The sun was peeking in and out from behind puffy white clouds as Tim walked down the street. Tipping his head back he let the rest of the beer from his bottle down his throat, then moved his hand back to his side. Walking by an alley he saw a couple of younger teens passing a cigarette between them. For a moment he considered chasing them but just shook his head and walked on. A few blocks later he heard the sound of grunting a few cuss words. Looking into the alley he saw three Soc's, two of them were holding someone's arms, while the third punched him in the stomach. It took Tim a few moments to realize that they were working over the youngest Curtis.

Snarling low in his throat, he smacked the beer bottle against the brick wall, breaking it into a sharp jag. The noise made the three high class kids looked up at the noise and visibly paled at the sight of Tim.

"Why don't you get outta here?" Tim growled.

The two that were holding Pony up dropped him and his body folded upon itself in a slight pile on the ground. As Tim stepped closer the Soc's took the hint that their options were run or get killed. Opting for the running, they all took off down the alley and turned a corner, still running.

Squatting down to Pony's level, he pulled the kids chin up, looking over his face. There was a shiner starting to blossom under his left eye and a trickle of blood running from between his lips.

"Ponyboy?" Tim asked, making Pony's eyes flutter open.

"Hi," He said, in a very horse voice.

"What are you doing walking by yourself?" He asked, wiping the blood off only to have more appear soon after.

"Was walking with, with Steve," Pony coughed.

"Was?"

"We walked by a few girls and he just kinda gave me this, this look," A groan bubbled between his lips. "And went to talk to them,"

"I'm going to kill him," Tim sneered.

"Don't," Pony said, putting his hand around Tim's wrist, that was still on his chin. "He couldn't have known,"

"Yes he should have, they have been targeting you more and more and I'm sick of it and of Randle not using his upstairs brain,"

Pony let out a small chuckle, which turned into a coughing fit, causing more blood to slip down his chin. When Pony was done, Tim moved his thumb up and pulled Pony's lip down a bit to see a cut just on the inside.

"They didn't pull a knife on you or anything did they?" Tim asked when he let Pony's lip go.

"No, just were taking turns beating the shit outta me,"

"Does Darry know you talk like that?" Tim asked.

"No, cuz I don't do it in front of him,"

Tim tried to smile but just grimaced a little and wrapped his hands gently around the back of Pony's neck.

"I'm going to still hurt Steve," Tim said, in a tone that held a promise.

Pony nodded a little as Tim leaned forward and captured Pony's soft lips in a near chaste kiss. Pulling back enough so their lips were still touching, but not pressed hard together, Tim let out a small huff of air from his nose.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you to one of those pricks," Tim said.

"I know," Pony said gently and he did know.

Tim was never one for chick flick moments or talking about feelings or much of anything, but Pony was different. Pony was one of the only good things in his life and one of the only things that was going to be good. He was a hood and he was never going to go places, even if he was younger. The young Curtis was everything he always wanted and then some and he was going to protect him, with his life if necessary.

"Come on Pone, lets get you home," Tim said and helped Pony up onto his feet.

When they got to the Curtis house, Tim helped Pony shower and into bed where he stayed while Pony took a nap. Waking up Pony tried not to let it show how happy he was to see Steve have a shiner that matched his.

Yea, it was real nice dating Tim at times.