Work Text:
You were exhausted- tired of that one asshole in particular who always found a way to linger too close. The way he brushed against you, his hand ghosting over places no one had permission to touch, made your stomach twist into knots. No matter how many times you told him no, how loudly you protested, he never listened.
A high school reunion hadn’t saved you from him. If anything, it had only served as a reminder that some things never change.
But this time, you had a plan.
Riverdale High’s five-year reunion had brought back familiar faces, some you’d lost touch with, some you wished you hadn't. But when you spotted him across the room, the bile rose in your throat, and your first instinct was escape.
You turned on your heel and searched desperately for an out. That’s when your eyes landed on Jughead Jones- the one person you could trust without question. He barely had time to say your name before you were on him, gripping his lapel and pulling him close.
"You're my boyfriend," you whispered fiercely. "No questions. I’ll owe you one later."
Jughead blinked, but if he was surprised, he recovered quickly. His lips curled into a smirk, mischief dancing behind his eyes. "Your throne awaits you, Cleopatra," he hummed, lacing his fingers through yours.
You huffed. "Fool. Don’t you see? I could have poisoned you a hundred times had I been able to live without you."
"And this is why I love you," he quipped, the words effortless.
Your breath hitched. Too real. Your fingers tightened around his, a silent reply you couldn't bring yourself to say aloud.
The moment should have passed, but it didn't. Jughead didn’t let go, and neither did you.
That’s when Kevin Keller approached, his expression brimming with curiosity. "Well, aren't you two just the sweetest?" He glanced between you and Jughead, oblivious to the way your heart pounded against your ribs. "When did that happen?"
"Last—" you started.
"A few—" Jughead said at the same time.
"Year of high school."
"Years."
The slip was almost comical. You could have laughed if your nerves weren’t stretched so thin.
Jughead recovered first, squeezing your hand like a silent cue. "Senior year," he corrected smoothly. "Spent too much time together, realized we couldn’t not be together."
"Hozier by the river," you added, playing along. "Talking about writing, the future- next thing we knew, it was us. We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it before graduation."
Kevin wrinkled his nose but grinned. "Disgusting, but cute."
You exhaled. Safe.
The ruse should have been just that- a temporary cover. But when Jughead’s lips brushed the crown of your head in a silent reassurance, a bolt of something electric shot down your spine. Your blush could be excused as part of the act, but the soft gaze you gave him? That was another story.
"Thank you," you murmured when Kevin walked away, breaking character just for a second.
Jughead just chuckled. "I remember that night," he said instead. "Your Pontiac, Lovecraft, that piece I was writing… you nearly fell asleep on my shoulder."
"Would’ve been the perfect setting for one of your books," you teased, nudging him lightly. "If we weren’t already drowning in serial killers."
"Still," he mused, "I was so inspired I stayed up writing ‘til second period."
You mirrored his fond smile, warmth settling in your chest- until a voice shattered it.
"Well, aren't you a sight."
Your body went rigid.
Jughead felt it instantly. The way your fingers twitched, the slight tremor in your frame. He didn’t hesitate- his arm slid around you, pulling you in protectively. His touch was firm, grounding. He didn’t box you in, but he made his presence known.
"Baby," the voice taunted. "Not even gonna look at me?"
Jughead tensed. "Isn't it clear my girlfriend isn’t interested?"
If only it were that simple.
You forced yourself to meet Ryan’s gaze, your jaw tightening to keep the tremor from reaching your voice. "Get lost."
Ryan didn’t move. He smirked instead, eyes dragging over you like he had all the time in the world. "Eventually," he mused, "you’ll be alone."
Jughead’s grip on you tightened.
His tone was low, sharp. "I think it’s time for you to leave."
There was something dark in Jughead’s voice- something that reminded you he’d been a Serpent once. That he could be intimidating when he wanted to be.
Ryan lingered for a second too long before stepping back.
You barely breathed until his footsteps faded.
Jughead turned to you then, his fingers curling under your chin. When you finally met his eyes, something inside you cracked.
"Come with me," he murmured.
The hallway was quieter, but your heart was loud.
Jughead let go of your hand, but he didn’t step away. He sucked in a breath, ran a hand through his hair. "That wasn’t you back there," he said, voice edged with something unreadable. "What the hell happened?"
"Jug…" Your throat felt raw. Your arms wrapped around yourself, like you could protect yourself from ghosts that wouldn’t leave you alone. "He…"
You didn’t say it. Couldn’t.
But Jughead knew. His jaw clenched. His fingers twitched.
Tears burned at your eyes. You hastily looked away. "I’m sorry for dragging you into this," you muttered. "Especially after all these years." You forced a laugh, brittle and thin. "Just… forget it, okay?"
You turned to go-
But suddenly, you were against the lockers, pinned by two familiar arms.
Your breath caught.
"Hey," Jughead said sharply, your name slipping off his tongue like a demand. His fingers were under your chin again, tilting your face up to his. "Look at me."
You did. And suddenly, you couldn’t breathe.
His thumb brushed away a tear you hadn’t realized had fallen. His eyes burned into yours, unreadable, unrelenting.
"I’m not dropping this," he said, voice rough. " I see you. And if that bastard so much as breathes in your direction again, I swear to God-" He bit his lip, hard, like he was holding something back. "I should kill him for laying a hand on the woman I’ve loved all these years."
Your heart slammed against your ribs.
What?
His gaze flickered from your eyes to your lips. And back again.
"But," he murmured, voice dipping, "I think I’d rather do something more reckless."
A whimper left your lips- unbidden, embarrassing, but completely out of your control.
Jughead heard it.
And then he kissed you.
It wasn’t slow. It wasn’t soft. It was years of longing, of missed chances and unspoken feelings crashing into one impossible, undeniable moment.
And suddenly, nothing about this was pretend anymore.