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Liam had a little problem.
Well, his problem is actually a big problem.
Liam brought Theo from the dead, and then continued on going on these escapades with him. When the threat of the hunters was no more, Liam made it very clear to Theo that he wasn’t gonna send him back. He didn’t want to admit it to Theo, but he was now used to having him around.
It started with the escapades, the pairing of them two, their dynamic settling into one of two bickering cats.
Then it turned into Theo going over Liam’s house. Theo wasn’t used to having real friends, we all know the Dread Doctors certainly don’t count. He’s never had to opportunity to do normal teenage guy things. He was a little older at that point, but Liam didn’t mind. Liam said it wasn’t an excuse.
Liam started giving him the childhood that Theo never had. Staying up late, eating junk food, playing a ton of board games, and then video games. Going through the whole roster of tv shows that Theo missed. Liam didn’t know why, he just felt the need to make sure Theo was always comfortable. And Theo didn’t know why he always just let it happen. He could easily say no, not go over Liam’s house. But he never resists Liam.
Then it turned into Theo staying over Liam’s house, specifically in Liam’s bedroom, even more specifically, in the same bed. Despite there being a perfectly unused guest bed in the guest bedroom but no. It doesn’t happen. It never does. Well, one time it was barely used. Liam doesn’t complain. It’s not like they do anything. That’s something to complain about. It’ll be after a day of Liam trying to give Theo his childhood back, and they’ll both realize the time. Theo quickly gathers his stuff, and Liam always offers him to stay. The first time it happened, Theo thought it was a prank. It wasn’t. Liam gave him a change of clothes, found a spare toothbrush and showed him the guest bedroom. After they said their goodnights, Liam couldn’t stop hearing a very loud heartbeat in his eardrums. When he realized it was Theo, and sniffed the air and smelled the stress lingering into his room, he quickly jumped out of his bed, slammed the guest bedroom door open, and forced Theo to come into Liam’s bed. Theo, the ever reluctant one, didn’t want to, and Liam, the stubborn one, stood in the doorway for 12 whole minutes until Theo finally relented and went to sleep in Liam’s bed.
They don’t touch. Well, not at first. That first night, it was backs to each other, and the sound of Liam’s breathing was enough to calm Theo down to fall asleep.
The next time it happened, Liam didn’t even bother walking Theo to the guest room, he already had an extra pillow on his bed for Theo. They didn’t touch again, but Liam did ask what was happening that first nigh. Theo sighed. Simply said.
“Nightmare. Dread Doctors. Tara. Hell.”
Liam that day turned to face Theo, but Theo didn’t. Liam didn’t need it to happen anyways.
“I’m sorry.” Liam said, his words ghosting on Theo’s back.
“Not your fault.”
“I know. I can still feel sorry.”
“It’s fine. They haven’t been happening lately.” Theo says, really wanting to mention that they haven’t happened because he feels safe with Liam, that he doesn’t stress about much when he’s with Liam.
“If you wanted to talk about them more in depth-“ Liam starts.
“I don’t.” Theo interjects.
“If you did. You could talk to me. I’d like to think we’re actually friends now.”
“We are. I just…it’s a lot.”
“Okay.”
Another night, Theo turned and realized Liam was facing in his direction, eyes wide open.
“Can’t sleep?” Liam asks. Theo nods.
”Nightmare?” Theo shakes his head.
“Just, a lot of thinking. Head hurts.” As if its second nature, Liam reaches out to Theo’s forehead, rubs his temple. Theo mentally curses himself when his eyes flutter close. Liam sighs, his hand trailing down to Theo’s cheek.
“You okay?” Theo asks.
“Arms are tired. Think I overdid it at the gym.” Theo reaches out to Liam’s arm, rubs his own hand up and down. Liam sighs contented, leans in closer to Theo, closing his eyes.
“You can’t overdo it at the gym. You’re a werewolf.” Theo says, a smile on his face.
“Feels like I did.”
“You know Dunbar, if you wanted me to feel you up, could’ve asked in a different way.”
Liam opens his eyes to look at Theo, but Theo still has his eyes closed.
“Wanted to test the waters.” Liam tries. Theo laughs.
“Asshole.” But Theo leaves his hand on Liam’s arm, bringing him closer. Liam doesn’t complain, settles his head on Theo’s chest.
Then, Liam learns that Theo is practically homeless, and forces him to move in with him. His parents don’t mind, anything to make their son happy. And his mom pointly mentions to Theo.
“You make our son happy.”
After that, Liam can’t figure out anything.
Liam can’t figure out if what he feels for Theo is comfort or…something else (some say feeling comfortable with someone is saying that you love them, but we’re merely spectators). Liam knows you can only feel one emotion at a time but with Theo it’s different. He’s feeling everything all at once. Most of all, he’s feeling…well, hes gotta give it to his mom. He feels happy with Theo.
So, when Theo suggests they go to a theme park, since he’s never been, Liam is not only ecstatic that Theo finally suggested something to do, but that he suggested something that he wanted to do, freeing Liam of a worry that he forces Theo to do all sorts of things he doesn’t like to do.
So when Theo drives them to an amusement park, and has one hand on Liam’s thigh, he’s totally not overthinking it. And when Theo reaches out for Liam’s hand and only lets go when absolutely necessary, he doesn’t overhype it in his mind
They go on a bunch of rides, Theo has cotton candy and kettle corn for the first time, Liam refuses to go on one really whirly ride but when he sensed that the ride attendant was flirting with Theo, he quickly changed his mind. They make their way to a mirror maze, where Theo thinks it would be fun to separate and try to find each other. They do, however Liam is freaking out, definetly not thinking about everything that’s been happening today in terms of him and Theo, so when Theo finds him, Liam has a broken look to him.
“Are you okay? Were you scared I wasn’t gonna find you?” Theo says.
“No. Maybe a little.”
“I’ll always find you Dunbar.” Theo grabs Liam’s hand and Liam just decides to go for it.
“Why have you been holding my hand?”
“I can stop if-“ Theo goes to retrieve his hand back, but Liam stops him, tightening his grip.
“I didn’t say I didn’t want you to.”
“Oh.”
“I was just asking why are you doing it?”
“Feels right. A lot of things feel right with you, Dunbar.” Theo shrugs, as if what he said didn’t just tug Liam’s heart, making him move closer to Theo.
“We have an interesting…thing. Between us.” Liam asks. Theo nods.
“All I know is that I feel safe with you, and I’d follow you anywhere for however long you’d want me to.” Theo says, taking a step closer.
“I’d always want you beside me.”
“So then I’ll always be there.”
“Do you like me?” Liam asks, they’re lips literally an inch away. Theo laughs.
“Liam, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.”
After Theo says those words, Liam’s brain opens up, telling him that the reason he feels so happy around Theo is because-
“I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you too.” Liam says.
“Thank God, cause this would’ve been real awkward if you didn’t.” And Theo closes the gap between the two.