The Outsiders Imagines/Headcannons

Pals Forever/ Steve and Soda

Warning: ANGST, LOTS OF IT
this story, like Smile, is based off of the true fact that Soda is drafted into war and dies before turning 19. If you didn't know this, I am so sorry if I made you sad you can click away if you want.
Also this is based off the anime/manga Magi.
I can play the song now so here

Steve just heard the news that his best friend had been shot in Vietnam. Sodapop Curtis, his best friend in the entire world was gone.
First Johnny, then Dally, now him. Hearing the words of his passing were like the gunshots themselves piercing through his heart.
Steve was losing everyone he ever cared about and loved too soon.
Sure, he still had Two-Bit but their bond wasn't as strong as the one he and Soda had for each other.
Steve knew Soda all his life. They played together when they were just little kids.
He stayed by him everyday. Now he has to live the rest of his life without his best friend by his side.
Steve made his way into the pitch black darkness of his room. He found his bed and slowly climbed inside.
He couldn't feel anything nor see anything. Everything was just dark and empty.
He wanted to skip work tomorrow, or maybe a few days, or weeks. It was just not the same working without him.
Steve always acted tough and hostile, but know all he needed was a hug.
He felt so alone in this cruel world.
Tears started to well in his eyes. He started sobbing into his pillow out of grief for the ones he lost, especially Soda.
He cried himself into a deep sleep.

Steve opened his eyes. He was lying down in a place he was not familiar with.
Everything was bright and the space around him was endless.
He winced a little from the overwhelming brightness and covered his eyes with his hand.
He slowly adjusted to the light and looked around.
Where am I? He thought to himself.
"Steve." He heard a familiar voice call out his name behind him.
Steve spun around and gasped.
Soda was standing a few feet away from him, smiling happily.
"S-Soda!" Steve cried out. He was in utter disbelief. Soda was dead, right?
"Is it really you?" Steve asked him, standing back a little.
Soda nodded and gave him his famous movie star smile.
Steve started to cry again. He hasn't seen Soda's face in person ever since he left for the war almost two years ago.
Soda approached Steve and wiped his tears away with his hand.
They both stood there for a minute, looking at each other with smiles on their faces.
Then Soda's smile faded. He looked behind him.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked.
"My time is up." Soda responded, "I'm sorry."
"W-What do you mean your time is up?!" Steve asked, panicking as more tears rolled down his face.
"Hey, hey, easy buddy." Soda said to him in a soft voice that could make you sleep. He put his hands on Steve's shoulders.
Steve couldn't look at Soda's face. Soda took two fingers and softly lifted Steve's chin.
Soda smiled ear to ear.
"Goodbye, Steve."
Suddenly, a portal opened and started pulling in Soda.
Steve whimpered a bit as he felt Soda's touch slip away.
Soda turned around and let it pull him in.
His body started to slowly wither away, eroding into the air. Bright chips of him started flying up like ashes from a fire. He started to glow like a firefly.
Soda was beginning to look more and more like a spirit than human as the portal was sucking him inside slowly and into another world full of light.
Steve watched in shock as his friend was starting to disappear from him before his very eyes.
"Wait, where are you...?" Steve asked as he looked at Soda with shock.
Soda only turned his head to look at him and gave him a sad smile.
Steve clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Bastard." He muttered under his breath, then his voice raised to a yell, "DONT LEAVE ME AGAIN!"
Steve poured in all of his strength and ran towards Soda as fast as he could.
Steve reached his hand out to him.
"You and I...!" He yelled.
Soda grinned and reached his hand out to him too.
Steve leapt towards Soda, reaching out to hug him. Right when Steve was going to wrap his arms around him, Soda burst into a million bright pieces like shattering glass.
"We're pals, right?!" He yelled as he tried to hug Soda's exploding body.
But nothing.
Steve was hugging nothing in his arms. He collapsed onto his knees and still tightly hugged his arms, sobbing.
Then he heard Soda talking to him from the air.
~
Steve woke up from his bed. He bolted up with a gasp.
He looked around him again. He was back in his dimmed room.
He stared at the ceiling, wide eyed. He ran his fingers through his hair.
It didn't feel like a normal dream. It felt real, maybe too real. He touched his cheek and remembered Soda's soft touch.
Then he remembered what Soda said to him after he vanished.

"You are my best friend in the whole world. And we'll be pals forever. Don't ever stop being you. Don't worry, we'll meet again someday. Tell the others I said hi, 'Kay? Me, Dal, and Johnnycake will be here waiting and watching over y'all. Take care, Steve...I'll miss you..."

Soda's voice echoed in Steve's mind clearly.
"Idiot..." Steve slightly chuckled, "I will...I'll miss you too, Pepsicola...pals forever..."