What if I Stayed? (Thiam Fic)

Chapter Thirty One

"Soulmates?' Theo asked, his heart in his throat, "Why're you asking about soulmates?"

"Deaton and Derek were talking about them in the car." Liam shrugged as Theo silently cursed them. "They brought up how most supernatural creatures have some form of mate or soulmate and then said I should talk to Scott but I've decided to talk to you about it instead."

"Why me?" 

"Well they also brought up you so." Theo was going to kill Derek and Deaton. Damn the fact that Deaton was useful and Derek was... well Derek. He didn't need to hear anything more about mates, soulmates or dating. Ever. "I thought maybe you could tell me something about it. If you're okay with that."

"I don't have a mate. That's not really my thing." Theo sighed, Liam seemed to adjust in his seat, as if having another question. "I've seen my friends and their soulmates. It doesn't end well. Ever."

"Ever?" Liam echoed, his heart secretly breaking. He'd imagined that most people- werewolves, werecoyotes, whatever- got to live their whole lives together, in love and happy. 

"Scott and Isaac broke up in a way where they were both destroyed plus they both lost Allison who was someone they deeply loved. Lydia lost Aiden after he sacrificed himself to kill the Oni. Paige died in Derek's arms. Malia and Stiles just had a fight and Malia doesn't forgive easy. Especially not when it comes to secret keeping." Theo listed off the top supernatural couples off of his head, not even sure if Malia and Stiles were mates. It didn't matter.

"Oh. Does one of them usually die?" Theo was too lost in his own world to notice how weird Liam sounded. Liam was also staring at him.

"Yep. Appearantly they like to Romeo and Juilet that bullshit." Theo whistled as he finished his point. Liam felt frozen, remembering the way that Derek's eyes had glazed over, his knuckles tightening and everything about him tensing up. 

"I thought soulmates were a good thing?" Liam asked softly.

"Nope. I swear that mates were created to cause supernatural beings even more pain for the shits and giggles of it. That's why I'm repressing any form of it." Theo crack a cocky grin, "No mates means I don't have to deal with the pain of losing them or a breakup with them. Win win."

"Oh." Liam didn't know what to say, sitting there as he played with his hoodie sleeve and picked at his finger nails. He'd imagine a magical thing, some form of bond that could never be severed and that it was so special, you shared it with one person. Liam thought about all the movies he'd seen, where soulmates existed. Clearly, this was nothing like that. Especially if his mate didn't even like the idea.

Wait. What the fuck was his brain talking about? Theo wasn't his mate. Theo was a friend, a packmate, another one of Scott's betas. He was a guy that Liam trusted because despite all odds, they worked well together. That's all they were. Friends.

So then why did Theo hating mates and that whole idea hurt him so much?

"Scott's texted a group meeting. He says he has a plan." Theo's voice ripped Liam from his thoughts. "A dumb plan but a plan. We're going to his house. Want a ride in my truck?"

-------------------

"Who's idea was this?" Theo demanded, shocked at the stupidity of what he'd just heard. "Kira? This your idea?"

"It's a mix of our ideas." Kira shrugged, giving Scott a weak smile. "Don't worry, this sin't some revenge plan on killing exes. We barely dated for a week."

"Oh shit." Theo did not know what to say and he wasn't alone. Stiles looked just as surprised, him and Theo exchaning a look before looking to Isaac, who wasn't looking at anyone. "I didn't know you guys broke up. Uh sorry."

"Let's just move on." Scott said, brushing past everyone's concern over his mental health. "This is the best plan. We'll set up cameras, have everyone think I'm really dead. The benefactor will have to come."

"Argent's going to set everything up?" Stiles asked, looking to Scott who nodded. "And your mom knows everything too? So we won't scare her half to death when we bring in her dead son."

"She knows. I told her." Isaac spoke up for ths first time and Theo wanted to complain that the awkwardness between Scott and Isaac had returned at full force. He did, however, notice that Scott actually purposefully brushed against Isaac as he walked up to the table. Weird. "Everything's set."

"Is this a good idea?" Liam asked, looking around at the group as they all studied the different laptops.

"What we're doing incredibly dangerous and borderline idiotic. You don't have to do this if you don't want to." Stiles said, giving Liam an out. Theo secretly hoped that he would take it, keeping him out of harm's way.

"I'm not scared." Theo felt his heart drop, like a stone falling into water. He felt sick, as he watched Liam's face turn to stone, determination taking over. It was like a punch to the gut.

"Then you're boderline idiotic." Stiles joked, grabbing Liam's shoulder in a classic bro-move. To Theo though, it was like acknowledging the possibility of an early grave for the man he cared about. 

This is why Theo lied.

This is why Theo didn't tell Liam that he does believe in mates.

Because they truly do always die.