One Shot Collection

I am Damaged (Riverdale)

Kevin Keller, only a sophomore in high school, was going to aid a prison escape. Granted, it was an escape from an inhumane prisoner fight club that was being held in an otherwise abandoned rec center, but still.

God, is this what his life has come to?

The plan was ingenious, if not completely insane. But that was Riverdale for you, and those were his friends.

After Kevin had delivered the 'refreshments' to the fight, he quickly made his way to the end of a sewer pipe that led to the fighting ring. Leaning over, Kevin tried to pull the hatch off to no avail; it was locked.

He abruptly tore his hand from the lock on the side with a huff, giving the gate on last pull in frustration, "Now that is super annoying."

As Kevin straightened up, he noticed a grey figure panting hard as they ran just a few yards in front of him, unaware of his presence. His eyes followed the man who wore entirely light grey sweats until he came into view. Even with a brief glance, Kevin could recognise that black hair anywhere.

"Joaquin?"

The man in question tripped over himself at the sound of Kevin's voice as he came to a halt. Catching himself with his hands, Joaquin pushed himself back up as he faced him, keeping his distance.

"Kevin," Joaquin breathed, pausing, almost unsure if this was even really happening. A smile faintly and subconsciously tugged at his lips, but almost immediately faltered, "What are you doing here?"

"We're breaking Archie out," Kevin told him, like it was the simplest thing in the world. "What are you doing here?" he countered, his question riddled with as much concern as Joaquin's had.

Joaquin looked away from him for a moment, as if to debate his next choice of words. "It doesn't matter. And... it's too late for Archie," he decided, still breathless.

"Where are you going?" Kevin inquired; it came out more accusingly than he had intended to. Joaquin's eyes snapped back up to meet him when he added, "Back to the Serpents?"

Joaquin's bright eyes darkened with severity. "No. No, no, no," he repeated, almost as a fruitless assurance. "I joined a different gang."

"Who?"

"You don't want to know, Kevin," Joaquin insisted urgently. "Just... leave. You gotta get out of here. Right now."

Kevin was slightly taken aback. It wasn't like Joaquin was being outright hostile to him right now, but the urgency in his still breathless voice was conveying both a need to hide something from him and to protect him from something.

"Wait—" Kevin faltered weakly.

"Go, " Joaquin pleaded, and Kevin knew he was getting ready to run.

He wasn't about to let him go a second time.

Without any hesitation, Kevin approached him with determination, trying to close the distance that Joaquin was trying to maintain. Joaquin looked behind him quickly as if preparing to run there and then, but Kevin gripped his shoulders gently, but sturdily.

"Wait, " Kevin repeated, looking him in the eye.

Unable to back out of his gaze, Joaquin just stood there. Kevin didn't realise how tense he was until Joaquin slightly relaxed in his touch—but not completely. There was something else.

"What is it, Kevin?" Joaquin implored. The look in his eyes told Kevin that Joaquin still wanted to run, but there was something else too. He wanted to stay ; he knew he had that in him.