A/N: I know this wouldn't really happen but it was too much fun not to write. Promise I am writing updates for my other stories for next week :)
Coffee Or Tea?
Mike was looking over the current reports for the ship in the wardroom. He looked up from the page he was reading to see Tom and James at the drinks station. He frowned as he wasn't sure what to do with them. They seemed to fall into some competitive bullshit, the only problem was that he couldn't call either of them out as they were subtle about it. Every little test the two telepathically defined was always disguised in good intentions like helping her pack her gear or like right now, getting her a drink.
He watched as Tom came back to the table first with two cups of coffee. He placed one close to Sasha. Mike pursed his lips as Sasha hadn't asked for a drink and he felt if she wanted something then she would've gotten herself.
And of course, a moment later James turned around with two cups of his Moroccan mint tea. Mike huffed a quiet sigh as James placed the tea right next to the coffee. Mike shook his head as Sasha noticed what was going on. She was pretending not to notice but at some point she was going to have to pick as it was a waste of resources to tip them both out.
Mike watched as she looked up from her work to see the cups and her posture grew tense as she knew the hidden meaning of the beverage choices. But there was the crux of it, she couldn't call them out on it because they'd brush it off as them both having the same idea and that they were being considerate of her needs by preempting them.
But really, it was juvenile version of Sophie's choice. As if her choice in beverage would indicate which of the two men she truly wanted. Mike didn't see how it was a competition when all they had to do was respect Sasha's current choice. She was still with James and a cup of coffee wasn't going to change that. Both men needed to respect that nothing had changed and act like adults.
But the men continue in their petty games as they sat opposite her, pretending to not care or notice as they worked. Mike knew they cared about the results otherwise they wouldn't pull such a stunt. But Mike wasn't having a bar of it. He flipped over a page in his folder and rose from his chair. He walked over to Sasha, he saw the men trying to not watch and their clear annoyance at his interference.
Mike didn't care as he picked up the coffee. Taking Sasha's involvement out if it entirely and invalidating any possible results as they both knew there wasn't a chance in hell Mike would ever drink tea by choice. He was a dedicated coffee drinker, and while he was Sasha's friend and doing her a solid. He was never going to drink tea for her unless it meant life and death. Sasha didn't make a comment or protest but her posture did relax at knowing she was off the hook.
Mike said nothing as he drank some of the coffee and moved to sit next to Sasha as he went back to reading. He looked to Tom and James who looked his way. He just shook his head at them. He placed the coffee cup back on the table and went back to his work.
End