Alphabet ≫ Jarchie

A is for Altruistic

Altruistic- showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

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"Would you stop doing that!" Archie yelled at the taller boy. They were in a heated argument. Lately all they had were heated arguments. Lately, Archie's fists were clenched in restrained frustration and hurt while Jughead's fingers ran busily and hopelessly through his dark, beautiful hair.

"I'm not doing anything! You're the one yelling me at for no reason!" Jughead claimed, shouting right back at the fiery redhead. He was wrong this time. He knew it. In fact, he knew he was in the wrong every time they started fighting, yelling and shouting at each other until there was nothing left to say, until the silence did more to drive them apart than their constant bickering.

"You keep pushing me away! I don't understand it! You don't want my love, it's obvious. Why don't you just admit that and stop breaking my heart every time you walk out the door?" Archie snapped back, his voice raising in pitch after saying what he's wanted to say for weeks now. Tears threatened his eyes as he stared at the man in front of him desperately, knowing that however Jughead decided to respond could dictate their future.

Jughead didn't do a thing but stare at him as blankly as he always did. A sliver of him thought that maybe it was best to let Archie fall out of love with him. It was best to let twenty-five years of knowing each other and ten years of dating each other go to waste. Jughead didn't think he was worth Archie's affection anymore. It was all starting to add up in his mind, the perfect plot to a perfect story where Archie came out on top and Jughead, like every villain, collapsed in a pile of ruin and defeat because he deserved it.

That was just a sliver of him, though.

The rest of him was screaming out, gasping for air and lurching forwards towards the boy he gave his heart to since the day they first met. The rest of him was itching for the redhead's smile and his soft, pretty laughter that filled the air with silver and gold. The rest of him wanted to crawl into Archie's safe arms. He wanted to sob into his chest and gush about how special the redhead was and how special Jughead was not. He wanted to tell him that he loved him, he wanted to explain why he was being so distant, why he shoved and pushed and kicked and screamed at the man who was his everything. He hated the scowl that rented a spot on his lover's face, and he hated how defeated they both felt.

Archie just deserved better and Jughead had never been selfish enough to deny Archie from doing better.

"You're not even going to answer me," Archie said incredulously before hanging his head down and turning away. "Stupid of me to assume that you would," he mumbled under his breath.

"Baby," Jughead said exasperatedly, not knowing what else to do. He just didn't know how to explain what he was feeling.

"I'm going to stay over at V's for a few days," Archie suggested dryly. The emotion that riddled his voice a few minutes ago was gone and now it was left lifeless and empty.

"No," Jughead said quickly, his voice urgent. Archie snapped his head up at that. At least it was something. "You don't need to go. This is your home," he whined. "It's our home," he added quietly.

Archie stared at him in disbelief before turning away from him again and clambering into the bedroom. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't take Jughead's carelessness and then his sudden neediness. He couldn't take staring at the blank canvas that became the face of the love of his life. He just couldn't do it anymore. It was obvious to him that Jughead didn't love him anymore.

Jughead cursed under his breath as he took off after him. He watched with helpless eyes from the doorway as Archie pulled one of the suitcases from the closet and laid it calmly on the bed. "Archie..." he trailed off, still not knowing what to say or do. Archie ignored him as he started pulling out drawers and stuffing random clothes into the small box of despair that he'd be taking with him to Veronica's apartment.