Terror Twin [Def Leppard] #Wattys2016

XV: Breathe A Sigh

Air. Air.

Steve's lungs tightened, and he felt himself cramp up.

"Woah, Steve - are you alright?" Rick asked worriedly, voice impaired, not noticing yet that he was indeed the one that was not alright.

Steve realized he had doubled over, leaning over Phil.

Phil suddenly awoke to Steve's panicked face staring down at him, only an inch from his own face. He just managed to not jump in surprise, and merely slipped off Steve's lap.

He quickly understood that Steve was not okay.

"Sweetheart, Steve, what's wrong? Steph', talk to me. Stephen!" Phil was almost shouting, taking his love's face in his palms and making Steve look at him.

Steve tossed his head, freeing himself from Phil's grip.

"Gotta.. breathe. Fuck." He growled, reaching for his hip flask, eyes widening when he remembered Phil had taken it.

Phil still had it.

Phil had never felt so much contradiction in his life. He was seated next to Steve, the flask hidden in his back pocket, the one thing Steve was desperate for. But giving it to him could trigger his addiction again. Phil was tempted to tell Steve to go take a smoke outside, but Phil wished for him to quit smoking too.

Phil loathed anything that put his love in danger.

"Hold on, Rick. We'll be right back." Phil murmured, weaving his fingers through Steve's and practically yanking him out of the room. Phil tugged him along until he found a bathroom at the end of the hallway.

Steve found his back against a stall, hands splayed out as if trying to steady himself.

"Steve, take a breath!" Phil barked, planting his hands on Steve's shoulders.

"That's the one thing I can't do." Steve gasped out, although Phil saw his chest rising and falling regularly.

"Baby, ground yourself. Look around. Five things you can see. Tell me." Phil softened his tone, stepping back from Steve.

"You. A mirror.. look into my eyes. Oh shit. Uh.. the wall. Pink Floyd. A soap dispenser. Fuck Phil, why can't I breathe? I want to listen to Led Zeppelin." Steve was about to begin rambling furthermore, but Phil hushed him, starting to hum just what he wanted. Softly, Phil sang a part of Stairway To Heaven, glad that no one else was in the bathroom.

"Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know.. The piper's calling you to join him. Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know your stairway lies on the whispering wind?" Phil's voice was almost non-existent by the end of the verse, but it had calmed Steve down.

"Baby.. are you still with me? Are you here?" Phil murmured, concerned, tipping Steve's chin up from where it had fallen against his chest.

"I never left." Steve only whispered, yanking Phil into his embrace. His breathing felt normal again, the black vines that has so cruelly stolen his breath from his body retreating back into the shadows.

He began to hum Switch 625, the solo he wrote alone for High 'N Dry. It may have only been the lesser famous half of the not-very-famous Bringin' On The Heartbreak to the music scene, but the instrumental was Steve's entire world. It was the piece of music he was most proud of, and one he'd always be proud of.

Phil pressed a kiss to Steve's lips, gently taking his lover's hands in his own.

"Let's go back to the room, sweetheart."

Steve nodded, letting Phil lead him.

Phil paused before entering, rubbing his hand up Steve's arm.

"Are you okay?"

Steve nodded, a half-smile crossing his lips.

Rick had fallen asleep again not long after they left, and wouldn't remember what happened when he officially woke up. The hospital drugs were in still doing rounds in his body.

"I love you, Stephen."

"I love you too, Philip."

It was then that the door to the room opened again, revealing Joe and Sav with a couple big bags of fast food.

Or at this rate, slow food.

"If you want a tip for speedy delivery, you're not getting one." Phil spoke bluntly, joking, but the laughing aspect of his voice dead to the world. Steve was holding on tightly to his hand, as if he was his lifeline. Which, in a way, he was.

"I don't need a tip, I got a blow job." Joe grinned. Steve and Phil collectively rolled their eyes. Sav's entire face had gone redder than the wrapping on the burger he had just pulled out of the bag.

"Well, we got some burgers, some chicken sandwiches, a bunch of fries. And also some salads. Special for our favorite vegan." Joe broke the awkward silence and winked at Phil, who laughed.

"He isn't vegan when he eats Steve's ass." Sav grumbled from his seat, still embarrassed over Joe's remark earlier.

Steve would've burst out laughing if it wasn't for the fact that they were sitting in a practically silent hospital.

"You got enough to feed eight people, not four." Phil laughed.

They ate their dinner in silence for the most part after that, little jokes and hopeful smiles working their way into the dimly lit mood of the room. They didn't bother turning the lights on any brighter than the lowest setting on the dimmer. Rick was still asleep.

Steve checked his watch again.

9:15.

"Are we staying overnight or going home?" Steve asked the question they had been purposely avoiding, because none of them knew.

"I want to be here when he wakes up." Sav declared, making it sound almost like a challenge for someone to forcefully drag him home.

"So do I." Joe agreed, and Phil nodded. Steve felt the same.

"Then we're all staying." Joe concluded, shifting in his chair.

"Better get comfortable. It's gonna be a rough night." Sav chuckled, tucking his knees up into his chest and hiding his face in them.

Joe wished for his lover's warmth, but there was nothing he could do tonight. Using his sweatshirt as a blanket, he too curled up as best as he could.

It was easier for Sav since Joe had such damn long legs.

Phil was determined not to be separated from Steve, though, and moved their chairs together, making a small cot of sorts. As long as they didn't move too much and separate the chairs, they should stay together.

Or Steve and Phil would wake up on the floor.

Whatever works.

Even in the uncomfortable setup, Steve found himself stretched out with Phil on top of him, and it was comfy.

It almost felt like home.