Babylon 5 platonic headcanons
Prompt: Recieving comfort from a friend after a rough break up.
Pairing: character x fem! human reader
Characters: Jeffrey Sinclair, G'kar, Michael Garibaldi, Neroon
Warnings: angst (a little bit), hurt/comfort.
Author's note: as far as I'm aware, people in the fandom don't seem to be interested in headcanons like this. And yet, I had to get it off my chest. We all need some comfort from time to time. Maybe, someone finds it here too.
Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
Commander Sinclair is a very busy man, but he will always find a minute for a friend in need.
When he spots you across the bar all alone, seemingly crying, he quickly makes his way through the crowd and occupies a seat beside you.
His voice is gentle as he asks you to look at him, his hand reaching out and squeezing yours in reassurance. His face is strict, yet gaze - full of care and compassion.
It’s impossible to lie to someone like Jeff. And so you don’t.
His grip on your hand tightens just a bit as you go on about your relationships… and how they ended.
You fail to hold back tears as you tell him everything that's gone wrong; all the hopes and dreams you've had, and how they are now destroyed in a blink of an eye. You might feel weak, pathetic even, as you pour your heart out. Yet embarrassment doesn’t stick; Sinclair pulls his stool closer and slides his arms around your shoulders, encouraging you to lean in on his chest. You are vaguely aware of him contacting Ivanova and ordering her to take the station under her control.
Jeff silently holds you for as long as you need, brushing his fingers through your hair, your foreheads touching. His presence: warm, quiet, reliable – makes you feel safe in the chaos of your torn feelings.
He's got you. He will never let anyone or anything hurt you again.
Once your sobs calm down a little, Sinclair slowly pulls away and offers you a napkin, or wipes your tears himself – if you let him.
Considering your condition, there is no way you are working today, so Jeff grants you a day off and a permission to start your next shift at any time you want.
Then, he escorts you to your quarters. Sinklair knows, moments like this can be a lot to process, and you definitely can use some time to sort out your thoughts.
Yet, it doesn’t mean he just leaves you alone. As a good friend, Jeff regularly check on you via radio, and, once his shift ends, stumbles by your door, hands full of snacks and data crystals with old movies you both love – which pulls an involuntary smile on your lips.
Needless to say, you spend the night in front of the screen, giggling and chatting with your old friend, snuggled up securely in his arms, unaware of yourself gradually drifting off to sleep. Once you doze off, the commander wraps a blanket around your form and cautiously carries you to bed.
In the morning, you feel much better. Walking into the living room, you find breakfast and lunch already packed up in two neatly folded packages on your table and a silly greeting note with a cute emoji to chase them.
On the following days Jeff doesn’t assign you any stressful work, though he still keeps you busy to distract you from bad thoughts. And, if you ever want to talk again, he is only a call away.
Ambassador G’kar
“WHO THE HELL MADE YOU CRY!?”
Famous Ambassador of Narn is clearly displeased when he learns that some bastard dared to break your heart. How could they? His friend? That person probably has a bad taste.
Your ex must beware – G’kar is already preparing a plan of revenge.
However, he decides it can wait until later as you hesitantly request him to stay with you at least a minute or two.
You look like someone who desperately needs a companion to lend you an ear. Therefore, he patiently sits and listens to your sorrowful ruminations, nodding and offering a comforting word while his brain is elbows deep in work.
Has G’kar ever been a man of half-measures? Surely not.
Once you are mostly done, not wasting any time, the ambassador informs Sinclair that he needs you for personal matters of high importance and practically drags you into his quarters – to Na’toth’s greatest surprise.
What can lift one’s mood better than good food and a pleasant conversation? G’kar starts cooking you your favorite dish while telling you stories from his life he thinks you might enjoy to take your mind off the subject of your pain.
He also whispers a few words into Na’toth’s ear, and she eagerly joins the boss in his efforts to make you feel better. Two girls, you find a lot to discuss and ponder on. Outfits? News? The latest shitty rom-com Na'toth obtained God knows where? Everything comes to table.
Speaking of which: G’kar’s awesome cooking skills provided you with a big bowl of what can be described as a bounty of a meal.
You don’t see time fly by as you three laugh the day off together.
And, when G’kar finally returns you to your quarters, the load on your soul is still there, but it’s much lighter.
The Ambassador keeps a close eye on you for awhile afterwards, making sure you’re recovering well. Your cultures are not that different after all. He is an old man; he knows what’s like to have a heart shuttered to pieces.
Whenever the pain returns, G’kar is always there to offer his assistance.
Michael Garibaldi
The dude’s bushy eyebrows were on the ceiling as he heard about your relationship’s collapse.
Literally. Of all people he knew, he would hardly think that would happen to you.
But here you are, barely holding yourself together and sobbing into his uniform as he presses you tightly to his heart.
Surely, you don’t want to make a scene. Michael leads you to a quiet corner in some small café, buys you a drink and demands to be introduced to the whole story.
Usually a bity chatter box, this time he is listening attentively, his hand resting on your back, stroking it lightly.
As you reach the end of your tale, Garibaldi stays mute for a bit, letting it all sink in for both you and himself. You don’t have to tell him how it feels when you seem to fuck things up. As you look up at him, you can see he understands.
But Garibaldi wouldn’t be Garibaldi without his rule: laugh heals everything. And so, he employs all the knowledge of you to make you smile again. To his credit, it doesn’t take too long before his puns and wits make their way through your protective shell.
Even though you’re hurting, he doesn’t think you should lock inside your quarters and do nothing – work keeps the spirit healthy. Still, a little afraid you might do something stupid if left alone, Michael offers you to spend the day with him and, if you agree, informs Sinclair about it ("Jeff is my friend, he will probably get it").
If your job doesn’t require you to stay at one spot, he shows you a few of his favorite places on the station. Maybe, should you crave anything, Garibaldi buys you a pretty trinket at the market, or steals a flower/fresh fruit from the garden.
Also, this evening you are dining with him in the best restaurant on the station, objections are not accepted!
It’s not unusual for people to feel insecure or downright bad about themselves after a break-up, so he deems it his duty to make you feel like the most beautiful and charming woman to live.
When he finally has to leave you on your own, he promises to always be there for you, and he does keep his word. Wherever you go, you can always feel your friend’s warm gaze watching you. Protecting you.
If the guy you broke up with is on Babylon 5 and has been a dick to you… God save him.
Neroon
He doesn’t really know what made him care about a human. He has been a warrior all his life, an enemy of yours once; he shouldn’t be moved by something as pathetic as your tears… And yet, he is, either he wants it or not.
It was an accident that he found you, curled into yourself, somewhere away from everyone else. Face hidden in your palms and shoulders shuddering with whimpers.
The sight makes Neroon pause in his tracks. He might be tough… but he is not unkind after all.
The Minbari comes down on one knee to be on eye level with you and calls out as softly as he can.
He could still be a little rough though - you flinch and jerk away from him, wide-eyed, pale as if you’ve seen a ghost. Or the Minbari general whose hot temper has been the entire station’s deepest concern.
Yet, as he does nothing to hurt you, your muscles start to relax.
A bit awkwardly – he doesn’t really know how to handle a human – Neroon requests to know the nature of your sadness.
After a moment of hesitation, you decide that it won’t be a big trouble telling him. Could he possibily do anything worse than what your ex did? Besides… You have to share this with someone, no matter which species.
While Neroon absorbs the information, his cold heart melts just a little further. Your soul is suffering, and, perhaps he doesn’t know how yet, he feels an instinctive urge to help.
No matter how brave you try to appear, it’s easy to tell you are scared. Therefore, he makes a conscious effort to tone down his temper and voice as he responds to your monologue in a comforting manner… Or so he hopes.
When that doesn’t seem to work, he stands up and offers you a hand.
Once you are on your feet, Neroon tilts your head up to look into your bleary eyes, his face uncharacteristically soft, smiling even.
He must admit , you are… very pretty, for your species. And seems like a nice person, too.
How could your own kind be so cruel to you?
“Be strong, human. Your soul is the most valuable thing you have. Don’t let others step on it. Understood?”
Since that day you seem to bump into him almost constantly, and every time he bows his head slightly to you with the same gentle smile. It has earned him a few weirded looks, but, of course, no one dares to question his behavior - for their own good.
You’ve also found a few peculiar gifts in your room, one being a Minbari equivalent of a music box. A beautiful melody it plays brings serenity in your heart at the darkest hours.
You don’t know about it, but, once you two parted ways, Neroon pulled Garibaldi aside and, rather harshly, advised him to look after you. Just in case.