1
You couldn't believe you were here. After ten years, you finally got to live out one of your dreams which was to travel to the United States and attend the biggest comic convention in California, the San Diego Comic Con.
You're in your late thirties and was still helplessly yet blissfully single. This is probably why you got to live out this dream--no family to look after, only your parents but your mother was practically pimping you out to any decent single man she'd meet and tell any one of her colleagues how you're still unspoken for.
You didn't mind though, your mother never meant for anything else but your well being. Your younger brother had been married for nearly ten years with two wonderful children you doted on like your own.
But your own curiosity has caught on to you after being a late bloomer. Your early teenage years were only spent between school/college and home, not really allowing much for indulging in any hobby except reading and writing. When you started working around your early 20s was when you realized you needed to catch up on all the things you missed out on--going out with friends, watching movies and shopping on your own, traveling in and around your country as well as in Asia and of course, fangirling over celebrities that tickled your fancy.
There were many of them as you got older--Freddie Prinze jr., George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Mark Wahlberg, among so many others but none of them ever made your heart skip two beats than Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan. Those two with their similar blue eyes that held an air of mischief in them, their smooth as honey voices that could go from soft, soothing to spine tingling and terrifying at any given time. You were blown away by their immense talent and even more so with their genuine, down to earth personas. It wasn't hard to love them both, and you became a fan, now running for more than a decade now.
And now, just as your badge got scanned, you were going to see one half of them in person in a few hours.
You arrived at the convention center with the events already in full swing. Being that this was your first, it was a little overwhelming to see almost everyone around you in full cosplay regalia. You didn't know where to look and as you got deeper into the throng of people, you felt the first signs of a panic attack coming on. It hit you quicker than you thought, and you found yourself immediately running towards the nearest emergency exit you could find but you bumped into a person instead, jolting you back to where you are when a splash of hot liquid came into contact with your chest.
A woman was cursing, you could hear her but she sounded far away. She stopped abruptly and the next thing you knew, you were led to an infirmary like section of the center.
"What happened?" this time, a male sounding voice spoke with genuine concern as you got appraised.
"She was running frantically towards one of the exits and she nearly knocked me over. As you can see, she spilt the coffee I was bringing instead."
A certain humor laced her voice but she straightened up right after.
"Anyway, I immediately saw her face so pale and her breathing was heavy and I realized she was having a panic attack so--," she stopped again when her phone rang.
"Oh hey boss, sorry, I got a little sidelined, can your brain handle a few more minutes without caffeine? I got a situation here--no, no...I-I'm fine, I'll tell you when I get back...20 minutes? Yeah, okay, thanks, see ya then...oookay, so where we? Oh yeah, panic attack, yes. Let's just say I have seen my fair share of them which is why I brought her here."
The two voices conversed for a few more minutes and in that time, you'd started coming back to yourself, becoming more aware of your surroundings. When you lifted your head, 2 pairs of concerned eyes were looking at you.
"Hey there," the guy said. He was wearing a pale blue scrub suit and regarded you with an easy, calming smile. The woman beside him was also smiling at you.
The male nurse explained to you in detail what happened and had asked you to stay in the infirmary until you had fully calmed down. Your breathing still felt labored although you weren't gasping for air anymore. A glass of water was brought to you and you took small sips.
The woman, who you now learned was named Kayla, sat beside you.
"I'm sorry I ran towards you," you finally speak up. Kayla only shakes her head and gives you an understanding smile.
"It's fine really," she says. "I can just buy coffee again and change clothes, but I can't just let you go and suffer from that panic attack alone."
"I...thank you..I just-I never had one the last few years and the first time I come here is when it decides to show up," you say a little frustratedly. The nurse comes back and offers to check your blood pressure and Kayla takes this as her cue to get going. She tells you to attend the panel for Marvel later if you feel up for it. You agree with a smile and thank her again.
"That's actually what I'm here for, you know?" you tell the nurse named Dean as he finishes taking your BP.
"Good for you. Sorry can't help but overhear, but is this really your first time? In America, at a comic con?"
You nod slowly and become a little shy.
"Hey, no judgment here..you know what? My cousin can show you around, she's been into these things for for-E-VER!" Dean pulls out his phone and calls his cousin. A tall redhead dressed in a white version of the Black Widow attire arrives after about ten minutes with an excited grin.
"Hey, Y/N? This is Geri, Geri, this is Y/N."
You smile shyly at the striking woman in front of you but she pulls you into a hug instead.
"Oh my god, hi!" she squeals in your ear. You flinch a little, but nonetheless, her enthusiasm makes you smile.
"Um...hi," you say sheepishly once you both broke off from the hug. "You didn't have to um..."
"Oh no, no, not a problem at all! I love showing people around, especially first timers! Dean said you're from (Your Country)? That is so awesome!"
Once Dean was satisfied and you reassured him you were feeling a whole lot better, Geri was pulling you out of the infirmary and back to the con's various activities. You did feel a lot better now that someone who knows the ropes was with you and you finally found yourself enjoying the convention.
Not long after, you had a tote bag full of collectibles and had changed into a shirt that said 'I'd Date You, But You're Not Bucky Barnes'. This definitely earned you a few hearty laughs from Geri.
"Oh god, I love you already!"
You laughed with her, the anxiety attack earlier now feeling like a distant memory. You reached out and gave Geri's arm a light squeeze.
"Thanks for showing me around, Geri. I really appreciate it," you say to her with all the sincerity you can muster.
"Nawwww don't mention it! I'm just glad I can help you acclimate. You remind me of when I first attended one of these things and I just want this to be as memorable for you as it was for me."
Geri gives you a grin and you link arm in arm and continued on your way.