for context on how this story will go, the flow will depend on readers' requests (OR my mood to make a drabble that fits the running theme of subtleties).

you can say this is a compilation of one-shots, but my challenge is to be able to make a series of interconnected stories amidst differences of the requests.

Work has always been some sort of distraction for you, luckily so, but the heap of red lights along the busy evening road (ones you've always been so entertained to watch while on your way home) is not helping in toning down the blues of the day anymore. That's when you've realized that things are, in fact, getting worse.

When the blues accentuate around your office table and you get to inhale its gloom towards your very core, even the measly thought of looking around the paper gives you nausea.

This time, you reached your peak while in a meeting involving your three closest workmates.

"Hange," you interrupted while they were speaking, "I'll just go out for some air. Just continue what you're on." Much to your dismay, they halted for good alongside Levi and Erwin. You quickly clarified then, albeit sheepishly, "It won't take too long."

After a stare of empathy, Hange called your name, "You're not fine lately, aren't you? Do you need help with something?"

"No," you glared playfully, feigning aghast, "Does asking for air automatically mean I'm sick?"

"Given that we're the only ones in this room, I think you could have all the air to breathe for yourself." Levi deadpanned.

Defiant with your unfaltering composure despite the huge urge to cry, you quipped, "My inhales get a bit too much that my nose could sip the entire meeting room. You have no idea."

"Oh," Hange concurred, "so it's that type of seeking air." Thankful that they played around, you flashed them a flat thumbs up. "Fine. Let's have a break while we're at it, then. I'm getting hungry too. Should we order something?"

You didn't answer and instead, quickly took the chance to leave the room. Before you could open the door, Erwin called your name without turning his head, "Save your bus fare on the way home tonight."

"Yeah? Why? Are you giving me a ride?"

He shrugged, "I'm feeling a bit generous."

The talk continued with Hange demanding for Erwin's generosity as well. But little did you know, amidst those silly little banters—all of them are very aware of what you mean when you say you need air.

It means you're on the way at the back of the building to bawl your eyes out.

For some reason you can't figure out yourself, Hange gets a bit more touchy after the air seeking session. They'd hug you out of nowhere, lean their head on your shoulders while talking, or just coo you with a goal to annoy.

Levi is rather subtle about it and often opts for service. It gets to a point where you have the urgency to cut the crying sessions short because if not, you'd come back with no work left. If asked where the documents went, Levi would shrug and say, "In the trash. Your table was dirty."

When Erwin told you to save the bus fare on the way home, you didn't expect things to escalate.

"This isn't my route home," you shot him a befuddled look, "Are we going elsewhere?"

He didn't reply, and it didn't take long for you to realize that he brought you to a cliff where the whole city could be seen in tiny blue lights. He even opened the car door for you.

"The place is huge enough to avoid sniffing a whole human being inside your nose. Do your air session now."

And there, your exhausted eyes gleamed. The heap of red lights might have not helped in toning down the blues of the day, but the blues of the cityscape surely did. The shaking of your shoulders followed suit with a chuckle. The chuckle turned into laughter. The laughter tipped into chortles. And much to your and his surprise, the chortles transitioned towards heavy cries.

You cried and cried and cried.

The blues he had offered held you so tenderly and replaced the heaviness with overwhelming warmth. It peaked when he went to hug you from behind, his broad build engulfing you to a feeling you've never felt before, to a feeling that would seemingly be a new craving from hereon.

You felt his lips on your ear—sending vibrations that flustered your mind—then whispered, "You did so well today."