Work Text:
Curly was thankful to be home again, in his own clothes and not the shitty grey uniforms of the reform school. His hair was shorter and his body ached, but he was breathing Tulsa air again and that was enough.
He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth, trying to get his shitty lighter to spark.
“Curly? Is that you?”
He looked up, seeing Ponyboy's shocked face light up. “Curly!” He jogged over to him, tackling him against the wall in a hug. Curly hesitated for a split second before squeezing him back. “Hey Pone…” He said softly. Pony drew back. “I didn't know you were out.” Curly huffed, glancing away. “Just got back last night.” Pony hummed thoughtfully, studying his tired face.
Apparently, he didn't like what he saw, because he wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him along. “What're you doing?” Curly half-heartedly protested, his cigarette falling to the ground as they walked. “Johnny's been worried.” Pony said in lieu of an answer. “We missed you.” Curly chewed on his lip, eyes trained on the ground. From there, they walked in silence, until they approached the Curtis’s porch.
Johnny was sitting on the wooden steps, looking up when he heard them. His dark eyes went wide, then softened. “Curly.” His name fell from his lips involuntarily.
He stood, practically frozen on the spot. Curly grinned, tilting his head. “Heard you missed me.” Johnny scoffed, rolling his eyes, but he smiled softly. “Regretting it now.”
Curly snorted, leaning into Ponyboy. “You wish.”
Pony smiled at the two of them fondly. “C'mon, let's go inside.”
Curly was manhandled (gently led) to Pony's bed, his brothers luckily still at work. He laid down, Pony settling on his chest. Johnny laid on his other side, tucking his head into the crook of his neck.
Curly let himself relax for the first time in a month, exhaling a shuddering sigh as the comforting weight of the other two pressed into him.
“Ponyboy, any good movies come out while I was gone?” He watched as Pony grinned with excitement. “Yeah, actually! I don't think it was really your style, but…” Curly felt himself smile against his will as the redhead started explaining the plot of some flick he most definitely forced Johnny to watch.
His hand came up to comb through Johnny's dark curls, something warm settling in his chest as he sighed into his neck.
He missed this. He missed this so badly.
His eyes burned suddenly, and he found himself blinking back tears. He inhaled sharply through his teeth, and Ponyboy trailed off. “Curls? You okay?”
He swallowed, squeezing him just a bit tighter. “I guess I missed you guys more than I thought.”
Johnny huffed, nuzzling into his neck. “We missed you too, okay? So just…quit getting locked up.” Curly scoffed, tugging on one of Johnny's curls. “Fine. Only so you won't be alone when Pony drags you to the drive in.”
Pony lightly smacked his side, but he didn't move his head from his chest. Curly rubbed his back apologetically.
Pony fell asleep first. Unsurprising, since the guy could sleep through a bomb going off. His hand stilled on his back as his breathing evened out.
“Hey.” Johnny murmured.
He hummed in response.
“I mean it, y'know.” He yawned. “We care about you. Hate it when you're gone. Doesn't feel the same.” Curly sighed softly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I'll do better. Really.”
Johnny nodded, and Curly let his eyes slip shut.
His chest was filled with warmth.