Falice oneshots At Midnight

Identical Action

(Spoilers for season 4x1 and 4x2.)

He saw the signs, like anybody would; as the town's sheriff he picked up on signals. He kept his eyes on Reggie's behavior after he told Cheryl to shutdown her party. He saw as the boy staggered away, reeking of alcohol.

"Mantle!" The boy looked up with his sluggish eyes. He chuckled," Heyyy, Mr. Jones."

His eye brows raised at the blackened circles forming around his eyes," Mantle..." His tone became softer, less hard than before.

"What?" Reggie asked, lowering his tone as well. He caught his eyes, and chuckled," Oh, that's a gift from a fight on the field." The lie slipped through his lips, struggled behind the truth.

FP knew the signs all to clear," Really on the field?" He started interrogating.

Reggie nodded," Yes, can I go, Sir?" He slurs, trying to keep the truth locked away.

FP shook his head," No, not until I get the truth. I know that wasn't from football, Mantle."

Reggie rolled his eyes," Whatever, Man. I have to get back before school tomorrow." He shrugged off.

He started turning away. FP caught on, stopping him with his hands on his shoulders," You're not going anywhere, Mantle. Would you like to spend the night in the slammer?"

The boy shrunk a little, avoiding the elder's sharp eyes. He could feel the heat from the man's eyes on him, burning into him. Had Archie babbled on him? He wasn't sure, nor did he want to believe Andrews would betray his trust.

"No, I-" He caught himself short," Has Andrews said anything?"

FP looked at the boy in front of him with sheer - what looked like worry. Reggie hadn't seen someone other than Fred care for anybody like that.

"No." He said honestly. He rubbed his neck," Is there anything I should know?"

Reggie thought for a second. Just for a second if he could trust FP Jones. He was an South-sider. What would he know about his relationship with Marty Mantle? He still didn't favor the guy. He didn't start trouble with the man's son anymore. He decided to put the North-south-side rivalry behind him.

"No, Sheriff Jones." He almost cursed himself for giving in. He did want to tell what he had gone through. That he had been abused by his father since- well as long as he could recall."I'm gonna call Andrews to give me a lift home."

FP tilted his hat to the side," Are you sure? I can give you a ride home. I wouldn't mind." He pauses for a moment," Look, I know we've haven't cared for one another, but I was just let you know. You can talk to me, only if you want." He felt like a nervous kid.

He had this feeling he couldn't shake. It was burning into his veins. He had seen the signs. The bruised eye didn't counteract against his theory. He had thought back to last year. The game.

He heard Betty throw Marty under the bus, but he didn't react. Until that day he hadn't thought Marty could ever to such a thing.

"Alright, fine, you can give me a ride." Reggie's voice shook slightly.

He knew his father would be there. A part of him wanted the man caught in the act. The other part just wanted his father to stop and notice he was in the wrong. And way way deep down he knew Sheriff Jones had offered for another reason, but he didn't know yet.

"What's your address, kid?" FP asked, searching the area.

Reggie bit back a cry for help, and instead said," 202 34th hill dr."