Work Text:
Pony woke up and immediately knew it was going to be a bad day.
His muscles ached, threatening to make him collapse, his head was cold and pounded, his throat was dry and raw, and his stomach was turning and flip-flopping around.
He got dressed and ready for school, despite his body's screaming at him to go lie down. He simply ignored it and went on with his usual routine.
"Pony, I made eggs!" Sodapop exclaimed, standing at the counter, holding out a plate of something strange and blue to his brother.
"Why're they blue?" Pony rasped.
"Thought I'd make it interesting," Soda grinned, cocking an eyebrow before his smile faded as he took in his brother's look. "Hey, you alright? You don't look too good."
"I'm fine," Pony assured him, taking the plate of eggs and sitting down at the table with a fork.
"Why wouldn't you be fine?" Darry asked, just now walking into the room.
"No reason," Pony said quickly, continuing to eat his blue eggs. Soda gave Pony a sad look. He knew that his baby brother wasn't feeling well no matter how much he denied it.
"Well, hurry up with your breakfast and get in the car. Two-Bit and Steve'll be coming by soon, they're going with Soda to work, so they'll be riding with you," said Darry.
Pony shoveled the rest of the eggs into his mouth, despite the protesting from his throat and stomach, and snatched his backpack up off the ground.
"Hey Sodiepop," Two-Bit said, entering the room.
"Hey guys, y'all ready to go?" Soda asked. Both Steve and Two-Bit nodded and all four of them got into the car.
Steve sat up front with Soda and Two-Bit and Pony took the back. "Gee, Pone, you look like you got hit by a car."
Pony shrugged his shoulders. "If we get a call that you need to be picked up from school, we're not gonna be happy," Steve warned.
"Steve, lighten up," said Soda. "But really Pony, if you don't feel good, you need to tell us right now."
"I'm fine," Pony repeated. Soda sighed, knowing this wasn't the truth, but not wanting to argue.
The next couple of minutes in the car were dead silent. Steve was frustrated with Pony, Soda was worried about Pony, and Two-Bit was occupied, staring down his shirt. Pony, however, was practically dying in the backseat, his stomach doing jumping-jacks, threatening to expel it's contents. And that it did.
With the first retch, Two-Bit jumped to the side. "Dude, personal space!"
"Dammit, Pony!" Soda exclaimed, pulling the car over.
"That little shit," Steve muttered under his breath.
Pony continued to hurl until there was nothing left in his stomach. He dry heaved for about a minute, until his stomach finally calmed down.
"Why didn't you just tell us to take you home?" Steve barked at Ponyboy, pale, weak, and sweating in the back.
Ponyboy rushed to his own aid. "Darry-"
"It's fine, Pone," Soda said gently, though clearly frustrated. "Let's just clean this up and get you home."
"I'm sorry," Pony apologized.
"It's fine," Soda repeated with a firm tone. Ponyboy wasn't quite sure whether Soda really meant it or just wanted him to shut up, 'cause he was saying one thing btu his facial expressions and tone said another.
"Uh, why's it blue?" Two-Bit asked with both disgust and curiosity.
Soda chuckled softly. "That would be my eggs."
Two-Bit rolled his eyes and grinned, knowing Soda and his colorful cooking.
Trying not to puke themselves, Soda and Steve wiped down the backseat while Two-Bit sat on the curb with Pony who had his head between his knees.
"Alright, guys, it's all cleaned up," said Soda, his face a slight green color. "We're gonna drop Pony back off at home and then Steve, you can take my car to the DX."
"Wait," said Steve. "You're not going to work?"
Soda shook his head. "I've gotta take care of Pony."
"Darry hasn't left for work yet, make him do it," Steve demanded.
"Uh, have you met Darry?" Soda joked. "Leaving him alone with Ponyboy would make all hell break loose."
Steve was stewing in his anger, then Two-Bit put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Don't worry, I'll be at the DX with you."
That didn't seem to cheer Steve up, but it shut him up at least. Everyone loaded back into the car and Soda drove back home.
"Here's the keys, take care of her, okay?" said Soda, handing his car keys to Steve who simply nodded, his mouth tightly shut so not to say anything that offensive.
Soda wrapped and arm around his younger brother and walked him inside.
"Did you forget your notebook again?" Darry asked, his eyes blazing with anger.
"No, Darry," Soda said calmly. "He's not feeling well. Just threw up in my car."
Darry's anger subsided but the frustration remained. "Get in bed, then. Soda are you going to work?"
"Nah, I'm staying here with him," Soda told his brother.
"Then I'm going," said Darry, hoisting his work bag onto his shoulder. Suddenly, they heard whimpering and groaning from Pony's room.
"Pony, you alright?" Soda asked, rushing to the doorway.
"It's so hot. And I think I'm gonna throw up again," Pony groaned.
"I'll get you a bucket," said Soda, rushing off to the kitchen as Darry took his spot, approaching Pony's bed and placing a hand on his forehead.
"Jesus, kid, you're burning up," Darry said, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Here you go," Soda announced, coming back in and handing Pony a bucket.
Darry sighed. "Buddy, I think you've got the flu."
"You sure? It could just be a cold," Pony rasped.
"No, you've got all the symptoms and it's flu season," said Darry. "That's most definitely what it is."
Pony groaned, then proceeded to vomit into the bucket while Soda rubbed circles on his back. Once he was finished, he caught his breath and shuddered.
"It's okay, Pony, just rest," said Soda.
"I'll get him some saltine crackers," said Darry.
"Oh, no, please, no food right now," Pony complained.
"You just threw up twice, you need to get some food in you," Darry argued. Pony groaned but didn't have any energy left to argue. Darry set off to the kitchen and Soda took a seat on the edge of the bed, beside Pony.
"It's gonna be alright, Pony," Soda whispered, stroking his baby brother's hair.
"I don't like being sick," Pony whimpered.
"I know, honey, I know," Soda sighed. Darry came back into the room with a bowl of saltine crackers and a glass of water.
"Here, buddy, eat up," Darry said, handing Pony the bowl and setting the glass on the nightstand.
Soda helped Pony sit up in the bed. Pony frowned at the bowl. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"You already are sick," Darry shot back. "You'll get better if you eat the crackers."
"Come on, Pony," Soda encouraged with sympathy in his expression. Pony continued to stare at the bowl with disgust before Soda finally took a cracker out of it and held it in front of his brother's mouth. "Eat."
"You don't have to feed-"
"Eat," Soda repeated with more force. Pony rolled his eyes and parted his lips so Soda could put the cracker in his mouth. "There you go." Soda repeated, feeding Ponyboy cracker after cracker until they were all gone. "Good, good."
Pony whimpered, stretching himself out on the bed
"What is it now?" Darry asked.
"It's so hot," Pony groaned.
Soda left and came back with a cold, moist cloth, placing it on Pony's forehead. Pony immediately relaxed.
"It's gonna be okay, Pone," Soda told him gently.
"Soda, I'm sleepy," Pony whispered.
"Then, sleep, baby, you need rest," Soda smiled sweetly.
"Can you lie down next to me?" Pony asked, looking away out of embarrassment.
"Oh, honey, of course," Soda replied, glad that his brother needed him. Soda eased onto his back and curled up under the covers next to his little brother. Ponyboy had heat radiating off of him, but Soda didn't mind. He took his brother in his arms and held him close.
Darry watched from the doorway and his two brothers drifted off to sleep together. Once both of them closed their eyes and their breathing got lighter, Darry climbed into the bed with him and wrapped his huge, muscular arms around both of them. He soaked in their presence until he sleepiness eventually overcame him as well.