The lack of air is spiking his panic further, causing the pervasive numb tingle of anxiety and grief in his chest to crawl up the back of his neck and head. His hearing is starting to fuzz out, as if muted by thickly draped windows, but enough slips in, enough for his mind to grasp at.
He tries to follow suit, listen to Ryo's directions, but his quiet breaths are choked and stilted past his raw throat. His nails bite against his scalp, enough to draw him to the present, enough to focus on his breathing, pull air haltingly into his uncooperative lungs. It's hard when Just... breathe reminds him of his loss, when trying to stall his panic and breathe reminds him of all of who he's lost.
But eventually his breathing is more steady, though still shuddered and grief stricken, he's no longer gasping and choking on every inhale. "Tha-..." he clears his throat, "thank you..." his voice is rough, torn, shaken.
CW: Panic attack things, probably should say that for the previous few tags
He tries to follow suit, listen to Ryo's directions, but his quiet breaths are choked and stilted past his raw throat. His nails bite against his scalp, enough to draw him to the present, enough to focus on his breathing, pull air haltingly into his uncooperative lungs. It's hard when Just... breathe reminds him of his loss, when trying to stall his panic and breathe reminds him of all of who he's lost.
But eventually his breathing is more steady, though still shuddered and grief stricken, he's no longer gasping and choking on every inhale. "Tha-..." he clears his throat, "thank you..." his voice is rough, torn, shaken.