Chapter Text
The steady din of ‘79s surrounded Shiner as he weaved between tables. Clone troopers from many different battalions and companies filled the room to the brim, and he had to do his best not to drop the drinks in his hands.
Finally he reached the table where Holts and Charlie sat. With a flourish, he placed the shots down, the neon green liquid threatening to slosh over the sides of the cups.
“What's this?”, Charlie asked, picking one up to peer at the contents.
Shiner gave back a smirk. He hadn’t bothered to ask, only grabbing the first thing that the bartender sent down before him when he had asked for three shots.
“It's a surprise!” He offered, to which Charlie gave him a glare.
“You mean you don’t know. How even strong is this stuff? If you get too-” Holts quickly cut in, which Shiner silently thanked him for.
"C' mon Charlie, it's our night off! Plus, as your team medic, I can say that a night off is the best possible medicine for a stick up the ass, which you unfortunately have.” Shiner couldn’t stop himself from laughing, and even Charlie smiled.
“Just saying, if you get thrown in the drunk tank, I’m leaving you there.”
At this, Shiner raised his glass to his brothers with a “Here, Here!” and they clinked and downed the glowing shots.
Shiner winced, the liquid burning his throat, and sending fire to his veins. He shook out his head and watched as Charlie coughed out his lungs and Holts did his best not to be sick all over the table top. At the look the two of them sent him, he knew he would be hearing about this later.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a drum-roll intro played over the bar’s speakers.
“Troopers, for your entertainment tonight, please welcome Miss Daphne Ley!” There was a round of applause as a jazz instrumental began playing. Shiner was about to turn back to the basket of fries he had stolen from Charlie earlier when a twi'lek stepped onto the stage and made him pause.
Her skin was the color of sunshine yellow, with orange petal shaped markings along her lekku. Her eyes, a pale green, were painted with silver eyeliner, and the lavender blue dress she wore shimmered under the yellowing lights.
When she began to sing, everything fell away, and Shiner could only focus on her. The way she swayed as she sang, the way her voice carried the lyrics of the song.
Shiner did his best to pay attention to his brothers, to enjoy their brief time off, but all he could really think about was Daphne Ley.