Work Text:
Liam’s scent is an addiction for Theo. It’s spicy, but also sweet, like those chai lattes he loves to drink so much. He smells like warmth and comfort and home, like cinnamon candles and vanilla and clean soap. Theo is addicted to his scent, can never get enough of it when he’s around him…
And it’s becoming a problem.
It’s not that he doesn’t like Liam’s scent - quite the opposite actually (see: he’s addicted to it). The problem is, because he’s so in tune with Liam’s scent, Theo also knows far more about his emotions than he’s sure Liam would be comfortable with if he knew just how much Theo pays attention.
Theo can recognize his anger the quickest. The cinnamon spice sharpens into a burnt, ashy scent that tickles Theo’s sinuses and makes him want to sneeze. Second most recognizable is the guilt. The bitter, wet-dust taste that lingers on his tongue long after Liam has run away to process things before apologizing.
Happiness, excitement, fondness, these are all sweet like honey and burnt sugar, topped with Liam’s signature vanilla. Positive emotions from Liam are like candy on Theo’s tongue, and he savors the sweetness as if it’s the last he’ll ever get. Sometimes he fears it will be.
Fear. That’s the one Theo has the hardest time recognizing. It’s usually overshadowed by that all-consuming anger, the emotion Liam knows best how to process in high-tension situations. When Theo really tries, he can make out the strongest notes - something sour, like a rotten green apple that’s been on the counter a few weeks too long. Most of the time it’s gone too quickly for Theo to be able to truly memorize it, but he can at least pick it out well enough to be able to tell the difference between Liam’s fear-triggered anger and his true rage.
Because of that knowledge, he knows this is different.
They’re at the park, wandering with no real goal in mind, other than to get some fresh air and move their restless bodies after being cramped in classrooms all week. Liam in particular is enjoying it, skipping ahead of the group every few paces and turning to walk backwards while chatting animatedly about random, nonsensical things that won’t matter tomorrow. They matter to Liam now, though, so Theo pays attention with the same level of focus he always gives Liam - intent and undivided.
Mason and Corey are trailing pretty far behind, fingers linked loosely and voices low as they enjoy the sunshine together. Corey runs cold, Theo remembers, so days like this - warm and bright, with only the slightest brisk beginning to form around them - are perfect for him to really soak in the sun’s rays. Theo absolutely deserved the punch he’d gotten for the lizard joke that was made when he found Corey sunbathing on a large rock last time they went to the river, but it was too good of an opportunity to simply let pass by unacknowledged.
Regardless, with Mason and Corey off in their own little world, Theo is left with Liam bouncing happily in front of him, and a sulky Brett Talbot beside him. An interesting dichotomy, for sure, and Theo tries to ignore the bitterness rolling off the werewolf beside him in waves, but Brett can’t seem to shut up long enough for his ignoring to take any effect.
“We’re not fucking dogs, you know,” he gripes at one point, cutting off Liam’s explanation of exactly why he wants to go visit the California Redwood forest. “You don’t have to bounce around like your tail is fucking wagging.”
Liam’s smile falls - only a fraction, but enough for Theo to notice. A moment later, though, he shakes it off and skips further down the path. “Says one of the only two werewolves here that can full shift.” He sticks his tongue out petulantly, and Theo has to cough to cover his laugh.
Brett glowers, his lip curling, and the bitterness in his scent spikes. “You’re so annoying,” he hisses, and Theo feels himself tense. “You’re like a fucking child sometimes, you know that?”
This time, Liam sobers completely, realizing that his teasing hadn’t landed the way he had been hoping. “Hey, I was just kidding,” he says softly, a small frown on his face. “I didn’t mean to-”
Brett scoffs. “No, you never mean it, do you, Liam?”
“Hey,” Theo cuts in firmly, moving so he’s standing to the side of both of them and they can both see his face. “He was just playing, Talbot, calm down.”
Brett turns his glare onto Theo next. A few feet away, Mason and Corey have frozen, watching the scene unfold. “He’s eighteen, jackass, he doesn’t need to fucking play. He needs to grow up. It’s because of him-” Theo sees Liam flinch out of the corner of his eye “-that the whole Monroe thing got so out of hand in the first place, and now he’s skipping around like a fucking toddler like none of it every happened.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Theo’s voice is low, calm, and deadly. “You weren’t there for most of it, you don’t know how hard he fucking tried during that whole situation. He saved you and Lori, in case you forgot.”
“We wouldn’t have been down there in the first place if it weren’t for him.”
The words land, and they land heavy. Beside Theo, Liam has fully curled in on himself, head down and shoulders hunched. At Brett’s words, he flinches again, and a new, sour scent Theo has never smelled from him before starts to seep into the air. Theo’s instincts scream at him to protect, but before he can move, Brett has stepped forward and into Liam’s space.
“You’ll never be able to replace Scott, and you know it.”
The sour scent sharpens, and Liam’s breath catches. He looks up through his hair at Brett, and his eyes are shining. “I did my best,” he whispers.
“Next time, do better.”
The next moment happens so quickly, Theo isn’t quite sure exactly what happens. Brett’s hands raise, like he’s going to shove Liam backwards by the shoulders, but before Brett can even touch him, Liam’s entire body jolts backwards, eyes wide and breath caught in his chest. Theo doesn’t think, he doesn’t even realize he’s moving until Brett is sprawled on the ground in front of him and Liam is safely at his back.
“Don’t you ever,” Theo growls, deep in his chest, and he can feel his eyes burning their supernatural amber glow. “Don’t you fucking ever lay your hands on him. I’ll gut you next time you try.”
Brett’s eyes are glowing in response to Theo’s, but he doesn’t move. They glare at each other, chests heaving, growls beginning to fill the air, until two hands are on Theo’s chest pushing him back. Theo doesn’t have to look to see that it’s Liam.
“Theo,” he says softly. “Look at me.”
It takes a second, but slowly, Theo’s eyes fall to the boy in front of him. Liam’s eyes are still wet, ringed with red, and Theo feels his lungs burn with fury. But Liam just shakes his head, a quiet not here, and gently pushes Theo backwards by his chest.
Casting one final glance to Brett on the ground, Theo turns and pushes Liam in front of him, crowding him towards one of the park bathrooms without a word. Liam goes without a fight, and continues to comply when Theo pushes him inside the bathroom and locks the door. He continues to comply when Theo crowds him against the sinks and buries his face in Liam’s neck, running his nose along Liam’s pulse point repeatedly.
“Teddy,” Liam murmurs, running his fingers through Theo’s hair - not pulling, just petting. “I’m okay.”
“You smelled scared,” Theo rasps, pushing against Liam more firmly. With a dissatisfied sound, he pulls back to look into Liam’s eyes. “You’re scared of him.”
Liam’s gaze is soft and sad when their eyes meet. “I’m not scared of Brett.” He winces at Theo’s flat look. “Not anymore, at least. Just... sometimes he says things that bring back memories of when I was scared of him, and my body just reacts. He’s just in a pissy mood today, I know he didn’t mean anything he said.”
“He still shouldn’t have said it,” Theo growls, the embers of anger reigniting in his chest. They’re quickly put out when Liam makes a soft shushing sound, still carding his fingers through Theo’s hair.
“I know,” Liam whispers. “I’m okay, Teddy. I’m okay now.”
Instead of answering, Theo oh so gently grabs Liam by the waist and lifts him onto the counter, stepping smoothly into the gap of his thighs that open naturally around him. Theo has a much better angle to scent Liam’s neck again, and this time he presses gentle kisses against the sun warm skin over Liam’s pulse. He feels the steady beat stutter and skip, and he smirks, darting out his tongue to give a little kitten lick before pulling back to meet Liam’s gaze once more.
Liam’s eyes are glassy, but for a different reason this time, and a flush is sitting high on his cheeks. “You’re not fair,” he breathes.
Theo chuckles. “When have I ever been fair, little wolf?” he murmurs. They’re so close their lips brush when they speak, but Theo doesn’t close that gap. Not yet. Liam will do it first, or they won’t do it at all.
Theo decided that a long time ago.
What he doesn’t fully expect, though he really should have at this point, is for Liam to close that distance with a soft, broken sound, pressing his lips firmly against Theo’s in a dry, lingering kiss. Theo doesn’t hesitate - he brings one hand up to rest on Liam’s hip, and curls the other into the hair at the back of Liam’s head, tilting his own to deepen the kiss with a hunger he’s felt for little else in his life.
He feels Liam shift against him, lips parting to brush his tongue shyly against Theo’s lips. Theo responds immediately, opening his mouth and pushing Liam’s tongue back with his own, until they’re both in Liam’s mouth. Theo’s grip on Liam’s hair tightens, just a little, and he tilts Liam’s head backwards so he can dive deeper, kiss harder, explore more thoroughly.
Liam whimpers against his lips, hands gripping the shirt on Theo’s shoulders so tight Theo is worried the fabric will rip, but he couldn’t care less - not with Liam so soft and open and willing underneath him. He wrenches himself away only a moment later, something in his chest cracking open when Liam instinctively chases him.
Liam’s hair is a mess, a crimson flush starting in his cheeks and going all the way down his neck, disappearing into the collar of his shirt. His lips are red, puffy, and slick - and Theo is struck dumb at the knowledge that he is the one that put Liam in such a debauched state. He licks his own lips, tasting Liam and watching Liam follow the movement with greedy eyes.
“I think,” he says roughly, adjusting his jeans. He clears his throat when Liam’s eyes shoot towards the movement, and his pupils dilate. “I think we should go home.”
The words take a moment to register, but when they do, Liam nods frantically. “Home. Yes. Let’s go home. We should absolutely go home right now.”
Theo’s laugh follows them all the way to the truck that will take them exactly where they both want to go.