Chapter Text
Greg doesn’t believe in aliens, not really.
He could buy the idea that they weren’t alone in the universe, sure, but until they came visiting, he was pretty sure it was one of those things you just shrug at like ghosts or vampires.
Chief believes in them, he’s pretty sure, along with a few other officers, but not Greg. There’s just too much going on to think about aliens and if they could go into space and if and if and if...
...until this happened.
Greg’s lived on the top of the hill since he graduated Academy and left home. It’s small but comfy, not like he really needs much. He’s not great at cooking, but he’s brought his piano and when he’s not exhausted from a day of fighting crime, his fingers dance across the keys and ease his mind for the night.
Tonight’s one of those nights, where each plunk of a key unravels something that had been tight in his chest, where he can let go of the energy of chasing a robber and ease the shaking of his arms where he held a woman who just watched her house burn down. All he can do is breathe, breathe, breathe-
And then outside, a loud sound echoed, and for a moment, he wonders if someone’s crashed through the walls of his house.
It had happened to a guy once, and the scene was so shocking that Greg had had nightmares about it for ages, of trucks or cars flinging through his roof to crush him in his bed.
There’s not much he can do about it if it’s happened, he thinks, rising from his piano bench while decked out in his starry pajamas. But the person driving might have had a medical emergency, or if they didn’t, they sure would now.
So he grabs his med kit from beside the couch (you never know when you might need it) and heads off towards where he thought he heard the noise.
The kitchen is fine.
The upstairs is intact.
The front door is locked and secure.
Greg scratches at his head, thinking for a second. He’s sure he heard the noise, like shearing metal and the shaking of ground under his feet. But there’s nothing...
in the house.
He’s an officer of the law. He shouldn’t be afraid. He shouldn’t.
But his paw shakes as he goes to grasp the knob of his backdoor, his mind mocking up monsters that could be waiting out there.
Deep breath, Greg.
Deep breath.
The door swings open.
...there’s a hole in his backyard.
A rather large, smoking hole-FIRE-IT’S A FIRE-
He races back in to get the extinguisher, yelping as he slips over his steps and rolls through the grass, quickly extinguishing the rising flames from the hole. The foam flops almost uselessly over it before it smothers the blaze in seconds, and Greg is left panting and sweating at the sudden burst of heat.
In the hole is a round, funny orb. It’s huge, just a bit bigger than himself, and it’s still smoking a bit.
...huh.
A...meteor?
He’s never seen one face to face, only in drawings or some scarce Youtube videos. It’s smoother than what he’d think one would be like, and it-IT’S BEEPING, IT’S BEEPING-
Greg scrambles back with a yelp, watching in horrified fascination as the ‘meteor’ splits across the middle, the top folding back like a baby carriage, and...
It’s...it’s a baby.
It’s a kitten.
The little thing is wrapped up tight, tiny paws curling up towards their little jaw. Their eyes aren’t even open, and they’re making pitiful mewing noises, as if trying to reach out to a long-lost parent.
Greg doesn’t even register that he’s scrambling down into the hole, whining softly at the kitten as he gently picks them up, licking at their head gently to ease their worries. He’s never had siblings or anything, but he has had to assist in helping with young children. He’s seen mothers calm their babies by rocking or cooing at them, but this infant is still upset, kicking under the blanket and sniffling louder.
Oh dear, oh dear...
Wait! Hungry! They’re probably hungry and scared, poor thing!
...Greg has nothing for an infant in the home.
Dang it.
Scrambling out of the hole with his arm full of whining kitten is rather hard, but he’s out in moments, taking off back inside for his wallet and back to town he goes, wondering why such a little thing had appeared in his backyard.
Something in the sky twinkles and flares and arcs across the night sky.
Greg hopes the stars are watching out for them as he speeds to one of the few stores open this late.