Ya know when you hit the climax of a story and your muse decides to take a vacation for like two weeks?
Thank you to my reviewers: Boris Yeltsin, thechosenpirates, adj1995, RDJ-bae, edge15684, winterbabyalways, Larienlee, and dezibear57!
The news eventually took to Archie and he took it gleefully. Of course, the remaining trio spent the rest of the night picking his brain and wondering just exactly how - when it seemed the whole rest of the world knew even before Betty and Jughead did - that Archie missed every single sign?
As they shuffled from place to place, someone would ask, oh, something like-
"What did you think when both of us vanished from the dining table for like twenty minutes?" (From Jughead.)
"I dunno, that life is full of coincidences?"
Or, when they were finding their seats to watch Josie-
"That week where I thought Juggie was dating Sabrina and I was in an awful mood?" (From Betty).
"I guessed that maybe you and Sweet Pea were fighting. Didn't put the two together."
And finally, as they were grabbing their coats to head home.
"Hon, the entire pool scenario. What did you think I was doing?" (Veronica, with a hint of exasperation.)
"Trying to give us a nice and exciting break, I guess I just-,"
It was clear Archie was getting a bit aggravated by the surprised sighs and incredulous questions, so they let him off the hook.
The last thing he said as they dropped Betty and Jughead off at their apartment was said with a wide grin.
"I'm really happy for you two. Like, properly happy," He sniffled, "I feel like my brother and my sister grew up and decided to fuck each other."
Jughead placed his hand on Archie's shoulder.
"I get the sentiments, bud, but that's really creepy. Please, oh please, never say that again."
"What he means," Veronica cut in smoothly, "Is that he's supporting both of you. As I am. Don't stay up too late tonight, kiddos. Au revoir!"
The limo pulled away as she threw a kiss.
"Oh, like she's not going to be doing the exact same thing," Jughead grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Betty leaned up, kissing him softly, "Jug, let's not think of Veronica and Archie right now, or the rest of the night."
So, they didn't.
XXxxXX
Near the end of April, the college had a three-day weekend, due to the main campus being used for some bit event. While it meant most of the kids would be having parties and shuffling around New York, Betty should have known that Veronica was not going to let something so casual happen to her friends.
"Daddy is sending Andre with the jeep and we're going up to Lodge Lodge," She said on the Monday before the break.
Jughead, sitting with his arm slung over Betty's shoulder, snorted, "I like how she never asks if we'd like to do things. Jughead, would you like to go upstate for a weekend? Gee, I think I would. No, she's rather attached to telling us what to do. Thinks she gets off on it?" Jughead whispered in Betty's ear.
Betty kicked his shin, "Sounds fantastic, Veronica!" Because it did. Betty had never seen Lodge Lodge in person, but she'd heard about it. She was sure it wasn't your regular old hunting lodge, but probably closer to a Taj Mahal in the middle of woods.
The trip up on Thursday evening was about three hours, filled with people fighting over the AUX cord. It was only when Betty suggested they each take half-an-hour turns that people begrudgingly allowed this. As it turned out (but, unsurprisingly) everyone's music tastes were wildly different. Betty also suggested the rule that they would have three minutes to criticize tastes, and then it was done because otherwise, it would be a very miserable trip.
Jughead listened to what Archie called 'songs that make you want to be sad on the happiest day on earth'. Archie listened to what Betty personally thought of as 'songs without much substance, but has a nice beat'. Betty listened to what Veronica would describe being 'surprisingly deep and rather clinically disturbing'. And, Veronica listened to what Jughead would whisper about under his breath to Betty (even when the three minutes were up) 'songs that should have been left in the decade she's pulling them from.' In all, more enjoyable than she would think it would be. She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to listen to Nine Inch Nails again without a grin spreading over her face, thinking of Jughead hotly defending his choices while Archie munched on Hot Takis and Veronica stressed about bright orange fingerprints on the seat.
They stopped into the small town nearest to the lake house and piled up their shopping carts. Just as with music, everyone's food tastes were wildly different. None of them were fantastic cooks, not by any true means.
Veronica had spent her whole life with butlers and chefs making her meals. Archie would probably burn water if he tried to make pasta. Betty was under the suspicion that Jughead knew a thing or two about cooking, but preferred at all times to sustain himself off diner take-outs or freezer pizza. Therefore, Betty was the only one left with any real sort of cooking skills and commanded the bulk of the items. They had three nights there, three lunches, three mornings. She recalled family potlucks or gatherings as a child and was confident she could keep a group of four young adults fed.
Coming up to Lodge Lodge for the first time was nothing short of breathtaking. While there were many smaller properties dotting the lake, it was hard to pretend like they didn't think that any of those would be something Hiram Lodge would have bought.
As they trudged inside, toeing muddy shoes off at the door and glancing around, Veronica curled about, purring like a cat at their amazement.
"One of the locals was in earlier, and he put the heat on already," She said, "But we still ought to make a fire."
"Well, how about Boy Scout Archie work on that," Jughead suggested, "While we drop our stuff before Betty makes dinner?"
"You're free to take any rooms except the master or the second one to the left. That's mine." Veronica said, flicking a hand up to the landing, "I think you'll find them all equally as pleasing, but feel free to be picky."
Jughead chooses one for each of them while Betty started making a huge home-made pizza, sectioned off with exactly what all of their friends liked. She could hear Archie cussing and trying to light a fire in the wood-burning fireplace. Veronica was up taking a shower because she felt gross from the drive. She wasn't sure where Jughead was, but once things were cooking, she went to find him in one of the many, many bedrooms.
"Things are all in the oven," She said, jerking a finger downstairs. Jughead grabbed her by her waist, pulling her to the edge of the bed.
"How much time?" He asked, nipping up her neck.
"Wha-huh?" Betty blinked, terribly distracted.
"How much time until dinner?"
"Like...half an hour…" Betty said, finding her voice.
Jughead's fingers were creeping along the edge of her shirt, sending tingles over her spine.
"That's enough time for me."
XXxxXX
The morning light dappled Betty's face from the gauzy windows of the lodge house. Betty turned over, sighing and curling under the covers. The next time she very groggily came to was when she felt Jughead's hand on her shoulder.
"Betts."
"Hmm?" She grunted, refusing to open an eye, but turning her face away from the pillow toward him.
"Archie's tagging me out for a hike."
"Sounds...tiring…" Betty yawned, mind still full of fuzz.
"Yeah, no kidding. V's still asleep, and likely will be for a while. Sleep in. I'll see you for brunch," Jughead said, kissing her forehead.
"Don't fall off a cliff," Betty mumbled, her mind catching a little faster. She heard Jughead chuckle from the doorway.
"I'll try my hardest not to."
Betty didn't fall back asleep instantly. She shifted too and forth, trying to get comfortable. After a second, though, she found her true target and pulled a pillow in close to her, stuffing her face in it.
At their apartment, now that they were dating, they spent most nights together. Betty would average five out of seven, the other two being reserved for time spent with other friends. It wasn't always sexual in nature, not when both were so busy with college. A lot of the time, it was both of them on the couch with some Netflix on while they both worked, Betty's legs thrown over his and Jughead's finger on her knee when he was thinking of exactly the right words to write.
But, she'd say that three out of those five days, it usually went somewhere sexual. Compared the once or twice a month they were using the coupons, it was a step up. They would most often fall into Betty's bed (since it was a full queen while Jughead's was only full size, and Jughead needed those extra inches), and if Betty's room was messy they sometimes defaulted to Jug's. They weren't quite at the point of sleeping over in each other's rooms, not when their own respective bedroom was just across the hall. Though, they often did nap together afterward, curling each other close and letting each other have a rest after a very active session.
Even tonight, while Veronica and Archie were no doubt sharing a bed, they had opted not to. They just weren't there yet, something unspoken in their relationship. It felt like a big step to sleep the whole night with each other, and neither was ready for this. Jughead picked the room right next to Betty's, but after a very pleasuring session last night, Jughead had tip-toed out and left Betty to slumber.
If she wanted him to stay, she'd ask. It felt like a more intimate gesture than being naked in front of him, and while they were totally solid in their relationship, Betty wasn't about to rush into anything.
One thing that Betty had noticed, and was somehow entranced by, was Jughead's scent. Not even the Old Spice that he used in the shower, but his natural smell. It would cling to the sheets and pillowcases long after he'd left. Betty didn't realize it, not at first, but after a few weeks, she'd begun to cling to him leaving this piece of him behind. She always slept much better if she was pressed up against it, as though he was still there.
It was something she'd catch whiffs of while she was sitting in her bed doing homework, or rearranging the pillows. Whenever it would waft up, Betty couldn't help a grin spread over her face nor a rush of blood down at the remembrance of what brought such smells to be hovering near her. She wondered if Jughead was so into her smell, or if she even left one?
Out of all the little things that come with dating, this one was by far the most surprising, but also the most gleeful.
Even if he'd only been in this bed for a couple of hours last night, he lingered. The pillow she'd grasped for was perfectly Jughead in scent, something spicy like bergamot but deep like cedar.
Betty fell soundly back asleep with a grin on her face.
XxXX
Betty stretched out her muscles, wincing as her shoulder caught. It had been a full weekend of activities, commandeered by Veronica like a posh camp counselor. In between board games, bad movie drinking games with campy horror films, hot-tubbing, some frisbee and table tennis, arts and crafts, small other hikes, and trips into town, Betty hadn't much time to breathe. Which was a fantastic feeling, she decided. It was a long time she'd she'd been so exhausted by activities instead of a ten-page paper.
Her and Jughead weren't as sexually active as they might have thought, creeping and catching moments here and there, but it was all fairly vanilla. Nothing that would use the coupons, to say. Betty had almost thought this entire trip would be nothing short of an excuse to have wild, wild sex near the woods at all times, but she was pleased at Veronica's restraint. With a snort, she considered that Veronica was being so strict about activities to keep herself from jumping Archie's bones twenty-four/seven.
Still, Betty was itching for something a bit more, though she couldn't put her finger on it.
Tomorrow, they'd be packing up and heading back to New York.
In the room Jughead had dumped her stuff, there was a fantastic claw-foot tub. Betty had mostly been opting for the shower next to it, but tonight she wanted nothing more than to just ease herself into a warm and non-chlorinated body of water.
She started the faucets, finding an assemblage of different bubble baths or bath bombs to choose from, shifting her shoulders in anticipation of easing the slight ache to them.
Just as she was slipping into the water, she heard her bedroom door open.
"Betts?" Jughead asked, "Hey, dinner was awesome do you-," He saw the slightly ajar bathroom door, "Err, nevermind! I'll see you for bad movie night in like two hours?"
"Jughead," Betty said lightly, calling him forward. She saw the door inch open, Jughead breathing as he stepped half-way into the bathroom. She leaned forward on the lip of the tub, grinning, "Would you like to join me?"
"Well, I, you see-," Jughead began to falter, but she could see his pants tenting swiftly, so she took a more direct approach.
"Jughead Jones. Get in here. Per the coupon," She said.
Jughead bit his lip, looking up, "Aren't I the one who's supposed to redeem 'em?"
"Call it gifter's tax," Betty said, winking, "C'mon, Juggie. Water's nice and hot."
Jughead pulled off his shirt and hat, snorting, "Scalding, you mean. You always take all the hot water if you shower first, so I can only assume you could boil pasta with it."
"Well, maybe we should fix the issue and just start showering together?" Betty offered with big doe eyes. Jughead shook his head, though laughing, as he stripped off his pants and socks.
Betty scooted to one edge of the bath, allowing him plenty of room on the other side. Despite it being a stand-alone tub, it was pretty much the size of a jacuzzi.
Jughead eased into the water, hissing at the feel of warm water on his skin. Betty, who had previously had her legs at her chest, splayed them out over his. Under the water, Jughead found her knee and held his hand there, relaxing back against the tub's edge.
"Gotta hand it to you. This is nice," He said, "Relaxing."
Of course, for Betty, it was currently the opposite of so, considering that Jughead was rubbing little patterns into her skin, and she was starting to be turned on.
Still, she'd gotten in the tub for a reason.
She allowed herself a couple of minutes of relaxing too before she reached over the edge and grasped the shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Jughead peeked one eye open.
"Well, I have to wash my hair. It's a little gritty," Betty said, holding up a muddy strand, courtesy of a rather intense game of flag football.
"Who knew Veronica could be so feral at sports?" Jughead agreed, "She tackled me like a fucking panter." He twisted, showing Betty a bruise starting just above his rib, "Maimed me, she did."
"Poor baby," Betty cooed sarcastically.
She lathered up the shampoo in her hair then paused. She motioned for Jughead to lean in.
"Uhm-,"
"You should wash yours too," Betty decided, kneading her fingers through his dark hair, soaping up the strands. Jughead made a choked sound and wheeze, which ended in a small moan. Betty bit her lip, grinning to herself, but continued her ministrations.
Using the faucet, she cleaned off her own head and let Jughead do the same. She did her conditioner next, and didn't offer it to him because she was pretty sure he didn't use it. When it came time for the body wash, Jughead grabbed it from her hand.
"Let me?"
"Why do I get the feeling that we're going to leave this bath more filthy than when we began?" Betty asked, tapping her chin.
Jughead motioned for her to turn and then surprised her by first soaping up her back, but his hands quickly migrated to her breasts.
"Where would you ever get that idea, Betts?"
"Silly me," Betty replied, trying not to let her breath break so pathetically at the first touch to her skin.
"Yeah, silly you," Jughead agreed, though his voice was deep and raw.
He pulled Betty hard against him, and right as she could feel his length at her back, his fingers dipped between her legs.
"We have to get completely clean," He teased, and Betty moaned as he entered her. She moved on his fingers, fingers clutching the side of the bath as she felt him bring her to a release so easily.
As soon as she'd finished, he lifted her in the water, dropping her onto his lap.
"Betty?"
"Hmm?" Betty said, lolling her head back against his shoulder.
"You're on the pill, right?" At Betty's squeak of agreement, he added, "Consistently?"
Betty managed to verbalize 'yes'. She wasn't about to get pregnant any time soon.
"I'm clean, are you?"
It took a second for the truth of his words to sink in and Betty gave a shaky affirmation, "Yes, god, I am, just...Jug…" She breathed.
Jughead bit down on her neck, right at her collarbone, "Good," he replied, easing her down onto him. His fingers were at her waist, pushing and pulling her up and down. She pressed back into him, arching her back to try to find the sweetest spot. His nose was on her neck, traveling up and down and breathing hard against it.
"Oh, fu-," Betty began to say until his hand came and covered her lips.
"Others in the house," Jughead said, though he thrust upwards cruelty, making it impossible for Betty not to make noise.
"You did that on purpose," She accused.
"Did I?"
The angle upwards was relentless. There was a moment where it teetered on pain and Betty was about to find a different position, until it blossomed into some sort of addictive pleasure. She wondered if she got off on that, that toeing the edge, but she was too far gone to consider it fully. Not when Jughead wasn't letting up at all, not slowing a second.
Water splashed over the edge of the tub. His hand was still on her lips, muffling her sound. He quieted his own moans into her back, his other finger digging into her hips.
Betty leaned forward to grab the front of the tub, allowing him to hit a different and deeper angle still, as he transitioned to his knees to press harder.
"Oh, I'm close-," Jughead whispered, his throat raw and her thighs aching wonderfully. He pulled out just as Betty found a second peak, standing and grabbing a towel to finish in.
"Didn't think getting it back in the water would be any better," He admitted as Betty turned to raise a questioning eyebrow.
"We'll throw it in the laundry pile. I'm sure there are more towels like that from Veronica's bedroom," Betty said with a smirk.
"Should we give effort to getting clean? Like, actually clean?"
Betty turned the faucets back on.
"Eh, we can try."
XXxxXX
In the morning, as everyone did their jobs to clean before they left, Betty went through and made her bed and started to wash down the bathroom.
There was a knock at her door. She opened it to find a bottle of bleach and a note, along with a freshly laundered set of towels from last night.
For the tub. You know exactly why.
If you follow me on tumblr (youngbloodlex22) I posted a '146 tropes' thing a bit ago. I wanted to do a different couple for all the different tropes in a mood board, because there's a lot of ships I love but will likely not write stories for. Though, when I was looking through them, I saw that there were a lot of tropes I've never seen or don't really like, as well as I thought that it was missing a ton.
So I'm making my own list! Hit me up with your favorite tropes in any fanfiction or media, not just Riverdale related stuff!