「 ✦ DR COTTONMOUTH ✦ 」

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MJ GRABBED A FLASHLIGHT from the stash in the van, flicking it on and casting a beam of light through the inky darkness. JJ, beside her, secured a headlamp over his messy blond hair, casting a quick, mischievous smile her way.

"Come on, slowpokes!" John B's voice rang out from up ahead. He was already holding a lantern, lighting up a small circle around him as the rest of the group—Pope, Kiara, and JJ—began to trail into the abandoned graveyard.

"Alright, we're coming!" MJ called back, forcing a smirk, hiding the strange jumble of feelings JJ's protectiveness had stirred in her the other night. She didn't want anyone picking up on her vulnerability—not even JJ, who could usually read her like a book.

They walked forward, flashlights cutting through the thick dark. "This place gives me the creeps," Kiara muttered, casting wary glances at the graves looming around them. "So, John B, what are we even doing here?"

Patience, Kie," John B replied with a smirk, lifting his lantern a little higher. "You know when you're trying to remember a song, and you just can't figure out the artist?"

"Not really." Pope rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, I thought 'Redfield' was a place," John B continued, leading them toward an old, moss-covered tomb. "Turns out it's a person. My great-great-grandmother Olivia Redfield." He held up the lantern triumphantly, casting an eerie glow over the weathered stone that read "Redfield."

MJ stared at the name, chills running down her spine. "Redfield," she murmured.

"Voi-effing-la," JJ whispered with a grin, nudging her shoulder. She managed a small smile back, feeling comforted by his familiar, easy presence despite the tension she felt with Rafe lingering in the back of her mind.

"Alright, help me with the door," John B called, gesturing for everyone to gather around. They all pushed, straining against the solid stone.

"This thing's gotta be, like, a thousand pounds," Pope grumbled, stepping back.

"Come on, we didn't come all this way for nothing," JJ encouraged, giving the door another shove. Suddenly, a low hiss echoed from the shadows, and everyone jumped back, their flashlights scattering.

Just as they pushed again, a sudden hiss echoed from within the tomb. MJ jumped back, letting out a startled yelp as she stumbled right into JJ's chest. His arms went around her reflexively, steadying her as she pressed close to him, her heart racing. For a moment, she looked up at him, her flashlight casting shadows across his face, and she felt that familiar flutter—both comforting and confusing all at once.

But she quickly pulled away, taking a few steps back to regain her composure. JJ gave her a look, a hint of something softer in his gaze, but he let her go.

"Snake," JJ announced, smirking as he pointed at the tomb. "Dr. Cottonmouth."

"That's a moccasin," Pope pointed out, his face pale. "Like, really poisonous."

As the snake moved closer, JJ suddenly barked at it, trying to scare it off. Kiara groaned. "JJ, shut up! You're just gonna rile it up!"

"It's called assertive animal handling!" MJ argued as JJ continued making a series of growling noises as he waved his flashlight. The rest of the group rolled their eyes, clearly more terrified than amused.

JJ shot her a lopsided grin. "Snakes are afraid of dogs, everyone knows that."

As the group resumed their attempts to figure out a way in, MJ caught JJ giving her a sidelong glance, like he was checking to see if she was okay. She tried to ignore the small rush of warmth that brought, focusing instead on John B's voice as he rallied them.

"Look, we're not giving up," John B said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "If there's a way in, we're gonna find it."

Just then, MJ noticed a small opening near the side of the tomb. She crouched down, shining her flashlight inside. It wasn't much, but it looked just big enough for her to slip through.

"I think I can get in," she said, glancing back at the others.

"What?" JJ's face darkened immediately, his brows knitting together. "No way. It's dangerous, and besides—you hate snakes."

MJ rolled her eyes. "It's just a snake, JJ. I'll be fine. And besides, you're not fitting through there."

JJ scowled, his jaw tightening. "Yeah, well, I still don't like it."

As they turned back to the tomb, John B's hand brushed hers, a silent offer of reassurance. She glanced at him, feeling a flicker of confusion as he smiled softly. It was so unlike him to be this... protective. But she couldn't deny the comfort it brought, especially with the way JJ had been acting recently—constantly toeing the line between big brother and something else entirely.

She glanced back at JJ, catching the subtle scowl he shot in John B's direction, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowed. He'd always been the one to look out for her, to shield her from any danger, no matter how reckless he had to be to do it. Seeing her seek comfort in someone else seemed to bother him more than he'd ever admit.

"Are we getting this door open or not?" MJ asked, breaking the tension with a determined push.

JJ stepped up beside her, giving her a sideways glance. "You sure you're up for this? I mean, we're not exactly out here birdwatching, MJ."

She rolled her eyes. "Please. If you can handle it, I can handle it."

He cracked a grin, something proud and mischievous in his eyes. "That's my twin."

As they peered into the dark entrance, MJ felt the familiar thump of her heart—the thrill of adventure, of risking it all with the people she trusted most.

Don't worry," John B chimed in, stepping closer and offering MJ a reassuring smile. "I've got you, MJ. If anything goes wrong, we'll pull you right out."

He extended his hand, and MJ took it, feeling his fingers close around hers in a steady grip. JJ's eyes flicked to their joined hands, his expression hardening. He opened his mouth as if to protest, but then he looked away, clenching his jaw.

JJ muttered, crossing his arms. "Just... be careful, okay?"

"I will," she promised, letting go of John B's hand to squeeze JJ's shoulder. He looked at her, a mixture of worry and frustration in his gaze, and for a second, she thought he might pull her back. But instead, he just nodded, stepping aside to let her move toward the opening.

I'm gonna give you a boost, alright." JJ got into position, putting his hand so that she could place a foot onto it and get themselves up to the hole. 

"I've seen it in the movies several times. Ready?" The blonde adjusted his headlight as she walked toward him. 

 "Remind us of what we're looking for," MJ commented, her eyes on John B. 

 "You'll know when you see it." John B clenched his jaw. 

 "Okay," She whispered getting reading for JJ to boost her into the tomb."Ready, Rosemary?" JJ raised his eyebrows at her, a smirk on his face as Pope and John B took notice of the usage of her full name. 

 "Yes." She replied.

"Okay, on 3. 1, 2-" JJ started. 

MJ jumped before he got to 3, not wanting to drag out what she was about to do. 

 "Okay or before 3." JJ raised his eyebrows.

 "Flashlight!" The girl called out, looking around the dark tomb as Pope stuck a flashlight threw the hole. 

"Woah." She whispered, her eyes taking in her surroundings. 

"You alive? You got, like, a heartbeat and everything." John B peeked through the hole, mostly unable to see anything. 

"For now." MJ swallowed hard as she walked through the tomb. "It's tight in here and I can't see much," she said, prompting John B to shove his lantern in with them. 

"Yeah, yeah here." He said, eager to know what was inside.

 As she searched the place her eyes caught something in the back of the tomb. 

 "Did you find something? Are you okay?" JJ asked starting to grow impatient with waiting.

 "Oh, my god." She yelped. She reached her arm in a hole in the wall, pulling a FedEx envelope that had, 'For Bird' written on it. 

When MJ got back over to the hole in the tomb, she held the note up. 

"That is not gold." Said, Pope. 

"Yeah well, at least it's something." The girl put the flashlight in her mouth so she could use both hands to get out. 

As she was about to jump out of the tomb, JJ gripped her waist, picked her up and placed her down on the ground slowly. 

"Thanks." She smiled up at him after she removed the flashlight from her mouth, dusting the cobwebs from the seemingly ancient tomb off of her bandana. 

"Holy shit. This is from my dad." John B studied the package, a grin slipping onto his lips. His friends smiled at him, feeling happiness for the boy. 

As JJ played with his lighter and eventually lit a cigarette, the boy noticed something. "Code red. Code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!" JJ immediately warned them, putting the cigarette out.

The group of friends started booking it, running behind the side of the tomb. 

"Turn your light off, man!" Pope patted John B's shoulder as the person or people in the golf cart parked. 

"John B, you're light!" Kie seethed, shaking her head. 

"I see something." A man called out, sending the teens into a panic. 

"Do you think it's them?" Kiara's breath got heavy as the men got closer.

"Homie's got a gun." JJ peeked around the corner. 

"Nah screw this." MJ jumped up from her spot, her legs ferociously carrying her toward the fence, not caring if she was seen.

Her friends copied her actions, following behind the brunette as she threw her body into the metal fence that was one of the exits of the graveyard. The men behind them shouted, obviously catching sight of the teens and racing toward them. The girl climbed it as fast as she could, hooking her arms over the metal bars so she could reach the top. 

Laughs and screams escaped the teen's mouths as they scaled the fence. MJ jumped to the ground after she got to the top, landing with a loud crunch. She let out a yelp and fell to the ground at the same time that Pope's shorts got caught in the fence. 

"I got you," Kiara told the boy, climbing back up the fence to help him out of the pickle he got himself trapped into.

JJ, of course, pulled out the gun, pointing it in every direction. "Pope, don't move, okay?" 

 "You're gonna rip me." Pope shook his head to Kiara, who was attempting to get the boy free. "Wait! You're gonna rip me." The boy repeated, not wanting to have his favourite pair of grey cargo shorts ripped by a metal fence at a cemetery. 

"You're fine, come on!" Kiara slapped the boy's shoulder, pushing him enough so that John B could reach him, grab the back of his shirt, and pull him off of the fence. Which, did end with Pope's shorts ripping."

Pope, come on!" John B yelled again as he placed the boy on the ground. 

 "Nice! Come on, dude." JJ looked at the boy, whose boxers were now out in the open since his shorts had just been ripped off of his body."It's a little Tootsie Roll!" JJ sneered. 

"JJ what the fuck?" MJ said shooting her twin brother a look of judgment. 

The teens laughed and whooped as they reached the van, the adrenaline pumping through their veins faster by the second. 

"Get in! Stupid!" Kie laughed as the teens threw themselves into the van. Pope quickly covered himself, a look of embarrassment spread across his cheeks.

The van rattled along the bumpy dirt road as the group caught their breath, adrenaline gradually fading into exhaustion and faint laughter. MJ sat wedged between JJ and Pope, trying to mask the pain throbbing through her arm, though her clenched jaw and pale expression weren't fooling anyone.

JJ's laughter died down as he noticed her arm, now an ugly mix of swollen purple and streaked red from the blood dripping down it. He narrowed his eyes, his usual smirk replaced by a concerned frown. "MJ, you're bleeding all over the van, dude. Why didn't you say anything?"

MJ shrugged, attempting a nonchalant grin. "Didn't want to slow us down. Figured we had bigger things to worry about, like, you know, getting shot."

Kiara scoffed, twisting around from the front seat. "Yeah, but I'd rather you tell us if you're half bleeding out than die."

MJ rolled her eyes, muttering, "I'm fine. Just a scratch." But the wince that crossed her face as she shifted her arm betrayed her words.

"Yeah, that 'scratch' looks like it might need stitches," Pope chimed in, eyebrows raised. He rummaged through the glove compartment, pulling out a crumpled napkin and handing it over. "Here, at least put this over it or something."

JJ grabbed the napkin, pressing it gently against her arm despite her half-hearted protests. His hands were surprisingly steady, a stark contrast to his usual fidgety nature. "Hold still," he murmured, his voice soft. "Can't have you hobbling around on us."

MJ smirked, trying to ignore the sense of anxiety she felt, "Don't think this makes us even for the last time I needed stitches." 

He rolled his eyes, but there was a glint of something unreadable in his expression. "Shut up. That doesn't mean I'm gonna let you bleed all over the place. Besides, we were twelve and I told you that you couldn't surf. Not my fault you got the board to the chin." 

John B, finally catching his breath, glanced over at them with a smirk. "You two done playing Florence Nightingale?"

JJ shot him a look. "Someone's gotta keep this one out of trouble."

"Oh, please," MJ shot back, grinning. "That's rich, coming from you."

The banter continued, lightening the mood as the group tried to shake off the lingering fear from their close call. Eventually, the van slowed as they reached the edge of the Boneyard, where they'd hidden a stash of first-aid supplies for emergencies. They piled out, and JJ practically insisted on driving MJ to the hospital before she convinced him a thing of gauze, tape, and beer would do. 

Kiara tossed him a roll of bandages from the stash, and JJ got to work, his fingers working quickly and efficiently to wrap her arm, his face unusually serious.

"Thanks, doc," MJ muttered, trying to keep the moment light, but something about the way JJ was looking at her made it difficult to brush off. He was always protective of her, but recently he had been more anxious about harm's way. 

"Don't mention it," he replied, not meeting her gaze, focusing instead on securing the bandage tightly. "Just... you know, try not to go full kamikaze next time. I can't keep bailing you out."

MJ smirked. "Oh, you'd miss it if I stopped."

He finally looked up, that familiar mischievous glint in his eye. "Don't get too full of yourself. I'm just doing this because we're a team, and you know, twins."

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Oh, we're a team now?"

He shrugged, feigning indifference. "Yeah, and every team needs a reckless wildcard, I guess."

John B clapped his hands, snapping them out of the moment. "Alright, team, what's the plan with this?" He held up the FedEx envelope, the writing on it faded but unmistakable: For Bird.

The group gathered around, curiosity piqued. This envelope, a remnant from John B's dad, felt like the missing piece of a puzzle they'd all been trying to solve for far too long. MJ leaned forward, ignoring the pain in her arm as the adrenaline of the mystery took over once more.

John B looked at each of them, his expression a mix of determination and apprehension. "Whatever's in here... it's what my dad wanted me to find. I can feel it."

MJ, still leaning on JJ for support, gave him an encouraging nod. "Then let's open it."