#sodapop curtis fic

[ddejavvu]

Doctor's Note - Sodapop Curtis x Reader

summary: you stand soda up, accidentally

contents/warnings: soda is somewhere around 18-19, mentions of his failed relationship w sandy, distrust/miscommunication, angst -> fluff. based on my very painful experience this morning with crippling back pain

send me requests for the outsiders!

Selfishly, sometimes you wonder what it would have been like to date Sodapop before he'd met Sandy. When he was more carefree, when he wasn't glancing at any man you talked to just a second too long. He's not possessive- and even if he is, he doesn't enforce it. But you know he's wary, and you know it's her fault.

Darrel had warned Soda to stay away from girls for a while, to give himself a break. And he had. Two long years later his hiatus was broken when you'd come into the DX fiending for a coke, and when you'd asked, 'Do you know where I could find a soda 'round here?' his eyes had glimmered with opportunity, and he'd pointed proudly to his nametag.

"Right here, ma'am. No caffeine in me but I could keep 'ya up all night if you want me to."

It had been so wildly crass, so insanely audacious that you'd burst out laughing, both from the absurdity of his name and the brashness of his comment. He'd apologized for it, too, twenty minutes into your conversation that lasted an hour.

"I didn't mean what I said earlier. I mean- I don't usually come on strong like that. Couldn't stop myself- prolly got it from my friend Two-Bit, he's always crackin' jokes like that. Hope you didn't think it was greasy."

"I think it was very greasy," You'd laughed, tilting your chin towards the tin of hair grease abandoned at the other end of the counter, "I thought that was the whole point."

"That's my buddy Steve's", Soda had told you, light dancing in his eyes as he readjusted his elbows on the counter to lean further towards you, "He does these real fancy swirls in his hair, and I've been able to do 'em a few times, but mainly I just slick mine back, and half the time I don't even grease it anyways because I'm just bummin' round the house so there's no need. My other friend-"

He was a natural-born talker, and you'd been just as caught up with talking yourself as you were with listening to him. It had taken the reappearance of his aforementioned coworker, Steve, for you to glance at the clock, and realize that you were 40 minutes past the time you should have been back at work from your lunch break.

You're surprised you hadn't scared Sodapop off with your swearing alone, but you'd managed to scribble your number onto his hand before you'd left. You hadn't even remembered to buy a drink, but he'd brought you one when he showed up for your first date.

Now, three weeks later, you're getting ready to show up to his house. This is a big thing: you're meeting his brothers. He's told you so much about them you feel like you know them, and he's also given you your fair share of warnings, too. Darry's too stern sometimes, and it might take a while for him to warm up to you. Ponyboy's an awkward teen, and on top of it, he'd trusted Sandy- they all had. You know you've gotta prove yourself better than her, and you're starting with some sweet perfume and a bundle of flowers for their dining table.

--

"Get your bum ass off the couch and vacuum," Soda's hands shove roughly at Ponyboy's thighs, "She's gonna be here in thirty minutes!"

"Jeez, Soda, she's not my girlfriend," Ponyboy grumbles, but he stands and heads for the closet where the vacuum lies all the same, "Don't understand why I have to be the one cleanin'."

"'Cause Darry's the one cookin'." Soda glares at him, "And I'm cleaning too. I've been cleaning for days."

"Bathroom looks good, little man." Darry voices his approval from the kitchen, "Thought I was gonna die of shock when I realized you'd scrubbed down the toilet."

Not much conversation is heard over Ponyboy's aggressive vacuuming, but Soda calls the cleaning at five minutes to your arrival time.

"Okay. Rules again?" He looks expectantly at his brothers, and Darry looks irritated that he's being grilled this time.

"No judging." Ponyboy grumbles, but he doesn't think it's fair, because Sandy had seemed so nice and sweet, and she'd run right out on Sodapop. So he feels like he has to judge, because maybe Soda's gonna get hurt again. He doesn't want that.

"No grilling." Darry continues, equally put-out by Soda's request. He wants what's best for his brother. Sodapop's two-year long relationship drought was refreshing, and he's seen the boy blossom into a wonderful man. Still, he can't help feeling some lingering resentment towards Sandy, and he knows it's not fair to attach it to you, but he doesn't know what else to do with it.

"And no arguing at the table." He glances between Darry and Pony both warily, "I mean it, this isn't the night to discuss grades or curfew or chores. Just- be nice to her. Treat her like a real guest."

"Alright, little buddy." Darry secedes, squeezing Soda's flannel-clad shoulder slightly, "Now, you gonna go wait by the door for her?"

"No! I'm not that desperate." Soda scoffs, but Darry notices the way he flops down into his eldest brother's armchair, the only seat in the house with a view of the front walkway. Ponyboy settles himself awkwardly on the couch, watching cartoons even though there's an anxious tension in his skinny shoulders.

You're set to arrive in two minutes, and Soda's practically vibrating out of his seat. There's no sign of the cute little sundress you said you'd wear today, but that's okay, because he thinks it's so considerate of you to show up punctually versus early. if you'd come fifteen minutes earlier you would have seen him near-tears over the spot of chocolate that wouldn't rub out of the wall behind the television. Ponyboy had pointed out that there's no way you would have seen it unless you'd been wedged between their tv and the wall, but Soda was not going to invite you into a messy home.

One minute goes by, and Soda's cuticles hurt from where his nails tear at them. He tries to stop himself- after all, you wouldn't want to hold his hand if his was bleeding. But his next nervous habit becomes fiddling with the hem of his shirt, which isn't nearly as satisfying for his fingers.

He waits for what he's sure is more than a minute, which means you're due to flounce up the stairs in seconds. But he doesn't see you, and he knows Pony's watching him crane his neck every three seconds to look for you. So he tones it down- after all, he's got a 10-minute grace period at the DX for his shifts. If he can clock in at 8:10 and still be 'on time', you can show up a few minutes late.

"Any sign of her?" Darry pokes his head out of the kitchen, seeing the front door still shut. Soda shakes his head- then he catches a glimpse of your hair color outside the window. Upon further inspection, it's a stray cat. Ponyboy snorts at him, and Soda sinks back into the recliner.

Okay, so you've used up your grace period. But Soda gets it- you probably sang one too many love songs about him in the shower, and now you're tripping over your own feet trying to run to his house. Or the bus was late, or you missed it entirely, and you'll show up before the food goes cold.

Fifteen minutes go by, and Darry hovers over the finished meal, wondering whether he should plate it or not.

Twenty minutes go by, and Darry considers removing one plate from the table.

Thirty minutes go by, and Darry turns off the stove.

An hour goes by, and Pony retreats to his room for some homework time. Darry's meticulously cleaning the kitchen, but Sodapop thinks it's more because he doesn't know what to say than because he thinks you'll judge them for a grease stain on the wall.

When Darry's scrubbed the kitchen raw nearly an hour later, he pads softly over to Soda where he still rests in his armchair.

"Soda, I- listen, I don't think she's comin' tonight."

"I told her today." Soda's got his fingernail pinched between his teeth, his leg having long-since stopped its nervous bouncing, "I- I know I told her tonight, and she said she'd be here, but I-"

Darry's hand squeezes his shoulder again, this time tighter, and something awfully familiar resurges in Soda's chest where it's laid dormant for two years.

"C'mon, little buddy." Darry urges him up out of the chair, "Let's turn in early tonight."

--

Soda's not doing his best work despite having gotten eleven hours of sleep the night prior. He's sluggish and mopey, and Steve sticks him on the register so that no one risks a foolish mistake to their car. Soda stares at a knot in the wood grain, chewing on the inside of his cheek, and doesn't look up even when the entrance bell dings.

"Soda-" He hears a voice, one that he'd been waiting since last evening to hear, one that exacerbates that sickly feeling in his chest. He hasn't been able to shake it, and your face had blended with Sandy's in his nightmares last night.

"Soda, I'm- I'm so sorry."

"Why didn't you show?" He barely has the courage to look up at you, but he does, because last time he'd groveled. He'd begged, pleaded, bargained with her to stay with him, and he wasn't going to do that this time. He was going to be the man Darry wanted him to be.

"I'm sorry." You repeat, clutching a paper in your hands, brows permanently furrowed, "It was an emergency. I was getting ready, and- and all of a sudden my back started hurtin'. Real bad, Soda, I- I had to lie down on the ground."

Soda watches, interest piqued, as you stagger towards the counter, clearly limping. Sickness is replaced with worry in his chest, and he watches as you brace yourself against the register.

"My folks didn't get home for hours. I was just laying there, I- I couldn't reach the phone, I couldn't move my legs, I was just stranded there." Your voice thickens at the memory, and you sniffle absentmindedly, "Soda, I would have called you, I just- I couldn't move. I swear. I tried, Soda, I swear I tried to get to the phone, but it was so painful. And then when my parents got home they had to carry me to the car 'n all, and the emergency room took forever, and- and we didn't get home until three in the morning, and I knew you'd be sleepin' so I didn't call, and I felt so bad because I knew you'd be waiting on me, and- and I'm so sorry, Sodapop."

All at once yours and Sandy's faces come undone in his mind, and hers is cast aside as he studies yours. There's tears, big shiny ones lining your eyes, and your chin trembles slightly. You're still clutching the paper, and when you realize he's glancing at it, you gasp.

"Oh! I- um, I got you a doctor's note. I didn't want you to think I was lyin'."

You push the page towards him on the counter, and he takes it with trembling hands.

'Patient Y/N Y/L/N admitted to emergency services at 8:49 PM Wednesday, 30th July. Diagnosed with severe lumbar muscle strain. This patient is placed off of work from 7/30/1968 through 8/05/1968.

Patient would like to add that she did not intend to stand up her date with one Sodapop Patrick Curtis on Wednesday, 30th July. Patient would like to reschedule for another night. Doctor prescribes a calm, laid-back dinner date until patient recovers.'

"Had one hell of a time trying to get him to put that in there." Your sheepish voice pipes up from where Soda's reading the last words on the page, "But I told him you were a nice boy and he said there's not many of those around here. I'm sorry, again. I'm so sorry."

Lumbar muscle strain rings a bell in Soda's head. It's something Darry's definitely mentioned before, the few times they've bullied him into seeking medical attention for all of his blue collar aches and pains. He's sure if you're hurting the way Darry does sometimes, that you weren't lying about not being able to move.

You're staring at him like you're worried he'll send you away, and the piece of paper in his hands is the only thing stopping him from doing just that. But he glances down at it again, and takes a deep breath.

"It's okay. I believe you. My brother Darry, he- he pulls muscles sometimes. Don't usually see him cry, but I do when that happens. Are you okay?'

You visibly relax at his words, but something in your back must have protested the movement, because your face pinches up again.

"Um- yeah. Mostly. It hurts when I move too much." You admit, "But I had to make it down here to see you. I'm so sorry. Were you- were you angry at me?"

He doesn't think so- he was offended, he was disappointed, but most of all, he's pretty sure he was beating up on himself more than he was beating up on you. It felt like it did the first time, and he was the common denominator in both.

"No." He answers honestly, "But- uh, I think Darry probably is."

You wince, and he doesn't blame you. But he holds the note a little tighter, "But I'll tell him what happened. Like I said, he knows what that feels like. Don't worry about it, honey. You- uh, did you want to still meet them?"

"Of course! Of course," You nod eagerly, bracing your weight against the counter, "Do you still... want me to meet them?"

"Of course." He echoes, finally breaking his stoicism with a grin, a shy one as he reaches for your hand over the counter, still clutching the note in his other hand, "Can't argue with the doctor's orders."

[2knightt]

could u write the gang (seperate) x a reader thats like. deeply and unashamedly obsessed w them

not in in a weird way but like soda makes reader a cake and theyre like “wow ur so talented u should be a baker youd be the best baker in the world everyone look at this isnt my bf such a good baker?? isnt he so cool???? arent you so jealous of me???”

or they visit the DX on steves lunch break and theyre like whats all this? and steve starts explaining the car stuff to them and theyre like “omg ur so smart ur the smartest person ever the DX is so lucky to have you <333 soda come look at steves car isnt he so good at this??? babe u should like reinvent cars youd totally do it better than washington or whatever”

or just reader holding hands and sitting on laps and kissing faces at all times basically the gang x reader thats all over them

「 i just wanna get high with my lover! 」

IN WHICH—you’re totally in love with them!♡ ໋֢ 🎞️✧

📀ヾFT. THE GREASERS࿐ྀུ ♡

⌗ 🕯️ notes !𖥔༌ ᰷ ﹅ i’m Finally working on reqs. WHO CHEERED???? also new theme for fics. got bored of my old ones😜

Dallas Winston ;

“you’re so strong, dal. you look so good when you fight, did you know that? you’re like the only person who looks that good when fighting. you’re so cool.”

“…thanks, doll.”

was SO STARTLED LMFAO

like??? he’s never been showered in compliments like this before. but he DOES welcome it

cocky bastard. you boosted his ego. it’s too high now.

“i stole this for you.”

“DALLAS! you didn’t have too, oh my god! you’re so sweet—and talented! i can’t believe you stole this—for me! i have the best boyfriend ever! i am so lucky, ain’t i?”

“yeah, i know.”

SHOWS U OFF SO MUCH. he just likes the reaction you give him when he does, honestly. like dallas LOVES hearing you ramble about him when he’s beside you.

he’s all, “yup. i AM the best boyfriend ever, dickhead.”

“this my partner.”

“mhm! dally’s the sweetest ever! he’s so nice to me, don’t you think? ugh, i love him so much. he’s the best boyfriend in the world.”

the way you look at him with lovesick eyes makes him wanna hold you forever and never let go btw.

IF YOU SIT ON HIS LAP AND DO THAT??? ohmy fod he’ll lose his fucking mind!!!

dallas winston looking up at you while you cradle him between your legs, his hands gently holding your waist while you gush over him, a small pink hue across his cheeks.

AHHHH AHHHHH AHHHHHH

“you’re so handsome. you’re the prettiest boy ever. i love your hair, it’s so nice. with or without the grease.”

“yeah?”

“yeah.”

has the most DISGUSTING and GROSS lovey dovey smile across his face has you plant kissed across his face, mumbling sweet nothings as you do so.

feels like you’re an angel when you do this after a bad day btw. loves you sososososo much he’s so down bad

Johnny Cade ;

looks up at you with the biggest puppy dogs eyes you’ve ever seen as you sit on his lap, kissing his scars. johnny’s lips would be slightly parted as he seems mesmerized with every movement you make.

WHIPPED. HE IS WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER. the SECOND you started gushing over, he got a small grin on his face, a sense of pride washing over him.

he, like, never knew you seen him as this magnificent being. johnny’s confidence was never great but PHEWWW you’re always there to help him!!!

“you really like my scars?”

“totally. they make you look so cute, johnny. they make you, you and that’s all i could ever ask for. you’re so cute. i love you. any person would, i’m just so glad that it’s me.”

he’d get so shy after but johnny would be walking with his chin slightly higher. ‘cause deep down he’s all, “what if they don’t actually mean it☹️?” and then you show up outta nowhere and like engulf him with a hug and he’s like “nvm…i love ‘em actually☺️.”

whenever you brag about him to people, he has to look at his feet to keep himself from smiling too much.

“and if you ever need someone to listen to you, nobody does it like johnny! he’s the best listener ever, nobody can ever compare to him. johnny’s such an angel!”

“y/n…”

he’d mumble, an embarrassed groan leaving his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck, kicking a rock.

contrary to popular belief of you being more in love, he is. he swears up and down that you’re too good to him, that you’re a real doll, that he doesn’t deserve someone like you.

johnny needs someone like this in his life NOW! and if it isn’t you it’s gonna be me.

Ponyboy Curtis ;

so fucking embarrassed i’m crying.

i believe he can’t take compliments for SHIT. so being around you, he just becomes a mess. like stuttering n’ shit.

“your voice is so pretty. you read so much better than everyone else, pony. you should do it as a job—you’d totally beat everyone. it’s not like it’d ever be a competition with you there, though. you’re so cool, pony.”

“i-uhm…thank you, y/n.”

GIGGLES SOO HARD LMFAOOOO

like at night when he’s with soda, he just rambles to his older brother about what you told him. soda thinks it’s cute in the moment, but later wants ponyboy to shut up because it’s been two hours of him gushing over what you said to him.

“and then they said that i-“

“OKAY, DAMN. i have work tomorrow and you have school. ponyboy, please.”

“…okay? they said that i was the prettiest boy they’ve ever seen.”

“holy fuck.”

like he’d be ranting about some drama with the gang or some movie he’d seen, sitting on the couch as you rest your head on his shoulder.

you look over to him, thinking he’s never looked more perfect. ponyboy had washed the grease out of his hair, the fluffy hair falling over his ears.

unconsciously, you tuned him out as you leaned over, kissing him on the cheek.

“what was that for?”

“you tell stories so well, pony. you’d make a great writer, did you know that? i’m so lucky to have you.”

“i-huh?”

WAHHH COMPLIMENTING PONYBOY WHILE ATTACKING HID FACE WITH KISSES AS HE GIGGLES ☹️☹️☹️

he’s so cute thay’s literally my man….!!!!

Sodapop Curtis ;

HE’S SO IN LOVE!!!!!

sitting on the counter while he cooks and you just rant about how perfect he is makes him WEAK IN THE KNEES.

“you’re such a good baker, soda. nobody does it like you do. you’re like—the best baker in the world. ain’t he, two-bit?”

“stop it, y/n..🤭🤭”

“nah, ‘m good.”

you brag about him to the girls that go to the DX to flirt with him. i can see it now.

soda’s just in the background giggling SOO HARD AND TWEAKING WITH STEVE LMFAOO

“no, he’s so sweet to me! i swear, he’s like the best boyfriend ever, did you know that? i’d be jealous if i was you, honestly.”

“TEEHEE”

“soda, shut up!”

“i’m the best boyfriend ever, steve😛.”

HE DOES THE SAME THING FOR YOU IT’S SO CUTEEE😭😭

“you look so cute today, y/n. i got so lucky, didn’t i? had to be blessed to even have you in my life.”

FUCK i need this man at my doorstep

like imagine sitting on his lap, him staring up at you while you push back his hair with a small smile on his face. the silence between the two of you being broken by exchanged compliments.

YOU TWO MAKE EVERYONE FUCKIJG SICK I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT!!! YOU GUYS ARE SO PERFECT TOGETHER IT MAKES ME VOMIT!!!

Darry Curtis ;

tries to act cool and nonchalant when you do it, but he turns his head away to cover the huge smile that’s growing on his face.

“you’re so strong, dare! you’re the strongest person ever—you could totally take down anyone. isn’t he just the best, soda?”

“alright, that’s enough, y/n.”

“but you’re just so good to me, dare. :(.”

“sweetheart, please.”

“alright..”

“he’s smiling, y/n.”

“and blushin’…i love your brother so much.”

“everyone knows.”

AKDNSKDHEKENKDS SITTING ON HIS LAP WHILE HE SITS ON HIS CHAIR, READING THE NEWS PAPER🤭🤭

like your arms are wrapped around his neck, his arms around your waist as he reads the newspaper over your shoulder while lazily responding to your rambles.

“you look so cute with your reading glasses. you’re the most handsome boyfriend in the whole world. i’m so lucky, ain’t i?”

“you’re a real treat, y/n.”

—

“i love your hair, darry. you look so much better with this hairstyle than anyone else. you should be a model.”

“i’d be a terrible model, dear.”

gang is so jealous of your relationship btw. they call it bullshit that darry pulled you.

they fake gag and groan when you do this but in reality they’re like, ‘damn…when is it my turn to be happy.😒’

darry’s self esteem’s alright. it’s not the best but it’s not the worst. but you’re always there to remind him he’s absolutely perfect :).

Steve Randle ;

HE’S SOOOO WHIPPED LMFAOOOO

like i swear to god the second you went on a rant about him he was so ready to marry you right then and there.

“you’re so good when it comes to cars. honestly—you could just make your own and it’d be 100x better than whoever made them before. you’re just the best mechanic ever.”

“really? you think so? ‘cause if i were ever to i’d totally change the way they-“

and now steve’s on a 12 minute rant on how he’d change cars to rub better while you just sit there, listening to him with a smile.

YOU HAVE HIM SOOOO INSANE LIKE I SWEAR TO GOD!?? he couldn’t ask for a better partner if he tried!!!

like, i imagine steve’s always had confidence issues—being friends with soda n all don’t really help.

BUT THEN YOU CAME ALONG AND HE’S JUST VISIBLY HAPPIER😭😭.

“you’re so smart, steve. like—the smartest ever.”

“stawpp, oh my god. what else am i, though?”

“you’re cute, awfully nice, you got the prettiest eyes the world’s ever seen-“

please tell him all this while kissing him all over. he needs it so bad.

teehee lazily kissing steve randles face as the blush across his face grows from the never ending compliments that leave your lips😜

he’d totally tell you to shut up and when you don’t, he just kiss you.

AUGHHHH

Two-Bit Mathews ;

AUGH HE DOES THE SAME THING FOR YOU !!!!

honestly—he didn’t like it at first. ‘cause deep down he was all, ‘wtf??? i’m supposed to be making them swoon n’ shit??? why am i the one giggling rn??😒😡’

but overtime he’d look forward to your silly little love drunk rambles. tell him he’s the most thoughtful boyfriend ever when he’s drunk and he might cry.

“YOU REALLY THINK THAT? BABY, STA-“

and he’s like actually sobbing while hugging you.

sitting on two-bit’s lap in the backseat of his car at the drive-in, ignoring the movie you guys came to watch because you’re both too focused on each other.

kissing every inch of his face, laughs leaving his lips as you mutter small comments about how cute his laugh is. unconsciously, his grip on your hips tightening.

FUCK i’m making myself feel lonely writing this.

every single good thing you say about him gets internalized. someone could say his hair’s dumb but then in his head he goes ‘NUH-UH! y/n said my hair is absolutely perfect😜’

[your-unfriendlyghost]

can I interest y’all in some low-effort stevepop in these tryin times?

[yourmusicmuse]

A headcanon I gained in the shower and haven't stopped giggling about:

Ponyboy is probably going through or about to go through puberty, and when his voice begins to crack due to his voice changing, the gang calls it "whinnies", as in the whinny of a horse.

God, the way that Pony HATES it. It's bad enough his voice is cracking in the first place!! He's tired your honor, let the horse jokes GO. But alas...they won't. No matter how many offended glares he gives.

[specific-dreamer]

whenever i post anything ponyboy related pls know he’s a crybaby

darry called him a bug ? tears

after he got jumped ? he already told you he was fighting back tears

when darry hit him ? cried his little heart out while he ran back to the lot

the attempted drowning ? baby he sobbed

at the church ? cried there too but honestly who wouldn’t

when soda yelled at them ? cried for soda, he felt terrible

(and best believe he gets picked on for it. especially by steve but steve’s just a ponyboy bully so it’s ok)

[girlishwhimsies]

y’all just imagine… gay darry secretly hooking up with paul (who is engaged oopsie) and soda finds out and just goes MENTALLLLLLLL like full argument bro is NOT happy he doesnt want darry to be with someone who he will never actually get to be with and be proud of. pony has No Clue what’s going on and is not used to his brothers fighting and is freaked out. so pony ends up trying to find out what’s going on and somehow finds out darry is gay even if he doesn’t get the details of what’s going on with paul. pony immediately assumes that soda and darry are arguing cause soda is homophobic and that darry may be gay but like is ashamed of it and would be ashamed of and mad at ponyboy if he came out. so ponyboy tries to spend less time with soda cause he thinks he’ll fight with him like he’s fighting with darry and is scared of that. then sodas all confused and thinks that darry said something to him to get him on darry’s side meanwhile darry notices pony pulling away from him too and thinks soda said something to him. so everyone mad at each other right? eventually they all push each others buttons a bit too much and they all just scream at each other and argue and there’s no one to separate them and calm them down this time. eventually pony just screams DONT YOU GET IT, IM JUST LIKE YOU DARRY AND YOU HATE ME FOR IT and then runs out the door cause yknow. bro is an emo teen boy. darry and soda are just lost cause like bro is 14 and very much not hooking up with a married man. then they realize oh bro meant he was gay (they’ve known that for a while buddy) and have to set aside the argument for a bit to like talk to ponyboy. btw they find him at johnnys grave. anyway haha isn’t this funny.

[sweetsreverie]

Saviors

while walking home after dark, the gang comes to your rescue after a group of socs jump you. pairing: outsiders gang x f!reader wc: 1,537 warning(s): assault, blood, allusions of intent to SA

You had spent the majority of the afternoon at the library working on a project before you left in the evening. It was dark by the time you left, and while you knew better than to walk home by yourself, you didn’t want to inconvenience anyone by calling your parents or any of the guys in the gang. 

So you start walking home, and in an attempt to give yourself some peace of mind, you grab your house keys and clutch them in your hand. You wished you carried a blade on you. 

Your walk home was fine until you were only three blocks away from your house. That’s when you saw headlights shining from behind you, and you heard a car engine; a white corvair was soon in your periphery, and there were three boys inside, around your age if not a little older.

“Hey grease!” One shouts from the window, and you try your best to ignore them as they shout obscenities at you.

“Broad’s ignoring us. Look.” One comments as they pull up the car closer to the curb, and they steadily drive beside you.

“Hey! You’re too pretty to be with those greasers all day. Let me show you a good time, huh?” 

You couldn’t help but feel panic as they continued to follow you. There really wasn't anywhere to run or hide. There was an alleyway nearby that led to a dead end.

When the car came to a stop, that’s when you started booking it. You take off in a full sprint and listen to the three pairs of footsteps rapidly approaching you from behind. One of the boys reaches out and grabs the top handle of your backpack and yanks on it, and the force sends you to the sidewalk on your back. It knocks the wind out of you and that’s when one of the boys pins you down to the pavement, and the other two stand above you with sinister grins on their lips. You were powerless under his weight, no matter how much you kicked.

“You know, we wouldn’t be here if you had just stopped to talk with us, hm? Now look where we are.” The brunette kneeling on you says, and his knees dig into your arms that were pinned to the sidewalk.

“Just let me go- please, I won’t tell anyone-” You stammer, and he shakes his head while making a tsk tsk sound.

“I think it’s too late for that now. It’s late and everyone’s in for the night, so there’s no one to bother us.” He says before he looks up at the other two, and without another word, the three of them begin to drag you into the nearby alleyway. You kick and scream, making any and all attempts to escape from their iron grasps.

“Shut up! Shut your trap!” The blond shouts as you’re pushed to the ground again, and it was his turn to taunt you while the brunette and redhead watched. He reaches behind him and pulls out a switchblade, flicking it open and holding it in front of your face.

“Now you be quiet. Or I’ll skin you right here.” He warns you while he puts his hand over your mouth, and by now your vision is blurry from the tears that were welling up in your eyes. 

You came to realize that you were fully at their mercy. If one of them had a knife, the chances were good that they all did. They were bigger and stronger than you, and if you didn’t want to be left for dead on the sidewalk, you had to be careful. You knew what happened to Johnny.

“You know, it’s a shame when pretty girls like you hang out with greaser trash.” He says while he moves his knife down, trailing the tip of the blade down your chin and chest, and his smirk grows.

“A lot of greaser broads are skanks. You don’t seem like it though.” He comments, and as his knife moves closer to the belt on your jeans, your brain goes into fight or flight mode.

“Let me go!” You screech, and you kick your legs as hard as you can to try and free yourself. You land a kick to the blond’s leg, and he grunts in pain while the brunette reaches down and grabs your ponytail with one hand, and he lands a hard smack on your cheek with the other. Your cheek began to burn from the impact immediately, but that didn’t stop you from fighting your way out of their grasp. The redhead whips out a knife from the pocket of his letterman jacket and flips it open, and he grabs you by the neck and holds the blade up to your jaw.

“Please let me go- please-” You cry as he presses the cold metal into your skin, making a small slice into your jaw. You felt weak from fighting them and your throat was beginning to hurt. 

Your attention was taken from them when you heard another voice shout from the other side of the street. 

“Hey! Get your ass out of our side of town!”

It was Dallas. You’d honestly never been so glad to hear his voice.

“Shit- get outta here!” The brunette says quickly, and they pretty much drop you to the pavement while they scramble back to their car. You turn onto your side and curl up, but you hear multiple sets of footsteps shuffling around. The tires on the corvair screech as they peel away, and you’re relieved.

When you turn to look, you see Dally, Johnny, and Two-Bit approaching you.

“Holy shit- Y/N is that you? Are you okay?” Two-Bit says quickly as the three of them jog closer to you, and Dally stands nearby while Johnny and Two-Bit crouch beside you. One would think that he didn’t care, but you knew he did. He just didn’t show it like the others.

“I’m okay-” You say meekly, and Two-Bit tilts your chin up so you’re looking at him. The blood on the cut was beginning to clot, your cheek was still red, and your eyes were a little red from tears.

“They cut you?” Dally asks, and you nod slightly. Dally grunts under his breath.

“You’re okay kid. C’mon, let us get you to Darry’s place and clean you up, alright?” Two-Bit suggests. The Curtis house was closer than your own home, and it was a good idea to get cleaned up before you see your parents.

Two-Bit and Johnny help you up to your feet, and Two-Bit takes your backpack and slings it over his shoulder as the four of you begin to walk.

“Where were you so late, Y/N?” Johnny asks, and you sigh.

“I was at the library. I’ve got a history project due soon.” You explain, and he nods. 

“You could have called any of us, kid. One of us could have picked you up or walked with you.” Two-Bit comments.

“I know, I just… I didn’t wanna put anyone out.” You mumble. “Where were you guys at?” You ask them, and Johnny rolls his eyes.

“Dally took us to the nightly double. We only got through one of the movies before we had to leave, thanks to Dal.” Johnny explains, and Two-Bit laughs. You didn’t even need an explanation to know that Dally probably stirred up some trouble, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Two-Bit helped him.

The four of you walk for a few minutes before you arrive at the Curtis’ house, and as soon as you walk in, you see Pony and Soda on the couch, and Darry was in his chair reading the newspaper. Once the three of them turn and see you, they get up from their seats quickly. Darry’s the first one to approach you.

“What the hell happened? Did you get jumped?” He asks, and you nod while you move over to the couch to sit down since Pony had motioned for you to move over.

“I was comin’ home from the library. They pulled over and grabbed me.” You mumble, and Soda disappears into the kitchen and comes back with a bag of frozen vegetables. He hands it to you and you silently thank him with a nod before you hold up the cold bag to your cheek.

“How deep is that cut?” Ponyboy asks, and you shrug while you reach up to touch it.

“Not very. It stopped bleeding pretty quick.” You explain, and Darry nods while he moves to sit back down in his chair while the others find places to sit. In a way, Darry saw you as his kid sister. You were a little older than Pony, and you became good friends with the boys quickly. Darry saw you as one of their own. 

Dally stands beside the couch and against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Glad you’re okay, kid. Just call one of us if you’re alone like that again.” Dally says, and he reaches down to nudge the top of your head slightly. You couldn’t help but smile slightly at the gesture. Maybe he does show that he cares.

[brat-pack-it-up-boys]

Hear me out

The outsiders fic where dally survives, wether it be time travel or magic or just a miracle but dally lives and has to deal with his own mortality

Dallas who’s terrified of cops

Dally who jumps at loud noises and can’t watch movies or tv shows with gunshots

Dally who tries to push his heater onto literally anyone else in the gang until buck just takes it

Dallas winston who thinks he’s fine but breaks down if he hears fireworks

[only-lonely-star]

hi! Can you do a Curtis sister imagine (she's older than pony but younger than soda) and the boys are sooo protective over her and scare away any boys who look at her so they think she's never even kissed a guy. Then she's at home alone and thinks the boys won't be home for a while and is making out with a guy in her room when Darry bursts in with the boys and they all lose their minds

୨୧ Not What It Looks Like ୨୧

~ Curtis Brothers (Curtis Sibling Reader)~

Warnings - Kissing, mild shouting and cursing, mild violence

Summary - You thought you had hours…

Author’s Note - Hii! I won’t be as busy this week so I’ll be sure to finish more requests as the week progresses, so sorry for the wait! Thank you so so much for the request, this one was fun to write, enjoy! 😽🫶🏼

Word Count - 2.4k.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄☆ ⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

(Quick A/N || I decided to name the boy’s character ‘Thomas’ just because I find it easier than saying ‘the boy’ a hundred times or something 😭)

The Curtis residence was always a busy place. Whether friends were over, or it was just another chaotic night - there was never a dull moment. Tonight, however, you were declared as '(Wo)Man of the House' by your oldest brother, Darrel. Ponyboy and Sodapop didn't seem to mind lending you the title for the night, you did most of the housekeeping and whatnot anyway.

Ponyboy could be found slicking his hair back, standing in front of the bathroom mirror attempting to look tuff - or so he thought. Sodapop was occupied with Darrel, the pair pacing around the house as they rallied themselves up for the night. They were all going on a ‘guys night out’…whatever that meant. You were standing around, waiting to wave them off for the night.

Ponyboy emerged from the bathroom, a look of excitement in his eye as he approached the others.

“You ready?” Darrel asked, giving him a firm pat on the back, smiling down to him. Ponyboy nodded and hooked his fingers into the belt loops of his jeans, admiring Sodapop who stood beside him.

“Finally, took you ‘bout an hour to grease that hair up,” Sodapop chuckled, gently grazing his fingertips along the swoops of Ponyboy’s hair, combed back to utter perfection.

You let out a small sigh, a knowing grin creeping up on your face. You dismissed it as relief that your three rowdy brothers would give you some alone time. “So, are you guys…leaving…yet?”

Darrel raised an eyebrow, slowly stepping for the door as the other two followed. “Boy, someone sure is sick of us,” he snorted, the doorknob in the palm of his hand.

You sarcastically played along, shoving Sodapop and Ponyboy by the back of their shoulders with a scoff. “Sure am, get out.”

They exchanged small glances, Ponyboy holding up his hands in defense. “We’re goin’, we’re goin’…”

It didn’t take long for the two to file out, Darrel staying behind to have a word with you. He popped his hand on his hip, the other moving a stray strand of hair to rest behind your ear. His eyes met yours, a look of concern etched on his face. “Listen, you know I don’t like leaving you home alone,” he began, sensing your rebuttal a mile away.

“I’ll be fine, you ain’t gotta worry,” you assured him, your voice a rather gentle one. You knew that was the key to fooling him - it always was.

Darrel took your word for it, wrapping up his lecture before it even began. “No boys, no cookin’, no driving,” he spoke with finality, his index finger pointed to you as he reinforced the rules he set since the loss of your parents.

“I know!” you exclaimed, mildly frustrated with how protective he was acting. It would only be a few hours before he, Ponyboy, and Sodapop returned. It wasn’t like you were about to cause a disaster home alone - you’d done this countless times.

Darrel shook his head, wrapping an arm around the small of your back as yours wrapped around his chest. “Be back at eleven,” he murmured, pulling away and stepping outside the front door. You stepped outside as well, your feet kept on the steps as your brothers began to cruise on down the road. Waving them off with a smile, the boys reciprocated before disappearing into the horizon of the night sky.

You leaped for the side of the house, looking around frantically with a giggle of excitement. Your voice echoed, a mix of a whisper yet a beckon. “Thomas! Thomas, where are - …”

A hand grabbed your forearm, the boy hoisting himself up from within the small bushes along the side of your house. “I’m here.”

You leaped into his arms, picking away at small twigs and leaves that had fallen into his messy brown hair. Your legs wrapped around his waist the gentle feeling of your body against his, the boy’s hands holding you up from your hips. You chuckled, feeling the sweat practically dripping from his hair as you pecked his cheek. “How long have you been out here? I told you seven p.m!”

Thomas spun you around a few times before walking towards the front door that still stood wide open. “I left my place around six-forty, got here a minute ago,” he replied softly, carefully setting you down on the soft, beige sofa.

Your arms still yearned for him, even as he took a seat beside you, resting his arm over the top of the couch. He had only love in his eyes, admiring you from head to toe. “So, what’s the verdict?” he posed, grinning down at you, his free hand running through his hair.

“No boys,” you restated, remembering Darrel’s rules with a small sigh of annoyance. You’d gone this far anyway - so what did it matter? “But Darry said he’ll be back ‘round eleven with Soda and Ponyboy.”

Thomas’s grin only widened from there, settling himself into the couch further. “Oh so we got lots of time, hm?”

You tilted your head to the side, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Somethin’ like that,”

This felt a little too risky, sneaking a boy around in the living room of all places. They wouldn’t be home for a few more hours, but it still felt strange. Standing from the sofa, you tugged on Thomas’s wrist. “Let’s go to my room, I don’t feel safe here,” you joked, a small shake of your head as you glanced to the unlocked door. Thomas was more than happy to oblige, following you to your very empty yet feminine bedroom.

“So this is the little hide-out, huh?” he spoke teasingly as he glanced around, taking in the sight of clothes everywhere and a small vanity pushed to the corner of the room, across from your bed. He shut the door behind him, hesitating on whether to lock it or not. You sat down on the edge of the pink, ruffled bedding, clutching a pillow into your arms tightly.

“I guess it is,” you smiled softly, his charming gaze reeling you right in to where he wanted you. He stood in front of you, his hand moving to cup your jaw. You didn’t mind the touch of course, you were addicted to any touch from him.

Thomas removed his hand before sitting on the bed beside you, reaching out for the pillow. You reluctantly let go of it, knowing Thomas was about to make a bold move of some sort. You two were alone and absolutely infatuated with each other. He set the pillow aside, pressing his hand to your waist as he leaned his head closer to yours. “You’re beautiful,” he grinned, closing the distance between the two of you as his lips met yours.

Your eyes darted shut, one hand holding you propped up, the other resting atop his shoulder. This was no short peck, this was a deep and almost passionate kiss. You obviously reciprocated, the situation of being home alone too good to go to waste. You doubled his passion and added force to your kisses. Thinking fast, Thomas began to lean back as his head rested against the mattress. His hand found your waist, pulling your body flush against his. Thomas could feel your grin against his lips, his other hand moving to keep your jaw in his palm, ensuring your kisses didn’t stop any time soon. You pulled away panting, your smile never once faltering. “I think we should stop, I hear a car…” you began to say, a car door shutting nearby. The sound was eerily close - but then again your brothers weren’t scheduled to be home for a few hours.

Thomas gave a firm head shake, pulling your jaw closer. “Nope, it hasn’t even been an hour,” he reminded you, locking his lips onto yours once more.

You weren’t about to turn him down, so you did as told and continued, your head moving up and down with slight movements. Thomas’s tongue slipped in between your lips, the sensation was both new and a bit alarming. A small groan left your now parted lips, running your hand through his hair.

The sound of shuffling feet outside your bedroom door should’ve been a dead giveaway to stop - but your mind was cloudy and only focused on Thomas. It was far too late to stop now, even as the doorknob turned and you were aware someone was home, you didn’t have the time to stop.

“I forgot to bring my w-…” Darrel began, the door opening in a swift movement as he stood in the doorway absolutely baffled. His knuckles were now white as he squeezed onto the brown leather wallet in the palm of his hand. His instincts led him to toss the wallet with all of the force he could muster, landing directly on the boy you were laid atop of.

You pulled away in an instant, a small trail of shared saliva being wiped away using the back of your hand as the soft groans came to an immediate halt.

Your other brothers, Ponyboy and Sodapop, stood behind Darrel with displeased looks. “Come on, it doesn’t take this long to -…” Sodapop was quickly hushed as he too caught sight of scene.

Darrel stomped forward, his hands shaking with anger as he shouted at Thomas - the boy unbeknownst to their early arrival. “Get the hell out, the fuck are you doing with my little sister-?!” he shouted, his fists unraveling themselves to tug at Thomas’s shirt, stretching it out as he yanked him closer for answers.

You had never heard Darrel shout like that ever. You sprinted off the bed and stood in the opposite corner of the room as you watched Thomas nearly get a beating for the kiss.

Sodapop caught you off guard, his hand firmly grasping your bicep as his eyes bore into yours. “Who’s this boy?” he asked, his tone filled with utter disappointment - but at least it wasn’t anger like Darrel’s.

“It’s not what it looks like - Thomas and I just…” you began sheepishly, your eyes unable to make eye contact with him out of guilt.

Your eyes flickered over to Darrel briefly, watching him holler like you’d never seen before. Thomas nodded his head along vigorously, his eyes wide with fear as he desperately tried to free himself from Darrel’s grasp. Ponyby’s annoyed voice snapped you out of it, your attention directed towards him. “That boy from school? Really?”

Sodapop spoke up again, shoving your shoulder slightly as his expression held a stern look. “It don’t matter where he’s from, you know you ain’t allowed to have boys over.”

You glanced between Sodapop and Darrel, watching as he had to drag Thomas out of your bedroom, the yelling not yet ending. You swallowed the guilt down and nervously chewed the inside of your cheek. “I’m sorry~” you began, your hands fidgeting as you thought about the hour long lecture you’d receive from Darrel.

Sodapop began mumbling words of annoyance under his breath at the newfound information you’d had some secret boyfriend going on. None of your brothers ever would have expected such a thing from you - hell, the last thing they would suspect from you was to be caught kissing some boy while they were gone. “Can’t trust her… we just can’t…” he mumbled to Ponyboy who looked equally as pissed.

Moments later, Darrel had his jaw still clenched with Thomas now long gone. He made his way to you with his fists balled up and resting by his sides. “You’ve got explaining to do,” he grumbled, his voice thick with anger. You’d betrayed his trust, Sodapop’s, and even Ponyboy’s.

Exhaling deeply, you took a step back, your hand trembling in fear. “I just thought -…” your voice was interrupted by Darrel’s.

“It would be fun to sneak a boy around? Behind our backs? Especially after I said no boys?” His arms crossed as his stern gaze seemed to deepen further.

You didn’t reply, you stood there matching his stance only yours was out of shame. You knew you were going against their set rules.

Darrel shook his head as he let out a sigh he’d been holding in for way too long. “We just wanna protect you, that’s all. That’s all I want,” he said in a somehow gentle tone, wrapping an arm around your back, the other gesturing for a group hug.

Sodapop and Ponyboy circled around you, hugging you tightly. It felt as if the mood had lightened a bit now that Thomas was gone and you were back in the protective arms of your brothers. Sodapop nuzzled his forehead against the top of your head, chuckling softly. “So you’ve had some boyfriend all along?”

Darrel stiffened but held back from lashing out yet again. Ponyboy grimaced and swatted your back with a teasing snort. “Him of all people too?”

You broke the hug off, having to pry off their arms as you finally cracked a sheepish smile. “Not anymore - I think Darry traumatized that poor guy,” you giggled, the guilt subsiding to a feeling of amusement. Sure it was a messy way to break the ice with your brothers - but it was bound to happen eventually.

Darrel gave your back a firm pat, Ponyboy and Sodapop stepping for the door to your bedroom, snickering and cracking jokes. “I forgot my wallet, I came back and thought I’d check on you,” he explained, picking up the wallet he used on Thomas.

You winced at the memory of it hitting him upside the head, the shock initially hitting you as you scrambled off of him. “I was wondering why you came so early…” you remarked playfully.

“I know why you were tryin’ to kick us out so bad now,” Darrel shot back, an equal amount of sarcasm laced in his voice. He shoved the leather wallet back into his pocket.

He stepped for the door to your bedroom once more, glancing back at you. “No boys. Ever.”

Your eyebrows furrowed, stepping closer to him to argue on the topic. Darrel was already down the hallway as you chased him down. “You said when i’m eighteen - …”

Darrel cracked open the front door with a head shake. “Eighteen, but I better not catch you and *Thomas* again,” he huffed, hopping down the stairs, his feet on the white cement, “or any boy for that matter.”

You sighed and waved him off for a second time, this time with the intention of following the rules. You vowed you’d never risk something like that again. “Eighteen!”

[controversialcoven]

Text from image:

PONYBOY: Soda… I like someone but I’m scared you won’t like it

SODAPOP: Pony, as long as you’re happy and healthy I don’t care who you love

PONYBOY: Ok, I’m dating curly

CURLY: wassup

PONYBOY: …Soda?

SODAPOP, UNDER HIS BREATH: be happy for him be happy for him be h

[l0stfoster]

Tired of all those “Ponyboy’s birthday is forgotten about” (/lh) fics. Where are the “Darry’s birthday is forgotten about because they’re all too busy mourning” fics at?

Where’s the content of Darry ignoring that it’s his birthday? Or just flat out forgetting because he’s so focused on making sure his kid brothers are okay? Where’s Soda and Ponyboy subconsciously knowing but they’re so caught up in their grief that it doesn’t come to mind?

It doesn’t even have to be the full group forgetting. Where’s the other greasers knowing, but assuming the three are just as aware and giving them space to mourn, deciding they’d celebrate with them tomorrow? Where’s Soda, Pony, and Darry realizing the day after; Soda and Pony because the others are talking about what they can do to celebrate late all together and Darry because he caught a glimpse of the calendar and realized what else was written on the day before?

Maybe I’ll write it, idk.

[qprpbj]

soooo like if i wrote a fic. completely hypothetically. 5 times ponyboy needed soda around to fall asleep and 1 time soda needed pony around. would anyone tune in. bc i don’t know a soul in this fandom 😭

[thewulf]

By Your Side || Darrel "Darry" Curtis

Summary: Request - can i request darry curtis x wife!reader please? she stands by his and the boys side, always care and worry about the boys especially ponyboy (because he's like your little brother).... Read Rest Here

A/N: I LOVE how this turned out! Thank you for the request @tsunchani - The three times Darry knew he would love you forever and the one time he did something about it!

Pairing: Darrel "Darry" Curtis x Female Reader

Word Count: 4.3k +

TW: General The Outsiders

One

The Curtis household felt like it was holding its breath, each tick of the clock a solemn reminder of Ponyboy's absence. Darry's footsteps reverberated off the walls like a steady drumbeat, his broad shoulders weighed down by worry, his usually composed demeanor strained under the weight of uncertainty. His brow was furrowed, deep worry lines etched into his forehead, a testament to the sleepless nights and restless pacing.

Soda, usually the embodiment of youthful energy and charisma, sat slumped on the worn couch, his vibrant spirit dampened by the heavy cloud of uncertainty that hung in the air. His hands fidgeted restlessly, tracing invisible patterns on the frayed edges of the cushions, his gaze fixed on the floor as if searching for answers in the worn wood.

And then there was you, standing in the doorway watching the two solemn brothers. With determined steps, you crossed the room, your movements purposeful yet gentle, as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace that hung in the air. The creak of the floorboards beneath your feet barely registered against the backdrop of tension that encased the room.

As you drew closer, the lines of worry etched into Darry and Soda's faces became more pronounced, the worry lingering in their eyes like a shadow refusing to fade. But in your presence, there was a glimmer of hope, a promise of comfort and solace in the midst of chaos. Your unwavering support was a silent reassurance, a reminder that no matter what challenges they faced, they were not alone.

And as you stood before them, a pillar of strength and resilience, the weight of their worries seemed to lift ever so slightly. In that moment, surrounded by uncertainty and fear, they found solace in your presence, knowing that as long as you were by their side, they could weather any storm.

"Darry," you said softly, your voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around you. "We'll find him. Ponyboy's smart, smarter than any of us, he knows how to take care of himself."

Soda glanced up at you, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and gratitude, like flickering flames in the darkness. His usual bright spirit seemed dimmed, overshadowed by the worry that gnawed at his insides. "Yeah, Pony's tough," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to give voice to his deepest fears. "But what if... what if he's hurt, or..."

You moved to sit beside Soda, the worn cushions of the couch sinking slightly under your weight as you wrapped an arm around his shoulders. The warmth of your touch was a comforting anchor in the sea of uncertainty that threatened to engulf them all. "We'll find him, Soda," you reassured him, your voice soft yet resolute, a steady hand in the midst of the storm. "Ponyboy's resourceful. And if he needs help, he knows we're here for him."

Soda's shoulders sagged with relief at your words, the tension easing from his frame ever so slightly. In that moment, your presence was a lifeline, a reminder that no matter how dire the situation seemed, they were not alone. With your unwavering support, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that together, they were stronger than any obstacle they might encounter. In your embrace, he found comfort and solace, a brief respite from the turmoil that threatened to consume him.

Darry ran a hand through his hair, the strands falling back into place with a tired resignation. His gaze seemed fixed on the window, as though he could conjure Ponyboy's figure with sheer force of will. "I just can't shake this feeling, Y/N," he confessed, his voice a raw mixture of regret and anguish. "I should've been there for him. I should've been a better brother."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, a tangible reminder of the self-doubt that plagued him. You watched him with the burden of responsibility pressing down on his broad shoulders. For once, he seemed so vulnerable, so achingly human, and your heart burned for him.

Reaching out, you gently grasped Darry's hand in yours, the contact a silent reassurance of your unwavering support. "You're a great brother, Darry," you insisted, your voice soft yet firm, determined to break through the walls of self-doubt that threatened to engulf him. "You've done everything you can for him. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. It got a little heated. But he knows you love him. I promise you that."

Darry's gaze flickered to meet yours, his eyes searching for solace amidst the storm of his own emotions. In your forward gaze, he found a sliver of hope, a reminder that even in his darkest moments, he was not alone. And though the weight of guilt still lingered heavy in his heart, for the first time in days, he felt a flicker of light amidst the darkness.

Darry's eyes met yours, gratitude, and relief flooding through him like a tidal wave. In that moment, as you stood by his side, offering him strength, and understanding, he knew without a doubt that you were his person. You were the one who could ease his troubled mind, who could calm his fears with just a few words.

As you enveloped them both in a comforting embrace, Darry felt a sense of peace wash over him. No matter what challenges they faced, as long as you were by their side, they would get through it together. At this instance, surrounded by uncertainty and fear, Darry realized that he never wanted to spend another day without you by his side.

Two

After the rumble, the weight of exhaustion settled like a heavy fog over the Curtis household. You sat by Ponyboy's bedside, tending to him as he lay weak and feverish, your heart heavy with worry for his well-being after the rumble.

Meanwhile, Darry and Soda hovered nearby, their usual composure shattered by the recent losses of their friends. The absence of Dally and Johnny cast a palpable shadow over their already heavy hearts, each moment weighed down by the gravity of their grief.

Ponyboy's condition only added to the tension in the air. His fever raged unchecked, his breaths coming in shallow, ragged gasps. You could see the fear in Darry and Soda's eyes as they watched over him, their concern laced into every line of their faces.

In the dim light of the bedroom, the silence was suffocating, broken only by the occasional cough from Ponyboy's bed. Darry paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with worry, while Soda sat with his head in his hands, his shoulders hunched with the weight of his sorrow.

Despite their best efforts to hide it, the pain worn into their features was unmistakable. They were both nervous and sad, grappling with their own emotions while trying to stay strong for Ponyboy's sake.

And as you continued to care for Ponyboy, offering him comfort and solace in his time of need, you couldn't help but feel the weight of their grief pressing down on you as well. In that moment, surrounded by so much sadness and uncertainty, you knew that you were all in this together, bound by love and loss in equal measure.

Darry, the sturdy rock upon which they all leaned in times of trouble, now stood crumbling under the weight of his emotions. His usually stoic facade shattered, revealing the raw vulnerability beneath as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Each breath seemed to come harder, as if the weight of his grief pressed down upon him like a suffocating blanket.

With each memory of Dally's fiery spirit and Johnny's quiet courage, Darry's heart clenched with pain, his chest tightening with each beat. He had always been the one to hold them all together, to shoulder the burdens of their troubled lives with unyielding strength. But now, faced with the harsh reality of their losses, he found himself drowning in a sea of sorrow, his usual composure shattered by the enormity of their grief.

His shoulders, once squared with determination, now hunched with the weight of his sorrow, exhaustion evident in his demeanor. Every movement seemed labored, as if the simple act of breathing had become a Herculean task.

And yet, even in the depths of his despair, there was a flicker of something else within him – a fierce determination to honor the memories of those they had lost, to carry on in their absence with the same strength and resilience they had shown in life. It was a silent promise, whispered in the darkness of his own anguish, to never forget the sacrifices they had made, to never let their memories fade into the void.

And so, with tears streaming down his cheeks and his heart heavy with grief, Darry stood as a testament to the power of love in the face of loss. For even in his darkest hour, he knew that their bond was unbreakable, their love eternal. And it was that love that unwavering devotion to each other, that would carry them through even the darkest of nights.

Soda, typically the heart and soul of any gathering, sat in somber silence, his usually lively demeanor overshadowed by the weight of his own sorrow. His hands shook as he reached for a cigarette, the ember casting a faint glow in the dimly lit room. The smoke curled around him like a ghostly veil, a silent testament to the heaviness that hung in the air.

Despite his efforts to appear composed, the cracks in Soda's facade were evident to those who knew him best. His eyes, usually bright with mischief, now held a haunted look, a reflection of the pain that gnawed at his soul. With each drag of his cigarette, he sought solace in the fleeting distraction it provided, a brief respite from the relentless ache of loss.

And yet, even in his scariest of moments, there was a quiet strength in Soda's resolve, a determination to honor the memory of his fallen friends. Though his spirit may be dimmed by grief, his loyalty to those he loved burned brighter than ever, a guiding light in the darkness that surrounded them all.

As you sat by Ponyboy's bedside, tending to his fever, your heart felt heavy with the weight of multiple burdens. The physical task of cooling his fevered brow and offering him sips of water seemed almost insignificant compared to the mental load you carried.

Your exhaustion was palpable, each movement weighed down by the weight of their sorrow. Your own grief mingled with theirs in a tangled web of pain and loss, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and the other began. But still, you soldiered on, driven by a fierce determination to offer whatever comfort and solace you could to those you loved.

In the early hours of the morning, as the world slept on, you remained vigilant by Ponyboy's side, your weariness evident in every weary breath. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on your mind, the memories of Dally and Johnny's deaths like a knife twisting in your heart. The loss felt so raw, so overwhelming, that it threatened to take you entirely.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the window, illuminating the room with a gentle glow, Darry's tired eyes fell upon you, still faithfully tending to Ponyboy's needs. It was then, a wave of gratitude washed over him, mingling with the sorrow that still clung to his heart.

Watching you, exhausted yet steadfast in your care for his brother, Darry felt a profound sense of admiration and appreciation wash over him. Your dedication, your selflessness, spoke volumes about the depth of your love not just for Ponyboy, but for all of them.

In the soft light of dawn, as the lines of weariness formed into your features softened with a faint smile, Darry knew with a certainty that resonated deep within his soul - you were his rock, his anchor in the storm. Your unwavering presence, your boundless capacity for love and compassion, had seen them through the darkest of nights.

And as he watched you, a silent vow formed in his heart - to cherish you, to protect you, to love you with every fiber of his being. For in that moment, as the first light of dawn cast its gentle glow upon the room, Darry knew without a shadow of a doubt that you were his, now and forever. Together, you would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in your grief and your love for each other, a bright light amidst the sorrow that surrounded them.

Three

Months had passed since that tumultuous night, yet the memory of your unwavering support continued to linger in Darry's mind. The morning sunlight spilled through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the room as you bustled about, preparing lunches for Darry and Soda. Darry leaned against the doorway, his heart swelling with affection as he watched you move with effortless grace, a vision of domesticity and love.

As he observed you, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the happiness you brought into his life each and every day. "Morning, darlin'," he greeted, his voice soft with affection.

You turned to face him, returning his smile with one of your own. "Morning, Darry," you replied, your eyes twinkling with warmth.

Just then, Soda bounded into the kitchen, his energy infectious as he ruffled Darry's hair in passing. "Morning, you two lovebirds!" he teased, flashing a grin before helping himself to a slice of toast.

Darry chuckled softly, his eyes alight with affection as he watched Soda's playful antics. "Morning, Soda," he greeted, his voice warm with brotherly fondness.

Soda winked mischievously at Darry before turning his attention to you, his grin widening as he took in the sight of you bustling around the kitchen. "Y/N, you're a lifesaver," he declared, grabbing another slice of toast from the counter. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

You laughed softly, the sound like music to Darry's ears as he felt a swell of pride for the woman he loved. "Just doing my part," you replied with a playful wink, your eyes meeting Darry's briefly before returning to your task.

As you continued to work, Darry couldn't tear his gaze away from you. With each small gesture, each tender smile, his love for you swelled within his chest, threatening to burst free. It was moments like these, the simple, everyday interactions shared between the three of you, that filled Darry with a profound sense of gratitude and contentment.

Surrounded by the warmth and love of his family, Darry knew with a certainty that resonated deep within his soul – he wanted to spend the rest of his life by your side, cherishing every moment, every laugh, and every small gesture of love that you shared. And as he watched you move about the kitchen, his heart overflowed with love and adoration for the incredible woman who had stolen his heart.

And then, as if on cue, Ponyboy entered the kitchen, a furrow of concentration marring his brow as he pored over a math problem in his textbook. Sensing his frustration, you approached him, offering a reassuring smile. "Need a hand, Pony?" you asked, your voice gentle and encouraging.

Ponyboy looked up, relief flooding his features as he nodded. "Yeah, I just can't seem to figure this one out," he admitted sheepishly.

You leaned in closer, studying the problem with a furrowed brow of your own. "Ah, I see where you're getting tripped up. Let me show you a trick that might help," you offered, your voice a soothing melody in the quiet of the morning.

As you patiently explained the concept to Ponyboy, Darry felt that surge of pride and adoration. The way you broke down the problem into manageable steps, your voice soft and reassuring, spoke volumes about your patience and compassion. In that simple act of offering your help and guidance, Darry saw the depth of your kindness and the strength of your character. It wasn't just about helping Ponyboy with his math; it was about the genuine care and concern you showed for him, for all of them. As he watched you with a sense of awe, he knew deep within his soul that he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life by your side, cherishing every moment, and building a future together filled with love and laughter.

As Soda finished his toast, grabbed his lunch, and prepared to head out the door, he leaned in close to Darry, his voice barely above a whisper amidst the morning bustle of the kitchen. "You know, big brother," he said, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes, "we couldn't do it without her. You gotta marry her."

Darry blinked, momentarily taken aback by Soda's sudden seriousness. He met his brother's gaze, seeing the sincerity in his eyes mirrored by the weight of his words. For a moment, the playful banter faded, replaced by a shared understanding of just how much you meant to them all.

A swell of emotion rose within Darry, a mixture of gratitude, love, and a hint of apprehension at the thought of such a monumental step. But as he glanced back at you, effortlessly moving about the kitchen with a grace that never failed to astound him, he knew with a certainty that settled deep within his soul – Soda was right.

With a silent nod of acknowledgment to his brother, Darry watched as Soda headed out the door, his words lingering in the air like a gentle breeze. And as he turned back to you, a newfound sense of purpose filled his heart, a determination to show you just how much you meant to him, not just in words, but in deeds.

Amidst the chaos of their everyday lives, Darry knew that there was no one else he would rather spend the rest of his days with than you. And as he caught your eye, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he silently made a promise to himself – to cherish you, to protect you, and to love you with every fiber of his being, now and forever.

After Ponyboy left the kitchen to get ready for school, the room fell into a comfortable silence, leaving just the two of you alone. Darry's arms enveloped you, pulling you close in a tender embrace that spoke volumes of his love.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Darry murmured, his voice soft with emotion as he pressed his forehead against yours.

You smiled, feeling the warmth of his breath against your skin. "You'd manage just fine," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm glad I can be here for you, for all of you."

Darry's gaze softened, his eyes reflecting the depth of his feelings. "You're more than just my girlfriend, Y/N," he whispered, his lips brushing against yours in a gentle caress. "You're my everything."

Tears welled in your eyes, overwhelmed by the intensity of his words. "And you're mine," you breathed, sealing your love with a soft kiss that spoke volumes of the bond you shared.

As you stood entwined in each other's arms, you knew that no matter what trials life threw your way, you would face them together, united in a love that knew no bounds. And as Darry pressed another tender kiss to your forehead, you silently vowed to cherish each moment with him for eternity, grateful beyond measure for the love that filled your heart.

The Proposal

As the evening sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, a sense of anticipation filled the Curtis household. Tonight, was no ordinary night – tonight, Darry had something special planned, and he had enlisted the help of Ponyboy, Soda, Two-Bit, and Steve to make it truly unforgettable.

Ponyboy, with his earnest enthusiasm, had insisted that you wear something special for the occasion. He had spent the afternoon rummaging through his meager wardrobe, determined to find the perfect accessory to complement your beauty. Finally, he emerged triumphantly with a delicate silver necklace that was his mothers, a small pendant shaped like a sun dangling from the chain. "I thought it would bring you luck," he said with a shy smile, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

Soda, ever the romantic, had taken it upon himself to choose the perfect spot for the proposal. He had spent hours scouting locations around town, searching for a place that was as beautiful and special as you deserved. Finally, he settled on a secluded spot by the river, where the water sparkled in the moonlight and the stars danced overhead. "Trust me, this is the perfect spot," he assured Darry with a grin, knowing that it would be a moment you would never forget.

Two-Bit and Steve, always up for a bit of mischief, had taken on the task of setting the scene. They had decorated the proposal spot with lights and candles, creating a magical ambiance that would set the stage for Darry's declaration of love. Two-Bit leaned in close to Darry, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he surveyed their handiwork. "We wanted to make it extra special for you," he explained with a grin, his voice laced with excitement. "You know, to really sweep her off her feet." He nudged Darry playfully, knowing that their efforts would add an extra touch of romance to the evening, making it a moment that neither Darry nor you would ever forget.

As the clock struck seven, Darry took your hand in his, a nervous yet determined smile playing on his lips. Together, you began to walk, the soft glow of the evening sun casting long shadows on the pavement as you made your way towards the proposal spot not too far away.

With each step, Darry's mind drifted back to the memories you had shared together, the moments that had brought you to this point. He pointed out landmarks along the way, each one holding a special significance in your relationship.

"Do you remember the first time we walked this path together?" Darry asked softly, his voice filled with warmth as he squeezed your hand gently. "It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

You smiled, the memories flooding back as you walked hand in hand with him. "I remember," you replied, your voice tinged with nostalgia. "It's where we shared our first kiss."

"Those were some of the best moments of my life," you continued, your voice soft and filled with nostalgia. "Just being with you, sharing our dreams under the stars... it's something I'll always cherish."

As you walked hand in hand, each step carrying you closer to the proposal spot where your future awaited, you couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for the man beside you. In his simple gestures and heartfelt words, you found a love that was pure and unwavering, a love that filled your heart with joy and anticipation for the journey ahead. And as the echoes of your laughter mingled with the evening breeze, you knew that this moment would be etched in your memories forever, a testament to the love that had brought you to this beautiful place.

As you reached the river, the soft glow of lights and the flickering of candles cast a romantic ambiance over the scene. Darry's heart pounded with nervous excitement; his palms slightly clammy as he took in the sight before him. With each step, the weight of the ring box in his pocket seemed to grow heavier, but the love and determination in his heart only strengthened.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Darry turned to you, his eyes alight with affection and anticipation. The gentle glow of the lights seemed to dance in his gaze as he reached for your hand, his touch sending a shiver of excitement down your spine.

"Y/N," he began, his voice filled with emotion, "from the moment I met you, you've brought so much light into my life. You've been my rock, my confidante, my everything." His words were like music to your ears, each syllable filled with the depth of his love for you.

Tears of joy welled in your eyes as you listened to his heartfelt confession, your heart swelling with love for the man standing before you. The love and support radiating from him and the familiar faces of Ponyboy, Soda, Two-Bit, and Steve filled you with a sense of warmth and comfort, making this moment even more special.

"And now," Darry continued, his voice trembling slightly as he dropped to one knee, presenting the ring box with a flourish, "I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you've made me." His eyes never wavered from yours, his gaze unwavering in its sincerity. "Y/N, will you marry me?"

Your breath caught in your throat as you gazed into his eyes, feeling as if the world had stopped spinning just for this moment. The weight of his words hung in the air, charged with emotion and anticipation, as you searched for the right words to express the overwhelming love and happiness that filled your heart.

With a trembling voice and tears of joy streaming down your cheeks, you nodded emphatically, unable to find the words to convey the depth of your love for him. "Yes, Darry," you whispered, your voice barely above a whisper, "a thousand times yes. In every single lifetime it’s a yes."

A radiant smile broke across Darry's face as he slipped the ring onto your finger, sealing your love with a tender kiss. Cheers and applause erupted from your friends, the sounds of their excitement mingling with the beating of your hearts as you embraced, knowing that this moment would be etched in your memories forever as the beginning of your journey together as husband and wife.

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[harveyverse]

i struggled so much with this 😭 i'm still not entirely satisfied but i've been working and reworking this for about a month now and i fear this is as good as it's gonna get 🫠

anyhow, this is for @legends-never-die1 aka the author of my favorite fanfic ever <333 one of these days i'll catch up on your new fic but i'm still not over Temporary <33

(this is from the fishing chapter, it's the car ride to the lake :D )

[littlestarbigsky]

five times darry helped ponyboy sleep and one time pony helped darry :)

this took me soo long lol sorry gang

“oh, baby, what are you doing up?” mama asked him quietly.

darry shrugged his little 6-year-old shoulders, “the baby was crying, i wanted to make sure he was okay…”

darry was always a light sleeper. the smallest things could wake him up, a train passing through town, a plane flying overhead, soda tossing a little too much next to him. he also always woke up when the baby cried at night.

ponyboy was still just a tiny little baby, and he had only been around for a couple of months, but darry already knew he would protect him with everything he had. his parents always did say he was born to be a big brother.

darry hadn’t realized at first what had woken him up, at first he thought soda had just rolled over and stolen the blankets again, until he heard the familiar footsteps hurrying towards the nursery across the hallway. he pushed himself out of bed and padded across the hallway, leaning up against the threshold of the nursery to watch mama rock the baby until he quieted down.

“you should go back to bed, sweetheart, it’s so late and you’ve got school in the morning,” mama waved him over and hugged him to her side, gliding a hand through his hair.

“is ponyboy okay?” he asked quietly.

she nodded, crouching down next to him so he could see the baby. she knew he did better understanding things when he could see them for himself, “see? he’s alright, he’s not that great at sleeping all night just yet, though.”

“well cut him a break,” darry smiled. “he’s still new here.”

mama laughed softly and it looked like she was about to tell him to go back to bed again when pony’s fussing and crying started back up.

“can i help?” darry piped up, hurrying over and hopping onto the rocking chair.

mama hesitated, but seemed to decide it was worth a shot, “sure, baby, but if he doesn’t stop crying, though, i gotta take him back. he loves you a whole lot, but sometimes babies just want their mama.”

“i know,” darry nodded, gently taking the baby and holding him in his lap, just like he’d practiced when soda was born.

it took a few seconds of rocking him, but pony started to settle. he let out a couple of whines, but darry had him asleep in a couple of minutes. mama could only stand there and watch her boys, her heart swelling as she watched darry take care of the baby like and old pro.

“your brother really loves you, huh, ponybaby?” she asked sweetly, gently taking him from darry’s arms and holding him close.

“i do,” darry shrugged with a small smile.

“i know you do, baby,” she bent down and kissed his forehead. “now why don’t you head back to bed, i’ll come check on you once i’ve got him settled.”

it wasn’t necessarily a nightmare, pony had had those, and this wasn’t the same thing. either way, he was still too spooked to want to stay in his room all by himself.

he froze in the doorway. their parents’ room was at the end of the hallway, and who knows what all was hiding in the dark? he was only 4, lots of things are pretty scary when you’re that little, and as much as he wanted his mama, he could see the nightlight in darry and soda’s room, and all he had to do to get in there was get across the hallway… he could do that.

he made up his mind, pushed their door open and had to laugh at soda, sprawled out over the bed, his hair falling every which way and his mouth hanging open. pony thought for a moment about crawling up with him and trying to get a couple of snuggles out of him before darry sat up on the other side of the bed.

“pony?” he asked sleepily. “what’s going on? are you okay?”

pony hadn’t realized how hard he had been trying not to cry and how hard it had been for him to keep himself together. all of his feelings crashing down onto him at once, he raced over to darry’s side of the bed and threw himself at his brother.

“oh, kiddo, what’s the matter?” darry hugged ponyboy to him, pulling him up onto the bed and cradling him in his lap. “it’s okay, i’ve got ya.”

“i- i had…” pony hiccuped out, but his breath caught in his throat and darry could feel him getting worked up.

“shh, big breaths, baby,” darry hushed him, placing a hand on his chest and taking deep breaths for pony to follow.

pony seemed to calm down after a few minutes, and managed to get out, “i had a dream…”

“ah, i see,” darry nodded, resting his cheek against pony’s head and rocking him gently. “but you were so brave and came and found someone, i’m so proud of you.”

“but…” pony seemed to scold himself for a moment. “but i still cried…”

“oh, that’s okay, baby,” darry pressed another kiss to pony’s head. “there’s nothing wrong with crying. it just means your feelings are a little bit bigger than you, but that’s okay! because the bad dream wasn’t real, and i’m never gonna let anything happen to you.”

pony whimpered again, and darry leaned down and whispered, “you wanna know a secret?”

pony nodded hesitantly.

“soda cries when he has big feelings, too.”

pony sniffled, “really?”

“yeah! see? there’s nothing wrong with needing to cry,” darry felt pony snuggle into him more and felt his heart swell. “how about you stay in here with us tonight?”

pony yawned and nodded, and darry shifted them so they were laying down and pony was still bundled up in his arms.

pony rolled over to face darry quickly, “what if i have another dream?”

darry smiled and ruffled his hair, “then it’s a good thing i’m right here.”

a small part of darry always knew that their parents were privy to his little escapades to pony’s room after they put him to bed. it always took them a pretty long time to get soda calmed down enough to sleep, which left darry to his own devices for however long it took them.

it was the same as every night, once soda had picked out a few books from the shelf in the living room and retreated with their parents into his and darry’s bedroom, darry quietly crept into the nursery.

pony was sitting up in his toddler bed, anxiously waiting for darry, just like he always did.

“did you bring the book?” he asked excitedly, and darry pulled out his school copy of romeo and juliet, tattered and messily annotated.

darry couldn’t understand why his 6-year-old brother loved his class novels so much or whether or not he even understood them, but he was excited about it all the same.

“what happened last night?” darry asked, settling down next to pony and pulling the blankets over his legs.

“they were on the balcony!” pony reminded him, snuggling into darry’s side.

“oh right,” darry smiled. “and romeo was forgetting about rosalind.”

“and he fought with ben…” pony struggled to remember the name for a second before looking up at darry for help.

“benvolio.”

darry opened up the book and started reading the scene he had been assigned in class, pony chiming in occasionally. by the time they finished the scene, pony was leaning heavily against darry’s side. darry folded down the corner of the page and set it down on the nightstand, wrapping an arm around pony as he got more and more drowsy.

“alright, baby, time to go to sleep,” darry whispered into pony’s hair, pressing a quick kiss to the top of his head. he started to scoot out from the covers, but pony pushed himself up and yanked darry back down, his little arms wrapped tightly around darry’s waist. darry just giggled, “pony, i gotta go to bed, too.”

“then go to bed here,” pony mumbled, his voice muffled against darry’s stomach.

darry laughed quietly, “you drive a hard bargain, kiddo, i’ll stay with you until you fall asleep, okay?”

pony threw the blankets back and plastered himself to darry’s side the minute he laid down. the toddler sized twin bed was too small for the both of them, but darry was having a hard time caring. whether it was soda or ponyboy, he could sleep so easily knowing they were safe because they were with him.

“darry, are you in here, honey?” mama whispered as she pushed ponyboy’s door open after finally getting soda to sleep. she froze, catching her boys in the bed together. her eldest, curled up protectively with half of the blankets kicked to the other side of the bed in favor of keeping ponyboy warm, and her baby, wrapped securely in his big brother’s arms, drooling onto the pillow and both of them fast asleep.

she quietly moved into the room and fixed the blankets so they were both covered properly. ponyboy stirred for a moment, but went straight back to sleep after a kiss to his forehead from his mama.

she flicked on pony’s nightlight and stopped to lean against the doorway to watch them for a few more minutes. when her husband finally came to find her after laying with soda until he was sure the kid was asleep, he whispered, “third time this week… want me to carry darry back to his room?”

she just shook her head and smiled, “no, let them sleep.”

“i thought you’d be asleep by now.”

ponyboy jumped at the abrupt sound of his brother’s voice and the front door opening. it was late. too late for pony to still be awake on a school night, but there he was, leaning up against the kitchen counter with a granola bar and what looked like a glass of apple juice.

pony just shook his head, not meeting darry’s eye, “couldn’t sleep…”

“no?” darry closed the door quietly, locking it behind him. truth be told, he had been hoping everyone would be asleep so that he could sneak back in unnoticed, but he knew pony would most likely only tell soda, who probably already knew anyways.

pony clearly had no intention of making it easy for him, either, “how was paul’s?”

“‘s alright,” darry shrugged, painfully aware that he hadn’t specified where he had been. “same as always.”

“football season’s been over you know…” pony said quietly.

darry felt his face go red, “i… i saw some of your meet today.”

pony rolled his eyes, “there wasn’t much to see.”

“sure there was,” darry walked over to the kitchen, grabbing the container of mixed berries from the fridge. he caught pony’s expression, looking at the glass of juice like it was the reason he hadn’t won. “hey, fourth ain’t bad at all, kid. you’re competing against kids that are much older than you. you’ve got a lotta time to be first. you’ve got no business losing sleep over that.”

“i know,” pony shrugged. “mom and dad said the same thing, soda wasn’t much help…”

darry understood. soda had never really understood why the two of them put so much stress on athletics, why it was so important for them. he never really got why it was so crushing when darry lost a game or pony didn’t place well in a meet.

darry knew ponyboy well enough to know that trying to comfort him wasn’t going to get him anywhere, he needed something else to think about.

“you wanna watch some cartoons? they’ve got a mickey rerun marathon going,” darry offered, gesturing to the couch using the hand holding the bowl of berries.

pony nodded wordlessly. darry grabbed the remote and settled down on the couch and was shocked when pony flopped down right next to him and curled up into his side.

“woah,” darry chuckled, flipping through the channels and throwing an arm over pony. “that bad, huh?

pony buried his face in darry’s side, “shut up…”

darry found the channel and set the remote down, taking deep, calming breaths that he knew pony would match and would probably help him sleep.

if darry was being honest, he missed how much time he used to get to spend with pony. even if they used to fight all the time, at least they saw each other enough to have an argument in the first place. now, they were both so caught up in their own lives that they hardly even saw each other. if darry wasn’t at a school event or looking at college stuff, then pony was at track, and if pony didn’t have homework, then darry was at paul’s.

it didn’t take long for pony to fall asleep. darry let the episode finish before turning off the tv and gently maneuvering pony into his arms to carry him to bed. he tried to push open the door to pony and soda’s room, but the door was latched shut and darry didn’t exactly have a free hand. thinking better of waking up pony or soda, he carried pony to his own room and tucked him under the blankets.

he changed into pajamas quickly and slid in next to his brother, doing his best not to shuffle him around too much. darry’s bed was far too small for both of them to fit comfortably anymore, but they would make it work.

pony stirred for a moment, beginning to wake up when the arm thrown over him was heavier than soda’s, but darry just ran a hand through his hair and whispered, “it’s okay, it’s just me. go back to sleep, honey.”

darry didn’t know how he was supposed to do anything anymore. it felt like he was in a strange limbo, the house had gone quiet and he felt so safe with all of his boys, who were much more his boys now than they had been a few hours prior, but in the morning, the world would keep spinning, and there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop it. he was having a hard enough time pulling in breath, let alone say anything to anyone.

he’d let the rest of the boys handle the comforting at first, letting steve hold soda and whisper to him until they fell asleep on the couch. johnny stuck with ponyboy, hugging him close when he had thrown up from the shock of it all.

they were all starting to run out of steam by midnight. steve whispered over soda’s head that he wasn’t going anywhere, but eventually, the boys all started to head out, johnny going with two-bit and dally heading back to buck’s for the night without a word. darry couldn’t blame them, this was a loss for them as much as it was for him, his parents had loved them just as much. his dad and his mama had been all of theirs, too. he couldn’t blame them, not really.

he was heading back to his room to put on his pajamas and pretend to try to sleep until he could sneak out of the house the next day to identify the bodies and start trying to make sense of what to do next unfulfilled he found ponyboy in the hallway.

he was quite a sight for fresh eyes. his green eyes were rubbed raw, angry and red, his skin was ghostly pale and his cheeks were flushed, and there was something about the way he was holding himself that seemed so exhausted. darry didn’t need an invitation, and he didn’t much care if pony was going to try to shove him off, he darted forward and enveloped pony in his arms.

if pony had any walls left up after that night, they all crumbled the moment darry had ahold of him. his knees buckled underneath him and they sank down to the floor.

darry had never seen pony like this, completely and utterly broken and lost and so goddamn scared, that it almost make him forget that he was doing the same thing. it was his parents, too. but what mattered the most now was ponyboy.

“i know, baby,” darry’s hand flew to the back of pony’s head. “you’re okay, i’m here.”

“nothing’s okay, dar,” pony sobbed miserably. “i can’t do it.”

“shh,” darry hushed him gently, rocking them back and forth. “i know, i know. i’m so sorry.”

he swallowed hard to keep the tears at bay, his chin resting on his baby brother’s head. he couldn’t take it away. he couldn’t ease the pain or do anything to make it better, and the realization hit darry like a physical blow. this was something they were just going to have to feel.

darry let pony cry into his shirt until he hiccuped and gagged and darry knew what was coming. he scooped pony into his arms and ran with him to the bathroom, rubbing his back as he threw up again. pony crumbled back into darry when it was over, sobs coming hard and fast.

“baby, i need you to take some deep breaths, you’re gonna be sick again if you keep working yourself up,” darry held pony’s head to his chest, his ear pressed to his heartbeat.

“i… i can’t…” pony wheezed. “what are we gonna do?”

“it’s gonna be okay, i promise, i don’t know a whole lot but i’m gonna make sure we’re okay. i’m okay, soda’s okay, you’re okay. and i’m never gonna let anything happen to either of you.”

it was all darry could do to keep his breath even enough for pony to follow, but despite everything, how scared he was and how hard he was crying, all pony could do was listen and slow down his breaths to match darry’s. he didn’t try to move, a dead weight on darry’s chest, his only comfort drawn from how tight his brother was holding onto him.

it could have been hours that they sat there on the bathroom floor, but eventually, pony slept. darry didn’t try to move, not until pony had been asleep for at least half an hour. he carefully pulled pony into his arms and carried him to his bed, stopping to make sure soda was still asleep with steve in the living room.

he used his hip to open pony’s bedroom door and set him down as gently as he could on the bed. pony rolled over slowly as darry covered him up and blinked up at his brother with his big, wet, eyes.

darry pushed his hair back gently, “go back to sleep, just try to rest, baby.”

“can you stay?”

if darry hadn’t been so close to pony, he would have missed it, but something in his shattered heart bloomed as his baby brother reached out for him, and all of a sudden, it was like pony was a baby and darry was helping him out of the crib in the smallest hours of the morning before anyone was awake. the world hadn’t hardened them and forced them apart, and ripped away both of their parents in one go, it was just darry and ponyboy.

it wasn’t enough. darry was painfully aware that it would never be enough and that he’d spend the rest of his life knowing it wouldn’t be. but in the worst moment of their lives, when they didn’t even know what hour it was, only that it had been dark for so long that it seemed like the sun would never rise again, it felt like maybe it could have been enough.

darry kicked off his shoes and climbed in next to pony, who was already almost asleep again. he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but if being with pony all night meant that he would get some rest, it was worth it.

ponyboy was always worth it.

not for the first time, darry found himself in the kitchen at ten o’clock at night, unable to keep himself calm enough to sleep but too tired to stay awake. it was a vicious cycle, he knew it, but he couldn’t break himself out of it even if he tried.

pony had called to let him know that cherry and his study group had gone late and that she would give him a ride home. he knew pony was fine, but cherry’s house was 16 minutes away and it had already been 20…

“darry?” darry was grateful when soda’s voice startled him out of his tailspin.

he turned around slowly to see his brother in his too-big pajamas leaning against his doorframe.

“burning the midnight oil, pepsi?”

“you should go to bed, you’ve got work in the morning. i’ll wait up for pony.”

darry wanted to laugh, soda knew that wasn’t his responsibility and he had work just as much as darry did, but they both knew soda slept like a rock no matter what time it was.

“it’s okay, i wanna make sure he gets home okay,” darry shrugged.

soda looked apprehensive, “you’re sure?”

“positive, go back to bed. you look like you’re gonna fall asleep standin there,” darry furrowed his brows and cracked a smile at the state of his brother.

soda dragged himself back into his room and shut the door. darry busied himself by pouring a glass of water, and promptly almost spilled it when pony pushed the front door open.

“hey, darry, i’m sorry i’m so late, cherry’s dad got home and was giving her a hard time about having a guy over and-” pony started to explain, but was cut off by darry pulling him into a rib-cracking hug.

“you’re okay…” darry didn’t know if he was saying it to ponyboy or to himself, but it didn’t matter.

his little brother was home. he hadn’t come home soaked to the bone and scared to death after some socs tried to drown him. he wasn’t covered in bruises and cuts from switchblades. he was home. he was pressed up against darry and as long as darry had a hold on him, he could keep the kid safe. god, he would probably die for him if it came to it, he couldn’t imagine anything he wouldn’t do.

darry eventually let pony go, both of them taking a few steps back, “…sorry.”

pony just shrugged, “you give good hugs, y’know?”

darry cracked a smile, “go on and shower and get to bed, soda’s probably already asleep.”

pony nodded and headed towards the bathroom, and darry took up his spot at the kitchen counter. he could go to sleep now. he would be able to relax enough to drift off since pony was home, but he couldn’t seem to clear the dream from the night before from his mind.

he never really had dreams, at least not that he remembered, but ever since pony got back home, his brain taunted him with images of his little brother drowning in the fountain in the park, of him freezing to death in some old abandoned building, and that it was all his fault.

pony came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, looking shocked that darry was still there.

“you should go to bed, too, dar,” pony nudged darry’s shoulder, taking a sip from the glass of water on the counter. “you look like you got hit by a truck.”

darry shrugged, “i will, just not that tired yet.”

pony fixed him with a stare that told him quite plainly that pony knew he was lying.

“you haven’t been sleeping much lately…”

“i don’t know, kiddo, it’s just been hard.”

“you’re having bad dreams, aren’t you?”

darry looked up at his brother. it was a rhetorical question, he already knew. and darry knew ponyboy well enough to know that there was no use lying to him. he nodded slowly.

how was he supposed to explain it to him? that every night his subconscious killed his little brother? that he woke up in a cold sweat almost every night? that he had to come to pony and soda’s room just to make sure they were both still breathing?

pony thought for a second before taking a few steps towards their parent’s bedroom, looking back and motioning for darry to come with him. darry followed cautiously, knowing what pony was probably going to have him do.

he pushed open the door and pony immediately headed for the bed, pushing the comforter back and crawling in.

“i started doing this after…” he trailed off, but darry knew anyways. “it helped. a lot.”

darry sighed and hesitantly crawled in next to pony. he didn’t understand at first, he almost wanted to tell pony that it was weird that they were in there at all, but the moment his head hit the pillows, he understood. it was like being wrapped up in everything he had missed so badly for months. it was like getting into the warm car after a freezing cold football practice, like a hug from his mama after a long day at school, like his little brothers waking him up on christmas morning.

he inhaled the smell, something long forgotten that almost made his head go foggy with how quickly he felt his heart slow down. mama’s perfume, daisies and vanilla, dad’s fragrance of cheap cologne and motor oil… and a smell that was far more familiar.

“is that… soda’s shampoo?”

pony nodded, “he comes in here a lot, i think more than he tells me.”

“i never do…” darry admitted guiltily. “it always felt wrong.”

“i know the feeling,” pony pulled the blankets up to his chin and flipping over onto his stomach, snuggling closer to darry. “but you should try to sleep, i promise, it’ll help.”

and darry didn’t know why, but he listened. he threw an arm over pony and sighed in the sweet scent of everything he’s ever loved.

the world started to go hazy, and it felt like he’d been awake for a hundred years.

he slept.

[kaytheday]

I know this has probably been said before but I'm 100% sure that Darrel Curtis can not sleep at night unless he knows that his both of his brothers are home safe. If one of them is out, he will stay up in the recliner worrying. Just waiting for them to come home and be okay. He just can't sleep if he knows one of them could be in trouble. It reminds him too much of the way they learned about their parents death.

It's one of the things that neither one of his brothers catch. Ponyboy has gone to bed and Darry is up waiting even though he has work the next morning. Sodapop stumbles in with Steve at like three in the morning. Darry stands up, places both of his hands on Soda's shoulders, checking him over while his mouth is drawn in a firm line. Then once he determines he is okay, he starts to bed without a word. Soda looks at Steve while Steve just lifts his eyebrows in confusion. They go to bed neither of them knows what just happened.