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━━━━ㅤ    “ when'd you say he was coming home from the movies? ” 

“ movies not even an hour long at most, kid'll come running in soon enough, thats if he, and I pray Almighty that he 𝘥𝘪𝘥, got two or Steve to give him a ride back home. ” 

Darry answered Johnny from the kitchen, while Johnny had sat himself down on the couch, having only arrived not too long ago after Darry found him out side and bleeding. He knew, he knew 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 who caused those sorts of injuries, and it wasnt any socs this time. Rather Johnny's shit pair of parents. Of course he was gonna let the kid in when he caught sight of every wound, the slowly forming black eye. He didnt skip a beat. 

It was a thing Johnny felt grateful for, as much as he hated feeling like a burden, at least he knew at the Curtis house, he was 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. He was 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦. With the gang too not just them. Overall, Johnny found home and solace with the gang he hung around with, and 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 in his boyfriend, Ponyboy. 

Things have been going serious for quite awhile now, this being official a 6 week mark since the two youngest greasers started dating, something the boys were rather supportive of, hell, 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴 pulled them aside one time, told them that if 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 tried to give them trouble, to call him, he'll set them straight. It was surprising to hear such a promise from the toughest Greaser they all knew, but Dally wasn't a 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 hardass, wasn't always the asshole who did reckless things that got him wound up in the cooler. 

He could be kind, he could be 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 to the people he loved. Take the gang for example, the promise he made Johnny and Pony take when they came out as a couple. Dally cared when he wanted, and it was just as violent and as intense as himself. 

They might have to take up on that promise. Because here comes Ponyboy, who's on the other side of the door, rather timid about going in this time, he saw Darry through the window, Johnny talking to him, and silently he cursed under his breath. There was 𝘯𝘰 hiding what the socs did. Not this time. 

So Pony opens the door, hand barely on the knob as it turns, fingers lazily falling to his side, forcing himself to walk on in the house. Just needing to get this part over with, and bite the bullet. 

“ Hey, Pon— 𝘰𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥. ” Johnny began light heartedly, not even needing to turn to the door to know it must've been him, it was only when out of the corner of his eye, seeing purple and droplets of red, that something was wrong. 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨. 

Color was lost in Johnny as he stood up immediately, looking at how beat up Ponyboy was, how distressed and ashamed the brunette looked. It broke his God damn heart. He knew by that stance, how Ponyboy grew rigid and absent, that the 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘴 did this. 

It didnt stop him from gently going towards ponyboy, hands cupping his injured face, heart breaking all over again to the small gargled whimper Pony tried letting out, 

“ 𝘴𝘩𝘩. Nobody's gonna hurt you, pones. Oh 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺, they got you bad, huh baby? ”

Theres another nod, a silent one from Ponyboy as he leaned into the gentler touch, a loving touch that had tears come to life in the corner of his eyes, whether it was from the pain or Johnny's sweet words, was unknown. It could've been 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩. 

“ Johnny....it was 𝘣𝘢𝘥. 𝘚𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘥. ” Pony choked out, despite the few free tears falling down his face, he was still trying his damn best to keep brave, keep himself from sobbing. It'd been difficult once he was pulled in, pulled right on down to the couch to rest against Johnny's chest, fingers delicately roaming through his hair, while one stayed to his cheek, examining Pony. 

“ It sure looks it. It's okay now, Ponyboy. You dont gotta cry, 'm right here, love. ”

“ Johnny? Whats going on? Is ponyboy.... ”

Darry calls out from the kitchen, setting down a rag that was meant to clean off his hands from recent fixings on Johnny's bruises, which were turned away when he heard hushed voices, already making his stomach churn. 

It got worse when his eyes landed horrifically on his own baby brother. 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥. 

“ 𝘰𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. ” 

Darry was fast in coming on the other side of ponyboy, careful in a sense so he wasnt to scare him, a lot more 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 too as he pushed Pony's hair back affectionately, worry heavily worn on his face. Why? How could this happen? All he went to was the movies..! And pony knew damn well nowadays to bring or get a buddy to pick him up.. He couldnt bring himself to be angry if that was the case and Ponyboy forgot. Hearing the whimpers out of his brothers mouth was already gut wrenching. 

“ Darry I'm so sorry— 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺— I tried.. I tried gettin' a ride home.. Steve and soda were workin' Dal's in the 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳, and... And two-bit was drunk when I called 'im. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰. ”

𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩....Twobit was gonna get an 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 out of Darry when he had the time. For now, hes gently helping Ponyboy stand, stopping once or twice when the young boy grimanced or even whimpered in the slightest. 

“ it's okay, Pones. We're gonna clean you up, I'm not mad, I'm not. You tried callin' anyone you could. This aint on you, baby. ” He kept talking softly to his brother, with Johnny who nodded each step of the way to the kitchen. 

It was then, that Darry realized he ran out of alcohol wipes to clean up some of Pony's wounds, the extra bottle being down the hall in the bath room. 

“ Shoot, I gotta go get the alcohol wipes.. — ”

“ go on, Darry, it's okay, I got him. ” Johnny spoke up finally, his hand was interlaced with a trembling pony's, who tried to confirm the very same, but the shakiness got the better of him, making him crave being as close as he could to Cade.  “ it's okay, pones. I got you. ” Johnny let him dig into that hold, let Ponyboy hide himself away in the crook of his neck to weep, while Darry hurried off to the bathroom for a frantic search of a new unopened bottle. 

“ 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘯𝘺... It was so bad..  ” Ponyboy whispered against him, inhaling the delicate, comforting scent of his boyfriend, tears dripping onto Johnny's tan collar bone, something he wanted to apologize for, but didnt. Knowing well enough that Johnny would shut down the apology after such a horrible time. 

“ I know.. I know. You're gonna be alright. Just keep holding onto me, okay? I wont go anywhere, Ponyboy..I promise. ”

Johnny kept that gentle promise, even as Darry came back now, watching Johnny tenderly hold his baby brother, watched how Ponyboy took comfort in so. If the moment wasnt so dire and terrifying for Darry, he would've enjoyed the sight a bit more. 

“ Alright pone, just gotta clean some of these cuts..put bandaids on 'em. Can you sit up..? ” Darry sat down close to his brother, relieved as Ponyboy nodded, gently breaking away from Johnny.

Pony stood in front of darry with quiet sniffles, faint whimpers in the oncoming contact of alcohol wipes to each pinching wound, whining a whole lot as it burned. 

“ Darry it 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴. ”

“ I know, baby, I know. But that means it's doin' it's job in cleanin' the wounds. ” Darry soothed the best he could in the moment, feeling relieved that there weren't 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 wounds to clean. Yet there was still 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 to his liking on his baby brother too. 

Which is why hes gotta go find a socs head to beat in, 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣. It wont be hard to find the dick. Nobody can withhold information from Darry too long. He intimidated a 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of Socs, and it had it's great uses at times like this. 

The patching up part was done, now all there was left to do was go and kick a few socs heads in for 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 placing their hands on his kid brother. 

It's like Pony had a sixth sense in that moment, watching how stiff and rigid Darry was, withholding some emotions back so he wouldnt accidentally lash them out on both boys. He knew that. He knew that meant trouble for the socs. He couldnt feel sorry for them 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵. Not at all. Not as he allowed himself to rest his head on Johnny's shoulder, closing his eyes to a soft kiss being pressed. 

“ You two gonna be alright while I go out for a bit? I wont be too long. ”

“ yeah, we'll be fine, Dar. Promise. ” Johnny spoke for ponyboy, glancing down at the boy on his shoulder, eyes saddened to see just how 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 he looked. Just as he himself used to be after his own jumping.

There wasn't another thing said, not when Darry was on a mission, thankful to God Pony had Johnny in his life, leaving a kiss on his kid brothers head before taking his leave. Planning on a nice trip to Soda's DX, and have some 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 over kicking some socs' heads. 

“ .. Do you wanna talk about it? ”

Johnny softly asked Ponyboy as he laid in the bed, watching solemnly as the brunette winced and grimanced, climbing in right next to Johnny, who wrapped his arms delicately around pony. 

“ ..no..not yet. Just...stay. ” 

“ you know that already aint up for debate ” Johnny chuckled warmly, feeling a smile grow against his chest, pride swelling in his chest now as well from that feeling smile. 

He pulled Ponyboy close, gently caressing the others bruised face, it broke his heart to see Ponyboy in a condition like this, so worn out and 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥. How dry blood stuck to ponyboy. Lips cut and split. No doubt 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 were used in the beating....

His head was spinning, so full of all the ways his lover could've gotten hurt like this, how Ponyboy must've cried for help, cried for 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘯𝘺 to come and save him. He didnt.. He.. He didnt 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 

So many things were turning in his head, and Ponyboy could see it, see the way Johnny grew tense than relaxed, then tense again. How dark and gloomy he got. So ponyboy took it upon himself to lift his head up, breaking any space between him and his love, and locked their lips together, eyes fluttering shut, satisfied to feel Johnny begin their usual rhythm, lips gliding against each other, soft sighs of warmth being the only sound in the bedroom. 

After a few more delicate moments, Pony is the one to pull away, weakly smiling at Johnny's awh, the pink scrawled out on his face. 

“ 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺, what was that for? Not that..not that I'm complainin' or nothin'. It was real nice. ” Johnny chuckled awkwardly, biting on his lower lip. 

“ 'cause I see those gears turnin' in your head, Johnny, and I need you to know that none of this is your fault. Don't you even think it for a minute. ”

Ponyboy frowned softly, brushing Johnny's hair back with bruised fingers, grimancing some when he adjusted himself up on the other, right before relaxing in his lovers arms, gently reassuring him all the same, peppering his neck with gentle kisses, scabbed lips dragging slow across Johnny's bruising bronze skin, right to his pulse point. 

Was he really 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 obvious? 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘰, Johnny thinks, letting out a soft sigh with a smile twitching on his face, eyes fluttering down at the boy who stuck himself to his neck, melting with each gentle kiss, breath caught in his throat as ponyboys breath was warm against his neck, lips brushing sensitive spots. 

“ okay..okayy... I get it.. I get it.. Won't blame myself ev'r again if that makes you feel better.. ” Johnny mumbled out, moving his head to the side, allowing Pony more access to kiss, shivering in shameless pleasure to every love bite. 

“ good, glad y'do. You don't gotta be blamin' yourself, Johnny cake. ” Ponyboy mumbled sweetly, blinking up at him with those same green hues, one eye swollen shut due to the beating, yet it didn't take away from the adoring expression he was giving for his best friend and boyfriend. 

𝘏𝘰𝘸'𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺? Johnny wondered, hand on his cheek, caressing a little bruise before he leaned in, lightly kissing pony's chapped and scabbed lips, blinking back with a soft smile. 

“ you're cute, even all banged up, you know? ” Johnny chuckled, feeling pride bubble as Pony yet again gifted him with another smile, a little 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 this time around. 

“ so are you, man. You're real gorgeous. ” Ponyboy smiled, chin resting on Johnny's chest, hand mindlessly running through the greasers hair, gladly allowing Johnny to come close again, let their lips connect in a soft manner, a hum of satisfaction coming out on Pony's part. His smile growing more as the kiss deepened, and with Johnny's help, he was sitting up now, leg on each side of the other. 

Johnny had his arms wrapped around Pony's waist sweetly as they shared a kiss, letting himself gently prod softer pecks of his lips against pony's throat, gently pressing kisses against his neck, pleased with the soft groans eliciting on Ponyboy's end.

“ I love you, Ponyboy. ”

“ I love 𝘺𝘰𝘶, Johnny. 

Soft words were exchanged between each little breathless break for air, right before their lips crashed against one another again, a muffled giggle of two escaping Johnny. The kiss so full of desperation and need of two head over heels teenagers, that it was impossible for them to pay attention to all else, just focusing on one another. How Johnny possessively held Pony, hands rubbing at his waist affectionately, and Pony with his hands gently grasping at Johnny's locks. 

“ Hey, assholes, I've been waiting at the door for almost 10 mi— 𝙤𝙝 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩! ”

Pony and Johnny broke away from each other with a startled yell, their faces Ferociously red, heads snapping in the direction of the door way, their expressions only growing rapidly mortified. 

There stood Dallas Winston, shielding his eyes as if he just walked in on the most 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 act those two could have done. 

“ 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺, dally! Knock next time won't you?! ” Ponyboy swallowed thickly with embarrassment, readjusting himself on the bed, sitting side by side with Johnny, who was patting down his own hair made a mess with how Ponyboy was combing through it previously. 

“ hey, don't get all prissy with me 'ere. Maybe lock your door next time before you two start goin' at it like animals? God, do y'all even got 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘴? ”

Dally meant no harm in his words by the end, a big chesire grin forming on his face as he watched the pair slowly grow a shade more flustered, and Johnny was already flinging a pillow right at Dallas, who busted out laughing. 

“ awh, cut it out man! We were just 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨! ”

“ Mhm sure thing, Johnny Cakes. Well, you two are lucky it was just me who.....𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘺, what happened to you?? ” 

Dallas leaned against the doorframe, throwing the pillow right back at Johnny before he laid his eyes on ponyboy for real this time, finally taking in the sight of all the bruises and cuts he had patched up. Mortified and enraged to see he was so beat, his eye was swollen shut, his face purple and blue, all sorts of colors. 

“ ..got jumped. But 'm fine. Darry went out, I think he's going soc hunting. ”

Dally nodded, satisfied to know there was already 𝘰𝘯𝘦 greaser out on the prowl for a couple of assholes, and then a devilish grin formed on his own face. 

“ well, I best be joinin' him. I'll leave ya losers be. Close the door for you since I'm such a good guy, don't want Tin Can being mortified if he walked in on you toppin his kid brother over here. ”

“ 𝘖𝘜𝘛— ”

Dallas roared with laughter when Ponyboy groaned loudly, demanding the hoodlum his exit, to which he took, ready to go find Darry and join him in beating the tar out of a few socs for Johnny and Pony's honor. 

Leaving Johnny and ponyboy completely a flustered mess, falling back onto the bed with a groan. 

“ Man, we gotta get him back for that shit. ” Johnny mumbled, hand over his eyes, although peaking one open to glance at ponyboy next to him, smiling timidly when Ponyboy rolled on his side, cheek in palm, smiling softly at Johnny. 

“ already plannin' it. Now get back over here, thinkin' maybe we could use a good nap first. ”

“ good point, Pones. ” Johnny praised, shifting over, happily resting his head on the boys chest, smiling sweetly as a kiss was placed on his head. 

The two spent that time in bed, just enjoying the serenity after a harsh evening, peacefully sleeping by the time Pony's brothers came back, his nose dug into Johnny's scalp, body entangled with Cade's. Just at peace. No more crying, nothing. 

Everything would be okay now.