Chapter Text
Stiles curled into fetal position on the bed, coughing violently and uncontrollably. His lungs tightened and his airway swelled as he almost choked on the gasps. Eyes layered with glassy tears and hands clutched at the front of his Tshirt, pulling the material, which felt like it was suffocating him. His vision blurred and he struggled for breath
There was another sound that echoed in Stiles's room. His phone started ringing soon after his soulmate mark...
Ring Ring Ring
The door to his bedroom sprung open and in rushed Stiles's father, John "Stiles!" he knelt down next to the bed and rubbed his son's back trying to soothe his breathing "Easy.. try to take slow breaths.. in and out"
Ring Ring Ring
When that didn't work, John almost panicked "It's your asthma, isn't it" he hurriedly opened the drawers, fumbling through its contents to try and find an inhaler "Where's your inhaler son?"
Ring Ring Ring
Stiles wheezed and pointed towards his cupboard. John ran and finally found the inhaler stuffed in between pile of books. He quickly shook the small white canister and placed the inhaler near Stiles's mouth "Here you go kid. Breathe"
Ring Ring Ring
Stiles took huge gulps of medicine, shutting his eyes close in relief when he felt the medicine do it's magic. John stroked his back and waited for another minute before he pulled back the inhaler "Better?"
Ring Ring Ring
Stiles nodded, chest still heaving with short breaths "Thanks.. Dad"
Ring stopped
John eyed the phone and then at Stiles who avoided his gaze "How many times have I told you Stiles, keep your inhaler within your reach" he scolded sitting down next to his son with a frown "You very well know your attack doesn't need an invitation. It comes like an unwanted guest"
Stiles took another puff from the inhaler, placing it forcefully on the table "I'm sorry"
John sighed and ran a hand on his son's hair "Don't be son. It's not your fault. I'm just worried for you"
Stiles nodded
"Get some sleep. You still have some time for college" John got up and saw Stiles lay back. He was about to close the door when he paused to look at his son "Derek must have gotten the scare of his life. Talk to him kid"
Stiles raised his hand where his soulmate mark was plusing rapidly but also slowing down a little. The twenty year old lived in a world where you have a heartbeat tattooed on your right wrist and can feel your soulmate's pluse beating under your skin which will glow when you meet your soulmate. If your heart is racing, your soulmate can feel it too and vice versa.
Stiles met his soulmate, Derek a month back during their inter college football game. He could never forget that day...
FLASHBACK
Twenty one year old Derek reached over and turned off the shower. With his eyes still closed, he patted around until the soft fabric of his towel brushed his fingertips. He ruffled his hair with his towel, attempting to soak up some water, then tied it around his waist and stepped out of the safety of the curtain to get dressed
There was couple of boys changing in the locker room, busy chatting and cheering about their win when Derek opened his locker which was at the entrance of the room and wore his boxers and jeans. He was about to pull a Tshirt when he faintly heard weird sounds. To him it sounded like someone was gagging or puking his guts out
And then next second, Derek let out a silent gasp, instantly raising his hand to eye level. His soulmate's heartbeats thumped erratically under his skin like a jagged mountain range. It was racing so rapidly that Derek feared his soulmate might be dying or something.
This wasn't the first time Derek felt his soulmate's rapid pluse. It started when he was ten years old. He was so freaked at that moment that he nearly passed out in the school. From then on, Derek had been experiencing these sudden change in his soulmate's heartbeats. It would beat faster and faster for more than three minutes before thumping back to normal pace. He never understood the real reason behind the occasional irregular heartbeats
Derek grabbed his Tshirt, quickly pulling it over his head and rushed out of the locker room. He clutched his hand tightly, feeling overwhelmed because he was most probably going to meet his soulmate. The gasping and wheezing sounds continued until Derek reached at the corner of the hallway and saw a boy slumped on his knees with a hand to his chest and other fisted tightly on his thigh as he tried to get his breathing under control
Derek jogged his way towards the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder "Are you oka..." he paused when a his wrist tingled and glowed light pinkish color. His eyes widened and flicked them on the boy's hand that was on his chest to confirm his doubt and his own heart felt like it was skyrocketing. The mark, the heartbeat was also glowing like his, matching rhythmically. This boy was his soulmate.
Another gurgled sound cut through his thoughts and Derek looked worriedly at the boy "Hey what's happening to you? Are you okay?"
The boy, Stiles took yet another painful breath and shakily pointed at his bag that was dropped on the floor. Derek pressed his lips tightly and took the bag in his hand as he fumbled inside, not knowing what exactly he was suppose to be looking for "Is your medicine in here?"
Stiles nodded and rasped out "In..Inhaler"
"Shit!" cursed Derek and dumped the bag upside down. All the books scattered on the floor along with a small white can. He grabbed it and gave it to Stiles "Here.. take it!"
Stiles pressed the inhaler near his mouth and took huge gulps of medicine. It took another three to four puffs before he leaned back on the wall, exhausted from his attack. Derek felt the heartbeats return to normal pace and he took a sigh of relief "Are you okay now?"
Stiles nodded "Thank you.."
"Derek...your soulmate"
Stiles froze staring at Derek with wide eyes. He pushed himself off the wall "What?"
"Look it's still glowing" Derek said with a smile pointing at Stiles's mark "I can't believe I met yo.."
"NO!" Stiles yelled and quickly reached out to collect all his books from the floor and started dumping them in his bag "I'm not.. no.."
Derek was taken aback by Stiles's reaction "Hey what's the matter? We are soulmates. Our heartbeats match and it did glow with same color"
Stiles looked at Derek and shook his head "No.. please stay away from me"
"What?"
Stiles didn't reply and ran out of Derek's sight before the other could stop him.
PRESENT
Stiles turned to his side, eyes falling on the device which somehow seemed so lonely to him. From the first day since Derek knew they were soulmates, he had been trying to contact him, to connect with him but how could he. Stiles had a problem. He was a asthma patient. How could he give himself, a defective person to someone so perfect as Derek. His soulmate was hundred times better than him and deserved best. And he was no where near best. Infact he stood last in the line of best category.
Stiles saw his phone lit up and sighed. He was sure it was Derek who was probably asking if he was alright. His lower lip curled, eyes shone with tears and he turned to his other side. No matter how hard Derek tried to convince him, he knew they were not meant for each other.