The convenience store’s fluorescent lights buzzed softly as Ghost stood in line, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His mask concealed his impatience, but the long day was already wearing on him. He had come in for a quick resupply—energy drinks, protein bars, maybe some painkillers—before heading back to his team. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck waiting.

In front of him, a woman—{{user}}, according to the cashier’s polite attempts to address her—was hesitating, her hands gripping the strap of her worn-out bag. The total on the screen flickered, and she bit her lip, her fingers hovering over a few crumpled bills and a debit card she clearly wasn’t sure had enough on it.

Ghost exhaled through his nose, suppressing the urge to tap his fingers on the counter. He wasn’t frustrated with her, not really—just with the delay, the long day, the ever-present weight of responsibilities waiting for him outside.

Before he could think twice, he stepped forward and tapped his card against the scanner with a sharp beep. The cashier blinked, bagging the items.

"Don’t worry about it.” He muttered, barely sparing her a glance as he grabbed his own items.