed past her companions in the lab, her peers in class, just… avoid the looks, ignore the little snickers… just…
It was Blossom's fault. She should have known, should have figured, those late nights he'd refused to tell her about… the "soloist" only meetings.
God Blossom was an idiot. It still stung even after that...horrendous event.
Should Blossom have lost control the way she did? No. Was it natural when one comes across their boyfriend of a full year doing naked aerobics with that freshman prodigy of a clarinet player- was he helping her clean her reed then with his tongue? Was that it?
She should have known but she hadn't and now… just forget it. What was the point.
She'd been cheated on. At least her and Dexter had ended amicably- one couldn't choose their sexuality and him and Mandark made an adorable couple… she'd shoved past them Blossom ought to apologize tomorrow.
But still… cheated… she'd been cheated on? The idea was almost… unfathomable.
Though why she didn't know- after all Blossom was just like any ordinary woman in this world-.
Craaaaack.
… mayhaps a tiny bit stronger…. Yes but… those stones were on their way out anyway! Who really it was inevitable anyone stamping their foot would have broken….it.
…. Blossom hastily dug in her purse, grabbed her checkbook and wrote a quick check before shoving it underneath the door of the lovely home whose outer wall she may have….just kicked a hole in. Thankfully the McGovens loved her and her sisters, they'd saved their cat from a mutated rat last week-.
….sometimes Blossom wondered what the hell was in this city's water. She really did.
She was doing it again. Distracting herself, avoiding the issue at hand, the heartbreaking… infuriating issue that she had run from the University campus to...to what? Escape it? How could it be helped?! It had gone viral on the school feed, Faceplace was exploding, she'd turned her phone off- the amateur film maker who had walked into the auditorium just in time to witness the great Blossom and Jared shitshow and captured it for all to see on their own cellphone was now a school celebrity and Blossom had received a combination of sympathy and derision from random strangers on the internet for the sacrilege of "breaking a poor innocent clarinet" in her unhinged rage.
Was Blossom the asshole? Oh absa-fucking-lutely and she didn't care.
The stupid freshie she'd left off with a warning. She'd known deep down how her boyfriend was with a pair of perky tits.
Her clarinet survived. Jared's didn't. Case closed.
She was a ruthless clarinet murderer: in the orchestral court of appeals she would admit only to a crime of passion. And she would laugh doing it.
Oh yes your honor Mr. Conductor - I killed the clarinet and I'll do it again too! I'll snap all the reeds, and dislodge all the keys!! Mwahahaha!
Truly she was a criminal mastermind.
Oh look. A bench. Fabulous. She could commiserate and figure out a worthwhile explanation and plea so she wouldn't end up being sister to an actual murderer.
Buttercup was pissed but Bubbles was vicious. Would it be crass of her to tell Jared he ought to catch a convenient case of malaria and she would happily provide the mosquitos?
No. No it wouldn't but it also wouldn't be very nice and so Blossom was stuck.
Pity but at least it wasn't raining oh wait… no that wasn't good no rain to drown herself in before her sisters inevitably came looking for her sporting battle gear and make shift weapons…
Well actually knowing Bubbles she'd break into Mojo's observatory and demand a real laser…
...well … again actually in these circumstances Mojo would happily give it to her…
If not demand to come himself because….
That sort of behavior was dispicable and not in the evil super hero way but in a way that was crass and ill mannered most unbecoming in a wannabe villain- what! What do you mean he was not some aspiring upstart trying to invade Townsville!!! EVEN MORE UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
Yes… that had been his reaction to Buttercup's last heartbreak in high school. Blossom had had to wrestle off an extremely angry green ape off some foolish lacrosse player even with help from…
"There a reason you're out so late Puff?"
Speak of the devil.
Brick Jojo. She should have known. When Blossom was feeling low she could always count on the Red Rowdy to be right there to make it worse.
She sighed, "I think I ought to be asking you the same question Rowdyruff- staking out a bank?"
He rolled his eyes, "Hilarious, but no seriously what's got a stick up your ass, you look bitchier than normal." He said crassly.
"Charming and I just needed to think of ways to appease my frothing at the mouth sisters."
He blinked but then nodded, "Ah, the video. I see." She tensed. Good God how far had that video spread!? Last time she checked he wasn't even local anymore!
"I transferred this semester." He answered her unspoken question. Damn him, he'd always been able to do that and it was infuriating.
Was Blossom that easy to read?
"Oh… I see." She muttered.
"Yeah, pops needed me home, you know planning the next grand world domination scheme and shit."
Blossom snorted. "He hasn't been active in years, he has coffee with my father at least twice a week." She shook her head.
"Guess villains can reform then. Damn, well at least rent is cheaper here."
"Not living with your father?"
"Nah." He shrugged. "That looks terrible with the ladies babe." She bristled.
"Oh of course, how silly of me." She drawled.
"Yeah it was, move over, you're on my brooding bench."
Blossom proceeded to shift her legs so they spread full across.
"I got here first, so you go stand over there."
"Not very everything nice of you."
"Bite me."
"Shouldn't we have dinner first?"
"You're disgusting."
"Why thank you, Seriously though.. You okay?"
Her feet got shifted and he plopped down anyway. Cad.
"Never better, I'm utterly humiliated and likely going to face accessory to murder charges as well as destruction of property but never better Brick how are you this fine fucking evening?"
He blinked, "Did you just cuss?"
"Fuck, shit, bitch, fuuuuuck." She said dryly. "Shall I repeat myself as you get your camera, to record it for future generations?"
"... Shit you really are pissed." He muttered.
No shit Sherlock.
"That was pretty nasty though… the way that guy was laughing… no reason to post it."
Blossom shrugged. "It's an inevitable part of the internet and if I'm to be indicted for the murder of that stupid instrument then so be it, it sounded like a dying rat as it perished and I'm glad. "
"I would have done worse and not just to the stupid clarinet." Brick mumbled.
"That's because you're a supervillain-." She sighed.
"Former." He cut in and she nodded.
" Former supervillain whereas I'm a heroine who triumphs over evil and does nothing baaad. "
"Except to clarinets."
"Damned thing took too long to die." Another mutter. Brick was still looking at her oddly.
"What?" She said churlishly.
"You're… different." He said slowly.
"Did you think I'd be the same little miss perfect my whole life?"
"Yes."
"... Okay fair." Another sigh. "Very fair."
It went quiet after that and this position was awkward so she moved her feet back to ground.
"... It's nice out." He murmured. She frowned.
"It's a typical city night."
"Yeah… nice stars though."
"Those are satellites Brick."
"... Fair…. No wait no, that's definitely not- that big bright one." He pointed and she squinted.
"That's… Venus. I think. No, maybe? Could be a star I guess."
"And she doubted me." He snickered.
"Don't push your luck Rowdyruff." She said quietly. "so you're back then?"
"The Red one is back in town Babe, heh miss me?"
She had a cutting retort ready- really she did but…
"You know…. I think I actually did." She said quietly. "Strange as that sounds."
"I've heard stranger." He stretched and his arm went over the back of the bench and...oh for goodness' sake.
"Did you just pull a yawn and arm move on me?"
"Me? Oh please, I hardly yawned , such is the mark of an amateur of which I am not because -." He paused. "Goddamn it I sound like my dad."
She giggled slightly, "you said it not me."
"Shall I repeat that for you to get on camera then- even the score?" She flushed and averted her gaze. His frown deepened, "Babe, you know it'll blow over in a few days, hell some celebrity may have just gotten a new kitten and dressed it up in a princess costume as we speak so it could be over already-!!"
"Brick… I broke a clarinet in half, called my ex boyfriend a slew of terrible names in three different languages-."
"Which was kind of hot just so you know-."
Just going to ignore that.
"And then threw sheet music in the air and zapped it to pieces." She finished.
"You forgot: 'practice this you sniveling toad! Ribbit ribbit
"... Thank you. Goody, assault charges are a definite then."
"Nah babe, and even if they are he'll drop charges pretty quick."
"Oh you think so? I'm honestly waiting for blue and red lights to be waiting for me at home."
His eyes narrowed then. "Oh they could be you're right." She jolted back. "But it'd be the biggest mistake of his miserable little life if he did. Well next to cheating on a Powerpuff girl that is."
She flushed but he slouched against the bench.
"You're too nice babe, and the fucker knows it. Anyone else and that clarinet would have ended up lodged in-!" He trailed before ….he stood up?
Blossom stood as well. Confused.
"Brick-?"
"See you around Blossom." She sucked in a breath - had he just called her by-???
She didn't have time to ask or even react. Quick as he had come...he was gone. She saw the red streak in the sky almost like a shooting star race above her.
...strange.
He was back in Townsville though… so perhaps that wouldn't be the last time they encountered each other… though it was a rather big...city and ...school?
Wait had he transferred to Townsville U??
Badum. Badum.
Odd…
Why did that thought…. Suddenly cause her heart to start racing?
...no matter, it was late and her sisters would begin to worry… if not assume the worst and go off on a preliminary hunt and...never mind.
She ought to just go home.
It wasn’t like… this city was too big… she’d run into him again…
Badum. Badum.
Eventually.
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End of part I