Cresswell One Shots (The Lunar Chronicles - Cress x Thorne)

I'm Batman

"Name, please?"

"I'm Batman."

Cress' eyes jerked up from the coffee cup soon to be containing coffee, sharpie in hand, "Excuse me?"

The guy stood lazily against the counter that separated them. Now sure, Cress could admit that he was rather attractive; only a few years older than herself with a stupidly stereotypically handsome face she could only find in one of her dog-eared romance novels located back in her flat. Or so she thought.

"Yep." The mystery man confirmed, one side of his mouth lifted into a smirk, showcasing a section of straight, white teeth.

Honestly, Cress thought to herself, could this guy fit the description of a protagonist's love interest anymore?

Externally, however, Cress let out a small shrug, her eyes lowering as she scrawled 'Batman' across the coffee cup in her hand.

Maybe the author should have spent longer thinking up a better name, Cress joked with herself, fighting to hold in a laugh.

Quickly, Cress repeated the monotonous actions she had soon grown used to working in the coffee shop located in near proximity to her university campus.

Cress certainly wasn't a stranger to odd orders. Working in an almost 24 hour coffee shop led to her serving her fair share of students as many espresso shots as she feels able to without causing permanent health issues.

However, she had yet to reach the area of coffee service of strange names. Sure, the spelling of some names may have thrown her off balance a couple times but nothing like this. She doubted anyone else felt the need to hide their identity for some coffee unless they were a secret agent fearing identity fraud.

"And... here you go!" Cress exclaimed in her best Customer Voice™ as she handed over the coffee, "that'll be £2.90, please."

As he handed her the coins, the mystery customer's eyes roved over the cup ensuring that she had written the right name. Seemingly he had found that she had, indeed, written 'Batman', and, as if automatically, flashed her a grin. "Thanks!"

"Uh, no problem," Cress handed him his change and she regained herself, "Thank you for coming."

The guy lingered a few seconds longer, unfortunately, she was forced to turn to the next customer.

However, that didn't stop her eyes following him as he exited the shop drink in hand.

~~~

Over the next few weeks, the mystery customer became a familiar appearance in the coffee shop, regularly coming in around the same time nearly every day. And every time he gave an even more ridiculous name.

"Bob Ross."

"Cardi B."

"R.I.P Vine."

On the less busy days that didn't have a sleep deprived queue waiting for Cress' attention, she managed to chat to the mystery man; everyday learning more and more about him.

Except his name.

On a particularly quiet morning, one in which Cress was more tired than usual after just finishing her recent project before the deadline, the unnamed customer walked in, a smile fixed on his face.

"Right on time." Cress managed to smile lazily at him, leaning on the counter that separated them.

"I wouldn't want to keep you waiting." His smile did funny things to Cress' chest which she choose to ignore.

"The usual?" She asked, beginning to prepare the order she had long ago memorised after his confirming nod.

"You know," she began as she poured the needed ingredients, "I am curious as to whether I will ever find out what your name is."

She glanced over her shoulder to see him smiling at her, his elbows leaning on the counter.

"That depends," he replied smoothly, "if you give me your number."

A blush quickly sprung up on her face as she got his coffee cup and she struggled to hide her smile as she replaced the usual space for a jumble of letters with a sequence of numbers.

"On me." Cress stated sliding the cup across the counter.

"As long as I'm paying for our first date." Carswell Thorne told her.

~~~
Aka the coffee shop au no one asked for