Way down we go

Chapter 8

A/N: Hello!! I hope you all are having an amazing day and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

A/N: mentions of child abuse, panic attack & swearing

Liam's knees were pressed to his chest as he waited, it felt like that's all he was doing, was waiting. Waiting for his father to come in here and beat him, over and over again. It was an endless cycle, time began to lose its meaning.

He was no longer sure how long they had been down here for. The days all merged into one and with the constant dying and then waking up he wasn't even sure how long they had before his father would come back into his childhood bedroom.

Memories of his childhood began flooding his memory, his breathing became laboured as he desperately tried to level it. Feeling Theo begin to stir beside him he turned his face, the last thing he wanted was for Theo of all people to see him like this.

"Liam?" Theo groaned as he sat up, although the pair had been fighting a lot Theo also knew Liam wasn't one to turn away from him unless something was wrong, "Liam?" Theo said again. When the beta didn't answer him he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Stop," Liam said shrugging him off, Theo heard a little sniffle.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Theo asked, immediately wanting to slap himself for asking that. WhAt's WrOnG?! Maybe he's upset because he's in his childhood bedroom getting re beat by his father?!

Grimacing at himself he took a deep breath and got out of the bed, talking slow and cautious steps until he was in front of Liam. The beta still had his knees close to his chest and his eyes were trained down to the floor. Theo could see how red they were, he had been crying.

"Hey," Theo said softly, crouching in front of him. He didn't want to see Liam upset, he hated it.

Liam immediately tried to avert his eyes "stop-" Liam said looking away, his hands still clutching his knees as his breathing continued it's erratic form.

"Hey, listen to me..." Theo said, his hands placed on either side of Liam's hands. Liam shook his head, feeling his anxiety rise he felt like he couldn't breath.

"I can't-" Liam said as a soft sob escaped his mouth.

Theo sighed "please don't cry," Theo said, his heart breaking for the beta. This was his fault, he didn't intend for Liam to get hurt.

He shouldn't have dragged him down he with him, this was supposed to be his hell, not Liam's and now Liam was being forced to relieve his own traumas when he didn't deserve that. Fuck... "I'm sorry," Theo said in a genuine tone.

"No you're not," Liam said shaking his head as the tears continued to fall. Truth is, Liam had been trying so hard to be strong, so hard not to break in front of Theo. But he couldn't help it, he couldn't take this anymore.

"Liam you gotta breath," Theo said watching as Liam began hiccuping as he struggled to catch his breath.

"I-I can't" Liam said shaking his head.

"Liam," Theo said calmly trying to get through to him but he couldn't. The way Liam was shaking and crying there was no way he'd be able to talk to him like this. But, he remembered something Stiles had told him once. Something Lydia had done for him. "Liam, take a deep breath for me," Theo said.

Liam seemed to be in his own world, unable to focus on anything Theo was saying or doing, "fuck Liam-" Theo said "don't punch me for this," he said shaking his head. Slowly rising he cupped his hands on either side of Liam's cheek.

Leaning closer Liam finally looked at him, still unable to catch his breath. Theo moved fast, his lips connecting with Liam's. He felt the beta pull back but not far enough that their lips weren't together.

After a few seconds he felt Liam press deeper into the kiss, hearing his heartbeat slow down he knew it was working. He pulled back with wide and worried eyes. Liam immediately shut his mouth and looked away "sorry," Theo said quickly.

Standing up he walked to the other side of the bed, sitting besides Liam. "You kissed me," Liam said, whipping his head around to face the chimera.

"I did," Theo said still confused why he did that. Well, he knew why but wasn't sure why he still did it.

"Why?" Liam asked confused, wiping his lip with his thumb. His cheeks still wet from the crying, but at least now there were no fresh tears.

"Stiles told me that Lydia kissed him, when your having a panic attack you can't breath properly. When I kissed you, you held your breath," Theo explained.

"Oh-" Liam said nodding before looking down "thanks," he said awkwardly.

"Don't mention it," Theo replied.

"Trust me, I won't..." Liam replied, that was when he heard the footsteps approaching them. "He's coming-" Liam sighed, his body already exhausted from his panic attack.

"Hide-" Theo said standing up.

"What?" Liam asked, furrowing his brows and slowly standing up.

"Get under the bed or something Liam," Theo was ready to fight, ready to protect Liam.

"What no? He's my father you're not taking my beating for me-" Liam expressed confused.

"Just let me do this for you," Theo snapped. When Liam didn't budge he grabbed the beta by his wrist and slid the cupboard door open "stay," Theo said before shutting it.

Liam frowned, peeking out the small gap he watched as Theo stood at the door, patiently awaiting his inevitable death. Why was he doing this? Why was he protecting me? So many thoughts raced through Liam's head. Yet, no answers made sense....

Liam couldn't comprehend why Theo, of all people was helping him. He was evil? Psychopathic? And yet here he was, calming Liam down, protecting Liam... kissing Liam? It didn't make sense and worse of all Liam wasn't sure he needed it to.

In their together Liam had grown quite fond of the chimera, despite his actions he wasn't going to abandon Theo here. Nobody deserved to be here, including Theo. They were both going to get out of this god forsaken hell, together......

A/N: ahhh they kissed! 

Published: 3rd July 2023
Word count: 1028