Chapter Text
Scott regards the oddity that is Liam and Theo's friendship. The two are currently snipping at each other, trading barbs and sarcastic commentary with grins on their faces and smelling of excitement at each seemingly vicious retort. Even with Stiles, Scott never found this level of enjoyment in wisecracks and banter—granted majority of the jokes ended up being about him, so maybe the comparison isn't exactly objective. Still, the amount of fun the two have tormenting one another seems absurd. And just as Scott has observed in the past, Theo makes one dig too many about any given subject, turning Liam's scent hotter than a scorpion chili as he punches the Chimera in the face.
Theo laughs as he swipes his nose, which has already begun to heal despite the blood that drips down to his chin.
“Seriously, guys?”
Liam whips his head around with a sour expression. “Theo started it.” Despite the way his lips are curled in a put-upon way, the slight tenseness that the beta has carried since the three met that morning has cleared. Scott knows for a fact that the action of hitting someone or something does not help Liam calm himself. In fact, he has seen the beta fold guiltily in on himself when he has lost control, and a thrown punch or stray claw swipe was the result. So it was more likely the person that helped.
It dawns on Scott in such a way that he feels like the world's biggest idiot for not noticing sooner; for not steering Liam closer. “You're Liam's anchor.”
Both his beta and chimera pause in their actions—one freezing guiltily with eyes wide and panicked, while the other's expression is calm, almost nonchalant in a way that is disproportionate to the stiff way his body is held.
“Honestly, I should have seen it sooner.” Scott eyes them back and forth, noticing how Liam unintentionally leaned toward Theo to keep from losing his composure any more than he has. Yeah. Scott really should have seen this.
“You are not angry, right?” Liam asks quietly, bottom lip worried between faintly pointed teeth in such a way that makes him appear young. Scott has to remind himself that his beta is still young and has reasons to assume the revelation may pose a problem. Unfounded, yet Scott understands regardless.
“For what, caring about a friend enough that he became your anchor? Unless you harbor the urge to be pinned down and kissed by Theo?” Scott asks with a grin that only widens at Liam's sound of utter disgust. “Remember, an anchor can be more than a romantic connection. Anger, fear, and other emotions can be used too.” He reaches out to squeeze Liam's shoulder and the beta’s scent clears. Scott turns his attention to the Chimera, who is still projecting calm.
A secret such as this would normally have the potential to upset him—much like the rather important one of Theo’s homelessness—only having an anchor is deeply personal to some, largely necessary in Liam’s case, and none of Scott’s business beyond the knowledge that the beta finally has a stable anchor.
The secret was neither dangerous nor Theo’s to tell.
So he leans across the table to plant a kiss on Theo's lips, and the Chimera melts. Liam makes a gagging noise that has Theo instantly flipping him off.
As they part, Scott brushes Theo's lips with his tongue; an action that has the chimeras eyes darkening and scent going woodsy before he catches himself. Theo leans back in the booth with a carefully controlled expression that fools no one.
Liam notices the exchange and mutters a “Gross” that has Theo pinning him in a headlock shortly after.
“I don't want to hear that from you with all the times I was forced to endure you and Hayden.”
Liam struggles out of the hold, swatting at Theo's hands to keep him on his side of the booth. “Yeah, but watching Scott kiss you, while cute, is like watching my parents kiss,” Liam whines but is given no sympathy.
“Then don't watch.”
“But if you kiss in front of me-” The two begin bickering again. Scott leans back to watch them with a soft smile.
Later, when lunch is over and Liam has departed for extra lacrosse practice—“Coach is trying to kill us this season. Or punish me and Corey for graduating and leaving him alone with the team”—and they have driven to the Geyer’s in silence as Scott addresses the reason for Theo’s lingering unease.
“I’m not mad,” Scott repeats once he and Theo are in the security of Theo’s room. Not that privacy is needed; no one is home.
“Just disappointed?”
Scott’s mouth twitches in an effort not to smile, which he loses the longer he watches the statuesque way Theo holds himself. “Not even a little.” He approaches the confused Chimera, who is now sitting on the edge of his bed.
“You already know the difference between keeping someone else’s secret and the kind of secrets that can hurt the pack. I’ve told you that you are entitled to your privacy. And so is Liam. So no, not mad.” Scott plants a knee on the bed and leans into Theo’s space, smiling as hazel eyes dilate. Theo moves to kiss him, only to be pushed backwards.
Scott fully crawls onto the bed, pinning Theo in place with knees on either side of Theo's hips. “Liam has practice until late.”
Theo groans softly, appreciatively, at the tongue that licks at his bottom lip. “Do you want to talk about Liam right now?”
Scott rolls his eyes and finally claims the chimeras lips. Theo sighs into the kiss and goes utterly lax and relieved, as though the simple touch is all he’s ever needed. His hands slide under Scott’s shirt, the touch burning across the alpha's skin in ten points of molten fire.
They don’t come up for air until much, much later; even then it is only due to the sun setting as afternoon turns to evening, and the front door slamming open as Liam inevitably returns from practice.
Theo’s hand stops tracing the inside of Scott’s thigh, a frown tugging at his lips as they listen to the beta stomping around downstairs. He makes enough noise for three people—Scott snickering softly as Liam yelps, clearly dropping something if the loud clatter on kitchen tile is any indication—and is even less quiet as he ascends the stairs, to the point Theo begins to wonder if it is for their benefit. Only, Liam stops short, sneakers squealing on the stairs.
“Oh, come on! I have to sleep ten feet away. At least burn a candle or something!” Liam swears loudly after, frustrated as he punches something. Theo bets there will be a new warp in the banister the next time he looks.
Scott dips his head to Theo’s shoulder to let out an unattractive snort that against all sense, he finds endearing. “We may have to apologize.”
“Yes. Yes, you do!” Liam yells from down the hall while not trying to be subtle about listening in; more than likely listening to make sure they were not about to start anything else, which, to be fair, had been a very high probability had Liam not come home when he did.
“I’m so terribly sorry your sensitive nose has been offended.”
Liam stomps down the hall and throws the bedroom door open, “Listen here, asshole—” Liam chokes on the rest of his words, a mouse-like squeak cutting him off as he closes his eyes and covers them with his hands as an afterthought. “Oh my god!”
Theo smirks. “Something wrong?”
Scott sighs, giving Theo a truly disappointed look as he flips the sheets over them.
Liam’s answer is to bang into the doorway as he blindly tries to exit. Theo’s laughter follows the beta into the hallway.
“I hate you!”
“Uh-huh.” Theo appears all too pleased with himself, with his arms crossed behind his head, satisfied, obscenely so, and for more than the obvious reason.
The screams of Liam’s frustrations echo throughout the house.
Once again, Scott wonders how they manage to get along at all.