Liam just laid next to Theo awkwardly. He watched Theo finally fall asleep. He'd looked more peaceful. His face was almost... happy? Content at least. Liam didn't want to move even if he did have to use the bathroom. He didn't want to risk Theo waking up and not being able to have any rest. I wonder how many nights he wakes up like this.

Liam contemplated it seriously. Doing what he did, Theo wasn't safe. He couldn't be. He probably had more than just that one guy try and follow him home and make threats. Maybe people did even worse. Liam looked back down at Theo's sleeping face and bit his cheek nervously. How does he do this? How much longer before it really takes a toll on him?

Liam looked back down at Theo and thought maybe he had been asleep long enough he could go to the bathroom unnoticed. He rolled out of bed without so much as a creak from the sudden release of pressure. Thank god I didn't wake him up. He stumbled into the darkness to find the bathroom and prayed to every god that he wouldn't wake Theo up. When he finished using the bathroom, he went to the room to check on Theo, who was still sound asleep, and started off to the couch. He wanted to at least try and get some sleep tonight. He also didn't want to be accused of trying to bed Theo again. It was awkward enough the first two times. Especially with everything going on with Hayden now, he didn't need any more drama.

At the same time, he still felt sorry for Theo. The man wanted company for his nightmares. He could understand that. He has nightmares about his IED all the time. Liam felt conflicted about the situation. He wanted to be there, but he just met the man, and they were getting real personal real fast... which made it... Just problems on top of problems.

Liam fell asleep in the morning hours. It was only a few hours until daylight, but his mind couldn't stop going over everything. Everything from that day. Everything from that weekend. Everything he and Hayden had been going through. He thought he was going to marry her at one point. He almost bought an engagement ring, but Mason talked him out of it. Mason had said at the time that it was because they were too young, and they needed to live their lives and figure each other out.

Liam knew Mason didn't care for Hayden. Mason didn't understand the relationship Liam had with Hayden while they were together. Now, Liam felt like he didn't understand it either. He was on the outside now and he could see some of what Mason was saying. He and Hayden never really

fought, except when they were kids. They didn't really seem passionate about the same things either when he thought about it. They didn't seem all too passionate about each other if he'd been really honest with himself. They had common interests, but so do billions of people in the world that are complete strangers.

That thought made him think about Theo. How he was so intimidating and rigid and yet he and Liam had the same movie and videogame interests. He and Liam seemed to be complete opposite personalities, but they already meshed after just three days. Liam thought about how similar he and Hayden were. Too similar. There were no surprises in their relationship. There was nothing new and exciting about their dates and they had learned each other, which was good. It was just that when Hayden wanted something, she was going to have it. No discussion. They didn't fight because she avoided conflict. It wasn't like that with Liam's friends. Mason would calm him down because of his IED, but he didn't completely avoid him. Theo was a walking conflict, himself.

How he could be a prostitute and be so... normal. But also, how he can be so normal and yet so cold to everyone. How could he and Corey be best friends and be so completely opposite? Do they text each other or is it just a default friend because they work together? Then he wondered if that was why he and Hayden stayed together as long as they did. Was it by default? Just because they were each other's first long-term relationship? Their first loves. Their first everything.

There was nothing making them obligated to one another. They didn't have a child together or an apartment contract. Liam lived in his parents' house which was paid for. They weren't married. It wouldn't have been like there was the inconvenience of divorce and the long process that goes with that. They really had only been with each other. Maybe that's why she left all the time. Hayden was a bitch for what she did, but she never did anything without purpose. It was who she was. Liam wondered briefly who Theo was. Who he really was. He's definitely not the man Liam took him for upon meeting. Liam let his thoughts put him in a restless sleep.

Theo woke up the next morning with the sunrise. He felt surprisingly rested given how late he was up catering to Liam's drunkenness. Wait. Liam. Where did he go? Theo was on guard immediately. How could he be so stupid? He just let Liam into his house and into his bed and now he knows everything. What if he tells someone where he lives? What if he tells the cops Theo is a prostitute? What if he somehow has proof?

Alas, Theo stopped freaking out when he saw Liam sleeping on his couch. Dark circles were under his eyes. He had been passing up sleep for more than just last night. Theo got coffee ready and sat at the nook in his dining room. He had a nice place for what it was; it was mostly just too close to some things and had a few electrical issues. He needed to get out of here sooner rather than later, though.

How can this dude just sleep in a strange place? I can barely sleep in my own bed. Theo thought back to the other night when he met Liam and he'd stayed over. He actually slept decent then too. What is it about this kid? What makes Theo just feel like he's... nonthreatening? Harmless. When the rest of the world is the complete opposite in his mind.

Liam rolled off the couch. "Ow goddammit!"

"Well good morning to you too", Theo couldn't help himself from smirking at his houseguest. Liam was still half asleep but awake enough to smell the coffee that had brewed.

"mm need coffee" he mumbled indistinctly. Thank God Liam didn't have to work today.