Chapter Text
It turns out? The Poe Cup was just as annoying and jarring as Wednesday had expected, if not more, starting with the outfit that Wednesday grudgingly puts on for Enid. The constant cheering made Wednesday’s ears ring. The way Enid smiled and did a little wave at the gorgon boy in the boat across the water made Wednesday grit her teeth. For Enid , Wednesday repeats again and again in her head.
Although she would love to murder the boy looking at Enid, Wednesday was sure Enid wouldn’t appreciate her being disqualified before the race even started. “Focus”, Wednesday hissed from behind Enid.
While the sinking boat had been quite amusing, nothing of note truly happened until Wednesday reached crackstone’s crypt. Upon grasping the flag, Wednesday’s head snaps back and her vision goes black.
Unlike her many times receiving visions, it doesn’t come back. This time the same distorted voice speaks from the darkness. “Your beloved’s time is coming near.” The strong stench of paint reeks in her nose as Wednesday attempts to reach out, finally grasping onto the lapel of a jacket before it fades in her grip into nothingness until she’s simply clenching her fist around nothing.
Then surprisingly, a girl’s voice from farther away. “You are the key.”
A third voice sounds, this one too familiar. “Wednesday? Wednesday!” Enid’s voice calls her name in panic, coming closer and closer.
Wednesday feels the warmth of Enid’s arms around her, cradling her, but still, the “vision” offers no visuals at all. All Wednesday can do is take in the scent of the forest that accompanies Enid as well as a pleasant, sweet smell of vanilla perfume that Enid often used, mixed with a tang of blood.
Eyes snapping open, Wednesday is greeted by a smirking Bianca. “Taking a catnap?”
Pushing herself off the sprawled position on the forest floor, she races back to the boat and climbs in. Wednesday doesn’t say anything about the vision, or lack of thereof. It is neither the time nor the place.
-0-
Enid is all too aware that Wednesday has once again taken all the burden upon herself for the Poe Cup. Although Enid did employ WWWD (what would wednesday do) and sabotage a boat, most of the leg work had been done by Wednesday and nobody could deny that.
So when she found Wednesday with her eyes closed, leaning her head back against the statue, Enid couldn’t help just stopping to look at Wednesday. While Wednesday always looked half dead, at that moment Wednesday looked especially tired. It wasn’t something other people could tell. This was the type of fatigue that built mentally for a long time and made one’s shoulder heavy as if carrying boulders up a hill.
She wondered if Wednesday knew that she was only ever one call away to help her girlfriend. It wasn’t just Wednesday that would refrain from killing for Enid. Enid would do anything for Wednesday. Except Wednesday never asked as if Enid was as fragile as glass.
Walking forward, Enid sits down next to Wednesday quietly, knowing her preference for silence.
Something heavy drops onto Enid’s shoulder abruptly, and Enid almost gasps when she looks over to see Wednesday’s head on her shoulder. It’s something so little, yet so big because they don’t touch each other much. It was more than just the secret, it was how their relationship worked because Enid respected Wednesday’s boundaries of touch. So even such a small motion made Enid feel like she was being electrocuted, the shock spreading from where Wednesday’s head came into contact with her shoulder to the rest of her body.
Wednesday’s jaw is clenched, her brow furrowed. Still, Enid says nothing. If Wednesday wants a conversation, she’ll talk. Most likely though, Wednesday will just get up and walk away as if nothing happened, Enid reasons. That’s the most logical outcome.
Instead, Wednesday interrupts Enid’s thoughts by speaking at a barely audible volume. “I had a vision.” It’s something Wednesday rarely talks about, although Enid isn’t quite sure why. She can count the amount of times Wednesday has mentioned her visions on one hand. It’s a power that Enid wonders about, but knows it irks Wednesday more than anything.
“Yeah?” Enid asks, leaving it open ended for Wednesday to end the conversation there if she wants, even if she’s dying to bombard Wednesday with questions and smother her until Enid is sure she’s okay.
“I heard him . And then a girl. And then…” Wednesday’s voice quivers just the slightest here. “And then you. I couldn’t see a single thing, but I heard you calling out to me and I couldn’t do anything.”
Perhaps it’s because she has Wednesday right next to her, and knows that Wednesday will fight until the end, but Enid doesn’t feel fear. No, the way her chest squeezes is because Wednesday is clearly hurting for her sake.
“I’m going to lose you.” The I’m afraid of it goes unsaid. The statement is powerful enough without it. It’s raw, open in ways that Wednesday almost never is.
Finally looking at Wednesday, Enid nudges her head with her own until Wednesday lifts her head to look back. “I’m here now. And I’ll fight like nothing else to stay by your side, cause I never thought I’d even get to be your girlfriend. So now that I am, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Wednesday’s lips twitch at the last part, and Enid knows she’s succeeded. “Now come on! We have a win to celebrate”, Enid continues as she tugs Wednesday to her feet by the sleeve.
Still, Wednesday argues, “People keep randomly smiling at me, it’s unsettling.”
Enid grins, almost chasing after Wednesday as she speeds up, “It’s called having your moment! You took down Bianca Barclay. Try to enjoy it. The girls want to know if you want to hang out later.” The answer is most definitely a no, and Enid knows it. Except, maybe it would do Wednesday some good to interact with people. At the very least it would annoy her enough to get her mind off of the whole selling Enid to the devil thing.
Wednesday gives her a look. “Oh c’mon it won’t kill you”, Enid pleads.
Relenting, Wednesday says, “I’ll think about it.”
While reluctant to leave Wednesday’s side, Enid knows that now that they’re in the quad she has to put on a show. So, she nods, and skips off to their table.
-0-
Enid doesn’t look back once as she skips off, but Wednesday looks back twice.
Then she walks off at a brisk pace to the infirmary.
The vampire spots her from over her sunglasses and gives an annoying smirk. “Nice of you to drop by, Addams.”
Crossing her arms and looming over the bed, Wednesday demands, “Drop the facade, I know you’re onto us, Tanaka.” Knowing Enid wouldn’t appreciate the way Wednesday dealt with this issue, Wednesday had decided to deal with it on her own.
“Us?” Yoko raises a brow over her sunglasses, slowly putting down her phone and turning it off. Finally, Wednesday had her full attention, as she should. Truly, Wednesday didn’t understand most everyone’s lack of eye contact. Eye contact was thrilling, and it meant Wednesday could see the fear in the other’s eyes.
Looking both ways to make sure the nurse wasn’t around, Wednesday explains, “Me and Enid.”
Unfortunately, Yoko’s eyes are covered by her sunglasses. In fact, she didn’t seem disturbed at all by Wednesday’s presence. Instead of cowering or looking surprised, Yoko just shrugs. “Yeah it’s pretty obvious with how Enid looks at you with hearts practically in her eyes. You may be good at acting, but the little wolf isn’t nearly as skilled.”
Yoko really knew how to get under Wednesday’s skin. Gritting her teeth, Wednesday forged on. “You have two options. Cooperate and help us, or I could make you lose your mind so that nobody will ever believe you.” She was quite serious. While Wednesday did not enjoy using her powers because every time, it reminded her that it was at the cost of Enid’s life, Wednesday would not shy away when it was necessary.
Holding up her hands in surrender, Yoko said, “Whoaaaa. Hold on. I don’t know, and I don’t want to know what that last part was about, cause there’s no way I’d ever sabotage Enid. If you two want to keep it a secret, count me in.”
Scrutinizing Yoko, Wednesday decided that the vampire seemed to be speaking genuinely. Wednesday was too familiar with lies (an expert liar herself), to be fooled by a mere vampire. While Wednesday didn’t enjoy working with other people, she recognized that this was getting out of hand between the visions, Weems, and Rowan.
Nodding, Wednesday conceded, “Good. I will be contacting you when the time comes.”
“You should communicate more with her, she worries about you”, Yoko yells after Wednesday. Internally, Wednesday scoffs. She doesn’t need a vampire to tell her how to communicate with her beloved.
-0-
Upon returning to their room that evening, Wednesday finds Enid already asleep, cuddling the trophy.
An odd feeling, similar to the anger that she had felt when Enid had waved at the gorgon boy surfaces.
Wednesday frowns as she walks forward into Enid’s space, mind racing faster and faster as she steps further into Enid’s territory. It is the furthest she has ever gone past their line and it weighs on Wednesday as she takes every step.
Stopping next to Enid’s bed, Wednesday stares down at Enid, admiring her silently. It’s rare that Enid stands still enough for Wednesday to admire her. Their days always seemed so filled with avoiding each other for the sake of the secret that Wednesday almost never stopped to look at Enid for too long. Fear always caged Wednesday’s actions into a small range around Enid.
As Wednesday stood above the bed, she realized that a new fear was blooming in her. In her quest to avoid Enid being taken away, Wednesday had neglected to spend time with Enid.
Now that Enid’s demise was becoming more imminent, Wednesday couldn’t think of enough times that she had genuinely spent with Enid without complications. If they continued this way, Wednesday would be left with no calm genuine memories of Enid.
Upon that inner revelation, Wednesday suddenly craves Enid’s warmth. She’s tired, and the only remedy she can think of is Enid’s proximity. Feeling like a thief, Wednesday noiselessly slips under the sheets with Enid, scooting forward until her head rests into the crook of Enid’s neck. Enid doesn’t move one bit, only giving a snore.
Wednesday knows she should move, that she hasn’t asked Enid for permission to be there and that this is a violation of everything Wednesday knows about herself, but she can’t help wanting to stay for just a little longer.
The entire night, Wednesday stays up, just barely touching Enid, too afraid to do more but too attached to move away. It isn’t until sunrise when Thing crawls up onto the desk and starts signing in her line of sight that she pulls away.
When Enid wakes up, she swears she smells Wednesday, but when she opens her eyes all that greets her is the trophy right in her face, and absolutely no Wednesday. Not sure why she feels a sense of loss, Enid tries to shake it off.