Chapter Text
“Do you want to choose your character?” Asks Mason, way too politely.
This hangout is all wrong, Liam can feel it. There’s something weird in the air and he doesn’t like it. Nolan helped them raid a warehouse a week ago and Liam had said thanks. That should’ve been enough. But apparently Mason thought it’d be nice to invite him over to their pack night.
Now everyone is being overly polite and it’s pissing him off.
“Can I choose Yoshi?” Asks Nolan.
“Of course you can!” Oh shut up, Corey.
“Alec, you can pick Mario today since Hayden isn’t here”
“No. I wanna be Princess Peach”
“Why?”
“She’s awesome” He explains very reasonably.
Liam shifts uncomfortably in his seat, squeezed in between Theo and Alec.
Big mistake.
Theo said he doesn’t wanna play today so he’s poking Liam’s ribs instead, playfully because he can tell Liam’s annoyed. It makes Liam smile, even though he wants nothing but to keep frowning.
The urge to scream has died down he thinks but one single glance at Nolan’s face makes him feel tense again. It’s not like he hates him, Liam’s forgiving and he knows Nolan’s an ally now… He just doesn’t understand why he has to be here.
“Well I’ll pick Mario.” Liam declares with confidence.
“Yeah, whatever.” Alec jumps in his seat. “Let’s just play”
READY. SET. GO.
The game starts as the screen explodes into color and their characters launch forward. Then, it all goes downhill.
Liam falls behind because Theo won't stop nudging his arm when he’s supposed to be concentrating and that’s not counting Alec’s screams and little yelps... it's all making Liam’s eye twitch.
Mason gives him a weird look, like implying he knows Liam is hiding something and he’s not!
At least he doesn’t think so.
A couple days ago, Mason started making weird comments about Liam being obsessed with Theo or something, and even though Liam told him that’s not true, he just won’t drop it. He keeps staring at Liam with knowing eyes every time they all hang out with Theo, or every time Liam even dares to mention his name.
Which is pretty much always.
But it’s not like Liam can avoid him. He's quite literally Theo's only friend. Or at least, he’d like to think so… for no particular reason.
Theo pokes Liam’s ribs again, discreetly so nobody notices his sabotage attempts.
Liam elbows him and growls a quiet, “Leave me alone,” which only makes Theo chuckle.
The karts on the screen keep bumping on the edges, and Mario and Peach are neck to neck but just as Liam is about to catch up, his kart suddenly spins out. A banana peel.. Of fucking course.
“Are you kidding me?”
Theo’s laugh is way too close to his ear and Liam hates that he has to fight the urge to smile.
Peach crosses the finish line and does a stupid little victory dance before Mario rolls in a second later.
Second place... Which is basically last as far as Liam’s concerned.
“I won!” Alec celebrates by jumping on his seat and waving the controller in front of Liam’s face.
Liam rolls his eyes and throws his head back, then turns to stare at Theo. He looks calm and collected despite the chaos, and Alec’s screams and harsh movements don’t seem to bother him at all. Liam hates to admit that he’s very impressed.
He doesn’t notice he’s been staring for way too long until it’s too late.
“What are you staring at, Dunbar?”
“Alec’s being so annoying.” he says, mildly hoping Theo will agree.
Theo snorts.
Alec and Theo have this weird sibling-like bond that Liam doesn’t really understand but doesn’t question either.
Liam would die before admitting this out loud, but sometimes he’s kind of jealous of how well Alec gets along with Theo.
Like, he understands why Theo feels comfortable around Alec —They were both outsiders in a way, and Theo has no history with Alec which makes it easier for him to let his guard down around the kid— and Liam knows he doesn't own Theo but…
“Earth to dumbass” Theo waves his hand in front of Liam’s face, “what’s up with you?”
For a second, Liam considers acknowledging his thoughts, which is entirely crazy, so instead he just says “I hate Alec”
"Why, because he’s a better player than you?”
And Liam’s eyes go wider than he intends them to.
“EXCUSE YOU?”
“Okay, second round!” Corey announces.
“Peach, Peach, Peach... you’re amazing” Alec coos at the controller before turning to Liam, “I’m gonna end you.” He smiles wickedly as he stares him down.
Liam rolls his eyes so hard his head hurts but he doesn't reply, because he’s not about to be rage baited by Alec again.
About a week ago, Liam was teaching him the basics of lacrosse—because he’s such a good friend—but Alec kept ignoring him and asking a bunch of questions that always ended up circling back to what Alec started to call Liam’s disastrous and nonexistent love life.
And Liam had very kindly screamed at him that he could find someone if he wanted to and he’s sure Alec would’ve said something else if Mason hadn’t rudely interrupted by implying Liam was already into someone. Which is a lie.
READY. SET. GO.
Mason is encouraging Corey way too loudly, and he’s sure everyone knows Corey isn’t half as good as Mason claims he is but Liam decides not to comment on it.
He's decided to block Alec’s voice out too and it would be easier if Nolan wasn’t trying to talk about his past experiences playing Mario Kart, as if anyone cares.
Plus Theo just started kicking Liam’s foot to distract him. Fucking great.
“Stop that,” Liam mutters, trying to put all his focus on the game.
This was supposed to be his night. Hayden isn't here to be first place, so the spot was rightfully his. Why is everyone trying to ruin it?
“I used to play this with my brother all the time” says Nolan and Liam just wants to throw the controller at him.
He’s about to win this round. He’s caught so many power ups that Mario is basically running on an overdose. Liam has this one in the bag... he’s about to win, he’s seconds away from the finish line.
He can see it, he can do this!
Or he would’ve...
If Theo hadn’t “yawned” while putting his arm around Liam in a very dramatic way and then pushed his head from behind, distracting him just enough for Alec to pass him and win this round too.
“Suck it, Dunbar!” Alec's annoying voice screams out, and Liam's eye twitch is uncontrollable now.
Liam would like to say he kept his cool, but the way Theo cackled after Alec's words really touched a nerve.
Liam's head moves slowly but tensely, turning around in a horror movie like motion to stare into Theo's soul. Theo stands up fast, moving around trying to get away from Liam.
“I didn’t invite you just so you could conspire against me with Alec” Liam snarls at him.
“Maybe we should all calm down” Nolan has the nerve to intervene
“I didn’t invite you at all”
“Liam!” Mason scolds
Theo laughs. And that's enough to make Liam lose his cool. Liam's fist moves on his own, aiming for Theo’s perfect face, but Theo’s reflexes are too quick. He dodges the punch and Liam’s fist lands on Nolan’s face instead.
“Nolan!” Corey panics.
“My nose I– ” Nolan’s voice is quivery “I think it’s broken”
Oh please.
“Maybe we should go to the hospital,” Mason says.
“He’s fine” Theo snorts
“His nose does look broken” Alec chirps in
Liam feels a wave of nervousness followed by a rush of humor and he can’t help but to laugh. Loudly.
There’s silence.
“You just broke Nolan’s nose” Mason deadpans
“I know” Liam snorts
Nolan’s face is filled with confusion and pain.
Liam exhales feeling like he can finally breathe again, “I think I needed to do that” he says.
Liam’s eyes scan the room. There’s a mix of amusement and incredulity on his friends' faces, all except Theo’s, who's looking at him with some sort of pride.
“Sorry” Liam shrugs.
Nolan nods, weirdly understandingly.
After a minute, Liam turns and grabs Theo’s keys from the side table.
“Shouldn’t we be rushing to the hospital?” He walks to the front door, trusting everyone else will follow.
They get to the hospital in just a few minutes, because Theo clearly doesn't care about speed limits.
Melissa McCall happens to be on duty, which means Scott will definitely hear about all of this.
He was probably going to find out anyway, since Alec tells him everything, or at least that’s what Liam assumes because why else would Scott know about the UNO cards incident?
“What on earth happened?” Melissa asks. “Is this—” she glances around suspiciously “is this werewolf stuff?”
She whispers the word werewolf, and Liam can’t help but to smile fondly.
There’s silence, and it’s… awkward. Liam's eyes start to shift from one person to another because he doesn't know how to explain the whole situation. Luckily they all seem to be in the same wavelenght because they all say “Mario Kart,” in unison, which makes Melissa roll her eyes and exhale way too loudly and more than a little judgmental.
“Well, Nolan’s nose is broken,” Melissa says, “but it’ll heal.”
Liam feels a wave of embarrassment, because Melissa's voice sounds tired, like she's had a long day and here comes Liam to make it longer.
“Great. Who’s hungry?” Theo asks, spinning his keys and Liam chuckles. Suddenly it doesn't feel like that big of a deal.
Melissa said it'll heal, and if anything this should teach Nolan a valuable lesson. Never stand behind Theo when Liam's clearly angry and about to punch him or something.
Liam apologized and said goodbye to Nolan, Mason and Corey —Mason offered to stay with Nolan and drive him home after, because apparently his parents couldn't pick him up and he’s just nice like that— and now, he and Theo are dropping Alec off at the McCall house.
“I won, by the way!” he yells from across the front yard and Liam rolls the window up pretending he doesn’t hear a thing.
“You’re so easy to piss off,” Theo chuckles.
Liam doesn’t even bother denying it, because why would he?
“Let’s go to the McDonald’s drive thru. I want chicken nuggets.”
“Fine,” Theo says, starting the engine. “You’re paying.”