if "i love you" was a promise

@darrel-s-curtis It’s just a suggestion, buutttt you know- it couldn’t hurt

Pony sighed and dropped the act. He might as well tell him rather than Two-bit, Johnny, or Steve tell him. Or even Dally or Soda who both usually got the information from the previously mentioned three. "...the principal wants to meet with you for a meeting after my teacher conferences." Pony then waited for what Darry's reaction would be.

Darry paused and leaned back in his chair, setting the newspaper down on his lap as ponyboy talked. He nodded slowly then said, “Alright, well do you know what the principal wants to talk about? You haven’t done anything that bad recently, I mean, as far as I know.” Surprisingly, he didn’t look too pressed about the idea of talking to Ponyboy’s principal.

Pony sighed and looked at his feet. "I..I may have started a fight at school today..but it's not my fault!! I swear it, Darry!! Some soc was talking shit about about me and one thing lead to another and I punched him. Steve had to pull me off and drag me away, he's prolly off telling Soda about it." Pony huffed, crossing his arms as he dug his foot at the floor.

Darry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He took a minute to try and compose himself and said, “Well, Ponyboy, it sounds like the other kid was kind of asking for it,” He shifted in his seat before continuing, “and I’m sure if your principal has any inkling of common sense up in their head, they’ll get that.”

Pony sighed and shook his head. "The principal has no damn sense and you know it," Pony paused for a moment, thinking of what to say next. "I was telling him the same thing, but he said that he had to discuss this with you to see if this is, 'How you're raising me' and said I can't play victim when everyone else is and sent me back to class."

Darry inhaled sharply and his eyes immediately hardened. He somehow managed to swallow the quickly forming knot in his throat and just picked up the newspaper again. He waited for Ponyboy to finish before saying, “I’ll try and get some sense into his head. It ain’t your fault the other kid was being a dick.”

"Thanks, Dar." Pony smiled and hugged Darry. "You're the best brother ever, I hope you know that." Sometimes Pony really did think he was the luckiest kid, despite all that's happened, moments like this really made him felt like he was.

Darry’s eyes widened and he blinked owlishly at the back of Ponyboy’s head but still let him hug his brother back. He swallowed again and muttered, “Well I’m not sure if I’m the best, but thanks, Pone.” He smiled a little bit and pat Pony’s back.

Pony sighed and dropped the act. He might as well tell him rather than Two-bit, Johnny, or Steve tell him. Or even Dally or Soda who both usually got the information from the previously mentioned three. "...the principal wants to meet with you for a meeting after my teacher conferences." Pony then waited for what Darry's reaction would be.

Darry paused and leaned back in his chair, setting the newspaper down on his lap as ponyboy talked. He nodded slowly then said, “Alright, well do you know what the principal wants to talk about? You haven’t done anything that bad recently, I mean, as far as I know.” Surprisingly, he didn’t look too pressed about the idea of talking to Ponyboy’s principal.

Pony sighed and looked at his feet. "I..I may have started a fight at school today..but it's not my fault!! I swear it, Darry!! Some soc was talking shit about about me and one thing lead to another and I punched him. Steve had to pull me off and drag me away, he's prolly off telling Soda about it." Pony huffed, crossing his arms as he dug his foot at the floor.

Darry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He took a minute to try and compose himself and said, “Well, Ponyboy, it sounds like the other kid was kind of asking for it,” He shifted in his seat before continuing, “and I’m sure if your principal has any inkling of common sense up in their head, they’ll get that.”

Pony sighed and shook his head. "The principal has no damn sense and you know it," Pony paused for a moment, thinking of what to say next. "I was telling him the same thing, but he said that he had to discuss this with you to see if this is, 'How you're raising me' and said I can't play victim when everyone else is and sent me back to class."

Darry inhaled sharply and his eyes immediately hardened. He somehow managed to swallow the quickly forming knot in his throat and just picked up the newspaper again. He waited for Ponyboy to finish before saying, “I’ll try and get some sense into his head. It ain’t your fault the other kid was being a dick.”

Pony sighed and dropped the act. He might as well tell him rather than Two-bit, Johnny, or Steve tell him. Or even Dally or Soda who both usually got the information from the previously mentioned three. "...the principal wants to meet with you for a meeting after my teacher conferences." Pony then waited for what Darry's reaction would be.

Darry paused and leaned back in his chair, setting the newspaper down on his lap as ponyboy talked. He nodded slowly then said, “Alright, well do you know what the principal wants to talk about? You haven’t done anything that bad recently, I mean, as far as I know.” Surprisingly, he didn’t look too pressed about the idea of talking to Ponyboy’s principal.

Pony sighed and looked at his feet. "I..I may have started a fight at school today..but it's not my fault!! I swear it, Darry!! Some soc was talking shit about about me and one thing lead to another and I punched him. Steve had to pull me off and drag me away, he's prolly off telling Soda about it." Pony huffed, crossing his arms as he dug his foot at the floor.

Darry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He took a minute to try and compose himself and said, “Well, Ponyboy, it sounds like the other kid was kind of asking for it,” He shifted in his seat before continuing, “and I’m sure if your principal has any inkling of common sense up in their head, they’ll get that.”

Pony sighed and dropped the act. He might as well tell him rather than Two-bit, Johnny, or Steve tell him. Or even Dally or Soda who both usually got the information from the previously mentioned three. "...the principal wants to meet with you for a meeting after my teacher conferences." Pony then waited for what Darry's reaction would be.

Darry paused and leaned back in his chair, setting the newspaper down on his lap as ponyboy talked. He nodded slowly then said, “Alright, well do you know what the principal wants to talk about? You haven’t done anything that bad recently, I mean, as far as I know.” Surprisingly, he didn’t look too pressed about the idea of talking to Ponyboy’s principal.

He smiled and nodded before laying his cheek on Two-Bit’s shoulder, sighing contently. He hummed a bit, trying to be comforting. He smiled as a crash of thunder boomed, signaling another crash of lighting had fallen not too far away. He squeezed the younger man tightly, still humming, but quieter. The storm was peaceful to him, like a lullaby. He inhaled and exhaled again before burying his face in the younger’s neck, clearly happier than he usually was.

Two-Bit frowned at the thunder, burying his face in Darry’s hair with his eyes screwed shut. “How’re you so calm?” he whispered, clutching at the back of the other’s shirt again, his knuckles pale, his hands shaking. It was nearly impossible for him to be calm while the world outside was in chaos and darkness, so it was shocking how the other man could be calm and uncaring.

Darry shrugged and murmured, “I like the sound of storms. Just been that way since I was a baby.” After a few seconds he laughed softly and said, “My dad, uh, he told me when I was a baby I was awful fussy about being put to sleep. So when there was a storm he’d take me out to the back porch to listen to it and I’d be out like a light.” He inhaled a little shakily and pressed a gentle kiss to Two-Bit’s neck, “Mama hated it, swore up and down my dad’d get struck by lightning while holding me.” His voice trailed off after he finished talking, his happiness and peacefulness now a little bittersweet.

Two-Bit scrunched up his nose at the mention of the sounds, but he nodded to show that he heard Darry. Those were the worst, though, the dangerous rolls of thunder shaking the walls on their foundation. He hated it, and he knew his mother and sister hated it too. It made it seem like everything was going to crumble on top of him. Everything was horrible when it stormed, his room always suffocating when one happened. He sighed and loosely hooked a leg around Darry, keeping him as close as he could to him, almost like he was trying to protect him from the rumbling noises and flashes of light. 

“Mama didn’t like storms either,” He started, clearly just talking to try and calm down his boyfriend, “She said she had an uncle who died in a storm. I dunno how truthful that was, she said a storm caused the barn to come down on top of him, I think the barn was just rotted.” He laughed softly and ran his hand up and down the back of Two-Bit’s back. He made a face and shifted his legs, his place kneeling in front of the couch growing uncomfortable. He didn’t want to move though because of how spooked Two-Bit clearly was.

Two-Bit’s brow furrowed at the story, the faint lines between his eyebrows deepening with stress. “The house ain’t rotten, yeah?” he asked, his panic getting the better of him, shifting uncomfortably at the thought of being in a rotting house that could fall on them at any second. He was already figuring out a place for them to hide if it was rotten. 

Darry’s eyes widened and his head shot up from where it was buried to make eye contact with the redhead, “No! Oh, god, Keithie, I’m sorry, I was jus’ talkin’ without thinking.” He apologized, bringing a hand up to cup his jaw as he peppered kisses over his face. In between the quick pecks, he kept murmuring little apologies between them. Mentally he was scolding himself for letting his mouth run without a filter.

Two-Bit let out a shaky breath of relief, his eyes closing as he slightly leaned into the affection the other gave him. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his grip on Darry’s shirt relaxing. He opened his eyes after a moment and finally noticed the uncomfortable position the other man was in. He bit his lip and scooted over some, his back pressing against the soft cushion of the couch. “Come up ‘ere, uh, please.”

His mouth was pressed into a tight line when the younger man moved back and he said, “Are you sure? I’m alright down here.” He fought back the urge to shift again, suddenly noticing the pain in his knees. But he just really didn’t want to make Two-Bit uncomfortable again. His hands moved to rest on top of his thighs, awkwardly rubbing circles into his jeans.

Two-Bit nodded, scooting back further, almost losing sight of Darry’s face from the blanket slipping and drooping between them. “Please?” he whispered, just wanting something to hold. He fought back the sad puppy dog look that wanted to plaster itself on his face, not wanting to seem more pathetic than he probably did. 

Darry sighed but forced himself onto the couch, right in front of Two-Bit. He took a moment to fix the blanket covering them before asking, “Better?” He gave a little smile to the redhead, hoping that him moving onto the couch with him was a comfort. If not at the very least Two-Bit would probably appreciate the gesture.

Darry shrugged and said, “Hm, no one should be coming around any time soon. We could move if you wanted, though.” His voice and eyes a little hazy as he tried to get Paul to kiss him again.

Paul thought for a moment and nodded. "Probably be for the best. Let's go to a room with more privacy than the living room." He softly chuckled, quickly kissing Darry as he started to leave with him from the living room.

He nodded and let himself be dragged out of the living room, clearly not caring much about where they were going. He was just glad his knees hadn’t buckled while they were walking.

Paul took Darry to the first room he saw with a door and pulled him inside. Closing the door and bringing Darry into another kiss. Grabbing on to the brunette's hips.

Darry sighed into the kiss, a pleased sound escaping him. His hands found their way into the blond’s hair, carding through the hairs at the nape of his neck.

Paul softly groaned, leaning back on the door as he continued to hold Darry close. Letting his hands tighten their grip on his hips.

After a few minutes, Darry pulled away, inhaling deep breaths. He took the break to smile at Paul, kissing his nose.

Darry shrugged and said, “Hm, no one should be coming around any time soon. We could move if you wanted, though.” His voice and eyes a little hazy as he tried to get Paul to kiss him again.

Paul thought for a moment and nodded. "Probably be for the best. Let's go to a room with more privacy than the living room." He softly chuckled, quickly kissing Darry as he started to leave with him from the living room.

He nodded and let himself be dragged out of the living room, clearly not caring much about where they were going. He was just glad his knees hadn’t buckled while they were walking.

Paul took Darry to the first room he saw with a door and pulled him inside. Closing the door and bringing Darry into another kiss. Grabbing on to the brunette's hips.

Darry sighed into the kiss, a pleased sound escaping him. His hands found their way into the blond’s hair, carding through the hairs at the nape of his neck.

He smiled and nodded before laying his cheek on Two-Bit’s shoulder, sighing contently. He hummed a bit, trying to be comforting. He smiled as a crash of thunder boomed, signaling another crash of lighting had fallen not too far away. He squeezed the younger man tightly, still humming, but quieter. The storm was peaceful to him, like a lullaby. He inhaled and exhaled again before burying his face in the younger’s neck, clearly happier than he usually was.

Two-Bit frowned at the thunder, burying his face in Darry’s hair with his eyes screwed shut. “How’re you so calm?” he whispered, clutching at the back of the other’s shirt again, his knuckles pale, his hands shaking. It was nearly impossible for him to be calm while the world outside was in chaos and darkness, so it was shocking how the other man could be calm and uncaring.

Darry shrugged and murmured, “I like the sound of storms. Just been that way since I was a baby.” After a few seconds he laughed softly and said, “My dad, uh, he told me when I was a baby I was awful fussy about being put to sleep. So when there was a storm he’d take me out to the back porch to listen to it and I’d be out like a light.” He inhaled a little shakily and pressed a gentle kiss to Two-Bit’s neck, “Mama hated it, swore up and down my dad’d get struck by lightning while holding me.” His voice trailed off after he finished talking, his happiness and peacefulness now a little bittersweet.

Two-Bit scrunched up his nose at the mention of the sounds, but he nodded to show that he heard Darry. Those were the worst, though, the dangerous rolls of thunder shaking the walls on their foundation. He hated it, and he knew his mother and sister hated it too. It made it seem like everything was going to crumble on top of him. Everything was horrible when it stormed, his room always suffocating when one happened. He sighed and loosely hooked a leg around Darry, keeping him as close as he could to him, almost like he was trying to protect him from the rumbling noises and flashes of light. 

“Mama didn’t like storms either,” He started, clearly just talking to try and calm down his boyfriend, “She said she had an uncle who died in a storm. I dunno how truthful that was, she said a storm caused the barn to come down on top of him, I think the barn was just rotted.” He laughed softly and ran his hand up and down the back of Two-Bit’s back. He made a face and shifted his legs, his place kneeling in front of the couch growing uncomfortable. He didn’t want to move though because of how spooked Two-Bit clearly was.

Two-Bit’s brow furrowed at the story, the faint lines between his eyebrows deepening with stress. “The house ain’t rotten, yeah?” he asked, his panic getting the better of him, shifting uncomfortably at the thought of being in a rotting house that could fall on them at any second. He was already figuring out a place for them to hide if it was rotten. 

Darry’s eyes widened and his head shot up from where it was buried to make eye contact with the redhead, “No! Oh, god, Keithie, I’m sorry, I was jus’ talkin’ without thinking.” He apologized, bringing a hand up to cup his jaw as he peppered kisses over his face. In between the quick pecks, he kept murmuring little apologies between them. Mentally he was scolding himself for letting his mouth run without a filter.

Two-Bit let out a shaky breath of relief, his eyes closing as he slightly leaned into the affection the other gave him. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his grip on Darry’s shirt relaxing. He opened his eyes after a moment and finally noticed the uncomfortable position the other man was in. He bit his lip and scooted over some, his back pressing against the soft cushion of the couch. “Come up ‘ere, uh, please.”

His mouth was pressed into a tight line when the younger man moved back and he said, “Are you sure? I’m alright down here.” He fought back the urge to shift again, suddenly noticing the pain in his knees. But he just really didn’t want to make Two-Bit uncomfortable again. His hands moved to rest on top of his thighs, awkwardly rubbing circles into his jeans.

Darry shrugged and said, “Hm, no one should be coming around any time soon. We could move if you wanted, though.” His voice and eyes a little hazy as he tried to get Paul to kiss him again.

Paul thought for a moment and nodded. "Probably be for the best. Let's go to a room with more privacy than the living room." He softly chuckled, quickly kissing Darry as he started to leave with him from the living room.

He nodded and let himself be dragged out of the living room, clearly not caring much about where they were going. He was just glad his knees hadn’t buckled while they were walking.

He smiled and nodded before laying his cheek on Two-Bit’s shoulder, sighing contently. He hummed a bit, trying to be comforting. He smiled as a crash of thunder boomed, signaling another crash of lighting had fallen not too far away. He squeezed the younger man tightly, still humming, but quieter. The storm was peaceful to him, like a lullaby. He inhaled and exhaled again before burying his face in the younger’s neck, clearly happier than he usually was.

Two-Bit frowned at the thunder, burying his face in Darry’s hair with his eyes screwed shut. “How’re you so calm?” he whispered, clutching at the back of the other’s shirt again, his knuckles pale, his hands shaking. It was nearly impossible for him to be calm while the world outside was in chaos and darkness, so it was shocking how the other man could be calm and uncaring.

Darry shrugged and murmured, “I like the sound of storms. Just been that way since I was a baby.” After a few seconds he laughed softly and said, “My dad, uh, he told me when I was a baby I was awful fussy about being put to sleep. So when there was a storm he’d take me out to the back porch to listen to it and I’d be out like a light.” He inhaled a little shakily and pressed a gentle kiss to Two-Bit’s neck, “Mama hated it, swore up and down my dad’d get struck by lightning while holding me.” His voice trailed off after he finished talking, his happiness and peacefulness now a little bittersweet.

Two-Bit scrunched up his nose at the mention of the sounds, but he nodded to show that he heard Darry. Those were the worst, though, the dangerous rolls of thunder shaking the walls on their foundation. He hated it, and he knew his mother and sister hated it too. It made it seem like everything was going to crumble on top of him. Everything was horrible when it stormed, his room always suffocating when one happened. He sighed and loosely hooked a leg around Darry, keeping him as close as he could to him, almost like he was trying to protect him from the rumbling noises and flashes of light. 

“Mama didn’t like storms either,” He started, clearly just talking to try and calm down his boyfriend, “She said she had an uncle who died in a storm. I dunno how truthful that was, she said a storm caused the barn to come down on top of him, I think the barn was just rotted.” He laughed softly and ran his hand up and down the back of Two-Bit’s back. He made a face and shifted his legs, his place kneeling in front of the couch growing uncomfortable. He didn’t want to move though because of how spooked Two-Bit clearly was.

Two-Bit’s brow furrowed at the story, the faint lines between his eyebrows deepening with stress. “The house ain’t rotten, yeah?” he asked, his panic getting the better of him, shifting uncomfortably at the thought of being in a rotting house that could fall on them at any second. He was already figuring out a place for them to hide if it was rotten. 

Darry’s eyes widened and his head shot up from where it was buried to make eye contact with the redhead, “No! Oh, god, Keithie, I’m sorry, I was jus’ talkin’ without thinking.” He apologized, bringing a hand up to cup his jaw as he peppered kisses over his face. In between the quick pecks, he kept murmuring little apologies between them. Mentally he was scolding himself for letting his mouth run without a filter.

Darry shrugged and said, “Hm, no one should be coming around any time soon. We could move if you wanted, though.” His voice and eyes a little hazy as he tried to get Paul to kiss him again.

Darry melted against Paul at the short kiss. He forced himself to not pout at how quickly it ended, opting to just blink up at the blond man. When he finished speaking he couldn’t help the pout returning to his face and he muttered back, “You know exactly what I wanted.” His arms coming up to wrap around the back of his neck.

Paul nodded and didn't waste time playing around or teasing Darry. Pulling Darry into another soft kiss, this time lasting longer than the last one.

He sighed into the kiss, eyes flickering closed as they kissed. He smiled into it when he realized it was lasting longer than the other ones.

Paul soon closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Darry's waist as he pulled him closer. Slowly pulling away from the kiss after awhile.

Darry’s eyes were half lidded as the kiss broke off, a content smile on his face as he looked up at Paul. “That was nice.” He whispered simply, still leaning into the blond.

"Well, there's more where that came from. If you want it." Paul softly chuckled, pressing his forehead against Darry's. Relaxing a little.

“Hm, I’m pretty sure I do, Paulie.” His smile grew a little but he bit down on his bottom lip to stop it. One of his hands came up to card through the hair on the back of Paul’s head, clearly content.

"Someone certainly seems happy about that." He smiled and started to kiss Darry all over his face. Stopping only to just lean in close and hold on to Darry.

Darry laughed as the kisses were peppered over his face. Once Paul stopped he sighed and finally pulled him in for another kiss, his body once again sagging into Paul’s.

Paul leaned in against Darry, deepening the kiss as he kissed back. Grabbing on to Darry to keep them both stable and standing. Slowly bringing a hand to hold Darry's cheek, running his thumb across Darry's smooth jawline.

A surprised sound left Darry when Paul deepened the kiss but he went with it in stride. Faintly he realized that his knees felt a little weak, and he was suddenly grateful for the blond’s tight grip around his waist.

Darry melted against Paul at the short kiss. He forced himself to not pout at how quickly it ended, opting to just blink up at the blond man. When he finished speaking he couldn’t help the pout returning to his face and he muttered back, “You know exactly what I wanted.” His arms coming up to wrap around the back of his neck.

Paul nodded and didn't waste time playing around or teasing Darry. Pulling Darry into another soft kiss, this time lasting longer than the last one.

He sighed into the kiss, eyes flickering closed as they kissed. He smiled into it when he realized it was lasting longer than the other ones.

Paul soon closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Darry's waist as he pulled him closer. Slowly pulling away from the kiss after awhile.

Darry’s eyes were half lidded as the kiss broke off, a content smile on his face as he looked up at Paul. “That was nice.” He whispered simply, still leaning into the blond.

"Well, there's more where that came from. If you want it." Paul softly chuckled, pressing his forehead against Darry's. Relaxing a little.

“Hm, I’m pretty sure I do, Paulie.” His smile grew a little but he bit down on his bottom lip to stop it. One of his hands came up to card through the hair on the back of Paul’s head, clearly content.

"Someone certainly seems happy about that." He smiled and started to kiss Darry all over his face. Stopping only to just lean in close and hold on to Darry.

Darry laughed as the kisses were peppered over his face. Once Paul stopped he sighed and finally pulled him in for another kiss, his body once again sagging into Paul’s.

He smiled and nodded before laying his cheek on Two-Bit’s shoulder, sighing contently. He hummed a bit, trying to be comforting. He smiled as a crash of thunder boomed, signaling another crash of lighting had fallen not too far away. He squeezed the younger man tightly, still humming, but quieter. The storm was peaceful to him, like a lullaby. He inhaled and exhaled again before burying his face in the younger’s neck, clearly happier than he usually was.

Two-Bit frowned at the thunder, burying his face in Darry’s hair with his eyes screwed shut. “How’re you so calm?” he whispered, clutching at the back of the other’s shirt again, his knuckles pale, his hands shaking. It was nearly impossible for him to be calm while the world outside was in chaos and darkness, so it was shocking how the other man could be calm and uncaring.

Darry shrugged and murmured, “I like the sound of storms. Just been that way since I was a baby.” After a few seconds he laughed softly and said, “My dad, uh, he told me when I was a baby I was awful fussy about being put to sleep. So when there was a storm he’d take me out to the back porch to listen to it and I’d be out like a light.” He inhaled a little shakily and pressed a gentle kiss to Two-Bit’s neck, “Mama hated it, swore up and down my dad’d get struck by lightning while holding me.” His voice trailed off after he finished talking, his happiness and peacefulness now a little bittersweet.

Two-Bit scrunched up his nose at the mention of the sounds, but he nodded to show that he heard Darry. Those were the worst, though, the dangerous rolls of thunder shaking the walls on their foundation. He hated it, and he knew his mother and sister hated it too. It made it seem like everything was going to crumble on top of him. Everything was horrible when it stormed, his room always suffocating when one happened. He sighed and loosely hooked a leg around Darry, keeping him as close as he could to him, almost like he was trying to protect him from the rumbling noises and flashes of light. 

“Mama didn’t like storms either,” He started, clearly just talking to try and calm down his boyfriend, “She said she had an uncle who died in a storm. I dunno how truthful that was, she said a storm caused the barn to come down on top of him, I think the barn was just rotted.” He laughed softly and ran his hand up and down the back of Two-Bit’s back. He made a face and shifted his legs, his place kneeling in front of the couch growing uncomfortable. He didn’t want to move though because of how spooked Two-Bit clearly was.