"Okay, Chris, that'll be fifty points."
The shop owner said, passing over a small, worn bag of supplies.
Chris nodded. His eyes looked a little dull, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
"Thank you. Hope business picks up. And… thanks for the discount."
The shop owner waved him off, a dry chuckle escaping his throat.
"After what you did for us? You should be getting this for free."
Chris gave a half-shrug, the smile still on his face as he turned—then froze mid-step.
Ash stood a few feet away. His face gave nothing away, but the way his eyes stayed fixed said more than words. Wind tugged at his coat, his hair shifting just enough to show the shadow across his brow.
Chris's lips pulled into a grin.
"Well, hello, kid."
Ash's voice came out low.
"Hey. I remember you didn't give me your name back there. You're Chris, right?"
Chris chuckled.
"Yeah, and I knew you'd come back, but I didn't think you'd come looking for me."
