(Quick Author's Note for a potential trigger warning- From what you can probably tell from the title, Reader literally has a panic attack. Wanted to note it at the beginning because I would hate for this to accidentally give someone a panic attack. Alright, that's out of the way. Enjoy!)

Boom!

You heard a loud bang outside the room. Your eyes jolted towards the door.

A boisterous laugh sounded, followed by a cackle. Dedede and Escargoon.

Crash!

The sound of glass shattering.

You felt your heartbeat quicken. Shakily, you got to your feet and made your way to the door. As you were about to open it, there was a knock on the other side, which caused your already tensed body to jump, and a soft squeak to leave you.

"(Y/n), it's me," a familiar voice spoke from the other side.

You breathe a sigh of relief. Meta Knight.

You open the door and are greeted with Meta Knight's yellow eyes meeting yours.

"Sir Meta Knight, what are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you. You heard the loud noises, too?" He asks.

"Yeah, I was actually about to go see what it was. It, well, it has me worried," you admit.

"As it does me," Meta Knight answers. "Though I know Dedede is behind this, I don't know what he's up to," he turns back to you, extending a hand. "Would you like to join me, my dear?"

You blushed at his 'dear,' but placed your hand in his nonetheless. He notices.

"No need to be shy, (Y/n). We are dating now, afterall."

The mention of this only made your cheeks grow darker.

"I know, it's just," you started as the two of you began to walk together, "It feels nice when you call me that."

"Dear?"

"Yeah," you smile.

"Well then I'll make sure to do it often, my dear," one of his eyes, currently a pink shade, winks at you behind his mask. Your cheeks matched the color of his eyes as you quickly averted your gaze.

BOOM!

The commotion sounded closer, and Meta Knight instinctively jumped between you and the direction it came from. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword.

"It came from the throne room," He said.

Your legs suddenly felt a bit shaky. But you followed after Meta Knight as he led the way.

You opened the doors of the throne room, and as you did, something fired towards you. Meta Knight pushed the two of you down just in time as the projectile whooshed overhead. A second later the deafening sound of the cannon hit you, a loud rumble that reverberated through your chest. And then the bright light from the flash. All of it culminated into one big overstimulated nightmare.

"Meta Knight, what in the world are you doing!?" A shout from Dedede.

Your heart was pounding.

"Yeah, you shouldn't get in the way when we're trying out new weapons!" Escargoon's yelling echoed through your skull.

You couldn't control your breathing. You shouldn't be breathing this heavily.

"Sire, with all due respect, the castle doesn't make for a very good shooting range," Meta Knight.

Oh god, your throat was closing up. Your body was shaking. Everything felt both so far away and too close at the same time.

"Well maybe you shoulda knocked first!" Dedede yelled again.

You tried to sit up from where you landed when Meta Knight pushed the two of you down. Your arms were trembling. They don't usually do that, right?

"Yeah, you shoulda knocked first!" Escargoon parroted Dedede.

Something crashed behind you, collateral from the projectile that just missed you. Your hands continued to tremble. Looking at them, you felt your breathing get even faster. Was there no oxygen in this air? Why did it feel like you weren't getting air when you so clearly were breathing it in? Just thinking about it only made you breathe harder.

When Meta Knight finally took a look at you, he froze. His eyes lingered a moment on your trembling body, before his eyes flashed white. Without hesitation he dashed over towards you and took one of your hands.

"(Y/n), are you alright?"

You furiously shook your head. You thought about lying and saying yes, but you knew he would see right through you if you tried to pretend you were fine.

"Hey, Meta Knight, look at me when I'm talking to you!" Dedede shouted.

"Sire," Meta Knight's eyes flashed red as he side-eyed the king. Dedede took a step back, immediately looking apologetic. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would test your weapons away from the castle."

"Of- of course Meta Knight!" Dedede stuttered.

"We wouldn't want to cause any trouble," Escargoon mimicked, equally intimidated by the knight's piercing gaze.

Meta Knight's glare lingered on them a second more, eyes returning to their normal yellow at their answer, before bringing his attention back to you.

"I'm going to move you out of here, (Y/n). Is that alright?"

Your body still shaking, you nodded. Your throat still felt too tight to give a proper answer.

With that, Meta Knight scooped you up and dashed from the room back down the hall. Your vision was too unfocused to tell, but Meta Knight was bringing you back towards the room he shared with Sword and Blade. A quick opening of the door, and he set you down on his bed.

Your breathing was still too fast, but the fact you were away from King Dedede and Escargoon's shouts helped a bit. Everything still felt like too much all at once. But Meta Knight's voice pulled you towards something to focus on.

"(Y/n), you're having a panic attack right now. I know it's scary, but it's going to pass. I'll be right here next to you the whole time."

Okay, so, you were having a panic attack. Okay, cool, this is fine. This is-

A panic attack.

Your breathing slowed a little bit, but not much.

"(Y/n), I need you to try to slow down your breathing, okay? In," Meta Knight drew a long breath in, "and out," and let it out slowly.

You mimicked his breaths as he repeated the action and instructions with you. You felt your throat opening back up again, slowly. You were still shaky, though.

"Good, good, you're doing great," you could hear the smile in Meta Knight's voice, despite his mask hiding his expression. You gave him a shaky smile in return.

"Is there anything you need, dear?"

"How long?" You croaked out, throat still a bit closed up.

"Typically about half an hour," Meta Knight answered. Your eyes widened and your breathing quickened again, until he quickly added, "But the length of time can vary. Just, focus on your breathing. Finding something to focus on instead also helps come down from it. Like, uh."

He glances towards the still open door for a moment. His eyes turn a green color. A moment of hesitation, then he places one hand in yours.

You squeeze it, finding some comfort in holding it. It felt like another thing to keep you grounded for the moment. You had expected that Meta Knight was just going to give you his hand to hold, but with another glance towards the door, he moved his other hand towards his helmet.

"Wait, you don't," you were cut off when you hear a click, and Meta Knight moves the mask away from his face.

Staring back at you, Meta Knight, unmasked, met your eyes. He looked how you imagined Kirby would (once Kirby had grown up a bit). Despite looking a little nervous, his voice held steady.

"It's okay (Y/n), I trust you."

You squeezed his hand again. Your breathing had slowed back to normal. Meta Knight showing his face had managed to completely distract you from your panic attack. Slowly, you moved a hand to touch his face. He let you.

You let out a soft giggle, and a genuine smile spread on your face. Meta Knight's own face mirrored yours, his eyes turning a pink color. The hand not holding yours moved to cup your cheek.

"Your breathing has returned to normal, my dear."

You chuckled, your throat still a bit closed up.

"Do the lights still feel too bright?" He asked.

You nodded, though they felt more tolerable than they had been.

"Here, you can block them out with this," he unclipped his cape and wrapped it around your shoulders. You were still too shaken to blush, so you just smiled at him instead. He paused a moment, hands still on his cloak that was wrapped around you.

On instinct, you leaned forward and planted a small kiss to his lips. You felt his smile against your lips. When you pulled back, his eyes were a deep purple color, and his face held a prominent blush of his own. You, had you been feeling one hundred percent, would be fairing no better.

"Thank you for helping me through this, Meta Knight. I'm sorry I'm so much work to take care of," you spoke softly.

He put his mask back on, and looked to meet your eyes again.

"Nonsense, my dear. I'm always happy to keep you safe. And you have no need to apologize for things you cannot control."

The honesty in his voice sent butterflies to your stomach. Your smile grew further.

"You said to tell you if I needed anything?"

"Yes, I did, (Y/n)," he answered.

"Can you, er, would you lie here with me?" You ask, lying back.

He hums, laying down next to you.

"Of course."

You covered the both of you with his cape, so you were both swept under a veil of darkness.

"Let me know when you don't feel shaky anymore, alright?"

You hum in response.

"Walking after a panic attack can help it from coming back after it's already happened."

"Okay, Meta Knight," You cuddle against him, wrapping your arms around him. He does the same to you.

A moment's silence, and you hear him whisper.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

***

On your walk later, you ask Meta Knight something you had been wondering about.

"Hey Meta Knight, why do you know so much about panic attacks, anyway?"

"It was part of basic medical training for Star Warriors," he answers, holding your hand in his. "In battle, if a fellow warrior was having a panic attack, they would be no good for the fight. We had to learn how to get them to a safe place and calm them down. Though, in the heat of battle it was usually just the first part we focused on."

"Have you ever had to use that training before today?" You asked.

He hesitated before he responded.

"In battle, I only used the first part of that training. After the war, I had to use what I'd learned to help someone come down from an attack."

"Really? Who was it?" You ask, genuinely curious.

He hesitates again.

"Oh, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," you add.

"It was me."

His answer caught you off guard.

"You had to bring yourself down from a panic attack? Alone?"

"Yes."

You squeeze his hand, thinking for a moment. You step in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Well, if it ever happens to you again, now I can help you calm down from one," you flash him a bright smile. "Plus, since you guided me through mine, now I know how to help it go smoothly for you, too!"

He chuckles.

"Thank you, (Y/n), I appreciate that."

"Of course!"