So this would not leave me alone, it demanded to be written and shared. Because every fandom needs a coffee shop AU right? Right.
If no one enjoys this I'll continue my other stories eventually, but if you do, let me know what you'd like to see! I take feedback seriously and try to really consider all angles before I keep going.
Anyway, read and enjoy!
For not being a morning person, Angie was sure she was the stupidest person on the face of the earth that decided to own a coffee shop. If it weren't for the Red Bull and sheer determination to make her business thrive, she'd have slept in past 4:30 in the morning the last five years. It wasn't that she didn't love what she did, but raising a 16 year old boy while running her own business tended to take it's toll in her. This was one of those mornings, where she was surprised she looked human and had managed to match her shoes before tripping out of the house. Sleeping in past her alarm set for five gave her all of 20 minutes to dress and dart out the door and into her car. She already text her son Manny to drop by on his way to school, guilty that she had forgotten to leave him lunch money. As she balanced her drink while trying to open the door, she realized it would all go much smoother if she actually opened both her eyes. She finally got in, sighing as she slumped against the door, locking it before making her way into her closet/office.
She dropped her keys and jacket, tugging open a drawer to find her stash of makeup so she looked moderately welcoming before she opened the doors at 6:30. She swiped on some dark brown eyeliner, smudging it with her finger as she quickly opened the tube of mascara. She didn't have such time to spend on her face, but some concealer and blush make her look like an entirely different person a few minutes later. She dropped it all back in her top drawer, making her way to the front with her phone in her hand, hooking up her music before she began prepping for the day. She grabbed her black apron that she folded in half and tied around her waist, her black shirt tucked into her gray skinny jeans. She was glad she threw on her comfortable combat boots too, it would have been a bitch if she would have grabbed anything with a heel. She grabbed a towel to start wiping down the counter when a familiar frantic knock sounded on the glass. She smiled to herself, dropping the towel as she went to unlock the door.
"I'm so sorry Angie! I know I was supposed to start at 6, but my roommate refused to leave the bathroom so I had to wait-"
The shorter Asian woman barely took a breath as she rattled off her explanation, making Angie smile in anticipation for what the day had in store. Wendy had a cute demeanor, coming out of her shell a lot in the six months she'd been working here. She was a recent university graduate, looking to stay afloat while deciding on graduate programs. She was intelligent and kind, and it made Angie realize the world needed more of those kinds of people.
"Wendy, sweetie, it's fine. I just got here a few minutes ago, relax. You can start by dropping your stuff in the back, grabbing your apron, and wiping down the counter"
The shorter Asian nodded, power walking into the back to do as she was told. Angie just shook her head, glad she didn't have to clean as she made her way to start the coffee.
As the morning rush died down at about 10:45, Angie sighed in relief as she leaned her hip against the wall beside Wendy, watching as she damn near collapsed as the door closed behind their customer.
"Holy crap, when did we get so popular?"
"Hey, I resent that," Angie grumbled, trying and failing to hide a yawn.
"You know what I mean"
Angie shrugged a shoulder, watching as the girl rearranged the little packages of cookies and gift certificates in front of the register. She was a character, but at least she was tidy. Wendy moved to clean a few of the machines, leaving Angie with a new customer that made her way threw the door.
"Someone looks like they had a good night"
Angie grinned cheekily as she eyed her close friend Betty, watching like a hawk as the woman smiled leisurely, sauntering up to the counter. She slipped her sun glasses to rest on top of her head, leaning forward to rest her arms on the waist high counter. She propped her head up as she motioned to Wendy, the girl already familiar with the medical examiners order by now.
"Wouldn't you like to know"
"Oh believe me, it's written all over your beautiful face. Is it an extra shot kind of morning or what?"
"Better make it two Ang, concealer can only hide so much"
She laughed aloud at that, watching as Wendy nodded, already halfway through with her drink. Angie mimicked Betty's position, both of them staring at one another from a few inches away.
"So, was it the hot firefighter? He did have the six pack to die for..."
"Oh believe me, that wasn't all that was to die for"
Betty smirked, and Angie had to shake her head as she straightened up, another repeat customer making his way in.
"Detective Lucas, what brings you hear on this fine morning?" Betty asks, straightening up slowly as she smirked, watching the way he stuttered before his eyes cut towards Wendy. They'd been flirting for weeks, but both were so damn nervous that it'd probably be another year before they actually went out on a date. His cheeks got pink as he caught her eye, making her fumble with Betty drink just enough to make her scowl.
"Watch it kid, if she was too busy making eyes at you to finish my coffee, they'll never find your body"
Betty smiled sweetly, patting his shoulder before stepping aside, watching as his mouth just opened and closed in what seemed to be horror. Betty could do that to people, it was remarkable.
"Give the kid a break, we all know she's just as bad. You do know if you just got it over with and asked her out, we'd stop mocking you incessantly"
Wendy choked on the sip of water she took after she handed Betty her coffee, coughing as she gave Angie the evil eye for all of two seconds. At least she had some sense of self preservation.
"Uh, Detective Vega and I needed a coffee break before heading back to the Owen's case. He's just talking to someone while I order"
"Hmmm...Vega talking to a lead or is it personal"
"I don't know ma'am, you'd have to take it up with him"
Angie winced as Betty turned a glare on Lucas that had him shrinking back in fear. This was better than cable some days. Angie was used to Betty and Lucas separately, but together they were hilarious.
"You're right, I think Oscar and I have quite a few things to talk about where you're concerned" she sauntered towards the door, stopping to chat with a man as Angie turned to Lucas sympathetically, patting his forearm reassuringly.
"You called her ma'am dude, she's never going to forget that"
"I know, I'm working on how to get myself out of that one"
"Good luck with that. The usual skinny mocha for you and latte for your partner I'm guessing?" He nodded his head, handing her a ten and telling her to keep the change. He really was a good kid, just needed to grow a bit of a backbone where Wendy was concerned. She'd say yes in a heartbeat, he just had to get there.
"So Wendy, how was your weekend?"
Angie grinned as she watched the two interact, finding it adorable that they were so awkward towards one another. You'd think it's get better, but it never really did. She watched as a man with scruff and entirely unkept hair walked up to Lucas, making him stand up straighter as he answered his question. He pointed his thumb towards her, making who she assumed to be his partner turn his head towards her and stare. She held his gaze, after she mentally catalogued his attire. Expensive shoes and suit, but the beard and messy hair contradicted the mental assumptions she was making. It was interesting, and she tilted her head as he made his way towards her. Her leaned his arms across the top of her register, turning his body towards her as he spoke.
"So it's safe to assume you witnessed the incident that will probably lead to Lucas' death?"
"It is. He did it to himself, I don't think there will be any survivors"
He smirked at her, tilting his head much like hers as she crossed her arms across her chest. He seemed like an observer, and those kind a of people always knew too much too soon, but his gaze seemed merely curious.
"Great minds think alike. I already told Dr. Rogers that I know nothing"
"Well thank god for that, or else you'd be next on her to do list," he raised an eyebrow at Angie, and she knew right away that he was more familiar with Betty than she first thought.
"Yeah, I don't think I'm really her type. Sarcastic detectives really aren't her cup of tea"
"Yeah, but she is friends with a sarcastic coffee shop owner. You may just have a shot"
"Well in that case, she most definitely isn't my type"
"Oh yeah, and what type is that?"
When he made no move to answer aside from a slight eyebrow raise, she shrugged her shoulders, looking at the two young people that we're staring at them in awe and amusement. She shot a look at Wendy, watching as she snapped out of her daze, going to grab a cup holder as she turned back to Lucas' partner.
"I think you guys are pretty much set Detective..."
"Vega, Oscar Vega"
"You know, I could mock you for the Bond reference but I won't. Consider it your freebie for the day"
"My freebie?" He asked skeptically, looking at her with interest.
"Yeah, usually I don't pass up on such easy targets like that"
"Well in that case, thanks for sparing my delicate feelings-"
"Angie"
"-Angie. You have a good day, " he said, backing away from the counter with a smile as he caught up to Lucas near the door. She salutes him with two fingers, smiling as he let out a laugh, the sound muffled once the doors closed behind them. She stares after them for a moment, until she realizes that Wendy is staring at her with a mix of curiosity and glee. She looked entirely too happy.
"Is there something I can do for you Wendy?"
The girl just smiled widely, grabbing a rag to wipe the counter and tables to put some distance between them before she spoke.
"Nope, just wondering how often we'll be seeing Detective Vega from now on..."
"And why would you be wondering that?" Angie asked, her tone taking on a bit of a warning as she silently dared Wendy to say something about their...encounter earlier. The girl gave her a wide eyed panicked look, shaking her head vehemently as she seemed to speed wipe the tables.
"No reason"
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm going to go place a couple orders, holler if you need anything" she said, turning away from the front and heading to her office.
She couldn't help but smile a bit, biting her lip as she thought about what had just happened. Sure she had men flirt with her on occasion, but the detective was something else. It was as if he wanted to feel her out before saying something, and she didn't mind him doing so one bit. He was attractive in a way that said he could give a shit about his looks but doesn't, and his humor definitely caught her attention. She was intrigued, there was nothing else to it.
Like it? Think there's something I should do? Let me know!