JJ Maybank Oneshots

Anxiety Attack

Plot-JJ has a anxiety attack and Kie helps him through it. (Warning I unintentionally made Pope kind of an asshole in this chapter... he isn't in the show though I promise I love him)

Author-So I read somewhere that JJ probably has anxiety and you can tell by the way his hand always goes straight to his heart when people are fighting. I though it made sense considering his home life and the fact that I have anxiety and I do the same thing but anyway, this is how I imagine it would go if JJ has a anxiety attack and Kie helps him through it. Also someone please for the love of god give me a request 😭 I'm bad at finding my own ideas.

"Pope literally shut up about the scholarship! John B could die!!" Kiara yelled.

"Yeah, and I'll be in a similar situation if I fuck this up! My dad will kill me! What will my life mean, Kie? Surfing and junk food don't constitute a legitimate lifestyle!"

"Guys can we not do this right now..." JJ groaned. He was watching them fight, hating every moment of it.

"No, JJ, we just had to talk about it because Kiara thinks I should risk my life!" Pope countered, stepping forward.

"We're all risking our lives-" Kiara paused for a moment, noticing JJ's hand resting on his chest.

"Guys, please." He repeated. "This is stupid."

Pope kept going.

"You just feel guilty!! Admit it! You feel guilty that you left us behind during your Kook year! I'm not fucking up my life so you can pretend to be a full Pogue!" It was as if Pope couldn't hear him.

"Jesus, Pope..." The blonde boy murmured.

"Pope, shut the fuck up!!" Kiara just about exploded.

JJ hadn't exactly acknowledged the choked feeling in his throat yet, but it only got worse as they fought. Eventually, he took his hat off, and walked away from them. Both Pope and Kie stopped immediately to watch him.

"Is he..." Pope tapered off.

"No, somethings wrong. I don't think he's just ghosting us." Kiara whispered. "I'm gonna follow him." She then turned and glared at him. "This isn't over."

With that, she followed the Maybank to the dock where he finally slowed to a stop. She inched closer to him, trying to figure out her next move. Kie watched him lean over the wooden ledge before finally making it next to him.

"Are you okay?" She whispered.

"I just needed air. You guys are really fucking annoying." He grumbled, but his face looked worried.

"I'm sorry." She said, and she did mean it. "I overreacted. I don't think we should give up on John B."

JJ nodded, but his hand didn't leave his chest. His breathing became shallow. It was like being stuck in that choky-teary moment before you start crying. In other words, embarrassing and awkward.

But there was something else there, and JJ didn't like that he was starting to feel scared.

"JJ, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm good, I swear." JJ shook his head, hoping to shake his thoughts, but things weren't working in his favor. He panicked a little at the loss of oxygen, his body making him feel trapped.

"Actually..." he swallowed. "I... fuck, I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't fucking breathe." He held his hands in front of his face, eyes wide when he noticed the slight tremor.

Kiara watched him for a moment, and then grabbed one in her own. He jerked away from her initially, but his eyes met hers, and she slowly brought both of his clammy hands in her own.

"I don't understand... I'm not hurt. I'm fine. Why i-is-" He paused to inhale sharply, and Kie took her chance.

"It's okay." She's saying, but JJ can't focus on anything but the tone of it. At least no one is freaking out anymore, so he sighs. "It's probably anxiety or something. You'll be okay, I promise."

He does try to believe her, but he's still terrified. He still feels like a stranger in his own skin. It's hot; too hot. He's stuck in a cycle. Itching underneath the surface, trying to escape, fearing the inevitability of his situation.

To make matters worse, he's pretty sure his cheeks are wet. All he can do is pray that it's fucking raining or some shit because if JJ is crying he's officially hit rock bottom.

His eyes dart from one place to the other like some wild forest fire until Kiara's words extinguish the flames and let him melt back into blue.

"Jay, breathe. That's all you have to do. Just breathe. Like me, okay? Can you copy me?"

Kiara is trying to keep her voice steady as not to startle him, but it's hard containing her worry. She's sure she's never seen him like that before.

In fact, Kie wasn't sure anyone had. There was genuine fear in his eyes and it hurt to watch him struggle to fight it off.

So deep breaths would help both of them. At first, it was hard. Kiara rubbed his knuckles with her thumbs after his fingers began shaking again.

Then she repeated the same movement on his shoulders. Well, at least until he pulled her hands back down again, keeping them in a firm grip.

He needed something to hold on to. Kiara wasn't sure if he purposely showed her that or if it was subconscious, but she tried her best. She emphasized deep breaths as she did so, hoping JJ would catch on.

He did, though his beginning attempts were embarrassing in his opinion. Gradually, his shuddering breaths became even and his shaking slowed to a stop.

"I'm good, I'm good, I'm good." He repeated, finally feeling the ground beneath his feet.

Kiara removed her hands from his body, letting out a small sigh of relief. She watched him run his fingers through his hair and adjust his cap back on his head.

There was a silence, which was entirely uncomfortable and weird, so JJ decided to add a little humor to the situation.

"So, " He blinked and sniffed. "Anxiety is a fucking douche."

Kiara laughed a little, slightly surprised he'd heard her in the midst of the episode. "Can't argue there."

"You ready to head back? I don't think Pope would be happy we just ditched him to cry like children." JJ continued, running a hand over his face and internally groaning when it came back with tears and sweat.

"It wasn't childish... but you're probably right." JJ made a move to walk back but she stopped him. "Wait!"

He paused, waiting for her to continue speaking.

"Can I hug you?"

Yes, it caught him a little off guard. The asking part. That is until the panic rose in his chest again and fell seconds later, registering the idea of Kie instead of claustrophobia. Anxiety was a fucking bitch.

"Yeah, sure." He played it off well. Even Kiara didn't see the hesitation that time.

They shared an embrace that lasted over a minute long. The smiles afterward cleared the remaining tension enough for JJ to loop his arm around her shoulder and start the walk back with her.

It was a silent thank you, and Kiara knew it. She also knew fighting was now a trigger even if JJ never admitted it. It made sense. She would have to be careful.

Even as they walked back she could see his hands randomly twitch before relaxing when he took so much as a wrong step. Kie never wanted to see him like that again.

So she made up with Pope even though she was still upset with him. They came to a compromise, which made Kie feel better. She wasn't doing it for herself, though.

She was doing it for the visible relaxation she saw on JJ. Just his shoulders dropping or a small chuckle when he noticed things were good again.

To her, it was like gold.

Author- should I do this with the roles switched? Kie panicking, JJ putting his comfort skills to the test? I think that would be kinda cute.