Just a pre-note! Lots of people are saying there should be more Bughead or Choni or Cheryl, and well, I agree with you, to a point! Believe me when I say it's coming! Episode wise, we're hardly into the second actual episode of the series! Bughead didn't even start talking until like the 4th and Cheryl hardly gets anything important to do with her until ep5. So, when I say I'm moving up the timeline, just be aware that there's other things that need to happen to make it make sense.
But I suppose on that note; if you're reading this story for one singular pairing, you might be disappointed. While Bughead, Choni, SweetPea/Betty (Friendship, at least right now) and Varchie are all important, they're important because it's a big deal in the show (well, 3 of those). This is not a love story but it has love interests. This is a story of magic/supernatural elements first and foremost, and more than that, this is jointly Sweet Pea's as well as Betty's story, and whoever they might end up dating/kissing/hanging around with is secondary.
With that out of the way, thank you to my reviewers: Boris Yeltin, top story, Luvs2Read, and Guest
Luvs2read: He for sure is! However, when the wolves are basically the only life he's ever known, he's a little into it more than the average were XD
Guest: I'm glad you enjoy it! Thanks for leaving a review :)
Song Title is Abracadabra by Steve Miller Band.
"Another new kid?" Veronica said to Betty at her locker while Betty gathered her supplies for the day, "Is it normal to get so many transfer students?"
"Well, according to what I know from last year, we only got Chuck Clayton but he was a sophomore, we were freshmen so I wouldn't say I noticed much." Betty said, unzipping her backpack, "That's weird, though, I didn't get any information about...oh my god."
She turned a complete shade of burgundy when she saw Sweet Pea waltzing up like he belonged there. And, from his 'New Student Handbook', apparently, he now did.
Veronica read the situation just like any average person would have.
"Red face, his stupid grin, new student...Betty Cooper, that's not him, is it?" She asked in a stage whisper, eyes twinkling with utter mischievous glee.
"Not him what?" Sweet Pea asked, leaning on the lockers, "Hey Cooper, surprised?"
Betty sent him a hard glare. Couldn't he have texted her, a warning, maybe? She held his gaze for a couple seconds, before Veronica gave a 'ahem' and nudged her impatiently.
"Yes. That's him," Betty said, covering her face with one of her books.
"Me, 'what'?" Sweet Pea asked again.
"Ooh!" Veronica squealed like he wasn't even there, "You're right girl, he is hot as hell." Sweet Pea opened his mouth to reply to that, which Betty could not have happen.
At this point, Betty grabbed Sweet Pea's hand, shouting back to Veronica that she'd meet back up with her in History, and forcibly shoved Sweet Pea into a quiet alcove.
"What was that about? I feel like I missed something, which sucks because it seems like I was a part of it." He asked, shoving his welcome papers into his backpack with not a care for keeping it un-crinkled at all.
"Oh god," Betty dragged her hands down her face, "Okay. So, when I fell asleep last weekend for like twenty-seven hours, Mr. Jones texted my mom as me and said I was going to be at Veronica's house. That's Veronica. And, because I know my mom's crazy and I wouldn't put it past her to fact check, I had to ask Veronica to cover for me. She asked what I was doing. Obviously, I couldn't tell her the whole truth so I told her some...half truths. Like, that I was with a boy...from the Southside...and, yeah," She rubbed her arms nervously, "She sorta made up the rest and I didn't ever...correct her. I never thought it would be a big deal!"
"So, what, she thinks we had a one night stand or something?"
"Or something," Betty whispered, "She also saw me texting you, which usually after a one night stand you don't talk to the other person again, so...she might be under the impression we're dating. Or, getting there."
Sweet Pea took all this in, nodding. He looked like he was ready to burst out laughing, which Betty did not want him to do, "So...you think I'm hot?"
"Sweet Pea!" Betty hissed, throwing him a scowl.
"Sorry, I get it. Not the point. I mean, just tell her to keep it on the DL and shit and I won't ever contradict her, cool?" He shrugged.
"Or, we could just not talk." Betty said bitterly, "And, you didn't think to tell me, by the way, you were going to go to school here too?"
"It was a new development," Sweet Pea itched his neck, pulling at his turtleneck, "But, ah, we're going to talk."
"Oh, really?" Betty's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Sweet Pea's face grew serious and he took a couple steps deeper into the alcove, motioning for her to join him. She checked her watch.
"Betty, really, you need to hear this."
Sweet Pea, in the whole couple days she'd known him, was rarely serious. He didn't have a hint of humor on his face right now, which caused her to step more into the shadows.
"Talk."
"You need a teacher, and, it's going to be me. Before you argue, I know magic theory and spells and all of it better than anyone, maybe even better than FP. When I turned at 11, I wanted to know everything about this confusing world that I was now a part of, so I researched and researched and read all the books, metaphorically. There's not a lot of books. That's a tangent, sorta. Back to the issue; if I had a lick of a warlock anywhere in me, I would have been doing actual magic with all that I've meditated on it. Werewolf magic and witch magic are two leaves on the same branch. Chances are a witch made wolves way back when, and I get I'm rambling but our magic isn't dissimilar anyway. I know I can teach you not only how to control your powers, but about how to do amazing things. And scary things...Betty," He licked his lips uneasily, finally seeming to take a breath, "Someone is watching you."
"What?" Betty asked, frowning.
"You're in danger. You're powerful as shit and someone wants to make sure you don't get a chance to learn more about your blood right. Christ, Betty, people don't send shadow shrieks after someone to 'give them a warning'. They do it to kill someone, get rid of 'em. Someone tried to kill you before you could learn, Betty. Luckily, wolves are pretty powerful fighters, so I also know I can keep you safe."
"But...I...whatever they want, I can have. I didn't ask to be a witch!" Betty said in a low, frantic whisper.
"Yeah, it sucks. But Betty…" Sweet Pea struggled to explain it, "You are what you are now. We can only respond to life as it happens."
Betty was silent. Before she could say anything else, the bell for first hour rang.
"Anyway, I guess I gotta go. I'm going to be listening so if anything happens, I'll know. We're also going to star magic lessons everyday after school."
"But I'm on the cheer squad."
Sweet Pea snorted, "'Course you are. Well, even besides that, we're going to make time." He said, pointing at her, "Now seriously, I need to figure out where Room 311 is."
Betty inhaled once, trying to come to terms with the knowledge someone had tried to murder her. Like Jason had been murdered. Well, not the way, but the fact that two deaths, or one near death, had occurred in like less than three months? Maybe Sweet Pea was right about the dangers lurking. She should be glad to have someone looking out for her.
"I can help you find it." She said, forcing a small smile, "I am a Welcome Leader, after all."
XXxxXX
Betty escorted him down the hall, explaining tidbits of the history of the school here and there, as well as pointing out the 'who's who' of the students crisscrossing the halls to get to their classes. Chuck Clayton; football captain and playboy. Cheryl Blossom, widow-twin. Ethel Muggs; stereotypical quiet shy girl.
As they turned a corner to the Language Hall of the school, they pretty much practically ran into Jughead.
Sweet Pea always tried to keep his interactions with the Alpha's son to a minimum. From the first moment he met the kid, he didn't really like him. He acted like he had all the problems in the world, as though he was a were-vampire or some other stupid hybrid that would, in it's right, have the grounds to say they had problems. But Jughead, who was nothing more than human? Well, he had nothing on the wolves, nothing at all to whine about. And yet...he did it anyway.
"Betty, hey. I-," He looked over and then did a double take when he saw who Betty was leading through the halls, "What the hell are you doing here?" He snarled.
"Going to school. Furthering my education." Sweet Pea replied, deadpanned.
"Go back to the Wyrm where you belong," Jughead snapped, now gathering a couple looks, since the White Wyrm was on the Southside and a shady hangout (to everyone else's views, at least). And, the Wyrm wasn't a school. Idiot.
"I belong here," Sweet Pea said smoothly, not looking to start a fight in the hall. Jughead really made his fur rise and he wasn't looking to morph in the halls, so he less conversation he could have with FP's insufferable boy, the better.
"Oh, says who?"
"Me, and FP." Sweet Pea couldn't resist adding with a hint of arrogance, "He transfered me over."
"So what, your my dad's lap dog? Fetching and doing errands for him?" Jughead asked. Betty laughed, unable to hold it in, and Sweet Pea saw her cover it with a deep cough. Jughead didn't even notice her slip up. He wondered...did he know?"
"Dog is such a lesser form. That's what you are, the Bulldogs, right? Wolves are a better comparison," He threw out, testing the waters. Jughead just rolled his eyes. Good. It was just a stupidly coincidental comment.
"Betty, step away from him." Jughead said, turning to look at Betty. She frowned slightly, going to stand a little in between them, looking back at Sweet Pea and then to Jughead.
"Jughead, calm down. I don't know what beef you two have, but-,"
"He's a part of a gang, for fuck's sake, Betty!" Jughead said, grabbing his turtleneck to pull it down and show his Serpent's tattoo. There was hushed whispers in the gathered crowd, and now people were looking at Sweet Pea very differently.
"Touch me again, I dare you," Sweet Pea growled, clenching his fists to keep his claws from coming out.
"Hey!" Betty said, shoving him back, "Stop. Both of you. Sweet Pea, starting fights on your first day is a bad idea. Jughead, he goes here now, you're just riling him up, and what has he ever done personally to you?" Betty asked.
"Picking someone else's side, once again," Jughead said darkly, trying to brush past Betty.
"Look, Jug-," Sweet Pea began. Betty grabbed Jughead's arm, jerking him back. She sent a 'you shut the hell up' sort of look back to Sweet Pea.
"You, not another word," She said to Sweet Pea, "Juggie...I'm not picking a side. I'm asking an honest question. I was told to show him around the school, I can't just...not. He's been nice to me this whole time, so…"
"Always too nice, Cooper," Jughead sighed, sending a distrustful look at Sweet Pea, but his tone seemed a bit embarrassed when he spoke to Betty, "I believe you. That was uncalled for, I'm sorry. Just watch your back. A snake will bite you when you're not looking."
"I'll be careful." Betty promised. Sweet Pea bristled, she didn't have to fear him! However, he realized she might just be saying that not to make a scene.
There a couple seconds in which no one moved, until Veronica, who had been hanging in the door of hers and Betty's first class this whole time, stalked to where the pair were.
"Show's over, vultures. Scram. I mean it," She said, and something about her tone caused the group to scatter.
"Hey, you, uhh...what happened between us. We're just trying to figure it out, as friends maybe, so if you could…." Sweet Pea said, while Betty's eyes bulged behind him. This was what she wanted, right, to make sure that Veronica didn't go gossiping about their torrid 'romance'?
"You dont even have to ask." Veronica said. Her eyes spied his schedule clenched in his fist, "French first? It's that door that has the French Flag over it, if you couldn't tell,' She added with a smirk. The second bell rang to indicate he should already be there.
"Thanks."
Yeah, this was just as awful as he told FP it was going to be.
XXxxXX
By Friday, everyone at Riverdale High knew that Sweet Pea was not only a Southsider, but also a part of the infamous Southside Serpent Gang.
It was a little inevitable, Sweet Pea had decided, but he figured he had at another week until someone spilled the beans. Alas, Jughead's little tete-a-tete with him on his first day pretty much cemented it, and Veronica did the rest. That he was from the Southside, at least. Well, she hadn't said anything about him and Betty as any sort of couple in any way, so...small miracles?
Fangs and Toni had nearly died laughing when they heard he was being transferred to Riverdale and were asking for updates daily about how bougie it was and if everyone there was completely unbearable.
Betty Cooper, who may as well be the poster child for goodness, was one of the few people he liked. Most people gave him space, thank God. Kevin had told him plainly day one that he was going to be watching him, for Serpent or Werewolf business either way, and that if he was here with good intentions they wouldn't have problems. He had a couple girls ask him what it was like to be in a gang, and Sweet Pea saw right through them, the type of girls that wanted to date a 'bad girl'. Sweet Pea wasn't interested in being anyone's rebellion, so he avoided them.
Jughead usually glared at him across the hall, but did not much else.
And then there was...Veronica. Maybe if he hadn't been connected to Betty upon their first meeting it would be different, but she was friendly to him the way she was friendly to Betty. Apparently, he'd passed the 'Best-Friend-Approval-Test', or so he'd been informed. For a non-existent relationship.
Yay?
Currently, they're all in the student lounge, which he will admit is really fucking nice. The best equivalent that Southside High has to this is the dumpster area behind the school and even then it's the junkies that gather there. It's a little amazing to him that Riverdale has actually qualified teachers or school supplies that aren't twenty years outdated or a library with books that aren't torn apart. If Sweet Pea cared more about his education he'd be in heaven right now. Deni, the most scholarly of the wolves, would die if she went here.
"So, what in the world led you go to getting a neck tattoo? I know it's a 'Serpent' thing but do you have to have it in such a garish place?" Veronica questioned. He was still wearing a turtleneck, but everyone also knew what it was hiding. Luckily, Wetherbee seemed to let it pass, as long as he didn't directly see it.
"You don't even have to get one," Sweet Pea mumbled, "And what led to it? An undeveloped thirteen year old's brain and a dare that he couldn't pass up."
Veronica blinked twice at him, "Please tell me you're joking."
Sweet Pea gave an innocent shrug.
Over in the other corner, Reggie was bitching about his latest interview with Sheriff Keller, so Sweet Pea shifted his attention in case there was anything worth reporting back.
"'Cause I'd want Blossom dead. When he was like the only good quarterback we had." He was lamenting, moaning about. It was kinda a no-brainer that the sheriff questioned everyone in a murder investigation, not that Sweet Pea thought Reggie had the intelligence to pull it off. He was also bitching out Moose, who may or may not be gay, which Sweet Pea thought was an all around shitty move. Like, did he really care? They had five non-straight wolves in the pack, including Toni who he loved dearly, and Sweet Pea couldn't care less as long as they were a good person otherwise.
"If its a kid at Riverdale that killed Jason, it's not gunna be a jock right. Or, maybe it wasn't a kid a Riverdale at all." Reggie said. Oh, shit. Sweet Pea didn't like where this was going. He rested his elbow on his leg and his chin on his palm waiting for the group to accuse him. He instead just raised an eyebrow when Reggie looked over at him, a gleam in his eyes.
"Maybe it's a Southside Snake who conveniently dropped in right after we found his body?" He said.
"I didn't even know him," Sweet Pea replied tiredly, "And why would I kill him?"
"Because you serpents are toxic." Reggie shot back.
"What's the big deal?" Veronica piped up, "I mean, they're apparently scary and all, but why do you all hate them...specifically?" She said, "Sweet Pea's hardly intimidating. He's a seventeen year old kid that makes questionable decisions. Idiots, sure, but not toxic."
He was glad for the back up, but he was sure as hell intimidating. However, not the time to argue that.
The group around in the lounge just looked at each other and sort of shrugged. They didn't have a great answer. It was a learned hatred, Sweet Pea got that. North vs South had been going on longer than anyone could recall.
"Because they're shady and probably drug dealers and who knows what else!" Reggie spit in his direction.
"Honestly, Mantle, this seems more like a personal thing against the Serpents." Veronica said, still confused, "I mean, sure everyone gives Sweet Pea his distance, but you're...unusually violent."
"Maybe it is personal. My parents have just told me stories about their like."
"Like what? The big bad Serpent will be waiting under your bed if you don't you're eat your veggies?" Sweet Pea spoke up, "Fairytales."
"Grimm Brother's tales, more like it," Reggie muttered. This caused Sweet Pea to raise an eyebrow, but trying not to seem alarmed. A coincidence, had to be, once again. Betty shifted uncomfortably as the pair stared each other down for a couple seconds.
Finally, Reggie caved.
"Fine, so maybe it wasn't him. But, it's someone like him. Isn't it always some spooky, scrawny, pathetic Internet troll, too busy writing his manifesto to get laid?" Reggie continued, his mania reaching ridiculous lengths, "Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak...like Jughead?"
"It's not Jughead," Sweet Pea said before he realized he was speaking out loud. Everyone turned to him once again. Jughead was looking at him with a 'what the fuck' expression. It wasn't his intention to come to Jughead's defense, but it was just pure fact. Of course, he couldn't follow it up by saying that Jughead couldn't have killed Jason, because otherwise he'd be a werewolf and he totally wasn't.
"I can fight my own battles, thanks," Jughead said icily.
"What was it like, Suicide Squad? You didn't do stuff to he body, did you? Like after?" Reggie acted like Sweet Pea hadn't even spoken. And, ew. Betty was looking at Reggie furiously as was Archie, which was a surprise for Sweet Pea, since he was pretty sure those two were fighting about something. A girl, maybe?
" It's called necrophilia, Reggie. Can you spell it?"
Sweet Pea couldn't help it. It was pretty damn good comeback and funny. He snorted. Betty sent him a 'would you please just stop' sort of look. She sent a lot of those looks. Reggie was advancing towards Jughead. Sweet Pea, remembering FP's instructions not to let Jughead kill anyone (and there were a lot of sharp edges on tables here just waiting for a tragic accident) stood up. Luckily, someone intervened first, while Betty had jumped up and grabbed Sweet Pea back.
"Hey, shut the hell up, Reggie!"
"Why do you care, Andrews?"
"Nothing, just leave him alone."
"Sweet Pea, don't," Betty hissed, "Leave it to the humans to duke it out." She murmured meaningfully.
"As long as Jughead doesn't step in." Sweet Pea had outlined his objectives to Betty on their first 'lesson', which were going quite well, even if they were just for moments after school, a practice of a recitation here or there.
"He won't. He's not psychical." Betty said. Whatever she began to say next was cut off with the boys crashing through the vending machine. She looked up, "Wipe that smile off your face."
"You kidding? This is better than cable."
XXxxXX
Friday was also Sweet Pea's first experience in Riverdale gym class. He had it every Wednesday and Friday, but on Wednesday he was excused from it while some paperwork and shit was being processed.
Sweet Pea, in general, didn't look forward to gym classes. Getting sweaty and then having to return to class, or shower in gross stalls with zero water pressure? No thank you. He was fit on his own, from constantly running, so he didn't need any more physical activity during the day. So, in short, not his favorite class.
They were split up boys and girls, which Sweet Pea found terribly sexist. The girls were sent over to run some laps and were generally ignored, while the boys were to run and then practice football. If Toni were here, she'd throw a fit. She was just as capable of any other boy and likely more violent. At Southside, they hardly cared what the kids did during gym class, so this was never an issue.
Sweet Pea sighed, starting to jog around. He ran far longer lengths than this on his daily runs, so it was no trouble for him. Hardly broke a sweat.
Being an okay runner wasn't anything special. It was only later, when they started playing pickup football, that Sweet Pea had to make choices.
He could pretend to be horrible at it and act like he'd never held a football in his life. He could miss all the shots thrown his way and totally miscalculate when he threw it back. He could made himself invisible, like fumbling one or two catches and maybe making one, and not bring attention to himself.
Or, he could give basically zero effort and play the damn game.
There wasn't a football team at Southside. They had other sports for the more athletically inclined, and a lone wolf occasionally joined as an outlet for anger. They were one of the best Lacrosse teams in the county, and their women's hockey team was ballin'. But football? Sweet Pea didn't know if they were too disorganized as a school or if no one showed interest, but they didn't have it.
In the end, Sweet Pea took the route of least resistance, which was to not attempt to be an awful sports player. It was easier, more natural, to be good at it. What was football if it wasn't some super weird variation of being a predator anyway?
And, someone definitely noticed. A few people, actually.
As class was wrapping up, Coach Clayton paused him.
"What grade are you in, kid?"
"Junior," Sweet Pea replied, sighing, "Sir." He added after a moment, because Sweet Pea didn't want to make enemies. He could give respect to a guy like this, another natural (albeit completely human) alpha.
Coach Clayton looked pensive, "You play football on the other side of the town?"
"We didn't have a team. I didn't play many sports."
"Not a team player?" Coach asked suspiciously. Sweet Pea snorted. Being part of a pack was being about being a team player, all the time.
"Just...didn't get into it, I guess." Sweet Pea said after a second.
"We're down a good boy, as you've heard about Jason. You have a talent for it, kid. I think with the right training, you could even have a future in it. I wanted to bring Andrews onto varsity, but he's been unsure about it. I'd be great to put you on the roster too."
"You're asking me to join the team?" Sweet Pea tried to sound careful, "But, I probably missed tryouts."
"If you continue to do what you did just during gym during practice, it won't be a problem. School's only been in session for ten days anyway. We haven't even had our first game, yet." Coach replied easily, "Think about it. Our practice is tonight at six, then we have the rally. Even just show up to run with the boys a bit."
Sweet Pea wavered, "I'll...consider it." He said carefully.
"That's all I'm asking for," Coach said, clapping his arm.
XXxxXX
When Sweet Pea told his friends directly after school, when he met part of the young pack in the woods to shake off the week of school with a run in the depths of the forests, he thought Toni was going to die from laughing too hard.
"Oh, oh my god...Sweet Pea, a preppy jock? You're joking." She was rolling on the ground, clutching her stomach, which Sweet Pea thought was an over exaggeration, "Can you imagine it? You, in a little football uniform? Sweet Pea, the kid with the neck tattoo?" She howled in amusement.
"Harde-har. Laugh it up," Sweet Pea grumbled. Until Toni's response, he'd been actually thinking about it. He'd never put much stock into 'after', as in after high school. A part of him knew he would stick around with the Pack and get a job somewhere doing something stupid, but another part of him hated the idea of never leaving town and making the same mistakes his parents did. That he'd die of an overdose, like his mom or get a girl pregnant way too early and become a deadbeat ghost of a father, like whoever his pops was, and never get out this place ever. Maybe Coach was overstating his abilities, but the thought he could go somewhere for college football...get a scholarship? Well, it was worth a moment in his mind.
"Wouldn't it be cheating to go out for the football team?" Joaquin added.
"I play lacrosse, so is that cheating?" A wolf they called Vade countered, "My god given gift is being a wolf. I didn't like, try for it or take supplements to get a bushy tail or paws."
"Or for super speed, natural musculature, great reflexes, and superb skills," Joaquin added dryly. A couple other wolves joined in, bickering about the morality of playing a sport while supernatural, which seemed like a moot point since it wasn't like the whole of the pack was in sports anyway. There was Vade on the lacrosse team and Deni on the girl's hockey, but other than that, the wolves were very specifically not in other extra-curricular.
"You've been quiet, Fangs?" Toni noticed. Sweet Pea realized he had. He swung his head toward his other friend, and did notice that Fangs- who more often than not had an opinion- was silent.
"I don't think it's the worst idea, actually." He said when Sweet Pea motioned for him to speak his mind, since there was something running through it.
"Oh, my god. How?" Toni was looking at Fangs like he sprouted another head.
"Well, FP wants info on the Jason case, right?" Sweet Pea had let his other wolves know why he was switching schools, and they were all mostly mature about it. They seemed to realize that whatever this was was more than just stupid school politics, "And we all feel like there's some fishy stuff going on. No one knows what really happened to Jason, or what led up to it. His parents don't know, his girlfriend or lady loves didn't know, and we don't. A kid lies, we all know this. But, there's one group he would have trusted with every dirty secret." He met Sweet Pea's eyes meaningfully, "His pack."
"The football team," Toni realized with a quiet groan.
"He was one of their star players. They're all shook up about it," Sweet Pea agreed with a nod. In a way, the team was like a pack. They all had to trust each other in any situation. They had to follow their alpha, who knew best. Most of the boys lived and breathed for football, so it- and the people who were in it- were their entire life.
"And you won't just get anything from them by asking. They protect their own, I'm sure," Fangs continued, in a way that said he'd been contemplating all of it this entire time.
"But if he's one of them, eventually, they would." Vade finished with a nod of agreement, "And, who else in the school knows everyone else's shit better than anyone else than the most popular kids? Which in a rich school like that is the football team."
"Fuck," Sweet Pea gave a laugh under his breath, "I guess I'm joining the team."
XXxxXX
Before he went to practice, he popped over to Betty's house.
Out of all his assignments, this one he kept close to his chest. He'd tell his packmates about Jason without asking. He'd regale them about what FP's son was like, up close and personal. He'd gossip like a middle-school girls about everything going on that was vaguely considered 'weird', supernatural or not. But Betty Cooper? He didn't even tell FP, not unless his alpha asked directly.
She felt different than the other assignments. Not that he was about to get all mushy-gushy, but there was just something about Betty that he wanted to protect. Not even in the direct way FP had told him to, but in the sort of way that he didn't want Toni making disparaging remarks about her or Lipton asking if she was as pure as everyone thought or anyone else giving Betty Cooper shit, because he might just have to punch their face in.
And, truth be told, it was almost freeing to have something that was just his. Betty, magic, and all of it was his and his alone. Not that he owned Betty, because that's not it either, but he was Betty's magical teacher, he was her confidant, he was her link to this crazy new world and he didn't have to deal with the pressure of others giving her bad advice or what not.
He hadn't actually been inside Betty's house yet. It had only been a week, granted, but they mostly did their lessons near the school.
Knock, knock, He texted her.
She poked her head out of her window, looking down to the front porch. She gave an elaborate roll of her eyes and then came downstairs to open the door.
"You are so lucky my parents aren't home right now, or they'd turn you into a fur rug if they saw you." She said, wagging a finger at him.
"And your sister?"
Betty scowled, crossing her arms and looking small and glum, "Apparently, after she heard about Jason, she had a meltdown and went to stay with my grandmother for a little. She's not returning my texts."
"Look, her boyfriend was just murdered. I mean, that's a lot. I'd wanna disconnect too." Sweet Pea said, trying to be comforting. Betty brightened a little.
"Maybe. Now it's just me and my parents, though. They apparently got a new scoop on Jason's autopsy, that's last I heard."
"Oh?" Sweet Pea said, curious as hell.
"Yeah. I don't know it, they just left, though." She said, catching his face, "Uhm, this isn't really the best time. I'm getting ready to head back to school for the rally soon…"
"Me too." Sweet Pea said, "Look, I haven't had a chance to make sure you're shriek free and shit. We have...like half an hour still." He checked his phone. Betty finally let him in, rubbing her face.
"Leave no evidence you were ever here, I swear to God." She warned.
The first thing that hit Sweet pea when he stepped inside the house was the smell of repressed magic. It seemed to hang on every ledge, on every pillow. It smelled like burnt marshmallows, and not in a good way. It wasn't just Betty's powers that had been repressed, but others, he thought, if it was giving off such a smell.
Unsure who it was, though, he didn't mention it to Betty.
She took him through the house, showing him where she'd come from near the kitchen and around the living room. She showed him the bathroom and the faucet they'd eked out of, according to FP. Finally, she came to a closed door.
"You are not allowed to laugh," She threatened.
"Why would I do that?" Sweet Pea said, trying to look the picture of an angel.
"Because you're sorta an ass." She said.
"Cross my heart, hope to die," He swore, which Betty just gave him a disbelieving snort, but opened up the door. He took it all in; the pinkness, the lace, the princess-vibe of it.
"Ah," He said.
"You want to make fun of me so bad, don't you."
"You have no idea," he teased, flashing her a smile, "But, seriously, so you said you noticed the lightbulb breaking here?" He was able to sniff out where she'd bled. Super smell, and all.
Betty explained the night, best she could. She finished, Sweet Pea looked at the picture above her bed.
"Sweet Pea?" She asked as he came up close to it.
"Huh, no fucking kidding…" He said and dove into it 'a-la-Harry-Potter-Running-at-the-platform-style'. He found himself on the soft grass of the other side. Betty was staring at him through the portal, jaw open.
"Well, come on then!" He encouraged, waving her toward him. She looked at her phone, thought about it, and then crawled through.
"What? I mean, I just thought I could...I dunno, go through pictures. But none of the others worked. Can you go through other pictures?"
"This isn't a picture, Cooper. It's a Witch's Port. Like, a fairy circle, but upgraded for modern convenience." He said, "All witch lines have an ancestral place. It exists in reality, but also, erm, doesn't? Like, they almost took a snapshot of it, and it just hangs in a void now, waiting to be used. It's passed down, because it is your most valuable tool. Either someone in your family knows shit and is holding out, or it's a super great thing that your family seems to like oldy moldy decorating and kept this. You couldn't go through it unless you're magical, so it's not like an average person is going to accidentally fall through one of these while thrift shopping. Unless you want someone to, but that's a lesson for another day." Sweet Pea was turning in a circle, in absolute awe, "I've never seen one of these in real life. This, Cooper, is awesome."
"It is pretty nice," Betty agreed, smiling.
"It makes you happy, right? That's all the ancestral magic. It's you, basically, but so much stronger. It's a place of your life. If you need to do anything, do it here, because it will just be better. Potions will be more potent, spells will accumulate quicker, you'll feel more alive with energy because this is the energy of all the witches and wizards that came before you and they all want to help you. Follow me!" Sweet Pea said, excited like a kid on Christmas. Before Betty could answer, he dashed forward. He really, really wanted to turn but that meant taking his clothes off and he was pretty sure Betty would murder him if he did that.
Betty ran to keep up and Sweet Pea could feel the magic tangle around him, like they were swimming in it. They reached a little shack in the middle of the woods and Sweet Pea began foraging immediately.
"Awe, hell yesss!" He said, nodding, "So, you bring something in here, it stays. Time is a funny concept. It's basically impossible to tell how long ago someone dropped this shit off here, but it's not going to go bad or anything, not unless you will something to...there's a couple potions that needed dead flowers or whatever, but once again, another day. Don't you see? You're totally not as alone as you thought you were! Your great-grandmother or whoever was sick and left behind all this potion making stuff, all the supplies, all these herbs and look!" He held up a leather bound book.
"Is that...a grimoire?" Betty whispered.
"Uh-huh." Sweet Pea was tingling, "Oh, I can't wake to crack this open. If FP is right about how powerful you are, this book is going to be so lit." He said, "Damn, if only we could have our lessons here everyday. I mean, you'd be so good so quickly."
"Yeah, but unless my mom's always gone…" Betty frowned, "Is there a way to, replicate it? Like, make another side to the portal? So you can get to it?"
"I like the way you think, Cooper. Not sure, but we can make a spell for it, with practice."
Betty's phone buzzed. She pulled it out. Sweet Pea snooped behind her.
"Full bars? This place is sweet." He said, "I'd be in here 24-7, watch Netflix, relax...man, you are just so lucky."
"We should be getting back," Betty sighed, looking sad to leave. Sweet Pea felt the same, "So, uh, am I good? Shadow thing free?"
They began going back the way they'd came.
"Seems so. If they do return, you can handle it, though I'm never that far away." He said.
"Yeah, but-,"
"Betty, witches are natural beings. All witches usually have a skill in one of the four elements more than the others. Your's is fire, which makes you perfectly capable of fighting off those things."
"How do you know it's fire?" Betty scrunched up her nose, "Seems a little...not me. You know, it's so...loud and confident."
"Maybe you just haven't come into your full self. They say that when you come into your magic, you go through a change and the best parts of you are intensified. So, you might not be done growing yet. How do I know? You burst the lights and you've done it a couple times. You summoned fire without knowing anything about being a witch. You described your magic to be like you were burning up. You're a fire mage."
He paused her, right outside of the portal back to her room, "Before you go back, I want to show you how it feels to do magic here. Hold out your hand. Start a flame." He instructed. They'd tried this in the forests on Tuesday, but she hadn't gotten much progress. Adrenaline did a lot for a witch, so he wasn't concerned. Betty had been feeling awful about it, and he had tried to tell her that magic- like any other skill- takes time.
She held out a palm, and she thought. He could see her thinking hard. A flame, angry and large, burst up from her palm, shocking them both.
"Too much, too much!" Sweet Pea coughed, though he was laughing. Betty blushed red and stared at it, and it became a much more manageable size in her hands.
"Wow…" She breathed, "It's like...mag-,"
Sweet Pea couldn't contain his shit-eating grin, "Were you going to say 'magic'?" He asked.
Betty clapped her hands, putting out the fire, "I'm adjusting," She defended herself, "So, what will you being doing during the rally? Howling at the moon? Chasing a car or two? Um, wait, lemme think of another dog pun…" Betty held up a finger as they clambered back onto her bed.
"Actually," Sweet Pea said, wishing he could have his phone out to capture her reaction when he told her, "You're not going to believe what I tell ya…"
What do you think of SP joining the football team? It has a reason behind it, which you'll find out soon...
Also, usually if I establish something about a character in one of my fics, I use that in any other fics I write about that universe. So, I made Sweet Pea speak French in my Sweet Pea/Betty Zombie!AU 'Playlist for the Apocalypse' so I thought I'd throw it in here. Just a fun cross-universe fact ;)
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