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Ever since Wednesday was a child and had been introduced to the concepts she has always made her stance on romance and marriage clear.
To be reduced to nothing more than being a foolish girl in love and only a wife sounded like a laughable existence.
Her mother on the other hand was more than content to do nothing but spend her days with plants and potions and focus on her marriage and children.
Wednesday would rather rip off her fingernails with a pair of rusty pliers than follow in her footsteps.
Actually that sounded too fun to be a proper punishment.
Okay instead Wednesday would rather relieve her camp Chippewa days and instead of being able to escape like she had when she was younger she’d have to relive watching those horrid Disney movies from start to finish.
Now that sounds suitably horrifying.
Wednesday felt chills at the mere thought of it.
In Wednesday's defense she had nothing against her parents aside from her mother's lack of aspirations and the way she wished they both would stop panting over one another in public.
Or at least anywhere where there was other people.
Seriously, was it too hard for them to restrain themselves and wait until they were actually alone?
Knowing her parents whenever they actually bothered to notice they probably enjoyed the reaction they could get from their unwilling audiences.
Wednesday had become desensitized a long time ago to their displays of affection with the all the times her father was ready to jump her mothers bones anywhere and everywhere.
Pugsley had eventually learned how to deal with their parents' behavior for himself since Wednesday enjoyed his torment and disgust too much to help spare him.
Pugsley was already the weakest link in the family and he needed to toughen up and if that meant abandoning him to the mercy of their parents' excessive and indecent PDA then so be it.
Just as Wednesday had done Pugsley had learned and adapted which almost made her proud. Not that she’d ever say those words to his face. She showed it to him in her own way when there was no witnesses around.
Lilith forbade her mother from seeing her bonding with her brother when she was in a mood. Morticia would get ecstatic and in response her father would swoon at her delight and then they would start pawing at each other.
Then Wednesday would have to be wary of them reproducing all over again which could not do as dealing with Pugsley was more than enough for her.
Still, even though Wednesday constantly questioned her mothers lack of sanity when it came to emotional matters she couldn’t deny her mothers luck when it came to matters of the heart.
Her mother had been spared from the Frump curse. She had been one of fortune.
When Mortica had offered her heart to her father her father not only gave her his heart in return but he had also matched her undying love without even thinking about it.
It was as if loving Morticia was the easiest thing in the world for Gomez. Like it was all Gomez had ever known.
Honestly Wednesday envied them not that she would ever in a million years admit that outloud. Not even being forced to listen to every ear bleed inducing K-pop song on Enid’s playlist could get her to.
Her father and mother had a genuine soul deep connection. The level of devotion they held for one another was never ending. They would do just about anything for each other.
Truly Wednesday’s parents were a perfect macrame match made in hell.
Wednesday as she had constantly reminded her mother all her life was nothing like her and Wednesday knew she wasn’t going to get that kind of romance in her life.
When she presented as a Raven Wednesday wasn’t surprised as it only reinforced the idea of a life of solitude.
Ravens historically ended up alone in the end. They rarely got happy endings and usually met a tragic fate.
So when Wednesday finally fell prey to the Frump family curse and gave her heart to the monster who played her she was only resigned.
Tyler Galpin, the culprit in question, had always been a mystery to her.
He was something Wednesday had never accounted for.
How could she?
The idea of her falling for a boy was preposterous yet somehow she did.
Something about Tyler drew her in from the moment they met. Perhaps it was the way he refused to shy away from her and how he didn’t flinch at her comments. Everything she threw at him he had countered.
Wednesday remembered the confusion she felt because she couldn’t comprehend how on Earth she was drawn to a simple snarky sunshine coded small town barista.
Yet there was no denying she was drawn to him.
Just like in all twisted fairytales Wednesday had heard growing up Wednesday gave him her heart with a kiss and Tyler in return gave her his betrayal.
Tyler being unveiled as the monster that had been terrorizing the town only made Wednesday’s attraction to him make more sense.
Even after the reveal of who Tyler’s master was and the whole mess that was Laurel Gates' plot which Wednesday had swiftly foiled she couldn’t deny she still cared for him.
Tyler who was carted away and locked up was now out of sight but he wasn’t out of her mind. He lingered there as if he belonged there.
Wednesday still wanted him and it infuriated her.
Even though it was odd to exist with her heart not belonging to herself anymore, Wednesday was adaptable and quickly adjusted so she could continue like normal.
It wasn’t like Wednesday was short of things to do when the new school year started.
Wednesday dealt with her schools disgustingly out of character idolization of her, figured out who her stalker was and had been working relentlessly to try to save Enid’s life.
Plus her brother had been forced to join her this year and knowing him it would be a trainwreck. Poor Eugene.
Suffice to say Wednesday had a lot of things that kept her very busy.
Yet like the parasite he was Tyler had wormed his way into her thoughts and refused to leave even months later. He seemed to haunt her.
With her hands as full as they were Wednesday was growing frustrated.
Wednesday even debated calling her uncle Fester on her crystal ball and asking for a lobotomy in hopes that will do the trick of removing her thoughts of that boy so she could focus.
Then in a move that Wednesday never saw coming Tyler’s mediocre father had left her his investigation he’d been working on before he’d been killed. It was practically gift wrapped for her.
Which coming from the man who had sneered at her and dismissed her at getting involved last year was ironic. Leaving it to a teenager to solve his problems again and from the grave this time?
How pathetic.
Still when Wednesday dug deeper and found out they were planning on staging not only Tyler’s death and dragging him away for experimentation but also other outcasts she couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
So Wednesday did what she had been wanting to do but had been putting off and visited Tyler.
It went as well as she could have expected.
Wednesday had missed their banter. She missed the thrill of being faced with someone quick enough to keep up with her and the challenge it presented.
While Wednesday knew intellectually that she cared for Tyler deeply she refused to acknowledge it. It would give him more power over her if she did which she couldn’t allow.
Tyler in turn was furious and wounded by her refusal to admit what they were. For Wednesday to not acknowledge their past. He kept trying to force her hand and Wednesday kept reflecting.
Predictably Tyler lashed out and Wednesday who hated being cornered and confronted with what she didn’t want to talk about did the same.
Wednesday left with traitorous tears in her eyes after watching him get electrocuted by the collar that she had thought in the beginning of their meeting had suited him.
In conclusion the visit did not go well.
Things only got more complicated and convoluted from there because nothing was ever easy.
The following breakout of all the patients at Willow Hill happened so fast. Incidentally freeing them also meant freeing Tyler which she refused to think about.
In a plot twist that Wednesday could only dream of coming up with as a writer somehow Tyler’s mother was still alive.
Not only that but Francoise was apparently now his master.
Francoise, who had been experimented on and hadn’t been a functioning person since she was falsely declared dead, was definitely not suited to be in control of her son.
Wednesday pitied Tyler for his awful luck when it came to the people who held his leash.
Soon though Wednesday would soon pity herself because under his mothers orders Tyler threw her out of a window. Which resulted in Wednesday slipping into a coma.
Ever since she was little Wednesday had always wanted to be put in a coma but she would have preferred it to not happen like this.
It would be one thing if Tyler on his own violation did this to her but considering he was coerced and manipulated into doing it made the experience not as fulfilling.
Trust another Galpin to ruin yet another first for her.
Tyler’s father ruined her first and only crypt date and interrupted their almost kiss and now his mother has ruined her first coma.
It was unfair, truly.
The universe must have been testing her because Weems interrupted her already lackluster coma experience by informing her she was her new spirit guide.
Unfortunately Wednesday had no say in the matter.
At least even if she was stuck with Weems that meant Weems was also stuck with her.
It was entertaining watching Weems be so done with everything Wednesday got into. Though she could do with less judgement from a woman who covered up a student's death.
Thinking about Rowan led to thinking about Tyler and Wednesday couldn’t afford to do that right now yet here she was thinking about him.
Tyler who had put her in a coma under orders but gave her a bouquet of dead withered flowers and a hand delivered death threat which he broke into the hospital to make sure she got.
It was almost enough to make Wednesday swoon against her better judgment.
All Wednesday could do was analyze every moment of their last interaction.
Like how deranged Tyler looked when he saw her in that hospital hallway. How he had smirked as if he was in on a joke she didn't know. The irritating way he waved mockingly at her before leaving her line of sight.
Wednesday was starting to come to terms she’ll never escape from him even in her own mind.
It only got worse when Wednesday was looking through her books and read through Laurel’s journal that a Hyde without a master bond would die.
Which was just unacceptable.
The only way Tyler was dying was if she allowed him to and he did not have her permission.
Wednesday threw herself into fixing this problem as soon as possible. Capri’s doubt and Weems’s exasperation only fueled her. Wednesday was dissuaded at every turn but she didn’t care.
Capri called her insane. Which was fair. She said it was impossible. She clearly didn’t know Wednesday at all.
Weems had called her in denial and reckless beyond measure. Both were true statements.
After trial and error, Wednesday had successfully followed the instructions of Laurel gates equations to the T. She knew that if she used the contents of the syringe there would be retreat from Tyler. No more running.
Still there was no other choice to make here.
Not with Tyler’s wellbeing on the line.
Now Wednesday only needed a way to get him in one place long enough for this plan to work.
It was a good thing then that Tyler had already told her what he was after. Twice now. Wednesday hated the idea of using Enid as bait but it had to be done.
Enid was the perfect carrot on the stick that would get him.
Wednesday was actually grateful for once that the previous year inspired confidence in her abilities as it made it easier to get the Nightshades to help her.
Enid probably had something to do with that. Her best friend could be charming when she wanted to be. Wednesday couldn’t imagine doing this without her.
Now Wednesday could pull off this trap anywhere as it wasn’t the location that mattered. For some reason though her eyes kept getting caught on one building in particular.
Wednesday would love to say she chose the church for the dramatic effect. For the irony of the situation and what she intended to do. The joke of tying her life to another’s.
She would be lying though if she did.
With her allies and her best friend in position and Wednesday wearing her favorite battle casual dress and coverup she knew why she picked this place.
It was because it was the closest thing to a wedding that Wednesday will ever have. Although she doubted she made much of a bride.
Wednesday watched from the shadows as Tyler arrived.
He looked paler than before and seemed to almost be in withdrawal. His eyes kept flickering around, unable to stay focused on one thing for too long. The shade of them refused to settle and kept switching.
Tyler looked feral in a way that made Wednesday's stomach twist rebelliously. She knew he was dying but damn did he look good doing it.
“Where’s Wednesday?,” was the first thing that came out Tyler’s mouth as he scanned the crowd unimpressed and impatient.
Something about how even though Tyler came here to take care of Enid and still asked about Wednesday first pleased her. It made her feel almost smug.
Her allies stood firm with Enid leading the charge.
Wednesday watched with pride as her best friend properly raised her sword in an almost semi confident grip.
It seemed Wednesday's lessons on proper weapon handling didn’t go to waste then.
“Threatening me with swords?,” Tyler mocked, eyes darkening as he looked at the group of people who stood in his way. “Those are no match for a Hyde.”
Wednesday paid no mind to the group as they began to distract Tyler. Insulting him and jeering at him anything to keep him in one place. She had just started to move when Tyler began to transform.
Tyler had apparently lost his patience with them as he roared in their faces. Wednesday, light on her feet quickly approached him, keeping the hand with the syringe down and pulling out a slip of paper with the other.
“Tyler!,” Wednesday called out. “Enough.”
As Tyler turned at the sound of her voice and right as he prowled close enough Wednesday pricked her finger just slightly on the tip of the syringe. With a drop of her blood she activated the silencing ward she had at the ready.
An invisible bubble formed above them keeping all sounds in. Wednesday may have brought other people here as a necessity but she wasn’t going to let them hear what she had to say.
It was bad enough that Wednesday had to be vulnerable with Tyler. She wasn’t going to be vulnerable in front of other people as well.
Wednesday slipped the piece of paper in her pocket as she focused on Tyler who loomed over her. Their size difference was almost comical.
Tyler’s monstrous form towered over her but Wednesday didn’t care. “You were right,” she admitted, staring into his bulging eyes. “I was attracted to you.”
If she wasn’t mistaken Tyler had relaxed just the slightest bit at her words. As if he had been waiting to hear her admit it.
“But you know there’s only one way we can be together,” Wednesday explained.
Wednesday watched as his eyes widened further at her words. Tyler leaned in closer his breath musing her bangs from their usual orderly position on her forehead.
“You once accused me that I was running from you. I was,” Wednesday kept her eyes on his face even as she had to force the words out. “I’m not running. Not anymore.”
Carefully Wednesday raised her arm and the syringe up so he could see it. From her peripheral vision she could see the group she brought start to back away slowly as if in anticipation.
“I am not Gates. I am not your mother,” Wednesday told Tyler. “I told you I can be obsessive and selfish, maybe even cruel at times and that I often put my interests first. That was all true. It still is.”
“I don’t know what will happen,” Wednesday admitted. “I’ve been told this whole idea was suicidal at best and that it was impossible.”
Tyler snorted at that as if he found it as funny as Wednesday did when she was told that.
“You once told me we were two black hearted souls ready to pillage the world together.” Wednesday moved forward before stopping just a step away from him, letting him take the next step. “I’m ready if you are.”
Wednesday felt flayed open as Tyler searched her face. She didn’t know what he was looking for or if he found it but eventually Tyler took that final step forward.
Tyler began to move his arm and Wednesday braced herself for being thrown or knocked to the side only for him to just hold it out to her.
Wednesday was confused for one second before she realized what he was doing. Tyler was giving her easy access.
“There will be no going back from this,” Wednesday warned him even as she readied the syringe.
Tyler gave her an impatient snarl and jerked his arm in her direction, seemingly annoyed at her taking so long. Wednesday didn’t make him wait or give him time to back out as she lined the syringe up and pushed down the plunger.
The reaction was immediate.
Tyler’s body started to vibrate and shake aggressively as if trying to shake something off. He was hunched inwards, whining and growling. His head whipped back and forth with his giant eyes closed.
Wednesday briefly saw her entourage start to panic out of the corner of her eye but since they didn’t try to approach she didn’t care.
Tyler let out one final high pitch shriek and Wednesday felt the connection snap into place. It almost felt like it had already been there as if it had been slowly cementing itself over time but only now became solid.
It was admittedly unsettling the way it seemed to naturally settle in the back of her mind like it had always belonged there.
To Wednesday it was like Tyler had simply become another part of her. The other half of her really.
Tyler’s body began to warp and loudly crack as it started to shrink. Once he finished shifting back and was human again he fell to his knees in front of her fully naked.
Wednesday felt him pant from exhaustion and exertion as Tyler leaned his head against her stomach. With one hand she removed her outer layer and draped her black cloak-like coat over him while her other hand rested against his head.
Tyler wrapped his arms around her, locking her in place so she couldn't escape from him. As if she wanted to. She literally orchestrated this whole thing to tie him to her.
There was nowhere Wednesday could go that he couldn’t find her and it seemed the reverse was true too.
Wednesday absentmindedly pet his hair and she felt the stares of her classmates burning a hole into her. She hopes they knew better than to spread what they witnessed.
“Has anything told you that you’re insane?,” Tyler eventually murmured his voice rough from all the noises of pain he made.
“I’ve heard that on occasion, yes,” Wednesday answered, smirking.
“Well you are,” Tyler’s breathing had improved from that rasping exhale he had earlier to something steadier and he already looked less pale. “Cockroach, this was nuts even for you.”
Wednesday offered a shrug knowing he’d feel the motion. “Well it worked didn’t it?”
Tyler let out a disbelieving noise against her as if he couldn’t comprehend just why she was like this.
Over to the side Wednesday saw Enid shoot her powered up glare with her wolf eyes at Tyler making her stop the motion of her hand earning a whine.
“Stop that,” Wednesday rolled her eyes. “If we don’t get moving soon Enid will storm over here and trust me you don’t want that since she will try to claw your face off.”
“She’s that mad huh?,” Tyler wryly asked, already knowing the answer.
“She’s mad on my behalf,” Wednesday explained, her voice full of fondness. “She’s ridiculous."
Tyler flinched as if just remembering what he did to her. “Wednesday I-,”
Wednesday sighed and she tugged his hair harshly causing him to yelp. “Cease and desist that behavior immediately,” she told him. “I found the coma delightful before an unexpected guest barged in uninvented."
“Unexpected guest?,” Tyler repeated, sounding bewildered. “You were in a coma how…?”
“Don’t worry about it. The past is the past,” Wednesday dismissed as she moved her hand to his shoulder and pulled lightly, asking him wordlessly to get up. “You should be far more concerned about what’s happening now.”
Tyler pulled back and got up as he adjusted the fabric to cover him better. Wednesday only mourned the loss of his warmth for a minute before he was wrapping an arm around her waist.
Wednesday gave a small satisfied smile before her face fell back into her usual neutral expression. “Ready?,” she asked him as she reached in her pocket and drew out the paper that had the still active sigil on it.
“Ready,” Tyler confirmed, eyeing the slip of paper cautiously as he smelt her blood on it. “Let's face the Spanish Inquisition.”
Wednesday ripped the paper and felt as the silencing bubble around them popped out of existence. “That’s the spirit.”
They started to walk towards the group of students who all alternated between looking at Tyler, his arm around her waist or the wall.
Enid however was tapping her foot impatiently with her arms crossed looking furious.
“Any words of advice?,” Tyler asked her, eyeing the pissed off werewolf warily.
“Just one,” Wednesday smirked as they stopped in front of them. “Duck.”
Tyler swore and he immediately ducked, getting out of reach just barely missing Enid’s outstretched claws that had been aimed at his face.
Wednesday watched with open amusement and the lingering students with horror as her best friend tried to kill her monster and her monster tried to avoid being maimed.
Tyler even started to fight back which made it even more exciting.
Wednesday will stop them eventually obviously but it would be good for them to get it out of their systems now then to have this happen later.
Besides, it was much too entertaining to pass up on.
And who would say no to a free show?
The only thing missing was the popcorn.
She’ll make sure to bring some next time.