Work Text:
It's like something out of a movie. Mrs. Geyer's ("Call me Jenna," Theo hears her say, practically ages ago, but it still feels wrong) made an amazing spread, from fluffy pancakes to cheesy eggs to sizzling bacon—she's even working now on some crispy hash browns—and Theo's just finished juicing the last orange, literally fresh OJ, and Liam doesn't care.
He's pulling on a sneaker, duffel strap tugged high over his shoulder, hair falling in his face, muttering to himself about line formations and future drills. Disinterestedly, with his free hand, he digs through the bowl of halved strawberries that rests at the edge of the counter.
"Liam," Jenna says.
"Our face-off percentage has been trash," Liam mutters. "If we do that whistle test, maybe some footwork, we—"
"Liam," Jenna repeats.
"C'mon, captain, think." Liam furiously nabs another piece of strawberry.
"Liam," Theo takes him by the shoulder, angling the other so he can meet his eyes, "you with us?"
"I'm late," Liam snaps. "I'm late and we're about to get crushed."
It's not that Theo isn't concerned about the state of Liam's lacrosse team, or his old school's lacrosse team, he guesses, but he's never been a big sports guy, and in his haste to shovel strawberry into his mouth, Liam's made a mess of red across his lips, like he's smeared his mom's lipstick across his mouth. Theo bites back a smile.
Liam's still ranting, brows drawn together in the middle of his forehead, blue eyes blazing like he's about to go to war instead of some inconsequential scrimmage, but Theo can't stop looking at his mouth.
Later, he'll blame it on residual sleepiness, the early hour and Jenna's soothing hum as she sprinkles seasoning over the potatoes. But in the moment, when Theo carefully swipes a thumb across Liam's chin, gathering up dribbles of strawberry juice, all he can think is, Cute.
Liam freezes mid-ramble. He blinks, and Theo blinks back. Even Jenna seems to have paused.
And then there's a furious pop from a piece of bacon on the stove, and the kitchen jumps into motion once again. Liam's cheeks turn alarmingly red, and it takes every bit of Theo's ruined upbringing to keep his heart from leaping out of his chest.
"Sorry," Theo says.
Liam's mouth opens, then closes, then he replies, "It's okay." And then, he smiles.
Theo has survived being raised by psycho pseudo-scientists, survived what might as well have been capital H hell, survived near-erasure from existence and off-the-rails guidance counselors. Still, he's not sure he can survive Liam Dunbar.
Still, he smiles back.
The clock on the microwave beeps, and Liam jolts back into action, sending Theo one last bright look, like the sun that bursts through the slatted blinds at the same time, because of course, and then he shoves a handful of strawberries into his mouth and runs out the door. Theo breathes out a laugh and ignores the weight of Jenna's gaze on him as he does.