WHO: Alphonse Elric and Izzy WHAT: Alphonse is tired, and Izzy is a coffee angel WHEN: Recently WARNINGS: None STATUS: Closed and Complete
Al was glad to step into the coffee shop and flopped in a chair. He sighed. What a long day. As an 18-year-old doctor, or medical student on his way to being a doctor, he was working his ass off, attending classes, doing clerical work for a clinic and observing at that self-same clinic. It was making him tired, all the time, but he knew it would be worth it, when he graduated. He just had to survive that long. Yeah.
In a bit, he would get up, order some coffee and something to eat, and devour it before going home to study and sleep, maybe not in that order.
In a bit.
A moment later, he was fast asleep in his chair.
***
Izzy noticed the young man enter the bakery and take a seat, he looked completely exhausted so it wasn’t surprising when he fell asleep in the chair by the time she looked back again. One of her servers raised an eyebrow but Izzy shook her head.
Making a latte and grabbing a couple of pastries and a muffin from the display she moved over to the table and set them down. Bending down she lay a hand on his shoulder and gently shook, “Hey” she said softly, “Are you okay?”
***
Al started awake, blinking up into her face, and grinned, still half asleep. “Are you an angel?”
Then he snapped awake, and facepalmed as he sat up, wincing. Now he had a crick in his neck. “I am so sorry. I think I should have gone home instead of stopping.” He gave a huge yawn, barely managing to cover it with his hands, flushing.
He spotted the drink and food and reached for his wallet. “What do I owe you for those? They look and smell amazing!”
*** Izzy laughed, “I could be an angel if you wanted me to be” she told him with a grin.
“It’s okay, I just didn’t want you to hurt yourself. These are good chairs but not the most comfortable for sleeping in”she waved away his offer of payment, “Not needed, these are a gift. I think you need the caffeine to get home without falling asleep”
***
Al looked at her, gaping slightly, and one eyebrow rose at her words. His mind went right into the gutter, before he dragged it out, kicking and screaming, Nope, brain, she didn’t mean it like that. No, bad brain. He forced himself to smile, and not blush… well, not much.
“I-- you-- that is, I mean…uhm? thanks. Thanks. I appreciate it.” Al, come on, get your brain together.
“You are a lifesaver. And I think you’re right.” he swallowed down some of that liquid caffeine the burn of it filling his mouth and throat and making him groan at the sweet and bitter combination taste. Yesss.
“Oh man, this is good…” His groan was practically orgasmic.
***
Izzy laughed at his obvious confusion and waited until he took a drink, “Steady on now, we’re a family establishment. They’ll wonder what I put in the coffee” she teased him, a cheeky twinkle in her eye.
***
Al smirked back and then shook his head. “Not if they’re drinking it too, they wont.” He slowly sat up fully and shook his head, putting his drink down and dragging his fingers through his hair, then across his face.
“Okay. I might survive long enough to drink and eat. You, madame, are amazing.”
*** “Well thank you very much, I try my best” she said with a smile, “I take it you’ve just come from a really long shift? They need to be careful, working you to exhaustion like that” she told him, there was true concern under the words too.
***
“I do morning shifts sometimes at the clinic I am learning at, and then go to school after, and I didn’t get enough sleep last night, or pay attention to how tired I was after class because the last lecture was a really exciting one about some recent advances in how they are using nanite concept technology in the course of studying cellular microbiology.” He waved his hands enthusiastically as he spoke about the lecture, eyes brightening.
He sipped more drink and smiled at her, then. “But you, madame, have saved me from doom. I owe you one, oh Angel of Coffee.”
***
Izzy watched him with a smile, it was so nice to see that kind of passion for what he was learning. He was definitely the kind of doctor she’d like to be seen by, “You are very dedicated, though perhaps need to take a little better care of yourself” she told him.
“You’re welcome, and I definitely prefer that job title, I’ll be sticking to that one for a while. Izzy Lightwood, Angel of Coffee” she grinned.
***
“Thanks.” He flushed red again. “I probably do, yes. Normally, I have it down to a science, but today, I was off, a lot. I guess I ran out of energy and sleep.” he chuckled.
“And because I wasn’t outside, looking in, I didn’t recognize the symptoms.”
He looked up at her as she introduced herself and used the title, which made his cheeks stay pink, but he grinned and offered her his hand.
“Thanks, Izzy Lightwood. I think it suits you. I’m Alphonse Elric. It’s good to meet you, and be saved by you.”
‘And possibly crush on you’, he did not say. Silly Al.
He blew out a breath as he finished the drink she had brought and smiled again.
*** “Don’t worry, we’re all guilty of that sometimes. And now you know me I can keep an eye on you and make sure you aren’t in danger of falling asleep anywhere less welcoming” she told him with a smile.
“Pleased to meet you too Alphonse, I love your name. It’s pretty unique” she commented, “And I’m glad I was here to do the saving” she winked, “Do you want another coffee or would that be caffeine overload?” she asked him.
***
Al smiled at her and nodded. “Thank you. “ The more she talked, the more perfect she was. How? And wow.
“Thanks, I’ve always like it. “ He blushed at her wink and was wordless for a moment, then glanced down at his cup. Hmmmm.
He grinned as he eyed the cup, and shook his head. “I shouldn’t, but I will take some water, please?” He had finished the food she had brought and was sitting up straighter now, and feeling better.
*** Izzy, of course, had no idea what she was doing to the poor lad. She was naturally bubbly and flirty and often forgot how that could come across. She knew she was attractive, she wasn’t vain or self obsessed but she wasn’t delusional but since she had a dedicated boyfriend that kind of thing wasn’t in her mind.
“Water it is” she nodded, “And if you wanted I am sure I could pack up some treats for you to take with you. Might be good to have something sugary to eat after you’ve had a good sleep”
***
And once he was past this silly moment, he would know it, and be fine. Maybe have a slight crush on her for awhile, but he was not a harm, as he was more or less aromantic and asexual outside of sapio-sexual induced situations. He was a doctor at heart, and it absorbed him like little did.
“Thanks! That would be wonderful.” He pulled out a $20 and handed it over. “Whatever a $20 will pay for, please.”
***
Izzy wouldn’t mind the little crush, she’d find it sweet but be a little sad for him that it would come to nothing. Still, these things were all part of life. She’d had crushes too, most people did.
“I’ll get it all boxed up for you” she said, “And make sure you come back tomorrow if you can, so I can make sure you’ve slept properly”
***
“Thank you. And I will, I promise.” He would try, as much as the OC would let him. He would try.
For now, he had met a new friend, found a new place to drink and eat, and was feeling good. Tired still, but good. Definitely not as exhausted as an hour ago.