Reader Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and allusions belong to Nickelodeon and the creators of Legend of Korra.

Summary: Mako works in a coffee shop, and a regular customer makes her appearance, but today is different. Coffee shop AU!Makorra.

Mako turns away and starts making a new pot of espresso even though there's already a fresh one from twenty minutes ago. He lets Tahno, the sharp-mouthed barista who gets on his nerves a lot, take the customer that just walked in.

"Oh, hello again, Kor-rah," he hears Tahno greet with his faux-sensual voice. "Fancy seeing you here."

Tahno says the last part with no attempt at all to mask his sarcasm. Mako focuses on scooping the right amount of coffee grounds into the filter. How many was it again? Four? Crap, he forgot already.

"Shove it, Tahno," answers Kor-rah. "Just give me my usual."

"And what's that, exactly? I'm pretty sure what you're looking for isn't on the menu, sweetheart."

Mako's hand shakes too much and some coffee grounds spill onto the counter. Stupid Tahno. Why was he antagonizing their most frequent customer? She'd run off to some other coffee shop and then who would tip them as generously as her again?

"Blonde roast, three creamers, one pump of sweetener and one pump of hazelnut. Or did you take that off the menu, pretty boy?"

The espresso is brewing. Mako moves on to straightening the coffee bags and brushing off the wayward coffee grounds with meticulousness.

"Maybe," Tahno says. "Hey, Mako, can you get this broad her coffee?"

Mako glances over his shoulder to glare at Tahno but accidentally meets the jewel blue eyes of the customer and he fights back the heat of the blush that creeps up his cheeks and ears and slowly turns to face the front counter. "Yeah, of course."

Tahno smirks and turns back to the girl. "While Mako takes his sweet time preparing your coffee just how you like it, you can pay me and take your seat, sweetheart."

Mako doesn't look up again as he hears her grumble something and there's the jingle of change and the ring of the cash register.

"You know, I am definitely not going to miss seeing your face all summer, Tahno," she says clearly after Tahno finishes giving her the change.

What did that mean? Mako stirs in the creamers and furrows his brow.

"Oh, my feelings are hurt. How ever will I survive?"

Mako couldn't remember Tahno saying anything about going away for the summer, but then again, he didn't pay much attention to his coworkers. He just worked at this stupid coffee shop for extra cash to help pay for his little brother's membership at his mixed martial arts gym. Making friendly with the other baristas wasn't required.

Mako swears he can hear her stick out her tongue at Tahno but doesn't say anything else and moves to wait for her coffee on the other side of the counter, which Mako is closer to. He tries not to think about this as he adds two pumps of sweetener and two of hazelnut (she says she only wants one of each but really she likes her coffee sweet) and stirs those in carefully. He secures the lid on and takes out a marker from his apron pocket and writes out Korra on the side of the cup.

She's leaning on the counter edge, dark hair carelessly held half-up by a blue clip, playing with the coffee stirrers. The day is warm enough that she's not wearing her usual blue jacket, showing off a sleeveless blouse that reveals the shape of her strong arms and line of her delicate collarbone.

It's just a girl. She's not going to bite you. Mako repeats this to himself as he approaches with the coffee cup in his hands.

"Uh, here's your coffee, Korra," Mako says, setting the coffee in front of her.

She looks up with a wide smile that makes Mako want to punch himself for reacting so stupidly with a blush. "Thanks, Mako."

She straightens and digs into her bookbag and fishes out some bills. "Here. I'd put it in your tip jar, but I don't want you to share it with pretty boy over there."

She reaches over and puts a couple of bills into his hand. Her touch is warm and Mako stares at her as she does this.

"Uh, thanks," he answers, his attempt at returning her smile pitiful. Mako wants to kick himself.

Korra grabs her coffee cup and winks at him, sending Mako's heart into a stammering frenzy. "I'll see you next time."

Mako watches her go and ignores the knowing smirk on Tahno's face.

He looks down at the tip she gave him—she's never done that before—and just before he's about to stuff it in his pocket he notices a white piece of paper sticking out in between the money. Mako pulls it out and reads the scribbled words on it, chuckling to himself because she's right.

since we both know you're too shy to ask for my number

Korra

555-555-1423

A/N: This started off as a drabble on Tumblr. I plan on adding 10 more drabbles to complete this story. I'm so crappy at multi-chapter projects that this story should be easy enough to complete. I promise minimal angst and lots of fluff (I've tried writing angst and it ends up depressing me). The next chapter/drabble should be up...now!

Up next: the first time they hung out.