Tw: Language, alcohol, a man who won't take no for an answer, violence, vomit,

"You know," King carefully said, "there's others who could do this."

"What?" Howzer blinked up at them from the datapad. 

"He means you look like shit," Tic bluntly said. He knocked the datapad from Howzer's hands. "Come on! Take a break!"

"I'll take a break when this is finished," Howzer said, trying to grab his datapad back. King snatched it up faster than he could, and kept it just out of reach. "King! I need that!"

"You need sleep!" King tossed it to Tic. "I'll pull rank, don't make me do it!"

"What rank?" Howzer demanded. "I'm the captain!"

"I'll get promoted just to make you sleep!" King threatened. He caught the datapad as it was returned back to him and danced around Howzer's desk.

"I'd like to see you try!" Howzer grabbed the datapad as it was mid-throw, tucking it against his chest. "Now get out of my office! I have work to do!"

King let out a defeated sigh. "Fine, Captain, but don't come whining to me when you're exhausted in the morning."

"Or me," Tic snapped. "We've tried to help you, but you keep pushing us away!"

Howzer scrolled on the screen. "I'm fine."

"You can't survive on caf," King gently said. "When was the last time you did something just for you?"

Howzer paused, racking his memory. "Uh..."

"Exactly." Tic lifted Howzer out of his chair. "So you're going to go to bed while we finish this up. Sleep. Then in the morning, you're going to have some time to yourself. We already arranged for you to have tomorrow off and got you some credits."

Howzer stared at them for a moment, chest tightening. "Thank you."

"Go." King shooed him away. "And where'd you get that bracelet? It looks nice."

Howzer adjusted it. "Someone bought it for me."

"I wish my boyfriend would buy me jewelry," King grumbled. "Specifically a ring."

"Are you even dropping hints?" Tic asked as Howzer snorted.

"I've been mentioning how my hand looks so bare! Do you know what he got me?" King exclaimed angrily. "He bought me kriffing gloves!"

"Are they warm at least?" Tic questioned, hiding a smile.

"They're bright orange and against dress code with glitter! I have to wear my GAR gloves!" King threw his arms in the air. "So the gloves are currently under my pillow!"

"Maybe you need to be less subtle," Howzer suggested. "Just tell him you want to get married."

"I want him to surprise me with a proposal." King rolled his eyes. "I want it to be romantic and make me swoon."

"Did the gloves make you swoon?" Tic teased, dodging King's punch.

"No they karking did not!" King said in outrage. "Those ugly things will not make me swoon!"

Howzer grinned and walked away, shaking his head at them. He crawled into his bunk after removing his armour, letting his head fall against the pillow. He fell asleep almost instantly.

Howzer spent his free time taking a hike. He wanted to see beautiful scenery and feel a sense of accomplishment in the end.

Instead, all he found was a trail that went to a dried up pond.

Howzer sighed and kicked a chunk of dry dirt. Typical. Even the time set aside to enjoy himself was depressing.

So he decided to get a drink, and by the time he made it to a bar, night had fallen. It was dark out  and the skies were filled with twinkling stars. Howzer sat in a booth at the back of the bar, choking back a warm beer.

"What's your name?" A muscular Twi'lek asked as he slid into the booth.

"Howzer. You?" he responded.

"Whatever you want it to be."

"Sorry." Howzer cringed, hating to be the bearer of bad news, "but I'm not interested." His eyes flicked over to a pink Twi'lek on the dance floor. "Try him, though. He's been stealing glances all night."

"It's fine." Howzer was clapped on the back. "Thanks, dude."

Howzer nodded, raising his beer in toast. "Good luck."

Howzer returned to observing others. He found it soothing, for some reason, picking up on their thoughts just from how their bodies moved. They were all so predictable, their body signals giving away what they were going to do before they did it.

He was so busy watching a drunk girl vomit all over her boyfriend's shoes that he almost missed the blob of pink hair pushing past the crowd.

Almost.

But he didn't pay it much mind. This was a popular bar so he was bound to bump into a couple people he knew.

He did, however, pay attention to her when someone grabbed her elbow and forced her to look at him. She tensed and tried to pull away, but was suddenly pinned to a wall.

Howzer stood up.

No son of a bitch was going to get away with this on his watch. No one would-

Hold on.

Howzer sat back down.

Leila smacked her assailant's face before kneeing him between the legs. After he fell over, she grabbed his drink and smashed it against his head before stepping on his back as she walked away.

Howzer's eyebrows went up.

"Oh, hey, Howzer!" Leila brightly said, not even breathless. "We just keep running into each other, huh?"

Howzer blinked at her. "Did you just kill someone?"

"What?" Leila frowned before remembering, glancing behind her. "No, he'll be fine. It'll just hurt a lot in the morning."

"Where'd you learn how to do that?" Howzer curiously asked. 

"Just around," Leila vaguely replied. "I have to go, but it's been great seeing you!"

She bounced away, kicking the unconscious man in the face for good measure as she passed by.

Howzer wasn't sure whether he should be impressed, or horrified.

He settled on the first one and returned his attention to his drink and the people around him. Howzer laughed under his breath as the girl who had vomited tripped into it.

"Another one?" The waitress held out a serving tray littered with bottles.

"I'm good, thanks." Howzer handed over the credits needed to pay and got to his feet. He took one last look around before leaving.

He didn't have an horrible time after all.

"Howzer!" Hera's head popped out from behind a bush. "Aren't you usually filling out forms by now?"

Howzer jogged over, furrowing his brow. "What are you doing out so late?"

Hera sheepishly looked at the ground. "I... I might've snuck out to see the stars. I can't get a good view from my room!"

"So you're wandering alone by yourself in the middle of the night?" Howzer crossed his arms. "Hera, I thought you knew better."

"I'll go back a in a bit! I just really want to see the stars!" Hera stared upwards in wonder. "It's beautiful."

Howzer mulled it over before shaking his head. "No, Hera. Let's go back. No matter how safe somewhere is, different people come out at night."

"But-" Hera protested.

"No," Howzer interrupted. "I'm taking you home."

Hera groaned. "I wasn't even getting into any trouble!"

"It doesn't matter," Howzer firmly said. He held out a hand. "I'm bringing you back to your parents."

Hera rolled her eyes, but took his hand. She let him pull her along, still staring up at the sky. "One day, I'm going to be up there. I'm going to be a pilot. The best pilot!"

"That's going to take a lot of work. You sure you're up to it?" Howzer inquired. He glanced down at the little girl. "Being the best at anything requires a lot of time and effort."

"I can do it!" Hera said, filled with determination. "You'll see!"

"Hera!" Eleni Syndulla exclaimed, rushing forwards. "There you are!"

"I'll let you take her from here." Howzer stepped back.

"Thank you, Captain." Hera's mother took her face in her hands, checking for any wounds. 

Howzer bobbed his head before slipping away, walking down the streets to return home. He gazed at the sky, wondering if Hera really would become the best pilot in the galaxy.