Chapter Text
Even Bad was getting sick of the windy weather that came with the fall season, it whipped at his face, messed up his hair, and made his cloak flutter in the wind. Skeppy was always huddled up into his hoodie. It protected him from the wind, but he was still cold. He was thankful that Bad was able to keep him somewhat warm, Sapnap too, whose long hair was pushed back by the wind. Sapnap sat on the sled, playing quietly with his panda plush. Skeppy and Bad walked beside the horse, each occasionally looking back to check on Sapnap.
None of them could say exactly how long they had been on the road, a year--likely longer--they figured. They never expected to have so much trouble trying to find a new place to live; a place that wasn't too big to risk Bad getting hunted, and a place that wasn't too small to not have everything they needed. It was a difficult balance that they had gotten lucky with once, but they were beginning to doubt it would happen again.
They found themselves in yet another forest, this one being thicker than the usual, but they were following a path that clearly led somewhere, or it would have never been made. They didn't know how far it went, but it was headed to the frigid north, much to Skeppy's dismay. It was getting late in the day, but they knew that had some time before they would have to stop for the night. For now, they kept walking, not even talking, except for Sapnap talking to himself while playing with his plush. It was calm and quiet. At least until they heard something big rush over their heads.
Bad looked to Skeppy with a worried expression. "Did you hear that?"
Skeppy nodded. He looked back to where he had heard the sound, but he couldn't see anything beyond the thick canopy. "Kinda sounded like a giant bird or something," Skeppy said. He put his hand on his axe, he wasn't going to let anything happen to Bad or Sapnap.
"Should we stop?" Bad asked.
"No, let's keep moving a bit longer." Skeppy pulled on the reins of the horse, urging it to come along.
Bad slowed down for a moment so he could walk beside Sapnap, who evidently didn't hear the sound, nor the conversation between Bad and Skeppy, or he didn't care. The sound came again, this time, it sounded like whatever it was had slowed down for just a moment before it continued on.
Before they knew it, a man who was taller than Skeppy and sported a huge pair of gray wings on his back stood in their way. His green and white bucket hat shadowed his face, and he held a sword at his side. Skeppy froze as he watched the man look over both him and Bad. As soon as Bad realized that the stranger's eyes were on him, he yelped in fear and turned away so he could get his disguise on as well as pick up Sapnap to keep him close just in case he needed to get away.
"Who are the two of you, and what are you doing here?" he asked. His voice was forceful and demanding.
Skeppy could feel his hands shaking, but his grip on his axe was firm. He cleared his throat before talking. "I'm Skeppy, and the guy back there is my friend, Bad." Skeppy pulled on his axe a bit, making sure it wasn't tangled up in anything and he would be able to pull it out just in case the winged man tried to attack.
The man looked over Skeppy again, and then looked to Bad, who was now turned away from the man fully, though his head was turned towards the man. The man sheathed his sword and folded his wings in. He adjusted his hat to pull it back a bit, making some of his long, blond hair fall out. He smiled. "Philza," he said. He stuck out a hand towards Skeppy to shake it. "Sorry about scaring you, mate, just can't be too careful." Skeppy hesitantly shook his hand. "You can call me Phil, yeah?"
"Uh, okay." Skeppy was otherwise speechless.
"You two look like you need a good meal," Phil said. "I can take you back to town, get you two something to eat and out of this fucking wind."
"We don't do towns," Skeppy said. He looked back to Bad, who was trying to keep Sapnap quiet and hidden.
"It ain’t what you think it is, mate. No one’s gonna give a shit about what you look like,” Phil said. He laughed as he spoke, and he spread his wings out again, dropping them down. It was clear that he had no intention on flying off or anything, but rather to bring attention to them again--not that they were easy to miss. They were large, reaching past his arms and when he had them folded on his back, they reached to his ankles. “It’s a small town, we’re all a bit scuffed.”
Skeppy moved forward again. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that I’ve got bigass wings, and no one gives a shit. They’re not gonna care about you being made of diamond or whatever and your friend over there being a demon,” Phil said. He slouched, putting the majority of his weight on one foot.
Skeppy turned to Bad immediately, and Bad’s eyes were wide. Skeppy shook his head before turning back to Phil. “How’d you know?”
“Been around the block once or twice, mate. With a name like ‘Bad’ and the fact that he’s got a tail, pretty obvious he ain’t human,” Phil said. Bad looked at his tail as he moved it around. He sighed at it, he always forgot about it. Still, Bad turned, still holding Sapnap close to him. “We don’t give a shit what you are or what you look like, as long as you do your part.
Bad kept Sapnap turned away from Phil, although Sapnap kept asking to see what was going on. Bad kept his eyes on Sapnap, trying to hush him. He wanted to keep on his attention on Sapnap so he didn’t have to hear Phil. His urge to chastise him for his language was strong.
Phil noticed how the demon avoided looking at him, almost like he was scared. “What’s his problem?” he asked, gesturing over to Bad.
“Huh?” Skeppy looked back to Bad, and he could see Bad biting his lip, and Skeppy laughed, realizing what was going on. “Oh, probably because you’re swearing. Bad doesn’t really like swearing. It’s like some weird urge he gets and he has to call them out on it.”
“A demon that doesn’t like swearing? You are certainly an interesting one. Well, go on, mate, do what you need to do if it’ll make you feel better,” Phil said. He held out his arms and closed his eyes like he was prepared for Bad to punch him.
“Language!” Bad said before he set Sapnap back down and gently ushered him to stand behind him, which wasn’t a problem, since Sapnap was already clinging to Bad’s leg. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, you seem really nice and all, but oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, mate, don’t worry about it,” Phil said. He pushed a strand of his hair back as he looked to Sapnap. “I’ve got two of me own kids, Wilbur’s a few years older than yours and Tommy’s a tot. What’s your name, kiddo?”
Sapnap leaned out from behind Bad’s leg, pushing how far Bad let him lean out. Skeppy stepped aside so Phil could see him better. Sapnap smiled. “My name’s Sapnap!” He was so proud of himself.
Phil looked back to the adults. “Well, what do you think? You can come rest up in my house, I’ve got plenty of space, and I’ve got some stew I can reheat.”
Bad shifted on his feet and he looked to Skeppy. “I guess it’s up to you,” Bad said.
Sapnap broke away from Bad and ran up to Skeppy, pulling on his leg, making Skeppy look down to him. “Oh, please, Uncle Skeppy? I’ve never seen a town before,” Sapnap said. He was a master at making Skeppy want to agree to the things he wanted. His big, round eyes were impossible for Skeppy to ignore.
So, Skeppy pulled back from Sapnap. “Relax, little man,” Skeppy said, now patting his head. He looked back to Phil. “I guess it really can’t hurt.”
“Yay!” Sapnap threw his hands up in the air in celebration, which made Skeppy jump a bit.
Skeppy turned to Sapnap. “Hey now, calm down or I’ll stick you in a box.” Sapnap laughed before he walked back to Bad, letting Skeppy and Phil talk again.
“We thank you for the help you’re offering, but we probably aren’t staying for long,” Skeppy said.
Phil shrugged. “That’s fine, take as long or as short as you like.” Phil turned around, gesturing for Skeppy and Bad to follow. Skeppy grabbed onto the horse’s reins and Bad picked up Sapnap so they could more easily keep up with Phil. The town wasn’t far, only about another twenty minute walk, which Phil filled the silence with casual conversation; where Bad and Skeppy had been, how long they were traveling, where they used to live, and so on.
When they arrived, they were admittedly underwhelmed. The town wasn’t huge, even calling it a town gave it too much credit. It was in a clearing in the forest, with an open plains to the north. The other three sides were surrounded by the forest. There were paths paved with gravel and a well in the center of town. There were a few buildings, but none of them looked to be any sort of commercial building, except for one big building with no windows and two silos.
Far in the distance, Bad could make out a farm growing all sorts of plants, and a path that led out into the forest. He counted five other buildings, with one of them mostly tucked into the forest, by the farm, but the house was visible enough. Passed the farmhouse was another path leading further into the forest, and a final path leading north into the plains. That path quickly turned into a paved road.
Bad was already in love. He loved the town. He pushed his hood back just a bit so he could see a bit better, wondering if anyone was around besides them, but he didn’t see anyone. His tail swayed from side to side, and Skeppy noticed. He nudged Bad, pointing at his tail, but Bad shrugged. “Phil said no one would care,” Bad said.
Phil turned back to them. “So, what do you think?”
“Quaint,” Skeppy said, nodding.
Bad was smiling wide. “Oh, I love it!”
Phil laughed. “Great, glad you do,” he said. His wings extended as he held out his arms, using both to gesture to the little village he stood in the middle of. “Welcome to Sleepy, boys.”