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— hey, liam, where did you get that shirt from? i feel like i've seen it once or twice this last month on like, multiple, people. — theo asks, knowing from beforehand that it was not actually liam's, it didn't fully smell like him.
— oh, it's scott's i think. — liam answers carelessly while keeping his focus on the book he was reading at the moment. mason gifted it to him, it had a few stories that involved mythology so liam was hooked.
— you think it's scott's? — the chimera asks again with a half smile on his lips, finding it cute.
liam stopped reading and looked at theo. — yes, theo, it's scott's. — he said, not really bothered by the sudden questioning but also not getting why it was happening. — is there a problem with it? —
theo let the half smile drop from his lips but his eyes still maintained a warm gaze.
— oh, no, it's totally fine. — the chimera assured. — i just think it's kind of... cute? you guys clearly love him and, i don't know, feel comforted by his scent. — it was all said between stumbling words, as if talking about fondness was strange for theo. which it was.
— i... guess we do love him and all of that. — liam said after a few moments. — i've never really thought of it actually, stiles and malia already used to steal some of his clothes before i joined the pack so it was natural for me to, you know, start doing it too.
— i think i never wore other people's clothes, to be honest. — theo blurted out, like the words just escaped his mouth before he could review them.
liam looked at him for a little while, meditating what he should say to that. not exactly walking on egg shells around the other boy but definitely watching where he's stepping.
the moments when theo actually decided to let a bit of his past be revealed were difficult for various reasons, liam couldn't decide whether to hug him and never let him go or if he should behave as if nothing happened, as if he was only a listener.
— there will be a day where you end up stealing someone's clothes just because it feels right, i guess. who knows? it might be also scott or another person. — the beta finally replied, trying to sound as genuine as he could because he really was.
theo didn't say anything after that, only looked at the younger wolf a bit sadly but still with a hint of something else. maybe hope.
–
a few days passed and theo learned how to recognise clothes that weren't liam's and probably were scott's. mostly because they changed owner very frequently, sometimes the red shirt liam likes so much was being worn by stiles and on the days where lydia felt too lazy to make a good outfit, it was hers.
there was this day where theo let himself steal a jacket from scott and it felt illegal, wrong on the outside. but he couldn't deny the fade feeling of warmth pooling at the bottom of his stomach.
scott actually caught theo taking it from the chair where he left it after getting a bit hot headed discussing a game with stiles. the alpha didn't say anything though, he was glad theo started to feel comforted in the pack. and if all it took was a few missing pieces of clothing, then scott was more than willing to forget about them.
–
there was nothing that could prepare theo for the day where he saw liam with one of his hoodies.
nothing.
— ...is that...? — theo gestured with his hand towards the hoodie the younger was wearing, not daring to let the rest of the words come out of his mouth.
liam stopped on his tracks, as if he had been caught breaking into a luxury store. well, it was a very expensive hoodie.
— oh, well... yeah. — the beta said, not scared of theo's reaction to his stolen hoodie but not really excited to face the chimera. if theo was mad at him, then that meant that all of the progress they've made was lost.
theo didn't speak for a few seconds, and it felt like waiting at hell's door for liam.
liam's scent must have been heavily laced with a bitter musk, because theo picked up on it easily.
— hey, i'm not mad at you or anything, li. — the older assured, making sure he sounded genuine with every word. liam was still learning how to tell truth from lie with heartbeats.
— are you sure? — he seemed a bit more calm, collecting enough courage to get close to the other boy.
— yes, why wouldn't i be? — the chimera also got a bit closer, not really thinking any of it. — and to be fair, i think i'm actually wearing one of your pairs of socks. they get mixed in the laundry.
liam smiled gently, appreciating theo's joke, knowing he said it to make the beta comfortable. also, liam probably has worn theo's socks more than once in the past.
— you know that's not what i meant. — the beta said quietly.
— i know. —
there was no need for an excessive amount of words with them, their bodies, their scents, all of the rest made sure of that.
a sudden spur of courage took theo by the neck and before he could feel the regret burst into his veins, he approached liam and held him. placing his arms around the beta's shoulders and resting his face beside the younger's head.
liam stood there for a second, with no movement.
then, he decided to return the hug, placing his arms around the chimera's waist and his chin on top of the other boy's shoulder.
there was no reason for the hug other than to keep the warmth between them.
liam thought that stealing theo's clothes was enough, but he realized nothing compared to his chest, his arms, the crook of his neck.
his scent.