Chapter Text
Tyler had never wanted Wednesday dead and he knew she felt the same. Even as they kept being pitted against each other and as they enjoyed antagonizing one another.
It was true they had hurt each other in the past and they both had enjoyed seeing the other suffer. Catching the other off guard and unexpectedly too made it even better.
They were evenly matched and they both knew it and liked it that way. No matter what they did to each other they both kept leaving the other waiting for more.
A tit always exchanged for a tat.
Tyler lived for their little game of push and pull. Just like him Wednesday could dish it out just as well as she could take it.
Which Wednesday did. Constantly.
Ever since they met Wednesday had Tyler on his toes, never knowing what she was going to do next. Even after time had passed he still kept getting surprised by her.
Wednesday never failed to disappoint and Tyler was always eagerly waiting to find out what Wednesday would do next.
Mutually they had come to a silent understanding. An unspoken challenge they had issued to see who would give in first.
It was a question for the ages.
Who will be the one to give up?
Who will be the one to fold and admit defeat?
Wednesday Addams the Raven psychic who was a lethal weapon condensed into a small frame or Tyler Galpin the now known homicidal Hyde that had cleverly ran circles around her.
Truthfully neither of them knew who would win. If there ever was a winner. Honestly it seemed like even if one of them did raise the white flag the game would still continue.
Tyler knew that he couldn’t imagine a life without Wednesday and even though it seemed like hell would freeze over before she’d ever admit it he knew she felt the same.
Wednesday Addams had ironically become the one bright light in his otherwise dreary world. Effortlessly and without even trying.
She had carved herself a place in Tyler’s heart. There was no way to remove her without losing parts of himself with her and the reverse was just as true.
In the short time they’ve known each other the damage they did to each other was unreparable. They were permanently altered.
To be loved was to be changed after all.
And they did change each other for better and for worse.
Not that Wednesday would be caught saying the word love or even referencing it out loud. Regardless, it was still the truth.
Tyler knew that for sure when he mocked her in the police station back in her first year about losing. Her expression confirmed it for him.
For all that everyone harped about how Wednesday was an unfeeling uncaring machine her eyes without a doubt always gave what she was feeling away.
There was a saying about how eyes were the window to the soul and that fit perfectly for Wednesday. Her eyes were always so full of emotions if anyone bothered to look.
Most people hadn’t cared enough to. They just shrugged and wrote her off as a cruel sadistic gothic teenager who had no heart and went about their day.
Tyler however had learned the ins and outs of Wednesday Addams and became an expert in all things her.
Wednesday operated differently than most people. Her thought process was insane and she made jumps that he couldn’t even process. She felt things deeply but had no clue what to do with it all.
It was a constant internal and external struggle for Wednesday to feel so many things while actively trying to deny that she did.
Half the time Tyler just said and did things to watch as she struggled. She always looked so cute when she was offended and put out.
Tyler had and still did delight in being the most often cause of making her deal with emotions. He’d be the reigning champ of that until the end of life and even beyond it if he had any say.
Even after he was locked up and Wednesday was out of reach Tyler relished in knowing somewhere she was still fighting what she felt for him.
He thought of her as much as she thought of him. Tyler knew that as sure as he knew the sky was blue.
They were trapped in a never ending dance. Even though they kept switching who led and what kind of dance it was, the dance still continued.
Tyler wouldn’t have had it any other way. It wasn’t like he had ever stood a chance against Wednesday anyway.
The truth of it all was Wednesday Addams had Tyler hooked from the very start. How could she have not?
From Wednesday’s memorable introduction to how she looked she had ensnared him.
She appeared in front of him in a cloud of steam scaring the shit out of him. Then effortlessly read a manual written in Italian and then fixed the coffee shop's temperamental machine.
As she drank her suitingly fitting bitter drink Tyler’s eyes kept catching onto the beautiful black clad girl. She had looked so out of place in this town.
Then without even breaking a sweat and looking unimpressed the whole time she put his ex friends in their places. Her small size didn’t even hinder her at all.
When his father came in to bark out empty threats at the goth grim reaper Barbie Tyler paid him no mind to him. He was too busy watching as the girl was led out by her apparent principal.
Tyler didn’t know much at the time but he did know one thing and that was no matter what happened he needed to see her again.
Which he did.
Again and again and again.
The year that followed was one of the best years of Tyler’s life.
He knew what it said about him and that it was pathetic considering he was tortured and essentially a slave for the entirety of it but Wednesday made it worth it.
Wednesday Addams made him feel alive.
With every part of herself she willingly or unknowingly gave him Tyler felt like he had been slowly brought back from the dead bit by bit. When she initiated their first kiss it was like he could finally breathe.
He knew the other shoe will be dropping soon yet he dived back in for another kiss. Hoping she didn’t taste his future betrayal on his lips.
Tyler was proven right when she had a vision.
The veil was lifted and all bets were off. No more playing around anymore.
See the thing is Tyler wished he was a better person and could say and mean it that he hasn’t enjoyed any of what he was commanded to do but he couldn’t.
At the end of the day Tyler did enjoy it.
Like Tyler told Wednesday in the police station when it was already too late he liked the violence of it all. How delicious the fear he inspired was.
He watched through her dark eyes as Wednesday’s attraction to him grew in response even as her sense of duty tried to wrestle it down.
Wednesday for all she claimed to be solitary was a leader and a protector at her core. What she claimed as hers would be protected at all costs and wherever she went people would follow.
Tyler understood that wholeheartedly. If he hadn’t had a metaphorical chain wrapped around his neck tying him to someone else he would follow her too.
All he could do though was continue the dance they started with him leading now as he dragged her and him both towards the seeming end.
The end came as people often theorized it would. It felt too fast and too slow and was like any other day.
By some miracle and by the skin of her teeth Wednesday had somehow not only survived but turned the board around in her favor.
His so-called masters plot crashed and burned and Wednesday like a bloodthirsty avenging angel she was stomped her skull in.
Tyler didn’t even fight as he was arrested chained up and dragged out like a feral animal. He let them interrogate him and lock him up silently.
The rest of it all soon blurred together. He hadn’t cared enough to pay attention to any of it. The vicious prodding from the orderlies and their threats didn’t matter. None of it did.
Tyler was too busy waiting to care.
The ball was in Wednesday's court after all and Tyler couldn’t wait to see what she did this time.
Impatiently Tyler spent the days biding his time before Wednesday’s play by harassing the orderlies and assigned doctors, therapists and specialists in his own way.
They were bothered by silence and kept annoying him so he gave them what he wanted. Tyler talked and unfortunately for them he had a favorite topic.
Unable to help himself, he talked about Wednesday. Tyler talked about her so much that they all began to groan whenever he started to say the word Wednesday which both amused and offended him.
It wasn’t Tyler’s fault Wednesday was all he had thought about since he was put in this cage. She was all he’s thought about since he met her honestly.
Even though it was unofficially officially Wednesday’s turn to make a move Tyler started to get progressively more antsy as the days dragged on.
The last time Tyler saw Wednesday she was standing victorious and covered in her own blood. A good look on her. He wondered what she looked like now.
It made him seethe that he didn’t know.
On the good days memories of Wednesday and Tyler’s countless thoughts of their future reunion were enough to keep him patient and mostly sane.
On the really bad days where his instincts and his longing were too loud to ignore Tyler debated killing everyone in this place and then going to Wednesday himself.
Throwing in the towel and giving her the win.
Surrendering to her.
Tyler knew that while Wednesday would be delighted by his defeat she’d be disappointed that he hadn’t suffered for longer and that she didn’t get to do whatever she had planned.
Truly Wednesday knew how to punish him. It was suffering being in this hell without her. She was so cruel his girl.
Considering what exactly Tyler had done he forced himself to bear with it and stay put. To even out the scores so they could move forward without any other players on the board but them.
Still it wasn’t easy.
There was a Wednesday shaped hole in his life and in his heart and Tyler had no patience for anything with every day without her.
Tyler grit his teeth as he fought to not transform and viciously latch onto the obnoxious person’s neck who sat next to during group therapy and rip them apart like a cheap dog toy.
It soon became a mantra. Almost a prayer.
For her. He’d do it for her.
Tyler would wait until she came for him and then they could finally move forward together with nothing holding them back.
To appease and distract the always on guard guards Tyler started to participate even more although not in the way they wanted.
He knew what they wanted. To hear his sob story reform him and make him their new success story. That was not going to happen.
Tyler will express himself he had no problem with doing that but not the way they wanted.
Hyde’s were natural born artists and creators after all and Tyler used that to his full advantage. He even had a perfect muse.
Tyler with his one track mind was able to make every single assignment he was given and every experience he had even more about Wednesday.
Being forced to draw? No problem, he sketched her in all her bloody glory. Talk therapy? Well he’ll never pass up the chance to talk about their romance. It was a love story for the ages.
It had all the drama and violence a teenager in love could ask for. With just the right amount of dead bodies and murder attempts to even out the blooming mutual attraction and love at first sight.
Tyler took delight whenever they talked about this because whoever he spoke to always got pale and looked like they were going to be sick.
They always sent him back to his cell early to stop him from talking. It always made him amused when he thought about it. Even being separated Wednesday was helping him from far away.
Those kinds of days were his favorite.
The best and most hilarious time was during a reconditioning where they electrocuted him with batons for not obeying. He just laughed and started talking about how Wednesday could torture him way better then them.
Tyler’s laughter increased in volume when they got more aggressive hearing than even though it was the truth. Their egos clearly hurt by him implying that a teenage girl could do better.
Which Wednesday could. His cockroach, unlike these idiots, was a professional.
Tyler sighed almost dreamily thinking about how she chained him up in that shed. She had looked so stunning in her fury as she was ready to take him apart with her bare hands.
Now Tyler had never called himself self aware before but Tyler knew he was slipping by the day. The only thing holding him together was the thoughts he had of her.
His Wednesday.
The others in this place both running it and trapped in it grew even more wary of him. Tyler would have found it annoying but it was hard to be anything but ecstatic as soon his suffering was put to an end.
Wednesday had finally come for him.
He didn’t know why Wednesday decided to come now but he didn’t care. The only important thing was that she was here.
Tyler didn’t fight as his shock collar was put back on as a precaution and he was chained to his cell wall for “Wednesday's safety.”
It was laughable they thought that only this could stop him.
If Tyler truly wanted to he could easily find a way to get to her Wednesday and he knew Wednesday could just as easily do the same.
Tyler couldn’t have been bothered with it all as they got him “visitor ready.” It was funny how thoroughly they were preparing him.
At least Tyler knew Wednesday would get a kick out of the whole getup. Him all washed out shirtless chained to a wall and collared?
Oh Wednesday will definitely react in some way to him.
Maybe Tyler will set the collar off on purpose just to see the look of feral delight in Wednesday’s dark eyes.
Tyler tried not to vibrate out of his skin as he waited for Wednesday to enter his cell. His eyes immediately locked onto her when the door opened and Wednesday walked through the door.
The noises all around him and assurances of the lurking guards telling Wednesday she could leave at any time were all tuned out. Tyler’s heart pounded loudly in his ears, drowning out everything.
All he could pay attention to was her.
Wednesday looked every inch the grim reaper barbie he called her when they first met as she glided in without a care in the world. She was alive and whole and somehow even more beautiful than he remembered.
Tyler’s eyes memorized the sight of her to add to his still growing mental collection.
Her hair was perfectly in place in her signature twin braids. Tyler itched with the urge to mess them up and run his fingers through her hair. He remembered distantly just how soft it was.
She was dressed in an easy to move in all black number that was just tight enough to show off her thin grabable waist. Her overcoat was oversized just enough that it highlighted how small she really was. It was paired with a pair of steel toed combat boots that added two inches to her height.
Not that it mattered since Tyler still easily towered over her. Watching Wednesday have to crane her head up to meet his eyes has never failed to give him a rush.
Wednesday was equally as deadly as she was small. She fit so much violence in such a little petite frame. Tyler would have her no other way.
Her small hands which rested casually at her sides had her nails painted her usual black. Tyler ached to wrap his hands around hers. He knew from experience that his fingers would eclipse hers easily.
Tyler had no doubt there were several weapons hidden on her person. If anyone could sneak them in undetected it would be his girl. She had always been terrifyingly clever.
Wednesday had even grown a shade tanner which wasn’t a lot but when you accounted for just how pale she usually was it was significant. She was just tan enough that it brought out her freckles. They were painted over her face like little stars.
Tyler wanted to trace them with his fingertips and count how many there were until he got them all memorized. He wondered how far they spread across her body. They were no doubt all over her.
Seeing Wednesday again he was reminded that there was no one on Earth who could compare to her.
Tyler licked his lips at the thought of finally getting to touch her as he looked up and met her dark glittering eyes that were decorated with eyeliner sharp enough to wound a man.
The moment they locked eyes Tyler watched as Wednesday scanned him in return.
Her dark eyes flicked from his hair to his arms which he oh so helpfully flexed slightly for her. They lingered on the scars on his face before freezing at his neck when she saw the collar.
Tyler tilted his head showing off the collar further before giving her a roguish grin that was practically a leer. His eyes flashing Hyde amber further selling the look.
Wednesday's usual slow steady heartbeat sped up for just a moment before she got it back under control. If he wasn’t so hyper aware of her he would have missed it.
Tyler couldn’t help but preen smugly as he straightened up in accomplishment. Knowing she found him attractive was like the world's best drug.
“So,” Tyler drawled, his lips slowly turning upwards as he prowled as close to the glass and to her as the chain allowed. “What do you think of the place? It’s pretty impressive right?”
Wednesday’s lips twitched on one side from his sarcasm making his own smirk grow wider. “It certainly suits you,” she deadpanned at him.
“It was originally designed to hold a schizophrenic werewolf who went on a kill spree during the summer of 92’,” Tyler told her conspiratorially as if she didn’t know that. “Not exactly Hyde quality if I do say so myself.”
Knowing Wednesday she already knew everything about this place. She was insanely smart like that his cockroach.
“How ironic considering you were thrashed from a werewolf,” Wednesday quipped her eyes bright clearly enjoying their banter.
“Oh that hurts,” Tyler faux pouted, making Wednesday roll her eyes. “You know I went easy on your little friend. I knew you wouldn’t have forgiven me if I put her out of commission for good.”
“I would have been obligated to put you down in response,” Wednesday said, frowning at the thought of it. “She is my roommate thus my responsibility.”
“Rumor has it she’s more than that. I heard you guys hugged in front of witnesses,” Tyler jeered jealously.
The guards liked to gossip after all, especially when it came to him. Somehow they got it in their heads that talking about Wednesday to him or around would make him upset.
So obviously they did it constantly to try to provoke him and make him act out so they'd have a reason to punish him. The joke was on them though. They thought he was quiet because he was upset but in reality he was committing everything they said to memory.
Tyler eagerly devoured everything they told him about Wednesday. He would take every piece of information about her that he could get and squirrel it away in his brain. It didn’t matter what it was.
As long as it was about her.
Wednesday tilted her head in consideration. “I suppose since she’s not here I will lose nothing to admit Enid is a friend,” Wednesday admitted, looking a little tense.
“As for the hug,” Wednesday continued relaxing when he didn’t outwardly judge her for confessing that. “It was a stressful night and I allowed her a rare liberty. Nothing more.”
Tyler’s shoulders relaxed at that earning him a brief flash of amusement and a bit of judgement from her.
“I did tell Enid though that if her behavior is deemed acceptable this upcoming year she is allowed two hugs at maximum,” Wednesday admitted to him.
“You bribed her with hugs?,” Tyler said incredulously, lips twitching.
“If it works it works,” Wednesday gave a small shrug. “All canines work well when they get promised a treat after all.”
Tyler laughed, unable to help himself. The sound echoed off the walls almost uncomfortably. “Ah Wednesday I missed you so much.”
“Your lack of presence was also noted,” was all Wednesday said but coming from her that was huge.
Tyler’s breath hitched as he blinked in surprise before his smile grew practically splitting his face in half. He knew it looked feral and he definitely looked insane but he couldn’t care.
His entire world had narrowed down to only Wednesday and Wednesday was as always as insane as they come. She would never judge him for this if anything she reveled in his reactions.
Only Wednesday Addams could fall for both sides of himself separately. Both delighting in his softness and his brutality.
Wednesday was perfect like that.
“I knew you couldn’t resist seeing me again,” Tyler practically purred. “It was inevitable your curiosity would get the best of you and lead you back to me.”
“It isn’t good to lie to yourself, you know,” Wednesday easily countered, her eyes flashing in defiance at being put on the spot. “Perhaps I was just bored.”
Tyler gave a short amused chuckle. “Now who's lying to herself,” he shot back.
“You sensed the monster in me,” Tyler reminded her his eyes dark and daring her to say otherwise. “You fell in love with it.”
Wednesday's jaw tightened in response but she didn’t say anything in disagreement. Couldn’t say anything without lying to him.
The unspoken line they had drawn between them in the sand didn't allow them to deny what they had. They could choose to not address it but they were far past the point of denial.
Which for his poor cockroach was a struggle.
“We’re two blackhearted souls ready to pillage the world together,” Tyler crooned at her meaning every word.
“The only thing you’re pillaging is an extra fruit cup at dinner.” Wednesday retorted looking to the side as if to hide her slight blush.
Tyler however instantly noticed it and he traced where her skin flushed with his eyes wishing he could kiss her cheeks and feel her warmed up skin under his lips.
“You’re trying to act like being the smartest person in the room again will hide you from me,” Tyler noted as he tilted his head curiously. “I know you too well for that to work Wednesday. You have to do better than that.”
Tyler wasn’t like all the other people who claimed to know her and she knew that. Wednesday Addams let her see him and let him in and he was never leaving.
He’ll give her a bit of grace though since they’ve been apart for so long so maybe she forgot just how well he knew her.
There was no denying that he did know her though.
Wednesday tensed and crossed her arms defensively. “I am the smartest person in the room,” she argued, choosing to only answer part of what he said glaring at him.
“You’re brilliant cockroach,” Tyler agreed because it was true. “But not brilliant enough to hide from me.”
Wednesday scowled. “I don’t need to hide considering one of us is on this side of the bars and it isn’t you.”
Tyler saw her start to retreat from him and since he couldn’t have that he decided to pull a gamble that will hopefully bring her fully back to him.
“You got lucky,” Tyler breathed as he jerked forward just enough forward to set off his collar. He hissed between his teeth as it electrocuted him.
When the shocks faded he looked up and bared his teeth in a predatory smile seeing the hungry look in Wednesday's eyes that were looking at him like she wanted to devour him.
That’s his girl.
Always enjoying his suffering.
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Wednesday said a bit out of breath, blinking rapidly as if to snap herself out of it.
“Whatever you say Wednesday,” Tyler agreed, his smile softening even though his eyes devoured her right back. “I still can’t believe you’re finally here. You sure took your sweet time.”
“I had a few things I had to take care of before I could come,” Wednesday’s eyes flickered just barely towards the camera in the corner for a second before looking back at him.
Tyler followed the movement of her eyes and his eyebrows raised up in silent question. “You did? Like what?”
Wednesday’s posture went ramrod straight as one of her hands curled into the fabric of her skirt on one side. If Tyler didn’t Wednesday any better and he did know her better than anyone he would have said she was nervous.
Yet she didn’t look nervous. Not at all. If anything she looked calm and collected but her eyes were gleaming with anticipation.
Tyler wondered just what she was up to.
“I requested for my parents to allow a guest to stay with us,” Wednesday looked at the corner of the room and not at him which made him frown. “Certain preparations had to be made for their prepared arrival.”
Was Wednesday really saying what he thought she was?
“Preparations?,” Tyler asked in a low voice.
“Yes,” Wednesday nodded but didn’t elaborate as she ruffled her skirt in another seemingly nervous gesture but Tyler knew it wasn’t that. “I had a lot of studying to do and had to get my weapons in perfect condition. I also had to deal with my parents.”
“Your parents?,” Tyler repeated, not knowing what else he could say still in disbelief.
Could she really be doing this?
“Mother and father were disgustingly elated,” Wednesday sneered. “They threatened to come along with me but I told my parents that I would collect them myself.”
Movement from Wednesday's side drew his eyes away from looking at her. Tyler watched as Thing was covertly dropped from the pocket where he had been hidden and began to scurry up the wall
Thing ripped the wires out of the camera with precision before he fiddled with a few things causing the light to go dark. Noises of alarm came from the hallway as all the other cameras had followed suit.
There were no more interlopers watching their every move. They were alone at last.
Thing scrambled down from the wall and quickly made his way back to Wednesday. Where he quickly took his usual position on her shoulder.
Wednesday casually walked to the cell door before pulling out an electronic keycard she obviously stole and swiped it before stepping into the cell.
Tyler’s mouth watered as he got hit with her scent. It was so delicious he felt his mouth water. Even better than he remembered it being. He wanted to bite her until all he could taste was her.
He wanted to roll around in her scent until he could smell nothing else but her. Tyler wanted nothing more than to mold her into him until their scents became one impossible to separate.
Wednesday walked up to him and gave him a coy assessing look. “We’ll have plenty of time for that later,” she told him, seeing the unhinged look in his eyes before gesturing for him to lean down.
Tyler obeyed and watched as Wednesday pulled yet another stolen item from her pocket. She stood up on her toes before inserting the key into the collar and with a click it popped off. The chain connecting him to the wall disconnected from it and fell limply to the ground.
“A shame you did look rather good in that,” Wednesday bitterly said but barely got to finish speaking before he kissed her. Tyler pulled her closer and pressed them together as tight as possible.
Wednesday met him with equal ferocity before Thing tapped her shoulder in reminder, causing her to pull away but not before biting Tyler’s lip as if to get the last word. “Later,” she promised, sounding out of breath.
“Promises promises cockroach,” Tyler’s voice was thick with desire making her slightly shiver.
“We’re on a time crunch,” Wednesday reminded both of them. She pulled away but kept their hands intertwined. With one hand she pocketed the lock to the collar and kept the keycard to the door out.
Wednesday began to lead Tyler out but stopped in place when Tyler pulled her hand. Wednesday gave him a questioning look but Tyler only flashed her a feral grin as he picked up the unlocked collar and held it out in his free hand.
“It would be a shame if it were to go to waste here,” Tyler said wickedly. Seeing Wednesday step closer he tsked. “Didnt you say we had to go?,” he teased, enjoying the heat in her eyes.
Thing tapped her shoulder in agreement to Tyler’s words. Wednesday’s eyes flashed as she grabbed the collar with force from his hand and shoved it in her pocket.
“You got a TARDIS pocket,” Tyler noted in amazement. “What kind of voodoo did you do to get it to do that?”
It spoke volumes that Wednesday didn’t address the pop culture reference she no doubt didn’t understand or viciously correct him on just how she accomplished a seemingly bottomless pocket.
“When we get out of here you will suffer Galpin,” Wednesday hissed as she dragged him to the door and swiped her card to open it before pocketing that too.
Wednesday briefly dropped his hand to move her braids out of the way. She shifted her jacket and pulled out a concealed sword from its sheath that blended in with her coat. It had been hidden perfectly.
It must have been magic that kept it from being noticed. There was no other way. But if anyone could have pulled it off it would have been Wednesday Addams.
Wednesday reclaimed Tyler’s hand and held her sword in the other confidently and gave Tyler a smirk. She had to know exactly what she was doing to him and was obviously loving every second of it.
Tyler’s pupils rapidly dilated at the thought of his future suffering at her hands and at the sight of her wielding a weapon with that smirk. “Oh I’m counting on it.”
Unable to help himself he leaned in and stole a kiss which soon became three kisses. Before they could get a fourth one in Thing yanked Wednesday’s hair lightly.
Wednesday pulled back with a noise of annoyance. She and Tyler both gave Thing a dark look. Thing looked as exasperated as a faceless hand could.
Thing tapped and tapped again against Wednesday’s shoulder. Whatever he said made Wednesday look lectured as she schooled her facial expression and straightened back up.
Tyler pouted just slightly before following her lead. He rubbed his thumb in circles against her hand already missing the feel of her lips on his.
“We’re wasting time. We’ll have to save the flirting for later,” Wednesday declared, starting to drag them out by their locked together hands.
“Did you just admit we were flirting?,” Tyler had a shit-eating grin on his face. “And did you just imply we’ll do it more later?”
“Shut up and focus on escaping unless you want me to leave you to rot in here,” Wednesday snapped at him but her light blush showed her embarrassment at being called out.
Tyler fought not to laugh at her. God Wednesday was so cute. He mimed with his one free hand a zipper closing his mouth and watched as Wednesday looked as if she was questioning her attraction to him.
Once they reached the door they exchanged a look of anticipation before they exited the room that had served as Tyler’s cage for months on end.