A/N: Because I still can't get over how Jeff Davis threw wondrous character development at us and then cut the series short, this is my (weak) attempt at exploring Theo/Thiam with spoilers for 6A, 6B and probably a bit of Season 5.

Also includes my take on the ending and how the Anuk-ite was defeated. (Am I the only one who found it slightly on the side of anti-climactic in the show?)

Edit: For poster, please check story on AO3 or Deviantart link in profile

Theo can't pinpoint when it happened exactly, but at some point in time he'd become intrinsically attuned to everything Liam Dunbar.

No, he wasn't ogling the young beta with heart-eyes like some lovesick moron. It was more about noticing the little things; chemo-signal fluctuations, heart rate spikes and – if he was close enough – pupil dilations. He saw how torn up Liam was over the death of Brett and Lori, which in turn made him restless and annoyed. He sensed Liam's suppressed panic after being clawed in the chest by a Hellhound, and that made him involuntarily feel the urge to shred said Hellhound to pieces.

He also noticed stupid things like the amount of gel Liam had used on his hair that day, how many goals he scored during Lacrosse practice, or how he slowly became more comfortable bringing up Hayden's name in conversation. These useless bits and pieces stored themselves into his brain without his conscious decision to do so, yet gave him something inconsequential to focus on during sleepless nights. Inconsequential. Shit, he still sounded like a goddamn Dread Doctor sometimes.

So as Theo lay on the cold, hard ground, tuning in and out to the frenzy that was occurring around him, barely registering his life ebbing out of him in gushes of warm crimson, the one and only thing all five senses were consistently focused on was – unsurprisingly – Liam.

Liam, with his blue eyes rounded with alarm and framed with long, wet lashes.

Liam, shouting something indecipherable to him, sounding like he was miles away. What was it he was trying to tell him?

"—eo!"

He blinked slowly, trying to focus because Liam seemed upset and Theo didn't want to see him upset.

"Stay…w-…me…-eo!"

It kinda sounded like…

Like Liam was screaming his name.

"Theo! Please, Theo!"

He wanted to respond, he wished he could, but Theo's world abruptly cut to black.

[Earlier that night]

His blood pulsed erratically in his ears, fangs almost threatening to protrude as the elevator rose at an excruciatingly slow pace. He was at the hospital trying to find Liam by tracking his scent and heartbeats. Very frantic heartbeats. Finally, the doors slid open on the right level and he was met with a sight that made his heart stop. Liam was backing towards him, facing a narrow corridor with nowhere to hide and four heavily armed hunters training their weapons directly at him. Something inside Theo twisted. He lunged forward without thinking, wrapping an arm around Liam's tense form and dragging him back to the elevator, slamming them both to the side and away from line of fire. The metal doors shut just into time to block the heavy barrage of bullets that pelted at them.

Liam was staring at him like he'd grown a second face. "What are you doing here!?"

"Was just asking myself the same thing." He mumbled, absently removing his beanie. He was busy staring at the young beta and trying to calm his own, tell-tale heartbeat, appreciating that Liam was unharmed and standing right before him.

How was it possible he had only realised it now? Seeing Liam in danger had brought him indescribable terror, it blinded him and clogged everything rational and strategic about his judgement. Theo usually prided himself for his ability to control his heart rate, suppress his emotions and basically remain calm and calculating in any situation he faced. But shit if he hadn't almost flipped out just then… like he was back in the tunnels with Mason, ambushed by the Anuk-ite rearing its ugly head and clouding him over with nothing but sheer terror.

"Still out there?" Theo breathed, forcing it to sound even.

Liam nodded grimly as he listened through the doors, evaluating the outside situation. Theo couldn't pull his eyes away.

Somewhere along the way Liam had become his anchor…and his own personal Anuk-ite.

Seeing him like this, eyes alert, jaw tight but most importantly safe - it allowed him to breathe easier. While thought of losing him... that was enough to drive him insane with fear. When had this happened? How was it that the Theo now would rather give his life than ever witness something bad happen to Liam? Wow. Of course he would have the biggest epiphany of his sorry life while trapped in a hanging metal box backed by the melodious symphony of rapid gunfire.

But he knew now for certain, he would die for Liam. He really would. Unconditionally.

Well, he was fuc–

"Look, I'm not dying for you." His mouth blurted before his brain could catch up. Great. Perfect. Real smooth there, classic Theo.

"I'm not dying for you either," came Liam's fluid retaliation. Although his rational mind knew that Liam hadn't projected those words with any malice (and he pretty much deserved them), they still undeniably hurt to hear.

"But…" Liam continued, "I will fight with you." Blue eyes bore into him with honesty. Today they had a somewhat green tinge to them, perhaps reflected from his sage coloured shirt or the cool interior of the elevator. It was a pretty colour and Theo couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He quickly broke eye contact before he could get sucked in any further.

"Okay," he quirked a small smile, "let's fight."

A/N: I love writing in Jeff Davis' universe because he's so nonsensical (in a good way? lol) and leaves a lot for the imagination (or leaves out a lot, period. Smh), so that gives us fan writers so much to work with!

Also Teen Wolf cast and characters are love and life 3