Ponyboy has a nightmare…It was all so real. The screaming. The running. The gun. Sounds of gu

Ponyboy has a nightmare…It was all so real. The screaming. The running. The gun. Sounds of gunfire reverberating throughout the empty, dark streets.Darry’s dead body strewn lifelessly across the pavement. It was all so goddamn real that Ponyboy woke up with a start, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead, his shirt clinging to his damp skin. Sodapop hadn’t stirred beside him, he was dead to the world - no clue that his baby brother was beside him, frightened out his mind… and Ponyboy wanted to keep it that way, Soda had a double shift tomorrow and he needed all the rest he could get. But Ponyboy had to get one glimpse of Darry - reassurance that his big brother was in his bed, safe and sound - breathing… alive. Ponyboy slithered out from underneath the arm that was slung over him lazily and he exited the room, his bare feet padding across the wooden floor boards. He just needed to know that Darry was okay. Every inch of his sanity was telling him it was nothing but a stupid dream… a kids dream, not worth getting out of bed for; but the fear of losing Darry was to much for the young greaser. Losing his mum and dad was one thing - but losing his big brother, Superman - that was another thing all together. Sure, Darry could be mean, he was too rough without meaning to be and he yelled way too much for a young man of 20… but Darry was his hero… and the thought of losing his hero was something Ponyboy didn’t ever want to have to go through. Ponyboy reached the door and pushed it open, careful not to make a sound. He didn’t want to wake his big brother up - and to be quite honest, he also didn’t want to embarrass himself by telling Darry that he came all this way because of a nightmare. Darry wouldn’t understand. He’d huff at him and call him a kid. Sure enough, Darry was there. His chest rising and falling as he exhaled into the night. Ponyboy released the breath he hadn’t even realised he had been holding.His big brother was okay. And that was all that mattered. He turned on his heel, ready to exit the room. The floor boards groaned underneath his weight, coaxing Darry from out of his slumber. “Ponyboy?” He grumbled, sleep thick in his voice as his back arched from the bed. “Is that you?” “Yeah it’s me.” His voice was so child like - innocent, just like it had been when he was younger… just like it had when he was 8 years old and scuttling into his oldest brother’s room during a thunderstorm. When Ponyboy was a kid, during a nightmare, or through the harsh weather - Darry was always the one he felt safest with. Not his mum and dad, or Soda - it was always his Superman. “What’s wrong? Are you and Soda okay?” He asked hurriedly, getting ready to get out of bed and investigate whatever the problem was.“No, we’re fine… honest. Goodnight Darry.” Pony muttered awkwardly - cursing himself for getting caught as he stepped out into the hallway, getting ready to go back to bed. “Ponyboy” Darry called after him as quietly as he could, not wanting to risk waking Soda. “Yeah?” Ponyboy asked, looking over his shoulder at Darry who had moved over, creating just enough space for his youngest brother. “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?” He asked gently, knowing full well the youngest Curtis had another nightmare tonight; he always sounded the same after a nightmare - desperate, innocent - scared and small. Ponyboy’s eyebrows knitted together, confusedly… Why wasn’t he been yelled at to go back to bed? He wordlessly slid in beside Darry, the warmth from his body radiated like a crackling fireplace. “Do you want to talk about it?” Darry asked. “No.” Ponyboy said simply… knowing full well he was likely to bawl if he had to replay the events of the dream. “You’re safe now, Pone. I love you kid.” Darry tried not to say it awkwardly - he hadn’t said it to his brothers since before his parent’s died… but it needed to be said, he didn’t want them to think otherwise. “I know Darry. I love you too”Ponyboy curled into his brothers side… he was safe. Darry smiled to himself and for a second he could pretend that he was just a big brother looking after his baby brother - that his parent’s were sleeping in the next room and that he didn’t have all these responsibilities hanging over his head.  -- source link

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