Rarchie

Rarchie is the slash ship between Archie and Reggie from the Riverdale fandom.

Canon
Archie and Reggie are mostly competitors, instigated by Reggie pertaining to the captainship of the Bulldogs. Even though Reggie teases Archie and bullies Jughead, he's sometimes there for Archie and the two almost act like friends at intervals. Reggie is a popular jock at Riverdale High and knows Archie from their freshman year, although they weren't really friends. When Archie comes back from summer all buff sophomore year, Reggie notices the change and starts treating Archie as someone who could potentially be one of the popular group of Bulldogs, as Archie gets on the football team following Jason's death. As Jason was Captain, a new one needs to be appointed and Coach Clayton pit Archie and Reggie against one another in competition for the spot. Although Reggie taunts Archie, he is genuinely concerned when Archie hurts his hand in a game and implores him to have it looked at. Archie doesn't feel right wearing Jason's jersey and so gives it to the Blossoms at Jason's memorial. This act convinces Coach Clayton that Archie is the right person for the job, but Archie declines, stating he is too focused on multiple things while Reggie is all football all day. Reggie's surprised, but happy to become the new Captain of the Bulldogs. When Archie decides to audition for the 75th Annual Variety Show, he gets stage fright and is heckled by Reggie and the football players, who jeer at him for playing. Months later, when Archie's Dad is shot in Pop's Diner and taken to hospital, Reggie shows up and tells Archie that he and the Bulldogs are there to support Archie, whatever he needs. As Archie stays up all night guarding his house, he goes to local teen drug dealer Reggie to ask for something to help him stay awake. Reggie teases him as per usual, but says he'll help him out. He's curious as to why, so Archie tells him about the man with the Black Hood. Later Reggie pays a visit to Archie, thinking it would be hilarious to scare Archie while wearing a black mask, but Archie, suffering from PTSD, panics and starts hitting Reggie. Reggie takes the mask off and is freaked out by Archie's reaction, only then realizing how serious the situation is.

Bulldogs vs. Serpents
Archie shows up to football practice to learn from Reggie that Moose and Midge were shot near Fox Forest, but they're alive and practice is cancelled. A while later Reggie gets Archie in the student lounge, to go visit Moose at the hospital. After hearing Moose and Midge's recounting of what happened, Archie decides to start a watch-group for Riverdale High and holds a meeting with the Bulldogs, where Reggie enthusiastically supports the idea. That night they go on their first watch together, Reggie picking up Archie in his car, blasting rock. They get a distress call from Ethel and go to find her. As a result of Archie's targeted militia manifesto, Weatherbee suspends the Bulldogs unless Archie agrees to disband the Red Circle. Reggie was against the video and is pissed at Archie for keeping the Bulldogs off the turf. Reggie says he's done with the Red Circle and Archie's manhunt. Reggie later shows up at Archie's house with the Bulldogs and pizzas, after Sheriff Keller found Reggie's hood in Archie's locker, but Archie didn't mention Reggie to the Sheriff or Weatherbee. For Archie's perceived loyalty, Reggie offers the himself and the Bulldogs back in Archie's corner and the Red Circle. Sweet Pea and his guys show up at Archie's house to get payback for Archie holding them at gunpoint. Archie and Reggie agree to fight, along with the bulldogs and they take it to the street. After taking Jingle Jangle together at a party, Reggie and Archie are both read in full by the parents as they find out and Reggie admits to have procured the drugs. They're sentenced to public clean-up in Pickens Park and later attend the drag race between the Serpents and the Ghoulies, which Jughead and Archie borrow Reggie's car for, although he's precious about it. When Southside High is partially merged with Riverdale High, Reggie leads the Bulldogs in an antagonistic face-off with the Serpents on their arrival. Archie tries to keep the peace, but Reggie says Archie doesn't speak for the Bulldogs and implies he doesn't trust the Serpents after their fight. Reggie decides to run for Student Class President and after Josie airs Veronica's dirty laundry, Reggie teams up with Josie to run against Archie and Veronica. In the locker room, Reggie challenges Archie to arm wrestling over who gets the votes of the Bulldogs. Reggie taunts Archie about his father and Archie wins, telling Reggie off. Despite the animal displays, Archie seeks out Reggie shortly after to unite them as a front against the Southside, effectively. Archie entices Reggie by handing off the Bulldog votes in return for teaming up. They rebrand as the Dark Circle, put on ski masks and blow up the car of Hiram Lodge's mafia competitors.

After Midge is murdered by the Black Hood, Moose informs Archie, Reggie, Kevin and the rest of the Dark Circle that Midge told him she was cheating on him with a Serpent. Reggie is furious and wants to enact revenge on the guy. Reggie barges into a Serpent meeting at school, followed by the rest of the guys and accuses Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea bites back and Reggie launches at him, but Archie and Jughead manage to keep them apart. Reggie takes the Dark Circle, rebrands them (yet again) as the War Dogs and they proceed to slash tyres and start a fire at the Whyte Wyrm. Archie takes them to task in his garage and tries to disband the group, when Reggie reveals that Hiram Lodge is paying them and suggested the vandalism. Hermione Lodge outs the Dark Circle to the town at the town hall mayoral debate, and, while Archie's disappointed with himself, Reggie just smirks, seemingly satisfied with his choice. They survive the Black Hood's attack on town hall, but Hiram tells Reggie that Fangs is getting released and eggs him on. Jughead calls Archie to help keep the angry Dark Circle at bay and Archie shows up in time to see Reggie, trembling with anger, as he pulls a gun out of his jacket. Archie rushes through the crowd to stop Reggie and tackles him just in time. Despite Archie's efforts, Fangs is shot in front of their eyes and they lay on the ground in shock.

Archie and Reggie get separated in the fight and Archie finds Kevin, Moose and the Bulldogs, explaining what happened. Archie's aware of Hiram's manipulation of Reggie being the reason Reggie had a gun, and since the Serpents saw Reggie with the gun Archie brings Kevin and Moose with him to Reggie's house to help him while sending the Bulldogs in search for Reggie. Reggie isn't there so they drive to Riverdale High, suggested by Mrs. Mantle who's been visited by the Serpents who were headed there next, and Archie calls Jughead to tell him it wasn't Reggie who shot Fangs. At the school, Archie tells the Serpents it was Mrs. Klump, to no avail. Afterwards, Archie's called up by Pop's, who has a very scared Reggie at the shoppe. Archie goes to Reggie with Kevin and Moose in tow when they're attacked by the Ghoulies and saved by Tom Keller, FP and Fred. After the riots, Reggie has faced his actions and changed. He decides to drop out of the Student Body President race, telling Archie that it's clear he, Reggie, is not ready to lead anyone. When Archie decides to protest the expulsion of the Southside students from Riverdale High, Reggie stands with him and wears a Serpent jacket, as do they all, cementing the peace. Archie becomes the new Student Body President and Reggie is there awaiting the results and congratulating Archie. He also attends Archie's swearing-in ceremony in the gym, where he watches in shock along with everyone else as Archie's arrested for murder.

Juniors
At the end of summer, before the verdict of Archie's trial, Cheryl throws a party at Thorn Hill. Archie and Reggie play catch and Archie asks Reggie to work with Jughead to keep the peace they established in town, in case he goes to jail, which Reggie promises to do. After Archie's sent to juvie, Reggie visits with Veronica and helped her pick out a present for Archie. Archie asks about the Bulldogs and Reggie laments that Archie can't be at school with them. When Veronica initiates a plan to get Archie out of juvie, Reggie's her wingman, as they con their way in, and the getaway car transporting Archie in the trunk, safely 'depositing' him at the bunker. Reggie, along with the group, promises to keep Archie's whereabouts a secret. With Archie 'on the run' the corrupt police comes into the high school to question Archie's friends. Reggie intentionally deflects by making lewd jokes. Archie manages to escape town to protect his friends and family from Hiram. While Archie's on the run for his life, Reggie gets closer to Veronica and they fall for each other. Archie returns from Canada after a brush with death, which causes a rift between him and Reggie as Veronica temporarily takes Archie back. Frustrated with Archie, Reggie confronts him at the lockers at school, but backs off as he learns what Archie went through.

Archie starts drinking to deal with his traumas and comes to Le Bonne Nuit to do so. Reggie tells Archie off to protect Veronica and a drunken Archie seems to be egging Reggie on, until Reggie asks the bouncer, who roughs Archie up, to throw Archie out until Josie intervenes. She helps Archie and leaves with him, while he and Reggie stare daggers at each other. Archie and Reggie don't really speak or interact while Reggie and Ronnie are together, but when the school musical rolls around Reggie is newly single and very enthusiastic about doing the show with Archie, who is more focused on figuring out his romance with Josie. At rehearsal, everyone learns about Archie and Josie, but Archie and Reggie don't really seem to be at odds over it, although Reggie asks Veronica in front of everyone if she's all in with him because of their relationship, though Archie has not reaction to that. They all perform the musical and are successful. Again, Archie and Reggie don't really interact for a while after the musical, until Reggie helps Veronica take down her father, which Archie is also assisting with. As their plan to finally get Hiram put back in prison is about to succeed, Reggie, worried for Archie's safety, warns Veronica that there are last minute bets coming in on Hiram killing Archie. On Reggie's warning, the police stop Hiram in time and he's put away. Afterwards, Archie goes to visit Veronica and finds Reggie there. The boys politely square off over her affections, Reggie telling Archie that they just said they wanted to be together, which Veronica confirms. Archie leaves, although neither of the boys get angry with one another, it's just a tough situation.

Seniors
Veronica reneges on her promise to Reggie and starts dating Archie instead, again. Reggie is understandably heartbroken and not very interested in being around either of them. In July before senior year, Archie's father is suddenly killed in a hit and run. Despite what they're going through, Reggie is of course there for Archie and lends Archie a hearse from Marty Mantle's car dealership so Archie can collect his father's body from where the accident happened. When they return to town the next day, on July 4, Reggie attends the funeral with everyone else, and he serves as one of the pallbearers. Archie's mom invites Archie's childhood friends to come by the house and hang out with Archie. They sit in his backyard, reminiscing about their experiences with Fred Andrews growing up. They stay the first firework show the town has put on in 3 years, and light sparklers while watching outside on blankets.

When Munroe Moore outshines Reggie and competes for Reggie's captaincy of the Bulldogs, Archie witnesses how Reggie's dad is verbally abusive to Reggie. After Veronica unfoundedly accuses Reggie of smearing her name to the press, she spots that he has a black eye and reveals to Archie that Reggie's father hits him. When Mr. Mantle shows up to practice to denigrate Reggie once again, Archie steps in to defend Reggie, who is livid and tells Archie off. While drunk at Cheryl's party, Reggie tries to pick a fight with Monroe again and Archie intervenes. After the party is shut down, Archie talks to Reggie about his eye and Reggie opens up to Archie about how his father has hit Reggie since Reggie was little and that he wished his father was the one who died instead of Archie's. Archie asks how he can help but Reggie thanks him for standing up for Reggie earlier on the football field. To get back at his father, Reggie takes a baseball bat and smashes Mr. Mantle's sports car. Archie worries if he'll retaliate, but Reggie seems to have newfound courage from Archie's support and says he can take his dad on now. The next day, Archie asks how Reggie is and Reggie confides in Archie that he has stood up to his father and their relationship will change now. He and Archie hug and finally make amends, after everything that happened between them with Veronica.

When Archie wants to turn his boxing gym into a community center to honour his father, Reggie helps fundraise for renovations by participating in a shirtless car wash at Pop's. Reggie also volunteers the Bulldogs as Big Brothers to kids at the center. Reggie supports Archie when a local thug attempts to recruit kids for his gang and threatens Archie. On Thanksgiving, Reggie attends a ceremony at the center where Archie dedicates it to his father's memory. Archie and Reggie play their last high school football game together in the state finals. Reggie, Archie, and their friends team up to pull a senior prank on Principal Honey after he cancels prom. The parents get prom reinstated and the friends celebrate together at prom. Archie doesn't graduate but attends the ceremony with Reggie and their friends. After graduation, Reggie considers Riverdale Community College while Archie leaves Riverdale to join the army.

2027
Archie fights a war while in the army and doesn't see his friends for 7 years, while Reggie stays in Riverdale and starts working for Hiram Lodge. When Archie is discharged, he returns to find Riverdale almost a ghost town run down by Hiram Lodge, and decides to save it. Reggie works against Archie's efforts on Hiram's side, even trying to make it difficult for Archie to get his house back from the Ghoulies squatting there, though Archie manages to do so by force with help from Betty and their friends. Reggie starts coaching the Stonewall Stallions, and after some of them set fire to Riverdale High, Archie visits the team and punches Reggie, despite being well aware of the abuse Reggie suffered in the past. As retaliation, Reggie sets fire to Archie's house on Hiram's orders, though luckily Archie and Jughead are not harmed. Reggie starts to slowly turn back to the side of good when he helps Betty with her search for her sister, and he attends Cheryl's key party with Archie and his old school friends, though he doesn't communicate that much with them. Reggie later tries to get Archie to quit pushing the Bulldogs, but later joins the stands cheering for them, with Archie as their coach, as Reggie refused Hiram's request to hurt one of the Bulldogs kids so they couldn't play.

When Hiram lets prisoners escape from his prison to run rampant in Riverdale, Archie and his friends try to round them up. They're almost killed when tracking some to a warehouse, but Reggie saves their lives. Reggie works with Archie to take down the thugs, as Reggie is helping Veronica. It is also revealed that Reggie started working for Hiram to pay him back a debt Reggie's dad incurred. Reggie still sees a chance at a better life through crime, but Hiram fires Reggie to put him on a better path. Reggie starts working with Archie at Andrews Construction, in the Blossom mines. They have a good time hanging out and work well together when they suffer hallucinations from gas leaks and get their friends out of the mines. Archie and Reggie both support Betty as she grieves her sister, and attend Polly's funeral. Reggie provides the incriminating evidence that finally see Riverdale able to banish Hiram.

Superpowers
Archie, Betty, and others get superpowers after the bomb Hiram planted exploded in Archie's house. After ending his partnership with Veronica following his Dad's illness, Reggie is influenced by Percival and starts working with him, sometimes against Archie. When Percival asks Reggie to kill Kevin, Reggie fights back against Pickens and joins the fight to defeat the sorcerer. Pickens mind controls Reggie to attack Archie and Reggie fights and stabs Archie multiple times. Thanks to Bingo, Archie super-heals and Reggie awakens from the mind control, apologising profusely to Archie. They work together and take down Pickens with their friends, but not before he sics a comet on the town and traps them within its borders. They try a plan to melt the comet, executed by Cheryl, while awaiting impact.

Songs

 * lawd have mercy | EL CAMINO
 * rivervale: shirtless sawing contest


 * now i understand | TWIN GUNS
 * Reggie picks up Archie for their first watch

Fanon
Although a rare pair in the fandom, mostly due to Reggie's negligible screen time, it's a fairly common ship in the comics with a long frenemy history. Due to its history, there hasn't really been fluctuations in the ship's popularity in the fandom but it remains a presence.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION
 * Archie/Reggie on FanFiction.Net


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