first stage, denial • thiam

one

"Did you just slap me?" Liam asked sitting up with Theo's help.

"You weren't waking up so" he said and pressed his lips together. "Come on we have to go" Theo said but the other didn't move.

"What happened?" he asked rubbing his head.

"A hunter was chasing you, after you know" Theo gestured and glared at Liam "you being stubborn and didn't want to come with me" now was Liam the one glaring. "You know you have to listen to me sometimes Liam, I don't actually want you to get hurt"

"I know that" he said and looked Theo right in his eyes. Theo held back a smile, but it was present and Liam could feel it. "Whats that?" he asked after looking beside Theo.

"Bombs?" Theo mumbled between his teeth and Liam widened his eyes at him. "I mean, small bombs" he added.

"Theo that doesn't make it better" he said shaking his head in disagreement.

"Look, if we wanna get out of here alive, if we stumble across some hunters we might just need them" Theo said pulling Liam up on his feet "Plus, they're not lethal, sure they can cause some injuries but nothing, big" he added and Liam nodded.

"Where did you get them?" the beta asked.

"I made them" Theo mumbled underneath his breath but Liam heard him. He was trying to hold back his smile but he was failing horribly.

"You made them?" he asked and crossed his arms.

"Yeah, from what Mason brought us. Saw them when he brought them here. I knew it in case, they were of good use." he admitted.

"I didn't know you liked Chemistry"

"I don't" he said grabbing his stuff and heading to the West Exit, Liam followed.

"Oh you're such a nerd" he laughed and was keeping up with the other.

"Yeah sure, Mykonos" Theo said and Liam smile and laugh fainted.

"You said you were impressed" the younger one said and Theo was fine by not responding anymore. Liam's smile came back when Theo hasn't said anything.

•

"They're here! I found them" Nolan yelled when he was now facing Theo and Liam. His crossbow pointed at the two but his body was shaking.

Liam growled at him and his eyes turned yellow. His claws were growing long and his mind emptied. There was nothing else than pitch black and an anger that was uncontrollable. He rushed over Nolan and knocked the crossbow out of his hands, throwing the boy at the ground with him on top. He closed his fist so hard that his claws were ripping through his own flesh. He was ready to take out on Nolan every hard feeling he was holding in.

"Liam" he heard coming from behind him. That only phrase imprinted on his mind and the voice was echoing in his ears. "Liam calm down"  he's heard again and felt how his claws were slowly retrieving back. "Liam get off him" just now he recognised the voice. It was Theo's. Now not only he heard his voice that was somehow controlling over his anger, but he's hearing Theo's breathing, his heartbeat. Liam felt how common sense and tranquility came back to him. His claws were gone and the yellow colour of his eyes was faded already. His fangs were gone, but he was breathing heavily.

He felt Theo's hand grabbing his and he pulled him away from Nolan. The boy run away, Theo threw some bombs after him, until he was out of sight. He turned to Liam who was so confused with how calm he was now. They looked at each other for a bare second before any of them dared to say anything.

"You alright there?" Theo asked and Liam nodded. Theo nodded back and that was their cue to advance.

They got into Theo's truck and they were on their way out of there. Liam was looking at Theo with the corner of his eye. Theo was biting his lip softly, concentrating on the road, but something made Liam's heart lose a beat and that's what drew Theo's attention. They were both looking at each other.

"You're seriously okay?" Theo asked switching his eyes between Liam and the road.

"I almost killed him, didn't I?" he spoke, almost whispering.

"Yeah, but you didn't" he smiled faintly "That's progress"

"I guess" Liam said and shook his head. He let out a sigh and placed his eyes again on Theo.

"It's all good Liam" he said "Don't be too hard on yourself" he said giving Liam an reassurance smile. Now thinking, it was probably the first time Liam saw Theo smile, it suited him. He smiled back.