Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yoko starts to wonder if love is really worth this.

Just staring at the boxes of notes to sift through ignited a spark of pain in her brain. Taking off her glasses and staring at the sun point blank seemed like a better alternative to figuring out which of the notes from other vampires were still applicable to the current curriculum. Falling in love with a siren and befriending a werewolf that were both aiming to graduate soon and apply to the best university with outcast accommodations was slowly turning out to be the worst thing that happened to her ever in her unlife.

All of a sudden she needed to study and actually pass classes! Or else her 2 favorite people would be upset. No,worse, disappointed in her. The utter horror. How did she even attract smart people like them? Sirens are immune to magical charm and a vampiric allure for sure didn't work on werewolves. Well, the way Enid heart eyed her half dead looking little roommate suggested she had a thing for goths. Noted in case Divina ever gets bored and breaks-up: smart girls like deadlike mean bitches. 

The vampire girl groaned and looked at the box labeled Alchemy. Why did she even take this class? Ah, yeah the cute witch from 7 years ago was taking it too. Perhaps being gay on main was the only reason she did anything in her prolonged teenagehood.

How long ago did she finally feel like she was past 17 years old? Hard to say. But definitely easier than reading any of this magical bullshit. If only potions were as easy as mixing drinks. Now that is fun and needed in life unlike this rotten class. Well, diy-ing serum for vampiric indigestion was indeed useful whenever she craved anything she couldn't spike with blood. Useful… hm…

An idea appears in her brain. Maybe if she'd apply all of these stupid liquids to her real life it would make learning easier. Like offering to use them in drinks at one of the future Nightshade parties. Starting to sift through potions recipes, and… JACKPOT! “Siren song buffers” would be a fun addition to drinking games.

Well, not the party next week for sure since everyone is gonna get shitfaced already on her (for once) real cocktails. After almost dying by the zombie pilgrim’s hands, no one really cares about breaking the law and school rules anymore. Surviving that semester requires a worthy celebration anyway. She should probably finish the inventory of what to buy to make everyone's favorites actually alcoholic… Right.

 A bunch of vodka for sure. Then red wine for Bianca’s sangria, best white rum for the best girlfriends’s Daiquiri and- Wait how the fuck was she supposed to make Shirley Temples alcoholic? Pouring straight vodka into them for Enid would probably just put her higher on Wednesday hit list. Enid for sure is gonna be a loud drunk and since the unhinged latina would never hurt her little sunshine the fault for disruption would fall on the mixologist. 

 Yoko gulps. She doesn't want to die again that soon. She sighs and resumes cataloging. 

(Why are there so many different potions for recovering from possession?)

Well… maybe if she'd make Wednesday drunk too, she wouldn't complain about her roommates drunken behavior. If Enie would be the one to ask if Wednesday could come to the party, she wouldn't say no. 

Wait, that little goth cryptid bragged about poison resistance before. Shit. Who knows if the Addams could get high on anything.

(Forbidden potions: love potions, certain truth potions, so many cursed potions, yada yada yada.)

What the fuck is this jumble all of a sudden. Yoko felt like ripping out her long black hair. Stupidly long growth time be damned. Are these notes from when Nevermore required everyone to take fucking Latin? Vehemens Adfectus . Google translate please help. Something about emotions, weakened self control, use sparingly. Oh, more Latin, as if she didn't have to know enough languages. Seriously, mandatory Romanian for vampires was a stupid idea. Becoming a polyglot isn't on her agenda so far, learning kanji when the only people she can use it with are either her old relatives or weebs is cringeworthy enough. Stupid Latin. Is that still expected? Does anyone in that class know Latin? Well, the goddamn overachiever Wednesday probably does. 

Wait.

Wednesday is in Alchemy. And has top grades. And getting her drunk will stop her from complaining about Enid. And the little shit loves a challenge. And always keeps her word. And Enid keeps praising her tutoring. 

Enid praises more than just her tutoring. Damn it Enid, come on get a grip you useless gay. You talk more about how you missed the little serial killer than you ever did about your boyfriend.

Yoko smiled for the first time since she sat down at her desk hours ago.

If she only words a certain bet correctly, she might kill multiple birds with one stone. 

There's gotta be a way to mix up a magical drink that gets even the mighty Wednesday Addams tipsy, and Yoko Tanaka is nothing but a great mixologist. 

Wednesday wonders if winning and getting to challenge her vampire poison resistance was worth being in this fake hell.

Real hell would be glorious. Especially the 9th circle, with its coldness that she can only simulate a fraction of with morgue fridges. Swimming in the Cocytus would be a refresher from this stuffy air filled with weed smoke, sweat and teenage hormones. 

Painfully simple pop songs are grating on her ears, colorful lights blinding her eyes. And Enid was nowhere to be found, the traitor. She promised a small Nightshade get-together when there was nowhere near a small amount of people loitering and sweating away in Bianca’s dorm room. Of course, the first Nightshade party of the semester couldn't be small. If it was, it wouldn't take them a month of preparation. At least the room is big enough to suit Biana’s Queen Bee title, with a small entry to the underground lake for sirens included. 

Maybe death from Tanaka’s mystery cocktail will qualify her under the sin of Pride enough to grant her the cold winds of Inferno. And speaking of the devil, the crowd disperses momentarily enough to show a small bar stand with the smiling Japanese girl behind it. 

“Yo, Addams!”

“Tanaka.”

“Ready to get trashed like a proper teenager for once?”

“As stated previously, puny ethanol or other depressant will not work, but I am ready to check if your fan-

“Shhh, no talking about fanging yet, I am so not in the mind space to imagine how rotten you'll taste, girl. The mouthfeel will corrupt my time with Divina today, geez,”  she says scowling.

Wednesday raises her eyebrow as Yoko shimmies out a hidden small bottle with no label.

“Okay, with your preferences I narrowed it down to two flavor choices: Bitter Lover or La Naranja Amarga, pick your poison.” She flashes a toothy grin.

“Arsenic,” Wednesday deadpans.

They stare at each other for a tense moment.

A new awful pop song starts, even worse than the previous one. With Enid’s Korean pop, at least she didn't have to be subjected to the meaning of copy pasted lyrics over and over.

Yoko gives up the staring contest and sighs.

“The first is Cynar and orange juice, I’ll forgo the sugar for you. The other is sec, fernet branca with grapefruit garnish. Plus it's iced. Either is served with my special sauce.”

“La Naranja Amarga will do.”

“La Naranja Amarga de Miercoles, coming right up!”

“Never speak Spanish ever again or I will cut out your tongue and feed it to my bats.”

Yoko smirks, showing off her fangs as she pours a small bit of the contents of the mystery bottle into tall and wide glass, before stirring and straining the drink.

“As if you can do better-”

“乾杯” Wednesday says monotonically and downs the drink. Intense herbal infused orange bitterness and ethanol stings her throat. It’s tolerable.

Yoko grimaces.

“Yep, your accent sucks, bone apple teeth . If it's too little, I'll either be here or making out with Divina near the water. If it's too much, Xavier is on sober duty near the doors. And if it's juuust perfect Enid is right behind ya.” The vampire says, wiggling her eyebrows.

Wednesday spins 180° degrees instantly.

“Howdyyyyy Wiiinnyyyyyyyyyyy!” Enid beams while stretching out her arms as if to hug but not yet touching.

“Slurred speech of high volume, usage of forbidden nicknames and borderline touching in public. You will either cease further drinking or you'll wake up being choked with a pillow.”

“Why would I if da drinks taste sooo good.” Enid lazily smiles but puts her hands away as she sways from side to side.

“I'm sure there's some horrifically sweet juice for you to sip on around here,” Wednesday says condescendingly with a scowl.

“OOH, you're so right, bestie, cider would be just perf.”

“Enid.” 

“Someones gwumpy,” Enid pouts, with the same damn pout that made her agree to this party in the first place.

“Call me that again and I'm leaving.” 

“Oh no, this had no bite, somethin’ wrong.” Enid furrows her brows. Enid's worried tone feels like pouring hot water on frozen hands.

“How could anything be right when I'm surrounded by utter imbeciles wasting their time getting poisoned with paltry beverages and screaming constantly to mass produced garbage.” 

“Mhm, you didn't take your headphones,” Enid moves closer.

“As if I need ear protection after being deafened by your constant stream of uncultured noise you call music-” Wednesday froze but didn't move away at the sight of Enid's hands moving closer as if to caress her face. Instead she put all her tattered focus on slowing her heart rate, trying to mask the stutter. The strain almost showing on her face with those wretched blue eyes being so close, gazing into them being too much but definitely better than straying from them and looking a bit down at Enid’s lips as if-

The cacophony of noise softens instantly thanks to two warm palms covering her ears. Wednesday let herself take one slightly deeper breath at the surprise. Why was this even a surprise? Of course that's all Enid would do. Coax her out of her comfort zone and then immediately offer padding to make the experience easier. Challenge her and then adapt the circumstances to make the transition easier. Gift her black noise canceling headphones to survive staying in noisy San Francisco.

“Mmm, see that's better.” Enid says, making sure she was pronouncing words clearly enough to be lip read. 

Wednesday’s face just slightly softens as an answer. Just lip read, focus on lip reading.

“Now, I think Bianca keeps her headphones around here somewhere cause we can't stay like this whole night-” 

Why not? A traitorous thought pops up in the Raven's head and instantly gets stomped out. 

“-aaand fortunately for youuu, I also know another perfect thing that will make you feel better Winnyyy.”

A familiar warm sensation starts igniting in Wednesday's chest but with foreign intensity. 

“What would that be?”

“Dancing with me, silly. Obvi.” A wide smile, another heart stutter to stab away. “Okay brace yourself, scouting for theft starts… NOW” She takes away her hands from the ears in favor of grabbing and pulling Wednesday by her hand. While navigating the crowd, she-wolf hammers away about how Bianca once posted a ‘pic' on ‘Insta’ with a fancy headphone stand in the background. 

The sounds and smells and Enid’s too minimal touch are becoming too much again. She isn't holding her hand tightly enough. Too little pressure. Too minimal to laserfocus on and forget about surroundings. Irritation started bubbling over again. But it didn't take long before the bounty got in blondes hands after growling at some siren questioning touching Bianca’s things. The growl is loud enough to mask the goth’s momentary uptick in heartbeat.

Wednesday motions her hand to take them but Enid holds them out of reach.

 “No no no, scent time first.” Wolfgirl puts her free hand on Wednesday's shoulder and tries to put their cheeks together but Wednesday jerks away. The smell of pomegranate and lime invading her olfactory senses. Too close to Enid’s breath means being too close to her mouth.

“Enid stop.” Another strenuous exercise in calming her heartbeat.

“Winny, scenting and then headphones as usual. Ya can't put them on first, ya know that.” Enid furrows her eyebrows confused and slurring her words, a haze over her eyes.

“We’re not in San Francisco, I don't need your scent to avoid unnecessary fights anymore.” That was half of the truth. The other half were Enid’s unique needs. Enid needed to assert herself after finally wolfing out. After wolfing out and fighting for Wednesday. To have territory. Scent Mark the territory.  

“There are Furs here.”

Let her mark you as hers. Hers? Preposterous. She doesn't need an overly eager puppy to be possessive over her. Wednesday does not need to think of anyone's needs but her own. And definitely doesn't need her heart pumping more blood into her face. 

“Go rub yourself on your boyfriend if you want to so badly.” Wednesday spits out and snatches the headphones.

Weird sensations started bubbling over. Yoko’s concoction was supposed to tamper everything down. Another drink means winning or relief. The room is Purgatory, and she will climb up or dig down to either.

She bumps through the crowd towards the bar stand. No Yoko. But the bottle should be around. Fumbling through. Aha. Here it is. Now to the pool entrance. Gross displays of affection between the vampire and siren are indeed happening and the nausea at the sight is worse than usual. She kicks the distracted vampire directly into the water. She doesn't think much of why she did that without a sufficient reason to.

“What the fuck?” Yoko stammers while trying to get out.

“You gave me absolutely nothing, so to speed up my victory I'm taking the liberty to empty this out on my own, if I’m still fine in an hour, I win.”

“Addams, don't contaminate my lil pond with the undead, it's in bad taste. As is theft.” Perfect, Bianca’s here.

Wednesday has an idea.

“I’m certain there is some adolescent drinking contest in which one can win the privilege of borrowing these mufflers for the night.”

Bianca’s eyes gleam with mischief. 

Winning some. Losing some. Bottle emptied. Headphones lost. Several partygoers narrowly skewered with her knives. She might have even growled at multiple Furs.

Everything is only louder, brighter, more intense than before. Moving doesn’t help. Dancing on her own doesn’t help. The infuriating fire on her skin burns away all patience and reasonable thought. Can’t think. What is she here to do? There's something missing. Something very important. Her chest is so empty. The thumping of her heart tells her it's a deadly matter. It's quite hard to breathe. What is she supposed to do? The noise is stunting. Mouth parched. Wednesday needs relief. Something easy to focus on. Where’s the relief? Flash of blond hair and bright colored clothing. Smell of citruses.

“Enid.” Grasping her arm quells the pricks in the hand.

“Finally caught you, I stopped drinking but you kept running around and we should talk-”

“We’re leaving.” Wednesday's voice is agitated, but gazing into the blue eyes is helping. Easier thoughts. Enid’s attention is good. Enid is easy to think about. Nothing but Enid. People around are bad. Too much going on still. Could be better. 

“Oh goddess, you’re blinking. This is bad bad bad.” Wednesday didn't realize she was doing that, curious. If it's making Enid worry she should stop. Why would she be blinking anyway and stop looking, even for a moment, at her scars? Or her eyes. Or how light plays with the color of her hair. Her flushed cheeks? Undivided attention to all Enid now. She can do that. That's the easiest thing to do. If only the noise died down and let her listen to Enid’s voice better. It irritates her to no end because Enid is definitely talking right now. Her lips are moving. They’re moving a lot. Some of the sounds she’s probably making with her mouth revealing her sharp teeth. 

Wednesday only barely registers that she’s been dragged through a crowd and outside, too lost in the hypotheticals of how it’d feel to be bitten. 

Cold air scatters the skin needles and blows skin fire away. Breathing is easier. Suddenly purposeful movement becomes possible again. Although no purpose is needed while Enid is holding her arm. Everything is terrific now. Dreadful, even. 

“No, no, no, don't close your eyes.” Ah, she's doing the thing that upsets Enid again. Not ideal. 

“As you wish.” In the dark of night the luminous properties of werewolves' sight are visible. Shiny eyes of werewolves always fascinated her. Especially the pair in front of her with such captivating color. Perfect for examinations. Wednesday wants to go for the world record for the longest study right now.

“Good, you can still talk. Wenny, are you fine with walking on your own?” 

Wednesday almost blinks several times at the sensation blooming from the saccharine nickname and carefully thinks of the correct answer. Can she walk? Yes. She has full control of motion and balance. But there's the other part of the question. ‘On her own’, synonym ‘alone’. Alone? Without Enid? Heavens no. So by the laws of logic…

“Absolutely not.”

Enid furrows her eyebrows again. Uncomfortable sting of pain between ribs. Wrong answer. Fast, how to comfort Enid.

Wednesday opens her arms for a hug. Enid loves hugs.

Enid chooses a curious hug, putting one arm around her back and the other behind her legs and then swoops her up and to her chest. But if that's what Enid wants. Wednesday puts her arms around Enid's neck and racks her brain on what makes an acceptable hug. She should probably relax into it. She wills her muscles to go slack against Enid and puts head against her chest. In this position she could easily hear Enid’s heartbeat. The sound of it is indeed relaxing. The beat seems a bit quicker than usual though. Wednesday repositions her head slightly to count it easier. Enid arms hold her tighter, exactly the pressure Wednesday prefers. Good hug is achieved. Is this the success she was seeking this whole night? The glory feels like it is. She feels her brain flooded with all sorts of soft and fuzzy sensations.

Wednesday doesn’t get to bask in the feeling for long enough as she sees that they’re at their dorm’s door. Before she figures out when the hell, how the hell and why the hell they moved at all while hugging she realizes it might end prematurely.

“THING!” Why has she lost control over the volume of her voice?

The handle drops down, letting Enid open the door with her foot instead of attempting to free her hand to move it. Although it turns out to be a minuscule victory, as Enid puts Wednesday down near her bed anyway. 

Wednesday scowls at the lack of Enid’s touch. Warm hands come back but this time to push her shoulders down. Wednesday’s body immediately complies and she's sitting on the black sheets. As Enid kneels down to meet her eye level, Wednesday chooses the safety of just mirroring Enid’s actions and puts cold hands on Enid's shoulders and examines her too with an unblinking gaze.

Enid's fingers frantically rub her shoulders. Werewolf body heat is easily felt through the material of her colorful sweater as are the tense muscles. Under furrowed eyebrows, the blue eyes are flickering around. Werewolf nose is scrunching occasionally. Glossy lips transition between a cycle of being bitten, pouting and tightening in a straight line. Her cheeks puff up adorably occasionally.

Before Wednesday gets to break the cycle on the biting phase by trying to touch her lips, Enid sighs and finally speaks.

“You should rest. I’ll get you some water.” Enid retrieves her hands and tries to get up.

Wednesday responds by tightening her grip into what a normie would respond to with yelps of pain forcing lack of movement, but turns out to be nothing for a lycanthrope. Nothing but a pathetic signal to stay. The threat of chest emptiness coming back. 

It must have shown in her eyes cause Enid’s face softens. 

“Wednesday, let me take care of you.” No, that's not right. They’re here because Enid kept making the expressions that were making Wednesday’s heart pang in hurt. How would leaving help? She changes her grip to clutching the lapels.

“Winny, please?” 

Wednesday’s arms slump at the pleading tone.

As Enid disappears from her line of vision so does her alertness. Wave of exhaustion engulfs her. She lays down and at the verge of perception acknowledges that the fabric is scratchier than usually. 

She tries to ignore Thing’s incessant prattling. 

Sleep doesn't come fast enough. 

She squints at him slightly. He skips worried questions and just motions to her hair.

Wednesday huffs. Her consistent headache from braids was indeed interrupting the sleeping process right now for some reason. Ignoring Thing makes her miss him mentioning the possible reason. She starts the work of freeing her hair. 

Sounds of steps and clank of glass tells her Enid came back but that's irrelevant now. At the back of her head pops up an old gnawing reminder that she can't switch tasks. Unbraiding is the priority now.

Hushed voice and shuffles of more steps sneak past her concentration. As she parts her hair with her fingers she wonders if she has enough energy to get the comb. 

She opens her eyes to Enid standing with only her back visible. The werewolf is nervously jumping on her soles. There are consistent metallic ‘shtings’ signaling the claws popping in and out.

“Enid?” Wednesday hears her own voice being way too soft. Quiet. Vulnerable. She knows she can't do better.

“Um, I put the water and some licorice on your nightstand. Cause, like, you need something in your stomach. I was wondering if I could give you chocolate cookies but, um, Thing said no. Do you need help with your shoes? You totes shouldn't sleep with them on, and uh, I- I'll promise I- '' Whatever Enid was trying to say in her panicky voice gets interrupted by Thing’s tapping. Thing can calm her down. He’s good at that. She wants doesn't need to be too.

But her wolf said some things and asked her a question and awaits an answer. 

The raven urgently should figure out how to speak then.

Wednesday tenses up all of her muscles and then relaxes. She repeats the motion several times to aid priority calculation. After clenching her eyes shut especially hard she relents to just going by an already given order. Sits up slightly, drinks the water and swallows the licorice without chewing much. Tasting anything is extremely unappealing at the moment. Even licorice. Maybe she should thank Thing later.

“You may.” Wednesday manages to strangle out before slumping down. She hopes she doesn't need to elaborate further. Closes eyes hard in exasperation. It has been a long time since the last time she had difficulties speaking. She’s been so careful and precise with how much she vocalized for so long. 

She'll definitely have to sleep with uncombed hair tonight, and live with that tomorrow.

Enid apparently gets the message and just silently works on untying and pulling Wednesday’s shoes off. 

As she tries to leave again, Wednesday grasps her wrist. Enid still doesn't look at her. Tries to pull her down to bed. There's something Enid is perfect for that helps when speaking is hard. When everything is too much. Enid is perfect for applying pressure.

“Wednesday no.” Enid says softly. Soft enough that defeat doesn't burn too painfully. Wednesday releases the wrist and moves into her usual sleeping pose.

“Goodnight Wenny.”

Focusing on how sweet Enid sounded Wednesday welcomes the embrace of sleep.

Chapter Text

Wednesday wakes up as regular on the set Saturday morning time. But she does not feel regular unless last night started a new standard.

She is way too aware of the material of her clothes. They are clinging uncomfortably. The howling of the wind seems too loud to be true. On her eyes is some dark rag shielding her eyes from light, certainly courtesy of Thing. After taking off the improvised blindfold the light is still too harsh. 

This isn't supposed to be still happening after resting. 

Something is wrong.

She needs to get to the bottom of this case. 

Unfortunately her memory is a jumble of the same over and over. If she were to chalk it all up just to overstimulation it might have made sense. Her mind being on high alert and treating everything with the same care ergo nothing could be recorded with detail as significant. 

Except for one person. 

Time for an interrogation. 

With eyes burning from the barrage of colors from Enid’s side of the room she stalks over to the colorful bed. Wednesday blinks profusely from the sting and tries to look at her roommate.

Plan of the interrogation is needed. But it's extremely hard to think of intimidation tactics while looking at the peaceful face of the sleeping werewolf. Soft snores,  messy hair and occasional kick. The collar of her button up shirt is crooked. It's all so soft. She’s like the eye of the storm of sensory assault. That thought follows the pattern of what was wrong yesternight. Sensations jumping from intense fire to gentle breeze. All overwhelming.

Enid’s mouth emits a slight whine as she kicks with more force. The sound sends Wednesday’s heart to her throat. Urgent need to prevent another whine happening emerges. 

This cements Enid as the center of this chaos of intrusion on her mind.

Wednesday shakes Enid’s shoulder.

“Enid get up, we need to talk.” Fortunately at least her voice came back to its usual monotone cadence.

“Mmm, few more minutes.” Enid says and hides under her blanket. Wednesday almost decides to let her. She's incapable of coming up with a suitable threat. Another symptom.

“Enid, it is important.” 

“Uhhh, sure.” Enid slowly gets out under the cloth, but hides again immediately with a squeak after opening her eyes. There’s a mumbling coming from her.

“Speak up Sinclair.”

“Are you still drunk?!” 

Drunk? This can not be the explanation. She can’t be intoxicated, it is physically impossible for her with any contemporary method. But if that is what stops her from getting to talk with, interrogate Enid then she should check. Do anything to get Enid’s full attention. No, that is not the reason, she just wants answers.

Wednesday takes out one of her knives, twirls and juggles it for a few seconds before throwing it at the wall. It hits the intended mark perfectly. There are no cuts on her hand. Her reflexes are impeccable as she expected them to be. 

Back to Enid.

“Enid, I am certainly not inebriated. Now get up.” 

Enid shimmies out and opens one eye. 

“But your hair is still down.” She mumbles while sitting up with closed eyes. 

The notion is confusing. Hair touching her neck and the weight of it on the back is indeed aggravating, but the investigation is what is important right now. And why would Enid be difficult about it? Nevertheless, before she’d braid her hair she’d have to do too many tasks beforehand, as per her routine, so it’d feel correct. That would take too much time.

“You are in no way such a creature of habit to be so distressed by change. Open your eyes and listen.”

“Yeah but you are and I could just wait until you're back to normal, you know.” Enid opens her eyes but darts them to the side. 

The concern is wildly misplaced. Wednesday is busy trying to figure out how to return the status quo already. And not being able to look into her eyes as they talk during the interrogation is infuriating. The incessant need inside is clawing away at her. It is so wrong. Enid was never scared of Wednesday's threatening gaze. 

“Enid, submissiveness does not suit you. Look me into my eyes as we speak.”

Enid squeaks again. Her skin seems to flush.

“Don’t- no, that's not what- Wednesday!-'' 

This is getting them nowhere. Having to calm down her heartbeat from seeing Enid’s bashfulness is distracting. She’s not getting what she craves.

“FINE.” 

Wednesday spins and stomps away. Mindlessly snatches everything she needs and storms to the bathroom. Just the amount of steps dividing her from what she actually wants makes her grit her teeth. Taking off makeup. Brushing her teeth. Taking each of the uncomfortable clothes off. Getting into the shower. Turning on the freezing water. Stopping the water. Using soaps and shampoo. Turning on the water again. Drying off as she has to readjust to the wretched temperature of the air. She really wants to punch the wall. Drying her hair specifically makes her wonder if she should just cut it all off to prevent this situation from ever happening again. If she'd do it now would Enid cry? She can't do it then. Putting on clean clothes. The material isn’t a big improvement on the dirty ones but they smell better. Ideally they would smell of citrusses. In a rush she couldn't think of an appropriate choice for the weather and only took a thin dress shirt as top, but it's better to be cold than warm since she keeps feeling too hot. Combining her hair methodically. Even amount of strokes for each side. And, finally, braiding. She feels weary again.

She almost kicks open the bathroom door.  Enid looks up at her from her phone. The sight of her quells the fire inside better than playing out the routine. But it's not enough. She has to do something with her hands. Need for expression of something inside. 

If she can't come up with vocal threats she can always impose them physically. There's a theory to check.

Wednesday stalks over and kneels on Enid’s bed. Enid’s eyes widen slightly at the proximity but she doesn't look away now. Irritated buzzing in the muscles subsides again. She really wants to take a deep breath of citrus smell. 

She’s glad Enid’s favorite pink pajamas have lapels to grab.

“Do you have any latent siren heritage?”

“Eh what now?”

“Enid,” Wednesday pulls her closer slightly. “Do you know if any of your ancestors was a siren officially or as an affair?” With proximity comes further relief. It's easier to think now. It’s the smell. And touch.The safety. No, that's ridiculous. It has to be because she can hear her voice better. 

“Uhhh, no? It’s all werewolves, well, no, I mean from outcasts it's all werewolves, any interspecies um matings were with humans, my mother made sure to rant about each of them.” Enid’s mumbling, maybe she’s too close. Wednesday backs up a bit.

“You hesitated.”

“Cause I don't understand why you would ask that. You're being extra weird, have you really sobered up since yesterday?” 

“I am not, nor ever was inebriated but I do feel the same as yesterday sans exhaustion from a hostile environment and all known evidence points to you.”

“W-what evidence?”

“You're the only thing I can remember clearly from yesterday. Your words are stuck in my head like orders. Orders that I comply with because I feel barrage of pain from everything else since I declined you but listening to you offers mercy of pleasurable relief. Additionally there's the matter of your social popularity, light colored eyes and obvious beauty that are characteristic for sirens.”

“A what relief? Huh? What the eff are we talking about? Wenny, you're being really confusing right now.” Enid chokes out. Her face is completely red.

“You're at the forefront of my thoughts, I have a hard time saying no to you, I’m more than willing to touch you especially since I know you like it. You ignite warm feelings inside me. There’s a significant positive emotional pull to you resembling the effects of siren manipulation.” 

“Emotional- wait, does it mean that your emotionlessness is caused by fear of losing control?”

“Of course not Enid, are you even listening to me? I said positive, I very deliberately cultivate specific negative feelings, like disgust, hatred or pain, since they are important for plan making but can't be exploited by magical means. If I had no feelings I wouldn't be able to care for my long term ambitions and would just wander mindlessly at the mercy of random sensations and thoughts. Which can be induced as another form of mind control, for example vampiric, or by a lobotomy.”

“Wait, timeout,  let's roll back, how does all this connect to last night effing you up? Are you sure it wasn't just the drinks? And why would I start manipulating you yesterday of all times?”

Wednesday opens her mouth to refute the implication that Enid would do anything like that on purpose and that certain powers can be triggered chemically and then used subconsciously, but she realizes something at that moment.

Vampiric control. Drinks.

True, alcohol like all poisons can be involved in alchemical reactions but it can also mask the taste of other liquids. 

Enid may be right.

Tanaka never explained what the ‘special sauce' was. 

She is suddenly very aware of how close Enid is. And of her own heart trying to jump out of her chest and at Enid. Brain addled by the smell.

Much more probable explanation is apparent.

“I have been drugged.”

She has a vampire to stake for the audacity. 

“What?!”

Wednesday scrambles away and to her weapons stash. She regrets lack of silver, no she doesn't. Ignoring Enid’s shocked questions she grabs the sharpest stake alongside some throwing blades and runs out of the room. Murderous rage and humiliation rolls around her mind and through her body on the way to Tanaka’s door. It's closed. There's no time to lockpick. After a few kicks to the handle area of the door the vampire opens it herself. Wednesday lunges at her with the stake.

“What the fu-” Vampire dodges going back into the dark room.

“What possessed you to drug me with a love potion?” Wednesday spits out coldly. 

“You did what, Yoko!?” Enid’s voice cuts through the rage momentarily.

“I didn't, Enie, just help me and-” Yoko says while darting away from another attack. And jumps from the next one. 

“Is this some cruel idea of a prank?! Infatuate me with someone unattainable? Get Enid to be even more disgusted with me and leave?” With Enid in the room Wednesday can’t channel pure rage so other feelings resurface. She can’t stop them. Desperation. Insecurity. She wants them all gone. 

Yoko puts more distance between them as she backs away from Wednesday and the sharp projectiles coming her way.

“Wenny that wouldn't happ-” 

“Throwing stars?! Really? I know you have perfectly fine knives- OUCH” Offended Tanaka’s yells interrupt Enid before getting hit in the foot. Wednesday exploits the vampire's lack of attention from pain and trips her.

“Was the bet just a ruse? Was exploiting my limited trust amusing? To get me to consume a banned potion? What was the wretched reason you procured an extremely illegal substance like that?!” Wednesday says while attempting to put her in a one handed hold. She shouldn't have let anyone close again. This would always happen. 

“CALM DOWN IT WASN’T THAT ONE” Yoko screeches while trying to get out. Vampiric speed doesn't help her against Addams’s experience and technique. She can only trash them around on the floor.

“You have exactly 30 seconds to elaborate before I will puncture each of your internal organs.” Wednesday threatens low, slowly, and coldly. She can't wait long to finally use the stake. She wants to start with the kidney. Prolong the torture. Inhale the fear.

“ I used- Vehemence Adenium? no, fucking latin,,, Vehemens Adfektes? ANYHOW whatever you feel comes from your own miniscule heart and IS EXTREMELY LEGAL!” Yoko rushes out. 

“ Vehemens Adfectus? Why?!” Wednesday scans her memory for the description of the potion. It doesn't make a modicum of sense but the symptoms match. 

“ To win the bet! You didn't specify ‘no magic’ and the challenge was that I can make you feel the effects of alcohol.” Yoko says with a tint of smugness behind the panic. It's enraging.

“Even if I did specify despite you claiming you’re incapable at alchemy, Vehemens Adfectus doesn't have depressive qualities so how dare you .” Learning the cause of her state paused the whirlwind of ire only to prepare it to spur faster. Like a tornado of electricity inside her demolishing and singing every nerve ending. Not to mention the audacity of using a potion that is more of a targeted attack at her reputation than a thought out loophole execution.

“What do you mean it doesn't! It's used as an emergency depressant in medicine!” 

“There’s no such thing as an emergency depressant. The medical term is anti-depressant. They are separate things, you stupid leech.” The execution had no real thought behind it?! She’s done with torture, straight to murder it is. She needs immediate retribution. The searing pain is overwhelming. If she doesn't do something, her muscles might rip themselves from her skin. The pain must be out. Someone else must feel it in its totality. The stake dulls itself when hit on the floor, missing the target. Wednesday got distracted by anger and the vampire is free again.

“OKAY BUT YOU CAN STOP WITH THE STABBING SINCE IT WASN'T MY FAULT THAT YOU FELL IN LOVE! THAT'S ON ENID!” Yoko attempts to sidetrack. That won't save her. Useless idea anyway, Enid can never be to blame for anything bad.

But she is present. Enid and pain can't be in the same vicinity together.

“I-” Enid seems like she wants to say something. Yoko hides behind her.

But Enid will understand if explained. Enid always understands. 

“You drugged me with an intensifier of emotions against my will! Do you have any idea what it's doing to my body? It affects all sensory input you imbecilic bloodsucker and-” Wednesday stops as thoughts finally caught up with her actions. 

The gravity of the situation hits her. It punches out the air from her lungs.

The weight of how much she revealed and what Tanaka’s explanation truly meant is heavy. The thorough debunking of the love potion theory.

If it isn’t a love potion but an intensifier-

That means-

She might as well have been hit with a meteor.  Mortification overcomes her. 

She said too much.

Wednesday spares one panicked stare at Enid before thumbling away. Enid heard everything. She knows.

With no more fight left in her, Wednesday flees.

Chapter Text

Enid feels giddy since the beginning of the party. Why wouldn't she? Wednesday is here (and didn’t turn dancing together down!) the music isn't exclusively hip-hop or techno and dirty Shirley temples tasted so good! She just had her fifth before finding Winny. The slight bitterness of vodka just adds to the sweetness she found out. Since recently she really likes those two opposite tastes mixed together. Complementing each other. 

Safe to say being drunk is super fun so far. If only she didn't have to worry about her strength during it. Wednesday prefers a bruising grip but Enid can't really attempt that right now without breaking bones. But she didn't wrench her hand out either so it should be fine for now. It’s all joy when Wednesday lets her touch her. It's a special privilege.

Especially hands cause Wenny is really protective of her hands. She's very stabby instead of very punchy so as not to damage them. Hand injury was the only one she showed a shadow of a regret over. She needs her small pretty hands to play cello and to write her novel, and to be held by Enid's hands. She had to do all of that one handed throughout the break. 

And right now she needs ear protection too. Protection that Enid can provide. Provide, provide, provide. Enids gotta provide for Wednesday. Gotta protect her Winny. Did she mention providing already?

She’s so happy she wishes she had space to skip around.

“Cause apparently Bianca is dating Lucas, the Pilgrim World mayor son normie, the one you kicked ass of, twice, and then he did that stupid Carry prank right, so anyway, since his dad died he has been therapy shopping it seems, like spending waaay more money than before if his socials are anything to go by, right, and  like amongst stuff he buys is tech stuff, like mostly for his PC, and from one of his shopping hauls TikToks were these fancy as eff headphones that came with a matching stand! And then like a day later on Bianca’s Insta reels is a selfie pic with what in the background? THE SAME EFFIN STAND! So they've gotta be together since that's like the highest shelf crap, and weee are gooonnaaa taaake iiit”

She gossips happily knowing that Wednesday likes information. She has the best kind of gossip right now: relevant to Wednesday.

With it she can figure out the localization of the boon. On the nightstand near the wall.

“Hey, that's Bianca’s shit! Don’t-” 

Enid growled instinctively at whoever it was that dared to come between her and the offering for her mate. It worked perfectly. She can scare well. Success feels nice. And now comes the best part of getting Winny her headphones.

“Enid stop.” Enid immediately puts her hand away when Wednesday signals discomfort.

Well this isn't supposed to happen. That's silly. Winny can’t start with headphones. Headphones are an obstacle when scenting! It's a tried and true routine! Wednesday Addams likes routine! And she’ll be upset when she realizes she broke it later! She can't be upset. Gotta make her remember. And then they can finally dance.

“Winny, scenting and then headphones as usual. Ya can't put them on first, ya know that.”

“We’re not in San Francisco, I don't need your scent to avoid unnecessary fights anymore.”

That’s not true! Cause-

“There are Furs here.”

And they have to know to avoid her mate!

“Go rub yourself on your boyfriend if you want to so badly.”

Oh.

What?

That’s not-

The pleasant haze is an obstacle to thinking now. Wednesday is gone. And upset. The haze changes to a depressing fog. Winny left.

No, she’s still in the room. There’s time to fix it.

Think! 

What displeased Wends today? Oh she forbid her from drinking. Quick how to sober up. 

Food and water! She hurriedly finds a table with some pizza and sodas. No water but coke will have to do. She stuffs her face with what she can find. Chips, cookies, marshmallows. What else is there? Coffee? No, caffeine only makes her sleepy. She should move around to become more alert, sweat it out. Just follow the music. Going wolf mode, wolf metabolism please speed up. No, don't think about tracking down mate. Just wolf stomach. OH TORTILLAS.

“Aw man you getting munchies?” says a voice belonging to someone with a goofy smile and an unflattering beanie. Of course Ajax immediately thinks of weed.

“Ah, no, Win-” SHOOT Wednesday doesn’t like it when she uses nicknames outside their room. Low wolfish whine reverbates inside. She effed up. 

“You good, you dazed out there?”

“I just realized something.”

“Something about Wednesday maybe?”

“How did you-” 

“Just wishful thinking cause she just almost killed Xavier when he suggested she slowed down on drinking. So it would be great If you could make sure she’s good instead of him. I prefer my bros to be alive. I mean I’m not saying I wouldn't befriend a ghost, I’m not anti-ghost or something- wait Roman is a fang, he’s not alive either, shit, but you get what I mean.” 

Xavier. Enemy. Growl gets stuck in her throat. He probably tried touching her. Unacceptable. How dared he- No, no, no, stop with mate stuff  pretty please. Stupid fur brain. Goddess that’s embarrassing, she can’t be possessive. They’re not in a relationship yet and- Wait. Wednesday said something after she stupidly tried to scent her publicly.

“Ajax?”

“Yeeep?”

“You and I, we’re not together right? I’m not tripping for thinking we’re not, right? We’ve been just hangin as friends this whole month.”

“Uhh nope unless I hallucinated you saying you don't want us to ever come back from the break. And the gay part. Which I’m fairly sure I didn't. The rejection felt real. You're so lucky I didn't smoke tonight in solidarity with Xav or I would get all paranoid right now dude you wouldn’t even believe. And that wouldn’t mix well with Yoko’s fruity drinks. Heh. She makes fruity drinks alright. Wait, can I laugh at that?! Enid please tell me-”

Enid tunes out his clueless rambling. It's good for gossip but not when she has to think.They’re not together, that's confirmed. But Wednesday angrily said boyfriend. That doesn’t make sense. She definitely told her about the break up. Probably. Maybe she said it during the writing hour and got ignored? No, Wednesday only pretends to ignore but then remembers perfectly. 

“Ens, ey, yo, you’re dozing off again and I need your gay ass to confirm something.”

“Just ask Yoko if she finds the fruity joke funny herself.”

“No, not that. Tho that's gonna be hard considering she went out to get changed from wet clothing. I’m gonna need Xav to remember for me to ask her, damn.”

“Jax to the point.”

“Wednesday knows we broke up right? Cause I think she’s getting even more murderous and I don’t want her to find out I made out with Kate today and stab me for cheating on you. She already hates me as it is. I still remember the package I got  after I stood you up. How did she even-” 

Breaking up. 

Right, she mentioned that they went on a break…

There was no talk about nail guns.

Oh no.

“I only told her we went on a break.” Gulp.

“Dude! We all went on a break! The winter one! Miss no social media for sure doesn't get Friends references. If you don’t tell her tonight then  you like totally killed me and I didn't even get to try out shrooms yet! I’ll come back to haunt your ass and stone your full moon dinner every month forevs. Wait, will my snakes still work as a ghost? And if not, does it mean they won’t be a part of ghost me??? Naur, I don't want to be a ghost without them that’d be so-”

Gotta find Wednesday. 

If only that was easy. Whenever she would sense her in one place Wednesday moved to another. Bianca’s headphones are back on the stand. Bad bad bad.

“Enid.” Low voice and familiar wrist grip.

Thank goddess-

“Finally caught you, I stopped drinking but you kept running around and we should talk-” 

“We’re leaving.” Wednesday’s voice cracks. It’s never supposed to. Panic shoots through Enid. And her eyes- no

“Oh goddess, you’re blinking. This is bad bad bad.” As if on command Wednesday stops blinking but her eyes are still closed half lid, glazing around. She’s not glaring, just looking softly. Distracted, not present. The instant switch from uncharacteristically distressed to uncharacteristically serene is a deeply unsettling thing snaking around her throat, worse feeling than from the horrors she watched with her. No, no time for panicking. Protect, protect, protect.

“Wednesday how much did you drink? And did you only drink or did you smoke too? Or were close to people smoking? Are you nauseous? Should we go to the bathroom first?” 

Did someone do this or was the party simply too much? She really wants to hold up her face and check if Wednesday's dark eyes have blown irises from high but she stops herself. That touch would be overstepping. 

Wednesday doesn’t answer, just flexes her jaw and a crease shows up between her eyebrows, half hidden by tousled bangs. She’s focused on Enid’s lips. Right, she needs to speak slower.

“Wednesday if you can understand me squish my wrist twice.”

Nothing but Wednesday’s head popping slightly to the side as she’s still looking at the mouth. Enid is too stressed to find it cute right now. They can’t talk here. Wednesday needs to be removed from the overstimulating environment. Enid slowly frees her wrist from Wednesday's grasp and in turn holds her arm. Carefully maneuvers them outside. They need to go back to their dorm. 

Worry settles in her stomach, heavy, nauseating.

The wind outside isn’t as cold as it should be during winter but should be enough to help sober up Winny at least a bit.

She lets Wednesday collect her thoughts. Regain her posture. Wednesday seems to be leaning into her touch. Her heartbeat is way too fast for someone who’s supposed to seem half dead. And she’s-

“No, no, no, don't close your eyes.” 

“As you wish.” She sounds a bit too soft but this time when she looks into Enid’s eyes it's a focused stare, albeit lacking the intimidation part. And she’s talking again. That’s better. 

“-are you fine with walking on your own?” 

During the pause Enid almost starts panicking again. 

“Absolutely not.”

Getting an answer doesn’t really calm her. How is she supposed to help her walk without touching?!

Then Wednesday opens her arms. 

Wednesday Addams asks to be carried. 

Enid never picked up someone faster in her life. She probably never will again. Wednesday is extremely light even for her height and would never ask again. Enid will never let a situation that put Wednesday in a state like this to happen again. No more parties.

She starts walking. 

She probably shouldn't enjoy it. The reason for her heart beating faster should be the physical effort not the fact that she gets to touch her roommate. Just roommate. Just bring the drunk roommate to their dorm. 

Wednesday is rigid. Is bridal carry the wrong hold? Maybe she expected something like fireman one or-

Wednesday gets pliant in her arms. So small. So soft. 

Enid walks faster. 

Just one foot after the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left, right.

Wednesday nuzzles into her chest. 

Enid almost trips on her feet.

Why is Wednesday sighing contentedly?! 

Enid gets them to Ophelia hall in record time. If she didn’t she might have started howling. Or squealing from the cuteness. This is the worst possible time to discover that Wednesday Addams might like being held. She already cashed in her monthly hug; she can’t have a reason to crave another. Or to cuddle. Or sleep-

Simply deposit your roommate to her bed dammit. 

Wednesday just stands after being put down. Still doesn’t talk. Is she confused? 

Now she’s just sitting rigidly. Maybe it's time to check if she smoked. The dark rich brown isn’t surrounded by any red. It’s hard right now to discern intricate smells and get a read on her emotional state through that but she doesn’t smell of weed. So it’s probably just alcohol. She needs water. Ignore that she initiated physical contact. She’s just drunk. And confused.

“You should rest. I’ll get you some water.”

The shoulder crunch is a very typical Addams response but not the bewildered look in her eyes.

“Wednesday, let me take care of you.” 

Or is it anger? Is she upset over needing care?

“Winny, please?” 

Luckily that worked. Now mission water. And she has some Wednesday-dedicated stuff in her snack stash. 

Mission water accomplished.

Now for the snacks. But would she eat those?

“Hey Thing, are these enough or should I raid the cafeteria for some real food?” 

[Skip cookies. Stay.] Thing sign-taps.

So just licorice, alright-

Enid almost trips with how fast she turns and walks away.

Wednesday is unbraiding. From her braids. That she always wears even around Enid. Unbraiding them while drunk. Drunk Wednesday with her hair down. Just the idea of seeing that seems like she just committed a sin. Immediate Hell. She might be in hell already with how hot she feels. Wednesday doesn’t know what she’s doing. Looking has to be crossing a boundary.  Sober Wednesday would never. This is a drunk Wednesday. Hangover Wednesday might kill her for the transgression. Enid has heard of people getting loopy and undressing without really meaning to.  Or was that just from Wednesday’s lecture on hypothermia. This feels similar. Her heart is pounding. She's sweating. Breath shallow. Claws unsheathing.

“Thing, Thing, Thing, whyisWednesdayputtingherhairdown? Is this normal when she’s drunk?” She whisper-shouts.

Thing shrugs.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

[No normal for drunk. Can’t be drunk. Only very tired.]

“She obviously can since she is. She’s much worse than when I've ever seen her overwhelmed. And she drank a lot apparently so, maybe it could be both? Fuck what am I supposed to do?”

[Take off shoes. Just needs sleep.]

“Enid?” Wednesday sounds oh so soft. Soft Wednesday without her walls. Long hair to bury your nose in- STOP!

“Um, I put the water and some licorice on your nightstand. Cause, like, you need something in your stomach. I was wondering if I could give you chocolate cookies but, um, Thing said no. Do you need help with your shoes? You totes shouldn't sleep with them on, and uh, I- I'll promise I- '' Loud taps interrupt her.

I won't look at your hair. I won't be a creep. Please don't kill me.

[SLOW DOWN. Too many words. Wait. Breathe. It’s alright.]

Enid tries to take calming breaths. In and out. In. And Out. In. And. Out.

“You may.” Wednesday sounds strangled. Internal whine.

Enid swallows audibly. Slowly turns to the side so that she’s facing Wednesday’s legs but with her back to the head. 

Wednesday tied her shoes way too tight. With shaking hands it's taking awhile. But it's done. Wednesday can go to sleep. Enid can go and strangle herself with a pillow.

Cold hand grips her wrist. No, no, no, no, no. She should’ve left faster! Wednesday can’t be planning on tugging her to join her in bed. That’s ridiculous. That’d be inviting them to cuddle. So silly. Cuddling Wednesday, nosing on her neck, inhaling her smell, the ink, soil and honey, burying face in her long dark hair. That’s so impossible that it's funny. Haha, comedic. Slapstick comedy of injuries in the morning if she’d even dare to think about it like that. Wednesday won’t tug-

Wednesday does exactly that. Enid silently screams. Werewolf strength is so useful. It’s so great to be a fur. Just perf. Ignoring the trashing of her inner wolf that wants to jump into the dark bed aside, Wednesday’s tugs can’t work. But she’s still trying.

“Wednesday no.”

She finally stops. Deep breath.

“Goodnight Winny.”

Time to prep for hours of unachievable sleep.

-

She did fall asleep after only 2 hours of nervously thrashing around, but Wednesday doesn’t respect the idea of sleeping in.

 It’s so hard to wake up.

“Enid get up, we need to talk.” 

“Enid, it is important.” 

Fine I guess .

…

It’s absolutely not fine! Wednesday’s hair is still down! 

Prison of blankets time. For life. No attorney. Just wait out the sentence till death. No visitors. No thank you.  

“Speak up Sinclair.”

“Are you still drunk?!” 

A thunk of something hitting the wood.

“Enid, I am certainly not inebriated. Now get up.” Well she does sound normal, but she’s gotta be still at least a little tipsy. Maybe she didn’t realize.

Enid shimmies out and opens one eye. Yep, definitely still unbraided.

“But your hair is still down.” She mumbles while sitting up with closed eyes. 

“You are in no way such a creature of habit to be so distressed by change. Open your eyes and listen.” 

Well, she’s talking and is lucid but this still feels wrong. And it’s so distracting. Plus she sounds irritated. 

“Yeah but you are and I could just wait until you're back to normal, you know.” Just look away. Wednesday didn’t specify where to look.

“Enid, submissiveness does not suit you. Look me into my eyes as we speak.”

Dominating tone. Submissiveness.  Fuck, no shitballs, fucking- SHE COULDN’T MEANT THAT.

Enid can feel her face burning up. Just bury her alive. Killed by Wednesday Addams accidently doing an innuendo. This is a nightmare. She didn’t have a headache from the hangover until now.

“FINE.” 

Is angry Wednesday a win? Nope. But braiding will calm her down, right? It’s gotta. What did she even want to talk at uh, what time is it? Enid grabs her phone. Effin 8 am. This is way too early on a Saturday. Everyone else has to be still asleep. But maybe normies posted something today already. Sound of water coming out of a shower is hearable. So Wednesday only braids her hair after a shower. Remember for later. Water. Enid’s dehydrated. She should drink water. Blessed water bottle and ibuprofen save her. Back to TikTok. She feels too groggy to pay attention to what she’s seeing. She really needs caffeine to shut up the bees in her head. Bees in my head, there’s some bees in my head~ Bees in my head, there’s some bees in my head~

The petrichor of the coming storm hasn't weaned. Which means-

 Wednesday is out of the bathroom. Braids on, still angry. Welp.

Grab of lapels.

“Do you have any latent siren heritage?”

“Eh what now?”

Wednesday is close. The angry smell is stronger and has a weird undertone of chili peppers. Enid had never seen her in such a thin shirt before. The painkillers didn’t work fast enough. It’s too early in the morning to go feral. Focus on eyes as told and just think about the least gay things said. Emotionlessness. Drinks. 

I wouldn't manipulate you, please stop saying that.

“I have been drugged.”

“What?!”

“Who? How? When? Wednesday, what are you planning?”

Wednesday ignores her and just runs out. 

Following her barely clears up what’s happening.

Yoko denies being a deranged wingwoman. 

I could never leave you, Winny don’t-

A bet, potions, argument about chemistry. Head hurts too much to comprehend fully.

Should I do something?

“THAT'S ON ENID!”

Hold up. Wednesday’s falling in love?! 

Why isn’t Wednesday denying it? Who would she even fall in love with….. YOKO? Her sleep-addled brain was still struggling to commute from one thought to the other.

In limited light from the door Wednesday looks terrific while mad. Enid should be scared while being used as a shield against that but her morning-stupid brain cells just interpret it as her looking good when passionate. The usual ozone fragrance of a storm included.

And suddenly- Wide eyes. Breath stopping. All motion stopped. Panic stare. The smell of smoke. 

Wednesday’s terrified.

Enid doesn’t know how to react to that and loses her chance to act. 

Wednesday is gone. 

Again.

The wind shuts off the blackened window that she jumped out of.

The scent of smoke gets stuck in Enid’s nose as she tries to breathe deeply. 

It’s eerily quiet now. 

“Babe, you good?” Enid jolts at the voice coming from Yoko’s bed. Undeserved, Divina uses her girlfriend’s dorm more than her own. Her presence shouldn't be surprising. Is Divina’s presence why Wednesday ran?

Yoko trips while trying to jump on her good leg. She groans but doesn’t get up. “Nooo, I’m soo good after almost being killed, these totally won’t bruise, I’m at my best really, couldn't be better. I’ll just lay here, it’s comfortable. Thanks for the help, sea princess.”

“Perf, you feel good enough to joke. Enid, do your thing.”

“Heeey Yokokoko.”  Enid puts on her widest smile, while closing the door to shut off the light. Yoko occasionally gets spooked by how Enid’s eyes look in the dark. “What was that all about ?”

“Uhhh, hey Enie, bestie, my bff, babygirl, my fav furball, pup, I can explain.” Yoko stammers while crawling up to a chair.

“Yeppp, you will~ and it better be SparksNotes version~ cause this hangover is totes killing me~” Enid sings songs.

“I- so- well I might as well mention that: I lied about passing midterms, ye, so-”

“We can help you cram babe, but I don’t see how this ties in me waking up to you screaming bloody murder ‘cause of Addams.” Divina says yawning.

“Cause neither of you are in my Alchemy class, but Addams is and I-”

“USED WINNY TO EXPERI- Owww.” Growling is a mistake, the reverb makes the headache worse. And the teeth coming out don’t help. Wrong anger to pain ratio.

“No! Just to challenge her! And maybe cash in the win in the form of tutoring. Babes, I'm literally just tryna graduate. With you guys. As promised.” 

“Challenge how?” Div asks as Enid massages her own jaw.

“To get her drunk cause she’s all ‘ooh cyanide tastes great in tea innit, poison immunity go brr’ but I figured it didn’t extend to magic so, okay this does maybe sound as if I might have experimented on her but hear me out! She agreed to the bet and otherwise if she was sober she could have also killed me for giving Enie vodka so it was like a perfect win-win.” Yoko 

Enid feels stupid. Wednesday did say things like that. And Thing was adamant about Wednesday not being drunk so she should’ve figured Wednesday wasn’t joking. Should’ve figured out something else was wrong before Wednesday ran out scared. Stupid wolf brain, stupid alcohol, stupid Yoko. She wants to crawl into herself.

“Babe, reach the shore, what did you give her?”

“Well, some liqueur, herbal vodka, bunch of regular vodka-”

“What potion you dipshit-”

“Are these your notes on it?” Divina interjects while lightning with her phone a notebook on the table. 

Yoko nods.

Enid shakes her hands to get rid of claws. Divina can have the brain cells right now. Enids’ are too busy fighting off spontaneous wolfing out and maiming the vampire. And then passing out from the stress and the sight of blood. Or running to Wednesday. But she needs to know what's happening exactly first or she’ll just make a mistake and piss off Wednesday again.

“Kay, get your glasses, I’m turning on the lights to read. Enid continue growling at her.”

“Babe come on, I know you weren't this hard on Bianca for garlicking me, just be on my side, this is unfair.” Yoko whines as Enid whimpers at sudden lights. Hangover sucks. She’s definitely not growling anytime soon. Divina notices the whimpering before starting reading the notes.

“Nope, I'm taking out my Team Jacob shirt. And Biana’s plan worked, you were practically unharmed and just forced to sit out the competition, while this is a whole damn disaster. Geez, your handwriting is atrocious, I’ll never get used to it.” Divina answers, taking up the job to keep Yoko talking after all. It's impossible to get SparksNotes out of her when she's stressed. The vampire has a habit of avoiding confrontation but if you keep her talking…

“You still lost! I gotta say babes, you suck at good cop-bad cop.” Yoko tries to joke. Does she have no sense of survival? Nope, she easily ducks away from a half hearted clawed attack. Enid is so close to biting her face off.

“Not by failing that plan so it’s different. In the name of Triton, you really did use depressant and anti-depressant interchangeably.” Divina says, rubbing her eyes.

Enid tries to remember why that distinction was significant. 

“Well now we know we won the moment Enid cried.” Yoko snickers.

Oh, she’s gotta stop doing that damn deflecting..

“Yoko!” 

“What? The lil emotionless goth fell in love so hard she tried to deny it by blaming it on a love potion! She said it herself, it was just an enhancer. You’re welcome btw, isn't this great actually, you’ve been dancing around each other in gay time forever, can you imagine her confessing to you in any diff-.” 

Enid’s brain short-circuited… “She is in love with ME?” 

“Who else was she yelling about? Thorpe? Be for real pup.”

Enid’s heart flutters, she feels so happy before realizing. Wednesday was under the influence. The only way she would want her, is if she was poisoned into it. And the moment she figured it out then made her run away. The bitter overtakes the sweet realization. Turns sour. That sour taste goes down her throat and explodes into hot anger.

“If you gave her some magical aphrodisiac as a way to get her drunk for you to be a wingwoman I’m gonna personally bite and chew on the one lonely brain cell you used to think that it makes sense.” With pain forgotten she lets her teeth grow.

“Nah, that’s illegal and technically evil, and I-, let me read that, Vehemte Adenda is just a general intensifier of uhh emotions and subsequently of all sensory experiences. Yada yada yada weakened self control on the account of aforementioned lowered inhibition-”

“You gave Wednesday Addams, THAT. During a party. To someone who can’t stand crowds, noise and touch.” Enid grabs Yoko and snarls at her, showcasing the lycan incisors. Everything clicks in place. The sudden anger and then confusion at the party, accusations of sirensonging. Terrified Wednesday.

“Is this a bad time to mention there was also a mild truth serum in the mix?” 

There's more?! Claws pop out, almost nicking Yoko’s shoulders.

“Yes babe, shut up and help me-” Divina pulls Yoko closer to the table with papers away from Enid’s nails.

“It  doesn’t work how you think it does tho, it just makes internal denial harder-” 

Enid ignores her ramble because there’s another detail from the party. Panic seeps in.

“Oh goddess, she’s gonna kill Ajax and get expelled.” Enid starts to hyperventilate. Wednesday can’t leave. She can’t. If she does- 

No, no, no!

“That can’t be what you have problem with-

“Yoko, I said shut up. Enid please breathe, I’m sure there’s a way to reverse this and we’ll find it while you’re gonna get your girlfriend and calm her down. You know her and she will never hurt you, pup, you got this.” 

“She’s not my girlfriend! Not even close to that! Just last night, I realized that she still thinks Ajax and I are still together.” A whole month of effort was lost. She’s gotta fix it somehow.

   -Oh yeah that makes sense.- 

“Aight, I’m texting him and telling Kent to keep watch.” Divina says tapping on her phone.

-Go get your girlie! Get them kisses in!” 

Enid ran off, hoping to get to her girl Wednesday on time.

Chapter Text

Wednesday paces stiffly around in the Hummer’s Hut. Physical pain in her knees from taking the brunt force of landing from the window helps her think.

She will have to live here for the foreseeable future. Get acquainted with the gaping canyon inside her chest. She can find a way to enjoy this new torture. It is quite similar to asphyxiation. Depressive lethargy of the muscles just makes her more corpse-like. She even likes the spiders murdering each other in her gut. And the freezing air swirling in her lungs is refreshing. Wind sweeps in and out from the cracks in the thin wooden walls. Comforting cold. No more heat. No more warmth.  

The canyon falls further into itself. How long has she been infested with non platonic inclinations? For long has she been letting Enid think she’s responsive to her bids for friendship but instead was soaking up the affection for other means without meaning to?

She should have known Enid was just being friendly when she went out of her way to buy her spicy samosa when Wednesday mentioned liking them offhandedly on a day where she missed both breakfast and lunch. She should have known Enid was being nice when she gave her that owl skull she found on the walk they went on the other day. Enid was such a good friend, she got her sealing wax when Wednesday’s supply was running low. Enid even took the time to learn and respect her boundaries without overstepping, it made holding hands and occasional hugs acceptable. Enid was such a good friend, Wednesday even caught her studying up on one of her morbid history recommendations to improve their banter. They spent more time together as friends, and Wednesday had to ruin it by wanting more.

No more Enid. But it is not like she has a choice in that part. She hates me now. Why wouldn’t she? 

“I mean, getting drugged aside, I don't really see how this is bad. El amor es el amor. Love is great.”

“Do not act stupid Eugene, you of all people should know how unrequited affection feels, we are partners in misery now.”

“Not really, there’s always hope. And it’s not like I called dibs or something, so may the better Hummer win, yeah amiga?”

“Absolutely not, I need to move out and sleep here. Isolation is the only solution for me at the moment. We have talked for all 6 minutes and I am already violently contemplating your beheading for insinuating that Enid is a mere trophy to be won. Anyone else would be dead by now. And it would be a sloppy job at that.” Wednesday closes her eyes and scowls at herself. The hot rolling rage inside is way too easily fanned. Undignified. Crude. Unrefined. Like volcanic explosions with lava destroying everything in its way. Way too messy.

“Come on, she’s your friend, you even have a better chance than I do!”

Enid was nice to the freak and what did she get in exchange? Unhinged obsession. Besides, there’s Ajax. Get rid of him . He doesn’t deserve her. But he is who she wants! 

Her hands itch to destroy something.

“Eugene, listen to me closely.” She strides over to him.

“No hope talk” Pokes him in the chest.

“And no chances.” Again. 

”For you too.” She flexes her hands and forms them into fists. 

“The second I delude myself into courting, bodies will fall . Every rival gutted . First Ajax, then you, then anyone that even looks at her. And when it will be only me and her, even if it for some reason works I will finally realize what I did and I will kill myself for hurting you.”

Not to mention what would happen if it didn't work. She goes back to pacing. Time to plan when and how she should sneak in and get her stuff out of the dorm. She’s gonna have to abandon Thing. It’s been clear for a long time that when choosing between Wednesday or Enid’s manicures he’ll choose Enid. And she can’t even really argue with that choice. It’s Enid.

“Aw, you admitted you’ll regret it, that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever told me! Although it might have been nicer if I was first, I’d like to think I have a better chance than her ex.” Eugene says, smiling goofily.

Wednesday stops in her tracks. 

“Que?” She asks dumbfoundedly. Blinks.

“Just think about it, if she broke up with him as per rumors and he already moved on and kissed another girl then I’ve gotta be higher in the priority of targets!”

Ajax did what? 

KILL

No, think-

KILL

Think first!

Enid would've told her about breaking up.

He-

KILL KILL KILL

Wednesday sees red. Red like that blood she will bathe in.

“She never told me about any break up. Who did you say he kissed?” She strangles out between furious breaths. Information first, murder later. That is enough thinking. And then satisfying, sweet murder. 

“Ahhh, w-well, oof, before I tell you, m-maybe we should ask Enid first? No… no sloppy kills r-remember. It’s just g-gossip anyway, si?” Eugene throws up placating hands and stumbles to stand between her and the doors.

Who cares about the mess if the blood spilled will be exhilarating? 

“Nuh uh, don't kill any- aaah -one please.” someone wheezes out opening the doors. Someone in a pink jacket.

Wednesday gets dazed by how fast her emotions switch. Fire of rage extinguished and her body rigid from cold again. She takes a step back. 

Enid is here. Bending over and catching her breath. Still in her pajamas but with a jacket and sweatpants on. And something in her arms. 

Get on your knees and ask for forgiveness.

Enid said no killing. Enid still cares for the useless gorgon. Even if he- The misery is actually choking her now. As if his snakes were crushing her windpipe personally. 

Run.

Enid’s here. Inside the Hut. Between her and Eugene it’s gonna be hard to get to the door and escape. She backs up to the wall. If she hit it hard enough, could she make a hole in the wood?

“I’m not with Aaajax.” More wheezing.

What?

Then-

She’s not taken.

Hope.

Enid sought her out. Does it mean-

Kiss her.  

It can not be. Improbable. Inconceivable. Implausible. Stop hoping. Stop stop stop stop stop. 

Eugene is trying to get away.

“Do not dare-”

“Genie, could you let us talk alone?” Enid says finally breathing normally.

“I-”

“Please?” Enid smiles with more teeth than normal. 

At Eugene.  

Kill whoever she’s smiling at.   

Not Eugene. Not even when he is cowardly trying to leave.

“Eugene-”

“I’ll s-stay just out of earshot.”

Traitor.

But she can join him in cowardice. There’s no shame in that if she’s been betrayed.

Back to the wall inspection. If she brakes 2 of the panels and wrenches them out she could squeeze outside.

“Wednesday please don’t run again, kay? We’re good, it’s alright it’s just, I’m not with Ajax, like for a while now so no reason to kill so jot that down, don’t worry about that, um, he’s not gonna even come close to us so, uh, no reason to avoid me? Ye? Um, we, uh, This is hard.” Enid’s voice is high pitched, several words much quieter than the rest, so quiet it would be hard to comprehend them if her ears haven't fixated on the voice instantly.

Enid wants her to stay. Disregard. Just move. Don’t stay just because you want to hear her voice more. Refuse. JUST DO IT. 

Don’t. She said don't.  

Wednesday takes a shuttered breath. Rests her head on the wall. Her strength collapses. She’s already drained from fury and can’t fight the impulse to listen. 

Wednesday swallows and looks back at Enid. Enid is shifting her weight nervously, blue eyes are pleading. There’s no energy left to slow the rampant heart’s work. Wednesday’s skin is freezing cold but her insides are heating up. Freezing air is grating her throat during her quicken breaths. Confusing sensation. 

“Just hear me out- well put this on first, you look way too pale-” One of the things Enid is holding turns out to be Wednesday’s coat. Wednesday’s haggard body just listens to Enid. She walks over to take it and puts it on.

Of course Enid brought her warm clothes. Enid cares too much.

“-And I’ll drink this monster-” Enid gets out a pink can out of her jacket pocket. Opens with one hand and downs in a few gulps, crushing it in the process. She looks confused around the room before she puts the crushed can back into the pocket. She jumps up on her toes and stretches out hands before joining them up at her chest.

She doesn’t look happy. Not close. This is not a face of someone single and happy to have someone in love with them.

She came here to reject her in person. And to scold her for planning murder.

Wednesday just wants it over and to collapse into the ground forever. Close eyes. Stop existing.

“-Um, is it too much to ask you to wait half an hour for it to work? No, eff, obvi, ah I should've drank it in the dorm.”

“Enid, if you-”

“NO DON'T SPEAK, um, I mean ah, Yoko mentioned a truth potion so I don’t want you to like say anything you don’t want me to hear, um, like earlier, cause like obviously you didn’t duh, that's why you jumped out of the window, so we’ll-”

Truth potion? It doesn’t seem like- Well she might as well check it before getting executed.

“My favorite color is pink.” 

Saying that makes her nauseous as it should but otherwise no problems. At least the  insufferable tick didn’t lie about legality. That leaves a small pool of possible serums. It’ll explain the incessant barrage of unwanted thoughts perhaps. Something to think about as she’ll rot in the ground. It is high time she taught Eugene how to bury people alive anyway. 

“What?!”

“I just lied Enid.”

“Oh… OH, okay, well then, still don’t talk, I need to say something.”

Enid takes a deep breath.

Here comes death.

“Everything you said since yesterday, I’ll ignore, never happened, until you’re cured, okay?  And also everything you’ll say or do till then, um obvi. And then we’ll talk, on terms you’re comfortable with and um Well I don’t want to suggest that I’ll sleep outside our dorm as if I’d want to be away from you, cause I don’t! I'm not disgusted by you, I mean uh, well the gore is sometimes too much but never you itself? Like your feelings or presence is never disgusting to me. Does that make sense? Whatever happens I want to be by your side, well and also I think I can help you not kill anyone till then, I-, we’ll just chill and figure out the antidote or something, and um earlier you called it manipulation and I promise I won’t exploit that but it just seems that you can easily focus on me and my words so we can use that to keep you calm and not doing anything that will get you expelled, yeah? Or I’ll just scare everyone away in you stead so that no one bothers you and that’s just fine too, we don’t have to talk or interact much I know that everything is too much for you right now, um, your choice, you can call the shots on this, just please don’t shut me out. We can talk about everything later. Here are your headphones and sunglasses anyway.”

Wednesday blinks. She takes the offered objects.  Slowly inhales the cold air. Her anxious thoughts slow down.

It is very intricately not a rejection. Nor an acceptance of affection. Of course it is not the latter. 

But the absence of the former… 

There’s always hope indeed. Annoyingly so.

One that can be nestled safely for later.

Second chance.

Wednesday exhales slowly.

What it certainly is, is a promise to stay. The chasm inside slowly fills back up to a point.

A trade of proximity for no violence. Maybe more than a simple proximity. Her hands twitch. There will be a lot of violence to compensate. But Enid’s not disgusted. Just worried about Wednesday leaving. Caring trade. Securing peace of mind to work  on regaining control.

With the help of the coat and Enid’s gaze, warmth slowly creeps permanently back into Wednesday’s body.

With the promised security she can come up with how to deal with the incessant needs and thoughts. Think easier. Figure out what’s happening. Come up with treatment. Analyze the situation and what best to do about Enid.

 Enid, which ran straight to Hummer Shed with things from their dorm for some reason.

“How did you find me this fast?”

“I- I can always find you easily, um, I could explain in detail but it’s kinda a topic for when you’ll recover. I can promise I’ll do it then? I’ll set myself a reminder on my phone. Do I talk too much? Or too fast? Should I simplify what I said earlier?”

Secondary objective: figure out why that’s a topic for later too. 

Primary objectives: 

1.No expulsion. The easiest way is to just not break laws. 

2.Learn to manage this situation in case it’ll happen again. Best collection of data would be by dictating to a dictaphone. Memory fails her in this state and writing is too slow and might interfere with visual observations. Problem: narrating outloud will affect the behavior of others. Solution: do not use English. Problem 2: recording others without consent is breaking the law thus violating first objective rules.  Solution? Ask for consent. No, counterintuitive to the first problem. And too cumbersome. Solution: dictate to someone else to make notes. Both second memory and provides writing. Who’s trusted and aware of the situation? Eugene. Problem: his presence risks once again violating the rules of the first primary objective. Solution…

“I…  agree with your terms. You just have to do something first.”

“Yeah? Anything.” Enid responds as she watches Wednesday go outside.

“Eugene, come back.”

“H-hi guys.” Eugene says as he gets near.

“Reject him permanently.” Wednesday point at Eugene.

“Huh?”

“I mean, I’ve already done it before?” Enid looks confused.

“No, you're too nice, do it in a way that leaves no doubt. He’s still delusional. I need him to be around too, but it won’t work if I want to kill him the whole time.”

“Sure? Eugene, sorry but it can never work between us. Like completely, never ever. No chance in the world.”

“I mean never is kind of a stretch-” Eugene tries to justify his hope.

“Genie, I found out I only like girls, romantically I mean, you’re still a nice friend. Since you dropped the awful pick up lines.”

“... of course only lesbians talk to me. ‘Eugene she just likes the colors of this sweater, it's just hair Eugene, it doesn’t mean anything’ As if. Wait does this mean the confession-” Wednesday grabs him before he finishes his question.

“There was never any confession, forget it, Hummer’s Code” Wednesday threatens.

“Are you done with Euguene? Can we go back to the topic at hand or something?” Enid says awkwardly, like she’s annoyed with Eugene being a part of their conversation.

“In a bit. Eugene, ¿puedes entenderme cuando hablo tan rápido?” {Can you understand me when I speak this fast?}

“Ah, si? Mayormente. But I won’t answer back that fast?” {Mostly.}

“¿Qué pasa si te pido que escribas lo que digo?” {What If I ask you to write what I say}

“I’ll need you to speak slower then.”

“Very well, get something to write on.”

“I have a notes app on my phone?”

“No, I’m going to need to read it later. Get some real pen and paper notebook, Enid will text where we are.”

“Sure.” He leaves, giving the girls the privacy they both wanted and dreaded.

Neither knew how to break the silence, but Enid was the one to crack first.

“So, we stick together right? Um, I don't mean together together. Um, I mean…I know that I said that you call the shots, but you're for sure starving, right? So we could go get breakfast first? Everyone else is sleeping in or just sneaking food out to eat at the dorms or something, so we can eat it at the cafeteria. We’d be pretty much alone there, wait. Is that too much? I can sneak some food out too. ”

“... The cafeteria is fine.” Wednesday blinked. Neither moved. 

“Yeah, um, why aren’t you putting on your headphones?”

Wednesday takes a deep breath. Closes eyes. Swallows hard. Hoping that Enid catches on. She doesn’t.

“You know what comes before when you give me headphones.”

“I- are you sure-  wouldn't the touch be too much? I don-”

“Enid, if you’ll treat me like glass, I’m staying here.The doubt is infuriating. If you won’t even attempt to treat me as ordinary, this whole arrangement is useless.”

“Okay.” Shuttered breath. Warm smile. Enid finally smiled at her.

Enid’s warm cheek on Wednesday’s cheek. And then on her jaw. Neck. And up again. Barrage of citruses, vanilla and fur. Tingly skin. Warmth. Calm. Safe.

It’s not enough.

Wednesday fists Enid’s jacket. Closer. Get closer. One hug is fine, right? It’s to get warmer. No, it's not.

No, it is not.

“Enid, do the thing.”

Instant constriction of strong arms. It is warm. Tight. It is crushing tense muscles. Crushing all stress and worry. The kind of pressure that forces air out of your lungs. Forcing you to take deeper, longer breaths. Filling lungs with citruses. Melting away the fury. Melting the tension. Soothing. Relief. Rest. Sinking into a blissful feeling. Peaceful dive into safety of mellowed sensations.

She didn’t ruin it completely. She didn’t lose this forever.

“Winny, you better effin tell me if I'm breaking your ribs.”

Wednesday hums distractedly. 

Just a bit more rest. Stay longer in safety.

Instantly after being given the privilege of hugging 2 months ago Enid figured out that those can't be two things: soft and short. Wednesday bristles at soft touch and needs time to first relax to the experience and then to get accustomed to switching out of it.

So there’s no danger that Enid will cut it short.

Enid’s pocket buzzed.

“I think Eugene is texting us.”

But the threat of it is still affecting.

“If you’ll pay attention to that wretched brick, I'll break it.”

“Nuh uh, if you’ll break my stuff this whole arrangement is useless~”

Wednesday huffs amusedly into her shoulder.

“Should we make rules on touch right now.”

“No.”

“I don’t want you to kill me later,”

“I’m incapable of hurting you.”

“And you’re occasionally not speaking in this state. I need some help knowing your limits.”

“You’ll understand me just fine.” You’re touchy, Enid. Take what you want from me.

They hug in silence for longer, Wednesday sinking into the crushing warmth. Time slows to a stop when they are together. Sometime later, Enid giggles.

“Does this count into my hug limit?”

“Why would it, if it never happened.”

“Yes ma'am,” Enid nuzzles into Wednesday’s neck even more.

They didn’t want to break apart, but Enid’s stomach growls. “We totes could stay like forever but I really need to eat something.”

Devour me. Wednesday hesitantly breaks the hug and they head to the cafeteria, elbows bumping occasionally.

Chapter Text

Enid likes to think she’s not stupid. 

She is one of Nevermore's top students! True, she can only do her homework if someone reminds her in the last hours of the deadline (it got easier with Wednesday just sitting in the same room), cannot comprehend the first morning class without deskmate’s help everyday (Wednesday would always give her a copy of her math notes) and the only way she can study for tests is if she’s hanging out with Divina (or during Wednesday’s writing hour). But that’s just proof that for every academic problem she could always figure out a fix using her social skills! Problem solving is part of intelligence, isn’t it? Emotional knowledge can be a part of it. She always knew when she needed help.

So even though she ignored her apprehension to kiss Ajax at first (Wednesday hates feelings, Wednesday invited Xavier, Wednesday went to the dance with Tyler, Wednesday left, distract, distract yourself from Wednesday) she wasn’t that dense to not notice that it grew exponentially after wolfing out. Her claws came out even before touching him in the morning after.

(And not too dense not to notice that hugging Wednesday rewired her brain.)

She had an instant idea what everything during the blood moon could mean.

So she put her relationship with Ajax on hold until she confirmed it.

It was extremely irritating to discover why every Fur would love to blame things on ‘The Wolf’. Every sense got enhanced. Desires got stronger. Every impulse got harder to control. (But would Wednesday hug her back if she somehow stopped herself?) 

It would be so easy to just dissociate yourself from the unwanted strong feelings. Call it something else. Give it its own name. Deny, deny. ‘It’s not me, it's the Wolf.’ Wash your hands of lack of control.

Her mother always loved to use this excuse. She wasn’t really angry. The screaming? Wasn’t her fault. You couldn't blame her. It's just the Wolf. You’d understand it if you’d just wolf out already. 

So Enid wolfed out (Wednesday was in danger, had to find her, save her, protect her.) And maybe it’s cause she was older than most when it happened but it just made her understand dad more. With the faster attacks of impulses and sensations on the brain, paying attention got harder. Stopping yourself from any decision was safer than making a bad one too fast. Turning the brain off, defaulting to silence and just nervously wringing hands got more attractive. 

Especially since mother wouldn’t accept the Wolf excuse for angry yelling if it came from anyone else.

None of the sensation felt truly foreign though, just the intensity. If before wolfing out she didn’t feel the need to categorize things inside her mind as wolf and non-wolf why would she now? She always had strong preferences for smells, certain sounds were always irritating. She always had an urge to keep moving, to touch, to immediately express her thoughts. She always needed to surround herself with colors or she’d felt aggressively bored. She always loved meat of all kinds and it wasn’t even like she wasn’t superhuman strong her whole life. (It was always easy to find Wednesday, discern her footsteps, her slow heartbeat, her quiet breaths. The signature black and white on tan skin, the braids, the dark circles under dark eyes. The ink and honey. The presence that’s always on the periphery of her mind. Waking up at least slightly the moment she’d come closer to her bed.) 

Having scars felt more life changing than the all body transformation. But that connects to the only thing she actually didn’t want to think about.

Because what definitely changed after the blood moon was that for a few weeks she wouldn’t be sleeping in the same room as Wednesday. Just Enid in an empty bedroom again. Just the physical ache of three thousand miles of distance drumming inside. Connection like a thin string cutting her skin up from being pulled, but not thin enough to break from the tension, not anymore(she would have to put in effort for it to break but why would ever want to). For which she came up with a solution! Exchange home addresses, mention the shitty weather, invite her (borrow her biggest sweater). Write Wednesday letters if she doesn’t have a phone. Maybe that will shut up the Wolf-

She didn’t expect the nightmares to be so bad. The first alone night she tore apart her pajamas and sheets by wolfing out to the maximum current moon cycle allowed. (It’s good she put the sweater behind the pillow)  At first she couldn’t remember exactly what was in them. She would just wake up transformed and crying. Not realizing that the nightmare ended and running out in a mindless panic. 

Dad silently bought her replacements and blackout curtains.

Putting on cello music on the speaker helped her fall back asleep easier.

So she managed. Could just be the simple familiarity of falling asleep to cello practice. But then the nightmares got vivid. Cello music stopped working. She kept seeing it.

Seeing Tyler tearing apart Wednesday as she couldn’t do anything, dying from Tyler, killing Wednesday herself. Wednesday dying and dying and dying. 

(PROTECT PROTECT PROTECT)

She barely slept and felt like crap for a week.

At least she had an excuse to fight back at brothers.

It’s not her anger. 

The Wolf wants to fight, not her. 

(She actually only wanted another hug from Wednesday.)

She just hoped Wednesday would write her back fast. Hopefully on her typewriter so that the ink smell would be correct.

And she did! The letter fell into her hands out of a fiery portal and mostly contained confusion over being blocked. Saying to unblock since ‘as much as she loves bloodletting, electrical power is more reasonable of a sacrifice to pay for instantaneous exchange of words’. Plus a threat to not ‘abuse such privilege’.

Cause Wednesday ‘I hate technology’ Addams had a phone all of a sudden and the random spam calls were actually her. Oops?

Enid slept 8 hours that night. Interrupted, but still 8.

Wednesday hated texting and delegated Thing to do it, while occasionally calling instead. At pre-agreed to, scheduled times. (She contemplated recording her voice to have something to fall asleep to.)

Until those scraps of (precious, addicting) attention stopped working again and Enid woke from extremely violent nightmare choking. But with hands human enough to use a phone. 

Wednesday picked up after the first ring.

“It is 3:47 in California at this moment, thus I’m presuming this is an emergency.”

Enid took a shuttered breath, finally breathing and capable of shifting back a bit. She forced her face to be human so that Wednesday wouldn’t notice, wouldn’t hear the teeth lisp.

“Y-yeah.”

“How many attackers?”

“One single imaginary Hyde.”

“How-”

“A nightmare.”

“And that is…”

“Not a fun one, yes Wenny.”

“You sound good enough to get on my nerves with insipid nicknames and since you’re already speaking for me, I do not see how I can assist doing that.”

“Imaginary Hyde keeps killing imaginary you.”

“So you require assurance of my very real life?”

“Yeah Wenny, that'd be nice.”

Short silence.

“My heartbeat is 42 beats per minute currently, slightly higher than my average but a regular brachycardia for an athlete and 18 beats lower than minimum expected for an adult. My blood pressure is around 80/40 I presume, the exact numbers may vary. Higher than my average once again but certainly caused by sudden awakening.”

Enid fought the urge to giggle. She might have once said that Wednesday sucks at giving comfort but this unique, so-Wednesday brand of it was exactly what she needed.&

“I’m surprised you don’t have the phone on silent.”

“... Thing woke me up and insisted I answer. 10 breaths per minute.”

“And that’s below normie average too or did your kitten breaths sped up answering me too, Wenny?”

“Pardon?”

“Kitten breaths, you breathe like a kitten, Wenny. Shallow and silent, hard to see and hear.”

“... And the nickname?”

“Do you like it?”

“...I despise it.”

“Perff.”

“Do you have a point to any of this?”

“Well you can’t be too nice to me or I'll start to think this is another dream.”

“Sinclair, if you’ll anger me on purpose I will burn your stuffed pets.”

“Naurrr, you wouldn’t dare, what if I promise to not say it outside our room?”

“...I can hear your disgusting smile, that’s enough kindness for now.”

“Oh, so you’ll be even nicer to me when I have another nightmare?”

“Click.” The line went dead. Enid fell back asleep smiling.

-

“2:57 am, another nightmare? 37 heartbeats (...)”

-

“Enid? You still sound strangled, I do not know what is there more to say. We’re both aware I’m not skilled at comfort.”

“It’s just- Do you have any nonfun nightmares too?”

“... not of the blood moon.”

“Oh.”

“I didn’t mind the violence against me. Being close to death was exhilarating.”

“Wenny please don’t-”

“But falling for the manipulation was… regretful in a sense. In hindsight, I see what weakened me enough for me to fall for it. I dream about that.”

“Tyler?”

“His insistence may have been part of it.”

“Wednesday-”

“Would the sound of the typewriter signal my life status enough?”

“...Yeah.”

“Very well. Pleasant dreams Enid.”

“Dreadful morning Wenny.”

-

The next full moon was close. More fur with each nightmare transformation. Taking more time to be able to call Wednesday. (The sweater lost its scent.)

Danger of uncontrolled frenzy with full wolfing out was looming. (Or not wolfing out at all cause what is the point if Wednesday isn’t around, why even try to join the hunt if she had NO ONE TO PROVIDE FOR)

Next nightmare she might not be able to call Wednesday without groaning from the pain of transforming back. Let it slip that wolfing out is dependent on her. That she probably keeps getting nightmares solely because Wednesday isn’t around. She can’t tell Wednesday that she might be her mate. Not yet. 

-

“Winny?”

“This one sounds even less like my name Enid. Is butchering names and raising my ire really that comforting?”

“The weather is supposed to suck during the full moon and for the whole week. You’ve mentioned you wished you could’ve seen me wolfing out so why not- why not see a whole pack? And I can make a tour of all weird and spooky places in San Fran if, uh, gross body horror and physical pain of my family isn’t enough-”

“Alcatraz will be enough. Should I bring you a Yule gift?”

“I- I’d love to exchange gifts, are you sure you don’t want to go to, like, the Torture exhibition or-”

“You may simply keep me hostage in your room if that’s what you desire.”

“I want you to not kill my mother.”

“... you may plan a few excursions then.”

-

The scenting might have been a bit obvious but it confirmed everything (and Wednesday accepted the other reasons for it without question, yay). Immediate good sleep and mood. No more angry outbursts. Full moon went great. Only a minor furless nightmare incident that got her to hold Winny’s hand through the night.

Not to mention the ability to smell Wednesday’s emotions which only happens after scenting a possible mate.

But then the matter of what to do with that knowledge arose.

Wednesday is already slowly improving on the friendship front but got burned on the romance one by Tyler already. And she hated Xavier’s intense advances.

A slow approach was needed. (As much as she can slow down from effin scenting.)

She needed a slow pace, but January was painful. She tried everything to be close to Wednesday. She bought her food, sent her little gifts, held hands, spent hours studying morbid history to find compliments for her, and spent more time together than ever. It was a brutal pace when what she wanted the most was to just kiss her silly.

Enid really fucked up by not telling Wednesdayl about the break up or explaining what ‘going on a break’ meant. Even when Wednesday was confused on why Ajax disappeared from her social circle for a week. Enid only had gay thoughts and Wednesday on her mind to remember that detail.

Which brings her here. In the cafeteria. With Wednesday on her left. Sitting with their thighs and shoulders touching. Wednesday that keeps talking in Spanish to Eugene to her left. A new Wednesday that reaches out for touch now. No, not Wednesday. None of her actions are Wednesday, that's the deal. This is NotWednesday in Wednesday’s body. Simple possession. NotWednesday can be touchy and nice all she wants. Just make sure the body is fine until real Wednesday comes back. That’s all.

 Enid is staring at her cup with 5 tea bags brewing in it. Hands folded in front of her mouth as if to pray. Counting seconds on the brewing time so as to not risk the beverage getting too bitter. Because the energy drink wouldn't work for much longer and school coffee tastes like crap. There’s no way she can go to Weathervane today. And tea caffeine is supposed to act slower and longer, right? But the excessive amount of leaves will be bitter by itself anyway.

“Eugene, can I have some honey for my tea?’

“How come you never ask me for honey?” NotWednesday asks, turning her head to Enid for the first time in quite some time. 

“Ah, you never offered?”

“They’re chilling to fasten crystallizing.”

“What is?”

“Jars with honey for you. You whined once that it’s impossible to tell when liquid honey melts in tea, so I put some away to crystallize and make its usage more akin to white sugar.”

“Oh.” Brain shortcut. NotWednesday gambit isn’t working when NotWednesday reveals an in-character context on something Wednesday did. Something sweet that an actual Wednesday already did. Enid gets misty-eyed a bit.

Muttered Spanish. “Did I make a mistake?” 

Shoot, this stressed Wednesday. Just pull yourself together and you can act normal without brain hacks. And then bonk your head on a wall and amnesia yourself that way.

“No, that’s really thoughtful, Winny.”

“Enid.” Wednesday tenses up. Right, the nickname.

“Yeah sorry,” Enid swallows. Wednesday is still staring with heightened heartbeat. It’s hard to read her minimal expression with eyes and eyebrows covered by sunglasses. 

Enid offers her hand.

Wednesday takes it. Enid tries really hard to not put any meaning at getting to touch Wednesday so much, or get used to it, or be happy. It'd be unfair to Wednesday.

Shit, the tea. Enid drains the tea bags and puts them away. Makes a grabby motion towards honey. As she does she glances at Wednesday's tray. It’s practically untouched.

“Wednesday, why aren’t you eating?”

“You didn’t get anything.”

Oh yeah.

Between tea and getting Wenny’s food she forgot.

Enid stares at their joined hands. Looks back at Wednesday. Yep, it's still too hard to read her face. And all she can smell is food. Her mouth waters. She remembers how hungry she is. She packed a lot on Wednesday’s tray but if they’ll share she’ll probably still be hungry. Cursed wolf stomach.

“You’ll eat if I’ll get myself something?”

Wednesday turns to looking at the food. Her jaw tenses up.

“I am not hungry.”

“Nuh uh, yes you are. You haven’t eaten since yesterday and even then you only had a few licorice sticks for dinner. You need to eat. Dealing with your anger is enough. I don't need hangry. Come on, the tacos are spicy. Chop chop, get to work.”

“Fine.” Wednesday grumbles and moves her left hand to start eating. Plan fail, Enid forgot Wednesday is ambidextrous and will have to ask a bit more directly to free her hand and go. But no too directly. Wednesday could interpret it as teasing right now.

“Wednesday?”

Wednesday humms.

“I’ll just get my food and come back.”

Enid brings their joined hands up.

Wednesday lets her hand go only after a moderate staring match. As much as it is a match when Enid mostly just sees her own reflection in the glasses. 

Enid walks to stand in line for food. She tries to subconsciously keep track of Wednesday movements and gets a loading screen in her head as she also tries to think of what she wants to drink and eat at the same time. Is Wednesday not moving, what to eat, what to drink. Wednesday. Yep she’s still in the room and looking back still sitting in the same place. Drinking. Tea makes you dehydrated because of caffeine doesn't it, she needs more water. Drinking. Water tastes boring. Orange juice would be nice. But then she would want even more water. She already has tea to drink. If she’ll drink too much she won’t have space for food and get hungry again. Hungry. Food. Meat. Why did she even start wondering about choices when there are delegated werewolf meals. Which she only started eating in the past month. Right. Food. Anyway, it's such an easy food choice. Wednesday-OH NO WHY IS AJAX HERE. Her claws scratch up her tray.

As the groggy gorgon walks and notices Enid he is immediately picked up by Kent and hauled away, held over a shoulder. 

Enid speeds back with the food to the table.

Wednesday is just slowly chewing on her taco, immediately zeroing her gaze on Enid. Kent got Ajax away before he got noticed.

Enid sits down letting out a breath. Wednesday stares at her expectantly. Enid gives her a hand again. The moment their hands touch the claws recede. She squeezes it a bit too hard from the nerves. 

But the actual problem turns out to be Divina dragging Yoko into the cafeteria. Wednesday puts more force into the handhold.

“What the eff Divi!”

“She’s just here cause I need her to reenter my blood food card and we’re outta here.” The siren placates.

“It’s fine.” Monotone voice surprises everyone present.

Enid stares at Wednesday bewildered. Wednesday is still doing a death grip.

“She can stay, as long as everyone acts normal.” Wednesday adds. 

Enid sends her most threatening stare at the vampire.

“Yep, normal, so normal.” Yoko puts on a half smile as she limps backwards to get blood bags plus blood food for Divina.

Enid groans internally, the leech didn’t need encouragement to be in denial that it’s all fine. But it’s not like she can argue against a plan she’s not privy to, what with all the Spanish protected secrecy. She mindlessly draws circles with a thumb on Wednesday’s hand as she chews on bacon. More whispered Spanish. 

Divina asks for some gossip on the new fur kid for Kent. 

There's faint music coming from headphones as Wednesday unmutes them and just focuses on the food. 

“Powerwolf, really pup? I know you don’t know much or have much metal on your phone but you could’ve asked me for a recommendation.”

“Yokokoro. Speaking of your music, Siyeon is your Deuku bias right?” Enid sweetly asks as Yoko sits down.

“Yeah Enie. And Gahyeon is yours if we’re checking each other's memory.”

“I'm burning your photocards of her.” Snarls.

“No! Why! It would be weird of me if I didn’t tease you for shit.”

“Just normally for werewolf jokes that’s why.”

“I didn’t even really start fur music jokes pup, like how it's still weird that you bias Yeojin and hate the wolf girl of the group.”

“It’s not like you like Choerry cause she’s a bat.”

“First of all, you know we don’t turn into bats, second she’s a fruit bat-”

   “You’d be a fruit bat anyway babe,” Divina snorts.

“AND THEY COULD’VE HIRED AN ACTUAL WEREWOLF GIRL.” 

“Down girl, they could also finally admit that Heart Attack mv was gay as hell yet here we are and you’re still an orbit. Even when they kicked out my bias.”

“Naurrr, don’t remind me of Chuu-

“Why are you using the word ‘bias’ in such a way?” Wednesday cuts in.

Enid sucks air in. Pushes her phone further into her pocket. She’s suddenly very conscious of a Chaeryeong photocard at the back of it. With Wednesday constantly on the brink of a ‘kill rivals’ mood. Jealousy topic to add for future discussion. 

“It just means favorite in a kpop group.” Divina says.

Right, that's the easiest way to put it.

“Favorite in what criteria?” Wenny stares at Enid as she asks. Of course Wednesday digs for more information on kpop today of all days. 

“Just the one you like the most, like Machiavelly, is your favorite philosopher.” 

“I do have tangible reasons why I ‘favor’ him, Enid.” 

“Ye, ye, cause he’s the best in pessimism and stuff, but it’s not a universal good thing people look in a philosopher, and people like their kpop biases ‘cause they have a type of things they like in idols the most.”

“Like what?”

“Singing, dancing, the like.”

“ Or height if you’re Enid~” Yoko whispers under breath.

Please don’t realize that looks are one of those things. Please please please please please.

“What’s the purpose of photocards?”

Shit.

“I’ll tell you if you let me take a photo of you.”

Wednesday looks away and grumbles something in Spanish once again and Eugene writes it down. Crisis averted.

“Is having a photo of me equivalent in any way then?” Wednesday says, whipping her head back to look at Enid.

Double shit.

“Yeah, people like to have photos of people they like and idols’ job is to maintain parasocial relationships with fans.” Divina says all of sudden. Unsuspected traitor. Or is she. Maybe speaking in theoretical terms will brush Wednesday off.

Wednesday doesn’t react to Divina directly and just keeps looking at Enid.

“Yep, just some parasocial one sided connection. Just physical tokens of favoritism, since you can’t boil down singing or movement into like simple physical objects, that's all.” Enid says nervously.

“Or just ‘cause they’re attractive and you want to look at them.” Yoko wants to die today. Divina slaps her on the shoulder.

Enid screams internally and decides on a distraction. It's not even like flirting was out of the ordinary for her with Wednesday lately, even if she wasn't aware of it.

“You’re my bias out of everyone, you know, Wenny. The ultimest of biases.” Enid smiles to Wednesday. 

She can practically hear Wednesday’s brain shortcut as her heart speeds up. The smell of sandalwood that's usually always present as default with Wednesday becomes noticeable over the food the longer Enid feels gaze on her own face. When smoke showed up Enid didn't gather that wood disappeared. It used to be always at a static level since scenting. To the point that Enid doubted herself and thought that maybe Wednesday just got a new perfume for the semester. Enid squints her eyes with concentration. What would trigger it so strongly right now and why does it get replaced with the smoke- No, stop thinking. This. Isn't. Wednesday.

“Yeah, and then there are bias wreckers-

Enid tackles Yoko to the ground. 

“ Cau dy geg !” {Shut your mouth}

Wednesday doesn’t have to be the only one to hide behind a language. She put pressure on Yoko airway to make talking harder for her. She has enough of the stressors today.

“What did I do now?”

“Oh I don’t know, passively aggressively tell her that I could easily cariad someone else you coc oen ?!” Enid whisper-shouts, carefully choosing words that she remembered she taught Yoko before. Mostly for love gossip and cursing.

“Sorry, gomen, scuze, sori sori sori, ochitsuke ! Calm down! I didn’t mean to. Pleasestopchokingme.”

Enid eases up but still keeps her to the ground.

“Don’t be dramatic you don’t even need to breathe beside for talk-”

There’s a heavy hand on Enid’s shoulder.

“Enid that’s enough.” Male voice, but not deep enough to be an adult. It’s probably one of the fellow furs playing big wolf. She shrugs off his hand and gets claws out and puts them to Yoko’s chest.

“Yoko, if I’ll hear you say anything that comes close to triggering rage or jealousy-”

“Enid stop-'' boy starts again as he tries to pull Enid away but it’s not needed as Enid hears heavy platform steps and immediately changes the target of the tackle. 

Just in time to stop Wednesday from brandishing a knife and starting an actual fight.  With the force that Wednesday put in charge at the unnecessarily tall boy forces Enid to pick her up in the air for a second to stop it. It feels like hauling away a storm cloud from smiting someone with lightning.

“Effin cachiad - We’re all good. It’s fine. Nothing happened.” 

Eventually Wednesday stops fighting being held away from the teenage boy but she still stares menacingly at him, sunglasses and headphones discarded away. No matter how many knives Enid took away Wednesday had more anyway to brandish .

“You shall lose fingers for each attempt at touching her”

The guy with widen eyes scrunches his nose. He seems to be connecting the dots as he stares at Wednesday's protective stance, covering Enid's torso and neck. He's visibly trying to interpret the smells.

“You get it.” From above Wednesday's head Enid smiles toothily. And very wide. His gaze travels up to Enid's face and then falls to the ground immediately. Enid kicks down The Wolf's glee at possible acknowledgment of matehood. It's NotWednesday and all stupid feelings belong to the Wolf. This is just to discourage any fights today. 

“Yep got it.”

His eyes darted between Enid and Wednesday briefly again. Enid might have rubbed her cheek on Wednesday's head a bit as she held his gaze.

Furs avoiding them is just convenient. That's why she's playing it up. Fur’s avoidance is just convenient. Shut up Wolf, shut up, shut up, shut up.

Wednesday doesn't react to Enid tightening the hold.

“No touching ever since now, yep yep yep, I’m just gonna go.” He says as he walks away. Wednesday stays rigid until he dissapear completely.

Enid eases up her hold and puts hands on Wednesday’s ears as she looks around the table for discarded items. She feels Wednesday’s cold hands on wrists. Enid gets scared this action is how she finally overstepped but then she sees that Wednesday closed her eyes. 

Wednesday puts no force in her grip but Enid’s certain that the seer can tell that her heartbeat sped up anyway. It would be impossible for it not to at the rare sight of vulnerability. Vulnerability that shouldn’t keep happening like that.  

In the corner of lycan’s sight she sees Eugene wave headphones and sunglasses. She tries to move the hands away but Wednesday opens her eyes and holds the wrists stronger. She’s glaring.

“Enid, what was that language?”

“Uh, Welsh, like my name, tafod fy nhad , my dad’s family is celtic, but I’m not good at it or anything-”

“Don’t use it.”

“Oh so you can speak Spanish but when I do it you’re angry-” she stops at the sensation of Wednesday’s lips on her inner wrist. They linger as Wednesday closes her eyes again. 

Enid tries really hard not to faint at getting to feel the goth's lips anywhere on her body. They're cold but warmer than she expected them to be. They're so- STOP IT WOLF.

As the raven pulls away there’s a scowl on her face. As if retreating requires a big amount of focus to do so. 

“Not angry.”

Enid squeaks and barely hears it through the storm of blood that  is running though her head.

“Mhm, yep yep yep, no more Welsh.” She pushes Wednesday to sit down again.

When she sits down herself she hides her face in hands and puts it on the table.

There’s a notification sound from her phone. She anticipates Wednesday’s attempt at bricking it so she slides away before opening it. Catches Wednesday’s hand without looking.

Gayoko: you guys are so kawaii af 2gether

Enid groans.

“I’m putting surprise garlic in Divina’s food.”

“Oh come on-”

“Enid, don’t-” Divina says.

“Aw babe, finally-”

“- no need for surprises, I missed eating Italian.”

“Oh fuck you both.”

“Perhaps if Tanaka is gravely saddened by that, a deadly amount of ketamine in her blood bags would help” Wednesday muses before putting her sunglasses back on her nose. Enid guesses it's probably a clever burn on the whole drugging situation but she doesn't have any context on what drugs do what. Maybe Divina knows, perhaps it's mentioned in the Potions notes.

“Ah naaah, I’m gucci, I can survive one day without kissing, no problems, ye.”

“A week.” 

“What? No!.”

“Two weeks.”

“Why did I even get you your blood food!”

“To replenish the blood you have already fanged away. I need a break anyway. Don't be a Roman. And now it's three weeks BTW. If you’ll fix your grades fast enough I’ll think about not extending it to a month.”

“Yes ma’am.” Yoko grumbles and sips on her blood and Enid laughs both at her indignation plus cause she remembered Roman's getting his shit kicked for assuming that his boyfriend being prescripted testosterone would be enough of a substitute for blood food. Quoting the HRT side effect of 'having too much blood' didn't help him much. All vampires seem to assume way too much about the human body.

Divina takes out some papers and gives them to Wednesday.

“These are the recipes she used, and I sent pics of her notes and recollection of what she mixed to Enid. I'll have everything transcribed to a Google Doc as Yoko should've done in the first place.”

"Ye, ye in a Comic Sans I know."

Wednesday wordlessly takes them and reads. Enid lets her hand go to try to let her eat with the other hand but Wednesday refuses and interlocks their fingers.

Enid makes peace with the fact that her left hand no longer belongs to her and just scarfs down on her own food. And gulps on the lukewarm tea. Ew, unmelted honey stuck to the bottom of the cup again. She washes down the sticky texture with water.

“Wednesday, how's your hangover?” a tall brunette boy with stupid long hair towers behind them.

When he gets no answers he moves his hand as if to touch Wednesday's shoulder.

“Xaaaavieeer.” Enid stops him.

“Uh hi Enid.”

“Get lost.” 

“I guess you drank too much yesterday too huh.” Xavier dismisses her, as he throws back his lame brown hair back. Seriously, you're an artist, how can you stand wearing such a boring color at all times. At least put it in something more imaginative than a half up half down ponytail for once. Maybe if she'll creatively cut of parts of it for daring to touch Wednesday he'll decide to do something more creative with it too. Maybe if she'll give him scars on the scalp he'll be forced to.

“Hopeless romantics are banned today. I wouldn't try in your place.” Eugene chimes in.

“And who are you?”

Eugene looks hurt.

“Someone who knows not to warn a telekinetic before shooting a projectile at them.” Genie grumbles.

Wednesday snorts. 

Eugene and Enid look bewildered at her in tandem.

“That’s uncalled for.” Xavier whines.

Wednesday taps Eugene’s shoulder and whispers something. Eugene blinks at her a few times before addressing Xavier again.

“The difference between your opinion and my pizza is that I asked for my p-pizza.”

Wednesday snorts louder. Enid’s eyes go wider at the sound. She wonders if she will get to see Wednesday smile with the next one.

Xavier looks taken aback. “What’s happening?”

“Wednesday only speaks directly to me or Enid today, she’s not paying real attention to anyone else.”

“And you’re not worth a sheep’s fart.” Enid ads in her own silly insult.

Wednesday covers her mouth so as to not let out a laugh, or maybe a giggle. Enid is transfixed. 

“ Con esa cara - With that face not even a tea kettle would whistle at you.” Eugene gets embolden.

Wednesday is breathing harshly through her nose. Enid really wants her to drop the hand. Is she smiling behind it?

Xavier leaves angry.

Eugene asks Wednesday something very slowly and stuttery and Wednesday nods yes or no a few times at each question. Eugene notes whatever he figured out down.

Enid gets down from bewilderment ride. The day already feels like it's been going on forever. Enid stares into space blankly. She ignores Yoko and Divina's looks. The rollercoaster of emotions took her out. She barely notices that Wednesday put her head on her shoulder.

Right, if it was too much for her how drained does Wednesday feel. She has a surprising amount of control considering everything.

“I’m shocked you haven't been threatening people more.”

Wednesday doesn’t answer. Enid pokes her lightly. Just a soft hum.

Enid waves a hand in front of her face.

Nothing.

Shit.

“Eugene?”

“Oh she uh” he consults his notes “any times she got angry she just imagined  new torture techniques dedicated to you mother.”

“What, why, how- wait, I'm allowed to know?”

“She hates your mom openly so that’s fine, um, so far she told me the number is 72 and, why is cause she won’t be able to act on them… for now at least. So it's safe to think about.”

“Uh huh”

“I mean she also- ah, wait.” Eugene texts something.

Enid looks at her phone.

Beeboy: There’s a clause named “Enid is allowed whatever she wishes for” 

Beeboy: but i imagine you dont want to use it much 

Enid swallows. Knowing that totes isn’t stressful or anything. Totes fine to get free reign over delirious Wednesday. 

“Yep I don't, but is there something on what to do when she is k.o. like this?”

Eugene blinks and stares at Wednesday for a hot second.

“Ah.”

“Yeah.”

“Well she mentioned hibernating in a… isolated… space?”

“A coffin would be her speed wouldn’t it.” Yoko comments.

Enid stares at her quizzically.

“There are some offered by the school to fangs instead of beds but I got a bed since ya know, sleep overs. They’re pretty bitchin 'soundproof since we don’t need air but should be good enough for a nap.”

Enid squints at her for a moment. Then smiles widely.

“Awww Yoko~”

“I just, I mean Addams would prob love to steal-... I’m gonna have to get you that coffin aint I.”

Enid just bares her teeth in the smile.

Enid uses her special privileges only to commit a sin she is already guilty of and bridal carries Wednesday to her bed for Thing’s supervision, before embarking on a quest of taking away Yoko’s sleeping arrangement. Yoko can argue with Bianca about sleeping in her and Divina’s dorm. 

Yoko does her paperwork while grumbling the whole time.

School coffins are a mix of simple and complicated contractions. Luckily (logically) none of them bear a cross but somehow it still takes awhile to find a coffin both black and with minimal padding. As she hauls it on her shoulder she gets a text from Thing to come back so she tries to be quick.

Another message notification. 

[Tell her to not drug herself] 

She calls Wednesday.

“Wenny?”

“Who are you and what did you do to Enid?”

“It’s just me, your roommate, Wenny, what are you doing?”

“Enid doesn’t call me in Nevermore, she just finds me. Tell me where she is and what you did to her so I may plan appropriate vengeance.”

“Winny, it’s an emergency.”

“Nooo, it is not night. Furthermore she is too preoccupied with her inane social clubs to be sleeping and have a night terror.”

“Wenny I don’t have clubs today.”

“Utterly weak deception, I know her ridiculous schedule.”

“She- I! I’m hungover! And skipping clubs to take care of you, you goof.”

“No, you are not. You left. Again. …Am I still sleeping? Ah, I was planning on getting a sleep aid because of these ludicrous dreams. Have I consumed it already?”

Truth isn’t working. What Would Wednesday Do?

“Wenny, no dru- yeah you did, you’re dreaming and I’m gonna come back if you’ll stay in bed and do nothing.”

“You will not. You never do. My mind is spinning a new web of cruelty now, taunting me with your voice and unachievable promise, lulling me into a false sense of security just to envelop me into a deadly cocoon and cannibalize on its own pain.”

“If i’ll keep talking to you, will you stay in place?”

“ Como quieras .”

“I’m gonna assume that’s a yes, okay so, Loona's concept started as a ridicoulously expensive marketing idea..."

-

There's a soft thud as she enters the dorm. Enid puts the coffin down and glances at Wednesday’s side. 

“Enid?”

She sees Wednesday scrambling to her feet from the ground next to her bed. 

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“That’s new.” Wednesday says in a strange tone as she sits down on bed.

There's a faint biting smell of smoke.

“You’re not dreaming Wednesday.” Enid walks up to Wednesday and offers her hand. Wednesday ignores it and just keeps glaring from bed.

“I’ve concluded as such. You wouldn’t be here otherwise. What is the coffin doing here? I do not recall killing anyone. And it’s in too pristine condition to ever be in the ground before.”

“I got it for you-

“You’ve gone too ahead in advances, stating your intentions first is the appropriate and expected commence of courtship-”

“-to nap in!”

Wednesday grimaces at the uptick in volume. Seems to be contemplating something as she lays in the bed. 

“Dreadful gesture. Although incorrect at the moment.”

Enid pouts in confusion as she kneels next to the bed.

“What would be the correct thing right now then?

Wednesday slowly blinks at her.

“You.”

Enid’s eyebrows shoot up her forehead. 

“I mean, how do you usually recharge?”

Wednesday looks at her as if she said the stupidest thing imaginable.

No answer.

She couldn’t sleep, refuses to use the coffin for now.

“Do I have something to do with your nightmares, Winny?”

Wednesday tenses up and looks away. 

“Why do you insist on calling me that anyway?”

“Wow, smooth topic change.”

“It is still two syllables in the end. Noone else feels the need to modify my name.”

More like everyone else is too scared to.

Enid sighs.

“Cause it’s cute and sweet.”

“I am no such thing and I despise all things saccharine.”

“First of all, you like honey, secundo, I’m cute so Id like exclusive rights to have a cute nickname for you from me, third you like me so. It’s not like your family doesn't have nicknames for you.”

“... you’re honey.”

Enid feels her face heating up again. Nervous giggle builds up in her throat.

Wednesday continues. “Hmm, no, calling you that just reminds me of Eugene.”

“Uh huh.”

“Loba, loba pequena, lobita…Puppy?”

The nervous giggle bubbles out. Almost followed by a screech. The Wolf liked that way too much.

“No, the leech already calls you that, hmmm.” 

Enid gets a way out, to have better chance at acting normal around her crush without her calling that. Plus to avoid the embarassment of permitting it at all.

So of course she beefs it.

“Well, technically she doesn’t.”

Wednesday narrows her eyes.

“She and Divina call me pup, as in a baby bat.”

She gets a blink of acknowledgement in response before another confused glare.

“It was like a whole thing about me not hanging out with furs and hanging with Yoko instead, it was actually Div’s idea- anyway, tangent timeout, sleepy time topic comeback Wenny. Me and your dreams, what’s up with that?”

Wednesday closes her eyes for a few seconds. 

“Stop asking.”

“I guess I won’t get an explanation today huh.”

“To sleep I need… you to act as chains.”

“Huh?”

Wednesday captures Enid’s hand and tries to tug her into bed.

“In the manor I have chainmail for sleeping which I cannot use during winter. Metal is a poor heat conductor and when I require aid to sleep it means I also have weak control over body heat.”

“Oh.”

Of course Wednesday Addams can’t have a normal weighted blanket. And of course she needs someone to lay on her as she sleeps like a heat deprived kitten. Enid should get started on crocheting a black cat plush. Or maybe two. One for Wednesday and one to remind herself of Wednesday.

"So, you want me as your… winter chains." Enid swallows a giggle. She knows it inappropriate to think about that per their agreement but the whole situation plus mention of medieval inventions mixed in with a request for cuddling is reminding her of a synonym for the cold seasons.

"What’s humorous about that, puppy?"

Enid squeaks. She kicks the Wolf repeteadly.

"I'll explain when you tell me about your dreams."

"That’s coercion." Wednesday grumbles. But her expression quickly changes as Enid slowly gets into bed.

"Nuh huh, I told you about mine so, kwi pro kvo or something like that. You're the one being unfair as I'm trying to help you actually. Totes unfair. On that note, close your eyes and have dreadful nightmares now." Enid tries to convince herself more than Wednesday as she maneuvers herself on the bed, trying really hard not to die of happiness. 

Enid slips in under Wednesday’s usual crossing of arms and into a comfortable position laying on the smaller girl. She tries to figure out a best way to impose all of her lycan weight (and not to think about Wednesday tensing when she slotted their hips together).

This is just to help Wednesday and in no way for her own benefit. Nuh huh. Wenny just needs help sleeping. It's not even close to the situation last night. Then she was drunk and Wednesday wasn't speaking in the unknown state of mind that she was in but now she's painfully sober, Wednesday verbally asks for it and technically she also has written permission. Presumably in Spanish. Which she's not taking advantage of since the situation is crystal clear: Wednesday had a nightmare and wants a scientifically proven strategy to help, totes in character for her.

 Helping which… doesn't seem to be working yet since despite slow breaths and seemingly low heartbeat the smoke smell didn't fully dissipate and only has added a whiff of chili peppers which she still cannot figure out what is it the signal for.

Enid thinks on this while waiting for Wednesday’s body to relax under her weight. After a few long moments of waiting, it is still fruitless.

Wednesday’s heart seems strange to Enid at the moment. Hearing and recognizing heartbeats is a bit like footsteps in a way. Everyone has their own unique brand of it but it takes practice to tell them apart and even more to be able to read more information out of minute changes. There were levels to this.

On how to tell who's outside her room.

And why they're coming.

To tell if mother's predatory steps are coming for a routine check or furiously heavy stepping to look for fight. 

And when someone's in a heightened state of emotions, stepping fast, there's a difference between running, or excitedly dancing.

Wednesday’s heartbeat is slow, which is her norm, but the tempo of it is as natural as a waltz.

Extremely careful, practiced and in no way ready to rest.

"Could you please chill out Wens."

Wednesday’s arms tense up even more around Enid.

"That’s the opposite of what your function-"

"Relax."

The only improvement from that is softening of the rigid muscles.

Enid takes all the information in. The circumstances. Remembers her own nightmares. Wednesday’s words on the phone.

Maybe she won't need Wednesday to spell out the details of her nightmares to know what they're about.

She takes a big breath and attempts the most soothing tone she can.

"I'm here Wenny. I'm not going anywhere."

Wednesday’s arm clutch around her. There's a tiny spontaneous jump in her heartbeat.

 "I won't leave. Please rest."

Alongside the heart, Wednesday’s breath picks up on a quicker cadence. 

"And whenever we'll part I'll always come back."

When the smaller girl takes on a singular deep breath all tense smells disappear. The smoke only momentarily transitions into sandalwood. This time when her arms relax it is in accordance with all of her muscles, including the most important one.

By being so close together Enid can taste the mint in the back of throat when it appears in the air. The werewolf tries to calm her own heart to get as close to seer's brachycardia. She tries to think of nothing and take a nap too.

(Protect protect protect.)

Chapter Text

Once long ago a scorned family ghost attempted to possess the eldest child of the Addams house. 

They survived all 47 seconds. 

That’s how long it took them to decide that between the choice of having no body or Wednesday’s body, having no body was the more fortunate circumstance. Not even the promise of experiencing life again was worth the complete agony of experiencing it through the physique of one Wednesday Friday Addams. 

Constantly freezing body, unblinking eyes, migraine inducing braids, achingly rigid muscles, pigment allergies and neurons that interpret nearly all stimuli as pain. Her body was a temple that would comfortably house solely the god of discomfort. If only Wednesday were capable of tolerating emotions she’d be worthy of this divine title. At least most of the time her own emotions were too out of reach of comprehension to really matter.

Nevertheless she reveled in the physical attributes she was gifted.  Sensitive senses were advantageous, her posture was perfect, her stare intimidating, faking rigor mortis was fun, the force she could flex her muscles with relaxing. The precision at which she could move or still her body was something any surgeon would envy her. The pain of even remotely stretching her shortened tendons was exhilarating. Achieving near absolute control over all of her flesh was satisfying.

For poisons she didn’t have inherent immunity she developed a practiced one and she taught herself to fall asleep for a set time on command as well as control over her heart.

In the instance of losing all control not even her masochism could outweigh the absolute agony of experiencing everything through a warped reality of an intensifier of emotions. 

It’s certainly strange that the loud, touchy, lycan embodiment of eye strain and trigger for her color allergies is her best bet on survival. Extremely illogical. But she hasn't found a spell for logic enhancing the world around no matter how hard she tries. At least it made it so she isn’t desperate enough to call her parents for help. To keep it so, finding the cure wasn’t as important as what she’s supposed to do at the resolution. That is the deadline at dealing with accidental confession. Prospect of pathetically dropping dead from nothing and becoming a ghost is less horrifying by a magnitude. 

From data gathered all signs point to possible insanity from heartbreak. Even as new forms of control were discovered: inventing torture methods, listing out bones by their breakability, playing out repertoires of music mentally, blasting metal directly into eardrums — all of this devolved into vivid daydreams of Enid teeth and nails and simple brute strength. Bloody fangs sinking into Wednesday’s skin, claws tearing flesh, hands snapping limbs. By teeth that were mostly shown in bright smiles, with fingernails painted in garish colors and hands that would only be carefully holding hands. Born killer foiled. Arrant and complete horror. Sweet torture that would never cross the line of oblivion on purpose. 

En masse inconvenient type of madness. Becoming a lovesick fool would debilitate her writing schedule. Unacceptable. Neither would be an attempt of getting rid of the feelings by way of memory alteration. Mere thought of forgetting Enid made her feel hollow. 

Regret?

Grief. 

The grief would outlast the magic. The annoying truth potion whispers were impossible to ignore. 

Wednesday never paid the rules of courting mind. She was too sick of her parents' distasteful behavior to care. She mechanically remembers the traditional rules of wooing an Addams but adhering to tradition was only slightly less aggravating than the fact that she already broke the promise to her mother. Neither Enid seemes the type to adhere to wolf courting rituals. A girl that’s skeeved by taxidermy wouldn't appreciate a hunt in her name. Unless presented only with meat that is already cured. Wednesday cursed her past disinterested in learning cooking beyond the most basic.

Alas the object of her affections forbade murder of any kind. Something that Wednesday is trained in best. If only Enid asked her to kill. Everything would be easier. And yet the lack of clear rules made the whole affair an impossible puzzle. And the one clear way that Enid preferred affection Wednesday has already exhausted by offering the highest touching privileges.

 What even is romance, really? 

Delegating a singular language for its expression? No, Wednesday resents too strongly her father’s lack of real conversational skills in Italian affecting her own practice. As much as crowds of native speakers slapping him in indignation anytime he spoke were amusing it deterred her from trying herself. People already misunderstood her wilfully and the last thing she wants is giving more ammunition for assuming her feelings. So she kept her Italian proficiency to reading and listening primarily. At least mother never damaged her French even if her husband’s reactions should’ve motivated her to limit it in Wednesday’s opinion. Wednesday’s childhood was filled with French when her father was working. Wednesday switching to Spanish whenever he came back. English staying as comforting neutrality. Spanish seemed to anger Enid anyway.

Enid’s knowledge of a tongue that barely half a million people in the world spoke was more of a thrilling challenge than inspiration for arresting desire.

Is Enid Sinclair more of a horror or a thrill?

Time? Wednesday’s schedule was already dominated by Enid somehow.

Gifts? Wednesday knew the basics of Enid likes, however dismally most of them would involve colors that were too blinding for Wednesday to discern quality. Guessing incorrectly would be devastating as it would be impossible to learn from going forward. And the werewolf supplied herself with enough snacks to last a lifetime, anything more would be wasteful as she already undercut Eugene from arranging her honey. Best bet would be to ask Enid to compile a list of specific wishes. Which would take away the surprise factor that the werewolf adored. 

Art? Could she trust Enid to take away the intended reading if she were to write something? Would it be taking Enid’s understanding for granted? Or would she complain as she does with the cello? 

Wednesday regrets not paying more attention to the romantic tropes when watching Enid’s atrocious movies. Some of them were terrifyingly colorful - why was that similar somehow and yet felt more right than - but others were boringly droll. All she remembers is that every rain scene was ruined by the characters kissing out of nowhere. And also there was a guy threatening suicide once, but that was the only highlight of that one since he never followed through, or so she was told since she fell asleep promptly after Enid confirmed that he wouldn’t. Somehow Enid didn't mind her falling asleep.

She considered briefly buying more time before confrontation to gather a dossier and learn more attractive skills by erasing the whole affair from the werewolf’s mind. Perhaps manufacture consent by lying that she wished for it to never happen simply cause despite feelings she desires no relationship and for it to not affect their friendship. She found many flaws with that instantaneously, the main one being that lies like that are one of things that did alienate her from the wolf that didn’t mind her other social failings. 

She can never have a repeat of that. 

NEVER.

Secondly, that proper confession might trigger memories back anyway. Thirdly the risk of Enid forgetting all of Wednesday. The same as the worst.

Fourthly father might duel her for breaking the courtship rules. Barely a flaw as it depends if she spins good enough the fact that Enid technically knows of her feelings and just doesn't remember. Barely a flaw since she'd win but his dramatics would be irritating enough nonetheless.

Delaying the cure it is. Enid’s undivided attention and care made the whole thing more bearable as much as providing a case for delay. 

Exactly as Wednesday is delaying waking up the dozing werewolf on top of her. Enid never likes her rest being interrupted.

“Thing.”

He taps at ready. Enid sighs into Wednesday’s ear. Ice in veins. No, she feels absolutely nothing about that.

She simply chooses to be quieter.

[BRING. T. R. I. A. M. C. I. N. O. L. O. N. E.] Wednesday signs.

The hand scooters away before she’s finished fingerspelling to bring her the cream for red blemishes that already showed up on her hands from clutching Enid’s shirt.

Even without a cause Enid stirs and realignates herself half on her side, half across Wednesday, trapping one of Wednesday’s arms. Heat of her body is simply nearby instead of oppressing.

Maybe death from an allergic reaction is what’s best right now. Since Enid wouldn’t agree to finishing her off consciously.

Thing comes back both with a cream and antihistamines pills. Suitable initiative. She should-. 

She-.

If what she’s feeling is then gratitude she should thank him.

Thing curtsies in response. [Anything else?]

Wednesday tries to free her arm to sign better and to sit up to swallow the pills but Enid’s whine cuts Wednesday deeply. Hot and tortuorous. 

Wednesday considers asking Thing to end her misery. 

[Bring her up as you sit up.] Thing sign taps.

Wednesday’s mouth dries up. Putting hands on Enid is- 

Fear? 

Anxiety?

Apprehension?

Timidity?

Why are the spiders in her gut more bloodthirsty exactly?

The moment she welcomes Liar’s Antidote intrusion on her mind it’s usefulness seems to debilitate. Not even magic can detangle the knots of her emotions and be of any use. Not even when they are on a wide and flexible rope. Why would the potion make the whipping any less painful? Magic was less helpful than a bumbling werewolf on both stopping the lashing and detangling its instrument.

Werewolf that vast majority of time were the one starting any skin contact. Hugs hugs, so many hugs, crushing bones-

Vivaldi's Spring.

Focus.

If anything goes wrong, Thing is gonna pay for it. It was his idea. 

Wednesday reaches with aching hands and brings the blonde to her lap as she sits up. Enid just humms as she sleepily makes herself comfortable. As if Wednesday’s lap could be comfortable. 

Could it be? No, that's impossible. Why would Enid enjoy sleeping on her?

Apparently the puppy can sleep anywhere. 

Wednesday swallows her pills, covers her hands in medicine and as she waits for it to dry she hopes Enid hasn't changed her hair dye from the newest vegan one and possibly left angry red marks on the neck. It would upset her to be the cause of an allergic reaction. Usually their contact is never long enough for it to matter. 

[NOTEBOOK AND PEN.] She signs to the living appendage. He seems to be stopping himself from expressing something smugly before he scurries away and back.

“Wen- hmmm.”

Wednesday freezes. Since when Enid sleeptalks beyond growling?

“Enid?”

“Mhm.”

“May I record myself talking?”

“Mmmm, may… stay? Sleepy”

“I’ll stay.”

“Kay…”

“¿Este sonido es aceptable para ti? {Is this sound acceptable to you?}

“Mhm.” Enid curls up closer and noses at her neck.

That’s-

Fear again?

Timidity?

Bloodlust???

What is it?!

In the name of Lucifer.

Maybe Enid will allow some light vampire staking. Just slight.

Wednesday looks up at the ceiling. Any interpretation of Enid's reaction eludes her. 

“ Talk .” Enid’s voice is breathy and tickles Wednesday’s ear.

Every muscle fiber below Wednesday’s waist just flexes. She mechanically discerns that her heartbeat is up. She would’ve complied if her throat didn’t close up.

“Mmm chili.” What’s making Enid think of food all of a sudden?

“Trae el dictáfono y un cuchillo para apuñalarme.” {Bring the dictaphone and a knife to stab me}

Thing thinks himself funny as he brings Enid’s stage knife. 

But Enid seems content as she listens obliviously to a report on her own tastes. With an amended part on Spanish. She should ask about the meaning of Enid’s name. That opens up revenue for pet names. 

And Wednesday finds a knife under a pillow to throw at Thing.

Fifteen minutes into both the written and monologued treatise on Enid’s scars the situation implodes. 

By way of Enid’s cellphone playing ‘Wicked Witch of the West’. 

Enid's cellular device that has taken a vow of silence except for one number.

Esther Sinclair.

Even when freshly woken up, Enid’s reflexes concerning the song win against any revenge plans on Wednesday’s part. She gets to the phone first and stands up on a chair to pick up the call with one hand of unsheathed claws motioning stop at Wednesday. This in no way deters Wednesday. The ultimate offender is in reach. She doesn’t need a potion to recognize her own emotions right now. It's her favorite one.

“Hi- hello mom.”

Wednesday calculates how to climb the chair too while keeping balance and not tripping Enid up. Just to impart a few words to the sanctimonious bitch that always makes Enid cry by the end of the call. Cry and cover up her devastating scars.

Enid looks around and motions to Thing to get her her wireless earphones.

“No, no, I told you- i don't have too many- they were just canceled so I went back to sleep.- But you said yourself that naps are normal fur- yes mom.”

As Wednesday jumps up Enid’s already gone from the chair and picks up the things from Thing. 

But she didn’t connected them yet and isn't holding up the device so Wednesday can just-

Enid redirects Wednesday's lunge and puts her into a headlock. She swiftly connects the phone, throws it away and then covers Wednesday’s mouth with her hand, the other still doing a headlock.

“No I just ran to close the window before the wind will do it loudly-”

Wednesday breathes harshly, she feels sizzling, roaring furious rage going through her body. Silver needles with silver thread, wolfsbane eye drops, wolfsbane nasal spray.

“I wolfed out normally, no fights- what? There’s no new rules on asserting-,”

Enid changes the hold to clutching her tightly with one hand. Mentally Wednesday starts going through Metallica songs.

“It's just that I got over it okay? Month of lived evidence that everyone survived and I’m all good-”

Clavicle, humerus, radius, ulna-

“No I don’t need to see you new popular lycan therapist- why would I if I was okay without seeing him all break?”

Him? Who?! Wednesday tries to ply away the hand to ask.

Enid readjusts the hand on the mouth. Enid’s hands. Sharp claws. Soft fingers. In reach. Sharp teeth. Lips touching a hand. Ring finger and middle finger. Ring and middle. Ring. Middle. Ring. Ring. Ring.

 “If I weren’t okay I would have already bitten him and you can ask Duncan to get him to check if he has a mark-”

Bite mark?

Wednesday bites down and feels her spine go rigid. As everything washes away and goes dark she faintly remembers that visions are dictated by emotions.

At first she's in a forest and it's dark despite the red hue from the sky.

Someone's running and running and running until they trip.

The successive groans rooted not in pain from falling but bones snapping.

The look on their face is of shock and surprise. 

As they transform the surroundings bend and stretch and change into a bedroom illuminated by a normal moon this time. Claws lash out at everything destroying the bedding. 

The werewolf cries.

Angry tears streaming down a scarred face. The face is human now and oh so beautiful. 

"I'm not in mate distress over Ajax!"

Unintelligible yells from an angry figure. 

"No, of course it couldn't be trauma, cause you fought a serial killer on your first moon too!"

The figure raises a hand and Enid flinches.

"Fine I won't talk to him at all, you can make sure of that by monitoring my every move outside of the house as always."

She runs back to the bedroom and when she closes the door it's night again and it's so dark  and she's on her knees on the floor having trouble picking up the phone with furry hands.

When earlier her mother had no voice now the room is filled with it. Demeaning remarks. Comments on image. Ridicules of mannerism. 

When the phone works it cuts through all of that noise.

Even though the sounds from the call are subdued and echoey, Wednesday knows their content. She was on the other side of that call.

And another one.

And next one.

Different nights, same routine. Nightmares that Wednesday knows were about her. Enid wolfing out when she shouldn't be able to. Enid calming down and transforming back from Wednesday’s voice.

Wednesday wants to be out of the vision when Enid accidentally slashes herself close to the full moon. It's nauseating.

There's a note over the bed as the blond cry chokes.

WENNY, IF YA SEIZURE TELEPORTED HERE YOUR A DUMBASS :P

Mirthless laughter takes Wednesday out.

Chapter Text

" I'm not gonna be like other furs , here you effin go, first late bloomer and fighting a Hyde, non fading scars and now accidental mating bite and immediate seizure, why the heck not, why not why not why not, THING WHAT IF SHE KEEPS SEIZING?"

Thing taps her reassuringly on her shoulder.

Enid takes deep breaths as she keeps cradling Wednesday to her chest and swaying on her knees back and forth. She wouldn't be able to let go even if she wanted to. The need to touch grown impossibly. Best she can do is suppress the want to bite as she tries to ignore looking at teeth marks on her left ring finger.

Hurt mate. Protect mate. Touch mate. Now now now.

How would scrambled emotions affect a seer in vision? Could it get more dangerous? Is she gonna get stuck in bad memories and possible bad futures? Is Winny's visions gonna get unreliable and become useless in her investigations? Even reliable bad omens oracles  ended badly in stories, how worse could unreliable ones end up?

Enid is stupid, she should've refrained from any touch. Touch triggers visions, Wednesday avoids touch, easy logic, why did she tempted fate? Wasted hounding Xavier and the library for seer lore, why did she forsaken her touching Wednesday rules??? Hugs only after asking, no touching when either party is upset, spontaneous touch only over clothes or when it's certain she can help the situation with it, like muffling sounds.

 She shouldn't have answered the call at all. Or Wednesday shouldn’t have bitten her but it’s impossible to control what Wednesday does.

If her theory that breaking the emotional cue for visions can interrupt them failed, she's gonna maul Xavier just on principle. Hiding from Wednesday during her visit the dozens of notes she wrote that she completely forgot where she put in her room was stressful enough. Winny didn't need to see any more of her wolfing out or family drama. Xavier can be the anger target anytime.

Or maybe mating bite being the trigger means their bond will end tragically.

No, no, no, no, stop thinking about it you can't be upset. No wolf wailing.

Enid barely realizes that Wednesday is hugging her back.

She fights the urge to cry.

"Enid why can I tell that returning the hug only worsened your emotional state?"

Being a werewolf officially sucks.

Touch touch touch mate. More touch now.

Enid hides her face in Wednesday's neck.

“Did Esther say something again?”

Enid almost laughs bitterly. The werewolf ended the call the moment she got bit and just ignored the angry callbacks. Thing texted 'roomate medical emergency' for her without being asked to do so.

“No.”

“What is happening to me?”

"It  tha bite, mate bond" she tries to mumble it and hopes it won't get heard.

"Enid."

Upset mate bad.

Enid whines.

"You didn’t know you were gonna wolf out."

So she went to the past. Mate knows.

Enid just nods against the pretty neck.

"You wolfed out cause I was in danger." 

Of course she did!

"And then kept trying to wolf out whenever your mind tricked you into thinking I'm in danger again."

Smart mate. Stupid mate-r.

"You needed me around to wolf out properly the second time didn't you."

This is getting embarrassing. 

Wednesday starts playing with Enid’s hair.

Nevermind, it's okay.

"What I am lost on is how my teeth even managed to pierce your skin."

Cause Enid kept up mating rituals like a fucking idiot.

"What was that again?"

Oh goddess.

"You were supposed to get better first." Enid can hear herself whine. Now she has to remember to cancel the 'Surprise I imprinted on you and other risks of letting a gay fur disaster wear you down into a friendship' event reminder from her phone. Goddess she’s pathetic.

Wednesday's hand changes to scratching Enid at the base of her skull.

She's fine actually.

Head empty. Only gay thoughts.

Kiss mate?

No, no. No kissing.

Enid rubs her face on mate’s neck.

"Enid."

Oh yeah they are talking.

"Cause I scented you. Like a lot."

"How-"

"Cause mate distress is a bitch and mate bonding can be a long process and I also liked how your emotions smell okay! How would I know you wouldn’t follow the basic rule of not biting werewolves!"

If not for the bonding Winny would've had to say goodbye to her human grade teeth and jaw. Just crushed into nothingness from trying.

Congrats, you get super feelings served with extra empathy now. Bone apple teeth.

"Are there no treatments for the… mate distress?"

"I didn't want 'em.” 

"You just called mate distress a pejorative."

"If broken, the bond can't happen again."

"You can't have a different mate?"

"I can, I just don't want a different one."

Wednesday’s hand stills. WHY?

"You lied."

NO REASON TO STOP!

"I didn't! I told you scenting will help me with anxiety and pack stuff and it did!"

"You didn't tell me."

"Oh right, sure, Wednesday I know that I have a kinda boyfriend and I just mauled the guy you only went on a date with cause you missed me and didn't know how to fucking apologize and we're going homes but I think I'm bonded to you so let's date. You would take that so well. Great idea."

Wednesday went rigid. Enid regrets talking.

"Winny?" 

Wednesday scrambles away. Enid lets her.

"You knew." Nauseating artificial sweetener from the air is gagging.

"No, no, no I was just guessing right now. I'm sorry, okay. I didn't know until today I swear, the bond only means there's a definite chance for feelings and I wasn't even sure of the bonding until scenting."

Upset mate. Bad bad bad bad bad.

"Laurel knew, so Tyler knew."

Smoke. 

"What?"

"You made solace unbearable and she knew so she told him and he exploited that and, I kept thinking about you during that damn movie and Thing almost died. Thing almost died because an enemy knew my affections before me." Wednesday didn't seem capable of hyperventilating until now. Or to ramble.

Comfort mate. But she moved away from touch! No touching!

"Wednesday, I hated kissing Ajax and after our fight I cried my eyes out and missed you and kept hoping for an apology and came back without it and I still didn't know about mine, it's not some awful failure just reg denial. I shouldn't have said that I was just defensive. It's not your fault."

"Thing died because of me." Tears well up in Wednesday's eyes.

Wednesday is never supposed to cry. Enid doesn’t know what to do.

“Thing?”

Thing crawls onto a balled up Wednesday and slaps her. 

The surprise at the audacity seems to take Wednesday out of her funk for a moment.

[My fault.]

"I was a fool and you died."

[I was a fool for pushing you to Tyler first.] Enid can’t agree more. 

[ I'm sorry. We're both fools for not thinking of Enid first.] Yeah that too.

 [But my safety, my fault.] Wait Thing, no, it's all evil's botany teacher fault. And Tyler's. Especially Tyler's.

He brushes off a stray tear.

[I shouldn't have meddled and I won't again, I won't mention anything to your parents about Enid.]

Wednesday takes a last sniffle and lays down fully on the floor.

"Liar. You will and you'll pay for it"

Thing curls up in fake outrage.

[How would I snitch if I won't see anything.] He dramatically walks away to hide under his makeshift bed on Enid's side.

Enid didn't notice she shuffled herself next to the goth.

Comfort mate. No touch!

But Enid’s hunger to touch starts roaring too loudly. She clamps her hands behind her.

Wednesday looks at her for seconds that last years. She brings her hand up.

When Enid takes a haggard breath the evil sugar of despair is gone. The emotional swings from the potion sure are a lot.

"Your desire to touch is a lot." 

Oh.

After blinking once Enid sees her own hand in Wednesday’s all of a sudden. The claws recede. Enid didn't realize when they came out in the first place. Wednesday directs the hand just under the hem of her dark shirt, on her stomach. Her dark eyes are surrounded by a bit of red. Some evil voice in the back of the wolfgirl's head yells that vulnerability is hot and that she should jump on the privilege of being the only one ever seeing her like that.

If Enid had an angel and a devil on her shoulders they'd be in a heated wrestling match right now, truly. Being a werewolf sucks.

Soft skin. Cold skin. Heats up under touch. Enid wants to spread warmth across it.

Instead she sucks in a breath and tries to put all of her mental willpower on not moving. But that just makes her lungs go hot from the painful smell.

"No tape, puppy." Enid's happy she can’t just sprout furry ears or tail or she’d flap them embarrassingly. Wednesday’s gotta stop expressing eradication of boundaries.

Wednesday’s emotions are heavily influenced by Enid's right now which means- oh goddess she's never gonna lose that association with spicy food.

"This is a bad idea." She hisses as she pinches herself to get rid of the feeling. If that won't work she'll drive claws into her own thigh and- yep, the thought of blood immediately takes her out of the mood.

"You get the scent of emotion while I get yours directly. It is unfair. I'd prefer to be using my olfactory senses for recognition." Wednesday sounds petulant. She finally breaks eye contact and looks at the ceiling instead. The smell mellows out.

"Don't bite a werewolf dumbass."

"Bite me."

"Nonononononono, nope, nuh huh, nein, non, no way."

"Do something." Wednesday's voice is hoarse.

Enid whines. She rolls up the sleeves of her colorful shirt and tugs Wednesday to sit up. And then to sit on Enid's lap.

Enid directs Wednesday to hug her neck and brings her own hands to hug while touching her mate's back directly. ONLY BACK. AND NO MOVING.

Wednesday starts playing with her hair again.

So much sandalwood.

There's still an appetite for more.

She starts rocking them from side to side.

"Would kissing help?"

Yes yes yes yes yes-

"We're not doing that."

No moving hands. No biting. No kissing. No moving hands. No biting. No kissing. No moving hands. No biting. No kissing. No moving hands. No biting. No kissing. No moving hands. No biting. No kissing.

"Why not"

"Do you actually want to?"

She can do it if mate wants it really badly. Whenever forever.

"I'm permitting it."

This aint it chief.

"Nuh huh, you're not allowed to kiss me just to comfort me, or just cause I want to. Never ever."

"So you want to?"

"I don't want our first kiss to be just 'cause I'm losing my mind from the mating bite and it affecting my drugged mate. That would suck. Nuh huh, can't have that. It should be at least kinda good. Wanna one normal step in this mess."

Right now would be a sad first kiss.

"Did we have an abnormal first date?"

Oh come on!

"We didn't have one yet! I would've told you!"

"So movie nights weren't dates."

"Theycanstartifyouwanto."

"So you were just friendly last month."

"I- yesn't? I was just trying- okay so I was flirting with you and stuff yes, but it was so you'd get comfy with romantic stuff for when you realize how stupidly into you I am."

"You were… seducing me?"

"That’s a strong word." 

"Scenting isn't a strong sign?"

"You're awful."

"What if I hadn't realized? How many romantic gestures would you convince me were friendly? How was I supposed to read your motives?" 

Shit, mate’s right. But Enid didn’t mean to!

"That’s not what- it would've been fine to be your friend okay? I would stop if you didn't like it."

"I couldn't have known if I'd like it."

"Valentine’s day! If you haven't realized yourself I'd confess and ask you to be my Valentine! One hundo romantic!"

Wednesday doesn’t need to know it was just a backup plan for if she just gets impatient. Anything to explain and not break down crying from justified or fake guilt. Noone can cry right now for safety. Wait, did she apologize already?

"You mentioned the concept of Galentine's before."

Enid groans. Goddess they're a sapphic stereotype.

"I'd get you flowers with the correct message in flower language and make you dark chocolate, and then also bake you your favorite cookies. So much cocoa it would be impossible to tell if they're burned or not. And put a sweet note with the sweets. Maybe with the addendum that I'm 100% super uber extremely no joke serious. And a gothic poem. Hunt a hare for dinner and cook it for you with stupid amount of hot sauce. Get creepy candlelights. Maybe we'd kiss if you'd want to. But you wouldn’t have to be obligated to respond immediately, like maybe by 14th march that's reasonable right? A month to figure out if you like me back."

"Certainly if you'd tell me I'm your mate-"

"That doesn't matter."

"Enid-"

"No, it doesn’t, I don't need a doubt that you're with me just cause you're worried or feel guilty or make you think I'm only with you to be able to wolf out! I don't care for it. I want you and if you wouldn't choose me I'd just get treatment. Maybe I was wrong with how I went about dealing with my feelings and I’m sorry but the mate stuff was mine to decide."

"As much as I ever respect your manipulations of truth they were misguided at best, yes."

Enid whines.

Wednesday continues. "My parents can never know."

Enid heart sinks.

"I hoped at least one of our parents would accept us from the start." She says in a small voice.

"Oh no, they're gonna be nauseatingly supportive, so much you're gonna get sick of it. No, just never allude that you were wooing me without informing me first."

Heart unsinked. Just about.

"Huh? Why? What will happen?"

"Courtship rules violation. My father will challenge you to a duel. I have seen your fencing skills, there's no way you'd win."

Heart confused?

"Does it have to be fencing?"

"Are you capable of going all out with your claws and be ready to maul my father to the brink of death or beyond?"

"I wanna say no?"

"Then you would lose."

Heart drowning.

"If I'd lose they won't accept us?"

"I doubt it, unless they judge it would be entertaining for us, but I'd hate to take that chance or for you to lose either way so I'd replace you in the duel."

Heart swimming again.

"Oh, so no problem then."

"No, me replacing you means my mother will have free reign to do the same for father. There's no winning with that."

Heart locked away and gagged. Brain work for once please and take the wheel. This is too much.

"Didn't you once say you've been winning against her since you were like twelve?"

"No, it was my father that taught me fencing. I never fought my mother"

"You and your mom, the fencing captain and national champion, never fenced."

"She prefers épée like a barbarian and I have adamantly refused each time she dared me. But if they know I'll be forced to. She's gonna be disgustingly gleeful."

"Wednesday. Why?!"

"She was always home, why would I waste more time with her teaching something that I preferred the style of my father in? I already got my fill of her education with botany and I couldn't really join father in his engineer's marvel of train miniatures so he had limited time between that and work. They are so loud.”

"Oh. My. God."

"Enid, what's that sudden shift in emotion?"

"Little Wednesday missed her dad and wanted more bonding time." Enid huffed amusedly. Heart got allowed parole again.

"Enid! Stop that!"

"No, you're too cute! Little Wednesday demanding to stab dad cause he was at work too long, tooo cute!"

"I am simply not!"

Enid dissolves into giggles.

"Enid Sinclair, stop that right now."

The visual in her head is too precious. Little grumpy baby Winny with kid sabre and separation anxiety. Wednesday isn't beating black cat allegations. Ei gath fach ddu. Her black kitten.

"Enid please. Your hands."

Enid didn't realize her hands had been dancing on Wednesday' back, tickling her, as she was laughing. She stilled them immediately.

The need for skin touch ached stronger again.

"Why can't you simply bite me."

Cause it'll make it worse. Enid doesn’t know how bad it'll feel for Wednesday to feel debilitatingly touch starved exactly but is certain they'll make some stupid decisions in the moment that might end in many negative emotions. Nope, no upset Winny. Also that could give Wednesday new reasons to resent touch. Nope, no resentful WInny. Most furs do immediately mutual bites during ehhhh already practiced- intimate time- for convenience. And they can’t do that. NOPE!

Enid will calm down with some long cuddles and it’ll be fine. There’s no rush for both to bite, it’s just steps in a process that doesn’t have a maximum loading time. It’s useful for fast strengthening of an emotional bond and Enid has plenty of strength testing already, no thank you.

One sided mate bite wouldn't be hurting Wednesday right now if it weren't for the potion. Fur empathy normally is a faint message unless during emergencies.

"Winny, how fast can you get cured?"

Wednesday sighs.

"Are we seriously desperate?"

Stupid question.

"Deffo."

Chapter Text

Wednesday wishes she could go back in time and simply bite Enid the first time she seriously thought about it. It was soon after Enid’s second moon when permitted inspection of her new incisors. Wolfgirl demanded to let her count the goth’s freckles in turn.

 Wednesday should’ve bitten the fingers that were delicately tracing her cheeks for what felt like hours. That would save her a lot, time especially. 

Perhaps by now she could’ve been completely covered in bite scars.

That thought makes crystal-scrying mother more bearable.

“Enid?”

“Hmm?” Enid seems too busy re-scenting to use words. Pangs of enjoyment with each swipe of scent glands is distracting the raven too.

“This would be easier if you weren’t visible.”

Enid looks down on their position on the chair. She rested herself just on top of Wednesday the moment she sat up. 

“Do I really have to hide?” Her horrifying pout and pleading eyes really did make her look like a puppy. 

“Do you plan to speak to my mother as well?” Feel of horror reflects in the wolf's eyes and she promptly sits herself next to the chair instead. The blond puts her head on the brunette's thigh and squeezes her calf. 

When reaching for the cloth covering the crystal ball Enid blocks it.

"Winny?"

"Yes Enid?"

"Hand on my hair please."

Softly petting the werewolf’s hair gives her the same sensation as harshly pulling her own hair with a comb. More to note down. 

Wednesday slowly counted the strokes, delaying the call till hitting a hundred. She’s glad that mating bond didn't contain telepathy. She wasn't sure if consent to demean Enid by calling her a small dog extended to actually considering her one seriously. It is hard to not do so at the moment. How far reaching is the privilege to do so as a rude person being liked by Enid reserving rights to a mean nickname? And what is the border between offensive infantilization and a suitably romantic one?

At a hundred at least one of them is calm even if Wednesday is not sure which one of them.

Morticia Addams shows her face after a tense moment of waiting as smoke swirls inside the crystal ball. 

"Wednesday, darling. What a horrid surprise of an early call, did anyone die?" Wednesday can’t tell if she’s somehow irritated that mother abandoned pretenses that her daughter could want a strictly social call or if it is Enid’s reaction to the words.

"Unfortunately not, I've just been a target of poisoning." She spits out. This is even harder than she thought. The apprehension to talk candidly is stronger than anticipated. 

"What poison has someone procured that could possibly give you trouble darling? Should I worry about your tolerance waning?" This is a sincere Morticia tone, not an insult. Don’t interpret it as an insult. Read the correct tone for once. You know your mother's voice. There’s no need to be defensive. Wednesday’s breaths speed up. Enid squeezes her calf once.

"More precisely it was a magical potion."

"Did charms broke?"

"I technically drank it willingly. I underestimated a classmate." She feels her jaw tense up.

"And… you can't wait for the effect to pass?"

Lucifer, why can’t she just realize what she needs?!

"Mother, it was a mixture of Liar’s Antidote and- Vehemence Adfectus."

"... and your classmate is still alive."

"Yes."

Unfortunately that’s not the revenge that would've yield a positive outcome.

"Are they in a recovery coma?"

That gives her an idea.

"No."

Oh she knows what sleep she’ll give Tanaka now. Rage subsides a bit.

"Heavy injured?"

"Only a light foot injury, choking was inconsequential."

"They're not pressing charges?"

"She's not."

"And you haven't hurt anyone else?"

"No."

"Arson?"

"No."

"Destruction of property at least?"

"No mother, I don't need a lawyer, I didn't do anything."

"And you're certain that the potion is working."

"Positive."

A moment of tense silence. Morticia brings hand to her face as she contemplates something.

"Where’s your colorful roommate?" There’s a jolt of stress stinging Wednesday’s spine.

"Why do you ask?" Wednesday says through grinding teeth.

"Well first I was worried that you somehow hurt the girl but now that I think about it it seems wildly out of character for her not to hover over you regardless. Surely someone so emotionally intelligent and protective of you wouldn’t not notice nor leave you struggling. And… something has had to distract you from your destructive rage. A really… effective distraction. And so I'm asking to collect all the information about the incident."

She knows.

Wednesday shuts her eyes.

"Enid you may get up and hug me, she knows."

Even as a wave of confusion hits Enid swiftly gets up.

"I didn't do anything! Um, and hello missus Addams"

"Calm down." Wednesday tugs her to her lap. Enid curls up on it with her side to the desk.

She tries to ignore the anxiety at her mother's reaction.

But Morticia already blinked away the shock at seeing her eldest child willingly touching someone in a peaceful manner.

"Oh I know darling, my daughter wouldn't be able to keep a straight face in her state if you did."

"I didn't mean right now." Enid mumbles.

She's embarrassed.

"Ne la dérange pas, mère!" {"Mother don't upset her!"}

"Ah, that wasn't my intention. Enid, dear, I'm sorry. But speaking in a foreign language to someone else around her will only worsen her mood anyway, my raven. It excludes her from the conversation.  Unless?"

Of course mother recognized a faux pa that Wednesday was blind to, as always. She just wanted the correction to seem more willingly chosen instead of forced. Enid deserves that.

"Oh no, I only know like 1.5 languages at best." Enid answers.

(" She apologized," Enid whispers to herself. )  

Some foreign form of tension replaces the embarrassment in Enid.

Wednesday grits her teeth.

"Enid, if you need me to teach you French we can start right now with curses I'll throw at my mother."

"Nah, I prefer not to learn curses or insults, I don't need to know the specifics if your family will be angry at me."

Wednesday blinks confused.

"You've certainly sounded like you cursed in Welsh earlier."

"My mom's Greek." Wednesday clutches at the desk.

She and her mother share a look.

"Ah, I made it awkward, sorry. Um, ignore that I'm here-

"Mother, how fast can I be transported to California with a full weapon arsenal?"

"Well-"

"Noooooo, no killing mom remember, nuh huh, we're staying here. Or we're going to your home for the cure. And only for the cure. Missus Addams I'm really fine, no need for murder, please just the cure for the potions. I don't know how long I can keep her from getting expelled. Since education is sooo important. We all need like to graduate and go to college, and grad school, and to get a good job-"

"Yes, I fully understand Enid. For future reference please keep in my mind anytime you hear me or my husband talking in foreign tongues that it's either forms of endearment or I'm casting a spell. It might be technically a curse but never aimed at you. And also please, call me Morticia, if you wish to visit soon I did already have started getting rid of all of our silver-"

"Mother, what did I tell you about looking into my future?" 

"Not to do it, which I followed. What I saw pertained to my own personal happiness." 

Excuses.

"But you did see me and Enid."

"What happened is that few days ago your father and I got some alone time in the manor and we decided to reminiscent on old memories-"

"Skip the unnecessary sappy bits."

"You can imagine my surprise when I touched my épée and saw an entirely different duel from which I planned to experience. "

All veins in Wednesday's body tighten.

"Your visions tend to be unreliable."

"Yes, happiness is a fickle thing, but I am starting to gather the puzzle pieces to realize it nonetheless. What's that mark on your wolf's hand?"

"It's a bite mark missus Morticia." Enid squeaks out before Wednesday stops her. She should've held her hand to cover it up. Foreign tension pulses momentarily.

Morticia purses her lips at the purely technically correct fulfillment of her request but doesn’t comment.

"Enid knew already of my feelings when I bit her." Wednesday cuts in. 

"And how was the mating bite possible?" 

"She scented me amongst other things. Hardly possible to miss." Stick to dry facts, reveal nothing more.

"Enid, did she really not miss your intentions?" 

"It completely flew over her h-" 

"Enid!" 

"I can't lie to your mom! She's too nice! And also your mom!" 

Why does that matter?!

"You just had to continue the deceit that you started!"

"It was never supposed to be a forever secret that I'm into you!"

Enid’s reasons are ridiculous. 

"Are all your secrets temporary? Why don't you spill all of them right now then?" 

"Your headphones are from a matching set!"

"What?" Bewilderment replaces anger.

"What? Oh goddess you were being sarcastic, please forget it." The werewolf seems to somehow retreat into herself without really moving.

"Enid." Wednesday tries to soften her voice.

"After first scenting you I freaked out, and then you got overwhelmed and I saw a couples set so bought it okay! I didn’t mention it to check if your problem with the snood was the matching aspect and I was right! You don't like matching, which is fine, totes fine, I only wear my pink headphones when you type on your typewriter anyway, no one will see us match." 

"Ah, young love. How I miss this."

"Mother-"

"Though I'm disappointed in myself that I haven't seen this coming, of course Wednesday fell for a werewolf, she did always have a fascination with your kind. This is quite perfect."

Enid predicts Wednesday's attempt at ending the call and twarths it by grabbing her forearm.

"How much of a fascination are we talking about?" Enid somehow lost all of her bashfulness and Wednesday feels as if she's been thrown into a sizzling vat of oil.

"Oh, since she learned how to read she just devoured all of our lore books on lycanthropy. I'm fairly certain that the werewolf shelf in her room doesn't contain all of them only because we carry multiple copies of some. And then she would do this thing with knives-"

"Stop talking!"

"Winny, either your mom talks or you're telling that story yourself."

Wednesday swallows.

"Your- claws and super strength- are practical?"

Enid frees Wednesday's forearm, draws out her claws in that hand and offers them for inspection. Wednesday gets distracted from whatever she was upset about. The colorful nail polish would work like the worst poison.

"So what was the knife thing missus Morticia?" 

Before Wednesday gets to protest again, the hand which hangs from around her neck puts its claws just half an inch from her throat. Pure glee shuts her up.

Morticia smiles fondly. 

"She would put and hold her knives between her fingers to imitate claws."

Enid beams with the same affection from when she was giggling and calling her cute. This makes no sense, her interest was purely pragmatic.

"It's like having ten hidden blades on yourself at all times." Wednesday mutters to the ceiling.

"I once caught her filling her teeth to make them more canine."

"I was five."

"I can show you how sharp her baby teeth are when you visit."

"Yes, please!" Wednesday doesn’t need to look to know how brightly Enid is smiling. Her excitement works like a flaming trigger to an already volatile bomb of embarrassment inside the younger seer.

"Please stop." Maybe protesting will cause Enid to at least nick her throat.

"Darling, have you ever actually gotten around to really reading the mating tradition parts?"

"I did not." Wednesday almost whines. She just skimmed them. She should’ve persevered despite her nausea at the graphic descriptions of werewolf reproduction customs. Major oversight. Morticia looks patiently at her as if she heard that thought.

"Do you want me to send the books now or should I read up on finding a rightful cause to wage war on Enid's pack first? Or, well, your father would have to, to interpret the laws correctly."

Now they're on the same page. Her favorite family activity, planning carnage. Absolutely terrific. Wednesday almost smiles at her mother.

But as if on the other side of a balancing weight Enid’s giddiness dies like if its neck was wrought. 

"We could also do no wars, no one touches the books and I'll just explain anything Winny needs to know? Just after she's back to normal I can totes do a whole lecture. Even with slides and stuff."

Morticia looks at her daughter, waiting for her verdict.

"Do as Enid says, mother."

The woman sighs defeatedly even if there's still a twinkle in her eyes. Wednesday shares her disappointment at the inability to indulge in bloodlust. But whatever are her irrational reasons, that's what Enid wishes are. 

Negotiating with them is so tiring right now. At least she can trust that mother won't get rid of the silver weaponry regardless and will just put better locks on the arsenal. Just in case.

Morticia seems to realize the death of her daughter's patience.

"Well, the cure should be in the chest under your bed within 20 minutes regardless. After drinking it, refrain from using your voice for at least an hour, and it's best you'd rest as it works. Fully rest. And don't think this call substitutes calling again tomorrow. Especially since Gomez and your wolf need to talk."

Wednesday feels Enid gets rigid at the serious tone. 

"Maman?"

As Morticia smiles wildly Enid relaxes.

Finally something she did works. Apparently she’ll have to unlearn her instinct to avoid public affection around Enid. Drill into her own mind that Enid isn't an embarrassing audience. 

"Oui, mon petit corbeau?" 

"Don't interrogate Thing for a few weeks at least. Let him keep his pathetic vow of silence for a respectful amount of time."

"As you wish ma chèrie. Thank you for trusting me to help you."

Morticia changes the direction of her smile.

"Enid, darling, thank you for telling me. Please do not worry about formalities. We'd love to have you over the spring break. Truly. I hope you'll do show your face tomorrow and accept the invitation. I feel like I already miss your positively cancerous radiance. We'll discuss everything further later. Bye my girls." 

Morticia blows each of them a separate kiss and disappears.

Enid retracts her claws and changes her position to sit with their faces to each other.

"So on a scale of 1 to 10 how bad was this?"

Her gaze is worried.

Wednesday closes her eyes. Enid’s electric blue irises are too much. She’s so exhausted again. 

"If your aim was to please her then you've succeeded." 

"Okay, so 10 and you're angry, I'm sooo sorry." 

Wednesday doesn’t know if she suddenly lost grasp on recognising her own anger or if Enid's paranoia at the tired voice trumped her lycan senses.

"For what exactly Enid?" 

"Having mommy issues?"

"May I get rid of their source?" 

"Winnyyyyy."

"Puppyyy." Wednesday deadpans. She opens one eye.

The puppy pouts.

She closes it again.

"Killing her won't fix them." Lucifer, she can somehow hear the pout regardless.

"She won't get to disapprove of us if she's six feet under." 

"But dad won't change his mind if you kill his mate!"

Wednesday opens eyes to study her face. Enid’s expression is all that’s beseeching. She considers this. That’s an actual valid reason for once.

"So our aim is solely to get his favor."

"I mean I'm only like 87% sure mom won't come around."

So even numbers aren’t in their favor.

"Corrupting your father's mate bond it is."

"I was really hoping the unlucky 13% chance would motivate you to try with both of them."

"I'm not negotiating with evil beasts. Is there any werewolf faux pa I already committed?" Enid’s father may care for traditions more than his daughter. She’s gonna have to come up with ways of fulfilling them in such a way that Esther’s rejection will look ludicrous even to her mate.

Maybe she'll get a telekinesis spell to read the books after all.

Enid sighs. 

"We'll have that conversation again later."

"I am not changing my mind."

"We'll see in a few hours."

"That’s not the topic I plan for that timeframe."

The last thing Wednesday wants to do then is discuss any of her own flaws or failings. That'd be counterintuitive, trying to persuade Enid out of her affection? Ridiculous idea.

Enid furrows her brows.

"What do you plan for then?"

Wednesday looks at the coffin.

"Thing, text Eugene to meet us outside."

Chapter Text

Enid wishes both that Wednesday would listen to her mothers advice and that that advice was ‘don’t talk to someone else’ period.

But now once again Eugene is involved and gets Wednesday’s undivided attention for full minutes of time.

Eugene who is acting as if no confessions were made. 

The fact that Wednesday hasn't really fully acknowledged or stated outright that they're dating now or gonna date isn't helping Enid’s mood. Sure they're mates but Enid is still technically under her promise to disregard everything that's happening. It would be in Wednesday's style to judge the crazed emotional moment as weakness, cash in on the promise when she's cured and reject the whole thing. Make them both suffer the process of bond breaking. That Could Happen. It's not like she accepted the family invitation yet and could do it without Wednesday's approval.

Or maybe it's just that the mythical Inner Wolf actually exists and is pissing more and more on her mood the longer she goes without biting her mate back. As if she could ever do that to Wednesday.

But hugging from the back and propping her chin on Winny's head as the goth explains how to dig a six feet deep grave is helping a lot. At least she has that. And Wednesday’s shirt on. And a sweater. And the sweet oversized jacket. Sleeve paws are possible even when it's on her taller frame. It's like a quadruple Winny hug.

Wednesday probably isn't minding her grumpiness cause the weather is her favorite. Dark clouds make the light gray and threaten heavy rain. Winny's scent is a harmonious mix of ink, honey and soil. All good smells. 

Wednesday frantically rereads the notebook Eugene was writing in earlier. It’s in Spanish, as Enid expected. Not that she tried reading it on purpose. Totes not. She’s not curious, nuh huh. 

It’s only the Wolf that’s jealous that she’s not in on the plan. Or envious? No, no, she’s been the one carrying for Winny’s carebeing the most today, she has the right to be included. So it’s justified jealousy.

Enid could dig much faster than the beeboy and she wouldn't even need a shovel.

"Usually digging during winter should be much harder on account of frozen ground but alas, the coal industry is depriving us of nature's best temperatures."

Enid humms. She does miss the snow from a month ago. She wonders if light refracted from it still hurts Winny's eyes since white light is all colors together. 

Eugene starts his rant about environmental degradation and Enid zones out.

"Don't sway us, puppy." Hmm, sandalwood.

"You're gonna be over six feet away from me for a full ten minutes, let me have this."

"Two hours."

"Nope, a half an hour nap will be more than enough."

"Puppy, you know that the minimum is an hour." 

"Well if buried alive hibernation is so much better than sleep then-"

"An hour and no minute less."

Before Enid responds Wednesday downs the vial she brought. 

Enid huffs amusedly. She can’t win their banter this way.

"You can still use sign language Winny."

Thing translates that Wenny agrees to swaying after all. Enid decides for her own sanity to not doubt that this means that being in her arms is a rest for Winny. 

Eugene is too exhausted to bore her with small talk. What a win.

Finally Wednesday motions 'end' so Enid brings Eugene back up from the hole and throws the open coffin in instead. 

When she turns to look at her mate she doesn't know what she feels. Can she ask for another hug?

Before Enid solves that conundrum, Wednesday moves to cradle her face so Enid's voice just gives up its job. Wednesday's face looks the softest it's gonna look probably for the next decade if the cure will work correctly. Enid soaks the look in as its own special moment. She can't fathom Winny ever not looking beautiful but such an open expression coloring her features isn't something she expects to see soon again. So she stares. Slightly lidded dark eyes crowned with the prettiest eyelashes, tiny dots on her relaxed cheeks. Even her adorable lips aren't in the signature scowl. 

It makes Enid's hope, that Wednesday isn't completely regretting everything, grow.

Wednesday's right hand caresses her face scars with extreme delicacy.  That's the one that has a scar too. So many happy tingles dance on her skin and travel across her body. Wolf takes a deep breath and gathers her voice back. 

"If you're not back here in an hour I'm digging you up and then killing you to bury you myself."

Ghost of a smile shows up on the brunette's face. Enid closes her eyes to focus on remembering it forever. 

Her focus breaks when she feels Wednesday’s cold lips on the scarred cheek. 

Enid completely misses Wednesday nodding goodbye and wordlessly thanking Eugene before jumping in. 

She comes back to her senses at the sound of the coffin closing and just speeds to kick the heap of ground to fill the hole. 

When Eugene takes off and leaves just her and Thing at the quasi grave she puts an hour alarm on her phone and just plops laying on the grass. She still feels an imprint of the kiss on her face. 

Squeal-howl breaks out of her until her lungs hurt. When air comes back to her she transitions it into giggles.

"You saw it right, Thing?"

[Yesss.]

"She totes did that, she can't take it back. We won't let her. Well, mostly you."

[Nope, we won’t.]

Thing makes a pinky promise with her and with that is how she spends the first part of the wait just giggling.

When the sky breaks out in rain she's glad she brought an umbrella and repositions herself to huddle under it sitting with Thing. She puts in her ear buds and decides to distract herself from touch hunger with mindless scrolling. At scrolled past video number hundred something Thing interrupts her and motions to connect her ipods with Winny's phone.

[Swear you won't tell her.]

She does so he opens a hidden folder with sound recordings.

He taps on one called Summer. She laughs at the irony.

Cello notes erupt in the werewolf's eardrums. She vaguely recalls listening to it on a violin before and remembers that it's intense but this version sounds even more so. Exactly as if-

[Since we're waiting for her in the rain, here's little stormcloud's rendition of Vivaldi's Storm.]

Enid laughs and hugs him tightly to her chest. The fast and powerful sound of the bass string calms her mind down. It hits in tandem with the chaos of rain.

She's starting to like this weather.

But by the 50 minute mark she needs to be jumping around to stay calm.

At 58 she still doesn't hear any noise from the ground.

At 59 she slaps it.

"Winny if you don't get to work right now I swear I'm gonna kick your tiny ass so hard!"

Nothing.

Thing shrugs when she looks at him.

"I'm stealing your manuscripts!"

Nothing.

"I will blast kpop at your funeral!"

Nothing

[Swear on your own name?]

"Wednesday Friday Addams! I, Enid Iris Sinclair, am gonna make you regret ever being born if you don-"

Dull sound echoes from below. If Enid could sprout a tail she'd break it by wagging too hard.

When she feels her mate is near she can't help herself and just digs in, grabs her hand and lifts up in the air. 

Then momentarily worries if she dislocated a joint in the tiny seer. 

When Wednesday doesn’t complain Enid holds her hand and jumps in place with an umbrella in the other. 

Now’s the time for cuddles discussion.

Wednesday wordlessly cleans herself up from the wet dirt. Enid bites down on a lip to not protest when Winny moves back and uses both of her hands to get rid of the dirt from her hair and then her face with the help of rain. The goth is visibly more composed and doesn’t seem affected by the werewolf’s anxiety one bit. She doesn’t even slightly scowl at the mud as she brushes it off. They’re totes back to normal Winny. Welp, as much as this is a major relief, suddenly the last thing Enid wants to do is burst this bubble by reminding that she will die if won’t touched. There’s a loud static in her brain. 

Oh yeah she’s supposed to act the normal way now. How does she usually talk to Winny?

"You're so lucky you actually got out or I'd bound your dead soul to the lamest Barbie doll I could find, no quality porcelain-"

"Be my Valentine." 

Enid takes a double take on Wednesday's serious face. There's no way she just did that. Enid blinks profusely. Then stares at the tan hand reaching for hers. Maybe she heard it wrong?

Wednesday continues.

"I- that was wrong, that was an order not an ask, i meant- will you be my Valentine?" Her monotone tone doesn't hide the anxiety behind it exactly. There’s also a nervous hand squeeze, so she’s definitely awake and not hallucinating.

So she did just do that.

Enid can't stop a laugh from barking out.

"Enid, I'm not joking." 

Enid tries to stop and take a deep breath and calm down but it just comes out as a wheeze. 

Wednesday copied her confession idea. Well, the plan behind using Valentine’s Day to shortcut romantic flagging at least.  This is so painfully Wednesday. 

"Enid, I'm serious, treat this seriously!" 

She can’t! It’s too adorable and she’s too delirious! The stress from holding back and waiting killed off all of her today’s brain cells. Wednesday’s motive being straight to the point after the appointed allowed starting moment makes the confession so bare bones that it’s also so no Wednesday. So ridiculous, the perfectionist in ruined clothing and no grand dramatics. Is she really not dreaming?

She pinches herself. Yep, she’s awake. Wednesday is closer now though. That doesn’t seem good, this provokes touch deprivation to yell again to touch the untouchable. The closer she is the less funny she feels.

“ Enid .” Uhuh, Wednesday’s lips are so close. Tracks of rain fall down from them. So kissable.  Is Wednesday angry? That’s hot.

Wait.

She was supposed to respond, not think about kissing as Winny is pissed at her. What was her last idea of spoken words?

Enid tries to weakly ask ‘where are the flowers?’ but she can't.

She can't because Wednesday grabs her face, on her lips are Wednesday’s lips and she can't think of anything else to do with her mouth but kiss her back. 

Wednesday's mouth is warmer than her body, she tastes like the best bitter candy in the world and Enid can’t help but want it all. She closes her eyes and throws away the umbrella to gather Wednesday in both of her arms and pulls her close. So close. As if to meld every inch of them together. She feels her skin light up like a Christmas tree from all the tingles that her mate’s lips are causing.

There are raindrops hitting her face, all she smells is sandalwood battling the petrichor, and Wednesday’s motions are extremely unpracticed. It is the most perfect first kiss she could ever ask for.

When she tries to come up for air Wednesday tugs on her neck to extend the kiss. Enid lets her lungs burn long and desperately just to drink every drop Wednesday’s lips offer. 

When they finally part the werewolf puts their foreheads together. Despite the cold and wet everything she has never felt warmer and happier in her life. She brushes their noses together.The biggest smile pops up on her face and she lets out a small giggle. Wednesday kissed her! They're kissing in the rain! She wants more. She brings her lips to Wednesday’s the closest she can without actually touching. 

"Enid, please." The low voice is slightly agitated. It’s asking for a response.

Oh no, no talking, Enid just lost her mind and craves more.

"If you don't kiss me again soon I'll delay the answer until the literal last second before Valentine’s." She growls against her lips.

For this kiss Wednesday softly brings the faces and moves her lips much slower. More tender. Enid sighs into it. Wednesday, ever the quick learner, leads it in an intimate way and Enid feels herself mellow out into a puddle of soft sensations and sounds. It transitions into another kiss. And another one. And next. And again. She can’t tell how long ago they started kissing. She’s never good at keeping track of time when Winny is in her arms. 

After it she needs a good minute to build herself back up into a more coherent mess. Enid barely notices that the rain stopped. She bounces on her soles a bit.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes I'll be your Valentine. Be my girlfriend?"

Wednesday blinks profusely, then scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"I'm your mate and romantic intentions have been declared already."

"Yes, and we're doing everything wrong, and so be my girlfriend also anyway." Enid beams at her.

"If you wish." 

"YES! You can't take it back, Thing heard it too, right Thing?" 

Thing throws a thumbs-up from his spot under the abandoned umbrella.

Enid throws her arms in the air in celebration before realizing she can do something much better. 

Wednesday eyes her suspiciously. 

Enid puts her arms slowly around Wednesday and experimentally brings her into the air for a millisecond.

"May I?"

Wednesday curtly nods and puts her own hands on the taller girl's shoulders.

Enid picks her up and twirls them around like a giggle fueled machine until she's dizzy. She has a mate! She has a girlfriend! Her girlfriend is her mate!

When she stops and shakes off water from her hair the first thing she notices is Wednesday’s smile. And a second later something much more important.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, you have a dimple!"

Wednesday’s face falls immediately. She leans back from the embrace but doesn't break it by stepping away.

"Yes, the genetic lottery burdened me with its worst facial deformation."

"Nuh huh, as an authority on facial deformations between the two of us I declare it the cutest deformation in the world."

Enid tries to finger stab Wednesday’s cheek into showing the dimple again. Wednesday looks at her, eyebrows unimpressed, but there’s a twinkle of amusement in her dark eyes.

This just turned into the best day of her life. 

"It's easier for you when your scars are like kisses from death. Marks of life."

"What do you mean?" Enid stops the stabs and furrows her eyebrows at the idea that her scars make anything easier.

"You brushed with death and survived, the scars are proof of your life. It's like Jaime Sabines' words: Alguien me habló todos los días de mi vida. Al oído, despacio, lentamente. Me dijo: ¡vive, vive, vive! Era la muerte." Wednesday brushes her scarred cheek with her knuckles.

Enid’s brain just turns off at her Spanish speaking voice. Whatever she’s saying sounds so good, dark chocolate and salted caramel good.

After a blink Wednesday continues directly into her ear.

"Someone spoke to me every day of my life. In my ear, gently, slowly. They said to me: live, live, live! It was death.”

Oh.

Wednesday kisses her cheek again and backs up.

“They're kisses from death and you're brighter and more alive for them. They suit you so perfectly. Mi luz. You're my light that makes the shadows darker."

OH.

Poetry, Wednesday reciting Spanish poetry to her. Complimenting her scars. Calling her sappy pet names. Kissing her cheek. There’s the tiniest fond lilt to her gravely voice even. 

Enid’s tears mimic the rain that stopped.

"You're sooo unfair. I hate you right now sooo much. I had to frickin bury you and then dig you up from a grave for you to say these things." She says petulantly, overwhelmed by feelings. She sniffles pathetically as Winny brushes off her tears.

Wednesday’s smile is predatory. As if she triggered some kind of sick trap of hers.

"Mahmoud Darwish. They asked, ‘Do you love her to death?’ I said ‘speak of her over my grave and watch how she brings me back to life. ’"

More!? An acted out poem?! Enid fulls on sobs now. This is so silly. She should've expected Wednesday to approach romance as some kind of competition to win. And winning is bringing Enid to happy tears apparently. She almost considers asking her if she can say the original version of that one too to knock her down a peg. But that might backfire. She might as well know Arabic, who effin knows.

"I love you tooo. Say it normally now."

"Enid Iris Sinclair, I love you. Te quiero. Je t'aime."

"Good, good, good, dwi'n dy garu di hefyd, please hug me."

Wednesday does so Enid sniffles into her neck. Winny even draws calming circles on Enid’s back. The werewolf taps into her superstrength to make her arms into a cage as usual when they hug. Maybe a tad more though. Wednesday isn’t allowed to go anywhere right now. 

Enid almost laps with her tongue at honey and mint that emanates from Wednesday’s neck. Hehe, puppy kisses from being called puppy. That’s what Winny deserves. Enid smiles into her neck instead. Calm happiness smells so nice. She finally feels somewhat satiated.

Wolfgirl starts worrying that her quasi human mate will get sick from standing in the cold for so long. She realizes she’s been on edge from the ozone in the air.

"Puppy?" 

"Yes Winny?"

"Can you bite me now?"

Enid giggles slightly and moves away a bit to cradle her mate's face. She beams at her.

"Nope! But the first one in our dorm chooses which movie we're gonna make out to!"

And she sprint off after picking up Thing and the umbrella as the clouds break out with lightning this time.

Chapter Text

Yoko should’ve expected this, really. Extra box of her favorite blood for dinner? Yeah, she practically asked to get knocked out by accepting it without question. 

But she’s not really in the state of mind to chide herself for this as she wakes up completely surrounded by a stifling substance. When she tries to open her eyes something falls into them and stings her. If she were to breathe she wouldn't be able to as it seemed there was no air, just whatever is pushing onto her skin as she tries to move. There’s a bitter taste in her mouth. She knows she’s not capable of screaming for help.

Kicking with her full strength seems to turn the solid-like material brittle by a fraction. She can’t kick really far. She kicks again, to the side, and there’s a different material that makes a dull sound at contact. 

She focuses on the arms that are crossed on her chest and pushes them forward with all her might. Something hurts her as she does but the motion to the secondary confining barrier is much shorter.

The dimensions seem like- a fucking coffin.

She trashes in panic. How the fuck getting out of a grave works? She was never buried! 

Automatic attempts at calming down by deep breathing just fill her sinuses with wet dirt.

During one of her punches her hands get out of soil and into free air. THE COFFIN IS OPEN.

She catapults herself out of it. She hits the ground and immediately forces herself to cough. Hacking and sneezing the mud out of her body stings all of her airways so much it almost triggers her nonexistent gag reflex. 

But she can breathe again. She takes the deepest breath of her unlife.

“WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!” Yelling helps her confirm that she’s free. Even if breathing is purely mechanical and offers no relief like it does to mortals, the fact that she’s breathing and hearing herself scream means that there’s air and she’s free.

Someone is patting her back and she would’ve bitten them if she didn't recognize the voice.

“Consequences, babe.”

“What?” She hears her own voice break up hoarsely. She tries to blink and cry away the dirt in her eyes.

“Addams sends her regards. Ah, shit, let me.” She feels a cloth brushing the tears from her cheeks. 

The best voice ever continues.

“You know, red is very attractive on you usually but not really when it seeps from your squinting eyes.”

Yoko weakly lets out a single laugh.

“And you'll still hit that, you necrophile.”

“That I will~.” She feels okay after hearing that. Pain is forgotten whenever Divina talks to her in her flirty trill. Her girlfriend in no way needs to use the Song to put her in a happy trance. It’s not like it would work on a vampire anyway. Being susceptible to Divina’s barestripped voice is purely Yoko’s thing.

When she opens her finally working eyes she sees that she’s in her own dorm. The coffin that Enid took sitting in the place of her bed. There are tracks of dirt between her and the contraption. 

“What the fuck was that.”

“Well, there was a note on the coffin next to this rose if you want to read it.”

She rests her head on girlfriend’s shoulder.

“Can you do it?” Why would she try to and struggle with her dyslexia when she can just listen to her girlfriend’s voice more?

“Sure. So, first part is a typewriter font: Tanaka, I was informed of your concern over the quality of your rest. Since I no longer have a need for this coffin of yours I decided to aid your vampiric recovery and let you sleep in grave dirt as is your kind’s custom to do so. Unfortunately I did not have access to your original burial place. I substituted obtaining your soil by adding pieces of bone to it. I wish you horrid nightmares. Sincerely, W. Addams. ” Divina’s impression of the goth cryptid’s monotone voice is spot on.

Yoko looks down at her arms and notices that the stinging pain is from pieces of bone piercing her skin. She takes them out as the siren continues.

“Then in pink gel, and I’m taking the directorial choice of ignoring typos, is: P.S. Our study double date is this Saturday. If you don’t show up Winny is staking you and I’m taking your photocards. Eat shit, XOXO Enie.” Divina says that one with an over exaggerated Valley girl voice.

The vampire hisses as the wounds close up. The siren still goes on.

“And not written on this but from me is this: P.P.S. don't you complain about me not helping cause I already begged pup to tell me where the fuck they’ve kidnaped you to. Otherwise it would probably take me a few more hours before I’d check your room. ‘Cause it was locked. I had to steal your dorm mom's keys. Also I had to magically swear not to free you before you’d wake up.``

Yoko sighs.

“Thank you my spiky sea urchin. I’d kiss you for the brave rescue but I can smell you already had garlic, so.”

“Mhm, such loss to me oh no. Having a delicious meal was such torture, I’ll never recover.” Shit, her sarcastic tone is doing things to the vampire as always. Things that she feels way too gross to act on.

The vampire drags her hands over her face and then flicks her wrists to get rid of the remnants of the mud. She hopes the clothes can still be saved.

She stares at the ruined coffin. At the broken lid laying on the other side of the room. Explaining this and getting a bed back is gonna suck so hard.

“I really did fuck up big style.”

“Yep.”

“Did she have to do a Dracula dig though.” She stares with disgust at the rose. It’s gotta be enchanted cause there’s no way that it alone acted as a lock. Bram Stoker wrote a wildly inaccurate lore book. 

“Yeah she did. You made your bed so now lie in it.”

The vampire snorts.

"Okay, that's kinda funny."

"Of course I am."

Yoko takes the note and stares at the glittery addendum. 

“I’m so fucking stupid.”

She could’ve just asked Enid to persuade Addams this whole time.

“Yep. Now go get cleaned so we can study English.”

“Are you fucking shitting me-”

“I love you too~.”

———————— 

Yoko wonders if she technically won. 

Not fanging a venomous little cryptid? Check. 

Getting Alchemy tutoring? Check.

But she’s smart enough not to say it outloud. 

At least not in Wednesday and Enid’s room.

She can discuss it with Bianca later after figuring out if she also won the bet on who kissed who first. Which is hard because Enie refuses to gossip with her until she fixes her grades. She had to learn about Duncan beating up Ajax for "cheating" on Enid from like fifth hand! At least Divi told her that that's all he did and there's no Esther bullshit coming somehow. It's really unfair that she's cut off from the juiciest bits now after she's listened patiently to hours of absolutely stupidest rants about the Addams girl.

There's so much she got barred from knowing so far. The only secret revealed to her for the past week is how the cryptid obtained a Civil War-era embalming table at which they're studying while sitting on beanbags in the middle of the room. Which she's actively trying to erase from her memory.

But since Addams is the only one spilling secrets right now…

"Yo Addams, what does Enie taste like?"

"Sanguine, saccharine if a little hollow, classic O minus, the universal donor."

No fucking way. First of all she can't just know how blood types taste like that. No matter what the fuck Addamses are exactly this is way too creepy. Second of all pup would never let her lick her wounds or shit like that. So she just had to read some vampire paper on it and Enie just told her the blood type.

Unless… 

Yoko looks at Enid and waits for her to still her hands as the werewolf sways to music in her ear buds while reviewing her notes. The expensive set of rose gold rings she started to wear all of a sudden on her left hand seems really sus right now. Especially the heavily covered ring finger.

There's a sliver of pale mark between the metal.

No fucking way.

"Sinclair you dog! You could at least- OUCH!" Something wooden hit her head.

"Go back to studying, this isn't a break yet." 

Yoko stares at the fourth comb that the cryptid threw at her today. There's gotta be something specific about them.

But she'll have to remember to think about it later or she’d get her head covered in bumps for not paying attention. At least it won’t be stabs from damn throwing stars. That would be annoying. She lost her chance to clarify she was asking about Enid's flavored chapstick anygay.

When the alarm for a break rings she lunges to put on metal music on the speaker first. Divina and Enid cringes but the goth seems to relax her rigid posture by like a milifraction.

But before she gets to say anything the werewolf is already wrapped around her girlfriend like a koala. Welp, now the weirdo won't pay attention to anything else. Even if she's pretending to still read the paper in front of her.

The vampire settles for just holding her siren's hand for now. Divina lays down in her Team Alice shirt and just scrolls on her phone with the other.

Wolfgirl noses on her girlfriend’s neck and sighs.

"What is it, puppy?" It sounds hella weird for that flat voice to say any term of endearment. It's kind of fascinating.

"Ink. You're focused."

Goth girl humms noncommittally to that.

The she-wolf starts scenting for real now. The room is gonna reek of citrus soon. What was it that the weirdo muttered once in Spanish? Half orange or something, well Enid is more like a whole orchard.

The seer stops pretending to read and moves into the embrace. Wolfie gives her the longest and loudest cheek kiss. Nooo, not the lick, come on pup. Gross. Have some restraint.

"Here ya go, sandalwood, you smell like you're scared of me as you always should."

The goth girl brings up the ring adorned hand to kiss it at the inside of the wrist. Claws pop out as she does.

"You are certainly horrific, dulzura."

Enid giggles at that and moves back to her seat as Addams cleans her cheek. Yoko can not comprehend what the fuck was the point of that but the last thing she wants to know is details of werewolf flirting. It's always disgusting. Maybe she should’ve actively stopped Enie from realizing that she's gay instead of just passively observing that trainwreck.

At least outside of the dorm it seemed like it was a ban on PDA. 

Oh yeah, the bet.

"Yo Enie, did you know that Bianca thinks you kissed Wednesday first?"

"What?! I would never! That'd be crossing Winny's boundaries. Why would I try anything before her and stress her out?" The pup pouts at the accusation.

Anyone else would worry about getting stabbed. But jackpot, that means she won, maybe she should start asking the furball for favors anytime she's fresh from smothering the cryptid.

Vampire smirks and tries to ask if she was too scared to get rejected when asking for consent maybe but another comb hits her face.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Addams?"

"It is a present." Wednesday says monotonically. Then she turns to her wolf. "Isn't she 'grounded from gossip' as you called it?"

Enid clamps her mouth shut comically.

Something clicks in Tanaka's brain. Something about Japanese etiquette kicks a bell in her head. Hair combs and tea are meant as offerings to the dead and are in extremely bad taste as gifts.

"Aw Addams, does this mean you like me?"

"What in Lucifer's name are you talking about?"

"You're giving me shit associated with death, isn't this affection in Addams speak?"

When she glances at Enie, the pup has something of ‘huh!’ look on her face so Yoko knows she's onto something. 

"Even as I do appreciate them I have enough combs now so I'd really prefer you'd switch to tea now for real."

She knows she gambled too hard when the goth's eye twitched. 

But she's saved by Enid sliding and putting her hand on the cryptid's shoulder.

"Winnyyy, I have a great idea on how to be mean to her."

Addams squints at her.

"Such as?"

Wolfgirl leans in even closer. There’s a smug smile on her face.

" Taunt her with something she can't do."

Addams looks down at her lips.

Oh no no no, this is the opposite of a save. She'd prefer more bruises instead of that.

As the goth slides a hand into the blonde hair she sends the meanest side eye to the vampire. Even as she plants a kiss she keeps up the creepiest eye contact for a full second before closing eyes. 

Yoko looks away from the disgusting torture.

Divina has a mix of bewilderment and amusement on her face as she's propped up on one hand.

"Yep, they're sure going at it."

Yoko groans and crawls to sit on her girlfriend’s lap. Why the fuck are their lips so loud?

"Aaand now they're fully on the ground, wow. I didn't know that it's possible to get an R rating with just kissing." The vampire doesn't want to know how much of a joke that is.

Yoko puts her head on the siren's shoulder and tries to focus on the smell of sea salt instead of the phantom garlic. Damn stupid fucking garlic.

Oh Enid has gotta be playing up the sounds cause this is ridiculous. The antisocial little shit can't be that good at kissing.

Yoko glues hands to her ears. Being friends with a werewolf sucks.

Divina slides back down to lay down while hugging her bloodsucker, but Yoko is too depressed to care about cuddles.

At the nth moan Yoko concedes and realizes the purpose of this being a double date. 

The only real winner here is the gay furball that's getting exactly what she wants the most. Everyone else just plays into her hand and is a fucking loser.

Divi tugs on her hand and puts her own lips next to the vampire's ear. 

"Wouldn't it be funny if I'll stop having garlic soon without telling them and they'll keep this bullshit up?" 

Yoko contains her laugh. Putting up with Divina’s antics is always worth it at the end, cause that sounds just fucking amazing.

She'll absolutely take that consolation prize.

Chapter Text

Sorry to those that already know and just didn't unsubscibed from this one but I've realized recently that some of y'all that are interested in the sequel might have missed it uploading few months ago. It's called The One Time Poison Is Good For You, has Addams Family shenanigans and already has 3 chapters, if you click on next in work series under where chapter end it would be it. Have a short sneek peak:

The door falling off its hinges startles Enid. And then the thud of it hitting the floor.

“Dinner!”

“Pugsley, run for your life.” Wednesday says while getting up from the window nook and wiping off the remnants of her own lipstick from her face. 

Enid dazedly watches her march off and pick up javelins before disappearing behind the doorway. 

She leans back against the glass, serene despite momentary scare. If Wednesday hadn't left she would’ve rolled her eyes at Enid’s dopey smile and muttered something about hormone cocktails and pheromones. 

Ah shitballs, dinner. 

Enid promptly gets up. 

And then sits down again because she has no idea what’s the way to the dining room and doesn’t want to get lost. 

It’s fine, Wednesday will come back. Probably. 

Worst case scenario she can follow the scent of food or Wednesday’s location. 

Wait, no, the worst case scenario is going to dinner with proof of making out still on her face. Enid scrambles to Wednesday’s vanity to check. Yep, most of Wednesday’s lipstick is on her face alongside some faint evidence of her own tears. 

Wolfgirl recognizes the wipes and uses them as she mentally tracks the goth’s movement back.

She doesn’t get all of it before Wednesday comes back, no javelins in hand, calmly disregarding that she has to step over a fallen door.

Raven comes close, takes her face between her fingers and examines it herself, with Enid happily letting her. Her eyes immediately flutter shut.

She might have not finished cleaning on purpose but it’s not like anyone can prove that. It’s not her fault this is one of the limited number of ways Wednesday touches her fully without prompting. She never asked her to do it and yet Wednesday does it every time she can. Having her precise fingers and scrutinizing gaze all for her own benefit, implicitly, is one of her favorite feelings in the world. 

She can hear the judgmental part of her brain scream ‘HOW MUCH GAYER CAN YOU BE’ everytime she thinks about it.

Maybe she should throw out all of her waterproof mascara.

Wednesday taps under her chin after she’s done. Enid tries to open her eyes on time to see Wednesday’s roll of eyes at the smile. Then she brushes her hair to the side to see Wednesday’s eyes flicker to her scars, before the goth turns to examining herself. 

There’s no hurry in her motions.

“Aren’t we gonna be late for dinner?”

“Perhaps.”

Anxiety installs itself more firmly in the wolf’s body, cutting through pleasant haze. Enid tries to stop her foot from tapping but Wednesday’s head snaps to look at her girlfriend again regardless. Narrowed eyes stare heavily.  With just a tiny speck of light amongst pitch blackness.

“The only consequence of us stalling will be that my parent’s welcome speech won’t be punctuated with their first glass of wine, Enid. Now, do you want to re-apply your makeup or should we go already?“

Enid swallows drily. “Do you think they will notice that we-”

“Maybe.” Sting of stress sears itself in Enid during the slight pause. “But will they care? No. Will there be teasing? Only if Pugsley decided to be an even bigger fool than usual because my parents have no leg to stand on about gratuitous displays of affection.” 

Wednesday’s eyes are still intense in their watch over Enid. The werewolf realizes something.

“Aren’t you tired from drowning yourself in my emotions?” Enid asks quietly.

Wednesday reaches for her hand. “Extremely. But I’ll rest when you’ll relax.” 

Enid knows she can’t change her mind about that so she just interlocks their fingers. The goth’s eyebrows go back to their neutral state as her eyes flick away. She leads them through the dark hallway.

 “You will not be ambushed by duel challenges of any kind today puppy. It’s just dinner. Father will say something sappy, you’ll pick something from the feast to eat with a portion as big as you want and then we’ll leave to rest or for a tour of the house. The threat of thrown blades won’t be nonexistent but none will be aimed at you until you state your preference otherwise and even then none of it will be silver.”

Before Enid points out that with Wednesday being a target of any attack it doesn’t matter a voice from behind her stops her. “Oh heya, can you let me down?”

When she looks behind and up at the high walls there’s Pugsley waving at her with motion limited by javelins pining him to the dark wood. The other hand holds a broken metal tip. Enid blinks at him in confusion. 

Wednesday scoffs. “You are a let down if you still can't free yourself.”

How the hell Wednesday managed to get him stuck so high?

Pugsley ignores his sister.

“Hola, que tal, welcome to the family, I’m really hungry, can you help?” {Hi, how are ya}

Enid shakes from her stupor and jumps up to pull out the pining weapons. He falls down heavily and proceeds to put the sharp metal into his mouth. He holds it with his teeth and then puts one hand under his shoulder pad of the jacket, near where the material got cut and Enid can see steam coming from between his fingers before seared flesh smell hits her. He shakes his head and juts out the other hand for a greeting shake. “I’mPuglseyawfultomeetya, fenkyou.”

“I’m Enid.” She accepts it.

He stops burning himself- he was burning himself somehow what the hell- and takes the metal out of his mouth to put into his pocket. 

“Yeah, I know, Wednesday babbled about you even before the whole alchemy pranked thing.” 

Enid stops stabbing attempt from Wednesday. 

“Oh did she?”

He snickers at his sister being held back.

“La neta, I mean during the break at first she just barricked herself in her room, playing bubblegum pop music which was so creepy, and then was up early mornings despite her nocturnalism-”

“That’s not a word, stop talking before I’ll make you regret it.” Wednesday cuts in.

Enid has to restrain both of her wrists.

“Oh look at that, love made you gross and have shitty threats, that’s even creepier. Anyway, nocturnality abandoned and then one of those weird mornings suddenly it’s ‘I’m going to California, visiting my roommate Enid, bye’, instead of just leaving without a word, cause guess what, then we’d have to track her down and notice why she went, and she went cause she’s gaaay-” 

Wednesday manages to get a hand out and send the knife his way. He dodges and cackles, then picks it up and throws it back.

But Enid catches it.

“Ah, mierda, the protection goes both ways, that’s no fun.” Pugsley grumbles, then his stomach grumbles so he runs off and skids down the stairwell.

“Bubblegum pop? Your ears didn’t bleed out?” Enid asks teasingly when releasing her girlfriend.

Wednesday blinks at her, steps backwards while still holding eye contact until her back hits the railing. At the point of contact she throws herself back in a clean flip down.

From the sound alone Enid knows it was a perfect landing.