"What are you going to do?" Two-Bit asked the oldest Greaser from where himself, Dally, and Darry sat at the table in the kitchen, taking the open opportunity to talk before the others would get home. Darry raised his head off of his arms that were crossed on the table and ran his fingers through his hair, he had options racing through his mind but none were ones that he was going to consider. Not if it would put the rest of the gang's lives in danger.
"I'm going to do the only thing I can – protect the territory and my family. I'll keep the territory marked and do what I can in order to keep everybody safe. If it means going face to face with the Alpha – then that is what it takes, I'll heal eventually." the oldest Greaser explained as he propped his chin on his clasped hands, his eyes closing momentarily as he shook his head a few times.
"And if you don't?" Dally asked softly, his eyes locked onto the others, his eyebrows raised in question.
"We'll deal with that when the time comes. I'm not about to let an Alpha get between me and my Pack. If it comes down to it, I'll involve the other Packs and possibly a Pride or two. I can't let an Alpha into this territory and overthrow everything that my parents have set." Darry explained, his voice low and firm, his foot restlessly tapping against the floor, filling the room with the soft sound. Two-Bit rose from his chair to walk over to the older Greaser, placing his hands down on his shoulders to give them a firm squeeze, earning him a soft rumble in return.
"What can we do? We might not be wolves but there has to be something that we can do." the younger of the two asked, his grip tightening and relaxing on Darry's shoulders, watching with a grin as the oldest Curtis lowered his head a bit to give the other plenty of room to work.
"Just keep an eye on Pony on the days that you're in school, an eye on Sodapop on the days that you decide to not show up. So far I haven't caught the Alpha's scent on Soda – only on Pony – which could turn the tables in the Alpha's direction if he ever makes a larger statement. Turning the youngest human member of a Pack gives that member a higher chance of survival, while giving the chance for that member to decide which Pack to join – Pack by blood or Pack by bite." he explained to the both of them, a louder rumble leaving his lips when Two-Bit pressed down firmer on the juncture between his shoulders and neck.
"You're not planning on going after this Alpha, right? From what you've told us – it would be a suicide mission taking him on alone." Dally asked as he reached over and gave the oldest Greaser's wrist a squeeze to catch his attention.
"On my own? No. I'll have to go to the other Packs and Prides, speak to a few Alphas and Sires to see if they would be willing to join alongside us. They might not be willing to spare Betas and Enforcers but it is something that I have a feeling I will have no choice but to do. The Danvers' Pack I know will join to aid – but that does not mean the same for the others." Darry explained softly as he raised his head back up, tilt it in the slightest so that his cheek momentarily brushed against Two-Bit's knuckles.
"Go to the Danvers first. Maybe they will be able to tell you which Packs and Prides would be willing and which wouldn't. You need a place to start." suggested Dally with a nod of his head. The oldest Greaser was just about to respond before his head snapped in the direction of the front door, having heard that his brothers and the other two returned he exchanged a look with Dally and Two-Bit, silently telling them that the conversation was over for the time being.
"Giving Dar a rub down there, Two-Bit?" asked Sodapop with a teasing tone as he walked into the kitchen and clapped the Greaser on the shoulder, passing by him to get to the fridge in search of chocolate cake.
"Few stiff muscles in his neck, press hard enough and he goes limp. I can do you next but I'm pretty sure Dar here would kill me if I take my hands off his neck." the Greaser replied back to him with a grin, his thumb rubbing small circles at the base of his hairline, scratching lightly with his nails.
"You stop – you die." Darry muttered as he crossed his arms on the table and lowered his forehead down onto his arms, Two-Bit's hand following his head down, earning him a very low rumble in return, one that he felt through the wolf's neck rather than heard.
"Hey, Darry, you still have your switch? I'm going to need to borrow it for a few days – mine snapped in the last swing-out at Buck's. With the creep that's started hanging around the DX, I could use a better option than just my fists and a tire iron." Steve asked as he walked into the kitchen and stole a swirl of icing off of the slice of cake his best friend just sliced out. The oldest Greaser's head snapped up and turned in Steve's direction, an eyebrow raising in question before they narrowed in the slightest, his nostrils flaring to try and pick up any scent of the 'creep' on Steve or Soda.
"Tall. Insanely tall. He could have had a couple inches on you, Darry. Dark hair, dark brown maybe even black. His eyes were dark, too, they weren't a natural color. He just seemed to be watching the DX, he never came inside or came close enough for any of us to get a good look. He was creeping out our customers and all but drove a few away." Sodapop explained, having decided to join in on the conversation. Darry's shoulders were drawing tight and his spine was going rigid with every word that left the pair's lips, his eyes narrowing as his throat constricted around a growl.
"Stay here." the oldest Greaser said firmly as he rose from his chair fast enough that Two-Bit nor Dally had a chance to react, crossing the room to tug his boots on quickly.
"Sounds like the same guy that's been hanging around outside the school. He was at the last track meet, wasn't he?" Johnny asked form where he was lounged on the floor beside Ponyboy, their textbooks scattered around at their feet.
"He wasn't anybody I recognized." the youngest of the Curtis' added in from where his nose was buried in a text book while his other hand was scribbling notes in a sprawl across a tablet.
"Stay inside. Lock this door behind me." Darry ordered firmly before he was out the door, closing it with a click behind himself. Nobody could stop their growing nerves the minute the oldest Greaser was gone, they never once had to lock the door. Not once.