Work Text:
"And here we have the kitchen", with a flourishing gesture the realtor introduces the room, "it's a little on the smaller side but it comes with a full size fridge plus freezer unit and an oven!"
This is the third apartment they are looking at today, God knows how Liam even managed to arrange it all and slowly but surely Theo is getting annoyed.
Admittingly, when he decided to stay in Beacon Hills, to stay with Liam , he hadn't thought about their living arrangements. After sleeping on old mattresses in sewers or other questionable living quarters, followed by a few months on the backseat of his truck he prides himself on being able to fall asleep literally anywhere. That doesn't mean he has to fall asleep anywhere.
Now that he managed to get his GED and had held the barkeeping job at the Sinema for a while, things weren't bad, moneywise.
Of course he could never afford a full apartment by himself but that's why Liam, freshly graduated from high school and already enrolled in a nearby university, offered to be his roommate. What Theo didn't realize though, is that apparently 'roommate' for Liam means quite literally 'one room' because all the places they've been to so far had one thing in common: a single bedroom.
So yes, Theo can fall asleep everywhere but by now he reached the point where he is longing for a comfy mattress and soft pillows.
Pulling a blanket over his head without having his feet getting cold… hm… that would be amazing.
"- so, what do you guys think?"
The realtor, a hipster-type with an androgynous look, complete with scarf around their neck and thick-rimmed glasses looks still as positive as they had after the first apartment. Theo kind of admires that attitude.
Liam looks first at the realtor, then at Theo and then around the living room with open glass doors to a small balcony they are currently standing in.
"I absolutely love the layout in this", the beta says, "having the bedroom facing out back will be so much quieter in the mornings."
Bedroom. Like, one single bedroom.
Enough is enough.
Theo can't stand for this anymore.
He smiles at their guide, mustering up the most charme he can.
"It's very charming, but could I talk to my.. uhm.. Liam in private for a minute?"
The realtor laughs, "but of course! Can't let me see all the cards you're holding, right? I will be waiting outside then", with that they smile professionally and swiftly walk out of the apartment.
Theo waits for the door to fall shut then he turns to Liam.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"What? Why? You don't like it?"
Liam smells like confusion and his blue eyes widen slightly, turning him into a sad puppy again, an expression which just makes him- No! Focus, Theodore!
He sighs.
"Liam. I like this apartment fine. The two before this were okay too. Just like the one we saw last week. They are great first apartments, really."
"Then why are you frowning like I scratched your truck again?"
"Again?", Theo's eyes form slits.
"Uhm…you drove here! I mean… what is your problem with the apartments?"
"There is just one bedroom, Liam."
The beta blinks. His confusion intensifies.
"Yeah? I mean, it's not like Mason and Corey will sleep over that often. And they can use the pull out couch, if they do?"
His couch? Oh hell no!
"And where will I sleep when they are using the couch, huh? Do you expect me to shift and sleep on the balcony like a good little doggy? Liam, I appreciate you thinking of my financial situation but I wouldn't have agreed to move in with you if I couldn't afford a room for myself. I am not a charity case! So, thank you, really, but my days of sleeping on couches or the floor are over."
Phew. Letting everything out feels better than Theo would have thought.
Liam still stares at him though.
"Theo… why would you sleep on the couch in the first place?"
"What? Did you want to buy bunk beds instead, or something? Come on, what are we, six year olds?"
"I… thought we would just share my king-size? You know, like boyfriends do?"
Wait, what?
~♤~
"Theo?"
It has been a few minutes but Theo's thoughts are still too fast as that he could have formed words out of them.
The only thing leaving his lips is a croaked "Boyfriends?"
Now Liam looks confused again.
"Uhm, yeah? I know we didn't put a label on it yet but I really want to be your boyfriend and I thought…"
He trails off, but his words spark memories in Theo's head.
Liam, grabbing his hand in the supermarket, leading him to the desired aisle.
Them cuddling in the bed of Theo's truck after a long day on the beach, Liam's salty hair tickling his neck as they fall asleep.
Christmas with the Geyers', Liam's arm tightening around his waist as uncle Matt shoots a disapproving look.
Oh.
Oh.
"But we never even kissed?!", Theo blurts out and Liam shrugs.
"I thought, maybe you needed more time. Or maybe you didn't like to do anything physical - which would be totally okay, by the way!", the last part is hurried, almost as if Liam is afraid of hurting him with his consideration.
A warm feeling spreads through Theo's body and a grin on his lips.
"Oh, I am very okay with kissing. And being physical. Very physical if you know what I mean. But just a heads up…", he steps closer to Liam, circling his waist, "you should really let people know you are their boyfriend."
Liam laughs, he is basically vibrating with excitement.
"So it's official? We are taking the apartment?"
Theo blinks. He shakes his head, "yes, Little Wolf, but only if you finally kiss me."
~♤~
"This is really nice, boys", Scott says, putting down the first box he just carried up the stairs, "I love the view from that window and the living room is bigger than mine, I think! But…", he shoots Theo an almost pitying look, "you could have told me that money was tight, I am sure Derek would be happy to give you part of the rent so Theo could have his own room too."
Liam tilts his head and he looks so much like a puppy that Theo just wants to grab and cuddle him. God. This whole love thing really turned him into a softy.
"Why would we need an extra room Scott? It would be empty anyway?"
Now Scott looks like a confused puppy and Theo sighs.
"What Li wants to say is; we sleep in one room, one bed, because that's what boyfriends do."
A loud thud sounds from the staircase, followed by banging and then Stiles almost falls into the apartment.
"YOU ARE WHAT?"
Chaos ensues as Liam and Scott talk over each other in an attempt to explain but Theo just smiles.
He turns around to look out of the window.
Yes, this apartment had been a good choice , he thinks to himself, because really what more could he ask for than a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom when he got to share it with the man he loves?