Chapter Text
Eddie was second to last when he presented as an omega at 18 years old. No one was shocked in the slightest by his second gender. However, his younger pack mate Stanley’s presentation shocked even himself.
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In Bill's opinion Eddie takes on too much responsibility for every one in their pack. Arguing that Eddie should relax more as the sole omega in the group. Eddie’s argument always consists of the fact there’s too many alphas, Bill, Bev and Richie simply slam heads too often and Ben and Mike are too soft on them. Only one person in the pack still remains unpresented. Stan.
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When Stan was four and a half years old he met Richie Tozier in the park. The bouncy boy tried to show him how fast he could complete the monkey bars. Landing smack on his face and breaking his brand new glasses.
“Richard!” A thin tall woman yelled from the bench she was speaking to Stan’s mother on. Stan’s mom covered her mouth a little with a gasp, her big grey eyes staring.
“Are you ok?” Stanley’s small hand tried to shake the other boy who stayed embarrassed on the ground. Sniffle
Richie grumbled and took a big breath. Trying to keep a brave face in front of his new friend.
“I’m, sniff, I-“ his face scrunched as he tried to put his hand over a scrape on his nose. Stanley understood. Silently picking up his broken glasses and wiping a bit of dusty dirt and wood chips off the boy. Richie smiled with his gapped teeth.
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“Rich, be honest with me.”
“Stanley, I don't think you want me to do that.”
The blond huffed. They sat against a large elm tree. Stanley to bird watch, Richie being there just because. “Lay it on me Stan the man” he fiddled with some sort of stick sculpture he was making.
“What do you think I’ll present as? I mean, my birthday was about two months ago, which is around when everyone else did. So I should be next.” Stan said while preparing to hear something he absolutely didn’t want to hear, what someone close to him actually thought of him. Being perceived was a scary thought for the nature lover. He always felt easier quiet, observing, and being on the outside. The losers, as much as he loved them, made him have to be all of himself, stepping into the inside.
“Well, honestly, maybe like, omega?” Richie shrugged a bit. Stanley put his binoculars into his lap where his book sat open. His grey eyes met Richie’s unmatched ones. “Ok don’t give me such a shocked look! It’s because like, you're so caring and stuff, and uh.” He put his finger to his mouth, thinking deeply, Stanley could see it in his eyes.
“You just like, are so clam and stoic, like a super villain almost, it’s very.” He pauses again, observing Stan’s sour pout.
“Well I don’t mean like!” Richie’s lanky arms fly around in defense.
“First you start out by saying I’d be an omega and your evidence is I remind you of a super villain? What the fuck man? Did you pull all of that out of your ass?” Stan shoots out, the storm Richie’s seen so many times in his eyes brewing.
“Ok, I did but I have no clue! You don’t really act like Mike or Ben, but you aren’t similar to Eddie in a primal sense so I just don’t know?” Rich’s face looks almost sympathetic. Stan suddenly feels anger dissipate and anxiety rise in his stomach.
“You, you really don’t think I’ll be an alpha? Like at all? Am I that emasculate in your eyes? Too fragile? To “calm” or too much of a pussy!” He was tipped over on something he was easily upset by. Something only Richie himself knew the answer to. “No Stan! No man, absolutely not, you're putting words in my mouth!” Richie pleaded, but the other boy already made up his mind.
“I’m sorry Rich, I’m really angry, I just need to calm down. Text me if you need anything.” Like his usual “temper tantrums” as he calls them, he allowed his beloved book and binoculars to slam the forest floor and trailed off in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind the fire of emotion he set off.
Stan wasn’t someone who came back to put fires out. He burned too hot on the inside. Burning ceaselessly, melting away begging for even a drop of rain. Stanley wasn’t ready for the rain yet. When it comes. He knows that it will come as a flood. So for now, he continues to build his concrete walls for a little longer.
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Stan laid flat against his bed in darkness. Starting to become annoyed by the buzz of his phone against his desk.
Richie: I’m sorry for what I said.
Richie: Really the more I think about it the more I shouldn’t have said that to you. Especially when I know your situation. Yk, with what happened to your mom. And what your dad said..
Richie: I probably scared you, and I’m sorry.
Richie: plz respond
Richie: …
Stan flipped his phone over. He only felt anger rise in his face. Bad enough Richie said he had no idea what Stan would be. He brought up Stan's mom who has the mutated gene. Meaning Stan could be completely unpresented his entire life. When Stan was three, doctors told his parents he might never present. Ever since Donald has pressed Stan to be “more of a man” claiming that it would increase his chances of being an alpha, like him and all the other men in their family. Mr. Uris hates that Stanley loves to paint, loathes his son for not having much interest in sports, preferring to hike and bird watching as well as complete puzzles and read. To him his son presenting as anything but an alpha is the worst thing that could happen to him. But a son who never presents at all. Donald would do anything for that not even be a chance.
Stan knew he wouldn’t present as an alpha. He was nothing like his father. Or even Richie. Who were both absolutely fearless and commanding and genuinely so charismatic they could make the whole world stop for them. Stan couldn’t even do the one thing to make his father proud to have a son. Let alone anything else.
The fire would just have to constantly consume Stan. It never seems to burn enough away.
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12 unread messages
Eddie: Stanny, please answer at least some one! We are all worried about you.
Bev: Stan what’s going on? Lemme know if you need to talk
Bill: Richie said you got upset that’s why you aren’t here, is everything ok? Are you safe?
Mike: Stan we’re worried about you man, your never late to hangouts
Mike: I can come get you if you need took the truck, it’s not like you not be early
As Stan’s finger scrolled down more and more he realized what time it was, he slept through practically the whole rest of the afternoon into the next morning. Entirely missing hanging out at Ben’s house. He felt like a total douche bag. It was 9am, so maybe at least Mike or Eddie would be up. They always got up first.
Eddie’s phone rang for maybe a few seconds before he popped up from the absolute pile of bodies laid around him. They all nested together to sleep because no one could fall asleep after watching final destination.
“Eddie?” Stan’s wobbly deep morning voice made the brunette smile.
“Stanny! Good morning!!” His voice was light and sweet over the phone. Making something strange come across Stan’s face.
“I didn’t know who to call but I wanted everyone to know I’m ok, I think I have a cold or like a flu,” Stan rolled into his bed, arms and legs splayed minus the one holding his phone to his pierced ear.
“Really? How do you feel I can bring you some food, medicine maybe?” Stan could hear Eddie shuffle to get up onto his feet.
“I’m so exhausted, I slept through yesterday after being at the park with Rich, I’m so itchy, sort of hot, I’m definitely sweating. My eyes and head hurt so bad, the light is insanely bright. My gums sort of hurt? And uh. “ Stanley looked down to where most of his pain was. A graciously sized morning wood greeted him. That he left out of the conversation.
“Eddie?”
“Holy shit Stan.”
“What? What’s wrong?” Stan felt insanely on edge, like he could run straight to Eddie just to fix the tension.
“Your presenting Stanny,”
Stan’s heart dropped slightly in terror and partially in relief
“You're an alpha Stan!”
“No kidding.”