Behind Revenge's Door

Raids and Drag Races

FP was more than shocked to hear I was bringing Jughead with me, and he was pissed when he saw the condition his son was in.
"Start from the beginning you to."
A few moments passed as Jughead and I got the eldest Jones up to speed on the story. He looked at me with pride as he saw the initiative I was taking to protect what he built.
"You can reprimand me for joining the Serpents later, but if we don't do something, there won't be Serpents, only-"
"Jughead," I warned as FP slammed the phone on the glass.
"Ghoulies dress like fops, but they're a nasty crew. Serpents have survived worse, though, much worse," FP frowned as memories flooded his head. "The only hitch is, sounds like you're out manned. So you need to avoid bloodshed at all costs. Madison seems to have done a good job protecting our people from themselves,"
I nodded, so did Jughead, before FP continued.
"So out think 'em, this is about territory... if there's one thing Ghoulies love, it's their crazy souped up retro cars and hearses. You get my Riverdale drift, you two?" He got louder before looking over at the guard behind him.
Lowly, FP continued to talk to us. "Challenge them to a street race, one on one. But keep it on the DL, it's illegal, and it'll get you locked up. You're both needed out there."
"We set the terms of the race," I caught on to FP's plan. "They win, the Serpents roll. We win, they back off."
"Raise the stakes, if you're feeling lucky," FP smirked at me.
"Whoever wins controls South Side High," Jug cut in. "We get rid of the Ghoulies, and the jingle jangle."
In some twisted, twisted moment, we were a family. We were proud of each other, and loving. These were rare, and I didn't know if we would have another, but it was love.

"I challenge you, to a street race," I spoke to Malachi. "We win, Serpents remain autonomous, and you stop dealing at South Side High," I offered.
"If we win?" He asked me, taking powder off his fingers.
"We fold," Jughead frowns from next to me. "You can continue polluting the South Side with your little straws of death."
"You two got stones, but not much else. So listen, sugar," Malachi looked at me, "unless you wanna put some of your sugar daddy's territory on the table, I have no reason to agree to this race."
Before I could respond, the door busted open. Veronica and Betty were being ushered in by a man in a thick leather vest.
"Girls?" I asked, shocked to see them.
"Betty?"
"Veronica?"
"Jughead?"
"Archie?"
"These are your bitches?" Malachi gathered and I looked at him.
"Watch it, Malachi," I growled at him with warning.
"Why don't you take your skanks and get the hell out-"
My hand wrapped his throat, and the kids were shocked.
"You have three seconds to chill the fuck out before I put you on the ground, Malachi. Do not test me," I growled at him and released him.
"We will give you the Wyrm," Jughead offered and my eyes widened at him.
"Fine," Malachi smirked. "We will take the Wyrm, and Sunnyside Trailer Park,"
Jughead looked at me for a moment, his eyes widening.
Slowly, the teenage boy nodded. We truly were in for it now.

FP's Serpent jacket hung heavy on my shoulders as we were all at the drag race. Malachi kept looking me over like I was a piece of food, and I'll be honest, I was disgusted. It really wasn't an enjoyable feeling.
I looked at Jughead. "Do you want me with you in there?"
"No. If something happens, you need to be here to keep everyone safe." Jughead said and I frowned.
"Juggie, I don't like it. It's not safe I-"
"Mom," he cut me off. "For everything Dad and you have built, and for everything you and I protect. I have to do this."
He's never called me 'Mom' before.
Nodding slowly, I kissed Jughead on the forehead before pulling him into a hug. I loved my boy so much, and I just prayed I could keep him safe.
The boys got into their cars. Archie was with Jughead, and I saw my two loves sitting there. I just wanted them to be safe.
I took the red scarf from Cheryl. She was going to call the honors, but I decided to do it instead. Toni knew not to fuck with me after the last time I had to put her in her place.
"Engines ready?" I spoke lowly to the men.
"Hey, kid," Malachi spoke to Jughead. "If I win, I get to bone your mom."
"Malachi I will shoot you," I threatened.
After a moment of silence, I raised my hand in the air, and snapped them down.
From besides me, I felt the cars whirl past me. I knew this was the most crucial moment of all, and I was terrified.
The two groups all cheered around me and I couldn't help but watch my boys drive away.

The group couldn't be more flustered as a man came through yelling, saying they were searching for Ghoulies.
Keller and I would have an interesting conversation, we usually do. I expect them at this point.
The car holding my two boys reappeared, and I took them both into hugs, with kisses on the cheeks, before their girlfriends overtook them. Tall Boy looked absolutely livid.
"You call the cops? You won't do it with the Ghoulies but with the cops?"
"Fuck off Tall Boy!" I pushed the man away from yelling at my son.
"I didn't know they would be there. I wouldn't have raced if I did!"
"I called the cops!" Archie yelled.
"Are you kidding me, Archie? What the hell!" I yelled.
"They're off the chessboard! We won!"
"For how long? A month, three months? They're gonna come back with a hunger for blood and it's going to be yours, Archie. All of ours."

The last thing I needed to hear was that my son's English teacher was a drug dealer. That really kicked me in the chest.
But, we survive another day. In Riverdale, days survived mean days successful. I guess, I just wanted to keep all the kids safe. Even the Serpents like Toni, Fang and Sweet Pea. They were good kids with big hearts. They just needed to know what love felt like.