Chapter Text
Stevie is, literally, at the store looking for a cute polo specifically with Eddie in mind when he gets the call.
Jenny by studio killers alerts him, he picks up on the first ring.
Don’t judge him, he’s never lied about having a one-track mind.
“Jeff~” he sing-songed into the speaker before the alpha could get a word in. “Man, you called at just the right time.” He pulls the polo he’s currently looking at out and splays it over the rack, it’s his size, large, dark green with thick black stripes. He has grey suspenders from Robin that’ll look fucking great with his special jeans.
There is bustling over the speaker.
Jeff has an android, so more background noise peaks through.
Steve can hear some metal music in the background, something old, like Deep Purple. There is cheering, something crashes. It’s in funny contrast to Marina and the diamonds playing over the 24/7 Old Navy speakers.
“Every time is the right time with you.” Jeff grumbled, his alpha growl through the speaker would have affected Steve if they were in person despite Steve’s official Alpha status, what with Steve being on Omega hormone replacement therapy and all, but he knows that’s why Jeff only does it over the phone. Their wobbly relationship aside, Jeff’s never purposefully used Steve’s identity against him.
“How bad is it?” Steve asked, placing the polo in his basket where he had already bought a blue dress for Dustin, a beta Steve babysits for, who was exploring his gender expression right now. He also got an obsidian extra large sweater from the men’s section for Erica because she was showing signs of presenting soon and Steve wanted to make sure she was prepared with his scent and something comfortable, since Steve was the closest thing she had to a pack omega.
Jeff grumbles again over the phone. Gareth’s voice pops in. He says hi, knowing it’s Steve, but leaves before Steve can say hi back. Ángel would talk his ear off, Steve knows, if they weren’t currently dealing with dire circumstances.
“He’s not on his meds, we just finished a show.” Jeff explained, sounding like he was pulling his own fangs out just to give him the information. Steve couldn’t help but smile just a little at how hard Jeff tried. Jeff really cared for Eddie, had even taken up the mantle of pack alpha when Eddie couldn’t do it anymore. He wouldn’t be entertaining Steve if he didn’t. “He’s gonna crash out or something, I can feel it….could you maybe…..” Jeff whispered the last bit nervously. He always got squirmy about this.
“I have the cutest polo right here, it’s gonna drive him mad.” Steve sighs happily, a secret attempt to diffuse any tension Jeff was feeling, though he knew it was unlikely to help. Steve understood he made some people uncomfortable, he did his best to be understanding. It’s easier to educate people that way, he’s found. He’s realized most people are just scared.
He looks at the polo again. Pride fills his chest. He really made the right choice. If Eddie isn’t on his meds, Steve will have to work extra hard tonight to get him settled. He’s going to need all the help he can get.
“….. You give me the creeps.” Jeff said, not unkind. Steve loved that about him. Jeff didn’t like Steve, didn’t understand him in the slightest, was mildly disgusted by him even, but he was honest in a way that somehow never felt rude. Because he wasn’t trying to be rude. He was trying to get it, he just didn’t. Most never even tried.
“ I know, love. I’m used to it.” Steve said. “You’re doing better than a lot of people.”
Being interdynamic in any way was looked down upon in society. As an alpha who took Omega hormones, Steve didn’t fit in as much as he used to. He just.… preferred himself this way, it felt right.
But it wasn’t normalized in the slightest. Most transdynamic individuals chose to fully transition and rarely ever told people that they weren’t always the designation they went by now. Steve was an outlier in the culture. He wasn’t attempting to hide anything, and he wasn’t just an omega, or just an alpha, he was an alpha and also a little bit of an omega, he was going to act like it. After he got disowned for not getting into college, he stopped trying to fit in.
It was hard for most people, especially alphas, to understand. Alphas were socialized to believe their designation was superior, beaten into masculine traits, even if it happened more subtly in today's day and age. Steve would know, he was raised that way and had to unlearn just like every other interdynamic, he was still unlearning. On top of that, Jeff came from a religious background, meaning he was socialized even more to struggle with an alpha enacting on omega stereotypes. He was taught to see it as much more predatory.
They talked about it once, back at the beginning of this thing, when Jeff realized Steve could help him manage Eddie’s moods in a semi positive manner….. better than what Eddie was doing before, anyways.
… Cocaine.
Heroine.
Among other things.
Jeff doesn’t like Steve because he can’t understand him, was taught his whole life that people like Steve were threats, but he knows Steve is special to Eddie, so he does what he can. He’s choosing to learn. Steve likes him.
“… I’ll text you the address. Be here as soon as you can, he’s already getting into the alcohol.” Jeff huffes, frustrated. Steve can’t help but feel bad. Jeff had a lot on his shoulders. “Also, change my ringtone, I know you haven’t yet.”
Steve chuckles. “Until I get Eddie’s number, it’s staying on yours. Ask again and I’ll change it to Heavy Metal Lover.” Steve reminds himself to stick a pack of bandaids in his pocket when he gets home.
There is a tortured groan from the other side of the speaker. “How did you somehow make it worse? You have to know how you sound.”
“You make it easy, man.”
Steve pays for his things, ignoring frazzled glances from the Alpha working at the checkout when she catches his scent, then rushes to get to his apartment with Robin so he can change. He has an important rest of his night ahead of him. It wasn’t what he expected from his nighttime retail therapy, but he’s certainly not complaining.