My Best Friend The Werewolf

Adapting

When they wake up later that afternoon Eli feels his gut bubbling and with surprising energy his rushing for the bathroom. Forgetting about his ankle until he hits his knees, at least at his destination.

All that comes out of him is purple goo. His mouth and tongue burning as it just keeps coming up. Stomach muscles in pain from the "intense exercise".

Steve just sits beside him and rubs his back. Cooing soft words and adoration in Eli's ear. Eli finally groaning at him to shut up because it was irritating more than helping.

Eli isn't sure how long he kneels on the bathroom floor. Just that his legs are dead and his lips and tongue are numb. That everything that's coming out is finally clear and pure bile.

Ms Lake appears and tries to force some foul liquid down his throat. Eli gagging and shaking his head at the mere smell. Not wanting to take it but she doesn't give him a choice.

"Blinky said the potion you had was enough to stop the wolfsbane from starting to killing for only 24 hours. It's been 32. I honestly don't know how you haven't just outright died yet. So I suggest you take it before you do die and all my work to keep you alive goes to waste." She snaps.

Eli takes it. Gagging and nearly throwing up all over again. It tastes foul, worse than the Wolfsbane potion had been and that hadn't been a dream either. The wolfsbane was at least a little sweet, with the goldenseal and gingko. Eli had known the risks, had known there was a major chance that everything Blinky had done to stop the Wolfsbane from affecting his own system wouldn't stop him from just outright dying, the minute it touched his skin.

Sure there probably could have been more ways, different ways to handle it. But it was the one thing that Eli could think of at that moment. A sure-fire way to weaken Flinn. It had only been to weaken him though, Eli hadn't known that even that tiny amount of Wolfsbane would have killed him.

"Blame the fact that we have an essay to hand in on Monday. Eli would get shot and still get up and go to school if it meant keeping his record." Steve says with a shrug, half smiling. Eli recognizes that same look that Jim gives Claire. Eli finds himself smiling back.

Ms Lake relaxes after that and treats him nicer.

"You should get some food into you. I'll text your mother's. Let them know your both safe and if April asks questions when you get home. Tell her it was a stray dog"

She makes them sandwiches as Eli apologises to Claire and Jim. For making Claire push her own limits, for scaring them, for even dragging them into this in the first place. Claire still half asleep curled into Jim's side on the couch. A few dark lines still lining the skin around her eyes. Still slowly fading.

"It's ok. We get it. If it was Jim in Steve's position, I would have done the same thing. I just wish I could have done more" Claire says voice a mere whisper as Jim runs his hand up and down her side gently.

"No, you did everything you could plus more. We can't repay you for that. Either of you." Steve says. Him and Jim sharing a look that Eli thinks is a mutual understanding.

Eli picks at his food while Steve inhales his own.

"Eat, please. Just a bit more" Steve pushes and to make him happy. Eli manages to at least eat half his sandwich. Steve pressing a kiss to his forehead in thanks.

Ms Lake drives them home after checking them both over and giving them the go ahead. Eli being told just to take it easy, both of them orders to stay off their feet as much as possible. Steve is tasked with helping Eli's bandages and mainly to just get a lot of rest.

Steve checks in with his mother and Coach Lawrence and it gives Eli time to have a shower. Whimpering and yelping in pain when water hits his bite mark. He washes the grime and blood from his hair. Purple and red swirling down the drain. Once he feels the remotest semblance of clean, he turns off the taps. Knowing if he didn't get out, Steve would have to collect him off the shower floor in two hours.