Chapter Text
Clover walked through the forest, not really looking for anything. They listened cautiously for footprints at a small break with wide fields before continuing. They strolled until they swore they swore they felt their foot bump into something, since they tended to drag their feet with their strides. They looked down to see a fleshy creature, not a human baby for sure, with tiny yet fleshy horns barely poking out of the head that was unseparated from the body, due to the absence of a neck. You could faintly see some of the veins on its form, with small arms with claws attached.
While many humans would consider the creature repulsive, and flee at the very sight, Clover was not a human. They looked at the flesh being, eye full of love and care, they thought it was the most beautiful thing they had laid eyes —well, really ‘eye’— upon, besides their husband of course. Clover felt an obligation to care for it, as if they were its creator . As the unfortunate offspring began to weep, clover, in a panic quickly scooped the “baby” in its arms, and began walking back to their cabin.
As Pepper was peacefully watching TV and looking for their weed stash he heard Clover knock on the door, he of course answered them, only to have his jaw drop when he saw the fleshy being, cradled in their arms. They seemed to be rocking it softly. “Clover…my love… WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING?????” Pepper yelled in fear as he tried to slap the thing out of clovers hands, to which clover expertly dodged, looking shocked and a twinge angry. “Why would you do that!” Clover exclaimed, “BECAUSE ITS HIDEOUS, ITS ONE OF THOSE FACE-HUGGING THINGIE-“ Pepper stopped the rant when it started crying again, clover tried shushing it and rocking it again but it didn’t work.
By then Pepper’s parental instincts hit him like a bus, even though he was still repulsed. “What do we do!?” Clover panicked, “Uhhh idk???? Feed it?!!!” Pepper yelled, “FEED IT WHAT?” “…I think we both kno-“ “No.” “Noted..” Silence, until Clover came up with a bright idea, “Uhhhh maybe we can like mash up some carrots? Do we have one of those… spinny-blade-bowl devices?” “… a what now?” Another long pause. “Are you talking abt a fucking food processor?” “…I think?” “…” “…Are you mad at me?” “No.. just- yes, we have one.” Pepper looks extremely disappointed.
They ended up putting carrots in the food processor, but when pepper tried to feed it, the creature immediately denied it “I’m abt to punch this thing I swear to dev-“ “If you do that I break your spine.” Clover interjected, “Well that depends how you-“ Pepper started smugly before Clover slapped him, “OW??!!?!??” “Oh boohoo.” Clover tried to feed the infant, and this time it gratefully accepted the food. It then stopped crying. Pepper looked at the thing, what did clover see in it???? He kept staring, as he did, it started to look… cuter? Like it was his, theirs. But it’s wrong to take someone else’s kid. “Well we can’t just keep it…” Pepper said, almost mournfully. “I know…” Clover sighed, really mournfully. “Hey, we can always ma-“ “Don’t make me slap you again” “…Dully noted.” Clover looked upset “Well, can’t we just keep it tonight? I’ll find its home later.” They remorsefully suggested. “Ok.” Pepper replied.
Clover managed to rock the baby to sleep, and watched a movie together, making sure to keep the volume low. Once it had finished, Clover realized many things, whether they liked it or not, they can’t keep this child. They weren’t its parent, it had a family…one that loved it. Even if they don’t understand what it’s like to be missed or mourned, they know that it always happens, and will happen. They had to bring it back, they had to.
Once Pepper had fallen asleep, clover then ventured outside of their small cottage, and into the woods, retracing their steps through the darkness. They walked and walked until their soles- or paws ached from the walking, even then they didn’t stop, they were dead set on getting this child to its family, even if they met ebo- … never mind. They finally saw some light, a sort of orange-yellow torch glow, they knew it was a village. They didn’t know how the village would treat them, so they looked through the bushes. Once they saw one of the adults, they morphed, hands shifting into spindly and sharp claws, growing long, black horns, tender flesh forming in place of their “skin” (for lack of a better description) they could even feel their bones getting frailer, almost that of a human .
They proceeded on, into the landscape, searching for the parents. The creatures spoke in an odd language, but, somehow they could decipher it. Two adults came to Clover, their shrill and gravely voices laced with dread and panic, rambling about how they had lost their child. Clover then showed them what they had been carrying, the two almost started wailing. They thanked them endlessly, wait… how did they know Clover’s name? …Their real name. They were a god, but no one had ever known of them…it was likely their fatigue playing tricks on them.
They stumbled back, now aching, they were almost sure they were bleeding because of this new..frail form. They quickly changed back into themself, and trudged back to their abode. On the way, they tripped over some rock and fell over, and got their arm caught in a thorny bush, feeling sharp, cutting pains all over their arm. They continued anyways. Once they had reached it, they almost collapsed onto Pepper, but they carefully moved him, as to not harm him nor wake him. Then they passed out.
Pepper awoke ten minutes later from the disturbance. He recognized two things, One: his beautiful wife, and Two: partially soaked sheets on their couch. Upon further inspection of his wife, he noticed a seemingly deep gash on their shoulder, along with other, smaller cuts; which worried him greatly. “Clover?- Wake up honey,” Pepper started to shake Clover awake. Clover mumbled something about being tired and slightly opened their eye. “Just- just stay right here.” He said as he rushed to find their first aid kit.
He found it in the bathroom cabinet, then he rushed back over to Clover. Their blood was black, but had this rainbow reflection to it. Like an oil spill, not exactly giving its beauty justice but it was a fit comparison. He disinfected and bandaged the wounds, it wasn’t the best but it would work. “Does it hurt?” He shakily asked, pressing on the wound on Clover’s shoulder, only to immediately stop after clover flinched- practically recoiling at the touch. “Oh- sorry.” He apologized. “Can we cuddle…?” Clover mumbled, still half-asleep. “Of course Clovey…” Pepper answered, lying back on the couch while pulling Clover in for a hug. He then kissed them on their head and fell back to sleep.