This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession. Everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off.
genuinly dont think im ever getting over jj like i keep seeing sad edits of him and the pogues or rudy and the cast and my heart literally lurches like it drops to my stomach and i feel sick
like they really didnt need to give him that ending and the whole thing w the cast????? no fuck off like i hope they all reconcile someday bc i refuse to let this be the end of smth ive loved since 2020.
summary: aka the season 4 ending the audience and pogues deserved.
warnings: S4P2 SPOILERS
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Morocco was proving to be one hell of a challenge for all of you. Every corner had more of your friends pulling off to play defense or act as a distraction. Pope, Kiara, and Cleo had left in an attempt to hold off the mercenary crew, leaving you, JJ, and Rafe to finish the mission and find the crown.
With Rafe out on the option to climb, JJ had volunteered which left you all in the current situation. JJ was trying to pull himself up on the stone statue as wind and sand whipped at your faces.
“Be careful!” You yelled up to him, hoping your voice wouldn’t get carried away before it reached him.
You’d been so heartbroken for JJ over the past few weeks - from losing Poguelandia, finding out Luke wasn’t his dad, all the shit with the gold and Enduro… you could really use a win. JJ deserved a win more than anything.
“Shit, here they come,” Rafe spoke up as he caught sight of the mercenaries who were catching up. “Stay here! I’ll go down and buy us some time.”
“Rafe, no!” You tried to ignore the pit of fear in your stomach but it was grabbing you tighter than you had ever felt before. “They’ll kill you!”
Rafe shook his head. “I’m a killer too! Got nothing to lose!”
Your face contorted into an odd expression at his response before you let him go and turned your attention back to JJ. He was getting closer and closer to the top but you knew he had no clue what to look for.
“JJ, hurry!” You coughed around the sand in your throat and walked closer to see him better.
After a moment, you could hear him cheer in excitement. “Yeah, baby! We did it!”
You tucked your head down as a particularly strong blast nearly knocked you off your feet. You could barely make out his figure in the storm around you as he stumbled his way toward you. “JJ! We gotta get out of here!”
“I’m good, I’m good!” He reassured as he got closer. “I’m great, actually.”
He shifted the scarf around his neck to reveal the crown, the Blue Crown, that you guys had risked your lives to get here in search of.
“Oh my God,” You gasped before cheering in excitement. “Do you know what this means?”
JJ pulled the headwrap off to see you better, his hands moving the crown closer so you could hold it yourself. “We’re getting it back. We’re getting our home back.”
The celebrating was cut short as JJ caught sight of something behind you before shoving the show of you out of the way. A gunshot rang out seconds later, warning enough that the two of you needed to keep moving.
“Go, go, go. I’ve got ya!” JJ’s hand wrapped itself into yours as he took the lead, weaving the two of you through tunnels and structures before you could even blink. The storm was starting to die down, the wind and sand slowing as you guys moved deeper into the town.
Your run was cut short as JJ slammed on the brakes and you ran into his back. “J?” You asked, confused before you caught sight of the person in front of him.
Chandler Groff had caused JJ so much pain in the few weeks your group had come to know him. From disowning him as a baby, to almost killing him, and the constant manipulation, you were beginning to wonder if Luke was the lesser of the two evils. Life had been so unkind to JJ and you refused to let this man take anything else from him.
Groff gave the two of you a wicked smile. His knife gleamed against the sunshine, the reflection coasting your eyes as you realized you were defenseless. He moved the blade closer in your direction. “You know what I want.”
JJ’s grip on your hand tightened. There’s a lot of things he would do if you weren’t here, but you were, and that meant you were his top priority.
“And if we don’t?” You tilted your head, mockingly. It was two against one here, even if he had a shitty knife.
“Then I’ll kill you both and leave your friends to find you in bits and pieces.”
You squeezed JJ’s hand twice, a silent signal that you were ready if he was. “Yeah, not happening.”
The two of you moved in tandem, your leg kicking up to knock the knife from his grip and JJ pouncing forward to pin his so-called father against the stone wall with an aggressiveness you hadn’t seen before.
Groff groaned as his head slammed into the rough surface, eyes struggling to refocus. JJ leaned closer, his forearm pressing against the man’s throat harder. “Don’t you ever threaten her again, ya hear me?”
When Groff didn’t answer, JJ applied more force, relishing in the way the man groaned in pain. “You’ll regret ever crossing me.”
JJ wasn’t risking it and pulled back before slamming Chandler’s head back, effectively knocking the man unconscious. “Hard pass,” The blond teen spat, giving the man a hefty punch to the head to drive his point home.
“You okay?” You asked quietly as JJ stared at the form of the man who he was beginning to trust.
He twitched at the question before taking a deep breath. “Yeah, yeah.” His hand reached back to you, waiting for you to grab on. “Let’s go find our friends and get the hell out of here, yeah?”
You took his offer, kissing him softly before nodding in agreement. “Let’s do it.”
And the two of you ran off, leaving Chandler Groff to bleed out on his own, taking the karma he deserved with him to the grave. You had a treasure to celebrate.
AND THIS IS WHAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED!! Honestly big fuck you to the writers of Outer Banks for throwing away all this character development and simply just a loved character at that. Regardless of what the reasoning was in the end, it still should have been done differently to do the character of JJ Maybank justice.
Just realized groff watches JJ and Kiara embrace and then you see him decide to stab JJ, also stating that JJ should not have betrayed him - furthering the agenda that JJ as a character is PUNISHED at the highest level (murder) for denouncing his abusive murder bio dad AND choosing love, his own path, Kiara, found family. Who. Tf. Wrote. This. Completely missed opportunity for great storytelling and sending a good message. Unnecessary, meaningless death. Awful character assassination leading up to the death. Complete and utter destruction of a character arc that started off good, probably the best written character and backstory, and then totally shattered in season 4. I will never recover.
You took the words right out of my mouth!! SPEAK THE TRUTH!!!!!!
I honestly didn’t even think about it but you’re so right, it literally feels like he got punished when for the first time he chose his wellbeing and took action against one of his abusers…the more we unpack about his death scene the worse it gets.
They killed JJ in more ways than one, his entire story was thrown out the window.
Props to you though for watching the scene again, you’re one brave soul 🫡
From the moment JJ was stabbed, you had been by his side. You were there when John B and pope helped drag him to the hospital, and you were there as the doctors rushed by his side. He needed an emergency surgery, and you sat right outside the door the entire time, hours passed. The pogues were just as stressed as you were, but despite Sarah and Kie's effort to get you to eat something or rest, you insisted on staying there. You had to know that JJ would be okay. You couldn't eat or sleep until you knew he was.
Finally, after hours of surgery and doctors prepping a small room for him, you were able to see him. He was covered in dirt from the sand storm, The doctors had his abdomen bandaged and he was hooked up to a heart monitor and an IV of fluids. You sat in the only chair in the room, right by his side once again.
Everyone was hell bent on revenge, and the pogues had gotten a hostel room to stay in. You had fallen asleep next to JJ, the doctors said he would wake up any minute and begin his recovery but you didn't want to miss it. Even when the others offered to look after him in shifts so that he wasn't alone when he woke up, you declined and stayed with him anyway. You appreciated the company and reassurance of your friends though. It was sweet. As you lay with your arms folded on the side of his bed and your head turned towards him, your chest rising and falling softly.
Because of your exhaustion, you were fast asleep when JJ woke up. He groaned softly and put his hand on yours, pulling you out of a light sleep. you gasped and pushed your chair closer to him. "Hi." he smiles weakly, his hair is a mess and his eyes are hazy, probably from the pain medicine. "Jayj," you say softly, holding his hand. "Fuck that hurts," he grit his teeth and winced. "Take it easy," you encouraged. "You really scared me." you admit softly, tears flowing from your eyes as if on cue. you sob softly, wiping your tears away. "Hey, you couldn't get rid of me that easily." he jokes. you smile softly, holding his hand to your face.
"How do you feel?" you ask him gently. "Like I just took a shit ton of morphine." He says he can't laugh without pain, so he chuckles as gently as he is able. "I'm sorry. Just lay back and rest." you ordered. "I'll let the others know." he holds your hand, you are unable to move he tightens his grip. "Hey," he says, his voice is hoarse and tired. "I love you." he says. you smile again. "I love you, J." you say, leaning down to kiss his forehead softly before stepping outside the room to let the others know he is awake and that he's ok.
John B is the first to rush in there, and then kie followed by pope. Cleo and Sarah stay with you for a moment in the waiting room. "Hey, Y/N." Sarah says gently. "Why don't you go back to the hostel, you must be exhausted." she urges. Cleo nodded in agreement, "We need ya to stay strong." Cleo adds. "JJ would want you happy n' healthy." you bit your lip and then nodded. they were right. you hadn't left JJ's side in days, and he was going to be okay. The doctors said so, you just wanted to be there when he woke up to make sure he was actually okay. "Yeah you're right." you admit, defeated. you knew they understood, and if it were John B Sarah would be in the same boat. they were understanding and kind to you. The love of your life was stabbed by his father, it wasn't exactly a happy feeling, it was traumatic. But you were happy you weren't going through it all alone.
"Hey, where's Rafe?" you asked before walking off. He was sort of new to the group so it was no wonder you wanted to know where he was. Sarah sighed. "He has a plan for revenge. He's out piecing things together." she said.
It was interesting, but you wanted revenge. If you ever saw Chandler Groff again you would take revenge on him for nearly killing the love of your life.
summary: jj’s having a panic attack and you’re the only thing that calm him down.
“ and i’ve been meaning to tell you , i think your house is haunted , your dad is always mad and that must be why— and i think you should come live with me and we can be pirates and you won’t have to cry. . . ” WARNINGS: light mentions of jj’s relationship with luke. talks of anxiety & panic attacks.
JJ’s chest physically ached. It was hurting , deep down inside him and he swore that he felt it in his soul. The whole weight of the world felt like it had landed right on his shoulders , weighing him down and making him delirious. The line between real and fake was beginning to get blurred , and the only thing he knew was that he needed to see you.
It had been just been another night. Another sad and unfortunate night of Luke getting too drunk and taking his anger out on him.
JJ felt weak and ashamed. He was angry at himself , angry at the universe. And he was slowly just breaking down. He couldn’t handle it right now , for some reason it triggered him deeply and he couldn’t just brush it off.
As soon as he stormed out of his own house , he was on his way to yours. All he could think about was you , how gentle you would be. JJ needed you to help ground him and he wasn’t going to be able to get through what was building up inside of him without you.
He knocked on your front door anxiously. He was bouncing slightly , cracking his knuckles. As the door flew open , his heart skipped a beat hoping it was you ; though it dropped when he realized it wasn’t.
Your mom opened the door with a bright grin when she saw it who it was: “JJ , dear! How are—” Her smile faltered noticing his disheveled state. His bouncy blonde hair was a mess and obvious stress was radiating off of him and her own chest squeezed at the sight.
She didn’t know everything about JJ’s life , but she knew enough. Everyone on the Cut knew about Luke Maybank and his tendencies and your mother could only frown when she thought about it. She had loved JJ. He was charming , always polite to her. He was a good boy.
“Oh , honey.” She said with a soft , sad smile. “Come in.”
“I–Is Y/N home?” JJ stammered , scratching the back of his neck. Avoiding looking her in the eye. Any other day he would’ve automatically jumped into a conversation with her. Smiling and laughing , giggling in the kitchen as he gushed about you. But today was different. And he just couldn’t.
“Of course , she’s upstairs in her room.” She had nodded towards the stairs.
With one nod and a forced smile as to say thanks , he shamelessly rushed up the stairs. He didn’t even bother knocking , bursting into your room.
You had looked up from where you were sprawled out on your bed watching something on your phone , jumping at the sudden movement. But as your eyes focused on JJ , your heart fell. “Baby what’s the matter?”
Baby. The minute he heard your voice , he let everything out. He started crying. The loud kind. Shaky breathing and shaky hands as he walked toward you. You watched in concern , scooting up with your arms wide open for him. He fell into them. Laying on his belly with his head in your chest , gripping onto you for dear life.
You didn’t say anything. You just let him cry. You cooed sweet nothings , rubbing his back up and down. You hummed the songs you knew he liked , playing with his hair , kissed the top of his head. All of your attention was immediately put all onto him , and as he cried , he melted into your touch. He focused on how his skin felt where your fingertips touched , how calming the familiar smell of your favorite perfume was. He used all of his five senses on you , easing the tension that was happening in his head at the moment.
A few minutes had gone by before he finally was able to calm down. His breathing was still shaky but it was better now. “I’m sorry I didn’t call first.” He mumbled. He didn’t bother moving though. He couldn’t. JJ felt like he had to hold onto you as tight as he could , in fear that if he didn’t you’d slip away.
“Don’t apologize for that.” You murmured. “Is it home again?”
“Yeah.” He sighed , shaking his head. “Isn’t it always?”
You hummed softly in response. Seeing JJ like this was never easy. It broke your own heart to see his hurting. There wasn’t much you could do , but if you could , you’d burn the whole world down for him. “It won’t be like that forever.”
“Sometimes it feels like it.”
“It won’t.” You promised. Your thumb brushed his cheek softly. “I’m gonna take you out of there one day. It’ll be me and you in our own little world , living together and celebrating every holiday in the most cheesy way , eating frozen pizza and watching Hoarders at midnight.”
JJ’s eyes fluttered closed as he pictured it. He smiled. The idea gave him something to hold on to , to hope for.
The light at the end of the tunnel.
“Thank you for being my person.” JJ said. “I’ve never had a person like this before.”
“Never thank me for that. It’s so easy to love you.”
And you were the first person who had ever helped him believe , that he wasn’t as hard to love as he deemed himself to be. . .
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