Chapter Text
Pony was sitting in the lot with Johnny, holding the smaller boy in his arms. He had just given him his hoodie, because the early November nights were becoming much colder. Johnny was still adamant on sleeping in the lot, though, so Pony brought him an extra layer.
Pony couldn’t blame him for trying to avoid his folks, and he was sure that being sick from the cold was probably better than being beaten, but he still hated to see him out here in the cold all night long.
Johnny, of course, hated it too. Some nights when it was particularly windy or cold he’d ask Dally or Darry if he could stay with them, but he hated feeling like a burden.
They sat together, waiting for Dally to take them out to the movies. The two boys figured that it might be fun, as long as the night ended better than it had last time. That horrible week from two months ago had never quite left their minds, and they knew that it might never.
Pony’s head snapped up at the sound of boots on gravel. “Johnny, look, s’Dally,” said the younger boy, pointing his chin. “Ready to go?”
Johnny nodded and smiled as Ponyboy reached to grab his crutches for him. “Yeah, thanks.”
The two got up and walked towards the brown haired eighteen-year-old no more than a dozen steps away.
“Happy late birthday, Dally! Sorry I missed it,” greeted Ponyboy.
Dallas patted him on the shoulder with a heavy hand. “Don’t sweat it, Pony,” he said as he nodded his head towards the Nightly Double. “Let’s get goin’.”
Johnny and Pony followed close behind Dally towards the movie theater, though their feet all knew the way without following.
Pony smiled as he saw the setting sun over the horizon, nudging Johnny in the shoulder with his own. He turned his head to see the painting of oranges and purples in the sky, a soft smile falling onto his face as well.
Dally made a fake gagging noise and coughed, though it sounded suspiciously like a certain word for people like Pony and Johnny. It was lighthearted, of course, and the two younger boys laughed quietly to each other, which made Dallas snicker before he went quiet again.
Dally had been weirdly quiet today. Pony noticed it first, but Johnny did not long after. He was usually a pretty big talker— always saying whatever was on his mind without a care of who heard or what they thought.
Something was weighing on him, clearly, but he wasn’t about to go about telling people his shit.
When it got too quiet for too long, Pony seemed to look pretty uncomfortable.
“So, uh, Dally, what’d ya do with your fake ID now that you’re eighteen? Since you don’t need it anymore.” Johnny asked after taking a look over at Pony, perhaps in an attempt to kill the silence.
Dallas hummed. “I just threw it out.”
So, he wasn’t in much of a talking mood. Pony shot a look toward Johnny who just shrugged slightly. They were all laughing together just a moment ago, so Johnny figured he was probably fine. He just had something on his mind today.
Dallas started walking just a bit faster, muttering something about being late, though they were probably going to be early for once. Reluctantly, the younger two boys both picked up their paces.
It was starting to get dark, so Pony wrapped an arm around Johnny’s shoulder. “You okay?” He checked in, receiving a nod in reply, which the younger boy returned. “Slow down a little, will you Dally? We ain’t gonna be late.”
When the three finally arrived at the drive-in, Johnny went to find some seats for them all while Pony and Dally went to buy some concessions. Pony opted for keeping quiet, because he could sort of tell Dally was in a complaining type of mood, and he didn’t really mind listening to him prattle on about whatever.
Dally usually tried to avoid getting too angry around Johnny, even though now he had often begun to do it subconsciously. Everyone who knew Dally always figured it had something to do with the fact that he didn’t want to remind him of his home life, but what it really meant was that Pony was the one who had to listen to his anger.
To no one’s surprise, Dally started talking first. “Guess what fuckin’ Tim did, man.” he spoke shortly, though he allowed his shoulders to slump like he had just lifted a weight off of them. Truth be told, Tim had been on his mind all night, though he’d never admit it.
“What, man?” Asked Pony, cursing himself for picking up habits from Dallas. Darry’ll sure hate hearing that, too.
The taller of the two sighed. “He— fuck, never mind,” he drummed his fingers against the counter as they reached the front of the line. “‘ll tell ya later.”
The silence was awkward as Dallas bought a bucket of popcorn and some candy for all of them to share.
As they walked back to the seats, they scanned the small crowd for Johnny. “Oh, Dally, he’s right there.” Pony started walking and Dallas followed.
Once they got into their seats, (Johnny on the left, Pony in the middle, and Dally on the right,) they started to make some conversation.
They were all laughing together and having loads of fun just being there with each other. The movie hadn’t started yet, so they had some time to kill.
“So, how’re you two, man?” Dally asked as he took a beer bottle out of the pocket of his leather jacket. Man, he could really hide anything in there.
Pony looked over at Johnny. “We’re good,” he spoke, a small, dopey smile upturning his lips. “Real, real good.”
“Oh, yeah, yeah. Y’know Tim’s like you two, also, yeah? I was so surprised when he told me, man,” Dally paused shortly, before coming up with a quip to make at Tim. “Last guy I’d expect t’take it up the ass, but whatever. What do I know, man?” He laughed.
“Dallas, cut that out. Can’t go tellin’ people’s shit like that.” Johnny shot back quickly, trying to shush him.
It was pretty dangerous to be queer in a place like Tulsa and they all knew that. Even if Tim could hold his own, he didn’t need anybody else jumping him, or worse, somebody in his gang.
“Yeah, Dally. Or at least not so loud!” Pony agreed with a whisper scream.
Dallas scoffed. “What? The faggot could use some action. Don’t you got some other gayboy friends?”
Dally laughed like he was being funny, but Pony and Johnny shared a look when Dally’s head was turned. Their conversation (thankfully) ended as the beginning credits for the movie started to play, but Dally’s words hung in Pony’s mind.
Was that what was weighing on Dally’s mind? Tim being queer? He sure did seem less tense.