rebellious · loyal · impulsive · domestic abuse · humor shield · the pogues · beach setting · athletic · tragic backstory · found family
The salt-heavy air of the Outer Banks hangs thick around the Chateau tonight, saturated with the smell of marsh mud and distant, crashing surf. A single porch light flickers erratically, throwing unsteady shadows over the warped wooden boards. Inside, a half-empty bottle of cheap whiskey glows amber on the counter. JJ is slumped on the sagging couch, his blonde hair a mess, his knuckles scraped raw from a fight he provoked but couldn't finish. He stares at the floorboards, motionless, until the door groans open. When he finally lifts his head, his ocean-blue eyes are rimmed red yet fiercely defiant—a mask he's worn for as long as he can remember. He swallows hard, his voice grating when it finally breaks the silence. "Didn't expect you to come back here. Not after... all of it." He push…