Hero

"Do you ever think that you're in the wrong job, Ranna?" Nora asked glumly. "That there's something, anything, better out there for you?"

"Me? Personally? Yeah, I know for sure that there is. But I don't want it," Ranna said, cleaning mugs. "But in general? I don't know. Guess it depends on how willing you are to fight for it."

"What do you mean you could have something better?"

Ranna gave her a sly grin. "C'mon, what superpowered hero wants to be caught dead working at some place like this? No, they want all the glory. The kicking bad guys butts, saving the day, falling in love...well, I guess I like that part. But that's about it. Superhero life just isn't for me."

"What's the point of having powers if you don't use them to save people?"

"I do some freelance stuff. Some group missions with a couple of pals of mine from school. Warren and Trea and Topher, you remember them. But I've had enough of that life. I'm ready to take it easy."

"Why don't you want to be the hero, Ranna? Why don't you want the spotlight when you do amazing things?"

Ranna stopped drying her mug, setting it down on the counter. She looked past Nora, almost like she was watching her past behind Nora's curly hair.

"I used to want that. And it ended up hurting my friends, and killing me. I'm lucky I'm alive after that."

Nora looked down at her hot chocolate, her spoon making circles, mixing chocolate and whipped cream together. "You never did tell me that story."

"And it's a story for another time," Ranna said. "Your boy's here."

"Aden's not 'my boy'," Nora protested. "He's just a friend."

Ranna gave her a knowing smile. "Well, then, you'd better get a move on it, hadn't you?"

Busy Day

Ranna nodded and handed Nora a cup of hot chocolate.
"When does he leave?"
"Next week."
"At least you won't have to help for much longer, and the week is nearly over."

Aden spent the whole of his day thinking of Nora and moseying all over town filling some orders at his comfortable pace.
It was a relief for him to finally come up to the Coffee Shop and see the familiar faces in the window. He sighed as he opened the door and the smell of happiness wafted over him.
He came in and sat at the bar, looking around for Nora

Job Troubles

Nora was first to the coffeeshop. She sat at the bar, chin on her arms, watching Ranna work.

"What's wrong, sunshine?" Ranna asked as she came back around the counter.

"I don't wanna work today," she moaned. "Yesterday Gerard had me running all over the place on top of writing his new resume. He's quitting, you know."

"I didn't know that. Will you have to find a new job, too?"

"No. Enough other people want me to ensure that I keep my job. But still, y'know? He's making me do all the work for him leaving. He should just go if he's really quitting."

Bolting

"well... I guess... I'll have to see her again tomorrow then!" He said hesitantly at first but then much happier as he realized he would get to see her again!
Ranna nodded. "Yes yes, don't you have a job as well?"
"who me? Well yeah, but... oh, i should be collecting more items!" He gently placed the ppaers in his bag, downed his orange juice and grabbed his bagel.
"thanks, Ranna!"
He ran out the door.

Nora's Job

Ranna came back with his order. "No use. Once she goes into the building of doom, nothing from the outside world can come in to meet her. I've tried."

"You couldn't even get in? Even with your...powers?"

She looked at him like he was stupid. "Of course I could have gotten in with my powers. The point of them is to not use them unless I have to, though. So I didn't."

"What does she do there, anyway?"

"She's a secretary for a big business guru."

"Oh, so she runs errands and stuff?"

"More like she has underlings to run the errands. She writes up most of his documents. Memos and stuff."

"Is she a good writer?"

Another look. "The best."

Forgotten

Aden sighed.
"Just some Orange Juice, please."
Ranna walked away and Aden slumped in his chair.
He shot up again.
"Nora!" he called, knowing she was already gone.
He scooped up his drawings.
She had left them!

Late

"Good choice," nodded Nora, then saw her bagel on the table. "Oh, crap, I'm late! Have to go! Bye!" she called over her shoulder, running out the door.

Ranna watched her go, then looked back down at the pad of paper in her hands.

"Anything to drink?" she asked routinely.