After a long day at work, Archie Andrews steps into the elevator, tugging open the top few buttons on his NYPD issued uniform as he hits the button up to his third floor apartment. As the doors open up, he fishes his keys out of his pocket, the metal rattling together as he locates the correct one.
"Reg," he hollers as the door catches on whatever is behind it, music blasting through the small two bedroom apartment. "Reggie!"
"Shit. Sorry Andrews," Reggie half chuckles around a cigarette as he hauls a rather large cardboard box from behind the door.
"Put that out," Archie scolds, flicking the music off as he sets his gun and holster onto the breakfast bar.
Reggie promptly plucks the cigarette from his lips and stubs it into the ashtray he'd brought in from the deck.
"What the hell is all this," Archie questions, peeling off his button up as he glances around at all the boxes in the living room.
"Uh," Reggie scratches at the back of his neck, "I'm going home."
"You're what," Archie exclaims, "Reg, you know I can't afford this place by myself."
"Big time city cop like you," Reggie scoffs, "you'll be alright."
"I guess," he shrugs, though he's mildly panicking about how he's going to cover Reggie's share of the rent.
"My dad passed," Reggie says glumly.
"Shit. Man, I'm so sorry," Archie coos, feeling like a dick for being worried about the rent when Reggie is dealing with something so much more important.
"It's just kind of been a waiting game at this point," Reggie shrugs, "still sucks though. At least he left me the shop."
"If there's anything I can do-"
"I know where you live," Reggie teases giving a light punch to Archie's shoulder.
The rest of the evening is spent packing up Reggie's things and in the morning, he's on his way back to Riverdale, leaving an empty room and his closest friend behind.
For two months, Archie barely manages to scrape by on rent and utilities, having to tap into his savings both times. When he and Reggie had made the move to the city, they'd sprung for a nicer apartment and between the two of them it was easily doable. Now, on his entry level salary, he makes less than enough to cover the monthly cost, never mind eating. After suffering through yet another peanut butter sandwich, he's finally had enough. Bright and early the next morning, he makes a run to a local office supply store to print off flyers seeking a new roommate. Best case, he finds someone by the end of the month, worst case, he has to move and he'd really like to avoid that option.