Bughead Oneshots

||I need to get her back|| Part 02

The first thing Jughead noticed was a soft beeping. A few moments later, he realized that it was his heartbeat.

Well, at least it was still beating.

That was a good sign.

With a faint groan, his eyes fluttered open and he was finally able to see again. For a startled moment, the only thing he saw was white. Then, eventually, came Betty's face into view — first blurry, then ever so slowly clearer.

"Jug?" Her voice sounded faint, as if she were whispering despite not doing so.

"Hey, can you hear me?" She asked after a few beats and something squeezed his numb hand. Jughead tried to hum but also that sounded drowned out.

A bit later, a doctor came into view — or at least, Jughead thought so, given his white attire. By then, he had a bit more feeling in his body. His ribs ached, his lungs burned, his back protested every move and his head pounded. But following the doctor's questions was easy — look in the light, follow the finger, wiggle your toes, tell me your name, age, the year, what happened. Speaking was hard, his throat was scorched and voice raspy.

"Okay, he's recovering well. Orientation and movement is there, but he's still weak and recovering, so don't overload him" The doctor finished, directed more at Betty than him. She hummed, grabbing his hand once more.

"Yeah, of course" Betty replied.

Once the doctor left again, she turned to face him.

And Jughead already heard the scolding before she started.

"You're unbelievable. Do you know that? Dropping off our children at Archie's and then going after me alone, without backup, without even calling someone. Do you know how reckless that is??" She scolded, the grip on his hand tightening.

"Sorry" Jughead croaked.

"Don't say sorry, you dumbass" Betty continued "You can't just keep doing this, Jug, otherwise you're gonna end up dead! What would have happened if I hadn't freed myself in time and helped you??"

"Sorry" Jughead merely repeated.

"Oh shove your damn apologies elsewhere! What if you had gotten seriously hurt?? Or- Or if they would have actually killed you? And what about that reckless plan of yours to lit the whole place up?? Do you know how stupid that was?? God, seriously, Juggy. Sometimes I debate if you're at the right place of work"

For a while, Jughead just looked at her apologetically before eventually:

"Sorry" He mumbled and Betty sighed, sinking down on the chair next to his bed like a deflated balloon.

"I know" She said, a soft whine entering her tone "But what were you thinking...??"

"You know me, I usually don't when you're of concern"

"I know. But- God, Juggy, you scared me!"

"Hey, you scared me first" Jughead protested, a weak attempt to lighten the situation but she just glared at him "And you know how I get when I'm scared"

"I know. But that's no reason to just abandon everything you've been taught and run after me without telling anyone"

"I know. It was stupid and all. I know that, Betty. I do" Jughead protested before sighing softly "But, please, I didn't think it would end in a fire"

"Because you didn't think at all! You didn't even give Archie and Veronica changing outfits for the kids!"

"I-" He paused, voice smaller now "How are they...?"