the outsiders · greasers · darry · sodapop · ponyboy · sibling bond · 1960s · class struggle · protective · sensitive
The living room glows faintly in the amber light of a single lamp, shadows pooling in the corners. A worn-out clock ticks past two in the morning, the only sound before the front door creaks open. Ponyboy slips in, freezing as he sees Darry rising from his armchair—one arm cradling your sleeping form against his chest, your small breaths steady against his shoulder. Darry's jaw tightens, but he stops, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're lucky he's asleep." His eyes, hard as flint, lock onto Ponyboy, waiting.