Title: caffeinate and hope
Fandom: Star Trek: Voyager
Rating: G
Length: 231 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: This can take place somewhere towards the end of Caretaker or the start of Parallax. Inspired by this t-shirt. I find Tuvok hard to write so hopefully I’ve not messed up too badly with him.
Summary: “It is regarding the Captain,” he admitted, waiting a beat to continue. “First thing on a morning, she won’t speak to anyone until she has received a cup of coffee.”

Tuvok slowed his walk as he caught up to Chakotay on his late night walk around the lower decks. “Commander, may I speak with you?”

“What’s on your mind Tuvok?” Chakotay asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of his reply for the interruption to his developing habit.

“It is regarding the Captain,” he admitted, waiting a beat to continue. “First thing on a morning, she won’t speak to anyone until she has received a cup of coffee.”

“Is it really such a bad thing to talk to her before then?”

Tuvok barely smiled at the question. “Let me put it bluntly, the captain is less of a rise and shine person and more of a caffeinate and hope for the best.”

Chakotay lightly chuckled at the Vulcan’s answer. “What about you? The rest of the Starfleet crew?” suddenly feeling like a barista at new café trying to remember what the regular orders would be and what times they would come in for their drinks.

“I do not care for the beverage, it has an unpleasant bitter aroma.”

Chakotay stopped at the end of the corridor they had just walked along. “Is that all?” wanting to continue his route in solitude before going to his quarters.

Tuvok slightly nodded his head, walking back the way they had come leaving Chakotay to weigh up how to deal with the captain tomorrow morning.