it’s just the two of you, lying in the bed of jj’s beat up truck, wrapped in an old blanket under a quiet night sky. the stars are scattered above, a sprinkle of soft light against the darkness, casting a gentle glow over the world around you. it’s late, and the air is calm, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of the wind through the trees. jj’s lying beside you, arm slung over your shoulders, fingers tracing idle patterns on your arm as you both look up.

“do you ever wonder if it’s worth it?” he asks, breaking the comfortable silence. his voice is low, almost hesitant, as if he’s speaking something he’s thought about for a long time but never dared to say out loud.

you turn to look at him, seeing a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze that he usually hides behind a smirk or a joke. “what do you mean?” you ask softly.

“all of it,” he says, eyes still on the stars. "the mess, the running, the fight to just... be something different. to have something better.”

you nod, understanding him without him needing to explain more. jj’s had it rough, and you know better than anyone how he’s always one step away from the next hit, the next fall. but tonight, lying here with him, it’s just you and him, and the thought of what could be, and what you both might be willing to risk to have it.

jj shifts, his eyes finding yours. “you know… if this all went sideways tomorrow, i think i’d be alright as long as i had you. like, if the earth shook, or the world just... ended. i think i’d still be okay if you were there.”