Briar blushes at Jaxxen’s compliment. “Th-thank you…” Briar mutters trying not to let his embarrassment show.

Eli glares at Briar “We should go back to the group.” he growls as he stands. Jaxxen glances between Briar and Eli for a second before he nods and follows the black-haired man back to the fire.

Briar follows the men back to the fire where the crew was sleeping. It was strange to be around the creatures Briar’s father always told him to stay far away from. Eli was exactly like how Briar’s entire family described humans but, Jaxxen… he was different. Briar flinches as Jaxxen pulls him closer but his fear quickly dissipated as the silver-haired man began petting him.

“I’m sorry about Eli,” Jaxxen says a little guiltily “he’s not usually that much of an ass.”

“He’s just worried about you,” Briar says. “He thinks that he’s going to lose any chance he has with you,” Briar explains before Jaxxen can ask.

Jaxxen stiffens his arm going tighter around Briar. “He never had a chance, to begin with.” Jaxxen growls. “Wait,” Jaxxen says snapping out of his anger “how did you know that?”

“I can sense basic emotions like pain, envy, happiness, and desire,” Briar replies. “Whenever Eli is near you desire hangs around him like a thick fog, but, whenever I’m close to you envy rears its ugly head.”

“D-does he think I...?” Jaxxen asks trailing off slightly as his cheeks turn bright red. Briar sighs and nods. Jaxxen stutters as he tries to deny it making Briar giggle.

“Trust me, I know,” Briar replies still giggling making Jaxxen blush even harder. “We should try and sleep. It’s pretty late.”

Jaxxen nods and lies on his back before he closes his eyes to sleep. Briar moves a bit farther away from Jaxxen before curling up and falling asleep.

The next morning…

“Wake up!” Eli barks as soon as it becomes light. Everyone reluctantly wakes up all yawning and rubbing their eyes.

“Where’s the fire, chief?” Saya asks as she stretches earning a glare from Eli.

“Ranger! Scan for caves or other forms of shelter.” Eli snarls

“C-Captain I can’t…” Ranger says in a shaky voice as he clutches his chest. The android was pale and shaking, he looked like he was about to pass out.

Briar moves closer to Ranger with a worried expression as he checks the android’s temperature. “He’s freezing cold,” he says after a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Jaxxen asks as he walks over to the duo before kneeling beside them.

“I-I need more power but, we don’t know about anything on this stupid planet,” Ranger says weakly as he tilts his head back while panting slightly.

“Power source? I know an ore that could work.” Briar says as his tail flicks slightly.

“Really!? We have to get some then.” Jaxxen says his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“I know. It’s a long hike though,” Briar says “Are you sure you’re up for it?”

“Ranger’s my best friend I would go through basically anything to make sure he’s alright.” Jaxxen says “So where are we going?”

“You can follow me,” Briar says cheerily as he stands up his tail flicking rather quickly as Eli walks a bit closer to them.

“What are you talking about?” Eli asks as he steps between Jaxxen and Briar.

“A power source for Ranger,” Jaxxen replies coldly, “Briar says it’s a bit of a hike so I was just asking where we were going.”

“Did he reply?” Eli growls as he glares at Briar.

Briar’s eyes narrow as he speaks up once more “I didn't, but your kind is capable of following yes?” he snaps.

“Did you…?” Jaxxen asks trailing off slightly.

Briar nods a kind sparkle in his pink eyes. “I talked to all of them,” he says with a slight sound of laughter in his voice.

“I’ll go with our friend you guys can stay here,” Eli growls.

Briar’s eyes widen as he moves behind Jaxxen with a fearful look at Eli. Back to silence, Briar hides himself behind the white-haired man as his entire body gave in to nervous shaking.

“You won’t get a chance alone with him I’m coming to.” Jaxxen snarls as he narrows his eyes angrily.

“Fine...”

Later…

“Are you ready to leave?” Briar asks as he playfully skips around Jaxxen.

Jaxxen catches Briar’s wrist before he can make another round around him. “Stop skipping. And yeah we’re ready.” Jaxxen replies. The alien looks at Jaxxen happily as he barely contains his excitement.

“Let’s go then!”