☁

Johnny had always been close to Dallas, everyone knew this. Hell, they were attached by the hip. But even if you were a stranger passing by the little boy, you'd know how bad his homelife was. His father using him as a personal punching bag; a stress reliever. His mother, a drunk, yelling her ass of at him in some uncoherent screech while she tumbles over empty beer bottles.

All of this trauma and stress being put on Johnny made him feel, well, little. He loved going back to a time where his life was tinted through rose colored glasses. Maybe he would be playing with some of Ponyboys old toys, or maybe he was cuddled up with Dallas in the lot, his hand gently soothing him to sleep.

One night, the nights where his father would hit hard, he immediately ran out the door. His feet taking him home, to Dallas. Who knew where Dal' could be? It was hard enough as the rain poured down the dim-lit streets. He just couldn't think, he didn't want to think.

Johnny soon found himself at Bucks. That was obviously the last place he wanted to be, but he couldn't go anywhere else, he needed his Dal'. So, here he was, desperately pounding on the door hoping that someone would here him over the pouring rain and faint music.

"What'dya want, kid?" A large, husky man opened the door, the red glow of the place flooding outside.

"I..." Johnny stuttered, he felt so overstimulated from what was going on to the point he couldn't think straight. "I need Dal'. I- I need to see Dally." His voice cracked slightly.

The man looked around, "And why's that?" He gave a snarky reply.

Someone else soon walked up behind the man "Heya' Buck, who we got here?" Thank. God. It was Dallas. "Oh hey, Johnny! Whats the matter?" His tone changed to a more soothing sensation.

Buck had rolled his eyes and walked back into the party. "Johnny?" Dallas said more worriedly.

Johnny was spilling out tears, even Dal' could tell through the pouring rain. It felt like acid to his skin, his bottom lip quivering and his hands shaking.

"Oh." Dally said in realization. His movements sputtered for a second, not yet sure on what to do. "Johnny... Baby, c'mon inside before you get yourself sick."

Dallas reached out to him, throwing a protective arm over his shoulder as they walk through the crowd of drunks and greasers, the smell of alcohol over filling Johnnys senses, causing him to lean into the protection of Dallas.

They make it upstairs, Dal' closing the door behind him and locking it. Then, he gave his attention to Johnny. He was standing there, silently sobbing as water pools beneath him, his clothes dripping wet from the rain.

"Baby, it's alright..." Dallas cooed to him, gently taking his jean jacket off. Johnny stood there, innocently looking at Dallas. He caught on to it, Dal' pulled him into a warm hug, he could have cared less about Johnny soaking his clothes, or the water dripping onto the floorboards.

No, all he cared about in the moment was Johnny and Johnny only. He only cared about ensuring his safety, to make him feel comfortable.

"Shhh, nobodies going to hurt you now- I've got you bub." He soothed Johnny, gently rocking him back and forth. He rubbed his back with small circles, giving his wet, greasy hair a kiss. "lets run you a bath, ya?" Dallas chuckled, "Don't want you to catch a cold."

🐛 activities

Cudling up in a sleeping bag like a little caterpillar Crawling around on soft rugs like a little inchworm Building a “leafy fort” (your chrysalis!) out of blankets and pillows Making paper or felt leaves and caterpillars Coloring butterfly life cycle pages Reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar or other bug books Watching calming bug/nature documentaries or animations Pretend foraging for snacks like a hungry bug Laying in the sun like you're basking on a big leaf BLANKET BURRITO!!!

🐛 clothes

Striped pajamas or onesies (like caterpillar segments!) Fuzzy hoodies with antennae or bug eyes on the hood Socks with grips for safe crawling Soft footie pajamas or rompers in green, yellow, or rainbow colors Leaf-patterned shirts or pants Headbands with little feelers or fuzzy balls Clothes with bugs, butterflies, or nature themes

🐛 toys

Caterpillar plushies (long and huggable!) Stuffies with segments or tactile bumps Felt or wooden bug toys Sensory toys like pop tubes, bendy bugs, or soft squishies “Feed the caterpillar” games with plush food Plush cocoons or sleeping pouches for toys Nature or garden-themed stacking toys Bug-shaped rattles or fidget balls Plush leaf pillows or mats Fake vines for crawling under

🐛 games

Pretend to inch across the “garden” (pillows, mats, blankets) Playing hide and seek like a sneaky little bug Acting out the caterpillar’s day (eating, crawling, sleeping) Collecting pretend leaves or toy fruits to "eat" Sorting colored leaves or fruit by number or color Gentle pillow obstacle course for crawling and exploring Making a butterfly house or “bug daycare” for stuffies Pretend rain play (spraying mist, hiding under leaves)

🐛 foods/drinks

Fruit slices in a rainbow row (like The Very Hungry Caterpillar!) Grape “leaves” on sticks Apple sauce, fruit puree pouches, or yogurt Leaf-shaped cookies or crackers Carrot sticks or green apples (garden foods!) Jello “leaves” Cucumber sandwiches or veggie pinwheels Green smoothies or honeydew juice Leaf tea (.mint or chamomile)

🐛 nicknames <3