We meet again

Part 37

The Professor POV:

I could not be more proud of my girls.

They've all grown into a wonderful, amazing women. However, staring at them asleep right now only brought back memories of them being little.

Bubbles had fallen asleep in the same bed as Blossom. Buttercup was on the floor, curled up with a blanket and pillow. Brick fell asleep still sitting on a stool, bent in half as his head rested on the bed. That's going to hurt in the morning. Butch and Boomer ended up on the floor as well. Boomer sprawled out like a starfish, Butch with his leg draped over Buttercup.

I'm so happy they've all grown past their differences. Though... I don't know how I feel about Bubbles and Boomer being a, uhh, as the kids say, item. Do they still say that?

Nonetheless it warms my heart to see them all so close and fast asleep. How they managed to go to sleep right now—in the lab of all places!—was a mystery to me.

I had come down to check on them, after excusing Mojo to the door, and after I'd made a small dinner for myself. I'd been so worked up on keeping Blossom alive and comfortable, that I'd forgotten to eat anything. Can you imagine that?

But after I entered the lab, and looked at my little angels, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to them when they were little. My little girls... why must they grow up so fast?!

I still remember Blossom as a little girl. With that gigantic red bow she always wore. I swear sometimes she was smarter than me. I remember Bubbles with her pigtails, falling in love with life every single day. And Buttercup, constantly covered in bruises and dirt. I swear some people thought she was abused.

"Professor?" Blossom has one eye open. She yawns and attempts to stretch, but knocks Bricks head off the stool—which in turn knocks the boy onto the floor.

He startled awake and looks around. "What the hell?!"

Blossom holds a finger to her lips and says "shhh." Then points to Bubbles and the rest of the room.

"I didn't mean to wake you." I smile. "You just looked so peaceful and I miss you and your sisters being little."

"My back hurts." Brick cracks his neck from side to side.

"You're like an old man already." Blossom muttered.

"What!" He whisperes.

"Well," I make my way over to the door. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Blossom. I'll make breakfast in the morning."

"Night, Professor." Blossom smiles then yawns. She's passed out asleep before I can even open the door.

"Professor," Brick shoots to his feet and stands beside me.

"Yes, Brick?"

"Can we... talk?" He rubs his eyes.

I frown. Whatever could he want to discuss? "Sure." I open the door and let him walk out before following after him. "I'll make coffee."

Brick POV:

The coffees warm. Not too hot, not too cold. But warm. And the professor used some special toffee-nut creamer—though it taste more like hazelnut.

"What did you want to talk about?" The professor sits across from me.

"Him." I use my fire to heat up my hands, therefore hearing up the coffee. "I think we have somewhat of a plan."

"We?" He arches an eyebrow.

"Yeah— uhh... Buttercup and I. At the roller rink we were discussing how to go about this. She wanted to go off on her own and inevitably kill Him by herself. But I don't think that would stop anything. Hell, I don't know what would happen if he dies. If everything he ever created will just disappear—that would suck, 'cause technically my brothers and I were one of the things he created." I frown. "Yeah, that wouldn't be good."

"No it would not." The professor agrees. He takes a drink from his cup. "So, seeing as my daughter isn't drenched in blood, I take it you talked her out if it. And in doing so, that would require you added an alternative method in dealing with Him."

"Yeah," I rub at my eyes. "That's what I wanted to talk about."

"Ah. You have an incomplete plan." The Professor gives a weary smile.

"Well— ah, yeah. It's pretty incomplete. When Him came to me the other day, he mentioned how he could speed up the process in which the girls get corrupted. Which means he can also slow it down. Now, Him vaguely mentioned how he was doing all of this for me and my brothers. And that is our opening. He wants us to be on his side."

The professor frowns. "It does make sense."

"But see, I don't get how we're supposed to do it. Trick Him into believing me 'n my brothers are actually on his side. Butch and Me—should be no problem, but Boomer? Sir, he's dating your duaghter. I highly doubt Him is gonna buy any sort of Boomers façade when he's head over heels in love with the puff." I massage at my temples.

"Brick," The professor sighs. "I think it'd be best if you were the only one. And don't tell the others when you do it. You want it to be as real as possible, so Him won't suspect anything."

"But Buttercup would know."

"But she won't say anything." The professor said. "She'll know. And she won't says anything because she knows."

"I don't know, sir." I frowned. "Butch said she seemed pretty pissed when she found out Bubbles—and all of us—had kept this from her in the first place. I don't think she'd be prone to  keeping a secret from her sisters."

The professor frowned. "I see."

"You could propose a plan. And then I'll pretend to follow through. But then it'll be like I had my own agenda. Buttercup'll forget about our conversation at the roller rank. And she'll be just as pissed at me as everyone else."

The professor sighs. "It's not a horrible idea."

"Of course it's not a horrible idea. I came up with it."

The professor blinked. Then he started laughing. "You sounded like Mojo."

"What?!"

"Sooner or later, Brick, we all sound like our parents or loved ones." He gets up and makes his way to the sink. "Wash your cup when you're done. Then try to get some sleep."

I grumble an "okay" as he passes me and heads out of the room.

Am I ready to do this?

To betray my brothers and the puffs? To betray Blossom?

Even if it's not actually betraying them... it'll just look like that.

But am I ready?

I take a long sip of my coffee. "I'm gonna have to be."