Work Text:
What the hell am I doing here?
It was the first thought Theo had as he stepped out of his truck and into the parking lot, the all too familiar hospital sign coming into view.
Adjusting the beanie on his head, Theo let out a weighted sigh. He didn’t have to think too hard about what had led him there. In fact, he’d tried to block the thoughts out completely, especially the boy that followed them.
Ever since he’d been brought back from hell, by Liam, Theo couldn’t seem to escape the beta. Not in person, and certainly not in his thoughts.
Liam was like this constant nagging presences, one Theo didn’t know whether to push aside or dive right into. There seemed to be some invisible string constantly pulling them together, Theo wishing he’d severed it long ago.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, and tried to ignore—Liam was tethered to him. It was almost as if they were—no, they couldn’t be. Theo wasn’t worthy to anyone, nor did he deserve such a bond in return.
Maybe he just felt guilty. After all, he had a lot to be regretful over.
Theo shook his head just for the thought. Hell had really changed him, no matter how hard Theo tried to ignore it.
Straining his ears a bit, Theo could hear an array of commotion, along with too many heartbeats to count. He tried to block them all out, honing in on one.
Liam had never been difficult to find, the beta always seeming to appear without Theo ever realizing he’d been looking for him. That was how he’d ended up at the hospital, Theo not having had any real destination in mind.
He should’ve left Beacon Hills months ago, should’ve let himself disappear into the wild hunt. But instead, he’d found himself helping out a certain beta, the one whom he somehow knew was currently in trouble.
The Anuk-Ite was his and Scott’s packs current enemy. Theo had experienced the effects firsthand, not understanding what the hell was happening at first. That should’ve been his second cue to leave, but still—he stayed.
It wasn’t as though he’d had a choice at first, Theo having gotten himself kidnapped with a few other misfits, which was a whole other story. As if fighting off some creature of the night wasn’t bad enough, they were now up against their own kind, hunters out to get the entirety of the supernatural.
Taking another step toward the glass doors, Theo tilted his head a tinge, letting his eyes fall closed as he listened. It was one of the few good things the Dread Doctors had taught him, even if indirectly. Years of being held captive under close watch—Theo often held in the dark—had made him an expert at waiting, listening. It was how he’d become so good at masking his own heartbeat, not wanting anyone to make him, especially where the evil doctors were concerned.
There.
Theo listened for a moment longer, concentrating.
One steady beat followed by two jumps. They were faint, but Theo had caught them. He never missed anything when it came to Liam.
Steadying his own erratic beating heart, Theo stepped inside as the sliding glass doors opened, his inhale more concentrated that time.
He glanced around quickly, taking everything in. The place was a disaster, medical equipment, blood, and bodies strewn all about. And they called this place a medical establishment? Theo shook his head and adjusted his beanie once more before taking off toward the elevator.
He had Liam’s heartbeat, now he just needed to catch the betas scent trail.
Theo clicked the button, quickly growing impatient as the light came down from the upper levels, one painstakingly slow moment at a time. He could take the stairs, sure, but he didn’t know what kind of creatures lurked there. At least once the elevator doors opened, he’d know what he was up against.
As the elevator shown the first floor, Theo readied himself, claws digging into his hands as he clenched them into tight fists.
The doors opened even slower than the elevator had arrived, Theo barring his fangs for whatever was to come.
The doors opened to reveal nothing and no one, Theo taking one last look around before moving inside and quickly pressing the double arrows to close the doors. He listened for Liam’s heartbeat as he pressed a higher number, the elevator taking him up and up.
As the digital numbers clicked up and up, Theo listened, his expert hearing blocking out anything that wasn’t Liam. It wasn’t an easy task, several heartbeats flooding through at once as Theo tried to concentrate. He reached out and slammed the corresponding floor number when he caught Liam’s scent, the all too familiar smell wafting through his nostrils, flooding all of his other senses.
Just before the familiar ‘ding’ of the elevator sounded, Theo heard the words, “go ahead Liam, run. It’ll be more fun that way.”
A snarl made its way out of him just as the doors opened to reveal several armed hunters and guns pointed his direction. Theo barely noticed them, spotting Liam in an instant, the beta all but backing right into his arms. Theo didn’t have time to smell Liam’s distress, though he knew it was there. He would also deny his heart skipping a few beats, not settling again till Liam was securely in his arms.
His arms were wrapping around Liam’s neck in a manner that had become all too common for him, Theo pulling Liam in close as bullets began to fly their way.
The elevator doors suddenly got their shit together, closing just as he pulled Liam over the threshold, the two falling into one another, Theo with his back against the wall.
Theo couldn’t hear anything except their combined erratic beating hearts, Liam’s familiar scent filling his nostrils.
It took him, and Liam it seemed, a moment to realize they were tangled up together, one of Theo’s arms still protectively wrapped around Liam, the beta all but in his lap.
Liam quickly shrugged him off and made to stand, beelining for the buttons, his claws tapping at the hold button. Theo stayed where he was, looking up at Liam.
“What’re you doing here?” Liam all but shouted, more freaked out at the situation than angry with Theo.
Theo scoffed. “I was just about to ask myself the same thing.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d thought those words that night.
They stayed silent for a moment, Liam glowering down at him. Theo gave his charming smile, the one he knew seemed to piss people off. Not Liam though, well, not always anyway.
“You know, most people say thank you when you save their life.”
“Yea, well you’re not most people,” Liam spat back. “Besides, I was doing fine on my own.”
Theo snorted as he made to stand, dusting off his pants as he went. “Yea I could see that.”
Liam looked like he wanted to stomp his feet and stick his tongue out like a little kid. Theo hated the adorable image that caused him to conjure up.
He watched as Liam tilted his head, honing in on whatever was happening outside the safety of the elevator.
“Still out there?”
Theo could’ve easily listened in for himself, but he was too focused on Liam and unwilling to concentrate on anything else.
Liam gave a nod of his head, those ocean baby blues of his honing in on Theo. He found them difficult to say no to, to look away from. He had to though. Liam wasn’t his to want.
“Look, I’m not dying for you.”
“I’m not dying for you either!” Liam came right back with, raising and unimpressed brow.
It happened too quickly for Theo to catch any skips in the beta’s heartbeat; he was hoping it’d been the same for Liam with his.
Liam looked away from him with a click of his tongue. Theo almost spat out that he would die for Liam, just to get the beta to look his way again. The problem was, that wasn’t a lie. Theo would die for Liam. Wouldn’t even think twice about it. There was just no way he could ever tell anyone that, let alone Liam himself.
“But I will…fight with you.”
Bright blues looked back to him, Theo swallowing thickly for both Liam’s words and look, the betas heartbeat remaining steady as ever.
They stood there a moment, neither of them looking way, Liam’s gaze zeroed in on him. It was too much, Theo feeling both unworthy and overwhelmed by it.
Theo was the one to look away first.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he answered.
“Ok.” With a simple shake of his head, Theo let himself look back up to Liam, a bit of a sinister smile crossing his face.
“Let’s fight.”
~
Everything happened pretty quickly after that. As much as Theo had wanted to do nothing but keep his gaze honed in on Liam, they had other shit to do.
Maybe when it was all over, Theo could do as much staring as he wanted.
The elevator doors began to slowly open once more, the two of them looking to each other with one last nod of their heads before focusing their attention on the mutual enemy.
Theo let his fangs drop down with a snarl, his claws coming out next. He could hear Liam shifting next to him, Theo knowing their eyes both glowed a golden yellow.
Without another thought, or a real plan in mind, they both ran out as the doors opened, the two barreling their way through the hunters.
They worked in sync without talking, the two using the walls as leverage as they gave the hunters a good roundhouse kick, effectively taking them out, their guns clattering to the tile below.
Theo didn’t blink as he took out various hunters, the two of them fighting their way through the chaos.
As Theo fought off a few more, he took note of Liam, watching as the beta came barreling toward him. Liam had a mission on his mind, Theo quickly piecing it together without either of them having to say a word.
Liam came rushing his way, Theo ducking at just the right moment so Liam could use his back as leverage, the beta boosting himself off Theo before taking out another enemy.
They continued to stay in sync as they worked their way down the hall, taking out one hunter after another. They teamed up to throw one guy aside, the two turning as they heard another hunter loading up. Neither of them reacted quickly enough, both too stunned to see Ms. McCall rounding the corner with a long taser stick. Theo shivered just for the look of it.
Nolan appeared next, surprising both of them as he first took out a hunter, then yelled at them to get down. Not having time to deal with Nolan saving them for whatever weird ass reason, Theo focused his attention behind them to where Nolan’s warning was pointed.
As Theo turned, Liam did too, Gabe and his massive machine gun coming into view.
Theo was putting his arm around Liam before he could even think about it, ushering the beta forwards and out of the way. He dug his feet into the ground as he pushed them forwards, Theo falling to the ground as a bullet hit him in the shoulder. Liam fell next to him, Theo unsure of his injuries.
Theo held at his shoulder while gripping the wall for support. He let his eyes shut as he tried to gain his composure and fight through the pain. It wasn’t the worst he’d ever suffered, not by a long shot, but a bullet going into his shoulder still hurt like hell.
He heard Liam growl, Theo’s eyes opening again in an instant, his senses still on high alert. He watched as Liam sized up Gabe who now held a different gun, bullets continuing to fly their way—Liam’s way.
Liam fought for dominance over the gun, Gabe fighting him the entire way. Theo could easily pick out Liam’s snarls and grunts; it wasn’t quite comforting at the moment. Something was off about them, though he couldn’t tell why. There was too much going on, all of them currently fighting for their lives.
Theo felt useless as he sat there, watching Liam take on the brunt of it.
He refocused his attention as he heard another hunter talking into his walkie, asking Monroe what to do. The evil bitch said to take them both out, something Theo was having none of.
Liam and Gabe were in a deadlock. Any bullets sent Gabe’s way would also go towards Liam.
Nolan once again came to the rescue, Theo eyeing the kid precariously. He supposed it wasn’t that odd, considering he himself had once been on the opposite side, but still; why was the kid suddenly on their side?
Nolan ran out just as Liam headbutted Gabe, pushing him right into the line of bullets the hunter was currently sending their way.
Theo gritted his teeth together as he looked away. As much as he hated the others, it made him feel sick to see Gabe get taken out like that, especially by one of his own. They were all just kids, kids who didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Theo hadn’t had a choice when it came to the Dread Doctor’s; not really. Sure, he could’ve let his sister live, but then wouldn’t they have just found someone else? It didn’t make it right, he knew that—it was all fucked up, and Theo was growing tired of it. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, hell had changed him. Theo was tired of people dying because of others control and influences.
Nolan came out seconds too late, smashing a fire extinguisher into the back of the hunter’s head, stopping the bullets from flying Gabes way. It didn’t matter though. The damage had been done.
Gabe effectively fell to the floor, right where his blood had been spattered. As grateful as Theo was that it wasn’t Liam lying in a pool of his own blood, he hated that Gabe was all the same. He couldn’t explain why, he just did.
Gabe helplessly crawled away from them, further spreading his blood, streaking it across the pale white tile.
Theo fought against his pain, righting himself back onto his feet. Gabe made it to the other side and used the cabinets to pull himself into a sitting position, his blood-soaked hands staining those as well.
Liam made to stand as well, the beta seemingly struggling, though Theo couldn’t quite tell where he’d been hurt.
Gabe sat across from them, choking up his blood, Theo watching as it rolled down his face, the boys innocence coming back in as the pain took over.
“It hurts…it hurts.”
Theo knew the feeling, only he wasn’t currently choking on his own blood.
Theo found himself stepping forward before he really knew what he was doing. Something was drawing him closer to Gabe, Theo refusing to give into the overwhelming desire to just walk away and leave him there. Gabe didn’t deserve to suffer; none of them did.
Holding onto his injured shoulder, Theo moved forward, his eyes scanning over the trail of smeared blood that led right to Gabe.
The boy sat on the ground shaking as shock set in, the blood continuing to poor out of his lips. Gabes breathing was erratic as Theo stepped forward and into his space, crouching to his level before he could think better of it. Gabe looked scared, terrified really. Theo would’ve been too had their rolls been reversed. As much as he’d wanted it to all end, he wasn’t ready to go; not yet.
It wasn’t typical to help the person who’d just been trying to take you out only moments ago, and yet, there Theo was, doing it anyway. He was sure the others were more surprised by this than him himself.
Theo looked into Gabes eyes, the ones that were all but black and filled with pain, sorrow. He let his own eyes close as words that had been engrained into his mind took over.
‘You can’t take pain if you don’t care.’
Theo internally cursed. When the fuck had he started caring? There was only ever two people he’d felt that way for. One of them was gone, and the other was right behind him, no doubt ready to pounce on Theo at any second. The old Theo would’ve already slit the guy’s throat and walked away without another thought. But the Theo he was now, the guy he was desperately trying to be? He couldn’t leave the kid, not in that much pain.
He opened his eyes to see Gabe’s tear-streaked ones. Theo wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or his presence, though he figured it was a bit of both.
Grabbing Gabe’s arm, he took the boys in his own, pulling up Gabes sleeve as he went. He took one last look into sad glassy eyes before applying pressure to Gabes forearm, watching in awe as black lines began to slither up his own arm as Gabe’s pain passed through him.
Theo could barely feel the pain, too mesmerized by what was happening.
‘You can’t take pain if you don’t care.’
He looked right into Gabe as the last of the pain passed through him, the boy calmer than before until he turned still.
“Does it hurt anymore?”
Gabe shook his head, meeting Theo’s gaze head on.
“No.”
Theo couldn’t find it in him to form any kind of facial expression, but he didn’t look away, didn’t pull out of the boy’s grip.
“Good.”
He watched as Gabes eyes fell closed. They didn’t open again.
Theo let the boy go, watching a few moments longer. He was afraid to turn around, to be vulnerable. There wasn’t any more hiding himself.
Slowly, he stood, wincing as the movement pulled at his shoulder.
He turned, several faces greeting him, mixed emotions spread across them. He caught Mason’s gaze, the boy giving a pointed nod of his head, Theo understanding his unspoken words.
Theo’s eyes wandered over the remaining members, stopping when they reached baby blues. He watched as a tear fell from them, rolling down Liam’s face. The sight alone nearly took Theo to his knees again. Liam looked—proud. It wasn’t a look Theo was used to; he couldn’t remember the last time anyone had felt anything other than disappointment when it came to him.
The moment didn’t last long, Theo almost a little grateful when Monroe’s panicked voice came through the walkie. He didn’t regret what he’d done, though the attention was odd all the same. He had to look away from the intensity of Liam’s gaze, feeling both undeserving and overwhelmed by it.
“This is Monroe. Someone report with a status. Now.”
The woman’s voice was demanding, Theo snarling for it.
“Someone respond! Talk to me. What’s happening?”
He could hear the panic rising in her voice. Theo smiled slyly.
Liam crouched in front of him to pick up the walkie off one of Monroe’s dead men.
“You lost.”
Theo had never heard that tone in Liam’s voice, something mixed with triumph and determination. It made the hair on Theo’s skin crawl for all the wrong reasons, none of them appropriate for their current situation.
Liam stood again, taking a spot at Theo’s side.
They all stood there for a few moments, taking it all in.
Melissa looked around at each of them, swallowing thickly when her eyes landed on Gabes now lifeless body. Theo couldn’t bear to look at the boy again.
“Good work boys. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”
Sighs of relief were shared by all of them, Theo wincing as his shoulder continued to ache. He didn’t mind though; the pain let him know he was still alive.
He heard Liam intake sharply, his eyes glancing over the beta in an instant. Liam gave him a weak smile, brushing off his worry.
They followed the others out, Theo staying close to Liam’s side, refusing to let the beta out of his sight.
When they made it out, the others dispersed, Mason giving Liam a pointed look. Liam waved his best friend off, giving him some sort of silent reassurance.
Theo watched as Corey and Mason faded away with the others, leaving just him and Liam. He expected Liam to wave him off as well, maybe even take off without another word, though the beta did neither.
Liam wandered over to the building, using the wall to slide down into a sitting position. The entire movement looked painful, Theo watching carefully as Liam squinched his nose up in discomfort.
Theo was at Liam’s side in an instant, foregoing his own injury that was finally starting to heal.
“Hey, what happened?”
Liam tried to brush him off, only causing Theo to further invade his space as he frantically looked Liam over.
“M’ fine, k?”
Liam was clearly very not fine, Theo continuing to trail his fingers over the beta until he found the source of his pain. Liam winced as Theo’s hand pressed over his stomach, the beta crying out as Theo applied a light pressure.
He ripped Liam’s button up shirt open without a care, honing in on the beta’s injury in an instant. There was blood covering the left side of Liam’s stomach, the wound still fresh and unhealing.
As Theo’s hand came to rest over it, Liam’s covered his, murky blue eyes meeting his.
“It just grazed me.”
Theo scoffed. “Then why the hell aren’t you healing?”
“Wolfsbane.”
Anger flared inside of him, Theo’s claws slipping out and disappearing in seconds lest he hurt Liam by accident.
“I’ll be ok Theo.”
Liam squeezed his hand, the gesture not reassuring in the least. Liam would heal, he knew that, but it wouldn’t be quick, not like it usually was. And in the meantime, Liam was in pain.
Pain.
That was something Theo could fix now.
Slowly, he removed his hand from Liam’s wound, the betas hand dropping back to his own lap.
Theo’s hand was stained with blood once again, this time from the boy he—well the boy he cared about. Cared about too much sometimes.
Liam’s sleeves were already pulled up, Theo’s eyes catching on blue as he took the betas arm in his own.
“You don’t have to.”
Theo swallowed thickly as he nodded.
“What if I want to?”
Liam nodded in silent understanding, his eyes now fixated on Theo’s movements.
That time, Theo’s movements were more pointed, purposeful. He took great care not to hurt Liam further.
Gripping Liam at the forearm, Theo concentrated, sighing a bit in relief when the black veins appeared once more. He was afraid it wouldn’t work again, that he’d disappoint Liam all over again.
Unlike with Gabe, Theo felt everything. Felt Liam’s pain coursing through him, felt how close they were, arms intertwined. He felt something shift within himself, hoping that it did for Liam as well.
Theo watched the black lines connecting them into one until they faded away, Liam settling in his hold. Liam didn’t drop his grip; Theo didn’t pull away.
They just sat there then, comfortably leaned against the other, their hands rested over the others arm.
Night was starting to fade into day, washing away the darkness they seemed to have been stuck in for several weeks on end.
“Do you regret it?”
Theo looked up to Liam in an instant and furrowed his brows together. He squeezed Liam’s arm where his hand still was.
“Not for a second.”
Liam smiled down at Theo’s hold before looking back up to him.
“Not that. I mean with-with Gabe…”
Liam trailed off, Theo suddenly understanding. It was Liam’s grip that tightened on him then.
It was because of Gabe that Liam was in so much pain, that he wasn’t healing. Theo wanted to hate Gabe, he did.
“No.”
Liam’s fingers wrapped around his arm, Theo tracking the movement. It was because of that that he almost missed the uptick of Liam’s heart and the way his fingers slightly twitched against him. Almost.
“Are you in pain again?”
Liam shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. Theo narrowed his gaze as he looked Liam over closely.
Before he could tighten his grip on Liam, the beta pulled away, Theo frowning for it. His heartbeat betrayed him by skipping a few beats.
“That’s not why my heartrates going up. Besides, I know another way you can take my pain away.”
Theo looked up into those baby blues, Liam giving nothing away, that dopey grin of his in place, the one that Theo often got caught up in.
“And how’s that?” Theo asked, staying as he was.
One of Liam’s hands fell to Theo’s thigh, the beta using the grip to turn himself towards Theo, pushing through the pain as he did so. Theo stayed still, too afraid to move, speak.
Liam looked him over, Theo refusing to look away. Those bright blues landed on his lips, Theo swallowing thickly for it.
“You wanna try again?” Liam asked, unwavering.
Theo didn’t trust himself to speak, but instead leaned in closer, closing the gap between them. When Liam didn’t pull away, Theo closed his eyes and let himself want.
The first press of their lips was hesitant, fragile. Liam’s hand tightened on his thigh, Theo moving his to Liam’s waist, careful of his injury.
He pressed in closer, taking Liam’s lips with his own. For the first time in—well Theo couldn’t remember—he stopped thinking, caring. He let himself fall into Liam, pushing any unwanted thoughts away.
He didn’t know which of them deepened the kiss, only that they let the other in, let down their defenses.
He barely registered Liam’s pain passing through him at first, Theo opening his eyes to see the veiny black lines passing from Liam’s lips to his own. Theo watched until they faded away, his lips never leaving Liam’s.
When blue eyes greeted him again, Theo looked away, not yet ready to face them.
“Damn.”
Liam chuckled softly next to him, the movement pressing them together once more.
Theo looked out at the sky as the sun began to rise, the purple and orange hues lighting up the sky.
The nights events began to wash over him then, Theo settling next o Liam. They’d made it, they’d survived Monroe’s rath. At least for the time being.
Just as the sun came up, Theo turned toward Liam, the betas eyes already on him. A soft smile spread across his own face, one Liam easily reciprocated.
They were in the clear, no more monsters lurking around. Well, besides them that was.
“Does it still hurt?” Theo asked, not for the first time that night.
Liam shook his head. “Not anymore.”
Warm and familiar lips crashed into his, Theo pressing into Liam’s touch.
Unlike Gabe, Liam opened his eyes again, the prettiest shade of ocean blue looking right into him.
“I would, you know…die for you, I mean.”
Somehow those words seemed more vulnerable than the three little ones stuck at the back of his throat.
Liam smiled into him.
“It took me almost dying for you to admit that.”
“Fuck you.” Theo tried to pull away, but Liam held him close.
“I’d die for you too asshole. But I prefer fighting with you by my side.”
Theo brushed their noses together. Yea, he did too.
As eager as they both were to get back to it, neither of them moved, the two staying rested against the hospital wall, tucked closely into the other.
The sun was set high in the sky now, Theo letting it warm his cool skin. They’d made it, both of them. Another day was on the horizon, but it didn’t feel so lonely, not when he had Liam by his side.