Jughead POV:
The door creaked as I opened it cautiously, wincing as I found, much to my dismay, my little boy face down against his pillow. His cries were muffled, but the sudden movements in his body made it all the more obvious that he had a lot on his mind.
I cleared my throat, causing Ash to jolt upright. He shook his head rapidly, rubbing his eyes furiously while he sniffled.
"Mom told me you wanted to talk. You don't have to put on a brave face, bud.". It tore my heart apart seeing him distraught, but I didn't want him to feel as if he had to be tough.
"You don't have to hide how you feel. Tell me honestly... Are you okay?".
"N-No. Daddy, I'm r-really scared.", he cried, jumping out of bed and leaping up onto me, holding himself up with his arms hugging my neck and his legs around my torso.
I tried to hush him, rubbing his upper back soothingly while I patted his head. My neck gradually became more and more wet, Ashton's breathing still irregular and stifled.
"Let's sit and talk about what's going on. Mom didn't tell me anything, but she seemed relatively certain that my presence would do the trick.".
"Dad, I feel like something bad is coming for u-us. What if something h-happens to you guys?".
"Now, why would you think anything would happen? We're safe here. You're safe with me, I promise you.".
"I don't doubt you, Daddy.", he stated firmly. "B-But that car that was following us earlier startled me, and now I'm hearing noises a-and I'm s-scared.".
"Oh... Ash, don't worry. The car thing was a coincidence. I've never seen that car before in my life. That's a good sign! And the noises is just the rain, I promise. Everything is going to be fine.", I affirmed.
"However, I want you to come talk to me whenever you feel like this, okay? If you're ever worried that your safety may be compromised, you come tell me so that I can fix it. Promise me.".
He nodded, continuing to chew on his lip harshly before I reached up to unhook his teeth from it.
He needs a distraction.
"How about this?", I said. "Nothing is going to happen, I promise, but if something does happen, you'll become the man of the house. You'll look after your sisters and keep them safe. Would you want to do that?".
His eyes began to gleam, his mouth forming an enthusiastic grin.
"Y-You mean I'll have a big boy job? T-That's a lot, and I'm smaller than Lola and Trin.".
"Mhm. Yes, it is. It's a big boy job for a big boy, like you, but you don't have to take it up if you don't want to. And yes, they are bigger than you are, but they still need you. I know it's a lot of pressure-".
"I wanna do it!", he exclaimed. "I-I wanna make you proud, Daddy.".
"You make me proud anyways, Ash. You don't have to do anything more.".
"I know, but it'll make me feel like I'm doing something important. I-I'll do my best.".
~~
"How'd it go with Ash? Is he okay?", Betty asked, placing a bookmark into her book before she closed it and set it gently beside her on the bed.
I sighed, smiling and nodding as I sat on my side of the bed. I lifted the soft blanket, slipping underneath with a shudder, hoping at least my body would warm up after a few minutes.
"Yeah. I think so. I assured him that he was safe... And then I told him that if something happened, which it wouldn't, that he would become the man of the house and would look after his sisters.".
"Jug! Why would you ask him to do that? He's not even 8 years old yet!".
"Betty, he was still anxious, and he needed a distraction. It worked! I told him that he didn't have to, but he insisted on it. Besides, nothing is going to happen. We're just fine. Like you said, he's little. Of course he's paranoid. I know I was at his age. This little task I gave him also gave him confidence.".
"I suppose you have a point. As long as he's happy, that's all that matters.". I watched as Betty's lips perked to the side when she reached over to turn off her bedside lamp. She then snuggled under her blanket, huddling closer and laying her head on my chest.
"I know we don't have any reasonable proof to assume anything, but do you really believe that we're safe, Jug? I mean, I've never seen that car before...".
"I don't know, Betty. I really can't be sure. Then again, can you ever really be sure?".
