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Pope had one eye squinted, focused on his target some yards away.
Rafe.
He was on his daddy’s boat, talking on the phone while opening a case full of what Pope assumed was the melted cross. Pope’s eyes burned as the rage flooded his entire being. A Kook getting richer, off of something that belonged to Pope.
When did the Pogues get a win?
Pope was tired of waiting for something else good to be taken from him. He’d put an end to this all–to Rafe.
Pope’s hands trembled as he clutched the gun in his hands. One pull of the trigger, and it’d be over. Rafe couldn’t torment him anymore, steal from him and his family anymore. He’d be doing himself and everyone else a favor.
As Pope felt himself take the safety off, he heard footsteps.
“Pope.. what are you doing man?” JJ said, moving closer behind Pope.
“Go away JJ.” Pope said firmly, readjusting his grip on the gun. He watched Rafe knock back a beer, slumped on the couch.
“I’m not leaving you alone with a gun in your hands. You’d likely shoot yourself.” JJ joked, attempting to calm Pope down.
Pope inhaled deeply. “JJ if you stay for this, you won't like what happens next.”
JJ scoffed. “Come off it bro, you won’t do it.”
Pope spun around to face JJ, furious. “He took everything from me! He has beaten me and humiliated me and stolen from my family. You don’t get it. This is something I have to do.” Pope cried. He shuddered as his eyes began to fill with tears. He blinked them back. He turned back toward Rafe. “Get out of here Jayje.”
“No. I’m not leaving you Pope. If you’re going down, I’m going down with you.” JJ said desperately.
Pope ignored him. Setting his sights back on Rafe and his boat. He raised the gun, aiming right for Rafe. As his finger barely brushed the trigger, JJ spoke once again.
“Pope please! I’m begging you. You have so much ahead of you. You won’t if you do this.” JJ pleaded.
“What is ahead of me exactly? Spending the rest of my life in the Outer Banks working for my dad? I have no scholarship, no cross, and no gold. I’ve lost everything.” Tears streamed down Pope’s face.
JJ seized the vulnerable moment and hugged Pope from behind, trapping his arms down. Pope didn’t even fight JJ, he slumped against him. JJ held Pope as he cried, slowly pulling the gun away from him, turning the safety on and putting it in his pocket.
“I’ve got you, Pope. We’ll figure this out, okay? Just like we always do.” JJ soothed. Pope sobbed and turned around in JJ’s arms, hugging him tightly.
JJ’s heart ached at the sound of Pope’s cries.
“I know w-we haven’t been like we used to-” Pope started to say. JJ’s stomach flared uncomfortably.
“Pope it’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it.” JJ said nervously, still rubbing his hand up and down Pope’s back in a soothing manner.
“Jayje, I want to.” Pope lifted his head from JJ’s shoulder and pulled back slightly to look at him. JJ’s arms slowly fell from Pope’s body and he stared into Pope’s eyes, waiting.
Pope’s tears were now dried to his face and his head was clearer. “I don’t want us to not know each other years from now because we liked the same girl.”
JJ shook his head. “We’re pogues, we’re family.”
“We’re different. You know that.”
“You’re my best friend Pope.”
Pope searched JJ’s eyes, trying to discern if JJ felt it too. How deep their bond goes. How it is different from JJ and John B’s.
“Is that all I am?” Pope asked quietly.
JJ’s mouth twisted to the side.
‘Deny, deny, deny.’
“It’s late, we should get back.” JJ turned to walk down the dock when he felt Pope grab his wrist.
JJ twisted around to look at Pope, his eyebrows raised.
“Thank you. I haven’t said it, but I mean it. You’ve always looked out for me- for us pogues and I just- yeah, I wanted you to know I appreciate it.” Pope rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
JJ chuckled wryly. “Someone has to keep our shit together.”
Pope chuckled too. “Yeah.”