Firework woke up in a cold sweat.
 
He had barely slept for days. Every time he tried, he found himself tossing and turning through the night, having strange dreams and waking up in a cold sweat. Nothing helped him sleep; not the warm baths, not Dusk reading to him, not even the sleeping medications he took before bed. He was exhausted.
 
Detox was definitely a rough experience. After being in a coma, Firework never wanted to touch even a drop of booze again. And the doctors had ordered him not to, not if he didn’t want to be hospitalized again. Despite this, Firework still found his body aching, yearning for a drink. He knew it was bad for him, he knew he didn’t want it, but his systems craved it anyway. Dusk said it was all part of the detox process, that his body was ridding itself of toxins, but did it have to suck this much?
 
Dusk Star seemed to be reading his mind, as he felt a hoof start to rub his back. “Firework, are you okay?”
 
”What do you think?” Firework buried his face into his pillow and grumbled.
 
”You haven’t slept in days. That isn’t healthy, under any circumstances. I wish you could get some rest.”
 
”It’s all part of the process, they said,” He rolled over and waved a hoof mockingly. “Well, how long’s it gonna take? This sucks!”
 
Dusk sat up and thought for a moment. “There has to be an easier way…hold on.”
 
”Where you going?” Firework groaned as Dusk got out of bed.
 
”Stay there. I think we have something that might help.”
 
Firework laid alone in bed for a long, agonizing few minutes. What could Dusk possibly have that would help? They’d tried everything! He didn’t want more drugs or useless therapeutic stuff. All of that stuff only made him feel worse. And as he listened to his husband clang around downstairs, a horrifying thought came to him that perhaps he’d gone down to get a drink without him. His fear seemed to come true as Dusk came back in with several bottles in his magical grasp.
 
”Bro, what the buck? Doc said no booze!”
 
”This isn’t alcohol,” Dusk held out a bottle to show him. “It’s soda. Orange soda.”
 
”Soda? Is this supposed to replace booze or something?”
 
”Well, yes, in a way. It’s not the healthiest option, but focusing on something else you enjoy eating or drinking should get your mind off of your addiction.” Dusk chuckled, “And aside from ice cream, soda has always been a favorite comfort treat of mine. It’s definitely worth a try.”
 
”Okay…” Firework reluctantly took the bottle from Dusk, popped it open, and took a sip.
 
And Dusk was right. It was definitely worth a try. In fact, at the first taste of the sugary sweet drink, Firework felt a new energy he had never felt before. All the cravings for booze, all the tremors and cold sweats, all the pain seemed to melt away in an instant. And so Firework drank more, letting the orangey sweetness fill his senses with each gulp. Before he knew it, the bottle was empty and he was gorging into another.
 
“Dude!” Firework exclaimed. “This stuff is awesome! Why haven’t I had this before?”
 
”It’s a solution. Unlikely, but certainly effective,” Dusk yawned. “But it’s best to save the rest for tomorrow. We want some sleep tonight, yes?”
 
”Yeah, yeah,” Firework feigned annoyance as he screwed the lid on the half-empty bottle and placed it by his bed. But as he laid down next to his husband, he felt himself actually feeling content and relaxed for the first time in days. This orange soda was like miracle juice.
 
”Goodnight, Firework,” Dusk laid down and cuddled up next to him. “Sleep tight.”
 
”Goodnight, Dusk. I will.”