If You're Allergic Then Deny, Deny, Deny

[tenderwarrior]

Elliot usually loved animals. He had plenty of fond memories of Christmases at his aunt’s and spending time with her cat, his friends' pets, and smiled at dogs he saw walking on the street. Horses were an exception. 

He had always been dreadfully allergic to them. After a short ride on one during a family vacation in his teens and turning into a sneezing and itchy-eyed mess, he stayed as far away from them as he could. Now, as an agent for the CPD in Chicago, he could easily ignore the beasts. 

While hadn’t told any of his colleagues about his unfortunate allergy, his eyes slightly widened when the police chief came out of his office to inform the crew about a case. “There’s a developing murder case in Barlett at a barn and their police chief needs a couple people out there. Avery and Rowan, I need you out there.” 

“You got it,” Liam said,  and his brows furrowed when he looked at Elliot. “You okay, man?” 

Elliot straightened in his seat. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” 

The drive was filled with Bob Dylan’s voice and Liam’s constant chatter about his days at his grandmother’s farm when he was younger. Elliot split his time between reading and telling Liam about the case and taking in the miles and miles of pastures, taking in the small herd of cows or horses now and again.

“You’ve been quieter than normal,” Liam said. “You sure you’re alright?” 

Elliott turned to Liam, taking in his dark suit jacket and open brown eyes. “I’m sure. I assume you’re excited to see a farm again?” 

“Oh yeah,” Liam said, turning his attention to the road again. “When I was younger, my brother and I…” 

Although Elliot felt a sting of guilt for lying to the guy, he was the nicest person on the force and welcomed everyone with open arms, he also didn’t need him pushing him to the wayside because of his allergy. Maybe there wouldn’t even be horses. 

Liam parked on a gravel road when they arrived, the sound of the small rocks filled the car as he turned down the radio. He took in the land, pale yellow house, and red barn in the back. It seemed straight out of a movie. Elliott slipped out of the car and followed Liam to the police officer talking to an older couple in the front yard of the house. 

“Hello, we’re from the CPD. I’m agent Rowan,” Liam greeted, flashing his badge before turning to Elliot. “And he’s agent Avery. We’re here to help you on the case.” 

The officer stuck out his hand. “Pleasure to meet you both. This is Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Thought I could stay and talk to Mrs. Jones while you head to the barn with Mr.-”

“You can call me Peter,” the man spoke up then looked at Elliot and Liam with a soft smile. “I know the barn like the back of my hand. It would be an honor to show you around.” 

Elliott returned the smile as he put his badge away. He had gotten many different responses from people when he shared his profession. An over joyous appreciation that seemed to be usually kept for celebrities were the weirdest for him. 

“Of course,” Elliot said, “Show us the way,” 

Elliot followed Liam and Peter to the barn and took in the massive size when they walked in. The high arched ceilings were held with dark wooden beams and five horse stalls filled each side, a few horses peaking out of them. He scrunched his nose at the smell and listened as the hay crunched beneath his shoes while he followed the two. 

“She was a regular here,” Peter recalled, standing near a horse stall. Elliot glanced at the horse then back to Peter, trying to ignore the smell or any beginning of an allergy attack. “She loved the horses and me and June let her ride freely. She was like family.” 

Elliot nodded with sympathetic eyes at the line. It was much too common whenever something like this happened. 

“Right,” Liam said. “Was her brother a regular, too?” 

While Elliot listened to Liam’s questions and Peter’s answers, a familiar tickle formed at the back of his throat and eyes. He cleared his throat and sniffed, enjoying the moment of relief. He’d be fine. 

Elliot nodded as Liam spoke, eyes focusing on Peter and on anything but the horses. He hadn’t even realized he’d been clearing his throat and sniffing so often until Liam commented on it when Peter went to get a file in the back. 

“Are you alright?” Liam asked. “It sounds like you’re trying to start a lawnmower in your throat.” 

“I’m fi…" Elliot began until the burning itch crept up to the tip of his nose. He snapped forward, pinching his nose. “NkTSSsh!”

Liam smirked. “Bless you.” 

Elliot rubbed his nose and sniffed. “Thank you.” 

“So, I have these files and-” 

“Hih… Aah’GNktch! Hp’NGTchsh!” Elliot muffled the sneezes onto his suit jacket and sniffed heavily before looking up. His eyes were blurred with tears and he blinked quickly, trying not to touch them even though the itch quickly grew. “Apologizes.”

“It’s no problem,” Peter smiled. “Anyway, like I was saying…” 

Elliot spent the majority of the time not listening to either Peter or Liam but focused on the burning sensation in his nose and itchiness in his eyes, throat, and ears. He sniffed softly, hoping maybe he wouldn’t breathe in too much dust or dander. The more he did, though, the quicker his nose began to run. 

Liam stood closer next to the horse stall as Peter pet the horse’s head. Elliot scrunched and wiggled his nose as he watched, feeling even worse whenever he glanced over to the animal. He sniffed again, taking his eyes off the horse and onto the Peter when he rubbed at his nose with the back of his hand. 

Although the action soothed his nose for a moment, the burning tickle came back when he let his hand fall to his side. He swallowed thickly and tried to think of something else. He’d be fine and could stand here while Liam spoke. 

“I think that’s it for me,” Liam said then turned to Elliot. “Do you have any questions?” 

Elliot sniffed hard and shook his head, suddenly feeling his breath begin to hitch. He tried to clear his throat or do something, but it didn’t matter. 

Elliot’s jaw slacked for a moment as his eyes glazed over with allergic tears as they closed.“Heh… EhhNTSSh! Hh’IHSHhhue! Apolo… hih... EepTSSHH! hahh… aaaIISSHH!”

“Are you alright?” Liam asked as his eyes widened with concern. 

Of course, he’d ask something like that. Elliot had only sneezed a handful of times in the six years he’d been working for the force.

Are you okay, are you okay, are you okay?

Liam’s words rang like a mantra through his head. He wanted to lie, to say he was fine because he was. He could go into shootouts and drug houses and walk away unharmed. But being in a barn filled with dust and six or so horses turned him into an allergic mess.

Elliot sniffed, cautiously waiting to see if he needed to sneeze again. “It appears something in here is making me sneeze.” 

Peter frowned. “Oh, I hope it isn’t the horses,”

“I don’t think it's the.. hiih… Hh’IHSHhhue!"

They stayed out of the barn for the rest of their visit.  Peter’s wife, June, gave him a pack of tissues and a glass of water while Liam finished up with the other police officer. His sneezes tapered to about every ten minutes as time went by and he thanked them for the hospitality before they left. 

Elliot looked at his face a couple minutes after they started driving in the sun visor. His eyes were swollen, red, and watery while his nose was a pink hue. He would have been embarrassed if he wasn’t still sneezing periodically.

“So,” Liam said fifteen minutes into their drive. “I think you’re allergic to horses,” 

Elliot pursed his lips while he kept a wad of tissues to his nose. He sniffed, rubbed his nose, then said. “I think you might be right.”

Edited January 22, 2017 by ultravioletcas

[Melody]

This is so adorable! I love stories with animal allergies  Hope you continue!

[RiversD]

This was really nice! I liked how you detailed the development of the allergic reaction, which helped me to really get into the story, starting to empathise with Elliot through the details of how he was feeling, and also building anticipation towards the inevitable loss of control to come.

I also felt like you did a great job of building these characters in such a short space of time. I never felt like I was lacking context that would help me engage with the story, but you didn't bury me in exposition either. It's always lovely to read something that can get a good balance on that front.

I liked the dynamic between Elliot, Liam, and the rest, and generally feel like you constructed a believable and very enjoyable piece here. Well done!

[Juniebee]

Awww <3 Somebody give him some benedryl, poor baby