Coffee Shop AU

I don't know what I'm doing with my life, but hopefully writing these prompts will either jumpstart my creative thinking/writing process so I can continue on with my own ideas, or it'll inspire something for me to create. Thus, The Anomaly has been born; let's see how far I can stretch Maka and Soul's relationship by putting them in these situations.

These will all be one-shots, with most of them hopefully ending in sexy-time. This one, however, does not. Sorry about that.

He came in at exactly 7:43 each morning, to grab a coffee. Black, in order to make him awake enough to be at his job at eight. Why he didn't just buy a coffee pot instead of spending $5 every day, Maka will never know. She also never realized when she recognized the pattern, but then again, it was hard to miss snow white hair and dull red eyes behind heavy, sleep-ridden lids. With his abnormal features, it was easy to tell exactly who it was, sluggishly making their way to the register.

When he came in the first time, Maka quirked an eyebrow at the name 'Soul' that grumbled out from his lips when she asked for one. It was too early and he looked too sleepy to be making up a weird goofy name for her to call out; usually that got reserved for the pre-teens hopping out of school, giggling when the barista calls out 'Captain Underpants'. Maka scribbled the name on a cup, placing it in line with the others for a moment before remembering he was only getting coffee – literally just coffee – grabbing a pot and watching the dark brown liquid swash out and into the cup. Placing a lid on it, she moved to place it on the receiving counter, calling out, "Soul?" and watching the white-haired man slouch forward to grab the cup, their fingertips touching for a slight moment. "I hope it wakes you up," she said to him with a smile on her face, watching as his garnet eyes glanced up at her for a second, before moving to take a sip of his drink as he turned to leave.

She could have sworn she heard a mumbled thank-you, as if he was whispering it to the lid.

The next day, he repeated the same name, and it was then Maka knew that it couldn't be a joke. "Is this really your name?" she asked bluntly, not even bothering to write it down as she grabbed the pot and starting filling it up before grabbing the $10 bill he was holding.

He ruffled a hand through his hair, having 'messy bed-head but it still looks good out in public so why brush it' down-pat, shrugging. "Yeah. My parents wanted to be… out there, with the names."

Maka placed the lid on his coffee, sliding it across the counter to him, along with his change. "Well, I hope you have a good day Soul," she said with a smile, watching as he took it, softly mumbling a thanks before slipping.

"It will be once I get some caffeine in me," he said this time as he turned to leave.

One day, after a few weeks of Soul coming in, he ordered something different. A caramel macchiato, with extra whip cream. "Woah now, you can't be changing it up on me like this," Maka joked, already holding the coffee pot, prepared to pour but now she has to put it down all awkward-like and pretend she was just picking it up in order to clean the counter under it or something.

"Sorry but I finally closed on a good deal and I need something to celebrate," Soul chirped eagerly, his eyes alight instead of their usual drowsiness. Maka remembered thinking that his eyes were really beautiful, sparkling under the florescent light, with his eyes actually open all the way. It was then Maka learned that if Soul came in and ordered something sugary, then today was a good day for him. An excellent day, in fact. He didn't need something to wake him up, as he was already awake plenty. Maka wondered if he even really needed the caffeine at that point, but hey. Money was money.

A few months go by, their pattern predictable by this point, when Maka decided to take off for vacation. Liz had been begging for a trip to the beach and, Maka has to admit: she's really needed some down-time lately. Since starting at the coffee shop four years ago, she's never once taken a day off for herself, unless she was on her deathbed. So she agrees, and heads out of town for a week. Her first day back, she's putting out some baking goods when all of a sudden, she hears furious stomping heading her way. "Where have you been?!" Soul yells at her, slamming his hands down on the counter, making her jump. She stares at him, a little unsure of why he's acting this way. She's only ever seen him happy, excited, sleepy, or grumpy. Never angry, with eyes blazing like magma.

"I… was on vacation…" she said hesitantly, watching his lips part as he scowls, his teeth pin-pricking sharp like needles. She tries not to stare but this is the first time she's seen his teeth!

"Why didn't you let me know?!" he accuses her once more, and this time, instead of being frightened, Maka grows angry, eyebrows pulling together as she puffs out her cheeks at him.

"I'm sorry! I didn't think I'd have to let every customer I have know about my personal business!" She watches as he balks at her, frustration replaced with confusion on his face. She wondered if he thought she was a push-over just because she had pleasant people skills. "Now sir, if you're not going to order something, I suggest you move to the side to let others." She smiles at him, though they both know its fake, and he says nothing. Merely turns and leaves without ordering anything at all.

This was the first time Soul came in and didn't order anything. Maka also learned today that he never comes in when she has her off days either.

Soul doesn't come in for the rest of the week, and Maka wonders if he's boycotting the place or if he realized how stupid he was being and just bought a damn coffee pot already. However, when Monday rolls around, at precisely 7:43, he comes trudging in through the door, and Maka already has his coffee black and waiting on the counter when he reaches it. "Sorry about last week… and about yelling at you," he mumbles while handing her a twenty, scratching the back of his head. Maka's learned that that's code for when he's awkward or embarrassed to talk about something.

"It's okay," and she smiles at him – a real smile. "I'm sorry I didn't tell my most loyal customer I would be gone… I didn't think it would be that big of a deal." Soul opens his mouth, like he's about to say something, but thinks better about it and closes it, before thanking her for the coffee and turning to leave.

Maka wonders all day on what he was going to say.

At 4:30, Maka's about to clock-out, when she recognizes that familiar mop of white hair walking through the store. Eyebrow quirked in confusion, she asks him what he's doing here out of schedule. "I was wondering if… I could buy you a coffee? And maybe we could just… talk?" he asked, hand permanently attached to the back of his head at this point.

"Treat me to coffee, when I work in a coffee shop? How original. And I expect that you'll want me to fix up both of our drinks as well?" she asks him in a taunting manner, already moving to prepare.

"I don't trust anybody else," was his response, shrugging his shoulders with a smile.

"All you get is black coffee!" Maka exclaims with a laugh.

"Yeah, but it's not made by you," Soul says, chuckling when he sees Maka's cheeks turn pink. Maka's cheeks stay pink throughout the remainder of their coffee date.