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Contrary to popular belief, Freminet didn't panic easily. Yes, he had social anxiety, and yes, he didn't like holding conversations for longer than a minute or two, but he didn't just panic every time he had to deliver materials to that lady who always seemed enthusiastic about keeping a conversation with him.
No. Really, Freminet didn't normally panic, he was too used to the world being faster than him, he had grown used to that sense of being left out, of being the odd one, the quiet one, and so as long as he didn't actually feel threatened, he wouldn't panic easily.
But the fact that he doesn't panic that easily doesn't change the fact that he can still feel panic.
Lyney was in the hospital. Lyney was hurt. Because, while Lyney doesn't give in to his panic easily, he does panic quite frequently. He overthinks. He gets overwhelmed. He drives himself to a breaking point and then quickly comvinces himself that he's fine, that he doesn't need any help or comfort. And normally Freminet doesn't say anything about it, because he knows Lyney well enough, and he knows his concern won't be well received by his older brother.
Still, things usually solve themselves. Lyney pretends to be fine even though he's crumbling on the inside, and it's only when he's alone in his room that he locks the door behind him and cracks, only coming out after he's composed himself for his siblings to see.
This, however, is new. And Freminet can't help but panic because it's new. Lyney gave himself a bad enough panic attack to end up in ER, and Freminet can only sit in this horribly uncomfortable chair with this horribly uncomfortable lights above him feeling like this is his fault.
And he panics.
Lynette sees as much and rushes over to him, trying to make things better by hugging him as tightly as she can, probably because she also need this because holy fuck, Lyney is still in an unknown room and yes, maybe thinking that he's dead is a stretch, but he doesn't know, and the feeling weighing on his chest is making him desperate, because what if Lyney is dead?
But his sister tells him that Lyney isn't dead. She doesn't say that he's fine, but at least she assures him that Lyney isn't dead. She tells him that she knows for sure. She tells him of this thing that twins have where they can tell how the other is doing without words or looks. Freminet doesn't know if twins really have telepathy, but for the time being he's willing to believe anything Lynette tells him if it lessens this horrible ache in his chest.
And so they wait. Because they can do nothing else. Holding onto each other and silently hoping that everything is fine. And he knows Lynette is going to have a serious conversation with Lyney when he's better, but he can't bring himself to ask her if she thinks Lyney will get better at all.
He knows in his heart that everything will be just fine, but he still feels like crying and apologizing nevertheless.
He knows but at the same time panic tells him that he doesn't know anything really, and everything just becomes progressively more and more overwhelming to the point that he doesn't know if he'll be able to keep himself from crying any longer.
Thankfully, a nurse comes to inform them of Lyney's condition, smiling with a hint of sadness when she tells them the room number and assures them that Lyney is just fine. Lynette seems to believe this. Freminet can't really blame her, he also wants to believe this, but his panic won't go away until he can see Lyney, alive and well, with his own eyes.
Lynette grabs his hand. Her grip is strong. Stronger than Lyney's and maybe even Father's, but Freminet finds that he doesn't dislike it and, as a matter of fact, he appreciates the extra pressure, as if it is water pushing down on him, it keeps him grounded.
But then they reach the room and everything comes crashing down on him just as fast as Lynette is pulling his brother into a rather harsh hug that he can only describe as simultaneously angered and desperate.
So he panics. Because even though Lyney is fine and trying to tell Lynette that he's alive and well, Freminet still feels so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relief he got hit with just by opening the door.
And soon enough he wishes he was underwater, where he can cry freely and unperturbed, because he can no longer hold back the tears and holy fucking archons he's crying so much and so loudly but he's also so relieved that Lyney is ok that he can't bring himself to stop.
Lyney is calling him soon after his vision starts to get blurry, concerned, just as that stare he can feel on him coming from Lynette, because yes, Freminet doesn't cry easily either, but he supposes that neither do Lyney nor Lynette, and so, he must be quite the sight.
Freminet finds that he doesn't care if it's improper or dumb or even if it is punishable, his heart feels so full and so empry at the same time that he cannot avoid it anymore, and Lyney let's out a surprised yelp when Freminet is suddenly hugging him, holding desperately to his older brother, tears in his eyes and incoherent sobs that spell sloppy apologies to no one in particular.
He feels better, is what he thinks when Lyney starts caressing his hair, soft warm touches while his voice reapeats in a hushed tone "I'm fine, Freminet, I'm here", until he finally manages to calm down enough to abruptly apologize to Lyney, again, for no particular reason.
Lyney smiles softly at him and pats his head, assuring him that he didn't do anything wrong, that he shouldn't apologize, and then Lyney apologizes to him as if Freminet is going to feel any better by hearing that. He does not, in fact, feel better and tears just start coming out again, probably concerning his brother even more.
Freminet doesn't dare to see him again. He hides his head in Lyney's shoulder and continues to cry for another minute or two, while Lyney continues to silently console him by stroking his back and pressing light kisses on top of his head.
They decide that maybe it's better if they don't talk. Lynette silently agrees and sits beside Lyney, waiting for Freminet to calm down, something that doesn't happen for a while, but the twins find that they don't care how long it takes, because Freminet is the most important thing for the both of them.
And eventually it gets better.
Freminet manages to stop his tears and finally looks at Lyney again, but neither say anything, afraid to accidentally trigger another crying fit. Still, and without any words, Freminet manages to tell Lyney that he's happy to see him, and Lyney seems to get it, because he smiles, wide and proud, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead before smiling towards Lynette and pulling her into a hug.
"Let's go home." Lyney says softly, and Freminet can't help but smile lightly.
He doesn't panic easily. He truly doesn't. But when he does, he knows that his siblings will be there to help him through it. And he knows they'll make it better, just as much as he knows that diving will make it better.