Early the next morning, the first knock at the door starts a very long day of distributing to Greendale's junkie population. Once a week, the Serpents rotate setting up shop at cheap motels in town. The Serpents are the biggest supplier of heroin in the area and the addicts of the small town crawl out from the woodworks to get their fix. As much as Jughead hates playing a part in anyone's addiction, he finds relief in at least knowing what they provide is clean.

Their day goes smoothly, the last customer arriving just before their set to leave for their second run. After settling up with the kid, probably no older than themselves, Sweet Pea and Jughead lock up, taking their stash with them to their next destination.

The Cougar Cage is more or less an underground sex dungeon and the performers are entirely undesirable to the young Serpent boys. As they make their way through the dimly lit club, they're tugged in all directions by various half naked women far older than their own mothers. After evading lap dances and enduring a few gropes of their unwilling boy parts, they finally make it to Geoffrey's office.

"Ah, my boys," Geoffrey greets with arms wide open as they enter the room. "Sit, sit," he instructs them, offering each a cigar from his personal stash.

Sweet Pea takes one enthusiastically while Jughead politely declines with a wave of his hand.

"Let's get right down to business," Geoffrey starts, kicking back in his chair as he lights up his cigar. "What have you brought me?"

"There's forty pounds in the truck," Jughead tells him bluntly.
"Forty," Geoffrey says quizzically. "Tell me something," he starts, leaning across the desk towards Jughead.

Jughead winces, choking back a yelp of pain with the clench of his teeth as Geoffrey's lit cigar is driven into the top of his hand on the table.

"Do I look like a Junkie to you," he grits, glaring into Jughead's eyes as he drives the cigar further into his burning skin.

Jughead makes careful work of shaking his head in reply, letting a heavy sigh of relief as Geoffrey backs off. He doesn't even dare look down at the singed skin on his hand. With the click of Geoffrey's tongue, the two on looking guards by the door haul both Jughead and Sweet Pea into the air by the back of their jackets. The two exchange worried glances with Geoffrey's nod and before they even know what's happening they're on the floor. The kicks and blows happen in rapid succession, one after the other bringing searing pain to each of the young serpents. Both bite their tongues, enduring the sharp kick of steel toed boots to their rib cages and rough fists to their faces.

As quickly as it happens, it's over. The two boys are hauled up from the floor and dropped forcefully back into their seats. The two brutes that delivered their beating move back to their place at the door and everything is just as it was.

"You tell Tall Boy he owes me ten pounds," Geoffrey grits, "and I'll be cutting his pay." Picking up the thick manila envelope on the table, he removes a large wad of cash, dropping it into his desk drawer. He waives them off with the handing over of the envelope and they can't get out of there fast enough.

All the way home, Jughead is deadly silent. He is absolutely fuming that Tall Boy would knowingly send them in short, but he doesn't dare speak for fear of breaking. He's been beaten, plenty of times, but it never gets any easier.

It's nearly midnight when they arrive back at the Wyrm. Jughead takes it upon himself to drop off the envelope of money, storming into Tall Boys office with a fire in his veins.

"Here's your fucking money you piece of shit," he spits, throwing the envelope onto the desk and promptly storming out as quickly as he can. He can feel the tears burning his eyes and he just needs to get away from here before someone sees him cry. Sweet Pea intercepts his path, urging him to calm down, but Jughead only shoves him out of his way.

It's a terrifying ride home on his bike with his vision clouded by blood and tears. When he finally makes it home, he hardly even remembers driving through the streets of Riverdale. His fury rolls in waves, giving way to hurt and fear before returning to a searing anger so hot it has his jaw quivering. As he reaches the front door, the flicking on of a light in his peripheral catches his eye. With a glance in its direction, he finds Betty looking down at him from her window. Just the sight of her has him choking back tears, the flood gates threatening to open as his heart aches to be with her. She's gone in an instant, his heart dropping before the sound of her front door draws his attention.

"Jughead," she calls softly, moving quickly to his side. "Oh Juggy, what happened?"

With her tender hand on his cheek, the floodgates open. His breath catches in his throat, sucking in short huffs of air as hot tears begin to roll down his cheeks. Betty quickly pulls him into her arms, kissing his head and holding him carefully.

"Shh, it's ok," she coos, "you're ok."

As his sobs deepen, his fingers clutch at her shirt, holding onto her with all his might as he's swept away by the pain and fear he'd endured tonight.

"Come inside," she whispers into his hair. "Let me take care of you."

Jughead sniffles as he leans out of her embrace, his eyes riddled with shame and embarrassment.

Betty kisses the side of his mouth, careful not to hurt his split lip. "You're ok Juggy. I've got you."

With a sheepish nod, Jughead follows her inside and up to her room. After closing and locking her door, Betty sits him at the edge of her bed. She carefully helps him remove his jacket, placing it on her vanity chair before returning to his side. As she reaches for the hem of his shirt, Jughead holds it firmly in place, his eyes meeting hers nervously.

"Let me see Juggy," she pleads gently.

Hesitantly, he allows her to pull his shirt over his head. Betty gasps, her hands coming up to cover her mouth as she takes in the damage to his body. His beautiful olive skin is riddled with deep purple bruising that will surely look worse, if that's even possible, by morning.

"Oh Jug," she coos. "Wait here."

With a gentle kiss to his head, she disappears into the bathroom, returning moments later with a bottle of alcohol and some cotton balls.

"This isn't going to feel very good," she warns as she dampens a cotton ball with alcohol.

Jughead nods, preparing himself for the burn as she begins to dab at the cut beneath his swelling eye. He hisses slightly, wincing as his freshly split skin burns with the antiseptic.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, repeating herself with every dab.

Once she deems him sufficiently cleaned up, she helps him up from the bed. He groans in pain, whimpering as he clutches his ribs and uses her to steady himself on his feet. Betty guides him into her bathroom, where the tub is filling with hot water. Turning away briefly, she scoops a cupful of Epsom salts into the bathwater then returns her attention to her poor beaten boy. Jughead watches her as she removes his jeans and boxers. She's so careful with him and his heart swells with her tenderness.

With Betty's support, he steps into the tub, wincing as he settles into the hot water. Betty kneels down beside the tub, cupping handfuls of water and drizzling it over his abdomen. They sit quietly together, Betty gently soothing him with the water and rinsing away spots of blood from his skin.

"What happened Juggy," she questions gently as she continues to soothe him.

"My boss tried to screw someone out of product and me and Pea took the beating," he grits, his eyes far off as he's brought back to the terrifying beat down he'd endured earlier.

"What's wrong with your hand," she questions, noticing he's holding it out of the water.

Hesitantly, he shows her the raw circular burn on the back of his hand.

Betty's face falls as she stares down at his injured skin. With a gentle brush of her thumb to his knuckles, she sets his hand on the side of the tub. Rising to her feet, she rifles through the medicine cabinet, returning to her knees with a tube of burn cream. She turns on the water, keeping it cool and directs his burned skin beneath it. It stings at first, but quickly becomes almost numb with the chill of the water. She then carefully pats it dry with a clean towel and dresses his wound with a bit of ointment and some gauze.

Jughead remains in the tub, allowing the salts to ease his sore muscles until the water cools. Other than her initial questioning of what happened, Betty doesn't pry. Instead, she gently soothes him, with trickling water and gentle fingertips on his battered skin.

As the tub drains, Betty helps him to stand. His body feels like lead, fighting against gravity as he uses Betty to support his weight. He leans into her as they enter back into her room, a towel clutched loosely at his hips. When they reach her bed, Betty takes his towel, patting him dry gently and giving his hair a quick ruffle. He smiles appreciatively as she pulls the blankets back and helps him into bed. His eyes feel heavy as his head hits the pillow and he's fast asleep before Betty returns from picking up his clothes in the bathroom.

"Goodnight my love," she whispers to herself as she settles beside him. She keeps a hand on his chest through the entire night, assuring him she's here if he needs her.

The next morning, Betty is awakened by a pained groan.

"Don't," she demands as she springs up in bed to ease him back down to the pillow.

"I need to pee," he whines, his eyes squeezing shut with the tug in his ribs as he shifts.

"Let me help you," she pleads, quickly rounding the bed to help him up. His pained groans are hard to endure, urging a deep hatred for whatever asshole did this to him. Once he's upright he assures her he's alright and shuffles to the bathroom. Betty takes the opportunity to fetch him a glass of water and a painkiller from her dad's forgotten bottle in the kitchen. She returns promptly to her room, just in time to ease him back down to the bed.

"Take this," she demands gently, holding out the tiny white pill in the palm of her hand.

"Betts, I'm fine," he assures her.

"Jughead, take the pill," she demands with authority. "You're gonna sleep this off whether you want to or not."

"Yes mom," he quips, smirking slightly as he takes the pill and water from her outstretched hands.

"You know," she grins, "you look kind of hot with a black eye."

Jughead nearly chokes on his second sip of water with his laughter. "Yea right. I look like hell warmed over."

"I don't know Juggy," she purrs, "you're pretty sexy all roughed up."

"You like that huh," he teases. "Maybe I should get my ass kicked more often if that's what gets you going."

Betty smirks, glad for the return of his humor, but she doesn't like the idea of him being hurt again.

Jughead lets a heavy breath, blinking his eyes wide to clear his vision. "I think I need to lay down," he chuckles.

"Mmm," Betty agrees, easing him down to the pillow. "Those work fast."

Jughead only nods as his eyelids grow heavy. Betty smiles gently at his sleepy state and moves to go to the bathroom only to be abruptly halted by a firm grip on her wrist.

"Please don't leave me baby," he pleads with so much concern it's nearly heartbreaking.

Betty takes his hand from her wrist, kissing it gently, and rests it at his side.

"I'm just going to pee and I will lay down with you," she assures him. "I promise."

Jughead nods lazily and watches her with tired eyes as she disappears into the bathroom.

Betty lays with Jughead all day, alternating between sleeping herself and watching movies on her laptop. Around 3:30pm, Betty receives a call from her mother, informing her that she will be working late and Betty will have to find herself something for dinner. With Jughead still dead to the world beside her, it's a relief to know her mother won't be home within the hour.

It's nearly five-o-clock when Jughead finally wakes, groaning in pain as he rolls onto his side.

"Hey there sleeping beauty," Betty teases as his eyes flutter open. Jughead grins widely, brushing the tip of his nose to hers as his eyes gently fall closed.

"I'm hungry," he whines pitifully, a pout on his swollen lips.

"I'll go make you something," she tells him, brushing his dark hair away from his face. With a kiss to his forehead, she heads downstairs.

Jughead sighs contentedly, snuggling deeper beneath her comforter. He's never been cared for like this and he is entirely unwilling to let it go.

Upon her return with a plate of Italian subs, Betty finds Jughead fast asleep. He looks so cozy, snuggled into her blankets. After setting the plate of food on her desk, she crawls in beside him and gently wakes him with kisses to his jawline.

"Mmm," he groans, "more please."

Betty giggles at his sleepy plea before littering his skin with gentle kisses.

"If I knew it wouldn't hurt I'd make you blow me," he grins.

"Jughead Jones," she scolds playfully. "When you're all better I will absolutely do that for you."

"Promise," he whines childishly.

"Yes," she chuckles, "now wake up so you can eat something."

After getting him settled against her headboard, Jughead tucks into his plate of sandwiches. He devours them in no time and Betty can't help but giggle.

"When's your mom get home," he questions, suddenly aware that he's been in her room all day.

"Soon," she says regretfully.

Jughead nods. "I should get going then huh?"

Betty nods, her eyes apologetic as she nibbles her lower lip.

"Will you come love me later," he asks hopefully.

"As soon as I can get away, I'm all yours," she assures him with a smile.

Pulling her in to him by the back of her head, he presses a careful kiss to her lips. He wants nothing more than to kiss her deeply and sink himself inside her, but the split on his lip and the ache in his ribs would make it entirely unbearable. Instead, he rests his head to hers, thanking her silently for taking care of him.

After slipping his clothes on from the night before, Betty insists on walking him home. He assures her that he can make it across the yard, but she refuses to let him go alone. When they reach his doorstep, He pulls her against him, wincing slightly with the pressure to his ribs. She tries to pull back but he doesn't let her, bending down to kiss her tenderly. They part ways with quick goodbyes and Betty makes it inside just in time for Alice to pull into the driveway.

The first thing Jughead does when he gets inside is take a shower. The hot water feels good on his sore muscles and he feels slightly better when he gets out. After getting dressed in a pair of sweats and a tshirt, he struggles slightly to lay back on his bed and checks his messages on his phone. He has three messages from Sweet Pea bitching about how awful he feels and wondering how he's doing along with sixteen messages from Tina and four from Ginger's phone, obviously from Tina as well. He quickly replies to Pea, letting him know he feels like shit too before breaking into Tina's spew of texts. Every single one of them is a variation of her missing him and questioning when he'll be home. Tina is the absolute last person he wants to see right now, but he knows if he doesn't answer she'll just keep messaging him. Tina responds immediately to his vague text that he's home, telling him she's on her way over. Jughead groans in response, throwing his head back against the headboard as he allows his phone to drop to the bed beside him.

Only ten minutes have passed when her knock is at the door. Jughead opens it hesitantly, only to be taken off guard by her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.

"Fuck," he grits, his eyes squeezing shut with the sharp pain of his ribs shifting out of place.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry J," she exclaims with the realization that she's hurt him.
Jughead only scowls, taking deep breathes to steady himself with the ache that's now coursing through his torso.

"What happened," she coos, her hand coming up to touch the split beneath his eye.
Jughead shies away from her touch, not in the mood to be prodded by her hardly gentle hand. With his rejection, her hand falls away, returning to her side.

"Can I do anything for you," she wonders.

Jughead shakes his head, "I'm fine."

"Come on J, let me do something for you," she pleads, her fingers hooking into the elastic of his waistband. Jughead remains cold, his jaw setting tight as she grazes him over his pants.

"Could you not," he grits, promptly removing her hand from his pants. "Christ Tina," he scolds, prompting her to look the part of a kicked puppy. "Do I look like I want my dick touched right now? Is that all you fucking care about?"

"I just wanted to help take your mind off it," she explains shamefully.

Jughead sighs, "I think you should go."

"J-"

Jughead shakes his head. "I just want to be alone Tina. I hurt and I'm pissed off. Can you just give me the night? Please."

Tina only nods, glancing over her shoulder as she takes her leave.

Later that night, Jughead steps outside, awaiting Betty's arrival on the front steps with a cigarette between his lips. He doesn't smoke often, but his mood today calls for the calm of deep inhalations sending the buzz of nicotine coursing through his veins.

"You smoke," Betty comments as she takes a seat beside him.

Jughead shrugs, "does it bother you?"

Betty shakes her head before resting it gently on his shoulder. "You do what you need to do Jug," she says simply.

With the last drag of his cigarette, he stubs it out on the steps and wraps his arm around Betty's waist.

"Tina came over," he tells her indifferently. "Damn near killed me at the door."

"You ok," she wonders, gently rubbing his sore ribs with her fingertips.

Jughead nods, "I am now."

Inside, Jughead leads her up to his room where they quickly settle into his bed. Jughead props his laptop on a couple of pillows and they snuggle together to watch a movie. As it plays, Betty traces gentle lines over his naked abdomen and plays mindlessly with the dark trail of hair beneath his navel. Feeling content with her at his side, Jughead allows himself to get lost in the tickle of her fingers on his skin. Regardless of the ache in his side, he's growing desperate for her to touch him. Taking her hand in his, he guides her to the bulge in his pants, cupping her hand around his growing arousal.

"Juggy, I don't want to hurt you," she worries as he presses himself into her palm.

"Please baby," he pleads.

"Fine," she agrees with a gentle grin, "but just a hand job this time."

"I don't even care," he assures her, "I just want you to make me cum."

With a smirk, she tugs his pants down to rest at his thighs and takes his hardened length into her hand. Remaining at his side, tucked under his arm, she strokes him lazily as they continue their movie. His breathing becomes shaky as she toys with his swollen tip, her thumb collecting a drop of precum and spreading it over his glans. Her stroke is slow but firm and purposeful, drawing gentle sighs of contentment from his lips. His hips slowly thrust into her hand, but his ribs protest to his movements, stilling him once again.

"Faster baby," he pleads, teetering on the edge of pure bliss.
Betty obeys, quickening the stroke of her hand. Jughead whimpers with the tightening of his ribs, his eyes squeezing shut as he forces himself through the pain. Betty's stroke becomes faster still, sensing his pain as he nears his climax. She hurries to work him through it until he cries out in both pleasure and pain, a river of white pouring down over her knuckles.

"Fuck that hurt," he groans pathetically.

Betty giggles her eyes apologetic as she swipes the wetness from his tip with her fingertips.

"Worth it," he sighs, smirking down at his mess in her hand.

"No more until you're better," she tell him firmly as she wipes her hands on a t-shirt from his floor.

"But that could take weeks," he complains.

Betty only shakes her head, smiling as she resettles beside him.

Jughead doesn't make it much further into the movie, falling into a deep sleep in her arms. As Betty begins to doze off, the sound of the front door opening and closing, followed by heavy footsteps on the stairs, startles her awake. Before she can react, the door swings slowly open and Jughead's dad pokes his head inside.

"Shit, sorry," he mutters as he meets her gaze.

"Its fine," she assures him.

Taking in the bruising in his sons face and the bandage on his hand, FP's face settles into a concerned scowl. "He tell you what happened to him?"

Looking over at Jughead's purple eyelid, Betty nods, returning to FP's gaze with an equally concerned expression.

"He said his boss tried to screw someone out of product," she shrugs.

"Fucking Tall Boy," he grits under his breath. "Is he alright?"

"He will be," she nods. "I think he might have a cracked rib but it's mostly bruising and a few minor cuts."

FP nods, "He call you?"

Betty shakes her head. "I saw him come home last night. He stayed at my house."

FP's eyes widen, "He let you take care of him?"

Betty only nods, confused by his obvious surprise.

"That's new," he almost laughs.

"I'm sorry," she questions, glancing between the man and his son.

"I assume you know he has a girlfriend," he says, earning a guilty nod. "She's not allowed to see him like this."

"This has happened before," she wonders in surprise.

"More often than I'd like to admit," he nods. "He usually avoids Tina for a few days until he feels a little better and I don't think he's ever given her an explanation as to why his face looks like a punching bag." He remains thoughtful for a moment, leaned against the doorway before returning his gaze to the blonde beside his sleeping son. "Keep an eye on his ribs. He doesn't always let on how bad it is."

With Betty's nod, he leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
The next morning, Betty is woken gently by a firm hand on her shoulder. As her eyes open, she's met with a familiar set of smokey blue eyes, but the face they belong to is aged beyond her years.

"Mr. Jones," she questions in a hushed tone.

"FP's fine," he assures her, "come with me."

Glancing over her shoulder at the sleeping boy behind her, she carefully slides out from under his arm and follows FP out of the room.

"Your mom was here this morning looking for you," he tells her once they're in the hall.

Betty's eyes widen with panic.

"Don't worry," he reassures her. "I told her I saw you leave for an early walk this morning, but you better get your ass home. I'm pretty sure she went for a loop around the block."

"Thank you," she sighs in relief, but she can't help her gaze from flicking to the closed door beside them.

"I'll tell him you had to go home, but I can't guarantee he won't be upset," he tells her apologetically.

"I know," she nods.

"He told you about his mom too," FP says in shock.

"Uh, no," Betty shakes her head, "but he didn't deny it when I called him out for having abandonment issues."

FP nods, "Well I won't elaborate, but I'm sure you've gathered by now his mom left us." He gives her a tight lipped smile and scratches at the stubble on his chin. "You get home, I'll handle Jug. Just make sure you come back."

With a nod, Betty hurries out the door, checking for any signs of her mother before running across the lawn. She makes it inside quickly, running upstairs to throw on some workout shorts and dampens her face with a bit of warm water. With the sound of a car pulling in the driveway, she darts into the kitchen, reddening her cheeks with a few pinches and leans casually against the counter with a bottle of water.

"There you are," Alice sighs as she enters the kitchen. "I must have just missed you."

"Sorry," she apologizes, taking a sip of her water. "I got up early and felt like a run, but it got hot fast."

Alice only nods. "Your father is coming on Saturday with your sister," she says bluntly.

"You mean Veronica," she rolls her eyes.

"Yes, Veronica," she sighs. "Hal and I have a few bits of paper work to go over with our lawyers and I'm going to need you to entertain her."

"Awe, god mom," she complains. "Why can't he just leave her in New York?"

"Because her mother is apparently overseas on business," she rolls her eyes, "and the last time she was left alone, she nearly overdosed with that horrible boy she hangs out with."

"Nick," Betty scoffs. "Fine, I'll watch her, but if she so much as tells me how much better I'd look if I lost a few pounds, I'll kill her."

"Fine by me," Alice shrugs, "Just make sure it looks like an accident."

The two Cooper women share a laugh at the expense of Betty's horrible half-sister before Alice collects her keys from the counter.

"I've got to get to work," she says as she moves for the door. "Behave."

"Yes mom," she rolls her eyes, smiling as she waives her mother off.

After a quick shower, Betty changes into a pair of denim shorts and a tank top before heading back across the lawn. FP catches sight of her before she reaches the door and meets her on the porch.

"Abort mission," he whispers as he closes the door behind him. "Tina showed up."

Betty rolls her eyes, earning a silent chuckle from FP.

"Believe me, I agree, but that girl has some sort of hold on him," he shakes his head.

"How'd he take me not being here when he woke up," she wonders.

"Surprisingly, he seemed fine," he shrugs. "I think he trusts you."

Betty only smirks proudly in response. "Send him over when she's gone."

"Will do," FP nods before disappearing back inside.

Upstairs, Jughead is slumped over at the edge of his bed, his elbows rested on his knees and his head in his hands. Tina has been reaming him out for the better part of a half hour, scolding him for coming home battered and bruised with no explanation. She makes a point that he never tells her anything and he's had enough.

"You wouldn't understand," he argues under his breath.

"You don't know that," she scoffs.

"Ok fine," he huffs, "you want to know what happened, fine."

Tina flashes a triumphant smile and crosses her arms over her chest as she waits for him to continue.

"Two nights ago, I delivered forty pounds of heroin to a sketchy guy who runs an underground sex dungeon in Greendale," he begins. "Product was short and I got my ass handed to me as punishment. Happy now?"

"Is this a joke to you," she scoffs, her brow settling heavily with her unamused expression.

Jughead laughs humorlessly, "Just go."

"Excuse me," she huffs.

"I said go Tina," he reiterates. "I don't want you here right now."

"You always do this," she argues, growing further annoyed by his attempt to brush her off.

Jughead pinches the bridge of his nose. "Please just go."
Falling silent with his unwillingness to argue, Tina lets a sharp huff of air and storms out of his room. Jughead listens as she stomps down the stairs and releases a breath he hadn't realized he was holding with the slam of the front door.

Moments later, Jughead lifts his head to a knock on his door as it opens.

"Betty came by," FP tells him carefully. "She wants you to go see her when you're ready."

Jughead only nods, raking his hands into his hair with his head hung low.

"If it's any consolation, I think Betty's good for you," FP adds, earning an appreciative grin from his son before he leaves him to process.

Jughead is conflicted on what he should do. He knows he should just break up with Tina. They've been together for two years and Betty has cared to learn more about him in a short few days than she ever has. What he feels for Betty is so strong, and it terrifies him to the core. His feelings for her are the precise reason he hasn't broken up with Tina. He's so afraid of giving in and taking a real chance with Betty that he's been keeping Tina waiting on the sidelines to catch him when it all comes crashing down. What he knows about Tina is that no matter how awful he is to her, no matter what he keeps from her or refuses to share with her, she always comes back. The fear of not knowing if Betty will always be there keeps him from breaking things off with the only consistent relationship he's ever had in his life. Regardless of her tenderness with him and the ease at which he can just lay himself bare before her, he can't shake the feeling that she doesn't feel about him the way he feels about her.

After a quick shower, Jughead gets dressed and makes his way across the lawn. He hesitates, only for a moment, before knocking on the door. It opens quickly and he's met with Betty's beautiful smile.

"Awe, Juggy," she coos as she takes in his pained expression. "What happened?"

Jughead remains silent, fidgeting uncomfortable before rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Jug-"

"Do you like me," he asks suddenly.

"What," she almost laughs.

"Do you like me," he asks again, "like, really like me, or is this just sex?"

"Where is this coming from," she wonders, a bit taken aback by his worry.

"Can you just answer me," he pleads weakly, "please?"

"Of course I like you," she coos, stepping nearer to cup his face gently in her hands. "Come inside Juggy."

Jughead nods, his eyes pained as he searches her expression. With her hand in his she leads him inside and up to her room.

Sitting against her headboard, she guides him to rest his head in her lap and tugs off his beanie to rake her fingers through his hair.

"You know you're the only person allowed to take that off," he mutters, closing his eyes as her fingers massage his scalp.

Betty presses a kiss to his forehead in reply and continues to finger comb his hair.

"Tell me about your mom," she requests gently.

"Uhm," Jughead swallows hard and clears his throat. "She left when I was ten and took my little sister."

"Why didn't she take you," she wonders carefully.

Jughead blinks away his tears, grateful that she can't see his face. "Uhm, I remind her of my dad," he shrugs, but Betty can hear the sorrow in his voice. "Dad used to be the leader of the Serpents," he adds, "and he used to drink a lot. I guess my mom always thought I'd turn out just like him."

"That's not fair," Betty assures him sweetly.

"It is what it is," he shrugs. "Can't say I blame her wanting to leave. Dad wasn't always the best parent either."

When he falls silent, Betty presses gentle kisses to his jawline, leaning over him to embrace him in her arms, her cheek rested in the crook of his neck.

"Keep going Juggy," she encourages.

Jughead takes a deep breath, feeling secure in her arms. "I was homeless my freshman year. I slept at the drive in until it closed down that summer. Dad was too far gone to even notice."

Sitting up to face her, Jughead takes her hand, playing with her fingertips as he contemplates what he's about to say.

"Betty," he starts carefully, "I know this sounds crazy, but I think I'm falling in love with you."

Betty smiles softly, "you're scared aren't you?"

Jughead only nods, unable to meet her gaze.

"Would it make you feel better or worse if I told you I feel the same?"

Jughead shrugs, his eyes coming up to meet hers with caution. "Do you?"

Betty nods, "I do."

"How do I know you won't change your mind," he questions with concern.

"You don't," she shrugs, "but I haven't run yet."

"We've only known each other a week Betts," he reminds her.

"And in that week, I've learned you're mildly ok with cheating. You've told me you're in a gang. I took care of you after you got the shit beaten out of you over a drug deal, and you just told me some very personal things about your life," she lists. "I'm still here Jug."

Jughead nods slowly, "I want to be with you Betts-"

"But," she interrupts.

"But, nothing," he shakes his head. "I'm scared as hell that you're going to just up and decide I'm worthless one day, but-" he pauses, sighing heavily, "I need you."

"Are you going to break up with Tina," she wonders.

"I will," he nods. "Can I have some time?"

"Of course," she agrees. "Take all the time you need."

With urgency, Jughead hauls her into his lap, the pinch in his side be damned as he squeezes her in a tight embrace.

"I have to go to the Wyrm soon," he groans into her hair. "Tall Boy's gonna have my ass for calling him a piece of shit."

"Can I come," Betty questions.

"I don't know Betts," he worries, "the guys are kind of handsy and Tall Boys gonna be on a rampage."

"I'll be good," she pleads with a pout on her lips.

"Fine," he sighs, "but you stay with Pea if I'm not around."

"I though Pea was the guy you were trying to keep me away from," she wonders in confusion.

"He knows we're-" he pauses briefly, "uh, he knows we're fucking."

Betty giggles, "Oh? Is there some sort of bro code you guys follow?"

"No," he scoffs, giving her a gentle shove. "He just knows better than to stick his dick where it doesn't belong."

"Oh, of course," she nods, "because only yours belongs here." She guides his hand to the crotch of her denim shorts. "Right?"

"Right," he nods, his voice slightly husky as he applies pressure to her middle with his fingertips.

"It's too bad you're still in pain," she teases, sliding her hands upwards to the apex of his thighs.

"Not nice," he groans as her fingers curl into the creases either side his groin.

Betty smirks, "if you were feeling better, I'd let you cum so deep inside me Juggy."

Jughead groans, "Come on baby. Don't tease me."

Crawling over his lap, Betty carefully settles over him, and presses father light kisses to the pulse in his neck.

"Betts," he whines.

"Does this hurt," she wonders as she rocks against his clothed erection.

"It's manageable," he assures her through a pleasured groan. "Let me fuck you," he pleads.

Still seated in his lap, Betty pulls his jeans open, stroking his cock steadily between them.

"Oh god Betts," he groans, whining when she removes herself from his lap. She quickly loses her shorts, dropping her panties with them before crawling back into his lap.

"Sit on my cock baby," he pleads breathlessly with the slickness of her folds gliding over his swollen shaft.

She doesn't have to be asked twice, sinking his length to his base inside her. With his moan of appreciation, Betty immediately finds a hurried pace, bouncing on his cock as she squats over him. In minutes he's shaking with arousal, the threat of his climax quickly building to the point of no return.

"Don't cum," she breathes against his ear as she completely stills in his lap.

Jughead groans in protest, his cock twitching wildly inside her as he fends off his orgasm. Betty waits, remaining completely still until his muscles relax. Again and again, she rides him at a furious pace, bringing him to the edge and forcing him to ward it off with her stillness.

"Fuck," he whimpers, "I need to cum baby."

He's desperate for her to move again, and when she finally does, he quickly falls apart. As she rides him expertly, Jughead cries out louder than ever before, his face screwing up as he explodes within her walls. Everything is bursts of red and white behind his eyelids, his abdomen surging with every pulse of his cock. A rush of dampness leaks out around his cock and he shivers as his climax comes to an end.

"God damn," he pants, dropping his head lazily against the pillowy softness of her chest. "Again, don't want to know where you learned that, but fuck."

"You came a lot," she giggles, glancing at the wetness between their connected bodies.

"Fuck yea I did," he laughs.

After getting themselves cleaned up, they make their way back over to Jughead's house. Betty waits in the foyer as he runs upstairs to grab his leather jacket.

"He say much," FP wonders as he comes into the hall.

Betty shrugs, "Some."

FP nods in understanding, his casual lean on the doorframe becoming more rigid. "Look," he starts, "Jugs probably gonna tell you, if he hasn't already, that I've been a pretty shit dad."

Betty opens her mouth to speak but he cuts her off with a wave of his hand.

"I don't need to be assured little lady," he grins fondly, "I just want you to know ahead of time that I'm sorry for whatever shit he puts you though thanks to my sorry ass."

Betty only nods, holding back her sympathies as requested. It's refreshing to see his father owning up to his failures as it's something she wishes her own father had the balls to do.

"You ready baby," Jughead calls as he descends the stairs.

FP looks quizzically between the two teens as Betty nods at his son.

"I thought you were going over to the Wyrm," he questions.

"I am," Jughead nods.

"And she's going with you," he wonders in surprise.

"That was the plan," Jughead nods, giving a shrug in Betty's direction.

"Well alright," FP grins. "Keep her away from Pea would ya."

Both Betty and Jughead smile in silent laughter, having already discussed Sweet Pea before heading out the door.