Chapter Text
The official report had been that Laurel Gates was secretly an outcast and had been the monster in the woods the whole time. It was a believable story, she had the motive, it would've explained how Laurel survived the shipwreck.
That's the story that Principal Weems had spread to the Nevermore students and families. To ensure everyone that there was no more risk and that the monster had been taken care of.
That was the report that Donovan Galpin had written up and the one that went public. Nobody was going to question the word of the sheriff when such a large scandal had shaken the town of Jericho.
However, when the Sheriff announced the case was solved, everyone chose to believe it and move on. Practically no one in the public eye seemed to coincidentally realize that Tyler Galpin had gone virtually missing at the same time.
Wednesday Addams noticed that Tyler Galpin was missing. When she circled around town, Tyler hadn't shown up to any of his usual shifts at Weathervane. His car was unmoved in the driveway, more often than not blocked by the sheriff's car.
Even when Thing had looked in Tyler’s bedroom, the room remained untouched and empty. There had been no sight of Tyler Galpin anywhere.
The Nightshades, while they knew the truth of what had really happened. Who the monster in the woods really was, they simply just shrugged it off and tried to convince Wednesday that if it wasn't an issue at the moment why should they make it a larger issue.
Even Enid, who had been nearly mauled to death by Tyler simply just put a hand on Wednesday’s shoulder and told her to “Let it go.” If there was one thing about Wednesday Addams, she would not simply just let it go.
It had taken her a week of observation before she found herself knocking on the front door of the Galpin household. Her knocking only persisted when she wasn't given an answer until the front door flew up to show a very irritated looking Sheriff Galpin.
“Addams, what do you want?” He asked gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked tired. Not just his usual tired from the job but a different type of tire that wore deep into his eyes. Emotional exhaustion would be a more appropriate terminology.
“What happened to your son? You may have been able to fool the public on who the real monster is but you're forgetting who knows the truth.” Wednesday spoke succinctly and firmly, standing tall while keeping her eyes locked on the man.
“You need to let this go.” Galpin said in a tone that sounded more like a warning than anything else.
“I am extremely aware of what I saw. I know that your son is a Hyde and I have a right to know where he’s lurking after everything he has put me and friends through.” Wednesday’s tone didn't soften, if anything it harshened but there was a hurt hidden deep, deep within. Wednesday could see Galpin’s jaw tighten as he let out a breath.
“He's not going to hurt anyone if that's what you're worried about. I have things under control.” Galpin retorted.
“Because you did such a great job keeping an eye on your son before all of this occurred. That isn't an answer.” Wednesday was getting irritated, shouldn't Galpin know by now anytime that he didn't cooperate with her that she would just get what she wanted in the way she wanted. Not the way that would be easiest for him.
“I know I've been a shitty parent, I don't need you to tell me that but things are under control.” Galpin firmed his tone as Wednesday simply just gave him a glare.
“I'm not leaving until you tell me where he is.” Wednesday said firmly as Galpin finally stepped aside to let Wednesday into the house. What she saw utterly shocked her.
In the living room there was a surveillance feed on the TV of a place that she didn't recognize to be in the Galpin household. There were feeds for a living area, kitchen and a sleeping area. She could see Tyler asleep on the bed, a strong silver chain around his ankle. A dog, one she had learned to be called Elvis, was asleep on Tyler’s legs. Her heart betrayed her and sped up at the sight of him. Albeit blurry but it was still him.
The rest of the living room was covered in notebooks, textbooks and novels all opened to different pages. There was a notepad next to an empty cup of coffee with the sheriff’s handwriting. Wednesday found herself picking it up to read a bulleted list.
- Male hydes more submissive/can’t survive without master
- Males can survive max a month without a master
- Ty started coughing up blood on Tuesday
- Will go insane, hallucinate, psychotic
- Can hydes take on new masters?
- Fran’s diary suggests hypnosis
“He's dying.” Wednesday spoke when she looked up to Galpin who was shifting uncomfortably where he was standing behind the couch. She put the notes back down where it laid
“He doesn't have long.” He affirmed to the girl whose lips turned downward at his words.
“I want to see him.” Wednesday spoke before she could truly process the weight of the words that had come out of her mouth.
“Absolutely not. He's not safe to be around right now.” Galpin said, shaking his head immediately.
“Was he ever?” Wednesday asked simply. That question had cut the sheriff deep because it was true, if he had pushed Tyler would he have just snapped and let the Hyde out.
“Regardless, he’s not who you remember right now. He's being handled, you can go and we never have to speak again, sound good to you, Addams.” Galpin said with a dark look, one that was reminiscent of a shadow moving across his face.
Wednesday’s eyes only narrowed as she gave a glare towards the Sheriff. She was seeing Tyler Galpin, whether his father was going to help or hinder her she was going to see him. She didn't dignify him with an answer and looked at the books spread out around the room. Picking up one hefty looking book. That was until Galpin forcefully grabbed the book out of her hands.
“I'm serious, get out of here, Addams.” Galpin said in a rough voice.
“I told you my terms for leaving.” Addams spoke harshly, pulling the book back from the older man. When she looked down she noticed they were the same pages from Faulkner’s journal, photocopied and written upon.
The Sheriff let out an annoyed voice out the back of his throat. He couldn't believe he was fighting with a teenager that wasn't even his own kid. That was until Tyler woke up in the camera feed, coughing violently causing Elvis to start frantically howling.
“Shit.” Galpin spoke to himself and started walking towards the back door of the house towards the backyard. “Stay here.” The man spoke to Wednesday. Both of them knew it was done in vain as Wednesday followed the man outside.
Wednesday would never admit she was shocked to see stairs show underneath the doghouse towards something. She kept her distance for approximately 30 feet. Let the sheriff lead but cautiously hid behind a wall watching the scene in front of her.
The sheriff was rubbing Tyler’s back with one hand and covering his mouth with tissues with the other. Wednesday was far away but she could still see the tinge of red through the tissues. She saw Tyler weakly push his father’s hands away as the coughing fit ended.
Up close he looked paler, not full of that golden glow that he always had about himself. It wasn't the paleness she wore so pridefully either, it was a disturbing look on him. Tyler’s death was only going to come at her hands, not from something as innocuous as dying from not having a master.
“Wednesday.” Tyler’s voice, rough from coughing, called her back to reality from where she was hiding behind the wall. She stepped out in full, ignoring the Sheriff’s grumblings about “Damn kid doesn't know how to listen.”
“Dad, can you give us a minute?” Tyler asked in a softer voice, the pleading look in his eyes caused the sheriff to fold in exactly 10 seconds.
“Fine, I'll be watching though.” Galpin grumbled standing up and giving Wednesday a glare as he left the bunker, Elvis trailing behind him. Presumably to go watch from where the cameras were streaming in the house.
“You're dying.” Wednesday broke the silence, crossing the room and standing in front of where he was sitting down on the bed.
“I guess we're not easing into this. Can you sit down?” Tyler asked shifting towards his pillows, making more space on the bed. Wednesday simply narrowed her eyes at him but awkwardly moved so she was sitting at least a foot away from him. Her feet were firmly planted on the ground and back straightened sharply.
“Nobody seems to notice your missing presence. Your master's death has overcompensated for that.” Wednesday spoke clinically as she turned to look at Tyler. There were now claw marks across his face from his fight with Enid. They would probably scar over if Tyler remained alive long enough for them to heal.
“You noticed.” Tyler spoke before putting his head in his hands. Elbows resting on top of his knees. “What are you doing here, Wednesday? Are you here to gloat?” He asked in a voice that sounded so beat down and defeated.
Wednesday’s lips ticked downward as he was the complete opposite of how he had been the last few times they had seen each other. The cocky glow he had about himself was gone. She was assuming the cockiness was more the Hyde than Tyler and the broken boy in front of her was actually Tyler.
In all fairness, Wednesday didn't know what she was doing here. She didn't know why she cared so much about how Tyler was doing despite his betrayal. She wanted to blame it on her need to control everything. To blame it on the fact that she was the one to kill Laurel Gates and Joseph Crackstone so she should also be able to finish off Tyler.
However, when he finally picked his head up to look at her with his sad hazel eyes she felt completely and utterly trapped. It was almost a relief to see she was as sad and miserable as he was.
“Was it real or were you simply under your master’s orders to distract me?” Wednesday asked, almost sounding nervous, looking into his sad eyes. It was Tyler’s turn to frown and at that moment Wednesday decided that his frown was her least favorite thing she had ever seen. Tyler leaned into her personal space, leaning in so she could feel the heat from his breath against her ear
“Of course it was real. I'm so sorry, for everything. I never wanted to hurt you. Knowing I hurt you haunts me more than anything I've ever done.” Tyler whispered into her ear, very hesitantly letting his hand closest to her reach to gently caress the back of her neck, right under her braids.
“How much of it was real?” Wednesday’s voice remained in a whisper, letting herself lean into the way his hand was caressing her. She typically hated physical touch but the way Tyler’s hands felt on her was always such a comfort.
“All of it. You're intelligent, witty, beautiful, how could I have not fallen for you. Laurel only told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you stayed alive but that wasn't until after the Rave’N. Everything I did was because I have been utterly obsessed and infatuated with you since the day that we met.” Tyler’s voice was firm but quiet, reassurance threaded through every word that he was saying.
Wednesday felt a sense of relief throughout her body that she didn't know she was holding in as she turned to look at Tyler. She could see tears that were welled up in his eyes starting to make their way down his face. If it was anyone else she would've thought the display pathetic but she found herself wiping the tears away with her thumbs. Making sure that she was catching them before they could dry on his face.
She held Tyler’s face in her hands, her thumbs resting across his cheek bones and fingers splayed towards the back of his head. She could feel her heart rate increase as she pulled him closer and leaned in to press a kiss against his lips.
Their lips met, picking up right where they had left off in Weathervane before they were ever so rudely interrupted by Wednesday's vision. Tyler snaked his other arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap to keep her flush against him as they kissed, letting her thighs find their place on either side of his hips. He kept his arm so tight around her almost like he was scared that she would disappear if he let go.
She could taste the blood on his mouth from his coughing fit. It was a reminder that he was sick, he was dying and if she didn't figure something out he would be gone. She couldn't leave this to the Sheriff, if she did, he would likely die before she could ask him all the questions she had about Laurel.
The kiss also had a salty taste, likely from the tears that were streaming down Tyler’s face but it wasn't until they pulled away from air that Wednesday realized that her face was also wet with tears.
“Please don't cry, Wednesday.” Tyler whispered, pulling his hand back from behind her neck to wipe the tears away from her face. No one had ever wiped tears from her face before, it was such an unfamiliar feeling to cry. One that she had promised she would never do again. Not after Nero. But here she was crying in a bunker over Tyler Galpin as she sat on his lap.
A sob came out of her mouth as Tyler wrapped both of his arms around her back and let her bury her face into his chest. Taking in his scent as the tears let their way come down her face, processing everything. Tyler’s betrayal, his condition, his confession of his feelings being the truth.
“I got you, I got you, baby.” Tyler’s words were soft but reassuring, like she almost could've believed everything would be okay in his arms. Wednesday didn't even correct him on the offensive pet name.
“I won't let you die. If you're going to die it will be done at my hands and only mine.” Wednesday’s words were muffled from his chest, moving her arms to wrap tightly around Tyler’s neck.
“There's no other way I'd rather go.” Tyler murmured into the top of her head before pulling her back from his chest so he could look at her brown eyes.
That was enough for him to decide to reclaim Wednesday’s lips with his own. He leaned back against the concrete wall with her in his lap as they kissed, ignoring the world outside. It didn't matter right now, the only thing that mattered was the person in front of them.