Hero

by potterlockedintheshire

freeverse-poetry type fic in which Dally thinks about how he doesn't deserve to be Johnny's hero. Takes place sometime before the major events of the book, so none of the characters have died yet. No pairings.

Hero

Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders.

Author's Note: This is my first fic that could sort of be classified as "poetry," or at least my first one that wasn't written in a story format. I really don't know if this is any good or not, and I'm depending on reviews to know if it's alright or not, so please tell me what you think, I'd really appreciate it.

This fic is written from Dally to Johnny.

Hero.

A simple word.

A complicated meaning.

Someone you look up to.

Someone you admire.

Why am I yours?

I've never done anything great.

Nothing worthwhile.

I'm a hoodlum.

A delinquent.

I've gotten arrested.

I've been to jail.

But you still look up to me, Johnny?

Why?

Why me?

Pick someone better.

Pick someone worthwhile.

You shouldn't want to be like me.

I don't even want to be like me.

Yet you still look at me in that special way of yours.

The way that tells me you see me as something more than a hoodlum.

But I'm not.

I know it.

Why don't you?

You're still a pretty good kid.

I'm wasn't.

I never have been.

You need a better hero.

A hero who's actually better than you are.

Because I know I'm not.