#he’s even used to soda’s overly loving and affectionate touches like head kisses and body crushing hugs

[made-my-peace-with-all-the-bad]

Darrel’s love language is acts of service and that’s how he tells his brothers he cares. Him fighting tooth and nail to keep his brothers was love. Him pushing Pony because his brother has a gift and passion for learning is love. Him waiting by the phone when Pony was gone was love. Him making dinner for the whole gang and making sure they eat is love.

Pony’s love language is words of affirmation. He likes telling people and being told that they care. Him telling Johnny about how they could have an entire life outside of Tulsa together was love. Him feeling cared about and loved when Johnny says the reason he’s living is Pony is love. Him writing to tell the story of his friends and their meaning to him was love.

Pony doesn’t think Darrel loves him because Darrel doesn’t say it. Darrel doesn’t come in and say “hey I care about you”. And Pony doesn’t recognize that all of Darrel’s sacrifices and everything he does to keep them afloat is him showing his love. Darrel never saying “I love you” to Pony makes Pony think that Darrel must not love him. And by the time Darrel realizes that and says it, it’s almost too late.