Archive of Our Own ^beta

JJ Maybank honestly couldn’t remember why he’d agreed to come on this mission with Groff—his biological dad for a grand total of a few days. Well technically he’s been his dad the whole time, but you know what he means. He’s already so tired, so so tired .

The mausoleum stood at the far edge of the cemetery, its exterior weathered and cracked, looking as cold and uninviting as JJ felt inside. His fingers curled tightly around the crowbar in his hand, its weight matching the heaviness in his chest.

They entered the building as Groff made a whole speech about the fact that he belonged here, that he wasn’t really a pogue– which frankly just made him uncomfortable and irritated.

JJ's jaw tightened as his eyes flickered upwards towards the frame of his mom, and then to the name engraved on the marble—Larissa Maybank. He felt a pit in his stomach thinking about the woman, no his mother, he never remembered, but who he still felt like he’d failed.

"This is it," Groff said, his voice way too cheerful for a man about to open his dead wife's grave. JJ gripped the crowbar tighter in an attempt get the tightness in his chest to leave already. He hated himself for this, but the treasure hunt had left them no choice. The necklace buried with his mom was the next piece of the puzzle.

“This is wrong,” JJ muttered, barely loud enough for Groff to hear. “We’re grave robbing, man.”

Groff let out a huff, his impatience palpable. “She’d understand. It’s for the greater good.”

JJ wanted to tell him to shove his justification somewhere painful, but he swallowed the words. He knew the stakes—the necklace buried with his mom was the next piece of the treasure puzzle. As much as it sickened him, they needed it. He could handle it.

Together, they pried open the heavy stone lid. Groff stepped back, tears inexplicably welling in his eyes. “I—I can’t do this,” he said, voice trembling. “You do it, JJ. You’re her son after all.”

JJ’s jaw tightened. Her son. The words felt hollow coming from Groff, the father who abandoned him. But JJ nodded, stepping forward as the grating sound of stone echoed through the building.

The sight hit him like a punch to the chest. His mom’s frail remains lay beneath him, her figure shrunken and lifeless, but still unmistakably her. Just like the picture above, in the frame. His breath caught, a sharp, ragged sound that hurt coming out. He’d thought he was ready for this—he wasn’t. He doesn’t think he ever will be.

There it was. The necklace glinted faintly, even in the dim light. JJ swallowed hard, his hands trembling and breath coming in short spurts as he reached down to remove it.

The second his fingers clasped the necklace, Groff’s voice turned cold. "Sorry, Jay. Can't risk you keeping this for yourself."

JJ barely had time to react before Groff bolted out of the mausoleum, with the necklace for, slamming the heavy iron gate shut behind him.

"Groff!" JJ shouted, lunging for the gate. He rattled it, but it wouldn’t budge. The lock clicked into place, leaving him trapped inside. JJ banged on the gate, his voice cracking. “Let me out!”

“dad?” he exhaled shakily, tears pricking his eyes. weak , needy his fake dad would call him.

But Groff was already gone. The silence that followed was deafening, oppressive. JJ spun around, his back pressed to the cold wall of the mausoleum. His mom’s open grave loomed in the center of the room, the sight unbearable.

Suddenly the panic set back in. Let's face it, if he wasn’t panicking before– and he clearly was, he certainly is now.

Panic surged through JJ. The mausoleum seemed to close in on him, the walls pressing tighter, the air growing thinner. His mother’s grave lay open, the sight of her, thin and lifeless, a grim reminder of the life he’d lost, and the life he could have had.

He stumbled, collapsing on the floor against the wall. His chest heaved, each breath more rugged than the last. His vision blurred, his hands trembling as they fumbled for his phone with shaking hands.

There was only one person he could call.

John B picked up after the first ring.

“Hey man, how's it going ? Did you find it ?”

JJ hadn’t yet registered that John B was speaking to him, he was too busy continuing and failing to regulate his own breathing.

"JJ? What's going on buddy ?"

“John B…” His voice was barely audible, choked and broken. “I—I’m locked in. The mausoleum. And I—” He dissolved into ragged sobs, his words crumbling under the weight of his panic.

“JJ?” John B’s voice was sharp with concern. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I need you to listen to me, alright? Can you do that for me?”

JJ doesn't respond, he can't get the words out in his tight throat.

“Jay, can you do that?” John B tries again

JJ struggled out an answer, his throat tight, but he managed a small, desperate noise.

“Good,” John B said, his tone steady. “I’m on my way right now. Just hold on. But I need you to breathe for me, okay? Let’s do this together.”

JJ choked back a sob, his words tumbling out. " I can’t—John B, I can’t breathe. My mom’s… grave is open, and It’s—it’s like everything’s closing in."

“You can breathe,” John B said firmly. “It feels impossible, but you’re doing it right now. I’m here, Jay. Just listen to me. Deep breath in for four, okay? Let’s go together. In… one, two, three, four. Hold it. Now let it out. One, two, three, four.”

JJ let out a broken laugh, more of a sob. “I can’t... I can’t..”

“Everything's not caving in. I promise. You’re okay. I know it feels like you’re drowning, but I’m here. We’re gonna get through this together.”

JJ’s breaths hitched as he gripped the phone tighter. “She’s right there, John B. Her grave... it’s open. I—I can see her. I can’t... I can’t do this.”

“Hey, listen to me,” John B said, his voice firm but kind. “You don’t have to do anything right now except breathe. Focus on my voice. Just my voice, okay?”

JJ nodded again, tears streaming down his face. “I’m trying... I’m trying, but it won’t stop.”

“It’s gonna stop, JJ. I promise. But we’re gonna take it one step at a time. Let’s start with your breathing. I want you to put you head between you knees so you don't pass out on me, okay ?, and take a deep breath in for four counts, I’ll count with you. Ready?”

JJ hesitated but nodded even if John B couldn’t see him. “Yeah... okay.”

“Good. Breathe in... one, two, three, four. Now hold it.” John B’s voice was steady, unwavering. “Hold it... and let it out, slow. One, two, three, four.”

JJ tried, his breath shaky and uneven, but John B didn’t falter.

“That’s it. You’re doing great”, If he could even breath like a normal fucking person right now, he'd call John B a fucking liar because in what fucked up world is he doing great .

He then realises he zoned out on John B, he tries really hard to get his head to shut up and listen again.

He focuses on his voice, “Let’s do it again. In... one, two, three, four. Hold it... and let it out. One, two, three, four.”

With each cycle, JJ’s breathing began to steady, the crushing weight on his chest easing very slightly. He focused solely on John B’s voice.

“See? You’re doing it,” John B said, his tone lighter now. “You’re stronger than this panic, JJ. You’ve got this. I’m almost there” John B says after a pause. “Just tell me where you are, Jay. Anything to help me find you.”

JJ sniffled, glancing around the dark mausoleum. “Smells like stone and damp. It’s dark. I hate it, John B. I hate it so much. I hate it. I hate i-it” His voice dissolved into sobs once more.

“I know you do,” John B said gently. “But you’re not gonna be there much longer. I’m almost there. You’re doing so good, JJ. Just keep holding on.”

JJ heard the distinct rumble of the twinkie engine, which must only mean one thing : John B .

~~~~

John B glanced at the woman next to him. Sarah was radiant, her excitement barely contained as they approached the town hall steps. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision—it was bold, sure, but they were ready for it. Or at least, they thought they were.

The plan was simple: get married quietly, just them, and start their lives together. But as they reached the door, a hastily scrawled sign confirmed their worst fear: CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

“JJ,” Sarah muttered, shaking her head with a dry laugh. “It has to be JJ.”

John B sighed. “Trashing downtown was bound to catch up to us somehow.” He turned to her, a smile tugging at his lips despite the irritation. “Let’s regroup. Maybe we can figure something else out.”

Before Sarah could reply, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The ringtone—the one specifically set for JJ—pulled his attention immediately.

“Hey, man. How’s it going? Did you find it?” he answered, his tone casual at first.

There was no immediate response. Only the faint sound of ragged breathing reached his ears.

“JJ?” His stomach sank, worry sharpening his voice. “What’s going on, buddy?”

“John B...” The words were choked and uneven, breaking under the weight of something John B couldn’t see.

“JJ, talk to me.” His grip on the phone tightened as Sarah frowned beside him, concern mirrored in her expression.

“I... I’m locked in. The mausoleum. And I—” JJ’s voice dissolved into sobs, raw and unfiltered, stabbing straight through John B’s chest.

“Jesus,” John B whispered, already turning on his heel and motioning for Sarah to follow. “Okay, JJ. I need you to breathe for me, alright? Can you do that?”

No answer.

“Jay, can you do that?” John B asked again, forcing his voice to stay calm even as his mind raced.

A faint, broken sound came through, and John B exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Good. I’m on my way, okay? Just hold on. We’re gonna get through this, but I need you to listen to my voice.”

He gestured to Sarah as they climbed into the Twinkie. “Mausoleum,” he mouthed. She nodded and took the wheel without hesitation.

“John B, I can’t breathe. My mom’s... grave is open. I—I can see her.” JJ’s voice cracked, and John B could practically feel the weight crushing him.

“You can breathe,” John B said firmly, his voice as steady as he could make it. “You’re doing it right now, JJ. I’m here. Just focus on me.”

As Sarah floored the gas, John B guided JJ through each breath, counting steadily, his tone unwavering. He kept the panic from his own voice because JJ needed him to be calm.

“I’m almost there,” John B assured him as they sped toward the cemetery. “Just tell me anything, Jay. Anything to help me find you.”

“It’s... cold,” JJ whispered. “Smells like stone and damp. It’s dark. I hate it, John B. I hate it so much. I hate it. I hate i-it” JJ’s voice dissolved into sobs once more.

“I know you do,” John B said gently, his heart aching. “But you’re not gonna be there much longer. I’m almost there. You’re doing great. Just keep holding on.”

When they reached the cemetery, John B didn’t wait for the Twinkie to stop fully. He bolted toward the mausoleum, spotting the heavy door and hearing the hysteric sobs coming from inside the building, breaking his heart..

~~~~

Suddenly, through the fog of his panic, JJ heard footsteps pounding outside. His heart leapt, but this time it wasn’t from fear.

A sob of relief left JJ's mouth, before he could muffle it.

“It’s me!” John B called. “I’m here!”.

John B’s shadow came through the dusty, tiny, old window. He saw John B rush to the lock, working quickly to open it.

“I'm here JJ, just working the lock, I'll be there any second now, ok ?”

John B’s voice sliced through the chaos in his mind, pulling him back from the edge. But it was too much. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t answer. His hands were shaking, his throat tight as he choked on his own breath.

“JJ?”

He heard John B’s voice again, this time firmer, more urgent, but couldn't find it in himself to reply. The sound of footsteps rushed toward him, and before he knew it, the heavy metal gate creaked open, a sliver of light spilling into the dim mausoleum.

“JJ!”

JJ flinched, heart lurching as he saw John B’s shadow moving toward him. His vision blurred, but he could still make out the outline of his brother, rushing toward him with that determined look on his face. John B crouched down beside him, his voice steady, but there was a hint of fear there too.

“Hey, you’re okay. I’ve got you.”

JJ’s body tensed at the touch, but something in the sound of John B’s voice cut through the storm inside him. He didn’t want to be touched, didn’t want anyone to see him like this, but it was John B. The one person who always made him feel less alone, even in the darkest moments.

“John B…” he managed, his voice barely a whisper, cracked with emotion. “I… I can’t…”

“Shh, hey, it’s okay,” John B’s voice softened, and JJ felt a hand on his chest. The warmth of it seemed to spread through him, melting the icy panic that had frozen him in place. John B’s placed his other hand on his back, rubbing gentle circles. It felt real, comforting, grounding.

“I’ve got you,” John B repeated, his tone calm and steady, like nothing else mattered except getting JJ through this.

JJ felt the tension in his body start to ease just slightly, but the fear still gripped him, held him in place. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight.

“Just breathe with me, Jay. Focus on me, okay?” John B said, and JJ could feel his warmth radiating through him, like a shield against the storm in his mind.

JJ didn’t respond, couldn’t. His body was still shaking, his chest heaving with every breath, but then John B moved closer, gently prying JJ’s arms away from his chest. JJ’s eyes fluttered closed as John B wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into his embrace.

“Breathe with me,” John B whispered, his voice soft but unwavering. “In… and out. Just focus on me. feel my chest”

JJ clung to him, hands still trembling, but John B’s touch was a lifeline he couldn’t let go of. His head rested on John B’s shoulder, his breath coming in shallow bursts.

“Shh,” John B soothed, his voice low. “You’re safe now. I’m here. We’ll get through this together, okay? You’re not alone.”

JJ let out a broken sob, muffled against John B’s shoulder, and it took everything in him not to pull away. But John B was holding him steady, grounding him, and for once, JJ didn’t feel like he was sinking. He focused on John B’s voice, on the steady pressure of his hand on his back, on the warmth surrounding him.

“Just breathe, Jay. Focus on me,” John B continued, his voice like a steady rhythm guiding JJ’s panic-stricken mind.

JJ tried, struggling to match his breaths with John B’s, but it felt like his lungs couldn’t catch up. “I can’t – I can't, John B ; Groff, he-he made me open mommas grave, and – and, once I did he just grabbed the necklace and he just—he just locked me here alone with her and-.

“You can,” John B said firmly. “I’m right here. We’ll do it together.”

JJ squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to listen, to focus on the slow rhythm of John B’s voice.

Slowly, his breaths began to steady, though they were still shaky. The crushing weight on his chest didn’t lift entirely, but with John B’s help, it eased.

“Good, Jay. You’re doing great,” John B whispered, his hands moving up to JJ’s hair, running fingers through it gently.

JJ’s breath caught, but this time, it wasn’t from fear. It was from the overwhelming sense of safety he hadn’t realized he’d been craving. He didn’t know how long they sat like that—John B holding him, guiding him through every breath—but eventually, the panic began to subside.

John B pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting JJ’s with a softness that melted the last of the tension in his chest. “You’re okay, JJ,” he said, his voice calm, like the storm had passed.
JJ didn’t speak, but he nodded weakly, his body still trembling, but less so. He clung to John B, unwilling to let go, but he could breathe again. He could think again.

“Thanks,” JJ whispered, his voice hoarse, his throat raw.

John B’s smile was gentle, his hand still on JJ’s back. “Always, Jay. You’re not alone. I’m never leaving you.”

“He’s not gonna get away with this, JJ. But right now, you’re coming with me. Let’s get you out of here Bubba.”

~~~~

Somehow, JJ found himself in the Twinkie’s passenger seat, John B’s hand steady on his chest How did he get here ?

“B ?” JJ mumbled, his voice hoarse.

“yeah Jay ?” John B answered, concern still all over his face. JJ hates that he put it there.

“momma” JJ jerks his head in the direction of the mausoleum, “I-um, she-she’s, Groff made me take the grave out and-and I didn’t put it b-”

“Don’t worry about the grave, okay? I’ll take care of it.” John B assured him

JJ’s lips parted in protest, but John B pressed a kiss to his temple. “Stay here with Sarah. I’ll be right back.”

~~~~

After ensuring JJ was secure in the passenger seat of the Twinkie with Sarah beside him, John B returned to the mausoleum. He worked silently, carefully closing the casket and setting it back in place.

When he returned, JJ looked up at him, his eyes red and tired.

“I put her right Jay, It’s done. She’s resting again,” John B said softly, running a hand through JJ’s hair. “You did good, Jay. You did good.”

JJ’s breath hitched, but this time it wasn’t from panic, it was from relief. “Thanks, B.”

“Always,” John B said, his voice steady and unwavering. “You’re never alone, JJ. Not as long as I’m here.”

~~~~

John B sat in the Twinkie, throwing glances in JJ’s direction before nodding at Sarah toward the headlights cutting through the now dark surroudings. A smaller car pulled up behind them, its bright beams flashing briefly before shutting off. The door swung open, and Cleo stepped out, her confident stride and sharp eyes immediately cutting through the tension of the night.

She waved lazily at John B as she approached, her expression softening when she spotted JJ in the passenger seat. “Hey, you two look like you’ve been through it,” Cleo said, her voice calm but laced with concern.

John B climbed out of the driver’s seat, meeting Cleo halfway. “Yeah, it’s been… a lot,” he admitted. He glanced toward the Twinkie. “Figured it’d be better if you took Sarah for a bit. We need some time to decompress.”

Cleo tilted her head, studying John B for a moment before nodding. “Got it. I’ll keep her busy. We'll go keep Kiara company. Maybe we’ll go see what kind of trouble we can stir up in town.” Her lips quirked into a small grin, but her gaze shifted back to the Twinkie, where JJ sat motionless, staring out the window.

“Take care of him, yeah?” Cleo said softly, her voice losing its teasing edge.

“I will,” John B promised. “Thanks, Cleo.”

She patted his shoulder as she passed, then pulled open the sliding door of the van. “Sarah, come on, girl. Let’s roll.”

From the back, Sarah peeked out, her eyes tired but still warm. She hesitated, glancing between the boys. “You guys okay?” she asked, her tone light but her concern evident.

John B nodded, offering her a reassuring smile and kissing her goodbye. “We’re good, thanks. Just need to clear our heads for a bit.”

Sarah slid out of the van, her hand brushing against JJ’s shoulder briefly in passing. “Call me if you guys need anything, okay?” she said softly.

John B nodded with a reassuring smile.

JJ nodded without looking at her, his gaze fixed on some distant point outside the window. Sarah sighed but didn’t push him, letting Cleo guide her toward the car.

As the sound of their engine faded into the distance, John B climbed back into the driver’s seat, turning to JJ. “All right,” he said, his voice gentle. “Just us now.”

JJ finally looked at him, his eyes glassy but determined. “Let’s get out of here,” he said.

And with that, the Twinkie rumbled back to life, carrying them away into the night.

And as they drove off, leaving the mausoleum behind, John B vowed to keep a promise. To protect his little brother, who would do anything for him, forever and ever.

~~~~

Once the girls had left, JJ curled his body back inward, as if protecting himself from the pain he knew was still to come, his head falling against the cold glass of the window.

John B noticed. He always did.

"Hey, it’s okay," John B said softly, turning around to face him as he started the engine. "You’re safe. You’re not alone. We’re gonna get through this."

But JJ didn’t know if he could. He closed his eyes, squeezing them tight, trying to block out the flood of emotions threatening to swallow him whole. It wasn’t just the trauma from what had just happened. It was years of abandonment, years of never having anyone to rely on. And even now, when he had John B, his brother, the one person who never let him down, JJ still couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of being lost.

JJ sniffed, looking out the window at the passing lights, the world still spinning too fast for his mind to catch up.

~~~~

The drive to the beach was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt heavy and fragile all at once. The Twinkie rumbled down the back roads, the headlights cutting through the dark. JJ sat slouched in the passenger seat, his head turned toward the window as he stared blankly at the passing scenery. The cool night air breezed through the cracked window, carrying with it the faint, salty tang of the ocean.

John B kept his focus on the road ahead, his fingers lightly drumming the steering wheel in an unconscious rhythm. His hand had left JJ’s only when the turn required it, but the connection hadn’t broken; the unspoken promise was still there.

He glanced sideways at his best friend, his heart tightening once more at the way JJ curled inward, as if trying to make himself disappear.

The lights of the main road gave way to the softer glow of moonlight on sand dunes. The closer they got to the beach, the more John B felt the weight between them begin to shift, if only slightly. He pulled into the small parking area by the dunes, killing the engine and letting the sound of the ocean take over.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The crash of the waves filled the silence, relentless and steady.

“This okay?” John B asked softly, breaking the quiet.

JJ nodded without looking at him, his hand already reaching for the door handle. “Yeah. It’s better here.”

They climbed out of the Twinkie, the sand crunching softly under their feet as they made their way toward the water. JJ kicked off his shoes halfway there, letting his toes sink into the cool, damp sand. It was grounding, in a way, feeling the earth beneath him.

John B walked a few steps behind, giving JJ the space he needed. When they finally stopped, they were close enough to feel the spray of the waves on their skin. The moon hung low and bright, casting a silver glow over the water.

JJ dropped down onto the sand, his knees drawn up to his chest. He rested his arms on them, staring out at the horizon as if the ocean might somehow hold the answers he was searching for. John B settled beside him, close but not crowding him, waiting.

“I don’t know what to do, man,” JJ finally said, his voice barely audible over the waves. “I feel like I’m drowning, and I don’t even know which way is up anymore.”

John B didn’t respond right away. He reached down, scooping up a handful of sand and letting it run through his fingers, the grains catching the moonlight as they fell. “You don’t have to know what to do right now,” he said eventually, his tone quiet but firm. “You just have to keep breathing. One thing at a time.”

JJ huffed a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who let everyone down. The money. Poguelandia. Trashing downtown. I couldn’t even protect my own mom, John B. I couldn’t…” His voice cracked, and he turned his face away, rubbing at his eyes.

“You didn’t let anyone down,” John B said, his voice steady now. “You did everything you could, Jay. For us, your family. And you’re still here. That counts for something.”

JJ shook his head again, but the words stuck with him, burrowing past the walls he’d built up. “I feel like I’m carrying all this stuff around, and it just… it won’t go away. It’s too much.”

John B nodded slowly, watching the waves roll in and out. “Yeah, it’s heavy. But you don’t have to carry it alone, okay? I’m here. We’re all here. I'll always be here”

After a long pause, JJ spoke again, his voice more steady but no less vulnerable. “You ever think about your dad? Like, really think about him?”

John B glanced at him, surprised by the question, but he nodded. “All the time,” he admitted. “Sometimes it’s like… like he’s still here, you know? Like if I just turn around, he’ll be standing there, yelling at me for not cleaning the boat or something stupid like that.” A small smile tugged at his lips, but it quickly faded. “But most of the time, it just hurts. Knowing he’s gone. Knowing I couldn’t make him stay”

JJ turned to look at him, the vulnerability in John B’s voice cutting through his own walls. “How do you deal with it?” he asked, his voice soft. “The hurt?”

“You get through it. You find your people, the ones who make it hurt a little less, and you stick with them.” John B admitted, his voice soft.

JJ swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it impossible to speak. He turned back toward the water, letting the rhythmic crash of the waves fill the space between them. It didn’t fix anything. It didn’t make the pain go away. But it helped. Just a little.

“Thanks, man,” JJ said after a long pause, his voice hoarse but sincere.

“Always,” John B replied, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.

~~~~

The silence between them shifted, softer now, like the tide retreating. JJ stared out at the waves, his hands idly running through the cool sand. John B watched him for a moment, reading the slight droop of his shoulders, compared to the tightness earlier.

Even so, he noticed the way his body still seemed to carry more than it could bear.

Without a word, John B leaned over and nudged JJ’s shoulder with his own—a small, deliberate gesture that said I’m here. JJ looked at him, startled for a second, before a faint smirk tugged at his lips. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Come here,” John B said suddenly, his voice warm, leaving no room for argument. He opened his arms, his posture inviting but without pressure.

JJ blinked, his instinct to recoil from vulnerability kicking in hard. But the night, the exhaustion, the unrelenting weight—it all made him pause. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he leaned in.

John B wrapped his arms around him firmly, his grip steady and grounding. JJ stiffened at first, his muscles taut like a coiled spring. But as John B stayed there, holding him without a word, JJ felt something in him crack.

The tension seeped out of his body like air from a balloon, and before he knew it, he was leaning fully into John B’s chest. His hands clutched at his best friend’s hoodie, gripping it like a lifeline as his breathing hitched.

The sobs came next, ragged and broken, spilling out of him in waves he couldn’t control.

John B didn’t let go. He rested his chin on top of JJ’s head, his hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. “Let it out, Jay,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “You don’t have to hold it all in. Not with me.”

JJ shook his head weakly, his face buried in John B’s shoulder. “I’m so tired, man,” he choked out. “I’m just… so tired.”

“I know,” John B said, his voice thick with emotion. “I know, Jay. But you’re not doing this alone, okay? You’ve got me. You’ve got all of us. We’ve got you.”

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, the sound of JJ’s muffled sobs mixing with the crash of the waves. When JJ finally pulled back, his face was tear-streaked, but there was something lighter in his expression, something that hadn’t been there before.

“Sorry,” JJ muttered, swiping at his face with the sleeve of his hoodie. “Didn’t mean to get your shirt all wet.”

John B huffed a laugh, brushing the sand off his own pants. “It’s just a shirt, Jay. You’re worth way more than that.”

JJ gave him a watery smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes but tried. And that was enough for John B.

Without another word, John B threw an arm around JJ’s shoulders, pulling him close as they both turned their gazes back to the ocean. This time, JJ didn’t think about it twice. He leaned into the contact, letting himself be held, their heads leaning against one another, even if just for a little while.

And under the vast, star-scattered sky, with the waves crashing endlessly before them, JJ finally began to feel like maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t so alone after all.