"You can tell a lot about a person by the coffee they drink." Her boss told her. She never thought much about it until she met him.

He always came in every day around the same time and ordered the same thing: a large black coffee with one sugar. He wasn't terribly tall, perhaps just under 5'11", but he was clearly well built. He was handsome; chiseled, angular face with thin lips. It was his eyes that stayed with her: deep blue pools that spoke of mystery and danger. But there was something more to him. There was a kindness in his eyes, buried deep behind the darkness. She could almost sense it more than see it and it matched what she learned about coffee.

Black coffee meant he was a straightforward man with simple tastes. Probably military or police force which was better indicated by the way he stood. The one sugar was what spoke to her. Sugar was used to make the bitter, dark drink more palatable. It takes away a bit of the bitterness left behind from the taste. And it was that one packet of sugar that intrigued her.

"Lost in thought again?" Hilde poked her arm. Relena turned to her friend. "You're waiting on Mr. One-sugar, aren't you?" Relena felt her face heat.

"Don't be silly, Hilde! I was just thinking about all the studying I have to do for the test tomorrow."

"Yeah right."

"I'm serious! If I'm going to be a vet, I have to get the highest marks possible!"

"Sheesh, you're too hard on yourself!" Hilde frowned. "You're already practically top of our class! You need to relax and live a little."

"She needs to get laid." Dorothy chimed in from her spot on the stool as she sipped on her iced coffee. Relena's face burned.

"Dorothy! I work here! Please!"

"What?" She waved her hand in the air. "Everyone who comes here knows you're too tightly wound. You need a man."

"You added bailey's to your coffee again, didn't you?" Relena rolled eyes, trying to fight the blush.

"What if I did? It's five o'clock somewhere." Dorothy's lips curved into a satisfied smile as she sipped it again. "But don't change the subject."

"Yeah, Relena. We all know what you need." Hilde added. Relena nearly groaned.

"What I need is for you two nosy hens to leave me alone about my love life-"

"Or lack thereof." Dorothy quipped. Relena rolled her eyes again and wiped the counter.

"I need to focus on my studies."

"And here comes something for you to study right now." Hilde added. Relena froze as the bell to the coffee shop announced his arrival. Even in a plain white t-shirt and jeans he looked-

"Good morning!" Hilde said in her most chipper voice. "Welcome to RoseVine Coffee!"

As he approached the counter, Relena felt his eyes on her and shivered. She looked up and met his gaze. She made his usual for him and walked to offer it to him.

"Here you are. Black coffee, one sugar." She smiled and as his eyes met hers she swore he was reading her soul.

"Thank you." He'd never said anything before. He always just nodded or gave a vague grunt of acknowledgment. His voice was deep and soothing, just as she imagined.

"You're welcome!" She blurted out and as he took the cup from her, their fingers touched and a thrill went up her arm and straight to her heart. His eyes widened and she thought, perhaps, he had felt it too. Usually, he took his coffee and left. Usually this was the end of their interaction, but today…

He sat at the corner table in the back and he stayed there through her shift, ordering new coffees and a simple snack. Alll the while, she felt his eyes on her. It was as unnerving as it was thrilling. Every now and again she would meet his gaze only to be taken aback by what she saw in it. There was a heat there; dark and hypnotic… possibly desire…? She felt her cheeks heat at that shameless thought.

Hilde continued to joke with her about it but she barely heard a word. When her shift was over, she went to hang up her apron and punch out when she felt his gaze almost pull to her. She should have left. Feeling bolder than she had ever felt in her life, she steeled her nerve, checked her reflection in the shine of the stainless steel fridge and took a deep breath.

"Come on, Relena. You can do this."

"Go get him, girl!" Hilde mouthed at her. She passed by her friend and made her way table, wringing her hands nervously. He looked up at her as she approached and she offered him a small smile.

"Hi." Smoothe, Darlian. "Um… may I sit with you?"

"Sure." She felt her heart jump and her smile widened.

"Okay." She sat down across from him. "My name is Relena Darlian."

"I know." Her brows pitched yo in surprise.

"You… you do?" He nodded, eyes never leaving her. She suddenly felt like a small animal caught in the gaze of a dangerous predator… she shivered. "How?"

"Because, Relena," he reached forward and took her hand in his. Eyes serious. "I'm an assassin." The corners of his lips turned up. "And I was sent here to kill you."

"Wh-what?" Relena could not think. The electricity from his touch mixed with the shock of his words floored her.

"But if you come with me, I promise, no harm will come to you."

"What?!" She tried to stand but there was no strength in her legs. "Why would I go with you? You said you were going to kill me."

"I was sent to. But I won't."

"Why?" She tried to pull her hand away but couldn't.

"I can't... Not.. not now." He stood. "Trust me, and I will protect you."

"But-"

"Come." Could she trust him? Her hand tingled again at the memory of his touch. She barely knew him, and yet... in spite of her better judgment, she felt like she could, in fact, trust him. She nodded.

"Ok." They left the shop together; a million questions swirling through her brain.