Secrets Are Ba(n)d

Chapter 13: If the Glove (or Coat) Fits

The small ghost levitated only a few inches off the ground, hardly visible with anxiety radiating through him.

'It's just shopping, it's just one time,' they repeated to themselves, their 'stomach' in knots that only got tighter as they entered the Snowdin shop.

It was a small building, an orange hue coming from the stained lighting, and a multitude of items sitting along the walls and shelves.

"Hello th- uh.." The Rabbit woman at the counter spoke, though cut off in confusion.

"Coulda' sworn I heard the door, damn ears ain't what they used to be," She joked to herself, going back to the book she was reading soon after.

Though slightly hurt, the ghost looked around the decorated walls, peeking through the shelves until he saw the items of need. He picked them up silently, drawing as little attention to himself as he could in the process.

"Excuse me," they squeaked, placing the various items and heavy coat on the counter with a gentle 'thump.'

The shopkeeper looked up with a startle, squinting to see the small, shaking figure behind the counter.

"Oh my dear, you gave me quite the jump! Will this be all?" She said warmly, sympathetic to the terrified ghost monster.

"Ye.. yes," they whispered, though the woman got the message well enough. She continued with a wide, toothy smile, sympathy oozing from her voice.

"That'll be 60G, need a bag, honey?" She smiled, the ghost monster still fading in and out as their courage seeped.

"N..no," Napstablook hushed with the hope the conversation would end sooner.

Small gold coins clicked against the wood counter, Napstablook picking up the items and slowly floating for the exit without so much as a goodbye.

"Have a good day now, lil' guy!" the Rabbit called anyways, waving a paw.

Napstablook welcomed the freezing cold of the outside, knowing it meant the terrifying encounter was over.

Only feet away, his criminal friend stared from behind snow covered trees, his smile wide as ever.

"You did AMAZING!" he called as the ghost floated closer, though hushing himself for his covers sake.

He couldn't deny, he missed his outside voice.

"You.. think so?" The ghost questioned, now visible, but also visibly shook.

"Of course! You were so brave, that was the coolest!" Papyrus beamed, matching his friends level of quiet now.

The ghost stayed silent in thought, but brought the bundle of things up to Papyrus with a curious look.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot about my excellent plan!!"

"What exactly.. is your plan?" The ghost questioned, though Papyrus answered by throwing on the black coat and popping the collar up, the dark touque coming soon after. once finished wrapping a cord around his waist, the others tangling around his arm in an all entirely purposeful way, he applied what Blooky assumed was 'finishing touches.'

After some struggle, he gestured towards his new 'disguise' with raised eyebrows, wordlessly asking for an opinion.

The ghost stared silently.

"You look.. good! ..Is that the right compliment? I'm sorry," they mumbled, Papyrus holding back a giggle at the nervousness.

"It's my costume, for the band thing!" He revealed, making a cool Papyrus Pose™ to demonstrate.