Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving traces of yellow hues in the sky.It was getting late.Most likely get dark pretty quickly.Kiara sat on a bark below ,ripping a few daises.Her face was worn out with sorrow,a hint of anger and repulsion. JJ pats her shoulder. “Kie pull yourself together. They aren’t dead.”

The words are laced with firmness in his voice. “They can’t be dead.”
Kiara doesn’t budge.Sighs in defeat. “How can we be sure of that?Huh?”
JJ rests one arm on his hip the other rubs it on his neck.”Sarah and John B are not dead,damnit! Why can’t you think that?” He finally snaps.
“Because we can’t live with false hope!” She gets up. “I would rather know them as dead and learn to live with it than holding on to hope.” Tears start to fill her eyes. “Do you understand now why?”

"There is , Kie. We just haven't looked enough." His tone changes. Clinging with determination and a hint of ire. Ire of silent maniacs. Silent yet deadly.

"What do you have in mind?" Kiara crosses her arms. Curiosity is painted on her face.

"It's right in front of our eyes." His chin points toward the ocean. Kiara turns head. Drops arms down.Cocks her head at him again.  "This is your bright idea?" The reply is short, laced with sarcasm.

"You underestimate a pogue's desperation and determination." She bites her inside cheek.Eyebrows shot up. Although not as a result of being impressed.

"Hey, it's a generalization! C'mon! Of course you are a pogue too." He responds. He gestures his hand in the air. "Like-"

"JJ, - she cuts him midway,-"How about you elaborate on what you said?"

"Oh,right!" He clears his throat.Gulps. "We will ask at the office or at ports if any registered boat, ship is caught in the radar."

"You mean Shoupe."

"Yes."

"Do you really think he will give us that information?" Uncertainty clings in her tone. "They will think we are being unreasonable."  Then closes her eyes, sniffs. 

"Kiara?" JJ nears,catching a glimpse of the situation. His voice is low. Such a softness comes off that slightly puts her at ease. Still hasn't made up her mind completely. Afraid of letting her friends go, yet feels at guilt for not participating. He grabs her chin, nothing left but to look him right in the eye. With a slow pace, wipes a single tear. "Remember we are in this together."

"Ouch! Where do I come in?" Pope suddenly appears.

JJ steps back, fixing his cap, which doesn't really need any.

"You come in now,Pope." JJ pops the p obnoxiously. He places arms on hips, avoiding Pope's gaze. As if they were caught redhanded.

"Its already night. What are y'all doing?" Throws a look at both. Kiara lowers head then looks away. Pope turns around to JJ. "What are you up to, man?"

"To no good for sure,isn't that obvious scholar?" There is excitement blended with angst in what he says. Behind that smug smile, Pope is hesitant to what follows. "What exactly?"

"Find John b freaking Routledge and Sarah." JJ's answer is brief. Nothing but firmness resoluted in his demeanor. Standing there adamantly. There wasn't not anyone, anything , preventing JJ from his clear goal, which was obvious.

"Oh Man!" Pope sighs in defeat. Hugs the nape of neck with his right hand. "Kiara, are you sure this is right?" He shifts attention at her. A pause looms in air as her eyes meet JJ's. Full of hope. Trust. And something else which Pope cannot quite read. Admiration? Could be that. It was reciprocal from both of them.

"Yes. I am sure." She slices silence in half. Transfixes eyes at Pope, who is yet to learn more about what they intend to do. "We will ask Shoupe-"

"And if he doesn't tell us anything?" He cuts her. "Remember, our friend is accused of murder. Furthermore, Cameron's are after us. Won't they try to sneak in connections? Shoupe has long gone put trust in that scum Ward."

"That uh...wasn't only the case. We wouldn't just ask him. If needed steal resources." JJ remarks.

"That will only put us in even deeper trouble.We can warn Shoupe , tell him what we know."

"Won't we need proof?" Kiara asks.

"There is where all of us come in." He pauses, taking a glance at JJ's narrowed eyes, Kiara's slightly parted lips. Without a doubt, not sure they are following. He shakes head. "Look, guys, we have one shot at this and if we really want it to work, we have got to make them buy it. Especially Shoupe and others."

"How Pope?" JJ steps closer, bites bottom lip.Impatience pricks. 

"We will go to the office."

"What are we going to do?" Kiara grimaces.

"We will tell Shoupe regarding what we know about the situation. Not a word about the gold. What we are focused is clearing John B's name. Us involving and accusing Ward of stealing gold won't do in our favor. He can manipulate situation even to much worse extent."

"Like make us look we want his money. Lying.Desperate to cut our friend some slack." JJ response is immediate, making Pope halt , nodding.

"And it will make us look stupid, way too obvious we are bad liars.Valid enough." Kiara adds.

"Correct. That's why no mentioning of gold. Ward will only talk to him but we won't go all the way to the office about just that." He darts eyes back and forth , looking them eye to eye.Pauses. "While you guys speak, mostly you JJ will do the talking,"- he points finger-" You have a knack for annoying people."

"Comes in handy." JJ replies.

"Yeah...like that. Now stop interrupting me." Pope rises his brows in indignation. "You Kiara will make a scene about not feeling okay. Fainting because you don't feel well. Then JJ will yell more trying to get you to emergency. I fade in background.Sneak into office. Shoupe will grow suspicious , but I will have completed the task. Find any location at all. Including many coastal areas in different countries.Coordinates,whatever is in there but not steal them. Take photos and place coordinates. For all I care, I don't care."

"...Yeah last sentence didn't make any sense but pretty much my plan." JJ snorts.

"Can't disagree on that." Kiara rejoins.

"Great minds think alike."

"One thing JJ. The point is to find our friends and clear John B's name. Then we can think of gold. If that won't be too late too."

"One thing Pope. How are we going to prove John B's innocence?" Kiara remarks.

"This is where it gets messy, guys."

"What do you mean, Pope?" Both say in sync. Spare a look at each other, then back at Pope again.

"We can sneak in tonight."

"I hate to keep asking how Pope but still I fucking will. The hell are we going to do? Show up at front door? 'Hi there Rafe, you filthy son of a bi*ch, finally I can pull the trigger down your di*kass' , Does that answer the 'how'?" An irritation is clear pinpointed at poor Pope, who forms lips into a thin line.

"They are holding annual festivity. You know, even better to not direct unwanted attention after these events, which don't give an influential man like him an infamous name."

"Go on, genius."

"I know about this! Ugh I forgot!" Kiara places fist in her forehead, torturing herself internally for not thinking about it sooner. 

"Do uh... your parents do this? Like are they invited?"

"Yes! They are invited. And as far as I know, they have a good relationship with Cameron's family."

"Just what we need." JJ pulls thumbs up, clearly dripping sarcasm. Kiara stares. "Are you being serious? Are you even...ever serious in the first place?" Her tone is buried with bile.

"I didn't say anything, okay?" He snaps.

"Oh you didn't? JJ I know you to the bone. If-"

"Guys!" Pope shouts. "Stop this! Are we here to fight together or with each other?" Kiara tucks a strand of hair behind ear, stays in silence. "You are right." She breaks it.

"Damn it Pope! I didn't know you had even Shaeksperian in you! Deep shit and stuff. Anyways I am all ears." JJ follows.

"It is with masks. Think of it like halloween type of shit." Pope explains.

JJ looks to his right, focusing on a tree. "A weird fascination rich people have."

"And this is where both of you either shuts up or I am leaving."

"Sorry, Pops!" JJ blows a kiss in the air. Then looks down his boots. Then back at Pope.

"We are going to enter Ward's office. After sometime."

"All of us? Or just one person?" Kiara's voice is imprinted with worry.

"One, Kie. That's got to be you. We will be service."

JJ gulps down. Locks eyes with Kiara then Pope.

"Don't look at me like that. Kiara has more advantage than us. Look, Kie", -Pope sighs, -"I don't mean to-"

"I will do it. Whatever it takes.Go on." 

"You will enter Ward's office take ahold of files and whatnot of treasure and whatever stuff appears important. I know it is hard and maybe even impossible for him to have put his gun there, but you have to look for it.Any place that is suspicious to you. Or what would be considered as such. Okay? Don't touch it with bare hands. Only gloves. Take a costume that matches with theme and overall does great cover too.If Shoupe is sceptic about this too, we are not going to tell him further. He might be covering up for Ward." He runs hands through his hair. Drops hand and raises head higher.

"Y'all know Rafe won't give us a break , will he?"

"Nah, I don't think he will. As a matter of fact, he'll want to embarrass us even more than last time." JJ rolls his eyes.

"JJ's right."

"I am always right, Kie." He adds more aloud tone to last word. She laughs. "Sure..."

"So tonight is it?" 

"Fuc* yeah, Pope!"

"We will do some serious damage to those d**kheads." JJ smiles. "Wait! How much time do we have until our raid?" 

"Judging how it starts at 9 pm and we have been here for awhile...yeah exactly one hour and thirty minutes, so hurry your asses."

Chapter Text

Minutes pass. Seconds slice in. Bit by bit Kiara’s anxiety increases. Fidgets with hands. Then notices JJ , covered head to toe with a black vest,silver chain and clippers on his pocket. A pair of loose trousers. what seemed unusual hat, a wide brim with oval crown.What you could call a gambler’s hat.

He looked… surprisingly good. Handsome even. Though, her mind thought of caraval’s entertainer. He walked far back, carrying tray. Although the mask made him blend quite well, she still could recognise him everywhere he went. Perhaps his eyes or familiar smile that she got used to. Suddenly he paves way , getting close. Halts right in front of Kiara.
Her red dress, with a bust, coming tight around the torso, down with flannels. The material looked nothing short of expensive and elegant. She carried gloves with a silk fabric.It appeared so comfortable. Not itchy. On her finger wrapped a beautiful ruby ring.Dangling with a gold base.Her eyes were dazzling with excitement. Shining amidst her mask , painted white and red, with red glitters between both eyes.