Frenemies

Family

"So does this make us..friends..?" Bad asked, obviously nervous due to him fiddling with his sharp claw-like fingers. Skeppy got caught off guard by the sudden noise, snapping him back to reality.

"Hm? Oh! I guess so." Skeppy responded, before trailing back to hearing loud footsteps, both of them looking in the direction it was coming from.

"Crap!- They must have followed me here," Bad sighed, looking back at Skeppy, "You should get going before they catch you here." Bad began to stand up.

"Wait," Skeppy cherped, "Can we meet up here again tomorrow, same time?" He questioned, Bad stopped in his tracks before him.

"I-" Bad stopped himself, "Sure." He added with a warm smile, before running away. Skeppy soon realized he needed to get going as well before those, he assumed, demons caught up with him. He rushed to grab his lantern and ran over to the door he came from and out the border in a hurry.

When Skeppy arrived home, his sister wasn't very pleased by his actions. There she stood, next to the front door of their petite wooden cottage, arms crossed over her chest, and her chocolate brown eyes filled with anger and disappointment in her younger brother.

"So, where did you run off to this time?" Summer hissed, Skeppy took a deep breath before walking past her and setting his lantern and bag on the coffee table.

"I know you can hear me, Skeppy." Her voice more dominant than before. Closing the door behind her, she put her hand on his shoulder, sending chills down the smaller males back. Skeppy turned around before answering.

"I was just exploring the forest, looking for that girl who went missing." He spoke, which wasn't technically a lie on his behalf. He sat down on the couch as Summer sighed before speaking up once more.

"Skeppy, you can't be running off like this. Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Summer sat down next to Skeppy, her posture showing she was truly worried about him.

Skeppy feeling guilty stays quiet, not sure if he should tell his sister about that demon he encountered today. He soon decides what he should say.

"Listen, sis," Summer turns her head towards him, "I'm sorry, I never intended for you to get so worried about me. Just know I'm fine." Skeppy apologizes, Summers heart warmed by this, smiles and gives him a hug, Skeppy hesitates a bit before hugging her back.

"Well, I'm gonna start on dinner." Summer spoke, before releasing from the hug and standing up from the soft oak colored couch. "Why don't you go take a shower, you smell awful." Skeppy rolled his eyes playfully, before leaving his sister to go shower.

While Skeppy was washing his silky charcoal hair his mind began to wonder.

'What if that demon doesn't show up? What if it's all just a trick to kill me?!' Skeppy froze, he opened his eyes and leaned his head back as the warm water ran down his hair onto his back.

'No, he would have killed me by now.' he closed his eyes once more, continuing on to wash his body.

'But that leaves one more thing..' Skeppy turned off the water. He opened the shower curtain roughly, the steam hugging onto his body as he stepped out, grabbing his tan towel in the process.  'Why were those demons after him?'

There stood Bad, his father lecturing him for the 14th time this week.

"What were you thinking? Going into the border like that, are you crazy?!!" His father roared, he was the current king of the demon race.

"You can't be doing that! You're about to uphold the new rule as king!" His voice,  more frustrated than before.

"B-but father, I don't want to be king!  I can't!" Bad argued, he doesn't want to be the next ruler of his people, he's not built for it. He's too merciful and forgiving. No one would respect him, as if they do already. Nobody truly respected him, it was all just a facade to please his father.

"I've had enough of your fucking shenanigans." His father arose from his seat, clearly disgusted by his son's behavior. Clearing his throat he began to state, "Since you think you're so pathetic why don't I up your training by a few more hours, hm?" He hissed at his son.

"You can't do that!"

"Why not?"

Bad froze, thinking of an excuse.

"I have to meet up with a friend of mine." Bad lifted his head high as if he was proud of what he said.

"Who's this friend you speak of?" His father questioned, Bad panicked thinking of an answer.

"Skeppy. He's a friend from combat training." He lied, trying to maintain eye contact with his father.

"Oh, I see.." His father seemed amused by this information, which worried him, what was he planning?

"Well, in that case, I guess your extended hours must wait until next time." He sat back down, fixing himself in the process.

"You shall go now, the maids will prepare dinner for you, then you must go straight to bed." His father instructed, Bad hated it. He hated his father and his stupid demands but he didn't protest, walking out of the red and gold thrown room, he huffed, rolling his eyes, he slammed the doors behind him.

"Hello, Prince Halo! Your sleepwear is ready for you." Bad's personal maid announced, she was an elf with light pale skin,  short strawberry blond hair, and beautiful green eyes to match it.

"Thank you, Leanne." Bad weakly smiled as he plopped onto his bed, receiving a sigh from Leanne as she walked over to his bed, sitting down next to him.

"Your father already told me about what you did." She remarked, Bad groaned at this before responding..

"Greattt.." Sarcasm seeped from his mouth as Bad spoke. Leanne sympathetically sighed.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Bad hesitated for a moment before sitting up and turning to face her.

"Do I have to?" He asked, still unsure if he should tell her; what if she told his father?! His heart skipped a beat.

"You don't have to tell me, your highness." She gave a reassuring smile, not wanting the prince to feel uncomfortable with her wish.

"Well..," He paused to look up at Leanne then back down at this lap, "I met this fairy boy at the border." He shifted in his seat as Leanne's ears seemed to perkup at his words.

"B-but he isn't like the stories we were told as kids!" Bad paused, "He's different!" his voice seemed to rise a bit as he spoke, his heart pounding even faster than before, but he didn't know why. Leanne just chuckled.

"Are you sure you didn't just imagine it?" She sarcastically asked, giggling at the idea. Bad became flustered at this, his grab on his pants tightened as he grinded his teeth.

"I'm being serious!" Bad stood up, throwing his hands out to his sides, clearly upset with her reaction.

"Listen, I'd love to believe that you met a fairy but that's wayyy too unlikely." Leanne said light heartedly, her hand resting on her heart. "I'm sorry." Her voice was laced with a sweet and pitiful tone.

"But I'm telling the truth!!" Bad, seemingly becoming more frustrated than before, argues against her. But she just rolls her eyes.

"Fine!" Bad sighed, "What will it take for you to believe me?!" Bad asked, she eyed him before smirking.

"Let me meet him."