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Darry wasn’t about to wait at home for his barely fifteen year old brother when he knew there were really only two places he might be at this hour: the lot or the drive-in. Considering he didn’t ask for any money, Darry guessed the lot would be his best bet.
He was right about that, but he was not right about what he’d be doing. Pony spent most of his evenings staring up at the sky or reading a book by flashlight. Or so he thought. Darry finding Pony straddling his best friend with his hands in his hair while kissing him passionately is quite the shock to say the least. His first thought: this explains why I haven’t heard anything about that Cherry girl recently. His next: this is out in the open where anyone could find him. And his third: how the fuck do I respond?
Before he can overthink it, Darry puts on his authoritative voice and all but yells his brother’s name, putting an immediate stop to all of the…action happening. In a blink, Ponyboy is curled up with his head in his hands and Johnny is on his feet attempting to take the blame for everything. In a less tense situation, Darry would scoff at Johnny’s insistence that it’s all his fault. It certainly looked incredibly consensual. But in this situation, he simply pulls the boy to his chest and tells him to go sit in his truck for a minute.
Johnny gives a nervous glance over his shoulder, clearly wanting to go check on the distraught Ponyboy, but Darry assures him that he just wants to talk.
“No one’s in trouble here,” Darry says, “Just want to talk to my brother.”
Darrel’s tone, while gentler than usual, leaves no room for argument. Johnny would stand up to almost anyone and anything for the boy, but even he has his limits. So he ducks his head and turns towards the truck.
Darry takes a deep breath in an attempt to even his tone. He’s not good at comforting, especially when he has half a mind to smack his little brother upside the head for being so reckless. Even through the darkness, Darrel could tell what was happening between the two boys. And they are so fucking lucky that it was him that saw them.
“I’m sorry, Darry,” Pony whimpers. “It won’t happen again just please don’t throw me out on the streets.”
Darry cracks at this kneeling down to his kid brother’s level and placing a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, no,” he says, “I ain’t never gonna do that.”
“Really?” Pony asks.
“Promise,” Darry says. “You’re stuck with me kid. Couldn’t get rid of me even if you tried.”
The ghost of a smile washes across his face before concern takes its place once again.
“Where’s Johnny?” he asks.
“In the truck,” Darry responds, “We should go over there before he goes crazy with worry…you know how he gets.” Not too different from myself Darrel thinks. He’s glad that someone else is there to worry over his kid brother when he can’t be there.
The man stands up and extends his hand outward, Pony reluctantly accepts it like he expects Darry to pull him up and slam him to the pavement in one move. As scary and strict as Darry seems, he would never hurt his brother over something like this. To prove his point, he wraps his arm gently around his brother’s shoulder as they walk towards his truck. Pony jumps in the back of the truck and gives Johnny a reassuring smile.
The ride home is quiet and awkward. Darry can tell that Pony is itching to reach out and reassure Johnny, who still has fear and concern written all over his face, but they stay separated the whole time. They barely even glance at each other. And they don’t dare to speak.
When they pull up to the Curtis house, Johnny looks confused.
“I thought you would take me back to my place,” Johnny says, voice unsteady.
“I’m not making you go back to that hell,” Darry says. “Besides, we need to have a little chat.”
Johnny pales at this and swallows a lump in his throat, gingerly exiting the truck and following Darry inside. He has half a mind to make a run for it and never be seen or heard from again, but he can’t do that to Pony.
Darry directs them both to sit on the couch as he heads into the kitchen. He grabs three glasses of water because they all need some after that stress and does a quick scan of the rest of the house to make sure no one else is home. Then, he pulls up a chair to sit in front of the couch.
“I should tell you a story,” Darry says.
Pony almost interrupts, but his older brother barrels on, leaving no room for exasperated questioning.
“As you know, Paul and I used to be best friends. There was a time in high school where I really hoped we could be more, and that realization came with shame and fear and a whole host of other things that I’m sure y’all have felt,” Darry says. “I ain’t the best at all this talking and reassuring, but just know, I’ve been where you are. I know how it feels…how the world makes you feel, and you have to know that there is nothing wrong with wanting the things you want. Understand?”
Both boys nod with wide eyes of surprise on their faces.
“That said. Most of Tulsa doesn’t share that same belief. They will hate you. They will jump you. They’ll arrest you and tear you and Soda away from me if anyone catches you. So you cannot do any of that where anyone can see you. I know it ain’t fair and I don’t agree with it either, but that’s how it is. You’re safe here. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not welcome in this house. But unless there are four walls and a lock on the door, you cannot show anything more than y’all being close buddies. I don’t care how dark it is or how alone you think you are. And if you can’t stick to that, you will have an even stricter curfew and you will be forbidden to see each other. Is that clear?”
Pony nods, his eyes wide and fearful.
“You won’t have to do that, I swear,” Johnny says. “We’ll be more careful.”
“Good,” Darrel responds, “To be honest, it’s kind of nice to know I’m not alone.”
Pony’s shocked by this vulnerability, and he stands up to give his brother a hug as Johnny sits awkwardly. Darrel eventually stands up and gently forces the boy into their embrace. And, it’s at this moment that Soda walks through the door. Without questioning anything, he throws down his bag, takes off his shoes and joins the hug.
“You can’t have a sentimental moment without the sappiest Curtis brother,” Darrel growls, but there’s a hint of a smile behind his voice.
“Damn right, Darry,” Soda agrees.
Darry thinks in that moment that everything will be okay between the three of them. Darry and Pony now have something to connect them, and Soda’s the sweetest kid brother he could ever ask for. Surely, if and when he finds out about them it won’t be a huge deal.
——————
Darry can’t sleep that night. He’s always worried like crazy about his little brothers, but knowing now about Pony’s relationship with Johnny, he can’t help but feel extra protective. He already had so many reasons that the Socs would attack him, but if they ever found out, it would give them even more fuel for their flames of hatred. Darry wishes he could wrap Pony up in bubble wrap and never let him leave the house. Or better yet, take him to work with him so he’d never be out of sight. But he knows that he has to let him continue to grow up and go to school and have his first relationship with someone he really truly loves, even if puts him at risk. He wishes and yearns for the ability to do the same, but the guy he felt that way about would probably beat him to a pulp if he ever found out.
Darry suddenly feels like he can’t breathe. He reaches for the glass of water he always keeps by his bed but knocks it over. Sighing, he gets out of bed, carefully avoiding the puddle of water that’s now on his bedroom floor, and tries to softly pad his way to the kitchen. He doesn’t realize that Johnny has already woken up from the glass falling until he hears his sleep scratchy voice asking him what’s wrong.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Darry says, “Sorry for waking you up.”
Johnny simply grunts in response as Darrel pours himself a glass of water. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Johnny gets up off the couch and walks into the kitchen.
“Are you sure you’re totally cool with me and Pony?” Johnny asks. “I just feel like you’re not saying something.”
“Yeah…” Darry says, unconvincingly, “I just need to know what you and him were thinking doing all that where anyone could see.”
“We weren’t,” Johnny says, “It was stupid.”
“I expect that kind of mindlessness from Pony,” Darry says. “The kid’s always got his head in the clouds, but you’re supposed to be smarter man.”
Darry can see that Johnny wants to fight back to defend Pony, but he restrains himself.
“What I mean to say is, I need you to keep him safe,” Darry says. “Pony’s book smart and all, but you’re street smart.”
Johnny nods solemnly, understanding what the man’s trying to say.
“It won’t happen again,” Johnny promises.
Darry nods.
“And this probably goes without saying, but there’ll be hell to pay if you hurt him,” Darry says. Johnny’s eyes look fearful as he says this, nearly shivering with fear. “I love you like a brother, but I’ll always take the Pony kid’s side. I made a promise over my father and mother’s graves and there ain’t no way I’m breaking it.”
“I understand,” Johnny says, his serious expression taken over by a yawn.
“I’ll let you get some sleep,” Darry says. “It’s been an eventful day.”
And with that, Darry moves down the hall to go back to his room, feeling a bit more content. He knows that Johnny will do whatever he can to keep his kid brother safe, and knowing that someone else has his back in that way eases some of the burden that he feels.