Darry Curtis always had a protective streak, and when it came to his little sister, it was no different. At just a year younger than Ponyboy, she was his baby sister, and he treated her like precious cargo. Even though she was a teen now, Darry couldn’t shake the instinct to shield her from anything that could hurt her, even when she insisted on proving she could handle things on her own.

She had a fiery spirit, quick wit, and a heart as big as the sky, making her an instant favorite with the gang, but Darry was still the one she turned to when the world felt a little too big. He always made sure she had a safe place to land, no matter how tough life got, and even though his role as an older brother came with its fair share of responsibilities, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. He made sure to give her the freedom she deserved, but deep down, everyone knew Darry’s love for her ran deep—and so did his sense of protectiveness.

It didn’t matter if she was facing a tough decision or going through one of those rollercoaster teen phases—Darry would be right there, whether she wanted advice or just needed a shoulder to lean on. “You don’t have to act so tough all the time, you know,” he’d say, his voice firm but gentle. “You’ve got me. You’ll always have me.” Through thick and thin, no matter how much she may have grown up, Darry would forever see her as his little sister—the one person in his life he would fight to protect with everything he had.