Chapter Text
Quesadilla Island holds many secrets.
One most known "secret" amongst the inhabitants of said island were the eggs left in the local nursery. Such eggs were no ordinary eggs. They were left by a dragon that once conquered the land. To outsiders, it must be peculiar to see each individuals of the island either carry an egg or has one tailing them wherever they go.
They would never guess they are raising them to be giant fire-breathing dragons.
•••
Off in the distance, lived a farmer and his egg; Bad and Dapper. Bad is a demon that came from the Nether. Like the island, he has a secret past life in another world, somewhere, that he promised himself he'd take to the grave. Unlike most locals, he's one of the only two that lives out of the mainland. The land where he grew his crops and planted his trees were once a lively village, untill he and Dapper pillaged and burn it to the ground. The typical father-child bonding activities.
He's quite protective and possessive of his child. Although he's proud that Dapper's growing up to be such an inventor and alchemist, under the disguise of an average farmer just as he was, he can't help but became more and more anxious. It's stressing him out whenever they would go on adventures because Dapper was driven with the need to kill and his bloodlust is unparalleled. Dapper would always go ahead of his father and Bad sometimes had to reprimand the muffinhead to be more careful.
It's not that he doesn't trust his son to defend himself, but he couldn't swallow the lump in his throat at the thought of losing Dapper just because he grew less stricter.
"Dapper, back up!"
Arrows after arrows, Bad blocked them with his shield as Dapper ran behind him. The egg's scaly legs shake with the urge to just engage and kill the pillagers who are valiantly defending their temple. He's gotten a taste of the loot outside of its foyer and he wanted more. He doesn't blame his father for being so cautious and controlling – the temple was full of illusionists and aggressive pillagers – but it's almost to the point of paralyzing. Sometimes he couldn't even reach a dozen of mobs to kill or killed.
"Dapper, back up they're advancing too fast! We can't beat this many of them! Dapper–"
He heard his father shouted warnings upon warnings, but he didn't listen this time. He charged ahead, distantly hearing his father exclaiming his favourite desserts instead of swearing, and attacks an illusionist. The world darkened upon contact and his father's shouts grew louder. Dapper hit and evade the illusionist. He's confident that they'll make it out victorious. However more mobs spawned into the room and he panicked. He lost his momentum and got hit badly.
As soon as his face hit the floor, he takes out his totem of undying but it doesn't work. The world was clear again thanks to his father as he managed to kill the only illusionist in the room.
"No! Dapper!" He thought he heard his father nearby and held out a hand in hopes to get revived, yet he's met with a horrifying image of Bad lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood, as his skull was cracked and the light was no longer in his eyes.
His father is dead.
And it was all his fault.
No, dad, no...!
...
Dapper woke up with a violent jolt. His vision was blurry as he hurriedly scan his surroundings. It was dark, he doesn't know where he is.
"Dapper? You awake?"
That was his father's voice. He let out a broken growl of an upset baby dragon, and it sounds like a mix of pigeon's coo and a pup's whine. Bad was both surprised and worried, so he lit up a torch and set it in the middle of their underground camp, or "hole" as he usually call it. At the sight of his Dapper shaking, the demon's first instinct was to hug him close and shush him softly.
"Dapper, Dapper, it's okay. I'm here little guy... Shush hush, don't cry..."
Dapper only snuggled closer, wrapping his dragon tail around his father protectively.
"I knew something's wrong. I woke up a little bit earlier before you because I can feel just how distraught you are. Are you okay now? Did you had a bad dream?"
For a moment, Dapper's only shaking so Bad let him be and didn't question any further. But then two cracks fills the silence of the underground hole and out came scaly hands from Dapper eggshell, shocking his father. Bad was immediately beaming with excitement. "Dapper! You poked out your dragony hands! You're growing up so fast–!"
Said dragony hands wrapped him in a bruising hug, which he instantly mirrored with the same force.
"Aww... I'm gonna be so sad when you're ready to leave the nest, you know? Oh Dapper..."
They hug for a few minutes more before some footsteps and one awfully familiar obnoxious voice broke them apart coming from above. The father and child share a look before the demon takes out his scythe to transform into the Grim Reaper. Dapper killed the only light in their camp and out came dozens of tortured and restless souls from the floor.
"That sounds like Roier and Foolish. How did they find us here?" Bad ponder aloud. Dapper holds out a sign that says "Coincidence maybe?" to which he responds with a nod.
The ghosts around them began to voice out their opinions...
"We chose this hiding location specifically because it's hard to spot, how's that a coincidence?"
"They're worried enough to find you–thank them!"
"True friends doesn't grow on trees, Bad."
"Have you consider that Roier might have the hots for you~"
"Maybe one of them may have bonded with you enough to sense you're in danger?"
Bad's ebony tail whips around in anger at a specific accusation that one of the ghosts said. "Okay some of you're being helpful and some are just being ratscalions. Ignoring the one about Roier, that last one might be right. What's your name, ghostie? How did you came to that conclusion? I've never had any other bond than with Skeppy."
An apparition materializes out of thin air showing their self as a tiger with wings. "Hi Bad! I'm your personal, self-claimed Angel! So you can just call me your Angel! I made that conclusion after observing Roier closely from a while ago–his soul is pretty in tune with yours! Especially after that adventure you went together!"
More sounds came from outside, like metals hitting the ground. They're likely trying to shovel their way to Bad and Dapper. The demon sighed. "But how's that possible, Angel? He's with Jaiden, how could his soul intertwined with mine when he already has hers?"
The apparition stares at their guardian like he's a dummy that couldn't put two and two together. Even Dapper already guessed what's up. "Simple. Because he never bonded with her– ahhhhh! The light! The light!"
Foolish and Roier made it to their hole, causing a ray of light to fill a spot on the ground, illuminating the space. Every soul retreated back into the demon's cloak, all sharing a chorus of agonized screams and so he transforms back into his normal form. "Roier and Foolish, fancy meeting you guys here."
"Ey Bad! What happened, mi amor?" Roier falls into the hole and greets Bad with a hug.
"Don't call me that." Bad didn't return the hug and just glare at the Mexican, with his glowy white eyes under his cloak after they parted. Roier's face fell for a split second before he forced on a wide grin.
"Ey don't be like that man! We came here to help! Para salvarte a ti y tu hijo!"
"I don't remember calling you for help."
The smile on Roier's face disappeared completely. Right at the end of Bad's sentence, Foolish came into view from behind the Mexican man. "What the fuck Bad, we came here as soon as we could. Roier almost went bald stressing about your safety on our way here. He said something about you sending distressing signals and asked if I got any, but I'm sure he's talking a special kind of signal here."
Foolish wore a serious and knowing look on his face. Meanwhile Roier was still staring at Bad blankly like he's in a trance. The silence grew pregnant, and soon gave birth to Bad's heavy sigh. "Listen. I... appreciate it but as you can see, me and Dapper are both fine."
"Still doesn't explain how he got the signal that you're in distress an hour ago, Bad." Foolish countered. Roier silently walk away and out from the underground camp, as a pair of glowing eyes stares at his back. "Don't you think he deserves an explanation, Bad? I have a feeling that this bond you both created started a while ago if it's this strong already."
Bad hung his head, unaware of his son chasing after a raven. "One of my ghosties said that it happened pretty two days ago... Wait– did you said an hour ago? He brought you here to save me because he sensed that I was in danger an hour ago?"
"Yes. We basically flew our way here with how urgent your situation seemed. At least that's what he told me. What exactly happened an hour ago?" Foolish watched as his friend widens his eyes in realization, shock, and then regret.
"Okay listen, I'll explain later but I have to talk and explain to Roier now–"
"Then go!"
"Alright!"
•••
Bad couldn't believe this is happening to him right now. He knew he shouldn't have acted so harshly. Roier didn't even know how the bond works. He must be confused but mostly hurt by his reactions. The demon knew how it felt to be rejected. When he initiated a bond with Skeppy years ago the diamond golem had been hesitant and aloof, choosing instead to go on a "Love or Host" in search for a lover. Things worked for them then before... everything.
Now he's making Roier go through the same thing. Hurting him without actually meaning to. How's he going to break it to him? That they're bonded by souls? That from now on, if one of them died the other would die too?
How's he going to react to that reality? Will he accept Bad into his life? Or has he already?
Ebony horns and hair whipped around behind him as his hood fell back against the wind. He ran with all his might trying to catch up to the raven haired man.