What if I Stayed? (Thiam Fic)

Chapter Thirty Five

Theo felt like shit. The cut on his chest hadn't healed and he wasn't sure if it was because of the berserkers or the guilt he felt after yelling at Liam. The look on Liam's face was burned under his eyelids, meaning sleep was even harder than usual.

Whenever Theo looked in the mirror, he saw his own sunken eyes with dark bags, pale skin that verged on gray and his lips were cracked. It stung a little bit, seeing himself like this. Theo was by no means look obsessed but he did pride himself on looking decent. The last time he'd seen someone look this bad, it was Stiles posessed by the Nogitsune.

A part of Theo was fixated on the so called Void Stiles. It was so fascinating, to see someone lose themselves to madness. To watch as they did things you knew they were never capable. Hurt people they swore to protect. That part of Theo was dark enough to wonder how far it could've gone and if a part of that spirit was still left in Stiles. A permanet void where something else should be.

That wasn't what was mainly on his mind though of course. A bigger concern was the fact that Jordan Parrish, the nice deputy that had become the Stilinski's favourite, had been burnt alive by a fellow officer. That part was dark but the concerning part was the fact that Parrish had then pulled up, naked and covered in ash, to beat his attempted murdering to death.

Not even werewolves could survive fires like that. Just ask the Hales- or the remaining ones that is. Clearly Parrish is something else. Theo wanted to go and help out, Isaac had already left that second Scott had called, but he looked like so much shit, he knew that there was going to be an interogation. Plus he didn't have an excuse for the smell of rot and blood coming off of his chest.

And what if Liam was there? It had been a few days since they had talked. A few days since Theo had talked to anyone that is. He used the excuse of schoolwork to get Scott off his back and Scott, ever the nerd, thought that the reason seemed valid enough to leave him alone.

Theo's phone rang and cautiously, like the phone itself might explode or catch on fire. Stiles was calling him. Despite their years of friendships, their calls had stopped being as frequent after Stiles had gotten both Scott and him bit in the woods. They just stuck to texting. This was something big and bad.

"Hey Stiles, what's up?" Theo answered, placing the phone to his ear. He almost expected it to be Malia or Isaac calling from Stiles' phone.

"My dad's in the hospital. He got shot." It was like a punch to his gut. Stiles' voice was weak, on the edge of tears. All those two had was each other and Theo knew that. 

"Oh shit Stiles. I'm so sorry. Is he okay?" Theo bit his lip anxiously, leaning up against the bathroom sink. 

"Yeah it was his shoulder so he's good but uh," Stiles took a breath, trying to steady his voice, "You know how it's been. With all the medical bills. We can't really afford this and both of us know that."

"Use the money then." The words left Theo's mouth before he could really think. "You and your dad need this Stiles. More than anyone."

"Yeah well I'm still stopped by some guilt and Scott." Stiles laughed bitterly and Theo could tell he was crying at this point.

"Are you okay?" There was no response for a few seconds. "Stiles?"

"Theo can you meet me here? I know you're not with Scott and the others right now and I know it's been forever since we hung out just us but-"

"Dude. Of course I'll meet you there. I love your dad." Theo said, looking at himself in the mirror. He was definitely going to have to steal some makeup but thank God that Stiles could not smell blood or rot. 

"Thanks. Love ya." Stiles said and Theo smiled, remembering how they used to always end calls when the two of them were convinced that secretly, they were brothers. 

"Love ya too."

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Theo arrived at the hospital with a hood over his head, desperately trying to cover his face, which looked more and more like a corpse. He knew he was going to have to talk to Melissa who was pretty much his mom and if she got wind of his injuries, she was going to forcefully check out his wounds. Which means she calls Scott and the others. Which means he has to explain his wild ass theories on how this happened.

No chance was that happening.

"Hey Melissa." Theo waved her down as she ran pass. Melisaa stopped, turning on her heel and looking directly at him.

"Theo! Good to see you. You're not here because you're hurt, right?" Melissa asked, giving him a once over. His cut burnt as Theo adjusted himself, the hoodie causing friction.

"No, all good over here. I'm actually here to see Stiles and Sheriff." Theo grimaced at the way her face fell. Melissa and Sheriff went way back, the two having been childhood friends and their own kids being best friends. She was probably just as panicked.

"Room 307, third floor down to the right. Noah's in stable condition now." Melissa gave Theo a quick pat on the back. "Good luck kid." She went back to running down the hall.

It only took a few minutes to find the right room. Theo had spent way too much time in the hospital as a kid and now, as a teenager, he'd visited way too many friends in this goddamn place. 

"Stiles?" Theo opened the door, peaking in. The Sheriff was asleep on the hospital bed, probably having been given something for the pain that also knocked him the fuck out. Stiles was rubbing his hand together as he hunched over in a chair. He couldn't look away from his father laying still on the bed. "You okay?"

"Hey Theo." He responded, still not looking away. "Thanks for coming."

"Yeah dude, of course. I'm worried about you." Theo couldn't lied. He was worried about Stiles. It was all that had been on his mind for a while. "You've been dealing with a shit ton lately and it's all so recent."

"Says you." Stiles muttered back, his eyes brimming with tears. "We've all been worried sick about you."

"I'm fine. And this isn't about me." Theo tried to joke back, unsure of what to say or do as he sat next to Stiles on the empty chair.

"It should be. You've been so off lately." Stiles sounded bitter, "You nearly attacked Scott dude. I saw you cry for the first time in years. Something's off."

"Dude, I promise I'm fine-"

"Why aren't you healing?" Stiles finally turned to look at Theo. Theo's heart dropped, staring at Stiles in shocked.

"How the fuck do you know that?" There was anger in his tone.

"I didn't. I took a guess" Stiles shrugged, looking down to clearly try and guess where Theo was injured. "You've been acting weird, getting out of gym class, wearing massive hoodies and constantly grimacing or wincing."

There was nothing to say to defend himself. Theo cursed Stiles in his head, hating the fact that his amazing detective abilities had been used to figure shit about himself out. Asshole.

"I don't know why. It doesn't matter." Theo shrugged, trying to act like he was geniunely in the dark.

"And this had nothing to do with your big fight with Liam after the hospital incident?" Stiles raised an eyebrow. Theo stayed silent, unsure if Stiles had actual fact or was just being an assuming asshole again. "I saw the fight. It was at your truck."

"Shit." Theo cursed, "Well, that's completely irrelevant. I get in fights with everyone all the time. It doesn't affect my healing abilities."

"Yeah but not everyone's your mate." That was it. Theo wanted to be there for Stiles but this was a bit too much, even for him. 

"Nope. I'm out." Theo stood up, prepared to just walk out the doors, go back home and binge some cooking shows.

"I'm sorry- shit." Stiles cursed and Theo froze. He knew Stiles often fucked up, not knowing what to say or just forgetting to think. "Don't go yet. Please. I'm sorry for being an asshole. I'd just rather focus on that than... this."

Theo didn't have to see what he was pointing at. It was obvious he was talking about his father, the money, the deadpool, Malia... all of it. Theo sighed, turning around and sitting back down.

"I'll stay." Theo pouted, "but only if we don't talk about Liam or mates."

"You have a deal."