Chapter Text
Peppino woke up way too early for what it was worth. He'd planned on grabbing groceries and a gift for Noisette's birthday today, but he regretted setting his alarm at 6:45. Too late to fix it, but too early to not be properly mad about it.
It was quiet and rainy today. Meaning he'd have to get a coat. No big deal. If anything, he liked this weather, at least when he was staying inside and working at the pizzeria, or watching TV with Gustavo over coffee in the middle of the night before bed. Going into it was a different story.
Peppino hoisted on his clothes for the day around 7:00, layering up and getting to the bathroom for the morning. Gustavo and Bruno weren't quite awake yet, and Brick was quietly scurrying around Gustavo's room, being on a very different schedule than his owner was. Not that it mattered, really, the rat practically cooked his own meals anyways.
Peppino fumbled down the stairs, making sure his socks weren't rumpled in his shoes while making his way down to the restaurant floor. People passed by on the street on their early commutes to work, but Peppino's Pizza wouldn't be open ‘til 9. Plenty of time to shop.
He took his car, turning on the rickety motor and grimacing at the startup. He held his hands on-and-off to the heaters, driving down to the nearest store he knew would have what he wanted.
The commute was slower, but relaxing. Peps hadn't noticed how pretty the trees were getting to be in the autumn months. The hues of oranges and reds and yellows were all so hypnotizing, he couldn't help but be a bit enamored.
So enamored he almost made the wrong turn into the parking lot.
Peppino forgot how big this store was, containing a few big departments for things from food and drink to clothes and jewelry. It was a bit dizzying, but he had a plan. He always had to. Or else the place would feel like just another war zone. And he didn't want to start that this early.
The list went in order of Onions, bread, toothpaste, and then whatever he'd get Noisette. Not much, in the grand scheme of things, but any reason to go to the grocery store was going to make it too much.
And Peps was utterly horrified to realize he wasn't going to leave without having to confront anybody.
Turning the corner to the personal hygiene aisle made Peppino’s heart almost come to a full stop. Although, considering the subject was a southern cheese slime of no more than three feet tall, he shouldn’t have been that afraid.
The Vigilante in front of Peppino was currently searching for body wash… however he’d use it was beyond Peppino to answer. All he knew was that he needed to get down the aisle. He was a grown man, he didn’t have to answer to anybody, human or not. Even if that non-human did attempt to shoot him dead.
He’d just have to scoot by and–
“..Howdy Peppino.”
Shit.
Peppino slowly turned his heels to the Vigilante and smiled the best way he could, “Eh… H-Hello… Vigi…?”
He’d picked that one up from Noisette. Not a good idea to say it to his face. But if he cared, he definitely didn’t seem to show it. In fact, The Vigilante didn’t even bat an eye in the slightest.
“How are ya?” Boy was that a loaded question. But hearing this guy say it was even weirder, considering they met under the whole ‘I-was-hired-up-to-kill-you’ circumstances. And especially considering their escape from the tower, their relationship didn’t really… stand anywhere.
“I’m-a doing alright… how are you?” Peppino said, pushing his palms together. The Vigilante finally smiled, “The best I can be grocery shoppin’ at… almost 8 am.” the slime chuckled, grabbing a bottle off the shelf nearby, “Plus that n’ uh… findin’ gifts.” he said, holding his basket up a little. Peppino found it a little funny, “Eh, y-you-a too?” he asked with a slight smile, his grin uncomfortably crooked to one side. Vigi nodded, checking his basket, “Yep. Turns out uh… findin’ gifts for yer best friends can be really hard last minute.” He said.
“And we're eh… both-a shopping for..?” Peppino trailed.
“Yep.” Vigi practically read his mind.
Peppino nodded, standing in silence as he quietly grabbed the toothpaste from the shelf, checking the label. Truth be told, he had no idea what to get Noisette… he knew her, but he didn't know her. She could've liked any number of things and he wouldn't be the wiser. Plus, everybody had levels of personal comfort with gifts, what was hers? Was she the type to like getting socks or getting jewelry? Too many questions, and not enough time.
Vigi might know, though. Peppino thought, Better to get ideas from somebody who knows her better.
“Eh, Vigilante–” Peppino blabbed, watching the cheese slime glance up, “I um… don’t-a really know what I should-a get Noisette. I know-a you know her better than-a maybe I do… eh… do you have-a any ideas on what to get for her?” Peppino asked tentatively, folding his hands together.
Vigi hummed, crooking a slimy brow. Long enough it made Peppino a bit nervous. He finally responded, “Well, if I know anythin’ about that gal, it's that she loves a good personalized gift. I honestly was uh, thinkin’ about tryin’ my hand at embroidery again–” He mentioned, “She's a baker, she likes pink n’ yellow… surprisingly she uh, has a real big int'rest in old sitcoms… other than that, she really doesn't ever prefer anythin’ particular…”
Peppino thought over the list, before nodding slightly, “Hm… okay.” He said, slightly fibbing the confidence in his voice, “I think I-a have it… thank-a you.”
He most certainly didn't, Vigi probably saw through that entirely. Not that he let it show. (What's a cowboy without a good poker face?)
“Well, I wish ya luck then, Spaghetti.” He said, flicking a gloved hand from his forehead, almost in a salute. Peppino tried to mirror it, “...Eh, you-a too.” He said, watching the slime depart the aisle.
Peppino idled in front of the body wash and shampoo for a moment or two. He still had no idea what to get…
…Well he had one idea. They did have a jewelry section. But it wouldn't be a good idea. Might get his ass kicked over twice.
But… What was the fuss over a necklace going to be? Noisette probably owned like, five hundred pieces of jewelry on her own, it'd get lost anyways, and Peppino could go back to fading into birthday gift obscurity.
It was worth a shot… just get a necklace and a back-up gift in case he flubbed out, easy stuff.
After a slightly awkward stumble through the store, Peppino browsed the jewelry.
Having not had a girlfriend since high school, Peppino was terrible at picking out jewelry. He didn't know what colors would work, let alone what was in his budget. So using his imagination was his only saving grace right now.
Peppino remembered watching her work at a knife with some ingredients in the prior days. He stared at her hand long enough to know that silver was not her color. She was always partial to golden yellow, and plus, it probably accented her warm skin…
Half of the counter was accounted for then. He had to keep thinking.
Pink was an easy gem to find, but not easy to price for any lower than forty bucks. He might've had to splurge a little, not a big deal, but still, a price tag couldn’t help but make the poor guy wince.
Thats when he found it.
A small gemstone shaped like a teardrop. Pink, simple, but… oddly pretty. He could practically see it around her neck, dangling above where her collarbone met her chest… he had to make sure it wasn't too memorable but… he'd sure notice if she wore it…
Why was he even thinking of that? That sounded possessive… grossly possessive. Like collaring somebody. He wasn't her boyfriend, or her partner, or even somebody she'd most likely even remotely found interesting to get with. Doing something like that sounded stalker-ish, and Peppino didn't want that idea even close to his head. Not in the slightest.
Even if it was the most he could have of her…
No. Just no.
Peppino glanced up after getting flagged down by the attendant.
“Do you need anything, sweetheart?” The woman asked. She was older than him, wearing her curly silver hair in a loose bun. She looked like a sweetheart of a woman. She almost reminded him of his grandmother, in an odd sense.
Peppino glanced up, “Oh, eh… yes, how much is-a this piece..?” He asked, indicating the necklace in the case. She glanced down, before smiling, something of a knowing glint in her eye. Even if this woman didn't know a single thing.
“Oh, that would be forty-five dollars.” She smiled, watching his face screw up in thought, “Would you like me to grab it for you?” She asked.
Peppino hummed, fixing his coat a bit, musing quietly in Italian, weighing his options. He hummed, “...Yes… I think that'll be-a good.” He said.
He almost blurred out everything until he got to the car.
He stared down at the wrapped jewelry box. It only cost a dollar more to wrap it up as a gift, so he opted to do that, for presentations sake.
But he felt weird… some weird pit started welling in his stomach ever since the attendant took the necklace out of the case. She gave him a look when she took it out, as if judging that he definitely was getting this out of some romantic endeavor.
He'd wished he wasn't thinking that way.
Peppino held the box, thumbing the bow on top… surely a present shouldn't be causing this much internal turmoil, this was stupid. Peppino was a grown man. He'd just give her the gift, no thoughts behind his eyes. She'd stuff it in a box somewhere and lose it eventually, it'd be fine. No romantic, sexual, or intimate thoughts could or would get in his head.
What's a man without a good poker face?
Peppino checked the clock. 9:50. He had to put the damn box down, otherwise he'd be practically tearing into it with his nervously shaking fingers.
It'd just have to sit in the passenger seat with the other groceries… maybe hiding it was the best solution without having an anxiety attack.
“ Just-a breathe, Peppino… It'll be all-a okay. Just try not-a to chicken out of-a the party… ” Peppino said quietly, squeezing the steering wheel, before glancing back over.
“ …Or throw up in your seat on-a the way there. ”