This is just a silly little fluff story that I wrote for Tumblr (my handle there is also tipsyraconteur if you'd like to follow me). I was curious about writing something without smut in it, and this is what happened. This is a modern coffee shop AU, and that's all you really need to know.

Eternal thanks to Nyxako for being such an awesome beta.

0O0

"Welcome to the Konoha Grind," Sakura mumbled insincerely as she heard the shop's bell tinkle in the doorway. She didn't even look up, instead staring vacantly down as she finished wiping the counter.

It had been a long day, starting with a flat tire, followed by a nearly-failing grade on a particularly difficult anatomy test, and rounding out with a night shift at the coffee shop when all she wanted to do was sleep. It was enough to make her want to give up on med school altogether.

At the sound of someone clearing their throat on the other side of the register, Sakura lethargically straightened and grabbed an empty cup and marker, ready to take the order. She barely even looked at the person standing in front of her. "What can I get you?"

"A medium flat white and a puppuccino, please," came a male voice that, even to her tired ears, sounded deep and pleasant.

Finally glancing up, Sakura paused in the action of writing the order. "I can do the flat white, but I don't know what a puh— whatever you said is," she said, studying the man in front of her. He was definitely older than her, but not as old as his shock of silver hair would've led her to believe. The fluffy navy scarf he wore wrapped around the lower half of his face complimented the blue sweater and jeans he'd worn against the brisk weather, and above the scarf his dark eyes were smiling. Her tired mind absently noted the long scar over his right eye.

"A puppuccino," he supplied. "I think it's a Starbucks thing?" He shifted the backpack strap slung over his shoulder as he watched her.

Sakura blinked, frowning a little as she pointed at the logo on the cup that she held. "We're not Starbucks. We're the Konoha Grind. I can't make those," she said slowly, hoping he'd get the message this time.

"Sure you can," he replied genially. "All you need to do is put whipped cream in a cup and give it to a dog. Instant puppuccino."

Trying to scowl at him, Sakura ended up pouting instead. "You're going to be difficult, aren't you?"

A quiet laugh floated out from the scarf, and he responded easily, "Maybe a little, but I think it's kind of charming, don't you? If it makes things easier, then I'll just take the flat white."

Sakura gave a relieved sigh and resumed writing his order on the cup, glad he'd dropped the subject, only for him to add, "And a small cup. With whipped cream in it. For a dog."

This time, Sakura did scowl at him, which only made him laugh again.

"You're not having a very good day, are you?" he said, tilting his head.

"Well," Sakura began waspishly, "It might have something to do with customers who think they're charming giving me a hard time."

He leaned in slightly, little creases appearing at the corner of his eyes as they smiled at her, and she found herself wondering what he looked like beneath the scarf. "I'll stop giving you a hard time if you just give me one teeny, tiny little cup of whipped cream."

Trying to ignore her thoughts about what the rest of his face looked like, Sakura tipped her chin up willfully. "You don't even have a dog."

His eyes creased again as he shifted the strap from his shoulder, swinging a black backpack around to his front. Sticking its head out the open zippered pouch was a grumpy-looking pug, the kind of dog that was so ugly that it circled back around to being cute.

"Say hi, Pakkun," he said.

"Boof," said Pakkun.

"Pakkun, haven't you been a good boy? And don't good boys deserve a puppuccino?" He asked the pug in a crooning voice.

"Boof," Pakkun repeated.

Okay, that was pretty adorable. Sakura's shoulders drooped as she gave in. "Fine. One medium flat white and one… I'm not saying it," she finished imperiously.

He gave her puppy-dog eyes that perfectly fit the situation. "But you have to say it."

They stared at each other stubbornly for a long moment, and then Sakura sighed.

"…Puppuccino."

He beamed at her, his eyes twinkling, and she let out a huff that was half laughter and half exasperation. At that moment, she wasn't sure what came over her—maybe it was the fact that he was kind of charming—but she suddenly added, "You haven't given me your name."

Without missing a beat, he answered, "You haven't given me yours, either."

Sakura felt heat rising to her cheeks. "I mean, for your cup. So you know it's yours. I'm supposed to ask." Great, she sounded like an idiot.

"Oh, really?" he asked, pausing thoughtfully. "I just wanted to know your name." Before she had a chance to respond, he added, "I'm Kakashi."

Feeling flustered and like she couldn't quite keep up with the conversation, she said, "I'm Sakura." Before he could continue, she quickly spoke again. "Your order will be ready in a minute."

Turning, Sakura moved to the hot bar as she scribbled his name on the cup, willing her cheeks to cool. She never flirted with customers, although they often flirted with her, but she was pretty sure that's what she'd just been doing. Chancing a glance over her shoulder, she found that he was quietly watching her work, and she quickly returned to what she was doing.

With the espresso machine brewing and the milk steaming, she reached for one of the small cups that they served espresso shots in and grabbed the whipped cream canister. With a slight flourish, she filled the cup with a fluffy spiral of whipped cream. Turning, she moved back to the counter and held it out to Kakashi.

"One puppuccino," she said, lips quirking slightly.

Kakashi hummed in response, plucking the cup from her hand with long fingers. His free hand lifted to casually pull the scarf down, and Sakura swallowed. He was good looking—like, really good looking, with the kind of sharp features you expect to see in the pages of a magazine, complete with a beauty mark beneath his lower lip.

When he lifted the cup to his lips and licked the tip of the whipped cream, his eyes meeting hers, Sakura felt the blood rush back into her face.

"That wasn't for you," she squeaked, her voice embarrassingly higher than before.

Holding her gaze and smirking slightly, Kakashi smoothly responded, "I'm also a very good boy." Above the smirk, his eyes smoldered.

Sakura's lips parted, but no sound came out. She knew had to look like a fish out of water and scrambled for something to say. Thankfully, she was saved by the sound of her friend and coworker Ino returning from her break and calling out a hello as she made her way behind the counter.

"What is this, a medium flat white?" Ino asked breezily, answering her own question as she looked at the order written on the cup. Sakura turned to her and nodded unnecessarily, and Ino checked on the steamed milk. "I'll finish it," Ino said, her cornflower-blue eyes pointedly flickering to Kakashi. She clearly had a favorable opinion of their latest customer and wanted to take care of him herself.

Sakura held back a frown. She had long ago learned not to compete with her bombshell friend for the affections of men. Not that it mattered—he was just some guy.

Right?

When Sakura turned back to face him, Kakashi was holding the cup for Pakkun, who was eating the whipped cream with great enthusiasm. The heated look was gone from his eyes, and the dangerous smirk was gone as well.

"Your order will be ready in a minute," Sakura said, for lack of anything better to say.

He smiled a smile made more appealing by the fact that it was slightly lopsided. "You said that already." Sakura gave him a small smile in return as Ino stepped up beside her, holding the drink out.

"Medium flat white for Kakashi?" Ino asked in a tone that was syrupy-sweet.

"That's me," he answered, his tone vaguely pleasant as he took the drink.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Ino asked, leaning on the counter. She even batted her eyelashes, something that made Sakura hold back a snort of disbelief.

"No thanks, I have to get going," Kakashi answered, moving back from the counter and lifting his cup in a lazy salute. "Have a good evening, ladies," he said, his gaze moving from Ino to Sakura before he turned and headed for the door.

They both watched him go, because of course he had a fantastic ass, when suddenly Ino snapped to attention. "Hey, you didn't pay for your drink!" she called, her voice slightly less sweet than before.

Kakashi paused, halfway out the door, and laughed lightly, a sheepish look on his face. "Ah, well, you see… I forgot my wallet. I'll get you tomorrow. I promise."

Sakura and Ino both watched, a little shocked by his audacity, as he continued through the door—and then he paused, poking his head back through the doorway. His eyes were focused on Sakura as he asked, "Do you work tomorrow?"

Ino turned her head to look wide-eyed at Sakura, who blinked and responded, "I work tomorrow night."

"Excellent." He beamed at her, then pulled his scarf up and stepped through the door. The last thing Sakura saw was Pakkun's face poking out of his backpack, before the door swung shut.

"Hmm," Ino said, eyeing Sakura, an interested gleam in her eye. "He barely even looked at me. He seemed to be really into you, though," she said, in a tone that implied that she found it deliciously scandalous.

"Maybe," Sakura said noncommittally, but when she turned around to join Ino in cleaning the bar, she couldn't hide the smile that crept over her face.