The world blurred. You were standing beside Damiano, the heat of the crowded venue pressing in from all sides, but suddently your knees buckled, and the sound around you faded.

"Hey—woah, woah, woah." His strong arms caught you before you could hit the ground. Damiano’s voice was right by your ear, laced with concern. "Hey, stay with me. What the hell just happened?"

You tried to respond, but your head fell against his chest. His hold tightened, keeping you upright as he glanced around "Shit," he muttered under his breath, shifting to scoop you up like you weighed nothing. The murmurs around you grew distant as he carried you away, his grip firm, protective. "You’re burning up," he said more to himself than to you.

You blinked up at him, your vision blurry. "M’sorry…"

His eyes softened instantly. "Don’t be stupid. You don’t have to apologize for passing out."

The last thing you felt before everything went dark was the way his fingers brushed against your cheek, the way his hold never wavered.