Why Don't We Sickfics

Asthma

~Zaniel~

"Smoke machine time!" Corbyn shouted excitedly as he walked onto the stage. The boys were doing their final sound check and stage rehearsal for their show. The theatre they were performing in had a smoke machine, so they decided to use it during their entrance onstage.

The smoke machine activated, sending smoke puffing in a cloud around the stage. The boys watched in delight. Daniel was drawing shapes in the thick fog, and Corbyn was blowing smoke in Jonah's direction.

Zach laughed as Jonah recoiled, the smoke hitting him right in the face.

And then he felt it. That familiar tightening of his chest. His laughs turned to coughs, then wheezes. He was having an asthma attack.

Corbyn started to sing his part, and Zach remembered the whole sound check. He tried to take deep breaths. If I can get control of my lungs back, I can still sing. Right? It's not that bad. I can do it.

The smoke machine was starting to slow down and the smoke began to clear away. Zach took deep breaths of the clear air, closing his eyes to focus on getting precious oxygen to his deprived lungs.

Suddenly, Jack blew a puff of smoke in Zach's direction, and he felt his throat tighten up once more. The sharp, squeezing feeling in his chest returned even stronger than before. The youngest member of the band bent over, hands on his knees. Although he was gasping for air, he couldn't breathe.

"Help!" he choked out, but nobody could hear over the thumping bass. And everyone was standing in their choreographed position, head down. So nobody could witness his anguish.

Zach was shaking now. I can't breathe.

It was finally his turn to sing. This was the chorus. His cue came up, and Zach brought the microphone to his lips, trying his best to produce any sort of sound. But all the microphone captured was the feeble sound of his gasps.

Daniel was the first to look up, confused when he didn't hear Zach's part. He was even more shocked to see the youngest member of the band gasping for air, almost like he had just run a marathon.

Then it hit him. Zach has asthma.

Daniel ran across the stage. "Zach!"

Zach's body was shaking too much to hold on to the microphone. It fell from his hand and fell to the floor, producing a crashing noise that sounded through the whole theatre.

Now all the boys were gathering around Zach. He was in a panic, wheezing and coughing.

Daniel had a burst of clarity. "The smoke." he muttered. He instantly knew he needed Zach to get out of the smoke.

Before the younger boy could protest, Daniel was cradling him in his arms, carrying him off the stage and straight to the green room.

"Wait." he shouted back at the boys, who were trying to follow him. "It gets better when there aren't too many people around."

Secretly, Daniel had no idea whether that was true or not. But he was sure of one thing. If I can get a moment alone with Zach... Even if it's something like this... I'll take it.

He laid his bandmate down on the couch. "Where's your puffer?" He knew Zach needed his medication. Although the younger boy was often reluctant to admit that his asthma was a problem, Daniel had done his research. He knew the type of puffer Zach carried, the dosage, and his particular triggers.

Zach shook his head. His face was growing red with the effort. It felt like there was no air going through his lungs. His chest tightened so hard that it spasmed, and the brunette let out a yelp, blinking back tears.