Chapter Text
"Skizz, please. You gotta listen to me, man." Grian's tone was frantic, panicked. Unlike the sociopath who had killed someone with no remorse literally miliseconds prior. Skizz stubbornly aims his gun at him, yet his hesitation was evident.
His hands shook despite the practiced hold he had on his firearm, "I don't think there's much to say, G." He glances over at the fresh dead body just by the feet of its doer, "I'll make sure to explain everything to Mumbo for you--"
"NO!" Grian growls out, catching Skizz off guard.
Their eyes meet for a long time. The cop watches as Grian changes anger to pleading with his eyes. All in such a short amount of time, like he had practiced it.
Grian fixes his expression and his eyes becomes teary, "He won't take this lightly, Skizz. You know how he is." He clenches his bloody fists to his chest, back hunched over like a scared animal, "He won't understand. You both won't understand."
"I'm doing this for him. You cops hide under the pretense of professionals, but don't you hurt people all the same? All because you care for something? For someone?" Grian's face scrunched up like he was holding back tears. Skizz could feel his eye twitch at the sight.
"Impulse is only alive because of you. If I'm gone, then Mumbo would have who?" Grian intakes a shaky breath, his nose snotty.
Skizz opens and closes his mouth, knowing he needs to say something. Anything that would help both him and Grian find reason amidst all empathy within Skizz's heart. But before he could speak, Grian takes that opportunity away from him.
"You know better than anyone that no one will hire a journalist who was previously entangled with a murderer," Grian mutters in an eerily steady tone, "Everyone will believe he deliberately hid me. Shielded me away from the system."
"You'll take everything away from an innocent, ruin him, all because you're in love with your idea of justice. The idea of being a proper hero."
No. Skizz knows he's wrong. He's an officer! Someone everyone depends to do the right thing! Someone everyone depends on to keep everyone safe.
But can he really save literally everyone?
It wasn't fair to Mumbo. It's not like he knew Grian was like this, right? Mumbo is also in danger if he keeps Grian amok, but then again, Mumbo is still alive, right? Grian admitted he was doing this because he cared for him. He's safe because Grian is keeping him safe. Because Grian is safe.
Skizz doesn't notice himself breathing heavier, getting sweatier. This wasn't his choice to make, but he was the only one who could currently make the choice.
After much delibration and another glance at Grian's pitiful eyes, Skizz clicks the safety of his gun back on.
"Go home, G."
He misses the way Grian smiles as he hesitates no longer to run away.
When Impulse finally finds Skizz, Skizz could only pretend to stay brave.
