Liam Dunbar: Cuddlewolf Extraordinaire

Chapter 4: Corey

"Mace, you need to go home and get some rest," Liam said just above a whisper as he gently shook Mason's shoulder.

Mason's head snapped up from where it had been resting on folded arms against Corey's hospital bed. Mason looked around the room wide-eyed and disoriented until his gaze settled on his unconscious boyfriend. His eyes clouded over with worry and he picked up Corey's hand, holding it between both of his own. "I can't leave him."

"But we know he's going to be okay now," Liam answered, massaging his best friend's neck and discreetly leaching some of the ache out of his stiff muscles.

"Anything could happen," Mason insisted, voice trembling with fear.

Liam didn't hesitate to lean over the arm of his chair and pull Mason into a tight hug. He was grateful hugs had become such an easy, routine part of their interactions and that it wasn't awkward offering Mason this support. "Sshh, nothing's going to happen. He's healing really well. We just don't know when he's gonna wake up."

"Well I'm staying until he does." Mason answered, pulling back and giving Liam a determined look.

"Mason, you've been here for like a day and a half." Liam made his tone stern. "You need to get some sleep."

"I just slept."

"In a bed. For more than ten minutes at a time."

"But–"

"No buts." Liam stood up, tugging Mason to his feet along with him. He would absolutely throw Mason out of this hospital room if it meant he'd finally go home and take care of himself.

"I don't want him to be alone when he wakes up," Mason said, letting Liam drag him to the door but giving him a plaintive look. "He doesn't have anyone else. His parents couldn't care less about him."

Liam frowned. It was true. Liam's step-dad and Scott's mom had been in to check on Corey – and Liam and Mason, Liam was sure – more than Corey's own parents had.

"He won't be alone when he wakes up," Liam answered, patting Mason's arm. "I won't leave until you come back."

"Really?" Mason smiled and suddenly the exhaustion Liam had sensed in his friend became visible, washing over his features as though he was only now allowing himself to acknowledge it.

"I promise," Liam answered, crossing his heart with exaggerated seriousness the way he used to when they were kids. It was silly but it would convey to Mason how much he meant it. "And you're not allowed to come back for at least eight hours."

"Thanks man." Mason gave Liam another quick hug, returned to Corey's bedside to kiss his forehead, and then he was gone.

Liam settled into Mason's chair since it was closer to Corey and plugged his phone into one of the many unused outlets by the bed. He had a new picture and text message from Isaac.

Isaac: Grrr, Stiles is hogging all the Scott.

Liam laughed as he double tapped on the picture to maximize it. Isaac, Scott, and Stiles were in Scott's bed cuddling with Isaac in the foreground, eyes glowing and mock snarl on his face. Stiles and Scott were in the background with Stiles draped possessively around Scott.

Liam didn't have time to text back before a new picture and text from Stiles were coming in.

Stiles: Lies! Don't believe a word he says. Isaac's a weasel not a wolf.

The second picture depicted Stiles in the foreground, an indignant expression on his face as Isaac held Scott to his chest and smirked at the camera.

Liam giggled and texted them both back, fanning the flames. Then he spent twenty minutes scouring Instagram for pictures and gifs of baby animals and spamming Brett's phone with them because it would be hilarious when Brett checked his phone and found all the texts, freaked out thinking something was wrong, and then realized what they were – but also because baby animals; mostly because baby animals. Liam had just sent Brett a gif of a baby goat on a trampoline when he got a message and a picture from Scott.

Scott: They wuv each other (save this for blackmail)

The new picture had Liam tingling at the adorableness. Isaac and Stiles were asleep in Scott's bed, wrapped up in each other's arms and facing one another with Stiles' face buried against Isaac's throat. Scott was making a dawww face and a half-heart sign with one hand as he took the picture.

Liam had been messing around on his phone for almost two hours when Corey began to stir. His heart rate quickened slightly and his breathing became more shallow, and then he was opening his eyes, groaning and looking very confused.

"Hey man!" Liam declared, borderline elated that Corey was finally awake. Without thinking about it he grabbed Corey's hand from the bed and gave it a light squeeze.

Corey eyed their joined hands and frowned, tension forming in his fingers.

Liam cleared his throat and let go, a wave of self consciousness crashing over him. "How do you feel? Do you need anything?"

Corey groaned again and sat up slowly, pitching precariously to one side. Liam resisted the impulse to put his hand on Corey's shoulder and help support him as he sat up, knowing that such a gesture would not be appreciated, but he nevertheless remained poised to catch Corey if he lost his balance completely.

"I'm sore and everything feels heavy," Corey answered, a hint of a whine in his hoarse voice.

"I think you're on a lot of medication." Liam tentatively extended his hand and grazed his fingers over Corey's wrist. "But I can help with the soreness."

"No." Corey pulled his hand away just as thin black lines began to snake up Liam's fingers.

"Come on, man, let me help."

"Why?" Corey asked, anger coloring his pallid features. It made him look better, healthier, and Liam almost didn't mind the hostility. What Liam did mind was the undercurrent of pain in Corey's voice and the tinges of sadness tugging at the corners of Corey's eyes.

"We're pack," Liam answered, placing his hand palm up next to Corey's and hoping he would take the last step to accept the gesture.

Corey scoffed instead, voice bitter as he answered. "No, we're not. You've made it pretty clear you don't like me or trust me. What was it you said? I should just disappear?"

Liam frowned at the memory of his words. They had felt right at the time; he had been trying to protect Mason and the rest of the pack. Now, however, he regretted those words. Now he considered Corey part of the pack and he desperately wanted to mend this rift, to be in a position to protect Corey the next time something threatened him.

"I'm sorry," Liam said quietly, staring at the floor between his chair and Corey's bed. "I don't feel that way anymore...like at all."

Liam jerked his head up as cold fingers slid over his palm and laced together with his fingers.

Corey was giving Liam a cautious smile and in that instant Liam got a sense of all the people in Corey's life who had let him down, who had broken his trust, who had made him feel like disappearing. Liam vowed to never be one of those people.

"I'm only giving you a second chance because you're important to Mason."

Liam grinned and squeezed Corey's fingers, drawing away as much of the soreness as he could from Corey's body and vigorously rubbing his other hand over the back of Corey's, warming it.

"Are you cold all over or just your hand?"

Corey shrugged. "It's a little cold in here, but I'm always cold since I became a chimera. I don't know if it was dying or because I'm part chameleon or whatever, but yeah."

Liam got out of his chair and sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping an arm around Corey.

"What are you doing?" Corey asked nervously.

Liam could feel the conflict in his muscles, his desire to lean close warring with his instinct to pull away.

"Werewolves are warm," Liam answered, hand rubbing over the cool skin of Corey's bicep. The coolness felt good, soothing. "Sit up."

Liam was mildly surprised when Corey didn't argue or ask questions, just sat up and scooted forward on the bed. Liam climbed into place behind him, wrapping his arms around Corey's torso and easing him back against his chest. There wasn't much room in the small hospital bed, and Liam had to press his thighs snugly against Corey's legs to keep them from fall off the edge. Corey didn't seem to mind.

"I heard you were a cuddler," Corey remarked, fingers tickle-scratching the back of Liam's arm.

Liam giggled and nuzzled his chin against the top of Corey's head, committing every nuance of his scent to memory, consciously tucking it away in the corner of his brain he reserved only for pack.

"Yeah, I guess it's kinda my thing," Liam answered.

"You are warm," Corey said with a hum, head lulling back lazily against Liam's shoulder.

"You're cool," Liam answered, meaning it in every sense of the word.

Corey hummed again and Liam could feel him going slack in his arms, surrendering to the weight of the medicine and the exhaustion still wrapped around his body. As he fell asleep he turned his head and nuzzled his face into Liam's neck.

Once Liam was sure Corey was completely out and wouldn't be easily disturbed, he carefully reached back and snagged the wire of his phone's charger, using it to reel the device in. Phone in hand, he snapped a picture and sent it to their packmates with a short update about Corey's condition.

Liam resisted the urge to caption the picture, 'we wuv each other too' when he sent it to Scott, Isaac, and Stiles. It was too soon and their bond was too new and fragile, but Liam looked forward to earning the right to use a caption like that with Corey.

-000-

End Note: Want more Corey fluff set in this story 'verse? Check out the Corey-centric:

"Not Invisible"

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Story Description:
Corey has spent most of his life feeling invisible, yet all that changes once he gains the ability to literally turn invisible. Now he has a pack that makes him feel special and noticed.

This is a series of short, chronological stories featuring Corey bonding with various members of his pack. It's primarily fluff and hurt/comfort but with some angst and humor.

Part 1: Scott & Isaac:
Corey feels left out during pack night. Scott and Isaac change that.