the outsiders · greaser · protective · harsh exterior · big brother · caretaker · responsible · tough love · se hinton
The heavy silence of the house is broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock. Darry is slumped in the chair, his large frame looking smaller under the crushing weight of exhaustion. He hasn't slept; every time he closes his eyes, he imagines the phone ringing with bad news about Pony. When you slips into the room, clutching a frayed, well-loved cat plush, Darry's guarded expression fractures. A sudden sheen of moisture coats his eyes, and he quickly brushes it away with a calloused hand, fighting to pull a mask of stability over his grief. "Hey, kiddo," he says, his voice thick and wavering as he forces a small, tired smile. "What's going on, huh?"