number 17 for Geraskier pls :3
17. “Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while…”
FUCK tumblr for deleting the first version of this post… and I guess this is pre relationship, oops
CW: Claustrophobia, Jaskier has a panic attack
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“Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while,” Geralt said as he hung up the emergency phone in the elevator. The only other person, a janitor, simply whimpered and buried his hands into his short brown hair. As Geralt watched, the other man’s breathing started to get faster, his limbs visibly shaking.
Cursing to himself, Geralt got to his knees in front of the other man, ignoring how his knees protested the action.
“Is there something I can do to help?” Was the first thing he asked, recognizing the signs of a budding panic attack; he was familiar enough with them himself. When the man reached out one trembling hand, Geralt took it without hesitation, squeezing slightly. “I’ve got you. You’re safe, I promise.”
The words seemed to help, and every so often the man would give Geralt’s hand a squeeze, as if to remind himself that he wasn’t alone. Geralt would squeeze back each time, watching as the man’s shoulders relaxed each time. After several long minutes, the man finally took a deep, shuddering breath, relaxing just a little. He lifted his head to scrub at his eyes, and Geralt finally caught a glimpse of his embroidered name tag: “Julian”
“Thank you, I’m sorry I just really hate elevators, or just small spaces in general, and—” “Julian” began speaking, and Geralt quickly focused on him. Their eyes met, and for a second there was silence. Then Julian snatched his hand away, quickly climbing to his feet. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bellegarde! I didn’t mean to, that is, thank you but I’m sorry you had to see that!” He began babbling. Geralt rolled his eyes as he got to his feet with a groan.
“It’s fine, panic attacks happen,” he assured the other, fixing his suit just to have something to do with his hands. “If you hadn’t been there, I might have panicked as well.”
“Please don’t lie,” Julian said, almost petulantly. Geralt shrugged, but let it go. The elevator was silent for a bit, though it was clear, at least to Geralt, that Julian was brimming with nervous energy.
“They said half an hour,” Geralt offered, hopefully helpfully. Judging by Julian’s groan, it wasn’t helpful at all. Well… he’d just have to distract him. “So tell me about yourself, Julian.”
“First of all the only people who call me Julian are my parents and my boss, I prefer Jaskier…”










