Chapter Text
All love stories end with a kiss. This story starts with one.
When Theo kisses Liam for the first time, it is out of boredom. The two boys are lounging on Liam's bed, both of them attempting to do some homework, as the beta feels Theo’s eyes on him. And when he turns around, lips already parted to ask if there was a problem, the Chimera smashes his mouth on Liam’s cheek. He leaves the other boy no time to react before he pulls back, smirks and returns to his homework as if nothing happened.
The next time it’s Liam (who’s brain has, after intense thinking, come to the weird conclusion that this has to be some sort of game they were playing now) who kisses Theo.
The two boys are in the kitchen, prepping dinner for themselves since Jenna and David are still at work.
“Can you hand me the bell pepper?” Liam holds out his hand while his eyes are still glued to the recipe (“This time nothing will burn, promise Mum!”). As soon as he feels the vegetable on his palm, he smiles at Theo.
“Thanks T.!” And presses a smack to the Chimera’s cheek as he grasps for the knife block behind the shocked boy.
And when he thinks of Theo’s seaglass eyes and his soft smile at night, when he lies in his bed, then that means nothing.
From then on it turns into a game, then a ritual and lastly it simply becomes a reflex. Every time one of them asks for a small favour or wants attention they steal a kiss.
Neither Theo nor Liam react to the confused looks and questions the other pack members have. It is their thing and if they need no explanation for the actions, neither does everybody else.
Liam doesn’t think about the feelings Theo's lips wake in him, the careful fluttering of his stomach and the warmth spreading from the kissed place.
Liam doesn’t question when their kisses move closer and closer to their lips until, one day, they will kiss for real.
The whole family sits on the various cushions around the Geyer’s living room, Jenna and David on the large two-seat, Liam and Theo sharing the loveseat because neither of them wants to sit on the ground.
Liam, too lazy to move, asks for the popcorn and Theo, still determined to be useful and earn his stay with the Geyer's, hands him the desired bowl.
With a light ‘Thanks!’ the beta turns to Theo, not caring about his parents, and this time his lips land right in the middle of Theo's. It was not intentional and he can feel Theo grow stiff, his beautiful seaglass eyes widened as Liam’s own close.
A spark runs through Liam’s whole body and when they finally break the kiss, he just smiles softly before turning back to the TV.
It is only a few minutes later when Theo, who had still been frozen, abruptly stands up, his voice and muscles tight as he mumbles something about being tired and wanting to go to bed.
Confused looks follow the dark haired boy, but soon enough everyone decides that the movie is more interesting.
Only Liam stares at the staircase a little longer, as if Theo would come back when he just wishes hard enough for it. He already misses the Chimera’s warmth next to him and his wolf stirs in his chest.
One hour later the movie is over and everyone is contemplating to just sleep in the living room instead of having to relocate to their beds.
When Liam finally enters his room, he instantly knows that something is wrong, the smell around his bed is off. He takes a deep breath, trying to decipher the chemo signals. Theo. Theo had been standing here, in front of his bed, smelling all wrong; like sadness and worry and... regret?
In that moment a simple yellow post it note catches his eye. It lies innocently on his pillow, right in the middle of his unmade bed, a little spot of order against his chaos, which is so typically Theo that Liam just knows it was him who left it there.
I am sorry, Liam. I have to go, I cant do this anymore. Thank you for everything.
PS: I never told you, but I was falling in love.
“Mum!”, Liam yells, unable to get out more than this one syllable. His throat feels too tight and something has his heart in an iron grip.
“Liam?”, Jenna, followed by her husband enters the room, “what is it?”
But the blonde boy only holds out the piece of paper, already crinkled from his trembling hands.
“Oh honey...” his mum sighs, “I thought you knew.”
“To be honest, I think everyone did”, David adds.
“We just thought it was the way your relationship worked. Little kisses, no attention or big announcement needed...”
Liam’s brain comes back to life while they speak, just to start working in over drive.
Theo is gone. Theo loves him. Theo thinks he doesn't love him back. Theo is gone. Theo loves him.
He whips around, already pulling his previously discarded hoodie back on while he makes his way over to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I am bringing him back.”
And the post it note floats to the ground, forgotten.