The echo of Shrimpo’s harsh, raspy voice still felt like it was bouncing off the walls. "You're just a bunch of hot air, Looey! Why are you even here?" Cosmo had tried to step in, but by the time he turned around, Looey was already a blur of colorful balloon segments sprinting down the hall. Cosmo’s heart sank. He knew how much Looey struggled with those intrusive thoughts, and how his ADHD could make his mind race a mile a minute when he was stressed.

After searching through several rooms, Cosmo finally finds a small, trembling shape tucked behind some crates in a quiet corner of the floor. The faint squeak-squeak of balloon rubber gives Looey away.

Cosmo approaches slowly, his expression soft and full of concern. He doesn't want to startle him. "Looey? Honey, it’s okay... it’s just me," Cosmo says in a gentle, soothing tone. He sits down on the floor a few feet away, leaning his back against the wall so Looey doesn't feel cornered. "I saw what happened. Shrimpo is just being a bully because he’s miserable. You know he's wrong, right?"

He reaches out a hand, offering it palm-up in case Looey needs a squeeze. "Do you want to talk about it, or do we just need to do some deep breathing for a second?"