Me and My (Worst Enemy) Brother: Chapter Four: Thad and Them

Impulse ran hard, bringing both legs back, it felt good to run, and he liked it. There was no Thad, no problems, no troubles, only the sharp whistle of the speed barrier being broken. He sneezed loudly as he dashed into Happy Harbor, skidding into the justice cave.

His golden yellow eyes flashed as they landed upon Alvin Draper and Secret, both sat crossed legged on the ground, talking intently about something that appeared rather important.

Impulse took no time into going into his full-blown problem, leaving nothing out about his troubles. Yet as he finished, it seemed that neither truly understood what he was saying.

Al looked at Secret, a dry grin across his face that looked out of place. "Sounds like you are discovering life for real."

"What do you mean by that?" Impulse demanded, jerking on a long strand of hair. "Thad is ruining my life, stealing my friends, taking my family, showing me up."

"Life isn't fair." Al explained, getting to his feet. "That's life Bart."

"Gosh, do you and Max having some type of hang out?" The boy spat as he looked at Secret, hoping she would take his side, yet she simply smiled and shook her head.

"Bart, I don't think Max would let Thad kill you. If he thought that Thad was going to even hurt you. well, Max wouldn't let Thad stay. It's simple."



"You don't make sense." Impulse grumbled, not looking happy with his friend. "It's not simple, it's really, really, really, hard."

"Bart, we all aren't going to live some life where everything is perfect. Sometimes things that we don't like happen." Secret began as she slowly looked at Al, and then to Bart. "Look at Thad, he is probably scared of what is happening, he can't trust you any more than you can trust him."

"He hates me. and I hate him. and I am NOT scared of Thad."

Al rolled his eyes. "This is idiotic. I have to be back home soon. Bart, why don't you just trust Max and leave it to him?"

"Because Max is confused at the moment."

Al gave a wry grin and turned. "I tell you who is confused. See you later Secret, good luck with your problem Bart."

Impulse shook his head, and looked at Secret. "He doesn't believe me."

The girl smiled at him and turned her head to get a look at Al. "Oh he believes you, it's just that he thinks that, well, that you have your story confused."

"I don't." Impulse stated loudly as he zwipped away, finding an awkward moment with Kon and Cassie kissing in the other room, though that did not stop him from explaining his problems. "Hey guys."

Cassie jerked her head around, glaring at him. "Ever hear of knocking Bart?"

"Yes. what of it?" To prove his point the boy rapped his knuckle against the wall. "I need some help."

"The last time you needed help I ended up in trouble." Kon muttered under his breath as he fell onto the couch. "You want advice? Ask our wise leader."

"I want your advice Kon, Thad is ruining my life."

"Punch him." Kon blurted out as he pulled out a remote and flicked on the TV.

Cassie smacked the back of Kon's head. "Hitting is no way to solve a problem! Some of us actually work it out."

"Some of us being who?"

"Bart, I think that you should tell Max, he would know what is best."

"Arg! Enough with Max! He doesn't think Thad wants to kill me!"

Cassie blinked at Impulse, and then looked down at Kon who was watching TV with great interest. "Um, I think that this is slightly over my head and-."

"Hey guys!"

All three heads turned as Cissie entered the room, flashing a brilliant smile to her friends. "Cassie, you ready?"

Impulse and Kon exchanged looks.

"I am better than Thad." Impulse let out as he fell besides Kon on the couch, ignoring the two girls who giggled and talked in a hurry about something that lost the boy's interest.

"Yeah Bart, I am sure you are." Kon replied, looking at the other boy. "Everyone is different, meaning I am sure that you have something that Thad doesn't. Tell you what, if you don't like him, then I won't like him. now let me watch this, ok?"

There was a long pause, and it was interrupted by a loud screech.

All four looked over to where a blonde boy stood, dressed in a green Impulse costume.

Kon, Cissie, and Cassie all looked at Impulse, then at the other boy.

"This must be Thad."

Impulse glared at Inertia. "What are you doing here?"

Inertia looked around, his eyes showing his feeling of being lost. "Max is right behind me, I got a head start."

The to prove his point there was a loud swish and Max Mercury slid to a stop, his eyes tracing around the room.

"No! No! No! NO!" Impulse screamed as he got up and pushed Thad backwards. "You are not supposed to be here!"

Thad sidestepped his twin and watched as Impulse tumbled slightly, almost hitting the ground. Yet he caught himself, blushing slightly as he zwipped in front of Thad, looking at Max, and then Thad. "Get him out Max!"

"You left without telling anyone where you were going Bart."

"That is because Thad was."

Thad watched the two argue, but his attention was with the three others who were looking at him rather oddly.

The one Thad recognized as Superboy nodded at him. "You are Thad?"

Inertia looked at Impulse and Max who were still arguing, then back at the boy. "Yeah. You must be Superboy."

"You got it." Kon replied, as he flew over to Thad, landing beside him. It was as if he was trying to prove that he was, and the boy grinned sharply. "Bart talks about you all the time, like you wouldn't know it. Heh."

"I'm not surprised." Thad answered, watching at the two girls came toward him, looking him over.

"Hi, I am Cassie, and this is Cissie."

Thad smiled back. "Hi."

The four stood in silence, and then looked over to Max and Impulse once more.

"Bart said you were really smart." Cassie let out.

"He also said you were fast." Cissie added.

"And strong, you strong?" Kon questioned, eyeing the boy as if needing to prove something.

"More than him, yes. I don't know about being compared to others."

"So you aren't like, really impulsive?" Cassie asked, her blue eyes on his. "You and Bart are like, opposites? That is really cool!"

Thad gave half of a grin. "Thanks."

"Is it hard to live with him?" Cassie demanded. "I mean, I can hardly take working with him for a few hours, but actually living with Bart must be tough, huh?"

Thad shrugged. "He likes to talk, and is sure that I am out to kill him. But other than that he keeps his distance. like he not sure of what I might do."

"That's to bad, well, if you ever get lonely, feel free to drop by, one of us is always around." Kon invited, his white teeth flashing a smile.

Thad smiled back, nodding. "Thanks."

"NO! Stop!" Impulse yelled as he dashed between Thad and his friends. He shook his head. "Not them too!"

Cissie groaned as she patted Bart's head. "Listen, nothing is wrong with Thad. Bart you must be crazy, Cassie, lets head out, see you all later."

Impulse watched them go, his head hanging slightly as they did so. "I hate you Thad, I hate you!"

Thad swallowed. "I'm sorry about that. But hate me or not, I am not sorry that your friends are nice to me."

Impulse shook his head, glaring at Kon, and turning, dashing into a fast sprint, but before he could make it off, Max caught him, and forced him to a stop. Bart.Come on Thad. We are going home."

Kon watched as Secret came out into the open, looking at him. "I am sure that they'll learn to get along."

Kon chuckled. "Call me when that happens."