For the Color Symbolism Challenge (white: innocence) and the Story Chain Challenge (last word: end) on the Riverdale Fanfiction Challenge forum. Come join us! Link in profile.
For Jas, via the Drabble Game Challenge (KevinJoaquin, "I don't need you to protect me.")
Joaquin swallows dryly as he looks at Kevin. He never meant to fall in love. His only job was to seduce the sheriff's son.
"Something is bothering you," Kevin says quietly, brushing his fingers across Joaquin's wrist in feather light caresses.
Joaquin closes his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Am I that easy to read, Preppy?" he asks, and he hates the way his voice sounds so tight and unsure.
"No. I just know you well enough."
The Serpent almost laughs at that. No one knows him. Not really. Maybe FP comes close, but even his leader has only seen a portion of Joaquin's true colors. Just like Kevin.
Kevin. His boyfriend. The boy that, if Joaquin was a normal guy, should know every inch of him, every hope, every fear.
But it's all an act. At least, it's supposed to be.
Joaquin opens his eyes again, reaching out and pushing his hands through the other boy's hair. He shouldn't care about Kevin the way he does. Kevin is still so innocent, so tender- all the things Joaquin could never be again.
"We shouldn't be together," Joaquin manages at last, the words souring his stomach.
Kevin frowns, eyes narrowing as he studies Joaquin. Joaquin hates it when he does that. Those kind eyes are so critical, and Kevin can always see what other people seem to fail to notice.
"Well, we are. Get over it," Kevin says, irritation heavy in his voice. "And that's an awful way to attempt to break up with me."
Now Joaquin does laugh, his eyes rolling. Stubborn little thing. "You know what I am," he says, gesturing to the tattoo that marks him as a dangerous gangbanger.
"I remember. You had me pinned against the fence when you told me."
Joaquin sighs. Kevin is too good. He may not see it. After all, he is so caught up in drama and chaos, but he is one of the few pure things left in Riverdale. "I'm not saying this because I want to. I'm saying it to protect you," Joaquin says sharply, forcing every ounce of urgency into his words, praying that Kevin can understand the gravity of the situation.
"I don't need you to protect me. We're not breaking up," Kevin insists.
"You're making a mistake."
Kevin pulls away. Once again, his eyes move over Joaquin, taking in every inch of him. Joaquin wonders what he sees. Does he realize how terrible it would be to fall in love with a Serpent? Does he know that this will only end in pain and heartbreak for everyone involved.
"My dad let me have a mullet when I was twelve. That was a mistake. Letting my heart get invested with closeted boys who could never love me was a mistake. But you aren't a mistake," Kevin says, gripping Joaquin's shoulders firmly and pulling him closer, kissing him.
Joaquin wants to protest, to tell Kevin how stupid he is, how Joaquin can't offer him anything but corruption. But those soft lips against his are too familiar, too comfortable. All Joaquin can do is melt into the kiss and pray that everything will be okay in the end.