tyrus oneshots

#4: Buffy Driscoll is a great friend

A/N: Hi! Here's a fix-it oneshot I wrote based on the events of 3x13 because my heart needed some healing after the episode.

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Buffy hovered meekly by Cyrus' side as the boy curled even further into himself, his back shaking slightly with quiet sobs. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, not quite knowing what to do for once in her life.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Buffy Driscoll was never supposed to be meek or uncertain in anything she did, but right now she was at a loss for words. She hadn't seen her friend this upset since the day he had come out to her, and even that couldn't compare to how she felt now, watching him wipe away the tears that seemed to keep coming no matter how hard he tried.

It was late afternoon and they were both sat on Buffy's bed. The sun was beginning to set, and as a result the sky outside was tinged with a light shade of pink. The curtains were almost fully drawn, letting only a small sliver of natural light in. Buffy had soft music playing on her phone; she wasn't usually one to use music as a way of filling silence, but at that moment it seemed necessary.

"Cyrus," she began gently, before trailing off almost right away. There was no silver lining to this - she knew TJ was one of the only people who never fed into Cyrus' insecurities, so this was definitely a first. Usually, he never missed an oppurtunity to tell Cyrus how amazing he was, and he encouraged him in such an unwavering way that even she couldn't fathom it sometimes.

Buffy wasn't blind either - TJ adored Cyrus, and that had become particularly clear as of late. TJ would always look to Cyrus in a room full of people as if he were the most important person in the world, and to TJ - maybe he was. Buffy certainly thought so, but the costume day fiasco was beginning to make her doubt that slightly.

"I don't know why I'm so upset," Cyrus managed, before dipping his head again and harshly rubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. "It's just a stupid costume."

She gently shook her head. Not even her anger towards TJ could override how much it hurt for her to see Cyrus like this.

"You have every right to be upset," she said firmly, bringing a hand up again to rub soothing circles onto his back. "TJ bailed on you last minute."

Cyrus took a deep, shuddering breath. "I just don't get it...it's so..."

"Not TJ?" Buffy finished, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Yeah," he sighed.

Buffy nodded. "I know - usually he'd be pretty much willing to kill someone just to spend time with you. A matching costume sounds like a dream come true to him."

Cyrus just rolled his eyes, a tiny smile ghosting over his lips. "Not now, Buffy."

"Right. Sorry."

He straightened then, before flopping back against the bed with a heavy sigh.

"I don't think it's even the costume itself, it's just...I always feel like I'm worth something around him. Then with Kira there on costume day, I felt stupid. Like...I was replaceable."

"You are not replaceable, Cyrus. Especially to TJ."

"Well...I sure feel like I am."

Buffy just shook her head, taking his hand and interlacing their fingers. She wasn't particularly good with words in situations like these, so she hoped the action would communicate some of the things she couldn't verbalise.

"I know."

Silence fell for a moment.

"I'm gonna kill him."