ENIGMA → JARCHIE ONESHOT

E N I G M A

JUGHEAD P.O.V

As we're approaching Archie's front door, I begin to feel nervous. I've been planning what I'm going to say to him for days. Rehearsing it in my head whenever I've had the chance. Archie's my best friend, he deserves to know. However, the closer we get to his room, the more nauseous I feel.

I'll just sit him down and tell him straight. Or should I ease him into it? No. It's Archie, he'll be fine with it. I hope.

I enter the bedroom after Archie, making sure to close the door behind me. I intertwine my fingers and try to slow my breathing.

"Hey, um, can we talk?" I ask him, trying to suppress my nerves. He looks over at me. I sit down on the bed and motion for him to sit beside me and he does.

"What's up?" He questions, seeming concerned.

"I- I need to tell you something." My voice hitches and I struggle to speak. I hang my head and rest my arms on my lap, taking a deep breath. Archie waits patiently.

"I'm" I take a deep breath in. "I'm gay." I feel like I can't breathe.

"I know." He puts his hand on my knee reassuringly.

"What?" I look up at him in confusion, my eyebrows furrowed. "How can you know?"

"Jughead. You're my best friend. I've always known." He laughs a little and I relax.

"So, you don't h-" I begin.

"I could never hate you. Honestly Juggie, it's okay. More than okay." He turns to face me, his eyes flickering back and forth from my eyes to my lips.

He begins to lean in, slightly tilting his head. I divert my eyes, trying to look anywhere else. But he keeps leaning until our faces are so close that personal space doesn't even exist. I can feel his breath tickling my skin, causing me to shiver. My throat tightens and I swallow hard.

Archie presses his lips against mine and I forget to breathe. It only lasts a second before he leans back slightly, but we're still so close. He looks up at me with hopeful eyes. My hearts racing and I can't move. It's like I've forgotten how. So we sit like that, paused, for a moment. Archie's still leaning towards me, still looking at me. I gulp hard and hesitantly begin to lean in.

Our lips meet once again and Archie puts his hand on my cheek. Our mouths move against each other and we both begin to pant for air. The kiss is intoxicating. It feels forbidden and addictive.

I could feel a fire rising in my stomach. And in some way, I liked to burn.

***************

The kiss slows until Archie separates the space between us. His hand still on my cheek. I open my eyes and look up, he looks back at me with heavy eyes.

"You know you didn't have to do that just because you feel sorry for me." I tell him bluntly, feeling guilty. I expect him to leave, or be disgusted at what just happened. But instead he smiles at me and puts his hand on mine.

"That was completely voluntary."