Chapter Text
The demon ran, his feet tearing through the thick dark sludge of sand as it grabbed at his ankles. The soul sand valley, the worst place to be in a chase, and running. He kept running, his lungs and limbs burned, his tail whipped behind him as he grabbed a pillar of basalt and launched himself down and around it, ducking as he crouched over the thin crust of magma stones. His chest heaved as he curled close, his throat and body felt like it was burning hotter than the lava of his home. He kept himself low to the ground, a shriek of a ghast echoed over the red stones, ringing back in his ears, the lava bubbled just beneath his feet and crackled at his dark cloak, somewhere he was almost certain he heard the snorts of the steeds of his pursuers.
All of these sounds, this ambience, it all faded away as a deep rumbling voice tore through the air.
“⎓╎リ↸ ⍑╎ᒲ!!” A voice barked out orders. He wasn’t loud, and yet it seemed to be shouted nonetheless.
He tensed as he heard the heavy thumping clopping of hooves approaching him. He held his breath every muscle tensing, as he heard a few more pigs catch up. The same man started commanding orders.
“⍑ᒷ ᓵᔑリ’ℸ ̣ ʖᒷ ⎓ᔑ∷, ∴ᒷ リᒷᒷ↸ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᓵ⚍ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᒲ 𝙹⎓⎓ ʖᒷ⎓𝙹∷ᒷ ⍑ᒷ ∷ᒷᔑᓵ⍑ᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖ𝙹⚍リ↸ᔑ∷||.” The tyrant's voice was cold and uncaring. So monotone and cool for what he wanted.
“||ᒷᓭᓭ╎∷!” A younger voice came back, and if Bad could see him, he would’ve seen the young demon salute to his commander.
“ᑑ, ℸ ̣ ᔑꖌᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ∴ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ᒷ∷リ ∷𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ᒷ, ᓵ𝙹ᒲʖ 𝙹⍊ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ꖎᔑꖌᒷ, ⍑ᒷ ᒲᔑ|| ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ⊣𝙹ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷリ ᔑ ᓭℸ ̣ ∷╎↸ᒷ∷. ↸∷ᒷᔑᒲ, ||𝙹⚍ ᔑリ↸ ╎ ᔑ∷ᒷ ⊣𝙹╎リ⊣ ᓭℸ ̣ ∷ᔑ╎⊣⍑ℸ ̣ リ𝙹∷ℸ ̣ ⍑ ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖ𝙹⚍リ↸ᓭ. ꖌリ𝙹∴╎リ⊣ ⍑╎ᒲ ⍑ᒷ’ᓭ ᓭℸ ̣ ╎ꖎꖎ リᒷᔑ∷ʖ||.”
A voice came back, Dream, it’s voice muffled slightly as if his face was covered, he heard the snort of a pig, as it’s hooves slightly sank into the thick soul sand.
“∴ᒷ’ꖎꖎ ⎓╎リ↸ ⍑╎ᒲ. . . ∴ᔑ╎ℸ ̣ - “ Bad was crawling, trying to find an opening to keep running, a chase over the basalt would surely hurt, and tear at his hands and knees with every dodge, but it was worth his life. “He’s here.” Dream rumbled lowly.
The commander was silent, and Bad heard the rustling of fabric, presumably silent orders. In a moment of pure adrenaline and not logic, he took off again. His claws clacked against the heated stone, and burned at the pads of his feet as he ran, his body protested, everything in him wanted to drop.
If he could just make it over the valley, the boundary was on the other side. So close, and yet so impossibly far.
He heard a shout, and a voice barking over the noise of a shrieking hoglin, and the thundering of hooves behind him. He risked a glance back, to see three of his pursuers mere yards away from him, as well as a loaded crossbow aimed straight for him.
He wouldn’t make it to the boundary.
He pelted over, skidding down a sharp slope, and his knees were jarred with the rough landing. Halo would have to open his own portal, he couldn’t, no, he wouldn’t make it to the boundary in time with the two of the strongest guards, and one of the High Council on his heels. Not with his life at least.
“⍑ᒷ ↸∷𝙹!¡!¡ᒷ↸!”
“∴ᒷꖎꖎ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷリ ᓵ⍑ᔑᓭᒷ ᔑ⎓ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ⍑╎ᒲ ↸ᔑᒲᒲ╎ℸ ̣!”
Bad kept running, everything ached, his hands were bloody from the scramble over the basalt stones, and he had torn one claw on his hand doing so. He closed his eyes and summoned every ounce of magic he had in him, and threw it outwards. He heard a crackle, and violet flooded his vision. He didn’t open his eyes, he didn’t check to see if it even worked. He could hear the hogs coming after him from behind, to his left was more of the valley. Steedless he would be outrun, to his right and directly ahead of him was a churning lava lake. So in a leap of faith he leapt forward.
He pitched forward, and for a second his heart stopped as heat rushed up to greet him. He screwed his eyes shut, and suddenly he was falling, falling farther, and faster, and before he could even open his eyes he was back on solid ground. He groaned as he lay flat on his stomach and blinked against the sudden bright light. The sun beamed back at him from an open sky.
The sky. He had made it .
The portal popped loud enough to send his ears ringing behind him, instantly collapsing into itself. He slowly got onto his hands and knees, his light scrapes and gashes stung with the cool grass beneath him. There was a paved and yet empty path a little ways away. Thin tall trees surrounded him, and somewhere he could hear the soft babble of a brook. He slowly sat up, catching his breath, and taking in his surroundings. Trees lined the path, it seemed like some sort of simple trail and it also looked well maintained. He leaned against a tree, his skin was still burning where he had touched the stones and he internally groaned at himself.
For the Nether being home of demons, one would think it wouldn’t have salt in it, and yet basalt had managed to crop up. He held his hands against his chest, the wounds weren’t that deep or serious, but the searing burning sensation made him wince with every movement. His head was pounding, and his body seemed to just be grateful to not be in a race for his life. He slowly caught his breath, it seemed easier to do in the clean and living air of the overworld. So much cooler, and calmer than the acrid burning atmosphere of the Nether. Slowly he brought himself up and to his feet, which ached, and burned from his pelt over the salt as well. He slowly picked his way away from the path, and towards the brook he had heard. It was just below and glancing around he slowly sank into the water. Instantly the burning nerves calmed as the remnants of salt were washed away, and his shoulders slumped. He closed his eyes as he sighed in relief, but instantly stiffened and opened his eyes when he heard soft footsteps.
They were on pavement, he could tell, and glancing around he frowned seeing the road led straight under a bridge just behind him. He had been so focused on his own wounds, he had neglected to pay attention to that detail, and now he scorned himself for his carelessness. He felt weak, but thankfully camo was never too harsh on him or his magic. So he shifted to look more ‘normal’. Well human.
Just in time as well as he rubbed his eyes, with a hood pulled over his now blond hair he saw a boy round the corner. His face was down, focused on a paper pad in his hands, tongue out in focus as he scribbled something on the paper before looking exasperated. He managed to catch the end of his muttered words.
“ - making escape rooms is hard.” He mumbled with an annoyed sounding groan.
The boy was in an electric blue hoodie, dark hair falling into his eyes as he walked, tanned skin, and dark eyes. For a brief moment, Bad froze panicking as he looked over, half expecting to hear the tearing of the fabric of magic, and for his pursuers to leap forth and take him. But instead he was greeted to the sight of a human, and it gave him pause, as he pulled his knees to his chest, as he sat on the pebble and dirt covered bank. He closed his eyes, willing their pale color to fade away, and they gave way to emerald irises. Framed with his brown glasses. Part of him wanted to speak with the boy, but at the same time, if he actually was approached did he still remember English well enough? It had been years since he last needed to speak it.
The human walked approaching the now disguised demon, and stopped upon noticing Bad, he seemed surprised, “Oh! Hello, I uh - I didn’t realize other people hung out in these woods, are you new?”
Bad paused, having to think over his words to make sure his English was right, he spoke slowly, “H. . hey, I.” He frowned slightly, “Yeah you could say that I am.”
The boy cocked his head slightly, “Where are you from? You’ve got an interesting accent.”
He must’ve picked it up after living in the Nether for so long, it certainly was no longer an American accent, well an old American accent, since even if it hadn’t changed it certainly would not be the same as the modern dialect. He never had really noticed it, and still didn’t, but clearly the human had.
“Thank. . you.” He said sheepishly, adjusting his glasses. If the High’s knew he was speaking with a human, if they weren’t already furious with him for his actions, then they certainly would be happy to take him out for this. “I’m from. . .from new. . .new seasand.”
For being a demon, one would think he would be better at lying.
“New Seasand?” He put his hands in his pockets, “Where’s that?”
Bad swallowed, “N-northern Canada.” He wished humans weren’t so curious, or maybe he just wished he wasn’t such a terrible liar for moments like these.
“Uh. . well ok. Hey are you alright dude?” The tanned human raised an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Now.” He nodded keeping his gaze low.
“Now?”
Oh muffins
He nodded, brushing some hair from his face, "Just. . .I was freaking out over something. I'm alright now though." The more he spoke the easier he remembered English, he felt a little proud of himself for it, “I'm. . . I'm BadBoyHalo. What's your name?"
He cringed slightly realizing he had used his given Demon name over his human one from so long ago, but if the boy noticed, or cared he didn’t say anything. He had gotten so used to the name it was second nature to him, even though he much preferred his human name. But it was too late now.
"Uh I’m Skeppy." He slowly came a little closer as if hesitant to upset the disguised demon, "You sure you're okay? Did you get jumpscared by a creeper or something?"
He sounded so concerned, it made Bad feel a little guilty as he dragged himself back to his feet. He gave a small smile, he had little fangs with it, and he saw curiosity flick over the human’s expression. If he wasn’t already curious enough.
"Actually yeah, just spooked me." He slightly tensed, still half expecting to be attacked or hit. But at the same time since Skeppy was giving him an easy excuse it also helped his pretty (frankly) terrible lie.
"I get that, those guys suck, wish they burned in the daylight like zombies and skeletons." He said with a quiet chuckle, "So, you're not hurt at all?"
He shook his head, running a hand in his hair, making sure his little horns weren't visible any longer, "Yeah I'm ok. Uh. . Skeppy right? Are you from around here?" Bad asked hopefully.
Skeppy raised an eyebrow again, “Yeah I am, are you lost or something?”
"You.. . Could say that. I'm new to this. . Server." He gave a sheepish smile again as he pulled down his hood revealing his face a bit better. His eyes were now a bright green like the lush grass around him. He had almost said Overworld, but caught himself in the last minute. "Could you show me around?"
He hoped his awful lies weren’t too obvious, since the human already seeed suspicious of him. Although according to his track record, things didn’t seem to be in his favor.
"Uh sure." He smiled, already gesturing for Bad to follow. "It's not too big of a city to get to know."
He sighed in relief, hopefully if it was big enough, he could easily blend in, and as he stepped away from the tree, he was also grateful he was behind Skeppy. Exhaustion, and lack of practice in camo meant he still had small claws, and a tail. Which he frantically hid with his magic, although no magic could hide the small burns that were fading on his hands. He frowned a bit, but at least the scrapes and only semi-salt inflicted wounds seemed to be healing. Even if slower than normal.
"I've lived in a secluded area, so a city is a nice change. Are there a lot of h. .people here?" He caught himself before saying ‘humans’
Skeppy glanced back at him, "Yeah, well, it's the second biggest city in the server, you'll fit in just right, people come in and out all the time." He smiled reassuringly
"That's awesome!" it's the perfect hiding place ! He chirped happily, he just took in the surroundings as they walked. Marveling at the buildings and gardens.
He paused at one garden bed, kneeling down as he gingerly touched a pink flower, it was a little wilty, he looked a little sad at it before standing up. As the two continued if Skeppy were to look back it almost seemed as if the flower had magically perked up a little.
"So what do you like to do Skeppy?" He asked, tilting his head at the other.
"Me?" Skeppy shrugged as they walked along, "I'm in college and all, but a thing I do is make escape rooms and riddle mazes and stuff, y'know, for fun? Like every month I change stuff around and come up with new things and people pay a pretty penny to try my stuff out."
He wasn’t sure what ‘ pretty penny ’ meant, but he assumed it may be weirder if he asked what it meant over just ignoring it and just trying to figure it out himself. Plus Skeppy seemed pretty proud of himself talking about it, so he let it go.
He looked up, "Escape rooms?" He listened, there was a lot he must’ve missed in the years since he was last on the surface. "What're you studying in college?"
"Architecture." He chuckled softly, "And escape rooms are just a hobby thing of mine, it's like a room you're trapped in and you have to escape, solving puzzles and stuff y’know?" Skeppy looked down to Bad. "Another kinda side hobby is studying monsters, the paranormal, it's neat, I wouldn't do ghost hunting and stuff yet, but I'm thinking about it. But I don’t really tell people about it since, well like nobody would take me seriously."
"Yeah I know.” He didn’t have a clue actually, Skeppy’s next words made him tense though, “Monsters?" Would Skeppy think of him as a monster if he knew? "Like. . .d. .demons and such?"
“Yeah, ghosts, demons, vexes, all sorts.” He beamed, seeming happy that Bad wasn’t just mocking him for his interests. “Although I love reading about things like Vampires, and oh! The really obscure things too like old myths.”
He looked away suddenly becoming a bit nervous, "What. . .what do you think of them?" He asked softly. Perhaps a bit fearfully.
"Well... I haven't come across any just yet." Skeppy admitted sheepishly with a small laugh. “But I would think they’re probably pretty cool, maybe interesting? I won’t know since I haven’t met one.”
He was a terrible liar, especially for a demon, and Skeppy just seemed so nice he didn't even attempt to think twice about his next words, "Yes you have."
"What?" The young man blinked as he looked over to Bad suddenly stopping in his tracks.
He instantly clapped a hand over his mouth, “I’ve done it now,” he mumbled to himself.
"What do you mean?" Skeppy said as he tilted his head, looking a bit confused, and perhaps worried, "Tell me."
He stopped walking as he wrung his hands, "Can you keep a secret?" He asked nervously, looking anywhere except for the human at his side.
"... Sure?" He said, clearly confused.
"J-just. . .please don't freak out." He took in a deep breath, summoning all the courage he had left in him, "I'm a demon."
Skeppy took one look at Bad, and then burst out laughing. "Man... you really had me going there!" He said as he held his abdomen, still giggling and pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "Demons are like big and scary, you're not big and scary at all!"
Bad wasn’t exactly sure what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this. He huffed, "Wh-what? We aren't all like that." He protested flustered, "I'm being serious, Skeppy!"
Skeppy snorted shaking his head, “Yeah sure you are ~”
His cheeks were now a bright red, as he tried to think of a way to prove it. He didn't want to drop his human looks in public, that was too risky, especially if he knew where Bad had gone to, "Ask me something only a demon would know!" His eyes lit up for a minute as he came up with the idea.
"Well... I wouldn't know uh... what's my darkest secret?" He asked, shrugging with a cheeky smile.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head with a grin, "I'm not a mind reader Skep." He paused thinking. He could try to sense any hint of the shadow secrets humans often carried. He giggled softly as he sensed the lingering memory shadow, "You ate a booger in second grade, and a cute boy saw you. . . He was your crush."
He blushed brightly and mumbled, his cheeky grin fading but not vanishing, "And you said you weren't a mind reader."
He was giggling quietly, "It's. . .more complicated than that. I can only sense. . . .we call them shadows. They're secrets we hate or are embarrassed by." He paused looking up at Skeppy as he tried to explain it, " Now do you believe me?"
"... Sure." Skeppy muttered, still clearly embarrassed. "Don't tell anyone. . about that."
Bad nodded, "Lips are sealed I promise. . I . . I'm sorry I guess I wasn't what you were hoping for."
Skeppy’s eyes suddenly lit up and he grabbed Bad’s wrist, "You're coming home with me. I have many questions.”
Skeppy was already dragging him a direction much to his confusion, which was probably the direction to his apartment. Bad didn’t resist, but he wasn’t exactly keeping pace and going with him either.
His eyes widened, "Wait what?" He was more confused than protesting as he followed the human towards his home.
"You're a demon and I have questions." He said seriously as he walked through the streets, as if it was an obvious answer.
He paused, what if he got caught? He was already exiled and chased out , but he followed nonetheless. Perhaps he was just as reckless, or maybe he was just as curious about humans and the world now all these years later. Either way the two walked back together, well more like Bad was dragged back willingly to Skeppy’s apartment. Eventually he was pushed into a small shabby apartment and onto a couch. Skeppy closed the curtains, locked the doors and sat opposite to Bad, grabbing a notebook and pencil.
"How come you don't look or act like a demon?" He asked quickly, "What other kind of powers do you have? Can you shapeshift or something? And oh want something to eat or drink?"
He sat down on the couch, slightly nervous as Skeppy locked and closed windows and doors. His mind dragging out old memories he had hoped to forget. He was chewing his lip with the slew of questions being fired at him. He finally found his voice and slowly stammered.
"I - I do. . .look like others. Just not right now. I. . .what am I supposed to act like?" He looked up at Skeppy confused, "And. .. I don't have much magic. No I don’t. . .I don’t need to eat right now."
"... Can you show me what you really look like?" He asked, sounding like a curious kid on Christmas, before noticing Bad’s nervousness, "Oh... uh, I locked stuff up because well we don't want anyone to see you in case the police are called, you're safe, I'll keep my lips sealed. I promise."
Safe, that was something he hadn’t felt in a very long time, just hearing it felt a little strange. He glanced a little nervously around as he fiddled with his dark cloak, ". . . Just promise you won't scream, or freak out?"
"Promise." Skeppy nodded eagerly.
He nodded and shifted on the couch. His skin became a rich blue black color, speckles of purple dotted his cheeks and arms, his hair was a sooty gray. A pair of small horns sprouted from his head a bit rounded at their ends, and his tail was curled around him, his ears were slightly pointed now, and when he looked up at Skeppy not only was he now several inches taller than before, but his eyes were a milky white. His tiny sharpened canines had become proper fangs that slightly were visible beneath his top lip. His tail flicked nervously and he looked away quickly as if he had done something wrong. It took a few moments for the human boy to speak as he inspected Bad.
“Creepy,” He breathed observing the demon, “. . . But cute.”
His face flushed a bit, "I'm not cute!" He huffed tail flicking.
One would usually expect his voice to match his appearance, or for it to at least change with his more natural form. But it didn't. He pushed up his red rimmed glasses blushing brightly as his tail curled around himself. The tip of it was slightly pointed and flat, like one would imagine a cartoon demon may have.
"I never thought a demon needed glasses either." Skeppy chuckled with a tiny smile pulling at his face.
Bad paused and pulled the glasses off, which vanished as soon as he set them down beside him, “I don’t in this form.” He admitted quietly. “But, you. . you aren’t scared of me?”
Skeppy shook his head, now grinning, “No, you're cute, like a chibi demon."
Bad tilted his head as he whined softly, both flustered and confused, “What the muffin even is a cheebee?”
"A cutified being, like you." Skeppy began petting Bad's head, only able to actually reach it because Bad was sitting.
His whole face was a bright blue, which was his own form of blushing like this as he covered his face, "I'm not cute!" He protested meekly.
Skeppy gasped. "You blush blue!"
"Wh . .what?"
The Nether had little in terms of vanity ironically, and he hadn't actually seen himself blush for a very long time and he had honestly forgotten. He barely remembered what his human form looked like. Let alone his natural form, so in his mind he had no idea, he had never really wanted to know what he looked like after he had died and changed to this.
"N-no I don't!"
"You're just adorable." Skeppy teased with a grin.
Then he began petting around Bad's horns. His touch was light and gentle, as if being careful not to hurt Bad, which was ironic considering the power difference between the two. A human being gentle with a demon, who would’ve thought of that in a million years anyways? The soft contact made him calm though, and he had to suppress a purr that threatened to rise in his chest. He flushed, his ears becoming blue as well, but he didn't stop Skeppy from petting him. After a moment a soft purr escaped him despite his efforts, which he tried to hide and covered his mouth hoping Skeppy hadn’t heard him.
"... Are all demons like you?" Skeppy asked softly yet curiously.
He paused, and shook his head, "No. . .not at all." A small shudder took him as he looked down and away. His pale eyes held sadness, his body still ached with soreness from his escape.
“... Did you have to leave your family?"
He looked up blinking before shaking his head, a little bit of a bitter tone hinting in his voice, “My. . .family? No they weren't family."
Skeppy tilted his head, and prodded, “What happened? What happened to make you sad?”
".. .Oh." he was quiet for a moment trying to find the words, "I. . .I don't think I'm supposed to be a demon. T. . They. .They tried to make me kill someone, and I couldn't do it." Tears pooled in his eyes as he thought back to the young kid thrown at his feet, "I couldn't hurt him, I saw the fear and I couldn't do it."
“that means, you're a good demon." Skeppy smiled softly, and comfortingly, "A good demon doesn't hurt others and give into peer pressure."
Bad snorted softly, “I’m a demon Skeppy. Demon’s aren’t good usually.”
“So? There’s nothing wrong with being different.”
"So. . .there is something wrong with me! I'm already a freak and I can't even fit in with the other monsters. You don't get it. . .it's alright.” He sighed standing.
By standing on his clawed feet, it brought him up to his more usual height, which was nearly a foot above the human Skeppy. Completely changing their previous height dynamic between them. He looked over Skeppy, it was hard to tell exactly what he was looking at due to his pure white eyes, which actually dimly glowed in the dull lighting of the apartment, and he rubbed his face, as if it could rub away his feelings.
“Well then explain it to me.” Skeppy retorted looking now up at the demon.
"I'm. . .I'm not just a different thing Skep. . .I. .I'm all wrong. I shouldn't be nice, but I want to be. I shouldn't remember being human, but I do, I should want to hurt people but I just can't and I want to be normal, but I can't be normal. Even if I'm a little different, I just. .. if the Highs knew I was here, knew I was talking with a human, I'd be put down on the spot. and. . .and humans fear me."
“I’m not afraid of you.” Skeppy coaxed gently.
He softened a bit, ". . . Yeah, but. . Not a lot of people are this calm, and usually if they aren't . . . it's because they want something." You. . .you don't want a deal do you?" He became a little more resigned as he spoke.
He was studying Skeppy, trying to find any hint of a lie in the human, trying to sense underhanded plots, or schemes. But there wasn’t anything, Skeppy just seemed genuinely interested in getting to know him. He wasn’t sure what bothered him more, how unusual it was for someone to actually want to know him, or to not be doing a deal with a human. Skeppy was being honest.
"What? No!" Skeppy blinked as he looked up to Bad, sounding bewildered, "I just want to learn about you... did... you say you were once human?"
He nodded, "Yeah a little while ago now?" He thought for a minute, "What year is it like 1815? 1817?"
Bad tried to remember the last year he had been in the overworld, 1815 sounds about right, and surely it hadn’t been that long since he was last here. Skeppy cocked his head and looked at him like ‘are you serious?’ and Bad just looked expectantly back at him.
"Uh... 2020." Skeppy replied. "Wow... you're an old demon."
Bad’s eyes widened as he looked shocked, “Holy muffins! 2020? Wow. . .it was a long time ago”
He became a bit flustered at being called old, and settled back onto the couch now. Tucking his tail close, and Skeppy took the opportunity to run his fingers through Bad’s hair again. Speaking kindly and yet teasingly.
“You look good for your age.”
His face flushed again, and he couldn’t help but smile a bit, holding his tail in his little clawed hands. They were quiet for a few moments. Mumbling a quiet thanks to the human and he relaxed.
“Skeppy?”
The boy looked up from the strange glowing object in his hands he had engrossed himself in a few moments ago, and tilted his head with a soft hum.
“You can’t tell anyone about me.” He said seriously.
Skeppy’s face looked conflicted, mixing between disappointment, and then shifting to understanding and a comforting smile as he nodded, “Okay.”
Skeppy looked back down at his device and laughed softly as he saw Bad trying to peek at it.
“Here lemme show you something called a phone.”