Work Text:
Soothing Touch
It wasn’t uncommon for Greasers to be jumped by Socs; it was pretty much the norm. Which is why they always had to be on their guard especially when walking by yourself.
Even knowing this, Ponyboy still didn’t think it would be a big deal to walk home from the movies. As his mind was more on the movie about Paul Newman than anything else.
He liked movies but he liked movies with Paul Newman even more. But even then, he could have used a nearby payphone and called someone to meet up with him. He probably might have even asked ol’ Dally. He always liked going to movies with him. When he wasn’t causing any trouble that is. But he was still in the Cooler, for another few weeks to a month. So, he knew that option was thrown out.
But it still didn't change the fact that he decided to walk home by himself. He didn't think it would be that bad of an idea. Usually, the Socs didn't bother him much besides the slight comments at school. Typically, it was some remark where he was a Greaser and his hair.
But once he saw that red Corvair, he knew that he had messed up. He could have at least waited and called his eldest brother, Darry, to pick him up on the way from work. Or even Two-Bit, since he probably skipped school today anyways.
Ponyboy felt his breath quicken as he tried to walk faster. That maybe he could lose them along the way or something.
He had to be only a few blocks away when it seems that whoever was in that red Corvair decided that they were tired of this little game. Since the Socs always looked at it that way.
He had almost been hit with their car door as it cut him off. He hoped that maybe he could try to outrun them or something. That was when he noticed that five of them got out of the car.
He tried to go around one of them, maybe try to get help. He knew that at least one of the gang would be at the house. Darry would definitely be there. He always got home before he did after a school day. Even more so since he went to see a movie.
But hands caught around his waist before he was thrown down on the ground.
The rocks started to dig into his back. But that was before Pony had managed to get back up and try to run again, He felt arms and hands start to pin him down. Even the weak attempt of trying to kick at one of them didn’t work too well before his legs were pinned as well. And no matter how much he tried to wiggle free and move, they kept a firm grip of him.
That was when Ponyboy felt the blade.
His body stilled as he looked up at the brown-head Soc, terrified.
"That's more like it. Not so tough without your buddy, Winston to protect you," the rough voice said.
There was a hatred in his eyes, and Pony briefly wondered if Dally had done something or if it was because he happened to be a Greaser. Every Greaser knew that the Socs hated us and we them.
"I think he could use a haircut," one of them chimed in, helping hold down one of my arms.
Pony yelped when he felt one of them grip his hair as the blade sawed right through his long greasy hair. It had hurt and he knew they wouldn't care if it hurt or not. Probably hoped for the first.
"Don't look too bad for a Greaser..."
Pony felt his eyes widened; he knew that he felt afraid of what he meant by that. Knowing it probably wasn't anything good.
"Looks better than most broads," another agreed.
Pony could feel himself start to shake.
"Keep him held down," the main Soc ordered.
When that was said, Pony tried to fight harder than ever. Trying to move his arms and hands, hoping to maybe hit one of them and get them to let him go. He even tried to kick out with his feet despite them being pinned down.
It was a good plan to him until he felt the blade against at his throat. It made him freeze, they could easily kill him...
"Just try it, Grease!" The voice hissed.
Pony felt tears start to leak from his eyes, he wasn't sure why he hadn't started crying until now. And he may have stayed still until a hand went to his jeans and popped open the button.
The blade dug into his neck as he left out a piercing screaming.
"SHUT HIM UP!" Was yelled.
Hands started to tug at his jeans and Ponyboy started to bawl. Tears and tears streamed down his face. He didn't even notice when they weren't there anymore.
But when a gentle hand went to his hips, he freaked out.
"NO! Please don't!" He begged.
"Easy, baby, it's me," a gentle voice spoke.
Ponyboy blinked through his tears, but his face was unmistakable. He crashed into Dally's chest, soaking it.
"Let me help you get your jeans back up."
Pony tried to nod as much as he could as his jeans were buttoned back.
A hand ran up and down his back as he continued to cry. Since he couldn't see Dally's face, he didn't see the look of absolute rage.
All the Socs had ran off but not before he had given several of them a beatdown.
And that was how the rest of the gang found him, practically in Dally's lap crying his heart out.
"Ponyboy!" A voice yelled out, it was Soda, Ponyboy's older brother. "Dal, is he alright?!"
Dally's cold blue eyes that were gazing down at Pony looked up. He could see the fear and worry in Soda's eyes. He had heard the scream, they all had.
Though Dallas was glad he was the one that found him first. His older brothers didn't need to see their kid brother with his pants around his ankles. He could still feel the rage within him as his jaw clenched.
"Fucking Socs are lucky they are cowards!" Dally cursed.
"Dallas?" Darry questioned; Soda's question was unanswered.
Dally gave a roll of his shoulders, he didn't know. He didn't get a really good look of his boyfriend before he crashed into him. He had been more concerned with calming him down. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to go after a couple of Socs. Show them why they didn't mess with what was his.
Darry frowned before shaking his head, muttering under his breath as he headed back to the house. Soda followed after him while giving occasional glances behind him.
Dally had lifted Pony into his arms, who had his face buried into his chest. The tears had stopped for now.
They were followed by the rest of the gang.
"What did the kid do this time!" A voice exclaimed.
"Shut your trap, Randle," Dally hissed.
"Or what, Winston? Everyone knows that you favor the kid," Steve shot back, he still didn't like Ponyboy very much.
"I'll introduce my fist to your face," Dallas threatened.
Steve seemed to shut up... for now.
Too bad that Ponyboy's older brothers didn't hear it. It would have been amusing to see Darry's actually hit him. And it wouldn't be anyone surprise if Soda took Pony's side. He always took his brother's side, even to his best friend.
With Ponyboy still in his arms, Dally sat himself down on the couch. He gently pried Pony off of his chest so he could take a look at him.
"Sweetheart, I just need to see you," Dally whispered to him.
The hood could feel Ponyboy shaking. Though he hoped to speak to him later in private without nosy ears listening in.
The fact that Pony's eyes were welled with tears made Dally want to pummel those Socs in the ground again. Then he saw blood on his neck.
Ponyboy looked at Dally in surprise when he heard the growl. Before mumbling a soft. sorry.
The hood used that moment to thread his hand through his hair, a calming gesture. "Nothing to be sorry about, baby. I'm going to make those Socs pay!"
Pony ducked his head down before hissing in pain.
Dally had used that moment to grab a spare piece of a napkin to dap at the blood.
"It's just me," he whispered.
Pony nodded; his eyes once fearful were slowly getting calmer.
Soon everyone's eyes were staring at the scene between Dallas and Ponyboy. But eventually the staring got too much for the hood.
"What!?" He snarled.
"Just—" Two-Bit started.
"Never seen you... nice..." Steve finished, he kept blinking, like his eyes couldn't believe it.
Dally scowled at them; he honestly didn't give a shit what they thought about him. He knew his reputation and he was happy with that. Though he had never been able to keep that front around Ponyboy, especially now. It was obvious that the Socs had pulled a blade on him.
"Dal..." Ponyboy whined, "it stings."
"Do you want to bleed all over your shirt?" He raised an eyebrow at him.
Ponyboy sighed at that, even he knew better than to argue. He could see the concern in Dally's eyes. Where most would probably see ice and hatred. He saw more than that.
Though he curled more into Dallas when he noticed someone getting closer.
"Darry, don't," Dally warned, his eyes not straying from Ponyboy.
Darry leveled a glare at Dallas, "I was only going to bring him to bed. Pony looks like he's about to fall asleep."
"Then he will but you won't touch him!" Dally hissed.
Two-Bit and Steve's eyes widened. Feeling a fight about to happen.
Dally just smirked at him, as if daring him to try it. Knowing that Darry wouldn't, he still had an armful of his kid brother in his arms.
He did have to admit that Darry was right about Pony about to fall asleep. His eyes were starting to droop with occasional yawns slipping out.
When he got up, he made sure that Pony wouldn't fall out of his arms. But instead of going to Ponyboy's shared room with Soda. He went to what Pony's old room was. Given what he had saw earlier, he wasn't positive that he would want the arms of his older brother. Either of his older brothers.
The bed was already made, just not slept in for a while.
"Dal..." Pony whispered.
Dally's blue eyes looked at him, "yeah, Pone?"
"I—I don't want to stay—" He tried to say.
"It's alright, baby. We're in your old room," Dally comforted.
Pony breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself. Before quickly nodding, then he mumbled, "I don't think I could do it..."
"I don't want Soda to hate me..."
Dal ran one of his hands through Pony's locks, "you know that Soda couldn't ever be mad at you. You're his kid brother."
Ponyboy didn't really look all that convinced as he yawned again.
"Get some sleep," Dal whispered to him.
Pony then looked terrified of that fact that Dally was about to leave. "Don't!" He whimpered.
Dally turned around to face his boyfriend, "don't what, Pony?"
"Don't leave..." He begged.
Dally hesitated, feeling unsure for once. He gave a slow nod. He had the slight urge to press a kiss to his forehead, but he didn't think that would be best right now.
"I'm not going to leave you, baby," Dally spoke softly. "I'm just going to your bathroom and back."
Ponyboy gave a hesitant nod.
When Dally had just shut the door, he felt a fist hit him in the face. He probably should have expected it as he gave a wolfish grin.
Cracking his nose back in place, Dally landed his own fist at Darrel. Diving at him before landing his own punches. The fight didn't end until Dally had Darry in a headlock.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" Dallas yelled at him.
"That's my kid brother!" He snarled back.
Dally rolled his eyes at that; he knew he hasn't exactly told Darry about him and Pony really. That honestly was at the bottom of his concerns.
"Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass and quit yelling at the kid, he may actually go to you for help!" Dally snapped.
"Dally, what happened?" Sodapop's voice was soft.
Dallas growled at the question, not because of who asked it. But because of the answer to it.
"Something happened..." Soda commented, his voice was at the point of begging. Even he saw where his baby brother didn't come to him for comfort. He had gone to Dallas and hadn't let go. It had hurt.
Dally's eyes were dark as he let go of the chokehold that he had Darry in. He could probably go for a Cancer Stick about now.
"Fucking Socs had his pants down his ankles," Dally hissed, making sure that his voice was low.
"WHAT!?" Darry thundered.
"You go in there, Darry, and that black eye won't be the only thing you'll have!" Dally bared his teeth at him.
"He's my brother!" Darry snapped.
"I don't give a shit if he's related to you or not! You are not in a state to talk to him and that is if he will want to talk to you!" Dallas retorted.
Darry's face crashed into his hands, and he actually had tears in his eyes.
"Why him?" He asked out loud. It was the question nobody had spoken aloud yet.
"Did they—?" Soda's voice broken.
Dally clenched his fists, "the only person that can answer that question is your brother. He still had his boxers on, so I hope not."
A tear fell out of Soda's eye before glancing down the hall. "Why my baby brother!?" He repeated Darry's question.
Dally clenched his teeth tightly; he still had the urge to kill those Socs, but he knew that was a bad idea. He made a promise.
Two-Bit and Steve were quiet. For once, Two-Bit wasn't making some joke or another.
Steve didn't make a single remark, feeling slightly bad for his comment earlier. He didn't like the kid, but he wouldn't have wished that on any Greaser.
Dally frowned as he turned on his heel, he still hadn't made it to the bathroom yet. Knowing that the Curtis' wouldn't care, he took a quick shower. He didn't bother talking to any of the gang before making his way back to Pony's old room.
Ponyboy still wasn't asleep.
"Darry's mad at me..." was the broken whisper.
Dally used that moment to dig under the covers and Ponyboy curled into him.
"He's just worried about you, sweetheart," Dally said as he wrapped an arm around him. Thankfully the contact didn't seem to set him off, it made him more relaxed in his arms.
Dally kept his arms wrapped around him until he heard slight snores. His hands were clutching at his shirt, his head on his chest. He silently swore to himself that he would make those Socs lives suffer for what they did. His eyes flickered shut, content to sleep like this.
Dallas Winston was accustomed to Ponyboy’s nightmares. He knew how of a sensitive matter they were to his brothers. Typically, they were about his parents, Soda or Darry, or the gang. Sometimes they were even about the Socs, it hadn’t been the first time that Ponyboy had been jumped. But even he knew that it wasn’t too this magnitude.
That didn’t mean he was quite awake when the hold of him tightened. He was barely aware with his mind full of sleep. But when he heard the scream beside him, he jumped.
Ponyboy was thrashing in his sleep.
“NO! DALLY! HELP ME!”
The scream was enough to piece through his eardrums.
It seemed that Ponyboy had rolled right off the bed but he still didn’t wake. But Dally didn’t hesitate on bringing him back on the bed. Trying to untangle the sheets that were wrapped around him.
He knew that touch was the best to bring him out of a nightmare, but he felt unsure if it would make things worse. He slowly curled his arms around Ponyboy, not hearing the door to the room open. He didn’t have a shirt on but that wasn’t too surprising.
“Pone, it’s me, baby,” Dallas whispered in his ear.
When he wrapped his arms around him, it had seemed that the touch had made things worse. But once his breath touched his ears, the result was immediate. His motions had immediately stilled, and blurry green-grey eyes looked up at him.
“Dal?”
The hood nodded, “it’s me. You’re safe in my arms.” Though his attention was diverted when he heard a door click shut. The door was still shut, so he figured he was just hearing things.
Ponyboy pressed his face into Dally’s chest, a few tears spilled out. That nightmare had felt so real…
Dallas let Pony cry into him until he heard the slight hiccups. There, he brought where Ponyboy was looking at him.
“You with me, Pony?” Dally questioned.
His boyfriend gave a quick nod as Dally brushed the tear from his cheek.
“That isn’t one of your typical nightmares, talk to me,” his voice was soft.
Pony gave a shake of head; he didn’t want to relieve it. It would make it more real.
“Sweetheart, you called out for me…”
Ponyboy hiccupped before whispering, “I know…”
“Pone… I am sure I can guess what it was. But you need this,” Dally murmured.
“You weren’t there…” Pony gasped. “They kept pulling and pulling,” he sobbed.
Dally pulled Pony into him, letting him breath into his neck. He was curled into his body, practically lying on Dally.
“But I was,” he whispered to him. “Just like those Socs are going to fucking pay for what they did to you!”
It was a promise.
“You can’t!” Pony protested, “you just got out of the cooler, Dal!”
“I didn’t say I was going to kill them,” Dal replied, though the Socs may wish he had…
"Okay..." Ponyboy breathed deeply, he couldn't bear the idea of Dally getting tossed back in so soon.
"How far did they..." Dally cut himself off.
Ponyboy's eyes brimmed with tears, "I—I don't know if I can—"
"I need to know that they didn't hurt you that badly!" Dally pleaded.
Ponyboy blinked at him, that was a tone he had never heard from Dally. He never pleaded with anyone. He shook his head unable to say the words. Dally had stopped them and despite the shame that Dally had seen that... He couldn't help but crave more of his touch, washing away theirs.
The nonverbal answer seemed to calm Dally somewhat, but he was still on edge.
"I could really use a shower..." Ponyboy muttered.
"Can you walk yet?" Dally arched an eyebrow at him.
"Uhh..." Pony mumbled before shaking his head. His foot didn't hurt as badly now but he doubted he would be able to walk there on his own.
"Let's go then," Dally grumbled.
"How?" Pony asked.
Dally had a wicked grin before unexpectedly picking him up.
"Dallas!" Pony hollered before laughing.
Dally ignored the eyes that followed him as he carried the young Greaser to the bathroom. There was a chair in there, most likely placed by either Darry or Soda. Dally was willing to bet it was Soda.
It was close enough where Pony could maneuver himself into the tub.
Given what happened a day or so ago, he turned to leave. Even though he had seen every part of Pony, he wasn't sure if he would be so comfortable now.
But a small voice stopped him, "Dal..."
Dally ran his hand through his hair, feeling a bit embarrassed, not a feeling he was accustomed to. "Didn't think you would want me in here... given everything..."
"The others maybe..." Ponyboy admitted, "but not you. Can you... stay?"
"You want me to help?" Dally asked, shocked.
Ponyboy gave a helpless shrug, though a blush formed on his face. "It helps when you're in here. I know you're not them."
Dally placed his hands on his hips, "and this?"
The touch was warm, it was nice. "I feel you." There was a brief flash, but Pony forced it back. This was Dally, he wouldn't hurt him, not intentionally anyways.
Then the touch was gone.
“Dal?” Ponyboy was confused.
“I’m going to get some fresh clothes for you. I’ll still stay, but you’re getting a bath, not a shower,” his tone was firm.
Despite the lecturing tone, Pony couldn’t help the small smile on his face. Others would have heard the tone as rude or maybe even condescending. But he could hear the concern.
Dallas should have known that he would be ambushed soon as he left that bathroom. Though at least it had only been Soda.
“Is Pony okay?”
Dally looked annoyed, “he’s still got an injured ankle but it will heal.”
“I mean… that’s good but that’s… that’s not what I meant…”
“He’ll be okay. He’s your kid brother, he’s stronger than you think,” Dally commented as he headed towards the room that Ponyboy normally shared with Sodapop. It obviously affected his older brother that Pony didn’t go immediately go to him.
But when he closed the door back, he noticed that Pony was resting the hurt ankle over the side.
“See you didn’t drown yet,” Dally quipped.
Ponyboy pouted, though he didn’t seem to be too affected to be naked as Dal sat the dry clothes to the side.
“I like showers is all…”
Dally huffed as he took a seat on the nearby chair, though keeping a side eye to make sure Ponyboy wasn’t about to panic.
It felt a bit odd for him that Pony had asked him to stay. He still hadn’t expected that. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to storm out either, not yet.
He still had some Socs he needed to pay a visit to, hopefully without it landing him back in the cooler. But seeing the relaxed look on Ponyboy’s face…
They may be Greasers but that didn’t mean they had lost yet. They would be fine.
There would be questions later but that was a thought for later.