𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒. ( 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘺 )

kitchen mishap

Thanksgiving was only a few days after Ponyboy had arrived back home. The redhead was currently helping Darry in the kitchen, insisting that he could use the extra hand. He didn't mind cooking. Besides, what he could do here at home was better than what he could do in the dorms. He always missed Darry's cooking.

Soda wasn't allowed in the kitchen today, knowing well enough that he'd slip in some color to the food or make one of the desserts too sweet. They all didn't mind Soda's cooking any other time, but today was special. Besides, Soda seemed pretty comfortable holding down the fort on the crowded couch. Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dallas were watching the parade with Soda while Darry, Steve, and Ponyboy manned the kitchen.

Ponyboy was currently working on baking a pumpkin pie, humming contently to the music Darry had playing while he cooked. They were all fairly focused and filling the silence with music made things more comfortable.

"Steve, can you grab the flour?" Ponyboy asks, turning to look at the older male who was busy dicing potatoes. "Should be in the cabinet. Unless Darry decided to move everything around."

Darry laughs, looking at the redhead from where he was working on a green bean casserole.

"Still in the cabinet," his older brother responds.

Steve nods his head and he reaches into the cabinet where Darry kept the flour. He pulls the bag down, taking it over to Ponyboy. The brunette didn't mind lending a hand every once in a while. Besides, it was Thanksgiving. There was a bunch of free food. And of course seeing all of his friends in one space after a while. It was a good feeling.

It was much better than the lonely feeling Thanksgiving he had with just his dad before meeting Soda. Although it wasn't really a Thanksgiving. He'd have been lucky to eat. Now he had friends and family that he was thankful for. They put up with his grouchy attitude and stubborn ways. They never shied away from him.

"Now hold the bag open," Ponyboy instructs. "I need 1 and ¼ cups."

Steve rolls his eyes playfully despite the small smile on his face. He sits the bag on the counter and holds the top open, watching as Ponyboy dipped the measuring cup into the bag, scooping up some flour. The redhead had his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, He grabs a stray butter knife, quickly leveling the flour.

With a firm hand came a big mess.

Steve now had flour all over the front of his shirt and some on his face. The brunette glares at Ponyboy, although there was no real heat behind it. Mistakes happened. Although if they had been younger, he'd be screaming a mile a minute already.

"I'm so sorry," the redhead rushes out, putting the now leveled out cup of flour on the counter.

He reaches a hand up and does his best to dust off the front of Steve's shirt, only effectively rubbing it deeper into the fabric. Steve couldn't help but snicker, watching the redhead's face contort into a worried expression.

Another hand moves up to Steve's face, cupping his cheek to swipe his thumb across a splotch of flour the redhead had gotten onto him. The older male felt like he was about to implode on the spot. He couldn't help but melt into the touch, just a little. Affection was something he never got from anyone besides Soda.

Ponyboy laughs gently as Steve leans into his hand, thumb still swiping at the flour coating his cheekbone. He couldn't help but notice how good it felt to cup the older male's face in his hand. The thought alone was enough for those pesky butterflies to come back.

"I'm sorry," Ponyboy repeats again, voice much more gentle and less worried than before. "Wasn't thinking."

"You never do," Steve teases, a small smile playing on his lips. "But it's okay."

Steve slowly moves a hand to the bag of flour, scooping some up with his fingers. He then swiftly smears flour on the younger male's face, patting his cheek playfully. Flour fluttered from Ponyboy's face and onto his shirt. And there was that laughter again, bold and beautiful, bright. The redhead pulls his head away from Steve's reach, still laughing.

"Steve!" He squeals, hand leaving Steve's face.

"Now we're even," the older male gets out through chuckles.

Darry watches the encounter with a confused expression on his face. Seeing Ponyboy and Steve interact in such a way made him wonder what was changing. Although he was just glad that they both weren't bickering and throwing petty hits at one another because they were mad. Whatever this was, it was much more mature than he remembered.

He simply looks away though, tending to his casserole. He trusted them enough to not make a mess of his kitchen. At least he hoped so.

"Now we're all dirty," Ponyboy responds playfully. "There's no way I'm sitting through dinner with flour on my shirt."

"At least you've got a change of clothes," Steve retorts. He was more covered than Ponyboy was. "I've gotta suck it up."

Ponyboy rolls his eyes playfully. Drama queen.

"You can borrow one of my sweatshirts," Ponyboy says simply. "I always buy them a size up... I'm taller so it should fit you just fine."

Steve huffs. Another jab at his height. Although he truly didn't mind the younger male being taller than him. He just knew that it would always be a thing to tease him with.

"Fine."

Ponyboy giggles gently and he pulls Steve off to his room, digging into his dresser where he'd transferred his clothes. He pulls out a hoodie, tossing it at the brunette who caught it with ease. The older male holds it out in front of him. It was a UCLA hoodie with 'CURTIS' spelled out on the back.

Steve shifts a little as his heart flutters, looking at the redhead who was already stripping out of his flour speckled shirt, sliding a new one over his head. His cheeks were burning at the sight of Ponyboy's toned stomach. The brunette turns away quickly, taking off his own shirt to slide the hoodie on over his head. He pulls it down to fit a bit better. It was nearly a perfect fit other than the length. Steve was more muscly than Ponyboy, but the redhead was obviously taller. So this fits nicely.

"It looks good on you," Ponyboy teases, eyes scanning over Steve as the other male faces away from him. Seeing his hoodie on the older male made him smile, especially seeing 'CURTIS' across the width of Steve's shoulders. He felt that it was a personal victory of sorts. "Fits nice."

"I look good in everything," Steve retorts, spinning around to look at Ponyboy with that stubborn look on his face. His eyebrows were furrowed and those green eyes of his were swirling with more than one emotion. "But, uh-, thanks. For letting me borrow this."

Steve's cheeks were flushed and he knew it, the heat of his face quickly sending him out of the room and back to the kitchen. Although everyone on the couch had a good laugh at seeing Steve in Ponyboy's UCLA hoodie.

Ponyboy rolls his eyes at their laughter, following Steve out of the room confidently. He goes back into the kitchen, proceeding to mix in the flour that he'd leveled out. The redhead got more before adding it, stirring the ingredients together.

He couldn't help but glance at Steve who was back to dicing potatoes, his lips moving in silent words to himself. The redhead couldn't read them due to the angle. But Steve seemed flustered and focused on something in his head rather than the task at hand.

-

Dinner rolled around after Darry deemed everything done. Everyone was at the table, plates piled with food. They were eating contently, chatter filling any of the empty space that their silverware against the plates couldn't fill. Ponyboy felt at peace, eating at the table with all of his friends and family.

He'd missed all of their voices and conversations. Everyone had a more adult feel to them, but it didn't stop them from acting like themselves around one another. The redhead couldn't have asked for a better holiday with them.

His eyes wander to find Steve across the table from him. Their eyes meet for a few moments before Steve looks away, turning his attention to Johnny who was telling a story about some monster customer he encountered at his job in customer service.

Ponyboy simply smiles gently.

He could be thankful for this. All of it.