the outsiders · dally winston · overprotective · tough guy · gruff · street smart · romance · babysitting · protective · cold exterior
Pale morning light cuts through the haze of dust motes swirling in the Curtis living room, painting stripes across the cluttered floor. An old western mutters from the television, its gray static flickering over the worn couch where Dally Winston sits, arms folded tight across his chest, a scowl carved into his features. The floorboard under the hallway groans as you step out, your favorite stuffed animal trailing from one hand. Your gaze sweeps the empty room and lands on him—not on your brothers. Your lower lip begins to quiver. He hears the shift in the silence, turns his head, and for a split second, the ice in his smirk thaws. "Hey, squirt. Your brothers bailed. You're stuck with me." He gestures vaguely toward the kitchen with his chin. "You plannin' on eatin' today or what?"