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It started with a reporter calling Xavier's cell phone for an interview on his father's latest scandal. He'd heard nothing from Vincent since the summer. Wanted even less to do with him, honestly.
He'd gotten looks, whispers behind his back, and the like. He'd dismissed it. He figured it was because of Wednesday. She'd hit the school like a tsunami. They were still riding the waves. Hell, she was still causing waves.
Enid becoming an Addams on the first day back? Major waves. Even her own brothers didn't know what to do with that. Technically, she was anathema. An outcast from their pack. They weren't supposed to speak to her or acknowledge her existence. Realistically, they knew that their mom was wrong and they still loved their sister. But if word got back to the pack that they were fraternizing with her? Well, not everybody had the opportunity to become an Addams, and being packless was a miserable existence.
“Latest” implied previous. Eventually curiosity ate at him enough that he went online to check celebrity news. Headlines abounded: “Vincent Thorpe's Gaffe on Live Mic! Can he He Redeem Himself?”, “Famed Psychic Caught Abusing Staff on Hotel Camera!”, and the last, “Vincent Thorpe's Assistant tells all! Exclusive on CVL tonight at 6pm!”
He was numb.
He'd hidden out in the shed and watched the interview on his phone. His father's behind the scene behavior had been laid out for the world to see. Hidden video, audio clips, it was all there...detailing his despicable treatment of everybody around him. America's favorite psychic was knocked from his pedestal. His nice guy, benevolent façade was ripped away.
Xavier could have cheered all that (and maybe had, a little), except that his Father's long time assistant also went into great detail about his (non) relationship with his son. He laid out the criminal levels of neglect, the alienation, and Vincent Thorpe's feelings toward his only child.
At first he'd screamed and thrown things around his studio. Then the anger wore itself out, and he sat on the floor and curled into himself.
He had to go back to the school. He had to face his friends and the other students, knowing that they'd seen this. They knew his father regretted having him, thought he was a failure, and didn't want him. Xavier wasn't sure that he could face that. It was one thing for them to suspect...but this...
“I can have him killed.”
He didn't even lift his head from his knees. “You're not killing my father.”
“I didn't say that I'd do it. I'm sure Uncle Fester or Grandmama would be happy to.”
He felt her sit next to him. Wednesday's presence grounded him, made him feel like he wasn't about to blow up or blow away. “How do I do this?”
He looked up to see her watching him. Wednesday didn't care what people thought of her and he wasn't sure how much she understood. “How do I face everybody? I have to go back to the school, I have to go out in public...and they all know that my father thought I was worthless.”
“If you were worthless, I'd have left you to die.”
He huffed. “Quite the compliment, Addams. You really known how to make a guy feel special.”
Wednesday looked away. “Enid said I was bad at this.”
“At what?”
“Comforting people.”
“You don't do emotion, but you try. I've seen it. For Enid. Me. I heard you even had a moment or two with Bianca. She respects you, and she doesn't respect most people.”
“Most people are imbeciles.”
He huffed out a small laugh. “Yeah, kind of. Less than you think, but probably more than most people want to believe.”
They sat in silence for a while. When Wednesday finally spoke, her tone was vindictive. “I want to make him suffer.”
“Who?”
“Vincent.”
He heaved a sigh. “This is the single biggest way you could hurt my father. He revels in his prestige. It's not even about the money. It's all about how people view him.”
“He hurt you.”
Xavier smiled at the genuine anger that she felt for him. “You're not as bad at this as you think you are.”
She stood and offered her hand. “We should head back. Enid will worry, and then she'll try to hug us.”
“I've seen you hug her.”
“It was a one time deal only.”
He reached out and took her hand, letting her pull him upright.
They met Enid and Ajax halfway back, and the bubbly girl promptly hugged him. She moved towards Wednesday but only laughed when the smaller girl warded her off.
They stepped onto the open grounds to find Bianca waiting. She fell in with the group as they surrounded him and led him back.
#*#*
Xavier had been having nightmares. There had been no real visuals, just a keen sense of being lost and alone; a feeling of having been taken from where he belonged. The feeling had begun to bleed into the waking world, and his friends kept even closer to him in response.
Xavier was surprised to be summoned to Principal Weems office a week or so later. Sheriff Galpin was there, along with a man in a dark suit. Galpin looked tired and stressed.
“Xavier, you know Sheriff Galpin. This is Special FBI Agent Deke Inwood. He's with the Supernatural Crimes against Children Division.”
Agent Inwood held out his hand. Xavier reached out and immediately felt a presence slide in and start flicking through his memories like a scrap book. He felt like he should trust this man. Xavier would be safe with him. Wednesday's image popped into his mind, shocking him out of the lull he'd been induced into, and he stumbled back in shock. Weems looked back and forth. “What just happened here, gentlemen?”
Agent Inwood grimaced. “I apologize. I commonly do a quick scan of victims to get an idea of what services they need based on the depth of their trauma and mental landscape. I've never had one notice until now.”
“So you go into kid's heads, uninvited, and rummage around? Does the FBI authorize you to invade people's minds?”
“Young man, I'm here to help you.”
Principal Weems stood, “Agent Inwood, please keep in mind that Xavier Thorpe is a minor, and currently in my protection since his only relative is under investigation.”
“He is a victim and I have every right to assess his mental state.”
“Hey! He is right here! You could have asked!” Xavier stepped even further away.
“Principal Weems, my scan of him indicates that he's at risk. Since there is no family, as you stated, I'd like to take him into protective custody.”
“No. No way am I going with you.”
Sheriff Galpin looked uneasy, “I'm not comfortable with this, Agent.”
Weems agreed. “He has a large and active support group here. In fact, many have been acting as a buffer for him from the student body at large. If you remove him, you're isolating Xavier and increasing his trauma.”
“Your concern is noted, but we have top notch therapists and psychologists on staff. I'm afraid that I'll have to overrule both of you.”
“I am not without family. I have been taken in by the Addams. They have claimed me as theirs.”
Weems gripped the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Of course they have.”
“Addams? THE Addams family? That group of misfits and criminals?”
Larissa Weems straightened. “They're one of the most influential families in our community, Agent Inwood. One of the original Addams formed this school and protected this town. They are...eccentric, yes. But they are wealthy, powerful, and largely benevolent despite themselves.
“Most recently, they've garnered a great deal of good will for taking in a very well liked student whose family had cast her out. Two of them have each saved this school and the entire student body.”
“Do you have any proof of relationship? Adoption paperwork?”
Xavier raked his hands through his hair. “No.”
“Then you'll...oh my GOD! What is that THING?!” He recoiled in horror at the stitched up hand that had just climbed up onto the desk.
Weems smiled. “That is Thing, Agent Inwood. He's a member of the Addam's family.” She watched Thing make a series of gestures. “He is confirming that Xavier has been claimed by the Addam's family.”
The Principal waved the Sheriff to put away his gun, which he had pointed at Thing. He began muttering about all the weird shit he had to deal with.
“I am not taking the supposed word of a..a...hand!”
“We have an Addams enrolled at this school, Agent. I'm sure that we can have her corroborate Mr. Thorpe's assertion.”
“Look, I'm not taking the word of a kid or a body part. I'm a federal agent and I've got the right to take Mr. Thorpe into custody if I've deemed him to be at risk.”
“I'm not 'at risk'. What I am is angry and upset that you've dug around in my head and are trying to arrest me! I'm not going with you.” He stood.
Inwood reached for his cuffs and moved to detain Xavier. Sheriff Galpin stepped between them. “There's got to be some way to prove this kid has been taken in by the Addams. Can't we just call them or something?”
“I'd only accept the word of an unbiased party at this point, and we clearly don't have one here.”
Galpin eyed him. Something wasn't right here. Agent Inwood's face was was pinched and sweat was beginning to dot his brow.
Thing started signing and the Principal translated, “Xavier has a significant magical bond to Wednesday, that makes him a part of the Addams family. He says that a certified practitioner will confirm the bond.”
Sheriff Galpin pulled his phone from his pocket. “An old friend of my wife works at the FBI. Let me reach out to them and see if there's somebody they can send to confirm this one way or another.”
“They don't need to send anyone else. I have this well in hand.”
“Well, we'll see about that.” He stepped out to make the call.
Peri, short for Periwinkle, entered a highly charged room. She avoided her full name because her mother had an interesting sense of humor. All of her girls had been named after flowers that were unsafe in some way. She claimed that she wanted them to be pretty but dangerous. Add that to a last name of Droop, well, let's just say that elementary school was not a good time.
Her supervisor had pulled her in to deal with this poste haste. A local LEO called claiming that they needed someone to test a bond, because one of their own agents was harassing a kid. The call hadn't made much sense, but they wanted her on it to deescalate the situation because that's what she does: she fixes things when they go sideways.
She took everybody in with a glance. The Sheriff , who had called the bureau, was a normie. The tall woman was...something. Definitely not entirely human.
There was a teen aged male that she presumed was Xavier Thorpe. He was interesting. There was precognition and psychic ability, animation magic, and he was pretty powerful. Despite the stress radiating from him, he was solid. In part, she thought, because of the small young woman standing next to him.
If she had to guess, this was an Addams. They all had a unique energy about them. The girl was powerful and dark, yet had a hidden core of honor and compassion. Definitely a Seer of some kind.
Despite her aloof demeanor, her energy showed a great deal of protectiveness towards the boy. Periwinkle could clearly see a multi-layered bond between them.
She could also see that the girl had made a full spirit journey, and while her powers were still in their infancy, she was strong. Overlaying her was a witch who was definitely not new to her craft.
...and there, on the desk, was a hand. A hand with it's own aura and abilities. That was certainly something she didn't see every day. It waved at her and she waved back.
“You've really stepped in shit with this one, Inwood.”
Agent Inwood's energy showed the sickly yellow of self righteousness and the overwhelming ichor of greed. “This is my case.”
Peri sighed. “I'll deal with you later.” She turned to the rest. “Hi! I'm Agent Droops. I'm here to sort things out. I'm told that we wanted independent confirmation that Mr. Thorpe here is magically connected to Addams family?”
The elegant, statuesque, woman spoke, “Agent Droops, I am Principal Weems of the Nevermore Academy. This is Xavier Thorpe.” She gestured to the teen. “We also have Sheriff Galpin, and over here we have Wednesday Addams and Thing Addams.
“If you could confirm whether or not Mr. Thorpe has been claimed by the Addams family magic, we would greatly appreciate it.”
Peri nodded. “Of course, I'd be happy to. It's very easy to see that he's heavily bonded to the Addams family.” Bonded to the to Addams girl, more accurately, but it was all the same.
Inwood looked at her. “You see it? Don't you need to do a test?”
“I don't need some test, Agent Inwood.” Her voice had a trace of irritation. He hadn't grown up in the community. His specific talent had been of interest to the government and they'd raised and trained him in a special center. He and those like him had absolutely no understanding or tolerance of the Outcast community that they were technically a part of.
“I want it run anyway.”
“Look Inwood, this is what I do. Everything I find here will be certified and on the record. Mr. Thorpe is clearly bonded to the Miss Addams. She has family who have claimed him. You cannot take him into custody on that issue.” She held up a hand. “He is also not unstable. They are inseparable, and if you try, you will wound him so deeply that you cannot possibly use him for whatever it is you want.”
Inwood was clearly angry and being thwarted and called out on it. “I want the test run.”
“I am the test.”
“This is ridiculous. I will be taking him into my custody until such a time as you've either proven he has these bonds you claim, or the psychologist deems him fit.”
...aaand now she had a mess on her hands. The teen's fear spiked, and Miss Addams power automatically responded. Yup. Confirmation that their powers were also linked into each other. She bet they even had shared visions. Better head this off before something violent happened.
“Agent Inwood, I outrank you. I'm relieving you of duty before you get yourself killed.” The idiot couldn't even sense the power building in the room. The hair on her arms was starting to rise. Good grief, even the Sheriff was responding to the danger and backing away.
He went to protest one more time and she literally grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“I am saving your life, asshole. Her power is responding to his fear. They are bound on every level possible, and you need to drop this. You're not going to get what you want, trust me on this. I am taking over this case. I want all your field notes and case files by morning.”
“You can't do this!”
“I can and I am. Get out of here before I call for back up and have you dragged out in cuffs.”
He ripped his arm out of her hand with a glare. “I'll be protesting your actions with your supervisors.”
“You do that, honey. Go right ahead. You're already in a world of shit. In the meantime, I need to take care of the mess you just made.”
She waited until he'd gone. No need to risk having him come back and incite a magical explosion. She took a deep breath and went back in.
The Sheriff was wide eyed, and as close to the door as he could be without having actually left. He probably had no idea what he was even reacting to, as the girl looked as cool as usual. Her power though...for anybody who could see it, the energy was a raging maelstrom, with her and the boy in the center. It was just waiting for a trigger. Now she had to diffuse the situation.
“Look, I'm sorry for that. I'm not going to make excuses for his behavior, and I promise to do what I can to ensure he doesn't get to pull that bullshit again. I'll be documenting all of this. Thoroughly. Hopefully, it'll prevent another mess.”
“He wants Xavier.” The girls voice could practically cut stone it was so sharp.
“He does. Xavier is talented. If I had to guess, Inwood wants a chance to recruit him....you...” she nodded to the teen, “for governmental use.”
Principal Weems leaned forward. “He's a minor and still in high school. It's a little young for recruitment into the FBI. Don't you require a college degree?”
“There is a..subset...that believes in taking in young Outcasts, training them, and using them for governmental work. The normies in the field don't always like working with those of us who grew up within our community. We have different beliefs, morals, and mindsets.”
“Inwood is one of them.” This girl was perceptive.
“Yes. He was one of the few taken in and raised from infancy in the program. It wasn't entirely successful, and I think you can see why. They now try to pull in those in their early teens. Xavier is a bit old, which is why there is the possibility that it was for personal greed. Though his approach was all wrong if that were his intended plan.”
“Why are you telling us this?”
“Right now, you're a bomb waiting to blow, and I'm trying to deescalate the situation.” A smirk crossed the young woman's face. “I suspect you'll know if I'm dishonest with you, and I think the more information you have...the calmer you'll be.
“So the first thing is that I have no intention of taking anybody into custody. I think Agent Inwood saw an opportunity to bring in a young, powerful, practically orphaned Outcast. Many from situations such as what Mr. Thorpe's has endured are often highly malleable given the right praise and incentives; especially if provided with a positive and supportive father figure .”
Xavier flinched.
The Sheriff had eased back into the room. “That's disgusting. I'm not a fan of this school, but brainwashing and using kids? If Tyler...” He cut himself off.
The Sheriff's aura had gone almost black with grief, despair, and what looked like shame. Peri didn't know what was up with that situation but it wasn't what she was here for.
“I think Inwood and others like him would have found that Mr. Thorpe would have impossible to sway or influence. The bond he shares with Miss Addams precludes anything of that nature.”
“That explains it.” Everybody focused on him and he sucked in a breath. “When he shook my hand... It felt like I should trust him. I felt like he was the only safety, even as I could almost see him digging around in my memories. The thought of Wednesday popped into my head, and suddenly I was repulsed and yanked my hand away.”
“That was your bond responding to the invasion.” Periwinkle watched Wednesday move closer to him.
“I'm going to be honest in a way that would give my boss hives. This was and is a highly volatile situation. We've got the son of a high profile celebrity, an elite and prestigious Outcast school, the Addams family, and an FBI agent coming in and agitating all parties. Because quite frankly? Agent Inwood shouldn't have been here. Your file doesn't meet the criteria for the FBI to investigate. Our jurisdiction is child trafficking, serious magical abuse, exploitation of a child's gifts, and things of that nature. This only crossed our desk because of the recent publicity surrounding Vincent Thorpe. We'd already kicked any action back down to a local level.”
Xavier ran his hand through his hair. “Am I going to have to worry about CPS now?” She could see the agitation and fear building in the young man.
“No.” Peri sighed. “So in a twist, Agent Inwood's actions fall under the exploitation of a child's gifts, which kicks the case back up to us.”
“So now what?”
“You'll be assigned a case manager and they'll review everything. I can't make promises, but I will make it very clear that you are not to be pulled from school or your support network.” Peri glanced at Wednesday. “I fully believe that would make this situation explosive, and be detrimental for everyone involved.”
Xavier spoke. “I'd prefer you to be my case manager.”
“I'm too blunt for casework, but my supervisors will most certainly take your preference into account given the circumstances.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out some cards. She handed them to everyone present. “That's my contact info. Email or text is preferred because I might be in the field. Call me if you have questions or if Agent Inwood comes back.”
“Will he be dealt with?”
Periwinkle stilled. The politics involved in this were a nightmare. Inwood had crossed a major line with very powerful and prestigious players. The problem lay in the governmental program that had created the man. It still existed and also had a number of powerful backers. Inwood had been raised and trained to do exactly what he did. She couldn't fathom how many kids they'd probably coerced into the program. He'd just had the bad luck to run into someone immune to that kind of manipulation.
The higher ups would never allow it him to be arrested, and there's no telling what he'd do if he were fired. The job kept him in line somewhat, but untethered... She held back a shudder at the damage he might do. Most of the original trainees that that program had already been hunted down. They had unerring loyalty to their handlers and training, but absolutely no compassion or empathy.
“I'll be giving my statement on what happened here, and there will be a full investigation.”
Periwinkle wrapped things up and hastened out of there. She needed to get back and get ahead of any fallout.
#*#*#*
Xavier was in the shed. He held the brush and had a canvas, but nothing was coming. It wasn't so much that there wasn't anything coming through, there was too much.
The door swung open and Wednesday stepped through. “Grandmama offers her apologies...and her services, should you want them.”
“What? Why?”
“She called in some favors to expose your father. She wanted to ruin him, but she couldn't have anticipated the fallout on her favorite grandson.”
“Wait, isn't Pugsley her actual grandson?”
“Eh, he's soft.” She sat down her bag and Thing crawled out. “I'm pretty sure Enid is her favorite granddaughter because she's a werewolf.”
“Does that make you and Enid sisters?”
Wednesday practically glared at him. “No.”
“Oh come on, you care about her.”
“I had an off day and experienced an unexpected foray into sentimentalism.”
Xavier would have ribbed her a bit more, but her hand brushed the FBI agent's card that he'd discarded on a table. Her eyes went wide and he was leaping up, even as her head went back. He managed to catch her just before she slammed into the table. It was so close that the hand cradling her head would probably bruise.
A moment later, she went limp and he almost lost hold of her. He lowered both of them to the ground and waited.
It took several long minutes before she began to stir. Finally her eyes opened and she looked dazed. With a blink she was fully back and he was helping her upright.
“They're coming for me.” Wednesday wasn't frightened, not quite, but she wasn't as calm as she normally was.
“Who? Who's coming for you?” Xavier on the other hand was concerned. Her visions were of blood, and death, and violence . If that was directed at her...
“One of them is Tyler. The Hyde is loose.”
Understanding dawned on him. The young man walked over and snatched the sheets off of his latest paintings. One was the hyde, another showed Agent Inwood with his face in a snarl of anger, and a third showed the side profile of a portly man wearing Crackstone's ring.”
“I think I'd better call in Uncle Fester.”