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However cliche it is to say that the people with the biggest smiles are struggling the worst, Sodapop Curtis is the very definition of this. You'd never know by looking at the kid, no matter how close you looked. That boy is all smiles and laughs, he's always trying to cheer up and confront other people. That and he refuses to wear shorts that go above the knee.
He and Dally had gotten together about 3 months ago, it wasn't anything special really, Dallas handed Soda his ring and gave him an expectant look, Soda smiled and put the ring on and that was that. They were happy though you wouldn't know it looking at Dallas, I don't think that boy really knows how to smile.
It was a Saturday night and Soda and Dally were at Bucks just having a good time Soda had left for the bathroom and when he came back he saw Dally at the bar flirting with some broad. He wasn't doing it to be mean or to make Soda jealous, it was more of a past time to him, a hobby if you will. Soda however was hurt by his actions and not wanting to upset Dally he said nothing and instead just walked up behind him and gave him a hug.
"I'm tired Dally", Soda decided he wanted to go home and this was a surefire way of getting Dally to agree. He'd do anything for his pretty boy, although Soda didn't know the true extent of that.
"Alright pretty boy, let's get ya home then", Dally said turning around to face the boy. He looked at him with the fondest look he could conjure up, which it being Dally wasn't a lot, but it was enough for Soda.
They arrived back at the Curtis house and Dally walked Soda in like a good boyfriend should, Soda kissed him goodnight and told him he could stay if he wanted and then walked off to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Once in the bathroom Soda let his usual cheery disposition fall. He knew Dally wouldn't really cheat on him but with the stress of everything else in his life, seeing his boyfriend flirt with girls at the bar just so happened to be the final straw of night and so he sat down on the edge of the tub to try and calm his mind. Sometimes when everything was too much, he gets in this mindset, that if he could just make a cut even a small one, it would lessen his emotional pain or at least give him something else to focus on. He felt that it calmed down his mind and stopped him from spiralling. What he didn't consider was that the self-harm was the end of his spiral.
He pulled out the blade he had started keeping on him for safety reasons and studied it, it wasn't anything special just a switchblade with a black handle really. He argued with himself in his mind. He knew it was wrong and that he shouldn't do it, but the little voice in his head was growing and it was relentless. The one that told him if he cut it would make everything that much more bearable. As he undressed and exposed his thighs, he saw the old cuts, very few had scarred and the most recent ones were faded. Without thinking much he took the blade and opened it. He put it against his thigh and dragged it slowly pushing it down just enough to break the skin and cause some blood to seep out, the cut was small but it did the job. He repeated his actions a few times, wincing and letting out a small sound of pain, until he felt satisfied and then put the blade down and sat still, he knew he'd have to clean up his leg before putting his pajama pants on but he wasn't ready to face what he'd done.
He took some deep breaths and leaned his head against the wall beside him. Looking down at the amount of blood that had pooled over the cuts he thought about how slow it was moving compared to that of his heart beat.
Dallas had sat down on the couch and turned the TV on to a random channel but after 10 minutes he realized Soda wasn't back so he got up to go check on him and see what was takin' him so long. He was usually pretty quick getting dressed.
"Soda, you okay in there?"
"Uh, yeah I'm good Dally just got my pants stuck"
Soda knew that was a stupid excuse but he couldn't think of anything better to say and hoped that Dally would believe him. Dallas could hear the shakiness in his voice and knew he was lying to try and save face so instead of asking anything more he simply opened the door to find Soda sitting on the edge of the tub with blood running down his thigh. He didn't say anything, he was too shocked. He never thought Soda would be one to turn to self harm to cope. Not with how often he comforted others
"Dally, it's not what it looks like I swear! Don't tell Darry please" Soda was practically begging him not to tell anyone for fear of what they might say and the fact he didn't want to disappoint his older brother.
"Okay, calm down pretty boy let me help you" Dally had gone uncharacteristically soft at the sight of his boyfriends struggling and turned to pull out the first aid kit from under the sink. He sat down in front of Soda with a wet cloth and started to dab at the wounds when he looked up and saw Soda with silent tears streaming down his face.
"Don't be mad at me Dally, I just- I couldn't help it I-"
"Hey, Hey calm down, no one's mad at you Doll I promise" Dally reassures Soda as he sets the cloth down and wipes his tears gently. "Just let me help you clean these okay?"
"Alright" Soda takes a few deep breaths to calm himself, logically he knew Dallas had no reason to be mad at him but he couldn't help worrying. "Alright"
Dallas resumes wiping at the wounds before pulling out some disinfectant wipes. He didn't want to chance then getting infected.
"This might sting a bit" He holds out his hand for Soda just in case he needs something to grip. He takes the wipes and gently runs them across the wounds and Soda hisses in pain.
"Sorry Doll"
He throws the disinfectant wipes in the trash and gently bandages the wounds before standing up and holding his hand out for Soda again.
"You wanna go lay down?"
"Yeah. Yeah I'd like that"
Dally leads Soda to his bedroom and Soda asks pony to either go to his old room or the couch, to which pony doesn't look particularly pleased but obliges once he sees the bandages on Sodas thigh.
Soda falls asleep with his loving boyfriend holding him after he makes him promise to tell Darry tomorrow and to tell people when he's struggling instead of just putting on a smile and lying to everyone. Dally promises not to leave Soda's side and Soda holds him close, nervous for the next day but knowing that it would come sooner or later.