To Break a Ring pt.2

To Break a Ring part 2



Bloom walked up into her room, alone except for her thoughts. She wondered if she'd made the right choice, keeping Oliver detained in her lab, instead of sending the homicidal Irishman to prison, like Bashley had suggested, but what was ringing in her head the loudest was what Oliver had said to her about her brothers. 

A drop of water fell on the floor as the Warriortuff girl began to change into sleepwear. 

'They're MY brothers!' 'An' yet, ma'am, they answer to me. Whit does DAT tell ye?

'He didn't flaunt it at me like some mocking gesture,' she thought to herself as she removed her signature shirt and replaced it with a cyan T-shirt, 'The way he said it sounded like an actual question.' 

Another drop of water hit the floor as Bloom removed her shoes and socks. 

"I've been with them since I was eight. I just wanted to provide the love and care Mojo and Him
failed to give them," she said out loud, trembling as she removed her shorts and walked over to her bed, more drops of water dripping down. "I thought if I could do that, then maybe... maybe they'd see life differently. Maybe they'd see there's an easier way to live and pillaging and killing wasn't the way to go....Were all my efforts for...nothing?" 

It it was at this point when the tears came cascading down at full force and Bloom let her face fall into her hands, sobbing quietly.  

"N...not my...Not my brothers!" she choked out between sobs, "I've...do-done my best to...be a...a caring sister! So...why? Why are they following that psycho?!" 

While Bloom continued to cry, Bex, who had figured out by now that what Oliver had said to Bloom had really hurt her, strode down into the lab to find that the Irishman had nodded off. 
Unwilling to wait for his nap to end, the green Warriortuff girl rattled the cell wall bars loudly, startling Oliver awake. 

"Wake up," she said, sternly. 

"Yikes!" Oliver shouted as he fell out of his chair, "Blimey, Bex! what's de idea av startlin' me awake loike dat? Ah, naw," he sighed, noticing the glare she was giving him, "yer only gimme tha luk whaen you're angry at me." 

"Yes, I am," Bex replied, "You made my sister cry! I don't let ANYONE who does that get away with it. The fact that you're my friend is about the only thing that's keeping me from walking into your cage and popping your lip." 

"Noted," Oliver responded, keeping calm, "So, whit do ye want me to do?" 

"Apologize to her," Bex told the Irishman, "because what you said hurt her."

"Gran'. Cud ye bring her down 'ere, please?" Oliver asked. 

"I'll get her," Bex said, walking up towards her sisters room. 

Back up in her room, Bloom had managed to regain control of her emotions, but her eyes were still puffy, with tear tracks running down her cheeks. She was pulled out of whatever remained of the empty ness that her despair had put her in when a knock on her door was heard. 

"Bloom?" It's Bex," came the voice from the other side of the door. 

"Yeah?" Bloom answered, glumly. 

"I'm coming in," Bex stated, opening the door.

"What is it?" Bloom muttered, as her sister walked in. 

"I had a talk with Oliver and- hey, are you ok?" Bex asked, noticing her sister's glum expression. 

"I'm fine, Bex," Bloom replied, fibbing so as not to worry her. 

"Bloom, you look like you just watched Bambi. What's wrong?" 

"...It's what Oliver said...about my brothers," Bloom sighed, "I mean, they willingly work for him, they commit crimes with him, and they even have fun with him. What if all my efforts to help them were for nothing?" 

As as the tears began to well up in her eyes again, Bloom felt herself being pulled into a tight hug from her sister. 

"Bloom, don't EVER doubt yourself," Bex consoled, "Those boys love you with all their hearts and value your effort and hope. Besides, I had a talk with Oliver, and he wants to apologize for what he said earlier."

"Really?" Bloom asked, mood beginning to improve. 

"Would I lie to you?" Bex smiled.

"no, I don't think you would," Bloom smiled, "now, let's go talk with our Irish friend." 

"'Atta girl," Bex grinned, following her sister down to the lab. 

When the two Warriortuff girls arrived, they found Oliver leaning back in his chair, waiting for them. 

"Ah, dere ye are," the Irishman said, "well, 'tis rather hard ter say dis, but  Oi am sorry, Bloom, aboyt whit Oi said. Normally, ah wouldn't 'ave spoken in such a woy, but wan av me comrades 'ad a heart attack, so Oi've been rather edgy dese past few hours." 

Bloom was shocked to learn that one of the mascots was in such a condition. 

"So THAT'S why you guys botched that robbery," she said in realization, "I-I didn't know. Wh-who was it?"

"Tubbimura," Oliver said solemnly, "'e's de wan who 'ad a heart attack."  

"Oh, well, uh, I'm...I'm sorry," Bloom murmured, rubbing her arm awkwardly. 

"Hey, nigh," Oliver said, "Oi'm de wan who's  apologizing 'ere." 

Bloom couldn't help but giggle slightly at the Irishman's joke. 

"You're gonna need this," she said, handing Oliver a handkerchief once she'd stopped giggling.

"Fer wha?" Oliver asked, slightly confused.

"The blood on your face," Bex finished.

"Oh," he grinned, sheepishly, wiping the dried blood of his face.

"So, uh, now that that's out of the way, I'll be going, now," Bloom yawned, walking up the steps. Bex waited until her sister was out of earshot, the turned to Oliver.

"Thanks for owning up, Ollie," she smiled, "and since you may be here for a while, I'll bring you meals and hygiene stuff when you need it."

"Why ar ye bein' so nice ter me, Bex?" Oliver asked, "Considerin' de fight Oi gave ye and yer sisters, ah'd've tart ye'd be plenty more harsh."

"Well, we need you healthy in case you decide to give us info, and we can't have you stinkin' up the place," the green Warriortuff grinned, "but, most importantly, it's because you're my friend, Oliver." 

"Thank you, Rebecca," Oliver smiled. 

TO BE CONTINUED....