Work Text:
Skizz greeted Impulse into his home with his arms, dragging him to his living room and preparing coffee.
It was a usual chat like any other.
“Dude, I’ll be takin’ up my familys’ job soon!” Skizz smiled, leaning back in his chair.
“Oh really? Are you that reliable for a family business owner?” Impulse snickered.
He scoffed, “duh! I can do it! It’d be so easy!” Skizz flaunted his wings, “I’m a strong angel!”
“Well, what’re you gonna be doing?”
“Hunting. Demons. DUDE! I’ll smack their evil faces IN!” Skizz laughed, “well… I’ve never really seen a demon- but I’ll find ‘em!”
“…”
Impulse stared at the floor, processing Skizz’s words. His best friend’s words. His demonic heart dropped to his feet.
Skizz was an angel! Of course he’d…
But he’s his best friend. But… It’s not like he’d betray his family for him, no matter how close they are.
“Buddy?” Skizz tilted his head to the side, “you good?”
Impulse got shaken out of his spiral, “y-yeah- I’m good! Just uh… worried for your… safety.” He sputtered out.
“Aw no! You don’t need to be worried! I’ve been training for years for this.” Skizz smiled, putting his hand on top of Impulse’s trembling hand.
Impulse jolted up, looking at Skizz with wide eyes.
“I- I need to go.” He stood up, and speed walked out of Skizz’s house.
——
It’s dark. No one to disturb Impulse. The trees tower over him, providing a small amount of comfort.
His claws dig into his legs. His tail tucks around his ankle. His horns—his nether forsaken horns—perch on his head like a reminder.
He was always proud of what he was. Despite having to hide it. He wasn’t worried for hunters, he always was hidden.
But… Skizz.
Hunting demons. It had plagued Impulse’s mind for weeks. Skizz would come over to his house with the faint smell of demon blood. He’d talk about his kills. He thought it was the coolest thing in the world.
Would Impulse be next? Killed by his best friend.
Impulse was spiraling. He knew that. Whenever he was, he’d be able to rest in Skizz’s arms. Cry into his shoulder. Be softly told that everything would be okay. Because it’s Skizz. The loving, caring Skizz.
He felt heartbroken. Betrayed. He wanted closure, comfort, but that could end with a spear to the head.
Impulse shuffled to his feet. His scales itched, ached. He looked at himself in the reflection of a pond. Human. No sign of his true self.
It wasn’t a betrayal of his best friend, he didn’t know. He couldn’t know.
But he had to know.
——
“Andddd here’s a spear! Oof- kinda got some blood on there…”
Impulse took the spear off the rack. He ran his fingers across the cold metal, blood stained his fingers.
“I swear I cleaned that- be careful with it!” Skizz chuckled, taking the spear out of Impulse’s hands.
He stayed silent, looking at the weapon on the wall.
“What’s up with you? You’re all quiet!”
Impulse looked at Skizz, avoiding eye contact.
“Are all demons bad?”
Skizz looked at him weirdly, “well- I- don’t know. I’m told they are… wanna honor the family and such.”
Impulse looked at the floor.
“What’s wrong dippledop?”
“I love you Skizz. You’re my best friend in the entire world. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.” The words coming out of Impulse’s mouth were sullen, melancholy.
Despite being an angel, Skizz was never able to completely read Impulse. But he could then. He could tell the guilt, the anxiety, that swirled around in his head.
“And I have something to tell you. I- I always wanted to. But- I was scared.”
Skizz’s eyes softened, “you can tell me anything buddy.”
“…” Impulse looked at him, tears clearly pricking at his eyes.
Impulse’s eyes. His bright, brown eyes. They were drastically darker.
“And you promise. You’ll let me leave. I’ll tell you this… and I can leave your home. And I’ll never come back, I swear. I just. Not yet. I don’t want to…” Impulse muttered, fidgeting with his hands.
“…leave? Why would I ever want you to leave? You’re my best friend Impulse. I don’t care.” Skizz held out his arms.
Impulse closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were dark. Black irises and yellow, golden replacing the deep brown.
Scales peeked up onto his cheeks, onto his arms. Horns grew out of his skull as a pointed tail wrapped around Impulse’s leg.
Impulse was a demon. His best friend was what his kind ought to destroy.
Tears fell from the demon’s eyes.
“I’m sorry- I’m so sorry Skizz. I lied to you… for so, so many years.” Impulse’s voice shook. Skizz’s blue eyes were unreadable. They looked at him with plain shock.
“I just… couldn’t hide it from you any longer. I felt… scared. I’m not asking to be spared, to be forgiven. Nothing. I just… wanted you to know. That maybe, maybe… not all of us are...” he sniffled.
Impulse looked at him, with pity in his eyes. And he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Before Skizz could process it, he was gone.
“IMPULSE!” He yelled to no one. His best friend.
His best friend, the best person in the world.
His best friend, who he swore he’d give his life to.
His best friend, who he flaunted his demon kills to.
His best friend, Impulse, the demon.
…
Were they innocent? Was he killing innocent demons?
Skizz didn’t know.
——
Impulse was running. He heard yelling behind him. His house had been raided, his house had been destroyed. The pebbles and rocks stung in his knee.
He pulled his hood over his head. He barely had any magic left. He was a sitting duck, ready to be slaughtered.
He looked through the trees, there was a clearing. He’d be found. He’d be caught.
Impulse’s breaths were hard and shallow.
And he fell. The ground caved under him. He was unsure if it was a cave, a trap, or just his death.
Falling would be a better death than being speared and burnt at the stake.
He couldn’t see the bottom. He kept falling. He heard the yelling above him. White feathers fell. There were hands on his chest. The wind rushed through his hair, and the yelling faded away.
“I got you. It’s okay.” A soothing voice woke Impulse. There were careful hands on his legs, wrapping bandages around them, “I gotcha Impulse.”
Impulse opened his eyes. He was greeted by pure white wings and a shining halo. Something that should’ve been alarming to Impulse, but he was calm. His head was fuzzy, light.
He closed his eyes again.
Skizz had to save him. A demon with brown hair and a black and yellow jacket was spotted in their town, and all angels were tasked to track him down. Skizz thought he was too late when he watched his house get destroyed. More angels ushered him to the forest.
He flew above the trees, tracking the running demon. His energy was weak. He was injured already.
The energy got weaker. He watched as he fell down a hole.
Skizz dove down.
“ᓭꖌ╎⨅⨅! ⊣ᒷℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᒲ.” (Skizz! Get him.) he heard the others demand.
Skizz obeyed orders for the last time. He flew down the hole, grabbing his best friend. He heard as the angels yelled at him, but he didn’t care. He found a hole in the side of the cave walls, setting him down. He brushed the messy hair out of the demon’s eyes. Impulse was out cold.
He set up a small fire with his halo. It warmed the damp, cold cave walls. Skizz read that demons needed heat to regain their energy. Impulse stirred in his sleep, clinging to one of Skizz’s wings. He made small whines and shivers.
Guilt and relief washed over Skizz. He almost lost him. If he didn’t know better, he’d be dead. And it’d be all Skizz’s fault.
Impulse gently opened his eyes, clinging to the warm thing surrounding him.
“Hey buddy.” came a voice he recognized. The warmth rumbled at it.
He was dazed. A fire crackled nearby.
Feathers laid on his back.
“You…” he muttered, attempting to keep his eyes open.
“I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. I promise. I… blindly believed them.” The voice sighed, “you’re my best friend. I’m keeping you safe. I can’t believe I… I’m sorry.”
Impulse’s chest warmed. The fog gently cleared.
“Skizz? ‘M safe…” he mumbled, pulling the wing closer to him.
Skizz huffed, “safe.” he repeated.
Impulse purred at Skizz’s voice. He closed his eyes again, feeling a hand wrap around his side. He rested his head on Skizz’s shoulder.
The fire crackled on.