this was sent ages ago i’m sorry!
It’s not working, it’s not working no matter how hard he tries, all his nerves scraped raw, all that balled up anger, self loathing, guilt and fear he’s tried for weeks to control, to ignore, to subjugate by focusing on his training crowding his mind, his thoughts, taking hold of his lungs and his heart until the frantic beat of it is all he hears, head spinning from lack of oxygen because he somehow can’t seem to make his keyblade appear like it should.
Rationally, Lea knows -- or would know -- that it might come from overthinking the entire affair; knows it’s an instinct and not something to force. But the bigger part, that part currently overwhelmed by everything he’s been keeping down can’t help but believe that this will be the moment they’ll finally come to their senses about him; the moment they’ll finally decide he’s not cut out for this after all, not deserving of a chance to redeem himself for his past mistakes, not fit to be a hero.
Over the ringing in his ears and the horribly wheezing breaths he’s trying to force past constricted lungs, he doesn’t hear Kairi’s words until she’s got a hand on his shoulder, making him look up into her slightly stricken features, a concerned gaze -- when did he end up on his knees? -- his hand automatically reaching up to curl around her arm in an effort to ground himself somehow. Just breathe, she says, and he forces another breath past, and another, and another until the pressure starts to ease and the air flows freer.
“ I’m fine, it’s okay, I’m good, “ he rasps at long last, even though he feels far from; shaky and slightly nauseous, his head swimming, body winding down from the sudden spike in adrenaline. He’s sure he’ll feel more than embarrassed about this later, considering what follows next, but at the moment his mind feels oddly, blessedly blank. “ Just ... just don’t go yet. Please. “