Act your age! (Age Swap AU! The Outsiders)

★·.·'¯'·.·★ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮 ★·.·'¯'·.·★

  It was a night of the usual bickering that the Curtis brothers had done back and forth when Ponyboy had done something he wasn't supposed to. This time, he had come home late on a school night, two hours after his curfew. He had been out with Dallas and Johnny at another movie and had been bored to death so they decided to just hang out at the lot of DX instead, Ponyboy and Johnny had lost track of time and Ponyboy had to end up running home as soon as he could. He hoped when he ran up the steps of the home that Darry would be asleep and so would Soda- but Soda was in the kitchen cooking dinner and Darry was sitting on the couch watching Tv. He knew he was screwed.

Darry had heard Ponyboy come into the house and he immediately stood up, Sodapop had saw his brother stand up and see the look of anger spread across his face, he was praying tonight would be a decent night, "Dammit, Ponyboy!" Soda was wrong, it wasn't a decent night at all...

"I thought something had happened to ya!" He shouted with anger rising in his voice, he had veins popping out on his arms and his neck from the visible anger, "You do realize what time it is, right?!" he acknowledged to the clock and Ponyboy had opened his mouth to speak but was cut off, "I don't wanna hear I'm sorry no more or I forgot! I want you to start usin your head! Do you get that?!" He asked, his teeth were gritted, he was pretty fed up and it was shown across every little detail and line in his face.

"Dar, Cmon..he probably lost track of time—" Soda tried to chime in, but instantly got cut off by Darry.

"No, DONT you dare stick up for him this time! He's playing with his life bein' out this late and he could probably end up dead!" Darry's voice was strained from the frustration that built up in him, he had turned his attention to Ponyboy once more.

"Oh sure! That's all you ever say about me! That I don't ever use my head! That I could end up dead! Not that you would care, anyway!" Ponyboy had yelled back, his face becoming red and angered by his brothers yelling, "I'm sure you'd be happy if I was anyway! You'd rather have me gone than actually have me here!"

Darry was taken back by this, he stared at the boy in front of him and his eyes were wide, "Ponyboy, you better stop while you're ahead—" he tried to intervene from him going off again, but was shocked when he heard the sound of Ponyboy slam his fist against the wall. He had succeeded in getting his attention.

"No! I'm not GONNA 'stop while I'm ahead'! I have every right to yell back at you the way you do to me! You act like I have no feelings and that I don't care! Just like you!" Ponyboy was starting to tear up but knew he couldn't cry now. Nobody ever cried in front of Darry.

Darry had opened his mouth to speak, but was shut up quickly.

"ENOUGH OF YOU TWO YELLING! I can't stand it anymore!" Soda had finally yelled, standing in between Ponyboy and Darry, "It's enough! Darry, you need to stop getting all bitchy and upset and throwing a temper tantrum whenever Ponyboy messes up, act your age! And Ponyboy, you need to be more responsible for what you do wrong! You keep trying to be an adult and act like you know what's best, act YOUR age!" He snapped and his eyes had glared at the two of them in aggravation. He saw Ponyboy and Darry shut up instantly and soon just nod in agreement. Soda had been panting heavily now like he had just ran a marathon, his face was worn and his eyes were blazing with anger. He saw the looks of both irritation and anger on both of his brothers faces, but also a look of guilt in them too. Sodapop didn't exactly seem remorseful for what he did- but hell, their faces made him sure feel guilty...

Sodapop, Darry and Ponyboy had then ate dinner in an uncomfortable and awkward silence straining between all three of them. They never really talked to begin with at dinner, but this was just too much. Soda had been the last one to finish but he had desperately wanted to just get all of the dishes done and put away so that he could go to bed.

"Ponyboy," said Soda as he was then drying up the last dish and putting it away, "You go ahead and get ready for bed, okay? I'll be there in a few minuets." With that, Ponyboy was gone in an instant while getting himself ready.

Darry, on the other hand had tried to leave as fast as he could but Sodapop had caught him by the wrist, "Darry, could you please just listen to me for a moment- I didn't mean to—"

"No, Soda. You did. I get it. Me and him fight a lot and it gets on my very last nerve that he can't just see that I want to protect him and keep him safe." Darry stated, he spoke quickly, "I understand your frustration, Mkay? Don't take it too personally, and I sure won't either."

Soda looked less tense now, a small smile resided on his lips and he sighed in response, "Alright, Dar...well, it's getting late. We should probably head to sleep." He said, looking up at his brother and letting go of his wrist.

"Right. We both have work tomorrow." Darry had placed his arm back down and put them in his pockets.

"Goodnight, Dar. Love you." Sodapop said quietly.

"Love you too, little buddy." A smile had pulled at the side of his mouth and he left the kitchen along with Soda departing to his own room. Sodapop still had a heavy feeling that Darry was still upset and tried to shake it off. He needed some actual sleep tonight, but when he got into his room, he heard the sound of Ponyboy sniffling and saw the covers shaking and trembling. He looked concerned in an instant.

"Ponyboy? Are you-"

"No, Soda. I'm not okay. Just hurry up and get in bed...I just wanna fall asleep and forget tonight ever even happened." He snapped, leaving Sodapop standing there with his eyes wide. Sodapop huffed and started getting ready for bed, he then got into the bed and lied down next to Ponyboy, "Listen, it's all gonna be okay, alright? You just gotta tone down your attitude a bit." He spoke and ruffled his hair, "Goodnight, Ponyboy."

"Night, Soda..."

Darry had gotten ready for bed as well, he was staring out his bedroom window with his cold green eyes focusing on a tree swaying in the wind. He shook his head as the fight that had gone down replayed in his head like a broken record. He felt sick. He laid down in his bed and held his hands on top of his stomach while listening to the outside world. A couple of boys running around in the streets, hollering here and there. A dog barking in the distance and the soft breeze blowing the leaves. He had fallen asleep without even realizing that he did, almost like it was magic.

...Though, he had no idea of what he was about to encounter when he woke up...none of them did.