One Direction Sickfics

Niall epilepsy- for StevenUniverse_Lapis

"So let's get started, shall we?! Sing along if you know it!" Liam shouted enthusiastically and the crowd roared deafeningly as our first song of the night began booming all around the arena. Like always I was in a bit of a haze, shocked at this was really where I'd gotten to. Performing our own music in front of thousands of people was by far the best thing in the world and I still struggling to believe it was all real.

I snapped out of my daze when the time came for me to start singing and then the show really began to pick up speed. Every song created a new, more intense and pounding atmosphere and I was all for it. It was as if the arena and everyone inside of it were floating

Even when Niall missed the first two lines of his solo the mood didn't waver. The yells and the music were just as loud as they'd been before and I doubt anyone in the audience even noticed. The voices of 10000 fans easily drowned out the one of my Irish friend, even with the microphone.

I tapped my own mic to my jaw and watched Niall speculatively as he eased down to sit on a prop, resting his guitar on his lap. It wasn't a movement we'd rehearsed and he didn't look comfortable, forcing strained smiles out to the crowd as he strummed away.

I strolled across the stage and plopped down next to him just in time to start singing again. I couldn't ask what was going on with him until the song finished. Harry was messing around with the crowd while Liam downed half a bottle of water so I took the opportunity; "what's it? Something's got you shaken up."

Niall turned his mic away from his face and bit the insides of my cheek. "I just remembered something, right before the show started. It's nothing Lou, I'll focus better from now."

"What did you remember Ni?" I asked, cocking my head curiously. Niall picked a few string with his fingers and glanced over at me before turning away again.

"Come on, what is it?" I pushed, now super curious.

"We were in a rush this morning, I only had a couple of minutes to get ready and I think I forgot to take my pill," Niall blurted. Finally I was able to put an emotion to the awkward face he'd been wearing all night. He was scared.

I didn't blame him. It was scary enough being on my side of his seizures, I couldn't imagine what it was like for him. It had only ever happened once at a concert and that was backstage, in front of everyone would be a whole different shit-show. Niall got embarrassed as hell when his epilepsy struck in front of us, if he had a seizure out here in front of everyone he'd be a mess.

"Okay, don't panic. I'm sure you'll be okay. We only have a couple more hours and then we're done and we can go back to the bus and you can take it then," I replied as calmly as I could manage. I wasn't scared like Niall was, but I was worried for him.
Slowly, Niall nodded and licked his lips.
"You have to tell someone is you start feeling off, okay Ni?"
He nodded again and took a deep breath.

It really was as if nothing was wrong for the most of the concert. The songs flowed like they always did and Niall somehow pushed through it all despite the nerves, acting the same as he always did on stage. He skipped and bounced around and sung his heart out. The only difference I noticed was the small distance he kept between one of us other lads. Usually all of us were all over the place but whenever I looked around there was Niall and Harry beside each other, or Niall and Liam, or he was right next to me.

Up to a point, everything was going well.

I'd been watching Niall intently all night so I noticed straight away when he began slowing down. He was squinting and missing more cues. I stood in front of him and shifted my mic aside again, "Ni, tell me what's going on."
Niall's blue eyes darted between mine and he swallowed hard, "I don't know, I might just be anxious but. . ."
He held up his hands and they were both trembling.
I inhaled sharply and he fisted both hands, "and I have a headache."