ah ha ha, suffer

(warning: it's hurt/comfort (also please just pretend they have a proper house because hdjsklfjghd im not putting up with their actual bases as houses))

   ~*~

"Yeah I'll be there soon," Tango said into his communicator, grinning as he went to leave the house. He paused for a moment before rolling his eyes. "Yeah yeah I got the lava and shit don't worry-"

Fwoop.

He was suddenly shoved against the wall and a hand slammed down next to his face. He was faced with an angry looking Zed who's slightly sparking purple eyes pierced straight through him. He swiftly snatched Tango's communicator from his hand, the tips of his usually pale fingers now faded to black claws.

"Tango?" asked Cleo's voice, static lacing her voice through the communicator. "Hello?"

"He'll have to call you back Cleo," Zed hissed. He clicked the small device off before Cleo could answer and letting it clatter to the ground.

"What the hell Zed?!" Tango exclaimed, glaring back down at him. "What'd you do that for?!"

Zed sneered at his words, laughing a bit. "You thought I wouldn't find about the Arena huh?" he challenged, watching Tango's expression shift from frustration to wide-eyed horror.

"I- uh..." Tango stammered, unable to find words. "H-how do you even know?! Impulse doesn't and I made sure of it!"

"You seriously think Impulse is my only source for information?" Zed asked, his sneer turning to a glower. "Heard BDubs blabbering on about it in the shopping district. I'm not deaf Tango."

Tango huffed and stepped sideways, but Zed slammed his other hand to block him. "Let me go Zed! I have to get to the Arena now!"

"But Tango!" Zed exclaimed, putting on a sickening sweet voice. "I could never bear for you to get hurt! After all, you didn't want me to get hurt right?" The last word was laced with a bitter poison and Tango winced.

"Of course not!" Tango snapped. "Cleo just asked me to do a favor and I accepted! It's different from you putting your life on the line."

Zed rolled his eyes. "Hardly! Being part of the headgames is also a favor for Cleo!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

Tango sighed and shoved Zed away with a harsh push, making the blonde stumble backwards and yelp. "I don't have time for this Zed. I've gotta go." He walked away and just before he could reach the door, Zed teleported in front of him in a flurry of violet particles.

He quickly noticed the black patch spreading over his left eye and the black "x" in it's pupils, his fingers faded to sharp black claws. "Zed your eye-"

"Oh, scared of that I'm showing a little temper?" Zed hissed, baring his now sharp teeth. "Maybe you shouldn't have been such a hypocrite and actually thought ahead for once!"

"Zed seriously, calm down! It's not that big of a deal-"

"Oh really?!" Zed interrupted, digging his nails into his palms. "I guess the fact my boyfriend is signing himself up to die isn't a big deal huh? But me doing it is a big deal? Wow, that's sure fair!"

At this point, Tango had dug his own grave. What was he supposed to do? Supposed to say? Zed was right and honestly... he couldn't argue. Zed noticed his silence and scoffed.

"Stumped for words are you?" he spat. He sighed and his expression shifted from pure anger to conflicting emotions. "I just don't want you to get hurt!"

"And I don't want you to get hurt!" Tango shot back, glaring.

"Then why'd you sign up for this stupid Arena?!"

"Because I... I..." Tango looked down. "I don't know...."

"Of course you didn't!" Zed's nails dug so hard into his palms that they broke skin and a trickle of blood ran own them. "You never know anything!" He shoved Tango backwards, tears brimming in his eyes. "I'm so done with you!"

Tango grimaced, stumbling to keep his balance. "Then let me leave!"

"Fine!"

Without another word, Zed teleported away in a flurry of violet particles, sparing him one last teary-eyed glare. Tango scoffed, ignoring the tears pricking at his own eyes, and picked up his communicator.

Sorry Cleo, he texted. Got held up; coming over now.

Is Zed okay? she asked, making Tango groan as he walked outside. Yeah he's fine.

"So what happened?" Tango yelped in surprise and stumbled away from the voice, his arms up in defense.

"Sorry Tango!" Impulse apologized, smiling slightly. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, Impulse," Tango muttered, shoving his communicator back in his pocket. "I'd love to chat, but I have to be somewhere."

"So I heard," Impulse replied, folding his arms. "It was kinda hard not to hear your two's yelling. You signed up to be a boss at the Arena thing right?" Tango nodded, looking away. "Well then I kinda have to agree with Zed; you are a bit of a hypocrite."

"Wh- I mean- just a little!" Tango argued, refusing to give in. "At least I'm not getting a scar on the neck from this!"

Impulse sighed and pressed two fingers to his temple. "We'll talk about this later. I'm gonna go talk with Zed, you get to your thing." He shoved past Tango without another word and headed to their shared bedroom, where the door was shut.

He knocked lightly on the door and with a loud clatter that slammed against the door. "Go away!" Zed's voice yelled from inside, sniffling between words.

"Zed it's me, Impulse," he murmured, knocking again. "Can I come in?"

"No!" Zed snapped, another object clattering against the door. "Just leave me alone!"

"I just want to know what happened," Impulse insisted, keeping his voice soft. "Please?"

There was a moment of silence before Zed spoke, a lot quieter this time. "F-fine... the door's unlocked..."

Impulse sighed and turned the handle, peeking in. Zed was sat against the headboard with his knees to his chest, his head buried in his arms and his claws still visible. Impulse sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a worried look. "What happened?"

"Tango's being stupid again," Zed mumbled, not looking up.

"You're talking about the Arena right?"

"Of course I am!" Zed yelled, lifting his head to glare at him. Impulse flinched at his outburst and Zed sighed, resting his chin on his arms again. "Sorry..." he murmured. "I'm uh, a bit of a mess right now..."

"That's fine," Impulse replied, gently running a hand through his hair. "But how was Tango being stupid? I mean, I know he signed up for the Arena thing but you seem excessively angry."

Zed groaned, leaning against Impulse as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "I'm just angry that he's so concerned about me getting hurt but then he runs off to get himself killed! If he's gonna worry over me then I have every right to be worried about him!"

Impulse tilted his head slightly, resting it against Zed's. "There's a difference between worry and anger," he murmured. "You can't just yell at Tango and expect him to understand. I know that you're angry but yelling doesn't help anyone. You have to talk to him."

Zed was quiet for a moment, rubbing his eyes and sniffling. "I... I'm sorry Impulse," he whispered, blinking his eyes a few times to try and keep them open. "I-I didn't mean... I didn't..."

"You can tell me later," Impulse said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You seem tired anyways."

Zed hummed a response and shifted slightly, leaning more comfortably against him and clinging to his arm. "Hey Impy?"

"Hm?"

"C-can you tell Tango I'm sorry...?" he murmured.

Impulse shook his head. "You should face him yourself. Don't want to look like a coward right?" he teased, but Zed was already drifting asleep. Impulse smiled and leaned his head against the blonde's. "Night Zed."

   ~*~

hfhjdskljhfskdlkdsfsjgdk i almost made Impulse call Zed "my buga boo" like a miraculous ladybug reference hjvckljvbhvkdlfdjbhfdlsfjhkb

also im sorry i just cant do complete angst for these three it can only go up to hurt/comfort i cant hurt them-