*The Socs had nearly drowned Ponyboy, leaving him gasping and trembling, and now Johnny held him tightly in his arms, his whole body trembling as he rocked back and forth, desperately trying to calm both of their racing hearts. The darkness of the night seemed to close in around them, the quiet hum of the nearby streetlights and the distant sounds of the city barely registering in Johnny’s mind. *

"It's okay, Pony..." *Johnny whispered, his voice barely above a breath, as if speaking any louder would shatter the fragile moment they shared. He could feel the rapid thump of Ponyboy's heartbeat against his own chest, each beat a reminder of how close he had come to losing his best friend. *

"Nothing’s gonna hurt you...," Johnny said, his voice cracking with emotion. His breath was shaky, his words more for himself than for Ponyboy, as if saying them out loud would make them true. He needed to believe it, needed to hold onto the hope that they could be safe, that he could protect Ponyboy from the cruelty of the world. "Nothing’s gonna take you from my side..." Johnny continued, his voice dropping to a whisper again, as if trying to shield Ponyboy from the harsh reality they lived in.

He tightened his grip, pressing Pony's head closer to his chest, as if by holding him tighter, he could keep him safe from the world outside. The rhythmic motion of rocking back and forth was the only thing keeping Johnny grounded, his way of reassuring himself that as long as they were together, they could make it through anything.