A/N: Welcome back to latebois, staring a fucked up sleep schedule. I'm having some pretty shitty writers block right now, so A Rose in Winter continues on a When It's Ready(tm) schedule. In other news this week's chapter is something I was specifically told by Gemini not to do!

Reynabot: I'm glad I was able to provide sufficient chills at the start of what is sure to be a sweltering summer. Thank you friend!

GeminiAlchemist: My main original work has horror undertones, so it was quite nice to get some practice in writing more of those kinds of scenes! Thanks bud!

Raphael Antonello: Thank you my friend! You bring up a good point that would probably be answered in a future chapter of that AU, or in a (HRGGHHHHH) full scale story. I would think that the monsters of Castle Luna attack villages all over Somerset, but Count Manbavaran and her closer comrades tend to torture Glastonbury particularly.

Guest: Thank you friend! I will surely do more in the future.

TheHybridGryph: Shit sucks man, I did it again last night. Thank you friend I'm glad you liked it, it was rather entertaining to think about!

Mekadeth: Hmmm I would have to think a bit about how the whole chapter would be structured, but that sounds like a fun cracky chapter! I'll jot it down!

Some Random Dude: I KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. I fits so well, I would fuckin love to do more.

DarkyLonewolf: Oh fucking certainly my dude, the next chapter that I do will definitely include lunchtime. I hope your courses are going well!

Guest: I agree.

Lol sorry Gemini, you know I had to do it.

"Order."

"...Eleven twenty-five."

"Order."

"...Six fifty."

She felt like a computer program, taking in simple orders, adding prices together that she knew by heart, and then spitting out a total. On occasion she would actually move from her spot at the register to toast a bagel or get a lid one size bigger, but for the most part she blindly reached around flipping switches on coffee machines and moving cups. It was utterly mind-numbing work, and Sucy wanted to do nothing more than just zone out and continue on autopilot for the rest of her shift, but...

"Hey there!~"

She existed.

A recent regular at the cafe, someone who always had their cup labeled Akko, who seemed to come in each and every day the ghostly girl was working; sometimes twice if she was so unfortunate. She was cute to be sure, round face, soft looking hair, and subtle curves, but her personality left something to be desired.

As in she desired less of it.

"Did ya miss me?" The brunette smiled, leaning over the counter into Sucy's personal bubble and letting her long eyelashes flutter. "I'm back for more lovely caffeine and more lovely you!"

Sucy had never been hit on before starting this job; most people found her creepy at best, but she had been very quickly brought up to speed with terrible pick up lines and embarrassing compliments.

"Your usual again?" She droned, trying to remember the woman's ridiculously long typical order without having to interact further with her.

Venti Iced skinny hazelnut something something, she was sure of it. Venti because that lasted just long enough, iced because she studied under a blanket and 'hot coffee would make it too warm', skinny because she drank a lot of coffee, and hazelnut because she liked Nutella.

She would have pondered longer, had there not been a severe burning on the side of her face; Akko's piercing maroon gaze burrowing into her skin. "I can tell you the whole thing again if you need it; I'm in no rush tonight!"

"Yes, I can see that..." Sucy muttered under her breath, subconsciously shrinking away from the overly friendly customer.

"Venti iced skinny Hazelnut Macchiato, extra shot, light ice, no whip."

There it was.

Sucy sighed, turning around to start flipping switches and mixing coffee; attempting to ignore the sensation of eyes on the back of her neck, eyes that occasionally drifted.

"So what courses are you taking?" The brunette inquired as she waited, actually attempting to start a conversation this time instead of mercilessly flirting. "I'm majoring in drama and film myself- following in the footsteps of the great Shining Chariot!"

She flashed a bright proud smile, looking like the first sunrise of spring; a child after their drawing had been stuck to the fridge. It was such a goofy grin that the purple haired barista couldn't help but smirk as well.

More at her than with her mind you.

"Chemistry." Sucy replied simply, answering the question before her customer could get too impatient and then shutting down the conversation full-stop. "Here's your drink."

Akko happily accepted the beverage, taking a small sip before sighing in bliss. "You're a wizard..." And yet she remained at the counter.

"Can I get a bagel as well?" She suddenly asked, her big red eyes shifting impishly to the side before returning to her favourite view with another beam of sunshine. "Medium toasted."

Sucy shifted in place, squirming under the scrutiny; the way this woman looked at her, it made her feels so strange: discomfort mixed with happiness and a little bit of pride.

She felt like art on display.

"A-Are you just trying to make excuses to not leave?" The barista stumbled, kicking herself for not sounding annoyed enough with that possibility. No one was behind her in line- barely anyone was in the shop tonight, there wasn't a good excuse to get rid of her.

"Of course!" The brunette readily admitted, tilting her head sweetly. "Getting to see you is the highlight of my day; I want to cherish it fo as long as I can!"

Damn it. She sounded so genuine, so happy to see her, to readily confess her feelings; any continuing efforts to refrain from blushing were crushed. Sucy's face became tilted with pink, and she tilted her head down to hide her eyes, an action that made her admirer squee.

"Ahh! You're so adorable!" She cried, clenching a fist against her heart. "I think if you smiled at me, I might die!"

Sucy spun around, shuffling over to start on the bagel as her face grew hotter by the minute.

"Damn her..." She muttered irately, cutting the bagel in two. "Damn her and her stupid sweet talk. I can't take this..."

People weren't supposed to call her cute, they weren't supposed to like her smile or want her around- she'd spent her entire life learning that fact and adapting to it.

But this girl...

"Daww, now you're all grumpy! Did I make you mad?" From anyone else, at any other time, such a thing would have sounded incredibly patronizing, but Akko seemed genuinely saddened at the prospect of upsetting the object of her affections.

"N-Not mad... I just-" Sucy paused. She didn't have to answer her; she could have just given her the bagel, received payment, and then ignore the brunette for the rest of time.

"...Uncomfortable I guess?" But she did answer, her voice becoming quieter with each brutally honest word. "I don't get hit on very often. At all for that matter."

It was silent after that, neither of them said a word as the purple barista finished packing the buttered bagel into a paper bag until at last she lifted her head.

Akko stood frozen in place, mouth hung open; her eyes blown wide. "H-How... How is that possible?" She stuttered in disbelief, looking completely floored.

"I guess you just have weird tastes." The barista snarked, flashing a hesitant grin across the counter.

Sucy's job was utterly mind-numbing work; making the same coffee over and over again, adding together prices that she had memorized by heart, and spitting out a sum.

But every day without fail, Akko returned with a bright sunny smile and another silly pick up line to shake up the barista's dull shift, asking again and again for her number and a date.

"One day you'll convince me." She would tease with a genuine smile. "Try again tomorrow."

And she always did.

A/N: Thinking about it, I just binged a manga about a coffee shop. Why did I forget about it until just now... ?