Eclipsed

Crescent Moon

(Jughead's POV)
It was relatively silent in Fred Andrew's hospital room. Betty was asleep, curled up against me. Archie, too, was asleep, in the chair next to his father. Veronica was out getting coffee, so the only sound was the heart rate monitor, beeping steadily. Suddenly, a shadow flickered in the doorway. I glanced up, watching silently as Stiles Stilinski tripped over his own foot, and barely managed to keep a tray full of thermometers from breaking on the floor. "Hey. FBI guy. Do you want something?" I whispered.
"Yeah. Where's the rest of your Scooby crew? I need to check in with Ms. Blossom before I go back to Pop's and do FBI stuff." He elongated the 'f', running a hand through his already messy hair.
"I don't know where Cheryl is, but Veronica probably does. She'll be back any minute now with coffee." I gestured towards a chair, and Stiles sat, pulling out his phone. "Texting your girlfriend?" I asked, curiosity consuming me.
"Yeah. Lydia. She's been a little overprotective recently but considering my job requires getting shot at, I can understand." Stiles smiled. It was a small smile - the one I had seen a million times when people were talking about someone or something they cared about.
"Alright, I have to go. Get some sleep. You are no help to me whatsoever if you're cranky." Stiles stood and began to exit.
"Hey, FBI guy," I called after him. "You got an Archie Andrews?" I asked, motioning towards my unconscious best friend.
"Yeah. His name is Scott McCall. He's more my brother than my best friend, but I have an Archie Andrews of my own. Pretty much perfect, you know? When I was your age, it seemed like he never made one mistake. And I always did. I had to make mistakes, get my hands bloody. I was human. In every way that mattered, he wasn't. But I love him." Stiles looked wistful, so much so that I wanted to ask him why. But just like that, he turned back with the same sarcastic smile. "Maybe one day you'll meet him." And just like that, he was gone.

(Stiles' POV)

I sat on the floor next to the vending machine, back against the wall. The hospital was relatively quiet, especially compared to Beacon Memorial. Riverdale was a small town - smaller than Beacon Hills, but the same unsettling feeling I got whenever something was amiss was present. A light tapping noise broke through my reverie. I glanced up to see Veronica Lodge walking down the hallway towards me, her heels clicking against the linoleum tiles. "Agent Stilinski." She dipped her head at me in acknowledgment.
"Ms. Lodge." I began. "Can I call you Veronica?" I asked. She nodded. "I apologize if I'm acting slightly odd around you. The FBI motto is 'Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity', and to be perfectly honest, I'm not feeling incredibly brave right now." I swallowed hard, looking up at her. "You, Veronica Lodge, are the daughter of an incredibly successful man. Your mother is beautiful and smart, and when I was your age, I would have done anything to have your life - father arrested and all. My mother passed away when I was young, and my father is a sheriff." Veronica's lips parted, reaching towards me. I smiled but moved away. "Now, please spare me the pitying looks. My father got paid barely above minimum wage, and that is the life I am used to. I went to a good high school, I had good friends. I didn't stay out of danger, but I got through my teens, got accepted to Georgetown, and the pre-FBI program. Graduated as the youngest in the Agency. And over the past four years, I have been taught that men like your father are quote-unquote 'bad men'. I don't believe that. But I don't want my children to grow up the same way I did, so I hope you'll forgive me if I don't come over for family dinner." I was standing now, facing her.
"I do. I forgive you." This was Veronica, looking up at me, jaw set. "I don't condone what my father did, and I don't want him to come here. This is my life now, and I've learned to deal with it. I've learned to deal with the mistrust that comes with the last name 'Lodge'. I hold nothing against you, but what I think we both need to acknowledge is that we are not here to be friends. You are here to solve the attempted murder of Fred Andrews, the father of my boyfriend. I am here to help you." Another voice rang through the hallway.
"No, Ms. Lodge. I'm here to help him."

The woman walking toward me was beautiful, in the same way, that art was beautiful. She was no Lydia, but she had blonde hair, blue eyes, and an FBI jacket slung around her shoulders. "Hailey Grayson. FBI. I have been assigned to the Fred Andrews case with Agent Stilinski here. What I would like to know is why you haven't been questioned yet." She turned towards me, and I stifled a gasp. Her eyes were the same blue as Malia, Derek, and Peter. The blue of a werewolf.
"I was thinking we should question Cheryl Blossom first. Speaking of, Ms. Lodge, would you point me in her direction." I put all my emphasis on the two words that mattered the most. I had asked to call her Veronica. Her eyes widening in understanding, she pivoted.
"I think Cheryl is that way. Agent Stilinski. Agent Grayson." And just like that, she was gone.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked, turning towards Hailey Grayson.
"Your new partner. Shall we find Ms. Blossom, or would you just like to stand here chit-chatting?" She strode away, her blonde ponytail bouncing.

"You know, when you're drowning, you don't actually inhale until right before you black out. It's called voluntary apnea. It's like no matter how much you're freaking out, the instinct to not let any water in is so strong that you won't open your mouth until you feel like your head's exploding. Then, when you finally let it in, that's when it stops hurting. It's not scary anymore. It's actually kind of peaceful." I rambled.
"You are just full of interesting facts, aren't you, Agent Stilinski." The blonde smiled grimly.
"Indeed. But you know, you are too. Just like the fact that you're a werewolf."

(A/N) ......wow. Ok, let's recap. Jughead and Stiles bond. Stiles is his awkward self. Stiles is looking for Cheryl because...? Stiles texting Lydia. Stiles telling Jughead about Lydia and Scott. Stiles and Veronica talk and come to an understanding. Stiles' new partner shows up. Stiles rambles about voluntary apnea and drowning. (shout out to my teen wolf fans). Stiles' new partner is a werewolf. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!

xoxo,

- e