The noise Shawn makes most people would probably call undignified. It's a strangled kind of squeak, almost as though he doesn't know whether or not he should be offended. Eliot can feel his eyes on him, judging and surprised, and he tips his head forward to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Shawn ..."

"You cut your hair?!"

"Yes, I ..."

"You cut your hair?!?!?"

Eliot gives him a look that seems to silence him, at least for the moment. "Is this really the important thing you want to talk about right now?"

"Yes, actually, it is," Shawn huffs, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Because clearly this means you're devoid of your superhero-like abilities to punch dudes in the face and therefore useless."

Eliot's eyes narrow at him in response. "That's not how your hair works."

"Oh really?" Shawn holds up his hand, ticking each option off in his fingers as he goes. "Samson. Garth from Wayne's World. Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon." There's a pause, and he throws in one more. "Rapunzel."

Eliot's lips into a thin line, before shaking his head. "Why am I here, Shawn?"

"Originally it was because Gus and I took a potentially violent case. I heard you were in town visiting Dad and thought that maybe we could get in some cousin bonding time while making sure I don't get beat up by gang members but now, you're clearly useless, so I'm not sure why I bothered."

"Great. Then I'm gonna go." Eliot turns to head towards the door, not really wanting to be subject to any more of his cousin's shenanigans. He takes a few steps, heading past the wide window of the Psych office when something darts out of the corner of his vision and he stops.

There's footsteps behind him, and Shawn's voice. "I thought you were - "

"Shh!" Eliot closes his eyes, taking in his surroundings. More flashes of movement outside the building and he holds out an arm to keep Shawn from moving past him. "Don't move."

"What? What is it? Is it ninjas? Are we about to be attacked by ninjas right now?"

Eliot turns towards his cousin, glaring at him to be quiet, before the door to the office opened and one of the thugs stepped inside. Eliot's hand curls into a fist, his stance shifting ever so slightly, and Shawn takes a step back.

"So this is bad then?"

"Yeah, I'd say it's bad."

"You got this?"

"Mmm-hmmm."

"Cool. I'm gonna go hide under a table and watch."

Eliot smirks. Normally he might be offended, but Shawn is at least aware that sometimes it's better to not be in his way. "You do that." Shawn disappears, and Eliot turns his attention back to the rest of the group and raises an eyebrow before stating, calm as can be: "You're trespassing."

"Our beef isn't with you, man. We're just here for the psychic."

"You want the psychic, you have to go through me."

The men glance between each other for a moment, before shrugging. "Guess that's how it'll have to be."

Eliot can't help but grin. Later, much, much later, he has a feeling these guys are going to wish they said no. but now they're at his mercy, and when it comes to his family, it's very clear that Eliot doesn't have much.

"Good. I was looking to punch something today."

Even then, they're still not sensible enough to run away.

Unfortunately, that's their loss.