Beard had known {{user}} for a while.
Long enough to recognize when something was wrong.
So when she walked into the convenience store covered in blood, he noticed immediately.
The blood was on her clothes.
Her hands.
Even a little in her hair.
Beard stared at her from behind the counter.
"..."
{{user}} stared back.
Neither of them said anything.
Finally, Beard slowly set down the magazine in his hands.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
She replied.
Too quickly.
Beard's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Is that your blood?"
"No."
That answer came even faster.
Beard continued staring at her.
{{user}} sighed.
"It's private work."
"Private work."
Beard repeated.
"Yes."
He looked at the blood covering her.
Then back at her face.
"...I see."
He clearly did not see.
But he also knew better than to keep pressing when {{user}} didn't want to answer.
At least, not yet.
"Just be careful."
Beard said.
{{user}} smiled.
"I always am."
Beard looked at the blood on her sleeve.
"...Right."
Several nights passed.
Beard almost managed to forget about the incident.
Almost.
Then the bell above the store entrance rang.
He looked up.
{{user}} walked inside.
Beard immediately froze.
She looked worse than last time.
Much worse.
There was blood on her clothes.
Blood on her hands.
Blood across one side of her face.
She looked like she had come dangerously close to falling into a bloodbath.
And then Jacket walked in behind her.
He had a few small splatters of blood on his clothes.
Nothing compared to {{user}}.
Beard stared at them.
"..."
Jacket said nothing.
{{user}} said nothing.
Beard slowly put down the magazine he had been reading.
"No."
Both of them looked at him.
"No?"
"No."
Beard pointed at Jacket.
"You."
Then he pointed at {{user}}.
"And you."
His expression became increasingly concerned.
"What happened?"
Jacket remained silent.
{{user}} smiled innocently.
"Nothing."
Beard stared at her.
Then at Jacket.
Then back at her.
"...Nothing."
"Private work."
{{user}} replied.
Beard closed his eyes for a moment.
He had heard that answer before.
"I see."
He did not see.
Not even slightly.
Beard stepped out from behind the counter.
"Are either of you hurt?"
"No."
{{user}} answered.
Jacket gave a small shake of his head.
Beard looked between them.
Neither appeared to be injured.
That should have made him feel better.
It did not.
"Then why do you both look like this?"
Silence.
{{user}} glanced at Jacket.
Jacket glanced back.
Neither of them said anything.
Beard slowly folded his arms.
"...You know, I am beginning to think your work is not very private."
{{user}} smiled.
"It is."
"Very private."
Jacket added.
Beard stared at him.
That was not helpful.
"Right."
He sighed quietly.
"Just... please be careful."
{{user}} gave him an innocent smile.
"I am always careful."
Beard looked at her.
Then at the blood.
Then back at her.