Chapter Text
“What the hell are you doing here!?”
A low chuckle echoed from across the training room.
”Hello Miss Sinclair. You’re here early.” Thora laughed at her sister, who essentially stormed across the room, nostrils flaring and fangs bared.
“Are you kidding me?” She hissed, resting her hands on her hips when she stopped in front of the desk, her desk.
”Do I look like the kind of person that jokes?” She grinned playfully up at her as she rose from her chair, tucking her sword under her arm as she reached out and ruffled her hair.
“You’re so dead.” Enid exhaled heavily, swatting her hand away. “Seriously? Why are you torturing me!?”
”As much fun as that sounds,” she drawled, resting on the edge of her desk. “I hear that’s Wednesday Addam’s job.” Thora could only laugh at the murderous glare fired in her direction.
“Which one is she?” She lowered her voice to a whisper as several new voices reached their ears as Enid’s peers made their way into the training room. “Dracula?”
”That’s Yoko.” The girl deadpanned with a scowl.
“… I knew that.”
“You met her literally last week at the family barbecue!” The werewolf hissed.
“Please Enid: I think I’d remember.”
“…You threw her into a pit of garlic!”
”She was looking at me funny! I thought she was gonna bite me!” She hissed, forcing a smile onto her face as the vampire’s head snapped in the sibling’s direction.
Yoko smiled warmly at Enid, then bared her fangs at her teacher, who groaned.
“Great.” She muttered, rising back to her full height and clearing her throat, causing several heads to whip around in her direction, their own conversations ceasing.
“Welcome everyone! I hope you had a good summer.” Thora greeted them, wincing at Yoko’s piercing stare practically burning a hole into the side of her head.
“Where’s Coach Vlad?” A tall boy at the back asked.
“An interesting question, beanie-“
”My name’s Ajax-“
”Not in here it’s not, Beanie.” The Gorgon shrank back slightly. “Coach Vlad is unfortunately no longer with us…” she paused, basking in the expressions of horror that flooded the student’s faces.
”He’s… dead?” Ajax trailed off, appearing dejected.
”No, he’s retired and moved to Hawaii. Why?” Several groans filled the room, accompanied by a series of low mutters.
“So, as I’m sure you’ll all be pleased to hear, I have been hired as his replacement. I am Coach Sinclair-“ Enid appeared as if she wished floor could’ve swallowed her whole.
”-and yes: I am Enid’s better-looking older sister.” At that, the class seemed to relax, much to her sister’s dismay.
“Why couldn’t I have been adopted?” The blonde teenager groaned as the lesson began.
“Right then: if you could all find a partner and a mat, we will begin with some training exercises.”
”If that’s a synonym for Yoga, my training will consist of de-clawing a werewolf.” A dark-haired girl cursed as the crowd dispersed across the room. Thora chuckled, fiddling with the handle of her sword between her fingers.
“And you must be the Wednesday Addams I’ve heard so much about.” She nodded at the Raven as Enid hurried over to her roommate.
“Ignore her: she’s a beast. Let’s go, roomie!” Her sister didn’t give the girl a chance to response before she hooked herself around the girl’s arm, hurriedly dragging her towards the furthest mat away from Thora.
“For your first exercise.” She began, planting her blade firmly and leaning upon it as though it were a cane. “You are going to spar.” Sinclair’s blue eyes glistened as they trailed around the room, scanning each student one by one.
Most appeared somewhat fearful at the prospect of fist-fighting, her sister included, which she supposed she should’ve expected, she realised, as her eyes finally landed on Wednesday, who’s stare darkened, her eyes twinkling as she cracked her knuckles.
“The student who manages to pin their partner on the floor the longest… will receive a free-pass from all homework this semester.” Thora had to laugh to herself at the sudden increase in delighted expressions amongst the teenagers.
“What are the rules, Coach?” Ajax called from across the room, his eyes locked onto Bruno’s as though he were already forming a plan of attack.
”Here’s the catch: there are none, Beanie!” Her whistle blew fiercely, signalling the commencement of the sparring.
In a maddened frenzy, the students lunged for their partners, each bearing a bold expression of determination to win the proposed incentive.
Beanie had quickly lunged for his werewolf partner, who had dodged his attack and forced the Gorgon into a headlock, and the two were practically spinning in circles as Ajax attempted to pry his hat from his head, while Bruno was attempting to hold it on.
Yoko, or Dracula as Ethan preferred to call her, had made a dive for her siren partner, Miss Barclay, he noted, recalling the notes left in her desk by the former coach, who had praised the girl’s ability. The two girls were both on the floor, legs interlocked as they each tried to force the other to loosen their grip.
And then there was Enid.
Thora had to fight the urge to laugh as she witnessed her sister charge at her roommate, only for Addams to twist her arm and send her tumbling to the floor. A dagger suddenly appeared in the Raven’s hand, the blade glistening in the sunlight, enough so she recognised it to be made of silver.
Her sister thrashed around on the ground and the dark haired teenager loomed over her, pinning the girl down by sitting on top of her, brandishing the weapon beneath her throat.
“What the devil is going on in here!?” Thora’s face morphed into a frown. She squeezed the sword’s handle as she turned her attention towards the doorway.
“Miss Addams please move that silver dagger a safe distance from Miss Sinclair’s neck!” Begrudgingly, the raven complied, muttering what she presumed to be a threat as she pulled away from Enid, arms raised in silent surrender.
The class fell silent, ceasing their sparring as Miss Capri stepped into the room, her boots clinking on the wooden floor as she made her way over to Thora, who remained in the centre of the room.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” She greeted her, smiling slyly.
“Miss Capri, head of music.” She stated without missing a beat. “But enough of the pleasantries.” The woman continued as she opened her mouth to introduce herself, then closed it again.
“I’m trying to teach a class downstairs, and all my students can hear is what can only be described as a horrific racket coming from in here.” She scolded, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
“Well, I must say Miss Capri I’m afraid I’m failing to see what the issue here is.” Thora retorted, watching her face morph into a frown. “I mean, we’ve all heard the racket you call music but we’re hardly complaining.”
A series of giggles and murmurs broke out across the room.
“Besides, I fail to see what my teaching style has to do with anyone outside of my lesson.”
“I don’t think that ‘style’ can be classed as teaching.” Miss Capri drawled, arching her brow. “I thought this was supposed to be fencing anyway?”
“Well yes.” Thora began, planting the blade in her hand into the floor. “This is merely a training exercise.”
“Training?”
”Precisely: after all, not everyone possesses the senses of a werewolf, or the agility of a vampire.” At that, she hummed.
“At least you’re self-aware.” The music teacher commented dryly. “But I still fail to see why harnessing instincts requires weapons?”
Her eyes flickered over to Wednesday to was knelt on the mat beside her roommate, twiddling with the blade between her fingers and eyeing Capri with a bored look.
“Well, I encourage my students to think outside the box.” She explained, nodding her head towards the far end of the room. “Besides, it’s my sister Miss Addams is threatening.”
“And that makes it okay?” She shrugged her shoulders, ignoring Enid’s loud scoff. “Meh. She wouldn’t actually hurt her.”
”Try me.” The raven sneered, suddenly flipping the dagger upright, making the girl beside her wince.
“Okay, that’s besides the point.” Thora furrowed her eyebrows as Capri shook her head in disproval. “Did you need something else?”
”Just, keep it down; I’d hate to have to file a report on my first day, especially against a member of the faculty.” She maintained an irate expression as she turned on her heel and marched back across the room towards the door.
“And if we don’t?” Miss Capri paused a few feet away from the exit. “How about I make you a deal.” Thora began, smiling as she turned back around.
“Go on.”
”I propose a fencing match to settle our… differences.” The woman tapped her sword on the ground, smirking at the sight of her sister burying her face into the training mat out of embarrassment.
“If I win, no report is filed, and you allow my class to continue as we were.” She titled her head in contemplation.
”And if I win?” She questioned, her eyes sparkling at the prospect.
“We’ll stop… you can tell everyone you bested me, and the fate of my job rests in your hands.” The music teacher hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth to retort, however no sound came out. “Unless you’re scared?”
Her eyes narrowed, and Thora couldn’t help but smirk.
”And what do I have to be scared of?
Loosing in front of a class of sixteen year olds?” She nearly laughed.
”Well, they can be quite judgy.” Sinclair commented, her eye lingering on her sister in particular, who shot her an icy glare.
”As absurd as this is… fine. If it’ll shut you up.” Miss Capri’s expression remained unreadable as she strode over to the sword rack and picked up the nearest one, tracing the blade with her fingers.
“Very well.” Thora tossed her blade into the air and caught it with ease, wiggling her eyebrows at her sister who audibly groaned.
A minute later she was stood opposite Capri on the mat in the centre of the room. Her students had formed a cross around them, whispering excitedly, likely either gossiping or placing bets.
“Miss Barclay, if you’d be so kind.” The coach tugged the whistle from around her neck and held it out towards the siren, who hesitantly took it. “Ready?”
Miss Capri nodded, sliding her mask down her face, concealing her smirk.
“En Garde!” The whistle sounded from beside them, and Thora immediately surged forward, taking a swipe at the musician, who parried it with ease.
The class surrounding them clamoured, enthralled with the duel before them, watching in fascination as the teachers moved in sync, striking and blocking back and forth.
As much as Thora hated to admit it (which of course he would never do out loud), she was pretty damn good.
She parried her attacks with precision and grace, without so much as breaking a sweat.
She, however as several minutes passed grew weary, which unfortunately Capri didn’t fail to notice.
Sensing her opening, Capri parried another strike. Thora suddenly wobbled on her hind leg as the musical glided around her, circling her like prey.
Sinclair struck again, feebly. The red head had weakened her balance with each block by moving closer and closer to her, so much so she could feel the heat of her breath through the slits in her mask.
Undoubtedly, that meant she too could feel her own ragged breathing.
In a blur, she reached out to strike again, and she surged forward, the heel of her boot colliding with Thora’s knee, sending Sinclair to the floor.
Only then when she’d dropped to her knees did the woman point the blade towards the centre of her chest and push it forward.
Panting, Thora allowed the blade in her hand to drop to the floor as Miss Capri stepped back. The class had fallen silent, breathing hitched as they watched the interaction with anticipation.
Even Enid’s eyes had widened upon witnessing her sister, ever the great sword-master’s loss.
Her tired eyes trailed from the blonde’s dumbstruck face to that of Wednesday Addams’, who lingered at her side, her face expressionless as always.
“As much as it pains me to admit, I somewhat like you now.” She spoke in a monotone, offering her version of praise.
“Thank you, Miss Addams.” Capri exhaled as she lowered her own blade before removing her mask, allowing her red curls to drop, bouncing down to her shoulders. “Though I fear to learn what you felt of me before.”
Thora’s ears pounded with the sound of her blood circulating, feeling her heart rate rise rapidly at the sudden cease of movement. She slowly raised her arms and began to clap slowly.
“Well, it appears I have been bested.” She begrudgingly acknowledged.
”That’s one way of putting it.” Enid quipped slyly. “She kicked your-“
”Why thank you Miss Sinclair.” Miss Capri continued, peeling her eyes away from her defeated competitor to meet the younger werewolf’s wide eyes. “I think that’s enough commotion for one day. Wouldn’t you agree, Coach?”
“You heard Miss Capri: class dismissed.” Thora sighed as the students began to retreat across the classroom to gather their belongings, however the music teacher lingered for a moment above her. “Should I clear out my locker?”
”Hmm. As satisfying as that would be, you may leave it for now.” The woman concluded with a sigh of her own.
To Sinclair’s surprise, an arm outstretched towards her, a peace offering, which she hesitantly took. Rising from her knees, she nodded her head in thanks.
“I trust I can expect no further interruptions from now?” She questioned, lowering her hand back to her side.
“Yes ma’am.” Thora smiled, genuinely, before her curiosity got the better of her. “Where’d you learn to fence like that?” She quirked a brow.
”Why? You looking for some pointers?” Sinclair let out a dry laugh.
”Not at all: I just didn’t realise child prodigies had enough free time on their hands.” Miss Capri hummed.
“I didn’t.” She confessed, however chose not to peruse the topic any further. The woman turned on her heel and marched across the room without another word. Several heads turned and followed her until she was out of sight, Thora included.
”So…” The teacher looked to Ajax in confusion. “Well? Who won sparring?!” The werewolf’s lips tugged into a smirk.
Of course that was why they were all lingering after class voluntarily.
”Miss Addams… congratulations on your flawless victory.” Wednesday merely nodded in response, while the revelation led to an outburst of complaints. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised, Dracula; I don’t know how on earth you expected to win with those ridiculous glasses on!”
”Oh bite me!” Yoko groaned as she swiftly exited the room. Enid scowled darkly at her sister.
“Oh my God- can you please stop!?”
“Sorry blondie: no can do!”