When Charles awoke, he had very little idea where he was. His whole body throbbed with pain, and every movement left him gasping for breath. His mouth felt dry, and he knew he had a bruise across his cheek.
"Your awake." Cheryl Blossom says. She is sat next to Charles, lounging back in a chair, idly flicking through her phone. "I should probably go call your hobo brother. He said he wanted to know when your awake. But apparently, he couldn't be fucked to stay here and watch over you himself. So here I am. Babysitting."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be an inconvenience." Charles replies. Feeling a small amount guilty even though this really wasn't his fault.
"Just kidding Bond." Cheryl says rolling her eyes. "Jones! Your brother is awake! Now you'd better have a good reason as to why you came here and disturbed me and TT." she says the last part quieter, clearly aimed at Charles.
Jughead comes up the stairs, with Toni following, and a couple of serpents by her side. They slam open the door and rush in, loud and boisterous as ever.
"So, now your brother is awake, you'd better tell us what the hell is going on." Cheryl says. "Fangs, where is Joaquin? Go get him. I think these two idiots can keep an secret." Fangs nods quietly and leaves the room.
"Joaquin? I thought he was dead." Jughead asks.
"He faked his death and came to the serpents for refuge. He made us swear not to tell you though, thought you still might try to kill him." Toni says. She has walked across the room and now sits in Cheryl's lap, playing with her girlfriends hair.
Joaquin and Fangs walk in. judging by the fact they are holding hands, Charles's is fairly they are dating. It seems Jughead has the same idea, posing the question of "Weren't Fangs and Kevin a couple?"
"Yeah. But we split a few weeks ago. Kevin's sweet but he's kinda annoying. he's basically a walking stereotype. Playing up the gay best friend angle is really irritating." Fangs says. Charles suppresses a smirk.
"Feels the need to play up to queer stereotypes. It really is quite pathetic. He's never even faced that much homophobia. My darling mother sent me to the sisters of quiet mercy and even I didn't turn into a living example of bad representation."
"My mother sent me to the sisters of quiet mercy too, Cheryl, although since I was a baby I can hardly say it was for my sexual orientation. I think it was more out of convenience." Charles finds himself saying, unsure why he is sharing his life story with Cheryl Blossom, the mythic bitch, the Heather Chandler of Riverdale high.
"Well, I think this is enough moaning about straggots- sorry not sorry- so I suggest we move onto why Jughead brought you here." Cheryl says.
"I made some serious mistakes. I killed someone who hurt Betty and Jughead. I was trying to protect them. Betty decided that she would take into her own hands to extract justice- or perhaps revenge would be more accurate- on me. She and Alice and Fp ..." Charles trails off, unsure quite how to tell them what it was that had been done to him.
"Can I tell them?" Jughead asks, to Charles's relief. He nods his acceptance. "For some time now Betty has been becoming almost unrecognisable. She started having sexual relationships with Alice and Fp. She wanted me to join in but I just couldn't bring myself too. Last night, as punishment, Betty, Alice and Fp sexually abused and raped Charles. I can't forgive her for that. She's gone way to far this time."
"Holy shit. that's worse than Polly and Jason. Speaking of, I need to go check on the twins. You two can stay here for as long as you need."
