He couldn't breathe.
But that wasn't really true. Because he was breathing. A lot. Too much?
His head hurt.
Dabi's chest felt tight, like an elastic band was pulling against his ribcage while his heart pounded against it from the inside.
He felt weird. Disconnected. That feeling from before, where nothing felt real started humming through him. And then it felt like he couldn't feel anything. That wasn't supposed to happen, was it?
It was like he was watching a blurry version of himself be herded down the hall by Keigo. But then suddenly he blinked and was face-to-face with Keigo's worried expression.
Keigo had...said something?
"What?" Dabi asked, confusion clear in his voice.
"You with me, Dabs?" Keigo repeated.
"Yeah..."
Dabi swallowed and looked around. When had they gotten to some random alleyway? Weren't they in Endeavor's agency?
His breathing still felt off. And it felt like it was getting worse.
"Hey, focus on me," Keigo said firmly, reaching out and resting his hands on Dabi's shoulders. He gave a squeeze.
The gesture was grounding, allowing Dabi to slide his eyes back to Keigo's face.
"There you are," Keigo said with a small smile. "Let's try and slow down your breathing. Deep breaths, bud."
Keigo took one of his hands back to mime taking in an exaggerated breath and then letting it out. Dabi focused on the movements and his breathing fell into step with Keigo's.
Until his eyes landed on Keigo's hand.
The palm was heavily burned, with blisters already forming. The back of it was an angry red, and there were licks of more burnt skin sliding underneath his shirt sleeve which was deeply charred and fraying.
Dabi's breath stuttered and his eyes widened.
I did that.
Startling Keigo, Dabi snarled and ripped his hand off his shoulder, shoving it back at him and causing him to stumble backwards. Dabi backpedaled himself, but hit the brick wall on his second step.
"Don't fucking touch me," he growled. But the crack of his voice betrayed his distress.
Dabi pulled at his hair and let out another snarl, breathing going completely erratic.
He wasn't supposed to have panic attacks anymore. His last one was supposed to be a fluke. He was supposed to be over this shit by now.
His vision started getting spotty as he got lightheaded.
"I won't touch you, but you gotta breathe, Dabs," Keigo pushed.
"I am!" Dabi snapped back.
"Slower. In for five, out for five."
Dabi did his best to focus on Keigo's counting.
"That's better," Keigo encouraged. "Just like that. We're almost back to UA, then we'll be safe."
Dabi barked out a laugh, breathing finally getting under control as he shot Keigo a disbelieving look.
"Safe?! Endeavor wasn't the one who burned you."
"Dab–"
"I did. Not him," Dabi interrupted, voice rising in volume until he turned his face away. "All this time and he's fucking RIGHT."
YOU ARE READING
Maybe We'll fix Each Other
General Fiction"So," he said. "Do you want me to get you out of here?" She hesitated. "But...Overhaul..." "Is a bitch," Dabi finished. "I'll make sure he never lays a hand on you again." And that admission is what surprised Dabi the most. That he wasn't lying. Tha...
