Why Don't We Sickfics

Faint (Pt. 2)

This is part 2 of "Faint". Read Part 1 first, it's right before this :)

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"I'll do it." Daniel decided.

"Are you sure?" Corbyn asked, a worried expression on his face. "If you're not feeling well, you don't have to--"

"I'm okay. It was nothing. We can tell the fans I tripped or something." Daniel muttered. The exhaustion wasn't wearing away, but it was getting displaced by his humiliation. He had just face-planted--passed out-- in front of a crowd of his biggest fans. Ouch.

"But you didn't trip. You literally fainted. Why?"

They all knew the answer. They all knew it was the crazy workload.

Daniel glanced briefly at the manager's disapproving eyes. "Um, I turned and got blasted in the face with a stage light, and I couldn't see. I guess I blacked out or something."

"Sure." Jonah said, but none of the boys were convinced.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get back onstage before we have to refund the tickets. We can't afford a loss like that!" the manager exclaimed. "Go."

Daniel stood up gingerly. This was a bad idea, and he knew it. As soon as he stood up, his head started pounding once more. His legs were trembling already. He had to grip the microphone with two hands to make sure it didn't fall.

Jonah and Corbyn surrounded him on either side. Each had an arm wrapped around his body, trying to steady him.

Jack and Zach were following them, watching Daniel in concern. None of them really believed he was going to be able to do it.

But none of them wanted to be the one to say it.

~~~~~~

As soon as he stepped onstage, Daniel's stomach dropped into a pit. The fans were screaming louder than ever, chanting his name.

But he didn't want the extra attention. His head was pounding once more. This time, a horrible headache was pulsing through his skull and he already knew that the rest of the show was going to be one of the most painful things he'd ever experienced.

Still, he knew there was no way he could faint --or look weak-- ever again. One time could be dismissed. But two? Three? Not at all.

He had to make up an excuse for the fans.

"Under no circumstances," the manager had told him, "do you tell them that this is related to touring or exhaustion or your laziness. You can make anything up-- clumsy, sick, whatever. But don't you dare say anything about the job. You're living the dream life. Everyone wants to be you. You can't show the any sign of weakness or they're going to move on to the next big thing. And it sure as hell won't be you."

Daniel cleared his throat as he looked out at the crowd. "Sorry about that interruption. I accidentally looked into the stage lights and tripped over a wire."

"Typical clumsy Daniel." Zach joked, and the crowd laughed in approval.

Daniel made a theatrical shrug, trying to play it off as casually as possible. "What do you say we get on with the show?"

He tried not to cringe as the crowd screamed, sending a bright white screaming pain through his temples.

"Let's get the music!" Corbyn shouted, and they resumed the show.

~~~~~~

Daniel wasn't stupid. He could see the boys' eyes glancing over at him every so often, checking to see if he was alright.