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"I just can't do it anymore." Nico says dispassionately, staring at the floor in an attempt to not meet anyone's eyes. "I need out. I need to be done with Electric Callboy."
The room erupts in shouting and questions. Nico's standing in front of all the members of the band, having called an emergency meeting that he'd told no one about in advance.
"Nico what are you talking about?" Kevin asks. "This has come out of nowhere. Are you alright? Is your family okay? Is something going on?"
"I'm fine. Everything's fine. I'm just done with this project. I apologize for the difficulty this will cause with the upcoming tour." Nico's eyes stay resolutely glued to the floor. Pascal nearly jump out of his chair, desperation painting his face as he leans forward in his seat. Frank looks shell-shocked. To have the band in turmoil this soon after him becoming an official member is—devastating, likely. Daniel's brown eyes are already beginning to fill with tears. When Sushi had left, Daniel had been the glue holding the band together. He was the only one one with the strength to hold Dan together. And his presence had always been a comfort to the other members, who had turned to him instinctively. It was much the same in the wake of David's departure, though it had not lasted nearly so long with the promise of Frank on the horizon.
Daniel doesn't know that he has it in him to do that a third time. He can't imagine the band holding together without Nico.
Daniel turns to Dan, his north star in all things music. The man who, at the end of the day, is Electric Callboy.
Dan's face is made of stone. He stares at Nico as if he's looking through him. Dan looks like he's trying to tear Nico apart, molecule by molecule, to see what's inside him that's making him say these foolish things.
"Nico, nobody cares about the tour we care about you!"
Kevin stands up, approaching Nico who is still staring at the floor. Kevin reaches out to grab Nico's face, but Nico steps back.
"At least look at me!" Kevin pleads. "This isn't like you at all Nico, what's wrong? Is someone making you do this?"
Nico looks over at Dan, ignoring Kevin completely. "No one is making me do this. I'm quitting the band. You can't stop me."
Dan's face is still unmoving. "If you want to throw your life away, who am I to stop you?"
Kevin gasps, and turns to Dan. "Don't say that! Nico—"
"Nico, what did the doctor say?" Pascal's voice cuts through Kevin's anger.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Nico's back to staring at the floor.
Pascal leverages himself off the couch as he speaks. "No more lying, Nico. I overheard you on the phone with your wife. Something about urgent doctor's appointments. And now you're trying to quit the band? No, something's not adding up here." Pascal brushes Kevin aside and wraps Nico in his arms. Nico doesn't try to run this time.
Nico buries his face in Pascal's chest and lets the facade drops. He sobs, loudly, and the tension in the room breaks. There's something else going on here. Pascal helps Nico along to the couch, sitting them both down and curling around Nico. Nico continues to sob for long moments. Finally, when he's cried all his tears he says in a thin voice, "I'm sorry. I thought it'd be easier if you just—hated me."
"Thought what would be easier Nico?" Daniel asks.
"When I died."
"Nico," Kevin asks weakly, "what did the doctor say?"
"Stage four cancer. Terminal. I have…a month, maybe less."
There is no tension now. All that is left is grief.