Chapter Text
It was a quiet day, the day Two-Bit first saw Marcia after the Rumble. There had been a lot of quiet days since Johnny and Dally died, but this one was quiet in a different way, almost peaceful.
Two-Bit had just come from the Curtis house, having eaten dinner with them, Steve, and Ace. They had managed to laugh, throw some mashed potatoes around. Pony had eaten his whole plate, which he hadn’t done in the entire month since the Rumble. They all noticed, and were proud, but they didn’t mention it. They didn’t want to accidentally discourage him getting better.
As he walked home, or to the lot, wherever he ended up, he decided to take a detour to the park, to spend a bit more time in the breezy outdoors, feel the autumn air on his face.
He plopped down on a bench, tilting his head back to watch the stars. He didn’t really understand how Pony could stare up at a sky for hours on end and not get bored, but for a few brief moments, he saw how breathtaking a night sky could be.
And then he saw a girl who outshined it by lightyears.
She swallowed when they made eye contact, giving him a small wave. “Hi,”
“H-Hey.” He bit down on the inside of his cheek, cursing himself for stuttering. He was never nervous around girls. But he knew he knew this girl. He had talked to this girl for hours, not all that long ago.
“May I?” She looked at the spot next to him.
He nodded quickly, sliding all the way to the other side to give her plenty of space.
She sat down, pulling her sweater tighter around herself. Leaning back, her eyes wandered up to the sky. “Do you ever… wonder if the dead turn into stars? Maybe not, turn into… but, have a star? Like, oh, that one reminds me of my Nana.” Her arm shot up as she pointed to one particularly sparkling one. “And that one,” she moved it over, to a small one. “reminds me, of a baby, that never made it out of the womb.”
His gaze drifted from the sad star to her face, which looked equally, if not more, sad. “Did you,”
She shook her head gently. “No. My… my friend, did. It wasn’t like, she was happy about the baby… in the first place, but she grew to love that child, cause it was hers. But then…” she studied the dying grass by her boots. “It’s sad.”
“Yeah.” He didn’t like to see her sad. He directed his attention back to the sky. “That one reminds me of my friend, Johnny. It’s small, but it sure is bright. And that one, that one reminds me of ol’ Dally. It’s fiery… a little odd. But it cares. It cares about the little stars…” he blinked, now aware of the tears in his eyes. “And that one reminds me of my Uncle Alvin, cause he ate too many dang donuts.” He cracked a smile, and she chuckled quietly.
“That isn’t very kind,” she teased, her eyes shining. Her smile drifted off her face. “Your friends, Johnny… and Dally. They’re the ones,”
He nodded, cutting her off. He didn’t need a recounting of the story- it was his life, after all. But, he realized, it had been a part of hers, too. Bob dying, Cherry being a sort of double agent… and, it had changed their school, their town. Conflict, it was still there, but it was different. Everyone had lives to think about, now. And deaths.
“I’m sorry- ” she blurted, her head turning towards him suddenly. “I’m sorry they… that Paul and-and the others, beat you up. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it.” Tears began to drip down her rosy cheeks. “I hate that I didn’t stop it.”
He reached out and took her hand. “Don’t hate yourself, Marcia. We can’t help how we’re raised.” His eyes darkened. “Besides, it ain’t like you helped ‘em.”
“But still-”
Putting a finger up, he pressed it to her lips. “Shh. I forgive you, darlin’.”
Her eyes widened. “‘Darlin’?” She mumbled against his lips.
He grinned. “Yeah. Sorry.”
Shaking her head, she took his hand from her lips and squeezed it. “Don’t be.” With a brief moment of silence, she scanned his face, every beautiful detail. “Can I kiss you?”
Now his eyes grew large. “What?”
She held firm. “Can I kiss you?”
“Damn, I mean- yes. Please.”
She laughed, then leaned over and pressed her lips to his, shutting her eyes and cupping his cheek in her hand.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.
Letting it continue for one moment more then breaking away, Marcia rested her forehead against his. “You’re good at that, Two-Bit.”
A little laugh left his lips. “Same to you.”
She opened her eyes, looking at him. “This is a bad idea, ain’t it?”
“Yeah.” His eyes twinkled.
And she kissed him again.