Caffeine Crush | Ava Silva x fem!reader
Pairings: Ava x reader (mutual crush), Beatrice x Ava (platonic)
Type of fic: Comedy, Comfort
Summary: Falling for a barista is a struggle for Ava and despite that she still comes back to see you and talk to you even if itâs just a few words, that is until you have to make the first step âcause she definetly will not.
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Ava was still adjusting to life outside the orphanage, and while the world felt big, scary, and overwhelming, it was also beautiful. She wandered aimlessly through the streets, soaking up the sunshine, the noise, and the freedom. Every step felt like an adventure.
Eventually, she stumbled upon a cozy little café on a quiet corner, its warm light spilling out onto the sidewalk. The inviting smell of baked goods and coffee called to her, so she stepped inside.
The moment she walked in, Ava was greeted by the soft hum of conversation, the gentle whir of an espresso machine, and the sight of you.
Standing behind the bar, you moved gracefully, preparing drinks with practiced ease, a smile tugging at your lips as you handed a latte to a waiting customer. Ava stopped in her tracks, suddenly feeling like the air had been knocked out of her chest.
You were gorgeous. She couldnât stop staring. The way you seemed so at ease, the little crinkle in your nose as you focused on a drinkâit was mesmerizing.
âHi there! What can I get you?â your voice snapped Ava out of her thoughts.
She blinked, realizing sheâd been standing there gawking for who-knows-how-long. Her cheeks burned as she stammered, âUh, coffee! Iâll have⊠coffee.â
âWhat kind of coffee?â you asked, amused by her flustered state.
Ava glanced at the menu board, scanning it quickly. âJust, um, black coffee.â
You nodded, hiding a smile. âComing right up.â
In a few minutes, you returned, setting the steaming cup in front of her. The foam on top was shaped into a small smiley face. Avaâs lips quirked up at the sight, her heart fluttering for reasons she couldnât explain.
âEnjoy!â you said warmly before turning to the next customer.
Ava moved to a nearby table, clutching the cup like it was a lifeline. The first sip hit her like a slap in the face.
She grimaced, staring at the offensive liquid in disbelief. How did people drink this stuff? But as much as she hated it, the memory of your smile made her resolve to finish it.
Back at the church, Ava sat beside Beatrice during a brief break in her training. She fidgeted, clearly preoccupied.
âBea, can I ask you something?â
Beatrice glanced up, her expression patient. âOf course.â
âSo, hypotheticallyâŠâ Ava began, her voice casual but far too eager.
Beatrice raised an eyebrow. âHypothetically?â
âYeah, yeah. Hypothetically,â Ava repeated. âIf someoneâletâs say meâfelt⊠weird around another person. Like, I donât know, their heart raced a little, and they couldnât stop thinking about them. And maybeâagain, hypotheticallyâthey started doing dumb things like drinking coffee even though they hate it just to see this personâŠâ
Beatriceâs lips twitched in amusement. âYouâre describing love, Ava.â
âWhat? No! Thatâs ridiculous. I just metâI mean, this hypothetical person just met them!â Ava protested, waving her hands.
Beatriceâs gaze softened. âSometimes, feelings donât take long to appear. They donât have to.â
Ava frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the revelation, and changed the subject. But as Beatrice returned to her book, Avaâs thoughts remained on you.
Over the next week, Ava became a regular at the café.
Every day, she walked in, her heart doing flips at the sight of you. And every day, she ordered coffee, grimaced through the first sip, and then pretended to enjoy it just so she could stay a little longer.
You noticed. It was hard not to.
One afternoon, after setting yet another black coffee in front of Ava, you leaned on the counter and said softly, âYou know, drinking this much coffee isnât great for you.â
Ava froze mid-sip, her eyes darting to yours. âOh! Uh, yeah, totally. Iâll cut back. For sure.â
You smiled gently. âWhy do you drink it if you donât like it?â
Avaâs mouth opened and closed a few times before she blurted, âBecause youâre gorgeousâ
Your eyebrows shot up, surprised, but not unkindly.
Realizing what sheâd just said, Ava turned beet red. âI meanâthatâsâIâuhâI gotta go!â She fumbled to pull out cash, tossing it onto the counter before bolting for the door.
As she was trying to disappeared, you chuckled to yourself and slipped a receipt into her coat pocket.
Back at the church, Ava sat on a bench, replaying the humiliating scene in her mind. She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and froze when her fingers brushed against a piece of paper.
Pulling it out, she unfolded it, expecting a forgotten receipt. Instead, she found your name and phone number scrawled in neat handwriting, accompanied by a small heart.
Ava let out a loud, startled yelp, startling the nuns around her. She clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.
Beatrice, standing nearby, shot her a disapproving look. âQuiet, Ava.â
But Ava was already running toward her, a ridiculous grin on her face and the paper clutched tightly in her hand. âBea! Bea! Youâre never going to believe this!â
Beatrice sighed, but she couldnât help the small smile that crept onto her lips as Ava began to ramble.