Archive of Our Own

Wednesday tapped quickly at her typewriter, the story flowing from her with ease, fingers dancing at a rapid pace along the metal keys. She had been in the groove for the last two hours, no distractions to disrupt her concentration, no constant prattling from her roommate, the silence around her a rare commodity these days. Even Thing had been dutifully quiet, the sentient hand having holed up on Enid's bed, thumbing through one of her magazines, keeping to himself and out of Wednesday's way. She sat back from her desk and stretched slowly, eyes finally tearing off the page to glance at her clock, the fluorescent bulbs showing 21:47; Wednesday's brows bunched together in a small show of confusion before she half turned her head, noticing the suspiciously empty side of the room.

Enid was never late for curfew. 

Sure, there had been times the wolf had snuck out for a variety of reasons, and with a variety of friends, but the blonde was always in the room before ten, was sure to never be caught being late in her return to Ophelia Hall. Wednesday glanced down at Thing, and her rarely used phone sitting right beside him, deathly silent for once, seemingly no mass messaging to be had. She could ask if he'd heard anything about a delayed arrival, but Enid still had twelve minutes to make it back by then, and Wednesday found little point in checking in when there was still time to spare. Enid was punctual, and Wednesday was loathe to keep tabs on the other girl, much more content to let the blonde breeze in and out of her normal to day to day. It meant nothing that Enid's constant presence was more welcome than the now-heavy silence, and Wednesday would never admit to the fact that she was concerned about the whereabouts of a particular blonde werewolf. It was her job as the roommate, nothing more.

Disinterested with her current line of thinking, Wednesday flexed her fingers and delved immediately back into her writing, the girl a distant memory as her hands flew over the keys. It wasn't until much later, when she'd finally satisfied her writing urge, that she glanced back at the clock, 23:49 staring back at her. She turned more forcefully, the colorful side of the room still shrouded in darkness, no pretty blonde chattering incessantly in the background, no glowing amber fairy lights to cast long shadows on her side of the room, no sounds of grinding canines or stupid giggles, no Enid. Wednesday shoved up from her chair and automatically headed toward the middle of the room, toward the invisible barrier that she had eliminated altogether last year, unsure what to do about the feeling that seized in her chest as she stared at the vacant side of the dorm.

A sheet shuffled, the sound coming from behind her as Thing emerged from under Wednesday's blanket, fingers flexing as he stretched. He jumped to a second later, as if to realize himself that Enid wasn't in the room, trembling at the silence that greeted him. He flew off the bed and scurried toward Wednesday, climbing up to land on her shoulder, fingers moving quickly in his panic. She shook her head and carefully removed him, instead heading back toward her own bed where she placed him gently, the soft light from her lamp highlighting the near-frantic way Thing moved.

Wednesday pursed her lips, the closest she could come to a frown at the moment, before shaking her head to glance down at him.

"No, I heard nothing of her not returning to the dorm this evening. And I gather she said nothing to you as well."

Thing started to sign almost recklessly, keyed up in his distress. He snapped his fingers and scuttled back toward Wednesday's headboard, gently kicking the phone forward before lighting up the screen. He hopped around a moment before managing what he wanted, Enid's number flashing across the glass as he put a call through to her cellphone.

Maybe she'd answer.

Wednesday leaned down, listening to the incessant ringing, before Enid's bubbly voicemail message started to play; Thing ended the call before he quickly pulled up a text thread. His fingers flew across the screen, quickly typing up a message and pressing send before pointing back at Wednesday, incensed at the turn their night had taken. She tried not to roll her eyes as as she stepped forward, sliding the phone off the bed and into her hand. She folded herself neatly on the edge of the bed, eyes curiously scanning the screen, reading through the thread he pulled up. The thread with all the Nightshades, and Enid, the most active one, if she had to guess. The earlier discussion had been pointless, and Wednesday deigned it useless to read another word, instead focusing on the bottom of her screen.

A series of bubbles floated at the bottom of the chat. Wednesday read what Thing had sent, Has anyone seen Enid?, before she shifted to watch curiously, a message from Yoko the first to come through.

NO? Wtf, is she not at the dorm?

Wednesday tried not to roll her eyes, already annoyed; she fired back a response.

Obviously she is not, or there would be no need to ask.

There was a plethora of responses suddenly, many of them about how suddenly it was Wednesday talking, and no longer Thing, some coming out only to say hello to the otherwise antisocial seer. But no one could glean any useful information about their only wolf, and Wednesday was almost prepared to start searching the grounds on foot, with or without their help. A soft knock sounded, and Wednesday took a moment to glare at the offending object before she was shoving up to go answer it, her displeasure festering uncomfortably under her skin as she walked the short distance. Yoko and Divina stood on the other side, the vampire's eyes red with fury as she glanced down at Wednesday, lip curling to reveal her prominent fangs.

"Did you seriously wait until midnight to mention that your fucking roommate was missing?"

Wednesday worked her jaw, incensed at the accusatory tone, her eyes darkening in response, "I am not her keeper."

Yoko snapped her teeth in frustration, "No, worse, you're her fucking best friend. Maybe you should be more worried about her when she comes up missing."

Wednesday curled her lip to retort but was stopped when Divina put her hands up to silence them both.

"Okay, standing here and arguing isn't going to help anything. Should we get everyone together and go look for her? Did anyone try calling?"

Wednesday clenched her teeth, dark eyes staring a hole through the vampire,  "There was no answer."

Yoko moved to rebuke, but the phone in her hand buzzed, and she hesitated before glancing down at the text thread. She frowned, eyes scanning the screen as she half-turned away from the pair, brows drawn tightly across her forehead; Wednesday grew impatient, jaw again working back and forth as she gripped the doorknob with nearly enough force to crush it.

"What is it?"

The vampire snapped her head up, worry creasing her brow as she stared down at Wednesday.

"Ajax said he saw her talking with that one wolf girl this afternoon, and nobody remembers seeing her after that."

Divina tilted her head in thought, before looking at her girlfriend, brows twitching together, "You mean Katrina? That girl who always-"

Yoko shot her head up, giving the siren a withering look; the words died on Divina's lips. Wednesday took a warning step toward them both, passing her sights between the two.

"Girl who what?"

The pair said nothing for a tense moment, the vampire shaking her head before she turned to look down the hallway; she glanced back at Wednesday.

"Grab your boots and your coat and meet us out front."

Wednesday's face slackened, annoyed at being told what to do, and in such a hostile manner. She turned back, eyes glancing out the window for a moment, catching the thick snowfall that flurried down outside. Wednesday merely slammed the door and headed toward her closet, rummaging around for her heavy peacoat and her thick boots before shoving them on and exited the closet in a whirlwind of fury. A touch of fear flickered in the back of her mind, the lack of useful information about this supposed wolf girl leaving her on edge. She left off toward the mattress and bent forward, sliding out a six inch blade from between the set before tucking it in her boot, her nerves alight with rage. Thing threw himself off the bed and hurried out the door, latching himself onto Wednesday just as she managed to slam the door behind them.

She made quick work of the stairs before throwing open the door to Ophelia Hall, meeting the duo hunched together outside. Wind whipped around the quad, immediately darting down the back of Wednesday's collar, chilling her to the bone. She ignored it, burrowed into her coat and stared at the pair in front of her, silently urging them into action. She wished she'd grabbed her snood. 

It was the dead of winter in Vermont, and the temperature had hardly risen above freezing for the last several weeks, snow falling more often than not this time of year. The furs were the ones most at home in the frigid temperature, their metabolisms faster and wolf bodies more aptly prepared for the cold, and Enid had been right at home out in the snow. She walked to classes without any issue, had continuously reached out her nearly burning hands to thaw out their friends as the winter wore on. 

Wednesday wanted to be one of those people in that moment, wanted to remember the warmth of Enid's hands in relation to the cold wind that bit at her face, her pulse racing at the thought. Enid's hands were nice, pliant and warm, and Wednesday abhorred the fact that she missed Enid at all.

She buried her hands in her coat pockets and tucked her nose in the collar of her shirt, glaring at Yoko and Divina, who wisely said nothing in response, instead choosing to lead the way in heavy silence, the crunch of snow the only sound in the courtyard. The walk toward the other dorm was a brisk one, a familiar figure standing outside awaiting their arrival.

Bianca stalked up to them, bundled just as much to ward off the bitter cold, her haunting eyes bearing right into Wednesday as the trio pulled up in front of her.

"So you lost your roommate? Good job, Addams."

Wednesday said nothing, instead choosing to glare at Bianca from within her coat, snowflakes clinging to her dark hair. Bianca rolled her eyes and glanced back at the other two.

"I'll show you where Katrina's dorm is, and then I'm going the hell back to bed."

The trio followed diligently behind Bianca, thankful to be out of the snow for a moment. Thing shivered against her shoulder, and she barely managed to refrain from rolling her eyes before she plucked him up and dropped him into her coat pocket. The quartet finally stopped outside a nondescript door, a beam of light coming from under the jamb, not uncommon to see for the nocturnal bunch. Bianca knocked on the door and then stepped aside, gesturing to Yoko and Wednesday as they both stepped forward, the vampire careful not to accidentally brush up against the small psychic, lest she face her insurmountable wrath. Bianca merely leaned against the wall beside the jamb, Divina joining her as footsteps sounded closer to the door.

A tall girl opened the door, her long brown hair wild with curls, moss green eyes glaring down at the unlikely duo, an eyebrow quirked at the unexpected visit.

"Uh, what the hell do you want?"

Yoko bit back a growl, yet bared her fangs, red eyes glaring through the werewolf.

"Tell me where Enid Sinclair is."

The girl scoffed out a laugh, tossing her hair back over her shoulder. She straightened to her full height and growled, sneering down at the vampire as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about, now get fucking lost."

Wednesday stared past the brunette to look in the room, eyes eventually landing on a very familiar pink coat on the back of a desk chair, violent rage suddenly igniting in her veins. She stepped in front of Yoko and locked eyed with the much taller wolf, venom coating her words as she challenged the girl standing in front of her, her eyes darkening to a dangerous pitch black in the low light.

"How did you come to possess her coat, if you know nothing of her whereabouts?"

Katrina faltered a moment and took a half step back, before Wednesday tilted forward, ducking around her to enter the room. Katrina swung around, teeth bared in a threatening show of anger before she sunk her claws into Wednesday's jacket in an attempt to stop her.

"Hey, you can't-"

Wednesday went slack in her grip, a vision suddenly seizing the psychic.

Enid's smile vanished, three more wolves emerging from behind the thick trees. Her eyes darted about before landing back on Katrina, brows bunching in a feral snarl as the realization settled in on her. Her claws were out before one of the girls jumped, sinking her talons into Enid's shoulder, a spray of bright red blood coating the pristine white snow. The pack attacked the lone wolf, the blonde putting up a valiant effort, but wasn't enough for older, more experienced wolves, especially the gang of sisters. Katrina snarled down at the bloodied creature, landing another swift kick to the ribs as Enid tried to curl up and protect herself, despite having just taken a vicious beating, her body nearly mangled after the attack. The tall girl reached down, her claws sinking into the fluffy pink fabric of her coat before she ripped it off the fallen wolf, tossing the pelt to one of her lackies as if it were a hunter's trophy.

She sneered down as Enid attempted to move away, claws swiping out to rip down the back of Enid's sweater, the blonde wincing at the motion. She turned then, blue eyes burning with spiteful tears, teeth bared in a furious snarl, still refusing to roll over and submit.

"What the hell did I ever do to you, Everson?" she spat, her blue eyes shining in the darkness.

Katrina scowled, incensed that the wolf would dare talk back to her, even from her place on the ground. Perhaps she had to work harder to break the relentless spirit. 

She bent down, fisting the tattered sweater that Enid still wore, hoisting the blonde up into the air. 

"I am so sick of your stupid fucking excuse for a wolf. A little pup like you, earning so much praise from the school, and for what? Turning on a blood moon? Please. You're a fucking joke, Sinclair. Your whole fucking family's a joke, poor excuses for wolves ."

The fight returned to Enid and she kicked out with her feet, managing to get free once again as she collapsed back into the snow. Katrina seethed, snapping her fingers to bring the other three wolves back into the fight, enraged that the blonde seemed incapable of accepting her loss. She ripped at the sweater again, the fabric finally buckling under the pressure, ribbons of torn wool falling silently into the snow around them, forgotten as soon as they were out of sight. Enid stood in only one of her undershirts, torn and blood stained from their fight. Katrina landed a solid hook to Enid's chin and she crumpled backwards, dazed, empty blue eyes staring up at the stormy sky. Katrina motioned for two of the others to grab at the stunned blonde, the pair hauling Enid up and against a thick tree in the midst of the forest. 

Katrina turned back, the last sister finding a duffle they had tucked off to the side for this very occasion, the bag jingling roughly in the silent atmosphere. as it was handed to Katrina. Enid came back to her senses a moment later, shaking off the haze as she wrestled against the two that had her pinned, her strength refusing to quit on her as she successfully shook one off, before turning to land a heavy swipe on the other one, blood spraying across her chest. Katrina entered the fray, landing a devastating suckerpunch to Enid's ribcage before finishing her off with a deep cut down the front of her stomach. The other two wolves scrambled back into holding the relentless girl before Katrina bent again, hastily shoving on a pair of thick gloves before unearthing a set of heavy silver chains.

Enid paled, her panic rising in her throat as she fought even harder to escape, her vision shifting in and out of focus as her brain struggled to deal with the pain crowding her senses, her need to escape overpowering the agony seeping into her bones. Katrina gestured again to her sisters before she pinned Enid to the tree by the throat and squeezed, blue eyes wide with fear as she struggled to breathe, claws digging into the thick leather of her glove. The two wolves suddenly rejoined them, wearing their own gloves, and Katrina released Enid back to the waiting pair as they pried her arms outward and slammed her back against the tree. They worked quickly, pinning the blonde in place, the silver of the chain immediately searing into her flesh, the blonde yelping as the metal scorched into her skin.

They doubled and tripled the chains, the bare skin on Enid's arms taking the brunt of the damage, tears already pouring down her face, mingling with the blood and dirt from the previous scuffles. The chains bit into the exposed skin of her stomach, the blistering heat enough to steal the air from her lungs, screaming internally as the agony intensified as they finished their torment and secured her in place.

Satisfied, Katrina locked the chains into place and stepped back, an absolutely wicked grin in place as she tucked the key in her pocket, and folded her arms at a job well done. Enid hung limply against her restraints, shivering from the trauma or the cold, the pack couldn't tell. She laughed quietly, eyes casually scanning the area around them, blood staining the pristine white snow; it was nearly a blood bath, the girl in front of her not even worth the energy she had cost them. Enid shuddered, voice weak. 

"Wh- what did I ever do to you?"

Katrina pouted mockingly as she walked the distance between them, gloved hand tangling in Enid's matted blonde hair to lift her face up to greet her. She smiled at the tears that poured from those pale blue eyes.

"You Sinclairs make me sick, always have. And how fortunate, that a late bloomer like you would get all the credit in saving the day. Remember your place, dog. The rest of your pack will get their own comeuppance soon enough."

She released the blonde hair, satisfied when her head fell limply against her chest. The sizzle of the silver against skin was almost like music to her ears. If she were lucky, she'd be rid of one of the Sinclairs for good after tonight. She half turned, taking one more moment to glance back at Enid.

"We'll come get you in the morning. If we feel like it."

Wednesday came back to herself, still hanging limply from the wolf's outstretched arm. Unbridled fury funneled through her at a blinding speed, hands reaching up to grasp the wolf's arm and twitched, wrenching her hand back with a sickening snap. Katrina yelped, immediately releasing her grip on Wednesday as she went to cradle her wrist, foolishly taking her eyes off the small seer. Wednesday turned quickly, sinking the heel of her foot into the inside of the wolf's knee and propelled forward, slamming the taller girl onto the floor. In a blink, she had her knife out of her boot and pressed directly against the wolf's throat, a prick of blood escaping around the edge of the impossibly sharp blade as Wednesday pressed it against the pale skin.

Thing, having leapt out of her pocket during her vision, tapped angrily on the floor, clearly enraged. Bianca bent, scooping him up and out of the way, eyes wide in surprise as she staggered back toward the door. Her voice echoed from the doorway, concern etched deeply into it. 

"Wednesday, what the fuck??"

The brunette glared down at the girl beneath her, fury melting into every crevice, every space inside her mind as she stared down into those wide green eyes, pleased at the fear that greeted her. She seethed, teeth bared in a warning snarl, "Tell me where she is."

Yoko hurried into the room, eyes wide in concern as she looked down at them, "Wednesday, what did you see?"

Katrina tried to buck the brunette off, instead earning a deeper cut as Wednesday pressed the blade further into her neck; Katrina whimpered in submission then, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. Wednesday gripped her knife handle almost hard enough to shatter the metal, her eyes black with rage.

"Take me to her, or forfeit your life. I will not ask again."

Katrina eyed the psychic, trying to gauge her seriousness. Wednesday moved to press the blade deeper but Katrina yelped, pulling away as far as she could.

"Fine!! I'll take you to where she is!"

Wednesday removed the blade and hauled the wolf to her feet so quickly, her head almost spun, the petite brunette remarkably strong for someone her size. Wednesday looked to Yoko, her fury so prominent, her jaw pressed shut so tightly, she was worried her teeth would explode. Wednesday turned Katrina's hand in her grasp, pretzeling her arm, drawing a cry of pain from the wolf as Wednesday nearly dislocated her shoulder; her eyes shifted to Divina.

"That duffle in the corner," her eyes quickly glanced to the bag tucked away beside the desk.

Divina ducked into the room and rushed to grab the bag in question, also swiping Enid's coat off the desk chair as she did so. She handed the coat off to Yoko before opening the duffle, eyes widening as she noticed a strand of silver chains, fear bubbling up in her chest. Yoko moved to peer into the bag, mouth falling open in shock, dizzying anger igniting within the vampire as she glared at the werewolf, voice coming out in a low hiss.

"Tell me that girl isn't tied up somewhere with silver fucking chains. Tell me."

Katrina merely scowled as an answer, still trying to rest her arm from Wednesday's grasp; the seer wouldn't budge, her grip tightening even more, the harder she struggled.

Wednesday curled her lip, impatient as she broke the spell of the room, "Divina."

The siren sparked into action, wrapping the chains around the wolf's wrist, ignoring the sizzle at it made contact. Wednesday shifted enough to wrench both of Katrina's arms behind her back, despite the broken wrist, the chains firmly wrapped around her wrists, pinned painfully behind her back. Wednesday again looked to Divina.

"There is a key in her front pocket."

She ducked again, patting down the wolf who tried to snarl, though Wednesday pressed the tip of her knife blade into the wolf's throat, making sure of her compliance. Divina retrieved the key and stepped back, dropping the key into Yoko's hand, eyes wide. Wednesday nodded, her focus briefly shifting over to Bianca, who still stood in the doorway with Thing, pale at the sight in front of her.

"Fetch the principal and the nurses. Let them know there has been an incident."

Bianca frowned, eyes dancing with worry, "Yeah, no problem."

Satisfied, Wednesday pressed the blade edge further into Katrina's skin, barely controlling the urge to draw more blood, remembering what the girl had done to Enid. She tried to quell the anger, instead focusing on the task at hand, the most important thing being the retrieval of her wolf from whatever hell she was currently trapped in. Wednesday felt her chest squeeze, and she adjusted her grip on Katrina to help tide her fury.

"Walk swiftly. The longer this takes you, the more painful your torture will become."

Katrina glanced fearfully behind her, greeted only by a pair of black eyes that were seething with rage. She swallowed and started walking, Yoko falling into step behind them. Divina stepped up beside Bianca, fear rolling off her in waves as she watched the three of them head out toward the wilderness, unsure what would become of them.

Wednesday continued to shove the wolf through the woods, her eyes never leaving the target of all her ire, irate every time the brunette stumbled. Yoko walked quietly beside them, the snow still falling heavily around them, their journey even more treacherous through near knee-deep powder. Katrina grumbled as she tripped again, nearly falling face first into the ground if not for the steadfast hold on her arms, the cold biting into her skin, as she was rested from her dorm wearing only her pajamas. She winced with every move; the presence of the metal hurt, the silver denying a wolf's natural healing ability, the chains permanently branding into her skin. Katrina wrestled to try and break free of Wednesday's grip, but failed once again, almost begrudginly impressed at the seer's strength.

Yoko pulled to a stop, eyes wide in terror, "By the gods."

Wednesday looked forward, eyes catching sight of the pale wolf against a tree, snow clinging to the blonde locks. She kicked her foot out, crumpling Katrina's knee and crashed her elbow into the wolf's temple, sending her into unconsciousness, body falling forward to lay limply in the snow. Wednesday dashed forward, the deeper snow barely even registering to her as she approached the wolf, hands reaching out to gently cup Enid's face out of reflex, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. The blonde groaned quietly, but said nothing, head still lolling into Wednesday's hands, unable to do anything more. Yoko charged up to them a moment later, anxious fingers fumbling with the lock on the chains. Wednesday took a moment to survey the actual damage, the still-burning skin almost turning her stomach. Her mind replayed the vision over and over, the blonde valiant in her attempt to break free from the fight, despite being outnumbered, and Wednesday swelled with something she could only call pride.

Yoko ripped the lock off and the two of them quickly unwrapped the chains, the wolf's limp body sliding down and into Wednesday's waiting arms. She cradled the wolf to her, suddenly on her knees in the snow with Enid listless and unresponsive across her lap, her wide eyes staring at the ghastly white face of Enid Sinclair. Yoko knelt beside them, offering the pink coat that Wednesday quickly wrapped around the wolf before taking her fully into her arms, her pulse roaring in her ears as they hastily made it back toward the school, Katrina all but forgotten in the bitter cold.

The windows in Nevermore were all lit, a commotion already outside by the time they made it back to the school, Enid tucked safely in Wednesday's arms, the seer unwilling to release the girl from her grasp. The principal gasped at the sight, the wolf almost lifeless, her skin like ice. An EMT moved to greet Wednesday, her dark eyes glaring through the man out of reflex, her grip on Enid tightening protectively. Yoko walked up beside her, eyes glossy with tears as she leaned down to talk next to Wednesday's shoulder, voice thick with emotion. 

"Go with her."

Wednesday only clenched her jaw and moved forward, following the man to the waiting ambulance, hesitating a moment before she gently laid Enid on the gurney, the team suddenly swarming around the blonde. Wednesday was in the ambulance before anyone could stop her, the staff wordlessly allowing her as they closed the doors and headed back to Jericho. Icy clothes were removed, the seer noticing deep gashes and heavy bruising before she closed her eyes, willing the sight to flee from her memory, giving Enid a modicum of privacy as the ambulance screamed down the street. Her eyes reopened a few minutes later, the wolf already swaddled in thick blankets, her ice white skin padded with warm compresses, the larger of the wounds already bandaged. Wednesday sat helplessly, her hands worrying over themselves as she studied the slack face, worry burning hot in her chest at the sight of her friend. 

The ambulance arrived at the hospital not long after, Enid still unconscious on the table, Wednesday's heart still hammering wildly in her chest. 

Enid needed to be okay. She would accept nothing less. Couldn't.

Her mind replayed the vision for the umpteenth time, the brutal attack prevalent in her memory as she saw the attack over and over, unable to clear it. She was usually so closely reserved, guarded in her emotional capacity, but seeing Enid in such a state had sent into an almost psychotic rage, the after effects of which were still pulsing away in her bones. Nothing mattered more in that moment than Enid, and Wednesday could only hope that she'd made it in time, and that Enid would make it out the other side. She didn't even care that the girls had seen her so untethered, unwilling to be bothered by her vitriolic response to the beating inflicted on her roommate. It was no secret that Wednesday had a soft spot for Enid, but she had never explored the feeling, instead just accepting it as fact at this point.

The sky was blue, and Wednesday Addams was soft for Enid Sinclair.

And sitting in the hospital, seeing how badly injured the wolf was, and how close she had actually come to death's cruel embrace, had Wednesday teetering on the edge where she never thought she'd find herself. 

It wasn't long after their arrival that Enid was sent to a room, the blonde stirring every so often as her body thawed, her werewolf healing finally beginning to work after the harsh effect of the silver was finally removed from her. She was still bundled heavily, mountains of blankets hiding the true damage from Wednesday's curious eyes, wondering just how bad things truly were for her friend. If the vision was any indicator, Enid was far worse for wear than even she realized. She scooted her chair forward, worried brown eyes keeping a watch on Enid's face, the uncertainty enough to make her skin crawl.

It was almost four hours after they arrived that Enid finally stirred, her glassy blue eyes glancing around the room before landing on Wednesday. She smiled the tiniest smile, eyes fluttering closed as her hand slipped out from under the blankets and blindly searched for Wednesday's; she relented almost immediately, allowing the wolf to squeeze her hand reassuringly. The brunette glanced down, thumb absently tracing the veins in Enid's wrist, and the cracked and bruised knuckles that Wednesday ached to kiss, the wolf having tumbled right back into unconsciousness. She wasn't used to those hands being cold to the touch, the rare times she allowed Enid to touch her affording her the knowledge that she was almost always volcanically hot. The chill that haunted her flesh was abhorred, as much as it was feared in that moment. Wednesday never wanted for warmth so much in her life. 

Principal Weems entered the room some forty minutes later, Yoko in step behind her as they slipped into Enid's room, the pair looking over her in concern. Yoko skirted around the shapeshifter and approached the bed, her hand lifting to gently brush the hair from Enid's face, relief washing over her that her friend was still somehow alive. She placed a small kiss on the damp blonde hair before dropping into the seat beside her bed, hand resting on the blankets that still cocooned her. Weems sighed heavily and walked around the far side of the bed, stopping to stand beside Wednesday, tongue clicking gently in concern.

"You'll be glad to know that all four of those girls have been expelled and removed already, and I am wondering about the legal ramifications of this little stunt."

Wednesday remained perfectly still, her eyes refusing to break from Enid's sleeping face, thumb still absently rubbing across Enid's bruised knuckles. Weems merely smiled down at the girl and nodded, tossing a quick glance to Yoko.

"Come now, Miss Tanaka, we will come back again tomorrow to check on Miss Sinclair and Miss Addams."

Yoko sighed heavily and stood, taking a moment to glance at Wednesday. She hesitated for a beat, clearly torn between opening her mouth or saving her words; the former won out as she nodded down at the girl.

"I know she's in good hands with you. Call if something changes, okay?"

Wednesday remained just as silent as the falling snow, hand squeezing Enid's just a little bit tighter as the pair left them alone.

Enid bounced back well, her natural healing ability working to her advantage in this situation, the wolf in her mending the broken body as well as it could. Most of the scratches had healed completely, the larger claw marks having at least scabbed over or were acceptable enough for her to be considered walking wounded. A nurse had dressed all the remaining injuries in pristine white bandages, before offering the blonde a set of scrubs, and discharged her the next afternoon. Enid winced as she attempted to put on her bloodstained pink coat, and Wednesday had moved forward to immediately assist, wary of the litany of injuries . She had helped Enid dress in her scrub top as well, the large gashes still across her shoulder and stomach making the task difficult at best. So she stood behind Enid and helped pull the shirt over her head, her dark eyes taking in every scar and mark on Enid's back as she did so, rage still roaring within her very veins. 

And so they stood, shoulder to shoulder on the curb, Weems' familiar minivan rolling down the street toward them. Enid swayed on her feet, bumping in Wednesday in her exhaustion, lips flashing an apologetic smile where words failed her in the moment. The principal unbuckled her seatbelt to get out and help, but was pleasantly surprised when Wednesday wrapped a firm arm around Enid and gently guided them both into the backseat. Enid leaned her head back and sighed, hand helplessly searching for Wednesday's hand before she took it gently and cradled it in her lap, afraid to let go. Wednesday nodded her ascent, despite Enid not even having her eyes open, fingers squeezing back in quiet support.

The ride back was short, the van rolling up outside the main entrance, the usual suspects milling about out front, in anticipation of their arrival. Enid lifted her head, a sleepy smile pulling across her face as the car slid to a stop, the compact snow making the road slippery in its journey. Wednesday stepped out first and turned, reaching her hand out to take Enid's, waiting patiently for the wolf to carefully leave the car before Enid released her from her grip, aware that she was invading Wednesday's space.

The seer was almost sad to see her go, was still worried to have Enid even out of arm's reach, lest the wolf succumb to her injuries. Yoko was the first one to walk forward, the vampire gently pulling her friend into her arms and melting against her, worry seeping out of her now that she knew Enid was safe and alive. Enid hugged back as tightly as her exhaustion would allow, burying her face in Yoko's shoulder, seeking the familiar comfort afforded to her by the embrace. Divina joined them a minute later, wrapping the wolf in a tight, protective hug, remembering what the girl had looked like in Wednesday's arms. Wednesday stood back, hands clasped in front of her, ignoring the ache in her chest at wanting to be selfishly close to the blonde in that moment too, still haunted by the sight of Enid wrapped up against that tree.

The pair finally released Enid and set her loose on everyone else, Eugene the next one up to embrace the girl in a quick hug, everyone else just sharing smiles and small waves at the blonde. Weems came to stand right beside Wednesday, her ruby lips quirked in a quiet smile.

"You did well last night, Miss Addams."

She didn't bother to look up at the woman, "The fact that they still live is a travesty I intend to rectify."

Weems fought to hide her smile. From Wednesday, she expected nothing less. She merely grinned and walked forward, clasping a supportive hand on Enid's good shoulder before heading back into the school. Enid turned, pinning Wednesday with a tired smile, gesturing with her head for Wednesday to come along. She moved forward, falling into step beside the sluggish blonde, practically glued to her side as they walked. The trek back up to their dorm was a tedious one, Enid's body still exhausted and healing, her legs refusing to move properly towards the end of their journey. Wednesday had almost reached out several times but stopped as Enid caught herself; she needed to get her roommate safely into bed.

Wednesday shoved open the door, Thing almost immediately running up to greet them, fingers tapping wildly on the floor before he was scuttling up Enid's pant leg and settled into her waiting palms.

"Hey, you," she managed, throat raw from the scratch that still dug into her flesh.

She smiled, eyes drooping in exhaustion. Thing lovingly tapped her palm before hopping down, heading back over toward Wednesday's desk and out of their way. Enid shuffled closer to her bed, a heavy sigh escaping her as she swayed forward, dizzy from the effort. Wednesday moved along behind her, on the off chance that Enid blacked out before making it to bed, adamant that the girl finish the journey safely. Enid unzipped her jacket and whined softly, cranky in her exhaustion, as she tried to wrestle the coat off her damaged frame. Wednesday was already moving forward, nimble fingers curling around the pink fabric and helping peel it off before tossing it on the floor by the door, useless in its damaged state. Enid kicked her shoes off and stumbled slightly, steadied by Wednesday's hand on the small of her back, making sure she didn't topple over. The shorter girl moved to shift around Enid, tugging the covers down before gingerly guiding her toward the edge of the bed. Enid smiled drowsily before reaching out to pat Wednesday's hand that held her, lashes fluttering a moment as she squeezed gently. 

"Thanks, Wen," she slurred, speech heavy with sleep.

She let the nickname slide, the blue eyes glassy with fatigue, and Wednesday was sure she hadn't even realized she'd even said it. Enid almost went to lay back but stopped herself, brows knitted together in disoriented confusion as she glanced back up at Wednesday, wide eyes staring so openly at Wednesday that the brunette felt her heart skip a beat.

"No, wait- can I borrow your sweater? M'still cold."

Wednesday blinked only once, glancing down at herself, still wearing her peacoat from the night before. 

Did she mean the sweater she was wearing? Or a different one?

Enid blinked slowly, sluggish with pain as she whined and tugged on her sleeve, "Wednesdaaayy."

Wednesday shrugged off her peacoat before tossing it across the foot of Enid's bed, shifting to remove her sweater, leaving her in just a black t-shirt in the chilly air of their dorm. She presented the sweater to Enid, ignoring the touch of heat crawling up the back of her neck at the gesture, her eyes anywhere but the girl in front of her.

Enid stared, starry eyed, a wide smile pulling across her face as she took the sweater in her unsteady hands, breathing out a small laugh as she pulled it into her arms. Wednesday helped with that, too, careful of the injury on her shoulder before managing to wrestle Enid into her sweater, her ears burning red at the sight of her wearing the pilfered garment. The blonde's eyes fluttered closed, nose buried in the neck of the striped sweater.

"Smells s'good."

She was asleep before her head ever hit the pillow. Wednesday pulled the blankets up and tucked the wolf in before grabbing her jacket and turning, eyes landing on Thing as he practically vibrated on her desk. She felt the faint blush crawl further up her throat as it went ignored, her arms tightening around her coat.

She glared at him, "Not a word," before disappearing into her closet.

Enid awoke hours later, disoriented in the low light, the sun's dying rays still casting across the sky, their room a brilliant gold. She blinked, feeling both more human, and more alive than she had after leaving the hospital, her wounds still pulsing gently in the back of her mind. Her shoulder hurt less, thankful that the wounds were healing up quickly, her body still quietly aching after another recuperative sleep. Her eyes slid over to the other side of the room, taking in the form of her roommate as she typed away at her desk, so steadfast in her presence that Enid couldn't help but take comfort in it. Enid smiled and snuggled further into the blankets, turning onto her side to better study her, tired eyes already familiar with everything that was Wednesday Addams. She lifted a hand to itch her nose, eyes widening as she noticed the black and white striped sleeves. She stared down at herself, almost mortified to learn she was wearing Wednesday's sweater, her cheeks burning a guilty red.

The subject of her current spiral into panic spoke softly, the brunette suddenly standing toward the middle of their shared room.

"You're awake."

Enid nodded dumbly, eyes wide as she stared at her roommate. She tried a smile before pushing herself to sit up, pleased at the amount of resistance she felt, hiding a grimace at the pull she could feel across her stomach. She threw the blankets off her legs and stood, wavering slightly before regaining her footing against the edge of her bed, and lightly pushed off toward Wednesday. She walked to the center of the room and stopped across from her friend like they had so many times before, the motion automatic and reassuring to her now. Her fingers fidgeted with themselves as she flashed an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I don't know why I have your sweater."

Wednesday studied her for a moment, "You requested it."

Enid's blush spread further down her neck, "Oh."

"You complained that you were still cold. Are you any better?"

The wolf shifted on her feet. Yes, honestly, she was feeling better. A chill still skittered up her spine, but she was much better off than she remembered being, and Wednesday's sweater was incredibly soft. She offered a tiny smile.

"Yeah, actually. Thanks for letting me borrow it."

"Keep it."

Enid felt blood rush in her ears, her face burning at a fever pitch at the comment. Wednesday turned back towards her desk.

"I can't imagine I'll ever get the smell of your perfume out of it either way, so it is yours if you so wish," she glanced back over her shoulder at Enid's still red face, "Dinner is soon, you need to eat."

The werewolf stood in the center of their room, at a loss for words. Wednesday certainly had a knack for backhanded allowances, was surprised she'd even given the sweater at all, let alone allowed Enid to keep it. But she took the win and ran with it, tucking her nose into the sleeves of the newly acquired sweater, ignoring the flare of warmth across her face at the motion, flustered at herself. She needed a breather.

"I'm going to get a shower, and then we can go down to dinner together?"

Wednesday simply nodded quietly, already engrossed in her writing. Enid rifled through her clothes and picked out an outfit before heading to the bathrooms. She paused to take off the bandages that still remained, the larger wounds having scabbed in this stage of their healing, the lesser ones hardly a concern. Her stomach was red and raw, bruises still splattered across her entire body, each one aching in a defiant, mocking sneer.  She ignored them either way, instead focusing on the warmth of the water as it helped soothe the aches and pains in her body, the spray doing wonders for her terribly persistent headache. Everything still hurt, despite being on the mend, and she fought the memories that plagued her every time she closed her eyes, still recalling every sick detail from her assault in the woods.

It was a miracle that she'd survived at all, the damage inflicted upon her enough to kill a lesser creature, though she still suffered the after effects. The chains burned permanent scars into her arms and belly, the undeniable outline nearly making her sick at the sight, the ugly scars causing white hot tears to sting at her eyes, unable to keep them at bay. She was even more hideous now, Tyler's scars a distant memory in comparison to the fresh marks that were still in various stages of healing.

It was a blessing that she woke up to Wednesday at her side, the petite girl so quiet in her support, her dark eyes etched in something Enid couldn't identify in her bedraggled state; she was grateful for the constant presence, reveled in the way Wednesday managed to be there for her when she needed her most. She eventually gathered enough strength to leave the soothing heat of the shower, her wounds pulsing as the warmth melted away, sore despite herself. She dried off quickly and dressed, pausing to throw Wednesday's sweater overtop of her long-sleeved shirt, the familiar scent of her roommate offering her comfort. She re-entered their dorm and sat back on her bed, waiting a few moments before Wednesday eventually finished her writing and stood, regarding the blonde with curious eyes.

She ultimately remained silent, the two of them heading down toward the cafeteria for dinner, Wednesday unable to keep from glancing over at the blonde, as if to make sure she was still standing. They entered the dining hall, a sudden rush of silence greeting them as they crested the main entryway, all eyes shifting over to openly gawk at the blonde. Enid shuffled in place, pulling the sleeves down over her hands as she fidgeted, trying to ignore the inquisitive looks from the entire student body. Yoko stood and glared around the room, her red eyes suddenly visible as she removed her glasses, voice coming out in a dangerous growl.

"Mind your fucking business," she seethed, the crowd jumping at the sudden vehemence before falling back to their meals, leaving the blonde in peace.

Yoko approached the pair and pulled Enid into her arms, brows drawn tightly, still dealing with the trauma of seeing the normally strong wolf in such a state the night before.

"I'm so glad you didn't die on me, stupid."

Enid chuckled softly, lifting her arms to grip at her uniform blazer before she buried her head in her shoulder, her tears renewing with frightening force. 

"I'm glad I didn't die, too," she whispered quietly.

Wednesday bristled at the exchange, swallowing thickly at the absurdity of Enid Sinclair dying, annoyed at how much the thought bothered her. She felt a tug on the edge of her pant leg as she glanced down at Thing, before she snatched him up and went to pick up dinner, grateful for the distraction. She headed back to their table, the end spot beside Enid openly reserved for her in the rare times she actually ate with them, knowing full well the girl couldn't be crowded, lest she leave the table without any dinner at all. Enid reached her arm out to assist before Wednesday placed the meal down on the table for her instead and slid onto the bench beside her, ignoring the way Yoko smiled at her over the gesture. There was only idle chatter at the table, Divina and even Bianca afraid of what to say, the unacknowledged swelling at the table.

Enid sighed softly as she glanced about the table, her hands fidgeting with her napkin as she licked her lips; Thing crawled onto the table and stilled the nervous fingers, and Enid was grateful for it as she peered around at the group.

"Guys, we can talk about it. I'm fine, I'm literally sitting right here."

Divina cracked first, shoulders falling as she exhaled a noisy breath and leaned forward.

"That shit was terrifying and we didn't even go into the woods... are you okay?"

Enid nodded, squeezing Thing as he remained in her grasp, "I'm okay, just sore."

Bianca leaned on her elbow, brilliant eyes slowly scanning the blonde's face before her eyes skipped over to Wednesday, frowning at the look that greeted her; she refocused on Enid, lightly shaking her head, but ultimately remained quiet, a small smile her only offering. Yoko wrapped an arm loosely around her friend as she leaned them together, her throat thick with emotion. No matter how she teased the wolf, and relentlessly tortured her with pranks and other silly things, she actively cared about Enid, and seeing her friend in such a state had left a mark on her that she wasn't sure would ever fade. 

She squeezed gently, "Don't go off in the woods alone again, okay? Unless you've got Wednesday with you. She's the scariest fucking thing at this school, after all."

Enid breathed out a small laugh as she looked back at the girl in question, eyebrows pushing together as she noticed her friend sitting painfully still, the rest of her meal untouched as she stared blankly downward. Enid lifted herself from Yoko's grasp, gently reaching out towards Wednesday's sleeve.

"Hey, Wen-"

"I will see you after dinner," she stood suddenly, eyes still cast downward, her shoulders tight with unavoidable tension, "please make sure you eat," she added, barely loud enough to hear, and then she was gone.

Enid nodded dumbly, her eyes following Wednesday as she left out of the hall, vanishing into the darkened corridor. Thing squeezed her reassuringly before he broke free of her grasp and scurried after her. Enid sighed heavily, turning to regard the girls still at the table, unease twisting in her gut as her eyes helplessly slid back toward the exit.

Enid returned to the dorm, lovingly dropped off by Yoko and Divina before they left off to their own room, leaving the wolf standing outside her door. She inhaled a slow breath before pushing the door open, her eyes immediately landing on Wednesday as she typed away at her desk. She hesitated a brief moment, dark eyes sliding over to glance at Enid before she resumed her writing, as if the very idea of stopping was too terrifying to entertain. Enid slowly wandered toward the center of the room, shoes perfectly in line with the invisible border between their sides, blue eyes fixed on the stoic girl.

"Wednesday?"

She nearly thrilled when the typing stopped automatically, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest as she watched Wednesday slowly stand from her desk and gradually turned to face her, something so concerning about the look in those dark brown eyes. Enid felt emotion bubble up her throat, choking what little control she had over her feelings. Wednesday slowly meandered over to meet her, arms fully crossed as she stopped a breath away from Enid, jaw working slowly. Enid frowned, fighting the urge to open her arms for a comforting hug, remembering who she was dealing with at the moment.

"Are you okay?"

Wednesday nearly tsked, hands flexing hard around her biceps as she remained standing perfectly still, her eyes helplessly searching Enid's as she eventually nodded. Enid's frown only deepened, her fingers fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves, weight shifting from foot to foot. She knew Wednesday, could read her exceedingly well after all this time, and the glimmer in those eyes had her feeling unendingly worried.

"What's wrong?" her brows pressed together as she chanced a small step forward, shocked when Wednesday didn't flinch away from her.

"I had a vision of your attack."

Enid nearly crumbled as if she had been struck, her eyes wide with fear, the air vanishing from her lungs as she stood helplessly in the center of the room. She slammed her eyes closed, a small whimper escaping her as she swayed on her feet. Tears finally fell, her lip worried between her teeth before she snapped her eyes open and pinned Wednesday with an agonized stare.

"...you did?"

Wednesday nodded curtly, hands again tightening around her biceps, eyes fluttering slightly as she returned the look.

"Yes. I am impressed at your strength."

Enid inhaled a shaky breath, throat tight against the shame burned into her skin.

"I got my ass kicked, Wednesday."

Her face changed immediately, dark eyes narrowing as she stepped right up to Enid, waiting patiently for the blonde to meet her gaze; her pulse skipped the moment their eyes locked, and Wednesday did everything in her power to ignore it, terror blooming in her chest. She straightened her chin and slowly shook her head.

"You were outnumbered, and still inflicted severe damage. You lived. For that, I am grateful."

Enid flushed as her mind shifted to focus on that singular word, the simplicity bouncing loudly around in her ribcage. Wednesday Addams was grateful? For her?

"...grateful?" she whispered, afraid to say it out loud and shatter the moment they were suspended in.

She worried that Wednesday would dismiss the comment, would turn back around and continue typing like nothing had transpired between them, like the emotionless Wednesday Addams didn't just openly admit that she was glad Enid was still breathing. The brunette shifted uncomfortably but didn't drop her eyes, refusing to break her focus away from Enid, even as she gripped her own arms hard enough to bruise. She swallowed thickly, nodding slowly as they dark eyes continued to stare into Enid's for a tense moment.

"Yes," she croaked, jaw working as she regained her sense of self, shoulders squaring under the weight of the glistening blue eyes, "I had not originally considered the fact that you could die, only that living was your only acceptable option."

The blonde flashed a weak smile as the tears continued to roll down her face.

"You'd kill me if I died, right?"

Wednesday only nodded, fingers flexing again as she hesitated a moment, swallowing whatever was left of her pride.

"I wondered a moment, what this place would look like without you in it."

Enid tensed, caught off guard by the openness of her usually stoic roommate, anxiety roiling in her gut.

"Yeah, it'd be pretty quiet for you, ha-"

Wednesday scowled at the comment as Enid quickly pressed her lips together in an apologetic frown, used to trying to disguise horrid sitatutions with attempts at humor. Wednesday softened slightly, that same look in her eye as she studied Enid closely, as if committing every inch of her to memory. The time they'd known one another, Wednesday had always kept Enid at arm's length, afraid to let anyone truly get close to her. She was nearly free of the academy, had only a half year left before they were set loose on the world, and Wednesday never dared venture to think about what it would be like after her life here, what it would look like without a certain sunshine werewolf beside her every step of the way.

She was loathe to admit that she'd grown accustomed to Enid Sinclair, had grown fond of the wolf, in the time they spent together. Enid never pried where she wasn't wanted, always supported Wednesday in her endeavors, and always called Wednesday on her bullshit. She couldn't get away with murder where Enid was concerned, the blonde always beside her to be something of a beacon to her when things got too rough or too heavy, her flash of light in an otherwise dark world. Wherever there was Wednesday, Enid was sure to follow. It was the simplest fact in her life, and one she counted on, no matter how hard it was for her to admit out loud. They were a team, a pair, and Wednesday raged against the idea that her Enid was nearly ripped away from her by a pack of jealous pups.

Her vision of the wolf had shattered the carefully constructed ruse she had been living in, knowing that Enid wasn't just some other acquaintance, or a meager roommate that shared her space. Seeing Enid pinned against that tree, witnessing the brutal assault on the stubborn wolf as she refused to stay down in the fight, had altered something in her brain chemistry, had made her realize a fundamental truth. And hearing Yoko easily say how glad she was that Enid hadn't die burrowed right into her skin, her brain flying off on a tangent on what would have actually happened if Enid had succumbed to her injuries, instead of clinging to life like the unstoppable force she truly was.

Wednesday was mortified to learn that, even just the thought of Enid not being here with her in any capacity, was enough to make the psychic weak in the knees, an emptiness morphing inside her and swallowing her whole. Enid was sunshine and fun and beauty, was rage wrapped in a glittery pink package, and Wednesday loved her with every piece of her that existed in any realm, would gladly trade her life for Enid's if it ever came down to it. And the thought of losing her? Unacceptable. It simply wouldn't do.

Wednesday shook her head, eyes burning with a seriousness that left Enid breathless.

"The silence that would follow your parting would be louder than any sound that has ever existed, and it is not a sound I wish to ever acquaint myself with."

The blonde swallowed as she peered down into the intense stare, caught off guard by the comment as she continued to be transfixed by those deep dark eyes, her cheeks still burning a blinding scarlet red.

"W-"

"I apologize for my complacency in your attack. If I had stopped when I first noticed your tardiness, I-"

"Wait," Enid put her hands up, finally snapping herself out from under Wednesday's hypnotizing gaze, "What the hell are you talking about? You didn't have anything to do with this."

Wednesday inhaled a sharp breath, her spine suddenly painfully straight as she squared her jaw and stared up into those pretty blue eyes.

"I was aware that you were late to curfew, but was so incensed with my writing, that I did nothing until it was too late."

She stepped forward, brows drawn in a deep frown, "Hey, that's not your fault, either. You had no way of knowing what was going on. As soon as you found out, you came and got me. I know you did."

The brunette swallowed the lump in her throat, an unfamiliar guilt welling up inside her as she slowly shook her head, "Thing could have contacted you beforehand, if only-"

"Stop. Stop. Wednesday," she pressed forward, hesitating for a moment before she lifted her hands to gently squeeze Wednesday's arms, willing the psychic to hear her, "Your vision is literally the reason I'm here at all."

Wednesday sighed softly, her chest aching as she looked into those eyes, comforted by the familiar blue. She swayed forward, closer to the blonde, her eyes shifting to look at the mark on Enid's neck, a new rage building within her. Enid almost wasn't here anymore. Almost. It made her stomach turn, knowing how close she'd come to losing her. Enid could have died out in the snow and Wednesday railed against the very idea that she almost let it happen.

She shook her head as if to clear the thoughts before she peered up at the blonde, a small frown ghosting her lips.

"I would never forgive myself if I let you die alone," she muttered, remembering their first ever night together at Nevermore, "if I let you die at all."

She looked down into those dark eyes and felt herself melt a little, a fluster building in her chest as she shuffled that much closer to the shorter girl, "Yoko told me about how you beat the shit out of Katrina," she blurted.

Wednesday afforded herself a moment of fury, lip curling slightly as the disdain flooded her bloodstream, tempered only by the warm hands on her shoulders.

"She will be dead by week's end, that is a guarantee."

Enid smiled then, broken from their displeasure, "I'd try and talk you out of it, but I'm already exhausted, and honestly, I kinda want to let you."

They regarded each other for a quiet moment before Enid removed her hands from Wednesday's shoulders, her eyes heavy, her body still recuperating from the longest night she'd ever experienced. She softened as she peered down at the brunette, that same look still glinting in those dark eyes, and Enid was powerless against the way her heart stuttered in her chest. She opened her arms automatically, needing to feel the steadfast presence of Wednesday in her arms, needing to reassure her that Yes, she was still here. Wednesday glanced up at her but said nothing, her arms eventually unfurling before she stepped into Enid and buried her face in the striped sweater, her own heartbeat roaring in her ears. Enid gently wrapped her in an embrace, her taller frame melting into Wednesday, knees nearly buckled under the comfort the closeness afforded her. Wednesday balled her fists in the back of Enid's sweater as she held her as tightly as she dared, calmed by the persistent beat of Enid's heart beneath her ear.

She felt too soft, too untethered in reality, as she stood in Enid's arms, a foreign feeling twisting to life inside her.

Longing.

She tightened her grip on Enid as she stepped fully into the wolf's space, pressing herself as close to the blonde as she could. 

"Losing you is a thought I cannot bear," she whispered, unable to face the feeling with any sense of bravery, her hands further twisting into the material of Enid's shirt, face still buried in the soft material at Enid's shoulder.

Enid nearly missed it, so calm in the embrace, nearly lulled to sleep by the comfort, the words shocking her right back to life. Her brows pressed together in blinding affection before she nuzzled her face against Wednesday's, squeezing the shorter girl with every ounce of strength left within her.

"I love you, too, Wednesday," she whispered against the tan skin as she tucked her face in the crook of Wednesday's neck, fingers gripping on so tightly to the girl in front of her.

Wednesday flustered at the words, her pulse racing through her veins like lightning, her breath escaping in a shuddering exhale. 

She did love Enid. More than words could even describe, though she was too coward to say them out loud. She wouldn't fail Enid, not again. She knew Enid would be patient with her, and her heart thrilled at the idea, enamored by the way the blonde always cared for her. Wednesday wanted to click her tongue in annoyance, wanted to shove the blonde away from her so that she could finally know peace from her own rampant emotion. Her body betrayed her, however, as she burrowed into Enid's arms and clung to her as if she were a life raft in a violent sea, her only tether to the world. Gone were the days where she would indirectly speak on her feelings, days of using Thing as a buffer for her true intentions a distant spec in the past. Life was delicate, could be changed in a moment's notice, and Wednesday would be damned if she were caught dead not fully supporting the blonde in her arms.

Words in so many languages tumbled through her mind in that moment, unable to focus on a singular thing, her eyes fluttering closed against the feeling of Enid in her arms.

I love you I love you I love you.

"Je t'aime, ma chérie," she dared whisper against the blonde, satisfied when Enid tightened her arms around her, accepting her declaration the only way she knew how.

She was enough in that moment, and Wednesday vowed to never again falter for her beloved, would do anything for Enid Sinclair.

Not even death could stop her.