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After a long and tiring day, Steve was ready to cut loose and enjoy what little free time he had between school and his job. Feeling energized by being set free from the station, he threw his car in park before opening his door and turning to his friend, “Race ya!”
He jumped out of his car with a spark, slamming the door without care in the world and speeding down the street to the Curtis residence, headquarters to their gang. Behind him, he heard Soda rushing to get out and catch up, but he didn’t dare turn back; he had the lead, and he was going to win. The prize was the chocolate cake made yesterday, if there was any left, that is.
Just as he got to the Curtises’ front yard, he heard Soda warn, breathing hard, “Don’t be so loud going in, Pony wasn’t feeling too hot this morning.”
Choosing to be a jerk, he ignored his friend and flung the front door wide open before stomping in and yelling, “Honey, I’m home!”
The door slammed behind him as he took a moment to breathe in the familiar scents, but it wasn’t the homey smells of fresh laundry, lemons, the scents of all the gang combined, and the lingering scents of chocolate and tobacco that greeted him. The once faint earthy scents of sweet blackberries, wildflowers, and honey, with small hints of the artificial smell of Pepsi, now raged through the whole house, filling every nook and cranny. Realization dawned on him as his friend’s previous warning now echoed in his head. Ponyboy, the baby of the gang, wasn’t ill…he was finally presenting! Before Steve could even storm back out of the house, his baser instincts took over, and he found himself standing outside the door to Pony and Soda’s room. He tried the handle and silently cursed when he found that it was locked. He lightly knocked before crooning sweetly, “Ponyboy?”
He heard the small whimper of a newly minted omega in heat, followed by the sound of rustling sheets and mattress springs as Ponyboy moved around a little. A second later, Pony’s faint muffled voice called back, “Steve?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Steve confirmed softly, “How are you feeling?”
There was silence for a moment, a hesitance in wondering what to reveal to Steve. “I’m so hot,” Pony gasped out, “I feel like—like I’m boiling alive from the inside and everything hurts.”
“I bet,” Steve purred, lightly stroking the door, “I could help you if you open the door for me, sweet thing.”
“I—I don’t think that’s a good idea, “Pony cried out, stressed out and in pain beyond what any alpha could imagine, “Go away!”
“Come on, “Steve cooed, resting his head on the door frame as he lightly tapped the door before trying the handle again, jiggling it a little more aggressively, hoping it would give on its own with a little more force, “Don’t be like that, baby, you can trust me…I just want to help you.”
“No, you don’t!” Pony yelled, “You’re letting your knot cloud your judgment! Go away before you do something you’ll regret!”
Steve jiggled the handle a little harder, ready to start slamming his body against the door to try and break it in, “I’ll be gentle, just let me in!”
“No!” Pony shouted, “I-I’m warning you, Steve, I have a knife and I’ll use it if…if I have to!”
Steve chuckled, “So cute, you don’t have-
Soda slammed into Steve, using the strength that he doesn’t like to show off to force Steve to the ground. He wrestled his friend into submission, using force and restraint to keep Steve still before calling out to his younger brother, “Pony, it’s okay! I’m here!”
“Soda?”
“Yeah, sweetie!” Soda called back, forcing his friend up and dragging him towards the front door, “Stay in our room.”
“Is-is Steve still there?”
“I’m dragging him out right now!” Soda answered as he ignored Steve’s whining and pleading to let him go and have at his little brother.
Pony breathed a sigh of relief, “Good…I’m scared, Soda!”
“I know, baby,” Soda called back before tossing Steve out onto their front lawn at the feet of Two-Bit, Dally, and Johnny, “Don’t come back until I tell you otherwise.”
Steve quickly nodded before taking off to his car, his mind fog clearing as he breathed in the fresh air and was horrified by how he acted. The 3 others watched as he hightailed it out before making their way to the entrance, Dally leading the way.
Soda stopped them, spreading his arms wide across and blocking the door, “Ya’ll can’t come in!”
“And why the hell not?!” Dally asked, annoyed, he never did well with people telling him what to do.
“None of your business!” Soda snapped back, glaring at Dally, daring him to even try. There were things that Soda took to his heart, and protecting his baby brother was at the very top.
The battle of wills lasted for a second before Two-bit pulled Dally back, giving Soda and the door space.
“Soda,” Two-bit started slowly, “What’s going on? Why can’t we go in?”
“I can’t…” He started before glancing back inward in his house before biting his lip. Two-bit was the only other omega in their group, and he could probably really help Pony, but it felt like he was betraying his brother by informing them of his presenting, “It’s not my place...”
Dally huffed before side-eyeing Two-bit and saying, “He’s lost it.”
Dally roughly pushed Soda out of the way before pushing the door open. He was about to take a step in, but the overwhelming scent of an omega in first heat made him freeze mid-step. He turned to Soda, swallowed hard, and nodded in understanding before glancing at Two-bit, hoping to silently communicate what was going on.
Two-bit seemed to get it as he gasped and let out a simple, “No way.”
Johnny stared at them all, feeling left out and wanting to know what was going on. He started moving towards the door, but Dally stopped him, grabbing him by the collar.
“You can’t be here right now,” Dally told him firmly, but gently and softly pushing him away.
“Why not?” Johnny asked.
“Pony will tell you later, “Two-bit offered lightly, patting him on the back before directing him away from the only real home he knew.
Johnny didn’t argue but slowly walked down the path and lingered around the fence for a bit, watching 3 of the people he trusted most for a moment, hoping he’d be let in on the secret. They only stared at him; he gave up and walked towards the lot, but then doubled back after 15 minutes.
Darry came home a little bit later, parking his truck right outside his family's home. Unaware of any new changes, he didn’t think too much about it when he saw Johnny standing outside his brother’s window. Just figured they were either being a goofy, awkward teen, or Johnny needed a minute to himself and wasn’t ready to join the group inside yet.
Either way, Darry called out to him as he rounded his truck to the other side, “Hey Johnny!”
Johnny jumped, stared at the eldest Curtis boy like a deer in the headlights for the longest moment before timidly waving at him.
Darry waved back, “Staying for supper?”
Johnny glanced back at Pony’s window before eyeing Darry and shrugging.
“Okay,” Darry said, heading in, understanding that Johnny wasn’t in a talking mood, “Come in when you want.”
Stepping into the living room, Darry had 100 things he had to do running through his head, which included checking on his baby brother and getting supper started. He got a few steps in before he realized something was off. For him, it was the quiet first that alarmed him that something was wrong, the Curtus residence was always a lively place. Then the smell set in, and the realization set in. Dread quickly settled in his gut as he realized he had left his baby brother alone and defenseless as he presented and suffered through his first heat.
Fear drained all color from his face as he looked towards his middle brother for comfort, uttering, “Soda?”
Soda sat tensely on the sofa, feeling like a failure and on the verge of tears. Nodded slowly, “He’s okay.”
Two-bit, who was sitting on the other side, chimed in, “Pony was smart; he locked himself in his room when he realized what was happening, and luckily, the scent seemed to stay contained within the household.”
The what-ifs still hung in the air as Darry couldn’t help but think about all the ways this could have turned out differently. He should have stayed here and looked after his brother. He tries so hard and yet can never seem to make the right decision. What if Pony’s scent had been stronger and enveloped the whole neighborhood? What if he hadn’t made it to his room in time? What if anyone and everyone in the whole damn universe decided to just walk in like they always do? He should never have left Pony to fend for himself.
“Dally’s keeping guard outside Pony’s door,” Two-bit informed him.
“What?” Darry said before flying down the hallway to his brother’s bedroom door. Dally sat on the floor in front of the door, looking ready to fight if needed , but completely unbothered by the smell like Darry, Soda, and Two-bit were. Darry glanced back down the hall towards Soda in question, and Soda just shrugged.
“Hey there, muscles,” Dally greeted casually as if having an unrelated alpha not being affected by an omega’s heat scent was a normal thing.
“How are you not affected?” Darry asked, getting closer, not sure if he should truly trust Dally to guard his brother.
“Don’t know,” Dally shrugged, “Maybe it’s because I can’t see him as anything other than a little brother myself.”
Darry watched him for a moment before nodding in the direction of the living room. Dally took the command and got up. He reassuringly patted Darry on the way past. Darry took a moment to collect his thoughts before lightly knocking on Pony’s door.
“Pone?”
There was a shuffling sound before Pony strained to answer him, “Darry?”
“Yeah, it’s me, kid,” Darry reassured, “How are you doing?”
A moment, “I’m…umh…I’m okay.”
Darry nodded, “Do—do you anything?”
“No!” Pony called back, “Just need—
THUMP!
“Pony!” Darry called back, “What was that?! Are you okay?!”
“Nothing!” Pony shouted back quicker than Darry liked. Darry felt the eyes of the others on him as they filed into the hallway. He strained to hear what was happening in the room, “I just fell off my bed.”
A second later, Darry swore he heard Pony shush someone and giggle, “Pony, is someone in there with you?”
“No! I’m completely alone…I promise!”
Darry tried the handle, “Pony, open the door, please!”
“I—can’t,” Pony called back.
“Why not?”
“It’s…not safe?” Pony answered, sounding like he didn’t really trust his own answer.
“Not safe?” Darry countered, “I can protect you from anyone who tries something. Open the door.”
“No!”
Darry motioned for Dally to come closer, Soda and Two-bit came closer as well. Dally braced himself on the other side of the door, ready to start ramming it on Darry’s command.
“You think someone’s in there with him?” Soda whispered, concerned that his baby brother was being defiled as they spoke.
“I think so,” Darry whispered back, looking around at the 3 before him, “Did any of you enter the bedroom after you realized what was happening?”
Two-bit and Soda both nodded, “We took him a sandwich and a Pepsi.”
“And he was alone?” Darry whispered.
“Absolutely,” Soda murmured confidently, “I checked under the bed and in the closet. It was just him.”
“Who do you think it is?” Two-bit quietly.
“I don’t know,” Darry answered in a whisper, “No one was lurking about, except…”
Darry glanced at Dally and whispered, “Does Johnny know Pony’s in heat?”
“No!” Dally hissed, in disbelief that Darry would even think it would be Johnny, “We stopped him from coming in and told him Pony will explain things later before sending him away.”
“He was hanging out by Pony’s window when I came home!” Darry hissed back.
“Why didn’t you chase him off?!” Soda cried in a hushed tone.
“Because I didn’t realize he was looking to get fresh with our brother!” Darry hissed back.
“I hear you guys whispering out there!” Pony yelled, “Can’t you leave me alone?”
We will when you open the door!” Darry countered.
“Can’t you just trust me for once?!”
“Pony!” Darry yelled firmly, “I’m giving you to the count of 3, then I’m breaking the door!”
“You do, and I’ll never forgive you!” Pony warned.
What else is new!?” Darry called back before counting out:
1!
2!
3!
On 3, Darry and Dally slammed their bodies into the door, which gave way without much fuss.
Two pairs of eyes stared at the 4 people in the doorway for a moment as Darry breathed hard to keep his cool, reminding himself that Johnny was a good kid at heart and he didn’t mean to try anything with his brother. The others stood in disbelief as he stared at Johnny, shirtless and pants undone, as Johnny growled in a warning, possessive manner, as he worked quickly, using the element of surprise to cover Pony’s naked body with the bed sheet that had been left on the floor before pulling Pony towards the open window. Darry, shaking off any shock and realizing he needed to step in, quickly jumped into action as Pony was half way through the window.
“No, you don’t!” Darry yelled as he pulled Pony back inside, as Pony struggled against him, trying to follow Johnny, and slammed the window shut. Johnny glared at him through the window, giving him the angriest look that Darry didn’t know he was capable of. He growled once again before slapping the window hard and giving Darry the finger before hightailing it out of there. Darry took a calming deep breath as Pony still struggled in his hold and whimpered about wanting Johnny. Darry looked towards Dally and nodded towards the window, “Dal?”
Dally nodded in understanding, “Yep, on it!” Before taking off after the unlucky Romeo.
Soda and Two-Bit watched him take off before turning towards each other. Two-bit chuckled lightly before commenting, “Didn’t know Johnny had the balls!”
Hearing his name made Pony struggle a little harder in his brother’s arms as he reached out towards the window and moaned longingly, “Johnny!”
Darry looked towards the other two and gestured for them to help him while informing them, “From now on, one of us needs to be in the room with him while he’s in heat.”