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1 - Johnny flinched away from the peroxide soaked rag, it'd barely grazed his cheek and yet it stung like a bee sting. If it weren't for your body standing between his legs, holding onto his face, he might've fallen.
"I'm sorry Johnnycake- just- please hold still-" you felt awful, he'd been jumped and you talked him into letting you patch him up. Gently, and very slowly, you cupped his opposite cheek, pressing the rag against his cheek once again.
His eyes closed tightly, and he held onto your wrist, squeezing it just a bit.
"You're doing great job," You sat the rag down, placing a band-aid against the wound. That should be all of his injuries treated, physical injuries at least. You cupped the entirety of his face, gentle with his wounds, finally getting a good look at him. His black eyes seemed duller than usual, and the skin around his left eye had bruised badly, there was sure to be a scar left behind.
"Thanks, you didn't have to do that," his voice seemed tired, exhausted of everything he'd dealt with.
"Of course Johnny, y'know I'd do anything for you," you spoke softly, worried raising your voice a pitch too high might startle him. His lip trembled, only for a second before he caught it. He didn't say anything, all he did was lean his head against your chest, burying his face deep enough you couldn't see his face. The kid's been through hell, both at home and now every time he goes out all he'll be thinking about is what happened tonight, you'd promised to do everything in your power to be with him when he goes out. At least if you can't protect him then he won't go through this alone ever again.
"At least your scar'll make you look tough, don't beat yourself up over this, okay Johnnycake?" You brushed your fingers through his disheveled black hair, softly scratching whatever nails you had on his scalp. He gently squeezed your waist, showing he appreciated your words.
"I'd say you need some rest bub, Ponyboy'll be wanting to check on you the second he sees the sunrise," he nodded, finally looking at you with a small smile. Both of you parted, him to clean up in the bathroom, and you to put everything away. You had set the peroxide back in its cabinet when you felt Johnny quickly wrap his arms back around you, squeezing you tight, "Hey, I love you, don't forget okay?"
"Love you too bub, I promise I won't,"
2 -
Johnny's leg shook gently as he sat on the couch. It was his birthday, and the entire gang pitched in to get him something special. So fat he'd gotten his own version of gone with the wind, a brand new quality switchblade, and a case to go with it. He'd gotten a brand new jean jacket since his own had been tattered and one of the pockets had been ripped. He'd also been given a few Elvis records, as well as a few new records of band's he'd meant to look into.
Every time he opened a present he'd been close to tears as he tried expressing how thankful he was. He'd never gotten such nice birthday presents, and he'd be sure to treasure them.
He was brought out of his thoughts by you and Darry coming out of the kitchen, the others had left long ago, leaving you and the curtis to finish celebrating. not that the other didn't want to stay, a mix of work, alcoholism, and dally overall not being good at this kind of thing came up. That left you and darry bringing a chocolate cake out of the kitchen, along with a small wrapped box
"We wanted to save this for last, I hope you like it Johnnycake," with an excited smile, you held out the box to him.
He gently held the box, pulling the lid off and peeling back the tissue paper placed around the item. At first Johnny assumed it was an oddly colored t-shirt. But when he set down the box and pulled it out, it was a binder that closely matched his skin color.
He held it, his hands shaking as he looked around the room. And suddenly, all of the tears he had previously managed to keep inside, all decided to come out now.
"You- You got this for me?"
"Of course, little buddy," Sodapop snickered, he'd wrapped an arm around the boy from his spot on the couch's arm.
Pony snickered, "It was their idea, mostly,"
"I can't take all the credit for it, everyone pitched in-!"
Johnny snickered, quickly excusing himself to try the garment on.
"why don't you go check on him , and I'll start to cut the cake." Darry offered, patting your back like a father would, telling you good job with each pat.
wordlessly you walked after Johnny, resting your back against the wall next to the bathroom door.
"You okay in there Johnnyboy?"
you were answered with the door swinging open, and uncharacteristically disheveled Johnny, hand resting on his flat chest and eyes wide with tears.
"