Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Theo swam near the opening of the cave, almost having been constantly looking at his com. Orion had left a couple days ago, he wanted to explore more and he told Theo he'd be back In a couple days and he'd message him when he was coming back.

Now almost 3 days have gone by, and he hadn't heard a word from the Orca, and Theo would have been lying if he said he wasn't worried. He had tried to distract himself, working on the village for a while but his mind wandered back to Orion and how he was doing.

Faye had even noticed how worried he was that the Orca wouldn't come back, that he might have gone back to his uncle and told him where they were. But Theo knew he wouldn't ever do that, not a million years, not since he promised him he'd wouldn't leave and that he loved him.

So why did he have this burning feeling In his gut that he wasn't going to come back, that he had trusted him to begin with and that he was lying.

'Does he really care?' A voice taunted in his head.

The voice had almost been there since Orion had left and he had ignore it, for the most part.

'He left, he said he would stay but he left.

Theo looked out, telling himself to Ingore it, he'd come back, he had to come back. He swam back into the cave, Into the bubble where he beds had been and sat on the ground.

'Does he even really like you Theo? Like he claims he does'
Theo stopped at that thought, his mind thinking about the question. He knew the thought was wrong, Orion loved him hell they were dating but yet he hasn't answered his com. He hadn't said a word and that was eating away at the siren. He pulled his com out, ignoring how his hand had started shaking at the thought as he clicked Orion on his messages.

Theo: just checking on where you are and how your doing, hope you get back soon love you<3

Theo put his com back down next to him as the shake in his hands became a bit more noticeable.

'He hasn't answered you yet, are you sure he cares, that he loves you?'

Theo felt like everything had started closing into him as he told himself to breathe that he was ok and that Orion would come back, that he would answer him at least. But as the minutes ticked by, the burning feeling In his gut got worse and worse and his mind kept repeating the idea that Orion wasn't going to come back.

He didn't realize when he shut his eyes but his breathing had gotten heavier and he was shaking, he was hyperventilating and no one was around.

'Breathe, come on breathe your fine' he kept telling himself but he couldn't, he couldn't focus on anything, just the idea that he was cornered and something was taunting him. Nothing felt like he was in the bubble, he needed air, but he wasn't getting anything.

Orion: I'm coming back now, love you <3

Theo hadn't heard his com go off but the voice that appear in the background of his breathing.

"Theo?"

Chapter Text

Orion paused, seeing Theo on the ground, curled in on himself, his com a couple feet from him. He walked a but closer, remembering what Faye had told him how to help Theo when he had a panic attack.

Theo heard Orions voice, trying to manage a reply out.
"C-cant- c-can-" Theo tried taking but that was a failed attempted as he was trying to breathe.

"Hey, hey Theo? Theo can you hear me," Orion kneeled by Theo, seeing how panicked he was. Theo quietly hummed, as best as he could as he kept trying to breath.

"Ok, ok that good, can you match my breathing?" Orion said quietly but loud enough for Theo to hear as he slightly nodded his head.

Theo listened, heating Orion's breathing as he slowly matched it, feeling his senses come back to him. The voice in his head backed off as he slowly remembered where he was and Orion was there he came back, he didn't leave.

"Is touch ok," Orion asked, not wanting to push Theo into anything.

"Y-yes," Theo got out in barly a whisper as Orion held Theo's hand, gently enough that if he wanted to pull away he could. Theo focused on Orion's hand holding his as he slowly opened his eyes back up, seeing the orca kneeling next to him.

"Y-your back," Theo said, relief coming over him as he straightened his back from being circled in ok himself.

"Yeah, I got back a little bit ago, but got worried when you didn't answer your com after I messaged,"

Theo looked to where his com had laid, next to him a couple feet but the screen still lite up to Orion's message.
"I'm sorry," Theo whispered, he felt like crying again, for not looking at his com, for having a panic attack to begin with.

"Hey, your ok, you don't need to apologize love,"

Theo felt his cheeks grow hot but ingored it as he leaned in to hug him.

"I missed you," Theo whispered, though it should have been obvious.

"I missed you to," Orion said planting a kiss to Theo's head.

"Wanna tell me about your trip?"