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Dallas Winston huffed as Marcia plopped down next to Two-Bit. That was his spot. His leather jacket was on the back of the chair. How dare she take his spot! Yeah. That's why Dallas was mad.
It wasn't because of the way that Two-Bit gave a light grin in her direction, or the way he didn't retract his arm, which was extended over the back of the chair, as she sat down which made it to where his arm was around her. It wasn't because the nagging voice in the back of Dallas' head screamed that he was going to get replaced.
It wasn't any of that. He was mad because she sat in the chair that was so obviously his. Especially because that chair was next to his boyfriend. Especially because that chair had his jacket on it.
Dallas sat on the other side of Marcia, because Two-Bit always sat on the edge, because it didn't really matter as long as he got his jacket back. But he couldn't help himself from being huffy, and glaring at her everytime she giggled a little too much at one of Two-Bit's jokes.
He bit the inside of his cheek, half because he always did, constantly searching for oral stimulation, and half because if Marcia slapped Two-Bit's shoulder one more time while laughing at something he said, he might just go over there and plop his 6'2 ass in Two-Bit's lap. He might just drag Two out of the drive in and kiss him against the first flat surface he finds.
After the movie, in 1 quick stride, Dallas was taking Two-Bit by the hand and smiling tightly at Marcia as she talked to Two.
"Oh, you're the dude that hit on Cherry a couple months back." She chuckled, even though Dallas could tell she felt uncomfortable around him. She was probably too busy flirting with his boyfriend to notice him sitting next to her for an hour and a half. She held her purse closer to her body, as if afraid Dallas was going to steal it, although the only thing Dallas was interested in stealing away from the situation, was Two-Bit.
Dallas, now that he was thinking about it, came to the realization that he hadn't stolen anything in a few months. Since he gotten with Two. He knew the reason behind it. If he went to jail, chances were he'd lose Two-Bit in the process. Dallas didn't know if he wanted to ever lose the way Two's eyes lit up when he walked over to him or the way he held Dallas in his arms like he mattered. So he stayed out of trouble.
Plus, what fun was fighting socs when he could lick the brownie batter out of the mixing bowl after Two-Bit put them in the oven?
"Yeah, I guess I did." Dallas answered awkwardly, holding Two-Bit's hand tighter. He needed comfort. He yearned for reassurance. He desperately longed to know that Two wasn't leaving him.
Two-Bit looked at him, giving him a small smile and squeezing his hand back twice. I'm here was silently communicated. "Marcia, this is my..." He stopped, knowing friend wasn't the right word. He searched Dallas' eyes before continuing, making sure his boyfriend was okay. He squeezed his hand again, three times in quick succession. This time, it communicated a different phrase. I love you. And Dallas felt so, undeniably loved, he could even argue. Not even in his head.
"Friend. This is my friend Dallas." Two finished his sentence, repeating his I love you squeezes, quickly followed by one. An I'm sorry squeeze.
Dallas' face dropped. Nonononononono. Why was Two sorry? He hadn't done anything! So why was he upset? Why was he apologizing?
"We've met." Marcia spat bitterly, full distain for Dallas finally settling in.
Dallas fixed his eyes on the ground, preventing him from seeing the way Two-Bit all but growled at Marcia for daring to speak about his boy like that.
Two-Bit had always been very protective over Dallas, even before they got together, they were very close and Two-Bit would be damned if anyone said anything bad about Dallas.
As the two boys clambered into the front seat of Two-Bit's old pickup, Dallas was completely silent, and that worried Two.
Dallas was never completely silent. He always was grumbling about something if he was mad, or damn near talking Two's ear off if the younger boy was happy about something. Not that Two-Bit cared. Anything to hear his boy speak.
Two-Bit leaned over the center console as Dallas buckled in and kissed his boyfriend's cheek, gently. "What's wrong baby?" He frowned, concern etching it's way into his features.
Dallas sat, arms crossed, completely silent. He drew his bottom lip into his mouth, chewing on it slightly.
Two's fingers found their way up to his mouth, gently coaxing his lip from our in between his teeth. "Don't do that, my love. You're going to hurt yourself."
Dallas smacked Two-Bit's hand away, looking out the window. "Just take me to Buck's." He grumbled, trying to act tough even as his voice trembled slightly, almost unnoticeable, but Two-Bit knew his boyfriend.
Two-Bit knew something was wrong. Dallas never wanted to go stay with Buck anymore, now having his place at Two-Bit's home, and while he had his own room at Buck's, Dallas had confessed multiple times that sharing a bed with Two-Bit was the best thing in the world.
So the fact that he wanted to go to Buck's was completely out of left field.
"Why?" Two-Bit asked, furrowing his brows. "You never wanna go to Buck's unless something's wrong. What's the matter, baby?" Two kept his voice soft, knowing that it would make matters worse if he raised his voice.
Dallas began to fidget with his rings, a nervous habit that he always reprimanded himself for. Not that he didn't have much he didn't reprimand himself for. If it comforted him, it had to be bad. At least in Dallas' head.
"Baby. Answer me please. Are you having a bad day? I need you to talk."
Dallas looked over to Two. His eyes softened for a moment as he saw the look of absolute concern on his boyfriend's face. "You let her sit where my jacket was." He muttered, trying to sound angry, but just sounding upset.
Two sat back in his seat, scoffing. "You're going to ignore me over a jacket? Are you really that possessive over a jacket, Dallas?" He couldn't believe it. He turned the key in the ignition.
Dallas' eyes widened for a moment, before he narrowed them, hiding the hurt. Two-Bit never called him Dallas. Since the day they had gotten together it was "baby" or "my love" or "darling boy" or something. Never Dallas. Even when he was mad, he never used his name.
"No. It's the fact that you let her sit next to you when she was so obviously flirting!" Dallas snapped back. "You're my boyfriend! Not her's, not anyone else's! Mine!"
Two-Bit swallowed as he put the car in gear. He didn't want to fight with Dallas. But god the jealousy got to him. Dallas had no reason to be jealous! Two-Bit had irritated multiple times that he only wanted Dallas!
"We'll talk about this when we get home." Two-Bit said, dropping his voice low, almost to a whisper, but not quite.
Dallas nodded in agreement
The car ride was spent in silence, Dallas and Two-Bit occasionally stealing glances at each other, looking away quickly everytime the other caught them starting.
As they walked up the front steps, Dallas let out a shaky breath "I'm sorry." He muttered quickly, looking away as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"I forgive ya, Dal." Two-Bit whispered, taking Dallas' hand. "I love ya lots, ya know that, baby?"
Dallas blushed a deeper shade of red. He squeezed Two-Bit's hand three times, reciprocating the affectionate phrase wordlessly.
"C'mon, let's get you to bed." Two-Bit smiled.
Dallas stood in front of the mirror after his shower, and glared at himself. He almost messed everything with Two up! How could he?! The one good thing he had in his life! Because he couldn't control the voice in his head that constantly screaming at him that he was worthless and that Two-Bit was going to realize it sooner than later?! He was fucking pathetic.
His head snapped up as he heard a gentle knock on the door "Baby? Marilyn needs to shower." He heard his boyfriend's gentle voice come through the door.
Marilyn, Two Bit's little sister, also known as the mother fucking bain of his existence. Marilyn, having noticed that Two-Bit now loved Dallas more than her, was very bitter towards Dallas.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done. " Dallas' voice cracked. He swallowed hard, trying to get the lump in his throat to go away.
He quickly threw on clothes, allowing himself to breathe for a moment longer ,before stepping out into the hall, and making his way down to Two-Bit's bedroom.
He found Two-Bit lounging on the bed, a book in hand, which he shut when he felt Dallas' weight shift the bed. Dallas needed to be near Two, having been unable to get the jealousy and the anxieties out of his mind. He silently laid his head on Two-Bit's chest, allowing his blonde hair to be played with.
"Do you wanna talk now or later?" Two-Bit asked, making sure to give Dallas an out. Forcing communication could make Dallas do one of three things: get overwhelmed and not speak for 2+ hours, get angry and not speak for 2+ hours, or cry and not speak for 2+ hours. All of which drove Two-Bit further away from knowing what was going on in his boyfriend's head, and overall led to a shut down, upset Dallas.
"Now, I guess" Dallas grumbled, trying to sound tough as he fidgeted with his rings.
"Okay," Two-Bit softly smiled "What happened back there, my love?"
Dallas sighed, closing his eyes for a moment and letting himself feel Two-Bit's fingers fiddle with his hair. His boyfriend was there. He was safe. He didn't need to panic. But god, he hated talking about his feelings. He hated having to admit that Two-Bit letting Marcia so obviously flirt with him made him scared. Because Dallas Winston wasn't supposed to be scared. He bit his lip, only for it to be coaxed out of his teeth by his boyfriend's gentle fingers.
"I don't know." He lied. It was easier to lie than to admit that he was scared of being left. Dallas Winston didn't get scared. "Just don't want you talking to her." Dallas bit the inside of his cheek.
"Please don't lie to me." Two-Bit pleaded. "I just wanna help, baby." Dammit! Why did Two-Bit always have to be so protective?! It irritated Dallas. But, God, if it didn't make him feel loved.
Dallas bit his cheek harder, hard enough to draw blood. As the metallic taste filled his mouth, he sighed once more, looking up, trying his hardest not to let his fears spiral him into an anxiety attack. He hates you, he hates you, he hates you. The voice in his head screamed.
Even as the first few tears gathered in his eyes and his leg began to bounce, the voice didn't stop; it got louder.
" 'm fine! Don't touch me!" Dallas shouted as Two-Bit tried to place a steadying hand on his leg. He stood from the bed, pacing back and forth, running his hands through his hair. Well, more yanking his hair out.
Two-Bit rushed in front of him, gently grabbing the taller boy's hands from his hair and kissing his knuckles "You're going to hurt yourself." He gruffly said as Dallas desperately tried to pull away. "I'm going to let you go, but I can't let you hurt yourself, okay baby?"
Two-Bit let go of Dallas, trying his hardest to respect his wish of not being touched, but God, when Dallas got that dangerous look in his eye, all he could see was Dallas getting shot, thankfully living without any long term injuries, but he still got shot and Two-Bit thought he would die that night.
Two shook off the thought, focusing on his panicking boyfriend, who was still pacing the room fighting back tears.
"Dal, let's sit down, okay? You're going to make it worse." Two-Bit gently coaxed, reaching out to guide Dallas to the bed
"Don't fucking touch me!" Dallas cried, his chest heaving as he struggled to gulp down a good breath of air. "Please! Just don't touch me!"
Dallas was fully sobbing now, anxiety fully setting in and completely overwhelming him. He didn't want to think about the fact that he was jealous. Because admitting he was jealous was admitting that he cared. And caring was a one way ticket to hurt town. He didn't want Two-Bit to hurt him.
"Okay baby," Two-Bit soothed "I won't touch you. Can you sit down for me?"
Dallas sat down, sobbing into his hands. Two-Bit was going to leave him, Two-Bit was going to leave him,Two-Bit was going to leave him, Two-Bit was going to l-
"Hey, hey, hey, where's all this coming from? I'm not going to leave you baby." Two-Bit knelt down, gently kissing Dallas' knuckles. Dallas must've been talking out loud.
"You were letting Marcia flirt with you at the drive in, and I got in my head, and please don't leave! I'll be better I promise!" Dallas sobbed.
Two-Bit's eyes softened. He rubbed his thumb across Dallas' knuckles. "Oh, my baby," He whispered "You're already perfect. My perfect boy. I love you, I'm not leaving." He pulled Dallas into his arms. "My sweet boy. I'm so sorry I didn't stop her flirting. You're the only one I want I promise."
Two-Bit peppered his head with kisses and let Dallas cry in his arms. He knew how bad Dallas' jealousy was, and mixed with abandonment issues, it was very easy for Dallas to get into his head.
As Two-Bit whispered sweet nothings into Dallas' ear, rubbing his back, he eventually felt Dallas' breathing even out as his sobs slowed and he calmed.
"You okay baby?" Two-Bit asked, smiling at Dallas.
Dallas nodded, not feeling like talking.
It was rare, these moments with Dallas where they weren't play-fighting, or rumbling with each other. Where they could just exist together. Two-Bit, having noticed how sweet Dallas looked sleeping in his arms, had began to hold him at night, but these moments? Where Dallas was just laying in his arms, playing with the collar of Two-Bit's shirt? These moments were sacred.
And Two nor Dallas would trade it for the world.