I was just about to turn off the last light when—

Knock knock.

I froze.

That... didn't happen.

Not here.

Not at this hour.

Slowly, I looked toward the door.

Another knock followed, a bit firmer this time.

Knock.

Well.

That was new.

I set the broom aside and walked toward the entrance, drying my hands on the towel hanging from my apron. Through the glass door I could see two figures standing under the streetlight.

One wore a police uniform.

The other stood slightly behind him in a long coat.

Great.

Police.

Fantastic.

Love that development for me.

Still, they knocked like normal people instead of kicking the door down, so I unlocked the door and opened it.

Cool night air slipped into the café.

"How can I help you?"

Both men looked a little surprised that someone answered.

The officer in front—tall, dark hair, tired eyes—straightened slightly. On his head sat a ridiculous hat with little cat ears.

...interesting.

Beside him, the man in the coat rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Sorry to bother you," the officer said, voice rough with exhaustion. "We saw the lights and figured we'd try."

I tilted my head.

"Yes?"

The man in the coat gestured toward the café.

"Are you... still open?"

"...technically no."

Both of them visibly deflated.

The officer sighed heavily.

"Yeah, figures."

Then he tried again.

"Look, we've been running around all night and there's literally nothing open anywhere near here."

The man beside him nodded.

"And we'll probably be out until morning."

They exchanged a quick glance.

Then the officer continued.

"So we were wondering... even if you're closed... could you maybe make two coffees to go?"

I blinked.

That was... surprisingly normal.

They looked genuinely desperate.

Like two people who had been awake for twenty hours and were surviving purely through stubbornness.

The officer added quickly, "We can pay extra."

I leaned against the doorframe.

"That's not necessary."

Relief immediately crossed both their faces.

"Oh thank god," the man in the coat muttered.

Then he hesitated.

"Actually... we should probably talk to the manager or the owner first."

"Just to make sure it's okay," the officer added.

I paused.

"...about that."

They both looked at me.

"I'm the owner."

Silence.

They stared at me.

Then at the café behind me.

Then back at me again.

The officer blinked slowly.

"...you're the owner."

"Yes."

The man in the coat frowned slightly.

"...seriously?"

"Yes."

They both took a second to process that.

The officer rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"You're... what... sixteen?"

"Correct."

Another pause.

The man in the coat leaned closer to the officer and muttered, not quietly enough—

"...is that even legal?"

I definitely heard that.

"I inherited the café," I said calmly.

That shut them up immediately.

The officer straightened.

"Oh."

"...sorry."

"It's fine."

Then I stepped aside and opened the door wider.

"You can wait inside while I make the coffee."

They hesitated briefly before stepping in.

The officer looked around the café as he walked inside.

His gaze moved across the empty tables, the counter, the dim warm lights.

"...nice place," he said quietly.

The man in the coat nodded.

"Yeah."

Then he frowned slightly.

"Strange we've never noticed it before."

I walked behind the counter and started preparing the coffee.

"It happens."

Behind me, they sat down at one of the tables.

The officer spoke again.

"So you run this place alone?"

"Yes."

"That sounds... like a lot of work."

"It is."

The coffee machine hummed softly as it started brewing.

For a moment the café was quiet again.

Then the man in the coat spoke.

"...must be pretty quiet around here."

I paused slightly while grabbing the cups.

Then continued making the coffee.

"...not really."

After all...

Most cafés didn't host half the city's villains every evening.

But somehow I suspected these two would not appreciate that detail.

I turned back to the counter and started preparing the coffee.

The machine hummed quietly, filling the café with the familiar smell of roasted beans. It was a comforting smell. Reliable.

People were complicated.

Coffee wasn't.

Behind me, the two officers were speaking quietly to each other, their voices low and tired. I didn't pay much attention. I had already figured out what they needed the moment they walked in.

Some customers told you what they wanted.

Others... you just read.

I opened the cabinet under the counter and pulled out two thermoses.

They weren't the disposable kind most cafés used. These were solid metal ones. Durable. The kind meant for people who would be out for hours.

I placed them on the counter and filled the first one with black coffee.

No sugar.

No milk.

Straight.

That one was easy.

The man in the coat had the posture of someone who survived entirely on caffeine and stubborn determination.

Then I prepared the second one.

More milk.

A little sweet.

Something that would actually keep a person awake without making their stomach hate them for it later.

The officer with the ridiculous cat hat definitely looked like the type who needed that.

I screwed the lids on and walked over to their table.

Both of them looked up when I approached.

I set the thermoses down in front of them.

"There you go."

They blinked.

The officer with the cat hat picked one up and opened it slightly to smell the coffee.

"...wait."

The man in the coat opened the other one.

"...you put them in thermoses?"

"Yes."

They both stared at me.

"You said you'd be out all night."

The officer nodded slowly.

"...yeah."

"This will stay warm longer."

Another pause.

Then the man in the coat said carefully, "You didn't ask what we wanted."

I shrugged.

"I guessed."

The officer with the cat hat took a sip.

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

"...wow."

The other man tried his.

"...okay that's really good."

Good.

I nodded toward the thermoses.

"You can bring them back in the morning."

They both looked up.

"I open again around seven."

The officer frowned slightly.

"...how much do we owe you?"

"Nothing."

Both of them blinked.

"...what?"

I gestured at the thermoses.

"Just return them."

Silence.

Then they both immediately shook their heads.

"No, no," the man in the coat said quickly. "We're paying."

"You don't have to."

"We absolutely do."

The officer reached into his pocket already.

"You just saved our night."

"It's just coffee."

"Exactly," he said. "Essential coffee."

The man in the coat nodded firmly.

"Please."

I stared at them for a moment.

They looked very serious about this.

I sighed quietly.

"...fine."

They both relaxed instantly.

The officer pulled out his wallet and placed some bills on the table.

More than the coffee was worth.

Significantly more.

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's too much."

The man in the coat stood up and picked up the thermos.

"It's not."

The officer grinned tiredly.

"Consider it appreciation."

They both headed toward the door.

Just before leaving, the officer with the cat hat glanced back at the café.

"...we'll bring these back in the morning."

I nodded.

"Good."

The bell chimed as they stepped outside.

The door closed.

Silence returned.

I walked over and picked up the money they left.

I looked at the bills.

Then sighed.

"...villains tip well."

I placed the money in the jar.

"...but apparently police officers do too."