Work Text:
Sapnap: Hey Dad?
BadBoyHalo: Yes?
Sapnap: Are things ok?
Sapnap: Like are you n skep in a fight or
BadBoyHalo: Everything is perfectly alright. Why do you ask?
Sapnap: Just checking
Sapnap: I dunno
Sapnap: Glad everythings ok
—
Normally, Sapnap likes the heat. In fact, it’s never bothered him before.
Sapnap was born in fire, can summon and breathe fire, and quite literally is immune to almost everything fire-related including lava, with the only exceptions being fire enchantments, which isn’t real fire so it makes sense he’s not immune. Sapnap loves hot summer days. Sapnap finds that when he’s not getting attacked by mobs, the Nether is incredibly relaxing.
Sapnap likes the heat- loves the heat.
But for the first time in his life, Sapnap is uncomfortable in it.
Sweat drips off of him, leaving him feeling sticky and clammy. His head is clouded in thick fog and he can’t seem to think straight anymore. An oppressive wave of heat rolls through his body, leaving him utterly miserable and exhausted.
If he could leave, he would. He wouldn’t be here, he wouldn’t be in this stupidly, impossibly hot room that bothers him in a way that he’s never been before, fraying every last intact nerve he has left, tearing him apart from the inside-
But he can’t. He can’t leave.
He’s immobilized to the wall, red vines holding his arms firmly in place and spread across his chest like a spider web tangling its catch so it won’t flee. They surround him, they’ve even grown around his neck like a goddamn collar.
His legs are free, at least. He’s stuck sitting up against the wall but his legs can at least try to kick their way out, even if he tried that days ago to no avail. Kicking and screaming only gets his frustration out. It does nothing to contribute to his freedom, only helps the strain on his deteriorating mental health.
His instincts so badly wish to turn the vines into nothing but ashes but his powers don’t work down here. They’re being suppressed. How, Sapnap doesn’t know the details of, but he knows enough. He knows it won’t be able to help him down here.
Down here is that damned Egg’s territory. He shouldn’t even be here but he is. He has been, for too long.
Too fucking long.
—
It starts with a few odd sounding messages.
Sapnap knows Bad- he’s his Dad for fuck’s sake, of course he knows him. And he knows what his Dad sounds like when he’s happy versus when he’s not, both in person and through his messages.
Sapnap stares at their past few conversations, running a hand through his hair. Bad has been choppy, undetailed, and unresponsive. Sapnap has thrown him plenty of bones but Bad has left them lying on the ground, acting as if they never were there at all. He never sends anything longer than ten words.
The real kicker was Skeppy. Sapnap tried contacting him with no avail, then brought his behavior up to Bad.
Bad avoided the question. Didn’t even say his name.
Bad hasn’t said a word about Skeppy in weeks now that Sapnap is scanning through past conversations, and even when he did, something was off about it.
Bad, who can’t go two conversations in a row without at least offhandedly mentioning the guy. Bad, who considered Skeppy to be half his whole world, with Sapnap being the other half.
Something was up. Skeppy has had to do with Bad’s sudden tone shift in the past- Prime, Sapnap should’ve noticed sooner, it’s been way too long. But he knows now, and he can do something about it. Whatever it was had to be significant if it's lasted this long.
If Sapnap had to guess, it was another fight. A big one by the looks of it if it had been going on for several months now.
Unless Skeppy was away on some trip and Bad just missed him but whatever it was, Bad was upset about it which meant, his favorite son (and only technically but that was less of an impressive title) had to figure out why and how to cheer him up.
Get him to vent it out somehow- maybe they could go on a Father-Son trip of some sort to get Bad’s mind off of it? Not like Sapnap had much going on anyways, with Karl gone all the time on his ‘Trips’ he was so secretive about; George being who the hell knows where; and Quackity who dropped off the face of the fucking Earth after El Rapids fell apart, which he was upset about too but at least Sapnap could pick up a phone every once in a while and say, ‘Hey, I’m alive, I miss you and I love you’ like a good fucking fiancé-
…Maybe Sapnap needed a Father-Son trip to distract him too. Maybe he had some things he still needed to work out.
Well, good. Kill two birds with one stone, all the more reason to plan it.
—
Sapnap doesn't sleep as well as he used to. The vines made it hard to get comfortable, so more often than not, Sapnap drifted in and out of consciousness whenever he became so tired that he just passed out.
The door to his makeshift prison cell cracking open however, jolted him out of his hazy sleep. His head was hanging down, neck aching from the awkward position, and Sapnap winced as he slowly raised it.
He blinked once, then twice, and his mood soured.
Antfrost’s blood red eyes stared back, calculating and cold. One hand held a silver platter- his meal.
Sapnap had no concept of time for whenever they fed him, but it felt irregular. Maybe that was on purpose. To keep him in the dark of exactly how long he had been here.
The best thing Sapnap could rely on to tell the time was how many times he fell asleep, but that was becoming more unreliable lately. Sapnap was passing out more than before, exhausted by being kept here, stuck in one of the rooms so close to the Egg’s. Resisting the Egg's thrall was wearing him down.
“I have your food.” Ant told him, closing the distance between them until he was just an inch shy from where his legs were sprawled out. His eyes narrowed. “Are you going to spit on me again or do you want to eat?”
That’s right- Sapnap spat in his face last time he brought his meal- was that yesterday? It felt like it had been ages ago, enough that Sapnap was aching for food and actually starting to regret his actions. Not that he would tell them that, they didn’t need the satisfaction of knowing their punishment actually worked. Sapnap had so little pride left as it was.
Sapnap said nothing, hoping that Ant would get the point that while he wouldn’t admit it, no, he wouldn’t be doing it again. He couldn't afford to miss another day or so of food. He was running on empty as it was.
After a long beat, Ant approached, crouching down and showing the platter was holding a loaf of bread. While there was nothing particularly special about it, it smelled freshly made and made his mouth water.
Ant picked it up, holding it in front of his face but not close enough for him to take a bite. Sapnap squirmed, trying to inch closer but the vines didn’t budge. He only succeeded in semi-choking himself on the vine that securely held his neck in place.
Sapnap eyed Ant, pissed that he wasn’t getting his dinner- or whatever this meal was.
Ant paused, then said, “Apologize for last time.”
“What?” Sapnap scoffed. “Why? You- you fuckers trapped me here and I’m supposed to apologize to you?”
The look on Ant’s face became firmer, unforgiving. “Apologize or miss another meal.”
If Sapnap were stronger, he could’ve held his ground.
If he hadn’t already lost most of his dignity, Sapnap might’ve. If he hadn’t lost track of time and known how long he was down here, if he didn’t feel so alone and isolated half the time, if he wasn’t bombarded by the Egg’s words trying to break through to him, if his own father and people he thought were friends didn’t betray him because they’re all under the control of some supernatural Egg, if he knew people were out there, looking to rescue him and he wasn’t here just wasting away…
Karl was gone. George was gone. Quackity was gone.
Did anyone even notice Sapnap’s absence?
Did anyone even know he was down here?
Did anyone even care?
Sapnap didn’t know. And because of it, most of his fiery will he prided himself on before was nothing but dying embers now.
Sapnap swallowed thickly. “I’m sorry.” He croaked out.
Ant didn’t smile. He didn’t give any indication he took pleasure from getting it out of him. He only nodded, the vines around his arms receding and moving to his legs, and handed the bread over.
Sapnap tore it apart in no time flat. Ant watched from the other side of the room.
The bread was surprisingly delicious and fluffy and Sapnap cherished every crumb. But his stomach still grumbled when he was finished and he hated to ask but he looked up at Ant and said, “Could… Could I get any more?”
“No.” Ant told him flatly. “But if you cooperate for the next few days, you will.”
Incentive to be a good prisoner. Sapnap should’ve seen it coming.
He ducked his head, then moved his arms back into position and the vines once again immobilized his arms.
Ant left without another word, taking his platter with him and never once looking back.
The worst part about being the prisoner to the Eggpire, Sapnap thought, was the fact that none of them acted like themselves. It was difficult to be angry at people being so obviously possessed.
—
Bad had refused the first date Sapnap suggested they get together, as well as the second, third, fourth, and so on. To the point where Sapnap long since caught on that Bad was going to refuse all of them regardless of the date Sapnap told him and regardless of how busy he really was that day.
Bad was avoiding him.
That was new.
Bad calling off a few offers to have some Father-Son time because he wasn’t doing so well either mentally or physically wasn’t out of the question. He had done it before, that wasn’t a red flag.
It was the lack of reasons why and Bad never outright telling him that he wasn’t in the mood for it. When Sapnap brought it up, he didn’t say no, he was just… Nervous. Weirdly nervous about meeting up with his son to hang out and have a good time.
Sapnap knew his father well. Well enough that he knew there was more to the story.
Whenever Bad dreaded something he knew he had to do, he put it off and rescheduled for a later date, only to do it again when the time came. Doctor Appointments mostly, but there were a few other occasions with similar results. Seeing a scary movie he promised to see with Sapnap and sometimes dish duty when it was particularly bad.
Bad was… Dreading seeing him again for some reason. There was no mistaking it, it was the exact same behavior to the T.
With that in mind, Sapnap’s newest problem changed from ‘Why is he acting like this?’ to ‘Why is he avoiding me?’, which…
Deeply troubled him. Because Sapnap hadn’t the slightest idea.
He checked through the last messages in his communicator before Bad started acting weird. Nothing was out of the ordinary, there was no fight Bad would be feeling awkward about.
Maybe this was a serious talk Bad was putting off? That made the most sense to him.
Sapnap summoned up the courage he had and sent Bad a lengthy text, confronting him and demanding they set a definitive date. That they needed to talk and Bad wasn’t getting out of it.
For hours, Sapnap agonized over no reply. Then, nearly nine hours later, Bad finally got back to him, agreeing at last and asked if Friday was okay.
Sapnap quickly wrote back that it was, relief spreading through him.
Finally, he would be getting to the bottom of things, once and for all.
—
By Sapnap’s rough estimate- emphasis on the rough because he was almost certain he was off by a few days give or take- he had been down here for two weeks.
His fiery will had diminished to almost nothing. The Egg’s voice was clearer than ever, and a constant tremble had instilled in him, trying so hard to hold onto what little he had left.
“You struggle and fight and for what?” It felt like the Egg was beside him, whispering into his ear. Horribly intimate and yet, no matter how he turned, Sapnap could not escape the feeling. He could not escape it. “You hurt inside. I could change that.”
“You caused it.” Sapnap snarled back. “I’m hurting because of you.”
“Perhaps, some of it.” The Egg admits. “Only for your betterment- but I sensed your hurt long before you arrived here.”
Sapnap’s heart squeezes but he keeps up the tough facade. He can’t drop it- he can’t.
“My Dad and people I trusted dragged me here. Of fucking course I was hurting, I was betrayed and kidnapped.”
A rumble sounding almost like a laugh chills him down to the bone. “Child, you cannot lie to me.” The Egg chides him. “I’ve been inside your head. I know what troubles you. I know what really hurts you.”
A pressure slams down in his head and Sapnap squeezes his eyes shut. A cry remains trapped behind clenched teeth as he tries so desperately to keep it there.
“Sapnap?”
A familiar voice gets a ragged gasp out of him, eyes flinging back open to an impossible sight.
They’re not real- the Egg makes no effort to hide that. They’re glowing, monochrome red apparitions, but it hardly hurts any less knowing this.
Four figures stand before him. His fiancés and his best friends- Karl and Quackity and Dream and George respectively. They’re looking at them, concern flooding their eyes, and their hands outstretched, yet so far out of his reach.
His vision blurs and abruptly, tears spill out of him like a dam has broken deep inside.
He didn’t think it would hurt like this. That seeing them while he's trapped down here would be enough.
“You have been hurting for a long time.”
Sapnap wants to deny it. To curse the Egg wildly, tell it to shut up, he’s fine, he’s always been fine, but he doesn’t trust his mouth. He’s only just holding back a sob, he can’t break now. And he doesn't think he can lie like that in this state. Not in any way that would be believable anyways.
His defenses have been chipping away every day since he was taken here. The Egg has only been waiting for him to break.
“I can give you that community again. That support. That feeling of unconditional love. You only need to open your heart to me, Child. I will heal what has been hurt.”
"You-!” Sapnap chokes. “You hurt me!”
“I have, but only because I needed to. I am doing this for you. You will be better off because of it.” The Egg seems to smile. “You cannot make an omelette without cracking the egg first, correct?”
Sapnap doesn’t say anything. The apparitions vanish and after whispering to him to think about it, the pressure of the Egg’s presence is gone with it. Not completely, not by a long shot, but Sapnap can finally breathe without feeling smothered. He's as alone as he can be here.
Unable to find it in him to resist it any longer, Sapnap crumbles, quiet sobs leaving him as he heaves for a breath and struggles to fill his lungs.
He knows the Egg watches him still. He knows the Egg will take this as a victory, and Sapnap cannot deny it is one.
But he doesn’t care. He can’t find it in him to.
—
Sapnap shouldn’t have gone. He should’ve stayed at Kinoko Kingdom, as painfully empty as it was.
On the day his Dad finally agreed to meet up and talk to him about what was going on, Sapnap was itching to leave all day, excited about connecting with Bad again. He didn't want to leave early and give away just how desperate he was for companionship, but as soon as it was time, he bolted out the doors of his mushroom home and headed for the Nether Portal for fast travel.
He arrives at the spot, nearby the spider spawner. He sees Bad, calling and waving at him as he jogs to catch up, grinning wider than he had in what feels like months.
Bad turns towards him. His coat is devoid of color, his skin looks pale and sickly, and there’s an unspeakable pain in his eyes, with resignation layered over it. Like he’s accepting something he doesn’t want.
His grin dips and his jogging slows.
Sapnap should’ve seen the warning signs. He should’ve turned tail and run. He might’ve actually had a chance if he did.
But Sapnap continued forward, growing ever closer to where his father stood. As he neared, only a few feet away, his mouth opened, unsure of which of his many questions would slip out.
He never got a word out.
The sound of an ender pearl landing behind him was unmistakable.
His stomach dropped and his instincts had kicked in. Sapnap whipped around, fumbling for whatever weapon he brought with him and ready for a fight, though utterly befuddled as to who would be attacking him now of all times, and then-
And then. Sapnap came face to face with friends.
Ant was in front of him. Punz to his left, Hannah to his right. All fully armored up, aiming their weapons at him, and had their eyes narrowed. They didn’t show a hint of mercy.
It hadn’t been much of a fight at all.
It had been an ambush. And while Bad never so much as raised a hand against him or blocked his way, he had done nothing to help. He watched, with vacant eyes, and when Punz and Hannah began to drag him down below, Bad led the way and didn’t look back.
Sapnap was thrown in front of the Egg, a small army blocking him from escaping, and his father standing beside the Egg. Bad didn’t look him in the eyes. He looked anywhere but at him. The shame was apparent, even if Bad was trying hard to hide it.
Sapnap tried to conjure flames to no effect, and the Egg seemed more than amused by his attempt.
Sapnap thought about screaming at Bad then. Cursing him out for betraying him, hitting every single pressure point he had, tearing him apart for trapping him here.
He didn’t however. He merely looked away from him, letting the hurt radiate off of him in waves.
Shortly after, he was trapped in vines in a makeshift cell he would soon spend weeks in.
It hurt. It hurt seeing his father betray him, and even worse that Bad clearly didn’t want to, but did anyway.
—
Time was running out.
Unless Sapnap wanted to join the Egg for real- you don’t, you don’t, you don’t, don’t forget that- he needed to find a way out. He needed to escape and not be here.
And fortunately, Sapnap had a plan. Not perfect- by no means was it perfect- but it was all he had. And it was the best chance he had.
They’ve been giving him more food for his good behavior. Letting him get up more and get some exercise. Sapnap has been using this to subtly build his strength.
He’ll need it.
—
Bad only visited once before now.
Neither of them had spoken and it only lasted a few minutes. Bad tried to say something- an apology or some kind of reassurance most likely- but one glare from Sapnap shut him down and he left shortly after.
Sapnap had felt terrible, even after everything. He had every right to be angry, but for the first time in all his life, Sapnap found it hard to be. He only felt hollow.
But after what feels like hours after his talk with the Egg, the door opens, and Bad closes it softly behind him.
Bad doesn’t say anything at first. Sapnap looks at him, then down at his feet, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Bad ends up settling down beside him, close enough to reach out but far away enough to keep his distance if that’s what Sapnap wants. For being brainwashed, it’s the most Bad-like thing he’s done since Sapnap has seen him. And it's the most kindness he's gotten since he was taken here against his will.
Sapnap inclines his head towards him. The vines shift, moving to his legs instead like they do when he needs to eat, but instead of food, Bad engulfs him in a hug that makes Sapnap’s chest ache.
He doesn’t hug back but he rests his head on Bad’s shoulder. Claws begin to run through his hair soothingly, and Sapnap almost starts to cry again, but only just keeps it together.
“The Egg told me you might need comfort.” Bad tells him softly. Sapnap hates that he’s getting this because of the Egg but he can’t find it in him to reject it either.
Instead, he clears his throat. “I think I’m ready.”
Bad pauses, then pulls away to look at him, but his hands remain on his shoulders. “Ready?”
“I want…” Sapnap swallows roughly. “I want to join the Egg. So I can be with you.”
Bad’s eyes widen. He almost mistakes his eyes for lighting up, but that doesn’t quite sound right. Even now, he doesn’t look happy.
He can’t remember the last time he saw his Dad happy.
“Are- are you sure?” Bad says, then backtracks. “I mean- that’s great! The Egg will be thrilled to have you- the Eggpire too! You’re welcomed with open arms, of course!”
Bad waves a hand over the vines and they recede. He extends a hand to help him up, which Sapnap takes and uses to lean on him. Partially to appear weaker than he actually is, and partially because he misses the loving touch Bad provides.
Bad doesn’t hesitate to lead him towards the Egg’s room, holding him gently as they walk. Sapnap takes a deep breath as they approach.
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?” Bad looks at him quizzically.
“For the broken nose.”
“Broken nose?” Bad echoes, frowning. “What-!”
Sapnap headbutts him as hard as he can, then rips away from his clutches as he stumbles back and starts running.
—
By the time he gets topside, Sapnap is already running out of breath. He’s also met with a sight that makes his stomach churn.
Bloodvines stretch as far as the eye can see. The Egg has been busy, not just with wearing him down, but with plans to expand as well.
Sapnap silently wonders if anyone else has been taken during his time with the Egg. There were other rooms, now that he’s thinking about it. He always assumed they were storage, but it’s not impossible…
Sapnap shakes himself and contiunes running. Even if there is anybody else down there, he can't help them now. Sapnap has to focus on himself or he won't make it.
He barely makes it to the base of the hill before he hears shouting from voices he dreads to hear. Eggpire voices.
They’re hot on his tail.
They have ender pearls, tridents, and likely a whole lot more stamina than he does. Sapnap can’t outrun them.
But he can hide.
So Sapnap dives behind the first tree he comes into contact with and holds his breath.
Unknowingly, the Eggpire runs right past him.
Sapnap can’t stop shaking long after they’re out of sight.
—
Sapnap suspects the vines must be helping because despite his best efforts, the Eggpire has yet to lose him. He switches hiding places a dozen times but they keep passing by, so close that Sapnap is filled with a constant anxiety that sticks with him.
All he needs is to get to safety. Find someone who can hide him, find somewhere untouched by the Egg, lose their trail, return to Kinoko- anything.
He can’t go back. He can’t.
Sapnap listens as he keeps his back pressed up against the museum walls. He had hoped Eret would be around but they’re nowhere to be found, just like everyone else. The whole SMP is practically a ghost town.
Either they left because of the Egg invading, or Sapnap is the unluckiest person in the world. He wouldn’t doubt it being the latter, the closest thing he has to luck is getting out here alive at all.
Sapnap can’t hear anybody anymore. He’s on the move again, quickly heading for the museum’s exit and deciding that Eret’s castle will at least give him plenty of places to hide even if it’s empty. He just needs to get there- run through the woods or move from hiding place to hiding place or something-!
A sudden force slams into his back and sends him to the ground. The wind is knocked out of him and it takes him far too long to respond.
Rope binds his wrists together tightly.
“Nice try,” Ant tells him in a low voice, “But you forget, I’m a hunter. Chasing is what I do best.”
All hope drains out of Sapnap. He tries to struggle and thrash but Ant keeps him firmly in place. All attempts to summon fire fall flat, his lack of energy means he can barely create sparks and Ant seems more annoyed than hindered by his efforts. When Punz and Ponk shows up, Sapnap knows for sure he doesn’t have a chance anymore, and hangs his head in defeat.
Dread fills his body. He can’t find it in him to fight even as Punz and Ant manhandle him, dragging him right to the one place he never wanted to see again.
—
Sapnap faces the Egg again with a lump in his throat. His wrists are freed but he knows it means nothing.
The Egg told Ant to free them because it wanted to make this clear. That Sapnap would not be escaping it, even despite his best efforts.
“I was so patient with you.” The Egg says, a cold fury in its voice. “I gave you time to come to me willingly, and what do you do? You lash out and run away like a child.”
Vines suddenly reach out and wrap around his neck. Sapnap’s hands fly up to try to rip himself free, but they have an iron grip on him. It only gets worse as they tighten and lift him in the air, leaving him choking and kicking frantically.
“I showed you hospitality, and all I asked for in return was cooperation. But if you will not give me that, then you do not deserve my hospitality. Not until you prove you deserve it.”
Sapnap’s vision grows blurry as tears fill his vision, not in despair this time, but from fear and pain. He desperately claws at the vine around his neck but his arms tremble like leaves in the wind and eventually fall slack at his sides.
“I was a fool to show you mercy.”
“STOP!”
A shriek fills the air as Sapnap’s vision gets dark. He’s released, but he can only crumble to the ground and gasp for air, unable to stop shaking.
Bad stands between him and the Egg now. He looks back for a brief moment, his nose bandaged from Sapnap’s attack, and for the first time, Sapnap can see genuine, unfiltered emotion in his eyes that the Egg isn’t influencing.
Bad looks terrified. He looks guilty, relieved that he’s still breathing, and there’s a fire igniting in his eyes just before he turns back to the Egg.
“I- I can’t. I can’t do this.” Bad says, his voice breaking. “Please, you can’t do this to him. Not Sapnap, not my son. I- I know you said he would be safer with you and that I should bring him here but I can’t… I can’t stand seeing him miserable like this.”
“I gave him chances, BadBoyHalo. What will change if I do not put my foot down? Do you have a better way of making him see the light?”
Bad swallows thickly. “I… I don’t. But I don’t think we should.”
There’s a long stretch of silence. Then, “What.”
“Let him go.” Bad says softly. He trembles as bad as Sapnap does now. “Please…”
“BadBoyHalo.”
“I’ve given you everything!” Bad’s voice rises to a wail. “Is that not enough? My devotion, my help, new converts, sacrifices, helping you grow and expand- was that not enough? Was Skeppy not enough?”
Realization hits Sapnap so hard, he almost throws up.
He always assumed Skeppy was working against the Egg and that’s why Bad never said a word about him. Or maybe he left for his own safety and was working in the shadows, with Bad unable to find him. Now Bad’s implying something that Sapnap feels sick just thinking about. Implying that Skeppy might not even be...
“He’s all I have left! I’ve given you everything else!” Bad continues to plead. “He’s my everything! My hope, my legacy, my sunshine- I am begging you, please don’t take him too-!”
Bad is cut off with a horrible squelching noise and an abrupt breathy gasp as a bloodvine is forced straight through his chest and through to the other side.
Sapnap stops breathing.
“A pity.” The Egg hums as Bad drops to his knees, blood pouring out of the wound, though the vine remains in place. “Your interests have swayed too far. I thought after what happened to the one you called Skeppy, you would know better. But, alas, you’ll have to learn that lesson again.”
Bad slumps to the side. He doesn’t look like he’s breathing. More vines began to wrap around him, cradling him as if he is something precious, and doesn’t have a vine straight through his chest.
“You…” It comes out strangled but no less accusing.
“BadBoyHalo isn’t dead.” The Egg tells him. “I will make sure of it. He will survive, but he will need to… Relearn a few things. Like father, like son.”
The same vine that strangled him moments ago now wraps around his waist and raises him up like he’s a doll to be toyed with. And compared to the Egg’s power, he is.
“Now, Sapnap, are you going to learn from your father’s mistakes, or will you have to learn the hard way too?”
Pure horror paralyzes him in place. No matter how he spins it, Sapnap can’t think of a way out of this.
The Egg isn’t going to let go of him. This will only end one way.