Day 8- Black Coffee Drinker AU: Avi X Thorn

Avi couldn't help but smile when she saw Thorn walk into the coffee shop that day. He'd been coming for almost a month now, and from the first day Avi could tell he was a good man.

He held the door for other customers. He'd always greet people with a "good morning", and when he was handed his coffee, he always said thank you and wished everyone a good day.

Each of those individuals things weren't necessarily so uncommon, but Avi rarely saw them all together in one person.

So, when Thorn walked in the store again, Avi rushed to the front of the counter, hands flapping to greet him and take his order.

"Good morning, Avi!" he smiled as he leaned slightly on the counter "How are you today?"

Avi grinned, scrunching up her shoulders and her face. "I'm good. How about you?"

"That's good," he nodded. "I'm doing well. Wouldn't be any trouble if I got the regular black coffee, would it?"

"Of course not!" Avi said cheerfully, practically skipping to get his order ready.

It really wasn't any trouble. Just filling up the cup and the taking it back over. No added sugar, or creamer, or any other add-ins. Just the simple, plain, black coffee.

Avi came went back to the counter, holding the warm cup tightly in her hands. "There you go!" she smiled.

Thorn smiled back and took the cup. "Thank you, very much!" He fished the money from his pocket and handed it to her. "Keep the change," he said, noticing how she immediately went to give him the proper amount back.

She nodded eagerly. "Thank you. Enjoy your coffee!"

Thorn nodded and went to sit down. But they smiled at each other as he took his regular seat by the window, looking to the street. Avi's smile widened. Seeing his friendly face made this time of her shift the easiest.

But soon, as it was every day, Thorn began making faces as he drank the coffee. Faces of dislike and distaste. Not the faces most people would make when they order their regular, daily coffee.

Avi watched him as best she could while still being attentive to other incoming customers. She wanted to sit and talk with him, but she knew he always left when his drink was about halfway gone. She didn't want to wait until tomorrow.

She finished with one customer and the headed towards the back.

"I'm taking my 15 minute break," she said quietly to her co-worker, already removing her apron.

The other nodded and said it was fine.

She came out from hanging up her apron and the moved around the serving counter, making her way towards Thorn.

The man looked surprised to see her; happy but surprised. Avi pointed to the seat in front of him and he nodded.

"Do you need anything?" Thorn asked.

Avi shook her head. "I was taking my 15. I did want to talk with you."

"About?" Thorn chuckled.

"Why do you drink the black coffee? You never seem happy when you do it."

Thorn looked at the cup in his hands and sighed. "Well…I guess it's because of my brother. He always drinks it this way, so I guess I figured I had too as well."

Avi nodded. "That makes sense But, you can drink it another way. We have sugar and creamer for a reason. Or you could even drink something else."

"The sugar and creamer would cut the bitterness?"

"Does for me," Avi shrugged. "Should for you."

Thorn nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess…I think I might try that. I guess, it just never occurred to me to do something different from my brother."

"Well," Avi said. "The way I see it is that life is better when you spend life being you, instead of whatever you think society wants you to be. It makes life happier for yourself."

Thorn paused and furrowed his brow. Then he nodded and smiled. "Yeah…yeah, I like that."

Avi smiled, hands flapping at her sides. "Me too!"