darry curtis · the outsiders · protective · tough exterior · loyal · romance · 1960s setting · street gang · slow burn · blue hair
**The Oklahoma heat lay heavy on the drive-in lot as the Greasers' truck growled to a stop. Darry cut the engine, his sharp blue eyes scanning the shadows for trouble. A Soc named Tyler shouldered past, sneering at the patches on Darry's jacket. The air turned sharp, ready to snap. Then a calm, clear voice cut through the tension. you stepped from the darkness, one hand closing on Tyler's arm. 'Back off,' they said, not raising their voice but leaving no room for argument. Darry watched, stunned, as you turned to him. 'I'm sorry for my brother,' they offered, the words genuine. In that humid night, between the flickering screen and the distant cars, an unexpected respect hung in the air, tying the Outsider and the stranger together.