Starbucks

[Deleted]

A little past midnight...

A small shop nested between a movie theatre on one side, and a crumbling barber's shop on the other. The windows where a little dirty, but the sign indicating America's favourite coffee shop (Or at least, that's what the advertisements wanted you to believe) had been replaced recently, brightly announcing all the night owls who still prowled the street where they could a warm cup of caffeine that was at least passably drinkable at a price that could have paid for at least a dozen cups if they had bothered making them themselves.

Inside the establishment, Nikita was standing behind the counter, her first day at her new job. Undercover job, she reminded herself. Adjusting the green apron that made up her uniform, she took in her surroundings. Two men where talking loudly at one of the tables near the door, construction workers just off from their shift from what she overheard. They didn't want to be here, but it was the only place for a few blocks that was still open and that served coffee. In some far corner sat an older woman in a business suit reading the day's paper and sipping from a cup Nikita knew very well was empty, because the woman had been seated there sipping from the same one for well over an hour now. Not that the young heroine minded. The woman was quiet, and the coffee shop was almost empty. Why should she care if she lingered?

Satisfied with the knowledge she shouldn't be bothered for a few minutes at least, most likely, she slipped her phone from her pocket, holding it under the counter and turning it on. Two new text messages. Glancing over the one from her parents, she went straight to the one from Erica, her childhood friend, who was wondering how the big city was. Nikita smiled. Erica was always curious, it was one of the things she liked most about her. Not one to let her friend's curiosity go unsated, she started the difficult task of forming a reply. There was just so much to say. Everything was different, from the buildings to the people to the very pace of life itself. Plus juggling all that information with making sure she didn't reveal anything about her true reason for coming to Jump... She trusted Erica, and maybe everyone was exaggerating about not telling anyone about her second life but... maybe not yet. She'd tell her some day.

Instead she wrote about how nice it was not being the only person in town who's parents hadn't been Americans for generations. How even hours pas sunset the city still echoes with a million sounds of cars, of people, of activity. The whole thing went on an on, writing more and more, absorbing her attention. Until she felt the echo of a ring in her mind, followed a moment latter by the ring of the bell attached to the front door in her ears. In her focused state, the sound alarmed her, reflexively making a little jump. In more ways then one. For a brief moment, her still poorly controlled power kicked in, the petite young woman blinking out of existence.

It wasn't a long Jump. Not even half a second, she reckoned. Anyone who was looking would dismiss it as a trick of the light for sure, she told herself not entirely convincingly as she tried to steady the heart pounding in her chest. Just act normal, nothing happened. Nothing at all. She quickly tossed the cellphone under the counter and put on a fake smile, her slightly quivering voice betraying her momentary unease.

"Welcome to Starbucks, what may I get you?"

[Deleted]

His kind weren't commonly found in a place such as this. Aside from their violent allergy to caffeine, there weren't many Lyceen who would risk the enclosed spaces and sensory overload that a coffee shop had to offer. Drew was only there because he had a student who wanted him to attend open mic night, and he wanted to be certain that he'd gotten the location correct. He could smell the coffee from a block away, but considering that there was a coffee shop on every corner, he could have been in the wrong one. Tightening his grip on the leather strap of his guitar case, he took a last breath of relatively clean air and ducked inside of the small store.

His eyes swept the small space, unsurprised to see a few humans huddling together, polluting the quiet with terse conversation. The two closest to the door stopped to look at him as he stood there, their attention drawn by his great height and unintentionally intimidating presence. Even the stack of files in one arm and the unassuming pale blue of his button down shirt did nothing to minimize his entrance, so he took it in stride. What other choice did he have, when most humans seemed to be able to sense his more feral side on some deep, instinctual level?

Walking up to the counter, he looked down at the young girl manning the counter. She looked about the age of his youngest students, fresh out of high school. He found it strange that she would work the graveyard shift, but not strange enough to comment on. After all, he was carrying papers straight from his office, so wasn't he just as guilty of burning the midnight oil?

"Perhaps you can help me," he said, his Russian accented voice soft to avoid attracting more unwanted attention. "I am supposed to be coming by a coffee shop around here tomorrow night to watch a student of mine at open mic night. Would you happen to know which one that is? I do not drink coffee, so I am at a loss."

[Deleted]

"Well, it's definitely not here. The day hasn't come when a corporation does something like that." She chuckle softly. "You're probably looking for one of the local coffee shops. I'd offer suggestions but I just moved into town. Sorry." Nikita answered as helpfully as she could. She wished she could give more, her helpful nature plus that unknown bond of fellow foreigners (sort of) kicking in, but she really didn't know much more then the two blocks between the nearest bus stop and the store. Hadn't had time to go around looking yet, though she kept telling herself she would.

Now that her sudden nervousness had passed, she gave her customer a look. He seemed familiar, and not just because of the accent. Leaning on the counter she hesitated a moment, looking him over, her curiosity pushing her to place the man. "You look familiar..." Where had she seen that face before. Not at work for sure, the man looked like he'd never stepped into a Starbucks in his life. Nobody but her parents of Russian descent in her home town. Might have just been someone she crossed on the streets? Or at the college? Yes, that was it, it came back to her and she had a little inward smile of triumph. "You work at the college right? I just started last week. Didn't know teachers stayed up so late."

She was about to ask if he wanted some coffee to help stay up when she recalled his comment about not drinking it. And then her manager's words about offering a variety of products. She was at work after all, and was still new and excited enough that even in the low-paying student job she didn't want to disappoint. "Oh, we have other drinks, if you want something while you look around. It's pretty chilly out tonight, maybe a warm hot chocolate? Or whatever else you'd like." She accompanied the words with a bright salesman's smile and a two-handed motions to the chalkboard hanging above her, a long list of beverages written in stylish, colored handwriting covering it's surface.

TAGS : @drew

[Deleted]

Drew sighed softly at her words. It wasn't this one, so he'd probably have to send his student and email and hope that they got it and replied before the time came. Freshman were somewhat notorious for not returning emails, and that would mean that he would miss the performance. Even if another performance could be scheduled, he had hoped to avoid that sort of thing. Every day life in this world was far more complicated than life had ever been at home, and he always felt as if he was playing catch up...

His eyebrows rose as she recognized him, and the smile in his eyes touched his lips. His reputation among his students never failed to amuse him, because they fabricated a lot about him to replace the personal history that he never spoke to them about. All that they knew was that he had a Russian accent and he comported himself like the soldier that he had always been. That was enough to start the rumor mill rolling. Perhaps he was a Russian spy, sent to the United States to infiltrate the universities. Perhaps he was on the run from the Spetsnaz. None of the theories were true, but they got crazier every time he heard them. Hopefully this girl wasn't under any of those impressions.

"Yes, I do," he confirmed with a nod. "Teacher and student, actually. I teach introductory and one on one music courses while I am working on my Master's degree."

Had he seen her around before? He didn't think he had, but then he saw hundreds of students walking the campus every day. He was decently certain he hadn't taught any classes with her in it, but then if she recognized him, there was always the chance that he was wrong. Luckily, the school year had only just started, and he had that excuse to keep her from thinking he was rude for not knowing her.

"I think I will stick to my water bottle, but thanks," he said, glancing over the menu.

Coffee was way more complicated than he had ever bothered to find out, it seemed. How did people ever keep it straight?

[Deleted]

Well, can't say she hadn't tried, the man proved stubborn despite
her best attempt at selling him overpriced mass-produced beverages. That
probably made sense if he was a student though, college tuition wasn't
given, especially for a Master's degree. She herself couldn't have
managed it on her part-time barista wage. Luckily the Titans paid for it
all with their seemingly never-ending supply of funds. Nikita didn't
even need this job technically, but she felt better knowing she had a
little bit of cash to truly call her own. Plus it gave her an excuse to
give to her friends if they wanted to see her when she was out heroing.

Not
that she had any friends in Jump city yet. Her eyes briefly drifted to
the counter where her phone lay, momentary nostalgia overcoming her as
she thought about her friends back home. Her old home, she reminded
herself. She had a new home now. Might as well make it as nice as she
could. She didn't plan to study music, but she figured the man might end
up teaching her some day anyways, with how chaotic college organization
can be some times, or so she heard. Peeking behind Drew to make sure
nobody else was coming in, she smiled a bit wider. The man seemed a
little on edge about the whole thing with his student. Or was he always
like that? Probably not, she figured, musicians are usually pretty laid
back.

"You know, for your student, maybe you can ask at the gas
station, there's one just down the road. Usually pretty in the know for
such things, directions and all." She paused briefly to jump from the
tip to some small-talk. "I'm Nikita, by the way." As the name tag she
had forgotten she had confirmed. "I didn't even know they taught music
here. I should tell my parents that you've convinced me to change
programs. They'd freak out so much."

TAG : @drew

[Deleted]

"I might just do that," he answered, glancing over his shoulder toward the gas station on the corner.

At the rest of her words, he grinned and shook his head, adjusting the stack in his arms to take some pressure off of the crook of his elbow.

"Then I am glad I did not tell you my name," he said. "I would hate to wake up to angry voice-mails telling me how I was going to ruin your future. I get enough of those from angry parents already. Music majors aren't the sort that often lead to riches. However, I think I will risk it. My name is Schultz. Not 'professor' just yet, but soon."

His German last name seemed at odds with his Russian accent, but he wasn't in the habit of explaining the reason to just anyone, especially unasked. His father's name wasn't any more Russian, and would have raised certain questions if the wrong person asked.

A wave of exhaustion compiled with the angry squirm of his gut as his stomach complained. He hadn't eaten supper just yet, and he'd almost forgotten that fact, which was remarkably difficult to do with his metabolism. Because of the density of his Lyceen muscle mass, food was always a priority. He was always hungry. Perhaps he could help this girl out after all, and order something that was food, instead of drink. Glancing up at the menu, he was frustrated to see that they didn't have the food items listed, but he pulled a banana muffin from the small basket in front of the check stand and placed it on the counter in front of himself.

"On second thought, ring this up for me," he told her, putting his files down and pulling his wallet. "It will tide me over until I get home for the night."

It was a pitiful amount of food, but he had more than enough at his apartment. This would just take the edge off until that time. Banana muffins couldn't be caffeinated, could they?