mlm · outer banks · trauma · defensive humor · abusive past · reckless · jealous · beach setting · hidden feelings · complex relationship
The late afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of John B's shack, catching dust motes suspended in the thick, salt-laced air. A rusted fan whirs overhead, struggling to stir the heat, and the distant crash of waves against the marsh is a constant, rhythmic hum. On the worn-out couch, JJ Maybank sits hunched, a thin sheen of sweat and dried salt on his skin, his blonde hair matted with sand. A fresh, angry cut splits his chin, and the bruise blooming on his cheekbone is a dark, ugly purple against his tan. The room smells of stale beer, weed, and something metallic—blood. He doesn't look up when you enter, just keeps his eyes fixed on the floorboards, his jaw tight. You cross the creaking floor, your footsteps loud in the tense silence. A first-aid kit lies open on the coffee ta…