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“Brrruu…”
Pugsley excitedly whipped his head around to face his roommate. “Did you hear that?! He just said his first word!” He turned to look back at the zombie in fascination. Eugene frowned.
“Bbrruuhhh…” Slurp gurgled slowly.
“That’s right, I am your bruh!” Pugsley smiled widely, sounding like a proud parent as he looked at the creature fondly.
Eugene rolled his eyes. “He’s a zombie. He’s not trying to call you his bruh, he’s trying to say BRAINS.”
Pugsley quickly wrapped an arm around the back of Eugene’s neck and pulled him away, huddling in close as he brought his voice down to a whisper. “Don’t use the Z word! He’s sensitive!” Eugene gave him an incredulous look. “How do you not know this? We’re supposed to be his friends!” Pugsley continued, both of their backs turned as Slurp staggered closer. The undead creature suddenly shot one arm out, grabbing Eugene by the shoulder.
Before Pugsley could even restrain him with electricity, Slurp bit down onto Eugene’s forearm, the boy letting out a horrified screech as he instinctively swatted at the monster’s head. “AAAAHHH! IT BIT ME! IT BIT MEEE!”
Pugsley gasped, immediately springing into action and grabbing Eugene around the waist, wrenching the other boy out of Slurp’s grip in a swift motion. He held him tightly to his chest, pulling him away from the zombie who now stood before them both, groans increasing in volume. “B-Bad Slurp! Bad!” The Addams boy exclaimed at the creature.
Eugene struggled in Pugsley’s grip as he continued to yell hysterically, still staring at the bite that now bled heavily. “IT BIT ME! I PROBABLY HAVE SO MANY DISEASES IN MY BLOODSTREAM RIGHT NOW!”
Slurp stumbled slowly after them, reaching out for Eugene and letting out a guttural sound in response.
Pugsley held Eugene back with one hand, before firing a zap of electricity towards Slurp. The zombie stumbled back with a low guttural groan as Pugsley quickly guided Eugene to sit down on the ground, kneeling down beside him. “You’re okay, you’re okay. You’re okay, Eugene!” He quickly reassured, pupils dilating at the sight of fresh blood seeping through the wound.
The injured boy cradled his arm to his chest, breathing in quick, shuddering breaths. His face was flushed bright red and looked just about ready to cry as he tried to process what had just happened. He stared at the wound with wide eyes as his hand shook from the adrenaline.
“H-He... he bit me! I... I don't... I can't... oh God, what do I do?! I... I'm gonna turn... aren't I?! I'll turn into one of those things- I know it! That's how it works, right? I'm gonna turn into a flesh-eating monster!”
Pugsley frantically shook his head, moving his hands to Eugene’s shoulders to grip them firmly as he spoke in an urgent tone. “No, no, no! You’re not gonna turn into a zombie, Eugene! That’s not how that works at all! I promise. You’re gonna be okay, just- sit tight. I’ll be right back.” With that, he quickly got to his feet and began hurriedly looking around for supplies before rushing to the tool bench in the corner. “Do you have any medical supplies in here?”
Eugene nodded shakily, pointing to a small tool box that was tucked away in the corner. There was still a clear panic in his glazed over eyes as he sat rigidly with his injured arm in his lap.
Pugsley swiftly made his way over to the toolbox, rummaging through it in a rush as he spoke to Eugene. “I can bandage you up! Everything’s gonna be alright! You’re not gonna turn, there we go, gauze...” He grabbed the supplies needed before hurrying back to Eugene, crouching down beside him again. He grabbed Eugene’s arm and began to gently wrap the gauze around the wound.
“There, there, see? You’ll be fine. It won’t even scar, promise. You trust me, right?”
Eugene’s eyes were still wide with adrenaline and fear, but he tried to calm his breathing. "I trust you," he managed to say between shaky breaths. He looked down at the gauze wrapped tightly around his arm. "I-I'm not gonna turn, right? You're sure?"
Pugsley paused in his movements to look up at him, offering a reassuring smile. “I promise you; you’re not gonna turn. I won’t let you, and that’s a promise. Just take deep breaths, Eugene. I'm here." He then finished up wrapping the gauze before gently taping the end, placing a comforting hand on the other boy’s shoulder. “I think the whole turning thing is a myth anyway…”
Eugene inhaled shakily, nodding as he tried to slow his breathing. The reassurance helped to calm him slightly, but he was still visibly shaken. He looked down at the bandage, reaching out tentatively to gently touch it with his fingertips.
"Y-You're right," he said, his voice slightly trembly. "It's just... just a myth. I'm gonna be okay. I’m gonna be okay… no more comas or near death experiences for me… i’ll be fine….”
Pugsley nodded firmly, squeezing Eugene’s shoulder gently. His eyes flickered upward for a moment to see Slurp shuffling back over towards them, seemingly having forgotten the whole fiasco that had just taken place. Pugsley quickly shot a short zap of electricity towards the creature, making him freeze in his tracks.
He then focused his attention back on Eugene. “You’ll be just fine, I said so, didn’t I?" He spoke reassuringly, offering a soft smile. "You’re a tough beekeeper, Eugene. You can handle a silly zombie bite, you’ve handled a Hyde gutting you.”
Eugene gave a shaky, half-panicked laugh in response. He knew the other was just trying to lighten the mood, but the memory sent a fresh wave of anxiety through him.
"Yeah, yeah... I guess you're right. If I can survive a run-in with a Hyde, surely a little zombie bite won't do me in, right?" He winced as he shifted his injured arm slightly. "Still stings like hell, though..."
Pugsley chuckled softly, his eyebrows furrowing with concern. He gently took hold of Eugene's wounded arm again, examining the gauze.
"It will probably sting for a while." He spoke quietly, gently tracing his thumb over the bandage. "I'm sorry this happened, Eugene, truly. I know you wanted this year to go better for you, but I… I screwed it up already. You don’t deserve to feel like you have to constantly live in fear because of other people’s problems.” His hand drifted down slowly, cautiously, intertwining their fingers together. “You don’t deserve to get wrapped up in my impulsive tendencies.”
Eugene's breath hitched slightly, his chest tightening. He swallowed hard, his gaze lowering to their linked hands. "It's... It's not your fault." He said after a moment, his voice quiet. "You didn't mean for this to happen. I know you don't mean to cause trouble."
He paused, his thumb instinctively brushing over the back of Pugsley's hand in gentle circles. "And I don't... I don't feel like I'm constantly living in fear... not with you."
Pugsley's gaze lingered on their intertwined hands, a subtle pink flush spreading across his cheeks. He gave Eugene's hand a gentle squeeze, his expression softening as he looked up at him. “I... I'm glad," he murmured softly, his voice taking on a more vulnerable tone. He lifted his gaze to Eugene's, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I don't ever want you to be scared around me."
"I'm not," Eugene responded, his voice equally soft. "Not around you."
His thumb continued to brush soft circles against the back of Pugsley's hand, a small, tentative smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I know you wouldn’t purposely put me in danger. I just happen to be a danger magnet, or something.”
Pugsley subconsciously leaned in a little closer, his own thumb tracing slow circles on the back of the other boy's hand.
"You're not a danger magnet, Eugene..." He murmured, his free hand absently reaching for one of the other boy's curls, gently twirling it gently around his finger. "It's just... bad luck. But I swear; I'll make sure you're safe. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you during the remainder of this school year. Ever."
Eugene let out a soft, slightly shaky exhale. "You can't protect me all the time…” He murmured, his voice soft and a hint of vulnerability edging into his words. “Don’t promise something like that.”
Pugsley took a deep breath before gently tugging on the lock of curly hair he was twirling around his finger, coaxing Eugene to look at him.
"I know... I know I can't protect you all the time," he admitted, his gaze meeting the other's, "but it doesn't mean I don't want to. I care about you, Eugene. I care about you a lot. Even though we haven’t known each other for very long… and i’m sorry if that weirds you out.”
Eugene swallowed hard, his eyes meeting the other boy's gaze. "No, it doesn't weird me out," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His fingers involuntarily curled tighter around Pugsley’s hand, the feel of his heartbeat quickening against his ribcage. "I… I think I care about you too, y’know? I mean, we’re roommates, it’s only natural that we do.”
Pugsley nodded slightly, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, roommates..." he echoed quietly, his thumb gently brushing over Eugene’s knuckles. "Only natural..." He swallowed hard, feeling a hint of boldness surge through him, a new wave of emotions he hadn't quite felt before.
“I like how your skin feels against mine!” He blurted out.
Eugene felt a jolt at the sudden admission, his face immediately flushing even redder.
"Y-You what?" He managed to croak.
Pugsley flushed a deep crimson, the realization of what he had just admitted sinking in like quicksand. His grip on Eugene's hand tightened, the words spilling from his lips uncontrollably, almost as if he couldn't stop himself.
"I...I just...I like how soft your skin feels..." He murmured, lowering his gaze, the words coming out in a breathless whisper, "Your skin is smooth and...and warm. Everything is usually so cold for me but you aren’t.. and I like it. I like it a lot.”
Eugene swallowed, his fingers gently squeezing Pugsley's hand in return.
"You... you uh.. like how my skin feels…" He repeated quietly, the words feeling foreign to his own ears.
He paused, his mind whirling as he grappled with a mixture of surprise and... something else he couldn't quite identify.
"Uhm… thank.. you?”
The Addams boy dared to raise his gaze to meet Eugene's, his cheeks still flushed, the words continuing to spill out. "I-I mean, it’s no wonder Slurp tried to take a bite outta you, haha! If I was a zombie I’d probably try to do the same! B-But i’m not a zombie so i’m not gonna bite into you. Wouldn’t dream of it. But now that i’m thinking it and saying it out loud I might dream of it now. But that’s completely out of my control!”
Eugene stared back at Pugsley, feeling as if his brain was short circuiting trying to process everything he was saying. He tried to respond, to say something witty or clever, but all that came out was a confused sputter.
"You… you'd bite me?" He managed to croak out, completely bewildered.
Pugsley quickly shook his head vigorously, his cheeks turning even more ruddy. "No! I mean... only hypothetically! I would never actually bite you!" he quickly clarified, his grip on Eugene's hand tightening. "It's just... y'know... you look very bitable sometimes."
"Very bitable!?" Eugene repeated incredulously, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline.
"What do you mean, I look 'bitable?!'" He asked, his voice raising a few octaves. "Do I have a 'Please Bite Me' sign on my forehead or something?!"
"No! Of course not!" Pugsley stammered. "It's just.. it's just... y'know... sometimes you look so soft and like... and your hair is curly and your skin is so smooth and your shoulders... I MEAN!"
He abruptly cut himself off, his face feeling like it was on fire. “Look, i’m just saying that I understand why Slurp wanted to bite you!”
Eugene's eyes widened even more, if possible, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly like a fish out of water.
"My hair? My shoulders?!"
He let out a strangled laugh, somewhere between disbelief and hysteria. “Don’t agree with the zombie of all things!”
Pugsley tried to backtrack, his voice still wavering slightly from panic. "I-I mean, Slurp is a zombie, it doesn't actually have thoughts! It just sees a soft, biteable human and goes for it! It just so happens that you meet the bill, Eugene! You’re a little snack!”
Eugene's expression morphed from surprised to dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"A… WHAT?!” He practically shouted.
Pugsley quickly covered Eugene's mouth with his free hand, shushing him urgently. "Shhh! Not so loud!" he urged, his heart racing.
His gaze darted around, his shoulders tensing in anxiety as he listened for any sounds outside the shed that might indicate someone had heard their raised voices. Once he was convinced no one had overheard, he slowly removed his hand from the other boy's mouth.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud!" he whispered desperately, still trying to backpedal frantically. "I don’t know how to describe it, okay?!”
Eugene was left completely befuddled, his mind still reeling from the surreal turn the conversation had taken. How did they get here exactly?
He took a deep breath, trying to collect himself, his voice still tinged with disbelief. "Pugsley, is this your way of attempting to… flirt?" he asked cautiously.
Pugsley's face turned even redder, if possible, and he averted his gaze embarrassedly.
“N-No! No, I just- I just wanted you to know- I mean-“ His eyes darted down to stare at the bandaged wound, gears turning in his head. “W-We should probably go get you tested for rabies.”
Eugene's eyebrows furrowed, his bewilderment turning into confusion.
"Wait, what? Tested for rabies? Why?"
He raised his arm slightly, glancing down at the bandage that covered the bite wound. “Dude, I don’t think zombies would carry rabies—“
Pugsley waved a hand dismissively, trying to brush off his previous statement. "Nevermind that. Forget I said anything. What was the conversation about before...? Was it...?"
He trailed off, his eyes drifting to Eugene's shoulder and focusing on the smooth, unblemished skin above the collar of his shirt, visible from where the top buttons had been left undone. His mind involuntarily began to fantasize, his fingers twitching slightly.
He shook his head. “Scratch that, back to the rabies thing. I’m taking you to the nurse.” He quickly stood to his feet, nearly giving himself whiplash as he tugged his roommate up with him.
"W-Wait a minute—" Eugene protested, but before he could fully register what was happening, Pugsley had already begun dragging him out of the shed.
Pugsley stubbornly ignored any further objections, his fingers like a vice grip around Eugene's wrist, his pace brisk. The only coherent thought racing through his mind was, "I just wanted to bite him... I think i’m the one with rabies!”