Bughead One-shots | Riverdale

"I'm here for you, Jug."

Betty watched FP's retreating figure for a moment before she looked back at her boyfriend, who was stood tense as he also watched his dad walk away. He didn't turn to look at her, or Mr. Andrews and Archie who were both stood back with her. She watched as his hand lifted to wipe his nose and she frowned, sighing as she took a step forwards towards him.

Sometimes Betty couldn't believe how Jughead could still be standing sometimes with everything he'd been through. He was incredibly strong, probably the strongest person she knew, but that didn't mean he couldn't have moments of weakness. After being taken into questioning for the murder of one of his classmates and then having to deal with his alcoholic father afterwards; it was clear he wasn't able to be strong in that moment. He wasn't even facing her and Betty could tell how upset he was. It upset her to know how much emotional pain he was in, and that he couldn't do anything about it.

"Are you okay?" Betty whispered as she approached him, her hand gently resting on his arm as she looked up at him.

Jughead nodded as he sniffed a little, his jaw clenched as he met her gaze with red-rimmed eyes. "Yeah." His voice was hard and quiet, and it gave her the right answer despite what he had said. Betty kept her hand on his arm as she watched his attempt at composing himself; he took a deep breath in through his nose, his jaw muscles remaining tight for a moment before he turned to face the two men stood behind them.

"Thanks for coming Mr. Andrews, Arch," Jughead muttered before he cleared his throat, clearly not meeting either of their gazes. "I'll um, I'll see you back at the house." He nodded before he turned back around and started walking away again.

Betty heard a soft "It's no problem, Jug" from Mr. Andrews as she followed behind Jughead, not wanting him to be alone after everything that had happened in the past hour. He didn't mind her being there, as he took a quick glance at her before he continued walking without saying anything.

His strides were bigger than hers which made it harder to keep up with him as he walked aimlessly with no destination in mind, made clear once they had passed the same street twice within ten minutes. Jughead didn't say anything for a long time, though eventually she could see he was fighting off the tears again. Betty hesitated before she took his larger hand in her's and pulled him towards an empty side road, giving him some privacy before he got too upset.

"Jug." Betty mumbled as she looked up at him, her hand letting go of his as she watched him lean against a wall of a building.

"Why doesn't he care, Betty?" Jughead's voice broke and her heart sank just to hear the pain in his voice. "I don't- I thought he cared about me."

"He does care." Betty said softly, though was only met with a teary scowl in response.

"If he cared then he wouldn't be drinking," Jughead's voice was harsh as he lifted his arm to wipe his eyes with his sleeve once again. "If he cared he'd stop and want me to come home."

"He said he was going to stop, didn't he?"

"He's said that tons of times, it doesn't mean anything anymore. That's just what he says when he feels bad he got caught." Jughead practically spat, kicking a rock that was in front of him to avoid looking Betty in the eye.

Betty watched him for a moment before she sighed and stepped towards him again, frowning a little. "Come here." She whispered and gently pulled him into a hug, which he returned tightly as he let his face nuzzle into her shoulder.

After a moment she felt his fingers grip onto her jacket as he held onto her a little tighter, and felt his shoulders start to shake as he started crying. Betty couldn't do anything but hold him as he cried into her shoulder. She felt almost helpless; just wanting to take his pain away so that he'd be okay. His arms tightened around her again to the point where he was almost hurting her, but Betty only tightened her grip on him too and let him hold onto her. He needed the comfort and to be grounded. He'd been there for her before when she needed him. Now it was her turn to be his rock like he'd been for her.

"I'm sorry about everything with your dad, Juggie," Betty whispered quietly into his temple after a few minutes of letting him cry, her words accompanied with her right palm gently rubbing his back. "I'm your neighbor now, so if you ever need anything I'm just across the street. Okay?"

Jughead sighed and nodded as he cleared her throat, though still didn't let go of her. He only lifted his head enough to see her, and Betty could've sworn she could hear her heart break when she caught sight of his bloodshot eyes and the distraught expression on his face. Despite that she forced a small smile onto her face and lifted her hand to wipe his tears with her thumb, before settling her palm on her cheek.

"I'm here for you, Jug."

"Thank you." He whispered, before he held on to her tighter again as he leaned his head back against her shoulder, still refusing to let her go.