You watched Ian walk away and stayed there for a few seconds, alone, behind the counter. The air was quiet, with the low sound of background music filling the room. You were used to the routine of that small store, where you and Ian spent most of the days between jokes and playful pushes.

Ian approached the customer, a man dressed in a thick coat, a hood covering part of his face. He exchanged a few words with Ian, but something about the way the man carried himself made you stir slightly, a slight sense of distrust emerging.

You began to slowly move towards Ian, trying not to attract attention. That's when he noticed the customer putting his hands inside his coat pocket. Your eyes met Ian's for a brief moment, and he, despite maintaining his carefree facade, gave you a warning look.

"Hey, do you need help with anything else?" Ian asked casually, but his voice carried a noticeable tension.

The man hesitated, taking his hand out of his pocket slowly. "No... I think I already found what I needed."

You approached Ian, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ian looked at you sideways, trying to hide the tense smile on his face. With one last quick glance between you, the customer walked out the door without another word.

As soon as he was gone, Ian sighed and muttered in relief: "Man, I swear I thought he was going to pull out a gun or something."