Work Text:
May 2023
Brick focused his eyes on the beautiful girl standing at the end of the room, his smile never faltering. She looked beautiful—she is beautiful. Her enticing beauty made all eyes in the room focus on her and her alone. His breathing hitched, and a rapid heartbeat stayed in his chest. The palms pocketed inside his trousers sweated with nervousness.
He had not felt this in a long time; nervousness was not part of his categorized emotions. He rarely gets nervous; he doesn't have to be; he was a Ruff. But somehow, when it comes to her, things shift. She had always had this effect on him. She had it since they shared their first date.
(Summer of 2012)
"Brick, stop! You'll make me drop my ice cream!" she giggled, her hand blocking all the movement Brick tried to advance on. He was teasing her, threatening to eat her dessert if she didn't know what to share.
"Make me," his voice whispered behind her ear, his arms wrapping around her waist.
She smiled at his gesture, her head automatically laying back on his chest. Brick could feel a smile on his face when he saw the way her body reacted to his touch. He could feel the jump in her body temperature and the quickening of her heartbeats. Wanting to breathe her in, he buried his head in the crook of her neck. Strawberries, her aroma, was his new favorite scent.
"You have the maturity of an eight-year-old, do you know that?" she piped, her mouth biting the tips of her cone.
"I know, you love me anyway," he mused, his arms crushing her closer to his chest.
Pink and orange hues painted the sky, the sea met the sand in gentle waves, and the breeze danced through their hair. Brick took his time enjoying the view, he wanted to savor every minute of it.
The tips of her eyelashes grazed her skin as she took a deep breath of the salted air. "I'm glad I took the risk," she whispered, her hands reaching his.
"I do, too," he responded, giving her a soft kiss on her temple. Everything was perfect.
Brick had the girl of his dreams. After years of fighting and denial, he finally had her in his arms, and he couldn't help but smile a little bigger.
White made her skin look like a porcelain doll, beautiful and fragile. Her plump, rosy lips pursed in a smile, taking in the moment and absorbing all the attention.
Everyone came, and the room was packed, to no surprise. She was a celebrity, and nobody would want to miss the chance to witness the wedding of any of the Power Puff girls. They were famous. Heck, it was being televised. Brick saw the nervousness in her eyes. She was breathing deeply, her palms curled tightly around her bouquet.
(Summer of 2013)
"I've known you for years, Brick, yeaarrsss," she dragged on, her eyes glimmering as she took in the scent of her favorite flowers. "and I've never would have thought of you as someone who gives flowers," she mused.
Brick, a bit shy, tried to cover the blush that colored his cheeks. "don't you like them?" he asked, nervous.
She smiled at him, gently placing her hand on his cheek. Their eyes met. "I love them," she whispered, her breath tingling his lips. "Surprisingly, you got me my favorite ones. I love white roses," she said, lips inching closer to his.
It was their first anniversary. He wanted to surprise her, but he really didn't know what to get her or do. He had to ask his brothers for help, something he thought he'd never do.
"Come on, Boomer! You have to help me with this. It's our first anniversary, and I don't know what to get her!" he groaned. They were all in the living room watching tv; well, Butch watched tv while Boomer tried to ignore the whining Brick clutching his arm.
"I can't believe this! Brick! Leader of the Rowdyruff boys, begging me." Boomer turned to Butch. "ME. The dumb one for help! HA," he laughed.
Brick allowed his head to fall, his dignity diminishing by the second. "Dude, come on, help me out."
Boomer placed a hand on his chin. "Well, what's one thing she always mentioned she wanted?"
Brick gave it a thought; had she mentioned anything? "No, nothing, she's not materialistic," he answered, unsure. Boomer's brows met in confusion. "Are you sure? Bubbles love sea shells, so I always collect them when I go to the beach so when--"
"yeah, when you get the chance to talk to her, you'll give her all your sea shells, yada yada," Butch said, his arm waving the remote. His eyes rolled as he looked at the two. "Flowers, get her flowers. She likes the white ones. Roses, white roses. Take note"
Brick raised a brow. How did his brother know this? "You know she likes white because?"
"Yeah! Isn't she supposed to like pink ones? Cause you know, she's the pink puff" Boomer shrugged, facing Butch.
"Just trust me, Brick, give her the white ones" Butch gave him a reassuring smile.
"If you say so…"
Meanwhile, the Professor had tears in his eyes; taking his daughter's hand, he ushered her down the aisle. He leaned towards his daughter and whispered something that made her look at him with narrowed eyes, yet she smiled and shook her head.
Brick smirked. Thanks to his enhanced senses, he knew exactly what the Professor said. He turned to see if any of the girls noticed. They all stifled a laugh.
"It's not too late to run."
Hearing the Professor's words made Brick feel a small amount of guilt rush through him. He knew he wanted the best for his daughters and only said it to reassure them that he'd always have their backs, but for a split second, Brick had hoped she would take the Professor's advice and run.
It was all real; this moment, it was happening and out of his control. He glanced through the window; pink and orange hues painted the skies, a beautiful day for a wedding.
A perfect day.
When will I feel this
As vivid as it truly is,
Fall in love with a single touch,
And fall apart when it hurts too much?
(Fall of 2015)
"You know this is what I've always wanted, Brick! Why can't you support it?" her voice shaky as she tried to keep her tears at bay.
Brick could feel his jaw clenching, trying to control his anger; he balled his fists and faced her. "Because it means you're leaving! It means you'll be leaving--"
There was a silent pause as Brick locked his eyes on hers, letting out a deep sigh, "Without me."
The retort she was about to say fell back from her tongue, her expression softening at the sight of his vulnerability. He was always a closed and mysterious guy, and seeing this from him surprised her.
She came closer to him, floating to meet his eyes. Cupping the sides of his face, she let her forehead rest on his. "You can always come with me; you don't have to stay here in Townsville," she assured, her coral eyes scanning his face, tracing its curves with her fingers.
"You know I can't. You know that my life is here in Townsville. I can't just leave my job and my brothers," his tone was cold and distant. She would understand; she has to.
Brick turned his face away from her, removing her hands from his face; he took a step back. The hurt in her eyes was prominent; the way he turned away from her touch let a few more tears escape her eyes.
Her lips trembled. "Why can't you?" your brothers are old enough to handle themselves! You're all twenty-one, not teenagers!" her voice rose. Her eyes went from soft to glaring. Angry, hurt, and confused.
His lips flattened in a thin line, his fists itching to punch the mirror that hung beside him. Not wanting to see the tears flow from her eyes, he turned his back,
"It's not just about my brothers! It's about my life too! I lived here all my life, and now you just want me to leave it? To leave all the things I've managed to create here?" he titled his head, hesitant to say what he had on his mind. For what? To follow you around like some puppy.
He heard her sigh, "I don't want you to leave anything, Brick."
He turned back to her, his eyes still somewhat hopeful. "You can stay here. You're a Powerpuff, after all, a hero of the city. You can't just leave," he begged.
She looked at him with apologetic eyes, her teeth chewing the corner of her lip. In an instant, Brick knew what she was going to say.
"But I can't leave my opportunity, too."
Brick's shoulders slumped, making a defeated sigh. He looked at his girl with red, puffy eyes. "we can try long distance?"
Soft music from the piano filled the room. The crowd was in awe as the bride and father made their way between the rows of chairs. Brick's eyes glanced to the side of the bridesmaids, where two of her sisters were wearing pink pastel gowns; one was smiling from ear to ear while the other looked like she wanted to tear her clothes apart by the way she kept readjusting it. She must have noticed his gaze as she stared at him with an arched brow. Her eyes questioned his stare. Brick smirked at her; she was always the one who resented him after everything that happened; he could recall the numerous times she had slammed the door in his face.
( Spring of 2017)
"I'm telling you this once: She doesn't want to see your stupid face that broke her heart, okay? She's done, it's over. You and her are FINISHED." She growled, her finger jabbing his chest in anger.
"Can you please tell me her new number so I can talk to her? So I can explain, it was a miss-"
"Stop, okay. She doesn't need your explanation; she doesn't need you making up excuses for what you've done. What she needs is for you to leave her the hell alone. Got it?" Her tone was threatening. She glared at him long enough to slam the door, but he jammed his foot before it could fully close.
"Come on, just let me explain! Just tell her we need to talk and that I'd do anything for her to listen!" he begged, his voice hoarse.
She half-opened the door to let him see her stone-cold expression. "You can't weasel your way out from being a cheater, Brick. What's done is done." And with that, the door fully closed.
All I want is to flip a switch
Before something breaks, that cannot be fixed
Brick went home defeated. His brothers were sitting on the couch when Brick entered the apartment with a bottle of opened whiskey. Closing the door shut, he made his way towards them and slammed his body on the chair opposite from his brothers. Butch and Boomer gave him a questioning look, their eyes glancing back and forth from his face and the bottle of alcohol.
"What's up, bro?" his blonde and blue-eyed brother asked, his hand reaching towards Brick's shoulder. Before they could touch, Brick backed away and groaned.
"Is it about her?" He asked again, sympathy around his tone. Brick looked up at a pair of concerned eyes, "none of your business," he grumbled.
Standing up from his chair, he staggered out of the room. Soon after he left, there was a loud slam.
"It is about her; he only acts like this if it's about her" Butch, who was silent the whole time, stood up from his chair and grabbed his green army jacket that hung from the wall.
"Hey, where are you going?" Boomer questioned, his eyes following the green Ruffs movement. Butch, who had his hand on the doorknob, turned towards his confused brother. "I'll be out comforting a friend."
"Shouldn't you be comforting your brother?"
Once they reached the end of the aisle, their eyes met. She flashed him a quick smile and mouthed thank you before addressing the man beside him. He only managed to give her half a smile.
The Professor wore a stern look on his face as he gave his daughter's hand away. He whispered a few loving words to her and an understood nod to the groom, telling him to take care of his daughter or else. Then, he stood beside his two other daughters.
Everyone stood up and turned to the minister, who smiled happily at the two before him.
"Butch Jojo and Blossom Utonium, today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of life. Today, you both start a new chapter in your lives. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment. To witness a lovely union. If there is anyone who can give just cause why these two should not be together now or forever hold your peace."
Brick sucked in a breath.
(Summer of 2021)
He wanted to scream. Brick held a green pastel envelope in his hand, glancing at the word 'INVITATION' written in a fancy font. It was an invitation to his brother's wedding—to her wedding.
His brother's and Blossom's.
He couldn't wrap his mind around it. It felt like a cruel joke, a sick cruel joke that the world was playing on him. He heard a shuffling of feet behind him. "He wants you as his best man, you know," Boomer said as he leaned his body on the door frame of Brick's room.
Brick turned his attention to his brother and tossed the letter on his desk. "Yeah, I know."
"Do you want to be?" Boomer's voice masking concern.
Brick shrugged and buried his face in his hands. "I have no other choice; he's our brother." He wanted to be happy for his brother, and he indeed did, but it seemed complicated to do when he was pleased because of her—the one person who could also make him happy.
"I can tell him that he'll have to suck it up and have me as his best man; after all, I am awesome at planning parties," Boomer suggested, trying to lighten up the mood, but soon after, his shoulders fell at the sight of his brother's despair.
Brick had dark circles under his eyes and stubble. He hadn't been looking out for himself like he cared.
He let out a frustrated sigh and dropped back to his bed while Boomer sat on the edge of it, a sympathetic look plastered on his face. Brick looked pathetic, and he hated it. He hated not being happy for them, the thoughts swirling inside his head, and everything.
"I just can't believe that it's been four years, and I still haven't moved on," he mumbled to himself, controlling the scream that wanted to release itself from his chest. Brick tossed and turned in his bed.
Boomer smiled wryly at his brother, "You have to let the bride of our brother go, Brick; it's the right thing to do."
"I can't; I still love her."
Wait, don't tell me heaven is a place on earth
I wish I could rewind all the times that I didn't
Show you what you're really worth.
The way you held me, I wish that I had put you first
I was wrong, I admit, numb from your kiss
While you were slipping through my fingertips
There was a deafening silence.
Brick wanted to speak up; the words he wanted to say danced through his head, and his throat itched, wanting to tell them.
---- - "I love you, Blossom, I always have and always will. I know that I made mistakes and have wronged you, but that didn't mean I stopped loving you. You are the only girl I have ever loved, the only girl I think and dream of. I was born to destroy you, raised to only ever know destruction, born to kill, never taught to love, never understood emotions. I was born to oppose you, yet here I am, desperate for you.
I can't get enough of you. I can't live without you or know that you'd be with someone else. So please don't marry my brother…marry me. " Brick fell silent.
The begging voice in his head screamed. All the cheesy words in his head melt. No amount of words can bring her back to you .
I wish I could've made you stay
And I'm the only one to blame
I know that it's a little too late
This is everything I didn't say.
"Very well then, let's continue," the minister said.
(Summer 2016)
"do you ever think of getting married?" Blossom asked, her eyes wide and curious.
Brick, surprised at the question, faced her, stroking her face. "Have you?" he returned.
Honestly, he really hasn't thought of it. He felt comfortable the way they were. Yes, it's long distance, and they only get to see each other every few weeks, but it didn't bother him. They were fine, comfortable even.
He could see Blossom's thoughts wander around the question as she bit the lower half of her lip, a habit of hers. "I don't know, maybe in the future," she looked at him, expectant, as if she wanted him to assure her that they would get married.
Brick didn't know if he wanted to. He shut off the thought entirely.
"Yeah… In the future," he assured her with a smile, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Unsure of what is for, the thought of marriage?
Or the fear of it.
"Because marriage is a bind that ties two souls as one," The minister finished. He hadn't paid attention to all the words the minister kept blabbering about love and commitment. Brick focused on the lump in his throat; he wanted to speak up badly. He knew that if he did, Blossom will never forgive him for it, so will Butch.
His eyes were focused on the two who faced each other with a smile. The minister turned to Butch, who stared lovingly at her, his hands eager to slip the ring on her finger.
( Winter of 2016)
"dude! Where the hell were you?!" Butch bellowed, tossing his winter jacket by the chair. His eyes glowering.
"Do you know the hell I've been through because you didn't show up?!" he continued. Brick glanced at him and ignored his yelling. He returned his focus to the small screen in front of him.
"Man, do you even care?" he asked, his voice almost begging. Boomer, who had come out of the kitchen, pulled the spoon from his mouth. "What's going on?" he asked.
The two faced him; one angered, the other unbothered.
"Your good-for-nothing leader forgot to pick his girlfriend up from the airport! In the dead of winter!" he fumed, his fist glowing bright green.
"I didn't forget; she told me not to come," he said in a neutral tone.
Butch, frustrated, let out a scream; a normal person would have been deaf by now. "and you actually didn't go?! She was alone!" he kicked the coach. "IN DEAD FUCKING WINTER!" Brick only shrugged, flipping through the channels.
It's not that he didn't care, he wanted not to.
Butch's breathing steadied as he looked at his brother with a confused face; his shoulders slumped, defeated. "what the hell happened, man?"
Brick gave him one look, cold and distant. "why don't you ask her."
Since you're always the one who picks her up when we fight
"Yeah, well, I would've if she had stopped crying! I had to call Bubbles to calm her down."
"You met with Bubbles?" Boomer, who had been only watching, asked. Butch mouthed him to fuck off.
Butch slumped his body beside Brick, his fist still glowing but patient enough to wait for Brick's explanation. "I don't know, man, you've been fighting a lot lately; she came all this way this time," Butch said. "You know how difficult this is for her."
Brick let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I know, it's just that---" he couldn't bear to say it, to even think of it. Maybe if he forced himself into believing it wasn't real, he'd actually believe it.
"Just what?" Both his brothers asked.
"I don't know, really; I just feel like we're drifting apart," he muttered.
"Well, that's a fucking sad excuse to ditch her!" Butch's voice rose, his fist-raising to hit him. Before he could land the hit, Boomer had already dashed towards him to block it. "Come on, man, let him be."
"Do you Butch Jojo take Blossom Utonium as your lawfully wedded wife?" Butch radiated, his eyes danced with excitement; his lips worded out the two words Brick dreaded to hear.
He wanted to tune them out; his chest felt heavy as he saw Blossom's eyes glimmer with happiness. She was happy, and it wasn't because of him.
He didn't want to hear her answer; he didn't want to know that she was gone from his grasp, that from her mouth, it would all be over for them, that there would be no chance of getting back together. He tried to imagine himself in his brother's shoes, and still, it didn't feel right. She wouldn't be happy like she was now.
"Do you, Blossom Utonium, take Butch Jojo as your lawfully wedded husband?" Blossom made a grin, a thing she rarely did. "I do"
Her words, her declaration of her love for his brother, were the only thing his already broken heart needed to shatter into pieces.
"By the power vested in me by Townsville's Justice and Law Council, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The minister smiled and narrowed his eyes on Butch; he bopped his head towards Blossom's direction and chuckled. "I know you've wanted to kiss her the moment she stepped in; go on, Mr. Jojo."
The crowd erupted in loud whistles and cheers as Butch wrapped his arm around Blossom's waist, his other hand gently stroking the side of her cheek. Butch then leaned into her ear and whispered something that made Blossom giggle.
On his right, he saw Boomer smirk, and in front of him, Bubbles hid a smile while Buttercup only rolled her eyes in annoyance; they must have heard it, too. Butch tended to be inappropriate in the most inconvenient times.
As Butch inches closer to locking his lips with hers, Brick closes his eyes. This was a moment that he didn't want to witness; he may not be able to handle the pain once it hit the realization that she's not with him, and the kiss would be his realization; it was sealing the deal, and he didn't want to face it just yet.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw that Butch had scooped her up into his arms. "I now present you, Mr. and Mrs. Jojo!"
Blossom Jojo. A perfect name.
There was a roar of applause from the crowd. Through the corner of his eyes, he saw the Professor wipe a few tears from his eyes, the way Mojo had a few chairs behind. Buttercup wolf whistled in amusement while Bubbles had a smile on her face that could be read as "I'm glad you found the one, Bloss." His eyes wandered to Boomer; he also looked happy for the two. A wide grin painted his face. "You finally tamed the beast, Blossom!" He cheered on.
Brick was the only one who didn't look that happy for the two. Taking his hands from his pockets, he applauded the two as best he could, wearing a mask for the crowd.
Boomer looked at his brother and smiled; he nudged him on the stomach and leaned closer to his ears. "When do you think Bubbles and I will get married?" his question was loud enough to make Buttercup turn her attention towards him and give them a warning look. Brick looked at his brother, rolling his eyes, and he chuckled. "When you finally have the guts to ask her out on a date without her two sisters on her tail."
His brother smiled mischievously as he glanced at the blue Powerpuff girl, who was too busy taking pictures to notice. "We'll be married soon; just wait till she notices me first," Boomer said with enthusiasm, his hands clasped together.
"Well, you better make the move; the sea shells at home are piling up in your room. The red-headed Ruff commented on his brother's statement, his eyes trailing back to the two love birds walking in the middle of the aisle. Butch was carrying her, so technically, he was the only one walking.
It wasn't supposed to be Butch.
Once the two had left and the crowd followed along with them, Brick heaved a sigh. Boomer had escorted Bubbles out while Buttercup trailed them with her glares, Mitch, her boyfriend, laughing along. Brick was left alone in the room, a heavy feeling on his chest. He looked up from the ceiling and let out a scream. He hoped no one heard his frustrations; it was just too much to bear.
"Why is the ceiling dripping?" He questioned himself, an annoyed look on his face as he tried to wipe off the droplets of tears that ran down his cheeks.
Invisible machinery,
These moving parts inside of me
Well, they've been shutting down for quite some time, Leaving only rust behind .