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Nightmares were the worst. And Impulse was a regular sufferer of said nightmares. But being a borrower meant living a life of fear and stress- the two biggest contributors of nightmares. So really you’d think Impulse would be used to the evil little dreams by now. But no- He wasn’t that lucky
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He was tapped back in the bird cage again- it’s bronze bars radiating that horrible freezing cold breeze. He was curled up in the centre of the cage, tail wrapped around his body, trying to hide from the massive pair of venomous golden eyes that were staring down at him greedily.
The human- The owner of his cage.
The door of the bird cage flew off its hinges, before a massive hand reached inside.
Impulse scrambled back, but knew better than to scream- Screaming meant more pain, more pressure-
The massive hand wrapped around the borrower and began to squeeze Wait- What had he done wrong!! Was he going to die?! A loud angry voice boomed above him,
“Listen here borrower-! You will always be mine! You’ll never truly escape me!”
The pressure was too much, Impulse couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
“YOU ARE MINE!!!” And the hand squeezed for the last time.
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Impulse woke up screaming. His heart was pounding out of his chest, tail flicking wildly and sweat covering his whole body.
His frantic vision was met with a wide open room and he scrambled up out of his little make shift bed-
He needed to hide! Too exposed!
Run-
Hide!
A low rumbling hum echoed next to Impulse and his whole body went stiff with fear.
He was going to die!
A large figured shifted into a half sitting position on the nearby bed, and Impulse realized he was on the giant’s side table.
He was trapped.
He was going to die!
A low and groggy voice filled the suffocating silence
“Dimpy Dop?…. Are you okay?”
That voice-
How did he know that voice???-
The giant reached out a hand over towards Impulse, The Borrower scrambled back, stopping just short of the edge of the table.
He was dead, dead! Dead!!
But instead of the hand reaching out and grabbing him, it instead pulled a small chain connected to a lamp And a warm glow washed over the room.
Impulse’s eyes squinted at the change in light, but they quickly adjusted to fully see the giant in front of him.
venomous golden eyes were replaced with kind ocean blue.
And anger was replaced with worry.
“S-Skizz??”
“Yeah- hey Buddeh… nother nightmare?” His voice was warm and softly spoken.
Impulse nodded, not trusting himself to speak as tears began to well up in his eyes.
“Do you think you could come away from that edge buddy? I don’t want you to fall.”
The borrower glanced behind himself at the edge, before nodding once more and walking back over towards his matchbox bed with a small sniffle.
“Was it about your family again Impulse?” Skizz’s voice was gentle as he asked, knowing how tender the memories of Impulse’s family were to him.
“N-no” Impulse tried to keep the warble out of his voice but failed almost instantly. “I was back in that cage again… and….. and….” He couldn’t bring himself to say exactly what happened. Not wanting to admit it.
Skizz didn’t push, instead slowly lowering his hand, palm up in invitation.
Impulse hesitated, the sensation of a tightening grip around his small body flickered to the forefront of his mind.
That wasn’t real Impy.
Skizz wouldn’t do that-
Even with his own reassurances every step towards Skizz’s awaiting palm felt like it was taken in slow motion.
Thankfully Skizz was patient and waited quitely until Impulse settled into a sitting position in his palm.
His life was quite literally in Skizz’s hands,
at any moment he could just-
stop,
Skizz wouldn’t hurt him.
“I’m….. I’m okay now Skizz… you can move your hand….” Despite his efforts Impulse’s voice still quivered with adrenaline.
His fight or flight boiling under his skin just waiting to burst out.
Skizz did not move his hand- only his thumb.
Very slowly and ever so gently it brushed against Impulse’s cheek to wipe away the tears he didn’t realize he was crying.
Impulse’s breath hitched at the touch before he fully broke down into sobs- hugging Skizz’s thumb with all his might.
Skizz was never cruel, and never a source of pain, most importantly Skizz didn’t see Impulse as just a thing to own. They were friends, Who genuinely cared about one another.
Skizz would never hurt him-
He could always rely on that much.
Once again Skizz moved his hand slowly, carrying Impulse over to his side before gently tilting his hand, setting down the borrower next to him on his pillow.
then choosing to lay back down himself, instead of looming over his friend.
When he spoke his voice was just above a whisper, but it was still loud enough for Impulse to hear clearly.
“You’re safe here Dipple Dop, I promise you- you’re never going back to another cage.”
The borrower felt his eyes tear up once more before wiping them away just a quick.
Skizz’s hand was still nearby, and it felt like Safety more than a threat.
Skizz was more family than he was just friend. He was a security Impulse thought he would never have again.
“Thank you Skizz…. I…. Thank you-“
“Don’t mention it Buddeh, “
Skizz’s hand came towards him once more, only this time it was his index that stuck out only to ruffle Impulse albeit already messy hair. Impulse swatted at the digit playfully, the last of his anxieties and fears evaporating in that moment.
“Hey! Just cuz you’re taller doesn’t mean I can’t get you back for that-“ his laughter erased any venom from his threat-
“Oooo- I’m very scared.” Skizz teased, smirking as he did.
“You should be, I mean that new TV remote looks quite intriguing, it probably has some great new parts I could use to make stuff with.”
“Hey now- wait just one minute I just bought that.!” “You could buy another one-“
“I take it back Dipple, I won’t mess with you just spare my electronics- pleeeeeaaase.”
Impulse hummed thoughtfully, before lying back down next to his human… his family. “Fine s’pose I could leave it for now”
“You’re a tech gremlin-“
“And you’re a tall hoarder- your point?”
“Hey now, I don’t hoard-“
“Those ‘gifts’ from your co-workers are literal trash-“
“Hey, Scar was making a joke, and I thought it was funny so I kept it-“
“My point exactly-“
As he said this Impulse made a small grabby gesture towards Skizz’s Hand.
The Human seemed to understand, bringing his hand to rest gently over Impulse like a blanket- Just enough pressure to be comforting and nothing scary or flashback inducing.
Impulse’s eyelids grew heavy in an instant, and he felt the soft rumbling vibrations of Skizz laughing at him.
“Whatever you say Impy- sleep well….
…
..
I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Impulse snuggled deeper under his best friend’s hand, happy and safe.
Quietly contemplating….
Being a borrower could sometimes mean living in fear and stress…..
But when you have family with you..
A borrower’s life is full of love, warmth and security.
And Impulse let himself believe that this could be his fate instead.