Shhhh Don’t Let Sly Know I’m Starting Another Reboot RP!!! (Closed//Stalkers Enabled)

There wasn’t anyone leaving which was a good sign. No suspicous figure hurrying away. Actually, the store was empty.

“What the heck? He’s got to be hiding….” Rupert looked around again, but he still saw nothing.

Nope! Nothing anywhere on the sales floor.

“Ugh…” Rupert groaned, facepalming. “Parenting is hard.”

Especially when your kid could be potentially dead. Yey!

//so what now

(Rupert has to find his smol)

//yeet
…but how

(well imean

look for him xD

that is so unhelpful I'm sorry)

//lol np
I shall try

Jake had apparently left, so Rupert was on his own. He checked every aisle, every display, frantically searching for Jace. “And I’ve only had him for… less than a day… good job, me.”

Jace slipped into the back 'Employees Only' room when Jake walked in to start the shipping cycle. Jace fled over to a desk and sat down underneath it.
Running away, hmmm? Jace looked over and saw the shadowy form grinning at him.
"Daddy!" Jace exclaimed quietly.

Jake thought he heard a noice, but he decided it was nothing.

Rupert had checked all the bathrooms, all the random storage closets, all the changing rooms. There were only two options left: outside, or the Employees Only door.

The Employees Only door shut suddenly. OOf

The Shadow drifted over to Jace, embracing him. Why are you running away?
"Rupert's trying to give me more than I deserve!"
He's just being nice, dear.

Rupert knocked on the door. “Hello? Jake? Anyone in there?”

Nobody answered, so, naturally, Rupert opened the door.

The room was empty apart from a few racks of clothes and a few desks.
Jace heard the door open and fell silent.

Rupert sighed. It would take him ages to search this place.

Jace looked fearfully at his father. He put a blackened finger to his lips ad whispered, “Shhhh…”
Surprisingly, since Rupert was listening for a noise, he heard this.

Rupert looked around. “Jace? Are you there?”

Jace made a soft squeaking noise into his father’s arms, which could be heard clearly if one was listening hard enough.

//can Rupert see Jace’s dad?

Rupert heard something, but he wasn’t sure from which direction it was coming. “Jace?”

(Yes. Jace's dad, however, can disappear at will, hence why Rupert didn't see him the first time, and why he can hear him.)

Jace tightened his grip over his father's arms.
Shhh… It's okay… The Shadow hummed gently to Jace.

//gotcha

Rupert started looking under the tables, until he caught sight of a smol foot. “Jace?”

The smol foot jolted to its owner's body and the Shadow faded.
Stay calm… It whispered as it faded.

Rupert sighed. “Jace, why are you under a table?”

Jace blinked regretfully at his smol foots. “I like tables.”

“Tables are nice,” Rupert nodded. “But we need to go now. The store is closing.”

Jace nodded. “Okay.” He wiggled out from under the desk and looked up at Rupert.

“Do you want to get anything on the way home?” Rupert asked.

“No, no thank you.” Jace was feeling a little hungry, not have eaten much at dinner, but he didn’t dare tell Rupert.

“Are you sure?” Rupert asked, leading Jace to the car. “We could stop for food or something.”