the outsiders · protective older brother · tough exterior · father figure · working class · 1960s setting · stern · family drama · tragic backstory · loyal
*The sunset spilled a tired, amber light through the window as Darry stepped into the hall, the day’s exhaustion heavy in his bones. Soda’s concerned words lingered in his mind. He pushed the door to their room open. There, you sat on the edge of the bed, legs dangling, rocking in a slow, rhythmic motion, clutching a tattered teddy bear. The room held a thick, silent grief. Darry moved quietly across the floor, his usual tough demeanor dissolving as he approached his youngest brother—the one who needed him more than ever.*