“It’s freezing.” Theo shivers, pulling his jacket tighter around himself as he waits for Liam to come inside from making a last ditch effort to dig the car out of the driveway.

“Don’t even say it.” Liam says, his face still disappointed and his voice void of enthusiasm.

Theo did explain taking his truck would probably be the better option, but Liam really wanted to drive this year and going to his grandparents in Colorado was the most important part of his plan for the holidays.

He didn’t plan for a snowstorm on the way down. Theo wanted to fly but Liam wanted the experiences of having a road trip and now they’re not going anywhere.

Theo isn’t a holiday person and he doesn’t mind, but Liam’s entire family was going to be there and now Liam’s mood is ruined.

“We can leave once it melts. Even if we made it out of this place the roads won’t be plowed in time.” Theo points out, closing the door behind Liam and checking the thermostat to ensure it’s high enough.

“I know that but I had a plan.” Liam comments, sighing heavily and sitting down on the couch.

“I already messaged the owner so we can stay a few more days. It will be fine. Your family will understand.” Theo reassures him, smiling at Liam’s devastated face, and trying to remain positive.

Liam’s always been the holiday person and any time something happens or changes are made, it’s never something he takes lightly.

Theo loves that about him and he’s disappointed for Liam.

“Yeah, but that’s…it’s all ruined.” Liam huffs, snatching another piece of bacon from off his plate.

“I’m sure it’s not ruined. I’m here.” Theo teases, with a slight hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“That’s the thing. You’re a grinch at christmas but I know why. I really wanted to give you the gift I had planned.” Liam shakes his head, a smile on his face, as he looks far away in thought.

“My gift? We said no presents this year.” Theo reminds him, while Liam darts his head away to prevent Theo from looking him directly in the eye.

“Yeah, well you missed out on a lot of gifts throughout the years. Sorry, I decided to ignore that request.” Liam smiles apologetically, worry taking over his face while he waits for Theo’s response.

“You do this every year. Every year you try to make some extravagant holiday happen and it’s okay if it’s not.” He says, sitting down next to Liam and smiling.

“Yeah, but I only want it extravagant for you. Because you’re my favorite person.” Liam shrugs.

“You’re also the most annoying person.” Liam teases, smiling and laughing as Theo rolls his eyes at him.

“When I was with the dread doctors and under their guidance I didn’t do holidays. They would come and go and I wouldn’t really bat an eye at it because it didn’t matter. I didn’t have anyone that I spent the holidays with. The holidays were just another day. A reminder of what I didn’t have.” Theo explains, and the sadness that reaches Liam’s face is heartbreaking, even if it’s for Theo’s sake.

He never wants to make Liam feel bad or upset, and he’s not done with his story. There’s a point that he’s trying to make and Liam has to understand.

“I didn’t like holidays because it wasn’t important to me. I didn’t have anything important to me to make them special.” Theo says, his heart clenching as Liam becomes more distraught at his story.

“I know and I’m sorry. We should have flown.” Liam bitterly scoffs, his voice angry and his fists clenched, while he narrows his eyes.

“You’re missing the point. My holidays were nothing special because they didn’t have anyone or anything that made me want to care about them. Now I do.” Theo smiles, and the way Liam smiles at him, is enough to make Theo lighthearted and happy to be snowed in.

Theo’s never been a fan of simple things or holidays that are only a reminder of what he didn’t have, but the past few years he’s become more open to having traditions.

Something as simple as snow and being hauled up in a warm blanket with the person he can’t get out of his head, is more special to Theo than any gift he could receive. Whether it’s from Liam or not.

His heart grew bigger that day and a blue eyed werewolf is the reason.

@theoraekenapperciation

Liam blinks a few times as he frowns at the text from Theo, trying not to feel disappointed or angry about the chimera bailing on their thanksgiving plans. It’s not that he expected Theo to come anyway, and it’s not that he is disappointed by the fact he doesn’t get to see Theo today, but he’s annoyed that he felt the need to text. He could have called. He thought they were a bit closer than that.

“Is your friend coming?” His mother smiles at him, the aroma of his mother’s pies hitting his nose, and if he wasn’t so mad, he’d be hungry.

“No. He decided he had plans.” He rolls his eyes, contemplating what plans Theo could possibly have that don’t involve him, and he’s not upset. He’s merely aggravated to know how Theo has friends that he doesn’t know about, because why hasn’t he been introduced? 

“Oh, that’s nice. I’m sorry sweetheart.” His mother pats his shoulder and he shrugs casually, flopping onto the couch, and heaving a sigh. He flips through his phone to see Mason and Corey smiling back at him. Their yearly holiday picture always looks better each year and here he is, annoyed that a rude chimera is blowing him off. He really needs to get a grip.

Wait, no he doesn’t need to get a grip. Theo bailed on him and he completely pretended he forgot that he had plans prior to Liam asking. Theo never forgets anything and he’s always bothering Liam about every appointment or project that’s coming up in his life. Somehow he forgot he said he was coming to thanksgiving? It’s Liam’s first thanksgiving home since he left for college and he doesn’t get to not come and enjoy it with him. Because…well just because.

He grabs the keys off the counter, grabbing an entire pie from his mother along the way, and quickly slides out the back door, wondering if he can’t catch Theo in his apartment before he leaves to hang out with other people. Without him and without even so much as asking if Liam would like to join, and he wouldn’t join, but he wants the option to be able to.  

His mother sighs and shakes her head at him as he closes the door, already knowing where he's going and why. That’s another thing. His mother adores Theo and it’s rude that he is bailing on her too. He opens his car door and before he can rip his hair out, he takes a deep breath, doing his best to not tear out the steering wheel while he heads over to Theo’s apartment. 

The road is void of all traffic and he gets there quickly, but not quick enough to keep himself from snarling as he continues contemplating why Theo is hanging around people he has never heard of. He doesn’t have to know who they are, but he wants to know. They could be using Theo for all he knows and yes, the chimera can take care of himself but he doesn’t need to. He could just allow Liam to help him out every once in a while. Instead of threatening to rip his head off, if he so much as asks if he wants help writing a resume or help opening a door.

Pulling up into the parking lot he sees Theo sitting in the driver seat of his truck, his music playing, and the windows aren’t even up. It’s probably the coldest day of the year right now and Theo is outside with no coat just hanging out in his truck. Liam sighs and slams the door of his car and heads over to the truck. 

Theo takes one look at Liam and rolls up his window, and it causes an intense rage to boil over, and it’s taking everything in him to not rip the door handle off but he refrains from it. His mother wouldn’t appreciate any fights breaking out between them today, but Liam can’t help but want to shake Theo and ask what’s he doing, and why he’s sitting in the cold, or why he isn’t on Liam’s couch with a cup of coffee. Smiling that infuriating smirk, something Liam hates and loves at the same time, but only when Theo is smirking at him. 

He opens the back door and sits down, scanning the truck for any random person that Theo might be hiding, and he is satisfied when he finds nothing but an angry chimera looking back at him. His eyes flash back and forth a few times at Liam, until he sees the pie in his hand, and he snatches it from him, while still glaring at him. 

“What do you want? This is private property Liam.” Theo sneers at him, studying the pie and placing it on his passenger seat. The music is still on and Liam frowns, inserting himself into the front passenger seat, careful not to sit on the pie, and annoyed at himself for not sitting there in the first place. He’s been in this seat countless times before. Even if someone was in the truck, it’s Liam’s seat. 

“I want to know what plans you have and why I’m not invited?” Liam huffs out, placing the pie on the backseat and feeling his fangs side over his tongue. The scent of blood fills the truck.

“You’re incredibly nosey Dunbar.” Theo leans back in his seat, amusement lining his face, and Liam would be too if it wasn’t for the fact Theo doesn’t appear to be going anywhere at all. He’s just not going. Not coming to be with…him.

“I don’t appreciate being bailed on. I’m taking the pie back.” Liam growls out, folding his arms across his chest, and staring out the window. Theo grabs the pie and places it at his feet, his eyebrows raised as Liam does his best to remain angry, but it’s difficult because Theo doesn’t look angry at all. He’s still his snarky self, but also sad. His eyes showing hints of pain that Liam doesn’t like and wants to make go away, to disappear entirely while Theo annoys him with his arrogant attitude. 

“I wasn’t bailing.” Theo defends himself, tapping his foot on the floor while Liam gives him a pointed look, and he’s still deciding if he’s taking the pie back. He takes his phone out and shoots his mother a text that he will be late and leans slightly closer to Theo, watching as he struggles to remain silent. “I don’t like today. It’s one I normally sleep through. Happy? I didn’t want to hurt your feelings and say that I didn’t want to come. Your family is all about eating together and holidays. It makes me sick.” Theo shrugs, tensing up as Liam shifts a little closer.

“You don’t have to come to everything I invite you to but why is today such a bad day? You’re scowling more than you normally do.” Liam teases, a smile forming on his lips as he does his best to lighten the mood.

“I’m not a holiday person. My family was kind of…weird when it came to spending time together. The first holiday where I didn’t sleep through it, I was given my sister's heart. It kind of hurt and it kind of killed the joy everyone goes on and one about. Stop….I don’t want pity.” Theo shoves him back towards the door, and shifts away from Liam as he turns back towards the window.

“I’m not pitying you.” Liam whispers, a deep ache building inside of him as he observes the chimera shutting down again, and he wants to reach out, wants....needs to touch him, to let him know he’s here, but he doesn’t want to push him away even more. “I want to help. Can you let me help?” He pleads with Theo, hoping desperately that this isn’t something he pushes him away on, or threatens to rip his head off, or do anything other than let Liam help. Make it better. Even if he can only just be here. In this moment. Be with Theo. 

“There isn’t anything you can do. Just be you. Be Liam.” Theo says his name almost in a whisper, hesitating as the words tumble off his lips, and Liam can only stay frozen to his seat, not ready to move, but not ready to leave. 

“Then just be Theo.” Liam doesn’t breathe as Theo stares back at him, his eyes studying him, and he’s not sure what that’s supposed to even mean, but it’s enough for Theo to smile. A real smile. A smile that reaches his eyes, making Liam’s heart pound and flutter, and reminding him why he’s here. The inevitable realization that anywhere Theo is Liam wants to be. He could be sitting in this truck or dying beside him. It doesn’t matter as long as Theo is next to him.

“You’re not taking the pie.” The chimera smirks at him, smugness radiating off him as Liam opens his mouth to argue, but quickly closes it when he knows Theo is right. 

“You’re not sitting here all night. We don’t have to go back to my house but you aren’t spending tonight alone. “ Liam leans closer again, paying attention to see if Theo tries to move away, or tenses up again, but he only nods in agreement. 

Liam carefully moves closer, almost halfway across the middle console, keeping his eyes on Theo and his body language for any sign of panic, or nervousness at being so close. He aches to touch Theo, to convince him to let himself have this, and to let Liam reach out to him. He can’t risk Theo closing off again, but he might die at that thought of not being able to fix this. 

Theo catches his eye, tilting his head slowly to the side, unmoving, and Liam doesn’t breathe, doesn’t flinch, letting himself slowly reach out to him.  He slowly moves his hand, letting it slowly reach Theo as he places it next to his, brushing softly along his skin, noticing the goosebumps and a small shiver coming off Theo. He flinches, and Liam almost pulls away until he feels Theo lean into the touch. 

A thrill flutters through him as he keeps his hand next to Theo, and it’s not much, not really anything at all, but it’s exactly everything and more. He doesn’t dare move in fear of ruining this moment, or it being perceived he’s had enough. Enough of Theo, or enough of his touch, and it sounds comical when he thinks about it. About having enough of Theo or anything that involves the chimera. He could never have enough or ever be tired of him. He sounds like a middle schooler again, but anything with the chimera makes his mind unbalanced and his emotions all over the place. 

Maybe this is what his mother meant when she said he would know when he found his person. Theo is his person. Or his chimera. He won’t ruin this moment. He could….he finally moves, letting his hand graze Theo’s cheek, and move along his jaw, his entire body vibrating with excitement at finally being here. Finally.

The sharp intake of Theo’s breath causes him to suck in his own breath, and he waits. Waits for Theo to push him away, or let him in.  He begs the universe for Theo to let him in. He can’t handle being shut out again, but he would still follow the smug chimera around everywhere to just see him look at Liam like this again.

Like he’s everything and more. Please please please—- he wants to beg, but he remains silent, on the verge of breaking into thousands of little pieces as he waits for Theo to give him a sign, or some signal that this is okay. That he’s not misreading their relationship entirely. 

Liam is almost sitting on Theo at this point and he can hardly believe he’s gotten himself here, to this moment in time.  It’s almost killing him not to move any closer, but he waits. He’s been waiting since the elevator during the supernatural war, and he’s fairly certain he won’t die from want, but he very well might explode in a moment.

Theo places his hand on Liam’s, lacing his fingers through his, and maybe it’s the smile on Theo’s lips, or the gentle rain starting to pelt the window, that creates a fog around him and lets him feel certain of what the chimera is thinking, but he lurches forward. 

The moment his lips crash into Theo he lets out a small whine, and finally he can let himself relax, and he places his hand along Theo’s waist. His breathing comes out ragged as he has to breathe in air every minute or so. He clutches at Theo’s side, and little whimpers leave his lips as he deepens the kiss, sliding his fingertips along Theo’s jaw.

Please please please he can’t help but think, his entire mind and senses overwhelmed with Theo. He can feel and hear his own heart pounding in his chest. Theo’s own heart is beating rapidly in his chest and he wants to calm him down, but he’s also too gone to even do anything other than kiss the chimera. 

The heat of Theo’s skin touch’s his hand and Liam sighs at the contact, unable to form any coherent thought other than Theo.  

Theo shifts underneath him and as he pulls away briefly to catch his breath, all he sees is Theo looking back at him. 

@waterloou 💙