This is an AU, so the introduction between Joaquin and Kevin is different. Remember that. Okay. Let's get going.
It was pretty much the worse day ever for Kevin's family. Everyone was depressed and sad that morning and no one wanted to speak to one another.
Why?
Because today was Kevin Keller's last day in Riverdale.
Kevin wasn't dying or anything and he would finally slip away this day. And he wasn't going off to college either. Kevin was actually one of those people that was too smart for college. Kevin was actually going off to boot camp. He had signed up for the army and today he would be taking an early flight to head of to training in Texas. No one wanted for Kevin to leave. Kevin was the heart of Riverdale and his family. Everyone loved him. His father adored him, mostly because he was an only child. His mother loved him very much, even though that she wasn't around most of the time and was off in countries fighting for wars. His stepmother loved him so so much, even though that Kevin wasn't here biological son she still loved him. And his stepsister loved him more than everyone combined, because she loved being a sibling after growing up an only child.
Tom didn't want Kevin to leave. Sierra didn't want Kevin to leave. Josie really, really didn't want Kevin to leave.
But he couldn't stay. He had to go off to boot camp. He had to leave, even though he was being tightly hugged by his dad right now in the middle of the airport. Kevin could barely find his breath as Sheriff, yes sheriff, Keller squeezed his child. "Okay, okay dad." Kevin said with a chuckle. "You need to let me go if I can get to boot camp with my lungs."
Tom let go of his son and chuckled. "Forgive me for wanting to let my son that I love him so much."
Kevin chuckled and set his duffel bag down. He would really miss his dad and his family, but he needed to do this. The army would help him find his purpose. Kevin looked over at his stepmother and sister. Tom had married Sierra almost a year ago. Kevin had been upset with him at first when he had heard that he was having an affair and seeing someone other than his mom. But after he had had a firm conversation with his dad and Sierra and Josie, he accepted their love for one another and he accepted their marriage next. Sierra and Josie had created a kind and loving relationship with the younger Keller boy. Kevin looked over at the two and they smile. "Come here." he said to Sierra, allowing the older woman to crash him in a tight hug. Sierra cradled his head in her hands and rubbed the back of his hair.
"Can you please try to not die while your training son?" she whispered.
Kevin loved it when Sierra called him her son. Even though he wasn't Sierra's biological child, she still considered him her child. A son. Kevin pulled away from her stepmother and smiled at her, kissing her cheek. "I promise, okay? Now just don't say that again." he said to her. Sierra smiled and Josie pulled Kevin close next. "Jo! This is the ninth time you've hugged me and it's only six in the morning!"
"And I'll hug you nine times more until you get on that plane." Josie said, holding his shoulders and rubbing the back of his neck. Kevin hugged her again and he rubbed her back calmly and nicely. They let go and Kevin picked up his bag.
"Well, this is where I go." he said.
"Just wait a minute sport, this is the last time that I'm going to see you. At least let us have a conversation." Tom said with a chuckle, making Kevin roll his eyes playfully.
"Daaaaad." Kevin groaned, before allowing him to get pulled into another calm and loving side hug. "Okay, seriously. I really need to go this time."
"Just one more minute Kevin." Josie said, pulling out a box. "Got you something. Well, we got you something."
"Thought that you'd want a little something." Tom said as Kevin took the box out of his sister's hands. Kevin smiled at them and opened them. They were two golden dog tags. It was beautiful and better than the metal ones that most soldiers wore. Kevin gave the box to his dad and held the necklace in his hand, cradling the beautiful looking stone in his hand and rubbing the princess cut diamonds that were around the edges.
"Turn it over." Sierra whispered.
Kevin smiled and turned the two tags over. One the first one it read his full name. Kevin Thomas Keller. And on the other one it read his new last name after his father remarried. Keller-McCoy. It made Kevin smile wide. "You guys are really going to make me cry in the middle of the airport." Kevin said in a half sob as the three of them pulled him into a group hug. Tom held his son's head close to his chest as Josie and Sierra held his body. The three of them loved Kevin so so much. They didn't want to lose him. They couldn't. They loved him too much to let him go. But they loved Kevin so much to accept him no matter what. No matter what he chose to do.
Even if it meant join the army.
They four pulled away from each other reluctantly and they started at each other. Kevin gave a weak smile and rubbed the straps of his bag. "I um... I have to go now." he said.
"Okay." Tom said, wiping away forming tears because he was a strong sheriff and sheriff's couldn't try.
"Oh don't cry Tom." Josie said, giving him a side embrace before looking at Kevin. "We love you Kevin.:
"I love you all too. So, so much." Kevin said. "And I'll be back soon. I promise."
"At least promise to write back." Sierra added.
"I will. I swear. Nothing will take me away from you all, you're my family. Through thick and thin." Kevin turned over to his gate, where people were beginning to board. Kevin looked back at his family once last time before looking back at the gate. "Goodbye guys. I love you all."
"We love you too." Tom said, patting Kevin's shoulder. Kevin turned away to walk towards the gate. But he dropped his bag and ran over to his dad and pulled him into another hug. He loved him so so much. Tom squeezed him tightly until he heard a small crack from his back. They let go and Kevin patted his dad's cheek. He grabbed his bag from the floor and turned around before waving goodbye. Kevin walked into the gate and left the three Keller-McCoy's by themselves in the middle of the airport.
"I already miss him." Josie sobbed.
"Me too sweetheart." Tom said to her, rubbing Josie's hair and bringing her close into a side hug. Kevin walked into the plane and took a seat down into the first class. Sierra had insisted that Kevin get a first class seat since she had flown from here to there for all kind of court and law cases. Kevin took a seat next to someone reading a novel that he had recognized. In fact he was reading the same exact novel. But he had left it at home for his dad to have something to remember him goodbye. Kevin set his bag above him and rested in his seat. He pulled out his phone to enter the audiobook when he heard a chuckle from the person next to him.
"Small world." he said, shaking his novel. "History is All You Left Me."
"Yeah." Kevin said back with a small grin. The blue of the novel's cover matched this stranger's eyes almost perfectly. It was such a beautiful shade of blue. Kevin shook his phone too. "Just think that the audio would give me something to do for the next six hours."
"Might I ask what your business is in Texas?" the stranger asked.
"I'm a... I'm joining the army." Kevin said honestly with a head shake and shrug.
"Huh... really small world." Joaquin said to him. "I'm joining the army too."
Kevin smiled. At least he made a friend. Kevin held out his hand to the young man with the bright blue eyes. "Kevin Keller-McCoy."
The blue eyed boy smiled and took his hand and shook it. "I'm Joaquin."
Five whole years had passed since Kevin had left that faithful day. Kevin had made it to Texas and graduated from boot camp at the top of his class. And in those five years, Kevin kept on going and going and he eventually became the best soldier in his troop. He was strong, dedicated, fearless and selfless. He did not stop while he was in the army. He was always in the first wave during missions and he was the first one to save someone that had gotten shot or injured fatally. Long story short, Kevin had become the greatest soldier in his troop.
Not only that, but Kevin had also became a strong and fearless lover. Joaquin ended becoming more then just a friend in his troop. Joaquin and Kevin ended up dating well into his second year if being apart of the army. Joaquin had shown Kevin things that he never knew existed. The two would make out in the training rooms when ever no one was around, have sex in the showers and swim in the lakes of wherever they were fighting in. Kevin had fallen so in love with Joaquin. Joaquin made sure that Kevin felt loved and cared for, no matter what war they were fighting or what was going on. And Kevin had fallen so in love with the blue eyed soldier that made him feel cared for.
Hence where they were now. Leaving their base in Iraq in the middle of the night.
Joaquin held Kevin's hand as they ran out of the barracks and towards one of the Jeeps. Joaquin had forced his boyfriend into wearing a blindfold MacGyvered from a old shirt that didn't fit his muscles anymore. Kevin was smiling the entire time, but being cautious that he wasn't being lead into a trap. "Joaquin!" Kevin called out as his boyfriend sat him down in the Jeep. He usually wore his camouflage, but Joaquin had forced him to not wear his shirt and try and look a bit nice. So Kevin wore his tank top. And sitting in the Jeep with only the tank top made him feel a bit strange.
"Stop worrying too much preppy." Joaquin sat, sitting down in the driver's seat and rubbing Kevin's knuckles. "I swear that I'm not a rebel trying to kidnap you and force information out of you."
Kevin smiled and Joaquin started to Jeep. Joaquin drove away from the base and made his way through the dirt roads. Kevin stayed silent the entire time, but with a small and calm blush on his cheeks. Joaquin noticed the blush and grabbed Kevin's hand, reassuring him the entire time. Joaquin stopped the Jeep and got out first, walking over to Kevin;s side and helping him out. Joaquin led him down the path.
"Okay, okay, right this way." Joaquin said, slowly leading him towards an edge. Joaquin pulled off the blindfold and Kevin looked out at the night. There, outside was the beautifully lit city. Red, blue, purple and pink lights morphed into a wonderful real life mural. Completely gorgeous. It left Kevin stunned and breathless. He stood there, looking out at the lights that washed into something that looked like it belonged in a museum. Joaquin smiled at Kevin's smile. He slowly walked over to the soldier standing right in front of him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Kevin's hands went to hold Joaquin's hands and rub his knuckles.
"Joaquin... it's... it's beautiful." Kevin gasped.
"Not as beautiful as me though right?" Joaquin said with a chuckle.
"Quin!" Kevin chuckled.
"My grandpa told me when I was growing up that there's a hidden gem everywhere. No matter where you are, if you look hard enough, you'll find one. I found one here. Here of all places. I found something beautiful in a place ravaged by war and death and pain. This is a hidden gem." Joaquin said, turning Kevin around so that they were standing right next to each other and standing right in front of one another. "Just like you... you're the hidden gem in my life. The hidden gem in the base when I'm supposed to be focused on saving innocent lives... but all I can think about is you. And how lucky I was to have met you and to have you in my life. I love you. Dammit Kevin Keller-McCoy I love you too much. I love you to the point that I can't sleep when you're off on a mission and I can't bare to watch when your cuts are healed. I love you so much that it hurts. It hurts..."
"Joaquin..." Kevin called to him, cupping Joaquin's cheek. "You're not... you're not breaking up with me are you? Because I love you too! I love you the same way."
"No Preppy." Joaquin said. "I'm not breaking up with you and I don't ever plan on letting you go. Not now. Not ever." Joaquin pulled out something. Kevin couldn't make out what it was. It was concealed tightly in Joaquin's palm. Kevin kept his eye on it though. "I wrote a letter to my granddad. And I was telling him all bout you as per usual. And he wrote back. Telling me that the way that I feel about you is the same way that he felt about my grandma. And he told me that if I truly truly love you like he loved my grandma... then I should hold onto that love and never ever let it go. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm doing this..."
Joaquin moved down and went down on one knee. He opened up his concealed hand and held out a beautiful ring. Rose gold band with chocolate diamonds around the entire ring. It was beautiful. The sight was just as colorful as the city lights that Joaquin showed Kevin a moment ago. Kevin took a step back from Joaquin and covered his mouth with both of his hands. Joaquin looked up at Kevin and took one of his hands in his. "Joaquin..." Kevin gasped out.
"Kevin Keller-McCoy... I know that you already have two last names. But would you be willing to take mine, and be mine forever?" Joaquin smiled. "Kevin, will you marry me?"
"Is that even a question?!" Kevin screamed. "Yes! Yes! I'll gladly marry you!"
Joaquin stood up suddenly. "You will?!" he cried. "You'll really marry me?"
"I love you so much! Of course I would!" Kevin cried. The two pulled each other into a tight passionate embrace. Joaquin's hands holding Kevin's back and waist while Kevin ruffled Joaquin's long black hair. Joaquin loved that feeling. He moved his hands and pulled Kevin up into his arms. Kevin wrapped his legs around Joaquin's strong back. Joaquin raised his hands to hold Kevin's legs and Kevin traced all the tattoos that made his boyfriend's full arm sleeve. No. His fiance's full arm sleeve. Joaquin raised his hand, holding Kevin with one arm and putting the ring on his finger. The rose gold complimented his skin tone gorgeously.
"I love you." Joaquin whispered. "So much."
"I love you too." Kevin said back, leaning forward to capture the blue eyed soldier's lips in a sweet kiss.
The next night came by pretty quickly. Mostly because Kevin and Joaquin spent the night together in the barrack, curled up in Joaquin's bed and not wanting to let go. But as the new night came upon them, the two soldiers had to get up and leave. They had been assigned to a rescue mission and they had to rescue their captured soldiers from the rebels. It sounded like something out of an action movie for people that weren't in the army, but for Joaquin and Kevin, it was life or death. No one wanted to be the one to call someone's family and tell them that there was a terrible accident and that their loved one had died in the field. Kevin couldn't bare to think about what Tom, Sierra or Josie would do if he ended up the causality. Joaquin didn't want to think about if he had to haul his fiance in a body bag.
The two soldiers made their way down the desert towards a small building in the middle of nowhere with their fellow soldiers. Kevin, who had volunteered to lead the mission, looked back at his fellow soldiers. There were only two others there. The mission was supposed to be inconspicuous. "No matter what, don't engage unless you need to." he said.
They all nodded and started to make their way to the building when Joaquin grabbed his arm. Kevin turned and opened his mouth but Joaquin pressed a kiss onto his lips, silencing him. Kevin kissed back, mostly because he loved him to death. They let go and Joaquin pressed another kiss to his forehead, even though it was hidden a bit by his helmet. "Be careful, okay?" Joaquin said to him.
"Always. Look at me, I'm the best soldier here." Kevin said.
"Preppy, I'm serious." Joaquin said. They've barely gone on missions together and they were always worried for one another even if they weren't. Joaquin moved closer to Kevin and rubbed the gloved hand that hid his engagement ring. "I meant what I said. I love you too much. I can't lose you."
"And you won't Joaquin." Kevin said, kissing him again. "I'll be as careful as I can be. Okay?"
Joaquin nodded and they two moved forward with their soldiers. Kevin walked over to the door and slammed his gun against the door handle. He kicked the door opened and aimed his sniper on the inside of the room. It was dimly lit, three shitty green light-bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Kevin made eye contact with a few of his captured soldiers. Three women and three men. Each of them handcuffed to the ceiling, yet no sight of torture on their faces or chests. Joaquin moved forward first, checking the pulse of each of them. They were all alive. Joaquin moved to unlock their cuffs when the door was slammed shut. Kevin's gun was automatically aimed towards the door but he felt something cold come on the back of his head. He noticed everyone freeze and he cursed himself. He was trained to realize when things went south. How did he not notice?!
Joaquin stared over at Kevin with a cold blank stare. There was a rebel standing right behind him with a handgun pointed right at the back of his head. And about five more right behind her. Each of them except for one hand a dark colored scarf covering the bottom of their faces. All you could see were their cold dark eyes, but Joaquin's eyes were on the gun near Kevin's head. Her finger was right on the trigger. One shot and it was over.
"Drop your guns!" the rebel said with a thick accent and it was almost undecipherable. Yet Joaquin understood exactly what she said.
"Shoot!" Kevin said. his gun still tightly in his hand.
Another rebel moved forward, his face not covered by a scarf and he slammed Kevin down on his knees. Kevin yelped out in pain and he was held tightly by the neck. He snatched the gun from the female rebel and shoved her away and he pressed the barrel against the side of Kevin's head. "Drop your weapons now or I shoot him!" he yelled, his accent more understandable.
Joaquin, against all his better judgement to shoot this man and all his rebel friends, dropped his rifle. Everyone else doing the same. Kevin looked at him with a sad stare. A disappointed one. Joaquin could take it if it meant that Kevin would live to see the sunlight of tomorrow. Joaquin met Kevin's eyes and he begged for him to hold on. The rebel signaled with his hand for the rest of them to leave. They did in a heartbeat. The unmasked rebel looked back at Joaquin. "You. You! All of you! You all did nothing but stay in your fancy little American base and watch as our loved ones get killed for NO DAMNED REASON!" he screamed. "What about this bitch huh? Is he a loved one?"
"Don't call him that." Joaquin said, automatically wishing that he hadn't.
"So he is a loved one. Well then... remember this Americans. You took our loved ones. So I'll take yours."
"NO!"
"Quin-"
There's a loud flash and bang. The gun's gone off.