Thiam: Book of One Shots

Trust You

Summary: Theo has finally had enough of the dirty looks and accusations he receives at pack meetings. Liam watches Theo break and decides he can't keep his feelings from him anymore.

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Liam could practically feel the palpable tension in the air. Of course this was nothing particularly new, as recently all pack meetings seem to end the same way; Theo vs McCall pack.

Liam knew almost all the pack members still held a grudge against the chimera. He also knew that this wasn't entirely unreasonable, considering Theo's past actions. In fact, he had more reason than most to hate the other boy, and definitely to harbor any mistrust or dislike towards him.

Despite this, the beta felt the opposite to what he supposed he should be feeling. To what everyone else who stood there narrowing their suspicion-filled eyes at Theo, would expect him to feel.

Scott's calm and authoritive voice suddenly brought him back to the present.

"Calm down Theo. We were just trying to ask some questions-"

"About whether I'm currently plotting murder?" Theo interrupted sharply, "I'd try to deny it but none of you are gonna believe me are you?"

"Of course not!" Stiles jumped in furiously, "You tried to destroy our pack, why the fuck would we believe anything you have to say?"

"Why the hell am I even invited to these pack meetings if all that happens at every one is the same fucking interrogation?!" Theo growled in anger, taking a step towards them which immediately caused most supernaturals in the room to shift forward threateningly.

Liam's eyes took a sudden interest in the floor at his feet, as he listened to Theo's accusations. Admittedly, he was the reason for Theo's continued presence at these meetings. His continued insistence that the chimera should be kept in the loop with everything, and pestering Scott to make sure of this, means that Theo ended up at pretty much every pack meeting; most of the time with the beta hitching a ride in his truck.

"We're not interrogating you Theo. We're just cautious that's all" Scott explained calmly, causing Theo to scoff in response.

"Right. The only reason I'm not rotting in hell already is because the sword is in pieces" he stated bitterly.

"You deserve it" Malia growled hatefully from her place next to Scott.

Liam made a conscious effort to stay rooted to the spot. He had been watching this exchange for the past 15 minutes. The past few months to be more precise, and he hated it. He hated the way Theo's eyes hardened every time he interacted with the pack. The way his posture grew more and more rigid, and defensive, with the time spent in their presence. He hated that the chimera's mouth twisted into a cruel smirk or sneer more often when he spoke, and his hands remained in tight, white knuckled fists.

Almost all traces of the Theo he knew disappeared in those moments. His Theo. The one who never failed to complain whenever Liam jumped in his truck, but still drove him wherever he wanted to go. The one who often sprawled on his bedroom floor and played video games with him, smiling triumphantly every time he won a round (which was pretty much always). The one who leant him his hoodie one night, on a spontaneous late-night stroll, when Liam had uncharacteristically shivered from the cold air (a hoodie that most nights, he's not ashamed to admit, he slept in).

Even now, Liam could see the hints of vulnerability and concealed pain in Theo's eyes, that he routinely hid behind a cold, hard mask. A few moths ago, he never would've noticed this, but recently he'd become incredibly attuned to everything to do with the chimera, that the smallest changes in his posture and flickers in his expression were as clear as day to Liam. This didn't scare or bother him like it used to, now that he'd accepted his feelings for the chimera. Of course just because he'd accepted them, didn't mean he had any plans to voice them.