Best Served Cold

Well Deserved

Martin was on his way back down to the archives, a fresh cup of tea in hand. He was halfway back from the break room when a loud shriek echoed down the stone halls followed by shrill, frantic giggles. He smiled to himself, rolling his eyes fondly. It seems Sasha fell prey to Tim's antics once more.

Oh well, better her than him.

He walked down the rest of the stairs and around the corner, her laughter growing louder the closer he got closer. Sure enough, Tim had cornered her between the wall and a filing cabinet, giggling herself silly. She looked adorable like this, Martin had to admit, but he sympathized with her plight. He wasn't sure which of them he attacked more frequently...

A rare smirk settled on his face. Perhaps a bit of revenge was in order.

He crept up behind Tim as quietly as he could, but he was too preoccupied with the task at hand to notice anyway. He slowly raised his arms, a predator about to strike.

"Just one more piece! Come on, don't be stingYYYY! Hehehey whahat the hehehell?" His sly bargaining was interrupted by a shocked squeal that quickly gave way to confused laughter.

"What's the matter Tim? I thought you just loved tickling, seeing as you do it to us so much," Martin pointed out, surprisingly bold and teasing with his words, but a rare bout of mischief had taken root, and he was determined to put their resident trouble maker in his place. Sasha barked out a laugh at his words as she recovered, enjoying her front row seat to the show.

"Thahat's not- nohoho don't!" he pivoted mid sentence when Martin's hands scribbled down to his hips.

"I mean, it's only fair to return the favor, don't you think Sasha?" he asked innocently, continuing to hold Tim on his tickly hug. She made a miraculously quick recovery upon hearing those words, already wiggling her fingers at her previous tormentor.

"Oh I couldn't agree more! He's been extra annoying lately, maybe he was just waiting, begging for one of us to just snap," she finally struck, diving right for his belly. He immediately doubled over, bursting out into bright, bubbly giggles.

"I wahahas nohohot!" he denied, twisting in Martin's hold and trying to hold Sasha's hands away. A few quick pinches up his ribs reminded Tim that he was still very much a problem. He arched away with a shriek when he found a spot between his sixth and seventh rib that seemed worse than the rest.

"Noho, please! Nohohot thehehere!" his pleading went ignored as they continued to seek out the best spots.

"Alright then, how about here instead?" Martin asked as he plunged his hands beneath his arms to scribble at the center of his hollows.

"Ahahabsolutely nohohot!" he cried out through his laughter. He snorted and shook his head back and forth when Sasha reached up to flutter her nails along his neck, scribbling at the spot just behind his ears.

"NOHOHO! Ihihi hahate you bohohoth!" he whined through growing hysterics. But it was all for show. Being trapped in a tickle sandwich between your best friends wasn't ideal, but it he'd choose that over filing any day.

"Awww, we love you too!" she cooed in a false honey sweet tone.

"N-nohot whahahat I said!" he choked out, trying to hide the blush quickly spreading across his cheeks.

"I know, but you forget I happen to be fluent in Tim Stoker sass," she teased, scratching underneath his chin just to make him squeal.

"Ohoho fuck you!" he hissed through clenched teeth before another snort ripped free from his chest. He gave up on the useless endeavor of fighting back, instead focusing all his efforts on hiding his face.

"Aw, why are you hiding? There's no need to be so embarrassed Tim!" Martin teased fondly, but he really meant what he said.

"Exactly! So stop hiding, and let me see that handsome smile," Sasha taunted as she gently pulled his arms away from his face. His blush darkened and he immediately ducked his head to look away.

"Nohoho!"

"No? Well that's a bit rude, innit?" she asked with a laugh of her own. She went back to poking around his tummy, drawing out jumpy, nervous giggles.

"This ihihis rude!" he argued, and they both gasped.

"What? We're just sharing the love!" Sasha justified.

"And I'm simply returning the favor!" Martin added. An amused chuckle from behind made them all stop in their tracks as they turned to see Jon browsing a nearby cluttered desk.

"No need to stop on my account, I just needed to grab a few things," he explained, eyes scanning the surface until he apparently found what he needed.

"Please, carry on. And don't forget to go for his knees," he advised with a teasing smirk, going as far as to wink at the crew. He was about to leave, when Martin's voice called out and gave him pause.

"Or you could do it yourself." And wasn't that an enticing thought.

"I'm afraid I'm swamped," he excused himself with a little shrug.

"Sounds like you could use a break then. And we have the perfect stress ball for you to try out," Sasha insisted.

He stared at the three of them, all with varying degrees of a smile on their face. And they looked so hopeful, even Tim, that he just couldn't refuse.

He sighed, setting down the file before cracking his knuckles, flashing a rare, mischievous smile.

They all could use a good laugh.