The horizon and the balcony

Chapter thirty-seven

"It was nothing mon Cherie"They reassured stroking his arm. It did little to quell John's jealousy. He huffed crossing his arms over his chest, his cheeks were tinted red. It was a common fact John literally went red with rage. Lafayette grew nervous and bit their bottom lip fiddling with the ring on their finger.

"Yeah but why were you dreaming about Thomas?"he pressed leaning back against the wall. All eyes were on them, their shoulders sagged and they casted their glance towards the ground gently lowering their head. They felt small, the tension in the air grew thick. John continued to stare them down refusing to soften his gaze.

"I don't feel comfortable..."They whispered.

"If it was really nothing why won't you just spit it out!"he growled slamming his palm against the wall. Lafayette jumped and pressed their nails into the palm of their hand suppressing a whimper. Hercules gripped onto John's shoulder tightly and whispered something in his ear. The smaller boy huffed and let the door slam on his way out of the room. Alexander took a seat on the bed next to Lafayette and watched them closely. Their brows were furrowed and their chest rose and fell at an alarming rate. A tiny trail of blood dribbled down their lip from where they were biting. Alexander's eyes widened in realization and quickly looked towards Hercules.

"Herc I think they're having a panic attack. I need their box from the safe room"Alexander said carefully. He trailed his hand over Lafayette's hand trying to gauge a reaction. A single tear rolled down their cheek as they stared at their lap. Their mind felt like it was switching between a horror film and static electricity. There was too much and too little going on. Hercules jogged out of the bedroom and down the hall throwing the safe room open. John was sat in the rocking chair picking at his nails.

"What's wrong?"He asked.

Hercules narrowed his eyes at him and shook his head brushing the comment off.  John didn't deserve to know right now. He threw open the storage closet and pulled out a dingy cardboard box. Lafayette was lazily scribed down the side in black sharpie. It was covered in doodles and daffodils, after all they started out as an arts major.

"Hercules what's wrong?"John demanded. He was now standing up with his arms still crossed across his chest. How could his posture look so angry yet concern still flashed through his eyes? Hercules lifted the box up and started walking out the door. John scoffed and quickly followed after pulling on his shoulder.

"What the hell man!"he exclaimed.

"Lafayette is having a panic attack. I don't think you being in there right now would be helpful."Hercules said cooly but his eyes held it all. They were darker than usual and held an edge that made John shudder. He sighed in defeat and nodded leaning against the wall.

"Jesus Christ took you long enough!" Alexander snapped once he finally entered the bedroom. He all but snatched the box out of Hercules hands and threw it on the bed. Hercules brushed off his annoyance and let Alexander take the reigns. For someone who handled their own panic attacks so poorly he was a pro at others. Alexander let out a noise of approval once he felt the soft material he was looking for. It was Lafayette's baby lovie, a pastel yellow and white bumble bee they affectionately named abeille. He took a seat on the bed next to them and carefully held it out for them.

"C'est votre doudou"He said quietly. Lafayette didn't even blink at the sound of his voice. It sounded like they were under water, they were terrified. They tried time and time again to swim closer to the surface to reach him but they were pulled back under. They were screaming but no sound was coming out. Two more tears rolled down their cheeks.

"I'm going to touch you"he warned softly. He gently grabbed one of their hands and pried at their fingers unclenching the fist it was wound so tightly in. He whispered words of praise and gently placed the lovie in their hand. The storm came to a halt and Lafayette slowly closed their fist around the lovie. Alexander smiled and stroked their arm.