So... Riverdale... what the fuck is ya'll thought process while writing this new season? I expected better Riverdale Writer's Room! It honestly makes no sense and it's sad. Because if you keep it, you all will be out of job from cancellation. Hey, if ya'll need writers, I'm open season!
Anyways, back to this story, I hope you enjoy the new update.
"I've never felt this way about anyone before." Joaquin had told himself while laying down in his little bed nest alone. It was early in the morning, the moon shining onto his bed and he was just laying down on his back on the bed. Joaquin was looking up at the ceiling, thinking to himself. He now realized what was happening. As he looked up at the ceiling, his furs covering his bare chest as he thought. Joaquin's thoughts were all on Kevin. His smile. The peachy blush that appeared on his cheeks when he was trying to teach him how to use a bow, the ruffle of his hair, how short he was compared to him. Everything about him. Joaquin had met boys before. So many young men would approach him when he was still human. Those people were lucky enough to escape when the spell was cast.
But when Joaquin came along, things were completely different. They were completely, completely different with him. Because back then, he would take that flirting as a compliment because of what a great hunter he was. But now he wasn't really a famous and beautiful hunter anymore. Now he was just… Joaquin. And this person, Kevin, he changed everything about his feelings. Now he felt actual feelings for him. Actual real feelings for this boy that walked into his life. Joaquin sat up from his little bed nest, covering his body with the furs of the floor. Joaquin walked outside of his bedroom out to his balcony, holding the railing. He looked out and watched as the birds slowly started to fly away from above him.
There was just… something about Kevin. Something about his smile and his gentleness and his kindness to all. Joaquin smiled, moving his forward and resting his chin against the cold stone railing. Kevin was… different. So much different from everyone inside of Southside. He took his father's place as prisoner for Christ's sake and he kept his word about staying without escaping.
"I've never felt this way about anyone." Joaquin said again, nodding at himself. He shook his head in thought. What could he do? What could he possibly do? He saved Kevin's life for one. But what else could he do? He took away his freedom after all and he only did one thing in return. There had to be something that he could do for Kevin. Something, literally anything. The cursed huntsman moved back over to the door to his room. He walked down the steps and started to make his way down to the foyer. But he suddenly stopped in front of Kevin's bedroom door. He looked over at it, a stopped suddenly. Joaquin swallowed some of the saliva forming in his mouth. Was Kevin asleep?
Joaquin pressed his hand against the handle and opened the bedroom door. He looked inside and saw that Kevin was laying, sprawled on the bed. The silk covers covered his body and soft, adorable snores came from his nose. Joaquin smiled, seeing him look so comfortable in a situation where he would probably be angry and upset. Joaquin nodded at himself, moving to leave back to his own bedroom. Joaquin shut the door silently and walked back down the stairs. He decided against sleeping inside and he walked back over the garden. Joaquin leaned down against the hall of his estate and sighed. What could he do for Kevin? He had taken away this boy freedom. What more could he do to help him? No make him feel comfortable? Joaquin just stayed there the entire night, unable to fall back asleep. The sun rose and the summer heat rained down on him. But Joaquin just sat there in thought. What in the world could be possible do for Kevin?
He just stayed there, not hearing an older woman coming from behind the stables. She approached Joaquin with a smile. "Joaquin? Did you… did you sleep out here in the heat?" she asked.
Joaquin stood up suddenly and rubbed the top of his cracked head. "Morning Gladys. What are doing here so early?" he asked.
"I'm here to make breakfast and give you that crossbow that I crafted." she replied, pulling out the metal crossbow from behind her. Joaquin walked forward and took the bow in his hands. "She's made of some beautiful oak wood from the trees in here and some steel that we use to craft the lantern holders."
"It's perfect." Joaquin said, bouncing it lighting in his hands. "Um… Gladys. Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything? What's on your mind?"
"It's um… It's about Kevin. Look um… I know that you and FP didn't last but, what did he do to try and earn your affections?"
"All of the cliche things. He brought me flowers, chocolates from Toni, took me out into the woods." Gladys replied. "But you know, I don't like things like that. FP realized that a few weeks later. So he started to get me the things that I liked. He started bringing me tools and gizmos that he found around so that I got to make any weapons. That made us fall in love and have Juggy and Jelly."
"So… you're saying that I need to think of him and his personal interests, if I want him to… to…"
"You don't have to say those words, it's fine. But thinking of what he likes and what he does will make him feel special." Gladys said, looking out. She pushed Joaquin hard and pointed out in the distance. "See, look."
Joaquin looked over and saw Kevin. He was dressed fully and resting against the grass of the garden. He was laying down, with a book in his hands. Joaquin watched him, silent. Kevin seemed to be completely focused on the novel. Books. That might be it, Joaquin thought. "Gladys, do we still have that-"
"Where and how else did you think he got the book? Jellybean gave them that one when he was talking about how much he loved reading at supper last night." Gladys said before turning on her heel. "Bring him back for breakfast, I'm making omelettes."
"That's all you ever make!" Joaquin called back with a smile as she walked off. Joaquin looked back over and saw Kevin. He sighed and slowly made his way over to him. "K-Kevin?"
Kevin looked up from his book with a wide smile on his face. "Hello? Um… warm day huh?"
Joaquin looked down and remembered that he was shirtless and in his briefs. The huntsman sighed from a bit of embarrassment. "I um… I slept outside. It was cool out here."
"Oh okay." Kevin said, closing the black leather covered book. He stood up and smiled. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, no. You're always welcomed here." Joaquin said. "It's just um… I… I want to show you something."
"You want to show me something?" Kevin repeated.
"Yes. If you're not too busy."
"I think that I'm pretty free right about now."
Joaquin's heart sank a bit. He knew that that wasn't what Kevin meant when he said free, but it still made the hunter remember his choice to hold him here as a prisoner. And even though he didn't feel like a prisoner now, he still was one. A man without freedom. Joaquin nodded. "Then… then come with me."
Kevin nodded and followed Joaquin with a smile as he walked with him out of the estate garden. Joaquin led him slowly back towards the town. No one was really out in the square, everyone was back going to have breakfast at the estate. So he and Kevin were able to get some alone time. Joaquin walked him over to a small little shop just near the well.
"Um… Kevin?" Joaquin called. "You might want to close your eyes."
Kevin raised an eyebrow at him. The huntsman opened his mouth to explain but Kevin closed his eyes with a close mouthed smile. Joaquin's own smile grew wider as he opened the door. He took both of Kevin's soft hands in his and started to walk inside with him. Kevin's steps were slow, but they weren't cautious like when he was blindfolded during his first month of captivity. These were more trusting steps. Joaquin walked him inside of the room and took a step away from him. "Can I open my eyes now?" Kevin asked when Joaquin let go of his hands.
"No, no, not yet." Joaquin said, picking up the feather duster and quickly dusting off some dust from the shelves in the back. He turned back over to Kevin and smiled. "Okay. Now, open them."
Kevin was originally going to slowly open his eyes but his eyes quickly opened wide. He gasped and smiled. There were so many books there in front of him. "Joaquin... oh my God."
"Do you like it?" Joaquin asked.
"Like it? How could I like something like this? I love it!" Kevin cried.
"Then it's yours. All of these. Yours." Joaquin said.
"Oh! No, no." Kevin replied, shaking his head. "I couldn't, I couldn't."
"No, no. This is yours." Joaquin said back, taking Kevin's hands in his.
Kevin smiled then. "Thank you... thank you so much."
Joaquin smiled, seeing Kevin smile. Joaquin looked back over at the library before looking over at Kevin again. Kevin smiled and watched as Joaquin took a step back from him. "I should um... I should leave you be. Breakfast starts soon. You can come back whenever you want. I'll save you some food."
"No um... maybe we can... walk back together. Toni makes really great oatmeal that I know Jughead and Sweet Pea will scarf down." Kevin said. "Then can I come back here?"
"This is your library now. These are your books. You're welcome to do anything you wish in here and come by whenever you'd like." Joaquin said. "You don't need my permission."
Joaquin moved his hand and held onto Kevin's neck. Kevin smiled up at him. Joaquin felt his heart start to hammer. Kevin could actually be the one. He could be the one that Nana Rose had spoken about. Kevin could actually be the one that could break his spell. Joaquin licked his always dry lip and moved away from Kevin. Could Kevin actually fall in love with him? Because Joaquin was already falling in love with him. He had feelings for him. Joaquin smiled down at him. He tightened the clasp of his cloak and walked away from Kevin. As he did, Kevin called out to him.
"Have you read these books? Any of them?" he asked.
Joaquin looked back over at them. He had actually. The first few days of his curse was spent inside of here. Reading romantic books, feelings sorry for himself. Joaquin shrugged at the beautiful boy with a smile. "Not all of them. Most of my days are pretty booked."
Kevin laughed, leaning forward. "That was a good one. That was a good joke."
Joaquin bowed dramatically with a smile. "Thank you very much."
Kevin smiled back at him. Joaquin turned around and walked out of the room. Kevin turned around back at the room filled with books and let out a happy chuckle.
"I think that I'm falling in love with him." Joaquin announced as he watched through the door to the dinning hall of his estate. Everyone in the room gasped loudly, hearing this. Betty pushed herself up from her seat, shoving Jughead down from his chair and onto the ground. Betty, Toni, Gladys and Jellybean got up from their chairs and moved over to Joaquin. They crowded him and crashed him a hug. Fangs helped Jughead up as they Joaquin get surrounded by excited squeals and questions.
"Okay, okay, okay. Don't crowd the guy." Sweet Pea said as he stood up.
"This is amazing!" Betty said back. "This is great. For Joaquin and for Southside! The spell can be broken!"
"Okay?" FP said. "But what is that we can do? This is more of a him thing. We can't really help."
Gladys clapped her hands together and pointed over at her son and husband, who were just sitting there and looking at him. "Yes there is! Plenty to do!" she cried. "Firstly, we need to clean your ballroom."
"Yes!" Jellybean cried in excitement.
"I have a ballroom?" Joaquin asked.
"Yes you do, and now, you're going to put it to some good use." Betty said. "Okay, let's think. We only have another six months before that cobra dies."
If it was quiet, they could have heard said cobra's angry hiss. Toni looked over at Betty. "Which means that we have plenty of time to clean up that dusty old room."
"While you and pretty boy starting tying up the strings of love." FP said, swallowing a bit of pancake.
"That makes no sense dad." Jellybean said with a giggle.
"It does when you're a virgin." Fangs whispered jokingly to Jughead and Sweet Pea, making them chuckle and laugh.
"Enough chit chat, we have a boy to woo and a spell to break." Gladys said, turning over to Joaquin and grabbing him by the shoulders. "And you. You have six months to make Kevin fall in love with you."
"I know that I barely have mirrors in this house but you guys can see me." Joaquin said. "There is no way that Kevin can fall in love with me. No matter if I'm falling in love with him."
"You've seen how Kevin is with you." Sweet Pea added this time, biting into an apple that was on the table filled with breakfast. "He doesn't see you for who you are on the outside, he's looking on the inside."
"And if you just remain calm, be yourself and lock that temper of yours in the closet, you'll be fine." Toni said. "Kevin will love you for you. Just be yourself."
Joaquin exhaled through his nose. He opened his mouth to retort when he heard the door to his estate open. Everyone in the room froze, hearing the footsteps. "Joaquin? I'm uh... I'm back."
Everyone turned over to Joaquin. Toni patted him and said: "Starting now." Just as everyone ran off out of the dining hall. They left quietly, Jughead grabbing multiple pancakes from the tray before leaving. Leaving Joaquin alone. The hunter stood there and just rolled his eyes at the people he considered family. Kevin walked into the dining room, searching for anyone else and finding just the cloak wearing hunter.
"Oh, Joaquin. There you are." Kevin said with a grin. Joaquin turned to him and grinned. Just like Toni said, this was his chance. Starting now. Joaquin held out his hand for Kevin to take. Kevin chuckled and took it. "Did I miss breakfast?"
"No." Joaquin replied with a smile as he brought Kevin over to sit at the head of the table. "You're just in time. Come sit."
