☘︎ JJ Centric Centric One-Shots ☘︎

JJ & Shoupe // Revelation

Victor Shoupe was getting too old for this shit. It seemed that with his ongrowing age, he was only finding less and less to be grateful for. While noticing more that he detested about the world and his own personal life.

So much in fact that there were numerous days where Shoupe reflected on his life. Where he wondered if he'd gotten involved in the right career path. Even more of his days were spent thinking about how he really, truly, and honestly was beginning to despise his job.

The police force he worked for weren't even doing anything worthwhile as of late it seemed.

No, instead of doing anything worthwhile he was standing there. Having to enforce indictments against teens, literal kids. Charges that were made by petty-ass adults all because one of their expensive toys were ruined. It was childish. Even more so considering that the parents and their children weren't entirely blameless in this either. The expensive toys that were ruined had been because of their own kids. Their kids that happened to be some kooks that believed it to be acceptable to treat those poorer than them like they were nothing less than dirt.

This was not something he'd signed up for. Political matters weren't something he'd ever thought he'd get involved in when it came to this line of work. Frankly, he was beginning to see that the law wasn't equal - not in Outer Banks, the supposed paradise on earth. And Shoupe was beginning to realize it wasn't necessarily all that moral, for that matter either.

Hell, even he knew that no poor kid was going to be able to pay off a lawsuit filed for minor infractions. He knew JJ couldn't honestly be expected to chalk up the cash needed for these charges.

Then again, it didn't surprise him. That's how it always was. Small things such as cutting across a yard earned the label of trespassing. Defending yourself against the wealthy kids that beat on you day in and out suddenly was screwed and warped into assault. The folks from Figure Eight were more than quick to spew charges at people, even kids... It left a bad taste in Shoupe's mouth just thinking of it.

So yeah, Victor Shoupe loathed his job at times. He hated the injustice that was often dealt. Couldn't stand that it was often dealt toward kids that he was supposedly here to protect.

Shoupe exhaled heavily, adjusting his hand on the side of his belt as JJ spoke. Plans of ridding Pope of the blame for sinking the Thornton's ship already spewing from the blonde's lips.

His eyes darted between the two as the teens had it out with one another. Shifting the blame back and forth, ironically fighting for who would shoulder the blame, and the charges. Who's fault it was.

It eventually fell on JJ. And it stayed there, he knew it would.

JJ Maybank was definitely no exception to the injustice and general unfairness around the island. Even as much as Shoupe wishes the kid almost was.

JJ would always just be some poor pogue that never stood a chance in the eyes of the beholder. And the beholder happened to be those around the island who judged and compared the kid to Luke Maybank.

''Shut up Pope, just shut up...you don't get it. He's a good kid,'' JJ insisted voice ardent. As the kid looked then over at him determinedly. ''An' you know where I'm from,''

Shoupe turned, looking over to his side where JJ stood. Then let his eyes fall downward for a second only to glance right back up at the hard-headed teen a beat later.

''Yeah,'' He confirmed simply, unthinking of the implication. Of what it meant to the younger.

Except he almost regretted ever speaking, ever uttering the word as JJ's lips screwed up into an unimpressed half smile. Eyes bleak. The kid's split lip tugging upward with it. Shoupe knew by the expression alone that JJ had already been expecting him to say as such. But before he could even be certain he'd seen the falter in Maybank's expression - it was gone. JJ's eyes never fell back to his own, the boy's stance all too compliant for someone so tense.