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They won, right? She was alive, her family was alive, she could hear their voices.
And yet Stelle couldn't breathe, her chest felt tight and she was so, so scared. Was she dying? Did Aventurine really mean it when he said he'd blow up the Stelleron inside her?
No, no no no....
"Stelle, Stelle look at me, you're safe"
Welts voice filtered through her swirling thoughts, calm and stable enough to cling to. He was there, he was real, he was safe and alive and so was she.
Why was she still scared?
Maybe because she was crying so hard she was practically choking on air instead of breathing it in. She was gagging and ended up throwing up, which only served to make her feel even more out of control and scared.
"Easy... breathe in and out, you're going to be just fine"
Welts voice was all that could keep her grounded. He held her hair out of her face and rubbed her back, continuing to say things she couldn't really focus on. But the sound of his voice was what she needed to not spiral further.
"hey, look at me"
His voice was slightly firmer when she'd stopped gagging and was just crying and gasping for breath. He also snapped his fingers about an inch away from her face, causing her eyes to open out of shock.
Her vision was too blurry to see anything but him with any level of certainty. He nodded and tilted her chin up, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Good job, see? Everything's going to be alright"
All Stelle could manage to respond with was a small whimpering sound. It didn't feel like everything was going to be alright, it felt like everything was still all wrong. Logically she knew the fight was over but everything in her insisted she was still in immediate danger.
"Try to match your breathing to mine"
He instructed , taking her hand and holding it to his chest. Or at least that was probably what he would have done if she hadn't just clung to him instead, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed like a scared little kid.
"There there, you've done great today"
Welts voice was calm and soothing as he continued to run his fingers through her hair in a way that somehow made her begin to relax just a bit.
He was soon joined by Himeko who knelt beside them as well, placing a hand on Stelles shoulder.
"We're all safe now. Welt, we've done enough here, let's get the kids back to the express now."
Her tone had an edge of finality to it, not that Welt had any inclination to disagree. Perhaps all of this had put even Himeko on edge.
"I'll tell Dan Heng what happened on the way back"
March piped up, her bright and optimistic tone a little shaky after everything. She was clearly trying to put on a brave face for Stelles sake.
After some time back at the express Stelle had come down from her panic attack. She was calmer, but exhausted and still quite clingy. And understandably so.
Welt didn't mind staying with her in her room to keep her calm. In fact he was quite reluctant to leave her alone at the moment. There was no way of knowing if she might spiral into a panic again if left with her own thoughts so soon.
It wasn't fair, he thought as he felt her grip tighten on his hand. She was clearly exhausted, both from the fight and from the panic attack that had sapped any energy remaining in her. But she still struggled to stay awake and alert.
"Stelle I'll still be here if you let yourself sleep, you need the rest more than anything else"
"You promise?"
The pleading hint to her voice was even more of a stark reminder that, while they had no way of knowing Stelles actual age, she was clearly barely an adult. Practically a child, and one who didn't ask for any of the hell she was being put through.
"I promise."
His reply seemed to soothe her as it wasn't long before she closed her eyes and her breathing slowed as she finally fell asleep. Hopefully no dreams would disturb her rest this time. But if she were to wake up from nightmares he'd be there to calm her down again.
In the meantime he went over the events of earlier in his head. Was Aventurine really gone? Himeko was right about that man... there was no use wondering what might have happened if they made different decisions but it was hard not to.
"How's our girl?"
Himeko spoke softly from the doorway. She was still refreshingly calm as always, despite the worry in her voice.
"Sound asleep, I doubt she'll wake up if you come in"
Welt replied in a quiet voice, not quite hushed though. Once Stelle was asleep she didn't wake up just from people talking near her.
Himeko nodded and crossed the room to sit next to him on the bed, her gaze traveling over Stelle with a soft sigh.
"did you get her to talk at all?"
"not really, all she did was have me promise to stay while she slept. How's March?"
"Mostly just worried about Stelle, she's making Dan Heng watch movies with her right now. Those two will be just fine. So how are you holding up, Welt?"
Himeko turning her concerned attention to him almost caught Welt off guard,,, almost. In reality he'd known her long enough that he should expect that. Despite the fact he was very much the oldest member of the crew, Himeko still insisted on trying to mother him on occasion.
He never really complained about that.
While he wouldn't admit it, more to himself than her, it was comforting that she didn't allow him to try to handle everything all by himself. He was more than capable, but still only human after all.
So.. how was he holding up? He hadn't really taken the time to think about it. Maybe Himeko knew that, she always had a way of knowing that.
He sighed and looked over at Stelles sleeping form, worry and sadness for her still gripped his chest. He wished he could do more to help her.
Anger flashed through him at the thought of what Aventurine had told her. That 'They'll all die because of you.' It was a cruel and unnecessary comment that, in Welts mind, solidified Aventurine as being either careless, cruel, or sadistic. An ipc stoneheart, what a fitting title for the man.
"You were right, about Aventurine."