#[ no need to match length of course! i just had to set premise again LMAO ]

[canoncompliance]

@araneiid sent: [ rest ] sender lays their head on receiver's shoulder and falls asleep there - briar being tired from training or something and accidentally does so? or something like that skjfdgjk ► from this meme.

Despite the impromptu jumpstart into field work, Briar hasn't disappointed since saving Earth-90723 from destruction. Her experience with V-forces had been palpable enough that Miguel chose to personally over-see her training after (something that Jess had teased him for, which of course he'd ignored to the best of his ability), and today they'd just finished another bout of conditioning.

It's noble, he thinks, that she wants to go out there and stop portals from collapsing. As he helps her out of the simulation chamber-- it had tested her movements and skills while applying artificial V-force, similar to how astronauts are supposed to train before going into space-- he can't help the slight curve of his lips at the sight of Briar's face once the mask comes off. She'd done well today, and he tells her as much in a simple but awkward "nice work".

The happiness on her face after, he decides, had been worth the embarrassment.

Miguel takes Briar to the cafeteria after, hoping to get food and water into her after she'd pushed her body to its limits. Together, they sit with their trays, but as he mixes the cheese into his chili, a weight lands on his shoulder.

And he freezes, spoon mid-stir and everything.

Turning his head has him seeing Briar's closed eyes and comfortable expression as she leans against him. His mouth opens-- surely he ought to tell her this isn't the time for it-- but as he thinks about everything she'd endured, he concludes that waking her up wouldn't be worth it.

So Miguel shifts his spoon to his other hand, mixing with it instead while the side Briar leans against is as still as possible. In the hustle and bustle of Society HQ's cafeteria, no-one pays them any mind, and for the minutes that she's asleep, Miguel has never felt more ordinary. He's hyperaware of her well-being, of course, and he eats his chili con carne much slower than he's used to, but it all feels normal in a bizarre, human way.

There are worse things to be than sitting in the middle of a cafeteria while someone uses you as a pillow. Smiling faintly, Miguel's head dips some as he finishes his food, because in the end it's nice to know someone trusts him this much to begin with. For that, he can wait for Briar to wake up from her nap, whenever that might be.

#[ adorable :') ] #[ no need to match length of course! i just had to set premise again LMAO ] #[ why am i like this ] #araneiid #thread. #007.