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It was a dreadfully long walk back to Ophelia Hall. More like a pathetic trudge, really.
As Wednesday and Enid walked, Wednesday far too exhausted to protest against Enid's arm wrapped firmly around her waist, they shared in a comfortable silence, broken up only by the occasional groan of pain.
Enid's eyes darted back and forth between Wednesday and the path ahead, constantly watchful of Wednesday's poor condition. She worried for the shorter girl, aching to check for other wounds she couldn't see, or damage she couldn't undo, but they needed to get somewhere safer first. Safe and clean, preferably. Enid longed to flop onto her intensely coloured bed back in their shared room, longed to fall asleep and stay that way for as long as her body allowed. She'd exerted herself far more than she ever had before. But for a good cause, of course. There wasn't a thing she wouldn't do for Wednesday.
However, she struggled to fight back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She was overwhelmed beyond belief. If she could just return to that hug and stay there forever, maybe then she'd feel okay again. Ajax had been there to comfort her too, but it felt different coming from Wednesday. More intense, somehow. Deeper. More meaningful. Like Ajax was a boat come to rescue her from the storming sea, but Wednesday was the moon turning to quell the tides. Enid wondered if perhaps these feelings in regards to her monochrome companion were an indication of something more.
Meanwhile, the girl in question was focused almost entirely on the mass of bodies trailing alongside them. Some of the students looked more tired than she was, and she'd basically died and been resurrected - not nearly as fun as she'd anticipated - what did they have to be weary about?
And where was her other sliver of focus? Locked on the brightly coloured figure beside her. She could practically feel the warmth of their earlier embrace slowly ebb out of her. It hurt. And not the kind of hurt she enjoyed. Was she actually missing being wrapped in Enid's arms? It couldn't be, could it? What was it she was feeling towards her roommate? What was this intense, swelling emotion, bubbling in her gut and rising to her chest? How dare her body betray her like this.
"We should probably take you to the nurse, Wens," Enid eventually broke the silence as they re-entered the campus, "You've lost a lot of blood."
"It's nothing Thing and I couldn't fix," Wednesday deflected, "Though the scratches on your face are an area of concern."
"Werewolf healing, remember? Might leave a nasty scar though..."
"Then we're both fine."
"Are you sure?" Enid asked with a playful tone, but Wednesday could tell their was an underlying sense of worry masked beneath it.
"I'm sure."
Hesitantly, Enid continued leading them back to their dorm. As soon as the door swung open, they both stopped and stared, unsure of what to do. Thing jumped from Wednesday's shoulder and pointed towards the bathroom.
"Good idea, Thing, I'm really gross right now." Enid grimaced, then looked to Wednesday, who she still held by the side, "Are you gonna be fine for a bit?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" And with that, Enid reluctantly let her go and disappeared into the bathroom to clean herself off.
Wednesday stood unmoving for a few counts, then slowly brought herself to the floor to lie down on the planks. She felt the weight of the world ease away, seeping into the wood and out of mind. She lay there, staring up at the ceiling in silence, until Enid was done.
After some time, the bathroom door creaked open and a squeaky clean Enid stepped out. She inspected the room, then locked eyes with Wednesday. Without a word, she joined her on the floor, positioning herself right beside her. They spent the next few minutes listening to each other breathe as they inhaled the familiar smell of fruity perfumes and exhaled all the night's stress. It felt like it had been years since they'd just stopped and sat down.
Enid turned to face Wednesday, and she did the same, then gingerly reached out to hold her hand in hers. Wednesday paused, causing Enid to immediately regret her action, but didn't retract. In fact, she carefully interlocked their fingers and gave the werewolf's hand a quick squeeze. Enid smiled, and while Wednesday's expression barely changed, she could've sworn the Addams girl smiled back.
"Thank you." Wednesday whispered.
A thank you from the Wednesday Addams? Enid felt honoured, but kept her cool despite the heat suddenly rushing to her face, "For?"
"You saved me tonight," She answered matter-of-factly, "I likely would've died at Tyler's hand if not for you. Thank you." Two thank yous? What had Wednesday become?
"You could've kicked his ass yourself, but... You're welcome. Thank you for everything else."
"I was pathetic tonight," Wednesday admitted, turning her face away, "I would've died in the crypt if not for Goody. I would've died in the woods if not for you. I would've died to Crackstone if not for Bianca. I would've died to Thornhill if not for-"
"Whoa whoa whoa hey, stop, don't say that." Enid reached out with her other hand to turn her face back to her, and Wednesday let her, "We wouldn't've even figured all this out if not for you. You're the hero here, Wens, I'm serious." As she got up on her elbow, Wednesday watched her intently, studying her. She'd been down spirals of self-doubt before, but something in her was compelled to take Enid's words to heart, accept her comfort, welcome it even. When had this werewolf planted this torch so deep into her cold, black heart?
Wednesday propped herself up on her elbows too, bringing their faces mere inches away. They gazed into each other's eyes, searching for something more. Enid couldn't fight it when her eyes flicked to Wednesday's lips. She swallowed a nervous swallow, then caught Wednesday as her own eyes darted to her lips.
Enid reached out to cup Wednesday's cheek, still plastered in dirt and blood, and Wednesday held her wrist. She leaned even closer forward, an invitation, and it was Wednesday who finally closed the gap.
This kiss was different to anything either girl had experienced before. This felt like more than any kiss Enid had shared with Ajax, and felt like something at all compared to Wednesday's brief mistake with Tyler. This kiss was whole and warm and oddly familiar, like this is where they were meant to be, like they'd slid home. It was a comforting sensation, the way they moved against each other. This felt like clarity.
After some time, they leaned back for air. Enid laughed, "The dirt is a nice touch."
Wednesday rolled her eyes, wiping her face clean with her sleeve, then pulled her back in.