A/N: Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a great week and ready for a three-day weekend like I am. The chapter is mostly done in Pennywise POV. So, you'll get to see things from his perspective, along with his thoughts. Nothing too terrible is happening. It's a little light fun chapter.

Anyway, enjoy the read!

The night could have gone better.

Pennywise had hoped his giant bird eater spider would scare Ruth. That girl wasn't afraid! She fought him off. For a frail child, Pennywise had no clue the girl had a powerful arm. She was determined that's for sure. The girl is clever since Ruth saw through him despite not knowing he is a shapeshifter. The child even apologized! Who does that? You don't slam a thick 2x4 board on someone's cranium and ask for forgiveness after they realized who you were. You just don't do that, do you?

That irritating little brat! My head still hurts, argh.

Next time, he will be better prepared. Pennywise skulked in the shadows as he ventured to the den. Ruth is still here, he can tell. He's not exactly fond of the fact she stayed the night. This is his home, after all. When he got closer to where the girl slept, an odd sound filled his ears. He paused to determine what could make this unusual yet obnoxious noise. He came to the edge of the wall and peered around. His eyes land on Ruth's hand hanging off the couches edge. Pennywise gleefully grins, an opportunity arose. He slowly shifts into a snake, hoping to scare the girl. He slithers across the floor, cackling in his head.

This is perfect! Everyone is afraid of snakes.

Pennywise stops when he hears the obnoxious sound again. It occurred to him then the girl is snoring. He inwardly frowns.

Fantastic, the irritating child snores, Pennywise replies sarcastically.

Curious, Pennywise slithers up the couch. He glances down at Ruth, expecting her to be laying on her back. Instead, he is greeted by something completely different. One arm is bent underneath her, it's most likely dead asleep. She'll have a hard time using it until the girl regains feeling. The other is outstretched with her hand hanging off the edge. Ruth must have hugged herself during the night for warmth if she is like this. She has one leg straight out where it stuck halfway off the couches arm. Her other leg is bent and laid on the dirty floor. To add on to her awkward sleeping position, Ruth's hair is disheveled. Her mouth even hung open, snoring, and drooling.

She is no sleeping beauty that's for sure. Jeez.

Pennywise stared for a moment, bewildered. He noticed as he continued watching the irritant, there are dark circles under her eyes. Obviously, the girl had a restless night of sleep. His so-called scare didn't help either. The girl must not be getting enough sleep these days. He had to wonder why that is. Alas, he's still going to try and frighten the girl awake. Hopefully, this time he'll sink his teeth into her.

His slithery form slowly eases itself towards Ruth's exposed neck. Its tongue-tingling at her skin. He noticed Ruth moving but paid no mind to her movements. He should have, though. Ruth felt his small tongue lightly brush her face, swatting at him. The back of her hand hits him square on the side. The tiny brain in his skull rattles, causing Pennywise to inwardly whimper. The throbbing knot from last night stinging slightly. Despite the backhand, Pennywise furthered his goal in scaring her. He was inches away from landing on her neck. His tongue flicked, tasting the air.

Wakey, wakey, Ruthie.

Unfortunately, Pennywise got another surprise. The girl snatched him around the neck.

Eek!

"Knock it off," Ruth mumbled.

He doesn't know how it was even possible, but Ruth managed to fling him. His slithery form rockets through the air and collides into the wall with a smack. He drops to the floor, whining. Pennywise slowly returns to his clown self, rubbing his cranium. He whimpers, squatting on the floor. His golden eyes glared venomously at the couch, growling.

Irritating child!

Pennywise silently but quickly crawls over. He peers over the edge at the girl, discovering Ruth is still fast asleep. She's on her right side now, no longer snoring. He silently watches her. For the first time, Pennywise takes a moment to take in her features. Why he would? He doesn't know. Maybe it's because the busted lip caught his attention. It's swollen still. The purplish-blue and black are stark in contrast to her fair creamy skin. That's all Pennywise could see. He felt a slight pang of guilt upon realizing how and why the girl got the bruise. The cookie tin.

Those soft-baked cookies were real. How Pennywise got them? That is left to be a mystery. Pennywise noticed when he first saw the girl that she was hungry. Not that Pennywise was kind or anything. Giving the girl pastries was a way to get Ruth to sleep. He certainly couldn't have her awake to determine Ruth's fears. He took the vintage tin box back yesterday. Pennywise didn't expect the girl to speak about it to the adult. That was a mistake on her part. Not that she should be blamed for the swollen and bruised lip. Pennywise frowns deeply as he continued to stare.

So, the scoundrel struck the girl, Pennywise stated the obvious to himself.

Pennywise frowned when he noticed pink scars adorning her cheeks and brows. He notes the faint brown freckles on the bridge of her nose and partially on the cheeks formed a pattern. If he were to connect the dots just right, it would create a double helix. A faint eyebrow rose at the peculiar yet unique marking. Hmm, fascinating.

Pennywise realized the irritating child is particularly entrancing. Her nose is cute and button-like in shape. Ruth's natural beach wavy hair is relatively similar to his wild ginger in color but more vibrant and lusher. There is even a baby curl at her upper jawline. She may be a child, but her adorable feminine features made Ruth appear slightly older by a few years. Ruth is a lovely young lady.

Pennywise shakes his head suddenly, perturbed at his observation.

Argh, irritating child!

Pennywise silently slinks away. Even though this is a perfect opportunity to eat the girl, he'll leave Ruth be for now. She could use the sleep anyway. Eventually, Pennywise will frighten the girl and eat her flesh. He just needs to figure out what that one thing is Ruth could be afraid of. Maybe then he will put an end to her miserable life.

He'll find someone else to scare. Maybe the Jewish boy or the Twitchy boy Ruth dubbed. Naw, Pennywise will save his scare when Ruth is around. She will get a joy out of his fright. Why would he want her to see him scare the piss out of him? Pennywise doesn't know the answer to this. There is the Marsh girl. That little snub turned a cold shoulder when she and Ruth have something in common. The other Denbrough boy would be an excellent choice, too. He ignored Ruth as well. Mr. Gray Water, which Pennywise had to laugh at this, would also be an excellent choice. He deserves a real good scare.

There's a lot of options for Pennywise. Ultimately, he resulted in frightening the Jewish boy, Stanley Uris. His scare will surely be delightful.

That damn brat is back again.

Ruth has been coming here for two days now. Pennywise finds her presence in the house annoying. She has her own place to hang around. So, why here? It always seems Ruth is coming around in the afternoons. The girl should be outside where it is warm and cloudless. She could use the sun anyway since the girl is fair-skinned. On the other hand, the girl doesn't have any friends to hang out with.

Pennywise would have thought the kids in the alleyway would befriend her. Except, from what he understands that the girl Ruth can't be around anyone. Why is that? Is Ruth trouble for them? Pennywise certainly doesn't have to worry. Not like he wants to associate with a child. He is beginning to wonder what the "WHY" factor could be. The reason could be simple, Ruth's scars. If someone saw them, they would encourage Ruth to leave home and report her parents for child abuse.

Or what if there is something more going on? What if there is a secret?

He scurries across the floor. His tiny rat feet clicking lightly as he drew close to the den. He peers around the sash, finding Ruth on the couch. She's sitting with her legs bent close to her chest and head lightly bobbing. He can hear scratching and brushing from where Ruth sat. Another opportunity.

Perfect! Feast your irritating eyes on this realistic form, you brat!

Pennywise hastens to the couch. He climbed up and ran to the headboard. The thought of jumping on her came to mind. Ruth would freak. Except, Pennywise stops. Something caught his eye as he sat close to Ruth's ear. He can hear what sounded like mumbling. Upon quick inspection, the girl has headphones in her ears and humming, well, singing.

"Valentine is done. Here, but now they're gone. Romeo and Juliet," Ruth sang softly.

Pennywise inwardly deadpans. What the hell is she singing? Pfft, whatever.

He prepared himself to launch himself at her, only to stop again. Something else caught his attention. Pennywise the Rat glances sideways at a pad of paper, graphite, and charcoal strewn about. Ruth is drawing obviously, but the subject matter startled him. He abandons his goal to scare Ruth. Instead, Pennywise wants to take a closer look at the piece of art the young girl is conjuring. He makes one quick glance at Ruth, finding her laser-sharp focus on the drawing pad in front of her. Turning away, Pennywise watches.

The drawing is of him, Pennywise. Well, him transforming out of the spider from the other night. Ruth's attention to detail is extraordinary. She captured every single hairy inch of his large spider form. The transition to the clown suit he wears blended smoothly. Ruth has tremendous depth in the folds and shadows he receded in. She memorized the wrinkles in his face along with the snarl he had. The many rows of teeth gleamed, and his eyes somehow glowed on paper.

Pennywise noticed everything, and he admires it. He whistles in his head, The irritant has a gift.

Upon closer inspection, Ruth had drawn his head and hair the way she remembered. Pennywise's hair is wild and receding. He frowned from how far back his hairline is.

Is my forehead really that big?

Ruth continued to sing as she drew. She bobbed her head slightly and mouthing the lyrics.

"Don't fear the reaper," Ruth hums softly.

Pennywise stiffens and inwardly scowls. Don't fear the reaper, what? You shall be afraid you irritating child! I am the reaper! Well, sort of, maybe. Argh!

He readies himself. Once Ruth pulled her drawing pad away to inspect, Pennywise jumps. He lands squarely on her chest. Three things happen in seconds flat: Ruth shrieks loudly, flung him off and bounces off the couch. His form launched across the room and crashed into the wall with a thunk. Pennywise then plummets to the floor, whimpering and whining.

OWIE!

Pennywise hears Ruth shudder violently where she stood as he laid stunned. His front left paw twitches.

Damnit, kid! Maybe you should join a softball or baseball league! Fuck, my head!

"Argh, nasty! I hate those things for a reason, dude!" Ruth hollers, frantically wiping at her arms.

That's because you're afraid of them! Ha-ha, success!

"First off, Pennywise, I'm not afraid of naked moles rats. They just make my skin crawl."

… Argh, damnit!

"Secondly, they're native to parts of East Africa," Ruth states matter-of-factly.

Tell me something I don't know, brat.

After getting over his stunned state, Pennywise glances over at Ruth. She's gathering up her things. He is quick to return to the couch and assess any damage to the work of art. He hopes not. Why he cares? Pennywise wished he knew. Once he got to her side and the pad of paper, Pennywise sits on it. He stares at the drawing, relieved that the artwork wasn't ruined. His beady little eyes blink and cock his head like a person would at a museum.

"Yes, it's a drawing of you," Ruth mentions softly. "I guess you were my inspiration."

His mind went blank for a moment. Huh? Inspiration, why?

Ruth gently takes the notebook at the spine, pulling it upwards for Pennywise to slid off.

HEY! I was looking at that!

"It's not completely done, yet. I'll show you the finished piece of crap when I get the chance."

Piece of crap, what!? You have some serious talent there, kid!

"Just so you know. I hate naked mole rats as they remind of a man's penis with eyes and scrawny legs. So, basically, you are a dingus."

Pennywise stiffens, growling. Excuse me?

"Better luck next time, though. I'll see you tomorrow, Pennywise."

He watched her leave, fuming still. EXCUSE ME! Get your ass back here, you irritating child!

She was gone within minutes. Pennywise eyes the empty door frame then glances around the room. With a heavy sigh, he sulks into the shadows.

Ruth ended up coming back that very evening. Pennywise could hear her light sniffles and sobs. Something in his brain is starting to connect the dots. The child does not want to be at home. The constant abuse is the underlining factor.

He tried a fourth time to frighten the girl without success, of course. Pennywise slinked into the shadows with another knot on the head. He growls and glances over his shoulder at Ruth. She's struggling to fall asleep again. Pennywise frowns, growing frustrated with the girl. He'll try again.

The next night, the same thing.

Ruth returned to the Neibolt house. She wasn't sniffling but wheezing. When Pennywise went to investigate, he saw the child doubling over on the couch. Ruth had been running, probably since she sneaked out of her house again. He watched Ruth struggling to catch her breath, who also held onto her right arm. His eyes caught the scratches made by a female.

So, it's the mother as well.

Pennywise attempted to scare her again. Five minutes later, he slowly slunk away with an angry snarl and yet another knot on the head.

Blasted child! What are you afraid of?

The next night, Ruth didn't show.

Pennywise at first, was glad. Except, something in the pit of his stomach didn't like her absence. For some strange reason, he went to her. Maybe, Pennywise wanted to make sure that the girl didn't kill herself. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Neither of her parents was home, and Ruth felt safe enough to sleep in her own house. Pennywise chose not to scare her awake. He did, however, mull around in her head for more ammo. He is still trying to figure out what that one thing is to scare Ruth. Pennywise, of course, made sure he didn't wake her. Ruth needed sleep.

He stayed there in the shadows until daybreak. The parents had returned then and startled her awake from the loud bang from the front door. Ruth almost saw him, too. Pennywise transformed himself into a normal-sized house spider to not be seen. Ruth crawled under her bed in time while he stuck to the window sill. He didn't stick around to hear the heated conversation the adults were having. If he had, Pennywise would have learned something about Ruth.

Little did he know, this evening would cause a shift in his heart.