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shaniahnoel · 7 years ago

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Buttercup Pt 8/?

Word Count: 3164

Warnings: Maybe swearing?

Master List

“Sweet Pea! Stop!” Sophia yelled, shoving her hands into his chest.

“Nope,” he smirked, attacking her sides once more. Her protests gave way to laughter as she writhed under him. Sweet Pea inhaled sharply as her foot flailed between his legs. Grunting, he rolled onto his side while Sophia sat up horrified.

“Geez, you coulda just said stop.”

“Y’know what? I don’t even feel bad, you deserved it.” She glared playfully as his lips curved into an easy smile.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you dare start again,” she commanded the Serpent who slithered towards her.

He tackled her, pressing her softly into the carpet. His large hands easily captured hers, pinning them above her head. Rolling himself gently, he crossed her hips with his own, keeping her legs behind him. The annoyance slipped out of her eyes as they met his playful expression. Silently he dared her to try and stop him. She relaxed under him, the apparent submission causing him to loosen his grip. Sophia pressed her advantage and rolled him quickly. Now she had his hands over his head, staring triumphantly into his shocked eyes.

“Right,” he muttered, “my girlfriend is a self-defense guru.”

“Nope. You’re just not as strong as you think you are.”

The familiar bristling that crept up at her joke was all too easy to subdue. It was pleasantly strange for him to find how calm he’d become in the few weeks since that night at the Wyrm. He was determined to be the person that Sophia deserved, and her voice echoed in his head whenever he felt that he wasn’t. If life were Harry Potter, he may have considered her his Patronus, a happiness that clung to his every fiber. He still got into just as many fights, so few people of the South Side realized the beginning of this transformation. Of course, none of them saw him like this, giggling like a four-year-old and stealing forehead kisses as if they’d run out. Well, except Fangs and Toni.

“Could you get a room? We wanna watch the game!”

“No one’s stopping you,” Sweet Pea said smugly, settled over Sophia once again.

“Well, I’d like to see what’s happening and your head is huge,” Toni quipped as she settled onto the loveseat behind them.

“For you, Topaz.” Sweet Pea conceded, pulling Sophia to her feet and throwing her into Toni’s lap in one quick motion. “Whoops”

“Sweet Pea!” They yelled in unison while Fangs joined him in laughter.

“You’re a child,” Sophia rolled her eyes as he crammed his way between them, throwing an arm around both.

“An overgrown child,” Toni chimed in.

“Truer words have never been spoken,” Fangs muttered, prompting the girls to launch throw pillows at his head.

“You’re just as bad, Fogarty.” Sweet Pea smirked.

Rachel came to stand in the doorway, chuckling softly as the scene before her. Fangs sat in the worn armchair, arms raised to deflect the pillows that headed his way while the other three looked comfortably squished into the too small loveseat. It reminded her of why she’d joined the Serpents years ago, why she stood by her husband now—the Serpents were family and here was part of the next generation. She’d always worried about Sweet Pea, fearing that the anger of her son’s best friend would be the death of him. Her smile grew as she looked at him now, smiling easily and relaxed with her niece under his arm. Sophia looked happy, too, it was the happiest Rachel had ever seen her. The four teens groaned in unison as the flash on Rachel’s phone went off. Shrugging at their protests, she sauntered back into the kitchen. After the game, Sophia resumed her studying for the exam the next day.

“Ugh, how am I supposed to tell everyone that I’m dating a nerd,” Sweet Pea groaned, throwing himself back on the bed dramatically.

“The same way I’ll own up to dating a child, now leave my socks alone!”

Sweet Pea snickered, backing away from her flailing legs. He was attempting to behave himself, but she was too cute when she studied and even cuter when annoyed. It didn’t help that he knew she couldn’t resist his puppy dog eyes. On cue, her eyes softened, and she let out a sigh.

“Why aren’t you studying for calc? Everyone says Lewell’s tests are the worst.”

“Eh, it’ll average out to a D.”

The pencil that she’d been absentmindedly twirling spun out of her hand. The perfectionist within was having a heart attack, and she was confused.

“You’re not a D student.”

“This’ll be my third year, I’m big on commitment.”

“You committed to becoming a D student?”

Sweet Pea burst out laughing; Sophia’s voice and face both indicated that he’d just admitted to kicking puppies as a hobby.

“Well, not exactly. I just decided I’d be what the lovely educators at South Side High thought I’d be the day I came to school with this.”

He gestured to his neck carelessly, the Serpent partially obscured by the hoodie he wore. Sophia could detect the slightest hint of anger in his voice. It was an old wound, clearly, but she could tell it had never healed quite right. She replaced her bookmark and snapped the book closed. Sweet Pea looked up eagerly, expression falling slightly when he saw her face.

“Yesssss?” he hissed, playfully encouraging her to say whatever was on her mind.

“Why would you wanna prove them right?”

“I’m not jumping through hoops. It’s all stupid. I’ve seen Serpents try and they get accused of cheating or get a bunch of lectures about wasting their life away with us. It’s just easier to coast.”

“You could do so well though!”

“I’m not concerned about that.”

“Don’t you wanna go to college?”

“Nope.” He popped the “p” and watched her face. Shock flickered across it.

“Why?”

“What do I need college for? Nothing on the South Side requires it.”

“So, you just want to stay in the South Side, forever?”

“What’s wrong with the South Side?” He challenged, working harder to subdue the frustration. Sophia sighed.

“Don’t make this something it’s not, P. I’m just saying it’s nice to have options and with a mind like yours, you could have so many.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Sophia stared at him, but he averted his gaze to the ceiling, practicing his deep breathing. She bit her lip and opened her book again. Sometimes it was best not to push. While she flipped through the pages searching for key phrases that might be on the exam, Sweet Pea stared a hole into the ceiling. Finally, he sighed and threw himself gently onto Sophia. He supported most of his weight, but she still felt the pressure of the 6’5 Serpent. A gentle kiss on the back of her neck was his apology and she rolled under him to accept.

“I don’t want to make you be something you’re not. I just want you to be all that you can be.”

“I think we have different opinions on what that looks like,” he said as he leaned into her hand on his cheek.

“I’ll try not to push,” she promised solemnly, but they both smiled knowing that she could never resist pushing if she believed it would help.

School buildings must exist outside of the realm of time, Sophia was absolutely sure. Second period dragged on as the teacher discussed math formulas that she’d already memorized. It wasn’t necessarily that she was smarter, just that her prep school had been more academically rigorous. Rather than focus on the lesson, she began drafting up a song. The lyrics had floated around in her head for weeks putting into words what the South Side made her feel. It’d been months since her hands had tickled the ivories, but it’d have been a cold day in hell before her mother allowed her to have their piano, and the South Side had no true music program. Her heart ached as she considered the hours that she and her brother had spent together, him patiently teaching her how to let her fingers flow rather than rigidly strike.

When the bell rang, she decided to skip her third period to find a piano. Surely there had to be some instruments somewhere, it was a high school after all. Ten minutes later she found herself outside of a door with a peeling sign on the window identifying it as the music room. The door swung open easily, but the lack of use was apparent. The music stands, and instrument cases were covered in dust making the disconformity of the bare patch on the floor even more uncomfortable as Sophia tried not to consider the other uses of this room. In the corner of the room sat the piano looking as desperate to be played as Sophia was to play it.

Sliding back the cover, Sophia straightened her back and let her fingers go to work. She started simple, going back through her paces. It was something her brother had always insisted upon as an exercise of humility. After progressing through her scales and warming her fingers up, the music inside bubbled out. The keys told a story of darkness giving way to light and hope bubbling forth. She thought of Sweet Pea and the music became light and airy with a deeper beat resounding through. By the time she finished, her heart was beating loudly. For her, music was always an emotional experience and she’d been so engrossed in it that she hadn’t heard the door close as someone else entered the room.

“That was beautiful.”

Sophia stifled a scream, whirling around on the bench to find herself face to face with Jughead.

“Jug you can’t do that to people!”

“You’re right. Too many compliments and everyone will think I like people.”

“Ugh, Serpent boys are the bane of my existence.”

“That lie aside, seriously that was amazing. How long have you played?”

“Since I was six months old.” Her serious and pompous manner lasted mere seconds before she lost it at Jughead incredulous face. “Okay, okay, if you’re counting when I started slamming the keys every time my brother tried to play, it’s six months. If you’re not, I formally started learning when I was five so nearly twelve years.”

The bell rang again, and she scrambled to grab her belongings. Jughead shook his head in amusement as he watched her realize that she’d skipped class for the first time. He threw an arm over her shoulders and pulled her along to lunch, assuring her that her Mrs. Phelps probably hadn’t even noticed. As they walked through the lunch room doors, Sweet Pea’s head turned. His eyes narrowed slightly at Jughead’s arm, but Fangs elbowed him in the ribs. Jealousy was still his weak spot, but he was learning to relax. It didn’t help that their relationship wasn’t explicitly public and, so he had to endure the scum of the student body try to woo his girl. Every time he brought it up, Sophia reminded him that it was his idea to keep the relationship quiet.

“Fangs did you know your cousin is basically Beethoven?”

“Oh, yeah, her last concert was amazing. I mean, I hated the music, but the way her fingers flew was insane.”

“You were there?” Sophia’s eyes were wide.

“We scrammed before you came off the stage, so your mom wouldn’t ruin your moment.”

“I had no idea. Thanks,” Sophia replied, emotion constricting her throat. Sweet Pea leaned forwards.

“I didn’t know you played?” There was note of jealousy in his voice, probably spawning from his interest in Jughead knowing before him.

“That’s ‘cause I haven’t since I came here from the prep. I, uh, I actually skipped last period to track down a piano and played.” Her face reddened despite knowing that all of them skipped class, sometimes entire school days just for the heck of it.

“And of course, I had to investigate the possibility of Mozart being resurrected in the midst of South Side High.”

Sophia rolled her eyes, but flushed under Jughead’s praise. She’d missed playing more than anything. While her joy in it came from the feeling of creating something beautiful, it helped that her mother considered it an appropriate hobby. When she played, her mother would sit and listen and until the last note sounded, it felt like they were connected. She blinked back tears as Sweet Pea’s hand found hers under the table. Maybe playing had been a mistake.

“Play for me?” The Serpent whispered in her ear. She raised her eyes to his, their warmth flushing out the sudden chill.

After the final bell rang, Sweet Pea and Sophia made their way to the music room. She waited to the side of the door as he unceremoniously booted a couple from the room. The guy turned halfway out of the room, but Sweet Pea crossed his arms and hardened his face and the protest died in his throat. When they left, Sophia went to the piano while Sweet Pea hovered uncertainly. Only ever allowing her brother to join her on the bench, she directed him to a nearby chair.

Sweet Pea sat quietly as she began. The start up was basic, things he could probably play if he wanted to. He realized that she was only warming up as her fingers flowed into the true piece. The music she played was light and delicate, a stark contrast from what he was used to. It was even more surprising because she listened to, and said she liked, all his heavier music. Music moved him, but he’d never been moved like this. Instead of feeding his aggression, this music was calming and happy. He moved to stand behind her, resting a hand gently on the small of her back, watching as her fingers danced.

She was beautiful. Her eyes were closed, relaxed as if she were asleep. He could tell she’d played the next piece thousands of times and could play it thousands more. The movements were effortless, and the sound was hauntingly delightful. Any mistakes she made were apparent only in the smallest of creases in her forehead which quickly smoothed over as she pushed herself on. Time passed without notice as Sophia continued to play, Sweet Pea lost in the beauty. The key changed, the music slowed, and suddenly he realized Sophia was crying. She stopped playing and put her head in her hands as he quickly straddled the bench to hold her.

“What’s wrong? You did great.”

“N-nothing. I just, I had started playing one of my father’s favorites.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Sophia chuckled at the puzzled concern in his voice.

“No, it just… It’s been so long since I’ve been allowed to play it.”

“Allowed?”

“Not here,” she muttered into his chest.

Without a word he stood up and took her by the hand, leading her out to his bike. He cruised through the street lazily, taking the longer route. The bike had made her nervous at first, but now it was something immensely relaxing for her. They finally ended up at their place—the park where they’d first really talked. As before, Sophia took the only swing while Sweet Pea flopped on the ground. This time, he sat up straight, arms around his knees loosely, and looked at her expectantly. She took a deep breath, playing with her fingers.

“My dad was my best friend. I’ve told you a little about him, I think. He was a doctor and he wanted either my brother or I to follow in those footsteps. I actually hated that.”

“I thought it was your dream since you were five?”

“Sort of. I first decided that when I was five because that’s when dad got sick. He told us that he hoped he would live on through one of us becoming a doctor, and I took that statement very literally. My heart wasn’t in it though, not like Marcus. He wanted to be a neurosurgeon. Anyways, my dad went into remission, but the cancer kept coming back. Mom started to act different. She was testier, more concerned about appearances. She wanted us to be the best, the absolute best, in whatever we were doing. In some ways, that was great. In others it was overwhelming. That’s when Marcus’ anxiety really started to take off. Then, when I was 9, I caught my mom cheating on my father.”

Sweet Pea’s fists clenched as he looked up to see tears falling freely down her face. Her hands were curled into tight balls, and her teeth sank into her lip. He wavered, uncertain of what to do. Sadness still wasn’t his forte. If it were him, he’d be punching something right about now to cope. Her next words came out, shaky with tears.

“She told me it was none of my concern and not to tell my father. I didn’t know what to do. A year later, he left. Before he left, he told me that he knew that I had known, but that it was okay. He understood my dilemma. I didn’t understand why he left us with my mother until a few months later when he died. The cancer had come back, and no one had told me or my brother.”

At this, Sweet Pea was on his feet. He wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed. The hate that he thought he’d had for her mother was nothing, nothing at all, compared to this. Betrayal of trust was an unforgivable sin for Sweet Pea and in his mind, she had failed both her husband and children in that regard. Reflexively his arms tensed around Sophia. They sat like that for a while, Sophia sobbing and Sweet Pea fuming. Eventually, she was able to continue.

“That’s when everything really changed. Mom became a dictator. I think the affair made her feel guilty. Anything that called her character into question had to go. Eventually that meant Marcus. He overdosed on a mixture of alcohol and pills and that was it. My dad was never to be brought up: my doctor goal was gone, his favorite pieces forbidden.”

“I’m so sorry, Soph,” Sweet Pea whispered, pressing his lips to her temple.

“It’s okay. I’m away from her now. I can be the doctor my brother wanted to be, fulfilling my father’s dream. I can play freely again. There are good things in my life that weren’t there before.”

She unconsciously stroked his arm as she spoke. It was such a strange feeling. No one had ever considered him a good thing in their life. Nor had he met someone so fragile and strong. She had lost her father, was missing her brother, and her mother had taken everything from her, but she was still fighting. It was so frustrating. He could fight his way through anything, but he couldn’t fight this for her.

Taglist @serpentsweetspea @reinadelaserpiente Here’s a late Christmas gift for you, I hope you enjoy!! Feedback is always welcome! <3

A/N: Obviously I don’t own any of the Riverdale characters, but Sophia and her relationship with our beloved Sweet Pea are my personal creation as well as the plot lines herein. There may be some basis on events currently happening in Riverdale, but not necessarily.

#sweetpeabuttercup #buttercup riverdale #sweet pea #sweetpea #sweetpea riverdale #riverdale fanfiction #sweetpeaspodsquad #sweet pea x oc #sweetpea x oc #sweetpea riverdale fanfiction

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