Neko Virgil

Chapter 4

TW: Panic attack

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//Patton's PoV//

I quickly run to the bathroom to get some bandages for the Neko's wounds. I walk back out and start wrapping the cuts and putting ointment on the bruises. I stop when I get to his broken leg. "Hey, kiddo. Do you know what I should do for your leg?" I ask looking up at them. "U-umm... y-you can just.. wrap it I-I guess? I heal fa-fast so it shou-should be fine..." They say looking away a bit. I smile kindly at them then say, "Alright kiddo." I turn back to their leg and take the gauze and carefully clean and wrap the wound, trying to be as careful and gentle as I can so that I don't accidentally hurt the Neko. As I'm wrapping the wound they whimper a few times.

I finish quickly and pack up the first aid kit. I quickly go and put the first aid kit back up in the bathroom and walk back out to the Neko. I sit next to them on the couch and look at them. They're looking down and it looks like they have tears in their eyes. "Hey kiddo, you alright?" I ask out of concern. They look up at me shyly for a moment before looking back down and wiping their eyes. "Y-yeah, just... in shock I-I guess," they said giving me a small smile.

I grinned back at them before remembering that I don't know their name or pronouns. I should probably ask before I forget again. "Hey kiddo can I ask you some questions?" I ask, semi-quietly, not wanting to scare them. "W-what?" They ask looking at me, seeming kinda scared about what I'm going to ask. "I just wanted to know your name and preferred pronouns kiddo," I say, giving them a reassuring smile. "O-oh ok.." they start, "u-um... my-my name i-is V-V-Vir-gil... U-umm... H-he / hi-him I.. I guess.." He finishes looking away awkwardly.

I smile at him before gently pulling him into a loose side hug so he can pull away if he wants. He leans into me and closes his eyes. I start gently scratching his head and ears. After a few minutes, he seems fully relaxed. I mean, he's even purring! Eventually, he fell asleep so I put on a movie quietly and let him cuddle up to me. I pull the blankets back over to us and gently cover me and Virgil with them. After a few minutes, my eyelids started to feel and I let sleep consume me.

//The next morning//

//Virgil's PoV//

I wake up feeling warm again. So yesterday wasn't a dream. That's good. I feel something that I'm laying on shift. I open my eyes and look down to see I'm laying on top of the guy who rescued. I jolt up off of him but instead get tangled up in the blankets wrapped around us and fall to the floor. I yelp out in pain then start whimpering because my bad leg got really tangled up in the blankets and is being held at a painful angle.

After about a minute of me whimpering the guy who saved me woke. He looked down at me confused for a second before realizing the position I'm in. He immediately starts to untangle himself and get down on the floor next to me. He gently holds my leg up to keep it from falling to the ground while he untangles me and my leg from the blankets. After I'm untangled he gently sets my leg down then leaves the room.

I start to freak out, wondering if I did something wrong or was too much of a burden or whatever I did to make him leave. My breathing slowly became more shallow and I started hyperventilating. My hands were shaking and I felt my eyes well up with tears. It was getting really hard to breathe and eventually I was reduced to gasping for air but not being able to get any. A few seconds later the tears spilled over and I started crying, which made it even harder to breathe. Eventually, my vision started fading as well which only made me panic more. No, no, no, I don't wanna pass out. After a few minutes of me panicking and trying to breathe, but failing miserably, the guy who saved me walked back into the room. He must've seen me panicking because he quickly ran over to me, but his loud footsteps scared me even more. I tried to scramble away, but because of my leg, it ended up being really painful, the pain only making everything worse. The guy who saved me stopped running towards me, and instead slowly and calmly approached me. Once he was a few feet in front of me, he reached his hand out to try and comfort me. Instead, he was suddenly my previous master and I was back in the basement, chained to the floor, my mouth covered with a rag to muffle my screams and whimpers. I screamed out, bloody murder, as loud as I possibly could, trying to bet as far into a corner as I possibly could.

Then, suddenly I heard a voice. I couldn't make out what it said, but it's presence was comforting. I calmed down some, but only a tiny bit. Then I heard the voice again. It said, "Virgil, kiddo, can you hear me?" It sounded like the guy who saved me. I nodded my head to answer his question. "Can I touch you kiddo?" He says. I quickly shake my head no. I don't want him touching me, it'll only remind me of the way my master would touch me. "Okay, kiddo, I won't touch you," he said to reassure me. By this point, I was starting to calm down some. "Can you take a deep breath for me?" He asked. I nodded before trying to take a deep breath. I ended up choking and coughing instead. "Okay kiddo, how about this. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds," he says slowly and carefully. I start to follow the breathing pattern, breath in... 2... 3... 4... Hold... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... Out... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...

I repeat the breathing pattern a few times before finally opening my eyes. It's still hard to breathe but at least it's easier and I can see better. "Ok, kiddo, can you name me five things you can see?" He asks. I look around a little before answering. "U-uhhmmm, w-wa-wall-ls, f-fl-flo-or, c-cou-ouch, t-ta-ab-ble, a-and y-you-u," I say with a stuttery and scratchy voice. "Ok, good job, now name me four things you can touch," he says giving me a reassuring smile. "O-ok, u-umm, f-floor, w-walls, j-jacket, h-hair," I say, my voice getting a little stronger and I calm down some more, everything becoming clearer. "Ok, now three things you can hear," he said. "Y-you, me, and the cl-clock," I say, my voice going almost completely back to normal, minus the scratchy-ness. "Now, name two things you smell," he said moving to sit beside me, but not to close. I take a good sniff of the air before answering, "Ci-cinnamon and maple," which are some scented candles in the room. "Ok, lastly, one thing you taste," he said looking me in the eyes, in a kind and reassuring way. I lick around my mouth slightly before opening it to answer, "Salty."

He gives me a large smile before carefully reaching out his hand. I hesitantly give him my hand in return and he holds on and gently squeezes it in a reassuring way. I give him a small smile, while still taking deep breathes to calm down. He gently takes my hand and guides it to his chest as he shifts a little closer so I can reach better. As he puts my hand on his chest he slows his breathing and holds my hand there so I can copy his breathing.

After a few minutes of sitting like this, my breathing finally calms down. I shift closer to him and cuddle up into his side. He gently and loosely lays his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in closer slightly. I curl up in his lap more before tiredly muttering, "'m tired." He chuckles lightly before responding, "You can sleep, I promise, I'll keep you safe Virgil."

With those words, I fell into a peaceful sleep, curled up in my savior's lap.

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