Work Text:
As he zoned out in Ponyboy’s room, staring out the window at the late evening light peering through; Curly couldn’t get the guilt to stop eating at him.
He knew Ponyboy wasn’t like him. he’s way too pure. He would never succumb to the sin Curly had.
Curly was tainted since he was little, he could never be as pure as Pony, even when they were children Curly had been more impure.
It could possibly be from their environments in their youth. Though they were both raised in gangs, Pony’s family always tried to shelter him more. The Shepards knew there was no use.
Even though Curly knew she was just as tainted as he was, he always did everything to keep Angela away from trouble. Anytime he noticed a friend doing the same behaviors as someone he used to know who was inappropriate to him, he’d find a way to keep them away.
Curly would allow himself to be entirely debased if it would keep Angela some of her purity.
“Curls?” Ponyboy nudged his arm, causing Curly to jump backwards. For how tough he seems to act, he’s quite skittish when in a domestic environment.
“What's up?” Curly said, he attempted to play off how he’d been so afraid as a joke, even though he had to stop himself from scratching at the skin Pony had touched to feel more clean.
“I asked what you wanted to do the project on. Y’know, the reason you’re here?” Ponyboy didn’t seem to have any ill intentions with what he said, but nonetheless it came across to Curly that way.
“I dunno, you pick.” Curly was closing himself off. If he spilled too much, Ponyboy would know. He’d know Curly’s a queer, he’d tell his brothers and the Shepards would be drove out of Tulsa by tommorow.
“I was thinkin’ we could do it on,” Ponyboy began to explain his idea for the project.
Curly was admittedly paying more attention to Pony’s face more than his words, his eyes drifted from the latter’s greenish gray eyes to his lips then back up again.
“Do you agree?” Pony asked.
“Yeah,” Curly agreed without thinking twice, he knew Ponyboy takes school seriously so he could trust him.
Curly yawned, he looked at Ponyboy and over at the clock on the wall. He squinted at it, unable to see from afar. “Hey, Pones, what time’s it?”
“S’like 8:20. D’ya have to leave soon?” Ponyboy asked.
“I probably should if i wanna get home before its dark.” Curly sighed. He was exhausted, he wouldn’t make it to his house without getting jumped.
“I can ask Darry if you can stay over?” Ponyboy suggested.
“You don’t gotta.” Curly muttered.
“I’m gonna either way, so just agree.”
“Fine.”
Ponyboy stood up, walking out to the living room. Curly followed in tow.
“Dar?” Ponyboy said.
“Yeah?” Darry replied.
“Can Curly stay over?” Ponyboy asked, looking away from Soda who was on the couch with Steve.
“Sure.” Darry agreed,
Curly attempted to ignore the look he received from Sodapop, he was more in favor of looking at Ponyboy anyway.
“Thanks!” Pony said, he and Curly walked back to the former’s room.
“Where am I meant to sleep, Pone?” Curly asked.
“I figured we could share the bed, if you’re okay with it.”
Curly froze. He certainly didn’t want Ponyboy realizing how Curly is, or to freak Ponyboy out if he wakes up in the night.
“Sure.” Curly said curtly.
The two got ready for bed. Or, more like Pony got ready while Curly was half asleep on the bed already.
The two went to sleep pretty quickly with no issues.
A few hours later, Curly felt a small whine slip from his mouth. He was in that state of asleep-yet-conscious, he felt hands on him and whimpered again.
In his tired haze he registered Ponyboy waking up and prodding his arm with a concerned look on his face.
“Hey, Curls, wake up.” Pony whispered.
Curly jolted up when Pony touched him, not enjoying that at all.
“Don’t do that.” Curly snapped.
“I’m sorry,” Ponyboy said.
They sat in silence for a few moments as Curly took some deep breaths.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” Pony asked.
Curly nodded tentatively.
“So, uhm. I just wake up like that sometimes, usually Angel makes me snap out of it. But I can’t stand being touched when I'm like that. Or in general when I'm not ready for it, really.” Curly felt his eyes start to burn and blinked rapidly. “It’s just how I’ve always been.”
“Oh,” Ponyboy thought considerably. “I’m sorry, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“It's fine.” Curly mumbled.
“You wanna know something, Curls?” Pony asked.
Curly nodded, looking up at him.
“You look awful pretty right now.” Pony admitted.
“What?” Curly replied. There’s no way Pony’s like that, right?
“You look pretty, with your hair ungreased and not pulled back.” Pony admitted, hiding how his face was reddening.
Oh.
Oh.
Was Ponyboy Curtis seriously making a move on him? Right now, when Curly had been wanting him for years!
Curly looked at Ponyboy and pulled him closer to himself, giving him a look as if asking for permission. Pony met his eyes and nodded, and all of Curly’s years of waiting were paid off right then.
The kiss was long, but not indecent. It was a show of the love that the two had buried out of fear of rejection, but they had no reason to be afraid when they were alone and aware. Curly’s hands went up to Pony’s hair, clenching it but not pulling. Curly could feel Pony’s hands around his shoulders. The boys pulled away after a bit, Pony laying his head on Curly’s chest.
“I’ve wanted that for years, Pony. No matter how much I tried to bury the feeling, it felt impossible to quit you.” Curly said softly.
“I’ve wanted you ever since you fell off that telephone pole.” Ponyboy admitted.
“I did that just to impress you, so at least it worked!” Curly giggled.
The two both knew they would have to separate come morning, but at that moment there was nothing to worry about.
They would be okay in the end, they had each other