Stark Industries - Thursday

[the_best_sister]

There was a tragedy brewing at the Stark lobby Starbucks.

"What do you mean there’s no more pumpkin spice latte? That’s ridiculous. It’s the best drink you have. Why stop selling something so… delicious?”

The gremlin, unbothered, slid a red-and-white-striped cup toward her without a word.

Yelena pointed accusingly at the cup. "No. I don’t want a peppermint mocha. Does it have pumpkin? No. Does it have spice? Also no. And yes, I know the pumpkin spice latte has no actual pumpkin, but that’s beside the point.”

The barista gave her the same glassy-eyed stare they always saved for difficult customers.

"Fine!" Yelena huffed, snatching the cup. "But I’m not going to like it."

She stomped away, took a sip, and froze mid-step. It was good. Damn it.

From behind her, she heard a faint snicker. She whipped around, fixing the barista with a glare. "Shut up."

Muttering under her breath, she trudged back to her desk, the peppermint mocha in hand. As she sipped, her scowl deepened. Her new favorite drink.

Unbelievable.

Comments

[witchoftheflesh]

"Don't you look full of the Christmas spirit," Adrian teased.

[the_best_sister]

Yelena almost stumbled a bit seeing Adrian here. She recovered and let out a scoff. “Yes. So, so full of Christmas spirit. Tony Stark wanted me to put on an elf costume and deliver sugar plums to everyone in the office I’m so cheery.”

She took a sip of her mocha as she raised an eyebrow at Adrian. “What brings you here?”

[witchoftheflesh]

"So, you remember how I asked you about your favorite color and you got really suspicious about it...?" Adrian asked, his smile not fading in the least.

[the_best_sister]

Yelena’s eyes instantly narrowed at Adrian. All suspicions returning instantly. “Yes. And now I’m both suspicious and possibly worried about what’s happening next.”

[witchoftheflesh]

What happened next was Adrian pulled out a wrapped gift from the bag over his arm and extending it to her. "Merry Christmas, Yelena," he said.

[the_best_sister]

Yelena’s gaze was still suspicious but it was now a pleased suspicious. She took the gift with a polite nod. “Thank you. I do have a gift for you but I didn’t expect you to be here today so I do not have it with me. Unless you want a slightly sipped peppermint mocha. Did you want me to open it now or wait for the big day?”

[witchoftheflesh]

"Whichever you like," Adrian said with a laugh. "The important thing was that you had it for Christmas. Whatever you decide to do with it from there is between you and your holiday choices."

[the_best_sister]

Suspicions and curiosity won over any kind of patience that Yelena had at this point. “Well since you’re here I’ll just open it now so I can thank you in person.”

Which sounded well mannered but she tore through that paper like a gremlin on crack.

[witchoftheflesh]

The first thing she saw was a note that said, You should always get to wear bright colors. And beneath the note was a bright orange mohair cardigan, knit to be oversized and a little slouchy.

"Hope you like it," he said. "I was tempted to give you a hat, but..."

[the_best_sister]

Yelena grinned as she opened the gift. “You made this?” She asked, slightly incredulous. “It’s beautiful.”

She put down her coffee and immediately put it on over her outfit. It clashed horribly but she didn’t seem to care. “I love it. Thank you.”

She hesitated a moment and then leaned in to give him a very awkward hug, like this was something she never did before. “I will have to bring your gift by later.”