Slug

pope heyward x bambi!reader

bambi!reader is a sweetheart. she bakes, she crafts, she naps, and she loves all things pope. you'll find her lounging at the beach, making sandcastles, surfing (badly), or helping out at heyward's seafood (and, in the process, securing her place as heyward's favourite child). she's a little ditsy, spending most of her time outdoors catching critters and falling asleep in places that no one should nap. she's cuddly, a little flighty, and very clumsy. more bruises and scrapes than you can count; you will always find her with pope's arm around her or his hand in hers to keep her from toppling over. kie and sarah are her very best friends (and partners in critter catching and crime!), and the boys only tease her a little for being so clumsy (fine, a lot).

check out the tag pope and bambi for more of these two!

bonus heyward content

soft mornings with pope were something you cherished.

he'd lay in your lap, and you'd tell yourself it was only to touch that curve of his face or look at his closed eyes. you'd listen carefully to everything he had to say, gently grazing over his cheek, and kissing his shoulder. it was one of the times when he'd seem to quiet down, a smile on his face.

he always seemed to slow down, keen eyes as soft as they could be. sometimes he'd have a tender remark but quickly when he realised your breathing had slowed down and that you didn't have that spitfire in you that he liked to have fun with, he would become more gentle. there was kindness in his hands as he gripped you close. but the best times were when you were waking up with his body twisted around yours, soft breath on your neck, and a sleepy smile on his face that you would never forget.

"hey..." he'd murmured, twisting a bit closer. you blinked at him, yawning slightly. you felt his body heat, barely awake before you muttered a soft hello. it was then that he pulled away from you, and you scowled at him, annoyed at his attempts. he looked at you again, that firm way you always liked but this time you whined, relentlessly holding onto him.

"c'mon let me go. i'm gonna make some breakfast for you."

you groaned again, shaking your head as you bundled him closer. you liked the way his heartbeat was so close, and the way you felt entwined with him. there was something about having his arms around you—feeling so close to him. you wanted it to be like that forever.

"no."

"baby..." he whispered, gently tracing something on your face. you leaned into his warm touch.  

"can't use that card," you croaked out, finally opening your eyes. all you could see now was a pleading look on his face, and you finally let out a disgruntled sigh. your hands ached to tighten your hold, but his teasing tone made your heart skip a beat.

"baby."

"fine."

it was only then that you let him out of your bed, crinkling your nose at him. before you closed your eyes you heard a laugh escape his mouth before you let out a satisfied sigh, snuggling closer to your pillow. you could hear him hum a song under his breath, sounding suspiciously like a song you'd put on in the car the other day.

jeez, he was such a nerd.

hi dolls !

i think i'll be doing a flufftober—but i'm naming it dolltober so we can have some angst and some other content—where i write 31 days of fluff drabbles with pope involved in them !! please let me know if you'd like to be tagged.

here's the setlist so far:

also please please please (lol,) send some of your ideas if you have anything you want specifically <3

xoxox

summary: I exist in two places, here and where you are.

warnings: swearing, cheating, heartbreak, angst, mentions of L*ke M*yb*nk (i will forever hate this man)

word count: 3,115

notes: no use of Y/n, reader also has no description. JJ’s nickname for her is Slugger. i’ve only been writing while my daughters asleep so enjoy this cause my heart is in a very dark place right now.

dedicated to @bunnyhoney111 cause i love her and we’ve been friends for three years and i’ll never let anyone forget about her existence :)

She stood at the edge of the Boneyard, the waves crashing against the shore in rhythm with her heartbeat. This place used to feel like home, where she and JJ would sneak off, away from the noise, away from everyone. His blonde hair glowing under the moon, his blue eyes reflecting the stars. They had a year of stolen moments, reckless nights, and whispered promises. A year where she thought she was his everything.

But that night, she had walked up on him with someone else. Some random blonde tangled in his arms at a party, right where they used to kiss under the stars. The sight shattered her like glass.

She left without a word, tears mixing with the salt in the air. But the worst part wasn't the betrayal. It was how, despite everything, she still felt tethered to him. It was as if she existed in two places — here, in her heartbreak, and wherever he was, laughing with his friends or surfing the waves.

Weeks passed. She avoided the Boneyard, the parties, their friends, and most of all, JJ. But she couldn't avoid the love she still carried for him. No matter how hard she tried, it lingered like the ocean breeze, always present, always pulling her back.

So, she made a choice. Loving him from a distance would be her peace. She wouldn't chase him anymore, wouldn't wait for him to realize what he lost. Instead, she'd love him quietly, from the shadows of her memories, where he couldn't hurt her anymore.

She took one last look at the waves, the place where they once built their world, and then turned away. It was time to let go, even if her heart still held on.

...

It had been a long day at work, and she was tired, ready to collapse on her bed and zone out. But as she trudged up the driveway, she spotted JJ leaning against his motorcycle, arms crossed and a grin spreading across his face when he saw her.

"Hey, Slugger," he called out, using the nickname he'd given her when they first met. "Rough day?"

She couldn't help but smile, even though she was exhausted. "You have no idea."

JJ pushed off the bike and walked up to her, wrapping her in one of those bear hugs that made her feel like everything else in the world could wait. "Well, lucky for you, I brought the cure for a bad day — pizza, movies, and me."

She laughed, feeling lighter already. "You sure that's the cure?"

"Of course. I'm basically a doctor," he teased, taking her bag and leading her inside.

The evening passed in a haze of contentment. They sprawled out on her couch, pizza boxes on the coffee table, the glow of the TV flickering in the dark. JJ stretched out beside her, his head resting on her lap as they watched one of his favorite dumb comedies. He kept tossing popcorn in the air, trying to catch it in his mouth and missing every time.

She playfully swatted at him. "You're terrible at that."

"Not true. It's just... bad aim," he said, popping a piece in her mouth instead. "See? Nailed it."

They laughed until their stomachs hurt, then settled into a comfortable silence as the night wore on. Eventually, he shifted, pulling her into his arms, her head tucked under his chin. The warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his chest — it was like being wrapped in safety. In him, she found a quiet calm, as though nothing could touch them.

Somewhere between the second and third movie, their banter faded, their eyes grew heavy, and sleep overtook them, tangled in each other like always. His hand rested on her waist, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on his arm. The last thing she remembered before drifting off was the soft way he said her name, like it meant something special.

In those moments, everything felt right. Like maybe forever was real, and it lived in nights like this.

...

The air was thick with the weight of loss as she stood at the edge of the gathering, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and flowers, but it did nothing to ease the ache inside her. The crowd was a sea of familiar faces, but none as familiar as his.

JJ Maybank stood near the front, beside Kiara and Pope. He looked older somehow, more worn down, as if life had taken more from him than he'd ever let on. His blonde hair was slightly tousled by the wind, but his eyes — they were hollow, brimming with grief. Not just for John B, their best friend taken too soon, but for everything else that had slipped through his fingers. She hadn't seen him in a year, not since the breakup, but seeing him now hit her like a punch to the gut.

For a split second, their eyes met. The world around them faded, and it was just the two of them, standing on opposite sides of a chasm they couldn't cross. His blue eyes held hers, and in that gaze, she saw everything — pain, regret, and the weight of what could've been.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't walk up to him, couldn't speak, because if she did, it would shatter the fragile grip she had on herself. The memory of all they'd lost would drown her, and right now, she couldn't afford to break. Not here, not now.

So she turned.

Her footsteps were heavy as she walked away, the sound muffled by the grass beneath her shoes. Each step felt like leaving a piece of her heart behind, but it was the only way she knew how to survive this — by walking away from him, from them, from everything that might've been.

She didn't look back, but she could feel his eyes on her, and it only made her heart break more.

JJ watched her go, his chest tightening with every step she took. Seeing her there, so close and yet untouchable, twisted the knife that had already been lodged deep inside him since the breakup. He wanted to run after her, pull her into his arms and tell her that everything could still be okay — that they could survive this, too.

But he knew it wasn't true. They were grieving more than just John B today. They were grieving the future that would never come to fruition — the late-night cuddles, the beach bonfires, the reckless love they thought would last forever. It had all slipped through their fingers like sand, and now, it was gone.

JJ swallowed hard, his throat burning as he watched her fade from sight. It was like losing her all over again, but this time, he knew there was no going back.

The funeral carried on without her, but his heart stayed with her, walking away from him forever.

...

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the beach town as they sped down the road, windows down, wind whipping through the car. She glanced over at JJ in the passenger seat, a smug grin plastered across her face.

"I still can't believe you don't have your license yet," she teased, flicking her sunglasses up to rest on her head. "I mean, seriously, what kind of rebel doesn't have their license?"

JJ groaned, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "Oh, come on. I'm working on it. Besides, why would I need a license when I have the prettiest chauffeur in town?"

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up. "Yeah, yeah, you're just lucky I love you."

He shot her a sideways smile, one of those that made her heart flip every time. "Oh, I know."

Before she could reply, a familiar song came on the radio — one of those carefree, windows-down anthems they always sang along to. Without missing a beat, they both started belting out the lyrics, JJ's voice completely off-key but full of energy. She laughed between verses, the happiness of the moment contagious. The wind whipped their hair as the sun painted the sky in soft shades of pink and orange, the smell of saltwater filling the car.

By the time they pulled up to the chateau, they were both breathless from singing and laughing. JJ leaned over, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Thanks for the ride, Slugger."

"Anytime, Maybank," she said with a smirk as they hopped out of the car.

The rest of the group was already there — John B lounging on the porch, Pope fiddling with something in the yard, and Kiara waving them over.

"About damn time!" John B called from the porch swing. "Thought you two were never gonna show."

"We had to make a pit stop," JJ shot back with a grin, grabbing her hand as they made their way over.

The hours blurred together in a haze of laughter and sunlight. They swam in the marsh, racing each other to the HMS Pogue, their shouts echoing across the water. JJ splashed her, and she retaliated, diving under and pulling him down with her, their laughter filling the space between them.

Afterward, they dried off and gathered around the campfire as the sky faded to a deep indigo. John B cracked open a case of beers, passing them around as the fire crackled and popped, casting a warm glow over their faces. They sat in a loose circle, telling stories, trading jokes, and poking fun at each other like always.

JJ had his arm slung lazily around her shoulders, his head tilted back in easy laughter as John B and Pope argued over some ridiculous theory about the island. Kiara rolled her eyes, tossing another log on the fire.

It was one of those nights where everything felt right. The world was simple, the future full of promise, and for a few fleeting hours, they were untouchable. The air was filled with the sound of crashing waves, the smell of smoke and beer, and the warmth of their shared joy.

She leaned into JJ, his body warm against hers as the fire flickered. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, murmuring, "Told you tonight would be perfect."

She smiled, closing her eyes and soaking it all in — the fire, the laughter, the feeling of being young and in love. For a moment, it felt like they'd never lose this, like the night would never end.

...

She saw him again in her dreams. His blonde hair caught the sunlight just right, his blue eyes bright and alive, the way they used to be. They were back on the beach, walking hand in hand, laughter in the air like nothing had changed. Like she still trusted him. Like he hadn't shattered her heart. But then she'd wake up, the warmth of his touch fading away, leaving her alone in the dark, the ache in her chest sharper with every breath.

She hated it. Hated how much she missed him. Hated that, even after everything, she still loved him. Every night he visited her dreams, she woke with the same dull heartache, the same realization that he wasn't hers anymore. It felt like she was still losing him, over and over, even in sleep. The anger simmered beneath it all — the resentment, the betrayal, the fact that he could still make her feel this way. And yet, she couldn't stop herself from feeling it.

She dragged herself out of bed, the weight of his ghost heavy on her shoulders. The shower was supposed to help — maybe the hot water would wash away the memories, cleanse her of him, if only for a little while. But just as she stepped into the silent hallway, there was a knock at her window. She froze, her heart leaping into her throat.

It was 2 AM. Who the hell would show up now?

Her curiosity won, and she hesitantly crept to the window, pulling back the curtain. Her breath hitched.

JJ.

His face was bruised, his lip split, and blood stained his shirt. His eyes, though still the same shade of blue, were dark with pain, with something raw and broken that mirrored the way she felt.

Without thinking, she opened the window. Neither of them said a word as he climbed inside, limping slightly, his shoulders slumped in exhaustion. She could smell the faint scent of alcohol and cigarettes clinging to him — his dad's doing, no doubt.

They didn't need words. She knew what had happened. He'd gotten into another fight with Luke, his dad's temper boiling over like it always did. And as much as she wanted to keep him at arm's length, she couldn't turn him away. Not like this.

Wordlessly, she led him to the bathroom, grabbing a washcloth and dabbing gently at the dried blood on his face. He winced, but didn't complain, his eyes fixed on her as she worked. Her hands were steady, but her heart was anything but.

When she finished cleaning him up, he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers with a familiar tenderness that made her chest tighten. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice rough and strained. "For everything."

She closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. He was trying to mend things, trying to fix the unfixable, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't trust him anymore, not after everything he'd done. The wound he'd left in her heart was still too fresh, too deep.

"I can't," she whispered back, shaking her head. "I can't go back to that."

His hand fell away, and the silence between them was suffocating. She wanted to forgive him, wanted to believe he could change, but she knew better. Some things couldn't be repaired. Still, she couldn't send him back to that house, back to his dad's wrath.

"You can stay here tonight," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But just tonight."

JJ nodded, not pushing, not saying anything more. He knew he'd broken something between them that couldn't be fixed with apologies. The house was silent as she led JJ to her bedroom, the weight of what wasn't being said pressing down on them both. She should have made him stay on the couch — should have kept that last wall between them — but when she saw the exhaustion in his eyes, the way his bruised face tightened with pain, she couldn't do it.

Neither of them spoke as they lay down on the bed, the space between them feeling both too close and too far. She faced away from him, staring at the wall, her heart racing, torn between the urge to comfort him and the overwhelming ache of betrayal.

The bed dipped as he shifted beside her, his breathing steady but tense. She thought he might stay silent, that they would sleep like strangers, but after a long moment, she felt his hand brush against hers, tentative and hesitant.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, the words almost swallowed by the quiet of the room.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she kept her back to him, unable to face him. She hated that he still made her feel this way — vulnerable, aching, desperate to let him in even when she knew better. She wanted to tell him it was too late, that his apology couldn't undo the damage he'd done, but her throat was tight, her heart tangled in the memories of what they once were.

After a beat, she felt him scoot closer, the warmth of his body brushing against her back. His arm slid around her waist, and without thinking, she let him hold her. It felt so familiar, so heartbreakingly right, and yet all wrong at the same time.

They lay there in the dark, JJ's steady breaths at her neck, his hand resting lightly on her hip. She closed her eyes, willing herself to push away the feelings bubbling up inside her — the love that hadn't faded, the anger that still smoldered, the longing she hated herself for.

At some point, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted into a restless sleep, but even in her dreams, he was there. Always there.

When she woke, the first rays of morning light slipping through the curtains, she found JJ still beside her, his face peaceful, the bruises on his skin a painful reminder of the night before. For a moment, she allowed herself to just look at him — the boy she had loved so deeply, the boy who had broken her heart and yet still held it.

She couldn't do this again. She knew that now.

The Pogue Player could never be hers again.

Carefully, she shifted out of his embrace, trying not to wake him, but his eyes fluttered open. He met her gaze, and for a moment, they were both back in time, before the lies, before the betrayal. Before they had lost each other. There was a moment of stillness between them, the unspoken goodbye hanging heavy in the air.

"I guess this is it, huh?" JJ murmured, his voice rough with sleep and something else — something deeper, more painful.

She nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah... it is."

His eyes softened, and before he could say anything else, he leaned down, his lips brushing hers in a bittersweet kiss — soft, lingering, full of regret. She kissed him back, even though she knew it was the last time. It was different from the kisses they used to share — this one was full of sadness, of understanding that this was the end.

As he pulled back, she saw the glisten of unshed tears in his eyes. "I'll always love you, Slugger," he whispered, the words almost breaking her.

She didn't trust herself to speak, so she just nodded, feeling the weight of his love, his regret, and the knowledge that it would never be enough.

He climbed out of bed, moving toward the window. Just before he left, he glanced back one last time. Their eyes met, and in that moment, everything they'd lost hung between them — memories, dreams, love, all broken and scattered.

With one final, heart-wrenching look, JJ slipped out the window and disappeared into the early morning mist.

And then he was gone, slipping out through the window just as he had come. The finality of it hit her like a wave, and as she watched him disappear into the early morning light, she knew that this time, he was really gone.

'I don't even know why he gets an opinion? Like 'your on your fourth strike' your on your fourth wife pal. He's so fucking annoying I catch him out in public it's on sight.'

And everyone's just sitting there and agreeing