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1 Corey
Exhaustion seeped into Theo’s bones, his feet dragging with every step through the Preserve.
He’d been laying in the back of his truck, just awoken by a nightmare when Liam had called him and the rest of the Puppy Pack at midnight to follow up on a lead they might have on the hunters in the area. They had all shot Theo a curious look when they found he got there before the rest of them. He answered how he’d been on a run when he got the call.
It wasn’t a complete lie. He went for a run earlier and decided to park his truck there for the night. Deputies didn’t patrol the Preserve as much, so he wasn’t constantly woken up by them banging on his window. The other details, like of him sleeping in his truck, just seemed unimportant at the time.
No one has noticed that Theo was homeless, or not yet at least. He’d like to believe that it wasn’t because they didn’t care what happened to him, but a part of him would always think that no matter how hard he tried to stop it. And that part tends to always win over the others.
He was relieved when he found out there were no hunters in the area, thinking of how maybe he’ll be able to catch a few hours of sleep before he has to work at the Clinic tomorrow morning. He wasn’t even sure why Deaton had trusted him enough to hire him, but he was grateful for it.
Maybe after a while, he could save up enough for an actual place to live.
The exhaustion is exactly what led Theo to somehow ignore the obvious footsteps behind him, the heartbeat was clear in his ears, but he still didn’t turn around. He passed it off as another animal in the woods.
He unlocked the doors to his truck and climbed into the back. He took a deep breath. This is what he deserved. No family, no friends, no one to care about him, no home . He finally got what was coming his way, and he couldn’t bring himself to be mad.
He laid down, quickly pulled from his thoughts when he heard a tapping on the window.
Groaning, he answered without even looking, “Okay, okay, I’ll move.”
A curious “Theo?” made him look up. Corey was standing there, confusion written all over his face. Fuck.
Theo sat up, opening the door and stepping out. Corey took a step back and looked from Theo to his truck.
“Have you been living there?”
“Where did you think I was living?” Theo asked, leaning against the truck with his arms crossed, “With the people I forced to be my family? My actual dead family? A five star hotel?”
Corey shot him an unimpressed look. He was used to this behavior from Theo. He had to deal with it back when he was part of his pack, but he still smelled of guilt, confusion, and hurt. All of those puzzled Theo. Why would Corey of all people care what happened to Theo?
“Fine,” Theo sighed, “I didn’t have anywhere to go, okay?”
“How long?”
“Ever since I was brought back.”
Corey nodded, “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“When the fuck did this turn into an interrogation,” Theo mumbled under his breath, “I know no one would really be racing to offer me a place to stay so. Can I get back to sleeping now?”
The other chimera seemed to think for a moment before speaking again, “No.”
“No?”
“No,” He said firmly, “come stay with me for a bit.”
Theo laughed dryly, not finding the humor in what Corey said, “Yeah, nice one.”
“I’m serious,” Corey said, “My parents are never around, especially now after the war with Monroe, so it’ll be nice to have someone else around.”
“You’re acting like Mason doesn’t come around everyday.”
“He doesn’t. We normally go to his because mine just feels empty with only me there,” He hesitated, “I know we haven’t had the best past-”
“Understatement of the century.”
“You were an awful person. You manipulated us all, you killed Josh and Tracy and Scott. I hated you with everything I had,” The words felt like a punch to Theo, each one knocking the breath out of him, “But you changed, Theo. We can all see that.”
And if that whole speech didn’t hurt Theo enough, Corey added, “Especially Liam.”
“Don’t,” Theo breathed out. It came out as a plea.
Corey smiled lightly, “I knew it,” He whispered to what seemed like no one but himself, “He wouldn’t want you living out here by yourself, so just come stay with me.”
One specific question had been burning Theo since Corey first offered.
Fuck it , he thought as he finally said it, “Do you really trust me enough for that?”
“Shockingly, yeah.”
Theo nodded, taking a deep breath. He knew this was a war he wasn't going to win, and honestly, he was too exhausted to argue any further. He can't even remember what it's like to sleep in a bed.
The backseat of his truck, operating tables, and the floors of the operating theaters is all he's ever really known for places to sleep. He barely has any memories of before he met the Dread Doctors, all the operations ripping the memories from his mind.
“Okay, let’s go. As long as you don't snore, then we're good.”
Corey snorted, “If anyone snores, it's you. We stayed in the tunnels one night, remember?”
He ignored the memories of that night. The faces of Josh and Tracy coming to his head, making him feel ill.
Theo shook his head, “Tell anyone about that, and I'll smother you with your own pillow, Bryant.”
Corey walked around and climbed into the passenger side of Theo's truck. Theo got into the drivers and took off in the direction out of the Preserve.
For the first night in almost a year, he'll have a bed to sleep in, an actual roof over his head. He knew it was way more than he should have, but he was too selfish and tired to acknowledge that right now.
He knew Corey now knew how Theo felt about Liam. No words even had to be spoken in that moment when the other chimera said his name. What Theo didn’t know is that his feelings were so obvious whenever the blue eyed man was mentioned, the soft smile he always wore, the look of fondness in his eyes. But what Theo didn't know was that anyone around them could see that Liam wore the same look, but both of them were too oblivious to notice it.
----
2 Mason
Theo had been living with Corey for a few days, just over the weekend. They quickly fell into a routine. One of them would try to cook, and it would always end up in a disaster. Corey would yell directions as Theo would yell back that he clearly wasn’t reading them right. It would always end in them ordering takeout. Theo's strong suit was baking, definitely not cooking. And Corey? He preferred to turn invisible at the first opportunity to avoid either one.
Part of their routine also involved binge watching shows together, which is exactly what they were currently doing.
“I swear if you don’t finish doing whatever you're doing soon, I’m gonna start this episode without you,” Theo yelled down the hallway.
“Dude,” Corey replied, “I told you I’m just finishing cleaning.”
“Yeah, sure,” Theo mumbled, “That’s what they all say.”
He knew Corey was about to ask a question, probably "Who is they?" , but a knock on the door cut him off.
Theo stayed sitting on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table. Another knock at the door came.
“Are you gonna get that at some point?” Theo asked, not needing to yell because he knew Corey could hear him. Theo just liked doing it to annoy the other man.
“You’re literally right by it.”
Theo dramatically groaned, “I have to do everything myself. This is not what I was promised when I was kidnapped on Friday.”
“You willingly came with me.”
“Yeah, well, potato tomato,” Theo stood up and walked to the door, laughing when he heard Corey’s confused voice say “That’s not even how the saying goes.”
Theo opened the door to see Mason standing on the other side.
“It’s your boy thing,” He walked to the chair by the couch instead of the couch itself, sitting back in his original position
Mason slowly walked in and closed the door behind him. Corey came running into the room, crashing as he stopped.
The human stood in the living room and looked between the two of them, “Okay first, boy thing? Are you middle aged? and second, what is even going on here? I mean, no offense, dude, but what is Theo doing here?”
“A lot of offense taken” Theo answered the same time Corey said, “Living here?”
“Was that a question or an answer?”
“Both,” They both must have shot Corey the same look because he quickly fixed his reply, “Answer.”
“I thought Corey would’ve told you by now,” Theo stated like it was obvious.
That’s because it was. The two told each other everything. Watching them and seeing the connection they had made pulled at something inside Theo. He knew he could never have that. No one would ever love him like that, and it was something he’s come to accept.
He’s no longer mad at whatever cosmic force caused that to happen, he’s dealt with the feeling of being unneeded and unloved that it’s felt like a second nature to him now.
“I didn’t want to betray your trust like that,” Corey whispered quietly, so quietly that only Theo could hear.
He sent Corey a look, but the latter ignored it, instead looking back at his boyfriend.
Mason nodded, not having heard what Corey said, “Why? I mean, why is he living here with you?”
He didn’t sound mad or upset, just curious.
Corey looked to Theo, a silent question in his eyes. Do you want to tell him or should I?
A fondness for him washed over Theo at the question. He wanted to give Theo the option to tell Mason, he didn’t want to take that away from Theo.
Theo nodded, silently answering for Corey to do it. He wasn’t sure he could trust his words. A bizarre feeling of nervousness came over him. More people were going to find out, but for some reason, he trusted them both.
He motioned for them both to sit down. They followed, sitting on the couch side by side.
Corey faced Mason, “He didn’t have anywhere to go, Mase.”
The human pieced together what he was saying too fast for Theo’s liking, “You were living in your truck?”
He continued when Theo stayed silent, “Why didn’t you tell us?”
The exact same question Corey asked.
“Like he said, I didn’t have anywhere to go,” It wasn't a complete lie, but it also wasn't the truth.
He didn't tell anybody because he knew they wouldn't care enough. No one had even checked up on him since the Ghost Riders.
He already knew his truck was worth more than he deserved anyway.
“No, I don’t need to be supernatural to know that’s a lie, or at least mostly is,” Mason saw right through him, “You think you deserve it.”
Theo flinched. Both of the other men caught it. The smell of shock and guilt filled the room, almost suffocating Theo.
Mason had always been smart, Theo knew that. Back when he was trying to take over the pack, he thought of bringing Mason into his pack. He could’ve used someone that smart, but none of his plans really went well.
Corey stood up, “I’m gonna go make some tea.”
Theo let a small smile come to his face at the gesture. He appreciated Corey giving them a minute. It was too overwhelming having them both staring at him, waiting for more answers. He knew Corey would be listening from the kitchen. Knowing he had at least one person looking out for him still helped. He's never had that before.
“Man, Liam is gonna kill you when he finds out,” Mason said, sounding slightly amused, “I know you didn’t tell him because, one, I didn’t know, and two, you’re here instead of over at his.”
Theo let out a dry laugh, “Yeah, like I would’ve been so welcome there.”
“Okay, no. I know you’re an idiot sometimes, but you can’t be this dumb,” Mason started, “You’re over there everyday, way more than I am at this point. Even when you aren’t over there, you two are out somewhere. Not to mention the whole saving each other’s lives multiple times. You’d be welcome there, you have to see that.”
“I didn’t want him to feel like he had to,” Theo shrugged, “He deserves better than that.”
Mason stood from his seat and walked over to stand in front of Theo, “Stand up right now.”
Raising an eyebrow, Theo did as he said. As soon as he stood up, Mason pulled him into a hug. He froze, not knowing what to do. He hesitated before he wrapped his arms around Mason.
“You deserve to be happy,” He said, “and I’m sorry for what I said in the tunnels.”
“It’s okay, nothing you said was wrong.”
He felt Mason shaking his head, “That doesn’t make it okay, though. You were trying back then, just like you are now. I don’t think like that anymore. You’re pack, and I trust you.”
Theo didn’t trust his words. He nodded, quietly saying, “Okay.”
Mason started to pull back, “Now,” he smacked Theo on the back of the head, “you need to get your head out of your ass and tell him how you feel. Don’t even try denying it.”
“And also don’t make us lose fifty dollars each,” Corey walked back in while trying to balance three mugs in his hands.
To Theo's surprise, he set them down on the coffee table without spilling or dropping anything.
“You guys bet on me?”
“Technically, both you and Liam,” Mason corrected, “and it was the whole pack, not just us. Don’t make us lose, Thedore Karl Raeken.”
“Don't ever use my full name again, ” Theo said, “And isn't telling me technically cheating?”
Both of the other men rolled their eyes.
“Great, asshole Theo is back.”
“What can I say?” Theo raised both of his hands in defense, “It’s a lifestyle.”
And just like that, all the tension vanished from the room. Theo felt the heavy weight on his chest leave with it.
“How do you even know my full name anyway?"
Mason shrugged, "I saw the 'k' on your forms Stiles showed us and got curious. I mean, how bad can a middle name be if you won't even write it out?"
Theo glared, "If you ever tell the pack, I'll kill you."
“Yeah, okay,” Corey answered, “Your threats held more weight before I saw you almost cry over not being able to knit like some sad grandma.”
He groaned when he saw Mason's eyes light up before he started laughing. Corey starts telling the story. Theo realizes that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else in that moment. There was only one thing, one person, that could've made it better.
3 Scott
“You’re coming to Scott’s tonight, right?” Liam asked.
Theo was sitting on the floor by Liam’s bed while the younger man laid on it.
The whole setup was comforting and felt normal to Theo. Like Mason said, he was over there all the time. He would come over after school during the week and after work on the weekends. After a lot of convincing, Lydia’s mom re-enrolled him so he could finish his senior year. He was now in the same grade as the rest of the Puppy Pack. Sure, it was weird being a year older than them and in the same grade, but he actually liked it that way.
They would do homework together. Liam normally had an abundance about biology to ask Theo. And Theo, well, he would pretend not to know what was going on in history just to see Liam’s eyes light up right before he went on a tangent. He felt himself fall a little bit more in love with him every time he saw it.
His comments of I’m impressed quickly turned into the way he would say I love you without actually saying the words.
“Depends,” he answered, “did you finish your biology work?”
“It was a simple question, asshole.”
Theo smirked, “Yeah, I’m going. Not sure how wanted I’ll be, but I’ll go.”
“I want you there,” The words were said so fast Theo almost didn’t catch them.
Theo felt a soft smile spread across his face, “Then yeah, I’m going.”
A light pink dusting rose to Liam’s face as he smiled and nodded, looking back down at his homework.
“Wait, why aren’t you doing any work?” Liam pouted, actually pouted , sounding annoyed.
Can he stop being cute for five seconds, Theo thought to himself.
“Because I don’t want to.”
“I swear to god I’m going to break your nose,” Theo smiled at the lack of heat behind Liam’s words.
“I’m an athei-” He couldn’t finish the words before a book was thrown at his face, “I'm wounded by that. I’m telling Jenna you did that."
"She won't believe you."
"You sure about that? Who's she going to believe? Her annoying son or a very handsome man who has a face that can do no wrong?"
"Did you just call yourself handsome?"
Theo put on the smirk that he knew got on Liam's nerves, "And you didn't disagree."
"Shut up before I throw you out the window."
----
Dread and anxiety filled Theo’s veins as he walked up the front stairs of the McCall house. The pack the past few weeks had been acting off. It wasn’t like Theo wasn’t used to the glares from Stiles and Malia. But still, something had changed between even them.
There wasn’t the same distrust behind it. Theo knew they were hiding something from him. A part of him wasn’t sure if he wanted to know at this point, the other knew he was going to find out tonight.
He raised a hand to knock on the door. It swung open before he had the chance to even touch it.
Liam’s eyes lit up, “You made it.”
“Yeah,” Theo breathed out, “I told you I would.”
A “I told you” came from inside the house before it was followed by what sounded like a slap.
Theo laughed lightly, “So, are you going to let me in or?”
“What?” It took a second, “Oh, sorry, yeah.”
To stay things felt tense would be a massive understatement. The room went dead silent as he walked in. He shifted from side to side, leaning against the wall as everyone stared at him.
“Admiring the artwork?” Theo quirked an eyebrow.
Some of the tension left the room. Everyone let out a sigh of relief at Theo’s usual behavior.
They still seemed on edge.
“Okay, what is it?” Theo broke, “Do you want me to leave or something?”
“What? We invited you here,” Liam answered.
“I meant Beacon Hills. It’s obviously why you’re all acting weird,” He took a deep breath, “I can be gone by tomorrow if you really need.”
Malia groaned, looking at Scott, “Oh my god, can you just tell him already?”
“I wanted to ease into it,” Scott said.
“Yeah, but it’s not working with him.”
“Do I just tell him or ask him?”
Mason chimed in, “Dude, you’re the leader, not us.”
“I want your input, though.”
Theo raised his hand, “Still here, guys.”
“You do know you’re pack, right?” Liam finally asked.
Time froze. Theo knew he deserved a lot of bad things in life, but this is definitely one of the more cruel things it’s given him.
“If this is your attempt at a joke, Liam, it’s not funny.”
“He’s not kidding,” Scott said, “We’ve all known for a while now.”
“Are you really just going to forget about everything I did?”
“I killed my sister and mom, and Peter tried killing everyone more than once,” Malia.
“My boyfriend tried killing my son,” Melissa.
“The point is, a lot of people here have done bad things, but they got a second chance. You should too, Theo.”
He felt like he couldn't breathe. The walls started to close in on him, the world spinning.
A pair of arms stopped him from falling to the ground.
“Woah, it's okay. I've got you,” Scott said.
You shouldn't.
Scott continued, “Wanna go for a walk? I feel like some fresh air might help.”
“Do I have a choice?” The chimera’s words held no bite, coming out exhausted rather than annoyed.
He hated feeling like this, feeling so helpless. It reminded him of when he was with the Dread Doctors. A part of him is still waiting for Tara to come around the corner, the twisted smile back on her face as he finds out this was all a trick.
“Not really,” Scott gave a crooked but warm smile.
Theo only nodded, not trusting his voice to not crack. That feeling has become all too familiar to him lately.
Scott gestured for him to follow as he walked out the door.
The night air hit his skin and helped ease the nausea swimming in his stomach. Taking a deep breath, he followed Scott's lead walking down the sidewalk.
They walked in silence until they were far enough out of hearing distance. Scott sat down on the curb, patting the space a next to him for Theo to sit.
“I'm sorry,” Scott broke the quiet.
Theo let out a dry laugh, “Shouldn't I be the one to say that?”
“I already know you are,” Scott sounded sincere, “If you weren't, you wouldn't have helped us with the Ghost Riders or the Anuk-ite and hunters. The old Theo wouldn't have done that without some selfish motive behind it.”
“I wouldn't say it wasn't also for a selfish reason.”
Theo really needs to learn how to shut up.
“Trust me, I know,” The other man gave him a knowing look, “First love, you remember what that's like?”
The words knocked the air out of Theo. The night still haunted him. It was the night he made one of the biggest mistakes of his life. And that says something considering all of what he's done.
Scott was smart, too smart sometimes. A fact that often went overlooked. People, including Theo, often underestimate him.
“Fuck,” Theo breathed out, tears now filling his eyes, “I don't think I can ever make up for what I did.”
“You're trying, and that's what matters. We all see it. Malia and Stiles do, I do, Liam does.”
Scott took a deep breath, “We should've never sent you there. We let so many others walk away, ones who were older and did much worse things. Deucalion, Kate, Gerard, even Chris. It wasn't fair to you.”
Please stop talking Theo thought. He didn't want these words to be true. If they were true, then they trusted him again. And last time they trusted him, he twisted that.
He doesn't, can't, go back to who he was. The image of Tracy and Josh flashed in his mind. The feeling of his claws piercing their flesh and how the power filled him. The feeling of Scott slowly becoming weaker with every blow. The way he saw the life drain from the other man's eyes.
Failure.
You're barely even human.
The words echoed in his mind, never once leaving. They were the first things he heard in the morning and the last he heard at night.
“I deserved it. All of it,” His voice was shaky, “I'd wake up in the hospital morgue-”
“No, it's okay. You don't have to tell me.”
Theo shook his head, “I do, though.”
“I couldn't breathe in there. So, I'd break out. The first time I didn't know what was happening. I ran down the hall trying to find an exit. It’s when I heard her – Tara's – voice calling out. She grabbed my leg and pulled me down, just like how she dragged me there. And then she took it back. She ripped her heart out. Then I'd wake back up in the morgue, and the circle would repeat. Over and over for months.”
“It's nothing I didn't deserve. I know that. But I didn't even kill her, you know that? When I got there to do it, I just couldn't . She was always the perfect child, and yeah, I was jealous. But she was everything that was good in the world. As soon as I started to back out, they showed up.”
The look on Scott's face made it clear Theo didn't have to clarify who they were.
“They pushed her in and left.” Failure, “I couldn't do anything but stand there and watch. I didn't even know what was happening, I just felt so helpless. I mean I was nine. What the fuck was I supposed to do? I didn't stand a chance against them, but part of me wishes I tried.”
Every wall he’s built up since he came back came crashing down. Tears fell from his eyes with every word spoken. He hadn't told anyone that before. He wasn't even sure if Scott would believe him.
Hell, he wouldn’t even believe him. Not after everything.
“Theo," Scott said softly, “why didn't you ever tell us?”
“Would you really have believed me? After Stiles constantly twisted any story I told to fit his narrative? Even when it was the truth?” The question didn't need an answer, and they both knew it, “The point is, I don't blame you all for what you did.”
“Doesn't that in itself show you've changed?” Scott asked, “Do you know why I always ask you to help? Especially with Liam?”
He didn't wait for an answer, “Because I can see you care for him. A lot. We've all seen the way you look at him. But more importantly, we've seen the way he looks at you.”
“Yeah, right,” Theo huffed, “Even if he did, I don’t deserve him.”
“That isn’t what love is about,” Scott looked at him, “No one chooses to be in love, but they can choose to embrace it. It isn’t about whether or not you deserve it, but if it was, you sure as hell do. After everything you’ve been through – everything we’ve put you through – you deserve it.”
A hand was placed on his shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze.
“We should probably head back,” Scott stood up, offering a hand to Theo to help him up, “Liam’s probably punched Stiles a few times for stopping him from coming after us.”
“Well, if Liam wants to punch him, then who am I to stop him?” Theo both laughed.
Theo took the hand and stood up, following the older man’s lead.
They spent the rest of the walk talking about random topics. It felt comfortable, like no time had passed from when they were kids. They just naturally clicked again. Theo knew he’d missed Scott and his friendship. He just underestimated how much until now.
Scott was surprised to hear Theo had seen the Star Wars movie. “ I didn’t live in the sewers for my whole life, Scott,” Theo responded as he bumped his shoulder.
It was partially the truth. He and Stiles used to watch the movies all the time when they were young. And then the Dread Doctors came. Needless to say, Theo didn’t get to see the rest of them. That was until one night that Liam found out and forced the entire puppy pack to have a marathon.
He spent the entire time making dumb comments to Theo. And Theo? He wasn’t sure he’d ever been more happy, feeling more like he belonged, in that moment.
“No, dude, a tomato is a fruit and a vegetable,” Theo tried explaining as they walked through the door.
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Scott muttered.
Theo opened his mouth to reply, but a warm hand grabbed his and pulled him back outside the house.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked, sounding concerned.
“Yeah,” His voice shook as he spoke, memories coming back to mind, “yeah, why?”
“Because, I could smell you were crying,” The younger man answered, “The others probably couldn’t, but I-”
He cut himself off.
“You what?” The question was quiet.
Liam took a deep breath, “You’re my anchor, so I just naturally pay more attention to you, I guess.” He started fiddling with a tiny chain bracelet around his wrist.
You’re my anchor.
He must’ve heard how Theo’s heart started to race, his starting to match the pace.
“You,” Liam started to panic, “You don’t have to say anything of course. I don’t expect anything from you. Looking back, I should’ve said this differently. It just slipped out. That happens a lot around you, actually, I tend not to think before I speak. I didn’t mean to freak you out or make you feel uncomfortable. I’ll just-”
Theo cut him off, finally finding the words to speak, “You too.”
He internally facepalmed.
That was somehow worse and more awkward than Liam’s version. He didn’t have to listen to what was happening in the house because he knew the pack were listening, probably making fun of the complete idiocy of the chimera.
“I- what?”
Great, now Liam had no clue what was going on.
“You’re mine too,” Theo rushed the words out, “My anchor, I mean.”
“But you’re always so good at control.”
“It’s not for anger or anything,” He ran a hand through his hair, “Do you remember at the hospital with the Ghost Riders? The thing that pulled me back was your voice.”
“Theo,” Was the only warning, even though it was just barely a whisper, he got before arms wrapped around his neck.
Liam placed his head in the crook of Theo’s neck, taking a deep breath. Theo’s own got caught in his throat. He hesitated before he wrapped his arms around Liam’s waist, gently pulling him closer.
“How much of this do you think they heard?” He felt the smaller man mumble.
“Honestly? All of it,” He laughed lightly, “And knowing Malia and Corey, they probably already told Mason and Stiles.”
Liam groaned before perking up, abruptly pulling away. Theo missed the contact already. Before this past week, he couldn’t remember the last time someone willingly hugged him. He couldn’t remember the last time someone touched him in a way that didn’t involve hurting him.
Pulling Theo from his thoughts, Liam poked him on the shoulder, waving a finger between them and then pointing to his truck. Theo smiled as he realized what Liam was suggesting.
Trying to muffle their laughs, they hurried into Theo’s truck. Theo started it and they pulled out of Scott’s driveway, ignoring Masons’s oh, come on, guys as he rushed out onto the porch.
4 Melissa
It started after the fight in the hospital.
Melissa had made a comment about how all she wanted was some dinner. Instead, she got a war. Theo immediately made a mental note of it. With Scott off at college, and Chris busy with talking with other hunters about the Monroe aftermath, she didn’t have anyone to bring her something to eat during her shift.
It was the least he could do, he figured. The first time it happened, Melissa thought something was wrong.
( Theo walked into the hospital, a bag of take-out in his hand. He wasn’t completely sure on what food Melissa did and didn’t like. He played it safe with an Italian restaurant not too far from the hospital. It used up the money he was saving for his own meal tonight, but she deserved it more.
She gave him a warm smile when she saw him, but it quickly fell when he saw what he was holding.
“Did something happen?” She asked.
“What?”
“Oh god,” She intertwined her fingers to mimic praying, “Please tell me that’s not another dead rat.”
Yeah, he’s not even going to question that one.
“No, uh,” Theo cleared his throat, “It’s dinner. Liam mentioned that you were working late earlier, so I thought I’d bring you something to eat. I hope Italian’s okay?”
He was suddenly becoming self-conscious about this. Why did he think it was a good idea again? She probably still didn’t trust him, and he doesn’t blame her. She probably thinks-
“It’s not poisoned,” He winced as he blurted it out, drawing a few looks his way from nearby nurses.
Way to convince her you’re not still evil, Theo he thought.
She laughed, “I wasn’t even worried about that, but now I might be.”
Her tone was light and joking, the same one she uses around Scott. He lets out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.
“Seriously though,” She pulled him into a hug, “You’re my savior, I swear. I was starving.”)
He hadn’t told anyone about it, and the lack of comments from everyone else told him that Melissa hadn’t either. They’d talk for a few minutes before she had to get back. It reminded him of when he’d go to Scott’s house growing up. Him and Stiles would be caught up in something, and Theo would spend a good portion of his time talking to her instead.
He didn’t hold it against Scott. The two of them were inseparable ever since they met, and it stayed that way when they met Theo and started to hang out with them. Scott tried to include him, but he didn’t quite fit, and they all knew it.
Melissa became more of a mother to him than his actual mother. Just like his father, they both ignored him as much as they possibly could. Always seeing him as a burden than their own child, always making him know how troubling it was when he’d eventually have to go to the hospital again for his heart or asthma.
And then he left. He figured Melissa never spared him a second thought. Deep down, he knew she wasn’t like that, but it was easier for him if he thought it.
Killing Scott was the final nail in the coffin for any positive emotions Melissa had for him. Or so he thought. Something told him he was in for a conversation the moment he saw Melissa waiting for him.
“I swear I wasn’t the one to put lemon juice in Stiles’ shampoo when he was here,” Theo said, placing the food down on the desk, “I thought about it though.”
She grabbed it slowly, giving him a look, “Hello to you too, Theodore.”
He groaned, “Do you really still have to call me that? It makes me sound like an old man.”
“You’re right. You’re more of a grandma,” She continued, “Before you even try to interrupt me, I overheard you trying to convince Liam to watch Golden Girls with you and help point out who in the pack was who.”
In his defense, it was a fun game. He did eventually get Liam to watch it with him. Well, after promising to help him with his homework for the rest of the school year. They both knew he would do it either way.
“Which speaking of Liam,” No, no, no, “You’re coming tonight, right? You’re not just going to skip out because of what happened last time?”
Scott wanted to throw a second ‘welcome to the pack’ party since the last one didn’t go too well. Theo thought the part where him and Liam ran away to go get ice cream together and sit in the preserve was pretty good.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Theo tried his best to put on an innocent smile. One that Melissa apparently did not fall for.
“Sure,” She patted him on the shoulder, “You are aware a the house was full of supernatural beings with supernatural hearing? All of which are extremely nosy.”
Theo walked and sat beside Melissa, “Yeah, but you know which implies you’re also nosy.”
“Scott talks, I listen,” She shrugged before her face settled into something more serious, “He’s okay with it, you know that already, but the rest of us are too, Theo.”
His breath hitched. Was he really that obvious? If everyone else knew, then Liam most likely did too. He was just too nice to say anything.
“And I know what you're thinking,” Melissa cut off his train of thought as if she could read his mind, “No, he doesn't know. No matter how obvious you are, Liam is easily ten times more oblivious.”
A weight was lifted from Theo's shoulders. “I can't tell him, Melissa. He des-”
“No,” She raised a hand to stop him, “You deserve good things in life, Theo. I know you don't think you do, but that's not true. You deserve to be happy, you deserve to be loved , okay?” She grabbed one of his hands from where they rested in his lap, “You should tell him. I think you'll be surprised by his response.”
Not knowing what else to say, he nodded. Luckily, she seemed to understand he didn't want to talk about it anymore, and she dropped it. The conversation was light after that, more like they usually have. But still Theo couldn't get what she said out of his mind.
I think you'll be surprised by his response.
The only way Theo could be surprised is if Liam didn't immediately hate him. That’s the only good outcome he could think of.
The thing was Liam was good, just inherently good in everything he did. He went though so much to save his friends, not hesitating to jump onto the back of a horse and ride into the Wild Hunt. He was everything that was good in the world. The type of good that can't be corrupted by Theo and his selfish needs.
Theo had always been too needy, too selfish. Doing anything necessary to get the power he needed and craved. He knew that's what it looked like. It didn't matter how motivation behind any of it, how he just needed enough power to finally break free from the Dread Doctors.
He remembers the pure relief he felt when he found they were gone, only to be sent to his own living hell not too long after.
I also think whatever happened to you, you deserved it.
Liam's words haunted him still. It didn't matter if Liam didn't mean them anymore, it didn't stop them from being true. Theo knew he deserved it. Liam bringing him back was already more than he deserved.
Theo wouldn't — couldn't — ask anything more from him.
5 Lydia
The thing with Lydia Martin was that the moment she thought someone needed something, she made sure they got it. Her latest mission, apparently, was Theo.
It was just a little after six in the morning when he got her text.
Lydia - where do you live
Straight to the point. It was one of the things Theo always respected about her. She didn’t take any shit from anyone, knowing when and what she wanted.
Theo - why? planning on killing me or something?
Lydia - if you wear that ugly denim jacket one more time then maybe
Lydia - you’re coming shopping with me tomorrow
Theo knew exactly what jacket she was referring to. It was the one with grey sleeves that he had worn when he was first brought back. The jacket was one of the first things Theo remembers being his after he came back from hell. So maybe he got a bit attached to it and wore it at least four times every week. In a way, it helped him remember he wasn't there anymore.
He was about to type up a protest but received another text.
Lydia - and no you don’t get a choice. peter’s paying anyways.
Theo texted back fine before sending her Corey’s address. If she recognized it, she didn’t say anything, only texting back that she’ll be there in a few hours.
He knew he had to tell Liam eventually. Guilt washed over him everytime he remembered Corey and Mason were lying by omission to their best friend. Everything he did wasn’t enough apparently, he also had to possibly ruin a friendship. He figured Christmas was around the corner, he’ll tell him after the pack party. Sit him down, tell him how he was living in his truck, how Core was kind enough to let him move in, how Theo forced his best friends to lie to his face .
The speech was planned out and everything. He came up with it earlier tonight after being woken up by another nightmare, another memory of Tara taking back what’s hers. Sleep wasn’t something that came easy to Theo nowadays. Back of his truck or a comfortable bed, Tara always found him.
Even as a kid, he was barely able to sleep through the night. Nightmares always found their way to him. He remembers waking up in a cold sweat, tears streaming down his face. In those moments, all he wanted was to crawl into his parents bed, somewhere that should’ve felt like safety for him.
But he didn’t. He knew he wouldn’t have been welcomed. Instead he’d go to Tara. She’d have him lay down beside her and would tell him stories from her day to make him feel better. On the nights she was too tired to talk, she’d hand him one of her soft blankets. It felt nice to have something that belonged to her to calm him down.
All he had now was her heart. He’d lay awake on the nights it was really bad, just staring at the ceiling of his truck as he listened to her heart beat in his chest. If he closed his eyes hard enough, he could pretend she was still here with him.
She always was a better person than him. It’s funny, in some twisted way, that she used to be the one saving him from his nightmares. Now she was the one causing them.
He didn’t try to go back to sleep. He knew it’d end up the same way it always did. The feeling of Tara’s ice cold fingers piercing through his chest isn’t something he can forget.
The hours passed by him as he stared at his ceiling. Theo’s phone told him two hours had passed since Lydia texted him. Sighing, he stood from his bed and got dressed. He had an hour or two before she came to pick him up,
He walked down stairs and brewed some coffee. It was made just how Corey would like it, Theo made sure. All the years with the Dread Doctors made him observant like that. He picked up on tiny things about the people around him.
Mason perked up whenever he heard a foreign language in a movie, eager to know if he knew what they were saying. Even if he didn’t, he always managed to figure it out. Corey smiled a little brighter every time a stray neighborhood cat comes up to him. The same cats both Corey and Theo claim not to feed whenever the other calls them out for it. And then there was Liam. He picked up on a lot about Liam.
The way Liam eyebrows would lightly crease whenever he didn’t understand a homework problem, the way he’d always sneak food off of his plate and onto Theos — subconsciously or not recognizing Theo had missed a few meals, how he’d tap his fingers to the beat of a song, the way his eyes would light up whenever he learned a new history fact, how still got excited when he’d see a pretty rock, clearly reminding him of the wide collection he had as a kid.
Theo found himself wondering what that was like. To have a childhood that wasn’t full of experiments, of the screams of the failures, of the loss, of the excruciating pain he felt during it.
----
“Lydia, I promise you I do not need three different pairs of mittens.”
Lydia put them in the basket anyway, “And what if your hands get cold on patrol one night? Then you’ll bother me because I’ll have to scream when you die.”
“Pretty sure that’s not how it works.”
“It definitely is,” She pointed to the basket, “We’re getting them whether you like it or not, Theodore.”
Theo groaned but obliged. He knew better than to argue with her at this point. They finished up shopping in that specific store. By this point, he has a couple new pairs of jeans and shorts, several different jackets of different weights, three pairs of mittens (for some reason), and enough shirts that he lost count.
They agreed to split up and grab gifts for their secret santa. Because apparently secret santa was something they did. He really shouldn’t have been surprised. It was a very McCall pack thing to do, he supposed. To no surprise, he got Liam. Knowing Scott he probably did that on purpose.
He wandered around several different stores trying to find something, nothing seemed good enough. Nothing that would fit in the eighty dollar price cap. Maybe Theo was being a bit picky, but Liam deserved the best. Theo knew that. It’s why he never said anything about how he felt. He deserved better than to have someone like Theo be in love with him.
After stopping at a dozen stores, he decided to buy two gifts. One to give him at the party, the other to give him when they were alone. Then he'd tell him about living with Corey. He bought Liam a video game he'd been talking about for a while.
A jewelry shop came into view right before he was going to text Lydia. That's where he'd find his second gift. So it may be a little cliche, but it would be something nice to give Liam.
He walked in, the woman at the front counter greeting him with a smile, Theo smiling lightly in return. He went straight for the bracelet section. Yet another thing Theo noticed about him was that he liked to fiddle with bracelets. It gave him an outlet for his energy whenever he got anxious or jittery.
His eyes fell on a small silver chain. In the center was an anchor.
You’re my anchor. He smiled at how nervous Liam was admitting it. It wasn't a hard choice to make. He grabbed it from where it rested on display and walked to the counter. The clerk greeted him with the same warm smile she did when he walked it.
“Is that for a special someone?” She nodded towards the bracelet.
“Something like that, yeah,” There weren't enough words to describe what Liam meant to Theo, but he guesses a special someone could work.
“Well, whoever it is,” she handed him the bag in exchange for the cash in his hand, “They're a very lucky person.”
Liam's not the lucky one in this situation, he thought. Theo muttered a thank you as he grabbed the bag.
----
“So,” Lydia said, “what's in the bags?”
“I robbed a few stores,” Theo leaned back in his chair. They were sat in the food court. She was showing him what she got for Mason, asking him if Theo thought he would like them. It felt comfortable. He glanced down at the bags, “Thought I haven’t committed a few crimes in a while, it was long overdue.”
Lydia stared at him blankly, “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“Oh, I’m hilarious.”
“Sure,” She looked back down at them, “So what’s in them?”
“They’re for Liam,” He points to the plastic one, “It’s a video game he wanted.”
“And the other one?”
“It’s,” How did Theo say he bought a slightly too expensive bracelet just because it was pretty and reminded him of Liam, “Something else.”
Lydia pointed her ice cream spoon at him, “You were only supposed to buy one thing.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to get him something else,” Theo cleared his throat lightly, “Something more meaningful, I guess. It’s the least I could do for him after everything.”
It wasn’t just Liam saving him time and time again. Something about Liam made him feel human, something he hasn’t felt in as long as he can remember.
“You know you don’t have to do that just because he’s saved you. He forgives you.”
“I know, I know,” He repeated, “But it’s not just that.”
He could pinpoint the moment Lydia realized what he was saying. This was the first time he said it to someone else. Nerves ran through his body while waiting for her reaction.
“You should tell him, then.”
“I can’t-”
Her glare shut him up, “You need to tell him, Theo. We face constant life threatening dangers every month . I know what it’s like to never get to tell someone you love them,” She took a deep breath, “Did anyone ever tell you about Allison?”
Theo shook his head, “I read about her,” He held in a flinch at mentioning his past, “Only about what happened to her and what she was to Scott, but never more than that.”
“She was my best friend,” Lydia’s eyes went sad. A happy kind of sad, one that’s more nostalgic than anything, “I knew I loved her when I first saw her. It took me a few seconds, but I went up to her and told her she was my new best friend. We did everything together after that. We were with each other through everything. Through her mom dying, my ex becoming a kanima, me becoming a banshee. You name it, we got through it side by side.”
“Until the Nogitsune. I was taken, and Allison in her too good nature came to save me. The worst part is I felt it , even before it happened. I could sense something was going to happen, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it,” She wiped a tear that fell from her eye, “The first thing she asked after she got stabbed was if I was okay. She was dying , but she still wanted to know if I was okay.”
“Things like that gave me hope that she maybe felt the same. I’m never going to know. I would’ve if I would’ve just said something,” She leaned forward, placing a hand on his arm, “You need to say something. We can’t guarantee we’ll always make it out of something alive. Just don’t make the same mistake I did.”
Blinking through his blurred vision, Theo grabbed her hand. He squeezed it once reassuringly before letting go, “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I’ll do it,” He breathed out, “I know he won’t feel the same, but he deserves to know.”
Lydia smiled at him. The kind of smile that makes you feel safe and comforted, one that a sister would give you. He distantly wondered if that’s how Tara would smile at him. Not the twisted, sinful smile he was haunted by every night.
+1 Liam
December approached fast.
Theo was thankful Lydia had forced him to go shopping that day. Not just for forcing him to get things that might keep him from freezing to death, but for what she said that night. No matter how terrified he was to tell Liam, he was way more terrified of losing him. Losing him without Liam ever getting to know how loved he was.
He knew how disgustingly sappy it sounded. Tara would've been thrilled to hear about it. Late nights were often spent with her forcing him to watch sappy romantic comedies. Ones where there’s some big declaration of love after a fight. He would complain at how unrealistic it all was.
“You’ll be in love with some girl one day, then you won’t find it so ridiculous,” She’d say. He didn’t know how to tell her that — even back then he knew — he wouldn’t fall in love with some girl. Deep down he didn’t think he was even capable of love after everything he did. He didn’t think he earned it. A thought that’s been in his head too often as of late.
Corey broke him from his thoughts, walking into Theo’s room, “Hey, you ready to go?”
Theo looked at the gift bag laying by his bed. On his desk rested a tiny box that held the bracelet.
“Yeah,” Theo stood up, grabbing the gifts, “are you gonna need a ride back?”
“Nope, Mason and I are going back to his place to watch a movie after the party,” Corey pointed to the box, “You’re still telling him tonight, right?”
“I’m gonna try,” He sighed.
Corey walked over to him, wrapping his arms around Theo. And not for the first time, Theo had to suppress a wince at the touch. Growing up, touch had never been a good sign for him. Touch meant the Doctors weren’t happy with something he did, it meant another long, excruciating operation.
He slowly returned the embrace. They both gave each other a light squeeze before letting go. Corey rested a hand on his shoulder, “It’ll be fine, Theo, trust me.”
Theo grabbed the pies he made before they left. One he made sure was blueberry, Liam’s favorite. The ride to the party was mostly full of bickering about what music to listen to. It was an outlet for Theo’s anxiety. Corey was able to tell that, continuing the bickering onto whatever topics came to mind.
They were greeted with hugs as they walked through the door.
Melissa walked up to him. She wrapped him in a hug, careful not to make him drop the pies, “Oh, thank god. I thought I was on my own for dessert tonight.”
He laughed, “I’ll admit I thought about it. It would’ve been funny to see you run around the kitchen.”
“Ha ha,” She spoke the words in a dramatic attempt at a fake laugh. She grabbed the food from his hands, “I’ll put these in the kitchen. Go catch up with everyone else.”
Normally he’d be excited for that — although he’d hide it under a mask of annoyance — but tonight he wanted to put as much time between himself and confessing. So far, it wasn’t going so great.
The rest of the puppy pack sat on the floor in the living room. There was a natural gap between Mason and Liam. A gap he knew was for him. Theo fit in like he was meant to be there all along, like he was the missing puzzle piece. Reassuring smiles were sent his way from Mason and Corey as he joined them.
A heavy pressure sat on his chest, restricting his breath and never letting up. It felt all too familiar to him. But at least in those times Theo knew when it’d be over.
He pressed the heel of his hand against his chest, rubbing it over his left rib in an attempt to sooth the weight. Liam gave him a concerned look as he looked from Theo’s chest to his face. He laughed at something Corey said, subtly moving ever so closer to Theo. Their thighs touched lightly. Some of the tension left Theo’s body at the contact.
Scott came into the living room, and they all started passing out gifts. Lydia got a really nice sweater she wanted, Mason had gotten the set of books about foreign languages. After a few people, it was clear Scott didn’t exactly know how secret santa worked. The person someone got as their secret santa was also the person they shopped for. Lydia got Mason and vice versa. The pattern wasn’t that hard to figure out after the third repetition. The santas weren’t really secret to anyone who was paying enough attention.
Liam’s eyes lit up as soon as he unwrapped the video game. It was one of those Mortal Kombat type games that he made Theo play all the time, laughing at Theo button mashing the entire time. Losing every round was worth it when Theo heard the noise, he’d fall in love all over again.
Theo was next. If he got Liam, then Liam got him as well. His suspicions were confirmed when he tore the wrapping paper and saw a box set full of all the Jurassic Park movies. The movies that just so happened to be tied with Star Wars for his favorites.
“You still like those movies?” Stiles asked.
Theo hoped he didn’t jump like he felt he did. He and Stiles hadn’t talked much since the war with Monroe. “Yeah,” He finally settled on.
“He likes to point out what parts are scientifically accurate,” Liam added.
Stiles nodded, “And if anything has stayed the same, he also likes to point out what parts aren’t .”
Theo felt himself let out a breath of relief.
“He used to look up random facts to make sure he was right,” Scott joined in.
“Okay,” Theo interrupted, “This isn’t make fun of Theo hour.”
“It can be every hour if we try hard enough,” Liam smiled in a way that told Theo he would bring this up whenever he could.
The rest of the party — luckily for Theo — went on from there. Corey was next, then Stiles, and so on. The whole thing felt comforting, felt like pack. It was something that Theo wasn’t sure he would ever get to experience, especially after what he did last time.
He wanted to draw this out as much as he could, wanted to savor the feeling of safety. The feeling wasn’t something he grew up knowing. All he ever knew was isolation and painful operation after painful operation.
The only moment Theo felt peace were the moments after his heart was ripped out. It was the only thing he found he could count on. He knew the endless cycle. Tara would find him, the terror taking over his body at the sight of her. There was blinding pain, then there was darkness. The darkness is what he looked forward to during his time.
It was one of the few times he knew he wouldn’t feel any pain, any pressure, any feeling of failure . In those moments, Theo merely was. Now, as glad he was to finally be rid of the skinwalker’s prison, he rarely found he had anything he could truly count on. Until Liam.
“Hey,” Liam broke him from his thoughts, “You ready to go? Or did you want to stay a bit longer?”
Theo had been so distracted he hadn’t noticed they finished a good ten minutes ago. He stood up from the ground, offering Liam a hand. Liam thankfully didn’t mention anything about how shaky it was.
“Now’s fine.”
Liam’s hand fit perfectly inside Theo’s as he grabbed it and used it to pull himself up.
They said their goodbyes to the rest of the pack. Mason and Corey both gave him an impressively not subtle thumbs up as they walked out the door. Theo blew them a kiss with his middle finger on his way out.
Theo waited until they were in his truck to ask, “Where to?”
“Is my house okay?” Liam looked nervous for some reason Theo couldn’t place, “That wasn’t your real gift in there. I mean, it was, but I have something else too.”
“I have something else too,” Theo smirked at him, “Dibs on giving it to you first?”
“No, I call dibs.”
“You can’t. I already did.”
“But-”
“Not how dibs works, Liam.”
“Why are you so annoying?”
Theo shrugged, “It’s a natural talent.”
They argued for the whole way on the rules of calling dibs. Liam knew he was wrong, but he wouldn’t admit it for the same reason Theo never would. Solely to annoy the other.
The nerves settled in as he pulled into Liam’s driveway. It was empty, Theo remembered Liam saying how his parents were off visiting family. Liam chose to stay, so he could go to the pack gathering.
No one to see Theo humiliating himself. Nice.
Theo reached back and grabbed the tiny box that rested in the seat pocket. The box was plain black and didn’t give anything away. He went to hand it to Liam, but Liam stopped him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Liam sounded hurt, “Did you not trust me enough?”
Theo knew exactly what he was talking about, him living with Corey, him being homeless before. He got so caught up in everything else that he almost forgot.
“I was going to tell you tonight, I just got distracted and overwhelmed,” The chimera looked to his lap, “I didn’t want to admit I needed help. It’s not really like I had anyone to help me growing up.”
Theo continued, “That doesn’t excuse me not telling you, or having Corey and Mason lie to you. I’m sorry, Liam.”
“No, don’t apologize,” Liam placed a light finger under his chin, turning his head to look at Liam. His finger rested there for just a few moments longer than it needed to, “I’m happy that Corey found you that night. I don’t care what you think, but you didn’t deserve that. You could’ve come stay with me though. Any day, any time, all you had to do was call.”
“I couldn’t bother you with that.”
“It wouldn’t have been,” Liam spoke fast, almost like he was scared Theo wouldn’t have heard him otherwise, “It never would be. Not if it’s you.”
Theo felt his breath catch in his throat. Not knowing what to say, he looked down at the box in his hands.
“Can I give you your gift now? Or are we gonna keep having a sappy moment?” Theo didn’t want to mention that this is also going to lead to a sappy moment .
Liam laughed, “Fine, asshole. I’m trying to be serious here, but fine. Give it.” He made grabbing hands at it. Theo handed it to Liam with a hesitant smile on his face. Liam froze when he opened it, his breath hitched.
“It’s,” Theo cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck, “It’s not anything too big, but it reminded me as soon as I saw it. Reminded me of what you told me that night, and I know you like to wear bracelets for when you get too overwhelmed so. Yeah.”
Theo internally winced at his poor attempt at an explanation.
“Theo?”
“Yeah?”
Liam smiled brightly at him, “I love it. We’re kind of stupid though.” He didn’t answer Theo’s silent question. Instead, he reached down into a gift bag he’d been carrying.
The box Theo was handed was much like the one he gave Liam. The only difference was it was a light yellow color. He opened it to find a necklace. It was silver chain with a small metal anchor attached. His vision became blurry with tears as he realized what it was made out of.
“Is that-” Theo couldn’t finish his question.
Liam, like he could read his mind, nodded, “It’s a piece of Kira’s sword. I wanted you to know that you’re never going back there. I know I destroyed it, but it didn’t seem like enough, you know? So I took a piece since Stiles’ dad still had them, I took it to someone and had them make this. Guess we had the same idea,” Liam paused as he saw a few tears slip from Theo’s eyes, “Fuck, is it only going to remind you of being down there? I’m sorry. I should’ve thought this through more, I-”
And before Theo could stop the words from coming out, he cut off Liam with, “I love you.”
Liam’s heart skipping a beat sounded loud in the silent truck. “What?” Liam’s voice was soft and unbelieving.
The chimera found no point in lying anymore. He’d been doing that for too long, he was exhausted of putting up a mask and walls after walls to hide his feelings. “I know I shouldn’t, and you don’t have to say anything, but I do, alright?”
A solid ten seconds passed where Liam was silent. Doubts of everyone’s insistence that Liam felt the same flooded his mind. He was so stupid for ever thinking Liam could love someone like him.
Briefly, Theo thought of ways to take it back, but he remembered what Lydia had said. Theo wasn’t sure he’d know what to do if something happened to Liam without Liam knowing. The thought alone of losing Liam without possibly getting a chance to ever be with him was enough to convince Theo to stay silent.
He was so caught up in his own mind he almost missed Liam saying it back.
“I love you too.”
The soft look was back in Liam’s eyes. The one that had been there ever since the ride back from the zoo. Theo finally knew was it meant this entire time.
“You do?”
“Yeah,” Liam smiled, “I thought for someone who was supposedly as smart as you, you would’ve figured it out by now.”
“You tell me you love me and then immediately insult me,” Theo joked, “I’m getting a few mixed signals her-”
A pair of lips pressing against his cut him off. Liam’s hands were warming Theo’s cheeks from where they rested, cupping his face. Theo raised left hands and placed it over Liam’s right. He cupped Liam’s face with the other, kissing Liam back.
He didn’t feel fireworks like all those cheesy movies Tara made him watch. Kissing Liam felt like coming up for a breath after nearly drowning, it felt like coming home . They pulled apart after a few moments and rested their foreheads together. Theo turned his head, pressing a light kiss into the palm of Liam’s hand.
“That might be the second best present tonight,” Liam spoke up,
Theo pulled back and raised an eyebrow, “Second? And what would take first place then?”
“The video game you got me. How’s that even a competition.”
He rolled his eyes, “You’re obnoxious.”
Liam leaned back in his seat, that soft smile never once leaving his face, “You still love me though.”
Yeah, Theo thought, I really do.