The next night, just as Babe was getting used to the peace and quiet, he found himself once again staring down a glowing letter from his guardians. The seal on this one had an extra flourish, which he knew from experience meant "something slightly painful is about to be requested." He sighed, cracking it open as he glanced over at Billy, who was absorbed in an old book from Babe's collection.
"Babe, The council has informed us that Billy's 'blending-in' abilities are still... developing. We've arranged a simple task to help with his integration. You will assist him with a 'field study' in a real-world setting to observe his ability to manage on his own. Details to follow in person.
Regards,
Seraphina"Babe let out a groan. "Of course they'd do this."
Billy looked up, raising an eyebrow. "More... instructions?"
Babe rolled his eyes. "More like another test. We're going on a little field trip. And it sounds like they want me to, I don't know, let you manage on your own. Whatever that means."
Billy frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed this. "A... test? Of my skills?"
"Yep. But don't worry, I'm here for moral support," Babe said, grinning. "And whatever ridiculous task they've set up, I'm sure we can handle it."
Later that night, Seraphina met them outside a small neighborhood grocery store. She looked as serene and mysterious as ever, though Babe noted the faint glint of amusement in her eyes.
"This," she announced, waving a hand toward the store, "will be your testing ground."
Babe blinked, trying not to laugh. "A grocery store?"
Seraphina nodded, completely unfazed. "Billy must be able to perform basic tasks without standing out. And as we understand it, shopping is an essential modern skill."
Babe covered his mouth, stifling a grin as he turned to Billy. "Looks like you're going grocery shopping, my dude. Think you're up for it?"
Billy straightened, his face set with a steely resolve. "If this is the task, I shall approach it with... dedication."
"Perfect," Seraphina said, handing him a shopping list. "Simply acquire the items on this list, and we'll observe."
With that, she slipped back into the shadows, leaving Babe and Billy alone in the fluorescent glow of the grocery store entrance.
Babe grinned, holding the door open. "After you, modern man."
The grocery store was bustling with the usual late-night crowd—moms with last-minute shopping lists, tired office workers, and the occasional wandering college student. Billy stepped inside, looking around with a mixture of bewilderment and cautious determination. He held the list tightly, as though it were his only lifeline in this foreign territory.
"Alright," Babe said, glancing over his shoulder, "what's first on the list?"
Billy peered at the paper, reading slowly. "'Milk.'"
"Easy enough," Babe said, steering him toward the dairy section. "This one's pretty simple. All you gotta do is grab a carton and pop it in the basket."
Billy approached the rows of milk, his face tightening in concentration as he examined the various options. After a moment, he picked up a carton, frowning at the label. "Skimmed... what exactly does this mean?"
Babe bit back a laugh. "They've got a bunch of different kinds—whole, skim, almond, you name it. Skim's just, like, less... rich. But you're doing great. Keep going."
Billy glanced back at the shelf, clearly baffled by the sheer variety, but he set his jaw and tossed the skim milk into the basket. "Next item?"
Babe checked the list. "Tomatoes."
They made their way to the produce section, and Billy picked up a tomato, staring at it like it might bite him first.
"Do I... test it somehow?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
"You just... grab it and go," Babe replied, fighting to keep a straight face. "Though if you want to test it, just make sure it's not squishy."
Billy squeezed it lightly, nodding in solemn approval as he dropped it into the basket. "Acceptable."
The list continued, each item providing new, unforeseen challenges. When they reached the canned goods aisle, Billy hesitated, examining a can of beans with intense suspicion. "And these... they are stored in this... container indefinitely?"
"Yep. Cans are like little time capsules," Babe said, grinning. "Magic of modern food preservation."
Billy's face was a blend of awe and mild horror as he placed the can in the basket, murmuring, "Incredible... and slightly disturbing."
They finished the list slowly, making it to the checkout with a basket filled with various items. Billy stepped up to the cashier, offering a stiff but polite nod. The cashier gave him a slightly bemused smile, ringing up the items as Billy watched, visibly tense.
When she announced the total, Billy froze, clearly unprepared for this part of the transaction.
Babe nudged him, barely containing his laughter. "Just hand over the cash or the card. She doesn't bite."
Billy fumbled slightly, producing a credit card from his pocket and handing it to the cashier with a formal bow. The cashier blinked, then glanced at Babe, who gave her an apologetic smile.
"He's, uh, from out of town," Babe explained.
The cashier chuckled, swiping the card and handing it back to Billy, who accepted it with all the dignity of a knight receiving his sword after a duel. Once they were finally outside, Babe burst into laughter.
"See?" he managed between chuckles. "Grocery shopping—it's a whole quest."
Billy gave him a mildly exasperated look but held up the bag with a small, triumphant smile. "Mission... accomplished."
As they walked back, Babe couldn't resist giving him a nudge. "Alright, grocery pro, how'd you find your first shopping experience?"
Billy's face softened, and he gave a slight nod. "It was... peculiar. But... oddly rewarding."
Babe smirked, holding back a laugh. "Well, who knows? With enough practice, you might actually start enjoying it."
As they turned the corner, Babe could see the faint outline of Seraphina in the shadows, watching with a look of quiet satisfaction. Babe gave her a quick thumbs-up, knowing she'd appreciate the report.
And as they made their way back to the loft, he realized that, against all odds, Billy was truly starting to find his place—one grocery store, one can of beans, at a time.
YOU ARE READING
Vamps in Chaos
FanfictionSynopsis Babe, a young vampire living in the modern world, receives a letter from a family member with a cryptic request: To play babysitter to some ancient vampire relic. Zero details, zero prep-just "handle it," like that's no big deal. Billy, The...