Domestic ❧ Skephalo AU

Chapter 13.) Doubts, Disguises, and the Halos' Hijinks

Anxious as ever, Sapnap paced back and forth in his room, his hands firmly clutching his recent drawing of him and his dad. He had been meaning to talk to the older demon for quite some time, but his frantic thoughts clashed with him on a daily basis and he ended up retreating each time. Truth be told, he wouldn't have decided to gather his courage and talk to his dad if not for his best friends' support. 

Ponk had left not too long ago, meaning Sapnap was alone with the Shadow Dweller. He supposed it was fate giving him the chance to talk to the older demon, but he couldn't find it within himself to leap at the opportunity. Was it cowardly of him to want the other demon to approach him first? Probably, but it wasn't like anybody was around to call him out for it. 

With a nervous exhale, he poked his head out of his room and stared out into the living room. 

BadBoyHalo sat on the couch with his face buried in a book. Several other books were opened and scattered on the floor, coffee table, and cushions. Upon creeping closer, Sapnap noticed all of the books were spell-related. 

"Dad?"

The Shadow Dweller withdrew his face from the book. Peering curiously at the Fire Spitter, Bad placed his book in his lap and asked, "Yes, Sap?"

Sapnap gulped. Different commands were being spammed in his head and each of them was along the lines of 'turn back.' He wanted to turn back, he really did, but he was face-to-face with his dad and there was no turning back from this. 

This was something that he needed to get off his chest. 

"Uh... how- ugh, how do I word this? Tch, okay, I think I got this. Dad...! How much do you care for the human?"

Confusion danced across the older demon's features. 

"A lot? He's become a good friend of mine recently. Why do you ask?"

"Would you even say... you love him?" Sapnap asked, warily. 

"Who doesn't love their friends?" Bad laughed and motioned for Sapnap to take a seat beside him. The young Fire Spitter obliged, but didn't stop talking. 

"But do you love him more than me?"

"... What?"

"Is he gonna replace me?"

"Wh- Sapnap! What are you talking about?"

"You're gonna replace me with him, aren't you? You're gonna leave me to stay in the human realm, and I'll be stuck living with- with Dream or George! I'm gonna be an orphan and Techno is gonna come after me!" Sapnap rambled with tears in his eyes. His fingers were still wrapped tightly around his drawing, but his trembling claws were beginning to tear small holes in the paper. 

Worried, Bad slid the book off his lap and took the smaller demon into his arms. "No! Why would you ever think that? Sappy Nap, I could never replace you, nor could I ever leave you behind. What made you think I'd abandon you?"

"I- ..." Sapnap didn't know. There was no proof Bad cared for the human more than he loved his own son, but that didn't stop Sapnap's insecurities from manifesting into awful thoughts. "I just... would you ever think about it, though?"

Bad frowned. "Look, I care about Skeppy a lot, but he could never take your place. You're literally everything to me."

"But do you love him more than me?" Sapnap looked down at the crumpled drawing in his hands. Bad glanced down at the crayon scribbles and sighed. 

"There are different kinds of love, Sapnap. I love you like any parent should love their child, but I also love Skeppy like any person would love their friend. You love Dream and George, right?"