Now JJ being sick was always a struggle for the Pogues. He's lethargic, mopey, and downright lazy. At least, that's what John B said when the blonde boy started complaining that morning.
"You guys don't understand my throat is killing me." JJ groaned, grabbing coffee and cuddling back into the blankets on the couch. "It's burning. I read somewhere that it's a sign of COVID."
"Someone's throat burning could be a sign of literally anything." Pope says, rolling his eyes.
The chateau would've been worried for JJ, had he not exaggerated every sickness he's ever encountered.
"What are your other symptoms?" Kiara wondered, her voice laced with worry. "You never know."
"Don't feed into it." Sarah dejected. She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration while JJ groaned again.
"I'm all congested." He sniffled a little. "And tired. Shit, I wanted to go surfing."
"Then go!" The Pogues shout at him.
Well, everyone but Kiara, who slowly inches her way closer to him. He's paying close attention to the tray she sets on the table by his feet.
On it, she's put water, crackers, ginger ale, and the tv remote. She actually looks a little embarrassed, but she snuggles up to him anyway.
JJ slowly grabs the packet of Saltines before turning to her in mild confusion. "Okay, I'm confused. How is today the day I'm annoying to everyone but you?"
Kiara sighs. "Shut up and drink the soda."
He obeys for a moment before confusedly questioning something else. "How does soda help when you're sick? It's unhealthy isn't it?"
"It's carbonated. Settles the acid in your stomach so you don't throw up." Pope calls from the kitchen table.
"Ah, got it."
As time passes, JJ actually does start to feel as he'd led on. He's sweaty, his throat burns, and he's congested as hell. Kiara's sitting at the foot of the sofa flipping channels when he starts rubbing his forehead.
"Headache?" She asks, and he nods.
"I fucking hate being sick."
She gives a small look of sympathy before standing. "I'm going to the bathroom real quick. You want me to bring anything on the way back?"
JJ thought for a moment, wondering why she spoke as if the rest of their crew wasn't there.
"A blanket?" His voice is sort of scratchy, which tells Kiara he wasn't faking this sickness anymore.
"Okay." She kisses his forehead, and mildly regrets it once she finds its clammy and warm. "We should probably take your temperature." She adds as an afterthought.
When Kie disappears down the hall, JJ is deep in thought. Usually, Kiara is the one most annoyed with him. The bickering alone tells him she finds him to be quite much most days.
But she is dating him. He supposes it comes with the relationship. It wasn't like he was upset about it.
Sarah startled him with a hand on his shoulder. "We're gonna hit the beach for a little bit? You okay with Kiara?" She asks, genuine concern in her eyes. There's a hint of annoyance still there, so JJ just nods.
And then he's alone. He never does well sitting in silence for too long, but his eyes are drooping and he's not sure he'll even be awake when Kiara returns.
He's not sure why he's fighting so hard to keep his eyes open, but it doesn't work anyway. Kie returns to find one sleeping JJ Maybank. She grins at his child like form; the way he's almost hugging his knees.
She did bring the blanket he requested, and draped it over him. She then sits next to him to share it.
***
Neither of them know how they got in their current position when JJ finally wakes up. Kiara's legs are on JJ's lap, and their hands are practically tangled in some sort of knot.
They don't pull away at the realization of such closeness, and it's more of a relief to JJ than Kiara. Still, he's awake, so she asks if he wants or needs anything. It's a defaulted question.
"No." He replied, voice hoarse. He takes a sip from the ginger ale can still sitting where he left it. "I have a question for you, though."
She pauses the show she'd put on, and turned to face him. "Uh huh?"
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
She scoffs. "JJ, I'm your girlfriend."
His expression doesn't change. "Still." He whispers when he can't figure out what else to say. Something about the way she's coddling him is different.
She won't look at him now.
"I just..." she's staring way up at the ceiling. "I know you haven't really had that... you know, when you were younger."
Now he's tense, beginning to regret the topic he's chosen. "Oh." He says.
"It's not pity." She quickly reassured him, knowing he hated that more than anything else. "I just figured it'd be nice to get some TLC. The other Pogues weren't exactly jumping to help."
He nods, staring at the frozen screen. He's still stiff, so Kiara rubs her thumb over his knuckles. He slowly relaxes, but not fully.
"I'm thinking tea. Or hot chocolate." She says, trying to change the subject.
JJ grins at the mention of the sugary liquid. "Hot chocolate sounds awesome!"
She's making a move to get up and JJ pouts for a moment. "It's gonna be cold as hell when you leave." He mumbled.
"I'll be back super soon." She tells him.
"M'kay." Then as an afterthought, "thanks."
He says it casually, but they both know he doesn't mean the hot chocolate.
