The Serpent Twin

Bah Humbug

"Thank you Sheriff Keller." I mumbled as I opened my last check. That night in jail was the last straw for Pop. I walked over and sat down across from Jughead. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Thanks to our wonderful sheriff. I lost my job." I told him slamming the check on the table. "Thank you Sheriff Keller." I mumbled as my phone buzzed. "Ugh I gotta go. Your dad needs me." I told him and stood up. "What does she have you guys doing? He won't tell me anything." He asked and I sighed. "That's what you get for not consulting anymore before crawling in bed with the snake charmer... don't feel bad. I don't tell Sweets anything either." With that said I turned on my heel and walked out of Pops.

Getting to the Wyrm I walked in to see Toni, Fangs, and Sweet Pea wrapping presents. "The only thing I actually like about Christmas." I told them. I stood next to Sweet Pea as I grabbed a boxed Barbie doll and started to wrap it. "I love when you wrap things. It's so professional." He said aloud and I smiled looking over at his box. "Oh honey." I said "you're using way to much tape. How do you except the kid to unwrap it? A switch blade?" Our friends laughed and Sweet Pea rolled his eyes.

Jughead walked in and put the now wrapped doll next to me, as he talked to Toni. FP and Tall Boy walked down the steps and I ignored them until I heard "Effy. You're with us." I nodded and winked at Sweet Pea before walking after them.

--

I slammed the door behind me and trudged up the small set of stairs. I've been crashing at Sweet Pea's lately since I didn't want to be home. Course he doesn't care and has always opened his home to me and I the same. I kicked my shoes off before flopping into the bed. I sighed in relief as the heat kicked on and I smiled to myself as I cuddled into the blankets. I heard the door open downstairs and heavy stomps up the little roundabout stairs before opening the door. "Go away." I said closing my eyes. the bed dipped and I was pulled into a cold body. Smelling the after shave and cologne I smiled and cuddled into him. "Come to the Quarry with me." He spoke running a hand through my hair.

"Pass." I mumbled. "Baby." He said sternly and I looked at him raising an eyebrow. "The fuck you talkin to with that attitude?" I asked and he rolled his eyes. I turned out of his grip so my back was against him. "I'm not going." I mumbled and he sighed. "Come on. I'm not leaving you alone tonight. I know how you get." He whispered to me rubbing my arm. "I'll make hot chocolate tonight. Mini marshmallows and peppermint liquor. Your favorite. We can watch movies and cuddle. Then I can give you your present." He told me and kissed my head.

"Fine." I mumbled and sat up. He smirked and kissed my lips before climbing out of bed. Handing me my shoes he dashed to my closet. He grabbed the serpent jacket that I had sewed fur into and handed it to me after I pulled my shoes on. "Yes go." He said rushing me.

-
Getting to the Quarry I sat with my legs on Sweet Pea and I picked at my nails as Jughead said "Penny Peabody has got my dad dealing drugs." My head snapped to him. The fuck does he think he's doing.

"I know this, 'cause she had me doing it before him. Now, she's roped in Tall Boy and Effy." They all looked at me and I scoffed. "Jonesy, if you're pissed because our father tapped me instead of you.." I was cut off by Jughead. "No, Baby. I'm pissed because I don't want the Serpents to end up like the Ghoulies. And I doubt that any of you became Serpent just to be at the beck and call of a drug queen pin. I know where this ends. Death. Jail. Which is why in the interest of self-preservation, we have to take out Penny."

"Snake Charmer's helped some of us." Sweet Pea snapped. "Oh, yeah? And what did she ask for in return, Sweet Pea, huh? How many favors?" Jughead asked and I rolled my eyes. "Now, if we don't stop Penny tonight, she is going to get every single one of us in on this. I promise you. I promise you, Effy. What I am asking is, are you willing to risk your necks to save my dad's life?" Jughead asked.

"What is the first law?" Toni asked standing up. "No Serpent stands alone." Sweet Pea said and made me move my legs as he stood up, "I'm in." He turned to me and I sighed frustrated. "Fine." I took his hand he offered and he pulled me up. "Me, too." Fangs said joining us. "Let's do this." Jughead said smirking.

Going back to my bed I laid under the covers. Deciding on a nap I closed my eyes to drift off.
-

"Babe!?" Sweet Pea yelled out rushing up the stairs. He looked around his empty bedroom until he heard the hushed sobs. Going to the bed he kneeled down seeing the girl he was practically in love with sobbing into her hand. "Hey." He whispered and she looked at him. "Pea?" She asked and he nodded. "I don't want to be on my own." Baby told him and he bit the inside of his cheek.

"You don't have to babe. Come on out." He tried to coax her but she scooted back more. "If I come out it goes back to being just me." She told him crying softly. "We gotta go baby." He told her but she shook her head. "Stay." She cries to him but he sighed. "I gotta go baby. I'll come back I promise." He told her and she nodded. Reaching an arm out he did the same. Interlocking their fingers before he got up. The door closed softly and then the door downstairs slammed. Once she was alone the sobs began again.

—
I curled up on my bed as a knock came to my door. "Babe?" I heard and looked up to see Sweet Pea with two mugs. I leaned up and he walked over handing me one. "To shitty families," I mumbled and he chuckled clanking his mug with mine. "Can we invite everyone else?" I whispered and he smiled. He kissed my head and said, "already did."

The door slammed downstairs and income Toni, Jughead, and Fangs. Fangs held a flat screen TV. Toni came over and hugged me kissing my cheek. We all climbed into my bed. I sat between Fangs and Toni while I laid back on Sweet Pea. Jughead sat at the foot of the bed as 'Elf' played on the tv.
—
After everyone left Sweet Pea and I had sex. We laid in bed as the next day came. "Sweets." I whispered and he turned to me. "Can I say something crazy?" I asked and he gave me a weird look. "I want to be with you. Every day, like this."

Sweet Pea smiled and leaned over kissing me. "I want to be with you to baby." He told me and I smiled widely. "You're my best friend. I really like you." He continued and tucked hair behind my ear. "Be my girl?" He asked and I nodded. I leaned over and kissed him softly. Pulling back he grabbed my making me laugh as he pulled me to him and kissed me again.