Outer banks Fanfic: Salt in our Wounds

On the sun-bleached shores of the Outer Banks, there are two kinds of people: those born with everything-and those who learn how to survive without it.

Athena Miller has learned the hard way. Raised in a crumbling house by a violent, unpredictable father, she's spent years numbing the bruises with alcohol, smoke, and reckless nights. A Pogue through and through, Athena lives fast, fights harder, and trusts no one-until she finds herself standing beside JJ Maybank, a boy just as broken and just as angry at the world.

When a hurricane tears through the island, uncovering a mystery tied to a missing father and a legendary stash of gold, Athena is pulled into the chaos alongside JJ and the rest of the Pogues. Treasure hunts, boat chases, and dangerous run-ins with the Kooks blur the line between thrill and survival, and the stakes climb higher with every secret unearthed.

As the search for the gold intensifies, so does the tension between Athena and JJ. What begins as sharp banter and shared vices turns into something rawer-late-night confessions, bruised knuckles, stolen kisses, and a bond forged through shared pain. Both carrying the scars of abusive homes, they find comfort in each other where no one else ever bothered to look.

But the Outer Banks is ruthless, and love doesn't make you safe.

With enemies closing in, loyalty tested, and violence lurking in every shadow, Athena and JJ must decide how far they're willing to go-for the gold, for their friends, and for each other. Because some wounds never heal... and some people are the only thing keeping you alive.