Coffee and Pistols

One

Cat kicked her feet up onto the coffee shop's table as she skimmed over the documents that she'd been handed the night before. Stifling a yawn, and ignoring the waitresses' complaints, she tossed the papers to the table top. "It's too fucking early for this shit," she mumbled to herself, turning to look out the window at the passerbys on the street. It wasn't every day that she had a day off, and today was turning out to be as shitty as any other day. "I'll have a coffee. Black," she said to the waitress as she scurried by. The waitress' eyes widened, and she gave a little squeak of fright before nodding her head and hurrying onwards. Am I that scary, she wondered. Though, she supposed, in her combat boots and black leather jacket she may have appeared semi-intimidating that is, if she didn't stand up and show off her five feet and three inches.

Ace chuckled as Patti swallowed, hand shaking on the coffee pot. He waved her off and poured the biggest cup he could find. It was piping hot. He walked over the woman that had his oldest waitress shaking in her boots, gesturing to the mess of papers. "Here's your coffee, fresh ground and on the house." Though it looks like she might need it on an IV drip. "You must have had quite a night." She scowled as he sunk into the chair opposite of her, wiping his hands on his apron before extending one in greeting.

Ignoring his offered hand, Cat took the coffee and took a sip before wincing and sticking out her burnt tongue. Should have waited, she chastised herself. Raising her eyes, she looked at the man who sat across from her. His blue eyes were strikingly honest but they were also filled with amusement. She scowled. "What do you want?" she asked, brushing a stray strand of limp blonde hair from her face.

Ace pushed his thick framed glasses up on the bridge of his nose and grinned. "I want you to take your dirty shoes off my table." He picked up her boot clad feet one at a time and dropped them on the floor with a thud. "Please," he added with false sweetness. He met her glare and rolled eyes head on, picking up one of the stray papers of the table and skimmed it. His blue eyes widened and he let out a whistle as they landed on the words: stakeout, gun, and remove at all costs. "Are you a superhero?"

Snatching the paper from his hands, she rose up from her chair and shoved the sheets back into the manila envelope. "Does it look like I wear a cape?" she turned on her heel and headed towards the coffee shop's door. There was no point waiting for her coffee to cool down if she was going to be harassed by some lame-looking waiter. "Oh, and next time, don't touch me, okay?" she smiled sweetly before heading out onto the street.

Ace shrugged, offered Patti a wink, and followed the blonde out the door. "Hold up. You didn't even take your coffee and we have donuts." He added the last part as an afterthought. Maybe she was a cop. He trailed her and made a grab for her wrist, only to find himself moments later pinned to the side of the brick building with his arm behind his back. The blonde looked pissed, but Ace noticed she had the most captivating eyes. And he made the mistake of telling her so.

Cat curled her lip in distaste. "Why are you following me?" she jerked his arm up, feeling the muscles and bone strain against her grip. She paused a moment before asking, "Do you happen to have powdered donuts?" She glanced over at the crowd that had gathered around the two and having decided that he didn't pose a threat, released his arm.

He smirked and shook out his arm and hand. Crap she was strong. "Powdered donuts are our specialty." He shook his hand out again and stretched, the blood coursing through it again and his heartbeat slowing. "Try some? And I can add unlimited coffee on the owner."

"Really?" She blinked. "He's a nice guy like that," Ace countered. "Make it your new home base? By the way, I'm Ace."

Suspicious, but more than tempted, Cat reached down to pick up the manila envelope and clutched it to her chest. "Cat," she introduced herself. "As in there's a cat somewhere?" Ace looked around. Scowling she gestured to herself, "It's my name; my name is Cat." He nodded, though he did appear somewhat taken aback by her unusual name. Cat pursed her lips, "And it's not short for something either," she added. "So, get me some donuts."