「firefly」 | The Outsiders

Massage Specialist.

{ Just your casual dose of brotherly love between the Curtis siblings, as well as some bonding with the rest of the gang. }

| Ponyboy's POV. |

"Put some muscle into it, Soda, you're gonna put me to sleep!" Darry's voice was muffled on the other side of the wall, but it was the fifth time I'd heard that statement in the last hour and I was starting to get annoyed. My feet came into contact with the cold, wooden floor, body instinctively making its way to my eldest brother's room. I peeked in to see Sodapop leaned over Darry, massaging his shoulders. Or, trying to. Darry didn't seem too impressed.

Soda looked frustrated for the first time in forever, and Darry just sounded sleepy. His face was in a pillow, though, so I guess I couldn't blame him. "Hard day at work?" I asked from the doorway suddenly, creaking toward the bed and taking a seat beside them on the bed. Sodapop nodded vigorously, eyes wide with a you're not gonna believe this expression.

"He done hurt his shoulder and back real bad, he can barely even walk right." Darry moved to look at me.

"Now, don't you start worryin', Ponyboy. It ain't that bad."

"Ain't that bad?! I could probably hear your muscles achin' from a mile away!" I couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't always easy and carefree in our household, but it was small moments like this that I lived for most. After a few more moments of useless banter, I finally sighed.

"Here, Soda, let me give it a try." He shrugged, reluctantly removing his hands from Darry's shoulders and shaking his head.

"You be careful, he's extra picky today." We shared a childish grin before I turned my attention to our brother.

"Alright, where's it hurt most?" I figured I'd start there. He grunted and pointed toward his lower back. I placed my fingertips on it, arching my brows as if he could see me. "Here?" He just nodded, and I pressed down slightly. I was sure not to put too much pressure, applying it in an upward motion before I massaged circles into the middle of his lower back. He hummed into the pillow.

"You're already doin' better than your bone-head brother over there," he asserted. I sensed the slightest bit of playfulness in his voice, and that alone made me happy. It wasn't always like Darry to crack jokes.

"Hey, you shush it! I ain't had to massage no one in a long time." Darry chuckled in response and I grinned once more, this time to myself. I clenched up my fists, gently pressing my knuckles against his skin and moving them in a variety of different patterns. It was a trick I'd learned from our mom, who'd always had a way with massages. Maybe I'd picked up her gift, because Darry didn't seem to be complaining.

I'd moved up to his shoulders after a while, squeezing them where he told me it hurt. My thumbs had a tendency of moving on their own beneath my actual fingers' movements, so it was almost as if I were massaging him times five. That was a crazy thought.

He seemed to be in pain everywhere, and I could feel it for sure. Every now and then I'd feel something move, like a ball underneath his skin. It was weird and I had no idea what it meant, but I figured maybe it was some form tension and that made sense to me.

"For such a little guy, you sure do gotta strong grip, Pony." Sodapop had gone to get a snack from the kitchen, and he was supposed to be bringing me a piece of chocolate cake back — not that I'd be able to eat and massage at the same time, but, I wouldn't be doing this for much longer anyway.