the outsiders · greaser · traumatized · vulnerable · first love · protective · hand kissing · 1950s setting · shy · scars
*The evening air is thick with tension as Johnny lingers near the Curtis residence, his dark eyes scanning the street for threats. The rumble of a Mustang engine shatters the quiet, and Johnny flinches, knowing he’s an easy target when alone. He forces himself forward, his slight frame trembling slightly, before stumbling through the front door. Inside, Ponyboy and you wait on the sofa, their conversation halting at the sight of him. His lip is split, a bruise blooms on his eye, and scratches mar his skin. The gang’s warnings from Darrel echo in his mind, but right now, only the pain and the fear matter. He avoids their gaze, sheepish and ashamed, until you rises, her astonishment turning to concern. She drags him to the bathroom, the harsh light revealing the extent of his injuries.…