Dally Why
Yep! The second chapter of my Outsiders AU! Hope you enjoy!
Remember I did NO research about the 1920s so don't get mad at me!
Thanks southerngentleman! I hope you like this installment!
Turns out I lied, I did do a little research (on the slang) check the notes at the end for translations!
I own nada. If I did guess who would still be alive…
"C'mon, Johnny, just do this one thing for me."
Johnny looked down and kept cleaning glasses. "What's keeping you from going Steve?"
Steve Randle shrugged. "The getaway car's broken, so I gotta fix it. Just go, don't be a chicken." Johnny flushed but didn't say anything.
Steve continued. "It's not even that hard. Just walk in there, tell 'em you're there for Dallas Winston, give 'em the money and just leave. Even you can do that."
The meaning in Steve's voice was clear. Even a yellow kid like you can do that.
Johnny sighed. "Alright, I'll go. But only this once, alright? And you owe me!"
Steve nodded vaguely and left. Johnny put the last glass away and grabbed the envelope.
He wasn't sure he could do it. Sure, he was sixteen, but unlike the rest of the gang he couldn't really pass for older.
If only Pony was here. Pony had a way of making Johnny feel slightly more brave. But it wasn't really like Johnny was really scared.
OK, he was. He had to keep himself from flinching when people moved towards him too suddenly, had to remind himself to look people in the eye. Had to convince himself every morning that it was worth it getting up and just continuing.
There was one thing that kept him going. The gang. He had no idea if he'd even still be alive without the gang.
Johnny pushed those thoughts out of his head and headed to the courthouse.
Luckily he did not have to talk much to the judge, just hand over the envelope and go to the cells.
Dally was lounging in one. He didn't speak while they were in the jail, he knew how nervous Johnny got in places like that.
Once they were out in the Chicago sun, though, Dally sighed deep. "Good to be out of the hoosegow. Got a cigarette, Johnny?"
Johnny wordlessly handed one over to Dally, as well as a box of matches.
Johnny waited until Dally had lit up before asking, "What was it now, Dal? Get in another fight?"
Dally twirled the cigarette in his mouth. "Nope. Slashed some tires."
"Soc's?"
Dally grinned. "Tim Shepard's."
Johnny stopped and stared at him. "Tim Shepard's! Dally, they're friends! Allies! You shouldn't do that to them!"
Dally blew his smoke into the air. "Calm down, Johnnycake. It wasn't nothing. The Shepard's know it was just done in fun. The fuzz always make too much 'bout everything."
Dally picked Johnny's newsie hat off and ruffled his hair. "You always get so worried 'bout me when ever I get thrown in the caboose. It don't bother me none."
Johnny grabbed his hat back and jammed it back on his head. "I just worry that someday, you might not get out of the big house. Like Darry will get tired of bailing you out."
Dally looked at Johnny. He looked really scared about that. "Don't worry. If that ever happens, I'll just break out on my own. We can go down to Mexico, or something."
Johnny shook his head. "Not Mexico, they're having trouble down there."
Dally shrugged. "Alright, not Mexico, and anyway, stop thinking about it! It ain't going to happen!"
Dally pushed his fedora back at the site of a car. "Look at that. Some jalopy, eh? Custom blue paint job, probably. Really the cat's pajamas. Steve would lose it if he was here."
When Johnny didn't respond, Dally looked over at him. Johnny had gone completely white, and was shaking.
"Blue…sky blue…". He whispered. His hand went to his pocket, where he kept his switchblade, one of the most massive knives Dally had ever seen.
Dally grabbed Johnny's shoulders. "Johnny, look at me, c'mon, it's gonna be OK, they can't hurt you now, I'm here, alright?"
Slowly, very slowly, Johnny looked away from the car and took his hand away from his pocket. The car was gone when he looked at Dally.
He took a great shuddering breath. "Thanks, Dal. It was the same car…I'm sorry."
Dally was embarrassed. "It's fine. Glory, you really checked out there for a minute."
Johnny nodded but said no more. Dally gave him one more reassuring pat on the shoulder before he kept walking.
He pushed his fedora back over his hair. It was so blond it was almost white. It always attracted too much attention. "C'mon, let's get back to the gang. See if Two Bit nicked anything worthwhile."
"Dally, promise you won't go hunting trouble? For a week at least?" "I ain't makin' any promises, Johnnycake."
Hoosegow: Jail
Newsie: Flat cap
Fuzz: Police
Caboose: Jail
The Big House: Also Jail
Jalopy: Car
Cat's Pajamas: Really Cool
Fedora: Hopefully you all know what a fedora is. It's a hat. An old timey hat.
Nicked: Stole
Also the car that Dally admired? It's a 1920 Elgin Touring. This story is set in 1924 so I had to find something nice for the Socs to have, even though it is a bit old.
And the trouble down in Mexico is the Cristero War. If anyone wants more information on that let me know! It's really interesting, but also really sad. With quite a lot of teenagers in it. (Kinda like The Outsiders. Huh. Never noticed that parallel before.)
Please tell me if the slang sounds forced or anything!
Review, suggest and comment!