Vario lay sprawled across the couch behind the counter, pale as the fluorescent lights above. His hands trembled slightly, and every time a woman walked past the store window, his eyes widened in sheer panic. Fainting had become his default reaction, and even thinking about the last few incidents—the soup betrayal, Yuwen, the Karen—made his chest tighten painfully.
Nyx appeared silently beside him, crouching down. Her mischievous smirk was gone, replaced by something softer, gentler. "Hey," she said quietly. "You're not in trouble."
Vario blinked at her, voice shaky. "I… I can't… I can't handle it. Women, the store… everything."
Nyx reached out, lightly resting a hand on his shoulder. "I know," she said calmly. "You've been through… a lot. And it's not your fault. You survived Oni, magical chaos, betrayals, and retail disasters. You've earned the right to be scared for a little while."
Vario's eyes welled up. "But I keep… fainting. I feel useless."
"You're not useless," Nyx replied. "You're… human. Well, mostly human. And it's okay to need help. You don't have to face all of this alone."
He swallowed hard. "Even… even Yuwen?"
Nyx smirked gently. "Especially Yuwen. But trust me, the world won't end if you take a break. You survived her and came back. That's more than most could do."
Vario took a deep breath. Nyx's presence was grounding—somehow her calm energy made the panic inside him ebb, even if only slightly. She nudged him lightly with her elbow.
"Look," she said softly, "one step at a time. No more fainting over small things. And if you do… I'll be right here. I've got you."
Vario exhaled slowly, letting some of the tension leave his shoulders. For the first time in days, he felt… a little safe.
Nyx gave a small, approving nod. "Good. Now, rest a bit. The store, the chaos, the soup… it'll wait. You need yourself first."
And for the first time in weeks, Vario let himself relax, feeling a warmth he hadn't realized he needed—a shield against the chaos of both the store and the world outside.