#STEVESTRID STEVESTRID OI OI OI

[astridthevalkyrie]

Writing Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: Coffee Shop AU

Time to write my favorite ship again!

@ashleybenlove​ @natsukazesan​ If you guys are still interested!

From the moment he walked in, Astrid’s gaze kept finding its way to him. He didn’t come up to order anything, just sat down at one of the tables, taking his sunglasses off as he stretched out. Waiting for someone.

Waiting for a date, based on the way he was dressed, and the thought disappointed her for some reason.

Whatever. She did have a job to do, and the woman who wanted extra extra caramel (because apparently if she ordered with just “one extra,” then no one made it right) was getting impatient. Astrid put the regular amount of caramel in, just to be spiteful, and handed it to the woman, who took a loud sip and claimed that the extra caramel made all the difference before leaving.

“And here I thought giving our customers a placebo was against the rules,” Ruff mused thoughtfully.

“I’m feeling more bitter than usual today.”

Her friend snorted. “And I’m sure that had nothing to do with Haircut over there.”

Astrid gave her a good jab in the chest with her elbow. As Ruff dramatically clutched her breast and wailed pitifully, Astrid felt thankful that it was such a slow day, otherwise they might actually have gotten in trouble for these kinds of hijinks. 

“You think he’s waiting for a girlfriend?” she mused.

“Of course.” Ruff scoffed. “Or a date, at least. With a face like that, I expect at least two girls to show up at different times.”

But no girl showed up at all. Half an hour passed, as the poor guy kept checking his phone, texting a few times, and then continuing to stare sadly at the door.

He looked so pitiful that Astrid couldn’t help herself.

“Here,” she said, as a way of greeting, plopping a drink in front of him.

Haircut looked up at her, raising a brow. “What is it?”

“The sweetest crap we have here.”

Despite his sadness, he grinned. “What, do I not look like a black coffee guy?”

“I can almost guarantee your regular order is an iced caramel macchiato.” 

That got a chuckle out of him - Astrid felt victorious. “You’re not wrong. How much?”

“On the house.” She waved a hand dismissively.

His face fell, and shooting a light glare at the cup, he pushed it away. “I look that pathetic?”

“You look thirsty,” Astrid said honestly, and when she saw the corners of his lips turn up in a half smirk she rolled her eyes and added, “Not like that, get your mind out of the gutter.”

Something shifted in his eyes and he looked up at her, smiling in a way that made her heart flutter ever so lightly. “Steve Harrington.”

“Astrid Hofferson.” She held her hand out.

Steve shook it amusedly, lingering just a second too long on her fingers. “So, since I’m very obviously and painfully being stood up, would you like to have coffee with me?”

Astrid tried her best not to grin. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m working.”

“You’re talking to me.”

“We provide excellent customer service here.”

This time he actually laughed, standing up - holy Thor, Astrid had never not minded feeling short until this very moment - and leaning over her. “So how about when your shift is over?”

“Well, I’ve still got a couple of hours, I don’t know if we can permit you to stay that long to wait.”

“Maybe I can get your number.”

Astrid smirked. “Maybe I already wrote it on the cup.”

“Opportunist,” he accused.

“And proud of it.”

“Okay, well then, Astrid,” he said, her name rolling off his tongue oh-so pleasantly, “I’ll see you after your shift.”

She winked and saluted, making her way back to the kitchens, where Ruffnut was mock clapping. Astrid raised her hand, and took her rightful bow.

(She wondered if Ruff would still be clapping when she asked her to cover her last hour so she could go home and get some makeup on. Eh, she’d get over it.)