A/N: Pony sounds like such an angsty teen at the beginning of this but I'm hoping it's in-character enough for the circumstances lol
--
So, when's this rumble happening?"
Apparently, this was a very unexpected question based on the deafening silence across the table where they were eating dinner. Pony found it weird how no one had brought it up to him except for Two, who had been the one to tell him initially but clammed up whenever he was asked again.
"What's the big deal?" Ponyboy asked, not understanding why his brothers were so quiet about this. Did they not want him to know about the rumble? Did they not want him to fight? But that would be stupid, there's no reason why he shouldn't fight. "Is it because this rumble is about me?"
"No, it's not because of you. This has just been an issue building up for a long time and what happened to you was the icing on the cake. But after what happened at school yesterday, I'm worried that they'll all gang up on you or something. You wouldn't be able to handle all of them on your own."
"So I'll stick with someone. I can carry my own weight, Dar'." Pony grumbled, slightly offended and embarrassed that he wouldn't let him fight for a silly issue that had easy solutions. No one in their gang had ever backed out of a rumble, not even the first one after Johnny had been jumped. He was scared to death but he knew he had to do it because that's what greasers do. And he sure as hell wasn't told that he shouldn't or couldn't fight, but instead, he was encouraged by everyone. And he managed just fine. If anything, it made him feel better than before.
And although it's true, they probably do have it out for him, and wouldn't hesitate to finish what they started at school. But worst comes to worst, there was bound to be someone to help him out if he lost his 'partner' (supposedly Johnny).
Not to mention, this could be the only chance to redeem himself, to get a fighting chance at proving himself against these guys on a fair playing field. If he doesn't go, not only will it be embarrassing, but they're more than likely to go after him again, no matter who wins.
"I don't know," Is all Darry said, not offering any sort of compromise and instead fixing his eyes back on his dinner.
"Are you serious? In what world would you back out of a rumble just because you got hurt or jumped before it? You wouldn't. Because it's humiliating. You can't not let me fight!" Ponyboy retaliated, annoyed that Darry seemingly made this decision on his own and wasn't letting up. This was his one chance to prove himself to everyone and his brother was ruining it.
"Do not speak to me that way, young man," Darry retorted, voice deep and serious. He sounded so much like their father when he got assertive it was insane.
"Well, I'm siding with him. I think he should fight." Soda spoke up after a few seconds of silence.
"Sodapop, we talked about this. He shouldn't."
"Wait, you guys talked about this? Without even talking to me? Jeez, good to know you don't have any faith in me, Darry." Pony spat angrily, slamming his fork back onto the table, and stormed off to his and Soda's bedroom, slamming the door as well. He thought he heard Darry calling him back to the table, but he ignored him and shoved his face into his pillow instead.
He knew he was acting like a child but he didn't care. Darry didn't understand. He never had to worry about showing his mettle because he could do it in his sleep. He was the oldest and the biggest so naturally everyone respected him. But Ponyboy was always the youngest, anywhere he went. The youngest in his class, his family, and the gang. Hell, he was even one of the youngest on the track team. But regardless, no one believed that he could do things as well as the older kids until they saw it. And he was about sick of it. And he hated rumbles with his whole heart but if it was one more thing that would prove him worthy he would do it.
But instead of continuing to drown in his sorrows, he pushed himself up and decided to start on his homework. Believe it or not, he enjoyed homework. It was a hassle at times, especially geometry, but he was pushed up a grade for a reason. It gave him something important to focus on instead of other problems, like when his parents died and he practically drowned himself in his work once he went back to school, kind of like how Darry did. Or even within the past week, when he made sure to focus on anything else, even if it wasn't necessarily homework.
He took out his chemistry workbook and didn't even realize it when Soda came in fifteen minutes later until he put a hand on his shoulder. Since he didn't hear the door opening he practically jumped out of his skin, whipping his head back in surprise. Upon seeing his brother, he put a hand over his heart and let out a breath.
"Gosh, you nearly gave me a heart attack,"
"Sorry," Soda chuckled, putting up his hands in mock surrender. "Wasn't expecting you to be so concentrated."
"It's fine. Are you going to bed?" Pony asked, putting his pen down and turning in his seat.
"Yeah, but about tonight..." Soda said slowly, as if offering the conversation.
"Soda, please-"
"No it's nothing bad! I agree with you," he said quickly. "You should fight. But just talk to Darry about it. I know it doesn't always seem like it but he'll be willing to talk to you about it. I promise. He's been on the fence about it himself, if you persuade him enough I'm sure he'll let you fight. And I'll talk to him too."
"Yeah, I guess. Tomorrow then." He said, while putting his books back into his bag and his pencils away.
"Okay. Welp, I'm going to bed. You comin'?" Soda asked him, already getting under the covers, seemingly satisfied by their conversation. He reached over and turned the bedside lamp off, leaving the lamp on the small desk the only source of light.
"Yeah, just a sec," He said, taking pajamas from the drawers and going to the bathroom to change and brush his teeth. Then he came back in, turned the light on the desk off, and climbed into bed.
"So, you really think I should fight?" Pony asked him, lying on his back and staring straight up at the ceiling.
"Yeah. I would want to, at least." Soda replied, shrugging from where he was lying on his back beside Pony. "Rumbles are kind of like redemptions. It's a good chance to get back at someone on a fair playing field. Remember that time a few years ago, when I was like fourteen or something, and I was getting bullied by some soc sophomores? Well, we had a rumble eventually and I beat them so hard I made one of them cry. Turns out they were all bark and no bite."
"Did Mom and Dad let you go?"
"Hell no," Soda laughed, "Darry and I snuck out while you guys were sleeping and used Mom's foundation to cover up the bruises. I feel kind of bad about lying about it now but man did it feel good! You'll feel it too."
"Yeah."
He agrees but somewhere in the back of his mind, he doubts it.
--
Soon enough the night of the rumble came along. It was the Saturday night after Darry and Pony had fought about being able to fight, who eventually allowed him after talking to him like Soda had recommended.
Surprisingly it wasn't much of a struggle, Darry gave in after only a few minutes. Pony had gone to him the night after their conversation at dinner, while he was sitting in his recliner and watching something on TV. He felt like a little kid who was asking his parent to go to a friend's house as he awkwardly sat on the arm of the couch a few feet away and asked him if he could fight. He was denied at first but he was persistent. He didn't know if Darry was just tired or whatever, but he went to bed victorious that night and began to look forward to it.
But now, as the rumble was only 15 minutes away, he found himself sitting on the couch, hands wringing together in anticipation and anxiousness. The house was alive with energy and excitement, and everyone was preparing in their own way, making the house pretty cramped. Soda and Steve were playing cards on the coffee table, concentrating on their cards and each other, trying to make sure they didn't catch the other cheating, sharing rather flavorful language every time someone put down a card. Meanwhile, Two-Bit was doing pushups and smack in the middle of the living room, and Darry was in the bathroom taking a shower. Dal was mediating the card game, or trying to, at least. But all he was really doing was bluffing and saying the other was cheating, causing even louder arguments, and then smiling afterward as if he was watching the world burn. Both the radio and TV were blasting, creating an unintelligible noise between them and adding to the chaos of shouting and laughter.
"You okay?" Johnny asked, nudging Pony's arm as they were sitting next to each other on the couch.
"Yeah. A little nervous." He said honestly, his voice quieter than normal.
"Yeah, you'll be fine, though." Johnny encouraged, offering a smile. However, when he realized Pony wasn't smiling back, he took back his words. "But if you want to stay home there isn't a problem with that either."
"No, it's fine. I'm going." Pony finalized. "I'll be fine though." He added when he noticed Johnny looking at him skeptically.
He was about to say something else when Darry walked in, hair still damp from his shower and dressed in a tight white shirt and jeans.
"Alright guys, ready to go?" He said, pulling a comb from his back pocket and running it through his hair.
Everyone got up in a hurry, shouting and laughing as they pushed through the door. Pony and Johnny stayed behind, walking out a little slower than the rest, although they were beginning to feel the rush of adrenaline kick in, not any less enthusiastic than the rest. Darry hung back with them, making sure the door was shut properly and all the lights were turned off. He placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in, as to not let everyone hear them, although the only one near them was Johnny who wouldn't tell anyone if he was admitting to a murder, and everyone else was ten feet ahead of them and was roughhousing and shouting nonsense.
"Make sure you stick by someone, okay? You don't need to get your head hurt like that again." Darry told Ponyboy, referring to the concussion he'd received a week earlier from the jumping.
"I know, you've pounded it into my head, like, twenty times," Pony said, acting as if he was annoyed but his chuckling broke his cover.
"Oh, be quiet," Darry said, cracking a smile and ruffling his hair. Ponyboy laughed and swatted his hand away, and the three of them caught up to the rest of the gang.
--
Everybody was already there or just arriving by the time they got to the lot. Either group was separated, the space between acting as a no man's land as they were bunched in groups within their gang when people started to line up so that the socs and greasers were facing each other. Pony realized how silly it looked in that moment as if it was a scene from a movie. One person from either side meets in the middle, and although Ponyboy can't hear what they say, they converse quickly before the greaser randomly punches the soc in the face.
And in a flash, the still eeriness of the lot erupted into havoc. People were pushed and punched in an instant on both sides and the blurred figures of people tackling others made them look as though they were flying. There was yelling and cursing from every which way and if any passerbys had heard this they probably would have thought something exploded.
The chaos stunned him for a second and he probably looked stupid just standing there until someone punched him in the face, snapping his head to the side and sending him stumbling back. This snapped him out of his stupor and he punched the guy back just as soon as he was hit. He recognized the face but couldn't place it due to how fast everything was happening and it made him dizzy. The guy pounced on him in retaliation but as soon as he knocked Pony to the ground another force tackled the soc off him. He recognized him as Johnny and he was beating down on the guy as they both twisted around on the ground trying to get the upper hand. Quickly, Ponyboy stood up and tugged the soc up by the back of his collar, intending to choke him just enough so that he could get caught off guard and get off of Johnny.
It worked and the two of them ganged up on him, working on pinning him to the ground on his back, kicking him in the sides, and punching him in the face until he stopped moving.
Seeing him go limp gave Pony an odd feeling in his gut. On one hand, he felt almost powerful for once, but on the other, he felt insanely guilty. This was someone's kid. Or brother, or cousin. And Pony knocked him out like it was nothing.
He wasn't built for this life.
But suddenly, someone grabs him from behind and puts their arm around his neck, putting him in a tight chokehold, and another guy tackles Johnny, forcing him deeper into the mob of violence. His arms try to fly up to the one around his neck, but before he can even move them an inch the person wraps his other free arm around his torso, trapping them at his side. He flails, or tries to, and leans over in an attempt to get the person off of him, hoping they'll lose their balance and let go of him. But it only makes the arm around his neck more uncomfortable and restraining, so in a desperate attempt to escape, he tilts his head down as far as possible so his mouth is pressed against it and bites down.
Luckily, the guy snatches his arm back and Ponyboy can hear him yelp, although he's met with a punch to the back of the head. He twists his body in an attempt to free his arms, but he wastes too much time and the person wraps their arm back around his neck. So, in retaliation, Ponyboy lifts his leg and stomps down on their foot so hard that he can feel something crack underneath his shoe.
The soc backs off immediately and this time he straight up screams in pain.
"You bitch!-" Pony heard him curse, but as soon as he reached for him again, the soc gets taken over by some other greasers whom he can't recognize. He stumbles back and realizes with a surprise that people are starting to run away. He couldn't tell who it was until they started climbing into the Mustangs on the other side of the lot, and he let out a breath of relief as the rest begrudgingly followed. He's shocked that it's all ended so fast, but it could've easily felt like that just because of all the action.
People chant and holler, and suddenly a burly arm wraps around his shoulders and shakes him, laughing heartedly and Pony recognizes him as Two-Bit by the sound of his voice.
"We won, kid! We won!" He practically shouts in Pony's ear and he can't help but laugh with him. Two-Bit is shaking him like a maniac and Ponyboy shoves him off.
"Get off of me, you lug!"
Two-Bit proceeds to laugh and runs over to go bother someone else when Darry walks over to them.
"Hey, buddy, you okay?" Darry asks, a big smile plastered on his face. His hair is a wild mess, there's dirt on his face, and he has a bloody nose and a few bruises, but otherwise, he looks okay and Pony can't help but feel relieved.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Ponyboy tells him. He feels fine physically, at least. He assumes he looks just about the same as Darry, with messy hair, a bloody nose, and a few bruises blooming on his face, but it feels nothing compared to how he felt when he first was jumped. Yet all he could think about was the way the soc went slack and the noise it made when he crushed the other guy's bones. He suddenly feels so incredibly guilty for just being there. Darry's smile drops a little as his blue eyes scan over him, and a gentle hand raises to touch his neck tenderly.
"Damn, did someone try an' choke you out?" He asks, seeing a ring of red wrapping around his brother's throat.
"Oh, just a chokehold. It's fine. Don't hurt or nothin'." Ponyboy reassures him. Darry makes a humming noise and lowers his hand as the rest of the gang comes over. Sodapop reaches them first and he ruffles his hair, shaking him. What is with people and shaking him out of excitement tonight?
"How'd you do kid?" Soda asks him, his eyes dancing and a beaming smile on his face, still high on adrenaline with the way he's bouncing on the heels of his feet.
"Good," Ponyboy says simply, but with no emotion indicating the fact that he actually did well. Sure, maybe he didn't get torn apart, but that doesn't mean all is fine and dandy.
"Yeah, you and Johnny, man. You messed that guy up."Dally said, wrapping a playful arm around Johnny's shoulders with a rare smile on his face. Ponyboy realized that everybody but himself was smiling, Steve included, although he looked to be in pain with the way he was hunched over and gripping his ribs, only making him feel more terrible. He felt the oncomings of tears but blinked rapidly, trying to fend them away. This was no time to be a bawl baby.
"Well, I'm beat. Let's go back to the house and celebrate!" Two-Bit whooped, and everyone started making their way to the other side of the lot, in the direction of the Curtis house.
Soda and Darry were about to follow them as well until Soda recognized the look Pony got on his face when he was about to cry.
"Hey... you okay?"
And with that, Ponyboy bursts into a fit of tears, taking his brothers by surprise. He cries into his hands, and he's so glad that the gang has left and they don't need to see him like this, but the embarrassment of two older brothers standing there makes him cry harder. And for a moment, they just stared at him, not knowing what to do and not knowing why he was crying. But then Sodapop embraces him, no questions asked, wrapping him into his arms and cupping the back of his head.
"Hey," Darry says, walking around Soda and rubbing Pony's shoulder, concerned at his sudden change of emotion. "What's got you all upset, honey? Are you hurtin'?"
Pony shakes his head, mumbling a soft 'no' between his crying and sniffles. Although it wasn't intended, this only makes Soda and Darry more worried and they share a look.
"What's going on?" Soda asks him, rubbing his back gently.
"I hate fighting- I won't do this stuff anymore," Pony responded through shuddering breaths.
"Okay, so you don't need to do it no more. No big deal." Darry told him, a little surprised at this random announcement, but relieved all the while. He didn't want either of his brothers fighting in rumbles, although to make Sodapop not go to one, you'd probably have to slip a sleeping pill into his food or something. He knew how dangerous these things could be, not only physically, but if the state found out they had anything to do with these things, they'd be separated faster than you could blink.
"But I need to..." Pony told him, feeling childish.
"What makes you think that?"
"I don't know, I just... I feel like I should. Otherwise, I'd look weak to everyone."
"No you wouldn't," Darry tried to comfort him, but to no avail.
"I would! If I don't fight and people notice I don't show up, they'll think I'm a coward or something! Darry I probably gave a bunch of people concussions and broken bones tonight. That doesn't feel good and I don't know how people find that satisfying," Pony practically spat that word, "but I hate it. But people'll start to notice if I don't show after a while and they'll take me for an easy target."
"Pony, listen to me," Darry started, taking him from Soda's arms and turning him around so that they were face to face. He placed his hands on his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Don't think you need to fight in these. I know this town is pretty rough, to say the least, but fighting doesn't need to be the only thing you do to survive. I mean, to be honest, the only thing you do need is self-defense skills. You don't need to prove yourself to anybody. You're better than them whether they know it or not. And if I'm being honest, I don't want you to fight in them either." He finished off, his normally cold eyes warm and affectionate.
"But, if it helps, I don't think you gotta worry next time you get into trouble with socs. You beat them pretty hard, I saw. I was about to jump in, but the way bit that guy's arm was gold! And his face afterward, oh my gosh." Soda told him, imitating the way the soc screamed afterward with a whisper yell and animated movements.
"Yeah, it does help." Pony slightly cringed for a second but laughed at him, punching him lightly in the side when he wouldn't stop exaggerating his movements.
"Alright, nutcase, let's get home and get patched up."
Safe to say, that was the last patching-up he needed after a rumble.
--
A/N: It's finally finished! I'm not very good at making endings so I'm sorry if it sounds weird and rushed lol. Also, I'm sorry if the rumble scene seems like it finished in 30 seconds but I tried to make it so that it just felt fast lol. Ty for reading! I have an idea for a next fic that will probably just turn out to be a one-shot and hopefully will be out soon! And as always please excuse any grammatical errors