Chapter Text
"Darry! Lay off," I tried pulling away from him, but it was no use. His freshly shaved jaw rubbed roughly on my forehead. Maybe I should be thankful that he didn't have any sharp stubble. That distinct, bitter, and yet comforting smell that he gave off all the time was smothering me.
Was I getting more sensitive to alpha scents or was he just being as overbearing as ever?
"There, now that better keep you outta trouble," Darry pulled away, squeezing my shoulder before he headed for the door.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah. You just worry about yourself." Darry gave me a Look before leaving. Soda left behind him, giving me a smile and a wink before he did.
Two-bit slid in his place, rubbing my cheek with his jaw in a light friendly way. Two had a softer scent compared to my brother's and it was a lot more pleasant.
I tilted my head away giggling, "not you too! C'mon.."
"Oh, yeahuh, lord knows you need it, boy," he left with one last rub and skipped to door. He paused and pointed at me, "don't you be dozing off an' missin' that bus again. Can't stick around and babysit ya today."
I groaned, knowing he's right. "You finally decide to mass evict the bugs on your floor, Two? Gonna cause the bug housin crisis of 1966." I moved over to the couch, sitting by the door, determined not to doze off again.
He slapped the back of my head with a loud scoff, "you watch it boy, or I'm moving 'em to your room!" The screen door slammed behind him.
"They wouldn't stay! Theys'd get too homesick!"
I heard Two-bit laugh on the lawn and smiled.
School went by fast, though some of what two people were gossiping about stuck out to me.
They were talking about another student that they were sure was gonna present as an omega despite being a boy. With how they caught me lookin and giggled, I got a feelin' it was me they were talking about. I didn't feel too hot after that.
I didn't wanna be an omega, but Darry was sure of it. That's part of why he scents me so much. He's thinking I'm gonna get jumped soon as I start presenting. It annoys me. I could still be a beta, or even an alpha. Can't know for sure until you start giving off scent.
Like with Johnny. He was a real surprise to all of us. We thought for sure he'd be anything but an alpha. The gang was absolutely ecstatic about being wrong, since that means we had four alphas total, Darry, Two-bit, Dallas, and Johnny. Maybe I would be a surprise like him.
I hoped at least.
The next morning I woke up slowly and with a bit of a headache. I rolled over under the sheets intending to fall back asleep when I noticed the sunlight on my eyes.
How late did I sleep in? I sat up and rubbed face, noticing my hair was a tangled mess. Great, Soda must've been scenting me in his sleep again.
Soda mumbled something at my side as he started to wake up too. Soda must've been off for today, and I didn't have school on Saturdays. I sighed and stretched, being slow to get up like I usually am.
"Hey, Pony?" Soda asked, voice thick with sleep.
"Mhm?" I hummed back, just as sleepy. I straightened what I could of my hair without a comb.
"Think you started stinkin' in your sleep," you could hear the smile in his voice.
"I what?" I didn't catch his meaning at first, but then it hit me in the face. "Oh."
I started presenting in my sleep and was already nose blind to it.
Sodapop laughed and ruffled my hair, ruining it once more, "yeah, 'oh.'"
"Wait! What do I smell like?" I didn't feel any different. Was I supposed to feel different?
Soda chewed on his tongue while he stared at me, like it'd help him figure out what I smelled like. "You smell like you."
"Gee, that helps." As curious as I was to the actual smell, I cared more about what I presented as. I chewed over my lip from nerves.
"Hey, it's a sweet smell.. I'm kinda blind to it too, sorry, Pony," Soda smiled apologetically and started to say something else when Darry walked in.
"You're both up, that's-" the smile dropped from his face and he rose an eyebrow, something he learned from Two-bit no doubt. "Pony," I hated when Darry got that cold, serious tone, "you started presenting already?" He must have caught the new smell, he was the keenest alpha I knew. Until it came to himself at least.
"Uh, yeah," I felt a little smaller, "what am I?" I was embarrassed someone had to tell me.
"Lemme smell, Pone," he stepped further into the room and held his hands out, wanting me to come to him. It was probably hard to tell when the scent was so new and smothered by Sodapop's. It would be easier for Darry to tell than it would be for a beta like my other brother.
I slide off the bed and walked over, hoping I didn't look as nervous as I felt. I stood awkwardly as Darry's arms held my elbows lightly. He leaned into my neck, careful not to touch, and inhaled through his nose.
When he pulled away, he gave me a kind, slightly apologetic smile. "No doubt about it, my kid brother's an omega." And he pat my arms.
The first thing I thought was how when Soda started presenting, Darry picked him up and spun him around. I only got arm pats. The second thing I thought was how people were gonna start treating me different. Would Soda or Two-bit even play with me anymore?
It must've shown on my face since Darry pulled me into his chest and hugged me. I didn't hold him back as his comfort scent enveloped me. "I know it wasn't what you wanted, but it'll be alright. You got us to look out for you. We ain't gonna go changin' on you either. You're still our kid brother who's got more hair than brains."
I jabbed his ribs with a hand as I tried wiggling out of his grasp, "Hey! An' you got more muscles than heart."
He laughed and bent away from the jab, "the heart is a muscle, dummy. And I'd like to remind you who started this hug, Ponyboy." He pinched my side as revenge and I let out an awful squeak.
"That, don't mean nothin'!"
Soda was laughing from behind us as Darry let go and ran down the hall. He yelled about breakfast almost being ready while he sped to the kitchen with loud steps.
Me and Soda loved how energetic Darry could be on Saturdays.
Sodapop started getting ready for the day and I followed suit. Though, without the awful singing. How little Darry and Soda seemed to care about my presentation helped me relax some. But boy, I'd have to get used to people being able to smell when I get scared or flustered or any whole matter of things. I wasn't looking forward to it.
I worried the most about Dallas and Johnny would think about it. Two-bit too, but it was hard to imagine him treating me like anything but a younger brother, so worrying didn't work too well with him.
Dallas thought pretty low of omegas. I knew from how he talked about them and even more how he'd go on about using them. He thought I'd show as a beta, so I'm worried how he'll take it. Would he even see me as Ponyboy? Would he still let me go out with him and Johnny or would I be too much trouble for them to watch over?
And then there was Johnny. I don't think he'd view me as any less, or at least, I hope. Johnny was sweet and considerate with the few omegas he's talked with. But, would he stop treating me like his best friend? Would things get awkward? Oh, and what if they got worse when he ruts. He was supposed to get his first rut sometime later this year. Would he even be able to be around me through that? I didn't know what scared me more, Johnny wanting me or Johnny not wanting me.
Soda's hand squeezed my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. "That comb is gonna melt if you stare any harder, Pony," he said a bit humorously. There was a bit of concern in his tone as well.
I shook my head from those thoughts. "Just drifted off is all..." I trailed off
"Yeah, you took a trip to outer space, Pony." He smiled playfully behind me. Then picked at my hair, "Aw, think I rubbed too much grease out last night. Sorry bout that, Ponyboy. You're gonna need a fresh coat." He left with a pat to my shoulder.
He said he was off to breakfast and I watched him walk away with a quiet sigh. I set the comb down on our shared dresser and followed after him.
With my hair fixed and teeth cleaned, I listened to the more than two voices that yapped away in the house. Guess Two-bit and Steve wanted to spend their weekend with us. The nerves from earlier resettled. Or maybe woken up would be a better descriptor.
I hesitated at the bathroom door, took a deep breath, and stepped out.
Steve was coolly perched on the wall next to bathroom door, his pout looked heavier than usual. He knows then.
I sigh with resignation as he spots me.
"An omega huh?" He asked like I got to choose.
"What's it to you?" I try to step past him, but he stops me with an arm.
He shifted his jaw and looked down his nose at me, "if you think this is givin you princess treatment, you're wrong, kid." He said kid like it was a slur.
I glared at him, "Good. Can always count on you, Steve." I shoved at his arm away and slipped into the dinning room.
"Hey, get back here!" He reached but didn't chase. The others would keep him from heckling me.
He reacted about how I expected, disapproving. I could care less about his opinion, but refrained from letting that be known. I don't wanna get between him and Soda.
As I stepped into the dining room, Two-bit scooped me up in his arms, pining mine to my sides. He laughed loudly in my ear. "There he is! Early bloomer too, huh? I always knew you'd take after me." His side burns tickled my cheek.
"Two-bit put me down!" I kicked my legs uselessly.
"Nuhuh, not when you gotta get scented. Darry's slackin," he spoke loud enough that Darry heard him and got offended. Two-bit rubbed his jaw, stubble, sideburns, and all, on my forehead and cheeks. He grinned as I tried turning my head away from him, but it was no use. I was definitely marked with Two-bit's playful sweet scent.
Still wearing an apron, Darry stepped out of the kitchen. If I had to guess, it'd be to pick up his 'slack.' Two set me down with a parting squeeze and nuzzle, grinning like he won the lottery.
Despite seeing my skin flushed and irritated from Two-bit's softer stubble, Darry leaned in anyway to give me another fix of scent marking and itchy almost beard. He hummed approvingly as he pulled away. He was respectful enough to only rub down my forehead. He had his usual bitter scent with a mix of warm buttered toast clinging to him.
"It reminds me of mom, your scent. It's nice," Darry smiled at me. I was amazed he could still smell me from under Two-bit's and Soda's scenting. A compliment on your scent wasn't really something you wanted to hear from your brother though.
"Yeah?" I just barely catch myself before saying something I regretted. Our parent's death bothered him more than it did me. Soda said he thought it made me a bit numb. Sometimes I think he's right.
"Yeah, it'll be nice to have around the house, and I won't lose you as easily," he sounded chastising with that last bit. I scowled at my scent being reduced to an air freshener and locator. Great.
"Hey, Pony, what's the look for?" Darry asked, putting his hands on his hips like dad used to do. He must've been done in the kitchen if he could be out here so long.
I rolled my eyes, pointedly looking away, "I don't run without a good reason."
Two-bit had left to the kitchen. I heard a bottle open, but I paid no mind.
Darry's eyebrows creased and his jaw set in that way that it does when he's trying not to get angry, "yeah? And why's that?" His scent changed slightly, getting bolder. Why am I noticing that?
I'm surprised he wanted to hear me out. "Just..." I needed space sometimes, and I knew it wasn't something Darry would understand since that wasn't something he physically could fix. "Forget it, Darry," I said, giving up.
His voice and expression softened, "Hey-"
"Toast is burning!" Two-bit interrupted, speaking through a mouth full of something. Likely our breakfast.
Darry cursed and pursed his lips. "Pony," he said so I would look at him, "we'll talk about this later."
Nothing wanted to make me leave the house more, but the empty feeling in my stomach kept me still.