Chapter Text
It's always nice to come by the cafe and pick up some coffee or hot chocolate, typically during a cold Friday.
Maybe, while she's at it she can also order and pick up that classical strawberry cake she's been craving or maybe some other hot pastry goods to keep a nice warm sensation to counter this cold weather.
Sasha Braus, a current senior student in High School, carries a digital camera around that is strapped to her shoulders. Lately, she's been feeling unmotivated and those college application letters she composed felt like they've been eating her gut out. She’s an average student; receiving more B’s than A’s, a couple of C’s and D’s over the years; but hardly able to detect a solid F in her transcripts. It’s not like she didn’t care. It’s just she thought efficient learning depended on the student’s preferences against their teacher’s teaching format. There are years where she had good teachers and other years where she got bad strict ones. But, putting those aside, she'd hoped that she would get accepted from one out of the three options. One that is a crappy local university school nearby the city’s community and the other two schools with professionally crisp first-rate campuses pinpointed on the other fewer ghetto cities. And, to god, she wishes that she’d get accepted to the other two options but then again, if she didn’t have any other choice but to go to her local community college then it wouldn’t be so bad. When Sasha needs to ease some tensions from time to time, she’ll bring her digital camera around to the outside city of her complex.
But presently to relieve this stress, she feels more of a retreat to her favorite spot of all time: the coffee shop; to have a nice cup of warm tea or hot chocolate to topple this cold weather. Funny thing, she isn't even feeling for a coffee. Never had been after the caffeine gave her head annoyances that afternoon as a child when she'd thought that she should try her mom's thin packets of coffees secretly. A huge jar of coffee cappuccino packets. She tries to remember. She's still traumatized after the coffee gave her a bad stomach ache; so shaken at that moment and she had sucked her stomach in as if it should've helped reduce the pain. Nausea to vomiting. So, she fell asleep earlier than usual rather than to deal with this type of ordeal. She might've drunk on an empty stomach. Which could've explained why. She shakes away the memory, not wanting to further complicate more inconvenience. She just needs to relax, no thoughts, no voices, just her and a cup of something!
She was about to enter the shop, that is until through the thin glass window, she saw a girl with very pretty, shadowy, dark hair. Probably, so well taken care of, and Sasha could tell by the way the girl's hair shined and how neat and straight it was. Each strand of hair stuck in its place, none were rebelled locks and not one single piece would stick out and ruin that.
Not that Sasha would mind, she'd still think this girl is beautiful regardless.
It's weird making judgments or observations about a woman, especially when they're a stranger as well.
Sasha hasn't even properly met the girl, the way she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear as she rehearses some verses.. or lines..
It's alluring and attractive. She's probably waiting on her date, most likely practicing some 'flirty' or 'sexy' pick-up lines before babbling it to them. Probably? This girl is a smoking beauty. Of course, she's gotta be taken by some hunk dude.'
She should commemorate this by taking a photo of her. Yeah, and that's what she'll do.
Sasha took out her camera, adjusting the focus, finding the perfect angle, and flashed a few shots of the mysterious girl. A close-up view through the lens, and, gosh, were those features of hers beautiful. Her perfectly light skin tone contrasted with the flushes her cheeks are holding. She's licking her lips in huge adrenaline or excitement. Her throat must feel real clogged up or her mouth could be really dry. Nervous. Sasha knows, she's been there several times. It's like a lofi snapshot of a girl inside a cafe during a rainy fall… aaannd.. it's exactly that.
Sasha slips out the developing film of her camera and gently sways the film around. She puts the photo in her shoulder bag for safekeeping. She had a film/ digital hybrid camera that could be exported either way. The best Christmas gift she ever received and the adrenaline and excitement she felt above the roof, the loud thumping of her chest, the way her face can't help restrain the smile, she could all remember like it was yesterday.
"A couple more snaps wouldn't bother.."
But, the girl turned her head before Sasha could take another. Her tears are visible, one coming out from each side and streaming lower to the cheeks and chin. Sasha's eyes widened before she could stop her hands from taking another photo, and there's a strange knot tying in her stomach, making her lose her appetite.. just a little bit. Why was she crying?
Snap.
Oops, maybe, she should've taken the photos with the girl's consent.
Through the other side of the window, the girl starts to stare back with a discerning look, discriminating against Sasha and taking this as another one of those creepers or pervs. The tears almost disintegrated, replaced with angry flushes and a scowl expression.
"... Ah- crap!"
Sasha flinches, raises her hands, and her cheeks dusted red in retreat for getting caught for an innocent but not dirty act.
"No! It's nothing like that! I SWear-" Sasha screams at the top of her lungs as almost if she'd forgotten the other girl probably couldn't hear her through the other side of the window.
The other girl "huffs" and continues to make creases on her brows.
Sasha had to think fast, she had a good innocent reputation and she didn't want other people to get the wrong idea.
Sasha practically ran up to the window across the girl.
The said girl was taken aback by the brunette’s action, clenching her fist until a vein emerged there, ready to fight back or something. A close glance, and, hell, did this girl look strong. Was she a female stud? Or just masculine?
But, the flailed girl with flimsy arms had a greater idea. One with solitude and withdrawal as she reluctantly wrote on the window of its perspiration from the cold moist air.
She wrote: -sorry! I think ur hair is pretty!- with a dopey smile drawn. Each end of the letter creates a curve in her handwriting. Messy but satisfying.
Sasha craned her neck to look up at the beefy woman. The irritated brows slowly raising a brow before Sasha could understand the state of affair. Could she not understand or read what Sasha had written?
Oh.
Dumbass! It appears in reverse to her!
Sasha subconsciously facepalmed herself. Her face is glowing in embarrassment. She wiped off the written letters and flinched back when the washed-up sweat from the window created by the damp moisture of the air awarded her with a clearer and better depiction of the girl before her.
Were her lips furrowing? Sad because of what Sasha did to her?
Sasha doesn’t do well with pretty girls, the way her grey, kind of blue-ish eyes threaten to water up again; like a beautiful waterfall.
What idiot would hurt a pure and stunning girl like this? Sasha, apparently. Although it wasn’t her intention, she still feels so bad about it as if she disappointed the universe creator, himself. But, after seconds of staring at her face; jaws, lips, nose, and lashes they’re like trophies to memorize; this girl is starting to look like a goddess.
It was mere seconds until the condensation would come back and collect the freezing steam again. Sasha puffed a gust of her hot breath to the window a few times until it turned pale white.
She wrote: - ⸮ꓘO U Я - Mostly struggling with the backward ‘k’ and ‘r.’ Well, she tried her best, she just hopes the other girl could understand.
Sasha made her eyebrows wrinkle, and the dark-haired girl turned her head to the other direction, her ears slightly blushing as she exposed more of her glossy nape. She started to cry again, shedding tears like a graceful mother holding her child. Trying to keep it all in, she even fidgets with the fold of her clothes, grasping a fist-full for some distraction but no matter what she does the tears continue to flow more. She even makes weeping look pretty.
“Okay,” Sasha thought. She’s going to have to share the evening special with a stranger.
-----
Sasha had set foot in the cafe, and before she knew it, the stomach knot feeling she felt before had come back. It's not like she could control them, if she could, she'll stop her trembling legs from preventing her from walking straight. It's like school girls going on their first date. Except, it's not a date. She's just a girl: a random but glamorous-looking girl to the point where Sasha knows it makes her heart stop whenever she inches closer.
She approaches her hesitantly and greets her awkwardly.
Sitting against the leather cushions, Sasha could feel the cool and chilliness on this seat as if the girl across the other seat had waited too long for her date to come by and accompany her.
Sasha clears her throat, "Hey.. "
Needing protection to avert any judgment of her accent, Sasha talks quietly and softly to this girl.
"So, what's a girl like you sitting alone in a time like this?"
The silky black-haired girl gives Sasha a grimace of a stare and keeps the tension of her fist to fight onto the table, the tight clench Sasha sees.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Proper introductions, proper introductions! Before, I get my ass beat!
"UH- SAsha Braus! I'm Sasha Braus! How's your day been goING!" Sasha ducks her head under her hands.
The dark-haired girl's hand relaxes a little and her face becomes placid or stoic or the pain she's hiding becomes hard to read.
Unaware of the brunette's sudden Irish accent. Mikasa doesn't mention any of it and suppresses a smile all in a while hampering up a bit of laughter or chuckle.
"Mikasa."
Sasha looks up to the girl and her smile fluctuates, this is gonna be harder than she thought.
Sasha draws her arm against her sides. "So, I see you've still got the menu there. Maybe you need assistance on what to decide?"
".. Actually.. I've just been waiting for this person to come."
"Mmhm, well, I'm sure this person will come around and appear soon."
Before silence would engulf them, Sasha tried to break it immediately.
"Look, I-I'm sorry for taking pictures without your permission but I swear it wasn't for a pervy cause."
"Yeah.. but I'm not nearly as mad at you as I am at him. It's fine, so long that you're not another one of those creeps."
It’s Mikasa Ackerman but I’ll never do something so smutty or dirty to her and that includes anyone and everyone else.
"Him? Who's h-" Before the girl in question could ask any further, the waiter comes by to check them in.
“Good evening, ladies. I’ve noticed that you’ve just come in,” the waiter handed Sasha a cafe menu, she pointed to the special menu section and took out her pad of paper. “and ma’am, have you yet decided what you wanted? Any longer and I’m sorry to say I have to confiscate the menu for other customers.”
“Uh, yeah.. Sorry, but I’m done with it. You can take it now. Thank you.” Mikasa politely handed the menu to the worker which the waiter collected back.
“Thank you. Now..,” the waiter turns her attention to Sasha. “Are you ready to order or would rather have more time to think?”
“Yeah, hi, I was thinking about: three slices of strawberry cakes, two mugs of hot cocoa, and one baked potato with two bowls of Bacon, Tomato & White Bean Soup. Oh! And two small cups of iced water, please.”
“Thank you.” Sasha grins and Mikasa looks at her as if she’s crazy. Jaws somewhat opened and eyes like the unbelievable.
The cafe employee nodded, turned her heels, and called the head chef favoring another order.
Fatass. Typical Sasha.
Mikasa crossed her arms, rolling her eyes, her eyes still expressed in disbelief.
“That’s what you wanted, right?” Sasha asked before resting her elbows to the table and placing a palm to her side, eyes marveling at the girl in front of her.
“What?”
“Uh- cake? Hot cocoa..? … Potato?” Sasha makes hand gestures, pretending to eat a non-existent soup in her other hand.
“Ohhh, that. So, you weren’t going to eat that on your own. To be honest, it doesn't even sound unbelievable. Given that you are you.”
“Given that I am me?”
“Uh- hello, Sasha Braus who competed in the school’s food competition. Eating twice a dozen potatoes.”
“I did not!”
“I’m kidding,” The leathery girl chuckled, sounding like a small sniffle, making Sasha’s heart skip a beat.
Sasha smiled to herself, picking on the loose strings from her jeans.
“How do you know me anyway?”
“Hmm, you were the freshman class clown who was always causing class disruptions in Mr. Smith’s English class. Everyone called you potato girl for some reason and I always wondered why? Because you ate a lot?”
“Eh, something like that. I just don’t want to talk about how wonderful my freshman class went.” Sasha internally cringed. Wanting to punch herself about how Mikasa recognized her by these stupid teenage shitty things she did during her freshman year but did not want to remember-- like calling her teachers by their first names as a harmless prank.
You no longer can be cool, Sasha Braus.
“I think it’s cool.”
“What?”
“Having a nickname like that. More people remember you that way.” But Mikasa’s expression betrayed her words. Always reserved and aloof, giving her a half-hearted smile.
“Ah- Oh- Thank-”
“Here you go. I got your three slices of strawberry cakes and two cups of hot cocoa. And, I will be back with the rest of your order,” the blonde waiter said as she gently placed them onto the table before returning to the kitchen coming back seconds later.
Returning to Sasha’s table, the waiter carefully balanced the soups and potato with her hands, holding up above the waist.
“And, there you go. Please let me know when you’re ready for your check and I’ll be right there. Thank you, please enjoy.”
Sasha nods and gives her an exchanged smile.
The brunette sorts the food and drinks around the table and Mikasa’s surprised when Sasha ordered only one potato set to the raven’s side.
“No baked potato for you?” Mikasa grazes her chin between her fingertips, shaken up by the fact potato girl didn’t want a potato.
“Nah, I pretty much got tired of it. I get it almost every time I come here. I’ll pass for today.”
"It tastes good with the soup, though." While she slurps her soup, almost sounding incoherent, fishing for bits of bacon like a picky toddler.
Mikasa nods and chews her food quietly unlike the brunette with a huge appetite.
“Hey..” Sasha starts with a flat tone, the spoon’s material clinking against the hem of the marble bowl, catching the other girl’s attention.
“Do you think it is drinking or eating soup?” Sasha asked with a tone of curious eyes. Yeah, that peculiar tone of those eyes.
Gold infused with hazel in the daylight but it’s a very soft dark brown hard to make out now through the dim lights.
Mikasa casually adverts her eyes to her lap, not in a nervous position but she has a calm facial expression.
“Slurping? I don’t know? You tell me.” She glances back at her with cold and bitter eyes.
“Hm, I never thought of it that way.”
Sasha didn’t press forward, she didn’t ask about what or why Mikasa was crying about. They hardly knew each other after all.
“Uh- I appreciate you trying to cheer me up n’ all but I’m fine really. Today’s been a real treat. Thank you, stranger.” Mikasa’s lips just barely peeping up but a glint twinkle in her eyes masking a genuine meaning of gratitude.
“It’s not a problem, stranger.” Sasha winked, moving on with the cake.
She ordered two strawberry cakes for herself.
Mikasa rolls her eyes again and holds in a sniffle of laughter.
“But, it looks like you needed some company and ain’t nothing but a cake to cheer you up. Am I right?"
“Sure.” Mikasa blinked, a miniature smile making its appearance once again.
The next half hour was preoccupied with little chitchats and laughter roaming the air around their corner seat. From that point, they were done with their late-night meal. They washed up in the bathroom and Sasha asked for the check, making Mikasa feel a bit troubled and guilty, but had Sasha not insisted, Mikasa would have not felt a little relieved.
-----
“Come with me. I want to show you something” Mikasa grabs Sasha’s wrist. A tint of glee and joy in her voice, her voice relaxed and soothing enough to loosen any uptight feeling from before.
Sasha was baffled at the initial contact. “M- Mikasa?”
“Relax, it’s something good. I promise.” Mikasa continued until the terrain below their feet was no longer cement but green and grassy.
The moist grass trickled their shoes, a little soaked from the rain, but mostly all Sasha’s focused about was the heat from her cheeks and the warmth from their linked hands. Secure and tight. Sasha doesn’t mind that it happened spontaneously. It’s comforting and it keeps the pass pressure to wind down a little.
“Consider this a token of my gratitude."
Sasha lifts her head to see a meadow. Trees adjacent to each other in the distance but there’s a tree that stands lone beside them. It’s quiet and there’s no one around to spot here now of all times. Clean misty air whiff inside feeling clean to her lungs.
Mikasa eases off Sasha’s hand. She takes a breath of air, and stretches, then let her hair flow along the currents of the air.
Sasha’s eye lingered a little too long at the black silky hair before she had to constrain herself from looking anywhere else otherwise, the raven would catch her in the act. She jerked her head opposite from Mikasa and pretends to fix her bangs.
“It’s beautiful..” she started squeamishly.
“But, why bring me here and right now of all times?” She chuckles letting out a puff of air.
The brunette could sense the other girl’s stare and was utterly correct when they met gazes midway through.
“Because it reminds me of a boy..”