Archive of Our Own ^beta

Summary:

Steve Randle sat on the curb of a gas station not too far from the Curtis house. He was originally there to buy something for his eye, a cold Pepsi or even just ice, but the worker was quick to kick him out. Steve didn't even have the energy to punch the guy in the throat.

For a moment tears brimmed in his eyes before a rough voice shot through his ears like a bullet.

"You better not start bawling Randle"

Steve didn't even have to look up to recognize his voice.

Timothy. fucking. Shepard.

He had that underlying anger to him just like Dally, yet as he placed a Pepsi next to him Steve felt something he had felt one too many times with Darry. When he finally looked up at Tim, he was sat on the curb sporting a black eye just like him.

"Who?"

Tim didn't respond for a second he was a bit caught off guard at the sudden question.

"My best bud" Tim responded grinning wildly.

Surprisingly Steve grinned right back at him.

"Same here"

Or

Steve gets blamed for something that wasn't his fault and fights his best friend ending up next to Tim Shepard having an odd conversation with matching black eyes and poor Ponyboy being right in the middle of this.