#sphintus

There were too many people. It was too loud, too much noise. She thought she could handle how busy it was in town today, but no, she wasn’t at all ready for this. Her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t feel her body. 

There were people bumping into her, she knew, but she couldn’t get away, or even consciously move out of their way. She was frozen there, squatting on the cobblestone street, panting and sweat forming on her brow. This was such a bad idea, she knew, but she needed to get food for her family. And she had thought she had gotten her anxiety under control, that this wouldn’t happen.

God, I’m so useless, she thought to herself as she put her hands to her ears to maybe at least ease the overstimulation. But nothing worked, and her chest kept getting tighter and tighter, and she felt bile rise up from her stomach to her throat. She swallowed it down, determined not to throw up in front of the bustling crowd; it was embarrassing enough for her to be crouched down in the middle of the street, she didn’t need to add more to the humiliation.

And as much as she wanted to move, she couldn’t. She was stuck.

She needed help. She needed someone, someone please--

A hand. There was a hand on her shoulder, warm and comforting. Taking her hands off of her ears, she spun around to see who her savior was to see-- “Sphintus.” she sighed, feeling tears pool in her eyes.

“(Y/n), what the hell are you doing here!?” You know you can’t be in crowded places!” Sphintus scolded, then took her hand, dragging her to a more secluded area, where there were less passerby. Sphintus then took her by the shoulders and watched as she panted, short and shallow, and cause for concern. He looked around, making sure no one was around.

When he knew they were alone, Sphintus pulled her close into his chest, deliberately having her ear near his heart. “Hey, hey, breathe, listen to my heart (y/n). Breathe. Calm.” he whispered to her, starting to gently sway her from side to side. Whenever she got like this, he knew this would always help her. The sway, his heartbeat, it always calmed her down. And she was already breathing slower, like magic. Her heart was going a steady, slow pace too, and she felt better.

She doesn’t deserve him, for how much he does for her when she has these panic attacks. But she loves him for it, she never wants to let him go for it. Wrapping her arms around his midsection, she inhaled his scent and sighed out, nuzzling into his chest. “Thank you, Sphintus. Thank you.” she mumbled into him.