Kill For A Drink

Chapter 2: The flowers that talk

When the first morning light came through Jughead's window he smiled. Archie might prefer to close the blinds and the curtains, but there was a certain beauty in it, that he was afraid his roommate would never understand.

It was a bit magnificent he always thought. To rise from sleep at the same time as the sun. To wake along with the country. He stretched, his bones cracked and he moaned in relief. He twisted around, allowing for the light to completely shower him.

He smiled enjoying the warmth of his covers and the sun hitting his face in contrast to his chilly room. Memories of last night made him hide his face in his pillow. He laughed quietly half amused and half embarrassed at how he had acted.

God. What was this woman doing to him? Feeling like a teenager he hugged the pillow along with a handful of his covers, burying himself in them. He couldn't stop his racing heart or the butterflies in his stomach. As if he could feel his excitement, Hot Dog galloped in, his nails scratching the wooden floor. He jumped onto the bed, tail wagging happily.

"Hey, boy. Didn't see you last night. Did you miss me?"

Jughead laughed when the dog licked his face in reply, his tail wagling happily. Jughead hugged him and petted his rough fur. He'd have to talk to Jellybean about brushing him more often.

"I know" he sighed cradling his face. "I missed you too"

He was supposed to take him with him when he moved out three years ago but he and Vegas didn't get along all that well. And after losing Fred, Archie just couldn't let go of Vegas.

Hot Dog whined, sensing Jughead's slight change in mood and licking him on the chin. The man nuzzled his face against his dog's head.

"Come on" he whispered to his ear. "Let's get something to eat"

Hot Dog barked, scrambling to get off the bed and out the door. Jughead dragged his own legs off the bed. A shiver ran down his spine at the cold floor. With his toes, he pulled the slippers closer.

He grabbed his robe, pulling it over his shoulders. He rubbed his eyes making his way to the kitchen. He was surprised to be met with the smell of bacon and eggs frying. He pushed the door open to find his dad hunched over a frying pan.

Hot Dog clawed on his leg until the older man relented tossing him a piece of bacon.

"Dad?"

His father looked over his shoulder and smiled.

"Hey, boy. Brewed you some coffee"

"Thanks" Jughead mumbled heading towards the coffee pot. There was a mug pulled out and half empty. He frowned and opened the cabinet to get a new one.

"How long have you been awake?" He questioned the man just a few inches away from him. FP sighed but didn't answer. Jughead took notice of the dark circles under his eyes and his pale skin.

He felt the mug fill, the hot liquid warming his palm through the glass. "Nightmare?" He guessed.

He was met with more silence so he took that as a yes. He took a big sip and set the cup down. He grabbed the three plates his father had left on the counter and went to set them on the table.

"Move a bit" he mumbled to his dad. "I need to grab the utensils"

The man scooted over to allow his son to access the drawer. Jughead was able to detect the smallest signs of pain that quickly crossed his father's face when he put weight on his left leg.

"You should sit" he placed the utensils on the counter and touched FP's shoulders gently steering him towards the table.

"I'm fine" FP growled and Jughead rolled his eyes at his father's stubbornness. But he knew he wouldn't budge.