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Lampert began forming his second thoughts the moment he walked into the place.
There was an instinctive reaction to frown when he perceived the bustling noise. Kasper, right next to him, seemed entirely fine with the situation.
"Dude, this place is sick. The food's kinda meh, but the vibes are through the roof. It was one of the first places I discovered on the elevator."
Lampert gave an uneasy hum in acknowledgement.
"Come on, let's order, let's sit down! You'll have a good time, I promise."
Kasper led him to the counter, all smiles and confidence. Lampert didn't understand him. Lampert didn't understand a lot of things.
They were standing in an averagely long line, watching as clunky old animatronics moved and pretended to play out-of-tune music from external speakers.
It was simply another layer of chaos pressing on his head.
Oppressive. Suffocating.
But Kasper said he'd like this place, so he'd trust the process.
"So we just...wait here?"
"Yeah, then we order, then sit down and wait for our number to be called. You really haven't been to a restaurant before, have you?"
"I haven't really been...anywhere."
It was their turn to order soon enough. Kasper ratted off his order like a script he'd memorized. He'd probably said it about a million times.
When the tired-looking cashier turned to him, Lampert froze.
After an agonizing moment of awkward silence, Kasper just told the guy that Lampert would have the same thing.
Kasper led him to a table, beaming. "Isn't this just the coolest place, dude? Well, the music's mediocre, the food's kinda greasy and bland, and I'm pretty sure the place as a whole breaks a few health violations, but there's just something about it, y'know?"
"Haha...yeah."
Lampert's tail twitched. He had barely been listening to what his companion was telling him. His voice was just another sound to focus on and frankly, his senses were already spread quite thin.
People chattering. Chewing. Throwing messy wrappers and soggy fries on the floor. Order numbers being shouted. Children screaming, children crying. Bright, colored lights flashing. Music blasting. All wrapping around his lampshade and squeezing painfully.
Kasper just kept talking, Lampert kept not listening in favor of staring at the table.
"...so, that part of the community kind of came to a complete halt...hey, Lamps, you listening?"
Silence.
Kasper waved his hand in front of Lampert's face, jolting him back to attention. "You alright, man? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I...what?"
His voice came out much more strained than he meant it to.
"I mean, you look a little disturbed."
"I, um... I'm okay."
"If you say so."
Kasper gave him one last look before their number was called out by yet another tired employee.
"Oop, that's us. Be right back, Lamps."
Kasper leaving sent a spike of panic through Lampert's body. He kept opening and closing his hands, leg bouncing up and down.
Clock ticking. Water rushing. Steps pounding. Glasses rattling. Oil frying.
All building up in a scary momentum that rapidly sped up his breathing.
Soon enough he was keeled over the table wishing everything and everyone would just be quiet.
He couldn't seem to get enough oxygen into him, even if he didn't really require it. The inhalation and exhalation of air happened at a rate so fast he couldn't process it. His hand flew up to his chest. He couldn't breathe. Everything was loud. Lights wouldn't stop flashing, even behind his closed eyes. There were too many sounds, too many objects in the room, too many sights and smells.
"Hey, I'm back- woah."
The tray of food practically flew from Kasper's hands to the table. He quickly knelt down on the floor in front of Lampert, placing both hands on his shoulders.
"Hey, woah woah woah, hey, can you hear me? Deep breaths, man. Just focus on my voice."
Lampert opened his eyes to see the concerned face of his friend looking up at him.
"Okay, okay- Look at me. Hey." The volume of his voice dropped substantially. A small gesture that, in the back of his mind, Lampert was grateful for.
"Breathe, Lamps. Hey. In for four, out for four, okay? I'll do it with you."
Kasper took one of Lampert's hands and with his free one, slowly counted up on his fingers.
One, two, three, four. Inhaling.
Then he paused for just a moment, then counted down.
Four, three, two, one. Exhaling.
Lampert's breathing slowed as he began adapting to the pattern Kasper established.
One, two, three, four.
Four, three, two, one.
One, two, three, four.
Four, three, two, one...
"Feel better now?" Kasper gently ran his hand over Lampert's arm in a motion he hoped was soothing.
"Yeah, I...I think so."
"What was that about?"
"I, um...it's just...loud, here. I think."
Kasper tilted his head. "It's not that loud...Okay, it is pretty loud. Compared to the ROKEA, I guess." He grimaced and chided himself. "I should've thought about that. Sorry, man. We can leave if you want."
"Umm...we don't have to, it's okay..."
Kasper called over an employee. "Hey! Can we get this in some to-go bags please? Thanks! Sorry!"
"Oh- we really don't have to-" Lampert's eyes darted around the place. He couldn't to find a comfortable place to rest his vision.
"Dude, I want you to be comfortable. If that means leaving as soon as we get here, that's fine. One step at a time, Lamps."
"...Okay..."
"Come on. I know a place I think you'd like."
The elevator doors opened to a peaceful aquarium, walls of water surrounding them. Essence of the sea was placed directly into the floor, and it had music softly playing in the background. In a way, it reminded Lampert of his home.
Kasper led the two to sit down in front of the biggest window to the ocean, the one parallel to the elevator.
Kasper placed one of the Reddy's to-go bags on Lampert's lap.
"Already bought the stuff. Might as well eat it, y'know?"
They watched the marine life thrive in their own little world, living on nothing but instinct and a will to survive.
Doing the same thing over and over again, just to continue pushing through.
"Wow, this burger really does suck..." Lampert giggled and continued eating it even after his statement.
"I know, right?" Kasper laughed in turn.
After a while of mediocre food and silent solidarity, Kasper leaned on Lampert's shoulder, a soft smile adorning his features.
It brought a smile to Lampert's face, too.
That face. He would never forget that stupid face.