Here we go. Brooklyn is in New York, Pony is in Tulsa, and the summer days begin to pass. Here we have some tender moments of both situations. Enjoy!
Summary/Disclaimer:
Last chapter, Brooklyn left Tulsa and a rather distraught gang. This is how they cope.
Um, same disclaimers as last chapter, although this chapter there is the unthinkable. An allusion to straight sex. Holy cow. I know. I'm starting to go crazy in my old age, lol. Have fun with this chapter, it's supposed to be kinda lighthearted, between the gang fights, ya know.
Brooklyn staggered to the front door of his parent's old house and fumbled with the keys. He coughed and blood specked his hands. He would be fine, but he needed to sleep that fight off. He knew because he knew how to feel what hurt inside, outside and he could judge when the pain would subside to bearable. Jacoby, on the other hand, was gasping beside him, bitching up a storm.
"Jesus, that guy hit like you, Brooklyn."
"If he hit like Brooklyn, we'd be going to the hospital." Ace said. He was holding his ribs but overall, he was heartier than Jacoby.
Brooklyn opened the door and limped in. Jacoby, Ace and four other guys came in after him. Jacoby and him were the worst off, but any gang fight here would require some aspirin, bandages and beer. He missed Tulsa gang skirmishes. He'd threaten someone, they'd try to threaten him, he'd throw a punch and they'd haul off. And he missed caring about fighting too. He fought so he'd live now, sure, but in Tulsa, when he fought, he fought so those asshole, spoiled rich kids that knew nothing about real fights, real gangs, would never touch Pony again.
God he missed Pony.
"You guys need any medical attention?" Brooklyn asked. He had to be nice to these boys, he'd grown up with them. And he'd thrashed a few of um when he first came back. They challenged him because he'd turned tail and ran. And these were his friends. He didn't want to think about the people who weren't so hot on him.
"Naw. We're just bleeding a little here and there." Ace said.
"All right. Jacoby, got any good alcohol around here?" He followed Jacoby into the kitchen and ice appeared, along with a few bags of frozen vegetables. Brooklyn dispensed them to his bruised gang members and sighed, putting one to his eye.
"Rum in the freezer, Coke in the fridge." Jacoby said.
"I think I could love you." He said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, New York, make me one too." Jacoby said.
"Sure. Anyone want a beer?"
Several yahs and a groan later, he grabbed a six pack and made some Coke and rum. It was a lot like being with Pony and the boys, but something was different here. Desperation, clinging to life, and fighting all the time changed these people. Deeper, they were similar to the men he'd left in Tulsa, who fought for their family, friends and gang brothers, but it was darker here. Violence changed people. It wasn't impossible to go back to normal, Tulsa kinda of living, but difficult, and much easier to slip back into the detached, hit, fuck, fight or run kind of life.
And here he was, doing just that.
Brooklyn slammed some rum and it burned, creating a hollow heat in his stomach. Jacoby took his Coke and rum and looked Brooklyn over.
"You aren't going to start drinking yourself to sleep because you miss your boy, are you?" Jacoby asked.
"No. By the way, I'm sleeping in the master bedroom. You get the twin bed in my old room." He laughed.
"I'd rather share the master bedroom with you." Jacoby whispered. Brooklyn wasn't sure if anyone knew about him and Jacoby, but he'd rather pretend it didn't happen. That's probably what they'd decided too.
"I'd rather share the master bedroom with your mother." Brooklyn said.
"You leave my momma outta this, she just joined the choir. Wants us to come on Sunday and watch her praise her God. Same God that took your parents-"
"Shut up Jacoby. Drink your rum and Coke." Brooklyn said.
"You need more Coke, less rum. You're a mean drunk." Jacoby said.
"I'm a mean sober too."
(la la la)
Pony thought he'd go insane. He almost did. He was stir crazy and snapping at people left and right. Then Justin cornered him one morning and shook some sense into him. After he took Pony to the bar he worked at and gave him a Roy Rogers, with a little something in it.
Justin gave Pony a little perspective, and suggested he fill his time with something beside pissing and moaning. He offered to let Pony come in during their morning hours, when they weren't open, to help clean and organize and whatever else. When Pony accepted, he also said that Darry could use help with "that damn handyman crap", and Pony could learn some useful stuff from Darry, Soda and even Steve.
"And keep Two Bit sober a couple days a week, huh? He has Kathy, but she drives him to drink with her entire chastity bit."
Justin added as Pony slipped behind the bar to help him clean broken glass and vodka off the floors. It was a beautiful moment.
The next morning, however, was dreadful. Justin was hung over. Pony didn't ask why because he had a few new, ahem, birth marks, on his neck and throat, and was real stiff in the leg area, walking like he'd been riding a horse for too long, although Pony suspected the horse's name was Darry. And someone had drank too much at the bar the previous night, and deposited much of the over priced liquor in the bathroom, in the general direction of the toilet.
"Oh God." Pony groaned. Justin was already turned away, trying to stifle his gag reflex.
"Not it." Justin said.
"Oh come on. Tell me you don't just use a hose."
"Cleaning stuff's under the mirror, enjoy yourself. I'm gonna go throw up in the back room."
The next Saturday went better. Pony tagged along on one of their handyman trips to the neighboring towns. Soda and Steve ended up making a trip to the hardware store for a part to some guy's water heater, but Darry kept working on getting the old one out. Pony held a flashlight and watched.
"We got a car visit next. Girl needs her oil changed and says her lights ain't working. I figure you can try your hand at that. Simple, good place to start for car stuff. And you know you gotta change the oil in Brooklyn's car. He hasn't changed it since he drove here and it spews oil." Darry smiled at him but returned to his work and the silence.
"I miss him." Pony said.
"I know Ponyboy." Darry said. He looked to Pony. "I miss him too."
"Do you think he's okay?"
"I'm sure he's fine, Pony. He uses his head just like you, but he's got the brawns to back up his insults." Darry slipped an arm around Pony and smeared oil on his cheek.
"Urgh."
"Keep holding the flash light ya sissy. Gotta get a little dirty in this business. Although not as dirty as Justin says you get at the bar. Heard about the bathroom incident. Yikes."
"Almost enough to make me swear off alcohol forever."
"That's what Justin said, but he already lost that one." Darry winked at Pony and Pony groaned.
"Didn't need to have that mental image."
"What? Image of Justin sipping some wine, naked by the fire-"
"Stop stop stop. La la la la la, not listening." Pony said, fingers in his ears.
"You remind me of a twelve year old me when dad tried to explain sex."
"Too bad he didn't mention you could do it to boys." Pony said, sticking his tongue out and leaving his fingers plugging his ears.
"Ha, I knew that ear thing never worked. Mouthy punk."
(La la la)
It was going too damn slow. Days passed with no action, no progress, but most noticeable of all, no Pony. And Jacoby was fine with the slow ass pace this was going. Ace patted Brooklyn's back as they returned near the crack of dawn. The sun would be rising in a half hour or so.
"Take it easy, hood. It'll be done with soon. They're just scared of you, don't think you're really back, rearing to fight." Ace said.
"Sure." Brooklyn muttered. He turned to Jacoby. "Jacoby, you swore to God they'd be out tonight, looking for us."
"I thought they would be. They must've pussed out."
"Why did I listen to you in the first place? Tomorrow, we're just making a B line for their fucking headquarters for a civil chat." Brooklyn growled.
"Should we call first so they're ready for company? Maybe make some tea?" Ace prodded.
"We'll call and say we want to talk before I bash someone's fucking skull in. Jesus. They swear they'd travel to the God damn end of the earth to find me, I come to them, and they're fucking, hiding. Chicken shit bastards."
"Easy boss, you know they just figured they could lord it over Jacoby to scare him. They didn't think you'd really show up, especially after you pulled that number on those guys they sent to Tulsa. I heard they were just supposed to scare you, not fight. But I suppose you didn't want to talk, eh?"
"They threatened me and the people I care about most. They knew they were asking for a fight, and they got what they fucking wanted. I'm here and I'll fucking scare them off or halve their numbers trying." Brooklyn spat.
"Yeah. That's our boy." He heard a few hollers.
"Whatever, get some sleep you hoods. Be ready for tonight."
Brooklyn waited until they settled in and headed for his bedroom, the unaccustomed weight of a heater in the back waistband of his pants. (That's the sexiest place for a gun…) It'd been Damien's once. Jacoby took it from him as he bled out, and gave it to Brooklyn. It was a Colt 45, silver barreled, heavy, stiff throwback kinda gun. He sat on his bed and felt the butterfly knife in his front pocket. He was a regular thug again. He pulled off his shirt and would've gone to his pants but started when Jacoby came in, vodka and orange juice in his hands, with two tall cups of ice.
"Hey buddy. Night cap? Little bit of breakfast too." He winked and Brooklyn sighed. Yes, orange juice and vodka, breakfast of champions.
"Yeah, sure. Got a cigarette?"
"Yeah. Here." He slipped one in Brooklyn's mouth after he set everything down on the night stand.
"Got a light?"
"Yeah." Jacoby lit it for him. Still smoked Virginia Slims. Still got called woman for it. He swore it reminded him of his grandmother, the baddest, gun toting granny ever. "Still don't keep a lighter on you? Ever since you broke one in your pocket? Got your mommy real cheesed off at you."
"You try almost lighting your crotch on fire with a cigarette. And try explaining that to your mother when you're fourteen." Brooklyn murmured.
"Hey, you're starting to relax a little." He poured the glass almost full of vodka and just enough orange juice to color the top inch orange. He handed it to Brooklyn. "It's like you're finally back." Brooklyn took the drink and took a long drink, the vodka burning all the way down. He was starting to see the Jacoby that'd befriended him before they knew how bad Damien was. The little kid that wanted a friend and liked Brooklyn's hair and eyes.
God, he needed to leave.
(la la la)
"Two Bit, you know I don't wanna go all the way-" Kathy said.
Two Bit looked at his girl friend in the dim light as they sat in the back seat of his momma's car, a ways out in the country. She was so pretty. And her eyes, crazy green, a deep color he didn't know existed until he saw her. And her hair was so soft when he touched it. She was just so damn pretty, and nice, and she really cared about him. He loved the way she sang along to the radio, even silly old folk tunes about love and heartbreak.
And, well, he loved her.
"Kathy, baby, you know how I feel about you, and I'm sorry if I pressure you, but I just love you so much. You know you're the only girl for me. Ever."
"Really?"
"Of course. And I know you don't wanna do it before we're married, and I respect that and all, but, someday, I will marry ya."
"Oh Keith." She breathed.
"Because I love you, and I don't wanna think about ever losing you. Even if I have to wait."
Two Bit didn't have to wait.
(la la la, I had to get Two Bit laid after siccing Ace on him earlier in the fic, besides, having the token straight guy is nice… Ponyboy, stop laughing! You too Soda. Jesus, it's like a pride parade in my brain…)
"Hey, Brooklyn?" Brooklyn stirred, feeling the vodka pounding at his forehead. He'd only been asleep for a few minutes.
"What?" He asked. Jacoby shut the door behind him.
"Can we talk?" Jacoby asked.
"You talk. I'm gonna sleep." Brooklyn said.
"Just like old times." Jacoby slipped onto the bed beside him.
"Jacoby, don't talk about the old times so much." Brooklyn murmured.
"I know. Every time I say something about your mom, or your old man, or even Spade, I, remember a little too late."
"Yeah, I know." Brooklyn said.
He shifted away as Jacoby settled in. Being in the same bed as Jacoby brought a stir of unwelcome feelings, and some of those feelings were well founded in the fact that he'd been there almost a month. And how Jacoby was a little less crazy, a lot more, human. A lot more like Pony. He talked, listened and laughed. And God damn, he was tanned and real ripped. His hair was dyed blonde again. It was, a nice change.
And he was fucking hot. As always.
"Brookey, you know we're making progress. But it's gonna take a while. And you know we're having problems because the fuzz keeps butting in, asking questions. You know why."
"Oh come on Jacoby. None of those pigs have been around long enough to recognize me."
"Most of them, sure, but a couple were just little shit cops when you were here. They think they might know your bad, blonde self."
"Jacoby, we can't fuck with the police-"
"We don't have to. They recognize you because of your hair, and you're relatively tattoo-less self. Dye the blonde away, get a trick tattoo, real big one, and they won't bother us anymore because we're just another couple of gang bangers. Not anyone they know exactly, just a couple more hoods." Jacoby said.
"Fuck." Brooklyn muttered.
"I've got the dye. Do you feel like a brilliant chestnut maple, or perhaps a raven's wing black?"
(la la la, poor Brookey. He's not a blondey anymore)
Darry sighed. Pony feel asleep on the couch with the dog again. Buried in a book. Moby Dick. Darry knew it was a long book, but it'd been a month. He got the feeling Pony wasn't real interested in the book. He sighed. Brooklyn needed to come back. Pony was hurting. Everyone was hurting. And no amount of busy work and heat would make it go away.
Justin touched his arm and they went to his bedroom to sleep.
Pony woke up as the light flicked off.
"Pony, you should go to bed." Steve said. He patted Daddy's head as Pony blinked at him.
"Your dad kick you out again?" Pony asked.
"Yeah."
"Go sleep in my room with Soda." Pony murmured.
"What? Naw, you should sleep in your own bed kid-"
"I wanna stay with Daddy, and Soda doesn't like it much. Makes him sneeze. You go." Pony said, snuggling closer to Daddy as he raised his head.
"All right. Sleep tight kiddo."
Steve slipped into Soda's room and kissed him. Soda woke up and smiled into their kiss.
"Hey, I thought you were staying outta here in case Pony wanted to come in and sleep-"
"Naw, I told him to come in and go to bed, but he said I should. Something about you not liking Daddy in the bed cuz he made you sneeze. Awful nice of the kid really." Steve said, nuzzling Soda's velvety neck.
"Yeah, real sweet-" Soda stopped.
"What?" Steve asked, slipping on top of Soda.
"I like Daddy, and I've never sneezed around him."
(la la la, come on boys, you're too loud to not know about, not that we'd mind)
"Well hello boys." A police officer and his partner (the strong, silent type they always put with the little, mouthy ones) walked up to Brooklyn, Jacoby, Ace and the leader of the rival gang as they sat on the hood of Jacoby's car, talking.
"Hello officer." Brooklyn said.
"You know boys, I heard an old gang boss is back in town, stirring up some trouble. Now, I've never met the fellah, but I bet you boys have. Anything you wanna share with us?"
The big one stared at Brooklyn but the little one obviously had no clue who they were talking about. Brooklyn smiled. The big one had once been a prison guard. Brooklyn always preferred the strong, silent type, especially in cops.
"Officer, why ever would you think we know anything about gangs?" Brooklyn smiled, a strand of his dark brown hair flicking across his eyes. "We don't go looking for trouble."
"Yeah, I bet it just up and finds you." The strong, silent type said, leading his partner back to their squad car. "Be sure that when trouble finds you, you don't find trouble for anyone else, punk."
Brooklyn chuckled.
"Now, where were we?" Jacoby asked.
"No heaters, no chains and no knives, except for brownie here. I want to see how he handles a blade."
"You mean, you want to jam a knife in me for what you think I did to someone you cared about?" Brooklyn said.
"Yeah. And that someone was my sister."
"I never touched your sister. Maybe you should talk to the kind officers who found her." Brooklyn said.
The gang boss didn't want to believe him, but did. But they'd still fight. And Brooklyn's ability to lie wouldn't save him any pain, but it'd prevent further skirmishes until Jacoby did something else to piss them off. They weren't even rival gangs. They were allies in the larger scene of things, but that didn't stop them from fighting. Nothing did, Brooklyn supposed.
"Why'd you cover for me again?" Jacoby stood close to him as they smoked in Brooklyn's parents' bedroom.
"Because I knew I could. If he knew the truth, that is was your sorry fucked up self, he would never believe you telling them it was the cops that stabbed his coke whore of a sister. But if it comes from me, it's somehow different." He flicked the butt to the ash tray and huffed.
"Because you're always so damn honest." Jacoby said. "And believable."
"I'm not always honest."
"Yeah, you sure lie your ass off for me." Jacoby said. He approached Brooklyn, meeting his eyes. Jacoby had dark eyes. Black even, like a bottomless pit. Somewhere, they were brown, but whenever Brooklyn looked, he felt like he was falling into blackness.
"Jacoby-" Brooklyn's voice betrayed him. It was a plea for, something. Jacoby kissed him. Long, hard, and Brooklyn fell into it. Jacoby broke away and sighed.
"Thank you. For lying. You're good at it. Sometimes I think you still love me."
Jacoby turned away and left, walking fast and breathing hard.
"Me too."
(la la la)
Darry surfaced to make breakfast, Justin already in the shower after a morning romp. He was too damn feisty in the morning for his own good.
"Oh Ponyboy." Darry said, softly so he wouldn't wake him. Pony'd slept on the couch again, using Daddy as a pillow. They'd both need a bath now. He knelt by the couch and tugged on Pony's hair. "Pony."
"Hm?"
"You gotta start sleeping in your bed baby. This can't be good for ya. Gonna mess up your back, just like Steve did." Darry stroked his cheek.
"Or you could get a new couch." Pony murmured. He'd been crying in his sleep and Darry ran his thumb down a dried tear track.
"Baby-"
Darry stopped, hearing Soda's door crack open, slow, but still squeaking. He looked up and saw Steve slip out. His eyebrows arched and he looked back to Pony. Pony snickered. Darry groaned.
"Fuck. I'll get a new couch. And why not another bed, while we're looking at catalogs?"
"Make sure it's something other than a twin Darry, I'm getting tall." Soda said, poking his head out of the door. Darry would've gotten up to tackle him but was distracted by a scream.
"Jesus Justin, didn't even lock the door? Talk about desperate." Steve said, laughing. Pony burst into laughter and Darry sighed before trusting himself to speak.
"I hope Two Bit was out fucking something other than a boy last night, or the Greasers are in trouble come next generation."
(la la la)
Brooklyn groaned as Ace unlocked the door to the house. He'd been out practicing with a blade. He was a little rusty but it came back fast after the first few mishaps.
"You all right?" Jacoby asked. All the other guys went out about day time business on this particular day, leaving Ace, Jacoby and Brooklyn to make plans for the upcoming fight.
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna go talk to my cousin, make sure they're ready. I'll be back tomorrow, eh? You keep your boys outta trouble til the real thing. They don't need to practice." Ace said.
"Will do Ace." Brooklyn said. Jacoby followed him in, watching him lean on the banister and sigh.
"You ready for this?"
"I'm ready for this to be over." Brooklyn said.
"What does 'this' refer to?" Jacoby asked.
"This everything. This gang war, this mess of shit, this constant fighting, this guilt, this," He looked to Jacoby and swallowed, "temptation."
"Nothing is over 'til it's over."
(la la la)
"Hey, it's Brooklyn!" Pony jumped up, looking to the door, Daddy right by his side, but Two Bit was hollering from the kitchen phone. Darry rubbed his neck and got up.
"So he's still alive? Good. Thank him for finally letting us know." Darry hollered.
"Let me talk to him!" Soda chanted, jumping up and over the couch.
"Hey, ask him how to fix a carburetor in a new Buick if it isn't-"
"Come on Two Bit, tell him we miss him." Soda said, still jumping. Pony sighed.
After they'd all talked his ear off, Two Bit hollered for Pony. Darry hauled Soda and Steve out of the kitchen as Pony shuffled into the kitchen. Two Bit handed the phone off, slapping his back.
"Tell him to stay safe, I gotsta go. Kathy's waiting on me." He winked at Pony and ran off.
"Brooklyn?" Pony asked.
"Hey lover." Pony almost melted. He sat down under the phone, holding it close to his ear.
"I miss you so much." Pony mumbled.
"I miss you too." Brooklyn said. He exhaled and Pony heard it catch.
"Are you hurt?"
"Naw, not bad." Brooklyn said.
"Daddy's gone off his food. Only'll eat stuff that we drop on the floor, not any dog food." Pony said.
"Try dropping dog food on the floor." Brooklyn said.
"Tell him you've gone off your food too." Justin said.
"Jesus Christ." Pony started, hitting his head on the wall behind him as Justin peered at him from behind the door frame.
"Love you too Pony. I just wanted some cake." He got some, winking, and left again.
"What was that about?" Brooklyn asked.
"Nothing. How is it there?" Pony asked.
"It's going slow. But we're gonna have it out soon. Then it'll just be a little longer." Brooklyn said.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Brooklyn said.
"How is Jacoby?" Pony asked.
"Bah." Brooklyn muttered.
"So, still amazingly gorgeous?" Pony asked.
"Yeah. I miss you." Brooklyn said.
"I'll bet." Pony said.
"I wanted to go home the instant I got in the car." Brooklyn murmured.
"Yeah. Me too. Why'd you decide to leave Daddy?" Pony asked.
"Figured he can protect you when I can't."
Thankies for reading, you roc my socs. One of my new reviewers spent all night reading the entire fic. To which I can say, I admire your dedication, and you make my day happier, because I dance and giggle when I have dedicated readers.
Stay tuned, and leave me some sugar (aka reviews) and I'll update asap. Updating is better than packing, so you guys are gonna get spoiled.
Luvs, Shadows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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