Smoke You Out
The smoker!lance fic literally no one asked for. You’re welcome.
Tw: Smoking (is this a trigger? Im not risking it) Addiction
—
The team started to notice Lance’s habits a few months into the space trip. They noticed when he picked up and bought packs of gum and what seemed to be toothpicks at the space mall. They dropped by there often to get supplies.
They noticed the slight bulge in his pockets where he put the packets. They especially noticed when Hunk looked at Lance in dismay, eyes screaming at him.
When Lance rolled his eyes and stuck a toothbrick between his teeth, working the wood down to a small bit.
But no one said anything. They assumed he just needed to do something with his hands or mouth because of his ADHD, which he had told them about at he beginning of their adventure so they wouldn’t ‘think he was a burden’.
No one said anything until he stopped chewing gum, or grinding toothpicks.
—
It had been a week since anyone had seen Lance pop a bubble with his gum, or start to chew a toothpick. A week since their last visit to the space mall. A week since Lance had found a box of cigarettes that tasted like treesap.
They walked into the training room, they being Pidge, Shiro, and Keith. They did not expect to see Lance and Hunk in a heated, and still escelating, argument.
“Lance, please, buddy! You think I havent noticed you stopped chewing!? I’m not an idiot!” Hunk shouted, voice raising, his face red from anger. His eyes were narrowed, eyebrows furrowed.
“That doesn’t mean anything, Hunk! I ran out. I’m fine!” Lance hissed in return, arms crossed. “I never said you were an idiot. But you need to stop assuming things.”
Hunk’s jaw dropped, his expression briefly morphing into shock, then back to anger. “Empty your pockets, then.”
“No.”
“Lance, if you’re doing fine like you say you are, you’d show me your pockets.”
“You don’t trust me.”
“No, Lance, I really don’t. I want you to show me, or I will find out, I promise you.” Hunk threatened. Lance growled.
“I said no, and that is that. I’ll be fine. I am fine.”
“Lance, I swear to G-”
“What is going on in here?” Shiro spoke up, eyebrows raised. Both Hunk and Lance’s heads snapped to their leader, arms up in defense. Both answered at the same time. “Nothing, Shiro.”
“This doesn’t look like nothing.” Pidge added, adjusting her glasses.
“It’s nothing.” Lance said again, tone suggesting no one argue with him.
Keith didn’t care, though. “No, it’s not. What is Hunk talking about?”
“I’m not talking about anything.” Hunk defended, voice wobbly, clearly lying.
They watched as Lance let out a sound of annoyance and rushed out of the room, heels hitting the tile with a thud before the training room door closed behind him. Hunk shook his head, sadness evident on his features. “God dammit Lance..” he muttered.
“What was that about?” Shiro questioned Hunk, voice gentle.
“So, you guys have seen Lance chew, yeah? It’s a habit of his.”
“Mhm.” They all agreed in unison.
“Its not because of ADHD like you may think.”
“What is it, then?” Keith looked at Hunk, oblivious.
Hunk sighed. “Lance used to smoke, like, a lot. It was bad, and his lungs are still on the road to recovery. I thought he was doing better, but he stopped chewing recently. Smokers dont just stop chewing for no reason.”
They all stared, mouths open and eyes wide. No one suspected this.
“I know he got cigarettes somewhere, probably the space mall, but he won’t show me and he’s lying to me. It’s hard for him, I will give him that, but still. He needs help.”
Shiro’s jaw closed first. “Okay. Okay. While that’s surprising to us, we’ll try to help. What can we do?”
Pidge and Keith nodded. “We can start by finding where the hell he’s hiding the cigarettes, and where he uses them.” Hunk suggested.
“Going by what I know, he’s probably smoking right now. Let’s have Allura scan the castle for signs of where he is and we’ll sneak there, yeah?” Shiro put in.
They all nodded. “Alright. Let’s go, team.”
—
Lance sat in the far corners of the castle, in an empty room with couches and a coffee table. There was a messy bed in the corner, which is where he sat. A large, decorated carpet was on the ground below the furniture. The room was also decorated with trinkets and paintings. He called it his smoking room.
Hence the name, it’s what he did now. He had a pack od cigarettes on the nightstand while he took long draws of the on he held between his fingers.
He loved the release he got when he smoked, the taste and the feel. It calmed him. But, part of him knew it was bad. He didn’t care, though. He’d do whatever it took to feel calm.
When he heard footsteps, he continued to smoke. Hunk would’ve told the team, anywaya, so there was no use hiding it.
He made direct eye contact with them, even Allura and Coran, when they walked in. All of them stood in the doorway, watching Lance with eagle-like eyes.
He held the cigarette between his teeth and stared them in the eye.
“Lance.” Shiro started to speak, before Lance cut him off.
“I know what you’re going to say. That I should stop. But, Shiro, I cant. I tried. It was hard, okay? I know its bad. But I cant.” He breathed, dropping the lit paper onto the ground and crushing it under the toe of his his sneaker. He glared at them.
Pidge interrupted. “Lance, your lungs are already ruined because of your addiction before space. Please dont make it worse. You cant get help up here.” She pleaded, eyes frantic.
Lance sighed. “I already said I cant. Im sorry, Pidgeon.”
“Lance, pl-” Hunk and Keith both spoke.
“No!” Lance barked, angry, eyes wild, like a cornered animal. “Just stop! I already tried. It didn’t work. I cant quit. Im sorry. Just leave me alone.”
Lance got up and shouldered past them, running out of the room.
They stared at him, not making a move to follow him.
How could they save him, if he didn’t even want to save himself?
—
Should I make a part 2 or leave it?