Jughead wheeled Betty's wheelchair out of the hospital, heading towards the truck Sweet Pea was driving. It was the release day for Betty. and Jughead couldn't be happier. He was ready to have his girlfriend back home with him; with the Serpents who loved and adored her endlessly. He knew that she'd be in pain; knew that there would be layers of herself she didn't peel back in front of him while she was healing. He knew it but he still hated it. Jughead wanted her to know that she never had to hide in front of him.

Wheeling her to the truck, he parked her chair and picked her up, placing her in the cab. Betty smiled at him, two black eyes on display for him. He winced, trailing the pad of his thumb alongside her bruised and puffy skin. What he would give to be in a match with Malachi, one-on-one, right that very minute. Joaquin was already tailing him with Fangs and that helped.

Kevin was coming by later that night. One, to see Betty, and two, to make sure Joaquin was safe from retribution and fallout should Malachi find out he's tailing him. Jughead had faith enough for the both of them that Joaquin wouldn't get caught. After he got Betty buckled into the seat, he turned to look at Sweet Pea. "Any word from him?"

"He sent a message to me about an hour ago, just saying that he found Malachi and was watching him," Sweet Pea replied in low tones. Neither Jughead nor any other Serpent wanted Betty to know that Joaquin was tailing Malachi. Jughead didn't want to put that type of stress and strain on her. He nodded, climbing into the backseat with Betty as he spread her onto his lap. Sweet Pea hopped into the driver seat and then they were on their way.

Pushing her tendrils of blonde hair out of her face, Jughead stared down at her black and blue skin. Malachi spared no part of creamy skin from his fists, and Jughead was already mentally cataloging how the hell he was going to dismember Malachi for ever setting his sights on his girl. His lower lip quivered as he took in the multiple bruises and cuts; the stab wounds that been stitched up and would forever leave their mark. Betty's eyes softened on him when his own grew damp, and she cupped his cheek. "I'm okay, Juggie."

"I'll kill them all," he ground out through clenched teeth, half a sob forming in his chest and ripping out of him in a guttural fashion. If Sweet Pea was alarmed, he didn't say it. He just let his leader cry. Jughead slammed his fist onto the window. "I should have been there! I thought you were with your mother!"

Betty smiled at him, her split lip bleeding slightly. "I left early. I wanted to surprise you. Malachi had just been following me and they got to me first."

Jughead howled, forcing himself to see straight and not feel the pain threatening to take him under. He pressed kisses to his love's skin, tenderly leaving his touch on her as tears slipped down his face and wet her skin. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Shh, Juggie," Betty murmured, holding her good hand to his lips. "It's not your fault."

Jughead choked out on a plea or vindication. He didn't know. Pressing a tender kiss to her fingers, he laced their hands together and looked at her. "I'm going to make them all pay, okay? I swear to God."

"I know you are," she murmured. "I didn't expect anything less."

Jughead rolled his lower lip between his teeth, hating that Betty had ever gone through this type of pain in the first place. How fucking dare Malachi. He didn't think that what he did matter; didn't think that what he did had consequences. He would be damned before Malachi got the jump on him again. He watched as Sweet Pea pulled up to the complex the Serpents shared. "Ah, shit. Didn't even think to ask but would you rather stay with your mom for a few days?"

A panicked look crept into Betty's eyes that tug at his heartstrings and made him want to soothe her. "Don't leave me." It was a quiet beg that cleaved Jughead's heart apart. He brushed his lips along hers, mindful of the split, and looked at her.

"I won't, baby," he murmured. She breathed a sigh of relief and then Sweet Pea was getting the door open for her and Jughead was hurrying around to her side. He held a hand out to her and helped ease her down. She winced, and his heart fluttered. "Shh, it's okay."

Wrapping an arm around her waist, Jughead carried the majority of Betty's weight, meaning he took it off her ribs, and they walked into the complex. Serpents both old and new jumped out of spots, all collectively shouting, "SURPRISE!" and Betty laughed wetly, staring at the balloons and streamers. "What's this?"

"Cheryl and I wanted to surprise you, hon," Kevin said, going to hug her gently. Jughead kept a watchful eye on their hug, making sure it wasn't too tight, and then all the Serpents were clamoring for their chance to touch their queen. To reassure themselves she was safe and sound once more.

"I'll kill the pigs!" Ryder yelled, Bear and Mikey following it up with shouts of their own. Jughead noted that Tallboy hadn't come over to them with his dad. He looked at him for a moment before looking at his dad.

"Betty, my girl," he said softly, looking wrecked at her broken body. "We'll fucking set the world on fire for this."

"I know, FP," she smiled, a sob catching in her throat, and Jughead looked heavenward, feeling her pain tenfold.

"It's okay to cry," FP said, looking at him too. "It's okay to be upset by this."

Jughead thought that was good.

Because his dad was right.

He was upset.

And he wanted to set the world on fucking fire.