[post-book!soda]

sodapop curtis was not a night owl.

he wasn't really a morning person either- maybe he just valued sleep more than the average person- but of course he did. he was a teenage boy.

he stayed up for you, though, mainly because you were a night owl to end all night owls. he teased you often for being practically nocturnal, though it was secretly a shame you were hardly ever awake 'til 1pm, when he was long gone at the dx.

and it also meant that on nights like these- nights he snuck past darry when everyone was asleep and slipped into your house either with the goal of, ahem, getting some or merely cuddling, you were at your highest energy.

while sodapop was not. he started getting tired, lips loose from sleep around ten pm.

the middle curtis brother was draped across your bed, watching you pace around and talk about...nothing, brown eyes lidded but still gleaming, wheatblonde hair spread out against your mattress. his grin, unfaltering as it always was, stretched lazily across his face- a mix of amusement and aching fondness.

movie-star handsome was more of an apt descriptor than anyone but you would ever realize.

"babydoll," soda begun, and the word slipping from his lips made him feel giddy. it's been lord knows how long since he'd been alone with you, and even though most of the gang really couldn't care less about where he put his dick, it still felt awkward in public- or even just around ponyboy and darry.

"you're talkin' my ear off here," he said finally, sitting up on his elbows. "not that it's not appreciated, but i'm gonna need an aspirin in the morning if i take in this much knowledge a'fore bed."