Work Text:
In all the traumatic experiences Liam had been through, he didn’t expect a party to be the thing to overexert him.
Well, to be fair, he didn’t really talk to people. Almost 1 trillion years were spent in a garden, tending to flowers, murmuring to peonies instead of his own brother. Of course being around people, loud people, after being in a quiet and tranquil garden for a long time was a rough shift!
A very rough shift, from the looks of it.
So here Liam sat, on the guest bed in this godforsaken loud house, rocking as he held his knees to his chest. Deep breaths, count to ten, close your eyes, over and over…
And nothing worked.
This had been an issue, even before Liam had lost everything and everyone but Bill. His brother would always wail about hating the icky medicine, his parents worrying for the young boy and asking- no, BEGGING- him to just take it. Not to mention that Euclid was the mayor, and would constantly have parties with his fellow members of the public. Liam was used to the loud.
But being used to something never meant enjoying it.
Like how enduring his brother didn’t mean loving his brother.
Liam sniffed, teal eyes tired and wet. This was dumb. Really dumb. He’d been so good at being quiet as a kid, was good at occupying himself when things were too much! Now that he was an adult, it seemed everyone else had a problem with being too loud. Or was it always that way? Was Liam so desensitized to quiet that he was so very sensitized to loud? Was-
“Dear?”
Liam looked up, not realizing he had been tugging his hair, or that a very special someone had opened the door. At the frame stood Ford, looking worried as he fiddled with his sleeves. Liam looked down, too overstimulated to look into his boyfriend's eyes. “Hi,” he whispered, barely audible and barely convincing Ford of any possible form of stability. Ford's brows furrowed, as he cautiously walked towards his lover.
Even as Liam was fixated on the look and feel of linen sheets, he knew that Ford's green eyes gazed at him worriedly.
Ford sat on the bed, looking at Liam with downturned lips and tentative eyes. “You seem… rather upset. Is something bothering you, sweetheart?” Ford asked, reaching a Sixer fingered hand out to Liam’s knee. Liam allowed it. “Yea, I'm fine. Peachy,” Liam said, too quickly, too… alright. That seemed dumb, even to Ford's own mind, but… it seemed far too ‘okay’ to be true. Those eyes, so tired and far off, and that posture told Ford otherwise. The aforementioned brows furrowed, his thumb brushing against Liam’s knee more firmly. “Don’t lie to me, Liam,” he spoke, trying to seem serious but still loving. Liam looked up, teals irises full of shame.
“I… didn't lie,” Liam spoke, voice trembling. Ford's expression shifted to one of immense worry. Liam looked back down, suddenly interested in the green shorts he was wearing. Ford sighed, the sound heavy and tired. “Please don’t lie to me twice, Liam,” Ford said, no bite or annoyance in sight. Liam shut his eyes, expecting Ford to yell or to downright leave.
It was what he deserved, anyways.
Instead, Ford reached a calloused hand out to cup Liam’s cheek, tilting Liam’s head up to make eye contact. Ford wouldn’t force it, just guide it. Liam finally met Ford's gaze, and he broke. He broke into a sob, shaking as Ford pulled him into a soft, breathable embrace. His head fell against Ford’s collarbone, shoulder shaking with the force of his sobs. Ford wiped away the tears, rough thumbs tracing Liam’s wet and warm face. Even as Liam cried, he was the most beautiful person in dimension 46/‘’.
Liam couldn’t even control his body anymore, his brain taking a break and his heart getting a moment to heal. Ford rubbed his back, cooing gently and letting Liam have room to breath or pull away. It took a moment or two for Liam to gain back his breath, and it took almost 5 minutes for Liam to stop sobbing into Ford's upper chest. And once all of Liam’s body had finally stopped shaking, he fell into shallow sighs and even breathing.
It was a start.
Ford looked down at his boyfriend, eyes soft and loving and worried- that look was getting frequent, wasn’t it?- as he brushed hair out of Liam’s face. “It’s alright, I'm here…” he whispered, wiping the last tear from Liam’s soaked face. Liam hummed in appreciation, leaning into Ford's cupped hand. Ford chuckled, rubbing his thumb against Liam’s cheek once more.
“Were you overwhelmed?”
Liam looked up, eyes full of submission. He nodded, a soft sigh escaping his mouth. Ford frowned, nuzzling Liam’s head as his stubbly chin scraped Liam’s forehead. Liam hummed, the sensation felt… good. Grounding, even. “It was… loud,” Liam whispered, more or less tired now. “Not the kind of loud that makes you cover your ears, the…” he paused to think, “the kind that makes your brain think it’s the best time to freeze,” he finished, deciding that was the closest thing to describe it to. Ford winced, making it clear he knew how that felt. “Oh, Liam…” he whispered, leaning in close to check out Liam’s face. Liam shook his head, smiling for the first time since that morning.
That felt like a victory for Ford.
A really, really awesome victory.
“It’s alright, just… just not used to it,” Liam replied, shrugging like it was a casual thing to break down after a party. Ford wasn’t quite satisfied with that answer, but for now, it would have to do. Until they were in fords bed, safe and sound.
“Alright,” Ford murmured, gravelly and tired. It seemed to be contagious.
Liam nuzzled into Ford's neck, the aforementioned humming in appreciation. This was nice… Unconventional, but most of their situations was unconventional. Liam got lost in thought, not even noticing when ford kissed his forehead softly.
“I want a cat,” Liam whispered, Ford then looking down in surprise. “Pardon?” Ford queried, Liam realizing what he said. “Oh… sorry!” Liam blushed, his lover chuckling good heartedly. “No need to apologize, love,” Ford kissed Liam’s forehead again, the aforementioned giggling in contentment.
Maybe this would be alright.