The moment you walk through the front door, Rin immediately notices that something is wrong.
You don't even take your shoes off properly, you just drop your bag near the entrance and stand there, trying desperately to catch your breath.
Rin looks up from the couch.
"...What happened?"
You try to answer but nothing comes out. Your chest is rising and falling too quickly, your hands trembling as you press them against your stomach.
Rin immediately stands.
"Hey," He crosses the room in seconds. "What happened?"
You shake your head.
"I— I went on that spinning ride and—" Your voice breaks and you cover your face. "I got so scared."
Rin's expression changes instantly.
"Hey, hey. Look at me."
He gently takes your wrists, lowering your hands from your face.
You are crying now.
"I couldn't breathe, Rin. I couldn't—" You suck in a shaky breath, but it comes out uneven. "Everyone else was fine. They were laughing and screaming and having fun and I thought I was going to—"
Your voice cracks.
"I thought I was going to die."
Rin's eyes soften.
He pulls you against his chest immediately, as he places his hand firmly against your upper back.
"You're home."
You clutch the front of his shirt.
"I was so scared. I couldn't breathe. I kept thinking, 'I need to get off, I need to get off,' but it wouldn't stop."
Your tears soak into his shirt but Rin doesn't care. He only tightens his arms around you.
"It's over."
You shake your head against him, still crying.
"It was so fast. It was spinning so much and everything was moving and.... and everyone else was enjoying it!"
Rin gently rubs your back.
"You don't have to enjoy something just because everyone else does."
You sniffle. "But I feel stupid."
His hand stops for a moment and you look up at him.
Rin wipes your tears with his thumb.
"You're not stupid, you got scared." His voice is quiet, firm. "That's all."
Your lip trembles. "I couldn't breathe."
He brushes another tear away. "You were scared. Your body panicked. It happens."
You stare at him, still struggling to steady your breathing and of course, Rin notices immediately.
"Don't force yourself to take a huge breath." He brings your hand to his chest. "Just stay with me."
You feel his heartbeat beneath your palm.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Match my breathing."
You try but your first breath comes out shaky.Rin doesn't rush you.
"Again."
You breathe in.
"Good."
Another breath.
"That's it."
Your fingers tighten around his shirt. "Rin, I was really scared. I thought I was going to pass out."
His expression softens even more.
"You're safe now."
"I don't want to go on one ever again."
"Then don't. You don't have to go on a roller coaster to prove anything."
You let out a tiny, broken laugh through your tears
.Rin's mouth curves faintly. "There."
"What?"
"You laughed."
You bury your face against him again. "I hate that I got so scared."
Rin rests his cheek against the top of your head.
"Stop blaming yourself." His arms tighten around you. "Your friends weren't scared. Good for them. But you were. And that's okay."
You stay against him, breathing gradually becoming steadier.
Rin continues rubbing your back. "You don't have to be brave all the time."
Your close your eyes.
"But everyone else thought it was fun."
"I don't care what everyone else thought. You were terrified." His thumb brushes beneath your eye. "Only that matters to me."
You stare at him.
Rin sighs softly and pulls you back into his arms.
"Come here."
You immediately curl into him.
A few seconds pass.
Then Rin quietly adds, "Next time your friends want to go on something that spins you around until you can't tell which way is up..."
You sniffle.
"You can just sit beside me and watch them."
You laugh softly again.
Rin kisses your temple. "That's better."
And when another shaky breath escapes you, his hand immediately returns to your back. "Easy."
You close your eyes.
"You're home." His voice is barely above a whisper. "You're safe."
And for the first time since getting off that terrifying ride, you finally believe it.
