Chapter Text
“SO, WE HAVE RETRIEVED THE WOODEN PLANKS, PLASTER, ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO REPLACE THOSE BROKEN WINDOWS…” Papyrus continued on down the list Y/n had handed him, paying no mind to the hundreds of stares being thrown at him and his companion. Why wouldn’t they stare? A skeleton monster, whom nearly had to crouch to enter most doorways, was shopping with a human covering their face with a medical mask, glasses, and a sun hat far too big for their head.
“How about we get some lunch?” Y/n suggested, looking up to meet the monster’s eyes. “I’ll go buy some rope and we’ll tie these planks to the roof of my car.”
“OH, GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT, I HAPPEN TO HAVE SEEN SOME A FEW AISLE AGO!” he said before striding off, and turning into an aisle. This left Y/n a tad worried, seeing as everyone was either staring at Papyrus with discontent or just nearly screaming whenever he passed by. But, he is a grown man, he’ll handle it. They remained planted with the cart filled with construction supplies, fingers idly tapping the handle.
Papyrus really had grown used to the constant eyes on him. He wasn’t oblivious enough to have believed they were merely staring in awe, no, those dreams had been silently crushed previously when that horrible guard back at the refugee camp nearly whacked him with a baton.
Eyes on the ropes necessary to keep the planks of wood securely in place, he walked over to their display, and nearly tripped over a child at his feet. Papyrus stared down at the little boy, no older than seven, sitting down on the grey concrete floor.
“HELLO, LITTLE ONE.” Papyrus kneeled down to the boy’s height, staring at him curiously, “WHO HAS FORGOTTEN YOU, UNATTENDED ON THE FLOOR?” he asked the child, whom seemed already teary eyed and scared of being alone.
The boy did not reply for a moment, clutching a stuffed animal in his hand. Finally, he spoke, but not before taking a good look at Papyrus. “Are you Bunny Ribbon?” he asked, staring shyly into the monsters eyes before showing him the plush. It was a white rabbit with a red ribbon around its neck, and a toothy grin resembling Papyrus’s. He stared into the rabbit’s beady eyes for a moment before clearing his throat.
“WHY, YES! I AM BUNNY RIBBON! ARE YOU ONE OF MY BELOVED FANS?” he asked, hands on his chest as he let out a gasp, causing the scared boy to grin and nod eagerly. “WELL, LITTLE ONE, TODAY SEEMS TO BE A VERY LUCKY DAY FOR YOU! WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A GAME WITH ME?” he asked, to which the boy nodded once more.
Papyrus grinned right back at the child, sitting criss crossed before him. “IF I CANNOT GUESS YOUR NAME IN THREE TRIES, I WILL OWE YOU ONE LOLLIPOP. ARE YOU PREPARED FOR ME TO WIN?” He asked, and the child giggled and shook his head.
“ALRIGHT. MY FIRST GUESS IS…ETHAN. IS THAT CORRECT?” The boy shook his head.
“HMMM, WHAT ABOUT…ELIJAH!” Another shake of the head.
“Oh Deary Me, This Is Getting Difficult.” Papyrus muttered beneath his breath, causing the child to laugh once more.
“OH! OH! I KNOW!” He exclaimed, “AUGUSTUS! LIKE THE EMPEROR!” he said confidently, only for the boy to shake his head no in victory. Papyrus feigned a gasp of horror. “NO! IMPOSSIBLE! I…HAVE LOST! OH TELL ME, MY BIGGEST FAN, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!”
“Chao.” the boy answered bashfully. Papyrus snapped his fingers in defeat. “I HAVE LOST TO YOU, MY LOYAL FAN! I SUPPOSE I OWE YOU A LOLLIPOP NOW DON’T I?”
Papyrus brought the boy up to the cash register, where he bought the boy a bright red lollipop, and gave the cashier the boy’s name. The mother came rushing once hearing her son’s name on the intercom, and her face paled when she saw Papyrus, too, waiting for her. Papyrus smiled at the woman before making his leave, and thought fondly of Chao when he heard him exclaim to his mother that he had just met the real Bunny Ribbon.