Absently, Eddie is aware of two things: his lungs are on fire and his bike had just fallen over. The wheel was spinning slowly from the impact, rusty clicking as it came to a full stop. His chest shudders with violence and he balls his fists up, crushing them into his eyes to will his panic away.

This wasn't just because of what Chara said. Well, yeah, it definitely had set him off but now he was just having an anxiety attack about everything in his situation. He was that raw, animal-scared where he could practically feel the snare around his ankle.

What was he supposed to do?

It's not until he sees from the edge of his vision kneeling that he realizes he's got company. Eddie furiously rubs at his face and swallows a deep breath. He couldn't be caught crying like some candy ass. Not by anyone.

He sucks in a harsh breath and when he drops his hands, he's ...not crying but it's painfully obvious that he's only just barely keeping himself from crying more. His face is tear streaked, his eyes red and wet.

"I'm fine," he insists with a crack right down the middle of his voice. He considers the man in front of him, eyes darting warily across his face before dropping to his lap where he had his aspirator clutched in a white-knuckled grip.

"I just fell is all."