Briar and Nico Short Story: In Your Corner

(This takes place sometime after Nico, Revan, and Horatio got together and Briar and Aries got together.)

*No real TW for this one, there's only a little angst regarding Tio, Rev, and Nico's relationship. Otherwise, enjoy the break from the angst and a peak into Nico and Briar's more developed friendship!*

Nico wasn't really sure how the fight even started, all they really knew was that it was his fault. As usual.

She'd insisted on annoying Revan to his wit's end once more, he'd snapped, and Horatio had retaliated. One moment there had been relative peace with only a little tension because of Nico's teasing, and the next, there was a full-blown screaming match between Horatio and Revan.

Nico was left in the corner, watching in panicked horror as his partners destroyed each other verbally. At first, they'd tried to intervene, tried to keep the peace, but she was promptly ignored and, after several torturous minutes, he simply gave up and retreated from the situation, tears stinging in his eyes as she rushed out of Tio's room where the trio had gathered.

At first, they debated just running to his own room, but, when her eyes fell on Briar's door, the idea was pushed away. They didn't want to be alone right now.

Timidly, Nico approached the door and knocked, desperately wiping his eyes in an attempt to hide the panic and pain they held.

The door opened relatively quickly and Briar's face appeared. They were dressed in pajamas and their hair was a total mess, but they probably hadn't been sleeping considering the lively grin they immediately offered. However, after a second of examining Nico's face, the grin fell slightly, brow furrowing worriedly.

"Sorry, I-"

Nico was immediately shut up as Briar grabbed his arm and tugged into the room. "Nuh-uh, no stupid apologies. Come on, time for bestie talk!"

Nico smiled slightly, allowing Briar to pull her in and gently shove him onto the bed. Within seconds, a soft throw pillow was launched at their face. Soon after, Coral was passed over, the tiny snake happily wrapping itself around Nico's wrist and Briar was pulling a plate from one of their drawers.

Nico let out a strained chuckle as Briar trotted over and plopped down on the bed next to her, placing the plate between them and summoning a pile of cookies.

"Dude, you should not have that in here. Juno would kill you if she knew!"

Briar just shrugged, picking up a cookie. "Eh, Mira would stop her. Besides, I have to get my midnight snacks somehow, and you know damn well I'm not sneaking out!"

Nico raised an eyebrow at that. "You act like I didn't catch you sneaking to Aries's room just last night."

Another shrug and a snicker. "That's different! I needed cuddles! Besides, you only saw me because you were sneaking around too!"

"I never said I wasn't." Nico replied, relaxing a little and picking up a cookie to nibble on.

"Touché. Though I'm not sure why you're sneaking around when your boyfriend is the literal boss, it's not like he'll reprimand you for going to see him."

Nico snickered. "He has to pretend to. Equal rights and shit. Though you better be glad I love you, I could totally snitch on you if I wanted."

"Ooo, how threatening!" Briar's voice was laced with sarcasm as they picked up another cookie to shove in their mouth. "Little Nico attempts to use a power move: it is ineffective!"

Nico's face reddened slightly and he threw the pillow on her lap right back at Briar who let out a soft huff as it collided with their face. "Shut up, asshole!"

Brair laughed, pulling the pillow off their face and grinning widely at their friend. "What? You know you wouldn't tell on me even if you wanted to."

Nico huffed and crossed their arms, minding the snake. "You're a dumbass."

"Why thank you, it's a skill!"

Nico snorted. "Yeah, until it gets you killed!"

"Hey, I'm totally down to go out in a dumb way. Like, launching myself out of a human cannon or some shit."

"Actually, that sounds hella awesome."

"Right?!" Briar sat up excitedly. "Dude, if only they sold those things at Walmart or something!"

"We are the exact reason why they don't. Also, our boyfriends might kill us before we could even get the chance-"

"Fair point." Briar hummed, seeming deep in thought for a second. "Okay, so one of us goes and buys the cannon while the other distracts everyone else back here. We could probably convince Gen'ya to join us, so they can help us get the cannon set up and make up an excuse for leaving for a few minutes. Then, while the others think we're off not being total idiots, we launch each other out of said cannon and see how far we go before dying! Person who gets the farthest wins bragging rights in death!"

Nico laughed, shaking his head. "A good plan, except for the group thinking that we aren't being total idiots. I think they always assume we're being idiots."

"Eh, we'll work around that."

The two laughed for a moment and then silence lapsed, the mood turning more serious as seconds ticked by.

"So," Briar sighed after a pause that must have lasted a full minute. "What did they do now."

Nico sucked in a breath, dropping her eyes to the ground. "Nothing really, it was my fault. I annoyed Revan again and things got out of hand. I really shouldn't be reacting like this, I should probably just apologize or something."

Even without looking up, they could tell Briar had tensed, and when they spoke again, their voice held an angry edge, barely concealed. "Nico. They're your boyfriends. They shouldn't be annoyed by you being you, and I'm sure you weren't doing anything else because I know you, I know the kind of person you are, and I know there's no way in hell that you did anything deserving of being yelled at." They paused, anger growing more obvious. "It was just yelling, right?"

Nico nodded swiftly, not looking up. "Yeah, of course, they would never hurt me!"

Briar let out a long sigh, relaxing slightly. "Right, okay. Listen, I don't know exactly what happened, but from what you told me before, I think I've gotta pretty damn good guess, and you don't owe anyone a single fucking apology, okay?"

Nico stayed silent, clenching their fists.

"Nico." They flinched slightly, looking up to find Briar's eyes starring directly into his soul. "Promise me you won't apologize to them. Let them come to you. Let them apologize for being the assholes. If I see you so much as look guiltily at them, I swear I'll slap you."

Nico let out a choked chuckle and nodded slightly, tears rising up and spilling over. "Okay..."

Briar smiled softly and pushed the plate of cookies aside, scooting over to their friend. Gently, they wrapped Nico in their arms and squeezed tightly, starting to rock them back and forth as Nico melted into their touch.

"Hey, I got you. No matter what. You're the kindest, bravest, and most considerate person I know. I don't care what anyone else says, you've always got me. Promise."

Nico sniffled, burying her face in their friend's shoulder. Realistically, he knew she didn't deserve this, but damn did it feel good.

"Thank you."

They could hear Briar smile as they spoke next to his ear. "Yeah. No problem bestie. I love ya."

"Love you too."

The words were whispered but full of truth, and, for the next hour, they just sat together in silence, Briar providing the contact that Nico so desperately needed, and Nico just letting himself be vulnerable.

Briar was a safe place, and for that, Nico would always be grateful.