[ being friends again isn’t what he wants, not after recognizing what his heart wants, what he needs from veronica. if that’s what’s on the table and the alternative is not having her in his life at all? yeah, he’ll take staring at her yearningly from a distance over nothing. he feels the fog of confusion settle over him when she leans into his touch ( her face is warm ) and shakes her head. he hopes desperately and tries to clamp down on it, snuff it out before that hope consumes him and he lashes out at her. he knows that veronica cares about him, which is why it’s so unfair to act like he’s the only one hurting. she is, too. archie knows enough about her to see that.
his heart ends up in his throat regardless of every precaution. he can’t fight it. archie has very little in way of emotional defenses, especially with veronica.
there’s a shake of his own head when she tries to tell him what he deserves. it’s not true. he doesn’t need all of that, only her. he won’t interrupt though because a small part of him is afraid that if he does, she won’t get everything off her chest. she won’t finish whatever it is she’s trying to say and archie has never wanted to hear the conclusion of something more. his lips divide with a silent objection at her description of him as someone genuinely good. he’s still figuring out who he is and while it’s true that his feelings are his compass and they typically lead him in the direction of what he believes is right, she’s the one that balances him.
her fingers on his skin make him shut his eyes for a moment, memorizing her touch, as if it’s already been too long without it. he chokes down his emotions and sets his gaze back on her, trying not to come across as happily overwhelmed as he is. ]
Veronica, you have been there for me every step of the way. You’ve picked me up so many times, reminded me why I have to keep going, no matter how sure I was that there wasn’t a reason. When I’m knee-deep in something I’m positive there’s no coming back from, you’re the one that grabs on and doesn’t let go of my hand. You’ve never been selfish with me. [ there’s a never-ending list of things that go bump in the dark to fear, and yet, he feels fearless with veronica nearby. ] When things get bad, you aren't consumed by them. You make me laugh. You have such a kind and caring heart. You're the one person I think about that makes me feel safe.
[ he doesn't know if she remembers saying that to him on stage, but he does, and it meant something. archie can keep rambling, list all the qualities about her that go right through his armor, straight for the soft spots. they could stand here for hours, going in circles. he steps in, not willing to leave a gap between them figuratively or literally when he knows the truth. archie leans down to kiss her, stopping just short of her lips since she's already in the spirit of meeting him halfway here. ]
no subject
his heart ends up in his throat regardless of every precaution. he can’t fight it. archie has very little in way of emotional defenses, especially with veronica.
there’s a shake of his own head when she tries to tell him what he deserves. it’s not true. he doesn’t need all of that, only her. he won’t interrupt though because a small part of him is afraid that if he does, she won’t get everything off her chest. she won’t finish whatever it is she’s trying to say and archie has never wanted to hear the conclusion of something more. his lips divide with a silent objection at her description of him as someone genuinely good. he’s still figuring out who he is and while it’s true that his feelings are his compass and they typically lead him in the direction of what he believes is right, she’s the one that balances him.
her fingers on his skin make him shut his eyes for a moment, memorizing her touch, as if it’s already been too long without it. he chokes down his emotions and sets his gaze back on her, trying not to come across as happily overwhelmed as he is. ]
Veronica, you have been there for me every step of the way. You’ve picked me up so many times, reminded me why I have to keep going, no matter how sure I was that there wasn’t a reason. When I’m knee-deep in something I’m positive there’s no coming back from, you’re the one that grabs on and doesn’t let go of my hand. You’ve never been selfish with me. [ there’s a never-ending list of things that go bump in the dark to fear, and yet, he feels fearless with veronica nearby. ] When things get bad, you aren't consumed by them. You make me laugh. You have such a kind and caring heart. You're the one person I think about that makes me feel safe.
[ he doesn't know if she remembers saying that to him on stage, but he does, and it meant something. archie can keep rambling, list all the qualities about her that go right through his armor, straight for the soft spots. they could stand here for hours, going in circles. he steps in, not willing to leave a gap between them figuratively or literally when he knows the truth. archie leans down to kiss her, stopping just short of her lips since she's already in the spirit of meeting him halfway here. ]