Chapter Text
Pugsley couldn’t sleep. Hadn't been able to since the night in the tower really. And so like every night since, he got up and paced his room, fingertips sparking slightly. His thoughts turned, as they usually did, to Isaac. To what could have been. He blamed himself a little for their falling out.
“I did keep him as a pet,” he thought, “maybe…maybe if I did things differently, maybe now that his sister's….”
He shook his head trying to clear the fantasy. There was no point in wondering because Isaac was dead.
Pugsley suddenly stopped, a new thought seizing him.
“He was dead before,” he flung open his closet and grabbed a jacket, “I brought him back once, I can do it again!”
He shoved some clothes in his backpack and slipped down the stairs. His parents probably wouldn't hear, or care, but Lurch wouldn't let him wander off in the middle of the night.
He stopped in the kitchen and put some snacks in his bag for the road, along with a few he thought his undead friend might like. Sufficiently prepared, Pugsley slung his bag over his shoulder and snuck to the back door.
A grunt and a heavy hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“Hey Lurch!” He said, shrugging off the hand, “Couldn't sleep so I-I thought I'd go camping for a few days! Nothing like the outdoors right?”
Lurch groaned and raised an eyebrow at the young Addams. Pugsley smiled and showed him the inside of the bag. Lurch nodded slowly and opened the door for him. Pugsley waved goodbye and grabbed his bike from the garage.
The ride to the bus stop was just long enough for his nerves to kick in. Was he really going to resurrect the guy who'd tried to kill his whole family? The bus driver put his bike in the storage area with the other passengers' luggage and Pugsley climbed on board.
“Apparently yes,” he thought, settling into the seat.
The bus ride was boring, he regretted not bringing anything to do except his phone and his frustration at not being able to sleep only grew.
He stretched as his bike was unloaded, the other passengers giving him a wide berth.
Nevermore was ridiculously easy to break into. And with no one to stop him the climb up to Iago tower was slowed only by his own doubt.
No one had moved the body. It made his mission easier but it also bothered him that Isaac had been forgotten again. The sight of his stitched right hand made Pugsley's breath hitch.
“Oh, Thing…” he whispered, tears stinging his eyes.
Thing had used the last of his strength to rip out Isaac's heart, to save them. They had waited for him to move, to come back to them, but he was gone like his host.
“And I'm going to throw his sacrifice away,” he stood over Isaac's rotting body, eyes never leaving Thing, “for what?”
The wind blowing through the tower was the only answer.
“Please be different this time,” he pleaded, crouching down and gently picking up the metal heart, “don't let me be wrong again.”
He placed the heart in what he hoped was the right way and sat back clenching his shaking hands and biting his lip.
“Just do it!” He told himself.
He took a breath and placed his hand on the metal, giving it as much of a jolt as he could with his ability still recovering. A stuttering ticking began to fill the destroyed lab and Pugsley's own heart rate picked up. He waited barely breathing for any sign of movement.
Nothing happened. Pugsley frowned, it had worked before and that hadn't even been on purpose!
He reached out to try again only for a cold, partially rotted, hand to grab his wrist. Dark wild eyes met his, and then Pugsley was flying.
He hit the ground hard, and through his swimming vision he saw a tall figure stagger to its feet and lurch toward him. He pushed himself backwards and the dark figure hesitated.
“It-It's pugsley!” He stammered, hoping and doubting that would help him.
Isaac didn't move, just stared and as Pugsley's vision cleared he realized the newly awakened undead looked confused. Pugsley shakily got to his feet and Isaac flinched. He took a step back and then Pugsley was being pushed by nothing.
“Hey!” He protested as the pressure vanished and Isaac disappeared into the shadows.