[there's an impulse, to reach out for the other man — because he can hear the notes of distress in the breathlessness. reach out, let him know that it'll be okay. it almost makes himself known, but matt stops himself at the last second before it does; he doesn't have another choice, when all that he can think about is what it would be like to actually feel that flush that warms the air around them, to wonder if his lips would feel the same against his own.
heat washes over his body; he feels like he can barely breathe.
it's more of a struggle than ever to get out:]
I did. [he nods, once, twice, more than he means to.] Also the candy.
[something's been done to them, and he can get past it. all he has to do is focus; listen to his breath, find the chirping of one of the birds nearby and keep his attention there. but —
his brain feels like static. all he can tune into is a heartbeat.]
Maybe.... [he finds himself starting, then trailing off. fingernails dig into palms, again, and, again, do nothing. so he finds himself finishing:] Maybe we can help each other.
[and he finds himself shifting just a little closer, toward what he should be shifting away from.
(that's always the way it is, isn't it? maybe at another time, he'd examine that thought. now, though, the capacity to do so is steadily dwindling.)]
no subject
heat washes over his body; he feels like he can barely breathe.
it's more of a struggle than ever to get out:]
I did. [he nods, once, twice, more than he means to.] Also the candy.
[something's been done to them, and he can get past it. all he has to do is focus; listen to his breath, find the chirping of one of the birds nearby and keep his attention there. but —
his brain feels like static. all he can tune into is a heartbeat.]
Maybe.... [he finds himself starting, then trailing off. fingernails dig into palms, again, and, again, do nothing. so he finds himself finishing:] Maybe we can help each other.
[and he finds himself shifting just a little closer, toward what he should be shifting away from.
(that's always the way it is, isn't it? maybe at another time, he'd examine that thought. now, though, the capacity to do so is steadily dwindling.)]