Chapter Text
The past few months of Clover's life have been interesting. The cowboy never thought he would ever see the surface again, hell ever be alive again. Yet here he was, laying on the floor of best friend's room, Chara Dreemurr. Heh. The idea is still funny to Clover. Initially Chara wanted him dead. He was just another human after all. Despite that, he was insistent on becoming friends with Frisk's older sibling. So he kept trying to interact with Chara anytime he saw them. If he had paid attention better though, he would have noticed the hints Chara kept dropping that they wanted nothing to do with him. Ignoring those hints eventually lead to Chara yelling at him harshly to leave them alone. He still remembers the guilt on Chara's face when he told them what happened at the end of his journey. Perhaps he should have opened up with his sacrifice at first instead of introducing himself as a gun wielding human. Chara most likely wouldn't have shouted at them and their friendship would start off better. Clover was then shaken from his thoughts from a slight kick to his shoulder.
"Are you just gonna lay down on my floor the entire afternoon, cowboy?" Chara said while looking down at him. Clover proceeded to get himself off the floor.
"Sahry, jus' bored out of maah mind" Clover replied. Chara simply huffed and went back to their desk. They opened their journal and started writing. Clover simply decided to take a seat at the end of Chara's bed. The deputy began to curl his hair around his finger. It was a recent habit Clover start to do as he let his hair grow out. He always liked the idea of having his hair be long but his parents never allowed it as they considered it "unsavory." He never understood what that meant and it only confused him. Why couldn't he grow it out if he wanted to? Long hair was pretty, especially if it was tied up in a ponytail.
"So unfair tat ah can't 'ave a ponytail." Clover unknowingly spoke out loud.
"Huh, what was that, Cloves?" Chara questioned. They did hear Clover correctly right? Why would he think he can't have a ponytail.
Clover quickly spat out "Twas nothin. It's stupid."
"No, no. It is not nothing." Chara responded. "You said you can't have a ponytail, right? What makes you think that? You have more than enough hair for it?"
Clover started picking at the fabric of their pants before responding back "Maah parents, maah human parents, nevah let me 'ave maah hair dis long. Only a mader of time before ah 'ave t' cut it."
"Clover, you do not live with them anymore. You can choose if it gets cut or not" Chara stated deadpanned.
Clover only stared at the floor. Would he really be allowed to do so? Martlet has been a nice to him after all. So far she hasn't told him to get a hair cut, but that can always change.
"It is your hair Clover." Chara spoke up again "You can do whatever you want with it."
Clover started to imagine what it would be like to tie the back of his hair into a ponytail. He felt a strong calling to the idea that he couldn't place. The idea made his chest feel warm.
Chara proceeded to sit on the bed next to Clover. They tilt their head towards the deputy and spoke "If you wanted to, I could tie the back of your hair into a ponytail"
Clover quickly looked at Chara in the eyes for any sign of them joking. He saw Chara's usual serious face. Not an ounce of sarcasm on their face. Were they really okay with this?
"Ya would do tat fer me, Chara?" Clover questioned.
"Of course I would, Clover." Chara answered "You are my best friend and despite how it may seems. I do want you to be happy." They tilted their face and smiled at Clover. Chara then hopped off their bed and walked to the nightstand. They proceed to open the draw and grabbed something out of it. Afterwards they got back on the bed but sat right behind Clover.
Before starting, Chara spoke up again "If you really want it that is."
Clover pondered for a moment if he should really go through with it. He really wanted the ponytail but was worried what others would say. But, if Chara was so supportive of him. It couldn't hurt, right? Clover then leaned his head backwards towards Chara.
"Ah would like t' 'ave a ponytail." he said. Clover then felt Chara's hands gently grab onto his hair. He could feel each finger waving through the strands as they grab them and pull them together. It felt oddly peaceful to the cowboy. It didn't take long before the fingers stopped combing through his hair and instead held it in place. He then felt Chara start to tie something around his hair.
"Alright, it is all done." Chara spoke before hopping off the bed and returning to the nightstand drawer. This time they pulled out a handheld mirror and faced it towards the deputy.
Clover could only stare in awe at his own reflection. The ponytail was large and sat gently on his back as it moved downwards. His hands started to drift towards the tail. He could still feel the warmth left behind by Chara's hands. The ponytail looked pretty on him. It felt like Clover found a part of him that had been missing his entire life. A smile started to form on his face.
"So, what do you think." Chara spoke up. Clover gently rested the mirror on the bed and turned towards their friend. Then he wrapped them in a tight hug.
"Ahh love it, Chara. Ya did an amazin job." Clover said muffled into Chara's shoulder. Chara slowly returned the hug.
"You're welcome, cowboy" they replied back.
For some reason, Clover felt a bit hurt being called that. It felt off to him despite the fact Chara had been using that nickname for months now. He never felt this way before over the nickname so why does it hurt all of sudden? The deputy quickly pushed the thought down as he didn't want Chara to worry about him. This friendship is too important to him after all.