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Patience was not what Nick was known for, and yet somehow he was constantly required to expend it when dealing with his stupidly infuriating younger brothers.
Matt and Chris were currently fighting, that is they weren't speaking to each other— apart from clipped conversations and overall sarcasm— and Nick was fed up, but he had let it go on due to the fact that he honestly didn't have the patience for it today, if he got involved things were sure to end in a three way scream fest and somehow it would be his fault.
He also didn't want the stubborn tickle in his throat to become worse than it had to be due to the aforementioned scream fest.
So staying out of it it was.
And honestly, he had been hoping for things to work themselves out. He knew his brothers were tired and were just getting irritated over nothing, sooner or later it would blow over. The day was early and they had a video to film later, Matt and Chris were mature enough to forgive and forget by then.
How fucking optimistic he had been.
They had agreed to film a more outdoorsy video today which Nick was dreading, since overall he didn't feel all that well. But not wanting to make a big deal of it, he decided to just push through for the footage, besides apart from a bit of a wheeze and a sore throat he was fine. There was honestly no need to make a bigger deal out of it, they would go out film and then Nick would be back in the warmth of their house in no time.
"What the fuck is your problem!?"
Or so he thought. He sighed.
He should've just stayed inside today.
Nick hugged his his jacket closer to his body like that would somehow keep him warmer.
"My problem is that you still haven't fucking apologised from this morning." Matt all but growled.
Nick shivered, watching annoyedly as his brothers traded insults. He wanted to suggest they move this to the car but he thought that might just make things worse so he stayed quiet.
"I did fucking apologise you're just such an idiot that it went over your gigantic melon head!"
Nick rubbed at the bridge of his nose, it was so unbelievably cold, he couldn't help but think bitterly wishing he'd tried harder to fight for a less adventurous video idea.
He cursed Chris's uncanny ability to fashion such ridiculously specific insults. They would be out here for at least another 5 minutes if he didn't step in, but alas the headache he was currently experiencing was not agreeing with him right now. So he just stood and listened.
For the umpteenth time he wondered what stupid thing Chris had done to piss Matt off this time.
He glanced fleetingly at the path they were meant to be following, they had been out for a good 5 minutes of silence with Nick trying to fill in the gaps as they walked, blabbering away to the camera even as his chest burned and his brow collected sweat with the exertion.
He doesn't quite catch what Matt says to Chris before Chris is storming off. He sighs turning off the camera, the video was over with anyway, the chances of them getting any good footage had been ruined now and Nick just wanted to go home.
"Matt." he whined.
"What." Matt snaps crossing his arms, he rolls his eyes watching Chris walk away, the big baby could throw his tantrum for all he cared. Nick looked at him imploringly.
"Go after him."
Matt lets out a derisive laugh. "No. The fucking idiot can trek back alone."
Nick groans and rolls his eyes and goes after Chris.
"You guys are ridiculous," he calls back.
Matt crosses his arms and turns his head, "Tch."
Chris has gone a long way by then and Nick is starting to get tired. He calls out for Chris who is maybe 100 meters ahead.
Chris hears Nick call out weakly but rolls his eyes at his older brother. It kinda hurt that Matt couldn't be bothered to come out himself and that hurt just turned into more anger, and suddenly he felt angry at Nick too. He was probably just coming here to tell Chris off for running off and ruining a video. Nick was probably gonna take Matt's side like he always did.
This was all so fucking unfair.
He trudged harder through the woods.
"Chris come back ya big baby, it's getting cold we need to go home!"
"Fuck off Nick, I don't need you here!" he called back, he said it harsher than he meant to, he could almost see Nick's hurt look at his words, but he pushed those thoughts back before he could feel guilty. It was the idiot's own fault that he had followed after Chris.
Chris turns slightly to see Nick a little ways behind, his figure a tiny dot in the distance, and he rolled his eyes dutifully marching on, it was getting colder though, he had to admit and honestly Chris wanted nothing more than to be laying on the couch and stuffing his face with pizza but that would mean admitting he had overreacted, he had gotten his far, there was no way he was turning back now.
Nick was mentally cursing out Chris and Matt for their bullshit. As he trudged further and further into the woods the path had ended and the ground was becoming more inclined. He shivered, coughing a little as he tried to keep up with Chris.
Nick's chest was burning and the cold was only making it worse causing his chest to ache, he sways his vision blurring as he struggles to breathe. It happens so suddenly he's almost knocked off his feet. He feels his breaths coming shorter and more forced as he wheezes and coughs, his legs growing wobbly from the lack of oxygen.
He's having an asthma attack he realised belatedly. Nick panics calling out for Chris or Matt desperately trying to get air in his lungs. His vision is blurring, he struggled trying to get his inhaler out, the panic making his hands shaky.
"Chris! s-stop!"
Chris frowns in confusion hearing Nick yelling from behind him but doesn't stop. Matt frowns from where he's standing suddenly feeling bad for the things he'd said so he starts to trek to catch up to Nick and Chris.
Nick desperately pulls out his phone, tears causing his vision to decline further as his throat closes up, he calls Chris.
Chris frowns as his phone rings realising it's Nick. He almost rolls his eyes but sighs and picks up, he knows this isn't Nick's fault and it was unfair to ignore Nick when it was him and Matt who were fighting.
His concern skyrockets when all he hears is heavy breathing, he frowns brows furrowed.
"Nick?"
"C-Chris... c-can't breathe—" Nick's voice is cut off by a wracking sob followed by a fit of coughing.
Chris immediately runs back to where he had last seen Nick, his heart was racing, worry clawing at his chest with each labored breath his brother took he felt more and more guilt and fear, and there was one thought that wouldn't stop racing through his head; Nick wouldn't be here if I hadn't run off.
"Fuck, Nick just calm down, o-ok? Just breathe ok?"
He winces at his choice of words, telling someone who was having an asmtha attack to just breathe was not his best moment.
"Ok ok, fuck, Nick listen to me do you have your inhaler?"
"Y-Yeah but I cant, I-I c-can't— f-fuck Chris I'm s-scared."
Shit. Chris felt tears spill from his eyes at his brother's words. Nick was normally the one who took care of them when shit like this happened; when Matt felt anxious or Chris felt sick, he was just a naturally comforting and caring person, he did so much for them, and now Chris was beginning to realise how out of his depth he really was, he hardly ever returned the favour. When had he ever been there for Nick like Nick had been there for him?
He didn't know what to do to give Nick the comfort he needed, the comfort that Chris desperately wanted to give him. It broke his heart to hear his brother sounding so scared and alone, Chris panted as he picked up the pace trying his best to retrace his steps.
"N-no don't be s-scared Nick, everything's gonna be ok I promise!" he tried to sound confident and at least a little comforting but at this point it felt like he was trying to reassure himself more than he was trying to reassure Nick.
He found his brother propped up against a tree, a hand clutching his chest desperately, and tears flowing down his face as he fumbled with the inhaler, its like he tried to make himself as small as possible, and Chris's heart clenched at the sight a rush of emotion threatening to push him over the edge.
He fell to his knees by his brother, the other boy's breathing sounded painful, to say the least. Nick's face was red and splotchy his lips looking paler and paler by the moment, his eyes looking hazy like he wasn't really seeing Chris even as Chris called out his name trying to make eye contact with the boy. It was painful for him to look into his brother's eyes and see no recognition, Chris gripped his Nick's arm desperate to feel that he was still here with Chris.
He rubbed a comforting hand up Nick's thigh trying to calm Nick down even as his other hand wrenched the inhaler from Nick's white knuckled grip.
"Nick I'm gonna need you to breathe in really deep ok and hold for as long as you can ok?" Nick was hyperventilating now, every wheezing choked out breath made him cringe, and Chris was struggling to keep it together for his brother's sake.
He placed a shaky hand on Nick's cheek trying once more to get some form of affirmative from the older as he met his gaze. He felt more tears well up, Nick was looking deathly pale, his lips tinged blue and his breathing getting weaker, and fuck Chris was scared.
"Nick please. I c-can't do this without you." Chris bit his lip to hold back a sob, he had to be strong for Nick right now.
He saw his brother's eyes clear a little, "C-Chris..."
He cringed internally at how raspy and pained his name sounded coming from Nick's mouth, but his relief and hope overshadowed everything else. He brought the inhaler up to Nick's mouth and Nick tried his best to follow Chris's instruction, inhaling and holding, breathing out, then repeat. It carried on like this, inhaling and holding, breathing out and repeat.
The cold air burned at his throat and he squeezed his eyes shut in pain with every breath, he felt Chris grip his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. He squeezed back relieved at the gesture, until finally—finally— he felt his breathing begin to ease up, air flooding his lungs and he gasped desperately trying to get the much needed oxygen his body had been deprived off. The wheeze from this morning was still there but he could finally breathe again.
He felt hot tears of relief stream down the sides of his face, and arms wrap tightly around his shoulders, shaking him slightly. He leaned into his brother's chest feeling breaths come in short sharp bursts on his hair. Nick was exhausted, he struggled to keep his eyes open, body going lax as his muscles untensed, the adrenaline making with for a bone-deep tiredness to take its place. The last thing he heard was a desperate call of his name as his eyes rolled back and his vision went dark.
Matt was walking at a leisurely pace when he suddenly felt a rush of panic grip his core. He blinked in confusion suddenly having a bad feeling, his thoughts immediately went to Nick and Chris, he felt his the remnants of anger dissipate as worry made its way to the forefront of his mind. Matt sped up needing to see that his brothers were ok.
Chris was panicking and Nick was unconscious.
Chris could barely see two feet in front of him with all the tears that were blurring his vision. He desperately grabbed at Nick's other hand, shaking and squeezing desperately as he called out his brother's name, his body shook with tremors unable to stop with the fear and adrenaline that was currently coursing through his veins.
"Chris!"
The strong relief at hearing the sound of Matt's voice was unparalleled. He had been trying to stay strong for Nick's sake, holding back his tears, albeit not very well, he had kept himself from full-on losing it at least.
"M-Matt?"
Matt starts running when he hears Chris's voice, Chris did not sound good. As soon as he saw them his heart jumped and dread filled him, Chris was crying kneeling beside an unconscious Nick, and Matt had no fucking clue how things could have gone so bad so quickly. He crouches down ready to bombard Chris with questions but he gets cut off by Chris throwing himself at Matt.
Matt instinctively wraps his arms around Chris, concern evident on his face.
Chris sobs uncontrollably, apologising to Matt saying he was right and that he was sorry for arguing. He's shaking and he tells Matt if he had never started the argument Nick wouldn't have had an asthma attack. "He c-couldn't breathe and I was so fucking scared Matt and then I gave him his inhaler and he p-passed out and I-I don't know what to do M-Matt." He sobs more pressing his face into Matt's shoulder.
Guilt washes over Matt, he could not believe they got into a fight over his jacket. This wasn't Chris's fault it was his. And now as his baby brother sobbed pressing his snotty teary face into that same jacket he couldn't care less.
He throws a quick glance at Nick, using one hand to check his breathing, and the other to comfort Chris rubbing the other's back in an attempt to soothe him. Apart from a bit of a wheeze Nick was breathing fine, he sighed in relief.
He wipes at his face a little surprised to find his eyes a little damp.
"No I shouldn't have egged you on I could tell you were upset."
Chris pulled back sniffling and wiping at his nose with the back of his hand. "I'm really sorry Matt."
"Shh no don't cry Chris you did so good. I'm so proud of you. Nick is fine, we're fine, you're fine. I'm so sorry Chris, I should've been here. When you ran off I should've gone after you not Nick, it was dumb of me to get upset over a stupid jacket."
Nick groans, blinking awake, his vision hazy. He feels weak and sicker than he had been this morning, and weirdly cold. He makes to sit up wincing at the ache in his muscles.
"NICK!"
He winces an undignified oof— leaves his mouth as his brothers collide into him.
They apologise profusely.
"Fuck you scared us Nick!"
"Don't ever do that again idiot!"
"You're ok now right?"
"Of course he is, aren't you Nick?"
"Nick?"
"Nick!"
Nick. Nick. NickNickNick—
Nick can't seem to catch a break. He feels like his neck's being passed through a wringer with how tight his brothers had a hold on him. It was sweet and Nick was touched, really he was, but right now he couldn't truly appreciate the sweetness of the gesture with how his chest felt like it was being treated as a battering ram.
"Ok ok, I'm fine just no more fighting and no more hugging!" He pushes them off him, finally getting to take in a breath after practically being strangled.
His brothers recovered quickly, clearly used to the older's brash behaviour and taking it as a sign that things were ok again.
"Nick, we will never fight again," Chris held his hand up solemnly, nodding sagely at his own words. Matt nodded too. The sincerity of Chris's words was somewhat dampened when he immediately followed his statement by sucking up mucus and using his forearms to wipe at his face and nose.
Nick looked up at them unimpressed and slightly disgusted. He tries not to be too judgemental since he was pretty sure Chris had been crying.
"Uh huh sure..."
"Hey! I think you'll find Matt and I have really matured since this whole ordeal."
"Using big words doesn't help your case dummy."
"Whatever dude," Chris spoke much too brightly for someone who'd just been insulted.
They helped Nick up, Matt easily letting Nick lean into him for support and Nick watches them curiously as Chris immediately clung to his other side like he was the one who needed help walking.
He spoke animatedly the entire trek back filling Nick in on how heroic and incredible he'd been under pressure, and acting out scenes like he was an action hero, all while never letting go of his arm. Matt even nodded along and congratulated him, instead of telling him off for being annoying like he normally would when Chris was being hyper.
Nick blinked in disbelief.
Maybe it was the lack of oxygen but his brothers did seem a little more mature, maybe this would be the end of petty fights and the start of a new era of peace for Nick.
"Oi Matt I just wanted to say now that we're all mature there's something you should know about the car..."
"Chris... what the fuck did you do..."
Nick sighed. Or maybe not.
He couldn't help the way his lip twitch upward as he watched his baby brothers bicker.
Nick wasn't known for patience, but apparently he had it in spadefuls—at least when it came to his brothers.
"Chris you dumbass, you spilled fucking Pepsi in my car!?"
"It was an accident!"
"You idiots don't fight when you're acting as my walking sticks!"
(Tiny, tiny spades).