Daiki wandered down the street, head lowered as he listened to people's steps clatter past him. He inhaled and held his breath until the steps faded. So many people everywhere. Why did there have to be so many people? He squeezed his eyes shut a moment. The air was quiet. He exhaled.

So many deciding to go to a large club with Hideo was a bad idea. Not to mention the kid didn't have any idea of how to stay safe in those places. Come to think of it. Daiki glanced back and grimaced a bit. I probably shouldn't have left him on his own. I know he knows people there...but he's gonna get kidnapped or something.

His gut clenched but his feet continued back towards the apartment. He looked away after a moment and shivered to think of all the noise. Bodies too close to his. It was almost like the US again. People inches apart, everyone getting so close and yelling everywhere. His skin began to crawl. Daiki crossed his arms over his chest and looked up at the stairwell of the apartment complex.

He exhaled. Hideo will get back safely. He'll be fine. I can relax for a few hours on my own. Teki might even be back. He began to mount the steps. His limbs didn't want to move but he pushed them up each and every step. The concrete was hard under his boots. He could hear birds down the alleyway, or maybe it was cats. Something rummaging in the darkness.

His steps quickened as a chilly hand gripped the back of his neck. He fished out his key and jogged quickly to the door, opening it. It shut behind him softly and Daiki locked it without hesitation. He dropped the key back in his pocket and exhaled. Still, his heart pounded in his chest louder with each passing second. He closed his eyes as he began to slip off his shoes.

It's fine. I'm fine. Hideo is fine.

"Hey, Daiki."

Daiki jumped. His eyes popped open. He looked up and spotted Teki standing there with a small grin on his metal face.

"You're back early."

Daiki just smiled thinly and nodded. "Got tired," he lied and pulled on his slippers. He plodded past Teki to the couch. His room wasn't that far away. He peeked at the door but didn't go in. Instead, he wandered around and sat down on the couch. His eyes settled on his laptop on the coffee table. He left it there and just laid down. A dull throb started in his shoulder and he swallowed quietly, pressing his hand to the area.

Calm down, really. You're overreacting. Daiki's eyes fixed on the carpet as he focused on each pound of his heartbeat. One, then another. Faster. Wait, no. He pressed his hand deeper against his chest and swallowed with a cold rush down his spine. I still have a heartbeat. I'm alive. His fingers sought for a pulse, though. Down his hand to his wrist. He gripped it tight until he finally felt the thin thumping against the skin of his thumb.

He dropped his hand and closed his eyes, exhaling.

"Your heart rate is accelerated and your levels of stress are higher than normal. Do you need a doctor?" Teki wandered into the living room.

Daiki opened his eyes. He sat up and shook his head, smiling again. He squinted up his eyes for good measure. "I'm fine."

"Are these normal vitals for you?"

I dunno, is anxiety normal for anyone? Daiki laughed bitterly under his breath at the thought but then waved at Teki some. "Yeah, yeah, it's normal for me. It'll go away in a few minutes."

Teki nodded and sat down.

Daiki looked away from him and stared down at his hands. I should go in my room. He didn't move. Maybe some tea to calm down? He still didn't move. Am I breathing? He inhaled and put a hand to his chest again. It was still sore, but the pain was going away. No, it was coming back. His fingers rubbed into the muscle of his shoulder as he inhaled and exhaled deeply. Slowly, he rocked back and forth, continuing the small circles of rubbing.

It's fine. I just gotta get up and walk to my room. Make tea, go to my room, read a book, rest. Calm down. Lay down, sleep. Hideo will text me on his way home and even if he forgets, he'll be back in a few hours. I gotta get to my room.

Daiki's eyes lifted to the closed door. Cold wrapped itself from his chest to his arms and he stayed where he was. The rocking began to seep into his body, the motion almost calming. His eyes fell to his phone. Hideo, please don't forget to text me. His fingers twitched and he stopped rubbing at his chest. He almost reached for his phone but then left it there.

The air was quiet in the room. Daiki returned to rubbing at his shoulder. He fixed his eyes on the floor between his feet and tried to put Hideo and the party out of his mind. Some of the music seeped in, though, and he found himself hearing the lyrics to songs he hadn't heard since college. He tried to shake it away. Eyes. Someone was staring at him. He focused on the floor again.

"It has been five minutes and thirty seconds. Your condition has not changed." Teki got up and walked over. He sat down on the couch. "Do you need something?"

Daiki shook his head. His lips refused to part as he inhaled through his nose and tried to exhale again through his mouth. He closed his eyes a moment. "I'm fine," he breathed.

"Do you want a blanket? You look cold."

He paused and opened his eyes. A blanket didn't sound bad. It wasn't really Teki's job to look after him, though. I'm supposed to look after them. They're the younger ones. I should be at that party watching out for Hideo...but I can't go back. His fingers gripped the soft fabric of his shirt and he nodded again.

"Yes, please."

"Cool, I'll find one." Teki got up and moved away. Daiki looked up and opened his mouth to ask him not to leave but he closed it again. His voice sank back down into his chest and he went back to rocking slowly.

Teki returned a moment later with a large throw blanket. It was one of Hideo's decorated with some sort of graphic print, probably from an anime or manga he loved. The boy owned nothing else. Teki brought it over and shook it out to it's full size before dropping it over Daiki's shoulders.

Daiki reached up and grabbed the corner. He pulled it in to his chest slowly before reaching up and pulling the other corner around him as well. He continued to rock. The blanket was soft to say the least. That was nice. It'll all be fine. He inhaled and exhaled again. The air in here was cold, but the warmth from the blanket was helping.

Teki sat back down. "Is that helping?"

"Yeah," Daiki breathed.

"Are you scared?"

Daiki blinked a bit. His first thought was to laugh but he didn't make a sound, just kept rocking. He dropped one hand to his knee and began to rub over it in circles. He nodded after a moment. "Yeah, I guess so."

Teki frowned. His glowing blue eyes narrowed a bit as he pouted and leaned forward. "That's to good. Why are you scared?"

Swallowing, Daiki shrugged. He hugged the blanket closer to himself. "No reason...really." Air. Air was a good thing. His chest felt tight, though. He closed his eyes and willed Teki to stop asking questions. I don't hate you, I just need quiet. Please.

A silent pause filled the air and then Teki shifted again. He got up and came back holding a small round purple plush cat. Walking up, he held it out to Daiki.

"Catastrophe is good for not being scared."

Daiki stared at the plush cat. Slowly, he reached out and took it from Teki. It was softer than even the blanket. It quickly disappeared under the blanket as Daiki hunched over and hugged the plush cat to his chest. He pulled his knees up onto the couch some and curled around it, wrapping his arms protective around himself and Catastrophe. "Thanks."

"No problem." Teki stayed standing there for a moment. He looked around and rubbed at his chin some, surveying the room.

Daiki rocked himself from side to side and petted small circles over the plush animals head. He closed his eyes and buried his chin in the blanket and his chest. This was better. The pain in his chest was fading but his heartbeat continued to pound inside his ears and head. He inhaled the smell of fresh laundry and the odd caramel scent of everything Hideo owned. Home. I'm safe at home. Soon Hideo will be here and we'll all be safe.

Everyone under one roof. No harm coming to anyone. No reason to worry. He began to rock in a wider arc and tightened himself into a smaller ball. He hid a yawn in the blanket and blinked his eyes some.

Teki finally sat down. He was looking around slightly still, shifting closer. Daiki glanced over at him, wondering what had him all antsy.

Is he worried cause I'm worried? Maybe he can hear something I can't. People outside? Is Hideo back? His eyes cut to the door. Thirty seconds and it didn't open. A minute and it didn't open.

Teki was closer now. Daiki dragged his eyes from the door to look at the robot. Teki finally turned some. His eyes were a little wide and cut to the side as he put a finger to his chin. "Do you want a hug? You're rocking a lot..."

Burying his chin in the blanket, Daiki tried to stop rocking. A hug didn't sound bad. I mean...actually that sounds nice. Like, maybe that's weird? Is that weird? He looked away. "Yeah...that would be nice, I think."

Metallic arms wrapped themselves around him. Daiki inhaled and let Teki hug him. He expected it to be cold, but for being metal, Teki wasn't all that cold. He was actually pretty warm. Daiki relaxed some. The adrenaline seeped down from his chest and into his fingers. He leaned to the side and let Teki take the brunt of his weight, trying not to move too much and make it uncomfortable. The plush stuffed animal pressed into his chest. Daiki focused on the soothing softness of the blanket and the plush animal as well as the arms firmly encircled around him. Do what the therapist said. Channel the anxiety from your chest into the things around you that can take it. Inhale and exhale. His chest relaxed enough for him to breathe easily again. Daiki ducked his chin down deeper into the blanket and closed his eyes.

"Is this working?" Teki whispered.

"Mhm."

Teki nodded and stayed there. He shifted a bit and Daiki just shifted with him. He blinked and resisted the urge to rub at his eyelids as they weighed down more and more with each passing second.

The door clicked open. Daiki didn't lift his head, just closed his eyes again and focused on each breath taken in and exhaled out. He heard Hideo come in humming. The scuff of shoes being removed and exchanged. The padding of slippers on the carpet.

"Hey, Teki. Where's--oh," Hideo's voice dropped about two levels in volume.

"Is he asleep?"

Teki shook his head. "Nope. He's scared."

A brief pause. Daiki felt his stomach clench all over again. Hideo knew, but still, that wasn't something you just came right out and said. He almost squirmed up but before he could move a second warm body was on the couch and a second pair of arms encircled his shoulders.

"You good?" Hideo's face was inches from his. Daiki's shoulders lifted to his ears.

"Better," he mumbled.

Hideo's head rested on his shoulder. Daiki closed his eyes and exhaled. He leaned his head over till his forehead was touching Hideo's. Hideo's arms squeezed him gently and relaxed again, just holding him. Daiki smiled.

Friends understood.