Chapter Text
He was in love. He was actually in love.
He still couldn’t believe this was real. It was surreal to think that Liam wanted to be with him. That they could actually be together. It still felt like a dream, but he finally knew that it wasn’t. The fact that Liam went to the trouble of recreating that scene was incredibly endearing. He knew all about how much Liam loved ‘10 Things I hate About You’, but never in a million years, did he expect Liam to perform it. Let alone for him.
There was no way to explain how much it meant to him. That Liam thought he was worth such a performance. It had led to more than a few awkward conversations and stares from the neighbours, when he tried to leave. Who knew that Malia lived in such an invested street? The congratulations he received from everyone there grew to be too much, and he almost ran to his truck. He did however, flee from the witnesses as fast as possible.
Neither he nor Liam had waited at Malia’s. They needed to be alone, and he could deal with the fallout, later. Trust me, there would be a fallout. Considering the spectacle they’d just witnessed, Malia would want to know everything. He should also start preparing for the onslaught of ‘I told you so’s’, that he knew would come.
Barely past the corner and out of sight, he pulled to a stop. One breath. Two. Eyes flickering to the side, he locked onto the happy, yet confused gaze beside him. Without a second thought, he lunged. Pushing forward and releasing his belt subconsciously, he cupped Liam’s cheeks and kissed the beta.
He put everything he had into that kiss. Every suppressed emotion, every growing need, every misguided fear. He let it all fade, as he gave into the pull. For the first time in forever, he let himself truely have everything. As they got lost in the moment, neither of them broke away, until they were desperate for air.
Not once did he recall smiling like this. It was so wide and happy, he probably looked manic, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when he had this. Not when he had Liam.
“You really did mean it.”
Liam laughed and he revelled in the beauty of it. One of the hardest parts about this was not getting to hear that heartwarming sound.
“Yes, I did. If you’d given me time to explain, I would have told you that. I would have told you as many times as you needed me to, Theo. I just wish you’d waited.”
That’s the problem, isn’t it?
He didn’t. Instead, he panicked and ran. The situation plunged out of control faster than he could have anticipated, and he’d hurt Liam in the process. That was what he couldn’t forget. Above all else, he remembered the pure hurt in Liam’s eyes. An expression he saw at the time, but didn’t allow himself to acknowledge.
“I’m sorry, Liam. I just... I overreacted.”
“How could you think I’d lie about something like that, Theo? Do you really think I’m that heartless? That I could be so cruel?”
“No. Not at all. Liam... It wasn’t about you. Not really. I just couldn’t believe that you wanted me. I never thought it would be possible. I let that fear get the better of me, and I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for not listening. I’m sorry for not believing you.”
“I want you, Theo. It was always you. I may not have known, but we both know that I don’t always notice everything straight away. You matter, Theo. You’re worth it. I promise.”
It wasn’t over. He still had work to do. No one expected him to be okay with everything, but he was working on it. In the last year, he’d come so far. He felt more at home in his own body. He had a home. He had a family. Scott and the Pack forgave and accepted him. They welcomed him in and made him Pack. Stiles and Malia were his friends, and wasn’t that saying something.
The biggest and most startling change of all, though, was this. He had Liam, and he couldn’t ask for more than that.