Warning: Slash, and a bit of dirty language.
Pairing: Dallas and Ponyboy
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.

Kaleidoscope Eyes

Two-Bit layed out on the undersized couch, his head propped up on one arm rest, legs on the other. Words couldn't describe the amount of boredom he was experiencing. Ponyboy was taking way too long to come home.

"He's probably with him again," the burly greaser muttered bitterly. By 'him' he meant Dallas, Pony's crush of 2 months now. It took all of Two-Bit's strength not to vomit at the thought of them being together, but that didn't mean it couldn't happen. Pony was a very attractive guy; up until recently, Two-Bit would have sworn he as heterosexual, but that kid could sure twist a guy's mind around.

In all honesty, Two-Bit didn't understand what the younger boy saw in Dally Winston. The blond wasn't exactly the most attractive guy in the gang. No, Sodapop won that one by a mile. But still, after Soda, the other boys lined up relatively close. All except Dally, who, in Two-Bit's eyes, was about a mile in the other direction.

Pony's vision must be screwed, Two-Bit concluded.

The door opened then, revealing the auburn-haired boy of the gang. Two-Bit tried to read the boy's expression, to determine whether or not the boy had luck with Dally or failed miserably. For if Dallas had turned him away, Pony would want nothing more than to sit and cuddle with whoever happened to be there; he's clingy like that.

After receiving no hint from the boy's face, Two-Bit asked, "Well? How'd the hood hunt go?" He'd asked it rather bluntly but, as per usual, Pony didn't pick up on it.

"I think ... he might like me, too, but …," he sighed, dropping his bag to the already cluttered floor. "I don't know; Dally's confusing."

I wouldn't be confusing! Two-Bit wanted to scream at him. But, of course he couldn't say that to the boy. Instead he offered words of encouragement:

"I'm sure everything will work out fine. You should know Dallas by now; he doesn't believe in emotions or feelings like you girls do."

Pony attempted to arch his eyebrow, as he picked up on the joke Two-Bit tossed his way, "Girl? I'm about as much of a girl as you are."

Two-Bit smiled, "You mean you're about as much of a girl as my sister is."

That did it. Pony pounced faster than Two-Bit could blink. That was what got the kid the upper hand in fights; he was quick, but he wasn't strong. Two-Bit had him pinned down within a minute.

Pony struggled beneath him, kicking his legs dangerously close to Two-Bit's crotch. The older greaser put more of his weight on Pony's legs, protecting himself from getting hit where the sun don't shine. It would have hurt badlythe way Pony was kicking.

"Gotta be stronger than that if you're going to attack that fast," Two-Bit advised. He was right; the element of surprise only worked its full potential when you had the power to back it up.

"I know, now get off; you're crushin' me!"

Two-Bit pushed more of his weight on the boy, "I'm crushing you?" Pony groaned as he felt the effects of the added weight. Then it was suddenly lifted, "Why didn't you just say so."

Pony glared at him, but refused to get up off the floor. Closing his eyes, Pony hummed lightly, relaxing in the space of the floor that their previous antics cleared up.

"Why do you like ol' Dally anyway?" It wasn't meant to come out of his lips sounding the way it had, but it was out there now, ready to be digested by Pony.

"I don't really know, exactly," Pony opened one green eye, and then shrugged. "I never really thought too hard about it."

Two-Bit shook his head slowly. That doesn't make any sense. "So, you mean you just woke up one day in love with Dallas Winston."

"No," Pony replied, "It was an over-time thing. We spent a lot of time together, especially considering Johnny was both of our best friends, even if he won't admit it." He shrugged again, "I guess he just grew on me."

Now the older greaser just felt stupid. How many times had Pony asked for him to take him to the movies, or to The Dingo, or the bowling alley, just so he could refuse and instead guzzle down beer? Sure, he hadn't known that he had feelings for the kid then, but he sure as hell knew now, and it was too late.

Silently, Two-Bit got up and strode out of the house without another word, leaving Ponyboy to stare after him in confusion.

xXx

It turned out that Pony was right. Dallas did like him back, and it didn't take long for the gang to find out about it. Those two were always all over each other: kissing whenever and wherever they felt like kissing, grabbing and touching on each other however they wanted, and of course these all lead to the inevitable: fucking all hours of the damn day.

Two-Bit felt himself lose control every time he saw them together, any time he heard them moan for each other; he felt every emotion known to man, and then some. Hurt, sick, pain, anger, jealousy, everything.

Boy, but when the gang—minus Pony and Dally, of course – found out the reason behind his flair of emotions, they felt terrible. It suddenly became their job to protect Two-Bit, keep him out of the house when the lovebirds were together.

And that's what they did.

Anytime Soda heard Pony's breathing get a little heavy, or Steve noticed Dally's hands get a little too grab-happy, or Johnny saw the two of them scurry off towards the bedroom, they'd be on the porch waiting for Two-Bit to come so they could hurry him off to The Dingo with them.

One day, when Dallas was away jockeying for the Slash J's, Pony finally took the time to notice that he hadn't seen Two-Bit around the house for the last few days. Deciding he had nothing better to do for the day, he grabbed his coat and began his walk to the Mathews' house.

Upon his arrival, he heard his friend's all too familiar laughter from the backyard, and went around to see what he found so funny. He was sitting on the hood of his old clunker, talking to Soda, who was under the car, once again fixing the brakes.

"Hey, guys," Pony said, making his presence known. Soda pulled out from under the car, giving Two-Bit a look before waving him over.

"Hey, Pony, what are you doing here?" Soda didn't mean it in a rude way, and if he had, it would have flown right over Pony's head. He sees the best in everyone, or whatever.

Pony's eyes fixed on Two-Bit, "I came to talk to him."

No one noticed the wave of concern that passed over Soda at these words, he wasn't entirely sure that Two-Bit was ready to talk to Pony yet. But, when the older greaser nodded at him, he said, "Well, I'm gonna go find Hailey, and ask her for some lemonade."

"Just be careful with my sister, okay? You know she has a crush on you; I'd hate for her to fall in love with you and find out that you love some other girl." Sure, Hailey was only 12, but still, it could happen.

Soda winced at his allusion to his and Pony's relationship, but otherwise nodded as he left.

Picking up on nothing that was just mentioned, the auburn-haired boy moved to take a seat on the car next to his second best friend. "Where have you been, grease? I haven't seen you around lately."

"I imagine you haven't seen anyone around lately. Staying in your room with Dally all day and night will do that to ya."

Pony felt his cheeks burn as he realized the truth behind that statement. He and Dally had been sleeping together a lot lately, but he never really thought about it before. Pony just figured that because they were a new couple, they each had a lot of exploring and experimenting to do with the other. He never meant to spend all his time with his boyfriend.

"Where is he anyway?" he couldn't resist asking the question.

"He's at the rodeo with Buck," Two-Bit nodded, and then gazed out through the kitchen window, where he saw his sister and Soda leaning over the counter talking.

"Glory," he mused, "That kid sure can blush around your brother; I can see it from all the way out here." Two-Bit paused, "But of course her blush isn't nearly as bad as yours. I can see yours from the other side of town."

Ponyboy pulled his jacket tighter around him, hoping to distract from the shades his face was turning, but it didn't work; Two-Bit just stared at him, a foreign look in his gray eyes.

"What did you want to talk to me about, kid?" Two-Bit asked coming out of his state. His voice was softer than before.

"Why haven't we hung out in a while? I mean, even when Dally isn't around?" He turned his piercing green eyes on Two-Bit, "You're one of my best friends; I miss you."

The older greaser moaned, trying his hardest to keep his resolve, but those big, sad eyes were breaking him down, and piecing him apart. "Okay," Two-Bit squeaked, making Pony arch an eyebrow in amusement. He cleared his throat, and continued, "Okay, yeah. Let's do something later."

"Do you have anything in mind? I'm up for whatever you want to do."

Somehow, Two-Bit doubted that. There were quite a few things he wanted to do with Pony, but they were things that both Pony and Dally would not even consider. So, he opted for a G-rated activity, "We could get some ice cream."

Pony's entire face glowed like a child's. If there was anything the kid loved it was ice cream; ice cream, cake, and chocolate. "Good idea," then he ran to the window, tapped on it, and when Soda opened it, told him where the two of them were off to.