please just roll with what I'm about to do okay it's going to make no sense to the actual character but 🤫

No pronouns used for the reader but idk how this one googled Spanish word works ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"You're scaring my customers off." I crossed my arms at the soldier in front of me, a sniper rifle resting in his hands.
"Amor - I need to use your upstairs window. Los Vaqueros orders." He breathed out. Had he ran in here? I watched my last customer leave, stealing my coffee cup that definitely was not free or for the taking. I placed my palms on the counter in front of me, my stress and annoyance very obvious.
"If you must. Doors that way, it's unlocked - just head up." I looked down with a sigh. He hesitated for a moment. A moment long enough for me to look back up at him to wonder how urgent this thing really was. He looked... sympathetic. He didn't take joy in accidentally ridding me of my customers, he felt bad, i could see it. Although i was focused on something other than his sympathy. He was hot- attractive- a man blessed with good genes- an angel- a literal God. The way he towered over my counter, the way the rifle rested in his palms, the little rough patches on his finger tips - did he play guitar? I felt warmth rise to my cheeks the more I stared though it seemed like it all was in slow motion. He then left to go upstairs.

I guess I might as well close up if someone's going to start trying to shoot through one of my windows. I flipped the sign on the door and started stacking the chairs. Who in their right mind steals a mug from a coffee shop? I knew I should've switched to cheap Starbucks crap. Halfway through stacking my anger faded and I was just thinking about him. Are soldiers allowed relationships? are they like priests? That's stupid I'm stupid of course they're allowed. Not like he'd be in a relationship with me anyway but- my mind wanders. Which window would he be sniping through? Did I leave it a mess up there? That is where I live... he wouldn't mind, right? he seems too kind. Before I knew it I was done.

I made myself a coffee whilst still zoning out thinking about him. I'd ran this coffee shop for years, you'd think I'd be able to make a coffee while distracted - unfortunately the coffee was a mess. I sat down on the uncomfortable stool behind the counter, locking the cash register while sipping my slightly burnt coffee. I wonder what coffee he likes. Black? Cappuccino? I bet he has favourites he wouldn't confess about like a basic pumpkin spice latte or a mocha. He also probably puts rum in his own coffees. It seems I picked the right profession if I'm thinking of a man by the kind of coffee he might like. I should probably stop.

Maybe I should bring him coffee? No that'd be weird- but I need an excuse just to talk to him. All these ideas of what he might like are cool but what would he actually like? It should be impressive... but not too impressive. Maybe I should just go wild.

I ended up with a pretty generic looking drink, which was my aim. It wasn't generic taste wise, it might just give him a heart attack. It's got a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and the tiniest bit of ginger with some melted chocolate, steamed milk with just a normal amount of espresso. (I have no idea what I'm talking about). It just looked like a normal low effort coffee, he can't judge me for that. I carefully carried my experiment upstairs. One of the doors was open ajar, so I assumed he was in there. It was just a storage cupboard I hadn't used, a completely empty room. Quite lucky if I do say so myself.

"Uh... sir? You busy?" I asked through the door. Are you busy? Of course he's busy why else would he rush in?! I should just leave. I should just turn around right now.
"No- not yet. Is there a problem?" I heard a shuffle and the door swung open, making me jump as the air hit me and he was suddenly in front of me.
"C-coffee?" Woah great pickup line Y/n. I held it out, praying he'd just take it. He did take it, very gently. The mug looked so small in his hands.
"Good coffee shops always have mugs like these," he smiled, admiring the drink I'd made. Alright no crap Starbucks cups. He gave it a whiff and his face practically lit up.
"This on the menu?" He asked while continuing to sniff it. Was he secretly a hygiene inspector or something? I shook my head. "I get the special treatment, eh?" His smile grew. I had to hide my blush. Is he really neglecting his job to sniff my coffee right now? Someone who didn't care would've just drank it and maybe have said thanks - he seemed like he cared. He finally took a sip, which turned into him gulping the whole cup of hot coffee down. Emphasis on hot.

"That- that is not how you drink coffee. You savour the taste - you don't burn your taste away forever-" I blinked at him, dumbfounded.
"The taste will be burned into my tastebuds forever, amor. That was good." He breathed out the hot air like a steam engine. That's the second time he's called me amor. Is he trying to make me fall madly in love with him? Because it's goddamn WORKING!!
"Thanks. I thought you might like it." Mouth please stop talking- I'm no creep I swear
"You did? I'm interested. What linked my rude walk in to this great cup of coffee?" He leant against a wall, waiting for my answer. He knew what he was doing, he had to. I'm going to start blabbering about how cool I think he is or something.
"It's a superpower of mine," I smiled, saving myself, "I should probably leave you to your thing now, don't let me bother you." I moved to take the mug but he moved it back a little. Don't say you want to take my mug- please.

"You closed the shop, right? My target isn't at the location yet. Maybe we could talk?" He could not get rid of that big grin on his face. Talk? He wants to talk to me? Atleast he's not stealing one of my last mugs.
"O-okay? Why'd you rush in here if it wasn't urgent?" I raised an eyebrow and he seemed to get a little flustered.
"A little miscalculation, but hey better than being late - and I get to talk to you." He winked.
"Your miscalculation lost me some money and a mug," I leant back into the doorframe, covering my blush with my annoyance.
"Are you mad?"
"Mainly just at the person who stole my mug." I sighed, trying to shrug off his never ending eye contact. He let out a light chuckle, digging through his pockets and pulling out a thin wad of cash, neither neat nor scruffy.
"This is meant to be enough to fix a few windows if I break them, should be enough to get some new mugs and replace your missing income" he held it out to me, smiling kindly.
"It's fine, really." I refused. I can't just take money from him, he's barely even ruined business here. The only payment I'm happy with is being allowed to look at his face.
"Just think of it as paying for the coffee" he insisted.
"That's one overpriced coffee. I won't take the money, as kind as the offer is." I lightly pushed his offering back to him.
"If you're sure..." he shrugged, putting the money back into his pocket.

His eyes slowly moved to the window where his rifle was set up on the floor pointing out of it. There wasn't much of a picturesque scene from it, basically just a bunch of views into peoples homes - but I guess that's what he needed. His eyes moved back to me and I suddenly realised I didn't even know his name. Is it too personal to ask? Hell, what's the worst that could happen?
"I never got your name..."
"Colonel Alejandro Vargas, I lead Los Vaqueros." He spoke proudly. He has a whole fancy rank AND he's a leader? Why's this man in my empty storage room?
"You lead Los Vaqueros and you're stuck sniping from my window, did you draw the short straw?" I furrowed my eyebrows and he just chuckled at me.
"I think I'd be a little jealous if someone from my unit got this opportunity." He shrugged
"Really? Do you like sniping then?"
"That, and the fact I wouldn't have gotten that amazing coffee. I like talking to you, you're fun. I didn't get your name either," one thing after another, this man was really trying to make me blush and it was working every single time.
"Y/n L/n - Captain of my coffee shop" I mimicked his introduction, earning a laugh out of him.
"Any employees in your unit, Captain L/n?" He must've noticed there was literally no one else behind the counter.
"Negative, Colonel Vargas, I'm a one man band here." I shook my head, continuing with the soldier talk.
"Someone with such a well designed shop and cool name doesn't deserve to work alone... Captain" He turned away again to look out of the window.
"I like working by myself. Gives me more freedom, that's why I'm not off working at Starbucks or any other mainstream place." I explained. Though he was looking away I could tell he was listening. Did he have a superpower of just being extremely easy to talk to?
"I can understand that." He said, focusing on something, lying down and looking through his rifle's scope. I went silent, not trying to distract him.

His left arm moved to pat the spot next to him so I walked up and lied down right where he patted. "Want a go?" He looked over to me, not looking like he was joking.
"That is a gun, Mr Vargas - and I am a barista." I raised an eyebrow at him. That's got to be against some soldier law?
"I'll turn the safety on, come on." He shuffled to the right, waiting for me to shuffle into his spot. I was hesitant to do so, but I did. I looked through the scope, not being able to full see the crosshair. Must be... broken?
"I can't see anything." I looked at him. Alejandro's smile started to grow the more he stared at my clueless face.
"You're closing the wrong eye, L/n." He held in a laugh. I mouthed an oh at him and turned back to the scope, actually closing the correct eye. I could see through it now, but barely.
"It's so blurry- how do you see through this?" I kept on looking thinking maybe my eyes would adjust. He actually let out a chuckle this time, making me jump as he got closer and started adjusting something on the scope.
"Hot or cold, tell me." He spoke, his breath close to my face as he leant over. It was warm and distracting, minty too. I could smell his aftershave, his fabric softener, his goddamn shampoo. I was too distracted to help him out.
It started to get clearer, but I didn't even notice.
"Y/n?" He paused. God his voice is smooth, his accent so perfect with it. "Y/n." His presence is so warm and inviting. Can he just hug me already? "Y/n? Hot or cold?" I was broken from my thoughts as he patted my shoulder. He's so gentle. He's so...
"Hot. I can see now" How had he adjusted it so perfectly without me even saying anything? He inched away, warmth leaving my cheeks.

"Alright, now you can spy on your neighbours." He joked.
"I feel like you're trusting me too much with this, this has to go against some rules." I looked back to him, his face slightly pink too. Why was he blushing?
"You've never broken a few rules?" He grinned, "you couldn't look through the scope, I have no worries." I really did prove myself too stupid to be a spy or something, though I did feel like he'd dissed me slightly.
"Oh hey... there's a man coming out of that building you have the rifle trained at. He's in a suit... bald head?" I lied.
"What? Which exit?" He leant over me again to see out of the window clearly.
"Joking..." I slowly looked to him, a guilty yet satisfied expression on my face. He looked a little impressed.
"... Enough rifle time for you." He hopped up onto his feet before standing over me, legs either side of me. I turned around, lying on my back as I looked up at him. I could see a lot of him from here... a lot. His clothes fit so well, so perfectly. He didn't seem real - how can one have no imperfections? I put my hands up in a joking self defence. He smiled widely, grabbing my arms and pulling me up. I was on my feet - though very soon I might not be if he keeps looking into my eyes the way he is. He didn't let go of my arms but he wasn't rough.

"I think you're super cool Y/n L/n" he grinned, a hint of shyness in his eyes as one twitched a little.
"You're cool too, Alejandro Vargas," I blushed, not really understanding what was going on. My arms were still in his hands. His face lit up as I said his name.
"Can you... can you say that again. I don't think I heard what you said...?" His whole demeanour changed. What is going on?
"You're cool too, Alejandro Vargas?" I repeated. His grip tightened on my arms but remained gentle.
"Y/n..." he moved closer.
"Alejandro?" His smile grew wider. Does he like it when I say his name? Or am I just saying it wrong?
"I think I love you." He got straight to the point. I blinked a few times, kind of wishing he wasn't holding me so I could pinch myself to check if I was dreaming. I should probably do something before he takes it back. I leant forward, planting a kiss on his lips, pushing him back into a wall with it. He still held my arms, he seemed too surprised to move yet he still kissed back. Is this wrong? This is wrong, right? I'd only just met him - but I couldn't stop. Not now, maybe not ever. Maybe we'd both die, suffocating on our last shared breath. For the first time in my life coffee did not feel like my one true love. Everything about him was mesmerising - from the way he looked, to the way he spoke and the way he acted.  Now I was experiencing how well he kisses, and he kisses well.

I pulled away only to see that grin again. Has he ever even frowned before? He let go of my arms and they dropped to my sides.
"That was fast," he breathed out, awkwardly chuckling.
"Oh... oh! My god! I'm sorry- it's just-" I panicked. Was that not the love he meant? Who even kisses a person they've only just met? I wish I could turn invisible right now.
"I didn't mean it like that!" He held my shoulders now, calming me down. "I liked it. I've been wanting to do that since I walked in- as weird as that is... forget I said that, amor." He avoided eye contact after realising what he'd said. His hands slipped down from my shoulders. I was completely speechless. Were we both just pining over each other? The whole time?

His radio crackled to life with a sharp staticky sound. Something was said in Spanish and Alejandro was immediately alert.
"How about a date tonight? Don't answer- think about it" he placed a kiss on my forehead before swiftly shooing me from the room and closing the door. Did that really just happen? I leant my back against the door, reliving what had just happened. We kissed. I just kissed a man. I just kissed a random soldier- a colonel.

My thoughts were interrupted by a ping from my phone, though when I reached into my pocket to grab it something else was in there. I pulled out a wad of cash, the one he'd offered to me earlier, a small piece of paper was clipped to it reading 'I'm sorry about my entrance. Maybe I can make it up to you?" And then a number. His number? Did he make this before I came upstairs to him? When did he slip it into my pocket cash included? He's just full of surprises.