Just a little drabble I wrote because in the middle of all the crazy drama and angst and feels of this week's episode I get a text from my cousin simply saying "Liam knew." And thinking about it, that was a big deal.
"I don't get it." Liam said, a confused frown forming on his face. "Scott's a werewolf. He can't get sick. Like, ever. Why would he have an asthma attack?
"Just take the inhaler, Liam. Okay?" Stiles said with a frustrated sigh, pressing the little plastic canister into the younger werewolf's hand.
"But he doesn't…" Liam tried again, his head tilted to the side, not understanding.
"Liam! Have you ever seen an asthma attack? No. You don't know what it's like." He paused and took a breath. "You don't understand how scary it is to see your best friend laying on the ground, not being able to breathe and knowing that you can't do anything to fix it. Knowing that you can't make it better. Just… take the inhaler." Stiles sat down on the locker room bench across from Liam.
"Okay. Give it here." Liam gave in, accepting the inhaler from Stiles's hand. "Where do I keep it? In my locker? Or do I have to keep it in my pocket all the time?"
"Backpack." Stiles replied automatically. "And when you start driving keep one in your car too. But like, in the glove box or something, not out in the open where it will be in direct sun. That way you always know where it is without having to keep up with it. And it will be close enough for you to run and get it wherever you are."
"How'd you get so good at this?" Liam asked.
Stiles smiled a small smile. "When Scott and I were kids, after we found out about his asthma, he was horrible at keeping up with these things." Stiles's hand automatically went to the side pocket of his backpack where his own backup inhaler was kept.
"The first attack he had when he was with me I panicked. Didn't have an inhaler with me, he couldn't remember where he had left his. I had to run four blocks down the street to get Melissa. After that I promised myself that I wouldn't let it happen again. It got to the point where Scott would just automatically give all his new inhalers to me cause he knew I could keep up with them."
"Okay… I get that. You were kids. But again. Werewolf? Can't get sick?" Liam reminded him again.
Stiles's lips curled up in another small smile. "Sounds just like Derek when I gave him the first inhaler. Which, by the way, he still keeps three of. And he isn't even in Beacon Hills anymore. We all have a couple. Lydia, Kira, even my Dad keeps one in his cruiser. Melissa's insurance only pays for one every few months but since he doesn't really use them anymore we have plenty to go around." He paused. "I know it's stupid. And the chances of it happening are like, one in a bazillion. But using it got him through a panic attack a while back and it's Beacon Hills. Anything could happen."
"Because, a chimera could show up and have the ability to cause sudden asthma attacks?" Liam teased.
"No." Stiles said, face serious. "Because I watched my Mom's brain slowly deteriorate right in front of me and there was nothing I could do. Because watching her die, day by day, almost killed my Dad too and again, I couldn't do anything. Because I have seen way too many of my friends taken by way too many creatures that all logic says shouldn't even be real, and again, I. Couldn't. Do. Anything. This," He pointed to the inhaler still in Liam's hand. "This, I can fix. For years, it has been MY responsibility. The one thing that I can control. And a habit like that, it doesn't go away just because Scott's a werewolf now."
Liam was looking down at the locker room floor. "Sorry. I didn't, I didn't realize. Of course, it's going in my backpack right now." He unzipped a pocket and safely tucked the medication inside.
Stiles sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that it's just, this is something I can do. In the middle of all this supernatural insanity I can make sure that the one thing I won't have to worry about is Scott having an asthma attack. It's a little crazy and obsessive, but, it's me. And I'm so used to Scott being the one who protects me all the time I just like knowing that when it comes to this, I can make sure he's safe.
"I get it," Liam replied. "I forget sometimes, that you and Scott had this whole life before the werewolf thing happened."
"It seems like an entire lifetime ago," Stiles answered. "But this is our life now. We just have to go with it. But were not going through it without an inhaler, got it?"
"Got it." Liam replied, patting the inhaler through his bag. The two gathered up their things and made their way to the exit of the locker room. "Stiles? Does Scott even know you make the rest of us keep these inhalers for him?" Liam questioned as they walked into the hallway.
"I don't even think he knows I still have one, let alone the rest of you. Melissa just automatically gives them to me. I'm sure he would think I'm being paranoid, but it just makes me feel safer, having them. Ya know?"
"Just in case." Liam answered. Finally understanding the importance of the plastic canister that he knew he would always keep in his bag from now on.
"Just in case." Stiles replied. "Just in case."