Chapter Text
The morning had finally come following that long night.
Joseph Crackstone had been rendered to ash and finally left the world for good, Laurel Gates had been suitably dealt with and Tyler had been hastily carted away to a secure unit for unstable outcasts.
Following an emotional reunion outside the front gates of the school Wednesday and Enid had retreated back to their shared dorm to tend to their wounds, partly for privacy but in large part that Wednesday did not trust her or Enid's medical care to a relative stranger, beyond that it seemed that the school nurse had more pressing issues to deal with anyway.
One of the first thoughts that came to Wednesday as she awoke from her slumber was that she had slept in over an hour later than normal, rather than her internal clock stirring her back to reality at six am sharp she had instead been bought around from her state of repose by the warm light of the late Winter sunrise flickering through their dorm room window.
Her second thought was that Enid was a very clingy sleeper. She had insisted, with a persuasive pout, that she would not be able to sleep comfortably alone so they had ended up collapsing back onto Wednesday's bed after changing into their night clothes. Enid of course had immediately wrapped a possessive arm around Wednesday's torso and tucked herself as close as she could into her side, though the tension didn't yield from her body until Wednesday's own arm had wrapped around her firmly in return.
Perhaps it was Enid's presence that had thrown off her internal clock. She managed to throw off a lot of things when it came to Wednesday. But looking down at her now she couldn't even begin to hate her for it.
Her trailing eyes caught on the raised lines of the gashes on her face that were mending and scarring rapidly thanks to her werewolf healing. She felt an uncomfortable pang settle in her chest at the thought that Enid had gotten so injured in defense of her own life, even more so that it had scarred her previously flawless face.
The scars certainly didn't bother Wednesday who had a collection of her own littering her body, but she knew that although Enid wasn't inordinately vain she did take pride in her appearance and would undoubtedly focus on what she would perceive as flaws.
As Wednesday gently ran her fingers over the angry lines she silently promised Enid that she wouldn't let her internalise that belief if she could help it. Even if she had to be overly saccharine herself in reassurance.
“Are they ugly?” A soft voice croaked out with an early morning lethargy, startling her a little as she hadn't realised that Enid had awoken.
“You could never be ugly to me, mi sol” Blue eyes full of uncertainty met her own that stared steadily back, she tried to let all the affection she felt for the girl in her arms shine through her usually closed off eyes.
A small smile bloomed on her face at the tenderness but the fear openly remained.
“But to others...”
“If any would disparage you then I will pluck out their eyeballs as they clearly lacked discernment in using them anyway” Wednesday extricated herself from under Enid and propped herself up so she could hover over her, commanding all of her attention “You are a bewitching creature Enid Sinclair. You ensnare all of my senses, even before we began our courtship my eyes would always seek you out” Wednesday allowed her eyes to roam all over Enid's visage, trying once more to keep her walls down and let the warmth she felt come through.
“And even as averse to physical contact I am all others I cannot help but want to reach out for you whenever you are close” Enid leaned into the hand that gently cupped her cheek, her thumb gently caressed over the largest of the four scars.
“Despite lacking your enhanced olfactory prowess I often catch the scent of you lingering on my clothes. And though I am loath to admit it I find myself chasing that lingering essence when we are apart” Wednesday fought the urge to avert her eyes after admitting such a thing, Enid needed reassurance more than she needed to guard herself.
“And as far as taste goes” Wednesday looked hungrily down at Enid's lips, parted in want, a keen sound came from the wolf as she rose to meet her for an unhurried kiss.
As they broke apart Wednesday mustered up the courage Enid inspired in her and pushed on with her admission “When we were pushed together as roommate's just a few short months ago I could not imagine how I could ever reach any level of accord with such a bright and lively being but now I cannot imagine a day going by where I do not get to hear your voice”
“We work, we shouldn't but we do. You were right when you said that to me. I could not work it out then either, or maybe I was just scared to admit it” The testimony was whispered and Enid was held silent with rapt attention “But I am no longer scared to say it... I love you Enid Sinclair”
The tears that had been slowly spilling from her loves eyes throughout her speech now flowed with wild abandon at the final admission.
Before Wednesday could react Enid surged forward with such force that they were both sent careening off the bed and onto the wooden floor. Staring up at the girl now pinning her to the floor Wednesday felt small droplets hitting over her face as Enid stared down at her, her overwhelming emotions freely running rampant over her face.
“I love you too” The confirmation of mutual feelings came out in a choked exhale alongside the biggest smile Wednesday had yet seen on her. Wednesday reached up to Enid's arms and gently tugged her down into a wet and salty kiss.
***
They kissed for several minutes until Wednesday let out an involuntary gasp when she moved her arm beyond it's current level of comfort. Enid immediately sitting back, a frown of worry settling on her face as her eyes darted over Wednesday's form, looking for the source of discomfort.
“It was just a twinge in my shoulder Enid, it is fine”
“It's not fine Wednesday, you gasped, you never do that” Wednesday wanted to protest that but it would have rang hollow “Let me see”
“Enid”
“Now!” Well that tone left even less room for protest. Enid removed her weight from Wednesday's lap allowing her to sit up on the floor. Pulling her night shirt off to the side revealed a reddened patch of gauze wrapped tightly around her shoulder.
Peeling back the previous nights treatment efforts revealed a wound that looked weeks old rather than hours, all of the blood on the gauze was hours old and dry at this point.
Delicate fingers tipped with multicoloured nails ran lightly over the injury, coming away satisfied with the condition “You're giving werewolf healing a run for it's money here Ness”
“Hmmm. I would imagine the most likely cause of this is Goody, the last of the energy that she imparted on me aiding in the acceleration of the healing” Wednesday had never felt overly sentimental with any of the returned dead family members she had met before last night but she supposed that Goody did deserve her gratitude, even if her motives had been on the selfish side as she clearly wanted that centuries old score settled over any other consideration.
“You got really lucky last night Ness, we both did” Enid grasped at the fabric of her own shirt, fighting back the emotion that was threatening to overtake her “If I hadn't managed to transform... if Goody hadn't come to you”
“But you did, and she did Enid. Do not let your mind dwell on what ifs. We are here and safe, with each other” Wednesday captured one of Enid's hands in reassurance.
“Last night scared the shit out of me Ness. Can you promise me that you won't do something so reckless again?”
“I cannot” The admission was painful to get out against such a hope filled look “If danger presented itself against you I would travel through hell itself to keep you safe. The only thing I can promise is that I will give everything I have to stay by your side for as long as I can”
Enid sniffed and shuffled closer, bringing their foreheads against each other “I'll take that promise”
***
The duos silent reverie was broken a few minutes later with the enthusiastic beat of a K-pop song blaring from Enid's phone the other side of the room.
“That's Yoko” Enid noted, looking over her shoulder at the offensively loud device “I should get that” Wednesday released her hand and rose to standing with her before settling back down onto her bed.
The music cut off as the call was accepted.
“Hey Yoko!” Enid's chipper tone was sincere Wednesday believed, you wouldn't be able to tell the sombre mood she had been in mere minutes before.
“Yeah we're fine. Wednesday patched us both up. How's everyone else?” Wednesday laced her fingers together in her lap as she listened to one half of the conversation.
“Good, that's good”
“No, I don't think we'll be coming down yet”
“And that's at Ten? Okay, see you there. Bye Yoko” The phone was unceremoniously dropped back onto the vibrant bed spread. Enid turning back to face Wednesday.
“Professor Fogvale is hosting an assembly in the courtyard at Ten about what's gonna happen next” Wednesday gave a soft noise of acknowledgement.
“You don't want to go down though?” She asked after a few seconds of hung silence.
Enid scratches lightly over her facial scarring “I don't really feel like being around all the other students right now”
“That's fine. I never want to be around all those other students anyway”
“I know you'd be a hermit if you could” Enid laughed out.
“But you do need to eat though. You have not had anything since you transformed” Enid's face lit up as she dropped low to the ground and threw her arm under her bed, rummaging around before pulling back in success a few seconds later as she pulled out a small suitcase that she quickly unzipped to reveal a stash of jerky and candy.
“And you mocked my snack stash!”
“No, I derided your inability to restrain yourself from eating them without the need to hide them” Wednesday corrected.
She deftly caught the packet of jerky that was thrown at her head.
***
Just under an hour later the pair joined their friends in the half demolished courtyard, the rubble from last night had been cleared away at some point since Crackstone stood there, spouting his vile rhetoric.
Enid accepted a tight hug from Yoko and Divina, Wednesday accepted an up-nod from Bianca and an awkward elbow bump from Eugene.
“Students!” The small stage had been set up once more and Professor Fogvale had strode up to the middle and tapped on the mic to gain the attention the throng of assembled students “If I could have your attention” The noise in the courtyard quieted to a dull murmur.
“Thank you. I know that the last 24 hours have been a bit of a roller-coaster” That was one way to put every student being threatened by a 400 year old zombie preacher “So I'll get to the point quickly. We teachers have all come to the consensus that the semester will be bought to a close early” The murmur around the courtyard rose “I know that it is only a couple of weeks till the school was going to let out for the Winter holidays anyway but due to what happened to Principal Weem's and the damage done to the school this seems like the best course of action. We will be contacting your parents or guardians through the day with our aim being to get you all home over the next two to three days. For the students for whom this will not be possible certain accommodations will be made”
“If you have something specific you want said to your parents or guardians or wish to communicate with them yourselves then come and let us know now before we start making phone calls. As you can imagine with this volume of phone calls the staff will be quite occupied today and won't be available to talk. With this in mind a single staff member will be stationed here in the courtyard to address any issues. Thank you for your time, that is all”
“Well that was brief” Divina scoffed as the teachers quickly dispersed back inside.
“You needed more information?” Wednesday asked.
“Well no, but some comfort and compassion would have been nice”
“Some recognition about what happened would be good as well” Yoko added.
“Well the Nevermore rumour mill has been in full swing since last night so I'm sure everyone knows by now” Ajax shrugged.
“If you believe to those rumours then Wednesday rode into battle on a flaming hell hound” Bianca joked.
“I for one will not going out of my way to explain the nights events to students stupid enough to fall prey to false rumours. If they want to believe those lies then so be it”
“Plus it makes her sound cool” Wednesday glared at a grinning Enid for that one before turning on her heel, heading back to their dorm.
“Ness, wait up!”
***
A few hours later they had finally managed to pack away Enid's loud and busy side of the room. Though half of that time was spent at Enid's insistence individually bagging all of her plushes to keep them clean while they were gone for over a month.
“You have been quiet for a while Enid”
“I can be quiet sometimes” The doubtful stare Wednesday sent had Enid squirming a little “I'm just thinking about the long break” She suddenly blurted after the stare did it's job “I always kind of dread going back home on holidays, cus of the whole not being able to transform thing but now that I can I think she might be even more difficult to be around”
“How so?” Wednesday sat down next to her on the bed.
“Like pushing me to 'take my place in the pack'” Enid's impression of her mother made her sound more like wartime propaganda “... like trying to introduce me to potential mates, werewolf ones” She was quiet, reserved, the very opposite to how Enid should be.
The thunderous scowl settled on Wednesday's face without resistance, her lip curling up in disdain “She would have to pry you from my cold dead hands” Enid choked out a pained laugh, looking up at Wednesday for a few seconds before settling her head on Wednesday's shoulder, burying her way into her side.
“And she will accept that, she can't force it and she knows it. But she'll still be insufferable about it”
“Then come with me” Wednesday simply offered, schooling the scowl back off her face. Enid looked up at her, a mixture of confusion and sadness clear on her face.
“What?”
“Come and spend the winter break at my home” A half dozen emotions quickly flitted over Enid's face before settling on hope.
“Your parents would be okay with that?”
“I foresee no objections” Wednesday assured “Do you wish for me to make inquiries?” If Enid said no then Wednesday would just have to come with Enid back to San Francisco, even if she had to spend a month hiding up a tree to watch over her.
“I want to...” She trailed off, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
“Then it's settled” Wednesday would give no ear to doubt filled objections, if Enid wanted something she would get it “I will contact my parents at once” She shot up from the bed and after grabbing her crystal ball sent a reassuring look to Enid before leaving the room to make the call in private.
***
A few hours later with all but the clothes necessary for the next day packed away the pair had retreated to the comfort of Wednesday's bed. As she had predicted her parents had accepted the request with no effort to disguise their glee which quickly devolved, as it so often did, into being overly affectionate with each other. Wednesday had hung up. It had probably taken several minutes for her parents to notice.
“I hope my mom's not gonna be too mad” Enid mumbled against Wednesday's chest.
“Well at the very least she will have a couple of months to cool off before you see her again in person” Enid let out a hmm of acknowledgement “Also, I believe I would be remiss if I did not say that I think you put too much of your energy into making your mother happy”
“Urgh, Yoko's been telling me that for like a year”
“Then Yoko is right” Wednesday gently lifted Enid's chin so that they were looking at each other “You are Enid. Not Sinclair number eleven in the pack hierarchy or whatever your mother thinks of you as. You are so much more than that and you are worth so much more than just being a werewolf”
“...You've gotten a lot better at the whole comfort thing you know” A soft smile settled onto Enid's face.
“I had a relentlessly peppy teacher”
***
By the following evening a number of students had already left for home, Eugene, who's parents were already in town was among them.
While some were still packing their things together Enid had managed to wrangle a couple of their friends for a last meal together before the nearly six week long break.
Wednesday had staunchly vetoed Enid's titling it a 'girls night' on principle alone when the only people that she had managed to gather were Yoko and Divina.
The cafeteria barely had anyone in it as the quartet reached their chosen table and talk quickly turned to plans for the holidays.
“What about you Enid? Excited for your first full moon with your pack?” Yoko asked, sipping slowly on a bag of A Positive.
“Nope. I'm not going back home for the break. Wednesday's invited me to spend the holidays with her family” Two heads turned towards her, she dared them with a look to say anything about that.
“Your mom's okay with you skipping your first full moon with the pack?”
“My mother doesn't know that I managed to transform either, my brothers can let her know when they get back”
“Why not? Isn't this what you've all been waiting for?” Yoko's drink was temporarily abandoned in her confusion.
“Because I'm worth more than that” Enid proudly announced, chin held high “I'm more than just my wolf. And if my mother can't accept that then that's her problem, not mine. I'm wanted elsewhere” Wednesday was used to her girlfriends needs and by the time Enid reached for her hand Wednesday had already risen it halfway in offer. Enid squeezed back gently and offered a small smile in return for the gesture.
“Good for you pup” The vampire offered a fangy grin.
“Proud of ya!” Divina leaned over the table to pat Enid's forearm.
“Thanks guys” A soft blush had bloomed over Enid's face “What about you guys?”
“Well, you're not the only girlfriend going on a meet the parents trip” Divina threw an arm around Yoko's shoulder and pulled them flush together, exchanging a loving look between them.
“Aww, that's great you guys!” Enid released Wednesday's hand so that she could clap her hands together excitedly.
“Little nervous about the flight though. My mom's having to overnight my passport to me, hopefully it arrives in time”
“If it fails to arrive in time I could place you in a death like state so that you could be shipped over as cargo if you would like” Wednesday offered, speaking up for the first time in this conversation.
“Yeah, that's a hard pass”
“Suit yourself” She felt like she was getting better at offering kindness to others as Enid had encouraged.
Others might say she had a long way to go.
***
The next morning the school corridors were abuzz with energy as students started filling the classrooms nearest the front entrance with their luggage.
Enid had broken off for a round of goodbyes leaving Wednesday and Thing to their own devices. Wednesday had wandered the school grounds with no particular destination in mind but had found herself in Principal Weem's office, stood in front of that ostentatious desk.
She glanced over at Thing on her shoulder who turned to regard her in return.
“She could be a real pain. But she was tough, and she died for what she believed in, this school”
A loud glare was sent her way in response.
“Are you quite done, trouble child?” The owner of said glare raised a hand to rub at an ill-looking patch of skin on her neck.
“It's like she's still in the room” Wednesday mused, ignoring the question posed to her “Guess we will just have to see what the principal is like next semester”
“So, despite all your protests you did fall in love with Nevermore after all” Even though she sounded tired her voice was still detestably smug.
“Let's go Thing, Lurch should be here soon” She wouldn't dignify that with a response. Simply turning on her heel and striding from the room.
She had only made it a few metres down the corridor when she heard the unmistakable rapid patter of her girlfriends footsteps.
“Where have you been?” Enid asked as she got into step alongside her.
“Tormenting Weem's” Wednesday replied with a smirk. Enid simply rolled her eyes at Wednesday's antics, preferring instead to capture her hand and start talking animatedly about who she had been speaking to.