2Jughead lies down on the couch, a hand tucked under his chin and his beanie rests precariously over his face. One of his eyes is shut and he is half-heartedly watching Nightmare Before Christmas. He has yet to hear from Sweet Pea, after answering his text this morning telling him he will be home. He can tell his dad was here for a few hours by the disruption in the kitchen and the tousled pillows and the messily scrawled note, telling Jug to eat and he will see him in a few days.
He huffs before turning over on the couch, rubbing his eyes and draping an arm over his face. It would be nice if he could just sleep awhile, not worry about anything. He peeks one eye out and stares at his laptop, knowing he should do some writing but in no hurry to rise from the couch, but then his restfulness is disrupted by sudden footsteps. He jumps as he turns to see who is now walking into his trailer, only to see the familiar sight of Sweets kicking off his boots. He nods at Jughead in acknowledgment before sauntering over to the couch and dropping to the floor, resting his back against the couch and leaning back so his head is pressed against Jug's arm. Jughead hesitantly leans forward, using his hand to comb through his hair, not sure if he should say anything witty or not. Sweet Pea stiffens momentarily, but then leans back and breathes out, letting the boy's fingers run over his hair.
"You okay?" Jug inquires and, finally, Sweet Pea answers him. He sits up straighter, shrugging off his oversized plaid shirt so it slides to the floor and he is left bare-chested. Jughead's breath catches at the sight of his back; purple and blue bruises litter his back, running from his neck, down to his spine and ribs. He also notices cuts and scratches on the bruises, and what looks like cigarette butts. His hand stops immediately, and Sweet Pea instantly glances back, almost snarling.
"I'm fine. Just don't look at it," he tells him, waiting for Jug's eyes to leave his back and meet his eyes. Sweet Pea swivels around so he is sitting cross-legged in front of him. He is still so tall that he must lean down so he can rest his chin on the edge of the couch, only a few inches away from Jug's face. Jug blinks before forcing himself to speak, balancing himself on his hand and staring at Sweets' dark eyes. Fuck, he can barely see his irises.
"Honestly I'm surprised you started talking again. I thought you were just going to be mute forever," he mutters before rolling his eyes and leaning back, shutting his eyes and letting his head rest on the arm of the couch. His eyes are still shut as he hears Sweet Pea stand, then a second later, the boy is gently shoved into the couch cushions before Sweet Pea slips on to the couch behind him, before tucking his arm around Jughead's waist. His eyes open and he glances back, but Sweet Pea's face is tucked into the crook of his neck and he is breathing slowly and deeply.
"What are you doing?" Jughead mumbles as he tucks his arm over Sweet's, bring him even closer to his body. The boy is so tall that his legs are almost folded into Jughead's and he is slouched over his body, but it is strangely comfortable.
"Don't tell anyone about this or I'll kill you," Sweet Pea murmurs before burying his face back into his neck. Jughead doesn't press him anymore, secretly he loves it. He isn't sure if Sweet Pea does, or if he just enjoys not having to constantly keep up the constantly tough persona. Tonight, in this little trailer, Sweet Pea has his first sense of comfort in years. He would never tell Jughead what he deals with on the daily, at least that what he thinks.
Jughead opens his eyes again and listens quietly to Sweet's steady breathing and the little movements he has every so often. The twitch of his leg, the breathing on his neck, and the feeling of his arms which are now slipped around his waist, tightly. Jughead is determined to figure out Sweet Pea, in all ways. What he went through before, what so happening now to make him crack like this. Sweet Pea is his new case to study, and he is excited about it- he never thought that this boy would ever show another vulnerable side to himself, and he wonders what else is hiding within the tall Serpent.
