As the crisp morning air and smell of the coffee shop filled her nostrils Zipper had to duck her way through the doorway of her favorite café. The tips of her long zebra ears brushed the top of the frame before she straightened to her full height inside, her rainbow stripes bright under the mellow lights. A few heads turned, she was still new in town, and though some had seen her once or twice, she was far from familiar to most of the townsfolk.
Zipper was use to being stared at, it wasn't every day that you see a seven foot zebra with rainbow stripes. Not to mention the distinctive scar she had on her left cheek that covered her eye. Zipper was more or less blind in that eye but she never let her disability get the best of her, besides she thought her scar made her look cool.
Stepping up to the counter Zipper eyed the menu. “Cappuccino, please.” Her Italian accent rolled warmly off the words. The barista hesitated only a second, clearly not expecting Zipper’s stature, before nodding and getting to work. Zipper just smiled to herself, she had become use to how people acted when they first saw her.
While she waited, Zipper swayed slightly, her long tail flicking to the rhythm of a jazzy tune coming from the radio in the corner. She opened a game on her phone, ridiculously small in her oversized hands. Steam hissed from a kettle, spoons clinked as one of the staff organized a cart of cutlery, and for a few blissful moments, life felt simple to Zipper.
Then came a sound from outside the café. Muffled at first, shouts, laughter and not the good kind. Zipper’s ears twitched. She turned her head to face the window, her good eye narrowing. Putting her phone back in her pocket, she stepped back out into the sunlight to see what was causing the commotion.
It was a group of kids, six of them in all. Five of them surrounding the sixth member, clearly harassing her. At first the group of bullies didn’t notice Zipper, their attention too focused on their victim. They had cornered the small white dove against the wall of the café, taunting her. The figure was cowering, tiny hands balled into fists but unable to push back against the group of much bigger boys.
“Hey!”
Zipper’s voice cut through the bullies laughter like a blade. They all turned as one and froze. Towering form, her stripes reflecting the morning light, her broad shoulders heaving as she breathed heavy. Zipper couldn’t stand bullies.
Zipper’s scar slicing across one eye that glinted cold in the light, she knew it would make her look intimidating. She wasn’t just tall compared to the group, she was impossible.
One of the bullies, braver than the rest, sneered at Zipper in an attempt to show off to his friends. “What? You gonna make us leave, stripes? Mind your own business!” He tried to sound tough, but his voice faltered slightly.

Zipper tilted her head, ears forward, calm but unflinching. “I’ll only ask once.”
The brave one shifted, clearly reconsidering, when his nearest friends tugged at his sleeves. “Forget it man, she’s a freak, let’s get out of her before she clobbers us! It’s not worth it!”
Reluctantly, the ringleader let himself be dragged off, shooting one last glare over his shoulder before disappearing down the street.
Silence fell. The small dove still stood pressed to the wall, wide-eyed. Her gaze traveled up, and up, and up, to the massive zebra above her. Her scar, her height, the sheer weight of her presence it was almost too much and Zipper could tell the girl was still scared dispite her bullies being chased off. The bullies might be gone, but fear hadn’t left the dove yet.
Zipper crouched down, softening her tone. “You’re safe now, little one. They won’t bother you again, I promise.”
The girl blinked, startled, and then shook her head quickly. “Wait . . . you think? Umm I’m not a kid. I know I look like one, but I’m actually an adult, I just turned nineteen. People… always think I’m younger than I really am.” the dove said with a sign, clearly not the first time she had to confront her looks compared to her age.
Zipper’s ears flicked in surprise, the dove was actually older then her as she wasn't turning nineteen for another three months. Zipper smiled lightly and her expression warmed. “Ahh… I see. Forgive me. I shouldn't have assumed.”
The girl, Lisa, as she soon introduced herself gave a nervous smile, still catching her breath from the earlier harassments she had dealt with, But she seemed to be calming down now.
“Well, Lisa,” Zipper said, straightening up just a little but keeping her tone gentle, “I was about to enjoy a cappuccino. Would you like to join me? The barista should have it finished by now” Zipper gave a small laugh. Internally realizing she had left the café before her drink was ready.
Lisa hesitated, then nodded slowly. “That… sounds nice.”
Zipper extended a large hand, careful, steady. Lisa placed her much smaller one into it, and together they walked back into the café. The tall zebra had to duck once again, and the tiny dove girl followed at her side. “one cappuccino for my friend here” she said cheerfully