Chapter Text
“Liam, honey, did you remember your phone charger?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“ And don’t forget sunscreen, you burn easily -“
“I know, Mom.” Liam’s cheeks burned pink at Theo’s barely restrained grin from his place leaning up against the side of his truck, and Mason’s laugh disguised as a cough.
“Theodore, take care of my son!” His mom called down the driveway.
“I will, Mrs. Geyer.”
“ Okay, Mom, I’m going, bye.”
The young werewolf suffered through the wet kiss she pressed to his cheek and practically sprinted down to the idling blue truck, muttering, “Shut up, don’t give me that look,” to Corey while Theo put his duffle bag under the backseat.
Liam took the passenger seat by default, so he fiddled with the radio until the older chimera slid into the driver’s seat and pushed his hands away, waiting until Mason and his boyfriend had gotten into the back before starting the engine and pulling down the street.
“Okay, everyone, car rules: no making out, no yelling, and if you ruin my seats, I ruin you, got it?” Theo stated aloud. “Liam, here.”
The young werewolf snatched the bag of candy tossed in his direction with an enthusiastic, “ Gummy bears, ” and promptly stuffed a handful into his mouth.
Someone in the backseat coughed out a word that Liam didn’t quite catch.
Theo’s gaze flickered up to the rearview mirror, and his hazel eyes narrowed.
“Something funny, Hewitt?”
“No, sir.” Mason grinned. “Can I have the aux?”
~
“Are we there yet?”
“Liam. It’s a five hour drive. We’ve been in the car for thirty minutes.”
“… oh.“
~
“Turn it off.”
“Come on, Theo, nobody wants to listen to your weird emo music.“
“I’m not listening to Katy Perry for the next five hours.”
“It isn’t just Katy Perry. Please?”
“No.”
~
By the time the group of four arrived at their planned five-hours-in lunch rendezvous with the rest of the pack, Liam jumped out of the truck and practically sprinted inside, vibrating with repressed energy as he made his way over to the large table that Scott and the older pack members already occupied.
“Hey, guys.” Their Alpha shot him a smile, nodding at the trio trailing after him. “How’s it going? Any issues?”
“Other than Theo’s terrible opinions about Marvel?” Mason questioned as he and Corey took the seats across from the younger werewolf, while the aforementioned chimera sat next to him.
“Just because I don’t think any of you could last a day being superheroes, doesn’t mean my opinions are terrible.” A very weary Theo combed a hand through his dark hair, his thigh bumping against Liam’s in the process. “Please, someone order me coffee.”
“We did, don’t worry,” Lydia replied from behind her bright red phone. “I already know all of your orders.”
“ Hey, puppies, and Mason.”
Stiles waltzed from the bathroom to ruffle Liam’s raven hair with a big grin, his free hand in the pocket of his blue jeans. “Have you tortured Theo into insanity yet?”
“We’re making a valiant effort,” Corey responded.
“Carrying on my legacy, I’m very proud of you.”
It didn’t take long for their food to arrive, and, while everyone looked on in mild horror, Liam started dumping the tomatoes from his Greek salad into Theo’s, Theo deftly stealing the rest of the tomatoes from his bacon and turkey sandwich.
The young werewolf didn’t really understand what the big deal was, but he was too tired and too hungry to pick the pack’s reaction apart at that moment.
“You know… you could just get it without tomatoes, right?” Mason’s fork hovered halfway above his plate of pasta.
“Theo likes them,” Liam said around a mouthful of his sandwich. “They remind him of the blood of his enemies. Theo, chips.”
The older chimera slid over his bag of potato chips, too busy trying to drown himself in coffee to respond.
“Scott, you were telling us in the car that a few other packs would be at the cabin retreat, too?” Stiles cleared his throat and stuffed food into his face in an attempt to change the subject.
“ Right, yeah. The place is run by werewolves, so it’s usually occupied by packs wanting to take a vacation. I think Ingrid Solace’s pack, and some of Ambrose Cadieux’s, should be nearby our rental, but I don’t know the others. It’ll be a good chance to meet some other werewolves.” Scott’s attempt at encouragement just made Liam wince, Lydia sigh, and Theo grumble something unintelligible. “Derek will meet us there. Said something about making a few stops along the way.”
“Sucks for him,” Stiles piped up. “Pack bonding for a whole two weeks! Are we excited?”
“I’m excited to not have to drive with you anymore.” Malia’s tone was dry, an eyebrow raised as she sipped from a can of Pepsi.
“I’m excited,” Liam chirped.
“Thank you, Liam.”