#the outsiders fic

[augiewrites]

"boundaries" - dallas winston

summary: dallas carries y/n to bed

pairing: dallas winston x curtis sister!reader

word count: 478

a/n: idk if this is a dead fandom but at least three times a year i remember that the outsiders exists and become obsessed again lol

Y/N hadn’t been sleeping well lately, so when she fell asleep on the couch Darry couldn’t bring himself to risk waking her up. The most he dared to do was drape a blanket over his sleeping sister before retreating to his bedroom for the night.

Dallas, however, didn’t give a shit.

He needed somewhere to sleep, and she was in his designated spot.

Dally had just lifted Y/N into his arms when her eyelids fluttered open, still weighed down by sleep.

“Darry?”

“No—shut up and go back to sleep.”

Y/N’s eyes snapped open at Dally’s unexpected voice and briefly registered him carrying her across the living room.

“Where we goin’?” Y/N’s voice came out in a mumble as her eyes fell shut again.

“Bed. Need a place to crash tonight.”

“And you chose my room? Gonna be a tight fit.”

Glory, she’s annoying even when she’s barely conscious, Dally thought, but he was too tired to be his usual combative self.

The hallway was dark, but he could see the shimmer of her eyes looking up at him from the void. He never liked the way she looked at him—there was too much hope, too much recognition, too much of an implication that she knew something he didn’t.

Dallas wasn’t exactly known for being respectful, but Darry’s acceptance of him meant a lot more to him than he would ever be willing to admit—even to himself. So, despite becoming quite fond of Y/N, he kept his distance. If there was one thing Dallas loved to do, it was to test the boundaries of every relationship he’s ever had, both friendly and romantic.

This was one boundary Dallas had reservations about crossing.

“Do you hate me, Dallas?” There was a softness in Y/N’s voice that was rare to hear coming from the girl.

Dallas paused in the threshold of Y/N’s bedroom and dared a glance down into her eyes, but quickly snapped out of it and kept moving across the room to her small bed.

“No, stupid.” He unceremoniously dropped her on the bed and turned to move out of the room, but he was stopped by her calling out to him.

“You not gonna tuck me in, Winston?”

He threw a glance over his shoulder and was met with the knowing glint in her eyes that he was ever-growing uneasy of.

Catching himself, he snapped back into character, scoffing and throwing a stupid plush dog at her head. He remembered the gang’s trip to the state fair a few years back, remembered how excited she was when Soda won it for her after seven tries at the ring toss, and he remembered her shoving it in his face while teasing that the K-9 unit was coming for his sorry ass.

“Go to bed.”

The door closed behind him with a solid thud.

Stupid girl.

~~~

i'm trying to get back in the writing groove but i'm so uninspired lol—feedback is appreciated as usual :)

[ultravionna]

daddy's pride ୭ ˚.⁺⊹ .ᐟ

𐙚 girldad.ᐟdallas winston x reader꒱

warnings: none.ᐟ

a/n: ahh this is so damn cute you guys omg. definitely my proudest work

⤷ *based on request linked here* ༉‧₊˚✧

you were exhausted, but in the best way possible. the soft cries of your newborn daughter, fawn marie winston, filled the room, echoing off the walls like a sweet melody you never wanted to stop hearing. dallas, right there beside you, his arms firm but gentle as he held the tiny bundle close to his chest, had never looked more vulnerable, more in love. his rough exterior seemed to melt away the moment fawn was placed in his arms, replaced with a look of pure, unfiltered adoration.

“ain’t she the most beautiful thing you ever seen?”

dallas’s voice was low, that broad new york accent that you had grown to love so much wrapping around each word like a warm embrace. you could hear the emotion in his tone, something that he himself rarely let show, but right now, he was an open book, his love for the tiny girl in his arms plain as day.

you leaned into him, your head resting on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart as you watched fawn’s tiny fingers curl around dallas’s thumb.

“she’s perfect, dal,” you whispered, your voice barely audible as a tear slipped down your cheek. the moment was surreal, almost too good to be true. here you were, a little family, everything you had ever dreamed of, and it was all right here in front of you.

“damn right, she’s perfect,” dallas murmured, his lips brushing against your forehead in a soft kiss.

“that’s our baby girl, y’know? she’s gonna have the world wrapped around her little finger.”

as the days turned into weeks, you watched in awe as dallas transformed before your eyes. he was always a force to be reckoned with, tough as nails and never backing down from a fight, but now, he was something else entirely. he was gentle, overly protective, and so incredibly proud of the little girl who had stolen his heart the moment she was born.

you’d often find him in the nursery, just standing there, watching fawn sleep with a soft smile on his face.

“can’t believe she’s ours,” he’d whisper, almost as if he was afraid saying it too loud would shatter the perfect little world you had created together.

“she’s got your nose, dollface. look at that, she’s got your nose.” he’d chuckle softly, reaching out to brush a delicate finger across fawn’s tiny button nose.

“and she’s got your eyes, dal,” you’d reply, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your head against his side. “she’s a perfect mix of both of us.”

dallas would hum in agreement, his arm wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer as he continued to watch fawn sleep. “she’s gonna be a force to be reckoned with, huh? just like her mama.”

you’d laugh softly, knowing he meant every word, and together, you’d stand there, soaking in the quiet moments that seemed to make all the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes worth it.

but it wasn’t just the quiet moments that made you fall in love with dallas all over again. it was the way he���d jump out of bed in the middle of the night at the first sound of fawn’s cries, cradling her gently in his arms as he paced the room, humming softly to soothe her back to sleep. it was the way he’d brag to the gang every chance he got, showing them polaroids of fawn and telling them all about her latest milestones, even if it was something as simple as her first smile.

“y’see this? my daughter’s already smarter than ‘lot of you,” he’d boast, puffing out his chest with pride as he held up a picture of fawn cooing at the camera. “she’s gonna be a genius, i’m tellin’ ya. already got her mama’s brains and my good looks, huh?”

the gang would laugh, passing the picture around, but you could see the way they all softened whenever fawn was mentioned.

she was a tiny ray of sunshine in their often chaotic lives, and they adored her just as much as dallas did. they’d visit often, and it wasn’t long before fawn became the center of attention, everyone taking turns holding her, cooing at her, and making silly faces to get her to smile.

one day, steve came over, his usual wild energy filling the room as he played around, tossing a ball up in the air. as usual, he got a little too carried away, and before you knew it, the ball was flying dangerously close to where dallas was holding fawn. without missing a beat, dallas turned, shielding fawn with his body as he shot steve a glare that could’ve melted steel.

“hey, man, watch it! fuckin’ dumbass, y’ almost knocked my daughter’s head off!” dallas’s voice was sharp, his protective instincts kicking in full force. steve froze, his eyes wide with guilt as he stammered out an apology, backing away like a scolded puppy.

you couldn’t help but smile, your heart swelling with love as you watched dallas gently rock fawn in his arms, his anger quickly melting away as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “it’s okay, baby girl, daddy’s got you,” he murmured, his voice soft and soothing.

fawn blinked up at him, her big, curious eyes reflecting the same shade of brown as dallas’s, and you knew in that moment that she had him wrapped around her little finger. he was completely and utterly in love with his little girl, and it was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen.

as the months passed, fawn grew from a tiny newborn into a curious, adventurous little girl, always eager to explore the world around her. and dallas was right there beside her every step of the way, guiding her, protecting her, and teaching her everything he knew.

“look at her, hon’,” dallas would say, his voice full of wonder as he watched fawn take her first steps, her tiny feet wobbling as she made her way across the room. “how’d we make somethin’ so perfect?”

you’d laugh, leaning into him as you watched fawn’s face light up with pride as she reached her destination. “she’s got your stubbornness, that’s for sure,” you’d reply, knowing that fawn’s determination was a trait she had definitely inherited from her father.

“damn right she does,” dallas would say with a grin, his eyes sparkling with pride as he scooped fawn up into his arms, spinning her around until she squealed with delight. “she’s gonna be tough, just like her old man.”

but even as fawn grew older and more independent, dallas’s protectiveness never wavered. he was always there, watching over her like a hawk, ready to jump in at the slightest sign of trouble. but he wasn’t just protective—he was also completely smitten. whether it was giving her piggyback rides around the house, letting her paint his nails (which he claimed was “just this once”), or sitting down for tea parties with her favorite stuffed animals, dallas was the epitome of a girl dad.

he wasn’t afraid to be silly, to be soft, to be vulnerable, all for the sake of his daughter. and every time he looked at her, you could see the love and pride shining in his eyes, a look that made your heart swell with happiness.

one day, as you were all gathered at the curtis house for a cookout, fawn was passed around from one person to the next, everyone taking turns holding her and making sure she was the center of attention. dallas stood close by, his eyes never leaving her as he watched her giggle and smile at each of the gang.

“look at her, man,” dallas said, a wide grin on his face as he watched steve try to entertain fawn with a goofy dance. “she’s got all of ya wrapped around her little finger.”

“she’s a heartbreaker already,” soda said with a laugh, handing fawn back to dallas. “just like her uncle soda.”

“pffft,” dallas replied, holding fawn close as she nestled into his chest, her tiny hand gripping the fabric of his shirt. “she’s gonna have the boys lined up around the block when she’s older, and i’ll be right there to scare ‘em all off.”

“don’t scare ‘em off too bad, dal,” you teased, resting a hand on his arm. “you want her to have some friends, don’t you?”

“friends, sure,” dallas said, his tone light but his eyes serious. “boyfriends? nnn uhn. nun.”

you laughed, knowing that dallas’s protectiveness was only going to grow stronger as fawn got older. but for now, you were content to just soak in the moment, watching as dallas gently rocked fawn in his arms, a look of pure love and contentment on his face.

as the sun set and the evening drew to a close, you couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment. you had everything you could ever want—your little family, full of love, laughter, and moments that you knew you’d cherish forever.

dallas glanced over at you, a soft smile on his lips as he watched you watching him. “whatcha thinkin’ about, hon’?”

“just how lucky we are,” you replied, reaching out to take his hand in yours. “i love you, dal.”

“i love you too, my love,” dallas said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your lips. “more than you’ll ever know.”

as you stood there, wrapped in dallas’s arms with fawn nestled close, you knew that this was everything you had ever dreamed of. your little family, your perfect world, and a love that would last a lifetime.

and as you looked up at dallas, his eyes filled with love and pride as he gazed down at fawn, you knew that you had found your forever.

[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.

[4lydsmarie]

radio - dallas winston

“now my life is sweet like cinnamon” - radio, lana del rey

dallas winston x newgirl!reader note: reader and dallas are underage drinking, reader gets a little tipsy. dallas realizes he has a lover boy side after all..just fluff basically? a/n: this takes place in the 60s! 60s detroit has my heart of course i had to involve it just a bit. 💋

your parents had decided to move you to tulsa, against your will of course, in hopes of living a “calm small town life” in their words. you thought it was just unnecessary. you were happy back home in detroit, enjoying the motor city and it’s homey feel. moving all the way to oklahoma to live in some small town felt idiotic. but, what could you do? you’d already settled into your new “home” and it’s not like your words could convince your parents anyways. 

the cool summer breeze had sent you wandering into buck merrill’s roadhouse. you’d heard from a couple of people in your neighborhood that it was a place most people went to for drinks, fights, and just to be lonely at. while it didn’t sound appealing, the drinks part settled well into your head. drinks were never your thing, but anything would make you feel better than being at home, the moving and adjusting had been all too much for you.

arriving at buck’s, many faces looked your way. some curious, some flirtatious, some disgusted. you flashed an awkward smile as you sat down and ordered a drink for yourself.

across the bar sat dallas winston. dallas winston was known for his cold demeanor and player antics. ask anyone and they’d tell you, he had no care in the world for anyone. not even himself. 

he’d noticed you just as everyone else had. new girl for sure, but something else about you interested him. he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

lost in his thought, he hadn’t realized buck was right behind him.

“someone’s caught your eye, huh dally?” buck teased. “nah man, just lookin. hey, you got a light?” dallas avoided buck’s teasing as much as he could. but buck was right, you had caught his eye.

buck handed dallas a cigarette as dallas lit it and held it to his lips, still eyeing you closely.

you felt someone’s eyes on you, but to be honest who’s wasn’t? everyone felt eager to know who you are. it wasn’t often someone decided to settle their lives in tulsa. if anything it was more common for people to pack up and leave tulsa for good. everyone was curious to know you.

something told you to turn your head to the corner..maybe it was intuition, maybe it was just your knowledge. but you decided to do what your gut told you. 

that’s when you noticed him.

just by looking at him you could tell the kind of person he was. stuck up, unserious, to himself. he was mysterious in a way, and for some reason that drew you to him. it made you wanna know more about him. 

so being the newcomer yourself, you decided to approach him. he didn’t look any older than you..mature in face and body language but you could still tell he was your age.

as you made your way towards him you noticed him shuffle in his seat, sitting up and clearing his throat a bit. “hey” you said blankly. “hey, doll. whatsa pretty girl like you doin in this dump, huh?” the newfound nickname put a light blush on your face. luckily, neon signs filled the house, perfectly hiding in the tint. “no choice but to move here, parents forced me..” you responded, fiddling with the hem of your shirt.

“mm, you a soc or a grease?” dallas responded, leaning back a bit. “huh? what’s that?” your face twisted in confusion, causing dallas to let out a laugh before responding. “sorry, forgot your new doll. soc’s are the west side kids. y’know the ones that got it made. their stupid fancy cars and pathetic polo shirts. just jerks. greasers are guys like me. low-life, less money, don’t got it all like the rest do.” you didn’t know what answer to give. you sure weren’t rich and popular, yet you weren’t poor and a “low life” like he’d described.

“neither id say. i don’t live in the rich neighborhood, but not the low-life neighborhood you describe either. im just normal..” you replied. dallas nodded knowingly before changing the subject. “didn’t catch a name for ya, doll.” his new york accent strung with every word. “yn..yours?” dallas sat up in his seat, “dallas. dallas winston. the fuzz probably know my name more than anyone. call me dally.” you smiled. you’d remember that name. hell, you’d remember everything about him. from his mysterious demeanor to his thick new york accent. 

every word, every movement he made, had you wanting to know more and more about him. “and why do cops know you, dally?” he smiled at you using his nickname before he spoke. “cause i get into trouble y’know? eh at this point whenever something happens im the first the fuzz run to. jerks..” dallas muttered the last word. he’d seemed like the kind of guy who had stories to tell for days, maybe weeks. 

“enough about me doll, i wanna know about you now.” dallas smirked. “nothin much to know..” you responded hesitantly. “don’t get all shy with me doll, just wanna get to know you” dallas could see right through you, and how nervous you’d suddenly gotten. “maybe that’s enough talk..let’s drink? you a drinker?” dallas changed the subject to your comfort, something he’d never do for anyone else unbeknownst to you. there was something about you that still pulled dallas in..made him wanna know you from head to toe, whatever that meant. 

“no i’m not really a drinker but anything feels good at the moment” you laughed. dallas took this as a sign to order whatever sounded good. vodka, whiskey, even beer. just the usual, just to occupy you. you took whatever he’d given you, downing it the minute you got it and making a face of disgust. dallas laughed at the sight. “cute..” he mumbled. then, dallas had realized it. he was falling for a girl he’d barely known, his laid back “no fucks in the world” demeanor was being crushed by a new town girl. 

hours had passed, you were now drunk and tired, words seemingly slurring before you could even form a sentence. “let’s get ya home, doll” dallas said, helping you to stand and walking you out of buck’s. before he’d left, he’d asked if anyone knew where you lived. since the town wasn’t too big and you were new, it was easy for him to figure that out from anyone there.

once dallas got you home to your doorstep you were a tad bit sobered up, just enough to carry your own weight. 

“hey uh, y’know if you ever want company you can just uh, call me or somethin.. never really busy and if i don’t answer it’s cause i got in with the fuzz.” dallas said, scratching his head. you smiled at the boys pathetic yet cute words. he’d wanted your company without asking for it. “yeah sure, why not? don’t get yourself into too much trouble now, i wanna see you more dally.”

and somehow to dallas, the nickname had squeezed his heart yet again. everyone called him dally, why was it different when you said it? you’d waved goodbye to dallas and went into your house, seemingly the call for dallas to make his way back to buck’s. the whole way back, his mind was stuck on you.

you’d made his life a little more interesting, a little sweeter, a little more desireable to live in just one night. you’d made his life a little “sweet, like cinnamon”.

[only-lonely-star]

Your recent fic of the Soda mishap is my new fav fic of the outsiders! It was so funny with just the right amount of angst!

Could I request a fic with a sister reader who is the youngest curtis and develops separation anxiety with Soda after the two of them were in a little fender bender? Neither were hurt but it brought up memories of their parents dying and she can't shake off the thought that Soda not being in her eyesight means he's gone too? She refuses to sleep in her own room goes with him to work (it's summer holidays so school isn't a factor) and anytime he showers she stands outsode the bathroom door asking if he's okay periodically. Just a big emotional breakdown if she happens to get separated from him? I hope that makes sense!

Thanks you!

☁︎ The Accident ☁︎

~ Sodapop Curtis ~

Warnings - Minor car accident, mentions of death, separation anxiety

Summary - You couldn’t imagine losing Sodapop.

Author’s Note - THIS REQUEST WAS MWAH!! CHEF’S KISS! 😽 I’m very proud of this one. It took me longer to write since I got a bit carried away, so I apologize for the long wait. I couldn't bring myself to make the ending sad, so I hope you all like how I closed the story. Thank you so much for requesting, enjoy it my loves !!

Word Count - 3.3k.

»——•——« »——•——« »——•——« »——•——«

You kicked back, finally able to rest after a long morning spent dipping in the lake with your older brother, Sodapop. It was summer break, so what better way to spend the day than being under the sun - swimming and shoving him around in the cool, crisp water? Your oldest brother, Darrel, still had work, even over the summer. Your third oldest brother, Ponyboy, decided he'd rather spend some time with his friends. Being the empath he is, Sodapop decided to drive you down to the lake to ensure you didn't feel left out. He loved spending quality time with you either way - he quite enjoyed your company.

Feet on the dashboard, you turned up the radio and sang along. You could practically feel the funky music thumping in your chest. The bass could be heard a mile away, causing Sodapop to let out a chuckle. "Havin' fun?" he asked, his eyes drifting to see you smile bigger than he ever had since the accident.

You nodded vigorously, a few stray droplets of water that remained on the ends of your hair flying onto Sodapop, dampening his skin. "Of course!" you beamed, removing your feet off the dashboard as you leaned back into your seat.

He gave a head nod of accomplishment at that. Sodapop was glad to have taken you out for a fun time for once. He would have to return to the DX again tomorrow morning, the cycle repeating all over again. "Glad we went swimmin', we could go next weekend or something too y'know..." he suggested, a grin on his lips not faltering once as he offered another trip down to the lake.

You gasped, already looking forward to it. "Really? Like - you'll actually take me again?" you asked, needing the last bit of reassurance before you could truly accept the offer.

He nodded once more, stopping at a red light to gently swat your shoulder with his knuckles. "'Course I'll take you again."

He earned another grin from you at that, proud of himself once more. Sodapop's eyes darted for the rearview mirror, noticing a red Pontiac Firebird riding up on the back of their car. "Well damn, you gonna slow down?" he asked aloud, a slight bit of annoyance in his voice. The car must have been going at least fifteen miles per hour right at the red light. You hadn't paid much attention to it until you noticed Sodapop's eyes go wide. The 'deer in headlights' gaze is the only right way you could describe it. Sodapop cursed under his breath once more, holding his hand out to press against your chest. The sound of screeching breaks against the road scared the both of you as you jerked forward. Sodapop's arm prevented you from moving around that much, but there was still an impact. You slowly opened your eyes, recovering from a wince you hadn't even realized was in effect.

"The fuck - ?!" he hollered, rolling down the window before slamming his hand onto the horn and holding it there to express his anger. Road rage was one thing, but this was totally different. Sodapop rarely acted out on his anger, let alone follow through with it and stick his hand out of the window just to flip him off.

You sat there, breath hitched in your throat as you momentarily dissociated whilst staring at the dashboard.

This was all too familiar for you. ‘The Accident’ is what still haunts the four of you to this day. Having both of your parents wind up in an auto wreck sure wasn’t on your bucket list at all.

It was the sound of the car nearly crashing that frightened you. The fact you could have obtained the same fate as your parents was such a big fear you’d been attempting to hide since the accident. What you dreaded the most was losing your brothers. Put in a life or death situation - you’d hand over your life in an instant if it would ensure your siblings would be safe.

It wasn’t until you realized you and Sodapop were pulled over with that same Pontiac behind you. Slowly returning to reality, the bearded man with salt and pepper-colored hair had his arms resting on the now rolled-down window. “She alright?” he asked, his eyes fixated on you. Your dazed expression had been permanently marked onto your face.

Sodapop scanned your face for any other emotion, but couldn't seem to detect any. He quickly turned back to the man, brushing him off. “She’s a little spooked, she’ll be alright.”

He gave a slight shrug and waved the both of you off. Sodapop immediately placed a hand on your shoulder and shook your upper half. “Gave me some cash to fix the damage…it ain’t too bad, the back is a little dented and some paint got scratched off - but that’s about it,” he explained in an attempt to snap you back to reality.

Your eyes scanned the road, still busy with vehicles buzzing around everywhere you look. Listening was easy, but trying to comprehend his words while your mind raced with panic was a difficult task.

“You sure look out of it,” he commented, moving the gearshift to head home. There was an underlying tone of concern you could easily hear in his voice.

Squirming around in your seat, you found a better position where you could see the road ahead, clear as day. Feeling paranoid was an understatement. “No, no, I’m fine,” you assured him, all the confidence you could muster coming into play. You couldn’t stand the thought of worrying him even further with your newfound state of shock.

The car turned at an intersection, a red Corvette coming at you from the left side. It was as if your body just knew what to do - curling up into a ball as your eyes closed shut. The car isn’t going to hit you. This is how normal cars drive. You weren’t hurt. Stop.

“Why are you all jumpy with me? You ain’t in any danger,” Sodapop piped up, noticing your flinch at the sight of the Corvette. “Calm down a bit, will ya?” he teased light-heartedly, unaware of the true conflict inside your mind.

“Sorry…” you mumbled in response, pushing down any remaining feelings of apprehension. “That car, Soda -…” the crack in your voice said it all, “Just scared me a bit, I guess I just don't want you to… to end up like Mom and Dad.”

The car became eerily silent, the only noise being the zooming of cars outside. The accident was a touchy subject for both of you - Darrel and Ponyboy as well. Just talking about it always darkened the mood.

“No. You’re safe, I ain’t ever gonna let anything like that happen to you,” he assured you, his voice thick with tension. He seemed to grasp onto the wheel tighter as he pulled over just outside your home. “You hear me? It ain’t happening.”

For once, he was stern. Sodapop was never stern nor agitated with you, he was always bubbly and grinning. You knew the mention of your deceased mother and father had triggered it. The accident may have been months ago, but the damage was nowhere near repaired.

“I hear you,” you mumbled shamefully, opening the car door and shutting it behind you swiftly. You stood with your hand rubbing onto your arm. The body language represented was one of dread and concern, but somehow relief. Relief that Sodapop was still standing before you - even if he was completing a mundane task.

Sodapop shut the car door as he hauled the bag of wet bathing suits through the gate and towards the front door. You followed, not once letting him out of your sight. You watched as he set the bag near the bathroom door. “Darry and Pony ain’t home yet, better shower before they come back,” he suggested, offering you first dibs with the shower.

You shook your head and stood underneath his arm, seeking some bit of comfort. “No, uh - I’ll do it later,” the words nervously fell from your tongue.

Sodapop ruffled his fingers through your hair, grinning like always. At least something felt normal. “Alright then, shower after me.”

With that, Sodapop waltzed inside the tiled room, unraveling an off-white and awfully tattered towel. Tossing it on the counter, he placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed it closed. You respected the privacy of course, but the pang of paranoia kicked in once more.

“Soda…?” you called out, the sound only a hoarse whisper. No reply.

It was strangely quiet on the other end of the door. No water could be heard running, no background noise of shifting clothes around, nothing. Your hand balled into a fist, the sound of three knocks beckoning him. “Soda, you okay?”

“Yeah…?” Sodapop responded with a confused tone, leaving the boy in deep confusion. “Are you?” he stifled a laugh at the question. He’d been gone a mere few seconds!

“I’m fine,” your voice quivered, exhaling deeply as you slid down the wall. You rested your arms around your knees and sat on the brown wooden flooring. You could practically feel the sadness washing over you. The corners of your lips seemed to subtly droop, your expression now a worried frown. A warm tear escaped from your left eye, leaving you to wonder why you were crying in the first place.

That car could’ve killed you. It could’ve killed Sodapop too - oh god, anyone but him. You couldn’t lose him. First your parents and now your brother - ?”

Wiping the stray tear away, you stood back to your feet and leaned your ear against the door, trying to make out any heavy breathing. The panic set in once more when the running water was the only sound coming from the other end of the door. “Soda, are you alright?”

The knob had been twisted, causing less water to flow from the shower head. “I’m okay - now what in the hell is up with you?” Sodapop demanded as his words echoed through your mind.

Sodapop beginning to feel a bit pestered by you didn’t seem to be an issue, you were at least grateful to have a response. “Nothing…sorry,” you spoke up, giving it a rest for the time being.

The eerie silence only led to the intrusive thoughts of Sodapop no longer being alive. This was torture at its finest. The shower seemed to drag on longer than you would’ve liked.

—————————————————————————

As the day came to a quiet evening, Sodapop had already climbed into bed for the night. Darrel could be found in the kitchen with Ponyboy baking a chocolate cake for tomorrow’s usual breakfast. Clutching your pillow and stuffed bear you’d had since childhood by your side, you crept inside his darkened room. He was lying on his front side, face buried in his pillow. A smile adorned your face once you saw him sleeping peacefully underneath the warm bedding. You tip-toed for Ponyboy’s spot in bed and lifted the corner of the sheets to slide in underneath them. Sodapop stirred and scooted further back toward his side of the bed. His eyes could make out your figure, halfway crawled into bed. “What’re you doin’?”

You were quick to reply, fully laying on your back now that he was awake. “I just wanted to sleep in here tonight…” you shrugged, the stuffed teddy a source of comfort against your chest.

Normally Sodapop would’ve urged it's best for you to not upset Ponyboy by taking his spot in bed. He felt tremendously guilty for earlier’s mention of the accident, it only made him want to ease your concern for his wellbeing. Sodapop could sense the constant fear nagging at you that if he wasn’t with you, he was gone as well. He wasn’t stupid - he was well aware. “Scoot over so there’s room for three,” he sighed softly before pulling your arm closer.

You could feel his lips curled into a loving grin against your hair. It was getting late, so it was a given that Ponyboy would walk in any moment now and settle down for the night. Your back against Sodapop’s chest provided a warm feeling inside. His arm was almost trapping you beside him from how tightly the embrace was. Feeling his heartbeat thumping against your back eased any nervousness that still lingered in your mind.

Sure enough, the hallway lights could be heard flicking off with a quick hit to the switch. A faint ‘goodnight’ was barely audible through the closed wooden door. Ponyboy twisted the knob and saw an unfamiliar shadow beside Sodapop in bed. He groaned once the realization swept over his head that it was you. “Alright, outta my bed,” he commanded with a rather sassy eye roll.

The sheets were flung off of your body as Ponyboy expectantly waited for you to leave. Sodapop squeezed you tighter against himself. “Pony, let her stay.”

Ponyboy scoffed and furrowed his brows in frustration. “Stay - ?! This is our bed, she has her own!”

Sodapop stifled a groan of his own, his hand extending to toss the bedding back over your body. “You’ve got room, either sleep with us or take her bed. It’s just for tonight...”

Ponyboy took one last glance at the two of you before plopping himself down in a huff. “You don’t even need to be here, it ain’t your bed,” he grumbled as he fiddled with the blanket that had been kicked to his side.

You felt guilty enough as is, but now the guilt had grown stronger. You exhaled softly and let your eyes drift shut. “I’m sorry,” is all you could manage to say in response before it turned to a whole meltdown on why you needed to stay close to Sodapop.

Ponyboy’s anger subsided to a calm and aloof demeanor. He was most likely too tired to even argue it anymore.

“I just can’t go back to my room…not when Soda’s all the way in here,” you explained, your voice kept at a quiet whisper. No response from either of them. That sickening feeling of loss had begun to eat you alive yet again now that you lay awake, speaking to your unresponsive brothers.

———————————————————————————

Morning came once again, except this time you weren’t woken up to the bird’s singing outside, or one of your brothers pouncing over your resting body. It was as if your mind already knew that Sodapop had left. Ponyboy too, it was nearly ten o’clock in the morning when the lonely feeling sank back in. You sighed and propped yourself up onto the pillows, using your forearms for support.

A muffled sound escaped your lips, immediately calling for Sodapop. Obviously, he couldn’t hear you behind a closed door. You sprung out of bed, the stuffed bear falling to the floor along with you. With a swift twist of the doorknob, you sprinted down the hallway to catch sight of Ponyboy in the kitchen.

“Soda - Soda - where’s Soda?” you asked frantically, no sign of your two eldest brothers being around.

Ponyboy bit into a mouthful of chocolate cake, not caring to finish chewing before speaking, “Leavin’ for work, why?”

You shook your head without another word and scrambled for the front door, pajamas and all. You saw Sodapop buckling in beside Darrel as he slipped on a shirt. You sprinted towards the car, shouting and pleading for them to wait.

“Soda, Darry!” you called out, your hand smacking the side of the car to stop the vehicle. Darrel looked beyond frustrated to see you causing such a scene. Sodapop was filled with great concern, even as the adrenaline rushing throughout your body masked your fear. He gave a head tilt to signal Darrel to let him handle this.

“I’m here,” he replied in an assertive tone, his empathic eyes feeling every emotion you’ve felt since yesterday’s accident. He understood you better than anyone. Reaching a hand out to pull you closer, his gentle grasp latched onto your wrist. He leaned closer to you and spoke lowly, “You alright, kid? You’re scarin’ us, y’know.”

You nodded. In all honesty, you were okay now that you’d seen Sodapop. It felt like every second spent away from him was hell on earth. He could be hurt, laying out in the street somewhere - dead.

“I’m coming with you,” you insisted, tugging on the backseat door behind Sodapop. It didn’t open. Instead, Darrel’s husky voice backed you away from the handle.

“Coming with us -? No kids allowed, be realistic for once.” Darrel gave you a stern warning that if you didn’t head back indoors then you would never hear the end of it.

Sodapop exhaled sharply and glanced between you both, trying to handle the situation. He locked eyes on you, giving you the same empathic look as before. “Just…” he gave Darrel a wince before facing you again, “You got five minutes to get ready and then we're leaving.”

Your smile reappeared yet again, immediately racing back up the stairs leading to the front door. The sound of your brothers’ voices grew louder even as the distance between you and the car grew. A glimpse of the two arguing caused a bitter pang in your heart. Pushing the feeling away, you darted for the bathroom.

———————————————————————————

“She can stay with me. The DX ain’t in a bad area, she’ll be fine…” Sodapop spoke softly to Darrel, trying to reason as to why you should come along to work with them.

You settled yourself in the vehicle as it began to propel forward. The tension of the previous argument still lingered, but at least Darrel kept quiet as soon as you were in a close enough radius to hear the bickering. He wouldn’t be caught dead speaking of you like that while you were listening.

———————————————————————————

Taking Sodapop’s hand, he led you inside of the gas station in which he worked. You’d been here countless times before, bumming around with your brother’s friends as they smoked and attempted to sweet-talk any girl that passed. Sodapop and Steve never did, they would be fired after receiving complaints for doing such activities. Sodapop would always bend the rules, slipping a few snacks and whatnot into his pocket before leaving work. The DX brought back fond memories even as you stepped inside the front door, a small bell ringing overhead, indicating your entry.

“Now, I ain’t supposed to have company,” Sodapop spoke quietly, holding onto your shoulder and bending down a bit to be eye level with you, “But I couldn’t say no, I just couldn’t.”

Your eyes stung from the tears that dared to form during such a heartfelt moment. Sodapop was aware?

“Soda, I can’t lose you too,” your voice quivered as you quickly closed the distance between one another. Your arms wrapped around his neck, Sodapop immediately reciprocated the hug.

“I know, I know…” he replied as he softly stroked the back of your head, his fingers intertwining with your hair in a soothing motion. “You ain’t losin’ me anytime soon, I can promise you that.”

You willingly let the tears fall from your cheeks, landing on Sodapop’s shoulder which dampened the fabric quite a lot. He didn’t mind at all, in fact - he was glad you were no longer bottling yourself up. You squeezed him tighter, wishing the hug could ensure you’d never lose him. “I love you,” you spat out in a desperate cry.

Sodapop nodded along, the soothing motion of his hand still in effect. “I love you too y’know, a lot,” he said with a delicate tone, one he only used with you. You were his little sister and he would never let anything separate the two of you.

You just don’t stop living because you lose somebody.

It was as if the hug was the one thing you needed - the one thing that could ease your pain. Learning to cope with the death of your parents was by far the most difficult task you’d faced. Memories of the accident only strengthened your love for your brothers, clinging onto them as if you’d lose them next. Living in constant fear, dreading any separation was no healthy way to cope. The only way to cure the feeling of this overwhelming pain was to cherish your brothers like never before. And that’s exactly what you did.

[littlestarbigsky]

been thinking long and hard abt soda and what it did to him to drop out of high school (i also feel bad bc somehow the only fics i have abt soda are all ships and i know i can do better for my boy)

so here’s a quick lil thing abt darry and soda after soda dropped out :p

darry couldn’t remember the last time soda had been this upset. even after their parents died, there were moments when the gang was all together and soda could laugh and feel the littlest bit normal again, but this felt like it was never going to end, and there was no reprieve. there was no end in sight, and darry couldn’t do anything to help him.

his grades had been going downhill for a while. it wasn’t his fault, or at least not entirely. it had been years since soda had done alright in school on his own instead of barely scraping by, and at some point the class had left him behind and it was like they started speaking another language.

and then their parents died.

soda already had enough trouble missing one day of school, let alone missing a week while they tried to throw together a funeral.

a month after their parents had died, after far too many nights at the kitchen table crying over math homework, after screaming matches that shook the roof over his grades, after darry had yelled so many times about how failing out of school was a surefire way to get them sent to a boy’s home, soda finally said that he was dropping out of school.

he could barely leave his room after telling darry, he couldn’t even tell ponyboy himself. he didn’t know what to do with himself, battling with his own mind every hour of the day. thoughts bouncing around his head of feeling like a failure for not even being able to graduate high school, bullying himself over not being able to joke around about it or making other people happy, which felt like maybe the only thing he was good at anymore. he knew that he was going to fail out eventually, so what was the point?

“soda?” darry cracked the door open, his eyes landing on his little brother where he had been for the last three days: curled up in bed, his back to the door. “do you want some dinner?”

soda silently shook his head.

darry sighed, “you can’t stay in here, forever, pepsi. we miss you out there.”

soda didn’t give much of a response, just gave a half hearted shrug.

“listen,” darry let himself into the room, sitting down on the bed and bringing a hand up to rub soda’s back. “i know you feel lousy, and i know you’ve got a lot on your mind, but you’ve gotta get back to living, soda. you’ve just gotta. we couldn’t get along without you.”

soda rolled over and sat up, and darry had to swallow a gasp at the state of his brother. soda’s eyes were rubbed raw and angry red from crying with deep shadows stamped under them, his hair was sticking up at all angles from the grease he hadn’t washed out in days, and his clothes were wrinkled and hanging loosely off of him.

“soda…”

darry could hardly get the word out before soda had thrown himself at his big brother, tears starting up again. god, he was so tired of crying.

“i’m so sorry,” he cried miserably, clutching to darry with everything he had in him.

darry felt the tears hit his shoulder and his heart ached for his little brother, “i know, i ain’t mad at you, honey.”

“mom and dad just wanted me to graduate and i couldn’t even do that! how am i supposed to do anything if i can’t do that?” soda sobbed.

“they’re not mad at you either, baby, don’t say that,” darry could feel tears prickling in his own eyes.

“listen, i don’t care if you’re lyin’ to me,” soda leaned back, his eyes not meeting darry’s. “but can you please tell me it’s gonna be okay.”

darry felt like he had missed a step going down stairs with the way the words made his stomach drop. he grabbed soda’s face in his hands and forced his brother to look at him.

“it’s gonna be okay, baby. i don’t know when and i don’t know how but i promise you, we’re gonna be okay. i’m gonna make sure we are.”

he wasn’t sure soda believed him, and maybe he didn’t even fully believe himself, but he had made a promise, and he had every intention of making good on it. some of the tension soda had been holding in his shoulders seemed to melt away, and darry knew he would be okay with saying everything over and over again if it meant soda didn’t have to be so scared.

“thank you… i know you hate lying to us.”

“i wasn’t lying.”

[mccaufe08]

OMG GUYS FINALLY OUTSIDERS FANART FROM 2024 ‼️

Johnny-pop for the other 4 shippers out there. I used to go more towards Johnny-boy but I realized how boring and stale it truly was (despite the notable chemistry) and how obsessed I was with the two my whole 8th grade English class followed my insta and knew I shipped them (which was embarrassing tbh) this ship reminds me a lot of Klance and maybe that’s why I like it and prefer it more ^_^

[dalilacherie]

Can you please do something about Dally being shown affection for the first time? Preferably from Darry and/or the Curtis parents? Can be a fic, hcs, whatever, just please give my little boy some love.

𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

[𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠!𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐥��𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟]

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: This story takes place two years before the book because I can't remember if I mentioned that at all in the story. (+ Little Pony because I think his scenes are cute).

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: ~1,300!!

Inside it was warm and filled with the smell of dinner cooking. It was a chilly evening, and I was just finishing setting the table when the front door creaked open. I expected to see one of my boys, but instead, a disheveled figure stumbled in. It was Dallas Winston, looking more of a mess than usual.

His clothes were dirty and torn, his face bruised, and there was a haunted look in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine. "Mrs. Curtis," he mumbled, swaying on his feet.

"Dallas, what happened to you?" I rushed over, catching him just as he started to fall.

"Got into some trouble," he muttered, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

I guided him to the couch, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Sit down, sweetheart. Let me get you something to drink." I hurried to the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and grabbing a wet cloth. When I returned, he was slumped over, looking more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him.

I knelt in front of him, gently dabbing at the blood on his face. He flinched at first, then relaxed a little, his eyes watching me warily. "You didn't have to do this," he mumbled.

"Nonsense," I replied softly. "You're hurt, and you need help. We're family here."

He blinked, as if the idea of being part of a family was foreign to him. "Family," he echoed, his voice filled with a mix of longing and disbelief.

"Dallas, you’re always welcome here," I said, my voice firm but kind. "No matter what."

He looked away, biting his lip. "Ain't used to people caring," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

I felt my heart break a little for him. "Well, you better get used to it, because we do care. Darry, Ponyboy, Sodapop... and me. We care about you, Dallas."

He didn’t say anything, but I saw the tears welling up in his eyes. I pulled him into a hug, feeling him stiffen at first, then slowly relax into the embrace. "It's okay, Dallas," I murmured. "You're safe here."

He stayed like that for a while, clinging to me like a lifeline. I stroked his back, whispering soothing words until I felt him start to calm down.

The door opened again, and Darry walked in, his eyes widening at the sight of Dallas in my arms. "What happened?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Dallas got into some trouble," I explained. "But he's going to be fine. He's with family now."

Darry nodded, coming over to kneel beside us. "You need anything, Dallas?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Dallas shook his head, but there was a grateful look in his eyes. "Just... thanks," he muttered.

"Anytime, man," Darry replied, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

I could hear Ponyboy's soft footsteps approaching, and I looked up to see my youngest standing in the doorway. His eyes were wide with concern as he took in the scene, Dallas still slumped on the couch with Darry beside him.

"Pony, come here," I called gently, waving him over. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, clutching something in his small hands. As he got closer, I realized it was his favorite stuffed animal, a well-worn brown bear he'd named Mr. Snuggles.

"Hey, Dally," Ponyboy said softly, his voice tentative. "I brought you something."

Dallas looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and exhaustion. "What's that, kid?"

Ponyboy held out the stuffed bear, his face earnest. "This is Mr. Snuggles. He always makes me feel better when I'm sad or hurt. I want you to have him."

Dallas's eyes widened, and he looked from the bear to Ponyboy, then back again. "Uh, thanks, kid, but I'm too old for stuffed toys," he said, trying to sound tough.

Ponyboy's face fell, his eyes filling with hurt. He looked down at the bear, then back up at Dallas. "But... Mr. Snuggles really helps. I thought he could help you too."

There was a moment of silence, and I could see the internal struggle in Dallas's eyes. Finally, he sighed, reaching out to take the bear from Ponyboy's hands. "Alright. Thanks," he said, his voice softer.

Ponyboy's face lit up with a relieved smile. "You're welcome, Dally. Mr. Snuggles will take good care of you, I promise."

Dallas looked at the bear for a moment, then back at Ponyboy. "Yeah, I bet he will," he said.

Ponyboy beamed, then climbed up onto the couch beside Dallas. "You can keep him as long as you need," he said, patting Dallas on the knee.

Dallas gave a small, almost shy smile. "Thanks, Pony."

I watched the interaction with a warm feeling in my chest. Seeing my boys care for each other like this made me feel hopeful for all of them, especially Dallas. He needed this – needed to know he had people who cared, who would be there for him no matter what.

Darry glanced at me, and I could see the same pride and relief in his eyes. We both knew this was a step forward for Dallas, a small but significant moment of acceptance and love.

"Alright, boys," I said, standing up. "How about we get some dinner on the table? I'm sure everyone's hungry."

Ponyboy hopped off the couch, eager as always. "I'll help, Mom!"

Dallas looked up at me, holding Mr. Snuggles a little tighter. "Thanks, Mrs. Curtis. For everything."

I smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair gently. "Anytime, Dallas. You're family, don't ever forget that."

Darry’s eyes shifted, taking in Dallas's torn and dirty clothes. His jacket, once tough and proud like Dallas himself, was now a tattered mess. Darry’s brow furrowed with concern. “Hang on a sec, Dally,” he said, rising to his feet.

Dallas looked up, confused. “What’re you doin’?”

“Just hold on,” Darry repeated, disappearing into the hallway.

Ponyboy was still hovering nearby, watching everything with wide eyes. I gave him a reassuring smile and a quick hug. “You did good, Pony."

Ponyboy scurried off to the kitchen. I turned back to Dallas, who was eyeing the hallway suspiciously, his fingers still gripping Mr. Snuggles tightly.

Darry returned a moment later, holding a large leather bomber jacket. It was one of his favorites, worn but sturdy, with a timeless look that seemed to suit Dallas perfectly.

“Here,” Darry said, holding the jacket out to him. “Your jacket’s seen better days. Take this.”

Dallas stared at the jacket, then back at Darry. “I can’t take that,” he protested weakly. “It’s yours.”

“I want you to have it,” Darry insisted. “You need it more than I do right now.”

Dallas hesitated, his eyes flicking between Darry and the jacket. Finally, he reached out, taking it with trembling hands. He pulled it on, and despite his rough appearance, the jacket seemed to fit him like it was made for him.

“Thanks, Darry,” Dallas said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down at himself, almost like he didn’t recognize the person wearing the new jacket.

Darry smiled, a rare, gentle smile that softened his usually stern features. “Looks good on you, Dally. Now, how about we get you cleaned up and ready for dinner?”

Dallas nodded, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, okay.”

Ponyboy came back into the room, his eyes lighting up when he saw Dallas in the new jacket. “Wow, Dally! You look cool!” he exclaimed, his admiration clear.

Dallas chuckled softly, the sound almost foreign after the tension of the evening. “Thanks, kid. You picked a good bear, too.”

Ponyboy beamed, proud of the small part he played in making Dallas feel better.

As we all moved to the kitchen, I felt a sense of warmth and togetherness that filled the house.

[fatiguedeer]

me when the besties hype me up while im writing pure fluff :3 u can read it here btw!!

[asexual-juliet]

He thinks about her often, his birth mother. He wonders if she has his eyes. He wonders where she came from, if she spoke with an accent. When he’s fifteen, his dad tells him that they locked all the Japanese up when the war came around, tells him that maybe that’s how his mama got all this way out east. 

Brill tries not to think about it too hard. 

[augiewrites]

"bartender" - dallas winston

request: Hi! I love your work and was wondering if you could do one for Dally from the outsiders where he's helping bartend for Buck to earn a couple bucks and Curtis!Reader is just sitting at the bar teasing him about it.

pairing: dallas winston x curtis!reader

word count: 618

a/n: i can't tell if i'm writing dally too ooc, but i was aiming more for shithead vibes than meanie vibes

Dally was too aware of Y/N Curtis sitting all by her lonesome at the end of the bar. She was wearing a nice dress and more makeup than usual, but Dallas hadn’t seen her speak to anyone since arriving. She looked good—a fact that Dally would never admit out loud.

“Ain’t it past your bedtime?” He asked, sitting a fresh beer in front of her. The bottle she ordered at the beginning of the night had been long finished, the label picked clean and laying in a little pile on the bar.

“Aren’t you the one always telling me ‘sleep is for the weak’?” She smirked at him, taking a long drink from the bottle, “Just taking a page out of your book.”

He leaned against the bar, “Your brothers know you’re here?”

“What they don’t know won’t kill them,” she rolled her eyes, “I deserve to have a little fun too.”

“Being all depressing by yourself isn’t exactly what I’d call fun.”

Y/N glared at him as he moved to take another patron’s order. After a few short minutes, he returned to his spot across from her and gave her an expectant look.

They stared each other down for a few seconds before Y/N rolled her eyes at him, looking away.

Dallas opened his mouth to tell her to either stop being a sad sack or go home when she cut him off, still not meeting his gaze.

“I was supposed to meet up with Scott Davis, but he never showed.”

“Davis? That guy’s a fuckin bum!”

She finally looked up at him, anger flaring behind her eyes, “Well it’s not like I wanna marry him or anything! You’re not exactly fit to be lecturing me on who to hang out with.”

“Oh, I think I’m perfectly fit, dollface.”

She rolled away the anger in her eyes and sent him a teasing smile, “I guess it takes a bum to know one.”

He glared at her, but only half heartedly, flicking a small piece of ice at her forehead.

“Yup—that right there. Bum behavior.”

“I guess it takes a bum to know one,” he mocked her, “at least I have a job.”

“Not sure if you’re gonna make six figures by over-serving people and being mean to lonely girls at the bar.” Y/N finished her drink and slid the empty bottle across the bar.

Dallas continued glaring, “Y’know, you’re a mean drunk, lady.”

Y/N laughed, and Dallas couldn’t help the smirk pulling at his lips.

“Two beers is hardly enough to be drunk.”

“Alright, then. You’re just mean,” Dallas popped the cap off another beer and sat it in front of Y/N. “Gonna start correcting people when they go on about how ‘Y/N Curtis is just such a nice girl’”, he shook his head, “if only they knew.”

Y/N scoffed, “I don’t think anyone’s ever said that.”

“Yeah, right, with your whole ‘Saint Curtis’ act—helpin’ old ladies cross the street and tutoring dumbass kids.”

“Devil in disguise I guess,” the pair smirked at each other, holding the gaze for much longer than they should have.

Y/N cleared her throat, looking around the bar, “Shouldn’t you be doing your job?”

He took the bottle from her grasp before finishing it off in one last swig, “Shouldn’t you be going home?”

She scoffed and started collecting her things, standing up from the bar stool. “That towel,” she pointed to the dish rag tossed over his shoulder, “makes you look stupid, by the way.”

Dally removed the towel to swat at her, “Go home, stupid.”

Y/N moved toward the door, sending Dally one last smile, “Go back to work, bum.”

[ultravionna]

best friend’s brother

pairings: bfb!dallas winston x fem!reader

summary: dallas is your best friend’s brother

warnings: nsfw, teeny tiny bit of smut

disclaimer: yes, i am aware that that is a pic of tex mccormick above. it fit the theme leave me alone-

w/c: 3,151

the night was calm, with the soft hum of the city outside filtering through the slightly cracked window.

you and dana were lounging on the couch, a pile of blankets thrown haphazardly over the both of you as you scrolled through a list of movies. laughter bubbled between you two, a mix of inside jokes and teasing remarks. dana tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth, missing entirely and sending it rolling down her shirt. you both burst out laughing.

"you're the worst at this," you chuckled, nudging her side.

"hey, i'm improving! that one almost made it." dana grinned, leaning back into the cushions. "so, which movie? horror or rom-com?"

before you could answer, the front door creaked open. you both turned your heads just in time to see dallas winston slink inside, his usual cocky swagger evident in every step. he was late-again-but he didn't seem to care, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"dal'!" dana scolded, sitting up straight. "that's the fifth time this week! mom and dad are going to kill you if they find out."

dallas shrugged, unbothered, and headed straight for the kitchen. "they'll get over it, man." he drawled, his voice low and thick with that unmistakable new york accent. he reached into the fridge, pulling out a can of beer. popping it open with a practiced flick of his thumb, he sauntered over to the couch and, without a word, hopped over the back to land between you and dana.

"watch it, dumbass!" dana protested, shoving at his shoulder. "we're trying to have a movie night."

"yeah?" dallas grinned, taking a swig from his can.

"what're we watching? something with sparkly vampires, i bet."

you rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the way your heart skipped a beat at his teasing tone. "please, we've got better taste than that."

"could've fooled me, dollface," he quipped, nudging you with his elbow. the way he said it, the nickname laced with a double meaning, made you bite the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling.

you turned your attention back to the movie list, scrolling aimlessly, but it was hard to focus with dallas so close. his presence was electrifying, the warmth radiating from him impossible to ignore. the smell of his cologne, something musky and dark, filled your senses, making your thoughts swirl.

dana huffed, grabbing the empty popcorn bowl. "i'm gonna get more blankets from the shed. you two try not to kill each other while l'm gone."

"wouldn't dream of it, sis," dallas replied, his eyes never leaving you.

as dana disappeared through the back door, the air in the room thickened. the silence between you and dallas was heavy, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of you seemed willing to address. you grabbed the popcorn bowl, intending to refill it in the kitchen, but as soon as you stood up, dallas was right behind you.

you didn't hear him move. one moment he was lounging on the couch, the next his arms were wrapping around your waist from behind, pulling you flush against his chest. the bowl slipped from your fingers, clattering onto the countertop as you froze, your breath catching in your throat.

"miss me?" he murmured, his voice a low rumble in your ear.

you scoffed, trying to play it cool despite the rapid thudding of your heart. "not a chance."

dallas only smirked, his grip tightening slightly as he turned you around to face him. his hands settled on your hips, the heat of his touch searing through the thin fabric of your pajama shorts. you could feel his gaze burning into you, his eyes dark and intense.

"liar," he whispered, leaning in closer. his breath ghosted over your lips, sending a shiver down your spine.

"your sister's gonna be back any minute," you warned, though your voice lacked conviction. you couldn't tear your eyes away from his, the intensity in them making it hard to think straight.

"then we'd better make this quick," he murmured, picking up a piece of popcorn from the bowl with one hand. he brought it to your lips, his fingers brushing against them as he held it there.

instinctively, you bit down on the popcorn, holding it between your teeth.

dallas's smirk deepened as he leaned in, his hand cupping your chin, tilting your head slightly upward.

his other hand stayed firmly on your hip, his thumb rubbing small circles into your skin. slowly, he took the popcorn from your lips with his mouth, his lips grazing yours as he did. the brief contact sent a jolt of electricity through you, your body reacting before your mind could catch up.

before you could fully register what was happening, dallas closed the distance, capturing your lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. his hand on your hip pulled you closer, your bodies pressed together as his lips moved against yours. the kiss was intoxicating, the taste of salt and butter lingering on your tongue as his thumb continued its lazy circles on your skin, each movement sending sparks of heat through your body.

for a moment, you were completely lost in him, the world around you fading away. but then, the sound of the back door opening snapped you back to reality. you pushed dallas away, your heart racing as you tried to catch your breath.

dallas backed off, his smirk never faltering as he leaned casually against the opposite side of the counter. he took a sip from his beer, his eyes glinting with mischief as he watched you, clearly enjoying the effect he had on you.

dana walked back in, her arms full of blankets. she glanced at the two of you, oblivious to what had just transpired. "did i miss anything?"

"just the usual," dallas said, his tone light and carefree.

dana rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it, but she didn't press the issue. you, on the other hand, were left reeling, your thoughts spinning in a million directions as you tried to process what had just happened. dallas caught your eye from across the kitchen, his smirk widening as if to say, this is far from over.

-

the house was dark and quiet, the only light coming from the dim glow of the kitchen. you had left the living room after dana had fallen asleep during the second movie, her soft snores filling the silence. it was late—later than you should’ve been up—but sleep was the last thing on your mind.

you stood by the kitchen counter, sipping from a bottle of water as you tried to calm the restless energy coursing through you. it wasn’t just the events of the evening that had you wired; it was the persistent thoughts of dallas and the lingering heat of his touch from earlier.

the sound of soft footsteps behind you made you tense, and you turned to see dallas leaning against the doorway, his familiar smirk firmly in place.

“can’t sleep?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

you shrugged, trying to play it off. “yeah. something like that.”

dallas stepped into the kitchen, his eyes never leaving you as he sauntered over. “y’know, my room’s just down the hall if you need some…assistance with that.”

you rolled your eyes, the suggestion clear in his tone. “of course it is,” you muttered, trying to hide the way your pulse quickened.

he chuckled, clearly amused by your reaction. “what? i’m just offering to help. it’s what a good host does, after all.”

“pretty sure your version of ‘help’ is different from everyone else’s,” you shot back, taking another sip of water.

“maybe,” he conceded, moving closer until he was standing right in front of you. “but it’s a lot more fun, don’t you think?”

you met his gaze, trying to ignore the way his presence made your skin tingle. he was infuriating, with that cocky grin and those intense eyes that seemed to see right through you. and yet, there was a part of you that couldn’t help but be drawn to him, despite how much you wanted to resist.

dallas leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “so, what’s really keeping you up, sweetheart?”

you hesitated for a moment before giving him the simplest answer. “just couldn’t sleep.”

his smirk widened, as if he knew there was more to it than that, but he didn’t press. instead, he took the bottle from your hand, his fingers brushing against yours as he raised it to his lips, taking a slow sip.

“you should try and get some rest,” he said after a moment, his tone deceptively casual. “can’t have you looking tired tomorrow.”

“why’s that?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“because i plan on keeping you busy,” he replied with a grin that was all mischief. “and i don’t want you using ‘tired’ as an excuse to back out.”

you rolled your eyes again, though the corners of your lips tugged up in a small smile. “you’re unbelievable.”

“and yet, you’re still here,” he countered smoothly, handing the bottle back to you. “so, what does that say about you?”

you didn’t answer, instead taking the bottle and turning away from him. but dallas wasn’t done with you yet. he stepped closer, his body heat brushing against your back as he leaned down to murmur in your ear.

“think about my offer, sweetheart,” he said, his voice dripping with suggestion. “my door’s always open.”

before you could respond, he straightened up and walked out of the kitchen, leaving you standing there with your thoughts in a whirl. the encounter had been brief, but it had left you feeling more awake than ever, your mind racing with the implications of his words.

you knew one thing for sure: with dallas winston around, sleep was going to be the least of your worries.

-

the house was shrouded in silence, dana's soft breathing the only sound in the living room as she slept soundly on the couch. you, however, were wide awake, staring at the ceiling as your mind replayed the conversation with dallas in the kitchen. his offer hung in the air like a dare, challenging you in a way you couldn't quite shake off.

sleep was impossible. you'd tried everything— closing your eyes, counting sheep, focusing on the rhythm of dana's breathing-but nothing worked.

your thoughts kept drifting back to dallas, his smug grin, and those words that had been laced with a double meaning.

before you knew it, you were sitting up, heart pounding as you glanced toward the hallway. you knew what you were about to do was reckless, maybe even stupid, but the pull was too strong to resist.

careful not to wake dana, you slipped off the couch and tiptoed toward the hallway, your pulse quickening with every step. the house seemed even quieter now, the darkness more oppressive as you approached dallas's door.

you hesitated for a brief moment, hand hovering over the doorknob. but the memory of his teasing voice, the promise in his eyes, pushed you forward.

with a deep breath, you turned the knob and quietly slipped inside, closing the door behind you.

the room was dimly lit by the glow of a small lamp on the bedside table, casting long shadows across the walls. dallas was lying on his bed, one arm behind his head as he stared at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought. but the moment he heard the door close, his eyes flicked to you, and that familiar smirk curled his lips.

"well, well," he drawled, his voice low and amused.

"look who decided to take me up on my offer.”

you swallowed, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves as you stepped further into the room. 

"i couldn't sleep," you said, echoing your earlier excuse.

dallas pushed himself up on his elbows, his gaze never leaving you. "yeah? and you think i'm gonna help with that?"

his tone was teasing, but there was an edge to it, something that made your heart race even faster.

"maybe," you replied, trying to sound confident, though your voice wavered just a little.

he chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling in the quiet room. "c'mere, sweetheart."

you moved closer, your feet almost on autopilot as you approached the bed. dallas watched you with a look that was both challenging and inviting, his eyes dark and intense in the low light. when you reached the edge of the bed, he sat up fully, his legs dangling off the side as he reached out to take your hand.

"you sure about this?" he asked, though there was a knowing look in his eyes, as if he already knew your

answer.

you hesitated for the briefest of moments before nodding. "yeah. i'm sure."

with that, dallas pulled you toward him, his hands sliding to your waist as he guided you onto the bed.

you could feel the heat of his body through your clothes, the way his fingers pressed into your skin, holding you close but not too tight. it was as if he was giving you the option to back out, even though you both knew you wouldn't.

he leaned in, his breath warm against your neck as he whispered, "you're playing with fire, dollface."

"maybe i like the heat," you shot back, surprised at your own boldness.

dallas's grin widened, his lips brushing against your skin as he spoke. "careful what you wish for."

before you could respond, he tilted your chin up with a finger, his eyes locking onto yours. the tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife, but neither of you seemed in a hurry to break it. instead, you both lingered in that moment, the air between you charged with anticipation.

finally, dallas closed the distance, his lips capturing yours in a slow, deliberate kiss. it wasn't rushed or frantic but rather a slow burn, building up in intensity as he deepened the kiss, his hands roaming over your back. you could feel the heat of his skin, the strength in his grip, and it sent a thrill through you that you hadn't anticipated.

his touch was confident, almost possessive, as he guided you further onto the bed, his body pressing against yours. it wasn't just the kiss that had your heart racing; it was the way he held you, as if he'd been waiting for this moment just as much as you had.

dallas broke the kiss, his lips trailing down your neck as his hands found their way under your shirt, his touch firm yet gentle. you let out a soft sigh, your fingers tangling in his hair as he explored your skin, every touch igniting something deep within you.

he pulled back slightly, his gaze meeting yours again, and there was something almost predatory in his eyes—a look that sent a shiver down your spine.

"you sure?" he murmured, his voice low and rough.

you didn't hesitate this time. "i can handle you."

his smirk returned, but there was a hint of something darker behind it. "we'll see about that."

with that, he kissed you again, this time more urgently, as if he couldn't get enough. the heat between you two intensified, the room filling with the sound of your breaths and the rustle of sheets as you lost yourselves in the moment.

you weren't sure how long it lasted, but when dallas finally pulled back, you were both breathless, your heart pounding in your chest. he looked at you with a mix of want and something else you couldn't quite place before his head dipped down to plant kisses on your neck.

traveling down to your collarbone and then your chest, exposed by your tank top. he slowly moved down your body, his mouth trailing kisses down your smooth skin until he was mere inches away from where you needed him most.

his hands gripped your thighs gently, holding your legs apart so he could have a good view of you in your current state, a low and hungry sound escaped his lips as he looked at you before finally lowering his head down and letting his mouth touch the skin of your inner thighs. 

hands sliding up the sides of your thighs, his fingers grabbing at the fuzzy fabric of your pajama shorts, tugging at them as they slid down your hips and pulling them down your legs.  

looking back up at you, his fingers came up to brush against the dampness of your underwear. 

you shivered, a hand coming to his shoulder to halt his movements. 

“wait, wait…” you whispered, looking towards the door and then back down at him. “i think i heard something.” 

“what?” he asked, his voice still thick with desire. "you think dana woke up?" 

you nodded, though part of you didn't want to leave.

but you and dallas both knew all too well-you couldn't stay here, not without risking getting caught. with a reluctant sigh, you slipped off the bed, your legs feeling shaky as you stood up to place your shorts back on.

as you made your way to the door, dallas called out softly, "my offer still stands, y'know."

you glanced back at him, seeing that cocky grin on his face once again. "i'll keep that in mind," you replied, before slipping out of his room and back into the hallway.

the house was still quiet, and as you crept back to the living room, you couldn't help but smile to yourself. it was a reckless decision, sneaking into dallas's room like that, but you didn't regret it. if anything, it had only made you want more.

a string of silence went on for a moment or two as you laid back down against the pillowy cushions of the couch. letting out a small sigh, you snuggled into the couch pillow and slowly shut your eyes- until you heard shuffling on the other end of the couch.

“you’re nasty.” 

“what?” you murmured, lifting your head to look over at dana who laid at the other end. 

“i said you’re nasty.” she repeated, keeping her eyes closed as she spoke a bit over a whisper.

“what are you talking about?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady, even though your heart was starting to race.

dana let out a soft, tired laugh, her lips curling into a smirk. “you think i didn’t hear you tiptoeing down the hall? don’t worry, i’m not gonna snitch.”

your breath caught in your throat, but before you could say anything, she shifted slightly and added, “just try not to make too much noise next time, okay?” 

perks of sneaking around with your best friend’s brother—your best friend’s intuition is as sharp as her brother’s charm.

[dennylachancerights]

Outsiders tornado fic that’s actually accurate to southerner/midwestern hicks in tornado alley

The gang hears one is coming and they immediately go outside to smoke a cigarette and watch the storm come in

[4lydsmarie]

hiii i was wondering if you could do a fic where reader and dally are at bucks drinking and having fun and reader is sitting on dallys lap while he plays poker or something with some random guys and she's just so fixated on his hands. like, she's playing around with the rings on his fingers, playing with his fingers, tracing his veins, anything. and dally being his cocky self is like "you sure do like my hands, huh doll?" and she gets all shy and clingy and stuff and after awhile they eventually go up to dallys room and cuddle (sorry if this is too specific lmao😣)

handsy - dallas winston

in which: yn just can't stop playing with dallas' fingers..and of course he notices. requested by @mattdillonwhore

a/n: no bc I ACTUALLY LOVE THIS IDEA.. i feel like dallas would def get so cocky to yn cause it's literally his nature?? also he loves to see yn get flustered or embarrassed IT'S JS SO DALLAS CODED. PLEASEE send more reqs i actually love this SO MUCH. also warning there's a lil makeout scene but nothing too crazy😋! this ff is so much shorter than my other one wtf i did not execute properly..

being at buck's was nothing out of the ordinary for you and dally on the average night. drinks getting passed around, red neon lights filling the atmosphere, the smell of cigarettes lingering in the air, it was all a regular for you and dallas.

you sat on dallas' lap as he played poker with some other guys from the town. trying to fixate on something so you wouldn't be so bored you fell asleep, your eyes landed on to dally's hands.

something about his hands attracted you..the rings on his fingers and the veins leading up to his bicep, all of it tempted you in a way. you began to just play with his rings, turning them and examining them.

and this wasn't something new either, dallas was very used to you finding interest in his rings. hell, sometimes he'd even let you wear them. not for long though.

then your eyes trailed up to his veins, slowly running your fingers over each one of them, following the path they led up to his arms. and you did this to each one, taking what seemed like mental notes in your head about his veins. which one was bigger, which one felt best, which was your favorite, and all things related.

dallas kept an intense focus on his poker game though, his bets were important to him and he hadn't really realized what you'd occupied yourself with.

that was until he shifted his attention to you for a moment, examining how you'd play with his rings and trace his veins. finally, he spoke "didn't know my hands were that interesting. you sure do like 'em, huh doll?"

your stomach dropped and cheeks flushed as you'd heard dallas. you moved your hands back onto your lap as well. "no need to be shy, it's alright. nothin' but you gettin a little handsy, can't say i don't like it doll." dallas smirked. his cockiness was apparent to you, only making you even more flustered than before. dallas' smirk only deepened, turning into a cocky grin.

"dallll" you whined, looking down at your lap. dallas let out a laugh as he raised your chin "look at me doll." he smirked. you looked at him as he pulled you into a kiss. he only deepened the kiss as you two sat there.

"hey man, get a room!" one guy from the other side of the table yelled, causing you two to split apart. "alright alright, not my fault i just wanna show some lovin' to my broad." dallas said putting his hands up in defeat. "if you're gonna suck faces then get outta here" another guy added, throwing his poker chips onto the table "hey man watch your tone with me, alright? you probably wish this was you huh?" dallas snapped back at the guys. you knew this was your queue to intervene before things got serious as the man stood up yelling to dallas a little louder.

"dal, let's just go upstairs to your room alright? he's not worth fighting for." you said to dallas, putting your hands on his chest and pushing him back. "yeah yeah, man i hate guys like that..total jerks you know? man he's lucky you stopped me, cause if not i would've-" "enough dal." you interrupted him mid sentence, sensing that he was only starting to grow annoyed.

dallas let out a huff before he'd raised his head, as if a lightbub went off in his head. "hey, now i remember why we're even up here" he said, opening the door to his room. "someone couldn't keep her hands to herself, ain't that right? ya like my hands, doll?" his new york accent rang thick as he spoke. the flushed expression had returned to your face, looking down to your feet to avoid eye contact with dallas.

"c'mere" dallas said, sitting on his mattress. you did as he said as he pulled you into his lap, immediately kissing you. the kiss became more passionate by the moment, dallas letting his hands roam around his waist as you wrapped your hands around his neck and played with his hair.

this lasted for what seemed like forever before you'd both pulled away, nearly gasping for air.

"let's go to bed dal" you said, plopping down beside him on the mattress. "yeah, y'know maybe when you sleep you'll even dream about my hands." dallas joked as he laid beside you, wrapping his arms around you. "haha very funny..night dal." you slurred before falling asleep. "night, doll." dallas replied, drifting off just as you'd done.

[only-lonely-star]

⁠♡ Brown Eyed Girl ⁠♡

~ Sodapop Curtis ~

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Warnings - None! Just cute and sappy moments!

Summary - Based off of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ by Van Morrison !! 💌

Author’s Note - This song reminds me of Soda soooo much so I just HAD TO WRITE A FIC!! I used the song for this fic for inspiration and vibes, not so much the lyrics. I’m a little iffy about the ending so I might edit it a bit. ANYWAYS I HOPE YOU LIKE IT LOVELIES !! 🫶🏼

Word Count - 1.2k.

˙ ˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙ ˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙ ˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙ ˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙ ˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙

To some, you may have seemed utterly insane. The two of you looked like you had been pulled straight out of some romance flick which was far too sappy for anyone to ever finish. Nobody could quite blame you, though. The love you were given time and time again was something people killed for. Your love was rare, it was a one-in-a-million kind of love. Who else would feel crazy enough about you to dream of taking you on so many fun adventures, wishing to explore the world with you?

Sodapop Curtis, of course.

The sunlight had just begun to disperse amongst each grassy hill. The world seemed alive yet again, the moon now a sight that could only be viewed through a squint. The distant fog was lifted and replaced with clouds that looked almost cotton-like. A quiet morning, but a beautiful one. Your bare feet sank into the plush dirt below, the damp grass acting as a carpet for you to run across. You’d lost both heels along the way on account of Sodapop’s fast-paced sprint. Hand in hand with your boyfriend, he guided you up and down the hills of the secluded valley. “Wait, Soda - !” you called out to him, laughing along the way.

“Can’t! We’re almost there!” he replied, his grin wider than you could’ve ever imagined.

Stumbling along behind him, you couldn’t help but crack a smile. Your dress had been absolutely soiled from the various dirt stains splattered across it, and your shoes were long gone, but none of it mattered at this moment.

Sodapop hiked along to the top of the hill with a pep in his step, panting, as you followed. He came to a stop, helping you up along with him. Your knee was on the verge of giving out entirely as you planted your foot onto the peak of the dewy hill beneath you.

“Baby, wait - c’mere,” Soda smiled endearingly. His hands pulled your body closer to him, kissing you before you could even catch your breath. That was the fun of it, of course - gasping for air yet craving nothing more than his touch. Your arms found their way around his neck, encircling him in a tight squeeze. “Ain’t it pretty?” he asked, momentarily breaking the kiss.

Your eyes drifted towards the scenery behind Sodapop, attention focused on how breathtakingly gorgeous of a spot he’d found. No sign of civilization could be found. The valley extended for miles farther than the naked eye could see. Flower fields scattered around the vibrant green grass. It somehow felt prehistoric - as if no human had ever come across the pasture and colonized the territory. There was a picture-perfect view of the sunrise from where you were standing atop the hill. Smaller hills spread all over, and tall grasses billowed in the wind. It was more than perfect, actually.

“Sure is,” you could no longer contain your smile as you attempted to catch your breath, “How’d you ever find such a beautiful place?” your voice was filled with awe as the wonder in your eyes only seemed to grow.

“Used to come down here with Pony all the time, he loves this lil spot,” he motioned to the hill just a little ways down. “I bet he’ll spend every second he gets down here once school lets out.”

“It’s gorgeous,” you emphasized, stepping even closer for another tight hug. Sodapop snaked his arms around your waist with a charmed smile. As you pecked his cheek, your body could sense his sly grin reappear.

“See that flower field over there?” he asked, his voice soft against your neck. You hesitated before nodding, only because you hadn’t a clue what he was planning. You could tell he was about to say something just to rile you up. “We’re gettin’ married there. Oh yeah - definitely. Have a little get-together with Darry…Pony…everyone.”

You kissed his lower lip, removing your arms from around his neck. “Shut up, Soda - it ain’t happening anytime soon if that’s what you’re gettin’ at.” Your eyes instinctively rolled in response to him, yet your smile was unwavering. He could pry all he wanted, but you were sure you’d never commit to marriage at the ripe age of sixteen. “God, you’re such an idiot.”

His chest jerked backwards from the force of your hand which was intended to be nothing but a small nudge. Your eyes went wide, grabbing a hold of his arm in a lousy attempt to pull him back up. “SHIT - ! Soda!”

Sodapop could only holler, the immediate fear now turned to nothing but a laugh. He stumbled back, losing his balance. No matter the situation, he would always drag you along - this was no different. Your own feet weren’t enough to keep your entire body planted into the warm grass. Tumbling down the hill you went, screaming the entire way down. Your arms extended out as if they could do something to help balance yourself. Within seconds, Sodapop crashed into the flowerbed of pink cosmos, yanking your arm downwards before you stumbled right over him. He quickly shifted to lay on his back, his knees in the air.

A low groan fell from his lips as you fell flat against his chest. Sodapop’s hands steadied you, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he burst into pure laughter and joy. Bringing your arms up so that your elbows could prop yourself up in the grass was nearly the only thing you could do. On top of the now crushed flowers, Sodapop held your body down, the sunlight casting a warm hue on his golden hair. “That was insane!” he cried out, his cheeks now reddened from smiling so hard.

“I didn’t mean to. Honestly, baby, I didn’t,” you tried to reassure him as you sat up on his lower stomach. A faint giggle, partially of embarrassment, the other half of amusement, escaped your lips. The back of your hand was raised to wipe off the small shreds of grass off of your forehead.

“Turns out I ain’t the idiot,” he mumbled as his cheeky grin took over once more. His hands gently ran up and down your sides, feeling the soft fabric of your dress graze against his skin. Your waist was by far his favorite place to let his hands rest.

You picked the grass out of his hair gently and cupped his jawline. Forcing a sarcastic sigh, you leaned your face closer to his. “Okay…wedding when?” you were acting as nothing but a tease to him.

“Whenever ya want. Pick a day, I’m there.” Sodapop replied confidently. His hand pressed down on yours as his thumb stroked your soft skin subconsciously.

Your gaze never left his, and a few unspoken words were exchanged through the intimate eye contact. You were well aware not a hint of sarcasm was found in Sodapop’s words. He was as loyal as a dog and didn’t have eyes for anyone else. His heart thumping against yours was all you needed at this moment. Maybe not sometime soon, but one day. One day you will settle down with him. You’ll spend every day with him, living a life never knowing what heartbreak truly meant.

Your lips became latched onto his yet again. His eyes fixated on yours, and you spoke with a soft smile. “I love you, Soda… but gosh you’re such an idiot!”

He couldn’t even be mad. Sodapop was willing to wait as long as you needed as long as he had you by his side. He kissed you with just as much passion as he proudly wore your lipstick on the outer corners of his lips. He’d love you forever.

[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.