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Mycroft Holmes and Greg Lestrade had been happily married for over a decade. Despite their differences, their relationship was built on trust, mutual respect, and love. But there was one thing that threatened to come between them - coffee. Mycroft was a coffee snob and would only drink the best of the best, while Greg was perfectly content with his instant coffee.
In the past Mycroft had made attempts to convince Greg, until now none of them successful.
Years ago, as Greg was pouring himself a cup of instant coffee, Mycroft tried to get him to switch to premium coffee.
"Gregory, I don't understand why you insist on drinking that horrible instant coffee," Mycroft said, frowning at the jar of coffee crystals.
"It's quick and easy, love. I don't have time to mess around with fancy coffee machines and brewing methods in the morning," Greg replied, sipping his coffee.
"But don't you want to start your day with a delicious cup of coffee that has rich flavors and aroma? Coffee that will uplift your mood and prepare you for the day ahead?" Mycroft insisted.
Greg raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious, Mycroft? It's just coffee. It's not that deep."
"But it is, Gregory. Coffee is an experience. The process of brewing and tasting coffee is an art that requires patience and appreciation," Mycroft replied, gesturing towards his espresso machine.
Greg sighed. "Look, My, I get it. You love your fancy coffee and all that, but instant coffee works for me. It's cheap, easy, and tastes fine. Why can't you just let me enjoy my coffee in peace?"
Mycroft frowned. "It's not just about the coffee, it's about the quality of the things we consume. We should always strive for the best, not settle for mediocrity."
Greg rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. You make it sound like I'm drinking poison. It's just coffee, love. Can't we just agree to disagree?"
Mycroft let out a deep sigh and continued his own breakfast.
But Mycroft wouldn't be Mycroft if he could just agree to disagree. What followed was an ongoing argument, mostly fueled by Mycroft, but Greg wasn't innocent either.
Greg walked into the break room at Scotland Yard a few days later rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He had been up all night working on a case, and all he wanted was a strong cup of coffee to help him stay awake.
As he poured himself a cup of coffee, he noticed something different. The coffee smelled different, richer and more flavorful than usual. He took a sip and he had to concede it didn't taste that bad. It wasn't the best he had ever had, but it was clearly of better quality than what the yard usually served.
Sally Donovan walked in and poured herself a cup of coffee, taking a deep whiff of the aroma. "Wow, this coffee is amazing," Sally said, taking a sip. "I don't know where it came from, but it's the best coffee I've ever had."
Greg suspected that Mycroft was behind this sudden improvement in coffee quality. He had a feeling that his partner was trying to convince him to switch from instant coffee to freshly brewed coffee once again. But despite the not half bad taste of the freshly brewed coffee, Greg still preferred his instant coffee. It was quick and easy and he didn't want to go through the hassle of brewing coffee every time he wanted a cup. Too bad the instant he kept in his desk was empty.
After that Greg involved Anthea. One day, when Mycroft was out of the office, Greg approached Anthea with a plan. "Anthea, I need your help," Greg whispered conspiratorially.
Anthea raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What kind of help?" she asked.
"I want to get Mycroft to try instant coffee," Greg said. "But he's so stubborn about his freshly brewed coffee. I need to find a way to make him try it without him knowing."
Anthea nodded, intrigued by the challenge. "I think I might have an idea," she said. They would secretly replace Mycroft's freshly brewed coffee with instant coffee, but they would disguise it with cream and sugar to make it taste similar to his usual coffee. Anthea took care of the logistics. She often made him coffee, so she knew how he liked it best. It was a risky plan, but they were determined to make it work. Anthea saw it as payback for all the times her boss was grumpy and she had to suffer.
When the chance presented itself and Mycroft asked for a coffee, Anthea brought it with a smile. Immediately after taking a sip Mycroft noticed something different. "This tastes...different," Mycroft said, wrinkling his nose. He leveled a stare at Anthea, pit the cup back on the saucer and said, "Please let Gregory know he can keep his nasty coffee."
And that's how Anthea got involved. She found her boss' obsession over Gregs coffee habits exorbitant, but couldn't do much about it. Anthea had always been a loyal assistant to Mycroft Holmes. She had been with him for years, and had seen him at his best and at his worst. And the coffee was a prime example of his worst. After Greg's little joke, Anthea had tried to remain neutral. She would watch as Mycroft and Greg argued over the merits of instant coffee versus gourmet coffee, and chuckle to herself at the absurdity of it all. But then Mycroft had threatened to fire her if she didn't help him convince Greg to switch to a better brand of coffee. And so, Anthea reluctantly did what her boss asked her. She knew he wouldn't fire her, but it was better to stay on his good side.
So one day she approached Greg in the break room of Scotland Yard, a serious expression on her face. "Greg, can we talk about your coffee habits for a moment?"
Greg raised an eyebrow. "What's there to talk about?"
"Well, you see, instant coffee is not exactly the healthiest option. It's loaded with additives and preservatives," Anthea said, trying to sound convincing.
Greg snorted. "Oh please, Anthea. You sound like Mycroft now."
Anthea smirked. "Well, mr. Holmes does have a point. Freshly made coffee is much better for you. Plus, it tastes so much better."
"Look, Anthea, I appreciate your concern, but I just won't give up my instant coffee."
Anthea nodded. "I understand. But just think about it, Greg. Maybe one day you'll be willing to give it a try."
Greg chuckled. "I doubt it, but thanks for trying, Anthea. I'll tell Mycroft you did your best."
"Good. My job is safe for another day. Thanks Greg" she said with a smile.
When both Mycroft and Greg were to involved with work, the discussion would wane a bit. Although never long.
After a week of grueling cases, Sherlock Holmes strolled into Scotland Yard, a mischievous glint in his eye as he approached Greg Lestrade. "Ah, Inspector Lestrade, I've heard quite a bit about your...instant coffee addiction," Sherlock said, his tone implying disapproval, but it sounded more like a rehearsed text anyway. Inspector Lestrade. Since when did Sherlock call him that?
Greg groaned inwardly. He knew exactly where this was going.
"And I've come to convince you to switch to something of better quality," Sherlock continued, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Greg rolled his eyes. "Oh please, not you too. I'm not interested, Sherlock."
Sherlock raised an eyebrow, "Not even if I told you that Mycroft promised me a favor if I managed to get you to switch to something better?"
Greg sighed. He knew Mycroft would do anything to get him to stop drinking instant coffee, but he didn't expect his own husband to stoop so low as to bribe his own brother. "Fine," Greg said, "go ahead and convince me."
Sherlock's eyes lit up as he launched into a half-hearted spiel about the importance of quality coffee beans and proper brewing techniques. But Greg wasn't really listening. He was just going through the motions, waiting for Sherlock to finish so he could get back to his instant coffee. As soon as Sherlock was done, Greg made his way to the break room and he poured himself a cup of instant coffee. He took a sip and sighed contentedly, "Sorry Sherlock, I think I'll stick to my instant."
Mycroft couldn't resist making one more attempt to get Greg to switch to fresh coffee. He spent weeks researching the best beans, the ideal roasting methods, and the perfect brewing process. He even enlisted the help of a renowned barista to teach him the art of crafting the perfect cup of coffee.
Finally, Mycroft was ready. He brewed a pot of his newly perfected coffee and poured a steaming cup for Greg. As Greg took a sip, his eyes widened in surprise. It was unlike any coffee he had ever tasted before - rich, flavorful, and satisfying. He looked up at Mycroft and smiled, "You win. This coffee is amazing."
Mycroft couldn't help but smile in return. He was pleased that Greg finally saw the light and embraced the joys of fresh coffee. However, he also knew that the coffee discussion wasn't the most important thing in their relationship. He walked over to the couch and sat down next to Greg.
"I promise not to try to convince you to switch to fresh coffee all the time," Mycroft said as he wrapped his arms around Greg. "I love you for who you are, coffee preferences included."
Greg leaned in for a kiss and smiled, "I love you too, even if you are a coffee snob."