The first thing Soda did when he came home from work was take a nap. Just like Steve had told him.
And it wasn't like the snips of sleep he had during his DX shifts. It was a long nap, just him kicking his work shoes off, slumping face-first into the couch, and snoring loudly the second his feet made contact with the familiar floor of his own home.
Ponyboy, Johnny, and Two-Bit were home from school before the duo was let out from work, so they held perplexed looks when Soda had his instant session. Two-Bit was watching Mickey Mouse and eating chocolate cake on the floor while Pony was helping Johnny with his homework.
Two-Bit was the first to speak once Soda let out the loudest snore known to man. "Wow, Stevie, what's going on with Sodapop over there? He looks like he ran a whole bunch 'round the mill.", he asked, mouth full of cake, crumbs collapsing from his mouth and icing oozing on the corners from his lips.
Steve, whose lip curled a bit from the lousy nickname Two-Bit gave him, was nearly about to respond when Ponyboy's chair creaked loudly from the kitchen. He wandered over towards the living room, and poked his head in, where he saw Soda's sleeping body. His soft features showed deep concern as he turned his head to Steve. "What happened to Soda?"
Steve exhaled deeply and crossed his arms, walking into the kitchen. "He was just really tired all day. That's all. But it's really none of your business, kid."
Ponyboy followed him in and Steve smirked at the little growl from the teen. Steve had to give him one, of course the kid will be concerned about his brother. But it really wasn't his business. What was he supposed to say? That his older brother has been worrying himself silly by some piece of machinery some stranger asked them to protect? That only they knew about?
Ponyboy leaned to Johnny as Steve opened the refrigerator door. "Hey, Two-Bit. You better tell me that there's still cake or I will use your hide to decorate my home!"
"Of course there's still cake, Stevie. You really think I'd do something like that?"
"Yes, you would! And quit calling me Stevie!"
"Sure, Steve-O!"
With a growl, Steve slammed the door and dashed to the living room and caught the Mickey Mouse lover in a headlock, leaving Two-Bit's hands grabbing Steve's arms at a desperate attempt for air, not doing that good of a job from the surprise attack coming from him.
"Holler uncle," Steve hissed.
"Never!"
"Hey, y'all. What's with the ruckus?", a voice interrupted. The two struggling greasers on the floor looked up suddenly.
"Hey, Dal!"
Dally grinned in his roguish amusement and wandered into the kitchen, where he nodded at Ponyboy and ruffled Johnny's jet black head of hair. Steve, letting Two-Bit go with a glare towards him, followed the hood into the kitchen, where he was drinking a bottle of beer.
"What happened with Soda? He managed to sleep through what you two clowns were doing while I couldn't stand Two-Bit's loudness from Buck's place.", Dally questioned.
Steve rolled his eyes hard as he took out a knife from the drawer. Seriously, why's everyone asking about Soda?
"The kid's just been tired all day. That's all there is to it."
Dallas scoffed, playing with the ring on the table. "No need to get all defensive, Randle. We ain't threatening the middle Curtis or anything. The problem is that he's been more on edge than he has ever been for a while. It's unsettling."
Steve numbly placed his slice if cake on the table. Shit, he thought. He's more on edge about that engine thing than I thought, if someone like Dally would be willing to notice.
Soda needs that drag race.
Just the two of them.
Steve cleared his throat suddenly. "Well, if y'all don't mind, me and Soda are heading off to a drag race once he wakes up.", he announced, strutting across the room. He sat down in the only available seat at the table and flashed a look towards the youngest Curtis. This was their own burden to carry, meaning that this trip should be theirs and theirs alone.
Not the tagalong. Not the gang.
But Two-Bit had to speak up. "Ooh! A drag race, you say? Can I come?", he grinned, tossing the plate into the sink once he bounded himself loudly into the kitchen. Ponyboy flashed him a dirty look.
"Don't toss the dang thing in! You break it, you're cleaning it!"
Two-Bit stuck out his tongue in return, his Will Rogers-like grin splitting mischievously across his face.
Steve shook his head. "Not happening, Keith. Only me and Soda are gonna go. I can only afford the sleepyhead without having to carry the rest of you home."
Two-Bit's face fell and Steve felt almost guilty. Almost.
A stir came from the living room, and Steve suddenly felt very fascinated by that. Damn, the noise finally woke him up. Slowly, Sodapop waddled in, rubbing his whiskey-colored tiresome eyes. He looked at all the greasers in the room.
"Hey what's all the noise?"
Two-Bit quickly came to his side. " Sorry to wake you, Soda, but I'm just insulted that somebody wouldn't let us go a certain drag race happening tonight." Two-Bit crossed his arms and sent raised brows towards Steve, who returned the look with the evil eyes.
Sodapop looked at Steve, who dropped the look as quickly as he gained it; he gave a look as one parent would give a child when he would not include his friend in a game of tag.
"Steve, don't get all touchy about this issue. I think we should all go. Not only will we get to see the race, but it's also gonna be a good relief from all the stress."
Johnny, who stayed so quiet between the whole exchange the moment the friends came home, looked Soda's way. "Are you okay, Sodapop? What kind of stress is it?", he asked, twiddling his pencil with his fingers.
Soda's eyes blinked quickly and Steve didn't miss the unfamiliar emotion go through his eyes. He felt a rising sense of unease rise in his chest. Soda needed this break. They've been hiding this for about almost two weeks, and apparently nobody missed the dark strain his buddy was going through. He preferred the two of them to go alone, the gang could distract him from all this oncoming pressure.
So if the gang would help by bringing them along, so be it.
"Just a lot of work stuff, Johnnycakes. And if Darry's alright with it, we could let you two come as well."
Johnny's black eyes gleamed and Pony looked Steve's way. Who the hell was he to stand in the way? In response, Steve sighed and gave a shrug.
"Alright let's let Darry know."
oooOOooo
A drag race is where you all are going?, Darry asked from the phone.
"Yep," Soda replied, looking back at the expecting group of eyes in the kitchen, obviously trying to hear the conversation from the kitchen.
Darry was quiet for a moment. Finally, he said tiredly, "Ponyboy can go, since it's Friday and it ain't a school night for him. Johnny is more than welcome to go with you if he wants, and Two-Bit and Dal can go if they're willing as well."
Soda felt a smile creep on his face as he turned towards the gang. He nodded and their faces lit up. Looks like they were all going! And for Sodapop, that was good. As much as he enjoyed Steve's company at these outings, he'd rather prefer to bring the gang along for this case. It'd be a better relief, at least for him. With the gang around, it'll be harder to talk about the engine around them, and he's okay with that. It's better to not talk about it.
It's better. No stress about it.
"Wait. You gonna come, Dar?"
Darry sighed, but Soda knew that was going to happen. When did Darry have time to do anything anymore? It wasn't supposed to be an insult; it's just the way things have been since the Curtis parents died. Always working so hard to provide, because he doesn't know where to start when it came to two grown teenagers.
Still, it would've been nice if the oldest could come along.
"I'm working late today. My boss is gonna leave us here for a while. But y'all are going to the 8:00 race, right?"
"Yep."
"I'll try to finish quickly and I could maybe meet you guys there. We might use another car maybe, better than one ride."
"Works for us."
"Don't stay out too late though. I'm not risking sending the fuzz after you and getting y'all thrown into a boy's home."
"Yessir!", he replied, saluted on the other line, like that old general army game the brothers used to play as kids. Of course their dad would play with them too as the general and Darry would be their sergeant, but they obeyed with the same exact respect.
From that moment of nostalgia, Darry chuckled over the phone. "See you guys later, little buddy."
oooOOooo
Let Steve just say, the race was just what Soda needed.
The ear-splitting roar of the engines made the teen grin and giggle as he squirmed in his seat. The smile never left his face once. In fact, Steve lost count of the times Soda stood up from his seat screaming his heart out cheering.
As would apply to most people, it would cause a few to turn and watch, but to Soda, it didn't matter. And if it didn't matter to Soda, it didn't matter to Steve. And besides, if some would be willing to pick a fight if he was being too loud, Steve would arrive and beat them so hard their children wouldn't stand the embarrassment.
Ponyboy was sitting next to Soda reading a book, but he would occasionally look up at the race once Soda would cheer. Whether it was because the sudden loudness of his happy-go-lucky nature that made him flinch or the polite proper façade to put on to make him appear as interested as he is, Steve might never know.
Johnny was sitting with Dally not too far from where Ponyboy sat reading. Dally always found pleasure in criticizing the racers whenever he came to races and that night was no different. Whichever car would pass by, Dally would make a certain face and lean towards Johnny to whisper. Johnny always reflected that face and would reply to Dally, leaving the duo to just talk about racers. It was a simple conversation between the two, and it was a good way for them to be and let be.
Two-Bit was just as excited about the race as Soda.
He sat next to Steve, so it left him to become a human sandwich in between the loudest and most enthusiastic members of the gang. He was always in the risk of deafness whenever the two would stand and screech and cheer.
But the engine was seemingly far away from Soda's mind, so he couldn't complain.
For the rest of the night, Steve smirked and enjoyed the race, because he was going to savor this sweet moment before walking out and Soda would slowly give in to his nerves again.
oooOOooo
Darry managed to catch the gang as they walked way from the racing arena.
His truck parked out front, Steve watched as the oldest Curtis brother ran across the street to reach them. He was still dressed in his clothes from work, so surely he must've rushed straight here. Was it to catch the race and watch it with the gang? Steve wasn't sure. But could it? The whole gang haven't been out together on a relaxing night out in a long time, excluding rumbles against the Socs, or course.
But still.
"Did the race finish?", Darry panted, bending over and resting his hands on his hips as he started to catch his breath. His face was only getting a tad shiny and his cheeks were a light pink.
Steve just was going to respond when a swift movement behind Darry caught his eye.
Peering from the tall lean built figure, Steve squinted his eyes for better vision and he locked eye contact with suspiciously distinguished-looking gentleman.
He was as tall as Darry, and as fit too. His chest was well built with arms as long as two-pane windows and biceps like sturdy tree trunks. He had pale white skin and wore all black; black T-shirt, black pants, black shoes. All business. His features were glazed and hard: hazel eyes like stone, a pointed chin, angled-down light brown eyebrows, and bright red hair that fell in sweaty clamps across his forehead.
The two locked eyes for a long time; Steve's tongue licked his lips in a musky, I-can-kill-you manner whilst the strange shadowy looking broad-shouldered man eye's twitched and his teeth gritted together.
Steve felt it right then. That familiar feeling he had with him. That Jake McAllister person who gave them the core in the first place.
Instant distrust and pure suspicion.
Yeah. That familiar feeling.
Just then, the redhead made his way over, fingers flinching quickly as he strolled, which was stiff and business-like, and it bugged Steve something awful.
"Let me ask you something," the redhead declared, standing smack in front of Steve, who was about a head shorter than the latter. (He was described as being as tall as Darry, right?)
Darry walked in at that moment, though, glaring at the man eye-to-eye. "And who might I ask, are you?", he asked in a tough voice, like the one he would use when a Soc would challenge him at rumbles. The one he would use when Darry was sure he would have the upper hand.
The man only smirked and used the back of his hand to move Darry to the side, which he did, but stayed close to him, blue-green icy eyes burning through him, but had no effect.
"Right. A proper introduction. That's what everybody asked They know me as Damien Shawn, and I come from the Facility of Mechanical Arts and Programing. I'm here because I'm looking for someone."
Johnny moved closer to Ponyboy, who were both looking at the man completely confused and scared. Their eyes were wide and their bodies seemed stiff. "Who are you looking for?", Johnny asked softly. Damien's smirk stayed and his hazel eyes switched from Steve to the black haired greaser.
"Dr. Jake McAllister."
Just then, Steve couldn't breathe properly.
"He has taken away an item that rightfully belongs to our director. The traitor ran off and we have to take precaution to search everywhere. We are hoping to find the engine and retrieve it back to the facility in high hopes that we use it to win the war at Vietnam for our children, our wives, our brothers, our troops, and for our country most importantly."
These were the men Mr. McAllister was talking about. A bunch of men talking about an engine used for the good of America. Shit. Shit. Shit.
They had only one job. He hated McAllister, but he was going to fulfill the task for Sodapop. Steve would not let his best friend undergo all this stress for nothing if it was found.
Inhaling and exhaling as quietly as possible, Steve switched his stare to Soda, who was as pale as a ghost. Hell, he looked like he saw one.
Unfortunately, Damien caught notice. His squinted at Soda, who tried to regain his posture. Moving slowly, his hands behind his back, Damien hissed slowly and quietly to him, so silent they couldn't hear a thing. Soda only replied back audiobly, "N-No. We've never heard of him. We would've told if we heard of him."
Great. Soda's got the doctor's stutter. We definitely get in the deep shit now.
Damien's smirk has fallen and a snarl replaced it quickly. Steve wanted so badly to intervene; the man had the look to kill, and Soda could've been dead if that were the true case. With that being said, he leaned close and hissed again in Soda's ear and Sodapop's eyes instantly got wide.
Next thing Steve knew, his arm was caught and the two were running towards Steve's truck.
"Soda, what's-"
"We gotta get to the gas station! NOW!"
oooOOooo
The greasy boys ran off like the wind and Damien felt a smile creep onto his face. Looks like they knew about the engine after all. That quick chest rise and fall and pale face was a dead giveaway from those two boys. The issue made him want to laugh for the record. McAllister giving his best achievement to two amateur kids?
Hilarious. And smart too.
Too bad they weren't good actors.
A group of feet stomped across the pavement and the sound was replaced by gasps and pants.
"Sir, no luck. We looked everywhere."
Damien turned and three others were looking distressed. Wait till they heard the news!
"No need to search more, men. We found something better: the engine core."
Just as he expected, their faces gleamed with wonder. But one's fell into puzzlement. "What about Jake?"
Damien rolled his eyes. Who in the world was going to need that silent fear-stricken fool anymore? "Forget about him. I want you to follow those boys, and fetch me their core. Let them surrender it.", he barked, turning on his heel.
"Uh, sir? Where are you going?"
Damien turned his head. "To talk to the director, men. Now go."
oooOOooo
AND DONE! Boom! Okay, now the story will finally pick up! Next stop on the Radiated express: Superpower City. A WHAT WHAT!
But for the record, this felt a little rushed to me, since I would like to spend the summer working on the chapters focusing on the gang's powers, and once again, I apologize their they were OOC. (Really got to stop doing that.)
But screw it. It's done. Now let's answer some reviews, shall we:
Guest: Thank you! I guess I just found it boring because I read it so many times since I was the one that wrote it. But thank you though!
DailyFeather: Oh, you don't know how relived I feel when you say the characters were accurate. Thank you, that made me feel more relaxed!
soraxtsuna123: I luv the brotherly love between the Curtis' and I want to highlight more Stevie moments. People address him as a hard-headed jerk, but why would Soda like a guy who is a jerk? He just couldn't let his pride go. Plus, I gave you chills? You? O.o Okay, I must be doing good. Thx for reading!
HubLuv: Yep! I have no idea where that came from. Maybe just off the top of my head. But I'm glad I gave you some of the willies.
Thank you so much for tuning in, but I have to go now. Enjoy your summer, and I'll see you next time! ;D
-Deximon