I know that I usually write Death Note fanfics, but I've recently become completely OBSESSED with the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It's the greatest book ever. Read it. This is the beginning of a collection of stories using just about EVERY pairing in The Outsiders. Except for the straight ones. And the just plain lame ones. (Such as Bob x Randy. I mean, seriously. Soc Love? EW. Greaser Love? YES.) Anyways, I've decided to start off with one of my personal favorite Outsiders pairings. This IS my first Outsiders fanfic (and my first Outsiderscest fic) so be gentle on me. I wrote this in about 10 minutes, and I'm too lazy to make any revisions. I know this doesn't make very much sense, but what the heck. It's a fanfic. Anything can happen, and anything will. Though sometimes you get more than you bargained for.

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Dreams

Soda x Pony

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I awoke covered in a cold sweat. I sat upright, my nails digging into the mattress. I could barely see anything in the shadowy room, and what I couldn't see, my over-active imagination made up for. With a small, shuddering sob, I laid back down on my side, facing the wall.

A few tears rolled down my cheeks. At least I knew here no one would judge me for crying. And if they knew why, they'd probably laugh even more.

I had had another nightmare. It was about Mom and Dad. But I just couldn't remember what it was that had made it so scary. I just knew that my heart was pounding like crazy, and that all I wanted was someone to comfort me.

It was then, I realized that person was laying right next to me. Well, I didn't realize it, per se. The thought finally came to me as the form of my brother stirred beneath the covers, causing me to give a small cry as I shivered.

"Ugh... Ponyboy, that you?" Soda muttered drowsily, turning to face what he presumed what was my face but was really my back; his arm groping around randomly as he searched for me, half asleep.

I turned to face my brother, grabbing his wrist gently and laying his arm over my shoulder in the familiar gesture that was always performed before we went to sleep. "Yeah..." I said quietly, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

By now, Soda was a bit more awake. His large, beautiful eyes opened and blinked in an effort to get the sleep out of them. I could feel a light blush tinge my cheeks. Everyone acknowledged that my brother was incredibly handsome, like some sort of movie star. It just seemed that when he was sleepy he looked even more gorgeous. It seemed as though sleep had that effect on most people; my older brother especially. I gave an involuntary shiver.

"Hn, you okay? You cold or something?" He asked sleepily as he shuffled around, trying to get comfortable again, eventually wrapping his right arm around my waist.

"I..." With a swallow, I continued. It was a little hard to concentrate with my brother's arm around me. I could feel the sweat dripping down my forehead, but it wasn't because of the dream.

"I had another dream about Mom and Dad..." I whispered. By then, Soda was wide awake. His large eyes stared at me.

"Do you remember any of it?" He demanded, pulling me slightly closer, in either an attempt to keep me warm or to keep me safe from who knows what. With an inward groan I realized he was acting like Darry.

"No... well, um... it was just... I kind of... all I remember is that something terrible happened..." I stammered, trying hard to get the words out without sounding like more of an idiot that I already was.

Soda gave a grin, squeezing me tightly, though not in a painful way. I could feel a small smile creeping it's way onto my face. Soda always had that effect on me. His smile made him look even more beautiful than normal.

"Well, it's okay now, right? You got me and Darry to help you!" He said cheerfully.

No, Soda. You're wrong. You're the only one that can help me. Darry doesn't care. I thought.

"Hn, thanks, Sodapop..." I whispered, snuggling my head into his chest. He made me feel so safe, so secure. I would much rather have him as my only brother instead of having Darry as well.

Darry. It seemed as though we weren't even related at times. He always expected me to be perfect, like some sort of angel. As if that was possible. Living this kind of life, being a Greaser, fighting Socs, how was it possible for me to be the world's greatest child?

I remembered the way he had screamed at me that night. I had forgotten to do my homework, and instead had gone to the Nightly Double with Johnny. I knew that as soon as I stepped in the door there would be trouble. Darry had stormed up to me, fuming, my unfinished work crumpled in his right hand. Soda stared silently from the couch, his eyes wide with fear. Was he afraid of Darry or afraid for me? I wasn't sure.

"PONYBOY CURTIS!" Darry had screamed, and I flinched, shielding myself slightly with my trembling hands.

"Where the hell have you been?! It's almost 3 in the morning!" His eyes blazed holes through my heart. With a shaky voice, I answered.

"I... I went to the Nightly Double with Johnny..." I mumbled pathetically.

"God damn it, Pony!" Darry shouted as he smacked the papers onto the coffee table. Soda jumped slightly, bringing his legs up onto the couch with him as though there were spiders all across the floor.

"You never think, do you?! You never think of anything important! While I'm here, working my ass off to keep you and Soda out of a god damn boy's home, you're just living it up, ain'tcha?! They all say you're smart, Pony, but I sure as hell ain't thinking so now! You could get a scholarship! Then, you'd be able to go to college! Unlike me! Since Mom and Dad died, I've had to stay home and deal with you little son of a bitch so you ain't gonna end up in some orphanage! You're useless, Pony! Fucking useless!" He screamed, grabbing my collar as he did so. I didn't even say anything. Tears were already pouring down my cheeks.

The only sound in the room was Darry's heaving breaths after his outburst, and as I watched him, I could see the realization of what he'd just done creeping across his features. His eyes turned soft, watching me stand there and cry. Everything was blurry now, and there was a sort of buzzing in my ears. I knew then that he hated me. He hated me and wanted me to just leave him alone, forever. Leave him with Soda, who apparently could take care of himself. I was nothing.

"Pony, I'm s-" Darry began, but I shoved him forward suddenly, and began darting towards my room, tripping over the coffee table in the process. I ignored the sting in my knees, and scraped myself off the carpeting. Now my hands stung with rugburn, but I didn't care. I could hear voices shouting my name, but I didn't care. I rushed into my room, and slammed the door behind me. I collapsed on my bed, and with tears still streaming down my face, slipped into a restless sleep. And that was when I began to dream.

I could feel myself begin to cry again now, snuggled up next to Soda. I could feel myself trembling with silent sobs, and Soda noticed, too.

"Hey, Pony..." He whispered, bringing my face level to his with the gentle push of his fingers beneath my chin. His eyes glowed softly in the darkness, and there was a casual smile painted on his face.

"You alright, sweetie?" He asked, brushing some hair out of my face. I looked at him, and wiped away some tears with the back of my hand.

"It's... it's Darry..." I whispered, almost feeling as though I had betrayed my brother. I knew how much Soda admired him, but, surprisingly, Soda wasn't mad.

"Ah, that old guy..." He said, placing his chin on top of my head and squeezing me slightly.

"You know he doesn't mean it, Pony. He loves you to death, I swear. He just doesn't know how to express it... so he yells at you. It's just because he cares, Pony. He just wants you to have what he didn't, that's all..." Soda murmured, and I found his hand slipped into mine and squeezing it slightly. I knew that my face was most likely turning red.

"But you know what?" He said, bringing our faces level once more. He had a sly smile on his face, and I was sure that my eyes were wide with confusion.

"What..?" I asked hesitantly, and instinctively squeezed his hand.

Soda looked up and to the right for a moment, his lips in some sort of pout. When his gaze returned, it was fixed right on my eyes.

"I love you more." He said simply, and with a sudden jerk, he pressed his lips against mine. I gave a sort of strangled squeak, and flinched in surprise. But then, I closed my eyes and just sort of let the kiss take over me. Soda sort of crawled so he was on top of me, supporting his weight with his hands as he continued to kiss me. My arms lay limp at my sides as I let Soda do all the work. It all just felt so good.

Soda was very gentle, for he knew this was my first kiss. Suddenly, this thought jarred me. My first kiss was with a boy... and my brother, too! My eyes opened wide in panic, and I pulled away from Soda, my body shaking. Soda apparently expected this, and gently pulled me back down to my place next to him. I was shivering, my eyes wide with fear. He placed a gentle finger on my lips, silencing my chattering teeth.

"Pony, I know what you're thinking," He said, his eyebrows raised as he stared at me gravely. I was still shivering, so he pulled me into his warm embrace. I immediately stopped shuddering, though I was still incredibly scared.

"It's fine, alright... look, my first kiss was with D-" Soda cut off suddenly, and bit his lip as he realized he had made a huge mistake.

"What?!" I asked incredulously. "Your first kiss was with Darry??" The thought shocked me. I thought Soda's first kiss was with Sandy. Then again, up until now, I thought he loved Sandy, not me.

My train of thought suddenly took a hairpin turn. "But what about Sandy?" I asked. This apparently hadn't come to Soda. He blinked a few times and shrugged.

"What about her?" He asked casually, giving a lopsided smile. I nearly fell over. I felt as though I was talking to a kid.

"So-DA!" I groaned, covering my eyes with one hand. "What if Darry ever finds out?!" I asked, vaguely indicating to the door with my free hand. When it fell back to the covers, however, I found Soda had grabbed it, and was entwining our fingers together. He scooted really close to me, his lips at my ear, and whispered, "Let him find out."

Suddenly, all my worries were gone. I knew that with Soda, things would be alright. I ignored the fact that I was kissing lips that Darry had also kissed, that Sandy had also kissed. That didn't matter now. Soda was mine, I was his. All we needed was each other.

The next morning, Soda and I were wrapped in each others' arms, dreaming peacefully. At one point, Darry probably walked in and yelled at us to get up, thinking why wasn't Soda up already.

He would also probably be wondering later why I was unnaturally happy, despite having unfinished homework, and why there were a couple red marks on the necks of me and Soda. But I didn't care. And that day, before he headed off to work and before I headed off to school, Soda managed to plant the gentlest of kisses on my lips before Darry saw and before he was late. I smiled as he left, letting his hand slip gently out of mine.

Before he ran off down the street, however, he formed a small heart with his fingers and pointed towards me, before jumping over a trashcan and subsequently knocking it over. I shook my head and grinned as I packed my backpack. Good ol' Soda. He'd always be there for me.

We may have been brothers, and we may have been in love, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was we were both happy. And, more importantly, I thought and smiled, Darry didn't know. Absentmindedly, I rubbed one of the marks on my neck. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and gave a half-smile.

Boy, would I have a story for Johnny.