Clevin

Clevin is the slash ship between Clay Walker and Kevin Keller from the Riverdale fandom.

Canon
After Tabitha saves everyone, Clay and Kevin meet in 1950s Riverdale. Clay plays piano in the music room and Kevin happens upon him when he's going to rehearse for his barbershop quartet's performance at the Sock Hop. They have an almost instant connection and are clearly drawn to one another. Clay knows who Kevin is and that he's the sheriff's son, as he is the new kid and has gotten the scoop on everyone. He says he's looking to make friends. Kevin is closeted and in a 'relationship' with Betty Cooper, which Clay also knows. He flirts with Kevin and Kevin asks if Clay is attending the dance, but Clay doesn't have a date. Kevin emphatically states that 'a lot of guys go stag', clearly wanting Clay to be there. And Clay says he might and is looking forward to hearing Kevin sing. At the dance, Clay comes up to Kevin and says he's sorry Kevin was ousted in favour of the greaser, Fangs Fogarty. Clay makes a comment that Fangs is hot, but then, so is Kevin. Kevin doesn't seem to know what to do with the compliment and excuses himself to bring lemonade to his 'date', Betty. As Kevin dances with Betty he looks over to the bleachers where Clay sits with the other singles, watching Kevin wistfully.

Kevin continues to struggle in his 'relationship' with Betty as she wants to go to Veronica's make-out party at the Pembrooke, enticed by the promise of sex. Kevin is freaking out and when he later sees Betty in the hallway, he runs into the music room to hide from her. Clay is there again, and makes a quip about Kevin hiding. As Kevin frantically tries to explain, Clay changes the subject and invites Kevin to a poetry night at the Dark Room, where he will be performing. As Clay hands Kevin the flyer, their hands touch and Kevin brieflly strokes Clay's hand gently. Clay is surprised and looks at Kevin, who quickly composes himself. Kevin expresses apprehension at a 'greaser' venue, but Clay amusedly states it's just a coffee house. Kevin tells Clay he was going to the movies with Betty, but that she's probably enjoy the poetry reading more, the subtext screaming between the boys, with Clay agreeing.

At the coffee house, Clay performs a spoken word poem and Kevin is completely enthralled. The rest of the crew isn't enthusiastic and Betty talks to Kevin about the performance, saying she didn't get the meaning. A dazed Kevin replies it doesn't have to make sense. That night, Kevin dreams of an Edenesque setting adjacent to the coffee house, where, walking in his underwear, he encounters a shirtless Clay. They circle each other and then move close and kiss passionately. he next day at school, Kevin and Betty talk in the hallway about the previous night. Betty was quite taken with Toni's sensuous performance, while Kevin is daydreaming about Clay's, and has little to say about Toni, much to Betty's disbelief.

Songs

 * i wish i didn't love you so | TAB HUNTER
 * In 7x03

Fanon
When the casting was announced, viewers were delighted as Clay is Kevin's husband in the comics. Kevin has been a somewhat tragic character, embarrassingly neglected by the show. His characterisation only extends to 'the gay guy' and he's not given any narrative apart from dating. His previous relationships have been of varied popularity, but always failing, disappearing, or with sad undertones - and of course, barely given screen time by the show. Thus, viewers hope, also given it's the final season, that this will finally be a positive relationship for Kevin and a storyline for the character overall. However, the character of Clay is also closely watched as the show constantly neglects the characters of colour, or give them tragic backstories. So far, the reception of Clay and the relationship has been positive, although it remains to be seen whether Clay will get more of a story on his own outside being a love interest. More than midway through the season, Kevin and Clay are solidly dating but their romance is only seen in glimpses and the build-up has happened almost entirely off-screen, which has disappointed but in no way surprised viewers.

Fandom

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