Young

Warning: Slash.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders.

Pairing: Dally/Johnny. Two-Bit/Ponyboy.

Dedication: TheNightimeSky, who reviewed most of my Outsider drabble for the first and only time for many of them. Thank you!

Word Count: 469 (only actual Drabble)

One Drabble a Day Challenge, Date: Wednesday, September 7th, 2009

Young

It was his eyes, really, that made him seem so much older than he really was. It was hard to remember that Dally was a lot younger than he acted, only seventeen. But those eyes, cold to everyone else but warm to me, had seen so much, done so much. It made my heart ache to know there were some things he would live with forever, and that I could never erase for him, when he's always doing everything he can and more to protect me.

There was just something there, something hard behind the surface of his cold blue eyes that called to me, really. At first I had thought it had been admiration that I felt for him. No, let me correct myself, I had thought it had been only admiration, because I do admire him still. He was my hero, even if no one else could see it. He had been my older brother in my eyes, my hero.

And then more.

I guess it was only a certain amount of time before we got together: he hated most everyone besides the gang, but he's always told me I was the person he loved most even before we got together. And Sylvia, he never really liked her. It had just been sex when he was with her and the only reasons he got angry when she cheated was because she cheated on him.

As for me, there weren't many people I could imagine myself with, only Ponyboy and Dally, really. But Two-Bit would have gutted alive me if I even began to consider Ponyboy like that and besides, Pony only saw me as his best friend and old brother.

Plus, I don't think Dally would have like that very much. He had shot Pony such dark looks when I admitted that fact to him after he had asked if I liked Pony. I had been half-teasing but he had still taken it seriously and had come to the movies with us every time Pony and I went, only mellowing out when I reminded him Two-Bit wouldn't allow anyone to steal his lover from him without a fight, even 'Johnnycake'. Pony had been so cute during them, though, and I don't think his snuggling into my side during the movies helped much, and then Dally's irritation turned into Two-Bit's irritation.

They were just so much fun to play with! Especially since they both thought Pony and I were as innocent as they come.

Something warm presses against my cheek and I open my eyes a little, seeing normally hard elfin blue eyes softening before Dally kisses my again, only this time taking my mouth and tongue hostage.

Like I said before, sometimes it was hard to remember that Dally was young, that he was only seventeen.

Only seventeen.