Kevin, or rather Casey Keller was a Blossom. There was no doubt about that. He had been brought up to serve one purpose: Protect the Blossom empire, and their eldest daughter, the heir to the family throne, Cheryl Blossom. Though becoming part of the family hadn't really been much of his choice. When he was five years old, Kevin and most of the kids in his class were put forward into a training program to become future guards. At fourteen he'd been given his new name, and officially became Cheryl Blossom's body guard. He was put through brutal training sessions, tied up, shot at with rubber bullets. Which had transformed him from a normal kid, to a killing machine. So he guessed, in a way, Casey was like the Serpent kids. Brought up to be a killer. Except- he wasn't a psychopath.
But then he met Betty Cooper. And something sparked inside of him. It was a different type of love. An attachment so strong he couldn't find it in himself to hurt her when she became a Serpent. An enemy. So now here he was, on the opposing side. With his dad's life on the line. For Betty- or he guessed...for Lili. Except now he was in danger of losing his mind. Losing his love for Betty, any respect he had for The Serpent's and their children. If Casey didn't act soon, he would finally become what his father and Clifford wanted in the first place. What he had been until he had grown soft for Lili Andrews, the twisted alter ego of Elizabeth Cooper. What Clifford had turned the Serpent kids into, as well as any rebelling Riverdale born's who refused to become Blossom's.
He was going to be pure fucking Blossom, and right now, there was nothing he could do about it.
"Hey KJ," Casey managed to choke out, when the last coil of fraying rope was tightened around his wrists. The redhead was making sure his bonds were as tight as humanely possible, and he gritted his teeth, struggling in the chair he'd been forced into. The ex Serpent son loomed over him, securing his bonds, and didn't acknowledge his name. Though that wasn't exactly surprising. The boy was called Archie now. What a weird name. Casey, as much as he despised the Serpent boy, only tolerating him for Lili- preferred KJ.
"KJ!" he hissed again, squirming in the restraints. The boy ignored him, instead circling around Casey like a shark. He cocked his head, confused, curling his lip.
He'd be lying if he didn't find that slightly adorable.
God dammit, concentrate.
"Right." Casey rolled his eyes. "You don't go by that name anymore." sucking in a breath, he cleared his throat. "Listen, moron." he grumbled. His chest was aching. With every passing second his fate was drawing closer. Casey kept telling himself he wouldn't submit to the torture. He had been trained after all. But KJ, Cole and Camila had thought that too, and yet they had gone inside the room, fighting, screaming, spitting, rebelling against guards, and came out, completely hollowed out. Empty eyes and twisted smiles.
There was no way he was going to become like that.
Casey sighed at the boy's ignorance. "I mean- I- fuck, I guess I mean Archie." he whispered. Fuck, he was losing it. Casey had been taught to swallow his fear. But this was too much. He was completely helpless. And not even his father would rescue him, because apparently Casey was already 'brainwashed' and needed to be reprogrammed. He hissed out a breath. Don't cry. He told himself. Fuck, don't cry!
The boy would always be KJ Andrews to him. Fred Andrews' ruthless son. The bastard with a glimmer in his eyes, a twisted, playful grin that sometimes took him off guard.
Archie cocked a brow. He folded his arms across his chest. "Are you eyeing me up, Case?" the boy smirked at him suggestively, and Casey bit back a groan. "Sure," he panted, leaning back in his chair. The ropes pressed against his chest, and he struggled to breathe. The tighter the bonds were, the more he panicked. If he could just distract the brainless ass, he might be able to get the upper hand.
Casey forced a smile. "How 'bout you untie me and we'll talk?"
The boy chuckled, unblinking. Fuck. Clifford really had done a number on him hadn't he? In his Blossom days, before Betty had been exposed to the reality of the empire, Casey had often wondered why Cheryl had been so infatuated with KJ Andrews. Every time she talked about him, the girl adapted a funny look on her face, and he had been unsure if the girl wanted to murder him, or fuck him. But now, looking at Carrot Top, truly taking in all of the Serpent boy, Casey kind of understood it. The way the boy stood over him, dishevelled and filthy. His red hair a matted mess across his pale forehead, freckles dancing across his cheeks. When the two had first met at Betty Cooper's door, KJ had smiled at him, his tongue stuck out, brown eyes sparkling with madness. The kind of lunacy Casey stayed well away from. But somehow, on the boy, it fit.
Presently, KJ's eyes were devoid of anything human. Clifford had stripped away the kid's personality, the playful spark in his eyes that seemed to light up his whole face. What Casey was looking at now, was a puppet. A mindless drone who happened to have the Serpent boy's face.
Fucking hell, Lili. Casey groaned mentally. He didn't blame her for falling for Cole. The Serpent kids were irresistible. Even Blossom pawns, they still oozed their Serpent roots.
"Sure, I swing both ways, man." Archie winked, and Casey felt his stomach twist. He could have kicked himself. No, no, this wasn't flirting! He wanted to scream at his body, which granted, had been aching for some kind of male contact for a while now. It just so happened to be the worst time possible. He struggled again, desperately searching for a way out. Letting out a frustrated breath, Casey met the boy's smirk, his cheeks burning.
He was going to regret this. Sucking in a breath, he forced out his next words, no matter how cringe-worthy they were. If Lili ever found out he had attempted to seduce a Serpent boy, she would never let him live it down. Considering his hatred for the three of them.
"Bondage, huh?" Casey managed a shaky laugh. "Take me out to dinner first, yeah?"
Archie didn't answer. But he did come uncomfortably close, a smirk playing on his lips.
Casey cringed, a shiver rocketing down his spine. Archie Andrews was, in his eyes, a sheep in wolves clothing. Sure, he had the smile of a gentleman. But damn, could it twist into something horrific. Casey found himself staring into the boy's blank eyes.
It was like looking into the void. Here we go again. His heart stammered. But he had to stay calm, had to stall. Before he truly lost his mind. And then what would Betty do? With Jughead, Archie and Veronica - or Cole, KJ and Camila- still brainwashed puppets, and the Serpent parents preferring to stay out of it- the girl was on her own.
So that left him to save her. Casey had been protecting Cheryl Blossom his whole damn life. The girl was a hard-ass on her own now. She could protect herself.
Right now, it was the Serpent girl that needed him. If he could just get out of these fucking ropes.
He gritted his teeth, refusing to look at the screen being set up. If he didn't do something soon, it was going to be too late. His freedom would be snatched from him, and Casey would be a grinning sociopath, his body and mind Clifford's to play with.
Just like the boy in front of him.
Holding his breath, Casey cleared his throat. "Well?" he murmured, steeling himself. He didn't exactly look his best right now, what with half of his face bruised, thanks to multiple beatings, his hair and clothes a bedraggled mess. Casey licked his split lip.
Who knows, Maybe Archie was into that. He hoped so. Seduction was one of many things he had excelled at in training. "What do you say?"
When the redhead leaned close, he squeezed his eyes shut. But Archie's lips just nipped his ear playfully, his breath hot and heavy.
God, it was the worst time to be turned on right now. Casey used that as an advantage. "C'mon," he breathed softly, flicking his gaze to the redhead. "Just dinner?" tackling at the ropes twined around his hands, Casey maintained eye contact with Archie. He could do this. Sawing through a knot with his fingernail, he managed to tear through the tightest one.
"Why don't we put this whole reprogramming bullshit on hold, huh?" he pulled his lips into a grin.
To his surprise, the boy smiled back. "But you're a traitor, Case," he whined. "You align yourself with that Serpent girl."
The restraints around his wrists were getting weaker. Casey fought back a cry of triumph. "Not a traitor, Archie," he gasped out, struggling with the last straying bits of rope. He almost had it. "I've been a Blossom longer than you."
"Oh yeah?" Casey lost his breath when Archie bent down in front of him, inclining his head. It wasn't fair that even dishevelled, the boy still looked gorgeous. Casey opened his mouth to speak. Though he wasn't sure what to say. A strange sensation had taken over his body causing his breath to come out heavy, his chest heaving. Maybe he was imagining it, but he felt- tight. Casey didn't dare look down. He could feel his cheeks blossoming an incredibly revealing shade of red. "Archie," he mumbled. But it came out more as a moan. Suddenly he was no longer the seducer. Casey was the one being seduced.
"Hm?" Archie's smile was innocent. It only made Casey's...situation, a thousand times worse. Casey held his breath, his hands growing clumsy, tackling the bonds. He nearly had it. It frustrated him that the boy had turned him into this blushing mess, and yet Archie hadn't even broke a sweat. Casey tried to keep his expression passive, even when a thick sheen of sweat coated his forehead. Pressing his legs together wasn't doing a great job of hiding his dirty secret. It was funny how so much could be communicated through simple smiles, and what Casey could only describe as Sex Eyes. God, he hated KJ as a Serpent, but as a Blossom- he had really outdone himself. But right now, Casey had to use his raging hormones to get him the hell out of this. If not, Lili was on her own.
Casey reached the last knot holding his wrists together and yanked as hard as he could, holding back a breath of relief when he felt the rope loosen. Just one more pull.
"Are you okay, Case?" Archie murmured. Casey was pretty sure he could see the growing bulge in his jeans. He managed a nod, and Archie's smile grew as he got closer. At first Casey thought the boy was going to spit in his face. But with a softening smile, and half lidded eyes, Archie leaned in, and Casey found himself magnetised towards the redhead's lips. This Archie wasn't real. He was Clifford's brainwashed killing machine. At least that's what he told himself. But something exploded in his chest when the boy's soft lips met his own, Archie's hands moving to cradle his face. Something he really wasn't expecting. After all, it was supposed to be a ruse. A way to escape. Seduce the enemy.
But now- he was kissing the enemy. He was kissing KJ Andrews, whose mind had been taken from him and pulverised into nothing. Except something about this version of him. He found himself wanting more. For a moment, Casey forgot about the fact that he was restrained to a chair, and was currently making out with his sworn enemy. Instead, in his imagination, there were no Serpents or Blossom's. There was just him and Archie.
"I'm not stupid, y'know," Archie murmured into his lips. But Casey was too breathless to answer. "Seduce me and escape, right?" he chuckled. "Not gonna happen, pal."
"You're insufferable." he growled back, resisting the urge to bite down on the asshole's lip.
The boy only giggled and pulled away, winking. "Thanks."
"It wasn't a compliment!"
Casey ragged apart the last of his restraints. Finally his hands were free. His chest was aching. Part of him wanted to kiss the boy again, for real this time. While the Blossom in him wanted to slice open his throat and watch him bleed out on the floor. Just a little more...
"Why stop now, huh?" Casey leaned back as far as he could. Cheeks already smouldering, he had lost pretty much all of his pride. "Kiss me again."
Casey didn't waste any time. Archie leaned in again, his eyes flickering shut. But before he could capture his breath in another kiss, Casey jumped to his feet, kicking the chair over. Archie didn't look surprised, to his annoyance. The boy only straightened up, his eyes hardening. "Oh come on Case, I actually like you!" he whined. Casey stumbled back. He had no weapons. Only his fists. And Archie was the human embodiment of a brick wall.
"I don't want to fight you!" but Archie was grinning, his eyes lit up with excitement. Before Casey could spit out a reply, the boy was lunging forwards, swinging his fist directly into Casey's jaw. Pain exploded, coming in startling convulsions, but he swallowed a cry. "Archie, listen to me," he managed to choke out. He aimed a hit to the boy's nose, but it was clumsy, and Archie easily dodged it. "You're in a trance!" Casey yelled, clapping his hands in front of the boy's face. "Please! Snap out of it!"
Casey didn't realise tears were rolling down his cheeks, perhaps from the pain, but maybe from frustration too. Clifford really had killed Fred Andrews' son. he sniffled, wiping at his eyes. Lili was going to be broken. "KJ," he tried again, even when he knew there was no point. "Your name is KJ, you fucking moron! You're a Serpent, not a Blossom!"
The boy ignored him, this time aiming punches to his neck, chest and abdomen. At first, Casey could fight back, managing to catch the boy off guard a few times, but soon enough he was on the floor, gasping for breath, pain riddling his body. He spat blood and groaned, ending up on his stomach. Archie stood over him, still with that vacant grin plastered on his lips. Casey's throat burned with the urge to screech in his face.
"Lets get you back to the chair," the boy sang, moving to grab him. But Casey managed to crawl backwards, his hands pawing for anything to use as a weapon. the first thing he got his hands on, a steel frying pan, he wrapped his hands around the handle and shakily got to his feet. Archie cocked his brow, a smirk curving on his lips. "A frying pan?"
Spitting another mouthful of blood, Casey groaned. "I think you punctured my lung, you asshole." he swung the frying pan, in what he hoped was a threatening manner. "Stay back!" he hissed. The boy regarded his makeshift weapon with amused eyes.
"What exactly are you planning on doing with that, huh?" the boy's eyes were bright, anticipating his next move. Casey wasn't even sure anymore. Surely the frying pan would only knock out the asshole for a few minutes. But it would give him time to make a break for it, and free Lili and Cheryl. Archie folded his arms. "Dude, just sit back on the chair." with a half-hearted shrug, the boy sighed. "I don't want to hurt you, Case."
Somehow, there was a tinge of humanity in the boy's expression. Casey found himself hanging onto it for far too long, before shaking his head, gritting his teeth.
"I'd rather die, Archie." Casey swung the frying pan again weakly. His arms were killing, every instinct in his body was telling him to just collapse.
Archie rolled his eyes. "Alright, fine," he sighed. the boy took long strides towards him, and Casey staggered back, swinging the frying pan. "Case!" Archie dodged his crappy hits, giggling. "Just let go, okay?" his smile made Casey feel sick. Cocking his head, Archie's eyes flashed. "Do you really want to stay allegiant to those filthy Serpents?"
"You're a Serpent!" Casey spat back. "Y'know Fred Andrews? The man who you've been trained to kill? He's your father."
Archie didn't even acknowledge his words. "Stand down, Casey." he murmured. Casey was about to fight back, but then an idea sprung to mind; Play dead. He dropped the pan, and it hit the floor with a metallic clang he felt in his teeth. "alright, you got me," he groaned, raising his arms in surrender. Maybe the redhead might not have fallen for it, if he didn't look half dead already. Casey used his beaten body to an advantage, letting himself fall limp. Archie looked taken aback, but quickly got over it, before making his way over. "Alright Keller," he grinned. "I didn't think you'd submit so fast."
Casey scowled. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm spitting blood." to emphasise, he gathered up a mouthful of it, letting it dribble down his chin.
Archie made a face. "You asked for it, dude." the boy chuckled, before squatting in front of him. Casey maintained eye contact with the boy, but slowly reached for the handle of the frying pan. Securing his grip, he held his breath. Archie cocked his head again.
"I don't get it," he murmured. "Why do all of this for that girl?" his brown eyes darkened. "Lili Andrews, the daughter of a snake." Casey's chest ached when Archie said her name, spitting it out like venom on his tongue. He felt like gushing that he too was the original son of a snake, that he shared the same name as her. Andrews. But his words would fall on deaf ears. Which was incredibly frustrating. The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, before letting out a soft sigh and fixing him with another empty grin. "Alright, Keller. Lets get you back to normal."
Casey rose to his feet without complaint, keeping the pan behind his back. When Archie turned his back, he saw his chance. He'd probably never get another one better than this.
"Hey, Archie," he said. The boy hummed in response, starting to turn back to him. But before he could, Casey swung the butt of the frying pan directly into the boy's skull, the clang of metal hitting bone made Casey's stomach churn. But thankfully, Archie crumpled to the floor, knees first, before his body followed, slumping to the concrete floor with a meaty smack. Casey waited a few seconds, just in case the boy sprung back to consciousness. But Archie stayed down, and for a moment, Casey found himself staring down at the knocked out boy. He looked strangely angelic; pale skin, strands of red hair trickling in closed eyes. Had he killed him? No. The kid's chest was rising and falling like normal.
Casey couldn't quite believe his eyes. A Serpent kid- finally at his mercy, sprawled out right in front of him. Just waiting for him to plunge a dagger through their heart. But he couldn't do that. Even if KJ was lost, and Archie permanently Clifford Blossom's bespoke psychopath. Casey couldn't do it to Lili. She loved him. He was practically her brother.
So instead of giving in to his Blossom urges, Casey glared down at the boy. His eyes were stinging again. "I'm not sorry, asshole." he muttered, curling his lip. "You've been asking for that, all fucking year."
He got back to his feet, swiping his mouth. Urgh. Maybe Archie really had punctured his lungs. The taste of rusty pennies in the back of his throat made him gag. Casey shook his head. He had to get the hell out of here. He bent down and grabbed the frying pan, his best method of defence, before his gaze fell on Archie again. The Serpent boy who had been imprisoned and tortured into becoming a Blossom. The kid looked so harmless, just laying there. He had a strange impulse to cover the boy with something, a blanket to keep him warm. The room they were in was freezing. After all, it was practically a dungeon; concrete flooring splattered with old paint and crumbling walls. The perfect prison.
Lili. Casey shook himself out of his reverie. With one last lingering look at Archie, turned to walk away. His heart was in his throat. He was in pretty bad shape, would he be able to fight Cole and Camila? Fuck, he'd have to. Casey was halfway to the door, when someone grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. He had barely enough time to breathe, before he found himself being slammed into crumbling brick wall. It took him a few dizzying seconds to realize it was Archie. The boy's eyes were blazing, his lips curled into a snarl. But there was something- different. Unlike earlier, when he'd been staring at empty eyes, void of humanity. Now the kid's eyes were sparkling with madness. Archie was seething. The glimmer in his brown eyes that made the bastard a Serpent, was back. And Casey, to his own surprise, let out a spluttered laugh of delight.
"Alright Keller," Archie growled, every word emphasised by a glob of spittle flying in his face. "You better tell me why I'm dressed like a fucking abercrombie model, why I can't remember a thing, where my family are, and what the fuck is going on before I-" the boy's expression faltered slightly when he caught Casey's sly smile. He tightened his grip. "What the fuck are you smiling at?"
Casey rolled his eyes. "One question," he said. "What's your name?"
"What?" the boy blinked. "What game are you playing, Keller?" gritting his teeth, the redhead leaned in close. "I won't fucking ask you again. Where's my family?" after a moment, he sighed, frustrated. "KJ." he mumbled. "What else would it be?"
Casey let out a breath of relief. His body was aching, and damn, he wanted to collapse. But he stayed on his feet, swaying slightly. He couldn't seem to stop grinning. "Oh thank fuck," he shoved the boy off him easily. KJ let go abruptly, his grip slipping all together. "Alright KJ. Lets get one thing straight, alright? I don't like you, or your family of vermin, bar Lili. I never will. But Jesus fuck, I've missed you." before the redhead could reply, he patted the boy on the chest. "Never change, alright? That look on your face, now? The "I want to rip your head off, Casey" scowl? Yeah, I've never been happier to see it."
KJ's glare sharpened. "You'll be ecstatic in a second when I punch you in the face," he growled. "What the fuck happened?"
Casey shrugged. "You went away for a while. But you're back now. That's what matters."
KJ frowned at him. He scratched the back of his head. "I don't get it," he mumbled. "Where did I go?" his eyes widened when he streaked his fingers through his hair, his lip curling. "What happened to my hair?!" he grabbed at his clothes, yanking at the white shirt still hanging off him. His Blossom attire. Casey had almost forgotten what the boy looked like as a Serpent. His rough, scruffy red hair and battered leather jacket. He'd gotten so used to seeing KJ dressed like he was attending some posh prep school.
Casey didn't realize he was still grinning, before the boy's eyes flashed. "Can you stop smiling like that? It's creeping me out!" KJ groaned, scrubbing his hands down his face. "Where are Cole and Camila?" his eyes lit up. "Is my dad here? Did he come?"
Casey didn't know what to say. The hope in the kid's eyes was making his stomach flip over. He half wondered what KJ's reaction would be if he found out about their abrupt kiss. Did the redhead really swing both ways? or was that some seducing tactic he'd been taught in Blossom training?
He shuffled uncomfortably. "Cole and Camila aren't...themselves." KJ looked like he might say something, but Casey continued. "All three of you have been mindless Blossom puppets for eleven months," he said. He pointed to the frying pan he'd dropped when KJ had grabbed him. "I snapped you out of it when I bashed you over the head with that." he sighed. "But unfortunately, Cole and Camila are still under Clifford's control."
KJ's eyes widened. "Wait, did I turn seventeen?" he whispered.
Casey stared at the boy. "I...presume so?" he couldn't help choking out a laugh. "That's what you're worried about?"
"Fuck, I missed Christmas too." KJ groaned. "And the new Spyro game release!"
"KJ!" Casey hissed. "Did you not hear what I said? Your Serpent brother and sister have been turned into brainless killing machines!"
KJ nodded slowly. Casey saw the hurt flash in his eyes. "No, I know what you said," he mumbled. "I just can't- imagine them like that." Casey glimpsed the pain in the boy's curled lip. He wanted to give the boy a reassuring pat, or maybe some kind of 'I'm sure they're okay' pep talk. Except- no. Casey mentally cursed Lili. God dammit, he was going soft.
"Right." KJ stuck a hand through his hair, mussing it up. His eyes burned with determination. "What's the game plan, Keller?"
Casey eyed the frying pan still laying on its side. He couldn't seem to stop thinking about how satisfying it would be to clonk Cole on the head, snapping the boy out of it. A small smile spread across his lips, and KJ scowled. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"That creepy smile!"
Casey rolled his eyes. "Get over it, Andrews," he mumbled. Then; "Hey, on a scale from one to ten, how good are your acting skills?"
Lil preview for the next bit, because I love writing this
Lili wasn't the one who got socked in the head with a frying pan, but it might as well have been her, because it looked like it hurt. A lot. Cole had been out for her blood, a snarling bright eyed beast with no humanity whatsoever. It killed her that he had wanted to kill her. Right then, with his bare hands. At that moment she had blanked, all of her Serpent training dispersing. Her mind turned to mush, and all she could think about was how truly pathetic she was for falling in love with a boy who had been turned into a psychopath. Cole Jones, the son of a Serpent. Who was now Jughead Blossom. A lunatic.
Luckily, Casey had gotten there first. Before Cole could wrap his hands around her neck, he was smashing the butt of the frying pan, his apparent new best friend, into the back of Cole's skull. She had watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his entire body going limp before he dropped to the floor, as if his puppet strings had been cut. Cole landed on her, knocking her breath from her lungs. Lili ended up with the boy's head buried in her chest. She was trembling, her eyes wide as she tried to struggle out from underneath him. Just in case he sprang up at any moment, finishing the job.
Lili let out a disgruntled breath. "Is he knocked out?" she bit her lip, her blue eyes snapping upwards at Casey and KJ looming over her. Her Serpent brother nodded slowly. "That was close." letting out a sigh of relief, his gaze flicked to Casey, still wielding the frying pan. Then back to her,
The redhead was smiling at her softly, his head cocked. She'd missed his smile. Though his fingers were trailing across the back of his head, where Lili presumed Casey had treated him to his own private beating. Though somehow it had actually worked. KJ, who she thought was lost to Clifford Blossom, his mind a turbulent sea of hate for the Serpents- he was back.
"Thanks Keller." the boy sounded sincere. "I didn't think I'd see the light of day again."
Casey shrugged, a small smile dressing his lips. "No problem, Andrews. I gotta admit, it felt good to finally bash a Serpent's head in."
In her head, Lili was disobeying every single rule in the Serpent handbook. But she didn't care. It felt good to have a normal, human reaction. Instead of burying her feelings and suppressing every piece of Betty Cooper. Lili embraced her old self.
"Can someone..." she struggled, trying to roll Cole's dead weight off of her. "Can someone get him off me?" after a beat, KJ nodded and ducked down, grabbing her arm and yanking her out from underneath the boy. The redhead pull her to her feet, and the second Lili was sure her Serpent brother really was back, his brown eyes glinting with that same playful light, she wound her fist back and punched him in the gut. KJ stifled a cry, stumbling back. "What the hell, Lili?" he hissed. But she was already diving at him, wrapping her arms around the boy. "That's for acting like an ass." she mumbled into his chest. KJ let out a pained laugh. "You do realize none of that was me, right?"
"I should hope not." Casey grumbled. "You tried to seduce me, Andrews.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she let them fall. Suddenly loving the feeling of her own swollen and salty lips, her chest constructing as she attempted to hold back sobs wracking her body.
"Okay." Casey let out a shuddery breath, his dark eyes on Cole's knocked out form, sprawled on the floor. Casey waved the frying pan, a smirk teasing his lips. "Can we all agree that a frying pan to the skull is the best method to snap someone out of it?"
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