Trooper Station, Monday, Sept 1, 2025

[grenadesandohana]

The phones were lighting up today, but the Troopers were far too distracted experimenting with finding out if they all tasted the same because they were clones to actually do any work.

Steve was rapidly losing patience with the complaints he was getting. "Stop licking other people," he finally snapped at the last phone call. "Of course she smacked you for it!"

He listened to the final question. "I'm not telling you what I taste like!"

It was going to be suuuuch a long day.

The Trooper Station was open!

Comments

[hatesparadise]

"I can't not taste this anymore," Danny said, storming into the place. Somehow, somehow him tasting like pineapple was all Steve's fault. He'd figure out why eventually.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve's hand was already up, bracing to catch lunch. "Hello, Danno," Steve said with a grin. "Please answer the phones."

[hatesparadise]

"No, I'm the delivery person," Danny muttered like that would spare him from learning what the bee lady tasted like.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve laughed. "Only on Mondays."

[hatesparadise]

"Well, as long as it's over soon," Danny grumbled. "Think you'll manage your sandwich?"

[grenadesandohana]

"It'll taste like taffy, probably, but sure," Steve said. He smirked. "Did you get ham to go with the pineapple?"

[hatesparadise]

"You did this somehow," Danny muttered, digging out his own lunch to sullenly eat with his husband. The very peak of romance!

[grenadesandohana]

"I didn't do anything!" Steve protested. "The Troopers all taste weird too!"

Beat.

"Not that I tasted them. Boundaries."

[hatesparadise]

"Well, maybe you influenced the flavors," Danny suffested.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve snorted. "It's not my fault I taste like salt water taffy and you taste like pineapple."

[hatesparadise]

"Yes it is," Danny grumbled. Because it made Danny feel better

[grenadesandohana]

"Does it make you feel better to blame me?" Steve asked, still smiling.

[hatesparadise]

Immensely. That was why he rolled his eyes. "Maybe."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve grinned. "Happy to help," he teased. "How's the rest of your day been?"

[hatesparadise]

"Well, I guess it could get worse." Such a high bar. "Right?"

[grenadesandohana]

"It can always get worse," Steve said, definitely making it worse. "This is just kind of funny. And weird, with people who won't stop tasting other people."

[hatesparadise]

"And its not even one of those weekends."

The kind that left them both sore and injured.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve laughed. "Well, we can try and catch up after work?"

[hatesparadise]

Danny snort at that. "Or we go off island and see if it follows us."

It wpulf.

[grenadesandohana]

"Are you afraid of tasting like pineapple?" Steve teased.

[hatesparadise]

"I am annoyed by it," Danny corrected needlessly.

[grenadesandohana]

"You're annoyed by everything," Steve said with a laugh.

[hatesparadise]

"Well, maybe this place shouldn't be so annoying," Danny replied.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve grinned. "I don't mind it."

[hatesparadise]

"Because you enjoy chaos. Thrive in it even!"

It balanced Danny out.

[grenadesandohana]

"I really do," Steve said, beaming at him.

[hatesparadise]

Danny flicked dust at him. "Well, for that reason, the phones are all yours "

[grenadesandohana]

"Ugh," Steve said. "You can get the guys to stop licking each other, okay?"

[hatesparadise]

"Deal. I'll treat'em like toddlers." That'll work for sure!

[grenadesandohana]

"Feed them dino chicken nuggets and make them take naps," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"Maybe juice boxes too."

Bold to assume the troopers wouldn't enjoy that.

[grenadesandohana]

"Everyone loves juice boxes."

See, Danny?

[hatesparadise]

"Well, then it's an effective bribe." Win-win!

[grenadesandohana]

"If they'd stop licking each other," Steve grumbled.

[hatesparadise]

"Maybe we get a squirt bottle. Like for cats."

A solid idea that wouldn't backfire at all!

[grenadesandohana]

"We should've done that years ago," Steve said enthusiastically and like a person who had never actually paid attention to his HR harassment seminars.

[hatesparadise]

"Maybe it'll work on the raccoons too," Danny suggested.

[grenadesandohana]

"Or they'll lunge at you and you'll need a rabies shot," was Steve's helpful comment.

[hatesparadise]

"Another rabies shot," Danny said with a sigh.

[grenadesandohana]

"I think two more and you get a free coffee at the Perk," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

He had to expect Danny to flip him off for that, right? Right.

[grenadesandohana]

"Love you too, Danno," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"I'm never bringing you lunch again." Liiiiies.

[grenadesandohana]

"Sure you will," Steve said, beaming. "You like bringing me lunch."

[hatesparadise]

"I just don't like eating alone." Sure. That was it.

[grenadesandohana]

"I appreciate it," Steve said, smiling more genuinely.

[hatesparadise]

"Well, you'll just have to return the favor," Danny replied with an answering grin.

Joke was on him, Steve would be a teenager for it!

[grenadesandohana]

"Kale salad for you, coming up," Steve teased.