Chapter Text
The first time Mieczysław “Stiles” Stilinski thought my friends are idiots was when he was nine years old. Every time the teen thinks back to how idiotic his best friends are, he recalls two moments: both of them forgetting their inhalers. They cannot survive without them. It could kill them. Yet, those two idiots keep forgetting, but after two horrific nights when they were hanging out at Stiles’ place and forgot their inhalers, the boy asked (begged) his parents to purchase inhalers so he could have one in case Scott and Theo forget. Again.
Theo
Scott couldn’t come today to hang out, so it was just Stiles and Theo. Stilinski and McCall were always cautious around Theo, but neither Stiles nor Scott ever shown it. They know that Theo hates it and sometimes likes to pretend like he’s not sick at all. On top of that, his older sister, Tara, recently died of hypothermia, and it was Theo who found her. Stiles will never forget his dad taking him to the station that day to comfort his friend. It was terrifying to see Theo like that. Crying, no, wailing for his sister. No one knew what to say. Stiles included. So, he came up to Theo and hugged him. Once he calmed down, he said that they could go to Scott’s, trying to distract the Raeken boy. It was hard for Stiles — pretending that Tara’s death didn’t affect him as much as it did. He liked Tara. She was nice, and she was a good sister. However, his friend was more important now. His friend, who couldn’t breathe from crying (his sick heart and asthma didn’t help), so Stiles did what his dad always does for him when he has a panic attack — he told Theo to breathe with him and once the boy calmed a little, Stiles gave him the inhaler. But, that’s a story for another day. Let’s get back to the stupidity of Theo Raeken. At least that’s what Stiles calls it.
”Did you start studying for math?” asked Theo as they chose a game to play. Stiles’ mom left them alone to buy the groceries and trusted them to behave while she’s gone. “I don’t understand this stuff. I missed too many classes,” the boy added sadly. He really hated his stupid heart. Why can’t he have a normal heart like Scott and Stiles? Or like any normal kid?
”Not really,” admitted Stiles as he turned on his PlayStation 2 and picked up two joysticks. “But I understand most of it. I could help you after school tomorrow.” He smiled at Theo, who returned the smile.
“Thanks,” the boy whispered, and sat down on the couch. After that, they played some racing games and talked about stuff. Like Scott missing out on the fun they had. But since Scott’s dad’s not cool, the youngest McCall had to stay at home.
Theo and Stiles had been playing for half an hour or so when it happened. They laughed one minute and the other, Theo couldn’t breathe due to an asthma attack.
“You suck!” complained Stiles as Theo beat him once again. The latter smiled in victory and the young Stilinski boy laughed. Only for Theo to stop smiling all of a sudden and start wheezing. Stiles reacted immediately. Being friends with Scott and Theo for a few years now, he knew exactly what an asthma attack looks like. Expect this time, to Stiles’ luck, the Raeken boy had probably the worst attack Stiles has ever seen on him. Yeah, he had seen such attacks on Scott, but with Theo it was mostly his heart lately — he hadn’t had an asthma attack in six months. The young Stilinski looked through Theo’s bag pack only to see that there was no inhaler. “Theo, I need you to try and answer me, okay?” his friend nodded. Or tried to, at least. “Did you forget your inhaler?” Theo looked away. Well, he tried to.
”T…Ta-r…” right. He couldn’t speak. But for Stiles it was enough. Theo tends to be forgetful, especially on the days when he pretends like his heart is not going to randomly stop (there’s a possibility) in the middle of the day as he waits on the transplant list (Theo’s stubborn and refuses to be in the hospital longer than he has to). It was Tara who always reminded Theo to take his inhaler with him. And there’s no more Tara. No one to remind Theo.
“Okay, okay. Don’t speak,” said Stiles and ran to pick up the phone. He dialed 9-1-1 like his parents taught him — in case he ever needed to call an emergency.
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” a female voice sounded in Stiles’ ear.
”My friend can’t breathe. He has a sick heart and asthma. Please, send help,” said terrified Stiles.
“Are your parents home?” asked the woman.
“No, no. My mommy went to the store and daddy’s at work. Theo forgot his inhaler and I don’t know what to do,” rambled Stiles.
”You did the right thing-“ her voice was shut down from Stiles as he heard his mom coming into the house.
”Boys, I’m- Theo?! What’s going on?!” she asked as she dropped the bags and ran to the boy.
”Could you get me your mom to on phone?” the lady asked and the young Stilinski did what she asked. After that, Stiles remembers the ambulance, Theo barely breathing as the aid was given to him while being taken to the hospital. And Claudia Stilinski apologizing to Theo — as both she and Stiles held his hands in the aid car — for leaving. Theo just smiled and squeezed their hands.
“Hospital sucks.” complained Theo. It was their second hour at the hospital. Theo loathes hospitals. Hospitals suck.
”I know, T. But I had to call,” said Stiles.
“Yeah, I know. You called because you’re the bestest friend in the entire world,” smiled the Raeken boy.
“Scott will feel offended when I tell him that I’m the bestest.” Stiles grinned and looked at the door. Behind it, you could hear Claudia talking to Jonathan, Theo’s dad.
”Shut up. You’re both the bestest. Can’t imagine dealing with my stupid heart without you two,” admitted the boy.
”This time it’s ‘your stupid asthma’,” giggled Stiles.
”Yeah. Why can’t I be normal? I mean, at least my heart. It’s not even mine. It’s heart number three, and I’m on the list for heart number four,” groaned Theo. Stiles didn’t know what to say. He just looked at his friend sadly and held his hand. “The second I’m eighteen, I’ll stop fighting. It’s going to be pointless after so many years anyway,” Theo sniffled as unexpected tears left his eyes. Stiles’ own heart stopped. A life without Theo in it? No way. He’ll find a way to help Theo’s heart.
”No way. I’m not gonna let you. Scotty won’t let you.” Stiles felt his own tears.
“But Stiles, I don’t want to hurt anymore. And in nine years, what will it be? Heart numer fourteen?” as much as Stiles hated it, deep down he knew that Theo was right. There won’t be a magic solution. If a transplant doesn’t help, nothing else will.
”I don’t want you hurting either. Scotty and I hate seeing you hurt. But we can’t lose you. You’re our bestest friend, Theo.” Theo only looked at Stiles sadly. He talked to Theo for a while longer until Claudia took Stiles home.
After that, Stiles took it upon himself to remind Theo about his inhaler.