one-shots || bughead + sprousehart

"you, you are not a burden betty cooper." - bughead

J U G H E A D

I was sitting on Betty's bed, her head laid down on my lap, her blonde hair spread out over my legs. She was silently reading her book, softly laughing at points.

I was simply scrolling through some old photos on my phone, feeling all the memories of he past year come back.

Betty and I haven't seen each other in a while because I was always running around with the serpents, and she had been busy with the black hood.

I've noticed she became more distant lately, and noticeably closer to Archie which gave a sting in my heart. I know she doesn't love him that way anymore, but I couldn't help but feel envy at the two.

However here we finally were, together, cuddling on her pink bed. I felt happy for the first time in very long.

Betty suddenly placed her book next to her and turned her head up to face me. I smiled down at her, placing my phone next to her book. "I love you." She murmured, snuggling into my lap.

I cradled her with my arms. "I love you too." I replied, taking my hands through her blonde locks.

"Gotta pee now." She then said, giggled, and got up from the bed. I laughed as she sauntered to the bathroom, my eyes following her until the door was shut. 

The ringing of her phone then startled me.

Lollipop lollipop
Oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop, lollipop

Betty didn't seem to hear, so I turned the phone around and noticed it was an anonymous ID.

With a little hesitation I answered the phone and held it by my ear. "Betty." A deep, brooding voice said, unrecognizable.

I shivered at the sound. "I hope you did what I asked." He then continued. I gasped in silence, not wanting to expose I wasn't Betty.

"You're not going to respond? I control you Betty." The voice said, snickering lightly. I felt my heart sting.

Why didn't she tell me about this? Who was blackmailing her?

"I'm the black hood, remember?" I gasped into the phone, feeling my blood started to boil.

"What the fúck!?" My voice was grizzly and scary, but I didn't care. "Who the héll do you think you are!?" I then shouted, but the other already person brok the line. 

I felt my body fueled with anger, ready to punch some asshole into the ground. My hands clenched into fists. 

In the corner of my eye I saw Betty hobbling back into the room, stilling in place when she saw the state I was in. "Juggie?" Her voice was confused, "what's wrong?" She asked, inching closer to me. 

I turned around, my eyes glazing over hers. She could see the tears that were pressed up in them. 

I was still clenching her phone in my hand. She noticed it. "What...?" Her voice trailed off, realizing I had found out.

"The black hood is blackmailing  you and you just decided not to tell me about it?" I asked, my mouth finally able to produce words. It might've come over a bit too harsh, but I was upset nevertheless, she could know it.

"Jug.." In a way her voice was pleading. A trail of tears ran down her cheeks. I didn't move, I didn't even flinch, I needed an explanation first. 

"Why not Betty!?" I was practically yelling by now. "I am your boyfriend for god's sake!" My eyes shot fire, but I wasn't mad at her. I was mad at the person behind that mask, mad at the fact that she felt like she couldn't tell me. 

"I wanted to tell you.." She croaked out, her voice weak and thick. Her hands moved up to cup my cheeks, I snatched them away.

I nudged my head angrily in a motion for her to continue. "You've just been busy with the serpents and your dad," She silenced for a moment, "I didn't want to be a burden." 

With those words, my face softened and my fists unclenched themselves. All the anger I felt turned into worry, and love. I didn't move, I just stared at her for a while. 

I saw as Betty dug her fingernails into her palms. I quickly grabbed her hand, uncurled her hands and held them into mine. "Don't do that." I demanded, pressing a kiss on top of her hands.

With our hands laced, I led her to her bed and settled us down on it. Slowly I started pressing loving kisses onto her forehead. 

"You, you are not a burden Betty Cooper." I soothed the words over my tongue. "Whatever problem you have, whatever is bothering you, I want you to come to me. I want to help you and take care you, I need to." She crashed herself into my arms. 

I cradled her warmly, feeling her tears fall down my shirt.  Some psychopath broke my girl, and he is going pay for it. 

"I'm here. I've got you." I whispered, feathering kisses on her hair. Her hands clutched my shirt. 

She was crying like it depended on her dear life, tears flowing down her bare face. "I can't do it anymore Jug, he's torturing me." She said, her voice barely audible. 

"He made me hurt my mom, Veronica, what if you are next? Or Archie?" She said, cautiously looking up to meet my eyes. 

I gave her the weakest smile existing. "I won't let him." I said, pressing my lips softly onto hers. "You're not alone anymore Betts. I swear to god, he'll pay for what he's doing to you." She just nodded and smashed our lips together once more. 

"I'm scared." She mumbled against my lips, releasing them. I secured my arms around her. 

"I know," Her face was bloodshot, her eyes rimmed with tears. "but you don't have to be anymore." I watched as her eyes fell closed. 

And suddenly she felt safe. Safe as his arms sheltered her. Safe as his words repeated in her mind. Safe, just like he promised. 

manon x