➵ narcoleptic!harry
➵ word count: 906
➵ notes: inspired by oscarwrites84 such a great writer😭
➵ warning: sleep paralysis

✧

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍

Harry was scared to tell the boys he had narcolepsy. He thought they'd think he was just lazy. He'd been accused of it in the past and he figured it would happen again.

But of course, the boys were accepting. They didn't quite understand, and they had to do a bit of research, but they would do anything for their boggo. Harry trusted them with the responsibility of watching him and keeping him safe while he slept. They would never take that for granted.

But of course, they were bound to make mistakes, one of which happened whilst they were filming for a Sidemen Sunday.

XIX

The boys were filming the outtro when, for the first time around his friends, Harry fell asleep.

JJ instantly settled Harry's head into his lap, gently rubbing head head. Josh came over to situate him so he wouldn't roll off or fall. Once he decided he was safe, Bas stopped the recording and the boys went silent.

All was well until a knock was heard. The boys had ordered food for after filming and forgotten. JJ flinched and yelled. "Oh fuck off man, you're gonna wake Harry!"

But he had done so himself.

Harry's eyes shot open and JJ stilled. He had fucked.

"Oh JJ, mate, you fucked it!" Tobi scolded lightly. Harry couldn't hear them, though. All he was focused on was the dark mass in front of him, coming closer and closer and closer-

Harry whimpered as tried to move. He couldn't, his arms and legs were stuck. Why couldn't he move? He needs to move, he needs to get up before it gets him.

Meanwhile, the boys were trying to calm Harry down. JJ stepped out of the room as he felt responsible for causing the small boy's panic attack.

"Sleep paralysis, it says here. There's nothing we can do," Ethan said sadly. "We just have to calm him down and let him get out himself."

The other boys nodded. They would do the best they could to help their friend.

Vik sat next to the boy, grabbing his hand lightly. Harry flinched, and Vik almost pulled his hand away, until he saw where Harry's eyes were focused. They were looking at something in front of him. And it must have been pretty fucking terrifying for him to be sobbing and shaking over it.

"There's something in front of him. It's not there, but it's like his brain is convincing him it's gonna hurt him." Vik said, not taking his eyes away from the boy in front of him.

Simon came over, petting Harry's hair. Josh sat down next to Vik, trying to speak to the younger.

"Bog, bog. I know you see something in front of you, but I swear you, it's not there. It's not real. It's just us here, and we would never hurt you." Josh spoke calmly.

Harry heard something calling his name, but it didn't look like the figure on his chest. It...it sounded like Josh. And Ethan. His friends. They were here. They could save him.

The voices called him again. They were telling him to breathe. Maybe if he breathed, his friends would come for him. It was hard, with the figure right on him, but he trained his eyes to look at the lamp in the corner. He focused on the light first, then tried to slow his breathing. He felt a hand on his, but it was soft and gentle, unlike the creature's harsh one.

"Come back to us, mate. You're safe, you just have to breathe and come back."

The voice again. Harry listened to the voice, and kept breathing. Soon, he felt the pressure on his chest disappear, and his vision came back. He successfully tried to move his arm, and with help, he sat up. He saw his mates around him, but JJ was nowhere to be found.

"Boggy, you alright?" Ethan spoke, his concerned eyes settled on his friend.

Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah. That happens, when I'm woken up too early from an episode. It's only happened twice before, once with the Cals and once with my parents." He explains to them what they did helped and that it wasn't their fault.

"Where's JJ?" Harry asked.

"He felt really bad, and when you started to cry, he went off into his bedroom." Harry frowned. He didn't mean to make his friend upset. He got up and looked back at his friends. "I'm gonna go talk to him. I'll be right back."

Harry walked down the hall to JJ's door and knocked. "Mate, can I talk to you?"

After a minute, JJ opened the door. He looked at Harry with sad, guilty eyes.

"Mate, I'm so-"

Harry cut off the taller (5'10) male with a hug. JJ hesitated before wrapping his arms around his friend.

"You didn't do anything wrong, the loud noises scared me, that's all. It's happened before, and I know you didn't mean it. It's calm."

JJ pulled away and smiled. "If you're sure mate. But I promise it'll never happen again."

Harry nodded, knowing he meant it. "Come on, we gotta wrap up this video before I fall asleep again."

The two males walked back to their group and finished the video. Harry did end up falling asleep, this time on Simon's bed. The boys watched their friend, and felt easy knowing their boy was okay.

XIX

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Take care

-Maya