Hello all. I know, I know, it's been too long. Me and Mrs. Snarkling both apologize for the amount of time it's taken to get this chapter up for you - really, it's mainly my bad. But please do be looking forward to more chapters; we promise that they'll be coming more regularly from now on.
"Hey, Two-Bit, can I talk to you?", Pony had asked, somewhat hesitantly, from his spot on the couch. Currently it was just the two of them in the house. Dallas had left very shortly before; he had run out of cigs again. He offered to bring Pony along, but he opted to just stay home, as he had done the last time. He had stuff to discuss with Two-Bit, anyway; and he didn't expect to get any better opportunities to talk with him in private.
Two-Bit tilted his head, a small smile falling on his face. "Sure!" he said cheerfully. He didn't know what the conversation was about, but he had a feeling it was going to be deep, and meaningful, and Goddamn serious. So he needed to get his jollies in now, before it would be too late, judging by the expression upon the younger male's face.
"Well..."
Pony started thinking about how to phrase his words. He had trouble with that a lot... Sorting his thoughts out into sentences without sounding like an idiot.
"Remember what we were talking about earlier? You know... When Dally and you almost fought," The younger greaser finally started, leaning forward a little more in his seat.
Two-Bit nodded, his happiness fading nearly instantly. So it was going to be one of those talks.
He kept a smile on and tried to think of something clever to say. Maybe he could end the subject early if he said the right thing. "Well, I was just messing around..." he muttered, realizing that while it wasn't the best thing to say, it was the truth, and the truth was better than nothing.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I know, but..."
Pony mentally slapped himself for fumbling over his words, and he redirected his gaze from Two-Bit to the ceiling.
"I've just been thinking about it," he said, quieter now.
Two-Bit could understand that. Somewhat. He hadn't actually ever been in a situation anywhere close to similar, and he didn't particularly think about Pony's very often, but in a way he guessed it made sense.
"Okay." he didn't know any encouraging words of wisdom to offer, but he did know how to keep a conversation going.
"I'm just not sure what I should do about it. I mean... If anything. It's been bothering me..."
Pony, being Pony, had jumped to the conclusion that it was something that needed to be payed attention to. That it was important.
Wasn't it?
To Pony it was. Verbal confirmation that Dallas loved him. Really loved him, as more then a possession.
But even so... The thought that Dallas were merely possessing him seemed irrational. Hell, a lot of Pony's thoughts were irrational, even to him. But he couldn't help but think them, and his hyperactive imagination seemed to get the best of him quite often in situations such as this one.
It was quite possible that Pony knew that Dally loved him. Maybe he just wanted to hear him break down his tough-guy barrier and say it.
"Some people just aren't the affectionate type..." Two-Bit stated. He couldn't really think of any way to make the situation better. He would have expected Dallas to have said the magic words by now. How hadn't he? He felt bad himself, knowing that a typical relationship between Dally and one of his Greasy girls would have had the word 'love' thrown around more than 'cigarette'.
"Yeah... I guess not," Pony murmured, shrugging slightly. Though his gaze directed down at his lap showed that he remained unconvinced. "Affectionate" didn't have anything to do with it. "Affectionate" was going down a whole other alley. But it was somewhat true; Dallas wasn't an uber lovey-dovey guy. He didn't show affection in any form, really; in public it was necessary, but even when they were just around the gang, he remained virtually emotionless (besides anger, of course).
But nonetheless... Three words wasn't too much to ask. Was it?
"Have you tried anything that might persuade him to say it?" Two-Bit asked. He wasn't sure what he was implying. How much could Pony give, exactly? Dallas had to know that Ponyboy wasn't like his other relationships, and so things wouldn't be the same. And thus, Pony would clearly be in need of a little reminder from time to time that he was still worth it though.
"Well... I guess I have, yeah," Pony replied.
If what Two-Bit meant was saying "I love you" to him, then yes. Wouldn't that be enough of a prompter? That's what's supposed to happen. Somebody says "I love you", and then somebody else says "I love you, too,". That's how it goes.
Right?
Of course he had. Pony wasn't the type to complain without putting forth effort. Two-Bit leaned back onto the couch and scratched his head.
"Does he at least say it during sex?", he joked, half-heartedly.
Ponyboy would have given Two-Bit some sort of glare, or at least let a raging blush coat his face, had his mind been in it's normal state. But he was too deep in thought to be embarrassed. He just sat there and shook his head.
"Nope," he replied, following a small, inaudible sigh.
Two-Bit frowned.
"Damn." He looked at Ponyboy, examining the younger male's face for clue's as to ho this was making him feel. It was pretty obvious it wasn't making him happy, but he wanted to know how serious Pony was about the relationship. He didn't exactly want to ask, of course, he'd already over stepped so many times.
"Maybe you should just ask him if he does..?"
"Yeah. But... I mean..."
Pony paused. He was slowly growing irritated with his own mind. His thoughts were just getting more and more fucking depressing.
"Should I have to?"
No, no you shouldn't have to at all, Two-Bit thought to himself.
He was so frustrated with this conversation. Poor Pony. Three stupid words that get tossed around like nothing by most people in regular two day flings, and he couldn't get those words, those words so precious to him, out of someone he loved and held so dearly.
"No," Two-Bit whispered. He cleared his throat, trying not to let the depressing tone of the conversation bring him down so much. It was difficult though. "Try making him jealous." Two-Bit said suddenly. It was an idea almost out of nowhere, and a horrible one at that. But in a way it made some sense. If Pony were to get Dallas jealous, Dally could possibly want to let Ponyboy know that he loves him. Maybe.
"Try making him jealous."
Two-Bit's words made Pony look up.
Well... Fuck. That was actually a good idea.
It would be, anyway. If they were dealing with someone who wasn't Dallas Winston.
"Someone would end up getting massacred," The younger greaser replied, shrugging.
Two-Bit stared at the ground and wondered briefly just how stupid he actually was for what he was about to say.
"I think I could take him." he said easily, smiling up at the fourteen year old with eyes he hoped showed genuine care instead of fear.
Pony's eyes widened at Two-Bit's words, and he looked to the older greaser. His gaze met with a sincere smile, and the younger greaser raised a brow.
"Don't tell me you're serious," Pony stated, his shocked facial expression morphing into one of question.
"Two-Bit, he'd probably destroy you," He added, matter-of-factly. If Two-Bit thought that he could face Dally and come out intact, he was out of his mind.
Two-Bit raised an eyebrow and scoffed.
"What? You don't think I could hold my own?" he asked, pretending to be offended. Dallas was by no means indestructible, and Ponyboy sometimes seemed to look over this.
"Well, no, you can. But still... If you two fought, it would get bad. You'd get hurt. Both of you would," Pony said, pausing for a short moment.
"And your friendship would pay for it," the younger greaser added. It was true. Even if Dally were to eventually find out about the whole thing just being a trick... He had a tendency to hold grudges. Even against someone like Two-Bit. Even against someone like Pony.
Sighing, Pony concluded with an, "It isn't worth it."
It wasn't. Sure, Pony wished that Dallas would go ahead and just say those three words. But even if they did try to go through with the jealousy plan, there was no guarantee that doing so would push Dally to admit anything. And he'd rather have Dally not say it at all then say it and not mean anything by it.
Besides, he didn't want Two-Bit getting hurt for him.
The greaser's emerald eyes darkened slightly, giving in to his mind's persistent efforts to depress him.
He'd heard Dallas say those words to Sylvia, before, when she used to linger around. Sylvia. The broad that two-timed him so many countless times.
What was keeping him from saying it now?
Maybe it was just time for him to rethink the basis of his and Dally's relationship.
Two-Bit sighed. Ponyboy had a point. Of course he had a point. It was Pony.
Two-Bit wished he could help. He knew though, that there was really nothing that he could do. It was between Dallas and Ponyboy.
"I think the only thing you can really do is talk to him...", Two-Bit said, with a shrugged. "Dally just ain't that good with any emotions but anger."
"Yeah," Ponyboy said, tiredly. "I've noticed."
There was a small sigh followed by a short period of silence, before Pony rested his hand on Two-Bit's shoulder.
"Thanks Two-Bit," he said, managing a smile for the older greaser, though his eyes held their dimmed hues.
As if knowing that the important conversation had just concluded, Dallas walked in. He looked questioningly at both greasers but shrugged it off.
"Hey," he greeted them. He wasn't quite sure what to think, seeing the two sitting so quietly on the couch, as if waiting for his arrival. He decided it was probably nothing, though.
"I think I should be going." Two-Bit announced, standing up and stretching his long limbs. "Until next time, good fellows."
Pony just gave Dally an acknowledging nod as said greaser walked in, though he felt his heart sink a little upon catching sight of him.
Of course, Two-Bit chose to leave at that moment; leaving Pony with the last person he wanted to be alone with at said time.
He wasn't mad at Dally. He honestly wasn't. But seeing him just caused his upsetting thoughts to multiply. Just cause unanswered questions to pound louder in his head.
Dally moved to the couch quickly and sat by Pony, wrapping an arm around him automatically. Judging by the tenseness of his shoulders, and the hard look in his eyes, Dallas could easily tell that his boyfriend was upset about something. He kissed Ponyboy gently on the neck.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Pony resisted the urge to sigh, and simply pried his gaze from the wall in front of him to glance at Dallas. His eyes were growing grayer by the moment, though otherwise he appeared somewhat... Okay.
"Nothing. My head just hurts," he lied, smoothly.
Well, it wasn't a total lie. He had been thinking so hard over the course of his and Two-Bit's conversation that his temples ached.
Dallas considered questioning Pony further on that subject, but went against it, instead opting to address the matter of the male that had just left.
"What did you and Two-Bit talk about?"
Damn.
Pony tried to think up a clever lie fast, though he failed this time around, and just resorted to saying, "Nothing much."
Looking over at Dallas, he tried to think of something else to add... Though words didn't find him. He didn't want to talk about this anymore.
Pony just leaned on Dally, putting his head on the older male's shoulder. He figured that that would be as much reassurance as anything... And besides. He was starting to just want to be close to someone.
Dally scoffed, shaking his head a bit as Ponyboy leaned on him. It was so obvious that he was hiding something now. "Liar," he mumbled into the dreamer's neck as he ran a hand through his hair. He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice. He wasn't starting an argument. They both knew they'd be talking about this later. Just not right now. He was too... Stunned, at the blatant lie.
Ponyboy's brow furrowed a little bit at the word, and he had the urge to stand up, walk into his room, and lock the door at that moment.
But he didn't.
"I'm gonna light up," Pony murmured, as he stood, lifting a cigarette from his pocket and heading to the back door.
Dally wasn't sure if he should follow Ponyboy outside or not. He felt like if he did, they would start arguing. And he didn't want to just yet. However, he also knew that he didn't particularly want to sit inside and wait for him, so the blond pulled himself up off the piece of furniture and followed after. If the hood was being honest with himself, he needed, disparately to blow his top. He'd been holding in so much anger and frustration lately that he felt like he was going to explode. He didn't know how much more he could take.
Dallas let the back door ricochet shut and stood parallel from his boyfriend, crossing his arms and not saying anything. Ponyboy only glanced over at Dallas, once he stepped outside. Irritatance was written clearly on his countenance.
He was going to ask what Dally wanted, though he decided against it soon after. Pony didn't want to fight about anything right now. His heart hurt and his thoughts were buzzing with depressing harmonies. He didn't want to top it off with an argument over something as petty as a conversation between him and a friend. Him and Dally had argued enough lately. Time to cool off.
But at the same time, he knew that Dallas expected some sort of response. Pony just sucked the rest of the nicotine down and stomped the ember out of his cigarette butt.
Dallas didn't know why he couldn't see that coming. Ponyboy wasn't stupid. He wasn't going to fight, either. Not wanting to have wasted a trip outside for nothing, Dallas stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Pony's waist and sighing heavily.
"Dammit," he whispered. He had no idea, not the slightest fucking clue, what had happened. But something had, and it needed fixed. He was drained. He wanted to beat the tar out of someone, and at the same time he just wanted to go to sleep.
He ran his hand through Pony's hair and finally kissed him roughly.
But even he could feel the obligation in the kiss.
Pony kissed Dallas back for a few moments, letting large hands work through his auburn hair.
Within those few moments, his overactive imagination decided to rear it's head again.
Pony wished that they could go longer than a day without having some sort of issue. It was like they had one good day - take the sunset watching experience as an example - and then, to balance things out, they had to have several mishaps shortly after. That was just how it was, with the two of them.
It wasn't a very good way to be.
The younger greaser broke the kiss, gently. He put his hand over Dally's, which was situated around his waist.
Dallas frowned, something he was getting very used to.
"I'm going to Buck's," he stated. He hadn't originally planned on it. But the urge to leave had hit him suddenly. He would stay, of course, if Pony asked him to. But Ponyboy rarely did.
"Okay," Pony replied, as Dallas announced that he was leaving for the night. Pony didn't want him to leave, even with the tenseness that rested between them. Pony didn't want to be alone.
But he wasn't going to say that.
Suddenly, the younger male slipped his fingers into Dally's, looking up at the blonde male with grayed eyes, that held a sincere tone in them.
"I love you."
To that, Dallas raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Ponyboy was expecting a response of a kind... One Dallas wasn't prepared to give.
"I know," he responded.
And the blond pulled away and headed for Buck's, leaving the wounded teen to stand alone.
Please leave a review to let us know what you think so far! :] The next chapter should be up and ready within three weeks or so.
Thanks for reading~
