(Artwork + Minor Fanfic of The Long Walk and The Outsiders)
Upon entering the next town, Ponyboy spotted a familiar pair of silhouettes near a parked truck. This time it wasn’t another hallucination from being sleep deprivation nor was it a cruel trick of his daydreams. It was real as they got closer each step which made his heart drop even faster to the pits of his stomach. He didn’t know if this was a final mercy or another wound to his fractured body and soul, but all he knew was that his brothers were there as his eyes began to water.
He had tried so hard to stay "tuff" during these last few days, cause it was embarrassing enough to cry in front of Johnny, let alone the other boys. But that facade shattered the moment he heard his older brothers yell out his name. Pony could see it more clearly now, the toll the last few days had taken on his brothers, this look of exhaustion and pure despair etched into their faces. To Pony, it was rare to see his brothers cry, maybe it was cause of how Pony looked right now, he did look like a mess, or the fact that they’d traveled so far just to watch him die out here away from home, Tulsa. Or maybe it was simply the reality that their little kid brother had done something so reckless, so stupid, without a word of goodbye?
Ponyboy always let his emotions spill and cloud his thoughts rather then being a "man" about it. He lunged toward them impulsively, ignoring their frantic screams to stay back after they shouted his name. The movement snapped Johnny out of his own walking trance to hurriedly glance over at the scene. Upon seeing Ponyboy’s desperation, Johnny lunged forward, his fingers digging into Pony’s arm. "Pony! No! Wait! Pony!" he screamed, his voice hoarse from dehydration.
Johnny threw all his weight back, struggling to keep Ponyboy from running off the damn road. He could already hear the heavy thuds of the soldiers’ boots as they approached, with their rifles leveled to the back of their heads. They had already burned up warnings earlier that morning, when they were stumbling together multiple times from holding each other up to sleepwalk. A final warning here wouldn't just another mistake on their end, it would literally be the end! Right here! In front of Darry and Soda if they didn't get their heads on right!
"Darry! Soda! I'm... I'M SORRY-" Pony sobbed, a guttural, raw sound that tore through the morning air. His other hand grasped at his numbered dog tag hanging from his neck, trying to rip it off or clutch it close since this piece of metal was just a constant reminder of how his choices, his stupid reckless choices... His mind was a blur of grief and adrenaline from the emotional breakdown he was having that he didn't even realize he was inches away from the edge. At that moment, he didn't care about the Walk, or the grand prize, or the soldier's gun aimed at his head. He just wanted to feel his brothers' arms around him one last time...
Note: My apologies for disappearing! I HAD to watch the movie again for the seventh time and it took a lot longer to finish this art piece since I wanted to make this one more accurate for Ponyboy and Johnny cade :>>>
Favorite moot: @purplepantspsycho
