Work Text:
The steady thump of Enid’s heart against her ear briefly chased away another spike of sweltering panic, the comforting sound combating the unsettling chill that had refused to desert her trembling frame for the last several minutes.
Wednesday’s lungs collapsed abruptly with a strangled sob, the awareness of her own humiliation sending her into another attack as she clawed at the thick wool overlaying Enid’s stomach, her girlfriend’s sweater the seer’s saving grace as she pressed her face further into the vibrant fleece, instinctively burrowing closer to the dependable heartbeat.
Enid tenderly shushed her, gently humming her nickname before pressing her lips to her crown in multiple featherlight kisses. Still, Wednesday’s battered heart squeezed in her chest, the raven releasing another pitiful whine as her face burned in shame.
“Enid,” she managed in a troubled whisper, the burgeoning anxiety still wrapped around her airway, constricting her throat and causing her pulse to stutter in alarm. Helplessly, she clung to the wolf, hands fisting in her clothes as she tried in vain to reel herself back from the encroaching precipice, her voice pitching in loud, obvious panic. “E-Enid, help.”
The blonde immediately gathered Wednesday tighter in her embrace, easily pulling her into her lap and cradling her head against her chest with a sympathetic noise, colorful nails scratching lightly over her scalp in a soothing touch.
“Wednesday,” she cooed, a note of worry in her tone. “Just breathe with me. I’ve got you, we’re safe in our room. Please breathe.”
“I can’t,” Wednesday gasped, her anxiety only growing as her thoughts spiraled further into darkness, the raven shivering uncontrollably in Enid’s arms as she fought for every meager breath. “There’s—Enid, s-something’s wrong with me—“
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” Enid murmured in the same calming tone, both of her hands slowly rubbing up and down Wednesday’s back in a firm, methodical caress. “You’re having a panic attack. You need to breathe. I’m here, and I’m gonna help you, okay? Focus on me.”
Wednesday nodded jerkily, her fingers going numb from how tightly she was grasping at Enid’s sweater, little dots beginning to cloud her vision as she swallowed another wave of terror and desperately latched onto her girlfriend’s consoling presence.
“Listen to my breathing, okay? I want you to count with me. Five in and five out, ready? Slow and deep,” Enid instructed evenly, adjusting her hold on Wednesday so she could speak directly into her ear. “All right, count with me. One… two…”
Wednesday screwed her eyes shut as she forced herself to pay attention only to Enid, who led her through countless rounds of rhythmic breathing, the seer so distraught that she was unable to begin copying her until the seventh or eighth set of counting. Enid was patient, her pattern never wavering as she graciously guided her until she was able to properly take in air. The first full breath felt like breaking the surface, and Wednesday couldn’t help the way she took in as much as possible as fast as possible, her small body suddenly heaving at an alarming rate.
“Slow, Wens. It’s okay, you’re all right now. Keep counting with me,” Enid said, her hands gently trying to soothe the knotted tension along her spine.
Wednesday barely registered the calming touch as she cried out softly, eyes wide and unseeing as she hyperventilated, digging her nails into Enid’s collar and forcefully pulling her closer. She tried to mimic Enid’s steady movements but her lungs just wouldn’t obey, the panic only ballooning in her chest as she lost control of herself, hot tears rolling down her pale face and bleeding into Enid’s sweater.
“No, no, no, you’re okay. You’re okay,” Enid reaffirmed, her hands moving to cup Wednesday’s jaw and tentatively pry her away from her shoulder. In her frenzied state, Wednesday went along with it, desperate to find stability again, her forehead roughly colliding with Enid’s as she latched onto her wrists and gasped for air over and over again.
“Wednesday. Wednesday. You’re okay, love. You’re here with me, it’s just us. Can you breathe nice and slow for me?” Enid encouraged her with more guided breaths, the psychic finally, mercifully finding some of her footing after several moments. She held onto the blonde’s forearms, squeezing them periodically as she concentrated on slowing her reckless breathing.
“There we go, that’s much better,” Enid murmured with a relieved smile, her thumbs sweeping gingerly beneath tightly closed eyes. “Keep following my breathing. Can you feel my hands? Focus on my touch.”
Wednesday huffed shakily as she took Enid’s instruction in stride, her own hands twitching up to find the ones against her face and intertwine their fingers, the seer turning her face into Enid’s palm and concentrating hard on the warm, grounding touch. She was still panting, her breaths anguished and uneven where they puffed across Enid’s wrist, the raven leaning herself further into her partner’s space to chase away the lingering anxiety. The wolf feathered gentle kisses along her damp cheek and to her ear, humming softly when she felt Wednesday press a faint, distracted kiss to her palm before taking in a deep lungful of air and dispelling it in a trembling sigh.
“You’re okay now,” Enid murmured, lips against her temple and dragging lower, to a freckled cheekbone. “You’re doing so good, baby. Keep breathing with me.”
“Enid,” Wednesday breathed in relief, her voice hitching in persisting distress as she shuffled closer on her lap, seeking out the anchoring presence. “I…”
Enid hushed her tenderly before feathering several soft kisses across her bangs and bringing her closer in her embrace, her palms warm and unwavering against her jaw, one of her thumbs affectionately caressing the full bottom lip. “Don’t talk right now, just focus on breathing, okay?”
Nodding weakly, Wednesday sniffled, some color returning to her cheeks at her embarrassing state of disarray. Enid read her easily, humming sympathetically as she brought their foreheads together, giving her partner a sweet, encouraging smile.
“I love you, Wens,” Enid said softly, clicking her tongue at the faint sob the seer responded with, the blonde pressing forward to brush loving kisses along the burning cheek, catching each stubborn tear with her lips. “You’re okay now. I love you so very much.”
Enid continued to shower her with affectionate words and tender kisses, waiting for the psychic’s breathing to return to normal before carefully gathering her hair away from her face and gently cupping her jaw. She waited for Wednesday to look at her, her beautiful brown eyes slightly bloodshot and her brows wrinkled in a vulnerable scowl as she peered up at her through wet lashes. Enid smiled compassionately before she inched forward, their noses bumping in the fondest of touches.
“My perfect Wednesday,” Enid sighed through a growing smile, a hint of emotion clouding her tone as she hovered over the seer’s parted lips. “You’re so strong. I love you.”
At the generous repetition, Wednesday whined a soft noise, emotion burning behind her eyes as she swallowed another wave of tears. “Enid…”
“You know that, right?” she went on, her voice endlessly soft, her vibrant blue eyes so close and so honest that Wednesday couldn’t look away. “You know there’s nothing you could do to make me stop loving you? You’re it for me. I’m so glad to be holding you right now. I wanna do it forever.”
Wednesday was helpless as the tears spilled over again, the raven hiccuping a quiet cry as she grasped at the hands that held her face so tenderly. Enid whispered her name sweetly before kissing her quivering bottom lip, the brunette whimpering a tremulous sound as she desperately pressed into the kiss, her fingers reaching up to tangle in blonde hair as she scooted forward on her lap, trying to get as close as possible.
“I d-don’t deserve you, querida,” Wednesday wept against her lips, hot tears racing down her cheeks even as Enid continued to gently wipe them away, the wolf humming a disapproving sound.
“None of that, please,” she chided softly before kissing her again, her mouth soft and warm as it chased away her self-disparaging thoughts. “You’re more than enough for me. You’re just right.”
The minutes wore on, and even as her tears renewed, Enid’s arms never faltered from their place around her. Wednesday burrowed into her, her battered heart healing with every kiss and every soft-spoken word.
Maybe, in time, she would learn to believe her. But until then, Enid would whisper heartfelt promises into her ear, kissing away every tear and holding her close.
And she would never let go.