Finally, a nice, quiet evening…

Dusk Star leaned back in his favorite armchair, sighing contentedly. He had just finished tucking Moonbow in for the night, and all his other responsibilities were already done for the day. Now all that was left to do was curl up with a good book. That is, until he heard the unmistakable noise of glasses clinking.

“Firework?”

Putting down his book, Dusk trotted into the kitchen to investigate the source of the noise. There, he saw what he really hoped he wouldn’t have to. The alcohol cabinet was wide open, and Firework sat on the floor, disheveled and unshaven and all around looking like a mess. He was just about to pop open a bottle…Dusk had lost count of how many he’d had that day. Definitely at least five by now.

”Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

”No!” Firework snapped. “I need this!” He was just about to take a swig when Dusk yanked the bottle from his hooves.

”This is your fifth bottle today, Firework. It isn’t healthy. Why don’t you just tell me what’s wrong?”

”I’m just fine! Now give me the booze!” Firework reached out for the bottle, struggling to climb over Dusk as he pinned his wing down.

”You’ve been this way for months. Ever since…” Dusk paused mid-sentence, avoiding the trigger in fear of making his husband feel worse than he already did.

Dusk didn’t need to say anything else for Firework to know what he was referring to. He heard his husband choke back tears and he knew he got the picture. Ever since she died. Ever since his family fell apart before his eyes. Ever since his world as he knew it began to crumble. Of course he’d want to forget the pain…

“You can’t keep doing this to yourself,” Dusk stared pleadingly into Firework’s eyes. “You’re only causing further damage, to yourself, me, your family…even the kids.”

”Just let me have another drink and I’ll be fine…”

”No, Firework. You’ve been anything but fine because of your drinking habits. Please, just…promise me you’ll stop. For your sake and everypony else’s.”

“Hmph. Whatever.” Firework turned away disgruntledly, trudging up to his bedroom. After hearing the same halfhearted, empty promise numerous times, Dusk was less convinced than ever. Still, it pained him to see his husband suffering so much, with no power to make it stop. As he locked the alcohol cabinet, he figured all he could do was keep a close watch on him. Hopefully he would come out of this…