The Benefits of Coffee, Alcohol, and Tea

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Coffee

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He hated moving.

Laxus glared at the large amount of boxes in his new apartment. It wasn't the location of his new apartment that bothered the blond. On the contrary, he was glad to be back into his hometown after traveling the world. It was just the whole process of moving that irked Laxus; it was so time-consuming.

He took a glance at the old watch his gramps gave him on his tenth birthday. With a fond smile at the memories, Laxus knew that he would need something to jump start his already weary body. The man had been driving for hours frustratingly looking for his new apartment that smelled like beer after all.

Laxus glared up to the floor above him. It was probably his new neighbor. Laxus made a reminder to himself about giving whoever was living above him a hell of a greeting later.

Storming out of his apartment, Laxus walked to the café across the street. Then he remembered the new position that was offered to him by Jura Neekis at the police station.

It was going to be one hell of a day for him.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat, Laxus continued to walk in the winter wonderland that covered Magnolia. Curse his gramps for talking him into in one place especially in the winter.

Laxus's eyes scanned the board above him as he entered the cafe. He immediately rejected the frappuccinos and sweet snacks along the tea. Stopping at the counter, Laxus decided to get two regular black coffees. Plain and simple. Pulling out his wallet as the customer in front of him went to find a seat in waiting for their order. He opened his mouth to order, but was stopped by the cashier.

"Laxus? Laxus Dreyer?" The blond looked up from his brown leather wallet to the cashier- a white haired chick wearing the standard green visor and apron. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion for a moment with a tug of familiarity at his heartstrings. There was something familiar about her and her white hair and blue eyes-

Wait.

Then it snapped in his slightly drowsy state of mind now fully aware of the person in front of him.

"Mira?" He said her name in surprise as the woman immediately brightened in excitement. Inside, Laxus felt a twinge in her heart. How long had it been since he had seen her? A wave of mixed feelings rushed through him.

"How are you?" He managed to pass the words through his usual scowl that transformed into an awkward smile. Yes, out of all the people in the world Laxus did smile.

"I've been great, and Elfman is too." He smirked. Leave it to the eldest of the Strauss's siblings to talk about her little siblings. Inwardly, he frowned. What about Lisanna? The youngest of the trio should be in college- Mirajane should have been having kittens by now. The woman in front of him would dote on her sister back in their childhood days. He snapped out his thoughts as he heard Mirajane continue, "And you?"

"…I'm fine." She frowned at his hesitance and opened her mouth to say something that was most likely out of concern, because- she was that type of person after all. Laxus was about to reassure as well until the customer behind him coughed once before saying in a grump and apparently exhausted tone, "Some of us would like to get their coffee."

With that interruption, Laxus's scowl was back in place as he glared at the grumpy office suit man, who in turn glared back. Mirajane interrupted their glaring bout with a smile and the usual question before taking down a customer's order, "What can I get you, Laxus?"

"Two blacks. Medium." Mirajane raised a brow and said suggestively with a smirk, "For a girlfriend?"

Laxus blinked. It was like Mira to pry on relationships, but where'd she get the idea that he was dating someone? "Uh no, they're both for me. I have a long day ahead of me."

The smirk disappeared after he said that and Mirajane forgone a polite expression on her face as she entered his order into the computer. "Oh uh, any sugar or cream?"

"No." Laxus said dismissively. He needed the bitter taste of the caffeine. Mirajane glanced up for a moment. "Anything else?"

"No."

"That'll be ten dollars."

Laxus gave her his credit card. Swiping the card, Mirajane seconds later handed it back to him with a thin paper receipt. "It's nice seeing you again, Laxus."

"You too, Mira." Taking a seat near the windows of the café, Laxus took in his surroundings. The café gave off a very comforting warm morning vibe with its hazelnut walls lined with vanilla painted flowers, the dangling light fixtures from the ceiling, and the relative comfy booth lined against the hazelnut walls apart from the cushioned chairs. It only took a few minutes of planning what to do in his apartment until Laxus hear Mirajane call his name for his order.

Going up to the white haired woman behind the counter Laxus nodded in thanks before asking, "What made you think I was in a relationship?"

Mirajane gave him a small smile while replying. "Check your collar, and I'll see you around, Laxus."

Without another word she left as the call of another customer. Laxus with a frown glanced to the collar of his wrinkled white shirt before his eyes widened at the red lipstick stain. Where'd he get- oh. His mind went back to the hotel party on last night. He rubbed off the lipstick from his cheek that a drunken woman got on him.

With his usual scowl Laxus left the café not before popping up his collar, feeling that he left with more questions than answer with his old childhood friend. Taking a sip of his black coffee while waiting for the sidewalk light to go green Laxus frowned as he glanced to his coffee. It didn't taste like a regular black. It tasted sweeter. Then he noticed the writing on the side of his coffee cup that was adorned with the café's logo and blinked at what his serve put down.

"A little sweetness in life for all things bitter, huh?"