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Impulse’s nerves felt like they were on fire right now, his heart was racing and his hands were shaking.
But it wasn’t out of fear, more like excitement.
As Impulse studied Skizz’s friends the more excited he got at the possibility of meeting them.
Zedaph had fluffy blond hair and a brown cardigan, he seemed a little akward at times but grew more chipper as he settled into the environment. Plus his accent was crisp and fun to listen to.
Meanwhile Scar was the one with mousy brown hair and clear tubes leading up to his nose. he seemed a little more reserved at first but then Impulse realized he was just feeding off of the room’s energy. Joining into jokes more and more often.
Both seemed friendly and odd in their own ways
Just like Skizz.
Impulse leaned against Skizz’s neck as he chatted with his friends. Getting comfortable for the long ride.
Everyone got settled around the coffee table and Skizz made sure to offer them snacks and anything to drink.
Subtly bringing his hand up to check on Impulse and offer him a bit of a chip, under the guise of scratching his neck.
Impulse smiled, taking the chip and patting his best friend’s fingers three times
The signal that he was okay, but wanted to stay hidden still.
Skizz poked him gently before drawing his hand back, picking up a deck of cards and grinning at his guests.
“You gentlemen ready for some poker?”
“Yeah for sure Skizzy, but what are we going to bet with?” Zedaph asked, shifting his weight from side to side.
“Cuz… to be fully honest I don’t have much cash to spare-“
Skizz chuckled “not cash- if I wanna make money off this game I go to a casino-“
Impulse noted that Skizz hadn’t gone back to a casino since the night he saved him.
Maybe he just didn’t need the money.
Or maybe it was something else.
Skizz continued speaking “- this is just a game amongst friends. Plus if we used cash Scar would just bully us around.”
Scar brought a hand to his chest in mock offence. “How dare you good sir, you know I don’t like to use my parents money for that type of thing.
Only hospital bills and wheelchair upgrades.”
This drew out chuckles from the other two.
even Impulse quietly snickered under his breath.
“One day we’ll just see Scar rocketing through the sky on his jet pack wheelchair.”
Zed commented with a half smirk.
“Wait is that a thing?!” Scar’s face lit up
“Scar, dude if it was I’m sure you’d be the first to know.”
Skizz was grinning ear to ear, Impulse could just tell from his voice,
“Soo it’s not?”
“No mate- sadly not yet, but once there is I want a ride with you-“ Zedaph commented “for science and discovery!
“Science and Discovery!” Scar was smiling, before he softly started singing the words off tune.
Skizz chuckled before reaching under the coffee table and pulling out a bowl of M&Ms
“Well to answer your original question Zeddle Bop.
I figured we could split these up, winner gets the whole bowl.”
“A whole bowl of M&M’s? That we’ll all have touched and melted with our hands?” Zedaph scrunched his nose
“I’ll eat my chips before we’re done!” Scar said looking sheepish.
“Huh… I didn’t think about all…”
Skizz set back down the bowl of M&Ms only for Scar to grab a handful and shove them in his mouth.
Proving his point.
“How bout I’ll bye the winner a new bag, and any eaten M&M’s are a casualty of war- you’re allowed to do it, at your own risk.”
As Skizz Spoke, Impulse watched Zedaph light up.
“Oh! And if the other two fold on the first round the person who stays gets to eat a few of their M&M’s!”
“Ho ho, yes Bop! That’s a great idea!”
“What about the melty M&Ms?” Scar asked through a mouthful of chocolate.
“Just don’t hold onto them-“ Zedaph Answered
“Works for me gentlemen, ready to play?”
With affirmative nods they set up their game and started to play
<><><>
A half hour into their game Impulse could say that he felt like he’d be good friends with both of the new humans.
But still he was nervous.
What would he even say??
‘Hi I’m Impulse- oh why am I small? That’s cuz I’m a borrower! We’re small people who live in the walls and borrow stuff from humans’
No what wasn’t right-
‘Hello, I’m Impulse and I-“
No not that either-
Maybe Skizz could introduce him but-
Knots tied themselves in Impulse’s belly he wished he could just be normal about this all.
But then again.
He was like a hundred times smaller than these people.
Normal really wasn’t in the cards.
Speaking of cards Impulse’s attention was pulled back to the humans and their conversations
“-Laptop broke down and so I’ve been using the one at the library for the work I bring home.” Zed was saying.
“Well you should bring it over here sometime and let my Buddeh take a look at it- he’s pretty good with tech-“ Skizz said casually
Impulse’s heart rate picked up and he tapped Skizz’s neck once
The signal for not yet-
Once again Skizz brought up his hand to ‘scratch the back of his neck’
Instead he was just checking on Impulse, tapping his side twice
‘trust’
“I appreciate the offer Skizzly, but I have a friend actually who’s good with tech too!” Zedaph beamed “Tango just needs a bit of time to work.”
Impulse’s heart lurched into throat.
What-??
Skizz also caught the name and his posture stiffened.
“Sorry-.. uh… who?”
Scar also seemed to eye Zedaph suspiciously but stayed quiet.
Meanwhile the blond human flushed slightly, blowing a stray hair out of his face.
“Tango! He’s a new friend of mine, he’s super smart and is also pretty good at making games too-“
Every word he spoke sent electricity into Impulse’s spine.
Tango-
That was his brother’s name,
It had to be a coincidence.
There was no way.
Could it really be??
“Has your friend ever mentioned having any Family before, Bop? Like.. some brothers or something??”
Zedaph seemed to shrink in his chair more,
“I mean a little bit- mostly when he’s mumbling.”
Skizz’s finger lightly pressed against Impulse.
It wasn’t a prearranged signal but- Impulse could tell what he was asking.
‘Can I?’
Impulse tapped his friend’s figure urgently and frantically.
‘Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!”
“Do the names Impulse and Bdubs mean anything to you Zed?”
At this Scar pushed himself up straighter, “Bdubs?? Wait - How do you know that name??”
Everyone’s attention turned to Scar now-
And he shrunk back.
“I just… also know a Bdubs.. but.. it could just be a coincidence.”
The room fell silent.
The rushing in Impulse’s ears grew louder.
It couldn’t be possible.
There was no possible way.
There-… there just wasn’t!
Skizz lowered his hand away from Impulse, as he laid down his cards face up.
“Zed… Scar… I’m going to ask a question… and… I’m hopping you can trust me enough to answer…”
Scar and Zedaph both shot each other a look, before also placing down their cards
“I trust you Skizz-“ Scar said
“So do I- but I want your honestly too-“ Zed added
Impulse couldn’t wait, he tapped out a pattern on Skizz’s neck again-
He needed to see
He needed to know.
He had to know!
Skizz brought both his hands up to his hood and pulled it back slowly-
Allowing Impulse to adjust to the light before making direct eye contact with Zedaph First- Then Scar.
Their expressions were startled, but kind-
Still it was difficult to find his voice.
But he had to
He NEEDED to know.
“I need to know-“ Impulse’s voice threatened to break under his emotions but he pushed through it.
“Do you actually know my Brothers??”
The room fell silent again.
And for that moment Dread pooled in the borrower’s stomach.
And then-
“Impulse!!!” Shouted a painfully familiar voice, Impulse’s eyes darted over to Scar
The human was reaching into his front shirt pocket before revealing in his cupped hand a borrower with wide brown eyes and Green tipped tail
Impulse could’ve sobbed.
“Bdubs!”
Skizz’s hand quickly returned scooping Impulse up and setting him back down on the coffee table.
Scar did likewise and both borrower’s sprinted for each other.
They collided and Impulse held his brother in the tightest hug imaginable.
Bdubs returned it of course, burying his face into his older brother’s shoulder.
“I thought… I thought I lost you-“ Impulse’s voice lost all strength.
Off to the side Zedaph moved his hand through his hair, bringing down his own cupped hand and setting it down flat on the coffee table.
Both Bdubs and Impulse turned too see Tango’s trembling form, his Red tipped tail stubbornly wound around Zedaph’s thumb.
“It’s not-.. you’re not real” Tango’s voice warbled, and he pulled back. “this has to be fake-! A dream.”
“Tango-“ Impulse called…
“No.. this can’t be real! I left you guys behind! You’re gone because of me!”
“Tango-“ he tried again, holding out his hand to his second youngest brother. “It’s us- it’s real. Please come here?”
Apparently that all he needed
Because the blond headed borrower let out a sob before sprinting forward out Zedaph’s palm and joining his brothers in their embrace.
Impulse held both of his brothers like glue, wrapping his tail around the them.
His aching chest and rushing ears quieted like a stilled storm within him-
The missing pieces of his life returned to him safe and sound.
Impulse’s eyes drifted up towards Scar and Zedaph, grinning as happy tears poured from his eyes.
“Thank you both- for keeping them safe.”
“He did more than just that.” Tango mumbled, turning his eyes up towards Zedaph. “I was probably on death’s door, but he found me- saved my life.. gave me a home again…”
Zedaph smiled kindly and spoke gently “I couldn’t just leave him… he reminded me of myself..”
“Thank you-“ Impulse replied.
“You’re welcome- I’d do it again in a heart beat.” Zedaph said fondly, smiling at Tango this time
Who smiled back with his signature madman grin,
“yeah well I’ll never understand how I got so lucky to end up with the nicest human on the planet. But I think I’ll just count my blessings.”
It warmed Impulse’s heart to know his second youngest brother had been with someone kind.
He was rarely kind to himself.
by the sounds of it- he blamed himself for Impulse and Bdubs’ deaths?? Or something along those lines.
Zedaph seemed like a good change of pace.
Then it came Bdubs turn to pull back and point at Scar “hey! I’ll have you know I’m the one who saved him! Crazy parents tried to trap him with me running away!
But I came back because he’s actually nice.
Also he’s my Big Brother now too-“
Tango sniffed before shakily smiling and ruffling Bdubs’ hair “oh really now- were two big brothers not enough?”
Bdubs swatted his hands away playfully. “sure you were, but that’s no reason not to have another!”
Scar laughed at the commentary before lightly coughing.
“Hey!” Bdubs Shouted before pulling back from the other borrowers fully “inhaler! Don’t forget!”
Scar’s just waved him off, his cough dissipating fairly quicky on its own
Instead he chose to smile.
“I’m okay Dubs, I’m Okay- promise. Just focus on your family right now.”
“You are family idiot!”
Impulse grinned at the his brothers before looking up at his own human.
Skizz was smiling both fondly and proudly down at Impulse and his brothers.
“So how did you meet Skizzle-face over there” Tango asked, his own tail wrapping around Impulse’s, still refusing to let go of his brother.
Skizz chuckled, leaning back against the couch and crossing his arms- “you wanna tell em Dipple Dop? Or should I?”
Zedaph and Scar both leaned closer curiously.
Even Bdub’s looked between Impulse and Skizz wanting to know the story.
Impulse thought about it for a bit, running a hand soothingly through Tango’s hair.
His little brother tightening his grip on him.
“How bout you grab us a pillow to sit on and you tell the story, it’s a bit of a long one and you’re better at that type of thing.”
Skizz smiled, before snatching a throw pillow from the couch and setting on the table for the borrowers.
“Sounds like a plan Dipple Dop-“
“Dipple Dop?” Bdubs tilted his head, “where did that come from?
Skizz pursed his lips in thought “mm I believe it was Impulse, then Impy, then Impy Dimpy, Impy Dimpy Dop, then Dimple Dop, and finally Dipple Dop-“
“Sounds right too me- it’s easier not to question it”
Impulse admitted, as he got himself and Tango Settled on the pillow-
Bdubs still had too much energy to properly sit.
“Story time?” Scar asked leaning back in his chair.
“Right, right- so it actually started one day with a poker game-“
As Skizz told the Story Impulse focused on his brother-
Tango seemed to be a wreck of nerves, chewing his nails while his maroon eyes were constantly darting between Bdubs, Impulse and their respective humans.
Impulse kept running his hand through his little brother’s bright blond hair.
Trying to soothe his nerves.
It wasn’t much longer till Bdubs joined them on the pillow, curling up on the other side of Tango, idly winding their tails together.
Red and green pairing together as easily as it had when they were children.
At some point during the story Tango actually managed to fall asleep, clinging to both of his Brothers like they were life itself.
Impulse smiled, hearing Skizz re-tell the story of how they first met,
He remembered how hopeless he had felt.
The dark.
The cold.
The loss.
Skizz had been light, warmth, and healing.
But this-
Having his brothers back.
It brought back wholeness.
Wholeness that he didn’t even realize he was missing so so dearly.
As Skizz wrapped up the story Zedaph tried to stifle a yawn, before looking sheepishly down at Tango.
“I could… probably just leave him here tonight. I mean he probably won’t notice.”
“You’re kidding right??” Bdub stared up at Zed, his wide eyes boring into him.
“Tango would rarely speak so highly of us! The fact he did with you means he definitely cares about you- you can’t just leave!”
Zed’s sheepish expression didn’t leave, “well… I’m not going to take him from his family- he clearly needs you-“
Skizz interrupted the downward spiral.
“You don’t have too Zeddle Bop- you can stay the night, all of you can-
I got a spare room and a cot, plenty of room for you both- and Borrowers take no room at all soo-“
Impulse rolled his eyes fondly, “I have the materials for beds too- just like in the old days“
“See, it works out perfectly-“ Skizz beamed.
Zedaph smiled softly, “if you say so Skizz.”
“I- um… have a slight issue, but if it’s ok if I just go home-“ Scar interjected
“What??!??” Bdub’s wide eyes holding the look of sadness and betrayal.
“Look- I’m sorry Dubs but I-… I didn’t bring any extra oxygen or any other supplies I.. can’t stay. And I’m also not going to take you from your bros-“
“You are my Bro!”
“Dubs I-“
“Gentleman, please this is a simple solve.” Skizz interrupted, as he pushed himself up to his feet-
Both Scar and Bdubs looked up at Skizz curiously.
“Scar just has to write me a list of everything he needs, I can zip on over to his house and pick it all up-“
“You would do that Skizzy?” Scar asked with small smile on his lips.
“Of course Sir Scar- I don’t mind, plus I think you mean just as much to Bdubs as any of us mean to each other-“ Skizz replied.
“Yeah! Skizzy face is right-“ Bdubs shouted before Impulse Shushed him.
As Tango stirred next to both of them.
Skizz snickered lightly, “so it’s plan then?”
Scar nodded, “yeah that would be Ah-mazin Skizz, thank you- I’ll just text the butler to gather everything up for you and place it by the front door-“
“Just don’t take forever Skizz,” Impulse said with a wry smile “or get lost on your way-“
“Oh look at the sass on this one, Dipple Dop you know how to hurt me-“ Skizz’s laughter brought more warmth into Impulse’s heart
I didn’t seem possible to be as happy as he was right now.
I mean what were the chances that both of his brothers were staying with Skizz’s closet friends.
It had to be the most impossible feat ever.
And yet.
Here they were.
Safe and sound.
And everything was right again.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
<><><>
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
- Skizz
The drive over to Scar’s house was fairly simply, just straight through the city and up a hill.
Exactly like that super simple.
It…
Should have been simple.
Perhaps it was the all his thoughts speeding through his head.
He was overjoyed, his best friend was reunited with his brothers
And those same brothers were close with Skizz’s own friends.
Like seriously what were the chances of that happening!!
All of that said.
Skizz ended getting himself lost.
Each turn more confusing than the last.
Man Impulse would end up teasing him for days after this.
He was stopped at a red light now-
Letting his mind drift back to Impulse, and now Bdubs, Scar, Zed, and Tango.
He thought about how difficult it would be to rent a larger apartment-
Or maybe a small house?
Something they could all live in together-
That would be nice.
The light turned green, and Skizz drove forward.
It had been so simple-
A Bright light came from Skizz’s left and a bus horn sounded.
He had was been sure that the light turned green-
The bus collided with his car,
the air bag burst
And everything went black.