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Liam loves a good ironic viewing of pop culture trash, as anyone who has heard him talk about Two Lights is well aware of. What’s more original than hate-watching something everyone likes? That is exactly why he’s in front of the theater nervously straightening his button up.
Well, okay, that’s not the full reason. After a heated discussion about the human novel-slash-movie series, Scott had invited him to watch the premier of the newest movie. It was mildly perplexing, as the two rarely spent time together outside of game nights, and never time alone. Liam isn’t sure why that last part makes him particularly sweaty.
It’s too late to back out now. He can see Scott running over, tickets grasped in his fist.
"Two Lights, here we come!!!"
Liam rolls his eyes at the over-excited werewolf. His tail is even wagging—stop looking at Scott’s ass, Liam chastises himself.
"Don’t hold the tickets so tightly," he complains with a blush. "You’ll crush them before we even get inside."
"Oh, yeah, sorry about that! Maybe you should hold them! You’re much more careful anyways."
Scott grabs Liam’s hand with some force and deposits both tickets into his palm. His touch lingers on Liam’s wrist for several seconds too long, but it’s doubtful that he even notices. Scott is too busy staring at the concession stand with wide eyes.
"Do you want popcorn?" Liam asks, an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, yeah! No movie is complete without popcorn!!"
Liam would beg to differ, if it didn’t mean he’d have to beg for something. As it is, he just sighs. "Alright, come on. There is still time before the show begins. I’ll pay for whatever you’d like."
There’s a gasp, and Scott’s eyes go impossibly wider. "Really? You’d do that? But you can’t even eat!"
"While that is true, you have been gracious enough to purchase our tickets, so I’m simply returning the favor."
"Thank you so much Liam! You’re the best!"
They step into line, made to stand closer together because of the tighter confines of the roped barriers. Scott more noticeably towers over him.
Liam puts the tickets into his pocket, lest he risk the sweat of his palms making them illegible. Were Scott to notice and ask, Liam isn’t even sure he could come up with an excuse for the situation at this point, not when he’s too busy glancing back and forth between his furry companion and the floor.
What the hell has gotten into him? Liam has never been this flustered about anything before! Except for maybe when Vicky convinced them that writing a Two Lights fanfic together would be a good idea. Liam had convinced them that they should write a fic where Justin and Edwin stopped going after the girl and fucked each other. Scott’s take on the scene had been, well—
Thinking about that moment isn’t helping right now. Vicky had teased Liam for a week about that boner, but at least Scott hadn’t noticed.
Unlike now, where Scott is definitely noticing his strange behavior and giving a concerned expression.
"What’s wrong, buddy? You’re blushing, like, a whole lot right now."
"W-well..." Liam really should have been thinking of an excuse. Curse him and his tendency to reminisce at the worst of times. "This isn’t really blushing, it—it’s a statement about the conditions that make our capitalist society lean towards crowded spaces and uncomfortable wait lines."
Scott looks to have understood none of that, which is perfect. Liam swipes at the sweat on his forehead.
"...Are you saying you’re hot? You can go sit down if you’d like! I’ll wait in line. I’m the one who wants food anyways."
Liam blinks. Giving up free food just like that? He thought that was one of Scott’s favorite things. "That’s, um, nice of you. I insist on repaying you for the tickets, though. How about you sit down? You’re pretty hot."
Oh, that was the worst fucking thing to say. How has Liam’s entire grasp on language suddenly disappeared?
Yet again, Scott seems thankfully oblivious. "If you’re sure! Gimme one of the tickets and I’ll find us somewhere good."
Liam obliges, and then is left alone in the line to calm down. The wait passes without further incident, and by the time that he leaves with a large popcorn, his demeanor is back to normal. He can’t resist taking a quick picture of his ticket beside the popcorn to post on Instagram—after several sepia filters are applied over it, obviously.
He finds Scott sitting towards the back of the theater, and Liam can see why: the theater is absolutely packed. It makes sense that the masses would arrive to view the premier of such mainstream young adult garbage. Good thing that Liam is just here to enjoy it ironically.
It doesn’t look like anyone he knows is here. Not very surprising, considering that he and Scott are the only ones who talk about Two Lights; besides Vicky, that is.
Scott is already ravenously eating the popcorn given to him, and the movie hasn’t even started. They’re playing commercials for more popular junk that Liam has little interest in. Were it not against the rules, he’d be checking his phone.
Finally, the lights dim, and the premier begins. There’s a few childish cheers from the audience at the title card.
The movie can’t have been going more than fifteen minutes when Liam looks over to Scott. It’s equal parts impressive and terrifying that he's already a quarter of the way through the popcorn. Liam feels obligated to stop him, knowing he’ll get to the bottom before the movie is half through, and then he’ll have to deal with Scott’s sad puppy eyes begging him to go get more.
"You could take it slower, you know," Liam whispers.
"Hm?" Scott stops mid chew.
"If you keep eating your... 'food' that fast, it’s going to be gone long before the movie is over."
Scott considers this. "Huh. I guess that makes sense, yeah. I never considered eating slower would be the solution to that. I’ll try it."
An unconscious smile finds its way to Liam’s face. Scott can be very dense, but it’s endearing.
The movie is trash, as expected, but Liam finds himself enjoying the stupid teenage drama and suspense. Maybe it’s because liking something ironically enough to read all the novels and watch five movies ends up getting you actually interested in the plot.
Liam is startled out of his entrancement when he feels something brush against the nape of his neck. It’s Scott’s arm, thrown over the back of Liam’s seat in a classic movie theater date move—oh fuck, is this a date? He hadn’t even considered the possibility of his feelings actually being reciprocated. Besides, Scott isn’t that subtle, is he?
Thinking about this right now is terrible, but even worse is trying to watch the movie, where Beatrice and Edwin are making out on screen. The last thing Liam needs to be thinking of is kissing.
It is pretty dark in here. There’s a reason that making out in theaters is cliché—because it’s the perfect place to do so. Liam can’t resist a glance to the side.
Scott is staring at the screen, his brows drawn close together. He’s been rooting for Justin since the start, so his disappointment is not surprising.
Now’s the time to make your move, idiot.
Liam takes a breath, then leans closer, making slow movements until his head makes contact with Scott’s chest.
He can feel the werewolf’s eyes on him, but Liam just stares forward as if nothing has changed. There truly isn’t any excuse for this. A genuine showing of affection... is there anything more embarrassing?
Scott’s arm moves from the back of the seat to hold Liam closer. The relief is immediate and intense. When he looks up, Scott is staring down at him fondly. The angle is just about perfect for—
Liam leans up and presses his lips against Scott’s. The kiss is brief, but it leaves Liam feeling dizzy.
He has no idea if this was Scott’s plan all along. In all honesty, he doesn’t care, because he got a wonderful time out of this either way. Liam continues to ironically watch the movie, while unironically enjoying Scott’s warm body pressed against his own.