airplanes(Thiam)

chapter 8: Back to Sin City

"Seriously. This is your plan for money?" Liam asked, eyeing the building nervously.

"It's better than acting." Theo said, crossing his arms and daring Liam to argue.

"Is it?" Liam snorted. "At least there wasn't a chance of losing money when-"

"Liam. I can hear when people lie. I can sense their emotions. I can win us some money."

"What if you're wrong?"

"Then you can find us another acting job." Theo said.

"Okay. Okay, lets do it." Liam said, puffing up his chest and taking a step towards the door, at least, he tried to. Theo's hand came up, pressing against his chest and slowly pushing him back.

"Liam. My little pumpkin." Liam rolled his eyes, letting an annoyed huff of breath out at Theo's continued use of 'pumpkin'. "You're too young to go in."

"What?"

"Over eighteen's only I'm afraid." Theo said, looking far from upset with it. Liam narrowed his eyes at Theo's smile.

"So what do you expect me to do while you go and cheat at cards?" Liam snapped. Theo sighed, patting Liam's chest softly before he removed his hand and shoved it in his pocket, pulling out a few coins.

"Get yourself a juice box." Theo said, depositing the change into Liam's hand. "There's a toy shop over there so-"

"You're such a fuc-"

"Language. Don't make me put you in a timeout. Now stay here and be a good boy okay?" Theo didn't wait for a reply just backed away, shoving his ID in the securities face, Liam marched after him. Theo was allowed past.

"ID." The bouncer said.

"I'm with him." Liam said, nodding to Theo, who stood leaning against the doorway looking far too smug.

"Good for you. I still can't let you in without ID."

"I'm not even going to gamble I just want-"

"Sorry kid. If you don't have any ID you can't come in."

"Don't apologise. It's past his bedtime anyway." Theo drawled, Liam opened his mouth ready to retort only for Theo to duck inside, the rattling sound of coins and voices smothering anything he could say. The door swung shut behind him leaving Liam glowering at the door.

"Would you let me in just so I could punch him? I'll leave right after." Liam asked. The bouncer's lips twitched.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Fine." Liam huffed, he turned, stalking back to the car and yanking at the door with a flourish. It didn't budge. He tipped his head back slowly letting out a groan when he realised Theo would have the keys with him. Of course Theo would lock him out of the truck while he went to try his hand at gambling.

He climbed into the back of the pick-up flopping into the corner with another dramatic groan. He shifted, making sure he could still see the door to the Casino. The bouncer raised an eyebrow at him. Liam brought up his hand in a bitter wave. How long did it take to gamble? Ten minutes? Fifteen? More?

Liam sighed. Theo leaving him locked outside the truck was just another tally on the weirdly normal happenings of the past twelve hours. Listening to Theo talk about his life before the dread doctors, admitting, in a convoluted way that no, he didn't regret bringing Theo back from the dead and then falling asleep next to said chimera while listening to the sound of a far-off thunderstorm and feeling oddly at peace only to be woken up hours later by a police officer, having to drive two hours in the midday sun wasn't exactly the start to a day Liam would call normal, but somehow things were just that.