Chapter Text
That was the first big fight the Pogues had in the past eighteen months.
They were all angry at JJ, and Kiara understood that, but she couldn’t be angry at him. Yes, it was stupid to get the rest of their money and bet on himself, but she understood where he came from. He wanted to help them, he wanted to prove he could get more money, even if he wasn’t as smart as Pope or as lovable as John B.
After Pope stormed out, Cleo went after him, JJ ran away to the house, leaving Kie, John B and Sarah alone. The brunette boy was sitting on the stairs, hands on his messy hair and looking down at the grass. Sarah was leaning on the door frame, an angry expression on her face.
Kiara could feel they wanted to say something, and she’s not sure she’s in the mood for it. Before she could make a run for it, John B spoke.
“Kie, you gotta help us out here. You have to talk to him.” He lifts his head, eyes filled with worry and anger.
Other than her, John B was the one that knew JJ better, he knew why he did what he did.
A humorless laugh leaves her throat. “And say what? The money is gone, there’s nothing we can do about that now.” She shrugs. Having an argument with JJ is the last thing she wants to do today, it’s already been a stressful day.
“It’s not the first time he does something stupid with our money.” Sarah says, getting Kie’s attention. “And apparently he doesn’t listen to anyone, maybe he’ll listen to you.” Her tone is softer this time.
“I…I’ll try.” She nods, feeling her stomach twisting.
Leaving the couple behind, Kiara makes her way upstairs to hers and JJ’s room. It was his old room, and he wanted that one, even though the other was bigger. She understands why.
Before entering the room she goes to the bathroom, grabbing their aid kit and a wet cloth. Sure he screwed up, but he also fell off his bike that day, he’s hurt, and she hated seeing him like that.
She knocks softly on the door, only to warn him she’s entering before opening it. Inside, the blonde was in the seat close to the window, looking down at the marsh. He slightly turns his head to see her, but quickly looks away.
Ouch.
“Hey Jage.” She says softly, closing the door behind her and making her way to the blonde.
“I’m not in the mood for another lecture, Kiara.” He doesn’t turn to face her, choosing to keep distance and a cold tone.
She bites her lips, sitting across him so she can face him. “I didn’t come here to give you a lecture.” She shakes her head. “I came to help you clean and patch up.” She shows him the aid kit in her hands with a small smile.
For the first time since she entered the room his eyes meet hers and then he looks at her hands. A small breath leaves his lips, and she knows he’s glad she doesn’t want to talk about the money thing. Now. She will get there eventually.
He turns his body to face her and she lets out a thankful smile. “Where does it hurt?” Her eyes travel his body for wounds, and she finds a bunch of cuts in his arm, on the side of his torso, where his shirt wasn’t covering and one under his chin, other than that, he was just dirty and sweaty.
He opens his mouth to say something, but decides against it. He was probably gonna say he was fine, but that wouldn’t make Kie go away and he knows it. So, instead he just took off his shirt and showed her the cuts close to his ribs.
Kiara starts to work silently, cleaning the cuts with a small cotton full of antiseptic while JJ lets out a couple of complaint noises but doesn’t move from her. Until she gets on to his back, where there’s a bigger cut.
“Jage,” She’s more worried than mad, but she can see his shoulder muscles tensing.
His eyes fall to his lap. “Kie—“
“Turn around.” She promised to clean him up and not give him a lecture now, so that’s what she’s doing.
He oblies without any complaints. That was until she started to actually clean it. “Ow.” He tries to get away from her.
“Sorry.” She says softly, lifting her head to smile at him. “It’s a pretty big cut.” Her voice slightly fails at the end, the image of him flying from his bike is tattooed in her brain and it’s not going away any time soon, along with him almost drowning and falling from that bridge.
JJ must see something in her and he turns to face her again. “I didn’t mean to worry you.” His voice is low like there were other people in the room.
She lifts her eyes to meet his blue ones. “I always worry about you.” She shrugs. Even before they became a couple, Kie always kept her eyes open for any of JJ’s shenanigans, because he usually gets hurt.
“You don’t—“ he cuts himself, knowing that whatever he was gonna say wasn’t the right thing. “I just wanted to get us the money.” His eyes move from hers.
“I know.” She grabs his hands, his attention going back to her. “We all know you wanted to help, Jage. I just wanted you to…”
“Stop screwing up.” He finishes for her.
Kie drops the cottons and cups his face so he will look at her. “No. I wanted you to be more careful about your life. We worry about you. I worry about you. I don’t think I would be able to do anything knowing that you’re hurt, Jage.” She leans her forehead to his, brushing their noses. “I need you alive, okay?!”
He bites his lips, but nods. He leans back and kisses her forehead, keeping his lips on her for a couple more seconds than usual, and she smiles. “Okay.” He nods again. “I’ll try and be more careful.”
She smiles widely. “Thank you. Now, turn around, because I’m still not done with your injuries.” Her voice has humor behind it, wanting to soften the mood.
He chuckles. “Bossy.” He says, but does what she asked.
The cut is bigger than the others, so she’s extra careful with it. There’s sand, dirt and sweat all over JJ’s skin, but she focuses on the area around the cut so it won’t get infected.
“There.” She says, placing the cotton ball along with the others, as JJ turns to face her again.
“Actually, I think you missed a place.” His voice is playful, but Kie turns to face him either way.
“Where?”
A smirk is formed on his lips, as he brings his fingers closer to them. “Right here.” He taps on his mouth, making Kie chuckle.
“Really?!” She’s teasing back. “And what should I do to make it better?!” She takes a step closer with her head tilted and a smile on her lips.
His hands move to her waist, bringing her closer until she’s standing between his legs. “I have a few ideas.”
She laughs, arms wrap around his neck and she sits on his lap. Kie drops a kiss on his lips. It was supposed to be a peek, but he doesn’t let her go away too far.
“I thought your lips hurt.” She teases again when they break apart.
“You already made it feel better.” He smiles, tightening his arm around her waist.
She smiles too. “Good.” She stands up. “Now you should go take a shower.” She gestures her head towards the bathroom the six of them shared.
JJ gets up too. “You saying I smell?” He tilts his head, watching as she throws away the dirty cottons in the small trash can in their room.
She laughs, turning to face him. “I mean—“ A small scream leaves her lips as JJ lifts her up his shoulder, her eyes facing his back and the floor. “JJ put me down.” She tries to leave his arms, but he’s holding her tightly.
“Not happening.” He shakes his head. “You said I smell. So, we’re going to take a shower.” He starts to walk with her through the house, as she fills the silence with her giggles.
“Why do I have to go with you?”
“Why not.” He shrugs.
As they’re approaching the bathroom JJ stops for a moment. It was just a second, but Kiara saw he was looking at their hang out spot where their friends are. Pope has his head on his hands, Cleo is next to him trying to calm him, while John B and Sarah are on the couch talking with him.
Kie wanted to say something, but JJ was walking to the bathroom again and placing her on the floor before closing the door behind them.
The smile on his lips faded away and he turned his back to her to turn on the water and take off the rest of his clothes. Once he’s naked, he enters the shower, not looking back to see if Kie is after him.
She’s quick to do the same, following him to the shower. He’s under the water looking down at the floor.
“Jage,” she steps closer, hands on his shoulder so he will look up to her.
“How long are they gonna hate me?” His voice is small, but even with the water sound she can hear it.
“They don’t hate you.”
He lifts his head with sad eyes. “You saw how they were, Kie.”
“I did. But they don’t hate you. They’re just mad.” She runs her fingers through his hair that was falling on his eyes.
“It doesn’t make it any better.” He shakes his head.
Kie wraps her arms around his neck, as he rests his face in her hair, arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her closer, until both of them are under water.
She runs her fingers through the muscles on his back, trying to comfort him and give him some time before she talks to him.
“You should have talked to us before betting the money.” She says softly but firm, not wanting to upset him, but also make him open up to her.
Slowly he lifts his head, sad blue eyes looking at hers. “I really thought I was gonna win.”
“Me too.” She nods, cupping his cheek and rubbing her thumb on his face. “If Rafe hadn’t done what he did you would’ve.”
He nods, biting his lips. “I just wanted to help.” He shrugs.
“I know.” She nods, leaning her forehead to his. “But we’re a team, Jage. You can talk to us. At least with me.”
“You would’ve convinced me to back off.”
She chuckles. “Probably.”
He brings her somehow closer, their naked chests connected, as the warm water from the shower falls on their hands. “I love you.” He whispers on the skin of her shoulder.
She smiles, kissing the side of his head. “I love you too.”