✯ Zianourry ⏯ OneShots ✯

It's actually caused by... ⏯ H.S.

Harry sat backstage, his chest tightening as he struggled to draw in a breath. The familiar wheeze echoed in his ears, and he reached for his inhaler, pressing down on the canister and inhaling deeply. It was a routine he had become all too familiar with – a routine that reminded him of his limitations, even amidst the chaos and excitement of being on tour with his bandmates.

"Hey, Haz, you alright?" Louis' voice cut through the haze of Harry's thoughts, concern etched on his face as he approached.

Harry nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just a bit of a tight chest today, that's all."

Louis frowned, unconvinced. "You sure you shouldn't sit this one out? We can handle it without you."

Harry shook his head adamantly. "No way. I'm not missing out on performing with you guys."

Zayn and Niall joined them, sensing the tension in the air. "What's going on?" Niall asked, glancing between Harry and Louis.

"Harry's struggling with his asthma again," Louis explained, shooting Harry a worried look.

Zayn placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You need anything? Another hit from your inhaler?"

Harry waved him off. "I'm good, thanks. Just nerves, I think."

Niall frowned. "Maybe you should talk to the doc, get checked out properly."

Harry sighed. "I've been checked out plenty of times. It's just something I have to deal with."

The stage manager called for them to get ready, and they shared a knowing look before heading out to the roaring crowd. As the music filled the arena, Harry pushed his worries to the back of his mind and focused on the performance.

After the show, they returned to their dressing room, sweat-soaked and exhilarated. Harry sank onto the nearest couch, exhaustion washing over him.

"That was amazing," Liam exclaimed, flopping down next to Harry.

Harry managed a tired grin. "Yeah, it was."

Louis eyed him critically. "You still feeling alright, mate?"

Harry nodded, though the strain was evident in his voice. "Just need a minute."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the adrenaline of the performance slowly fading away. But Harry's chest remained tight, his breaths coming in shallow gasps despite his best efforts to control them.

"You should really get that checked out properly, Harry," Liam said, breaking the silence. "It's not normal for you to be struggling like this."

Harry sighed, running a hand through his tousled curls. "I know, but what if they tell me I can't perform anymore? This is what I love to do."

Louis placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Haz. Your health comes first, always."

Zayn nodded in agreement. "We're a team, remember? We'll support you no matter what."

Harry felt a surge of gratitude wash over him, realising once again how lucky he was to have such supportive friends by his side.

The next morning, Harry woke up with a heaviness in his chest that refused to dissipate. With a deep breath, he resolved to finally seek medical attention. He couldn't ignore the persistent tightness in his throat any longer.

"I'm going to see the doctor today," Harry announced as he entered the kitchen where the rest of One Direction were gathered for breakfast.

His announcement was met with a chorus of concerned looks from his bandmates. Louis was the first to speak up. "Are you feeling worse?"

Harry shook his head. "Not really, but it's been bothering me for a while now. I need to get it checked out."

Liam nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea, Haz. We'll come with you for support if you want."

Harry smiled gratefully at his friends. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot."

The visit to the doctor's office was nerve-wracking for Harry. He fidgeted in the waiting room, his mind racing with all the worst-case scenarios. But when the doctor finally called him in, Harry squared his shoulders and followed her into the examination room.

After a series of tests and scans, the doctor sat down across from Harry with a solemn expression. "I'm afraid the results aren't what we were hoping for, Harry."

His heart sank. "What is it?"

The doctor took a deep breath. "It appears that the tightness in your throat isn't due to asthma. It's actually caused by a tumour."

Harry's mind went blank as the words sunk in. "Throat cancer?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes. But the good news is, we caught it early, and there are treatment options available."

Harry felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him – fear, disbelief, and a sense of determination to fight whatever lay ahead. "What do we do next?"

Over the following weeks, Harry underwent surgery to remove the tumour followed by rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It was a gruelilng process, both physically and emotionally, but he refused to let it break him.

Throughout it all, his bandmates stood by him unwaveringly, offering support and encouragement every step of the way. They attended his appointments, cooked him meals, and even shaved their heads in solidarity when Harry lost his hair due to the treatment.

"It'll grow back, mate," Niall said with a grin as he showed off his freshly shaved head.

Harry chuckled weakly, grateful for the lighthearted moment amidst the darkness of his illness. "Thanks, Nialler."

As the weeks turned into months, Harry's strength slowly returned. He threw himself into his recovery with the same passion and determination that he brought to his music, refusing to let cancer define him.

And finally, after what felt like an eternity of uncertainty, Harry received the news he had been longing for – he was cancer-free.

Tears of relief streamed down his face as he shared the news with his bandmates, who enveloped him in a group hug, their laughter mingling with his own.

"We knew you could do it, Haz," Louis said, his voice choked with emotion.

Harry smiled through his tears, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love and support of his friends. With One Direction by his side, he knew he could overcome anything that life threw his way.