Chapter Text
The fog outside snips at Pepper’s nose as they stand within the door frame, sniffling at the breeze. The marble steps glisten with the fresh fall of rain, whisking the air into something damp. A perfect cascade of fall, mornings rich with dew drops and dying out fire pits.
Pepper is thankful for the sweater picked out the night before, pressed against their skin, warming the expanse of their throat. Without it, they are sure they’d become a victim to the elements. A simple black and red that bunches up at the pull of their backpack straps.
Edge did always prefer those colors. A signal of his pledge to their side, as most butlers desire.
Pepper peers over their shoulder and spies Edge hustling around the kitchen, double-checking that every pan from breakfast is put away. He was a man of habit, and despite Pepper’s insistence on understanding, he always proclaimed that you could never leave a room without mopping up any possible destruction. Pepper wouldn’t exactly use that word to describe one singular plate of food, but Edge was not to be tousled.
Despite his simple task, his face remained the epitome of concentration. Cleanliness. Pepper tries not to smile too wide, knowing that if Edge catches them, they’d be in for a defensive talking to.
They clear their throat. His eyesockets, pinched as always, fire onto Pepper’s form with a sense of urgency. “Are we running late?”
Pepper offers a gentle tilt of their head, a call for peace. “We are approaching being on time, actually.”
“Bah!” The skeleton exclaims, slamming the ajarred cabinets. “That’s preposterous! My apologies, young human.” He strides through the door and eyes Pepper carefully before he shuts it accordingly. “Are your numbers ironed out?”
“I checked them on my Dexcom a couple minutes ago. “
“Medication taken?”
“Yes, sir.”
He squints. “Are you sure?”
Pepper rolls their eyes. “You know what will happen if I don't. I took them.”
Satisfied, Edge nods his head. He offers his hand and Pepper takes it, letting him lead the way.
The two walk the path to the front of the house, settling into calm silence. Edge taps away at his phone, and Pepper takes the time to study the flowers fading out along the fence. The weather has taken its toll, and many of the bright colors of spring no longer remain in the garden, replaced by green grass and yellow leaves.
Slight disappointment follows Pepper as Edge unhooks the gate’s lock and guides Pepper through. The winter was never a pleasant time for them. Their little garden always died out, and their living quarters swelled with the cold to make the hall sit uncomfortably quiet.
“Oh, for Great Asgore’s sake!”
Mud awaits them in the vast side-yard, and Pepper watches as Edge scowls. He turns to them, staring down at their school shoes. The curve of the leather sinks into the ground. “Pesky rain…what a mess.”
Pepper tries to smile, but it wobbles in the wake of Edge’s fire. “It’s alright. I'm sure the other children will be suffering the same.”
Rather than wait for Edge to fret longer, Pepper takes a hedging step. The squish of the grime sounds from their heels, but they ignore Edge’s gasps of horror and wade through the muck until they reach the other side.
For a moment, the suffocating numbness lightens, and Pepper feels a mischievous smile grace their lips. Drenched in the humidity, they taste freedom.
It’s short-lived, as always. When they settle on the other side, they know it to be over. They peek at the damage and spy specks staining their socks.
They don’t have to look back at Edge to see his reaction. The fume of distaste was palpable. Guilt invades them— shame for enjoying such silly things. Embarrassment that a dignified example of wealth was still weak to such childish things.
Edge wastes no time moving across the mud, scooping Pepper’s hand into his, dragging them along. He doesn’t seem angry, but instead, remains muttering in worry. Pepper frowns.
“They will hardly notice, sir. You know how they are with me.”
“I worry for the future of your shoes!” He clacks his jaw with a resounding sniff. “I loathe that we have to take this route.”
Pepper goes quiet.
They know he doesn’t mean it like that, but they can’t help but take it personally. After all, they were the reason for it. The route. The stress. The dance of careful preparation every day. They were to be hidden and avoided from the main residents of the house, never to be seen. Never to be remembered.
It was how things had to be.
Pepper was fourteen, alone, and forgotten. A prop to display and be kept alive for appearances.
They stay silent until they get into the car. When led into the backseat, all they can do is stare out the window and sink into their loneliness.
“Pepper? Are you with me?”
They look up and spy Edge studying them in the review mirror. The scar across his eye bends with his scrutiny.
Pepper nods. They roll their backpack off their shoulders and hug it against their chest. “I’m okay,” they say, even if they don’t mean it. They never do.
The engine roars to life, and Edge continues on with his routine. Pepper leans into it in hopes of forgetting the ache within.
“I’ll be unable to pick you up from school today. Do you think you can handle walking?”
Pepper hums. “Yes. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“No dilly-dallying?”
“I will go straight home.”
“You promise?”
Pepper sighs. “Edge, c’mon. I’ll be fine. I can handle a fifteen minute walk.”
Edge doesn’t indicate if he believes them or not. He simply adjusts the mirror and sets off driving.
Perhaps the skeleton had the right to worry.
Although, Pepper didn’t really know what they were doing in the store anyway.
Upon heading home from school, exhausted and hungry, waving goodbye to their fellow students, they passed by the little shop of their torment. However, with one look inside, something deep within their soul, a trait of theirs they desperately tried to ignore, pulled them to a halt, forcing them to stare inside the glistening windows.
It wasn’t something they had the time for. Their Dexcom, although indicating calmed levels, was sure to alert them of something eventually. Their feet had ached, and a part of them was inclined to ignore the place and keep going. Edge would’ve steered them away. Red would’ve pinched their ears and scolded them for their faraway attitude.
However, Pepper had always been a weak one. They couldn’t resist once they set their eyes on something. The blasted determination Red always teases them for rings true.
So there they stand, in the middle of the overcrowded store, glancing at the different enclosures with a grimace.
The bitty store definitely isn't a new sight, either. They had gotten the place a year or two ago, their city always a bit behind on the current trends. It was a huge hit at the time. Pepper could recall their classmates bragging about their new bitties practically everyday of middle school. They had been asked if they were ever interested in purchasing one themselves, but they were in the midst of something dark. It was the last thing on their mind before…
Well, before high school and its troubles, of course, Pepper strolled by it multiple times before, never bothering to take a moment of their precious day to stare at the creatures through the store windows. It never was appealing. It never mattered.
However, today is different.
Just a mere hour ago, trapped in lessons on protein synthesis, Pepper was on the receiving end of one of Chara’s justice rants. In which, they lamented about the horrors of the world and its cruelty. It was a situation well known and expected, and Pepper knew they learned most from their older brother. While a good natured plight, Pepper could see the idolizing motivation of a younger sibling regurgitating their hero’s woes. They tolerated it for that honor.
Today's topic just happened to be Bitties, and Chara made sure to fill Pepper’s head with tales of abuse, neglect, and objectification. It was a horror movie, in a way. Nothing about it was particularly pleasant, and like most times, Pepper did leave the conversation suddenly enlightened.
Despite it, Pepper didn’t plan to act on the newly discovered morals. It was something to be aware of, sure, but nothing to ponder too deeply over. Bitties could continue to be ignored and forgotten with no issues.
They were wrong. Of course they were. They knew better than to doubt Chara’s ability to guilt them dry for crimes they never even committed.
They knew better than to let something be forgotten.
The plan remains unfounded. Pepper isn’t sure what to even look for— what to help with. Bitties of all kinds dwell in the enclosures, chatting or watching them with hawkish eyes as they whisk by. Goat themed, fish themed, and even fire themed. Pepper pauses for a while at that particular section, fascinated by the swirls of colors brightening the enclosure.
The structure of the place isn’t particularly impressive, but it’s also not a complete mess. The walls were lined with food and supplies, and each cage has a proper amount of resources to keep the bitties feeling energized. Couches, beds, blankets. Pepper even spies a lamb bittie with a little plushie, prancing it around the cage and showing it off to its fellow residents.
They can’t help but question Chara’s claims. The bitties appear to be in good shape. The goat themed bitties were talking lightly, taking turns brushing through their fur. The water based bitties float through their tank in a swirl of laughter. Though the conditions of their living quarters were inhuman, leaving them in a glass wall cage with limited furniture to keep them busy, they seemed pleased. Maybe even happy.
Pepper sighs. Who was Pepper to judge when they hardly knew anything about bitties and their livelihoods? Once again, they fell down the rabbit hole that was Chara’s justice and jumped to conclusions. Edge would be displeased.
They hoist their bag up their shoulder and start heading towards the door.
However, before they can grab hold of the doorknob, a quiet, strangled gasp catches their attention.
They look over their shoulder, seeing that the employees from before were in the back rather than at the counter, talking lightly in the doorframe. Either they couldn’t hear the noise, or they just didn’t care enough to investigate. Pepper doesn’t like either option.
Someone was hurt, and whoever it was, likely needed help. And yet, it was something to ignore and dismiss.
They furrow their brows and step away from the front entrance, following the sound.
It leads them to the back of the store, with flickering signs and an odd smell of mildew. It’s less nice, Pepper has to admit, with dim lighting and a cramped selection of cages to choose from. Thankfully, most were empty, with hardly any bitties in the enclosures. The ones remaining stay quiet, sleeping or staring off into nothing. It unsettles Pepper— forces their steps to slow as they slink down the path to the end of the aisle.
They stop right in front of the farthest holder. The sounds slip past the cracks of the cage. It awaits them, almost drawing them closer. Slowly, They peer down into the enclosure, and gasp at the sight.
A skeleton bitty lays in the corner of their home, arms wrapped around their stomach. It writhes, its body trembling beneath the darkness, small noises of sorrow leaking. The tears wetting its cheeks, slipping onto the enclosure floor, sends spikes of panic through Pepper’s gut.
The question of potential death startles them. Pepper quickly searches the creature for injuries. They spy a large hole on the side of the creature’s head, but it doesn’t seem to be bleeding at all, nor does the creature pay it any mind. Rather, it only focuses on its stomach, cradling it as if it was shot.
Their soul shatters, and they waste no time kneeling down to a better level with the small creature.
“Hello,” they start softly, and the crying ceases immediately. One of the bitty’s sockets peels open, revealing a glowing red eyelight that twitches and widens. It’s a bit terrifying, but Pepper persists, clearing their throat. “Are you alright?”
The bitty glances up at something, and Pepper follows its line of sight, spotting a smaller enclosure on one of the shelves. It’s way too tiny for the bitty, as it takes up most of the space inside, leaving it more as a small cell than a home. Its skull presses against the glass, glaring down at Pepper with furious eyelights, purple and red glistening. Pepper can immediately pick up on some sort of connection between the two, and the situation they are in makes Pepper’s frown grow.
They are too far apart to touch, and not close enough to speak. And yet, a clear bond is there. Pepper resists clenching their fists, determined to not frighten the pained bitty. They turn their attention back to it, easing their gaze as much as they can.
“My name is Pepper. I’m not here to cause you any harm.” They pause, thinking. “I…I wanna help you get out of here. Can you tell me your name?”
The bitty stirs, whining. Pepper can hear a soft thump from the buggy above.
“Hungry….” The bitty mumbles.
Pepper’s stomach lurches in despair. They press a hand against the container and try to meet the creature’s stare. “If you tell me your name, and any friends you want out of here too, I can get you as much food as you want.”
That catches the attention of the Bitty, making the cogs in his head start to focus on things other than his hunger.
“….Horror…” It starts slowly, sitting up with great care. It takes a moment to think, large head drifting up and down in a daze, before its foggy eyes drifts to Pepper. “M’ brothers are Dust and Killer—“
“—Stop it,” the bitty from above finally speaks, yowling out the warning with a raspy grit. “Don’t tell them anything more. You know better.”
“Dust, I’m starving,” Horror winces, and that’s when Pepper notices his teeth. They fall into a wince, pulling back to reveal the immense crookedness of his fangs. Even with the difficulty of oral maintenance, Pepper knows no smile should look so painful and unclean. Those teeth have to hurt. Badly.
Horror doesn’t seem to notice Pepper’s growing concern, staring at the other bitty with watery sockets. “They said they’d feed us. We’ll finally get to eat. Maybe…maybe they can take us home—“
“—No!” The bitty’s rise in volume has Pepper jumping. “We can’t trust them! Horror, do not tell them anything else. We can handle it. They…” Dust’s fists release, sliding down the wall until they rest in his lap. He hangs his head. “They can’t handle any more disappointment.”
Pepper stays silent, looking between the two bitties, realizing that one isolated conversation will not bring them any answers. With a deep breath, they stand, reaching eye level with Dust. The bitty glares, sinking deeper into its hood, leaving no trace of his skull. Only an empty blackness greets them, with two glowing purple pupils burning into their skin.
Pepper doesn’t offer a smile. They can tell such a thing will not comfort him and only will make him pull away with distrust. Instead, they prepare a serious expression, ready to be honest with the creature. After all, they deserve transparency.
“ I understand why you guys wouldn’t trust me. I’ve heard how bad things can go for you. Hear how people treat you. To be honest I…” they glance away, ashamed. “I’m not sure how to properly care for you guys anyways. I just know this isn’t right. I do truly want to help. “ Pepper bites their lip in thought. “If you don’t wanna stay with me, that’s fine. I’ll let you guys go as soon as we get far enough from the store.”
The bitty’s eyes glisten at the sound of that, but his form does not move. “Humans are always sayin’ shit like that, then they leave anyways. Why should I trust you?”
Pepper lifts their chin defensively. “I know what it’s like to be abandoned. I’d never do that to another person.”
Dust raises a browbone. “Person?”
“That’s what you are, isn’t it? Or do you prefer monster?”
Dust chuckles and doesn’t answer. For a moment, Pepper thinks he’s never going to acknowledge them again, but the intensity of his stare reads as something else. Something deeper. The glow of his eyelights gleam, and Pepper feels something tug at their soul for a moment.
It’s gone just as fast, and Dust’s aggression lessens in the face of slight surprise.
He glances down to their brother in arms, perhaps blood, and Pepper watches their eyes soften in concern.
There’s a long pause between them. Pepper doesn’t back down, even as Dust glares.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, the bitty closes its sockets with a grimace and nods, relief knocking through Pepper.
“If you help us, you gotta know it’s not just me and the big guy down there. ”
Pepper wants to nod immediately— agree and assist the poor creature, but they are ashamed when they hesitate. “How many are you referring to?”
Dust grins, though it’s tight and taunting, as if he truly believes they’ll bail and this is all for nothing. “Nine, including me.”
Pepper can’t help but gasp, eyes shooting open. It’s way more than expected— more than they think they are capable of. However, not in the ways the little creatures assume, eye lights glancing to the wall in defeat before Pepper even provides an answer.
The question of money is no issue. It never will be with who dwells back at home. The money thrown towards them buys their silence and disappearances, and it weighs heavily in Pepper’s account. If Pepper wanted, they could leave their household and find a nice apartment in the city without needing to work for a couple of years, but being fourteen and a highschooler tends to prevent such things.
In cases like this, dipping into their overflowing savings would be no trouble at all.
It’s their ability to provide such intense care that worries them.
Deep in their soul, they cling to the hope that the little beings will scurry away once freed outside, released from Pepper’s grasp. “Okay. Tell me where everyone is.”
The bitty blinks, eye lights shrinking in shock. They glance and meet Pepper’s gaze, searching for any lies or tricks. When they find none, Pepper can't miss the burst of hope that brightens the bitty’s face. While they do not smile, their eyelights shine, and the sight pain tears at Pepper’s soul.
“You’re…you’re serious?”
Pepper nods, determined. “Truly.”
“Why? What do you gain from this?’
“Nothing. I…I just want to help. I know you don’t believe me—“
“—that’s not it,” Dust says. “I do believe you. I…I have to. I mean— I’d be stupid not to. It said…That’s why I just don’t get…” He stops, trailing off. Dust’s small hands clench into fists as he knocks against the glass. “Whatever. Just get us the fuck out of here, kid.”
Pepper does not comment on the irony of such a statement, fiddling with the cage until they are able to pry the glass wall open, holding out their hand. Dust stares at it, confused, and Pepper tries to ignore the guilt on behalf of the human race. They scoop him up with both hands, struggling to avoid teasing the little thing for squealing at the action, lifting him to their shoulder and letting him settle onto the cloth. He’s as heavy as the ferrets Pepper used to own as a tween, and the familiar weight makes them smile.
Dust’s tiny hands cling to their sweater, clearly unused to such a position, but he shockingly doesn’t complain. Pepper wastes no time bending down and opening Horror’s cage, realizing just how massive the bitty is. Bitty hardly fits as a proper title for the creature, as he appears just as large as a small puppy. The weight is similar, as Pepper struggles to lift him at first.
With careful hands, they pull the bitty close to their chest, very aware that holding the thing on their shoulder is impossible. The bitty seems awkward at first, also very unused to such closeness with humans. However, it doesn’t take long for him to melt into Pepper’s arms, burrowing his skull into their chest, hiding his face from the world.
“Awh,” Pepper coos.
Dust scoffs, the sound reverberating close to Pepper’s ear. “He’s palatable because he’s too hungry to think straight. But sure. Because it’s us, it’s adorable, right?”
Pepper’s mouth goes stale. They check themselves and suddenly notice just how weak Horror appears in their grasp, trembling violently with his mouth hanging open, jaw too loose to operate correctly. “You’re right. It’s not cute. I’m sorry, Dust. Where to now?”
Dust blinks again, and Pepper slowly notes down such an action, realizing that simple gestures are all that will be given as indicators of emotion from the little creature. “Killer and Cross should be here. They’ve been quiet and it’s…” The bitty looks among the cages as they walk. “…Worrying, to say the least.”
Pepper takes in the new information, scanning the cages until they feel a sharp tug on their hair. They wince but do not scold the bitty, as they can’t blame him for getting their attention in such a way. They stop in front of the cages huddled into the corner of the shelves, just barely in the light of the store with the other pampered bitties. Pepper squints and spots a bitty asleep in an empty cage, a bit bigger than Dust but still microscopic in comparison to Horror.
“That’s Killer,” Dust supplies, and Pepper notices puddles of black like tar sticking to the floor of the darkened cage.
“Could you get his attention, please? I wouldn’t want to scare him,” Pepper requests, and they are thankful to see Dust’s expression soften at the question.
Pepper opens the cage door, holding their arm still. Dust crawls down Pepper’s limb, sliding into the small room and rushing to Killer’s side. Like a flame to its kindle, Dust’s ice melts as he envelopes Killer into his arms. “Kills— Kills, wake up.”
The skeleton stirs, groaning in annoyance, padding at Dust’s face. “Go away…’m sleepin’…”
Dust huffs, shaking Killer by the shoulders. Pepper frowns at the rattling noise that emits from the box. “Wake up, you idiot! We’re getting out of this dump.”
Killer opens one eye socket and Pepper realizes they are completely black, void of any sign of eyelights. “Holy shit…prision break?”
“Nope,” Dust grins. “Some rich idiot decided to take pity on us.”
Pepper opens their mouth to protest, but decides against it.
Killer doesn’t seem bothered. “All of us…?”
“All of us,” Dust confirms sternly. Killer’s other socket opens, and his skull tilts. Pepper can’t tell if he’s looking at them, but they nod their head anyways, offering a small smile.
“Who’s the kid?” Killer asks quite loudly, making Pepper’s smile tighten a bit.
“The human thats getting us the fuck out of here. Now let’s go. Hurry.” Dust pulls at Killer’s arm, dragging him towards the door.
The skeleton stumbles as he tries to rise, grumbling at Dust in a mix of sleepiness and frustration. “Alright! I’m goin’. Don’t gotta drag me.” Dust ignores his complaints and makes his way up Pepper’s arm. Killer watches as he rubs at his socket, brow bones furrowed. “What are you doing?”
Dust opens his mouth to answer, but as he relaxes on Pepper’s shoulder, his confusion returns. “I..don't know. The kid didn’t seem to care about picking me up, so…”
“Why…would I care?” Pepper looks between the two. The bitties meet eyes but say nothing more. Killer clambers into Pepper’s hand, and Pepper, though concerned, deposits him on their other shoulder. He latches onto their hair for support, and Pepper hisses in pain but says nothing.
Pepper can feel Dust and Killer staring at each other from behind their neck, and Killer’s hands fall to grip their sweater instead.
Collecting Cross is much easier. Below Killer’s cage sits the skeleton, and unlike Killer, he overheard the conversation. Pepper takes one look at the bitty and their soul swells, enamored by the politeness and shyness of the little thing. His eye lights stay focused on the ground at all times, but still insists on thanking Pepper at every turn.
“Are we getting Nightmare and Error too?” Cross wonders as Killer loops his arms around his neck, tugging him close.
“Everyone,” Pepper confirms. Cross doesn’t look so sure. Pepper tilts their head. “Is something the matter?”
Killer eyes Pepper up and down, mouth quirked into a judgemental thin line. “Dream…she’ll be easy to get. I just don’t know how you expect to get the boss.Or…Error.”
Pepper hums, letting Killer climb up to his spot once more. “I have my ways. Just believe in me.”
Killer doesn’t respond. Pepper notes that the phrasing is something to avoid.
Upon picking the Cross up, he sports a similar confused look as the others, sharing Dust’s seat, leaning into Pepper’s neck and he holds on. There's plenty of room for him to sit, and yet, Pepper can’t shake the idea that perhaps he liked the warmth of their skin. Maybe it reminds him of something.
Pepper knows they have no place asking, choosing to let it be as they make their rounds, collecting a small multi-colored clad skeleton next. His bones remain black and buzzy to the touch.
Unlike the others, he’s chipper and eccentric, asking Pepper’s name as soon as they cross paths. Upon learning the others hadn't asked similar things, he scolds them for a good five minutes, and Pepper is surprised to note that they indeed look ashamed of their actions. He introduces himself as Blue, and shares a spot with Killer, rambling his thanks.
Next is Ink, who is silent upon arrival. The bitty doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak. He lays across his chambers like a broken puppet. The others don’t seem pleased by this fact, and Pepper takes their time lifting the bitty, holding them in their other arm. He sinks into the surface, non reactive.
“Is he sick?” Pepper asks, worry digging its claws deep.
“Ink is different from other monsters,” Blue murmurs as they head to the front. “He needs his vials to feel, but they only provide those when you buy him.”
“So they deprive him of emotions until he’s sold?” Pepper questions, anger slipping into their voice. Blue tilts his skill, his big yellow eyelights watching their reaction with curiosity.
“Does that bother you?” he asks, and Pepper wishes they could meet his gaze properly.
“Very much so! It should bother everyone. He’s a living being, not a pet.” They frown at the bitty, who stares off, eyes blank. “This is just… cruel.”
Blue says nothing more, glancing at Dust. The other skeleton frowns and looks away.
Pepper avoids the gaze of the workers once they show themselves again, sweating under the hungry judgment. One slips behind the register and eyes the selection with a smile, reeking of cigarette smoke. “Wow. That’s quite the collection.”
“I guess so,” Pepper replies.
The worker stares as if he doesn’t believe them to be serious. “And…you’re sure you want…these ones? The Cross is common, I suppose, but all of them?”
Pepper glares, bringing those in their arms closer. “I don’t regret my choice.”
“Alright,” he says, trailing off. He taps away at the computer screen with a slanted frown. “I’d be careful though. These guys can be quite uh…feisty.”
Almost to make a point, Dust emits a low growl, face dipped deep into the void of his hood. The worker makes a face at him, as if he’s a disgusting dog. Pepper makes their glare clear. “I’m not done shopping. I request your help for my final purchase.”
The worker raises a brow at Pepper’s formal speech, but shrugs and leans down against the counter to meet their level. “Sure. What?”
Pepper sets Horror and Ink down on the counter and rifles through their backpack. “I want the Dream, Nightmare, and Error you have in the back.”
The worker seems stunned for a second, but one glance to the bitties gathered around in Pepper’s arms is enough of an explanation. The worker sighs as if he’s heard this request thousands of times, even if Pepper knows the truth, and shakes his head. “Can’t. The Error and Nightmare bitties are for adults only since they are a little unpredictable. The Dream bitty, however, we can-“
Pepper slams their hand onto the counter, pulling it away to reveal a wad of hundred bills stacked together. All the bittes tense at the sound, but soon jostle in shock.
“Oh, shit,” Dust murmurs as he ogles the stack.
“You weren’t kidding about the rich kid thing,” Cross comments.
The worker’s eyes go wide at the sight, looking between Pepper and the cash like a bobble head.
Pepper’s face turns steely. “I want all three.”
The worker hesitates, thinking deeply. Then, he glances over his shoulder, likely scooping out his fellow employees as they chat in the break room. He goes to grab the money but Pepper grabs his wrist before he can reach it. “Get me my bitties first, then it’s all yours.”
The two share a silent, heavy staring contest.
However, when the worker looks away and turns, heading into the back, Pepper knows they won.
“Damn, kid,” Killer whistles. “Good show.”
Pepper’s serious facade breaks, and they grow nervous. Quickly, they grab Horror and Ink into their arms again. “I think I grabbed his wrist too hard.”
“If you did, you should be impressed. You’re, what, seventeen? Eighteen? If you left a bruise at your age, that's an achievement.”
Pepper makes no move to correct his assumption. If they believe them to be older than they were, so be it.
Horror stirs in their arms, mumbling about his stomach once more. Pepper glares at the entrance to the back room, willing the worker to hurry up. Almost like magic, Pepper hears the worker yelp, with a loud crash following. Some shouting fills the room, and Pepper tries to lean over the counter to see what the commotion is about. Before they can see anything, another, much smaller cry follows, in tune with a sharp clap. Or, Pepper hopes it’s a clap, but judging by the tense reactions of the bitties on Pepper’s body, they may be very, very wrong.
A deep, violent growl sounds out, sounding rather broken and congested.
“How dare you hurt him—“
The voice is cut off by a similar clap, yelping at the end and silencing.
Pepper’s soul squeezes with worry, and they hold the bitties close, feeling the little creatures tremble in both fear and rage. Blue sniffles next to their ear, and Pepper is glad they can’t see his face. They don’t know if they could handle the heartbroken look that may cover it.
Just then, the door nudges open, and the worker stumbles in with two large cages. He struggles to carry the weight, and Pepper holds their tongue, wishing to shame him for his weakness. Though, they give him some credit, spotting thick blood leaking from In one of his fingers, bitten deep.
In one of the cages sits two bitties, one sporting bright yellow attire that looks to be old and too small for the little creature. Worry fills their eyelights as they scan the other, much darker hued creature, hunched over with small hands pressed against their companion’s side.
The other bitty huddles against the side of the cage, face hidden from view as what appears to be tentacles sway in the air, dismay as it be. The poor thing is trembling wildly, claws digging into the floor as it mutters something under its breath, fury coursing through it.
The smaller one, kinder in the face and yet just as tired, glances up at Pepper, eyelights shrinking at the sight of the others. Then, they expand, nearly filling their sockets with shining yellow light.
Before Pepper can speak, the next cage thrashes, and the worker curses, dropping it onto the counter and letting the creature inside tumble around. A heartbreaking squeal sounds out, and Pepper rushes to the cage, shifting Ink into the same arm as Horror and ripping the cage away from the worker. The worker allows it, abid miffed.
“They aren’t toys,” Pepper grits out, holding the cage close, chin resting on the top as they glare daggers at the man. “You can’t just throw them around!”
“That one deserves it,” the worker says, shrugging as if he didn’t say something utterly ridiculous. “It likes to bite. Listen, kid.” He gestures not only at the cages, but the ones on Pepper’s limbs. “The bitties you picked all have a history of aggression. Even the…Swap bitty. Hell, It’s…not even a Swap bitty anymore. They’re supposed to refrain from talking back, as Swaps are known for good behavior, and yet this one doesn’t seem to care,” the worker sneers, crossing his arms as he frowns at Blue. The bitty’s skull whips to the side, huffing as if he doesn’t care, but Pepper can feel him shaking.
“I think he’s very polite,” Pepper defends gently, and Blue’s trembling halts. “Maybe he just doesn’t like you.”
The worker, thankfully, doesn’t react too much, simply rolling his eyes and typing at his computer. “It’s your funeral. You just happened to pick our worst. These pests only had a couple weeks.”
Pepper’s blood runs cold. “Until…?”
“Until we had no more use for them.”
A chill settles between the group. Pepper’s hands quiver. With rage or despair, they aren’t sure.
“If you return them, I wouldn’t blame you, but the Error and Nightmare can’t since you aren’t supposed to have them anyways. If you truly regret your purchase, then you can stop by the vet and ask for a easy breezy put down-“
“-No!” Pepper’s scream echoes through the room, and the bitties all jump, freezing like deer as Pepper grinds their teeth with rage. “Enough. I don’t want to hear anymore, nor will I be doing that. Just give me the bitties.”
The worker doesn’t meet Pepper’s eyes. They can’t tell if it’s out of shame or boredom.
He cashes the purchase, digging through some cabinets below and pulling out a travel carrier. He fills a spare bag with accessories, and Ink’s head lifts like a limp doll at the sight of a paint sash falling into the mix. The worker provides Pepper with large bottles of refills, the size of food coloring containers that Pepper can’t help but raise a brow at. After such is completed, the worker grimaces.
Suddenly he’s leaning down, hovering over the cages with a sinister stare. “If you bite me again during this transport, I will-“
“-Stop,” Pepper says. “I can put them in it.”
The worker gives them an unimpressed look but steps back to let them, and Pepper swallows down any nerves. They start with Ink, settling him inside the transport cage along with Cross and Dust. Blue and Killer make their way down Pepper’s arm, sliding down their palm into the cramped space. Rather than complain, they cling to each other, all huddled up into one big group.
Pepper tries to rustle Horror from his slumber, but he stays firm, refusing to let go of Pepper’s sweater. With a strained smile, they allow it, focusing on the three new additions.
They pop open the lid of Dream and Nightmare’s cage, and though Nightmare glowers at them, teeth strung into a growl, Pepper stays strong.
“I want to help you. I know you don’t believe me,” Pepper whispers. “But I’ll get you out of here. All of you.” They offer their hand, making sure to move slow and precise. Dream wastes no time climbing up their fingers, arms wrapping around their wrist as she nuzzles their sleeve. Pepper deposits her into the cage with a smile, focusing on Nightmare.
They hold their hand out for a while, giving Nightmare time to not only work up the nerve but to stand with his pain. Eventually, he settles on their palm, and Pepper is surprised to find that they feel no stickiness from him despite his goopy nature. He’s met with his family in the cage safe and sound, and the little bitties waste no time leaping to hug him.
“Boss!” Killer cries, burrowing his skull into Nightmare’s shoulder as Dust and Cross cling to torso and arm. Nightmare, though as grumpy as ever, softens, patting Killer’s head and whispering praise to Dust for his bravery.
Pepper doesn’t linger too long, knowing they have no place in watching such a heartfelt reunion. Instead, they open the next cage, listening to the sharp hissing that follows. Peering inside, Pepper spies a mixed colored bitty, red, blue and yellow all making their way into his outfit and eyes. His teeth are pulled back into a snarl, cheek a violent red, and Pepper’s soul lurches. The red stands out against his dark bones, and it’s clear that Pepper’s hopes of things being not as they heard vanish.
“Hello,” they start, greeting the bitty with a gentle tone. It doesn’t seem to impress him, as his brow bones stay furrowed. “I’m Pepper. You must be Error. Think I can help you out of there?”
Before Pepper can lift their hand, the bitty lashes his claw, swatting at the air.
“D-don’t touch m-me!” He screams, words glitching out.
Pepper thinks for a moment. They shift their arm deeper into their sleeve, flapping the loose fabric. They hang the end of their sleeve into the cage, and the bitty looks on with a baffled expression.
“You don’t have to touch me. Just hang onto this. I’ll bring you over there.”
The Error bitty stares a while longer, either dumbfounded by the silly idea or the care put into his wishes. He glances to the others in the transport carrier, and meets the eye light of Nightmare, face softening.
He takes in a deep breath, even if Pepper assumed skeletons didn’t need to breathe, and grabs onto the fabric.
He’s a lot heavier than expected, and Pepper grunts as they carry him to the transport carrier, quick to set him down. He lets go just as fast, scurrying into the arms of Nightmare, the others departing like the tides.
As soon as he steps back, smiling up at the goopy skeleton, he turns his attention to Ink, who lays limp in the corner, accompanied by a worried Dream. He heads over and settles next to him, pulling Ink close, petting the top of his skull as he mumbles things Pepper couldn’t hear even if they strained to listen.
Pepper, after making sure everyone is settled, snatches the bag of accessories and hoists it over their shoulder, picking up the travel cage by the handle and almost falling over. They struggle, but manage to hold the cage under their arm, sweating from the lift.
“Aren’t you guys supposed to be small?” They mutter, and that earns them a chuckle from Killer and Blue.
They bid the worker a silent goodbye, turning on their heel and practically sprinting for the door. They nudge it open with their shoulder, sighing into the breeze, relieved that they have thankfully gotten them out of there. The suffocating sensation of the place rips off their senses.
They don’t bother to check their phone for the time, fully aware that they were already far past their expected arrival date. They’d deal with Edge’s anger later.
“How far are you wanting to go?” Pepper asks, tilting their head to get a look at Dust. The skeleton tenses, exchanging glances with the others. “I’m willing to walk to the woods if you want. If…that’s where you all live? I’m not really sure…” Pepper shakes their head, waving the lines of sweat beading on their forehead. “It’ll take a while. Maybe an hour? I think he gave you guys food so if you get hungry—“
“—You’re…willing to walk an hour… to free us?” Dream questions suddenly, voice smooth and clear. It’s nice to listen to— and Pepper can’t help but think that she’d be a good singer if given the materials.
“Yes. Unless you want to go farther? I could call my classmate and have us driven somewhere? My friend would help us, but he’s busy today. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t…uh…think this through too much.” Pepper sighs, embarrassed. “I’m just…willing to do whatever you guys need.”
The bitties stay silent. Pepper’s lips press into a thin line, worry gnawing at their gut.
Nightmare stares at the sleeping Horror in their arms, as well as the others around him, until he finally looks up to study Pepper. Pepper meets his eyes, unsure of what he’s looking for in their gaze.
“Killer is sick,” Nightmare says at last, and Killer’s brow bone raises.
“Hey, wha—? I’m not—“ Dust elbows Killer in the side, silencing his woes. Killer groans, but confusion still follows his movements, trying to meet Dust’s eyes in meek hope of a telepathic explanation.
Pepper doesn’t question this. Perhaps Killer is one to deny his illnesses until too late. They all seem like the type to be quite troubled after everything they surely have been through. Pepper cannot blame them for their fears.
“Is that so?” Pepper wonders softly, and Nightmare nods. “Is it…safe for you all out there, then?”
Nightmare sighs, crossing his arms with a dramatic despair filled frown. “Unfortunately not. We need a place to stay until he’s better. Which could be a very long time, as he is very weak.” Killer glares at his so-called boss, but Nightmare does not dignify him with a reaction. “Do you happen to know any possible locations?”
Pepper smiles, and nods. Nightmare seems relieved.
Pepper looks forward, and the crashing realization of what they are about to bring home hits them.
Edge was going to kill them.