Hermitcraft/Empires oneshots/drabbles

A terrible 'birthday present' (Team ZIT)

Hello there! Time for a ship I have never written before, Team ZIT!

I've heard that Impulse is uncomfortable with being overly sexualised, but shipping is ok, right? I'm not sure, so feel free to tell me if I'm wrong!

Set in S7

Tws: injury, mentioned death

Tango blinked awake. The world was too bright, the lines too sharp.

Whats happening?

Confused, the blaze hybrid looked down at his chest. Instead of his normal red bodysuit, he was wearing loose shorts and nothing above his waist. His entire body was covered in bandages, neck to toes. When he tried to move, he felt a stinging sensation all over his skin.

...Water burn?

'Tango?' A voice broke into his thoughts. With difficulty, he managed to look up to see a brown haired woman leaning over him, a pink flower crown perched on her head.

'Stress?' He croaked.

'Oh, you're awake! Good.' Stress gently propped his head up and held a pick potion to his lips. Tango drank the contents, grimacing at the sickly sweet taste.

'Tell me when the potion sickness starts, 'kay luv?' Stress said, placing the bottle to the side. 'How much do you remember?'

'Of what?' Tango asked. He had no idea how he had gotten here. Why his entire body was covered in liquid burns.

'Try and recall.' She prompted gently. 'You were flying over the ocean. Do you remember where?'

'I was flying... over...' Tango muttered, straining to remember. 'Over the ocean, to...' His eyes widened. 'Impulse's base- I was going to meet Zed there, to surprise Impulse. It was his birthday!'

'Yeah. Don't worry, luv. I told them, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't pacing outside my door waiting to see you.'

'My elytra must have broken over the ocean.' Tango tried to worry his fingers together, forgetting the bandages covering him. Sharp pains raced through his arms. 'How did I end up here?'

'False found you. You ended up falling near her base, she saw you plummet.' Stress gestured to his skin. 'So... You get burned by water?'

'It's like acid to me. Especially salt water.' Tango was filled with the urge to itch, and knew his skin was probably scabbing. It was like being bitten by a gazillion mosquitoes. 'Did you say Zed and Impulse were outside?'

Stress nodded and got up. 'Want me to call them?'

'Yeah... Please. Thanks, Stress.'

A second later, Impulse and Zed were in the room, acting like two nervous, concerned tornados whirling around him.

'Tango! Are you ok?' Zed yelped, taking in his wrapped up body. He looked like a mummy, from the head down.

'Tango, for future reference, this is not a good birthday present. A shulker of diamonds is a good present, this is not.' Impulse said in mock sternness, then carefully hugged Tango, careful not to disturb the sterile white cloth covering the phoenix's body.

'I'm sorry Impulse, next time I'll make sure my elytra doesn't break mid-flight.' Tango rested his chin on Impulse's neck before the imp pulled away. Impulse grinned, sharp teeth shining. 'This doesn't get you out of getting me a present, though. I'll be waiting on that.'

Zedaph curled up on Tango's side, resting his head on Tango's shoulder. 'Does it hurt, Tango?' He asked, running his fingers through Tango's blond hair. Impulse sat on his other side, wrapping an arm around his back.

'Not really- Stress gave me a healing potion so I feel better now.'

'Are you feeling sick yet?' Zed asked worriedly. Tango shook his head. 'I'm alright.'

Impulse kissed Tango on the temple. 'Aren't we lucky you fell near False's base? If you had been in the middle of the ocean, you probably would have died and lost all of your stuff!'

'I'm just happy I didn't fall on her base.' Tango admitted.

Impulse nudged him. 'So, what were you two getting me for my birthday?'

'Its a secret!' Tango and Zed said at the same time. Impulse raised an eyebrow. 'I'll tickle it out of you two!' He teased.

'Oh no- Please- Impulse!' Zed tried to inch away, but Impulse grabbed at him, tickling him around his midriff. Zed doubled over, laughing and trying to pull away. 'Impulse- Impulse no! Stop!' He wheezed.

'Tell me, Zed!' Impulse was laughing too. Tango grinned, thinking he was probably safe.

He wasn't. Impulse turned on him and caught his foot, tickling the arches. Tango yelped and batted him away. 'Quit it, Impy!'

'Ha! No!' Impulse continued until Tango swatted him with his tail, when he just went back to Zedaph instead.

'Dang- Alright, fine!' Zed was giggling so hard he couldn't breathe, and a trail of drool went down his chin. 'Tango was going to give you free Decked Out runs and I was going to build you contraptions!'

'See, was that so hard?' Impulse asked, kissing Zed, and then Tango. 'I can't wait to receive those!' He added jokingly, devilish glint in his eyes.

'Not after that torture.' Tango cuddled into Zed's chest.

'We don't want to give you free stuff now! You don't deserve it, you meanie.' Zed added, sticking out his tongue at Impulse.

'I'll just keep tickling you until you do!' Impulse leaned on Tango's back and wrapped his arms around both of them. Tango draped his firebird wings over both hybrids, pulling them closer, chirping quietly. For now, he was content to stay wrapped up with his friends.

Awwwwww. That was a nice break from the angst