Chapter Text
Thing set upon Wednesday immediately as she crossed the threshold, unknowingly settling on her injured shoulder. Wednesday hissed and Thing threw himself onto the floor, signing apologetically.
“You weren’t to know, Thing,” Wednesday murmured as exhaustion well and truly started setting in. Enid was finally facing Wednesday in decent light and saw the blood covering multiple parts of her body and gasped.
“Wednesday, what happened?”
“Xavier shot an arrow at Crackstone, and were he not a super charged zombie of sorts, it may have been effective. As it were though, Crackstone was able to redirect it back at Xavier and it may or may not have lodged itself into my shoulder,” Wednesday offered.
“But if Crackstone flung it back at Xavier, how did it impale you?”
Wednesday carefully considered her thoughts before replying. “I shifted to be in its direct path.”
After a suspiciously long stretch of silence from her nauseatingly chatty roommate, Wednesday hazarded a glance towards her and found Enid apparently struck dumb, her mouth hanging open in silence.
Wednesday’s gaze was enough to break Enid out of her stupor and she screeched her delayed response. “You took an arrow meant for Xavier?!? Like, you willingly got shot with an arrow to spare Xavier?”
Wednesday huffed, feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the conversation. “Yes, and while I enjoy some occasional torture, I won’t be getting shot again in a hurry.” She groaned in pain as she attempted to peel off her sweater.
Enid rushed to help her, which would usually have grated every last one of Wednesday’s nerves, but the aches in her body seemed to be exponentially multiplying with each passing minute so she let it slide.
Enid surveyed the girl in front of her and furrowed her brow. “Just hear me out, Wednesday,” she began cautiously. “You’re pretty beat up - will you let me run a bath and help you get cleaned up? Keep your underwear on, but we’ll cut off the rest of your clothes because - let’s face it - they’re toast… and it’ll be easier than trying to take them off one by one,” Enid rambled nervously, unsure how Wednesday would react.
Mulling over her options for a moment, Wednesday sighed quietly. “What about you?” She deflected for the time being.
Enid shuffled on her feet and swallowed heavily. “Most… most of this blood isn’t mine,” she stammered. “I know I need to have a shower and treat my cuts but all things considered, I think you are our main priority at the moment.
“Yes, fine,” Wednesday relented. She reached up to tug the elastic off the end of her braid but dropped her arm when a sharp pain emanated down from her shoulder. Enid immediately reached out and silently took over, gently unweaving the tightly braided pigtails and carding her fingers through her roommates loose hair in a way she hoped was comforting or relaxing.
Thing, who had been listening and waiting in the doorway tapped to draw Enid’s attention and helpfully held up a pair of scissors.
“Thank you, Thing,” Enid said gratefully. “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Enid’s question was clear as she held up the scissors.
Wednesday just nodded, acquiescing never one of her strong traits.
“Okay then, stand in the tub and we’ll get started,” Enid gently guided her to the side of the tub and hovered close as she stepped over the edge. She quickly cut away Wednesday’s clothes and dropped them into the nearby trash can until Wednesday was left in nothing but her underclothes. Enid tried to avert her eyes as much as possible, not wanting to make the task any more uncomfortable than it would already be for Wednesday.
“Here, let’s rinse you down first then we’ll fill the tub so the water doesn’t get too gross,” Enid suggested with a wrinkled nose. “This may sting,” she warned the brunette.
Wednesday offered no response other than a dull hiss as the stream of water hit her battered and scratched skin. Enid quickly rinsed the bulk of the blood from her hair and body.
“Wednesday, why don’t you set the water as hot as you’d like then start the bath, I need to grab some washcloths and bandages,” Enid stammered, her voice thick with emotion and she turned to gather supplies.
Wednesday set to filling the tub with hot water and sighed as she sat in the slowly rising water, the heat of the water seeping into her tired and aching legs. She resisted the urge to pull her knees to her chest as Enid spun back around, apparently satisfied with her haul. When did Enid put on a tattered looking nightgown? Wednesday hadn’t noticed until now, as the blonde pushed up the sleeves with a determined inhale of breath.
“Okay… after we get you cleaned up, we can dress your wounds. I’ll be as gentle as I can,” Enid assured Wednesday as she squirted a healthy amount of Wednesday’s body wash under the still running faucet to cause bubbles to form. She decided it served multiple purposes - aiding the cleaning up process, and hopefully preventing Wednesday from feeling overexposed when she was already a vulnerable state. Enid dipped a washcloth into the water before wringing it out and raising it to Wednesday’s face. She discovered the source of the blood that had streamed down her face was a cut just beyond her hairline. Enid gentle dabbed at it before quickly washing the rest of Wednesday’s face. She moved onto her wounded shoulder and tsk’d.
“Wens, this is bad,” Enid whispered harshly. Wednesday squeezed her eyes shut and tried to rid the image of Crackstone’s face as he sent the arrow at Xavier before is lodged in her own arm.
“I’ll have it seen to tomorrow if need be, I just want to sleep,” Wednesday said with a sigh.
Enid certainly couldn’t fault the girl for wanting to rest after the day she’d had. She decided to speed up the process as much as possible.
“Here, wash whatever you can with your good arm while I start on your hair. The sooner you’re all cleaned up, the sooner you can get into bed,” Enid said as she handed over the washcloth. Wednesday began rubbing at her torso with stiff movements while Enid poured some of the steaming water over her roommates hair, being careful not to let it run into her eyes. She gently shampooed and conditioned Wednesday’s hair, taking care around the freshly cleaned cut.
By the time Enid had finished rinsing Wednesday’s hair, there were only a few spots Wednesday hadn’t been able to easily tend to herself. Enid grabbed a second washcloth and quickly helped rid th blood, dirt and grime she could still see.
“Okay, you’re good to go,” she proclaimed. “If you’re ready, we can drain the bath and get you out, dry and in bed.”
Wednesday wordlessly pulled the plug from the drain and watched the now filthy water swirl away. She braced her arms on either side of the tub to stand up, but realised quickly she couldn’t put weight on her injured arm. Enid quickly grabbed her good arm and helped pull her up before wrapping one of Wednesday’s fluffy black towels around her.
Enid kept a sharp eye on her roomie as she stepped out of the tub, hovering close in case she needed further help. “Do you think you can dry off okay while I have a shower?” Enid asked.
“I’m not an invalid,” snapped Wednesday. Enid recoiled, though she should have expected such a response from her temperamental friend by now. Wednesday exhaled loudly and added, “it is vexing to need anyone’s help with anything, especially with such mundane tasks. I… do appreciate it though Enid.” The words sounded like they tasted of vinegar as they left Wednesday’s mouth. Of course Enid wouldn’t hold this against her, she nearly died - it’s totally understandable that she’s got a short fuse. She also knew this was the closest that she’d ever get to an apology from her friend.
“No worries roomie,” Enid replied with a small smile. “I won’t be long, anyway.”
Wednesday sat on her bed as she heard the pipes groan back to life as the shower turned on once more. She experimentally rolled her injured shoulder and felt a dull throb. Hopefully it was just a flesh wound that would heal if left well enough alone. She pulled her towel from around her body and squeezed it around the lengths of her hair to stave off the irritating dripping. Wednesday sighed as she supposed she’d need to swallow her pride and ask Enid to help her with her hair after she was done in the shower. But she resolved to dress without aid, she’d shown far too much weakness for a year, let alone a single night. She had never been so happy to be wearing a front clasp bra which made it easy to remove with one hand, but tugging on a dry pair of panties and an oversized shirt to sleep in dragged a groan of protest from her.
No sooner had she completed the task, Enid emerged from the bathroom looking much more herself than earlier. Wednesday took stock of the scratches and emerging bruises already blooming. She contemplated before speaking, meeting the blonde's eyes silently for a few moments before saying "if I lay eyes on him again, he'll be dead before he can so much as blink."
The flat, even tone which Enid heard normally wouldn't have piqued her interest, but she looked up and saw fire swirling in Wednesday's eyes. "I..." Enid cleared her suddenly thick throat. "I'm okay."
Wednesday ignored the fallacy entirely; she had stated a fact, there was no further discussion required. "Enid," she began uncomfortably. "Do you... Would you mind... What I mean to say is-" Wednesday clamped her jaws shut, frustrated both at having to ask for help in the first place, and for sounding like an utter imbecile while trying to phrase her request.
Enid remained quiet, waiting for her friend to collect herself. It has been beyond a long night, and the last thing Enid wanted to do was push Wednesday's impervious boundaries too far. She watched her close her eyes and exhale forcefully through her nose.
"My hair," she said finally. "With my shoulder, I'm unable to braid it myself."
Before Wednesday could continue, Enid was up off her bed and crossing the room, apologising.
"Oh, I'm an idiot. Of course you can't brush and braid your hair... Come to think of it, I didn't cover your puncture either!" Enid near shrieked as she reached the other girl's bedside. "Let me get the dressing, we'll do that first." She quickly strode into their bathroom and exited, already removing the dressing from its sterile packaging. She was grateful the bandage was white; she didn't want to know how much truth there was to Wednesday's claim that colour made the flesh peel from her bones. "Can you pull the neck of your shirt out of the way, I bet I can reach it from there."
Wednesday quietly did as she was asked. Enid made quick work of gently sticking the dressing over the gaping hole, giving it one last gentle pat before pulling Wednesday's shirt back into place.
"Okay, that's done... Time for your hair!" Enid said sounding far too enthused for the time and events of the night. "Do you mind if I sit next to you? I think that will be easiest and most comfortable for you."
"Whatever you need," replied Wednesday tiredly. Enid had grabbed Wednesday's brush and elastics when she retrieved the dressing, so she was all set. She sat facing Wednesday and quickly split her hair down the middle of her head before starting to comb the long, dark tresses. Enid was bursting inside - circumstances be damned, this was her idea of heaven. Touch was her love language, and an open invitation to brush and do someone's hair, especially, felt so caring and intimate. An outstanding roomie bonding moment, at least for her.
"Tell me if I pull too hard," Enid warned Wednesday. She got an undignified snort in response. Fair, Enid thought in hindsight. As she untangled Wednesday's hair, she continued to squeeze more water out of it with the towel before neatly braiding it. Sooner than Enid hoped, the task was done. "All finished," she said getting up and looking at the smaller girl. With her signature braids, Wednesday looked far more like herself, and an unexpected sense of relief flooded throughout Enid.
"Thank you," said Wednesday as she pulled her left braid over her shoulder.
"No worries at all! I can help with your hair whenever you need me to," she offered.
"That's not what I meant. Not exactly," Wednesday replied meeting Enid's eyes. "If you hadn't wolfed out and come when you did... I'd be dead. And while I have always longed for a unique cause of death, I learned tonight I don't wish it to come to pass anytime soon. So, thank you," Wednesday finished somewhat awkwardly. To her horror - and not the good kind - she watched as Enid's eyes began to fill with unshed tears.
Her own eyes bugged out as she desperately thought of something, anything to avoid the inevitable.
"What, Enid," Wednesday almost whined. "I don't... I don't have the capacity to even pretend to be capable of dealing with this." Wednesday waved her arms out wildly, gesturing towards the other girl. "Can we put a pin in this?"
Enid blinked in quick succession, looking up at the ceiling. She was trying to rein in her emotions, but it was always harder to do when she was tired.
"I know you hate it, I'm sorry... And I'll be careful of your shoulder... But can I give you another hug?" Enid said in a rush.
Wednesday let out an exasperated huff of breath. People thought she was crazy when she said that emotions were a gateway drug, but look at her current predicament. "Make it snappy," she said, rolling her eyes and holding her good arm out. Enid rushed back to the bed and carefully but firmly wrapped Wednesday in a full body hug. Wednesday could feel the other girl shaking against her. "We're okay," she promised. "We're going to be okay."
Enid pulled away and Wednesday was met with a tear-streaked face nodding back at her. "I know. It's just a lot," Enid said as she looked at the garishly bright clock on her side of the room - 12:37am. "The boys will be knocking on the door at 9am, we should get some rest. Goodnight, Wednesday." Enid squeezed Wednesday's good shoulder gently as she got up from Wednesday's bed and crossed the room to her own.
"Goodnight Enid," Wednesday replied softly, opting to lie on her uninjured side instead of her preferred flat on her back, arms crossed over her chest sleeping position. Enid switched off the lamp and plunged the room into darkness and with a shuddering deep breath, Wednesday closed her eyes and let sleep take her.