Ethel’s words tugged at Sweet Pea’s heartstrings. He thought it was unfair that she should always be so down on her luck, that little things never went her way. It was why he knew she was his kind of person—disenfranchised, castaway, unloved and weeded out—someone who could relate to how he felt, stuck in a devil town. In both of their encounters the day before he’d used all his self control to keep from reaching out to her, denying them both for the sake of personal space when he really should have tried to make a connection. Sweet Pea didn’t allow himself to second-guess himself this time. He caught the sleeve of Ethel’s sweater and let his palm rest gently on her elbow.

“I see you,” he said simply. “And I don’t think you talk too much.”

Fandom: Riverdale

Pairing: Swethel (Sweet Pea x Ethel Muggs); Mentions of Bughead

Rating: Teen?

Disclaimer: I don't any of the characters of Riverdale or the Archie Comics, only the idea for this fanfiction is mine.

Summary: Sweet Pea was afraid she would push him away as soon as he felt her hands on his chest, but when she kissed him back and fisted her hands into his shirt, he knew that what he felt was right.

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Sweet Pea sat on the couch, looking at all the people around him, friends of Betty’s, he presumed, sine the most of them were so not Southside. He loved Jugghead as if he was a brother and Betty like a sister, but sitting here in this room full of people who gave him weird looks was just a bit too much. The other Southside Serpents were deeply into conversations with others, which had him thinking. Was he being looked at weird, because he wore his leather jacket? Was he sitting here because they were afraid of him?

„Hey Sweet Pea, everything alright?“, Jugghead asked him as he sat beside him on the couch, beer in hand. The taller young man looked at his leader and growled at him, knowing that he would get the message. „Come on man, lighten up.“, he slapped Sweet Pea on the shoulder.

When Betty came towards them, she wasn't alone. Sweet Peas eyes focused on the newcomer and he knew her instantly. She was the nice girl from school, who gut bullied way too much and had gone through so much. Ethel, he believed her name was. He had picked it up one day in school when some of the guys were trash talking about her. Called her names and wanted to hurt this angel more, than she already was. He had kicked both of their asses for that. He might not know her personally, but every time he saw her walking the halls, or sitting in the cafeteria by herself he wanted to protect her from the rest of the world, like she was the most precious thing in it.

He knew they were lying then, and seeing her here, all dressed up, he saw it with his own eyes. She was breathtaking. Her red locks curled without her typical hairband around her head, her eyes shone with kindness, her lips, painted a deep red. The short dark green dress she wore, was highlighting her natural red hair and freckled pale skin even more.

When Jugghead nudged his shoulder, he coughed a bit, looking away, afraid that he was caught staring. Betty though smirked at him, yes, she definitely saw him stare. „Sweet Pea, I think you haven't met Ethel yet. Ethel Muggs, this is my good and loyal friend Sweet Pea.“, she introduced them to each other and Sweet Pea stood up, not wanting to be rude. Now as they stood before each other he was amazed that she wasn't that much shorter than him. Now he knew why the boys at school were such assholes, they were probably intimidated by her height and couldn't handle a girl like her. She was all woman, no girls could compare.

When Ethel held her hand towards him to shake, he saw a shy smile grace her red lips, and in that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her right here and now. People surrounding them be damned. He held back and shook the offered hand, electricity surging through both of them. Betty shot Jugghead a knowing look and he slid off the couch, taking his girlfriend to the others.

So here they sat looking at each other, talking about everything and nothing and Sweet Pea never felt more whole than this. When he made her laugh, he was mesmerized by her. Her laugh was so pure and true, he felt desire surging through his body. His nostrils flared, he had to cool down. „Hey, everything alright?“, she asked him, seeing him breath heavily, still so innocent, he mused. He decided to take his chances.

Without saying anything he took her hand and together they went outside and away from prying eyes. As soon as they were standing a few feet away from the house under the clear night he crushed his lips to hers. Ethel was surprised, and at first she put her hands to his chest to push him away, but that thought went out the window as soon as one of his hands weaved into her curls, angling her head so he could kiss her even more passionately.

Sweet Pea was afraid she would push him away as soon as he felt her hands on his chest, but when she kissed him back and fisted her hands into his shirt, he knew that what he felt was right.

Hi! I don’t think this is a hot take and I completely agree with you. I love Bughead but I don’t like the shallow overreaction culture that’s been created because of them. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to try and think about what’s going on from the perspective of other characters and why they might do things that are unfavorable or undesirable for Bughead. I feel like it should go both ways, because Betty and Jughead do things that are unfavorable/undesirable to others all the time, whether or not it is intentional, and whether or not it’s because the person they’re doing it to is a ‘villain’. This is why I take so much issue with the writing of this show. Because I realize that it’s not Ethel or Betty or Jughead that I’m mad at. It’s the way that they, and everyone else, are written. I don’t think the Riverdale writers do a very good job of realistically portraying anyone to be honest. I’m most interested in how they can humanize these characters–because that’s what I want to do–and across the board I think they’ve failed at that. 

“You didn’t even have to tell them how high,” Ethel observed, “they just jumped.”

A chuckle fell from Sweet Pea’s lips as he slid over so he was seated right across from Ethel. “That’s how you know you’ve made it, when you can mystify seventh graders.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Ethel shrugged. “I’ve never mystified anyone. Well, maybe my cat, Mr. Snuffleupagus.”

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