New Fic: Poking the Bear

[jackwabbit]

Poking the Bear

Fandom: Star Trek Discovery
Rated: G
Category: Triple Drabble. Culmets. RickyVerse. Fluff.
Time Frame: Any. Likely Early?
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: To “poke the bear” means to act in such a way that has a pretty good chance of causing trouble. And sometimes, it’s worth it.
Note: Another Ricky story, because I just can’t help myself.

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Hugh glares up at Paul as best he can with only one eye visible.

“What?” he practically snarls.

“You wanted me to wake you.”

If Paul is affected by Hugh’s tone, he doesn’t show it. He seems unfazed. Hugh, on the other hand, looks both grumpy and baffled.

“I did?”

“Yes,” Paul drawls. “You did.”

“Why?”

“Because,” says Paul, sighing, “and I quote, ‘you didn’t want to sleep too late because you have gamma shift tomorrow and are trying to trick your circadian rhythms into abiding by your wishes.’”

Hugh’s one visible eyebrow raises, then lowers.

“That does sound like me.”

Paul snorts.

“That it does. Now, are you getting up or do I have to make you?”

It’s a testament to Hugh’s tiredness that he doesn’t take the bait and respond with an innuendo.

Instead, he just rolls over and buries his face in his pillow.

Paul laughs lightly.

“Fine,” he says. “Have it your way.”

Then he gets up and leaves, seemingly having given up.

But a moment later, a colorful projectile hits Hugh right in the face.

“Hey!” yells Hugh, indignant enough to wake up enough to respond.

Paul’s laughter from the other room is all that answers him.

Hugh purses his lips in the direction of the noise, but he still doesn’t get up. He just grabs Paul’s weapon and rolls over again.

It’s a pity Paul misses the pout that accompanies Hugh’s action, but when Paul checks in on Hugh a while later, the sight that greets him makes up for that. And it ensures that not only does Paul capture a holo, he doesn’t wake Hugh –  orders to do so (and Hugh’s eventual irritability at foiling his own plan) be damned.

Because Hugh, fast asleep and cuddling Ricky, is just too precious to disturb.