Oh, Lordy

4

Soda's POV

I get home and see Darry pacin around. I try to walk past him but he grabs my arm. He looks at me with an expression that makes me feel bad for lyin, but I promised to keep my brother safe and happy.

"I found him, but he ain't comin home for a bit. Said he was gonna go stay with his boyfriend, didn't give me a name. He'll come back and when he does, you apologize. I ain't gonna lose my brother because yer an ass." I was so mad that I couldn't keep the curse back. Darry's face hardened. "Wanna run that by me again? I'm an ass? And what boyfriend?! Wait, Two-Bit knows who he is don't he?! Pony said that it was him that he saw! I'm gettin our brother back since you obviously can't!" He lets go of my arm to leave but I stop him.

"Leave him be! He's eighteen Darry he can go if he wants! He ain't leavin forever just give the kid time! Remember what happened last time you hit him?! It was a week before we even knew what happened and we found him in a hospital! I ain't losin my brother again and I won't let you be the reason!" I storm off to my bedroom and flop on my bed, not wanting to look at my brother any longer. I hear the front door close and him walk to his bedroom, knowing he ain't leavin tonight. I fall asleep fast, stressed about Darry but happy that my brother loves someone else.

Back to Ponyboy's POV

I wake up in the middle of the night with a start, a nightmare scared the daylights out of me. I gasp for air and sit up quickly, forgetting that I ain't alone in bed. I feel two strong arms wrap around my body and a kiss on my clothed back.

"You alright?" "Yeah, go back to sleep Steve. Sorry that I woke you." "Don't be. Wanna go smoke in the back, help calm yer nerves?" "Yeah." I put a jacket and my shoes on while he puts his shoes and a hoodie on, not bothering with a shirt. Him and I sit on his back porch and smoke a cancer stick each. After a bit, my head finds itself on his shoulder. We see a guy coming towards us but I put a hand on Steve's, seeing that it's Johnny.

"Cool if I use yer couch for the night? I can't be near my parents and I don't wanna go be around Darry." "I don't mind it. Pony?" "It's yer house don't ask me I don't care." Johnny sits beside us and I hand him my cigarette, not wanting the full thing anymore. Steve offers me a drag of his and I take it, blowing it in his face as a joke. He laughs a bit and pulls me closer. Johnny smiles at us.

"You two are so darn cute together." "Thanks, Johnnycake." Steve smiles and just kisses my cheek. Once we finish up our smokes we head back inside, ready to sleep. Johnny crashes on the couch and I strip down to my boxers as Steve gets him situated. I get under the blankets before Steve comes back in. He shuts his bedroom door and takes the hoodie off with his shoes. He gets under the blankets beside me and pulls me closer, smiling when he feels I'm not wearing anything.

"Comfy?" "Mhm." "Think you can sleep? Or do you want to talk bout yer nightmare?" "It was just bout Darry not being okay with this and hitting me again and you got hurt too this time but I woke up then." "I ain't lettin some ass hurt you ever again. Try to get some rest, alright? I love you." "I love you too." I bury my nose in his neck and sigh, falling asleep quickly.

The next morning I wake up and the first thing I hear is a single loud snore. I see Steve beside me, mouth wide open and still passed out. I laugh and try to wriggle out of his arms. I manage to get out of the bed and put on one of Steve's shirts, Johnny ain't gonna care bout my boxers he's seen em before. I get out of the bedroom to see Johnny talkin quietly to Sodapop. I grin at my brother and walk over to them.

"Darry grill you?" "Nah. You two have fun last night?" "Not like yer thinkin. Lotta cuddling which was nice and I slept well though Steve snores like an animal." "I don't snore!" Steve emerges from his room, pants on but no shirt. I grin at him as he kisses my cheek.

"Sleep well, baby?" "Mhm. Also you do snore pretty bad." "No I don't!" I imitate his loud snore and Johnny and Soda laugh, Steve pulls me into his arms and tickles me a little. He stops after a minute and I kiss his cheek before raiding his kitchen. Steve goes up to my brother and gives him a quick hug.

"So Darry wasn't too bad?" "Nah, he wasn't happy but he chilled out. He might go after Two-Bit though since he knows that he knows who Pony's boyfriend is so let's hope that we ain't screwed." "Let em come, I don't care." I walk out to them with three glasses of water, hanging the three other men one each. Steve is sitting on the couch and has me sit in his lap. Soda looks at the clock on the wall and groans.

"Sorry to break up this cute moment but we gotta work Steve." "They gave me a week off, 'member? I don't gotta go in for six more days." "Oh right. Guess Pony don't gotta worry then. I'll head out so I'm not late." "Alright." Soda says his goodbyes and leaves. Johnny gets up and smiles at us.

"Cool if I crash again tonight if I need it?" "Door is always open, Johnny." "Laters, Johnnycake." "See ya, lovebirds." Johnny takes off and I look at Steve, smiling at him. He turns me in his lap and kisses me gently. I smile against his lips and run my fingers through his hair.

"Did you sleep better after the nightmare?" "Yeah, thanks to you." Steve starts to kiss me deeply and I get lost in the feeling of his lips on mine. I feel his hand play with my hair and try not to moan against his lips, not wantin to make a sound yet. He palms my ass so I can't hold back the moan in my throat.

"You cheater." "Don't act like you don't enjoy me." I kiss him again, so distracted that I don't hear the door open and neither does Steve. I feel a big hand on my shoulder that makes me turn and see Dally lookin at us.

"The fuck?! So Darry's flippin his shit on where Pony's gone too and he's just here suckin face with you?!" "Dally calm down now." "Darry's worried sick while yer here!" "Darry hit me in the face I don't care!" "What?" "Darry hit me when I was tellin him I'm gay so I'm stayin with Steve until I feel safe again. Soda knows I'm here." I feel Steve hold me closer, protective like. Dally looks conflicted. He groans and starts to leave.

"I'm tellin Darry that yer here, but I'll be here if ya need me. I ain't taken sides." Dally leaves and I sigh, hiding my face in Steve's neck. He kisses my head and cuddles me close.