Antique Store (Laughing Jack x Reader)

The Antique Store

Reader's POV

I slowly walk around in my favorite antique store, staring at every single item extensively. I'm surprised I haven't run into a pole yet. I always seem to be doing that. I just get so wrapped up in looking at stuff that I forget to look where I'm walking. Anyways, today I got special permission from the owner, who just so happens to be a family friend, to go into the back room. The back room is employees only, but since I work here during the summer, she thought it was good enough. I put the key into the door and turn it until I hear a loud CLICK. With that, I carefully swing the door open, careful not to damage any of the items inside. I smile to myself. Screw the lights. I always use a flashlight instead of turning on the lights because it gives the room a creepy feel. I swing my (f/c) flashlight around, looking for something that immediately catches my eye. I see an old military jacket, and look at the tag to see how big it is. Damn it. It is two sizes too big for me. Oh well. I always did like baggy clothes~. I put it over my arm and look for other things. I find a framed photo that had an old creepy look to it. Of course I choose to buy that. I squint harder on my second sweep of the room, to make sure I didn't miss anything. I see a shelf in the very back, that would be nearly impossible for normal people to notice, no matter how hard they tried. I look at it, and see a dusty box on it with what appears to be a crank sticking out of the side. I run over it, stumbling over boxes as I go. I pull it off of the shelf, and wipe the dust off it. There must be AT LEAST a century's worth of dust on it. I finally have it cleaned off to see that it is a jack-in-the-box. A Laughing-Jack-in-the-box to be specific... What the fudgenuggets? It looks really nice, so I decide to buy it. I think I'm done looking here. I exit the room and lock the door back up. I buy the stuff I found today.

Laughing Jack's POV

A girl comes into the room where my box is. I have learned over time that it is an 'employees only' area, meaning my chances of getting out of this box are slim to none. I sigh in disappointment as she walks right past me and doesn't even notice. I will never get out of here. She goes through the room a second time, this time looking in every single dark corner. She still will probably either not see me, or not buy the box.  To my surprise, she finds the shelf and runs over to it. She stares straight at my box, and I wait for her to pass by. She picks up my box, and cleans it off. She smiles warmly, and puts my box with that old military jacket she bought. This is probably the first time I've smiled in about 120 years. She buys the stuff and walks outside. A car is waiting outside, and she gets into the back seat. As soon as her seat belt is on, she grabs my box and examines it further. She smiles and runs her hand over the top. She then finds the 'DO NOT OPEN' sticker on it, and the black silicone seal holding the lid shut. She frowns. Why is she frowning?

Reader's POV

Who the hell would seal up a jack-in-the-box with black silicone? More importantly, why? I study the once brightly coloured clowns on the box until I get home. As soon as I get in the house, I make a beeline for my room. I shut and lock the door. The Laughing-Jack-in-the-box immediately goes on my nightstand, and I change into a tank top and shorts. I faceplant onto my bed and take a little nap.

Laughing Jack's POV

She fell asleep. Is she planning to open my box, or am I just a decoration to her? I look around her room. It looks like it is mostly decorated by antiques, so there is a high likelihood I am just another decoration...