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“Hey, Soda. Where’s Darry?” Pony reached for a knife and cut himself a slice of chocolate cake. Darry didn’t have work today, and Usually he slept in on his days off, but he wasn’t in bed when Pony checked.
“I don’t know, Honey. Probably out restocking. We’re low on groceries, ya know.” Soda abruptly stood, laying the newspaper flat on the counter. His fingers ran over Pony’s face and stopped at his cheek to pat and lay there. “You miss him?” Soda teased.
“No. I like being home alone with you.” Pony shrugged. “I did need his help with something.. but I can do it myself, I think.” Pony lowered the cake onto the counter, right next to Soda’s paper. He didn’t cut the slice for himself. It was for Soda. It was something he did subconsciously every morning. He hasn’t eaten chocolate cake in weeks because everything taste like baloney to him, but he’s so used to eating the cake in the morning that he cuts a slice anyway, forgetting of his issue. That’s when he hands it off to Soda.
Soda tries his best to hide the flush on his face.
——————-
“Soda?” Pony asked through a yawn.
“Yeah, Hon?” Soda rested a can of pop on the coffee table. It was half empty, and they were sharing it. He tried not to think of the mixed saliva that was probably sloshing around with the last drops of sugar at the bottom.
“Why’re you always kissin’ me? Like, on the forehead, and the cheek and stuff.” An innocent question. No malice lined in his voice. And yet, Soda couldn’t help but feel interrogated.
“I don’t know. I just want to, I guess.” Soda shrugged. “You want me to stop?”
“No.” Pony fiddled with the pop tab nervously. “I just don’t like you kissin’ me with the mouth you use to kiss Sandy.”
Soda blinked, looked down at pony with an unreadable expression. He squinted before a small laugh escaped his throat. “Okay. I won’t kiss Sandy no more.”
Pony poked Soda’s side. “You promise?”
“Yeah, Honey, I promise.” Soda got up off the couch and started to stretch. He looked tense. Pony wondered if he’d made him uncomfortable.
“I’ve been thinking.” Soda mumbled.
“Bout what?” Pony stretched too.
“I don’t know if I'm gonna marry Sandy, Pony.”
“Why not?” Pony looked shocked. And he was, truly. This wasn’t what he was expecting from his brother. Soda loved Sandy. At least, he thought he did.
“She just ain’t the one, I guess.” Soda pulled a weed out from his pocket and lit it. Usually Darry would be on him for that like a cat on catnip, but Darry wasn’t here. It was just Soda and Pony.
“How do you know?” Pony tried to avoid Soda’s gaze.
“What do you mean?” Soda took a draw of his weed and coughed.
“You know, that she isn’t the one? How do you know? How do you know if someone IS the one?” Pony knew he was being nosy but he was far too curious to back off. Besides, Soda wouldn’t mind. He never minded.
Soda put the weed out on an overflowing ashtray. “Hmmm. I guess, just… I don’t know. The feeling I get when I'm with you would tell me that person is the one. I want somebody that gives me what you give me, Ponyboy.” He said it so casually Pony was sure he’d imagined it.
“I don’t give you anything special.” Pony laughed.
Soda stopped dead in tracks to meet Pony’s eyes. “Yeah, you do.”
“Like what?” Pony urged.
Soda finally broke eye contact. “Just being you. You’re special.”
Pony grinned. “Thanks, Sodapop.”
“Yeah.” Soda grabbed the can of pop off the coffee table and headed towards the kitchen, taking the last swig of sugar and throwing it out. Yeah, definitely just saliva with a hint of pop.
“You’re beautiful, Pony.” Soda grins sweetly. He could stare at Pony forever.
“Me?” Pony tilts his head. His beautiful, model-made brother is saying he’s beautiful? Where were the cameras? What a stupid joke.
“You’re beautiful, Pony.” Soda repeated.
“Mmm.” Pony huffed.
“What? You don’t believe me?” Soda looked sad, almost.
“No, i just— I don’t know.” Pony pouted, looking down at his feet.
“Honey, you’re beautiful. Really. My boy. My baby brother. You’re beautiful.” Soda cupped Pony’s face and kissed him deep on the cheek.
“Promise?” Soda teared up. He couldn’t help it. Damn, he wished he wasn’t so prone to crying at everything. Thankfully Soda found it to be cute, even though it only embarrassed Pony.
“Fuck. Of course, of course, of course,” Soda lifted Pony up and urged him to wrap his legs around his waist. He held Pony like that for a minute, rubbing his back. Slowly he sat Pony down on top of the kitchen counter and stood between his legs, looking down at him. “Pretty boy. Pretty boy.” Soda cood.
Pony hiccuped, allowing himself to sob. His brother was so good to him. He was lucky that Soda was his and his alone. “I love you, Soda.” Pony laid his head into Soda’s chest.
“Oh, honey—“ the door opening caught Soda’s attention. It was Darry.
“Hey, kids. I grabbed a few things.” Darry placed the bags down onto the floor and scanned the room for his brothers. One glance and he could tell something had happened. He rushed over, at Pony’s side immediately. “What the hell happened?”
“Relax. Nothing serious. Pony was feeling a little insecure so I helped him out. Don’t think he’s feeling that great still, though.” Soda rubbed Pony’s back in circles and eyed Darry. He was silently motioning for him to take the lead. This was a good opportunity to strengthen their relationship.
Darry bent down to meet Pony’s eyes. “Hey, baby..” Darry cood. Soda moved out of the way, letting Darry take his spot in holding their baby brother.
Pony sniffled. Both his brothers did their best. He wanted them both at the same time. “Hold me, please, pl—“ he didn’t get to finish, because Darry was lifting him with ease in seconds.
“I got you. I got you, baby brother. Shhh. Sweet boy, beautiful boy.” Darry planted kisses all over Pony’s face and jawline. “Get in here, Soda.” Darry carried Pony with one arm and opened the other towards Soda.
Soda crashed into them both, hugging them way too tightly. “See, Pony? You’re beautiful. Our beautiful boy.”
“I’m sorry you both had to carry me like a baby or somethin’. You can put me down now.” Pony mumbled, sniffling. To his surprise, Darry’s grip only tightened.
“Uh-uh. You’re fine, doll. We’ve got you. No apologies. All you do is worry inside that pretty head of yours.”
Soda nodded in agreement. “Let us love you, Pony. We’ve got ya, baby.”
Pony melted.