sorry for the wait-
-d-d-d-
Betty stretched after her shower and wandered down to the kitchen area of the Nest. Cheryl was studying screen captures.
"Anything of interest?" Betty asked as she pulled a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Maybe," Cheryl hit a few keys and zeroed in on Malachi, "This guy keeps popping up."
"He gives me the creeps," Betty shook her head, "Most of the Ghoulies do, but he excels at it."
"We should run these by the Serpents. They don't mingle, but they keep tabs on each other. Maybe they know what he's up to," Cheryl suggested.
"Sure," Betty nodded, "Right after we come up with an explanation for how we got the pictures and why we care."
"I'm open to ideas," Cheryl stated.
"I don't know," Betty said, "Jug would love this though. He'd put it in his book."
"You think so?"
"Oh yeah," Betty nodded, "He'd put us in there and give us monikers. Not to mention, a same sex romantic interlude if what I read over his shoulder a while back is any indication of how his mind works lately."
"Wait, what?" Cheryl gasped.
"Apparently, Jug's mind has some very dirty thoughts roaming around in it," Betty gave her water to Cheryl, "Here, cool off."
"Your friends are an interesting bunch," Cheryl took a healthy gulp of her water.
"You and Toni seem like bosom buddies. You're always hanging out together. I'm glad," Betty replied.
"She's your friend too," Cheryl reminded her, "And our only connection to Polly."
"Not that it's mattered lately," Betty frowned.
"Toni hasn't been able to reach her, either," Cheryl frowned.
"I know," Betty sighed. "I'm worried."
"Yeah, I know," Cheryl nodded, "So are Nana and I."
"Did you tell Nana about Hiram Lodge and his reappearance?"
"I did," Cheryl nodded, "She got kind of quiet when I told her who he worked for once upon a time, and then she said we did the right thing."
"What happened to that guy that injured her?" Betty asked, "You said Nana got justice, but how could she?"
"She'd never tell me," Cheryl admitted, "Just that he was never going to hurt anyone again."
"I guess that's something," Betty made a mental note to use her newspaper skills to look up the criminal.
"Speaking of Hiram, has Veronica said anything about him?" Cheryl asked.
"No, but Kevin did when he and I were alone before," Betty confessed, "Mr. Lodge has received additional years to his sentence for breaking his parole."
"Score one for the good guys," Cheryl lifted the bottle of water she'd yet to relinquish.
"Actually, score two," Betty said, "One Mr. Charles Smith has been sentenced to two years for his attack on Veronica."
"Are you okay with that?" Cheryl asked.
"I am," Betty nodded, "He's been arrested before but never convicted on a lot of drug charges. This time the witness couldn't be intimidated, so he's going away. I have been thinking though. Cher, what if we try to find out who shot Jason?"
"What makes you think we can do what the police haven't?" Cheryl asked.
"We can go places and do things they can't," Betty stated, "They have to follow laws and procedure."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to find out?"
Betty pointed to the framed ultrasound, "Because one day they're going to want to know who took their father away from them. I want to give them an answer."
Cheryl was quiet for several torturous moments before nodding, "On one condition."
"Name it," Betty stated.
"If I say stop, we stop," Cheryl replied.
"Deal," Betty nodded, "We should also try to scare up a lead on who shot Mr. Andrews."
"Definitely," Cheryl agreed, "How's he doing?"
"He's glad to be home even if Archie's hovering is driving him nuts."
"I can't blame Archie for wanting to stick close, at least when he's not glued to you," Cheryl teased.
"Mr. Andrews caught us making out on the couch," Betty admitted, blushing.
"Really?" Cheryl grinned, "That must have been awkward."
"So totally awkward, especially considering where Archie's hand was traveling when Mr. Andrews cleared his throat," Betty blushed harder.
"Oh, I wish I could've seen that," Cheryl giggled.
"I didn't know you were a voyeur, Blossom," Betty smirked.
"I just didn't know Andrews had something so bold in him," Cheryl stated, "I get that he's kinda hot and all, but he's so vanilla."
"I like that he's not the pushy type," Betty said, "If I was dating someone like Reggie or, ooh, Chuck Clayton-"
"Gross," Cheryl interjected.
"I'd probably have been more than half naked by now."
"Oh, you'd be completely naked and cashed in your v-card long ago," Cheryl stated.
"Yuck," Betty made a face.
"Agreed," Cheryl nodded.
"Let's get started on the investigation," Betty stated, "We'll need to tap into that backdoor we installed in the police department's computers so we can see the evidence collected."
"Tomorrow, okay? I have to study for our history test."
"Sometimes it totally sucks that we get interrupted by high school," Betty huffed.
"Yes, it does," Cheryl agreed, "You want me to drop you at the Pembrooke? You can study with Veronica."
"Nah, I'll get there myself. It's hard to explain away you giving me a ride," Betty reminded her.
"It's not like she's going to see you," Cheryl reminded her.
"No, but Smithers has a tendency to gossip."
"Good point," Cheryl replied, "Fine, I'll drop you off a few blocks away."
"Thank you," Betty grabbed her bag and followed Cheryl to the car.
-d-d-d-d-
"Hey, Dad, I'm gonna head to Pop's and meet up with Jug," Archie said to his father a few nights later, "You want me to bring you anything?"
"Maybe a chocolate shake if you hurry your backside home before it melts," Fred snickered.
"It's twenty degrees outside. Nothing is going to melt out there," Archie grabbed for his coat.
"Be careful, okay?" Fred said, "Home by ten."
"Got it," Archie bobbed his head as he headed out. He was still a bit apprehensive about stepping foot inside Pop's, but he knew he had to get over it. Pop's was an institution in the town, and he had so many great memories. One bad day couldn't erase all the great ones.
Jughead was waiting for him in the group's usual booth, typing away on his laptop.
"Hey, Man," Archie greeted, "Your muse finally make an appearance?"
"Yeah," Jughead nodded, "The Serpents have been talking about these two renegades running around town. That's got my juices flowing."
"Sounds like something out of a comic book if you ask me," Archie shed his coat and slid into the booth.
Jughead turned his screen towards Archie, "Think this is too racy?"
Archie read what was in front of him and then looked at Jughead, "You've been watching the porno stash at the Wyrm again, haven't you?"
"Nah, just using my own imagination," Jughead chuckled.
"Then FP should wash out your imagination with soap," Archie spun the computer back to his friend, "Geez, Jug."
"What? Every book needs a little spice," Jughead shrugged.
"You better hope no girl you're interested in ever reads that."
"Fine, I'll tone it down," Jughead frowned as he started hitting delete.
"Good plan," Archie nodded as he flagged down Pop.
"What can I get you, Archie?"
"Usual, Pop," Archie nodded.
"How's your dad feeling?" Pop asked.
"Getting better each day," Archie responded, "He's hoping I bring him a chocolate shake."
"We'll make sure that happens," Pop patted his back as he went to put in the young man's order.
"No Betty tonight?" Jughead looked around.
"She has to do some kind of project with Cheryl."
"I thought you two were attached at each other's hip," he snorted.
"Hardly," Archie scoffed.
"You call her yet?"
"No, I can go a couple of hours without having to talk to her," Archie frowned.
"Bet you two text in your sleep," Jughead teased.
"Remind me again why I agreed to dinner tonight," Archie asked.
"I'm just giving you the business," Jughead laughed, "I'm glad you finally came to your senses, or I was going to step around you and give it a go myself."
"You and Betty? Jug, you don't like her do you?"
"Nah, but it would have kicked your butt into gear," Jughead replied.
"Maybe I should get someone to do that so you'll ask Josie out."
"I'm not Josie's type," Jughead frowned.
"You never know until you try," Archie told him.
"Yeah, I do," Jughead replied.
"So what do you know about these renegades the Serpents have seen?" Archie asked.
"Not much," Jughead said, "Though Pea says one of them has a nice ass."
"So female," Archie replied.
"They drop into danger as if from the sky. They neutralize the threat and then get out before anyone starts asking questions," Jughead added, "They're like ghosts, only not."
"How very Batman and Robin of them," Archie smirked as Pop put his food down, "Thanks, Pop."
"Let me know when you're ready to leave," Pop said, "I'll get that shake ready for you."
"Will do. Thanks," Archie reached for the ketchup as Jughead helped himself to some of the fries in Archie's basket.
"They also ride motorcycles," Jughead said.
"Bet they're hot too," Archie chuckled.
"Yeah, you tell Betty that," Jughead grinned.
"Shut up," Archie laughed.
-d-d-d-d-
Archie walked home holding his dad's shake in his hand. He was about a block away when he heard the rumble of motorcycles.
As he turned he caught a flash of two rumbling down the street, their long hair flowing in the breeze as they whizzed by. Just as they turned the corner, Archie saw the profile of one cycle. It took a few moments but suddenly he knew where he'd see the cycle before. "Betty?"
-d-d-d-d-
Archie looked up at Betty's window and quietly leaned the ladder against the side of her house before he climbed up. Testing the window, he was relieved when it opened soundlessly.
Betty was sleeping soundly in her bed. She looked so peaceful, but what he'd seen earlier defied logic. She'd kicked some guy's butt and then rode off on the cycle he'd helped her restore.
He put his hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently, "Betts?"
Betty's reflexes fired and she instantly went on the attack, nearly chopping Archie in the throat, holding back at the last possible second. "Archie, what are you doing in my bedroom in the middle of the night?"
"I couldn't sleep," he started.
She sank back into bed, her suddenly accelerating heartbeat instantly slowing back down now that the threat was identified, "Funny, I wasn't having that problem."
"Sorry," he sat beside her.
"Since when are you climbing through windows?" Betty asked.
"We need to talk," he said.
"If you broke in to break up with me, I'm tossing you out the window."
"That's not what this is," he assured her, "You said you were studying at Cheryl Blossom's house tonight...that you're doing a project together for history."
"Yeah, so?" Betty prompted him.
"I saw you out tonight, on your cycle, and you were wearing some sort of costume and wig," Archie stated.
"Are you feeling feverish?" Betty reached up to touch his forehead, "You're hallucinating."
"I know what I saw, Betty," he knocked her hand away, "You kicked some guy's ass, tied him up, and then rode off like it was no big deal...you've been all kinds of tired lately, which isn't at all like you. You come to school with bruises you can't explain."
Betty looked at the ceiling, "Arch, have you recently hit your head?"
"Don't," he shook his head, "Don't dismiss me. I've been thinking about this for hours. I know what I saw. Betts, what's going on?"
Betty sighed, "Lock my door."
"What?" Archie looked at her in bewilderment.
"Lock the bedroom door and window," she scooted over, "Take off your shoes, and lay next to me."
"Betty, I'm not going to be distracted by sex," Archie replied.
"Good, because you're not getting any," Betty said, "Just do what I said."
Archie sighed and did as she asked. Once he was laying down Betty took his hand, "I will tell you everything in the morning, okay?"
"What? No," Archie protested, "I want answers now."
"I know," Betty nodded, "But we need clear heads. Sleep first."
"If you think I'm going to just forget about this..." Archie began.
"I promise to explain it all in the morning," Betty replied, "I just have to make a phone call first."
"Cheryl?"
"Nana," Betty told him.
"Nana?" he repeated in surprise.
"Nana," Betty responded shortly, "Go to sleep and keep quiet. We're lucky my parents haven't broken down the door already."
"Okay," Archie nodded, "Goodnight."
"Arch, will this change us?" Betty asked hesitantly.
"I don't know, Betty," Archie replied, "I can't know until I know what's going on."
"Right," Betty said in a small voice.
"Go to sleep," Archie said.
Betty tried for a while to fall asleep but worst case scenarios ran through her head. She could only hope that when she told him the truth in the morning he wouldn't hate her forever.
-:-:-:-
Betty got out of bed and grabbed her phone before she slipped into her bathroom, dialing Nana's line at Thornhill.
"Elizabeth, my dear, it's early," Rose answered on the second ring. "Is everything okay?"
"Archie saw me last night," Betty stated, "He's confronted me. I put him off for a few hours, but he'll want answers this morning. What should I tell him?"
"The same thing I told Cheryl's grandfather when he confronted me," Rose said, "The truth."
"You want me to tell him about our operations, everything?" Betty gasped.
"Sweetheart, do you trust him?" Rose asked.
"All my life," Betty nodded.
"Then tell him," Rose said, "After that bring him to the Nest."
"He's going to want to help," Betty stated.
"So did my husband," Rose replied, "And we found a way to keep him involved yet out of harm's way."
"I'll see you soon," Betty said before she hung up. She took a breath and re-entered her bedroom where Archie was sitting up in her bed looking around, "Hi."
"You're still here," Archie said, "I thought maybe you'd split."
"Had to make a call," Betty said quietly, sitting down in front of him, "Okay, here goes. It started the night of the Back to School dance..."
Archie listened to her narrate what became an increasingly unbelievable tale about becoming a nighttime vigilante alongside Cheryl Blossom. The more he heard, the more he wondered if he ever knew her at all.
When she was done, she looked at him, biting her lip. She nodded after a moment, thinking he was looking for a way to tell her they couldn't be together because he didn't trust her anymore and decided to make it easy on him, "I get it. No hard feelings. Just don't say anything to anyone."
"You've told me the how of it all," Archie stated, "Now you need to tell me the why."
"Because I don't want to see Riverdale overrun by the criminal element. I want women like myself to feel safe walking down the streets and not have to worry about getting mugged," Betty stated, "I want to be able to walk home from a dance alone and not see a store being busted into."
Archie nodded, "I can understand that, but why didn't you tell me when it started?"
"You knew your mom's dad, right? He was around when we were kids?"
"Okay?" Archie was unsure of where she was heading.
"Did he ever mention anyone named Proud Angel to you?" Betty asked.
"Once or twice," Archie nodded, "Grandma usually shut him up. She didn't like those stories. They reminded her too much of comic books. He did tell me that she disappeared one day and was never seen again."
"Oh, she was seen," Betty said, "Usually at the same fundraisers your grandparents went to."
"I don't follow," Archie frowned in confusion.
"Proud Angel was Cheryl's Nana Rose," Betty explained.
"What?" Archie gasped. "How is that even possible? She's been confined to a wheelchair for as long as we've known her."
"She was injured," Betty stated, "She went out one night when she was mentally compromised and it cost her. She's not paralyzed, but as she got older, she got weaker."
"Are you saying you could end up like Nana Rose? Injured and wheelchair bound?" Archie's brain immediately went to the worst case scenario.
"Calm down," Betty said, "That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that for all the years she did it and all the years that followed, no one knew it was her behind the mask. Part of doing this is keeping it a secret."
"But you could have trusted me," Archie insisted.
"This has nothing to do with my trust in you," Betty stated, "I was bound by the agreement I made with Cheryl and Nana."
"And you're willingly spending time with Cheryl Blossom," Archie stated.
"Yes," Betty nodded, "Oddly enough, she's not so bad once you get passed the HBIC attitude she presents to most people."
"Betty," Archie shot her a 'come on' look.
"I'm serious," Betty said, "I think half the reason she's like that is because of Penelope."
"No argument there," Archie conceded, "She seems like a horrible woman."
"She is," Betty stated, "In more ways than you know...I tried to keep you at a distance at first, Arch. I didn't want to lie to you, but I also knew I couldn't tell you everything. It killed me to stay away, and I caved quickly. Having this time with you as my boyfriend has been the best time of my life, and I hope with time, after you've processed all of this, maybe we can keep some sort of relationship. I guess it will be up to you what kind of relationship that will be."
Archie took her hand and leaned forward, "I love you, Betty."
Betty stared at him, "You do?"
"Most of my life, so I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you too," Betty leaned against him, their foreheads connecting, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"I know," he caressed her chin, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "It stings. I'm not going to pretend it doesn't, but from here on out, I need you to trust me...trust that I'll keep your secrets."
Betty sighed in relief.
"So, what happens now?" he asked.
Betty checked her watch, "You get the hell out of here before anyone notices the ladder I'm assuming you used to get up here last night. Go home, shower, have breakfast with your dad, and then tell him you and I are going out."
"Do I get to ride on your bike?" he chuckled.
"Maybe if you play your cards right," she teased.
Archie went to the window, pausing for a moment before he spun towards her. He pulled her in his arms and kissed her until she went weak in the knees.
"Be careful," she managed to get out as he climbed out the window and down the ladder. She stuck her head out to watch and waved once he was on the ground. Then she closed her window and made sure her door was unlocked before she went to get dressed.
-d-d-d-d-d-
"You're getting pretty good at driving that bike of yours," Archie said, "I only feared for my life once this time."
"Ha ha," she gave him a playful shove as she took his hand.
"Where are we?" he took in their surroundings.
"We call this our nest," Betty explained.
"It's a closely guarded secret," a new voice said, "Or it was."
"Morning, Cher," Betty said to the redhead.
"You breathe a word of this to anyone, Red, and you'll be the end of the Andrews line. Got that," Cheryl threatened him before she went to the door and pressed her eye against the iris scan.
"What were you saying about her not being so bad?" Archie whispered.
"You have to prove you're trustworthy first."
"Welcome to the Nest," Cheryl waved dramatically towards their workout space.
"Wow," Archie glanced around at the state of the art equipment, "How do you afford all of this?"
"You're kidding, right?" Cheryl snorted.
"Luckily, Nana controls most of the purse strings in the Blossom family," Betty said, "Is she here yet?"
"She'll join us shortly. It's her monthly bridge/brunch Saturday," Cheryl said.
"I'll give you the tour," Betty snatched Archie's hand, "This, of course, is the workout area. We've got a recovery area through those doors. That's where we treat our bumps and bruises."
"Over there is the tech room," Cheryl motioned towards another area of the space, "That's Betty's primary domain. She's been adding a bunch of toys to our uniforms. They're surprisingly useful."
"Speaking of, I started a run last night. Did it get any hits?"
"I just got here, like you," Cheryl reminded her, "I haven't looked yet."
"It can wait a few," Betty said, "Over here is the kitchen. We try to keep it as stocked as possible. Back here are the showers and bedrooms. The bedrooms are new. Cheryl and I decided that we needed them on nights when we were too exhausted and noticeably banged up to make it home."
"Our ops center is in the rafters," Cheryl motioned to the pilot house built above the space, "We use it to monitor each other when we're out patrolling. We trade off nights so we don't burn out."
"You were together last night," Archie pointed out.
"For a special reason," Betty stated. She was about to elaborate but Cheryl cut her off.
"You may be trusting of this red-headed menace, but we've got a ways to go before I will," Cheryl stated, "Until then, he doesn't need to know every detail of our operations."
"Understood," Betty nodded before mouthing 'sorry' to Archie who nodded, "Come with me. I'll show you where I sleep when I don't go home at night."
"No hanky panky up there," Cheryl called after them, "Don't think I'm above turning the hose on you two."
"Yes, Mom," Betty said sarcastically.
Cheryl rolled her eyes, "I'll be working out like we had planned. Don't mind me."
"I'll join you in a bit," Betty vowed.
"Can I watch?" Archie asked.
"You can join if Nana gives the okay," Betty sat down on the bed she'd claimed and motioned for Archie to join her, "Sorry about Cheryl's remark. I don't tell her anything so she teases me in hopes that I'll confess to something. She doesn't believe that I have nothing to confess to."
"Yeah, Jug thinks we're doing the dirty too," Archie chuckled.
Betty flopped back, "We're fifteen and yes, we've known each other a long time, but we just started dating. The only one who believes me when I say we're not doing anything is Veronica."
"Score one for Veronica," Archie chuckled.
"So, what do you think of this space?" Betty asked.
"It's incredible," Archie replied, "It's like every gym rat's dream space."
"I think we might have some stuff you can wear," Betty said, "We buy unisex gym shorts, and we have a bunch of old t-shirts from every high school in a fifty-mile radius."
"Do I want to know why?" Archie asked.
"Donations from the Blossom family," Betty said with an elegant wave of her hand.
"Are you guys hiring help?" Archie asked, "You could use some muscle, right?"
"You do remember Cheryl flipping Reggie over her shoulder the other day, right? We've got some muscle of our own," Betty said, "But I'll talk to them both."
"I could be a third person to patrol," Archie offered, "Take some of the heat off of you."
"Arch, no," Betty shook her head, "That's not going to happen, not any time soon. It took me months of hard-core training before Cheryl even let me catch a whiff of the streets."
"Betts, no offense, I think I'm a little ahead of you in training," Archie said, "I've been boxing for how long?"
"That sounds like a bit of a challenge," Betty stated, "And yes, you've been boxing since you were knee high, but there is a world of difference between hitting a bag and taking on a guy wanting to do you harm."
"I've gone up against a few of those on the football field."
"Big difference," Betty said, "As far as I know, none of those guys have guns."
"So, you want to challenge me?" Archie asked.
"I think you need to see what it takes to do what we do," Betty stated, "I need to warn you. When we get into the ring, it's no holds barred. Anything goes. Out on the streets, they don't follow any rules or codes of conduct, so we can't either. One rule Cheryl and I do have, no guns."
"Solid rule," Archie nodded, "So, when do I get to go round with one of you?"
"I'll let you and Cher duke it out while I talk to Nana," Betty decided, "Just try to forget the fact that she's a girl, okay?"
"Kind of hard, when she's got all those breasts," Archie replied.
"Typical guy response," Betty rolled her eyes, "Cheryl is going to wipe the floor with you."
"Yeah, right," Archie scoffed.