Hey guys! Ok, so this is my first Outsiders Fic, even though I've read and watched the movie/book about a zillion times now. I don't own Outsiders, which would be way awesome if I did. Anyway, this is a slash story, so don't like, don't read it's really that simple. I would like it very much if you left reviews! Thank you so very much and...
Enjoy!
-Chapter 1: Respected Love
It was cold and dry; the leaves all fallen off the trees and the first of December began as the sunrise peeked around the corner. It was once again the Christmas season. But, for Ponyboy Curtis, it just reminded him of what was missing from last year. Now fifteen, Ponyboy had grown up quiet a bit. Last year, Johnny had departed from them and the three losses had pushed Ponyboy off the edge. Dally was supposed to be getting out of the cooler next week. He had done jail time for robbing the store last year when Johnny had died. He'd been there for 4 months and Ponyboy was sure he'd be grateful to be let out for the holiday season. The younger greaser missed his parents horribly though; Christmas just wasn't Christmas without them. Last year's holiday had been hard enough, he didn't know how to handle this one.
// At least we have heat now…// Ponyboy thought as he slipped on some sweatpants and headed down the hall. Darry had quit his job after nearly breaking his back a while ago. And the new job that he had gotten had been very grateful to them. With Darry's new job, Sodapop stopped working at the DX. Darry was really pulling in the money, they had more then they ever had even when Ponyboy's parents had been alive. Darry had found the job looking for work in construction. It had something to do with a new corporation that was in Texas and Darry had been hired because of his test scores in high school. Usually a job like Darry's wouldn't even look at you if you hadn't been to college. It was a good thing Darry was so smart.
It was weird that they finally had enough money to be middle-class, enough money for Darry to go to college (though he didn't). And yet, they didn't change much. They were still greasers. They still hung out with the same friends; they still got jumped and beaten (Ponyboy more the usually lately). The only thing different now was that they had money to buy things they didn't even need, just something to buy because you had the extra money too. And even with that, they still wore old, cheap cloths. Darry had wanted to fix up the house, and that's what they had done for the past three months, just finishing last week. And Ponyboy was happy for the break in work and school. It was snowing a lot this year: Ponyboy had already gotten a week off because of it. And the snow just kept coming down. Every time the school thought it safe to open again, a whole new wave of snow would hit.
Soda bet that he would be off for the whole month. That had happened when Soda was in elementary school. Ponyboy didn't remember that though, he had been too young. Walking downstairs into the quiet kitchen, Ponyboy grabbed some eggs out of the refrigerator and the chocolate cake as well. Pony heard the shower turn on upstairs (a new addition to the house which included a bath room and three bedrooms) and knew it was Darry; Soda would never get up unless he had too. And without work, Soda could sleep in as much as he wanted. Ponyboy smirked as he fired up the stove and threw the eggs into a pan. Soda didn't want to quit work at first, but Darry had made him. Told him that he'd grow up too fast if he worked as a teenager. Soda never whined about work, he never hated it, but Ponyboy though that didn't want to quit because he didn't want to go back to school. Soda hated school, if he had to go back he would choose work any day.
But Darry told him that he didn't have to go back to school. And Soda quit after that. It was quiet amusing to Ponyboy, his tow older brothers had argued all the time everyday until Soda actually quit. Soda had a hard time getting used to not going to work for a while, but he eventually got used to it. He got bored when Ponyboy and Darry were at work though and he'd start to do things around the house. Ponyboy came home one day to find him in the kitchen, flower and sugar everywhere. The kitchen had been a fright and so was Soda who was covered in flour, chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, sugar, eggs, and almost anything that you could get on you. But in a small part of the kitchen were tons of cookies, breads, muffins, cakes, pies, and just about everything else that was sweet and tasty. That was the only clean thing in the whole entire kitchen. Ponyboy had laughed so hard that he got a battle wound from falling onto the floor. Never the less, they had to clean up the kitchen (and Soda) before Darry got home. And when he did get home, the kitchen was all nice and sparkly, treats spread out to different places in the kitchen so everything didn't over whelm you. Unfortunately, Soda had still been very unclean.
Last week Ponyboy came home to find another episode of that; only Darry had gotten there before he did. It was very amusing, Darry and Soda standing in a messing kitchen, both unclean themselves (which Ponyboy wasn't too sure on how Darry had gotten dirty) yelling back and forth at eachother with silly smirks on their faces.
Ponyboy smiled at the memories as he cut up the chocolate cake (Soda had made it last week along with 3 other ones). Yet again, the Curtis family had an unlimited supply of sweets in the house. Whenever they started run "low" Soda would cook a whole bunch more, stocking them up again. Even with Two-bit coming over and eating everything, there was still so much. Ponyboy wondered sometime why they all weren't fat as cows yet.
However, as Ponyboy kept a watchful eye on the eggs, the sound of a screen door opening brought him from his thoughts. He couldn't see who it was but it didn't matter, random people weren't going to just walk into their house.
"Morning!" Ponyboy called out, even though he didn't know whom it was. But a deep voice that Ponyboy hadn't heard in a long time answered back, and it answered back more calmly then it had ever been.
"What the hell did ya'll do to your house kiddo?"
Ponyboy jumped and glanced back over his shoulder quickly as the older male in the house leaned against the doorway, smirking.
"Dally! I thought you were still in the cooler for another week!"
"Naw, they let me out on good behavior again."
Pony smiled at Dally, "Again Dally? What's gotten into you? You've got a new girl?"
Dally smirked back at the younger male and chuckled,
"Yeah kid, something like that."
And Ponyboy didn't see the look that Dally gave him, the look of pure lust and need.
"Well," Ponyboy began and handed Dally a plate with a slice of cake on it, " it's been quiet without you around, I'm glad you're out."
Dally however didn't miss the look of love that shone in Ponyboy's eyes.
"So what did ya'll do to this place while I was lock up?"
The question distracted Ponyboy from his thoughts and he laughed and swished the eggs around with a fork. He turned back to Dally with a soft smile, shocking the older greaser.
"Darry quit his job and got a new one. He made Soda quit his job because he's making enough money now. And we fixed up the house with the extra money left over from Soda's pay checks and the new money," Ponyboy giggled a little as he glanced around the kitchen, keeping his gaze away from Dally's, "Soda also found a new hobby."
Dally blinked at Ponyboy, an odd expression on his face.
"So ya'll a bunch of rich kids now?"
Ponyboy looked hurt and shook his head, turning back to the almost done eggs.
"No, we've just got some extra money now, we're still the same Dally…"
And Dally felt sorry for the painful look in Ponyboy's eyes.
"Aw, come on, don't look like that, ya know I didn't mean it like that."
"Yeah, I know…"
And Dally smirked and walked close to Ponyboy, ruffling his ungreased hair. He reached for another slice of cake, having already finished the one before. And in doing so, the blond greaser looked around the kitchen; he noticed there seemed to be a lot more sweets around. Raising an eyebrow, Dally turned his attention back to Ponyboy, who was swaying slightly to a tune in his head, body wrapped up tightly in a blanket. About to take another bite, Dally froze and looked at the cake, uncertain. Ponyboy had said that Soda had found a new hobby.
"What'd ya say Soda's new hobby was?"
"Cooking," Ponyboy glanced over his shoulder at Dally and smirked, "don't worry though, its all safe, Soda's gotten really good at cooking."
Dally let out a silent sigh of relief, if there was something Dally was scared of; it was Sodapop's cooking. So, as he continued to munch on the piece of cake, Dally walked around to look at the house, surprised to see a staircase.
"What the fuck? Ya'll added a story to the house, man?" Dally heard Ponyboy give a sharp laugh at his question. Things were different at the Curtis's house; it wasn't really that much of a shock. It was just that dally didn't think anything would ever change, especially when he was in jail for four months. He glanced up the staircase, but didn't go up. The lower floor was still the same, just things looked more together. There was some new stuff here and there, but it mainly still looked like the Curtis's house.
Dally strode into the living room to find a roaring fire in the fireplace. Above the fire on the sill, were pictures. Pictures that dally hadn't seen for a very long time. He picked it up and one memory was very clear in his mind. It was when Pony's parents were still alive. Three years ago, the last year that the Curtis's would have their parents, and two years before Johnny died. Dally and Johnny had spent Christmas break with the Curtis family, having no family that cared enough to spend Christmas with them. Two-bit was at home with his mother and little sister while Steve had gone to see relatives with his father.
In the picture, a 14-year-old Soda was sitting on the backrest of the couch, Mrs. Curtis behind him, keeping a gentle had on Soda's back, and making sure he wouldn't fall. Next to Soda was 20 year-old Darry who had his arm placed around his father's shoulders. Ponyboy (age 12) sat between Dally and Johnny (15 and 14) who in return were next to Mr. Curtis.
Dally felt himself smile sadly; it almost hurt him as much as it hurt the three brothers to lose the Curtis parents. He placed the picture back and headed back into the kitchen. Darry was now there, sitting at the table, newspaper in hand, and a plate of scrambled eggs and a slice of cake. Ponyboy placed a plate down in front of an empty chair.
"Wanna have some eggs Dally?"
Dally glanced at Ponyboy// Gosh but that kid sure changed. // Dally thought. Ponyboy wasn't the cute little kid any more. No, he was more the beautiful teen type now. His red hair was once again long, red and perfectly put in place. He had grown, not much mind you, but he had grown. His slim body had gained some muscle, leaving him looking soft and tough at the same time. His face had finally lost what little baby fat he had left, leaving a soft jaw to be stretched over with creamy silky skin. Yet, he still had a tiny waist and his voice held a little roughness around the edges, but not much. It had only deepened a pinch while Dally was doing jail time and the older greaser didn't think it would get much deeper.
"Sure kid." And Dally ruffled Ponyboy's now greased hair as thanks. Sliding into a chair Dally began to eat as Soda walked in, shirtless, greaseless, and yawning hugely.
"Morning Soda." Ponyboy said, going back to the stove to gather yet another plate of eggs for his brother. Soda smiled and went up behind Ponyboy, wrapping his arms around the younger teens neck, giving him a quick hug.
"Morning kiddo. Golly, it sure is cold in here, is the heat on?" Darry chuckled from behind the newspaper at Soda's comment.
"There's a fire going in the fireplace, I didn't put the heat on though." Darry said and Soda turned around and pouted, sitting down in front of Dally.
"Hey Dally, I didn't know having good behavior was a habit of yours, how's life treating you?" Soda chirped and Dally gave a half glare at the blond but didn't say anything, he just chuckled to himself. Soda sure didn't let the temperature affect him. It may have been cold in the kitchen, but Soda was radiating so much cheerfulness that the heat didn't need to be on.
Placing a plate full in front of Soda, Ponyboy shrugged off the blanket that had been securely wrapped around him and placed it on Soda's shoulders.
"There ya go Soda, maybe you won't be so cold now."
Soda glanced up at Ponyboy, who still stood behind him and smiled sweetly at him,
"Thanks kiddo, but your gunna get cold." Soda said. Pony just shrugged and smiled. Slightly telling Soda that he'd be fine. The re-haired greaser headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, his footsteps echoing from above. Ponyboy peeked his head into the added room for the guys to sleep in if they need a place to crash. It was a lot better then the couch.
In the room Two-bit lay snoring, half on and half off one of the extra beds. Snorting, Ponyboy walked in and gave the older greaser a light kick in the shin.
"Hey, get up! Breakfast is ready!" however, Two-bit rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a dull thud. But other than that, he didn't move. Ponyboy shook his head as he rose an eyebrow at Two-bit.
"Fine, it's your choice, but I'm not making you anything until lunch then!" and Ponyboy turned back to go down stairs and eat his own breakfast. As he pasted his room on the way downstairs, Ponyboy grabbed a shirt to cover his bare upper half. Soda was right it was cold, but that wouldn't happen as often if the two of them actually wore cloths around the house. Shutting off the light and heading back downstairs, Ponyboy felt a stab of pain as he glanced at the pictures that hung on the stairway walls. He missed Johnny terribly; he didn't really have anyone to hang around anymore. Sure, he had Soda, but if the entire gang went out now, Ponyboy was usually left feeling way to young and lonely.
"Whatever, I think he's being annoying." Steve's voice stopped Ponyboy from entering the kitchen. He had a feeling that Steve was talking about him.
"You just don't give him a chance Steve, lighten up on him will you?" Soda said, an angry hint in his voice.
"Well that's not going to happen. He wasn't that bad with Johnny around, but now…" and Steve's voice was almost drowned out by Darry starting the truck outside…almost, " well, if you ask me, it's kinda his fault anyway. With Johnny he wasn't always tagging along as much, but well, Jesus, now I wanna drill a screw into his head."
"Steve!" Soda had slapped the frig door hard and Ponyboy heard Dally get up form the table and clutter his dishes in the sink.
"What?"
"What is with you man? You never complain about him before. Well, not this rudely anyway, lighten up will you?" Soda said, frustration clearly in his voice, "He's just lonely, that's all. Johnny was really the only one that hung out with him besides me."
"Yeah well, if he ever used his head maybe Johnny would still be here." Steve snarled back at Soda and Ponyboy let out a loud gasp.
Inside the kitchen all three greasers heard the gasp for breath and Dally was the first one out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Soda however glared hard at his best friend, angry blazing.
"It that's how you feel Steve,"
"It is! The damn brat is irresponsible, he should think before acting."
"Like you're any better Steve!"
Steve glared at Soda from across the room and snarled,
"At least I won't kill my best friend."
And well, after that Steve wasn't really entirely sure what happened. He saw the punch come and he felt the pain, but it didn't seem like he was really there. And after that he felt the hard floor hit him and Soda's yelling and Darry's pulling. A struggle that rarely happened for the two of them was becoming more and more frequent. Last week Soda and Steve had gotten into a fistfight and again this week. Last month had had two fights as well. And they were all about the same thing, Ponyboy. This wasn't the first time Steve brought up Johnny's death and that it was Ponyboy's fault. It wasn't the first time he's shed blood because of it; however, it was the first time Ponyboy heard it. Ad the pain was practically unbearable. Usually Ponyboy would just low off whatever Steve said, the two of them were never really friends. Just someone who tolerated eachother for someone else.
The thing that got Ponyboy was that it was true. If Ponyboy hadn't gotten home so late, Darry never would have hit him, never would have caused him to run away. He never would have gone to the park with Johnny, never should have even gone to him in the lot. Perhaps, Ponyboy should have run away for real. Not go to Johnny, not walk around the park to cool off. Ever since his parents died, things just got worse and worse and it always seemed to be his fault. Or somehow centered around him. And sure, a lot of the things that were "his fault" was what if's, things no one could have ever thought would happen. But someone always has to take the blame don't they? Isn't that how mankind ran? Something happens that no one could predict and yet, someone has to take the blame. Someone who was evolved the whole way.
Life was just cruel that way. It made no sense and it never would. It only caused fighting and pain, so naturally, take away the thing that caused it and everything would be fixed right? Wrong, those actions would always have effects; effect that turned out bad and that person would still be blamed. And in the end it didn't matter what Ponyboy did, because people would always blame him, just for the sake of their selfish guilt.
At least Steve always would anyway.
And Dally found Ponyboy on the floor in the dark hallway, knees pulled up to his chest and a painful look on his younger face. Dally's own face darkened and he swore, under his breath, that Soda wasn't going to get all the fun of beating the shit out of Steve. The dark haired greaser had been out of hand. It was no one's fault that Johnny died. No one could have seen it coming.
"Come on kiddo," Dally said quietly, kneeling down next to Ponyboy. "It's not your fault, never mind what Steve said, he's just a sissy."
Ponyboy though just remained silent. Dally frowned, he didn't know what to do. He never really was good at this kind of thing, ever. Soda would have reached out and brought Ponyboy into an embrace, holding the hurt boy close. But Dally wasn't used to really touching other people for so long, unless it was a girl who he was making out with.
However, Pony was different. Ever since Ponyboy's family met Dally, the blond greaser always thought Pony was a cute little kid. As they got older and older though, Dally found himself wishing to protect Ponyboy, just like he wanted to protect Johnny. Him and Ponyboy had been close then, back when Darry and Soda and Ponyboy were always getting along. Back when the Curtis parents were alive. But one night, a year before Pony's parent's death, Dally had awaked late in the night, horrified and yet very pleased at his dream just moments before.
It was then that the older greaser started to distant himself. For fear of not being able to control himself around Ponyboy. Because the once close friend/little brother feeling had been replaced by something far bigger. Something that Dally knew wouldn't go well with Darry and Soda.
But now, all Dally wanted to do was hold Ponyboy close and make sure he felt safe and loved. After all, 16 wasn't that young anymore right? It wasn't like Dally was extremely older then him, just three years.
"Dally?" Ponyboy asked, bringing Dally out of his dazed mind.
"What?"
"I'm sorry…it's really my fault, isn't it?" and Dally glared at the floor, Ponyboy sounded so confused and uncertain. Had he really always thought it was his fault?
"No, it's not."
"Ok, I just wanted to know…" and Ponyboy glanced up at Dally with sad eyes that glinted with such hope, "cause, if you don't think it's my fault then that's good enough."
Dally frowned even further though. What did it matter what Dally thought? He's word was no good, never was and never will be and never should be, at least, not to anyone other than himself.
"Why?"
"Cause Johnny was thing that you loved. I don't want you to hate me for taking that away."
And the only thing that kept Dally from saying that Johnny wasn't the only thing he loved. That he loved Ponyboy so much was the fact that Darry had just gotten Soda to calm down in the kitchen. Pony's brothers were the only thing right then and there that was stopping Dally from crushed Ponyboy against the wall, shoving his tongue down the boys throat and groping him to death. The only thing that held his love back. So, the only thing that Dally could really do was what he did.
Pulling Ponyboy close to him in a tight embrace, much like one that Soda would give the boy, Dally held on tight to the sorrow filled teen.
"Kid, you don't need to show me respect." Dally whispered.
The silence answered Dally and he risked a gentle ruffle to Ponyboy's hair.
"Golly, a greaser like me doesn't deserve it."
And Ponyboy pulled away from Dally so he could look him square in the face. A hard, seriously look reflected in Pony's green eyes, a look that Dally had never seen Ponyboy gaze at him with. It was a look that only the gang got except Steve and Dally; it was the look without hidden fear near the surface.
"I think you do."
And Dally dived head first in love with Pony.
Well, thats the end of this chapter. I shall try and get another one up since I'm on holiday break. YAY! Anyway, thank you for reading and please or pretty please review! I also apologize if any of the characters seem OOC, them kind of seemed that way to me but, hey, love makes you act strange! lol! Untill next time! Thanks for reading!
-Shini98