The Life of an Argonaut

What Is It That You Desire, Mister Cranel?

Warning: Panic Attacks, if you want to skip this, skip the second paragraph entirely.

If one were to look upon this scene, they wouldn't suspect too much. After all, seeing someone on the wall, while being prohibited, wasn't that uncommon. A young boy on the wall was even less uncommon. At first glance, one would think that boy to be in a peaceful, happy sleep. However, if you were to look closer, you would see that the 'content smile' was a little bit forced, and the puffiness of his eyes was obvious due to his pale complexion. The tear tracks were less obvious but still present. To add to this sight, the labored breathing and the balled-up hands said it all. The unfortunate child was experiencing a nightmare. 

His chest, which once rose in a steady and controlled manner, now was frantic and uneven. The young boy's labored breathing got faster and faster until finally- "NO," the young boy shot up, his face stricken with grief and his complexion a deathly pale white with his lips turning blue. The boy's white hair was slick with sweat and was plastered to his forehead. His red eyes overflowed with tears and his fists clenched. Bell panted, trying desperately to catch his breath. However, his attempts were not working, the oxygen his lungs oh so required remained far away from them. At least that's what it felt like. The world was rotating faster and faster and his heartbeat racing at a hundred miles per hour. Bell did not know of the time he spent trying to catch his breath, only that it wasn't working. He had no awareness of where he was, only that the world was spinning. Suddenly, a cool hand touched his head and a figure filled his vision. The voice was steady, cool, and was speaking to him. "-er Cranel, you're alright, you're alright Mister Cranel, breathe for me Mister Cranel. In and out, In and out, that's it Mister Cranel, you're doing wonderful." The hand on his head was cool and helped ground him. Slowly but surely, as he followed the unknown person's instructions, the world stopped spinning and air filled his lungs and his heart calmed. Bell breathed heavily for a few moments before looking up, preparing his thanks. However, once he looked at her, all thoughts of his were halted immediately. The person, who he now identified as a female, was an elf. Her green hair framed her face wonderfully, her sharp blue eyes looked at him with a hint of worry and her lips were frowning. A graceful frown but a frown nonetheless. She looked like the epitome of grace and to put it in simple terms, she was beautiful, and yet, there was a certain air around her. Something... Dangerous. 

"Hello Mister Cranel, are you alright now?" She enquired. Oh by the Goddesses, even her voice was beautiful. Bell was entranced. 

"He-Hello Miss, t-thanks for that, I'm okay now," Bell stuttered, and he had to admit, only part of his stuttering could be attributed to whatever in the name of Orario happened to him moments ago.

"I'm glad to hear that Mister Cranel when I arrived here, you looked to be in quite the state."

Bell grimaced and rose to his feet," I'm sorry, I don't know why that happened to me also how do you know my name?" He asked, suspicion arising in his tone. Despite her beauty, which was only rivaled by the ever aloof Sword Princess, he could sense that she was dangerous, and he would have remembered telling her his name.

"No need for apologies Mister Cranel, you cannot control your thoughts or your body's reaction to them, as for how I know your name? I work at an establishment named The Hostess of Fertility. Perhaps you might have heard of it, given that your Familia paid a visit to us only yesterday." She replied.

"Yes, I've heard of it, but that doesn't answer how you know my name Ma'am," Bell frowned, remembering the events that led up to his staying the night on the wall and him becoming frustrated at his question only being partially answered.

"True, it doesn't. Well, some of your family members were talking about you as I was collecting their orders. They described your appearance and not many people have white hair therefore it was quite easy to deduce that you are Bell Cranel," She answered. 

"Talking about me you say? Also, may I know your name, Ma'am?" Bell's frown turned into a scowl and looked out of place on his innocent face.

"My name is Ryuu, Mister Cranel," She noted the scowl on his face and decided not to pry, at least not to pry too much. She, unlike her colleagues, knew boundaries and while it was somewhat endearing to have Syr, Chloe, or Anya pounding away at her to know what troubled her, she also knew that it could become too... irritating for the person. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ryuu," Bell bowed. 

"Likewise Mister Cranel," Ryuu curtsied back to him. 

Bell sat back down and gestured next to him, indicating that he would like Ryuu to sit next to him as he observed Orario's charges going about their daily lives. Ryuu obliged and sat next to him. 

"So Mister Cranel," She broke the silence," I noticed the scowl on your face, when I mentioned your familia, if you would like to talk about it, then I would like to try and help you." At this, however, her voice lost her certainty that was carried in all of her previous statements and inquiries and Bell detected a smidge of discomfort. 

"Thank you, Miss Ryuu, but right now I would rather not." Bell's voice held a stubborn edge to it that made Ryuu aware that even if she was the type of person to try and coax him into revealing more (which she wasn't) it would be a useless action and a waste of time for both parties and would only serve to make Bell more irritated. 

"Very well," Ryuu replied simply and the discomfort was gone and the certainty was back.

"However, might I add that The Hostess of Fertility also doubles as an inn as well as a restaurant and a bar, of course, it isn't free," Ryuu said, the implication was clear to both people there. 

'She is saying if things get too much, I could come and stay at The Hostess, Temporarily and not for free of course, after all, The Hostess is still a business' Bell thought.

"Well, I must be off Mister Cranel, it was a pleasure meeting you for the most part and I look forward to seeing you again," Ryuu declared and before Bell could even blink or open his mouth, Ryuu was already at the steps and gone.

Bell was in awe of her speed, even if they weren't that far from the stairs. However, he was curious as to what Miss Ryuu was doing on the wall in the first place and if she knew what had happened to him, he knew he certainly didn't.

'I might just take her up on her offer' Bell thought, and with that, he was off to see The Hostess of Fertility for himself. 

Ooh, developments, and perhaps a new contender for Bell's love interest, hmm?

It would be too boring if there wasn't someone to contend with Ais, and boring isn't what I want this fic to be. Should Bell take up Ryuu's offer? 

Also, my apologies if my attempt at writing a panic attack was off the mark, I have fortunately never experienced one myself and had to use the internet for reference on both a panic attack's symptoms and how to deal with one.