Ayel is not a sidekick. Nor is he a mindless follower bent on revenge because his leader wants to end all life in the universe. Yes, he wants revenge but he lost people too. Family, friends, a girlfriend. Life as he knew it ended because Spock was too slow. It hurts to think about and a lot of nights he just wants to hit something.

Some nights he cries. Softly, so nobody can hear. They're Romulans, emotions are not to be mocked, certainly not emotions that everyone is feeling, but still. Ayel is a private man and he does not want the rest of the crew to see the ship's second in command sniffling and wiping tears from his eyes. Rage, hate and anger are acceptable to show and acknowledge. Sorrow and hurt are something else.

The only person who knows about it is Nero and that is by accident. The Captain of the Narada comes to his quarters one night to talk about their food supply or some such mundane thing and is shocked to see Ayel with tears running down his face. For a moment it looks like he wants to leave but Nero is a leader and if a member of his crew needs him, he is there. He sits on the floor next to his friend and pulls him into an embrace.

"If you never mention this again then neither will I. But I am your Captain and I will never abandon you." He says that with such conviction, like he's promising himself that as well.

"It hurts." Ayel chokes out. "It hurts and that damned Vulcan will never…can never know what it feels like."

"He will know." Nero murmurs. "He will feel loneliness and loss and pain. Vulcans have emotions, we just have to bring them to the surface. But I swear he will suffer."

They stay like that for hours. Ayel does not feel any less lonely or murderous because of it but he does feel reassured. Someone else understands what he is feeling. Someone else cares about his emotions. Someone was willing to stay with him, hold him and promise him the death and suffering of the one who betrayed their trust. Nero cares about him.

That's why Ayel is his friend and not just his sidekick.

Fin.

Author's notes: This one was hard to write. I mean, trying to get inside the head of someone who lost everything they ever knew or cared about is really heart-wrenching. But this is one of my favorite chapters because of it. And also because I had a realistic reason to take two hardcore, homicidal and destructive characters and let them get in touch with their feelings.

Sorry for the long time between updates but work got a little crazy and when I come home I'm usually pretty beat. The good news is I'm getting a team so we'll be able to spread the work out a little more evenly.