Chapter Text

Chapter III

A faint sound of buzzing, the smell of honey, and the scent of fresh soil surrounded that small, narrow wooden space Eugene liked to call his “home away from home,” more commonly known to the rest of the Nevermore students as the Hummers Shed.

Here, everything made sense. He felt perfectly in sync with his powers, relaxed, stress-free, and fully focused on his insect pets and honey making. Especially now that it was a zombie-free zone again, with zero risk of some hundred-year-old, reanimated corpse deciding to snack on his brain. 

But all that was before a certain black-haired, chaos-inducing boy decided to take up most of Eugene’s mental real estate, a space usually reserved for bug-related matters, which were far more important.

A few weeks had passed since the punishment in Professor Orloff’s class, and since his roommate had leaned in just a little too close, like he was about to kiss him.
Eugene had been replaying that scene in his head, over and over, as if analyzing it from every angle might finally make it make sense.
Maybe Pugsley liked him? No, impossible. Ridiculous. And it wasn’t like Eugene wanted Pugsley to kiss him… right?

His thoughts were still a wreck, even after all that time, buzzing even louder than the hive that was right in front of him. 

That was the reason he’d been avoiding his only friend ever since. That and the unbearable sense of dying every time Pugsley was near him. He felt like his chest was about to cave in, and his heart was seconds away from giving out.
It was absolute torture.

Eugene had started avoiding Pugsley like he was the plague. Every time he saw him, even from the corner of his eye, the curly-haired boy would hide or make a run for it.
He started coming back late too, making sure the taller boy was already asleep before sneaking into their room, and waking up extra early so they wouldn’t bump into each other.

And if they had classes together? Well, Eugene would time his entrance with the crowd, even though he preferred arriving early, just so he could get swallowed up by taller students and make himself small enough to go unnoticed.
He had practically mastered the art of invisibility. Yeah, it felt like last year all over again, except this time it was on purpose.

He even hung “Under Construction” and “Danger” signs on the bee shack, wrapping it in red-and-white tape, just to make sure no one, especially Pugsley, wandered in. Oddly enough, it worked… which was strange, because that boy was usually drawn to dangerous places like a moth to a flame. And yet, for once, Pugsley kept his distance.

Almost like he knew Eugene needed time and was actually respecting that.
Or maybe he just didn’t find the shed intriguing enough without Slurp hanging around in there.

Which, honestly, made Eugene feel relieved and slightly disappointed, too. Not that he was ever going to admit it.
But it felt weird, not having that crazy ball of electricity following him around like he used to. Talking Eugene’s ear out and creating havoc everywhere.  

Eugene brushed that sense of sadness that had suddenly made its way into him and continued with the task at hand. Which was collecting honey and checking on the queen bee. The hive had been especially restless lately, making the swarm harder to control, so he wanted to make sure everything was in order.
His mind, though, wasn’t fully in the task, drifting back to that classroom and the oddly creepy boy. 

This is all Ajax’s fault , he thought while guiding the bees out of the hive body, dancing around him as the bitter thoughts continued racing in his mind. The small insects started to sense Eugene’s temper, almost mimicking it as they flickered around him.
Why did he and Bianca have to leave? Like… what the hell! Ugh, now I have to deal with all this chaos again… Wait… what chaos? It was probably just a misunderstanding. Yeah, yeah…

Pugsley just did it to mess with me… he didn’t know what he was doing…

Eugene said in his mind, the words carrying an almost unpleasant and mostly sad tone.
His heart started aching, and his stomach tensed up, feeling like he could throw up at any minute.
The bees were now furiously buzzing around him, inching closer to him. 

Yeah… he didn’t know what he was doing. It was all some sort of twisted prank… that’s the only explanation. Pugsley could never like me.

His arms fell to his sides, hands clenching into fists, so hard that his fingernails started digging into the flesh of his palms.
He lowered his head, lip trembling, and his eyes began to fill with tears.
The bees formed a cocoon around him, as if sensing what he was feeling, trying their best to protect Eugene from his own emotions, trying to comfort him. 

I t was all a fantasy I created in my head. A stupid daydream I let myself believe for way too long.
He would never kiss me. He could never like me. No one could. Especially not an Addams.
I’m just…weird; obsessed with bugs, talking to them as if they’re the only ones who understand.
My god, I’m pathetic. An outcast in a school filled with them. 

Eugen’s legs started to feel weak, and before he could realize it, his knees buckled, hitting the hard wood with a loud thud.
His breath quickened as he audibly gasped for air, which was slowly slipping away from him.
One trembling hand clutched at his chest, gripping his shirt like it was his only saving grace, while the other was still curled in a fist by his side.  

Why… why am I feeling like this?!  Why does it feel like my heart just got ripped out of my chest? 

His lungs burned with every breath he tried to take, the panic about to reach its climax .

I can’t breathe… focus, Eugene, stop thinking. You're fine. Everything’s fine. 

He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the sounds surrounding him. The swarm of bees around him felt more like a hug than a storm now, keeping him warm and grounded in what now felt like an awfully small place, the same place he called a sanctuary, a second home.
Tears streamed down his face; he didn’t even know when he had started crying. He tried to ignore the sounds of his own hiccups, shaky breaths, pounding heart, and uncontrollable sobs. 

Most of the bees’ buzzing had softened into a lullaby, their unusual buzzing still in the background, now more subdued, while others flew mindlessly around the shack, as if mirroring the panic Eugene felt. They pressed closer to him, their fragile wings brushing lightly against his body, as he tried his best to calm down.

His body curled up into a ball, knees pulled tight to his chest and head bowed low, as he hugged his legs and tried to focus on the bees’ lullaby, broken sobs still escaping him.

But his mind had other plans, dragging him back to that classroom, vividly torturing him with the memory.
Eugene could still feel Pugsley’s closeness, his breath against his face, the pounding of his heart. The way he had stiffened, causing him to stop breathing for that brief moment, as if he were waiting for something.

Realization finally hit him in the face, 

“I wanted Pugsley to kiss me…” he whispered in the air, voice fragile and trembling. 

His face warmed, a harsh blush tinting it all the way to his ears, his eyes still filled with tears. His breath slowly began to return to a somewhat normal pace.
Even the bees started to calm down, their intense buzzing finally easing.
The same buzz that had disturbed the hive ever since Eugene first met Pugsley finally stopped, as they settled back into their usual soft and steady rhythm.

He liked Pugsley Addams, and that was absolutely terrifying.
He had liked that strange and unapologetic electrifying boy from the very moment they met, and the bees had tried to warn him. 

Oh, if only Eugene had paid more attention to the buzzing of the bees. 

—————————————————————

Eugene lay awake, staring at the underside of the bed above him. He was so exhausted, but couldn’t fall asleep.
Well, he could, but every time he closed his eyes, a certain boy he was still avoiding, now more than ever, would appear in his mind.

Another week had passed since his panic attack and realization in the shed, so he had been avoiding Pugsley, weirdly successfully, for a month now. It felt strange; each day that passed made his heart feel heavier, and he had started to miss his chaotic companion.
But he couldn’t bring himself to talk to him. He couldn’t stop avoiding him, not after what he now knew, what had only become clear to him a week ago.

“Ugh… what a headache,” he mumbled beneath his breath as he turned to his side, slightly lifting his head to glimpse at the cause of it all, there, in his bed, back turned towards him, wrapped in his blankets and sound asleep. Even though he wasn’t able to see him properly, fully shielded from Eugene's sight. 

Their roommates were nowhere to be seen. It was the weekend, after all, and most of the Nevermore students had gone home to their families. But not Eugene. Not Pugsley.
They were alone again. Even if not fully conscious. 

At least, that’s what he thought, until he heard the faint creaking of the floorboards right outside their room.
Instinctively, he shut his eyes as the door slowly opened.

Who…? At this hour? Maybe Ajax… Wait. No, he went home. Then who…?

Eugene stayed perfectly still, his heart pounding in his chest, trying to figure out who it could be. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t terrified. The footsteps drew closer and closer, stopping right in front of him.
Then his bed sank slightly under the weight of this unknown person, and panic started flowing through him as his mind raced to imagine the worst.
He didn’t want to die; he’d already come dangerously close to it last year.  

A hand fell in his hair, playing with one of his curls. Eugene tried his best not to tense up, still pretending to be asleep as this stranger played with a strand of his hair, with a soft, gentle touch.

This is the end… this is officially how I die. He thought as the words echoed in his head. 

Silence surrounded them, thick and heavy, as Eugene waited for death, already accepting defeat.

Minutes dragged on. No sharp jab to his chest, no tightening grip around his neck. Instead, a low sigh escaped the intruder’s lips, followed by a soft murmur, barely audible-

“ Caro mio… ”

He knew that voice. How could he not? Even if he wasn’t able to recognize it, which he was, the nickname gave it away: the same sweet name he had heard Mister Addams call his wife many, many times.

“… How is it possible that you’re so tense even when sleeping, huh? You never relax..”

A low chuckle sent shivers running down Eugene’s body, still tense with fear.

Puglsey…? Wait– shouldn’t he be asleep? Isn't he in his bed?
I swear I saw him… no, not exactly… but there’s something there, someone in his bed, so that… that has to be him, right? I’m going crazy. It's official.

“Eugene, I’ve been losing my mind without you. Every second apart is pure agony… and not the good kind.”

Eugene’s chest tightened, his throat painfully dry.
The hand that had been lightly tangled in his curls moved, now hovering above his face. A cold, almost cadaverous chill brushes against his burning, definitely flushed face.
It crept closer and, at the faintest touch—zap—a small spark grazed his cheek. The “stranger’s” hand retreated as quickly as it came.

It didn’t hurt. Far from it, actually. That spark was the jolt Eugene needed to make him understand that this was all true. He was not crazy. 

It’s him. It’s really Pugsley. And he… he called me caro mio. What do I do now? 

He couldn’t move, every muscle locked in place, his mouth dry as sand. Heart still hammering away. 

“Why do you keep avoiding me, querido mío?” Pugsley’s words carried a soft sigh at the end, and you could feel the suffering in them.

The bed shifted as the weight lifted. Panic shot through Eugene when he realized that Pugsley was getting up. He was leaving him.

“… Guess you hate me now.” The whisper sounded so far away, as though spoken from another room, but Eugene heard it loud and clear.

The words broke something inside him, an invisible string that was paralyzing him. Before he could stop himself, Eugene shot upright in bed, eyes wide and burning. The electrifying boy's back faced him as he lightly walked towards his own bed.

“Pugsley…” he croaked, his throat still parched, his voice breaking on the name.

The raven-haired boy froze mid-step, slowly turning toward the voice that had called him, eyes wide and dark, like a deer in caught in the headlights of a car. Eugene could barely make out his features in the dim room; the only light sources being the soft glow of the moon, spilling through the windows, and the faint glow of a few candles scattered on his desk.

‘’Eugene… h-hi!!” Pugsley’s voice was higher than usual, trembling with nerves. Eugene had never heard him like this—his usual confident, mischievous, teasing tone completely gone. This was new.

“I thought you were sleeping…” Pugsley added, eyes flicking nervously around the room.

“Yeah… same here,” Eugene said, coughing lightly as he gestured toward the other’s bed.

“Oh, that? An old habit I picked up at home. It’s just a cushion under there. You know, with Wednesday around, you can never be too careful,” Pugsley added with a faith laugh, the awkwardness of the situation settling in after Eugene’s small hum of recognition.

They looked at each other, the glow of the candles illuminating their skin as the sounds of the night chirped outside. Both were frozen, unsure of what to do next.
The same tension that had built up in the classroom that day—now a distant memory—was rising again between them.

And, like that afternoon in that horrible class, Pugsley was the first to break it.

“Um… why… why are you avoiding me?” he asked. It was the same question as before, but the tone was different this time, no cockiness, no amusement, only genuine hurt and curiosity. His usual grin was nowhere to be seen, which made Eugene tense up, his heart still pounding from before.

He swallowed hard, throat impossibly dry. He wanted to explain, tell Puglsey what he felt, explain the turmoil that had happened inside of him just a week prior. All the panic, the confusion, the realization, and the weight of his emotions. How they’d hit him like a hard combat boot squishing a poor, defenceless bug. 

That was how he felt when Puglsey was near him. But words seemed to be impossible to conjure up right now. Getting stuck at the knot in his chest.

“I… I—” he tried to get something out, but only stutters and stammers came. His hands gripped the pants of his pyjamas, his stare still fixed on Pugsley’s dark, dimly lit eyes.

The other boy stood impossibly far from him, a distance so wide that Eugene thought he could drown in it. Wishing that the taller, oblivious boy would close it. Instead, he looked at him, patiently… no smirk, no grin. This was weird.  

The other boy's head tilted slightly, making him look like a curious puppy, easing a bit of Eugene's nerves.

“I—okay… um… I needed some time… you know, to think,” he lowered his gaze, now looking at the floor.

Pugsley said nothing, listening carefully as he nervously walked over to him, sitting beside him in the same spot he had been earlier.

“You tried to kiss me…” Eugene said in a soft and trembling voice, turning his head, eyes meeting once again with those dark and blissful ones. “…and I didn't know what to think… every time I saw you, it felt like I was about to die. Actually…it feels like that too right now,” he mumbled the last part, blush creeping up back on his cheeks. 

Puglsey’s gaze was soft, the sparks of electricity still hiding somewhere in his eyes. He looks so vulnerable, the thought popped up in Eugene's mind.
The other boy didn’t say anything, making sure that each word that came out of the bee boy's mouth would sink in. He shifted closer, just enough that their shoulder touched.

“Please… say something, Pugsley,” he begged, looking into the other’s eyes, as the tense air thickened around them once more.

“I– Caro mio…” The words slipped sweetly off his tongue, like honey to Eugene’s ears, making everything else disappear, the awkwardness, the tension, even the sounds from outside their enclosed dorm.

Pugsley’s hand reached for his, and Eugene slowly released his grip on his pyjama pants.
He took the sweet, innocent boy’s hand in his own, raising it to his mouth and pressing a slow, gentle kiss to it, their eyes locked the entire time.

“Ay, caro mio… I’ve felt that way from the very first time I laid my eyes on you.”

The knots in Eugene’s stomach melted into beautiful butterflies, the first bugs he wasn’t able to control.

“I’ve always known there was a spark between us, mi dulce naenia typica… I was waiting for you to feel it too.” Pugsley said, his signature smirk returning as he gently brought their hands down to the bed, intertwining them more securely. 

Eugene’s face flushed bright red at that nickname. He understood a bit of Spanish, but that name—a species he knew well, his favourite moth, made his heart skip a beat.

“Yeah… there’s a buzz between us,” he said jokingly, the tension finally washing away from his body. He never would have thought he’d like Pugsley Addams, much less confess it to him.

Puglsey’s grin widened, a mischievous glint returning to where it belonged ‘’I hoped you’d say that’’, he murmured, starting to lean closer. The warmth between them seemed to hum, filling the dorm room with a quiet, electric energy.
Eugene swallowed harshly, heart racing and face burning. This time, he was certain, no confusion, no hesitation. He knew what he wanted, perhaps for the first time in a long while.

Pugsley’s eyes darted from Eugene’s gaze to his lips, making his intentions unmistakably clear. He lingered closer, their mouths almost touching. Just do it already, Eugene thought, heart pounding with frustration and anticipation.

Then he noticed a subtle shift in Pugsley’s expression, and in an instant, he understood what the other needed.

“…kiss me,” he whispered.

With that, Pugsley closed the sliver of distance that was left between them, pressing his lips to his. At first, it was a soft kiss, careful, almost shy and questioning. Eugene pulled away briefly, breath already starting to vanish as his heart raced.

He felt Pugsley’s hand against the back of his neck, guiding him into another kiss, while the other hand traced the small of his back, light as a feather.

This kiss grew heavier, filled with clumsiness and inexperience.
Their lips moved together awkwardly, teeth clashing lightly in inexperience; it was sloppy, but perfect. Eugene’s hands found their way to Pugsley’s shoulders, gripping them as if to anchor himself, like he could float away at any moment, like all of this could vanish. He could feel Pugsley’s heart racing, thumping against his chest, and he swore that at one point their rhythms started to match. Hearts racing together, quick and erratic, yet perfectly in sync. 

They separated slightly, gasping for air as if it were their first breath. As Pugsley pressed their foreheads together, another small jolt of electricity shot through Eugene, making him jump.

Pugsley let out a soft laugh. “Scusa, amore mio… it happens when I’m with you. I can’t control it,” he murmured, eyes sparkling with mischief and affection.

Eugene’s chest tightened again. “I… I don’t mind,” he whispered, voice trembling, words barely audible over the rapid beating of their hearts. “Oh… really? It looked like you minded when we first met, querido,” Pugsley said in an accusing, teasing tone, leaning back on Eugene’s bed, still in his everyday clothes, and pulling Eugene down so he rested on top of his chest.

“Oh, shut up… you were annoying… still are,” Eugene muttered, the sarcasm in his voice barely masking the warmth creeping into his cheeks. A small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
“Well, you better like it, ‘cause you’re stuck with me now… forever,” Pugsley said, swinging his arms over Eugene and hugging him tightly, snickering as Eugene squirmed.

“You’re impossible,” Eugene muttered, cheeks burning and eyes rolling, a small smile tugging at his lips at the thought of being stuck with this airhead forever.
“And you love it,” Pugsley continued laughing, as Eugene buried his face in the crook of his neck, mumbling something the smaller boy thought Pugsley couldn't hear, but he did.

“… only because I love you.”

Pugsley froze for a heartbeat, then smiled, a smile he didn’t even know he could make. Pressing a gentle kiss on the crown of Eugene’s head, he whispered,
“I love you, querido.”

Eugene’s cheeks burned for the thousandth time that day at the sound of those soft words. He closed his eyes, head still buried in the crook of his lover’s neck, melting into those arms that held him safely.
Arms that were cold as a corpse, yet somehow were able to send sparks of warmth racing through him. He loved it. He loved him.

Well, next time… I’ll listen when the bees start buzzing weird, he thought, drifting off, a small, content smile lingering on his lips.
Finally feeling at peace in all the chaos his Addams had brought.