His Homage

Chapter I

(art above belongs to me.)

"Ponyboy," Darry began, "Have you finished all your homework?" He lowered himself onto the couch next to Ponyboy, who gave a small nod.

"Yup. I ain't got much to do tonight," Ponyboy sighed, "I'm just so sleepy." He chuckled at the thought - it was only, like, 4:00 PM.

Darry tucked a lock of Pony's hair behind his ear, giving a soft grin. "This week's been hectic, yeah? Why don't you tell me about your day at school?"

Darry tried to ignore the surplus of emotions racking his body. He didn't know what to do, what to think. He was a greaser, he wasn't ever this emotional.

Ponyboy pressed himself back against the leather seat, batting his eyelashes shut. "Cherry Valance got with some Soc guy. Apparently, she broke up with her old boyfriend," he told. "She's been runnin' around with all sorts of guys."

Darry chortled. "Maybe someday you'll be the lucky guy, eh?" He squished one of Ponyboy's cheeks in a teasing fashion. Ponyboy snorted and playfully smacked Darry's hand away. "You've got too much faith in me!"

Darry gleefully sighed. He never really got to hang out with Ponyboy much, so moments like these were held golden in his mind. "Soda's workin' overtime. Not enough people clocked in today, so he's gotta compensate for it."

Ponyboy picked at his sleeve. "That sucks. At least it won't be too long..." Darry slung an arm around Ponyboy's shoulders and shut his eyes. Pony leaned his head against Darry's and closed his eyes, too.

He felt his eyes grow weighted, his eyelashes fluttering with every passing breath. His chest smoothly surged as his lungs drew in air through his nostrils, and declined as he pushed it out his lips, as he drifted into the sticky confines of sleep.

He heard Darry's gruff voice caressing his webbed-up mind, crooning his favorite melody. "You are my sunshine," Darry trilled. "My only sunshine."

Ponyboy nestled himself against Darry's shoulder as he absorbed as much of the affection as he could, having nearly never received it. "You make me happy when skies are gray."

His leg twitched as he fell further into a land of hailing slumber, listening intently to Darry's soothing and nearly euphonious tone.

"You'll never know, dear," Darry hummed, gently dragging his fingertips up and down Ponyboy's back, "how much I love you."

He began to drift off himself, with his youngest brother snug in his arms. "Please don't take my sunshine away."

***

"Ponyboy..." Pony grunted, yawning as he shielded his eyes from the light. He hummed in response, his head still banked against Darry's shoulder. When his vision finally adjusted, he saw Sodapop staring down at him.

He squinted his eyes, his pupils shrunken as he tried to take in the least amount of light possible. He shut his eyes again, clutching onto Darry's arm for warmth.

Sodapop snickered, before prying Ponyboy's fingers off of Darry's shirt, lifting the youngest into his arms. "Come on, buddy, it's late. Let's get you to bed, hm?" Ponyboy grumbled incoherent nothings, far too tired to speak intelligibly.

"I know, Little Colt, I know you want Darry with you, but it's past midnight and you need a nice, comfy bed to sleep in, okay, Baby? C'mon, besides, your big brother Sodapop misses you." Soda smiled down at Ponyboy as he pushed open the door to their shared bedroom.

Ponyboy relaxes, his face pressed against Sodapop's chest as he's then tucked into bed. He feels the mattress sink as Sodapop snuggled up next to him, the safe and comforting presence of his older brother putting him right back to sleep.

***

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what did you think of this chapter? constructive criticism is greatly appreciated <3