Based off my own headcanon post that: 'There's no coffee on the moon, so Janey imports some for Athena'
It's the smell that hits her first when she walks into the apartment. Even amongst the scent blood and dirt covering her own body, and the tang of machine oil hanging in the air, the smell of coffee punches through it all to hit her square in the chest.
Suddenly, Athena's feet can't carry her into the room fast enough. Her heartbeat quickens and she can almost feel her pupils dilate as a kick of adrenalin floods her muscles. She makes it through the lounge, dropping her pack and guns with carelessness, mouth watering in anticipation, and follows her nose where it leads down the hall.
Athena is practically running by the time she bursts into the workroom, startling Janey who nearly drops the mug in her hands.
"Shit, 'Thena!" Janey exclaims. "Where's the bloody fire?"
Athena stumbles, trying to form words. "I-uh, I thought…"
"You right, hun?" Janey lifts an eyebrow. Athena's eyes settle on the mug Janey holds. The text, 'Moon's best Mech', wraps around the pink porcelain.
"I-is-is that…?" Athena points at the cup as she walks over. Janey doesn't resist when she takes the mug from her.
The warmth seeps into Athena's palms and the smell is so close it sends her into a daze. Her eyes close momentarily in bliss.
"Coffee?" Janey finishes for her and Athena looks up to see the blonde's grin. "Yeah, I wanted to surprise ya. Managed to get some off Crazy Earl."
Athena tries to look grateful, really she does, but it's hard to focus when her body is drawing the cup closer to her lips and that heavenly liquid is teasing her.
"You can have it, darl." Janey laughs. "Dunno why you like it so much, stuff's damn awful."
Athena is no longer listening; too busy trying to down half the cup in one go, not caring about the burn. She's gone four months without this, screw drinking it slowly. But the coffee only gets halfway down her throat before the taste attacks her tongue. She splutters.
The fuck?
Janey rubs her back and she manages to swallow. She must've made a face though, because Janey takes her hand away. "Aw shit, did I make it wrong?"
Athena shakes her head. Tears stinging her eyes as she examines the mug's contents properly. The coffee is almost white in its weakness. "No, it's-it's fine, uh, I just haven't had it in a while…"
Janey sees through the lie and pouts a little. "But isn't it just like Moonlo? Hot water, milk powder, ta-da nice warm drink?"
"Actually." Athena clears the last of it from her throat. "It's more complicated than you would think." She smiles and places the cup on the bench. She ponders telling Janey about the coffee machines Atlas used to have, and that it's really an unfair competition. Though she chooses instead to reach up and pull Janey's grease-streaked face down to her own.
Athena kisses the pout from Janey's lips and she feels her give in quickly. The coffee taste on the junker's tongue surprises Athena, clearly left over from her taste-test earlier. It sparks in Athena's mouth, shoots down her body and comes back up in a moan. Reluctantly she pulls back and is suddenly aware of Janey's hands on her hips.
"Thank you, Springs. Really."
"No worries, hun." Janey smirks and hooks her fingers through Athena's belt, pulling her forward. Athena doesn't resist; she's starting to crave Janey just as much as she does coffee.
Disclosure: I'm still on writing hiatus, these posts are all months old. I'll be putting out new stuff again in November!