The door jingled as a gaggle of young women entered. Probably students from the nearby college.

They chatted and laughed loudly, pushing together a couple of tables and claiming seats before they came up to order. One of them caught sight of the Vampire and the Lion, and nudged the girl next to her, whispering, giggling, and staring openly.

Soon, the whole group was ogling the two Others, who were still working quietly, just minding their own business.

The group of very giggly girls approached the counter and Olive cheerfully took their orders. I started on the orders as she continued to ring up the group, one after another.

Once they’d all ordered, we had our hands full, but it wasn’t so busy that I couldn't keep an amused eye on what was going on in the sitting area.

One of the girls, a gorgeous blond creature with a perfect figure and perfect makeup stood, tossing her perfect blonde hair, egged on by the others.

She sashayed her way towards the two ridiculously attractive Other men. By the way the girl walked, I could tell she thought she was hot stuff. And she wasn’t wrong, she really was very pretty.

The Lion looked up as she approached, elbowing the Vampire, who seemed to ignore him. The young woman flushed slightly, but stayed her course, determined to interact with them, it seemed.

Flipping her hair, she said, “My friends and I wondered if you two would like to sit with us?”

“I assume that your eyes work well enough that you can see we’re busy working here.” was the Vampire’s cool response. He didn't even look up.

The young woman flushed a deeper shade of pink. “Right. Well, how about you shoot me a text sometime when you’re not so busy with work?” She reached out, as if to take a pen, I guess she meant to scribble down her phone number on one of the papers on the table in front of the two Others.

But the Vampire blocked her with a hand over the pen in question, “Neither of us is interested in a child with more boobs than brains.”

It sounded like a pretty sick burn, but when I thought about it, I had a feeling that technically a lot of women had more boobs than brains, just based on weight.

I’d once read that brains, on average, were about three pounds and, well, I was pretty sure my boobs weighed more than three pounds. That just wasn’t that heavy.

Well, they wouldn't be interested in me, then. Not that I ever really had a chance, nor did I actually really want one. It amused me nonetheless.

Now the girl turned flaming red, “Excuse me?!” she snapped, apparently not used to being shot down in such a brusque manner.

“Go back to bashing the poor depressed art students you seem to hate so much.” The Lion snickered.

That surprised me, I’d have thought the Lion would have liked the attention. Maybe I really had misjudged him. That was on me, if so.

That said, I’d once been one of the depressed art students that he’d mentioned. Art and English.

Is that really what the group of girls had been talking about? Bashing the poor depressed art majors at their school? If so, I felt less bad about the two Others shooting her down so rudely.

She sputtered, livid. “They deserve it for picking such a stupid major! And don’t eavesdrop!”

“Kind of hard to not. You all are loud as hell.” the Lion complained, picking at his fingernails.

The Vampire spoke again, his tone mild, but still somehow offensive, “Why don’t you go back to your sorority house” he had them pegged, they all had Greek letters somewhere on their person, “and b*tch about people there? We’re working here, and I'm sure we're not the only people here you're disturbing."

The girl stomped off, back to her friends, who were appropriately shocked and indignant.

The two Others returned to their work like nothing had happened.

Olive, Carter, and I exchanged amused glances, and tried not to laugh as we went about our work.

“That was savage.” Olive muttered to me.

“Were they bashing art students?” I asked her, knowing she’d likely been able to hear what the group of girls had been talking about, as she’d been wiping down a table by them at one point.

“Yeah, specific ones in their classes.” she nodded.

“Then I’m glad she got shot down and embarrassed.” I snorted, feeling petty.

“You were an art major, right?”

“Yep, art and English.”

“I thought so.” my redheaded friend grinned.

“Although I have more boobs than brains too.” I laughed a little, then added thoughtfully, “I…I think a lot of women do. Brains only weigh like three pounds, on average.”

Olive, who was pretty busty, grinned, her green eyes glittering with mischief, “If that’s the case, I definitely do!” My fellow barista had an impish streak a mile wide.

“Well, we already knew they’re not interested in us, so it’s all good.” It definitely wasn’t true about Olive. Though impish, she was very intelligent. The girl was at the top of her pre-law classes, and would make a top-rate lawyer in whatever area she chose, provided she could keep from panicking when things didn't go as expected.

“Girls.” Carter shook his head, rolling his eyes, but smiling a little. “I think it was more of a…spirit of the thing, insult, you know? I wouldn't say either of you…uh.” he paused, narrowing his eyes, as if thinking hard.

“Tread carefully there.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t think it’ll be easy to finish that either way without being offensive.”

“Nope, I’ve got it.” he smiled, raising his index finger triumphantly, “You’re both smart and beautiful, inside and out.”

“Nice save.” I snorted, shaking my head, under no illusions about being pretty.

“Aww, thanks, Carter!” Olive laughed.

“And so there are no misunderstandings, I mean that in the most platonic, respectful way possible.” he added quickly.

I rolled my eyes, “It’s probably better not to say stuff like that if you feel the need to clarify like that after.”

“Fair.” Carter shrugged.

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“We know you weren’t being a creep though.” Olive told him, and I nodded.

“Good. My sisters would kill me if they thought I was being a creep to my female coworkers." Our manager grimaced apologetically.

"I want to meet your sisters, they sound cool!" I laughed. "How many do you have again?"

"Three. And the youngest is the scariest!" He shook his head, but was grinning.

The bell jingled and several customers entered, pulling us from our idle chit-chat and back to work.

The noise level was getting rather high, and I struggled to take the order of a soft-spoken older woman, thanks to the gaggle of sorority girls, who had apparently made it their goal to be as loud and obnoxious as possible in an attempt to irritate the Others who’d turned down their pretty friend so flatly.

-

“This is getting ridiculous. They don’t own the place.” Aren muttered.

“Just ignore them.” Fen replied for what felt like the tenth time.

“I’m trying. It’s just…trying! But if we leave, that’s admitting defeat!"

“It’s not a battle. They’re immature children, like I said. I’m not having any trouble ignoring them.”

“That's because you’re some kind of machine, I think.”

Fen rolled his eyes, but didn’t reply.

Their conversation lulled for a moment, though no one could have said silence fell. It was just too loud inside the coffee shop for that.

“Oh! I see an opportunity!” Aren said in a low, eager voice full of mischief. “Watch this!”

His eager tone made Fen look up, mildly interested.

The darker-haired barista approached the table with a tray of drinks for a group of three older women who had come in, and sat at a table just past the group of irritating college students, meaning she’d have to pass Fen and Aren, as well as the students.

Aren, who had his back to the group of girls, flicked his tail out. In an instant, Fen knew what his friend and underling had planned. The little brunette would trip on the tail, which she couldn't see, being only human, and the tray of drinks she carried rather high in the air, would go flying onto the group of irritating students.

Except, the barista looked down as the tail flicked into place just before her feet, as if drawn by the movement. The young woman stopped, foot in the air, blinking once.

Her dark eyes flickered to their table as she casually put her foot back down, very definitely not stepping or tripping on Aren’s tail.

Fen met her gaze, feeling startled.

She…she had seen the tail. And stopped. She hadn’t reacted, exactly, but she’d seen it and stopped.

A flicker of sheer terror filled her eyes, which almost immediately looked away as Aren turned, wondering why she hadn’t tripped. Instead of finding the barista looking at them, Aren saw that she was about to address the group of girls, as if having stopped before tripping on his tail just by chance.

But Fen knew. She’d seen it. And she knew that he knew she’d seen it.

How was that possible?

As Aren watched the situation unfolding, amused, Fen let himself stare at the back of the young woman’s head, thoughts whirling a million miles an hour in his head.

How…how could she see them? She was human. Very definitely human. There was no trace of any kind of disguise spell or glamor on her. He would be able to notice that. All of his kin could spot one another a mile away.

She was human.

Nor did she have any kind of amulet or item that let her see them properly, he’d have felt that too the very moment he’d stepped into the cafe while she was working there.

“I’m so sorry to ask, ladies, but would you mind piping down a little? We’re having a little trouble hearing other customers’ orders.” The little barista’s tone was perfectly cordial and apologetic.

The blond girl, apparently the leader of the ridiculous bunch, tossed her hair and snapped, “Why don’t you just mind your own business and get back to work? Ugly little shit.”

Fen saw the manager bristle at the rude treatment of the young woman. He made to come around the counter, clearly meaning to get involved. The man seemed to have a crush on his employee, judging by how frequently Fen saw him gazing longingly in her direction, though she didn't seem to notice.

Much to his surprise, one of the elderly women, who’s drinks the barista still had on her tray, cut in before the manager had gotten very far. “Your mothers would be ashamed of you, behaving like that! All she did was very nicely ask you to quiet down! My son is the owner of this cafe, and I’ve half a mind to call him down here and have him ban you and your little group of trollops from the premises! I also know the head of your chapter there on campus. I think we’ll just have to have a little word with her about your behavior and how unbecoming it is for your sorority!”

The girls gaped, staring at her.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the brunette barista addressed the elderly woman, her tone still sweet and apologetic, “I don't think they know what trollop means.”

“They wouldn't.” Aren snickered loudly.

-

I was moving like I was in a dream. The Vampire had seen me see the Lion’s tail, and stop, not wanting to trip.

I’d reacted. I’d reacted when I should have just fallen. But the drinks I had on my tray were hot, and someone might have gotten burned, likely me. That innate sense of self-preservation had blown my cover.

He knew. I could see them the way they properly were, and the Vampire knew.

It hadn’t really even stung when the girl had called me an ugly little shit. I’d just sort of blinked and looked tiredly at her. Because I was exhausted. I didn’t have a silver tongue, but when the older woman had come to my defense, somehow telling her that I didn’t think they knew what trollops meant sort of just slipped out.

The Lion, who hadn’t seemed to realize I’d actually seen his tail, had appreciated that, and his laugh helped me snap back to the present. I’d have to deal with the fact that the Vampire now knew I could see him and his friend properly later, once this situation was over.

“Not that how many people they’ve slept with is actually a reflection on whether or not they’re good people.” I said, being honest. “But I don’t enjoy being called names for no good reason. That is a reflection on if you’re a good person or not.” I stared at the one who’d called me an ugly shit. “And no, I’m not very much to look at, but at least I’m not ugly on the inside. Nor do I have more boobs than brains.” I meant it in the spirit of the comment, and knew that throwing the fact that she’d been very publicly and embarrassingly rejected in her face would do the trick.

Every eye in the cafe was now on the group of girls.

“I’m calling my son.” the older woman announced, pulling out her phone and beginning to dial.

“Whatever!” the blond girl snapped, grabbing her purse as she leapt to her feet, then storming from the cafe.

Finally.

The other girls who’d been with her staggered to their feet, still a little confused about what was going on, and most still wondering what the word trollop meant as they hurried after their friend.

Carter, who was now beside me, put a steadying hand on my shoulder “You good?”

I shook myself, pulling away. “Yeah, I don't know where that came from.”

“Yeah, normally you just ignore it and go on!” Olive laughed, she was just behind Carter.

“I am so sorry about that, ladies.” I approached the group of older women and began handing them their drinks.

“Oh it’s alright! You’re Mercy, right?” The woman who’d stood up for me said kindly.

Now that I thought about it, I did recognize her. She was in here often enough, but I hadn’t clocked that she was the owner’s mother. When I’d been introduced, she’d had a totally different hair color and style.

“Yes ma’am. I know we’ve been introduced, but I honestly didn’t recognize you until you said Ricky was your son! Your hair looks great like that!” I smiled. It was true. It was short and curly and she seemed to love having finally gone all-grey.

“Oh you do flatter an old woman!” She laughed. “I shouldn’t have called them trollops, I don’t care if they sleep around. It was just the only insult my mind could think of at the moment, how silly is that?”

“I can think of a few, but I wouldn't have wanted to call customers by them, even if they were being rude!” I snorted, smiling a little, then looking down. “Thank you for sticking up for me, Mrs. Stephens.”

“That’s no way to treat anyone. And you can call me Tina, okay?” she said warmly.

“I am so sorry, Tina.” Carter cut in, deeply apologetic.

“Nonsense! Mercy here handled it just fine! Although I thought she might melt into the floor at first, but she’s got some pluck!” Tina had resumed her seat.

“Not always.” I grimaced. “But I managed, somehow."

The door jingled, admitting a customer.

“I’ll go.” I said, letting Carter stay to talk with Tina, as I could see that Olive was already busy helping more customers.

I did my best not to shiver as I passed the Vampire and Lion’s table. I could feel the Vampire’s lilac eyes boring holes into me. But I couldn't slip up even more. I’d already done enough damage.

All I could do now was commit to the bit even harder than I had done ever before.