-Chapter Eleven: I'll write an anthem worth repeating (I want to feel the transformation)
Blood. Dirt - caked wounds burning not from pain, but hatred.
Bad cried out, wings swept out behind him as he scrambled to the edge, be it physical or mental. Or maybe both.
A dark chuckle behind him.
He whipped around, white eyes wide and glassy from tears. His throat hurt so much he doubted he could spit out another word if he tried. The laughing grew more maniacal, as if this fact brought the beholder joy.
Bad just sobbed, curling up on the ground, his wings covering his body like a blanket. Come back, he begged in his head. Come back.
Hands gripped his shoulders, and he screamed, though no sound came out of his throat. He struggled underneath the feeling, trying to escape. Leave me alone!!
"Bad…" a voice purred, and the strength behind the phantom hands tightened, shaking him slightly. "You monster."
Bad choked, still trying to pry the fingers off of his sweaty body. No! No, he said I wasn't one! He wouldn't lie to me!
The phantom palms pressed into his blades, making him choke in pain. His eyes fluttered shut as he finally stilled, too tired to try to escape anymore.
"The only person that has lied to you was yourself." The voice cackled, before drifting away as Bad slipped from consciousness.
Bad opened his eyes again, the sun burning them as he groaned. He raised a hand to paw at his face, rubbing away the exhaustion and only replacing it from dread. The dream had left him shaking, and he could barely register anything outside his own thoughts.
The pressure on his shoulder squeezed, and he jumped, misty eyes clearing. A familiar pink snout was curled in a concerned frown, and Bad settled, setting his head down firmly on the pillow behind him.
"Are you okay?" Techno asked, withdrawing his hand awkwardly. Physical touch was never his thing, but Bad had to admit the firm stance was comforting.
Bad drew in a shaky breath, just realising his wings were flopped over the cushions like a blanket. He withdrew them into his shoulder blades so he stopped taking as much space. "Y - yeah. I'm fine."
"You were screaming in your sleep." Techno informed, voice now dripping with annoyance as he stood to his full height. "Nothing about that is fine."
"It was just a bad dream, Techno." Bad hissed, growing more impatient. "Anything on him?"
"I just need to find my last pearl. Don't worry, I know it's somewhere." Techno answered, lightening up and now back to his usual monotone voice. He turned, glanced over his shoulder, then sighed. "Was it about him?"
"Somewhat." Bad replied, sitting up and rubbing his forearms. "Dream started it again."
Techno's lip curled as his hooves clenched. "I'll strangle him in his sleep until he'll be dead as well as homeless." he threatened, tail flicking. Bad raised a claw to his temple, looking up at the pig man tiredly. "You know you can't. Tommy will kill you."
"He can try." Techno scoffed, but his eyebrows creased a bit.
Bad drew his knees up to his chest as he slid off of the couch, and though he tried to plant his feet firmly into the ground, he still swayed a bit and had to catch himself from taking out his teeth with a nearby sword hanging from a wall. "Is there any way I can help?"
Techno shook his head, starting to head out of the room. "No. Just rest up, it must have been a long trip for you."
Bad opened his jaws to protest, but Techno raised a hoof, making him fall silent. "Why don't you make some muffins? I have the recipe in the wood box on the barrel over there. Take your stress out on some pastries."
Bad reluctantly nodded, standing up straight again with better results. "O - okay. Please tell me if anything happens." Techno nodded. "And tell me about your dream whenever you're ready."
Bad pressed his mouth tight together as he walked into the kitchen, his tail flicking and his wings aching.
I don't think I'll ever be ready.
~--~
And Techno held his promise.
As much as Skeppy whined to Bad over the table, begging for them to stay for just a day longer, Bad just waved him off, saying it "wasn't their place to offer themselves shelter". Skeppy just stuck his bottom lip out at that.
Techno didn't say much, only jumping in between pouty pauses to explain good places to go and how to get there. He mentioned a village nearby, and Skeppy perked at that of course. He missed the busy life, the buzzing people always within close quarters.
Bad was… less enthusiastic to say the least.
"Skeppy, I've told you this many times before -"
"Just two, actually."
"- that I'm not welcome in places like that. I've been banished, heck almost EXECUTED where you were from, so who's to say what a tiny little village on the edge of the cold death itself would say about a demon popping out of nowhere."
"I go there often for supplies sometimes. They were wary, but not unfriendly." Techno jumped in, helpful as ever unfortunately for BadBoyHalo.
"You're a pig man. I'm sure they've seen plenty of those. I bet they even have a Nether portal somewhere near their crops or something." Bad grumbled.
Techno shrugged. "Perhaps. But you guys are going to grow hungry out there. The food you guys will find will be skinny or half - dead, and I don't really want you guys to get sick and die. And I can't provide you enough food to last you out of this biome."
Skeppy turned his head back to Bad, his eyes wide and pleading. The ice - blue irises seem to dig into Bad, and he sighed, exasperated. "Alright, alright! Fine!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up. Skeppy punched the air with a whoop, while Techno just watched, amused.
"Which way again?" Bad asked, standing up and gathering the empty dishes. Skeppy slumped back contentedly. Techno then began to ramble again about the best way to go and what to avoid, but Skeppy wasn't listening.
Right when he was on the verge of sleep, Bad touched a claw to his shoulder, and he jumped. Bad withdrew, eyes wide, then settled. "Are you ready to go?" he asked gently, his tail the only thing betraying his impatience.
Skeppy nodded, getting up and stretching his arms above his head. "Thanks for letting us stay so long, Techno." Bad said, looking over at the pig man. Techno shrugged nonchalantly. "It was nothing, and it wasn't that long."
"Thank you!" Skeppy cheered as soon as he was done stretching, running over and wrapping his arms around the bulky animal. Techno let out a sudden puff of air, but gently patted the top of Skeppy's head.
"Who knows, maybe we'll see you again." Bad said, though he sounded a bit unsure.
"Maybe." Techno replied, watching the demon warily for a second before beckoning them to the door. "Well - you guys should go now. Don't want to waste sunlight!"
"Aw, are you going to cry, Techie?" Skeppy teased, snickering a bit.
"No - okay bye!" Techno bid quickly before slamming the door behind him in a flurry of snow.
-
It wasn't until a couple hours later that Bad broke down.
There weren't even any signs of distress at first.
They were on the outskirts of the village, Skeppy was sure. Lanterns lit the already dimming air, and happy little laughs could just be barely heard in the wind. Skeppy happily started running, prancing past Bad in excitement. "We're here!"
All of a sudden Bad just choked, tears sparkling a bit at the edge of his vision. Skeppy hurriedly turned around and ran back, grabbing the other's claws. "Bad! Are you okay? What's going on?"
Bad just shook his head and pushed Skeppy's trembling hands away, his tail shaking. "I - I'm fine, Skeppy. Don't worry about me."
Skeppy didn't give in one bit, and moved closer so an arm was wrapped across the demon's back. "You are such a bad liar. What's going on? I'll try to help."
"You can't get rid of feelings, Skeppy." Bad replied sorrowfully, standing up. "Let's just keep going."
Skeppy followed close behind as the other started walking, tugging his tail insistently. "Are you hurt? Do you need medicine? Food? Do you need a break? What about -"
"I'm scared, Skeppy!" Bad interrupted, vapour practically flowing out of his mouth at the tons of heat meeting cold air. Skeppy jumped back, hands raised as he covered his face in fright. Bad, stepped back, breathing heavily as he sat down on the freezing snow below.
Skeppy slowly lowered his hands, reluctantly looking at the frail creature known as BadBoyHalo. His wings had opened up again, covering his entire body like a cloak so he was a black blob in a sea of white. But Skeppy could still see slight shivering.
He stepped forward, raising a hand to slowly run it against the thin membrane. "Why are you scared?" he asked gently.
He could hear a shuddering sigh from inside the black pile, and Skeppy slid his hand between the wings to grasp at something furred and cool. He could feel soft breathing against it, and he squeezed.
He felt something press up against it and the wings drew back slightly, so Skeppy could just barely see Bad's cheek pressed against the palm of the prince's hand. Skeppy dropped down to his knees so he was somewhat eye level with the little ball of demon.
"They're scared of me, Skeppy. They throw things at me. They hunt me. They try to kill me. Dream might find me again." Bad admitted, voice barely a whisper.
"Who's Dream?"
"One of those hunters."
"Oh."
Skeppy didn't know what else to say. He couldn't quite imagine why someone as great as Bad would get pelted over and over wherever he went. Death practically chased his tail every day, and he didn't ever seem to be safe unless he moved.
Bad would drop down dead on his feet if that's what it means not getting executed again, Skeppy was sure.
"This village HAS to be different." Skeppy insisted, running his thumbs to dry wet fur.
Bad let in a shuddering breath, closing his eyes. Skeppy just watched, desperate to get to the village before dark but also not willing to leave Bad.
Suddenly Bad stood up with a flourish, wings making snow swirl around as Bad picked the smaller up. Skeppy squealed, grabbing the demon's neck in fear, then loosened slightly when he realised he was barely three feet above the ground.
"Does this mean you'll go?" Skeppy asked, a huge grin splitting his cheeks in hope.
Bad nodded slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable but not uncertain. "Let's just hope for the best."
Then a sudden hot pain flung them forward.