[ Breathe at a cottage dining table, breathe on a castle sofa, breathe in a garden, breathe in a forest, breathe in a counseling office more times than he could ever begin to count–
Eren tells him to breathe, and it's like coming home.
Maruki laughs at first, all the air punched out of him despite the gently authoritative command. The way the tables have turned is so absurd, he can't help himself...
But then he does. Some part of his mind harkens back to every time he slowed his breathing to try to get Eren to mirror him without being told. For quite some time as they meander slowly, aimlessly through the market, he only focuses on his breath. It takes some time to slow, longer to even out, but he does get there eventually, breaths deep and purposeful, heart finally beginning to slow.
An exhale after a held breath, and he smiles over at Eren, steadier than before, plainly and profoundly grateful. ]
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Eren tells him to breathe, and it's like coming home.
Maruki laughs at first, all the air punched out of him despite the gently authoritative command. The way the tables have turned is so absurd, he can't help himself...
But then he does. Some part of his mind harkens back to every time he slowed his breathing to try to get Eren to mirror him without being told. For quite some time as they meander slowly, aimlessly through the market, he only focuses on his breath. It takes some time to slow, longer to even out, but he does get there eventually, breaths deep and purposeful, heart finally beginning to slow.
An exhale after a held breath, and he smiles over at Eren, steadier than before, plainly and profoundly grateful. ]
I wonder where you learned that one from...