3. Honey
Reno's POV
The coffee is done when Avery walks in, earlier than Tseng had asked her to be, with a spring in her step and a smile. I remember when I was excited for missions, but it's been a long time since I've really wanted to do anything but grimace over the work I'm assigned. Of course, things are different between the dirty blonde sitting across from my desk and myself. She's eager to please, new to her promotion, and unaware of where we're going today.
As is standard routine for us now, I pour coffee for the both of us, adding an extra cup for Tseng. Ever since Avery was assigned as my temporary partner and mentee, I've been pulling her aside for a morning meeting and coffee. It's the easiest way for me to get the day started and hell, the girl wasn't in the habit of drinking coffee before she came to us and if that isn't a damned shame then I don't know what is.
Black spills into white mugs as I pour, Avery's cup turning a pale brown from creamer I keep in a drawer near at hand. Tseng and I take ours strong and black, but Avery has yet to learn proper coffee tolerance and grimaces at the strength I brew into each pot. I pull a bottle of honey out of my special drawer, giving a generous dose into her cup before passing it to her, and she gives me a look, her lips pulling at the corners in a small frown.
"Reno, you only give me honey when you're about to do something awful to me." Those thin lips purse tighter, her eyes narrowing with them. "Sir, where are we being sent?" She directs the second question to Tseng, looking at the coffee suspiciously, almost like I've poured Zolom venom in her cup instead of sweetness.
"Midgar."
Her face blanches pale, tan skin turning a strange grey color at her answer, and the cup is pushed back my direction again. "More honey, please."
With a grim smile I ooze another generous dose into her mug.