Chapter Text
“There you go, little guy.” Skizz smiled, putting the ginger kitten in a dry cardboard box. The kitten promptly nested in it and lied down. Skizz scavenged around the alleyway and found an old discarded pet bowl, and then fished through the bins nearby.
“Perfect!” He exclaimed, pulling out a half empty water bottle. He poured the water into the pet bowl and set it down for the kitten. The kitten took a few sips and then lay back down.
“I’ll go put you outside the vet clinic, buddy; they’ll take better care of you.” Skizz sighed, picking up box with the kitten inside.
The kitten hissed and scratched Skizz, but he continued towards the vet regardless. He placed the animal just by the door and walked away. He was filled with a sense of warmth, knowing that the kitten would be taken care of there.
But that warmth soon evaporated.
“Fuck…” Skizz muttered. He knew there was no way to avoid him. Impulse Sullivan Void.
About a decade ago, he would’ve been happy to see his best friend, but things had gotten… complicated over the years. Skizz assumed that Impulse wouldn’t be happy to see him either, knowing everything he had done.
“I swear I heard something over here.” Impulse murmured. His muscular body was covered in the city’s police uniform, and his hair was still fluffy as ever. His dark brown eyes were full of curiosity as they always had been. Skizz hated to admit it, but he still found Impulse handsome.
They locked eyes.
Skizz frowned, “Ah, shit.”
“What are you doing here!?” Impulse yelled.
“Oh sorry Impulse! Am I not allowed to exist anywhere?” Skizz argued, “This is just where I happened to be, it’s nothing to do with you.”
Impulse lowered his gaze, “You don’t get to talk to me like that anymore.”
Skizz snarled, “Oh, you’re just that much better than me now?!?”
“You’re a criminal!” Impulse shouted. “Why would I not be better than you, Skizz!?! Tell me that, will you?”
“Sorry I’m not good enough for you!” Skizz screamed, stepping forward.
“Don’t get one step closer.” Impulse said calmly, pulling out a knife.
Skizz froze.
“After everything we’ve been through together, you’d just really go ahead and do that, huh?” He chuckled, tears starting to form in his eyes.
Impulse exhaled sharply, “I would.”
Skizz tensed his hands.
“You really would?” He asked, looking Impulse cold in the eyes.
Impulse hesitated, “I- yes. Yes I would.”
Skizz lifted his foot and let it hover just above the ground in front of him.
“Don’t you dare put that foot down, Skizz!” Impulse barked his orders, running up to Skizz with his knife, “I’m arresting you right now!”
Skizz put his foot down and Impulse’s blade went forward, but he was too slow. Skizz grabbed the knife handle with his right hand and Impulse’s other arm in his left. He twisted the knife to be in his grasp. He kicked Impulse in the shin and kneed his groin, then pushed Impulse to the ground with the butt of his own knife before Impulse could regain his balance.
“Arrest me, officer.” Skizz said coldly, holding the knife above Impulse’s face. “I dare you.”
Impulse struggled under Skizz’s grip.
“IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?!?” Skizz laughed. “10 YEARS IN TRAINING AND I’M BETTER THAN YOU???”
“YOU’RE NOT BETTER THAN ME!” Impulse groaned, kneeing Skizz back and shuffling away.
Skizz smirked, “Yet I’m the one with the knife.”
Impulse gasped as the blood soaked through his clothes.
“Skizz…” He coughed, grabbing his old best friend’s hand.
“Don’t act like you weren’t going to do the same thing.” Skizz murmured.
He started walking away, but Impulse called out to him.
“Wait! I… I was but… Zed and dad, they’re at home, waiting for us… They would never hurt you like I was going to, are you going to do this to them..?”
Skizz turned around, prepared to rebuttal against Impulse; yet something changed. The look on Impulse’s face: guilty, nostalgic, and afraid. Impulse was… afraid of him.
Skizz walked up to Impulse and sat down next to him.
“You’re afraid of me.” Skizz noted.
Impulse stammered, “I mean- uh- yeah??? You just stabbed me!”
Skizz paused, “I scared you.”
“Yes, yes you did.” Impulse muttered, putting his hand over his wound.
Skizz noticed Impulse’s hand placement and took off his jumper. He wrapped it around the side of Impulse’s gut, where the wound was.
“Despite being so mad at me, you stabbed me in a safe spot.” Impulse smiled.
“Don’t smile about it dumbass, I still stabbed you.” Skizz grunted, tying the jumper properly.
“You gonna come home with me now?” Impulse asked, with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
Skizz averted his gaze, “I’m going to call an ambulance and get you to safety, whatever happens to me next is irrelevant.”
Impulse grabbed Skizz’s hand and whispered, “They’re going to take you away if you do that.”
“I know.” Skizz replied.
“And you’re okay with that?” Impulse asked.
Skizz answered, “No.”
He took a deep breath, “But I’m not going to try to change it.”
A new officer showed up with the ambulance. Their hair was the same dark brown as Impulse’s, except for the sides that were muted purple. They wore the same uniform as Impulse. Oh, and they were a dog hybrid.
“What did you get yourself into this time, Impulse?” They chuckled, squatting beside him.
“Pearl, meet Skizz, my… best friend.” Impulse smiled, looking at Skizz.
Skizz stuttered, “Uh- Hi. I stabbed him.”
Pearl froze.
“Excuse me?” She asked.
“This is Skizz, my best friend, and he’s the one that stabbed me.” Impulse grinned.
Pearl glared at Skizz, “It better have been an accident.”
Impulse giggled, “Nope! It was intentional, but he lovesss me!”
Skizz blushed, “Impulse- are you feeling okay? Do you need more pressure on your wound?”
Impulse blabbered incoherently.
Pearl and Skizz exchanged glances.
Pearl sighed, “We’ll deal with you later, for now, help me haul Impulse into the ambulance.”
Skizz saluted, “Yes ma’am.”
“I will stab you too if you call me that again.” Pearl glared at him.
Skizz gulped, “Alright.”
Pearl picked Impulse up around the waist, and Skizz picked up his legs. They walked over to the ambulance and put Impulse in the back.
As the paramedics closed the door and walked away, Pearl turned to Skizz.
“Alright, you’re coming with me now.” She said.
Skizz nodded and put out his hands.
Pearl smiled, “Just come with me, mate, no need for handcuffs if you’re compliant.”
Skizz walked with Pearl to her car.
As he sat down, Pearl got on her phone.
It started ringing, and she began driving.
Skizz knew who was on the other side.
“Hey Pearl, you alright?” Xisuma asked over the phone.
“Yeah mate, I just need to talk to you about Impulse.” Pearl replied.
Skizz whimpered.
“What’s happened? Is he ok?” X panicked.
Zed chimed in, “Where is he? Is he with you? Is he alive?”
“He’ll be ok, he’s going to the hospital; no he’s not with me, yes he’s alive.” Pearl explained, “He was stabbed.”
Zed yelled, “By who!?”
Skizz mumbled, “By me…”
The phone went silent.
Xisuma choked back a sob, “Skizz… how could… why..?”
“Impulse should recover quickly, and you’ll be able to visit him either tomorrow or Thursday.” Pearl responded, remaining professional.
“Yes, dove, I understand. But… Skizz… I never thought that you’d…” Xisuma muttered.
“I’m sorry.” Skizz whispered.
“I will give you all some time to process. Have a good night, Xisuma.” Pearl hung up. “Yikes.”
“What do you mean ‘yikes’…” Skizz frowned.
“I didn’t know what else to say to be honest.” Pearl stated, turning the wheel.
“So you said ‘yikes’?” Skizz asked.
“Yup.” Pearl replied.
They stopped at a traffic light.
“So you and Impulse are friends?” Pearl changed the subject.
“Aren’t you meant to interrogate me with someone else? Or record me or something?” Skizz responded hastily.
“It’s not necessarily an interrogation, I’m just curious.” Pearl smiled. “I saw your photo a few times in his phone, but he said you were dead.”
Skizz sighed, “Guess that’s easier than the truth.”
“Most things are easier than the truth.” Pearl added.
They were silent for the rest of the ride.
"Come with me, Skizz." Pearl commanded, taking Skizz to a changing room.
Skizz grimaced, "Orange is not my colour."
Pearl muttered, "Skizz, just get into the uniform."
Skizz changed his pants and then paced the room.
"Skizz, change into the shirt." Pearl ordered.
Skizz mumbled, "Do- do I have to..?"
"Yes, you do." Pearl replied, curious. "Do you wish for me to grab a male officer instead?"
Skizz stammered, "No- no it's fine- I... I'll change, just..."
"If you don't do it soon, I'll have to do it for you." Pearl informed him.
Skizz frowned, "Just don't tell Impulse..."
Skizz took off his white shirt to reveal bloodied and matted angel wings. They were broken in multiple places.
"I've been hiding them under my clothes, the past 10 years." Skizz whispered shakily.
Pearl spoke confidently, "I'll fix them for you."
Skizz gasped, "No- that's not your job, don't worry about it. I'm sure they're past repair-"
"I said, I'll fix them for you." Pearl repeated. "It may take a while, but I will, I promise you."
Skizz teared up slightly.
"For now, let's figure out how to let your wings breathe with the uniform. I'll go find a shirt for avians." Pearl said, walking away.
Skizz sat there alone with his thoughts. For 10 years he had been like that, but now he had 2 people who cared about him. 2 people that cared about his emotions, his safety, and his life.
Pearl came back with the right shirt.
"Now, time for questioning."
Skizz walked into the interrogation room. There in the chair sat a purple haired officer.
"Vyrie, this is the criminal that stabbed Impulse." Pearl introduced Skizz in a way that he did not prefer.
"Thank you Pearl, come sit next to me." Vyrie replied.
"So, do I have it right that you are the one that sent one of my officers to the hospital?" Vyrie fumed.
"Yes, sir." Skizz responded.
"What were your motives behind this attack, Zelman?" Vyrie asked.
Skizz gulped, "It was self defense, sir, he was going to stab me."
"I find that hard to believe, considering how fond Impulse is of you." Pearl added.
Skizz murmered, "He was not like that when he had the knife, believe me."
"I hope you understand, Skizz Zelman, that I do not normally interrogate criminals myself." Vyrie started, "However, you have injured one of my best officers, so I find it necessary for me to understand what happened first-hand. Yet you are holding back the truth."
Skizz trembled, "Yes, that is true."
"Then why?" Vyrie asked, "If you are so willing to admit that you are a liar, then why did you lie in the first place?"
"Because I was afraid of my own actions, sir." Skizz gulped.
Pearl spoke, "That is true."
Skizz muttered, "I will only continue if you promise me that nothing I say will be used against Impulse."
"Very well." Vyrie said.
Skizz sighed, "Impulse and I were best friends-"
"Lie." Pearl added hastily.
Skizz blushed, "Impulse and I were dating. That is the full truth. 10 years ago we were dating, but then he caught me shoplifting. Our family was financially struggling so I stole something small - I don't even remember what it was - and he found out, so we got into an argument."
"Your family? Tell me who this consists of." Vyrie ordered.
"Me; Impulse; our other partner, Tango Tek; Impulse's current roommate, Zedaph Void; and Zed's dad, Xisuma Void." Skizz listed.
Vyrie and Pearl exchanged glances.
"Tango Tek?" Pearl asked.
Skizz sighed, "Yes, yes, he's a criminal too, I'm aware. But that is his story, not mine; to be honest, I don't know much about it."
Vyrie spoke, "That is alright, carry on."
"Xisuma told me that if I didn't stop shoplifting he'd kick me out, but I saw his distress at night, not being able to afford to keep us all safe, so I just left the next morning without a word." Skizz explained.
"When they found their footing again, they tried to convince me to come back, but I knew that they still viewed me as someone who needed fixing instead of their family, so I stayed on the streets, stealing things to get by." He sighed, "And to piss off Impulse."
Pearl's ear twitched, "All of that is true."
Vyrie sighed, "Take him to cell 62, we will talk later, Pearl."
Pearl nodded, "Yes, sir."