Ghosts'Ghoul Gang

Can't Breathe

A/N : Credit to whoever mentioned this headcanon on their tiktok, it was all I could think about for a day so I wrote a chapter: something like the ghouls couldn't breathe without their masks.

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Well into the Euro tour the ghouls knew about the latter half of the tour being in the US; it would be nearly back to back considering how many months they would be touring altogether. That being said, it wasn't like they were trying to conserve their energy when on stage- because they weren't- they were just being more careful after the bus incident. However, as the fates would have it, the ghouls were not long from another tragedy strike.

The night started fine, sound check was a little early for their taste and often involved their masks, but even sound check passed without accidents. Afterwards backstage staff had provided them with lunch and sodas; the ghouls spread out on the cool shady floor, sitting in smaller groups as they ate before the show. Cirrus, Cumulus, and Rain sat with Mountain behind an amp and cabinet. Swiss and Sodo sat side by side, the other two sitting beside them in a half circle with Aurora next to Swiss and Phantom beside Sodo's left. The ghouls weren't sitting too far away from each other, easily within Mountain's reach, but they were having two different conversations.

The ghouls greeted the opening band as they came out to set up their sound check and stage afterwards. Most of the ghouls greeted them with smiles and soft 'hello's; Rain simply nodded, Sodo just glared mid chew, and Phantom didn't have the guts to say anything, just nervously smiled. Sodo gave about half of his chicken to Swiss slowly, and piece by piece ate all of Phantom's broccoli; they all saw it but no one was gonna stop mid conversation to poke fun at the fire ghoul who was clearly on edge enough.

After lunch/dinner the ghouls made their way as a group back to their green rooms, only splitting into the two separate rooms provided for them, Papa in his own room down the hall. They trade comfy pj pants for black joggers with plenty of pockets, charcoal black dress shirts, and form fitting black vests. Swiss finished and restrapped his mask, turning around to see the little fire ghoul tying up his long flowy hair. Swiss stopped to admire, only snapping back when Sodo slid his mask comfortably over his horns, the fire ghoul turned around and met Swiss' eyes with a smirk to pair.

"Like what you see?" Sodo teased

"Ew." Mountain said before Swiss could respond, "Save it."

"Fun killer." Sodo pouted.

Sodo bumped his shoulder into the taller multi ghoul, Swiss smiled down at him winking under his mask for the little ghoul. Once Phantom finished lacing his boots and had remasked the ghouls made their exit to the designated 'wait area' to find the girls were already there snacking on the small foods laid out on a table on the far wall.

It wasn't long before the opener began their set; the sound ripped through the walls and floor, it vibrated their cores. And the crowd was going wild for it, their screams sounding like a numb roar after their eardrums were just popped. A few song into the opener's set Papa finally joined them in his golden jacket, perfect make up, and not a hair out of place. Papa was the real life of the party, bringing even the most antisocial of the ghouls out with his brightness, his energy refreshing.

The crews around them busied like ants, working in a well practiced dance to take down the openers set and put up Ghosts much larger set. As the opening choir music began Papa pulled his ghouls in close for a pre show pep talk. Staff with a flashlight led them to the stage as the sun had set and darkness began crawling its way across the sky. The sheet went down, the fireworks went up; the ritual was off to a perfect bang.

Though , of course, it wouldn't be long without something going wrong. Pretty early into the show Swiss was already well entranced; he stomped on the riser below his feet with fury, the fire was intensely hot to his side so close. He repeated the action for the next fire blast, even when his throat felt like it was burning and he felt like he was choking up. He could still breath but each one took such an effort from his already tired lungs. The multi ghoul reached up to his mask with both of his hands to try and feel out the problem, his left air filtration tube had dislodged from the back.