OOM/IM: The Workout

[iprotectyou]

It can be said that Baze Malbus, having only once drank alcohol before he came to Milliways, is starting to become a lush. He dips into the moonshine stores frequently, enough that he's starting to worry Chirrut, and he knows it.

After his drinking contest and scare with Cassidy, where Baze imbibed enough moonshine that he lost count of the bottles, he's sleeping off his nasty hangover in the early, early morning. He snores loudly, having thrown an arm over his head, completely given over to a dreamless sleep.

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[idontneedluck]

Chirrut pauses, then settles himself on a convenient rock.

(It's the first time he's thought of that rock as convenient all morning, it's just at the right height to smash into his shins if he's unwary.)

"You should take the shower first." He smirks, settling his staff across his thighs. "You need it."

[iprotectyou]

Baze moved that rock specifically for Chirrut to sit on earlier in the year. The larger Guardian would be glad that the smaller one was using the seat for its intended purpose if Baze wasn't so busy being resentful. Hmph!

He doesn't sit on the ground, as is his usual wont. He knows that if he sits, he'll never get up again.

"You worked me hard," Baze says, which is the closest he'll come to complaining.

"Do I get to go to bed after a shower--and changing the damn sheets?"

[idontneedluck]

"Sure, if you want." Chirrut shrugs, looking confused. "You don't need my permission."

[iprotectyou]

"What? You don't have anything else planned for this early morning?" Baze grumbles, grounding his staff--and leaning on it a little. He squints at Chirrut in the dim light of false dawn.

"What's the point of getting up this early if you're going to let me go back to bed?"

This is a rhetorical question. Baze knows exactly why Chirrut woke him up.

"Don't answer that."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut opens his mouth to answer, but closes it again at Baze's command, and shrugs. He figures Baze already knows.

[iprotectyou]

"Waking me up with ice was smart. I would have gone back to bed immediately otherwise," Baze says, biting back a groan at his headache--which slams into him with renewed vigor.

"Don't do that again, please."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut shrugs again, because if it becomes necessary...

Yes.

Yes, he will do it again.

He makes no promises he doesn't intend on keeping.

[iprotectyou]

Hmph. Hmph! Baze scowls at his friend, who the larger Guardian knows is only looking out for his best interest. Still doesn't make waking up like this any more comfortable.

Which is the point. Still!

Since Chirrut isn't going to be any more forthcoming, and Baze is about to fall over as he stands, he starts the walk back to the bar. His steps are heavy and plodding; he aches, from the cold biting into his arthritic knees to the general malaise of the hangover to the soreness of training, he is a walking sore spot.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut, tired but much more lively, keeps pace, mostly to make sure Baze doesn't stop out here and freeze. It's bitterly cold, now that they aren't working hard. He does, however, let Baze go on ahead once they're inside, while he stops off to pick up some water and order tea to be brought upstairs.

[iprotectyou]

Baze grumbles. He grumbles as he sets his staff in its place on the weapon rack. He grumbles as he removes his armor. And he grumbles as he strips the bed, glaring at the wet sheets and mattresses. He soaks up as much of the water as he can, lays extra towels across the mattresses, and replaces the sheets.

That task done, he hops into the shower. He nearly falls asleep, leaning against the wall, but shakes himself under the spray. After he rinses off the second soaping up of the morning, he stretches in the nude, and then dons his fluffy, terry-cloth robe.

He doesn't speak to Chirrut as he exits, because Baze is still headachy, still sick to his stomach, and still generally irritated. He picks up a cup of sapir and settles on the drying mattress--and almost falls asleep again.

No, damn it, he needs to stay awake until Chirrut finishes his shower. I can do this, he tells himself. I can... I...

His head dips towards his chest, and he almost spills his tea in his lap.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut indulges in a few of the new products in the ever-changing basket (water showers and baths are one of his favorite things here, he will never ignore their allure completely). But he hurries a little, knowing that Baze is tired, and not wanting to incur Baze's wrath if he's prematurely woken a second time today.

He's just in time to rescue the teacup before it goes tumbling towards the floor.

[iprotectyou]

"Oh," Baze says, offering Chirrut a sleepy smile.

"Good morning, Chirrut."

Baze slumps over in the bed, snoring softly.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut smiles, setting the teacup aside before lightly tracing his fingers over Baze's face, getting a good long 'look'. He's fairly sure that Baze's expression hasn't been this gentle all morning, but it is good to find it now.

Soon he has himself bundled up into bed as well, and the early morning... can go deal with itself, for now.