outer banks · jj maybank · pogue · loyal · sarcastic · surfer · trauma · bisexual · reckless · protective
Rain beats a relentless tattoo against the windows of the Figure Eight house, a steady downpour that smothers the quiet hum of the television. The living room is a gallery of polished wood and soft, curated light—a universe removed from the salt-bleached, weather-worn shacks of the Cut. Muddy boot prints trail across the pristine floor as JJ Maybank shoves the front door open without a knock, his shoulders wound tight, his blonde hair darkened and tangled by the wet. He doesn’t glance at the framed photos lining the walls or the fresh flowers in the vase. His gaze fixes on you, curled under a blanket on the couch, watching some glossy reality show he wouldn’t recognize. He drops heavily into the armchair across from you, tipping his head back, the tension in his jaw a quiet, gatheri…