Chapter Text
Apollo sat on the Shepard’s front steps, taking a puff off his cigarette angrily. He had just had a very heated conversation with Tim about his ‘job’, or lack thereof persay. He wasn’t Curly and he didn’t believe in running away at any sign of conflict or argument so he just sat on the steps trying to cool down.
He had always been the calm hot head of the family. He knew how to control his anger real well. Better than most. Which helped add to his appeal. But he could sure fight if he wanted to. That’s why people liked him. Who wouldn't like him?
Well, Tim for one sure wasn’t his biggest fan at the moment. He had just spent the better part of an hour chewing him out for nearly getting caught pickpocketing.
Apollo had managed to steal an expensive watch right off the wrist of a guy that was practically a mobster. The man had a murder record and everything. But that didn’t stop Apollo. Nothing did. It’s like he had a death wish, as Tim would say.
Tim didn’t want the kid killed, even though Apollo was older. He especially didn’t want Apollo putting Angela or Curly in danger, so Tim pretty much had told him to get a real job or get out. And as much as he would hate to admit it, Apollo would rather get a real job than lose the only family he really had ever known.
Tim had suggested he looked into the roofing company that a buddy of his, Darrel Curtis, worked for. He knew Darry but he didn’t know him well. He had seen him around when he was hanging at the DX with Steve or hooking up with broads with Two Bit. Darry Curtis didn’t seem like much more than all brawn no brain, as Steve would say. He just looked like one of those big dumb football pansies that Apollo loved to mock so much. So he wasn’t real keen on the idea of working with him. He could be worse looking though, Apollo thought.
He heard the door open from behind him but didn’t bother to look back to see who it was, he could tell by the sound of the metal chains around the boy's neck. Curly Shepard.
“Whatcha thinking about” Curly smirked, sitting down next to Apollo, snatching the cigarette out of his mouth.
“You hang out with that Ponyboy kid a good bit huh?” Apollo asked, giving Curly the side eye for stealing his cigarette.
“I mean, yeah. Why?” Curly stuttered out. Apollo knew they had something but he couldn’t really care less.
“What’s his oldest brother's deal? Darrel. What’s with him” Apollo pressed, pursing his lips together in thought.
“I don’t know” Curly shrugged “he hates my guts that’s for sure.”
“Everyone hates your guts, Curly” Apollo hissed out with a laugh, earning him a sharp elbow in the side.
“Darry is different. That guy hasn’t smiled once in his life” Curly spoke, flicking his cigarette on the ground and putting it out under his heavy boot.
“Thought so” Apollo snickered.
“Ya gonna take the job?”
“I think I gotta, you heard Tim” Apollo reminded Curly.
“Man fuck Tim” Curly chuckled out “why do ya listen to him anyway?”
“Why don’t you?”
“You’re a real prick sometimes Pollo” Curly spat with a laugh, standing up and walking towards his car.
“Where ya going?” Apollo asked, lighting up another cigarette.
“Ponyboy’s” Curly shrugged.
Apollo thought for a second before standing up and making his way over to Curly’s run down car. “You got room for one more?”
Curly just nodded and the two got in the car. Curly turned on the radio practically as loud as it went and he took off, most likely leaving skid marks behind.
The Curtis house wasn’t too far away but far enough where Curly was able to get honked at nearly a dozen times.
“Jesus Christ kid, I’m driving next time” Apollo teased, getting out of the now parked car.
“Shut up” Curly spat as the two of them approached the run down looking house, not even bothering to knock.
“Pony?” Curly called into the house, leaning against the doorframe.
“He’s in his room” Steve answered from the couch, not taking his eyes off the Mickey Mouse cartoon that was playing on the Curtis’s small tv.
Curly nodded a thank you and headed straight towards Ponyboy’s room, ignoring the evil stare from Darry who sat in the kitchen looking at his newspaper.
After Curly disappeared into Pony’s room Darry’s gaze shifted to where Apollo was standing in the doorway.
“Apollo Shepard?” Darry asked, confusion lacing his voice.
“Pollo? Whatcha doing here?” Steve lit up, turning to face his friend finally.
“Got a question for Superman” Apollo responded, noticing Darry practically growled at the nickname. Gee, that dude sure seemed like the life of the party.
“Whatcha want” Darry echoed.
“Wanted to know if ya got room for an extra man at your roofing job” Apollo shrugged, walking only a bit further into the room.
“Yeah, why? Finally thinking bout making a real living” Darry asked, sounding sarcastic but Apollo could tell he was sincere.
“You been talking to Tim?”
Darry’s face twisted in confusion. “No” was all he said.
Apollo scratched the back of his neck at the awkwardness of the situation.
“So can I get the job?” Apollo pressed on.
“Don’t ask me, ask Dave” Darry shrugged, returning his eyes to reading his newspaper. Apollo assumed Dave was the boss.
“Do me a favor?” Apollo started with a smirk “ask him for me?”
Darry’s attention on the paper quickly faded at this.
“Why would I do that?” Darry questioned, his face looking completely deadpan.
“Golly Darry just get him the job?” Steve snarked “I’m trying to watch the television. Quit gabbing.”
Darry shot Steve an intense glare, rolling his eyes.
“Fine. But you gotta be there at 8 sharp” Darry scolded giving in, turning the page on his large newspaper.
“Sounds like a plan, Superman” Apollo rhymed, a nickname he had picked up from Steve’s teasing.
Darry huffed a snort “remind me to hit you later” he mumbled to himself, probably in reference to Steve, or so Apollo hoped.
Apollo let out a small chuckle and turned on his heels to walk out back out the Curtis’s front door.
He realized he had to walk back to Tim’s but he found himself not minding it much.