Theo's eyes sparkled as he pulled a curtain aside, revealing a small, strange-looking machine tucked in the corner of his room.
Wires curled around tiny metal plates, blinking lights danced across the control panel, and a faint hum vibrated from within.
"I've been working on this for months," Theo whispered dramatically, leaning closer.
"It's… my secret invention."
Eliot leaned forward cautiously, heart pounding. "It… looks… amazing."
Theo grinned, glancing at him.
"Thanks. I… I believe wolf realms are real. Parallel worlds, hidden from normal humans. And this," he tapped the device, "will prove it. If I ever… actually bring one here, don't worry. I'd hide it. Totally safe."
Eliot's jaw dropped. His hand went to his cheek, staring at the machine as if it were a piece of art.
"You… you really built this?"
Theo nodded, eyes wide with excitement. "Every wire, every switch. And I've been calculating the energy flow so it… theoretically could open a portal."
Leon leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, muttering, "Looks....dangerous. But I kinda respect it."
Rex crouched by a shelf, hands behind his head. ''Not safe, yes. Cool, yes. But mostly… terrifying."
Eliot didn't care about their reactions.
He leaned closer, eyes fixed on the machine. "I… I want to help."
Theo blinked, then grinned. "Really? You'd… want to?"
Eliot nodded, cheeks pink, fiddling nervously with his bag strap.
"Y-yes. It's… incredible. Like… like… art, or—" He trailed off, realizing he sounded awkward.
Theo chuckled softly. "Art, huh? I'll take it."
For a few moments, the room grew quiet. Eliot perched beside Theo on the floor, hands carefully avoiding the delicate wires, watching Theo explain the machine.
He listened intently, nodding along, asking small questions here and there.
"It's… not fully functional yet," Theo said softly. "I think if I… adjust the flux stabilizers, it might actually work."
Eliot tilted his head, eyebrows raised.
"The flux stabilizers… like this?" He pointed gently to one of the wires, careful.
Theo's face lit up. "Exactly! You get it!"
Leon and Rex exchanged a look from the doorway. Leon muttered, "Yeah… they're… bonding over science magic or whatever."
Rex shook his head. "Yes. Theo had always been a lonely scientist now he has a partner."
Theo leaned closer to Eliot, whispering, "You know… I never expected someone to actually understand this on the first try."
Eliot blinked, unsure if he should respond. "…I… like understanding it."
Theo smiled. "Good answer. That's exactly right."
For the rest of the afternoon, they stayed on the floor, quietly tinkering, talking, laughing softly when something didn't work exactly right.
Eliot's hands moved carefully, Theo's hands moved eagerly, and somewhere in the middle, the strange machine, the small werewolves, and the quiet bonding made the room feel… like its own little world.
Leon leaned back in the doorway, muttering, "Okay… weird, but actually cute."
Rex grinned. "Agreed. Weird-cute."
And Eliot, quiet as ever, couldn't stop looking at Theo like he was some kind of beautiful, brilliant art come to life.
---
The afternoon sun had shifted across Theo's room, casting long shadows over the scattered gadgets and little werewolf figures.
The strange hum of the invention had quieted, and the boys had finally stopped tinkering… mostly because they were all a little hungry.
Leon stretched and yawned. "Alright, I think we've… seen enough portals for one day."
Rex snorted. "Yeah. My brain can only handle so much 'wolf-magic science' before it explodes."
Theo grinned. "You guys are impossible."
Leon smirked. "And yet, here we are."
Rex shook his head but gave a small thumbs-up. "Fine. Cool invention. Don't get eaten by wolves, okay?"
Eliot adjusted his glasses and quietly packed his bag. "Thanks… for letting me help."
Theo waved a hand casually. "Of course! I… uh, had fun. And hey, if you have time later, we can try finishing the portal."
Eliot's chest warmed. A small, shy smile spread across his face. "I… I'd like that."
Theo grinned back. "Good. I knew you would."
Leon muttered something under his breath as he headed to the door. "I swear, you two are… weirdly serious."
Rex laughed as they left. "Weirdly serious and weirdly adorable."
Once the door closed, Eliot stayed for a moment, looking at the corner where the invention hummed faintly, imagining the possibilities.
Theo's words echoed in his mind, and for the first time that day, he felt… excited.
Quietly, almost to himself, he whispered, "…see you tomorrow."
And just like that, the visit ended—but Eliot knew this was only the beginning.
The door clicked shut behind them, and Theo's mom, a cheerful woman with short brown hair and sharp, lively eyes, appeared in the hallway.
"Well?" she asked, hands on her hips. "How did it go?"
Theo shrugged, grinning. "It went… great."
"Great how?" she pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"I… found someone who likes the same things I do," Theo said quietly. "I finally… made a true friend."
Theo's older brother, Cassian, appeared from the living room, tall, broad, and always exuding a relaxed confidence. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes held that teasing sparkle you always got when he had a joke ready.
"Oh?" Cassian said, smirking. "Who's the lucky kid? Don't tell me it's… the quiet one who probably still organizes his socks by wavelength or something."
Theo laughed. "Yes. That one."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "Perfect. The chaotic ones, like Rex, and the grumpy ones, like Leon, are fine—but I trust you, Theo. If you say he's a good friend, I believe it."
Theo nodded seriously. "He… he really likes my collection. The science gadgets, the werewolves… he noticed everything."
Cassian grinned, leaning back against the wall. "Well, I see why. Anyone would be impressed. Honestly, this is… kind of intimidating. You've basically built a mini universe in here."
Theo's mom laughed. "And apparently he likes it all. Gentle and impressed, she says."
Cassian smirked, looking at Eliot. "Gentle and impressed… hmm. That's a good name for a kid. That'll be his new nickname in the family. Gentle-and-Impressed Eliot."
Theo rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Cassian, don't embarrass him when he comes again with that name."
Cassian held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just stating facts."
Theo's mom smiled warmly. "Well, I think it's wonderful. You've got someone who shares your passion with that's rare.''