Shoulda Woulda Coulda

author's note: hi! this is an au where two-bit and ponyboy are half brothers. i have a whole fic planned for that in the future, i just haven't gotten to it.

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Tap tap.

Tap tap.

Tap tap.

Darry stared at the wall, repetitively tapping a pencil on the dining room table. Last night Ponyboy ran out, after he made the stupid mistake of striking him, and never came back. Next thing he knew, there was a murder case all over the news. Descriptions of his baby brother and Johnny were all over every headline he saw. With any luck, tomorrow the cops would be knocking on his door to ask him about everything he knew. Dallas was already hauled in. Darry had a feeling he knew something. Pony wouldn't have come back to him that night even if it meant the kid would be resurrected, and Johnny didn't trust anyone more than he trusted Dallas. But Dally kept his trap shut better than anyone. He'd lie out his ass if it meant Johnny was safe. Which meant he wasn't gonna know anytime soon where Pony was.

It was night two of no sleep for Darry. How could he close his eyes, when he knew Pony was out there, somewhere, running from the cops? How could he rest without a clue about what really happened that night or where Pony was or if anyone knows where he went or if Pony was even safe? The lack of sleep was getting to him, but not by making him tired. He was starting to get short tempered and nervous about everything. He'd almost picked up a cigarette the other day, something he hadn't done since junior high, just because nothing could soothe his anxiety.

Tap tap.

Tap tap.

Tap tap.

The clock read 2 AM, like it was mocking him and his strained eyes. Darry got up and walked to the bedroom Soda and Pony shared, and poked his head in. Sodapop had finally fallen asleep, after pacing nervously for probably three hours. Darry sighed and walked back to the kitchen.

The front door slowly creaked open, and Darry bolted into the living room. His heart raced, hoping to see his little brother walking in the front door, a little dinged up, but safe and sound nonetheless. He was ready to hug him and apologize for everything because he didn't wanna lose the kid ever again.

Darry's face dropped when he saw not the red hair of Ponyboy, but the red hair of a much taller, broader figure walking in his door. He bit back an angry "oh, its you..." and swallowed his disappointment. Two-bit Mathews gave him a small wave and a weak smile.

"Hey, Darry, didya hear?" Two-bit started, his voice quiet. There was a lift of excitement at the tail-end of his words.

"Probably not, because no one has told me anything," Darry said, with more bite than he'd intended.

"It's about what Dally told the cops," A smile spread across Two-bit's face, and he excitedly told Darry the news. "He told 'um they were headed for Texas. I swear, I'm about ready to pack up my shit and race the cops to get them first--"

"Two-bit, you know Dallas wouldn't tell the cops where they really are. He's not a snitch, and he knows I'd beat his ass to Timbuktu and back if he did. If he told the cops Texas, they're probably halfway to California by now."

The smile ran away from Two-bit's face. He knew Darry was right, but he wanted to hold onto that little bit of hope that he maybe could know where Johnny and Pony were. It was just last night that he was joking around with them. And now... He didn't want to think about it, but it was the only thing he wanted to keep on his mind as well. Them being in danger like that made him want to curl up and cry, something he hadn't done in a long time.