Work Text:
Sean had been hopelessly, pathetically, desperately in love with Michael for about as long as she could remember. And Sean couldn't know for sure, but she was pretty sure Michael had a thing for her. The way they'd always come to her to talk about things before anyone else, the way she'd notice them staring at her and then glancing away pretending as though nothing happened, the way that they got so flustered at even the slightest bit of joke flirting... Maybe Sean was biased, but there had to be something going on there, right? Despite this, they'd both either dance around the topic of romance when it was brought up, or it'd never be mentioned in the first place. But today, that would change.
Sean had devised a brilliant plan of attack: Bring up the topic of dating in conversation naturally, and then see how things go from there. Simple, but effective. Well, probably. He hadn't tested it or anything. No time like the present, though, right?
Sean pulled up Michael's contact on the message log app on her watch.
Sean: hey did you hear that cass and mia are dating now
Michael: Why are you telling me this?
Sean: idk just thought it was interesting
With Michael's usual dry tone, it was hard to tell if she was genuinely disinterested or not. Especially over text. Though her response was flat, it wasn't an outright rejection. And Sean wanted to see things through.
Sean: imagine if that was us lol
Sean stared at the screen, nervously anticipating Michael's response. This was the point of no return.
Michael: I don't see a point in dating. It would get in the way of work.
Oh.
Sean wasn't really sure how they were expecting this to go (they hadn't thought that far ahead), but this certainly wasn't it. Now that they thought of it, Michael had been a lot more reclusive recently- refusing to leave her Patient Center, barely even talking to anyone, and saying it was because she needed to focus on her job. Sean had completely forgotten to factor this development into their "plan." Of course.
Sean: ah
Sean: fair enough
Still, Sean at least wanted some closure on the question that he originally set out to have answered. Even if he probably wouldn't like the truth, he still wanted to know.
Sean: not even if it was me tho? i mean we know eachother pretty well
Sean: wouldn't hurt to at least try it right?
Michael: I don't want to date you.
Michael: Sorry.
All Sean had managed to do was give Michael something else to stress over when he was clearly already struggling enough. Perfect. This could not have gone any worse.
Sean: no you're okay
Sean: let's just forget i brought this up lol. this was weird
Sean closed the message log on her watch and buried her face in her hands, sighing. This was a mistake. It was just her being impulsive again. She'd always rush into things without thinking, and this was no different. It was a nice daydream, but that was all it ever really could be. They both had more important things to be doing and this would only get in the way. Sean had to be practical about this, like Michael always was. What with her propensity for fucking up, they probably wouldn't have lasted long anyway. Not to mention how they argued practically every time they spoke to each other now. They were barely even friends, so how could Sean expect them to be lovers?
So whenever Michael laughed at one of his jokes, he'd ignore how infectious their smile was. He'd ignore how they'd always seek him out to talk to even when they were so reclusive now. He'd ignore how lightheaded he felt when they so much as brushed past each other. He'd ignore how he could stare at their face forever. He'd ignore how this feeling would never go away. This was fine- he was being mature. He was being responsible. He owed Michael that much to make up for having feelings for him.
They had half a mind to head over to Michael's patient center right now and apologize for being such a nuisance, but the other half was telling them that the more they talked the more that would make things even worse. Michael wanted to be alone right now anyway, right? Even though they were worried about the way she was isolating herself, what did they really know about Michael? Clearly not much.
Maybe they were better off alone. Both of them.