The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[21] What in the-

He'd only wanted a drink of water.

A measly glass of cool refreshing water after he'd woken parched from a nightmare.

That was all he had wanted.

Instead Lance had walked in to find Muxis dead to the world at the kitchen table, surrounded by empty bottles of what Lance could only assume was beer.

"Mux?"

He didn't stir, and Lance placed a gentle hand to his wrist, noting his steady pulse.

Slowly, Lance filled his glass with water and sat down at the kitchen table. He couldn't really leave him there alone, and it wasn't like Lance would be able to fall asleep again, anyway.

Not after he'd watched half of the resistance fall, after Blue had given the location of base away.

The door slid open and Lance looked up as Matt stepped in, nose wrinkling at the smell of alcohol.

"What in the—" he broke off, catching sight of the odd duo. "...oh."

Matt stared at Muxis for a moment, before bringing a hand up to run through his tangled hair.

"I wonder what happened this time." he mused, peering into the assortment of bottles and scooping the empty ones up into his arms. He trudged to the bin and tossed them in, not caring for the crash they made.

"What was it last time?" Lance asked, setting his empty glass down and resting his arms on the table.

"He lost a good friend in a fight shortly before you arrived," Matt said. He lifted the Galra's head, retrieving the bottle poking out from underneath him. "Muxis saw it happen. Kind of blamed himself for it."

Lance nodded. He knew the feeling all too well.

"You look tired, kid." Matt noted, gaze flicking to the dark rings under Lance's eyes. "Why are you up?"

"Why are you up?" Lance countered, dropping his head down onto his arms.

The silence that answered Lance was deafening. He lifted his head just enough to see, finding Matt had taken Lance's glass and retreated to the bench again. He pulled his own one and was about to fill it, before he paused and glanced back to the table.

He gave a muffled "fuck it" and left the glass on the bench, returning and dropping himself into a chair. He pulled one of the remaining bottles towards him, tilting his head back and taking a large swig. Lance blinked, pulling himself up again and sitting straighter in his chair.

"I thought you hated—"

"Muxis is an alcoholic and I don't condone how he allows the younger members on this ship to drink," Matt interrupted, nose wrinkling as he looked over to the hunkering Galra. "But that doesn't answer my question. Why are you up?"

Lance found himself fiddling with the cuff of his jacket, refusing to meet Matt's eyes.

"I just needed a drink, that's all..." he muttered, folding and unfolding the cuff. He glanced up for a moment, to find Matt with a raised eyebrow.

"... Nightmare." He said finally, and Matt's gaze softened in understanding.

"Well, I could really do with a drinking buddy right about now, my usual one's unconscious." He jabbed a thumb at Muxis, sliding the bottle across the table.

Lance looked at him in confusion. "You were against this a couple of days ago." He stated flatly.

"And right now, I'm not. Don't question it."