This is quite a long introduction so bear with me.

I decided to take my favorite characters from the show and focus on their relationship; everything else serves as the background and a way for them to get closer together. This story has a plot, but it's relationship-driven. If you are looking for an action-packed fic, that's probably not the one.

I altered some of the events from the show: Jughead has already graduated and has taken the role of the Serpents' leader. Betty is in her senior year of high-school. There is no past relationship between them. Jughead has never been the part of the group, he has never been close to Archie or anyone from the Northside. Some events were removed (Black Mask), but some of them remain as they are in canon (Jason's murder, Chic storyline). Some of them are spawned over longer period of time (Southside high school closing; Hiram's business practices). The biggest difference is that Betty's development is as it was in the beginning of the show. Her dark side has not yet been explored. Clearly, the pack didn't take part in all the murder/mystery solving. I will pick and choose what events/storylines make it into the story as I see fit for the development of the relationship. Of course, I will always make a note or simply explain it in the text if it has been altered in comparison to canon.

I have already written most of this work and I will be uploading with a weekly schedule. If there's a good response, I will, of course, upload next parts faster. The first few chapters might seem slow, but they are mostly to build the background, establish a timeline, and to understand the characters as they are in this fic. I tend to writer shorter chapters (in comparison to some amazingly-written, long pieces that people post - kudos to them), but I upload more frequently and there's more of them.

All constructive critique is welcomed, so are any comments to be honest. I hope that this will be enjoyed, even if by a single person.

Betty's hand twitched as she made her way into the Whyte Wyrm. She knew she didn't belong as soon she crossed threshold of that place. She knew she didn't belong when eyes of everyone that she passed focused on her. She tried to hold her head high as Serpents around her whispered and chuckled over their beers.

She knew some of them from school. Shady guys who never involved themselves with other Riverdale High students; ones who kept to themselves and spent their breaks observing the rest of school's population. In another setting she would try and force a smile. Make herself appear sweet. That surely would lead to mean jokes on their side, but no man, no matter Serpent or not, would be outwardly rude to someone as approachable as Betty. But this was not the time and place, she had to play tough.

She made her way deeper into the bar and searched the room for the one person she needed to see. Jughead Jones.

He was a few years her senior and graduated while she was beginning her high school career. Taking after his father, Jughead reigned over Serpents and he did it with pride.

Not that she never crossed paths with him. Serpents would occasionally bleed into Riverdale's Northside. And anyone raised in that little town was aware of its dynamics; of the southern part and ruthless gang that ran it. She would not get mixed with that crowd though, not because she despised them as much as many others did, but because there was never an occasion for their ways to intertwine. Well, until now at least.

Betty finally located what seemed to be an office door. She deducted that if he was not enjoying himself with others, he could either be in there or not in the Whyte Wyrm at all. She didn't know the rules that Serpents lived by, but as a well-behaved young woman that she was, and of what fact her mother loved to remind her, she lightly knocked on the door. There was no response, which made her more nervous than she already was. She didn't want to feel like an intruder, but her business couldn't really wait any longer. She knocked again with more force and having received no answer, decided to open the door.

There was no-one inside. She scanned the place carefully. Scrapped lockers lined the walls on both sides of the room. The only window was covered with a draped fabric. There was barely any light in there. The center-piece of the place seemed to be an old desk; it was stacked with papers and coffee-stained cups, but in the midst of all the mess, she spotted an open laptop. She quickly assumed that he had to be around - the office wasn't completely dead after all. Betty wanted to leave and wait for him outside, but something about being alone in the very heart of Serpent's den made her reconsider that move. She made sure that the door behind here were closed and moved further into the room.

She didn't know why, but there was always this kind of sick curiosity that made her do things that wouldn't be considered the smartest. Maybe it was the investigative spark shared by all the Coopers. After all, her parents ran the Riverdale Register. Her mother specifically didn't understand the meaning of boundaries.

Betty wanted to peek at the papers. It's not like she had an agenda, she wouldn't want to spite the Serpents, especially considering she came to them for help. But she wondered what was being written so feverishly, printed, and re-written again. She knew that kind of drive, she understood it.

Now, she had no idea what could Jughead Jones possibly write about in secrecy of his office, but she was aware that he ran a series of articles concerning the future of the Southside - exposing dirty deeds, stirring the Riverdale's pot. He would be considered an activist, and perhaps, he would even be applauded by the community, if not for the fact that he was also the head of a gang that did more than sell drugs. She was nearly bending over the desk and running her fingers through the papers when the door opened with a slam. Betty turned around quickly and laid her hands flat on her hips.

Jughead was standing in the entrance, his face expression sour. She never had an occasion to look at him up close so she took her chance.

He was tall, not extremely so, but definitely taller than her. He appeared handsome. His symmetric features, defined lips, and soft bluish eyes made him pleasant to look at. He looked young, well, he was young, only a few years her senior, but there was the definite mark of tiredness that crossed his face. Jughead didn't seem to sleep well.

Betty was quick to find similarities between him and his father, FP. He decided to dethrone as to give power to his only son, which also made him a more common guest in various Northside locations. They both had dark hair and similar intensity in their eyes. They dressed similarly, but it was a common mark of all Serpents - leather jackets, t-shirts, flannel shirts, heavy boots. Jones men had a feel of unruliness about them, but they stood tall and proud. They didn't look threatening at the first glance, but there was something about them that made you feel vary.

Betty would feel vary of Jughead, if not for the fact that he was possibly the only guy who has ever made her face turn hot. No denying it, he was an attractive man. Strong and obviously with a very real power, but at the same time, he seemed almost familiar. Betty didn't know him well. In truth, she barely knew him, but she could imagine them getting along. She was quick to let go of that thought. It was embarrassing.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quite unpleasantly as he made his way into the room. She stepped aside as he reached the desk and swooped the papers. When he made sure that no-one touched them, he turned around and rested over the desk's rim. His arms were crossed across his chest. Jughead was looking at her face, and he would probably keep an eye-contact if not for the fact that she avoided his gaze. "Well?" he asked. Betty finally managed to compose herself.

"I need your help," she started carefully. He raised his brows and smirked. "Serpents' help," she corrected herself and looked down.

"Betty Cooper needs my help," he said quietly shaking his head. "Serpents' help," he added sarcastically and she blushed. He walked behind the desk and sat down. He eased into the seat and raised his hands. "I am listening. How can the great Serpent clan be of help? What can the noblest gang in this State do for you?" It seemed as if Jughead didn't take himself too seriously. As if he didn't take his role as the leader too seriously, but it was just the assumption that Betty made. He was bitterly playful, which embarrassed her, but she decided it was better than feeling threatened. She walked to the desk and started with a more decided tone.

"I need you to help me get rid of someone." Jughead's smirk disappeared. His posture straightened. Suddenly, the playful man she saw in front of her moments ago was replaced by a stone cold figure. He seemed mad.

"We are not here to deal with Northern's side dirty deeds," he spitted. "We are not your thugs for rent." Betty realized that he misunderstood her. The thought scared her. She didn't want to murder anyone; she just wanted to…what did she really want?

"No, no," she said quickly. "I don't want you to do anything like…that." He eased again. His hands crossed at his lap.

"Then?" he asked. Betty realized that if she was to get anything from him, from the Serpents, she needed to be upfront about it. Honest. She had to explain it to him even though she felt both embarrassed and vile that she would even consider doing what she was about to ask.

"It's about my brother." This sparked Jughead's curiosity. His brows furrowed as he leaned in her direction.

"Brother? Coopers are only sisters." It was partially truth. It used to be only sisters, her and Polly, until just a few months back. In a twist of events that Betty didn't want to reveal to Jughead just yet, they acquired a new family member – Chic. Her mother's son that she gave away before Polly was even in the plans.

It wasn't that her inner circle didn't know about him. Actually, she was sure that more than her friends knew. It wasn't as if her mother kept him a secret; even more so after her and Betty's father parted ways. Coopers were always known in their neighborhood, hell, before all of that, Alice was surely known in the Southside too. But as it was now, she would only be the talk of this part of town when she wrote less than stellar articles about Serpents. Betty wasn't surprised that Jughead knew her, but she also wasn't surprised that he didn't know about Chic. She tried to be honest, but diplomatic. She was aware that her fear of Chic would sound crazy to someone from the very outer circles.

"There is also a brother," she stated vaguely. Jughead didn't push her. She felt relieved that he let her speak on her own terms. Betty hesitated, but she came here for a reason. "I will explain situation in detail when the time is right…but now, I need your help." She finally managed to look him in the eyes. "Chic needs to go," Betty said flatly. Jughead leaned into the chair. He was thinking. "I don't want you to harm him," she continued "but he is a threat and I…I can't deal with this situation anymore."

Her voice was quieter than she intended. He seemed sincerely concerned. It made Betty feel warm inside. After all, there was nothing between Jughead and her, and he could have easily dismissed her. Family affairs of some good girl from the North side? Why would the head of the Serpents even bother? But she felt that he understood it more deeply than she was letting on. Maybe he could sense the second bottom; maybe he could feel that it was more than just a misunderstanding between siblings. Maybe he simply didn't want another tragic Blossoms story that ended with one of the twins dead.

Betty felt that she wanted to tell him all of it. She wanted to explain all the details and dead-ends. She wanted him to know why he was her last resort and why the situation escalated into what it was. She almost felt as if she could tell him her biggest secret, but that single thought changed her approach suddenly. He was a stranger, and no matter how interested, perhaps even caring, she couldn't trust him. She couldn't just pour herself into him. Betty wished that she had more outlets to share her real feelings, her fears…the madness that would wash over her at times. But it wasn't the time or the place. She brought herself back into reality. She realized that she was quiet for a longer moment, but as soon as her eyes focused on him, he spoke.

"What can I do, Betty?" She liked how her name sounded in his mouth. She moved closer and glossed over the papers.

"You are an investigative journalist, right?" She was carelessly going through the stacks. Jughead laughed.

"I haven't received any accolades yet but I am not looking forward to it anyway. Mass culture doesn't value outsiders like me. They wouldn't see the genius of my job." he joked. She smiled lightly. "I write though, yes. But I don't seek some sick sensation…I do it for my people."

"Well," she said "maybe you could use your investigative talents to help me find something on Chic. Something that would…make him want to leave." She looked him directly in the eyes. Silence loomed over them. Jughead seemed both surprised and concerned. Betty didn't know what to do to make him take her offer, but she figured that some things spoke to everyone.

"I will pay."

He laughed dismissively.

"I don't want your money." She started playing with her fingers. Betty felt as if she was grasping at straws here. If not money then…

"You are friends with Veronica Lodge," he said, interrupting her thoughts.

She was taken aback. Was he observing her? Were the Serpents? She wasn't stupid, it was clear that the gang had its people everywhere; it wasn't a surprise that students would report back to Jughead on school affairs. But her and Veronica? Why would they be of interest?

Jughead realized that Betty was trying to piece the puzzles together. He decided to help her. "Don't worry. I am not spying on you. I am interested in the Lodges. I know that Hiram is not just a family-friendly businessman." He scoffed. "He started making suspicious moves in the neighborhood." It clicked in Betty's head. Jughead wanted inside information on Hiram. He wanted Betty to get them from Veronica. Was this the price to pay for his help?

"What do you want me to do?" He smiled. He had it all figured out in his head already.

"I will investigate for you, if you will investigate for me."

That didn't sit right with Betty's ethics. She knew that the Lodges had quite an opinion in Riverdale. She heard the stories of Hiram's business practices. But after all, he was the father of her closest friend. She wouldn't want to disrespect him if there was nothing to it. And she didn't want to lose Veronica.

As weird as their friendship was, Ronnie held a place in her heart. Not to mention that she dated Archie, and Archie…That was another person that Betty wouldn't want to harm.

If she agreed to Jughead's terms, and if it all came to light for some reason, she would lose two people that mattered to her. At the same time, she felt a thrill of discovering something. Some dirty truth. Some big story that would turn Riverdale on its head. Suddenly, there were more pros to this than cons. The biggest one was the urgent matter that was her situation with Chic. But she would also get to work with Jughead, figure the ins and outs of not only Hiram, but also Serpents.

She gave him a small smile.

"We have a deal."