Work Text:
"I told you so!" Kiara yells out from the chateau's kitchen, soaking a hand towel in water and ringing it out.
"We did tell you so, JJ." Pope speaks from over him, holding the back of his head to his forehead, "I really don't know why you thought it'd be a good idea."
"Yeah yeah, I get it! Ya not making me any better by complaining about it-" he's forced to cut himself off with a coughing fit, curling up and covering his mouth with his hands as he tries to take a deep breath between each cough.
"Maybe shut up for once, bubba." John B smiles as he arrives with an armful of blankets and pillows, dropping them down on the couch that JJ has made his resting place, forcibly tucking him in and pushing a pillow under his head, taking a moment to stroke over pale blond hair and peck a kiss to his temple, though his arm is quickly smacked away, JJ staring weak daggers up at him before coughing again.
"You were out there with me! This shit ain't fair, why didn't you get sick?" He reaches out and weakly hits at John B's shoulder as he crouches down in front of him.
"I don't know man, guess my immune system's just better, dude." He shrugs and smiles, brushing sweaty hair from the Maybank's face, watching his frustration at his illness melt away when Pope bends down to kiss his temple.
Pulling his supplied blankets up to cover his face, JJ dramatically groans and curls up, sniffling and breathing through his overly dry mouth as a damp towel is draped over his forehead, calming the pain in his temples slightly, especially when it's paired with a triplet of kisses that make his cheeks flush for a reason other than sickness.
"Hey, JJ." This voice is much more sympathetic, even as it comes with a giggle, "Why're you hiding?"
"You're all annoying, that's why." JJ sighs before pulling the blanket down to just cover his mouth, glancing up to watch Sarah kneel down carefully next to her unofficial husband, holding a steaming mug in her hands, "What d'you got?"
"It's tea. Rose buys it cause its meant to make you feel better, like soothe your throat and make you less anxious or tense or whatever." She shrugs and smiles as the sick pogue slowly leans up, sniffling and wiping his nose with his sleeve.
"Gross, JJ." Pope jumps up from his seat on the arm of the couch and quickly heads towards the bathroom.
"I put a shit tonne of honey in it so it doesn't just taste like plants," Sarah laughs and holds out the mug, smiling when he takes it with both hands, "you probably still won't like it, but you should still try."
With a deep breath that seems almost unnecessary, JJ nods and presses his lips to the edge of the cup, just taking a moment to breathe in the steam and get adjusted to the strangely floral smell before tipping it back down his throat, immediately scrunching his face at the taste but swallowing it nonetheless, "Tastes like shit." He coughs softly before downing the rest of it anyways, the scratchiness of his throat slowly being soothed with every sip.
Eventually, Pope returns with the softest tissue paper he could find, sitting back on the armrest behind JJ and dropping the tissue box into the ill blond's lap, loosely hugging around him and pressing kisses into the back of his head. The Heyward shifting to sit with his legs on either side of the Maybank, Kiara slumping down near his feet and petting over his outer thigh through the blankets, John B and Sarah sitting on the floor beside him, holding his hand and stroking over his warm cheek, he can't help but feel overwhelmingly loved. Surrounded by people who care about him, who are willing to take care of him, to put up with his recklessness and stupid mistakes and still love him. It's all enough to make his eyes sting and well with tears, his usual sniffling and attempts to push the tears down not working, instead the tears simply roll down his cheeks, and he's immediately enclosed in a group hug, a warm embrace on almost every side that just makes more overwhelmed tears well and fall.
His breath hitching just makes the hug tighten around him, his chest suddenly feeling so full that it aches, pressing his forehead between Kie and Sarah's shoulders and choking out a quiet "I fucking love you guys..."
"We love you too, bubba." John B nuzzles into his neck and presses a quick kiss against his burning skin, smiling when the rest of the Pogues nod, collectively tightening their hold on JJ.