Chapter Text
Darry wasn’t sure what to make of Soda’s new friend. It was the first year that Soda wasn’t in the same class as his best friend, Steve Randle. For the first week of school, his kid brother would complain about that fact every single day even though he still spent all of his time outside of school with Steve. But one morning it all suddenly stopped and the next thing he knew a little boy named Johnny Cade was over at his house every morning, afternoon, and night.
In all honesty, the kid seemed harmless. Usually quiet and the few times he did hear Johnny speak it was always a polite, “Yes ma’am” or, “Yes sir,” to Darry’s parents. Sometimes he would catch Johnny whispering something to Soda or Steve but usually, it seemed like Soda was the one in their group to do all of the talking. Johnny was a tiny thing too, who looked like he belonged in Ponyboy’s kindergarten class instead of the second-grade class he shared with Soda.
For all intents and purposes, Darry should have no problem liking the kid. He was sweet and never caused any issues. Except for one. And for some reason, he was the only one to see the issue with it. Johnny always seemed to be holding hands with his littlest brother, Ponyboy.
And sure enough, when Darry got home he saw his two younger brothers sitting on the front porch with Steve and Johnny, playing a game of poker. Soda and Steve seemed to be entirely focused on the game. And Johnny seemed like he was trying his best to focus on it too. The only one who looked like they weren’t paying attention at all was Ponyboy, who was holding onto Johnny’s hand and leaning on the boy’s shoulder.
Darry knows that it doesn’t mean anything. But still, people talk and he doesn’t want this causing issues for any of them.
When he’s on the porch he has every intention of telling Johnny and Ponyboy to cut it out himself, but something about Johnny stops him. Maybe it's the look Johnny gives him with eyes somehow filled with both suspicion and vulnerability in a way that makes Darry’s heart ache. Or maybe it’s the way that Johnny manages to somehow make his already too-small self look even smaller but Darry just can’t bring himself to say anything even remotely negative to Johnny.
So instead he says, “Soda, can I talk to you inside?”
Soda gives him a confused look but says, “Uh… sure?”
None of their parents were home yet so Darry knew that they were at no risk of anyone overhearing. He wasn’t sure what his parents would think about what he had to say and he didn’t want to find out.
“You have got to stop letting Pony hold Johnny’s hand. Or letting them do any of that weird cuddly stuff they were doing outside.”
Soda somehow managed to look even more confused, “Why? He does that with us all of the time.”
“I know, but we’re his brothers. It’s just different when he does it with Johnny.”
And Soda just stared at him because he still didn’t seem to get it and now Darry wasn’t sure what to say. He doesn’t know how to explain that all of the boys in his grade who still cry and get that far-off look in their eyes when they daydream for too long are the same ones whose Darry’s friends have so much fun messing with. Who Darry has fun messing with. Because those are the boys who are so much like Ponyboy that Darry couldn’t let himself think about it for too long. And the last thing Ponyboy needs is to be known as the boy who likes to hold onto other boys in such a gentle way. Because Darry knows that one day Ponyboy will meet a kid just like his eldest brother who will never let him hear the end of it.
“People…” And Darry couldn’t bring himself to say it with Soda looking at him with wide eyes that he’s sure will see right through him if he actually says it. So instead he says, “Just make sure they’re in the house if they’re doing that.”
Fortunately, Soda only gives Darry a whine and complains, “But it’s so nice outside.”
“ Sodapop , just trust me on this.”
“Okay,” Soda says softly before running out the front door and yelling, “Guys, let’s play inside.”
And Darry couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the three other boys run into the living room, no questions asked.
Sure enough, once the boys sit down Ponyboy takes his place with Johnny. This time sitting on Johnny’s lap, who for some reason never seemed to mind letting Ponyboy take over his personal space.
Darry distracted himself with starting his homework which kept him busy enough until his parents got home.
Darry didn’t realize his parents arrived home until they walked right past him and toward the boy's living room. Soda and Steve still seemed entirely focused on their card game, which somehow switched to go fish at some point. But Ponyboy and Johnny were asleep on the couch with Ponyboy lying down on top of Johnny.
His parents chuckled softly before his dad walked to his room with quiet footsteps into his room and walked out holding a camera. Darry gave his mom a questioning look but she only shushed him and whispered in his ear, “This is the kind of thing we have no choice but to take a picture of.”
And sure enough, his father took a photo of the sleeping boys, the shutter of his camera waking them up. Ponyboy sat up and looked at their father with tired eyes, Johnny following behind him.
His father couldn’t seem to quiet his laughter for any longer and let out a loud chuckle, “I’m sorry boys, but the two of you are too cute.”
His father laughed as he walked back into his bedroom to put the camera away while his mother walked over to Ponyboy, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and said, “If you’re so tired maybe you should start heading to bed.”
Ponyboy started to whine, begging to be allowed to stay up because he wanted to stay with Johnny. His mother could only laugh in response and Darry couldn’t quite figure out why.