Prompt: After Cheryl's rescue from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy
The movie played in front of Cheryl. She had tried to convince herself things would get better. That she'd get out of the Sisters and back to Toni. She missed Toni and Betty, she even missed Veronica, which was weird. Hell she even missed hating Ginger and Tina.
Her eyes watered with unshed tears, her gaze trained on the screen.
"Cheryl?" The sound was distant but enough to remind her about Toni and her unshed tears fell down her face. Maybe she was deviant, a mistake.
When her name was called a second time, so loud and clear, Cheryl looked to her side. Unsurprised when she saw nobody she forced herself to look back to the screen. To the dancing cheerleaders. She was a cheerleader, the captain of the cheer team actually. Cheryl felt a pang of sadness strike her and closed her eyes as she cried. She couldn't watch anymore.
"Cheryl!" Toni's voice, very loud and very clear. The doors of the room swung open and Cheryl stopped crying, looking over to the door in surprise.
A weight seemed to soar off her chest and heart when she saw the familiar figure barged inside the room. "Are you in here?" Toni asked, a hand placed above her eyes to block the screen's light as she looked around.
Cheryl stood up, her eyes narrowing to make sure it was who she thought it was. "Toni?" she asked in disbelief. Maybe she was just imagining things.
The Serpent visibly relaxed when she saw Cheryl and she sighed slightly. "We're here to rescue you." She explained, eyes glistening with relief.
Surprise washed over Cheryl and she felt like someone had pushed all air from her lungs. "You did?" She hated that her voice sounded so desperate and weak but she knew she didn't have to put on an act in front of Toni. When Toni gave a slight nod, Cheryl quickly walked over to her.
Stepping into the light of the projector, she walked over to Toni, who wrapped her arms around Cheryl and sighed in relief. Cheryl closed her eyes, relishing in the moment. For a moment, she didn't care that she was standing in front of a screen in front of a ton of people being vulnerable. She was just so relieved to see Toni that she just didn't care.
After a moment, the two pulled away, looking into each other's eyes. Cheryl saw the affection and love in Toni's brown eyes and couldn't help but smile.
Toni's hands reached out, cupping Cheryl's cheeks and Cheryl's smile grew as she closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. For what felt like ages and seconds at the same time, Cheryl was at peace. There was no Penelope Blossom, no creepy uncle, no conversion therapy, just them.
The kiss broke off when a new voice started talking from the door. Toni pulled away regretfully and looked at Veronica with concern. Cheryl just looked at Veronica, had she really cared enough to help save her?
"There are a bunch of nuns coming, we have to go! Come on!" Veronica added quickly. Cheryl and Toni shared a concerned look before nodding briskly and turning to rush after Veronica.
Cheryl rushed out of the room, following Veronica through a hall. She never really trusted the Lodge but she had just helped save her from the Sisters, or was trying to.
When Veronica skidded to a stop, Cheryl glanced over her shoulder, panic filling her gaze when she saw a group of nuns. Memories fresh in her mind, she tried pushing them away as she rushed after Veronica again, he had turned and started running the other way. When two more nuns appeared on the other exit, Toni grabbed Cheryl's arm.
"This way!" Toni said quickly, pulling Cheryl into the first door she saw, Veronica followed.
The door led to a much larger hallway with a gravel floor and disgusting water pooling on the ground. The three young women raced forward, shoes splashing against what Cheryl was sure was sewage.
Veronica swung open a barred gate and took the lead, running quickly, followed closely by Cheryl and then Toni. As they turned a corner, Cheryl flinched as she saw a large huddle of nuns walking after them in a brisk pace.
A bell rang loudly in the halls and Cheryl barely resisted the urge to cover her ears. Instead, she just ran faster, determined to put the horrible place behind her.
Finally, they all turned into a hallway that ended abruptly. Fear struck her before Veronica started climbing a ladder upwards. Of course!
Toni lifted Cheryl up slightly, and the young women gratefully climbed up the ladder second before racing forward again. She paused, looking behind her to make sure Toni was up the ladder. When the Serpent was, Cheryl resumed running, hope burning in her mind when she saw an entrance, or exit, into the forest.
"Come on!" Kevin called and Cheryl's gaze softened ever so slightly. Kevin had cared enough too? Maybe she really did have friends… then her mother's words repeated in her mind and she swallowed her pain. Don't get your hopes up Cheryl. She reminded herself, after all, she was deviant and loveless.
Cheryl glanced behind her, seeing Kevin swing the door shut and Toni place a crowbar in the door's lock, keeping it in place. Once the door was taken care of, Toni raced over to Cheryl and grabbed her arm.
Racing into Fox Forest, the group of teenagers disappeared out of view.
After a few minutes of running, they slowed to catch their breath. Kevin was panting, but smiled widely at the excitement of it all. Veronica was bent over, breathing heavily and gasping for air while leaning against a tree. Toni cupped Cheryl's face and pressed their lips together.
The moment the kiss happened, Cheryl knew she wasn't loveless, because if she was than what was this? The kiss was short, but passionate and when they pulled away, Kevin was looking away awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Veronica was smiling and shared a look with Kevin before turning back to the two young women.
"What?" Toni smirked at the other two. Then her face went neutral again and she looked over her shoulder at Cheryl. The Blossom was now leaning against a tree, looking slightly sheepish but regaining herself. "Kevin. Why didn't you tell your dad about what the Sisters are doing?" she asked, voice going slightly icy.
Kevin looked at the ground awkwardly, shrugging slightly. "I dunno…" He was quiet for a moment before he looked up with a wounded expression. "Wait- are you blaming me for what happened?"
Toni gave a slight shrug, holding out her hand to Cheryl, who took it and walked to her side. "TT, it's fine-" She tried assuring but Toni shook her head.
"Kevin, you need to talk to your dad about this. Get it… shut down or something!" The Serpent ordered and Kevin sighed heavily.
"Yeah… I will-"
"-you will right now." Toni interrupted. Veronica glanced at Kevin, unsure what to do. "Come on Kevin, take me and Cheryl to your dad, tell him and we can start to fix this mess." The Serpent added and Cheryl looked down at her outfit, grimacing ever so slightly.
"Once I change." Cheryl added quickly. Toni laughed softly and nodded.
"Of course. Kevin, we're going to my house, Veronica you can go home." Veronica opened her mouth to protest but Toni silenced her. "Listen, you may have kissed Betty- but you are not LGBTQ plus and therefore, have no part in this now. Got it?"
Veronica narrowed her eyes, not nodded in a defeated manner. "Yeah, sure." She muttered, turning and striding off.
"My house isn't too far, Kevin just jog by my motorcycle… It can only take two." Toni started, slightly apologetic before smiling at Cheryl and leading her to where her ride was parked, Kevin following closely behind them.
The trip to Toni's had turned out to be just a very quick detour and in less than ten minutes, they were back on the road. This time to Kevin's house.
Cheryl was wearing Toni's black crop top, which was slightly to small for her and her red jeans. Once dressed in decent clothes, she immediately felt more confident. Nerves still ran through her veins as she got on her girlfriend's bike. "I don't know TT, should we really be doing this?"
Toni sighed and looked over her shoulder. "What? Riding the bike without a helmet? We aren't going far…"
"No!" Cheryl scoffed and barely kept herself from flinching when Toni started the motorcycle. "Talking to Sheriff Keller." She didn't want to seem weak, it was a feeling she could never feel again.
"Babe, listen. Remember that night? With Nick St Claire?" Cheryl tensed up. "Your mother let him get away without a real punishment, that's not going to happen with the Sisters. I pledged that if anyone hurts you again, they would pay. Even if that 'anyone' is a school of nuns." Toni spoke with a determined, rageful voice and Cheryl smiled slightly.
The motorcycle than jolted forward and they started racing across the road. Kevin should already be there, telling his father everything, so when they got there they could just talk business.
The ride was around ten minutes, and when Toni parked the bike, Cheryl jumped off gratefully. She loved everything about Toni, but the bike was horrifying.
Toni brushed hair from her face and walked over to Cheryl. "Nervous, babe?" she asked and Cheryl scoffed.
"No. Why would I be?" Cheryl retorted, looking to Toni with an amused look. Emotion swirled in her gaze though and Toni stayed silent, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "Okay, maybe slightly." The Serpent didn't say anything, but kept her gaze trained on her girlfriend. "Okay fine, yes I'm nervous!" She blurted out and Toni smiled softly.
"I knew it. Why do you even try to lie to me?" Toni smirked and Cheryl laughed scornfully but with adoration twisted in her voice.
"Thank you… Toni. For getting me out of there." Cheryl's words were strong and truthful, a rare mix coming from the red haired teenager.
The Serpent looked at Cheryl and grabbed her shoulders so she would face her. "I would rescue you any day. Don't you see? Cheryl, I love you!" Toni exclaimed and Cheryl blinked in shock.
"Well TT, I love you too." The young woman replied and wrapped her arms around Toni's neck, kissing her passionately.
Any thoughts of hers left the moment their lips touched. Toni pulled back for a moment, before kissing Cheryl again, hands moving to Cheryl's face before they cupped her cheeks and deepened the kiss. All of Cheryl's doubt, the thought of being loveless, disappeared along with her thoughts, and when Toni pulled away, the doubts didn't come back.
"You are sensational. I am certainly good at picking out dates, aren't I?" Cheryl smirked and Toni laughed softly, shaking her head.
"If I remember right, I found and picked you out. But yes, you certainly are good out picking out dates. I mean- you picked me. Who could be better?" Toni joked and Cheryl smiled widely. Reaching out, Cheryl dabbed away the red lipstick at the side of Toni's lips.
"There, now let's go in. Shall we?" The young woman smiled and Toni gave a salute.
"After you."
Walking to the house, Toni flashed Cheryl a wink and Cheryl laughed softly. Throwing open the doors to the house, the young woman entered the house with poise. Kevin was sitting at the dining table with his father and Alice Cooper was leaning against the wall, studying Cheryl.
"Alice Cooper?" Toni asked, arching her eyes in confusion.
"I'm here to write about the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Kevin called." The blonde shrugged and Cheryl quickly dismissed her presence.
"Well. Let's get down to business, shall we?" Cheryl sighed and took a seat on a chair in the dining room. Toni sat in the chair beside her and casually winked whenever they made eye contact.
Cheryl knew now more than ever, that she was in fact not loveless, because she was in love in Toni.
And it was love.
Prompts are allowed and greatly appreciated. I just won't do any oneshots that have Jughead or Betty dating someone else. I just can't. I love Bughead too much. Thanks for reading!