Chapter Text
The dome roof a few meters above him whined as dust came tumbling from the large cracks. Skeppy's breath caught as the ceiling gave no further warning before collapsing inward. Scrambling out of the way of the wreckage, he pressed himself against the back wall and bit back the scream that rose in his throat. The sound the splitting chamber made as it fell apart caused his ears to ring achingly, forcing him to place his hands over them and block out the noise. He knew how dangerous it was to trek alone into an unsteady nether fortress, but he didn't really expect a room to fall apart because he sneezed. How does a man composed solely of diamond even sneeze? Not even he knows.
The roof continued to slump into a messy pile, and Skeppy prayed that the floor didn't collapse with it. The ocean of molten rock below the room wouldn't be fun to fall into.
Even when the room finally stopped crumbling, Skeppy remained stiff.
"Not even close," he hoarsely whispered. "I'm so good at this."
Exhaling slowly, he hugged the wall as he hastily shuffled his way around the heap of rubble. He'd intended to leave through the way he came, but a glance toward the doorway made him realize that plan was out the window. Parts of the crumbled ceiling were heaped up in the open doorway and seeping out into the corridor, blocking him from leaving the room. He probably would have been more bothered if it wasn't for the draft brushing onto his leg. It was difficult to feel something so small when your flesh was made of genuine crystal, but adrenaline made him receptive.
Glancing around, he spotted a small hole that was letting warm air in. Skeppy squatted down and peeked through, groaning in relief at the sight of a new hallway. After checking the immediate area for any hostile mobs, he leaned on his left foot and raised the other. His heel pulled to his torso before suddenly plunging forward into the weak opening in the wall. The surface around it crumbled, and the hole opened into a size big enough to fit him.
The room he was in groaned in protest at the lack of structural support, so he was quick to crawl to freedom.
Once he was on the other side, he jumped to his feet and rescanned the area for any danger. There were no wails from a flying Ghast or grunts from some local Piglins- only silence. For the entire hour he had been exploring the impossibly large building, he hadn't heard a single creature. In fact, he couldn't hear a single sound apart from his own breathing. Nervously shifting his feet, he felt unease settle deep in his stomach. He considered contacting his demon friend and asking him to explore the building with him to lessen the risk, but his pride didn't need any more wounding.
Especially after getting himself captured in his own trap, only to be found by Bad an hour or two later.
Bad had laughed so hard that Skeppy thumped his back to keep him from choking.
Sucking in a hesitant breath and puffing out his chest, he strode down the rotting hallway as if he owned the place. Glancing into the various rooms along his way, the frustration in his gut only grew at the severe lack of anything valuable. The only unusual thing he could find was some old plaques on the wall with writing in a language he had never seen. He was sure that Bad would know what it said, considering the demon had been born here, but he didn't care enough about history to look into what the scribbles said.
Yelling out in anger, he began to try and retrace his steps.
He gives up on this stupid abandoned fortress.
It looked unimaginably cool on the outside, but the inside was so bare that he almost wished that he would get attacked just so he could see some action.
But Skeppy made sure to remember Bad's instruction to be more level-headed during his ventures, so he began to softly hum. He doesn't sing, even if he's alone, but humming was always pleasant. Even if it was never safe to make any sound in such a dangerous realm, he didn't think that he would be attacked here. There wasn't anyone else for miles, so he let himself relax as he walked past the familiar vacant rooms. He was stopped, however, by a flash at the end of a hallway he had skipped earlier.
Skeppy was at a crossroads. To the left was the exit out of the waste-of-space fortress, and straight ahead was a hallway leading toward a room that glowed.
Giving this place one more shot, he tightened the straps of his bag and jogged toward the light. The footsteps of his boots echoed throughout the empty hallway, and he felt an odd sensation pull at his gut. It almost made him turn on his heel and bolt as if his life depended on it, but stubbornness kept his feet moving forward.
Arriving at the open entryway, he slowed to a stop, and his crystal eyes shot open at the sight of a small gleaming gem. It was lying on the floor next to a broken podium, but the gorgeous rainbow jewel still glowed as if the building around it wasn't falling apart. Different colors bounced and swayed across the surfaces of the room, creating an amalgamation of various hues.
Skeppy surged forward and latched onto the crystal like a lifeline.
The first thing on his mind was shoving this in Bad's face. But the second was how rare it must be. He had never heard of an ore that changed colors. He gleefully lifted it before shrieking in terror as his fingers began to turn the same glowing purple as the crystal. Dropping it, he jumped back in fear and examined over his hands. His fingers were a swirl of yellow and lime that fluctuated into different shades. Panting, he wiped his hands on his jeans; as if that would help to get rid of the unnatural colors.
Stumbling back from the crystal that laid harmlessly on the ground, he pressed into the wall behind him and gawked as his hands slowly returned to their normal baby blue hue. Flexing his fingers, he swallowed thickly and looked at the crystal with wonder. Despite the anxiety from only moments ago, he was endlessly curious about what the ancient object was and what it did. Drawing out his communicator, he sent Badboyhalo a quick message to meet him by the portal. Although they had both gone to the Nether to seek out some quartz, Skeppy hadn't lasted a minute before getting distracted with his own curiosity and fleeting thought process.
Throwing the gadget backward into his backpack, he pulled out an empty cloth bag. Exhaling slowly, he carefully walked forward and placed the opening around the crystal, and gently encased it in the fabric. Suddenly yanking back, he yelled out in triumph as the object fell into the bag without touching his skin. Tying the strings to keep the bag closed, he hoisted it over his shoulder and sprinted out of the room.
Giggling like a little kid in a candy store, he dashed down the hallway with the bag tightly clutched in his fists. Even the unnerving silence couldn't break the spring in his step as he imagined what Bad would look like as he rubbed some ancient relic in his face. He was beaming so much he nearly missed the enormous hole in the wall he had entered from.
Slowing to a stop, he peered out the hole and scanned the nearby terrain.
It was a straight drop down into an endless ocean of lava, but it would be a breeze to cross over with his trusty ender pearls. Although he had entered the Nether with more than a dozen of them (thanks to Bad's continuous grinding), he had been lazy nearly the entire trip and used an ender pearl for even the slightest jumps. Biting his lip the best he could while made of solid diamond, he checked a pouch that was connected to his hip. There were only two pearls left, so he had to be way more careful than he was just an hour or so ago.
Oh well, who needs logic when you have skill?
Pulling out one of the green orbs, he stuck out his only somewhat stiff tongue with concentration as he aimed for a nearby cliff on the other side of the lava lake.
With a loud 'hup!', he chucked the pearl as far as he could and prayed that it wouldn't miss and teleport him into the very painful lake. It wasn't as if he hadn't landed in lava before and exited without a scratch on him, but it was still uncomfortable to feel so much pressure and heat crushing into every inch of you. Despite the fun it was scaring Bad with his glowing red body, he didn't hope to be plunged into the molten rock for a second time. With a sudden flash of purple and blue, his surroundings jumped to the ledge he had been aiming for. Letting out a breath, he glanced at the bag secured tightly in his left hand. It was glowing several different colors by the crystal that somehow didn't care that the fabric should be blocking the lights.
Staring at it with squinted eyes, Skeppy scoffed quietly to himself.
He knew that he wasn't the brightest with science, but he was 99% sure that that didn't follow the many laws. Tying the bag straps to the backpack on his shoulders, he huffed at the heavy weight. Thanking his lucky stars that he was physically durable, he began his trek back to the portal.
With how often Bad had been scolding him for getting lost, he had finally given in to the many lectures and left breadcrumbs of torches behind him.
Despite the frequent gaps (likely from a lapse in his memory to actually place them), he eventually found himself on a mountain that allowed him to see the portal on the horizon. It had been generated in an unfortunate place, hundreds of blocks above lava, but because of Bad's wings, they were able to work together to build a staircase down to a nearby cliff.
Groaning in relief, he readjusted his backpack and continued his walk.
Though he noticed a while ago that the farther he walked, the more Zombie Piglins there were nearby. They were generally harmless as long as you didn't provoke them, but they've never stared him down like this before. It wouldn't usually be so unsettling if it was only one creature, but having dozens of any mob down your throat all at once was a quick way to lose your life. And Piglins were tough even by themselves, so you can imagine what an angry hoard could do to you.
The mob was some sort of hive mind. Whatever one was thinking, another thought too. Zombie Piglins were just husks of instinct and shared insights that would chase you down for days straight if you so much as nudged one of them. It was almost admirable how loyal they were, but the glaring was wiping away any positive feelings toward them.
Every single piglin within his eyesight was looking at him with empty and hungry eyes.
Speeding up to a jog, he attempted to calm down his frantic breathing by reminding himself that Bad was likely right around the corner. His best friend was sure to help him if anything happened, so he didn't have to worry.
Tearing fabric triggered Skeppy to whip his head around and make eye contact with one of the Piglins. The mob was holding a netherite ax as it stared into his soul with an odd possessive madness. Then it glanced down and practically vibrated at the sight of all the contents from Skeppy's shredded backpack. Skeppy had never heard of Piglins robbing people, but he had obviously been too careless as a rotten, pink hand reached down and grabbed the jewel.
Yelping at the realization the ore had fallen, he pushed the piglin back and yanked the crystal into his hands.
Skeppy screamed in agony as he felt his hands burn at the freezing temperature of the crystal. He could feel his hands go both numb and hot at the extreme temperature change. Vision splitting, he collapsed to his knees and gasped for a breath that he couldn't seem to catch. Ever vain, he tried to tighten his grip on the crystal, even as his hands felt as if they were melting. Oddly, the crystal didn't shift. Skeppy peeked down, and his stomach nearly depleted him of lunch at the sight of the crystal dissolving into his arms.
If he squinted through his tears, he could make out the gleaming shards inching their way into his stiff flesh. It seemed to vanish under the surface of his translucent skin, and the crystal was quick to disappear completely, leaving behind no trace that it was ever there.
Dozens of rushing footsteps made a bee-line toward his location, but no matter how much he squirmed and attempted to move, he couldn't bring himself to escape. He couldn't even focus his eyes as the sound of an ax cutting through the air whizzed above his head. After yelling out, he heard the ax collide with something hard. Spots danced in his vision as he attempted to make out what was going on above him. Clenching his hands, he felt nothing but air and a heavy sense of dread.
Finally deciding to value his life more than some weird old rock, he slowly managed to drag his shivering hands to his chest and sob.
Feeling hands on his shoulders, he tore open his blurry eyes and gaped at the face in front of him. It was Bad. The terrifying demon had never looked so petrified in his life.
Any concern for his friend was quickly replaced by searing white-hot agony as terror coursed through every inch of his body. Screaming, he could barely process the arms that lifted him. The familiar feeling of weightlessness formed in his gut as the wind whipped around him and the beating of wings cut through the air. A whistling sound arose from his skin due to his sharp edges, which only worsened his throbbing headache, but he didn't care very much as a numbness soaked into him.
The numbness was quickly yanked away, however, as cool air suddenly blasted him in his face. Gasping for the fresh air, he finally noticed how violently his body was shaking. He felt that they were stationary, likely so the portal's nauseating effects could dwindle away. Hiccuping, Skeppy tried to squirm, though the pain that shot through his nerves forced him to go limp. But his quiet sobbing wasn't ignored as a voice above him shushed him. It sounded panicked, but gentle and soothing all the same.
Skeppy didn't even have to open his eyes to know who was consoling him. Despite him not being able to understand what was being uttered, he still savored the calming sound.
Movement abruptly resumed as more frigid air whipped around them. Skeppy would usually complain about the freezing wind, but as his body both burned and froze over, he could not love the low temperature more. Skeppy used most of his energy to grasp onto Bad's cloak, which would ordinarily be put aside to avoid smacking them from the harsh wind. But as they flew across the sky, Bad didn't even seem to notice the violent whipping at his heels.
Skeppy fights to continue to hold onto consciousness, but he can feel his senses drifting away from him as the sharp wind fades away. His chest seizes with panic, but he's too tired to fight back against the lull of sleep as he struggles to move his fingers. Even his finger felt as though it weighed hundreds of pounds, and he couldn't hope to move it a centimeter. Even his hearing began to fade as the sound of air and wings was no longer rushing around him.
Suddenly, life surges through him, and he gasps fiercely as he wildly grasps at reality. There's an odd sound echoing in his ears that makes his temples ache, but it quickly disappears. Skeppy vigorously attempts to register what's around him, but the artificial energy that rippled through his limbs was slow. After a few moments of confused panic, he could hear crying that wasn't coming from him. He strained his hearing to make out what the man was trying to say, but it sounded like gibberish.
Wincing at the feeling of his senses abruptly flooding back, Skeppy squinted his eyes closed against the light that shone in his eyes. Taking a moment to breathe, he let his aching body relax on the comforting surface.
Every inch of his skin felt like it was on fire, and he was afraid that if he opened his eyes, he'd actually be surrounded by it.
Despite his fear and disorientation, Skeppy'd gone through a lot of training that ensured he would stay safe (per Bad's request). So, he only allowed himself another moment to let himself rest before fighting against the tiredness once again. With some struggle, he finally managed to peek open his eyes. Grunting at the bright lights, he noted that his vision was foggy to the point that he couldn't make out many shapes. He rapidly blinked both of his eyes as the sight in front of him slowly came into view.
Skeppy nearly shot to his feet at the sight of a ceiling. His ceiling. But he doesn't remember feeling them land.
Skeppy's head still feels too heavy to turn, so he settles on shifting his gaze and focusing on the clutter of items to his right. He could make out some random items such as glowstone and glistening melons, but hadn't he put those away before the trip to the Nether? An amiable and broad silhouette suddenly walked into his vision holding something glowing and pink in their hand. Skeppy could make out large wings and horns sticking out from the towering body, the sight prompting him to relax and bask in the comfort of knowing his best friend was there.
Bad leaned down and stared intently at his face, but Skeppy still couldn't make out his expression as he attempted to speak. He tried to say Bad's name, but his mouth refused to form the words, so he only sobbed with frustration and agony as he choked out incoherent grunts.
Bad is cradling Skeppy's side in less than a moment, with his long arms wrapping around him in a delicate hug. Relief flows through the dizzy boy as all anxiety evaporates.
"It's okay, you're alright. Just breathe with me, Skeppy." Bad muttered, one of his large clawed hands cupping his face. As a thumb grazes the gleaming tears, Skeppy silently thanks his friend for filing down his predatory nails. Bad gently continued to hush him as Skeppy felt his hand envelope his own firm one. Shakily, Skeppy squeezed Bad's hand before letting him pull away. Even if he didn't have the strength to sit up, he would always make sure that Bad knew he was valued.
Something smooth pressed into his lips and made him yelp in surprise. It pulled away, and Skeppy could make out the pink object that Bad had been holding earlier. Now that his vision had nearly cleared, he could make out that it was a small pink health potion. It was much faster than a regeneration potion, but it wouldn't give you as much healing. Health potions were only used when somebody is on the brink of death and can't afford to wait for regeneration, which didn't reassure Skeppy's fear.
Bad stood up from where he was kneeling by the couch and sat back on the cushions. Skeppy gawked up at the demon that now looked twice as big because of his head laying right by his hips. He only smiled gently, and Skeppy could make out damp streaks that were now dried to his face. Guilt seized his heart, and he looked away. Staring a hole into the back cushion of the couch, he returned to fighting against the sluggish feeling in his limbs. His arm lifted a few inches before falling soundlessly, and he immediately tried to lift it even higher. A sudden familiar hand on his left cheek caused him to lose focus as he turned his head back toward his friend that towered over him.
"Please, drink this. I'll help you, just.. tilt your head back a little bit?"
He felt ridiculous for needing help to drink, but he could feel his muscles tremble at the mere thought of sitting up, so Skeppy sighed and stiffly nodded. The cold glass returned to his lips, and he scrunched up his nose as he opened his mouth. It tilted slightly, and he jolted at the feeling of the liquid hitting his throat. Physically restraining himself from gagging, he swallowed the thick substance that had a sour tinge. For much too long, the pink liquid poured into his mouth with only a few breaks to catch his breath.
Finally, the bottle was upside-down with nothing else coming out, and the chemical reaction suddenly kicked in all at once as his limbs jumped. Skeppy gasped sharply in surprise as his vision became crystal clear, and he could hear himself breathing again. Even though he still felt sore, Skeppy felt relieved that he didn't think he was dying anymore. Grunting loudly, Skeppy sat up and wobbled before he put his hands on the couch to catch his balance. Bad gasped and put his hands on his chest to try and make him sit back down, but Skeppy swatted him away before blowing him a raspberry.
Bad looked indignant as he wiped his face.
"You... are so lucky I like you. Look, Geppy, let me at least check you over! And there's no arguing, mister, because you know I am much stronger than you. I... I don't want to, but I need to make sure you're okay," Bad scolded, his stern expression betrayed by his anxious eyes, "Just turn around so I can check for any scuffs."
Despite Skeppy (probably) not being physically injured, he doesn't think that Bad would believe him if he explained what happened. Bad probably assumes that he had been hurt by the Zombie Piglins, but Skeppy could still vividly remember the image of the relic melting into him. Glancing down at his arms, he swallowed thickly at the thought of what the crystal had done to him.
A hand rests on him, and his face burns with embarrassment.
Whipping his body around, he doesn't give him a chance to show any more comfort.
"Whatever, fine, just get it over with."
A few tense moments of silence pass before Bad sighs and places two large hands on his sides. Skeppy's core jumps in surprise at the physical contact as his hoodie is lifted from his torso, and he raises his arms to help himself strip. Although he's been naked in front of his best friend before, he still feels as though judgment is radiating from the gaze that silently burns into his back. The only purpose of Skeppy wearing clothing is the uncomfortable atmosphere his body creates. Although he doesn't have any privates to hide, both strangers and friends freak out if he walks about with nothing to hide his unique physicality. And thus, insecurities flourished.
A head-butt to his shoulder blades makes his heart sink.
Bad know's of his self-doubts, but it's embarrassing whenever he tries to subtly reassure his anxiety.
Skeppy ignores the comforting gesture.
Two hands carefully rest on his hips before prodding at the surface. It was difficult to spot a mark on skin that was semi-solid and transparent, so Bad always had to feel for any rifts with his fingers. One hand moves to his spine and runs up and down the cool surface while his fingers shift in pressure. Skeppy shivers at the feeling before he forces his body to go rigid. Bad pauses for a moment but doesn't say anything as he moves to his shoulders. He is faster to finish than usual as he hums softly to himself.
For a 9'6 demon with horns, wings, and a tail, he's acting remarkably awkward around his shirtless friend.
"Okay, chill," Bad mumbles to himself before cracking his knuckles, a nervous habit he had picked up. "Turn around, and then I'll quickly check your legs, and you can tell me what happened."
Skeppy hesitantly rotates his body to meet Bad's gaze and stiffens at the pink hue on his cheeks. It's difficult to see on pitch-black skin, but he's seen him flustered enough times to notice the almost undetectable color change. Bad stares back with a strange gaze, and the tension felt like a cover that was smothering them both. They'd had unsettling moments that Skeppy would never admit almost brought them to kiss, but there was an unspoken rule that neither of them ever broke.
Don't discuss the tension.
A hand suddenly rubs over his chest, and Skeppy swiftly snaps his attention to the pictures hung on the wall. There were a few photographs of him and Bad throughout the years, but many more were of their friends. Bad always had a knack for getting attached, so any new friendly person he met was hung on the wall. Being in a small and cramped town did that to you, he supposed.
Skeppy won't lie- he was mildly jealous.
Why does Puffy get more frames than him?
Bad's hands return to Skeppy's hips in one final double-check, and his spaded tail twitches softly behind him as he keeps his head bowed in concentration. Attention shifting, Skeppy gazed at the thick appendages on Bad's back. The demon's large wings were constantly furled indoors to avoid breaking anything (or anyone), but one exception was when Skeppy was wrapped in them in the dead of night.
Skeppy's jaw clenches as he thanks whatever voodoo that created him that he couldn't blush. Suddenly, searing pain flashes through his body, and he screams.
Bad's hands jump away so quickly that he nearly topples over.
But the pain doesn't end, and Skeppy claws at his chest to dig out the burning on his insides. His wrists are grabbed and pulled away from himself before something heavy and warm wraps around him. Opening his eyes, he sees thick black wings enveloped around him with Bad by his side. He thinks he would appreciate it more if he wasn't panicking over how his vision was spotting again. His tongue felt dry and thick in this mouth, and he felt like vomiting up his heart.
A ringing in his ears drowned out everything around him as he collapsed forward. But he only fell for a few inches before he was caught and held like he was worth more than the stars. Prying open his eyes, he could make out Bad through the dozens of black spots dancing in his eyesight.
"I already used a Totem while we were flying! I don't have another! Skeppy, please! You're so tough, please! Please!"
And as quickly as it came, the agony vanished.
Panting, Skeppy buried his fingers into the coat that he was pressed into. Although the pain disappeared, he still trembled at the thought of suddenly being yanked to the brink of death, only to be dragged right back. Digging his face into Bad's chest, any humiliation was far from his mind as he relentlessly sought out comfort.
And comfort was keen to appear as Bad wrapped around him as tightly as he could and whispered loving encouragement. Even his tail coiled tightly around his leg, as though Bad was the only thing keeping him from the claws of death. Skeppy took in a shaky breath as he lifted a hand to wipe at his tears. Though without the fabric of his hoodie, his smooth hand only managed to smear it across his face. A different hand quickly jumped at the situation and cleaned his damp cheeks before lifting up his chin.
"Skeppy?" Bad murmured, his face streaked with his own tears.
Skeppy didn't even get a chance to respond before lips locked his own.
Eyes shooting wide, he tensed.
And his body glowed multiple colors.