Ace waited for Brooklyn's cursing to quiet down before he continued speaking.
"Ah, and since I know you're going to run out of town quick as that hot rod can go, I brought something for you. You left it at my house before they took you in." Ace handed him a silver cigarette case with a curling ivy plant pattern etched in the thin metal. Brooklyn took it and flicked the antique case open with practiced ease. A pack of cigarettes was already there for him.
"Thank you."
"I even got your favorite kind for you. I figured you'd need them." Ace squeezed his shoulder. "I never got a chance to say goodbye to you friend."
"I know." Brooklyn's eyes were downcast. "I'm sorry."
"Friends don't need to apologize although sometimes it's good to explain. But I understand this." He clasped Brooklyn's hand in both of his, the cigarette case in the midst. "And I am sorry for you."
"Don't be." Brooklyn shook his head.
"I know that look. You didn't deserve this Brooklyn, no matter what you've ever done." He patted Brooklyn's cheek. "And I hope you find happiness here. I'll be around for a few more days, depending on how my chicketalo comes along. He's not as big as you but he dresses so, cute. He is truly like an oversized Ken doll."
"Did you do anything in my car?" Brooklyn asked, wincing.
"Did I do anyone in your car? No. You look pale." Ace said.
"I went for a swim with a friend." Brooklyn said, rolling his eyes. His friend was probably listening in at the moment.
"A friend? Have you finally started letting love get to your cold, black heart? I don't know if I believe. I bet it's a comely chica perhaps? Glittery but honest? Or a skinny chicketalo to compliment your sterling personality?" Ace said, smiling.
"Just a friend. If it were anything more I would come running back to New York to get away from his brother I'm sure." Brooklyn sighed.
"People are more accepting than you would think." Ace said.
"People will not accept a felon having sex with a minor, no matter what the genders are."
"You're still so jilted friend. Have some faith in mankind." Brooklyn sighed.
"Speaking of a lack of faith in mankind, is anyone else looking for me?"
"It's women kind that you should be worried about with Lisa. They only miss you. You can't be replaced. They seem to think I will always know where you are." Ace smiled.
"I trust your discretion and if someone wants my blood, sell me out and stay alive." Brooklyn said with a quiet intensity in his voice. Yes, he was that important in the gang scene and no, he didn't like reminding himself of that.
"Ahh, amigo, you worry too much. You look like you need more sleep."
"No can do, I've got to take the chicketalo home to his brothers. I'll see you again before you leave, right?" Ace nodded. "I'm leaving town tomorrow one way or another, so feel free to use my apartment."
"Gracias, my chicketalo will love the leather I'm sure."
"The Windex is under the kitchen sink."
Brooklyn went back to his bedroom and sank onto his bed, sitting up and running his fingers along the familiar contours of the cigarette case. He tossed the car keys to his dresser.
"What is that?" Pony asked, resting his chin on Brooklyn's shoulder. Brooklyn fiddled with the catch again and sighed, showing it to Pony. His name was etched into the metal in a fine, cursive script adorned with the same ivy pattern.
"It's a cigarette case. My father gave it to me when I graduated high school."
"Wasn't he the one who sent you to boarding school?" Brooklyn nodded. "And he gives you a cigarette case?"
"I think he knew more than he let on about me. Besides, it's a fatherly gift, isn't it?" Pony's hand overlapped Brooklyn's as he took the case and examined it.
"I guess. Where are your parents anyway? Still in New York?"
"That's one way to say it. I don't want to talk about that." Brooklyn said, getting up so abruptly Pony fell off his shoulder.
"Sorry." Pony said. That was such a Dally like answer Pony swore the blondes were nearly interchangeable at that moment. No, Dally would've swore Pony up and down for mentioning his parents.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you, I just, don't want to tell anyone." Brooklyn said.
"Anyone would generally include me." Pony said. Brooklyn gave him a pained expression and Pony regretted pushing the issue.
"If that's what you think." Brooklyn shook his head and turned away. "I should take you home. Darry is going to skin me as it is." Brooklyn walked to the bedroom door but Pony was up and wrapped his arms around the older man's chest, pulling him close only because he was willing to be pulled.
"I'm sorry. I know whatever you can't tell me must be hell. I wish I could make it better for you." Brooklyn glanced at Ponyboy and exhaled.
"Apologies are always more convincing when one is half naked. Find something to wear so I can take you home and find a way to get the hell out of Dodge for a day or so."
Brooklyn slid from his grasp and Pony wandered to Brooklyn's closet. Brooklyn was in the kitchen as Pony found clothes. He pulled jeans on over his hips and a shirt over his shoulders. They weren't huge on him if you thought of how big Brooklyn was in comparison to Pony. Pony sighed. It was obvious they weren't his clothes though.
"Why are you so anxious about getting outta town?" Pony called out.
"I'm avoiding an angry female. Any suggestions?"
"You could just stay at our house." Pony said. Brooklyn under house arrest in his house didn't seem like a bad idea.
"She'd find me."
"We could take a trip with the gang or something?" Pony said, walking to the kitchen. Brooklyn turned from his refrigerator and furrowed his brow, grimacing at Pony's outfit.
"If I explain why you're in my pants I imagine Darry will do me the favor of sending me to the hospital."
(la la la they travel to the Curtis house)
Brooklyn walked through the front door of the Curtis household and Darry gave him a glare to end all glares. Brooklyn wilted.
"What'd I do this time boss?" Brooklyn said, hanging his head as Pony remained half hidden behind him.
"Where on earth have you and Pony been? You haven't called all day. I was starting to worry." His voice lacked conviction and it was a halfhearted scold.
"Only starting? He's losing his touch. Did you guys have fun?" Soda said, looking up from the couch. Steve was leaning his back against the couch as he sat on the floor and smiled at Brooklyn.
"You certainly look like you did. Whose clothes are you wearing Pony?" Steve asked. Pony flushed and Brooklyn cleared his throat.
"Mine." Brooklyn said, his voice unnaturally small.
"Why?" Darry asked.
"I may or may not have swam in a river and invited Pony to do the same." Brooklyn said.
"Jesus New York. You are insane." Darry just shook his head. He glanced back to his textbook and pulled his reading glasses back on. "No injuries I assume since the hospital didn't call?"
"We're fine. We just got a little cold." Brooklyn said. Pony sighed in relief and plopped down on the couch beside Soda.
"Next time you guys go swimming, I'm game." Two Bit said, coming in from the kitchen with a piece of cake. Not chocolate for once. White cake with rainbow streaks. Pony had baked it because Brooklyn mentioned liking it. Brooklyn sat on the arm of the couch and Two Bit made himself comfortable next to Pony. Brooklyn turned his attention to Darry.
"Finals coming up?" Brooklyn asked.
"No, just a unit test."
"When?" Soda asked.
"Tomorrow night." Darry said, flinching.
"Want me to take the gang somewhere for some bonding time so you can study?"
"Ha, first Pony, now you wanna baby sit all of us? Jeez, I only hope you can cook if you're our nanny." Steve said, chuckling. Pony wondered if anyone else had noticed that Brooklyn spent a lot of his free time with Pony, driving him or just being with him. Apparently so.
"I don't baby sit anyone although payment for dragging you along anywhere would be appreciated." Brooklyn said, flicking Steve's ear.
"Mr. Mom." Steve said.
"No good bum." Brooklyn said.
"Man nanny."
"Man who needs a nanny." Brooklyn said.
"Ouch." Soda said, chuckling.
"Where would you take them?" Darry asked, warily.
"Somewhere far, far away?" Brooklyn suggested.
"Let's go camping." Two Bit said.
"That's not a bad idea." Soda said.
"Hell yeah, beer, a fire, hot dogs and bug bites to boot." Steve said, laughing.
"Don't forget the fishing at the crack of noon." Brooklyn said.
"Do we have tents?" Pony asked.
"Yeah, I think we still have a couple pop tents from the failed Curtis Scouts adventure." Soda said.
"Is it pop or pup?" Two Bit asked.
"Who the fuck cares? I need to get out of town. Running from the law." Brooklyn said, smiling. "Where were these tents now?"
(la la la imagine this is white space)
Brooklyn had spent a sleepless night at the Curtis household, envying Sodapop and trying to get comfortable on the couch. He envied Sodapop because he shared a room, and half the time, a bed with Pony. Hell, Brooklyn shared a bed with Pony for a few hours and he'd never slept sounder. And it wasn't just the plunge in the river talking either. Hearing the steady breathing as Pony tucked against his chest for warmth gave Brooklyn something he never felt before. He mattered even if he was only as useful as a space heater.
But then again, having Pony feet away from him in a dark room while they both were supposed to be sleeping might just give him a horrible case of insomnia and a need to take longer showers.
Brooklyn wandered out from one of those said long showers in Darry's clothes since he was loath to go to his apartment and chance meeting Ace's chicketalo. He asked Darry for a belt and a jacket. Darry appeared in the doorway to his room, a semi frown blooming on his face. He tossed Brooklyn a belt.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Darry asked. His eyes implied that it wasn't much of a question.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" He buckled the belt around his waist and Darry handed him a thick jacket. "Thanks again buddy. You're always saving my ass." He began to slide it over his shoulders when Pony appeared. He had the goofiest grin Darry had ever seen and Brooklyn rolled his eyes.
"Sodapop wants to know whether he should pack some fishing stuff."
"If there's room. Are Two Bit and Steve here yet?"
"Two Bit just showed up and Steve said he'd met us at the DX."
"Good, I need some gas before we head out anyway." Brooklyn said. Pony glanced to his oldest brother and blinked.
"Sure you won't come Dar?"
"Naw, I've got lots of studying to do. You'd better get out there and call shot gun."
Pony nodded and bounded away. Darry knew he "bounded" because of Brooklyn. How were he and Brooklyn so different that where Darry got a half assed smile and furtive glances, Brooklyn got a beaming grin and a look that would make an angel's eyes seem less than divine?
"Are you really sure you don't want to come?" Brooklyn asked.
"Yeah. I still wanna talk though." Brooklyn nodded and met Darry's gaze again. Darry walked to Brooklyn and straightened his collar, griping it tight in his fingers. He met the topaz gem gaze of his best friend and narrowed his eyes, taking a breath. Brooklyn didn't like how serious Darry was becoming.
"What's wrong?"
"I want you to watch Pony." Darry said.
"I will. Besides, I'm sure a drunk Two Bit could fight off a cougar, so no worries."
"I'm serious New York." Darry said, tightening his grip before exhaling and releasing the younger man.
"He'll be fine chief. Why are you so worried?"
"I've seen the way he looks at you." Darry's eyes suddenly pierced Brooklyn's and Brooklyn kept his eyebrow from arching at the implications of that statement.
"What do you mean?" Brooklyn asked.
"You know what I mean." Darry said, an eyebrow arching to the ceiling.
"Come on Darry, he just wants another brother to be his superhero when you're too busy with your books." Brooklyn jostled him right out of his death stare with his grin.
"Well, be his superhero without jumping into a God damned river."
"Once again, I think a drunk Two Bit could handle that." Brooklyn's grin finally got a chuckle from Darry and he pushed Brooklyn towards the door.
"Get out of here you damned hood. Stay gone until tomorrow evening."
"Will do boss."
Brooklyn drove to the DX, ignoring the general din in the back seat. Brooklyn pulled up to a pump and everyone piled out, Steve appearing and stuffing his bag in the back. Pony was still a little drowsy and smiled at the mid morning sun light. Pony was awake enough to notice that the reader board at the DX no longer boasted the lowest gas prices in town but instead advertised the Curtis Brothers and Company Repair service, inquire within.
"It says Curtis brothers, that means Pony's gotta start pitching in." Steve said.
"Yeah, he can hold the flash light." Pony dropped his jaw and punched Brooklyn's arm.
"How'd you get your boss to put that up?" Pony asked.
"Soda and Steve needed help on a car and their boss got the privilege of watching us work together, followed by a very convincing sales pitch from out dear Soda." Brooklyn said.
"Hell, he had us fix his car and a window in the back room. He should know whether we're good or not." Steve said.
"Gotten any calls yet?"
"A couple for this weekend. Car stuff. Some breeze needs her oil changed, and some guy wants a new carburetor. That kind of thing." Soda said.
"Darry got a call about an old lady who wants her brick chimney repaired and a couple old guys from my apartment complex want me to redo some of the fencing." Brooklyn added.
"We'll be keeping busy." Soda said, sighing. Brooklyn heard Ace's motorcycle and glanced around. Sure enough, the Columbian pulled into the DX and jumped off his bike, tossing his helmet to his chicketalo in the back of his bike.
"I thought you'd been gone by now."
Ace's grin told Brooklyn volumes about the previous night's adventures. Brooklyn watched the guy gingerly get off the back of the motorcycle and remove his helmet. It was the Socs who had threatened Pony earlier that week and he looked very hung over. Brooklyn nodded at him with a very small smile and he retreated to the convenience store. He laughed out loud, almost a giggle.
"What? You know him?" Ace asked.
"Yeah and he has no idea what he is getting into." Brooklyn said, noting Pony was suddenly closer to him. The gang was watching him interact with the young Latino with interest. They got the idea he was someone from New York and with such a hot bike, well, he was deserving of some attention.
"He has no idea what he's already gotten into. He should know better than to let me buy him more than a couple beers." Ace smiled after the Socs and blinked at Brooklyn, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "You know, I wouldn't hang around here. Lisa speeds when she's angry. Where are you going?" Ace said.
"Camping." Ace chuckled.
"Sounds like fun. Where is this chicketalo you talked about-" Brooklyn's eyebrows arched and Pony got the idea he might've been whatever the hell a chicketalo was since Ace held his tongue but not his eyebrows.
The Socs came back out and edged around Brooklyn with timidity and a flush. Brooklyn reflected on what a small world it was.
"Thanks for the warning. Have fun."
"I will. See you soon Brooklyn."
Before Ace's motorcycle cleared the DX parking lot, a long convertible, a Buick Skylark, as orange as a ditch lily, pulled behind Brooklyn's car. A long haired blonde girl drove and was already visibly frowning.
"Oh shit." Brooklyn muttered.
Brooklyn ushered the remaining gang members in his car and hoped Pony and Two Bit would stay in the store. She opened her door and called a cinnamon colored dog from the back seat. The dog leapt from the back seat and bounded to Brooklyn, its thick tail wagging as it curled into a U shape in a happy jig. Brooklyn knelt to pet it and accepted a few stray licks before making it settle down. He glanced up at the girl and winced.
"Hello Brooklyn Caleb Archer." Brooklyn grimaced as Lisa's hand went from her hip to his ear as she pulled him up. She released him and returned her hand to her hip and glared a glare worse than death. Her and Darry were a pair from hell, he swore.
"Hi Lisa." Brooklyn blinked as he hung his head.
"Don't you 'hi Lisa' me and think your sad face is going to save you. Do you even begin to comprehend what you put me and my family through?"
"I can only imagine." Brooklyn rolled his eyes.
"We had to hear it from Ace." She hissed.
"Would it really have sounded better from me in a damn jail cell? Would you have accepted charges from a New York state penitentiary?" Brooklyn said.
"I don't care the circumstances, I always want to know what the hell is going on with you because I care. And my father cared when your gang friend had to tell him his brother was dead and his nephew was in prison." She said.
"Maybe I didn't tell him because he reminds me of the part of his brother that never believed I would be anything other than a gutter dam. Maybe I didn't tell you because I was tired of how fucking judgmental and condescending you can be."
"Sometimes I really hate you Brooklyn." Lisa said.
"Another perfectly sound reason to avoid you. We should really be writing these down for next time."
"Holy hell, they're going at it." Steve said, peering from the car.
"Think we should stop em?" Soda asked, yawning as he rested his head on Steve's lap.
"Naw."
"He looks like he's getting an earful." Pony said, grimacing as he watched Brooklyn from inside the store. Two Bit paid for cigarettes so he could lift some lighters from the counter and charmed the clerk on the side.
"Looks like he's used to it. He's been spending a lot of time with you, he should be." Two Bit smiled and Pony rolled his eyes.
"Yeah."
"He does seem like a real part of our little family now though. Gives up a lot of free time to come hang out even though I'm sure he could find different methods of entertainment, judging by that blonde." Pony nodded in agreement. "Hell, he even spends a lot of time with you, as mute as you seem to be lately." Pony noted the silence had become a lingering one and looked at Two Bit, who was staring at him in a measuring way.
"What of it?"
"Nothing. I'm just saying. He must see something even when you ain't talking."
Pony walked out to the parking lot just in time to see the blonde girl hit Brooklyn in the stomach with her purse and then slap him. She stormed off in a puff of blonde, wispy hair and fumes from her convertible. Brooklyn flopped onto his bumper and groaned. Pony started when he saw a cinnamon dog with white tipped legs, tail and muzzle. Its ears were cropped and its tail wagged in a lethargic motion.
"What's with the dog New York?" Steve stuck his head out of the car window and Brooklyn sighed.
"He's my dog from New York. Meet Daddy, the American Staffordshire Terrier."
"It looks like a pit bull to me." Steve said.
"Daddy is a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier, from a breeder. That's what they call pit bulls if you don't wanna get your ass evicted." Brooklyn rolled his eyes.
"More importantly, who was the blonde with legs for days?" Steve asked, raising his eyebrows.
"My cousin Lisa." Brooklyn said. Steve flushed and retreated into the car window as Soda glared at him.
"She from New York too?" Soda asked.
"How could you tell?" Brooklyn asked, a grim smirk playing across his face.
"Only a New York girl would have the nerve to punch you." Pony said.
"That was tame for a New York girl. Well, let's get the fuck out of here before she wants round two. Come on Daddy."
(la la la doesn't Daddy sound cute?)
A few hours later they all piled out of the car and poked around a campsite that some creepy old man had offered them for a few bucks. There was a fire pit and some benches in a cleared area surrounded by a forest and a couple of trails. Pony heard a river and smiled at Brooklyn.
"What are you doing Two Bit-" Brooklyn stopped when he realized Two Bit was joining Daddy's method of using nature's facilities behind a bush.
"Hey, did someone remember a cooler or some food?" Soda asked. Silence reigned for a few seconds and Brooklyn laughed.
"You do live in the same house as Darry. He sent us off with a cooler with supplies to rough it in Mother Nature's not so loving embrace. Set up a tent and get a beer."
The tents weren't up within the next half hour despite being "easy to assemble" because Two Bit started running from a moth, yelping something about moths having twisted tongues, and Daddy decided to join the chase through both half erected tents.
"That was not a moth, it was a bat." Two Bit said as he struggled with one of the tent poles.
"And Daddy is a fierce wolf come to eat your young." Brooklyn said. Daddy whined and nudged Brooklyn. "What?" He whined louder and perked his pointy ears. "Go potty then. Jeez. You can handle it." Daddy warbled in an octave Pony didn't know existed and Brooklyn sighed. "I have to take him for a walk before he decides the tent needs to be marked. Anyone want to explore one of those trails?"
"Sure. Come on Steve. We'll fix it later." Soda said. Two Bit and Pony followed, Daddy scouting ahead for possible trees that needed to belong to him.
"Why is your dog named Daddy anyway?" Two Bit asked.
"I got him from a friend of mine who breeds them for show dogs. It's a tradition for the pick of the liter to be named Daddy like the first stud." Brooklyn said.
"So somewhere in New York, there is a house full of Daddys?" Everyone stared at Pony after he finished speaking, including Daddy. Brooklyn snickered and nodded as they continued on their way.
Pony chuckled when they found their way down to a riverbank, complete with a very rickety looking dock. Daddy wandered around the bank and snuffled the stony sand, his tail wagging as he jogged along.
"Why is he rolling around like that?" Two Bit's question drew Brooklyn's attention within a millisecond and he was scolding Daddy the next since he'd found and promptly rolled in a dead fish. Brooklyn laughed and pushed Daddy into the shallow river water, shaking his head at the undignified yelping barks that followed as Daddy leapt from the river, shaking his short coat.
"Think Two Bit would shake like that?" Soda asked.
"If I were drunk enough to roll in a dead fish I don't know if I could shake like that without passing out."
When they returned, the two tents went up without much more trouble and Brooklyn tossed in some sleeping bags. Two Bit lit a fire in the pit without singeing any facial hair but his arms couldn't boast the same. Daddy was always two steps from Brooklyn; his tail working overtime as he watched with a startling intensity. It was drawing closer to dusk and Brooklyn started rummaging in the cooler for campfire appropriate food.
After hot dogs, beer, s'mores, cigarettes and more beer, the party was winding down and they were stumbling off into tents. Two Bit, Steve and Soda piled into one since Daddy was already settled in the other and they didn't want to wake him. Brooklyn put out the fire, shivering with reckless abandon and muttering to himself. It was damn cold.
Pony had stepped over Daddy with no repercussions and was burrowing into a sleeping bag. He was shivering just as violently since his last encounter with a river still hadn't worn off. He sneezed as the tent flap opened and Brooklyn chuckled.
"You did get a cold."
"It's nothing. Prolly just from that dog." Pony said, tensing as Brooklyn zipped the flap and patted Daddy's head. He crawled to his sleeping bag and was shedding his outer layer of clothing before Pony could think to avert his gaze. So he settled for staring. He decided speaking would be more appropriate.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you, was that guy with Ace the Socs-"
"Yeah. I'd call that karma." Brooklyn said, chuckling. He could practically see his breath.
"Is Ace this open about being gay in New York?"
"Yeah."
"Really?" Pony asked.
"He was in my gang, I'd know." Brooklyn said. If he wasn't so damned cold he would've nodded off instead of spilling information that was probably scarring Pony for life.
"You said you knew him since you were young right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, did he ever, you know-"
"Hit on me?" Brooklyn was chuckling.
"Yeah." Pony swallowed.
"Why would you ask that?" Brooklyn was stifling riotous laughter.
"I just, wanna know."
"Why?"
"I dunno." Pony said, flustered. Brooklyn stopped his laughter and contained his smile to a gentle one, even though Pony probably couldn't see it.
"He did once but I talked him out of it." Brooklyn said.
"You can talk a guy out of liking you?" Pony asked.
"I can talk Ace out of a crush on me so we don't risk out friendship. Besides, I was thirteen."
"Didn't it scare you a little?" Pony asked.
"Did what scare me?"
"Knowing a guy liked you? Weren't you afraid of liking him back?" Pony asked.
"Pony, I went to Catholic boarding school. I'd faced guys liking me plenty of times." Brooklyn said. Pony remained quiet for a while and felt Brooklyn shivering beside him.
"It's cold."
"Very." Brooklyn said. He was trying to think of ways to get warmer and Darry's speech came to mind. He'd felt so guilty after that just because he'd passed out in a bed with Pony, even though they'd both probably have frozen without each other and said bed.
"It's still cold." Pony said, teeth chattering.
"Very." Brooklyn said. He couldn't pull a combined body heat pitch now, not after Darry staring him down like a pedophile. God he felt bad and he hadn't even done anything. He hadn't even entertained thoughts of doing anything. Anything too explicit at least.
"It's colder now." Pony said, laughing a little despite some sort of tension that resonated from Brooklyn's tense frame.
"Fuck. Where's the damn flashlight? Colder than a fucking New York blizzard in here. Who the hell camps in March?" He muttered but stopped as he maneuvered around the tent, leaning over Ponyboy. He stopped breathing when Pony took his hand and placed it on his chest. He could feel Pony's pulse. He tried to ignore it, hell, he even used Pony to steady himself as he searched for the flashlight, but God, Pony was frigid.
"We didn't even go for a swim this time."
Brooklyn sighed, knowing how God damn worthless he'd feel in the morning no matter how small and needy Pony sounded now. He hesitantly lowered his frame very near Pony's and let his fingers fumble for the zippers. He found them and strung them together, starting when the two sleeping bags zipped into one.
"Thank you Brooklyn." Pony curled against Brooklyn's chest and Brooklyn looked down at the soft hair and softer smile. If he got that same smile, he wouldn't feel so worthless in the morning.
Brooklyn did feel worthless in the morning because he didn't sleep longer than twenty minutes at a time because he was wrought with cruel desires and nightmares. And shame. He wasn't good enough to be any where near Pony and Darry knew it. He'd warned Brooklyn even.
Brooklyn hated the fact that he could be delirious with euphoria but wake with a sense of guilt and shame that would make Judas feel less like a bastard.
And he was fucking years out of that damn Catholic school and he was still making biblical references.
In short, Brooklyn was considering throwing himself in the river with no intentions of fishing himself out.
Daddy struck out on one of the trails and Brooklyn walked along after him. It was early, the sun was just rising and since the occupants of the other tent were hung over, he didn't think he'd have much company. He couldn't handle company.
He found himself at the dock again and sighed as Daddy wandered on, lapping water from the river's edge. He walked to the very end of the dock and sat down.
This was misery.
Brooklyn let his legs dangle over the dock edge as he heard footsteps. If being alone was misery, he was about to enter purgatory since he knew it would be Pony. Pony sat down next to him but remained silent as if he knew Brooklyn was busy berating himself.
Brooklyn watched Daddy approach Pony. He licked the boy's hand to get his attention and sat down, staring with his coffee colored eyes until Pony patted his head. His white tipped tail thumped against the dock and he tilted his head into Pony's hand.
Then Pony caught Brooklyn staring.
"He's a tuff dog. Why was your cousin beating the tar outta you anyway?" He smiled but didn't dare meet Brooklyn's eyes as Daddy walked to Brooklyn, resting his head on Brooklyn's shoulder so he could stare at Pony.
"I haven't spoken to her in over a year and our families have been through some, transformations." Pony knew that was a euphemism for something very bad. Pony also knew he was getting answers because Brooklyn felt like shit and didn't bother keeping secrets as to why.
"Transformations?" Pony asked. Brooklyn looked at him with a pained expression.
"Ponyboy, if I tell you, I don't want Soda or Darry or anyone else to find out through the grapevine. Will you do that for me? I know I'm asking a lot since you're all so close, but I need to know that I can tell you things without having the entire Curtis family knowin'." He was frowning and anxious. Daddy whined and exhaled loudly.
"You can tell me. I know some things are too personal for the grapevine."
"All right. My uncle, on my father's side is her father, and I didn't tell her family when my parents died." Pony waited a moment, swallowing and noting that he saw no real emotion in Brooklyn's face. It was a very practiced stoic expression. Pony wondered if it would ever crack.
"How'd they find out?"
"They found Ace after I got hauled in." Brooklyn said.
"Hauled in where?" Pony asked. Brooklyn's smile was so vicious his laugh seemed gentle.
"Prison, Ponyboy."
"You've been to prison?" Pony asked, not able to hide his astonishment. When he thought about it, if he'd ever entertained the possibility of Brooklyn being anything other than the man of his dreams, he would've made a connection between the tattoos, Brooklyn's origin and allusions to a gang in New York. Hell, if Pony had been using his head, it would've been obvious.
"Yes. Spent a little less than a year in one." Brooklyn said. He was hanging his head in unaltered shame and stared hard into the water, his jaw clenched.
"What for?" Pony asked. His hunger for what Brooklyn was in his past was fueled by the fact that he may be much the same still.
"Pony, let me tell you something. When someone is from New York, it doesn't matter what they did to get thrown in jail, it's what got them caught." Brooklyn said, sighing. Daddy laid down and rested his head in Brooklyn's lap.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Pony said. Brooklyn didn't hide his shock and turned to meet Pony's eyes, searching the gaze that met his unflinchingly.
"You really like me, don't you?" Brooklyn tilted his head just so to keep the sun out of his eyes.
"Yeah." Pony said, swallowing. Brooklyn's topaz eyes were a high clear color and the blossoming sunlight made the golden speckles glitter. Brooklyn shook his head.
"You shouldn't." It wasn't a genuine condemnation; he saw understanding and a well-hidden touch of yearning in Brooklyn's gaze.
"Why not?" Brooklyn shook his head and looked down at the wooden planks of the dock.
"I'm a bad man." Pony was startled by how sincere Brooklyn was. He wasn't being coy and he certainly wasn't baiting Pony.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
Brooklyn didn't raise his head to meet Pony's gaze and felt shame flood his face without restraint. He couldn't mean that. He couldn't like Brooklyn, much less love him, and that brought tears to Brooklyn's eyes.
Pony ran his fingers through Brooklyn's hair as they ventured down his face, caressing a high, scarred cheekbone before lifting Brooklyn's chin. Brooklyn eyes were shut and Pony saw his misty lashes quiver. Pony leaned into the older man, bringing his face an inch from Brooklyn's. He shuddered and his warm breath across Brooklyn's face caused Brooklyn's lips to part as he shivered. Pony reached a hand to Brooklyn's shoulder to steady himself and let his lips brush a chaste kiss against Brooklyn's.
Pony found the contact so debilitating that he was melting against Brooklyn, their frames blurring together as Brooklyn broke the kiss. He was breathing hard from no more than a peck and Pony was in a similar state but it didn't cross their minds to stop. Pony wrapped his free arm around Brooklyn's chest and pulled himself closer and Brooklyn kissed him. Brooklyn's lips were chilled and Pony's tongue lapped at them for a second out of some animalistic instinct. Brooklyn's groan of resignation melted in their kiss.
Brooklyn's arms wrapped around Ponyboy even as the younger boy urged him closer. He moved into the kiss like he'd wanted it since he saw Brooklyn. Pony had. He was making up for lost time.
Pony broke their kiss as he rolled his head back, his neck open to Brooklyn's velveteen lips as he panted. Brooklyn brushed his lips against Pony's throat and nothing more. He held Pony closer and looked up at his face.
"I can't believe this is happening." Pony said.
"You didn't honestly think it would take much effort to kiss me, did you?" Brooklyn's grin was all animal as he placed a caressing kiss on Pony's throat. "Anything more is a real challenge."
Oh my. Fluff tastic. Couple notes, the dog is supposed to be like Daddy from the Dog Whisperer, if you've ever watched it. Rating will go up, very soon.
Did you like how I included the Socs from earlier? Was this chapter too long? Are you liking the Brooklyn back story or do you want more Pony or other gang peeps?
Hey, frigging, I see the hit counter... More people should review. Even if it's just "Hi, I read your story. It's okey dookey." That makes me sooo happy and then I write faster...
Tell me what you think...