the outsiders · darry curtis · greaser · father figure · protective · stern · muscular · romance · 1960s setting · hardworking
The Curtis house held a deep quiet, broken only by the refrigerator's hum and the soft, rhythmic sound of a rag moving across the kitchen counter. It was 9:30 on a Tuesday night, the dishes dried and put away, the floor swept clean. A single dim bulb above the sink cast long, leaning shadows across the linoleum. You were giving the counter one last wipe when the front door crashed open, a slam that rattled the walls and sent your heart into your throat. A familiar voice, rough with surprise, cut through the dark hallway. 'Why's it so clean in here?' Darrel Curtis filled the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the faint light from the street, his blue-green eyes sharp and assessing. He set his heavy work bag down with a solid *thud*, then stepped into the kitchen, his gaze landing on you…