Writing style: Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Love Confession.

Characters: Team ZIT

Genre: Romance, High School au, Polycule

For Seth189
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Was he really doing this?

Sure, it was wonderful his school was so accepting of kids in the LGBTQIA+ community, but that didn't make anything any less scary.

So many 'what if's flooded his mind. What if they didn't feel the same way? What if they wanted him to pick only one of them?

A much as he loved them both, he couldn't imagine a life without one or the other.

He was being selfish, wasn't he?

That didn't reverse what he already did. He wished he could go back in time, to prevent himself from sending that message out.

Now Tango and Zedaph expected to meet him at sundown. At the beach, where the three of them truly met.

He wanted so badly for Skizz to come with him, to be his wing-man. Skizz had rebuked that idea, hard.

"This is your moment, man, not mine," Skizz scolded him, fixing the older boy's clothing. Honestly, Redstone was so annoying to get rid of. "You gotta show that you can take responsibility, even in situations like this."

Impulse shuffled, uncomfortable with his past actions. "But what if-?"

Skizz tsked. "You can't keep dragging yourself through the mud. Trust me, it's painful to watch. Try and at least have some confidence?"

Finally, after a full 30 minutes, any traces of Redstone were gone from his shirt.

Skizz grinned, helping his friend to his feet. "Now, you're gonna do great. Go get'em' tiger!"

He was fighting the encroaching dread with a stick now, his body on autopilot as he walked out the door.

Gods, he really was doing this... huh?
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Tango checked the time for the umpteenth time in an hour. Zed sat not too far away, watching the slowly setting sun as it dipped below the sea.

Impulse said he'd be here by now.

Zed flicked a small, silver coin up in the air. "Call it!"

"Heads!" Tango acted on autopilot. He was used to this game. Call it right, and Zed would owe him a favor, call it wrong, and vise versa.

"Damn it!" That made Tango burst into laughter, hearing Zed's angry grumbles made his chest feel warm and light. It was nice.

"Sucks to suck!" Tango shot back, unaware of the brunette boy walking behind him.

Zed was going to retort with something, but instead, his face lot up at the sight of Impulse. "Hey Buddy!"

Impulse looked more... drawn in than usual. He returned the wave, although a bit half-heartedly. "Hey guys..."

Tango shuffled from his own goofy position. "Something on your mind?"

Impulse paused, before continuing. "Yeah... yeah, you could call it... that."

"Well, spill."

Impulse slowly inflated, losing the slump in his posture. "Can I be honest, for a moment?"

Tango studied his friend, something was up. "Sure, man. Whatever you need."

Even with his supposed confidence, it took way too long for the words to leave his mouth. "I care about you guys... both of you... very much."

Neither of them said anything.

"And I was hoping you felt the same way. The- but- the truth is... I can't imagine a life with either of you. I know I'm being selfish, and I can completely understand if you don't want that, but-"

Tango had to stop him before he spiraled further. "Whoa, Impy, breathe with me, okay?"

They repeated that gesture until Impulse had let himself relax, melting into Tango's arms. Zedaph helped them to a safer spot, away from prying eyes.

He loved them, he loved them so much. But he ruined it for himself, didn't he?

"Impy... you don't need to be scared, we both love you," wait, what? "Just as much as you love us?"

Zed settled in next to the pair. "We're sorry if we ever made you feel like we'd judge you for that, we love you... so very much, Impy."

Impulse let the tears run free. It was a mix of leftover sorrow but mingled with happiness and exhilaration. "I love you guys..."

"And we love you, too..."
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Word count: 696 words