Work Text:
Enid sat alone in their shared room once more…
Ever since they came back from break, Wednesday had been pushing her away, avoiding her, doing things on her own, and as of late, doing them with Agnes…
Agnes, the girl who tried to kill her and Bruno… The girl who had almost burned Wednesday’s only manuscript for heaven's sake! Why would Wednesday forgive her for that?
Had she really become that useless to her? She thought that after the whole Hyde thing, and Enid practically risking her life for her, they’d at least be closer friends…
Friends…were they even that anymore? Enid sighed, burying her face in her pillow. It was a Saturday afternoon, and she was alone…
Since Yoko and Divina graduated, her real friends had become scarce. Bianca was currently helping the Principal with something and Wednesday…oh Wednesday… Where was she anyway? Not that she’d tell her, but she wanted to feel included…
Not even her new crush, Bruno, managed to fill the emptiness in her chest… She just really missed her…best friend…
She groaned into her pillow at the thought of Wednesday preferring hanging out with Agnes to her… She hated it with all her wolf… If only Bruno hadn’t held her back from mauling her…
She flipped over, staring at the ceiling, and decided to break out of this funk. She sat up, grabbed her laptop off her desk, and opened Netflix…
“Comfort movies, comfort movies…” She whispered, scrolling through the large catalogue. “What can I…”
She landed on musicals, her favorite. Her eyes wandered through them, finally deciding on Grease.
She’d seen Grease a million times but could never get enough. Yes, it was cheesy and outdated, but she loved the songs and the characters. The movie made her smile and feel warm inside, which was what she needed right now…
She got comfortable, grabbed some snacks from her drawer, hugged her black and white kitty Squishmellow on her lap, and pressed play.
Music filled the eerily silent room, and she relaxed into her pillow. If she was going to spend her Saturday alone, she was going to do so her way…
But what was supposed to be comfort. Snacks, fuzzy socks, a familiar soundtrack, something bright and uncomplicated to drown out the strange, hollow feeling that had followed her all week, just made everything worse…
Her eyes kept drifting to the empty side of the room. To the implacability made bed with its crisp, dark sheets. To the now silent typewriter. To Wednesday's absence, which felt like a physical weight in the space.
She's with Agnes…Again.
She shook her head, focusing back on the movie.
On screen, Sandy laughed with Danny, hopeful and soft, like nothing bad could ever touch them.
The movie continued as Enid tried to sing along, trying to keep her mind from wandering back to her absent roommate…
As Sandy grabbed a piece of paper, walked out of the house and the first notes of Enid’s favorite song began to play. She hugged her plushie tighter as her chest began to heave.
The scene was hitting her harder than it had ever before. Sandy singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” voice cracking with that quiet, aching love she couldn’t shake even when Danny pushed her away.
Enid’s throat tightened. The lyrics landed like punches straight to the heart.
“Guess mine is not the first heart broken… My eyes are not the first to cry…”
She blinked, trying to focus, but her mind was determined to play tricks on her today. A flashback: Wednesday in the quad, Agnes materializing out of thin air beside her, invisible one second, beaming the next. Wednesday actually talking to her, with short, clipped words, but she got attention. Real attention. Not the dismissive nods Enid had been getting lately.
Enid’s vision blurred as the song continued. Another flash: Wednesday, pushing her away with a cold “I need to focus” when Enid tried to ask what was wrong. The way Wednesday’s eyes flicked away, like looking at Enid hurt too much.
“I’m not the first to know… There’s just no getting over you…”
Flashback: Last night. Enid had waited up. She'd painted her nails a new color, “Midnight Mischief," a deep glittering purple, and she'd wanted to show Wednesday, wanted to see if she'd notice, wanted something. Wednesday had come in, grabbed a book, and left again without a word. Without even looking at her.
Her eyes burned as a tear rolled down her cheek. She reached to catch it and was surprised to find it wet. A sob escaped before she could stop it. Her chest ached, sharp and unfamiliar.
Why did this hurt so much?
“I know I’m just a fool who’s willing… To sit around and wait for you… But baby, can’t you see… There’s nothing else for me to do… I’m hopelessly devoted to you…”
Oh…OH… The realization hit her like a truck…This wasn't jealousy. This wasn't just missing her friend.
This was…love. The stupid, consuming, keeps-you-up-at-night kind of love. The kind that made seeing Wednesday share time with someone else feel like a blade between her ribs. The kind that made every dismissal, every closed door, every "not now, Enid" land like a fresh bruise.
She was in love with her... She was in love with her monosyllabic, emotionally constipated, dangerously reckless roommate. And Wednesday was out there, right now, with Agnes, probably not even thinking about her.
She tried to sing along softly, voice breaking on the chorus, tears streaming like waterfalls now.
“But now, there’s nowhere to hide. Since you pushed my love aside. I’m out of my head. Hopelessly devoted to you… Hopelessly devoted to you… Hopelessly devoted to you…”
The words tasted painfully like truth. Hopelessly. Devoted. Willing to do anything for…
“My head is saying, fool forget him. My heart is saying, don’t let go. Hold on till the end. That’s what I intend to do. I’m hopelessly devoted to you…”
The song played on. Enid cried through it. And when it ended, when Sandy was pulling herself together, and the movie moved forward, Enid just lay there, sobbing softly, staring at Wednesday's empty side...when it got unbearable, she turned over, and continued to watch…
…
She didn't hear the door open, nor did she hear Wednesday walking in late into the night. Tiptoeing to not wake her. But Wednesday noticed…the trembling shoulders, the uneven breaths, the soft sniffles.
"Enid?" Wednesday's voice was low, careful. "What is wrong?"
Enid wiped her face with her sleeve, not turning. “It’s just the movie.”
Wednesday’s gaze flicked to the screen, then back to Enid as she stepped closer. “You do not cry over musicals. Not like this."
"I'm fine." Enid's voice came out wrong, shaky, too high yet fragile. "You know, Grease gets me every time." She laughed, and it sounded like glass breaking.
“You are lying,” Wednesday said, now beside her bed.
Enid turned, her smile faltering. "I'm not…"
Wednesday crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes. "Your heart rate is elevated. Your pupils are dilated. You have been crying for far longer than a single emotional scene warrants. The skin around your eyes is too swollen." She continued. "And you only watch Grease when you are attempting to comfort yourself."
Something inside Enid broke.
"Wow." The word came out bitter, sharp. She shot up, stopping just in front of Wednesday. "So you do notice things about me. Good to know. I was starting to think your observational skills only applied to dead bodies, cold cases, and Agnes."
Wednesday stiffened. The name, dropping like a stone between them. “This again.”
“Yeah, this again!” Enid snapped, her voice cracking. “Because you keep choosing her! You keep pushing me away like I did something wrong, and I don’t know what it is, and I…” Her voice dissolved into another sob.
Wednesday’s composure faltered for a fraction of a second. "Agnes is just a means to an end." She said quietly.
"Yeah, you keep saying that." Enid pushed forward, the movie forgotten, yet still playing softly in the background. "But you're with her all the time. You push me away like I’m in the way. You trust her with your secrets, with your plan, and I'm left feeling like I don't matter..." Her voice cracked again. "I'm just your roommate who brings you coffee, talks too much, and gets in the way."
"That is not…" Wednesday started, her pulse quickening by the minute.
"No?" Enid's eyes blazed, even as fresh tears spilled over. "Then what am I, Wednesday? Because from where I'm standing, I'm the person who no longer matters. I'm the person you won't let in. I'm the person who…"
"You are the only person who matters more than anyone!" Wednesday said loudly. Too loud for her own standards.
Enid blinked.
Wednesday looked away, fingers curling into fists at her sides. For once, her mask cracked. "Because I…cannot…lose you…”
Enid frowned, “Then why do you…”
“BECAUSE I SAW YOU DIE!” Wednesday Addams broke, eyes bloodshot. “You die. Every single time. In every vision since you touched me that night…and I cannot allow that.”
Enid took a step forward, trying to reach for Wednesday, but she pulled away.
“Do not.” She said dryly, clearly out of herself.
Enid could see the black tears starting to roll down Wednesday’s cheeks. “Wends…”
Wednesday inhaled, trying to gain composure. "Do you know why I work with Agnes?" Her voice was different. lower, stripped of its usual sardonic edge.
Enid only shook her head.
Wednesday lifted her head, looking straight at her. "Because she is expendable. Unlike you." She stuck her hands out, opening her fists and wrapping them around Enid’s wrists, “You, Enid Sinclair…are…” She sighed as if the words pained her. “I cannot work with you because…you die because of me, Enid.” Black tears now flowed freely, and Enid had the urge to dry them away.
“I am trying to keep you safe because you are the only person in this wretched institution who makes me feel remotely sane. Because your joy is the only color I can tolerate. Because when I am with you, the noise in my head quiets.” She took in a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling voice.
Enid, on the other hand, couldn't breathe.
"No one matters more to me than you," Wednesday whispered. "No one. Agnes is a tool. You are..." She hesitated, seeming to search for a word big enough. Finally, she settled on something simple yet full with so much more, "...my everything." She collapsed to the floor in front of Enid.
“I am sorry. I truly am.” Wednesday looked up, pleading, “I was afraid…for the first time in my entire life, I was afraid to lose you.”
“Wednesday…” Enid lowered herself, now at Wednesday’s eye level. “I didn’t know you were trying to keep me safe.” She reached, finally wiping Wednesday’s dark tears with her sleeves, rubbing her thumbs on her cheeks in a soothing manner.
Wednesday melted into her touch. “I miscalculated the emotional consequences...for both of us.” She mumbled.
That might have been the most vulnerable admission Wednesday Addams had ever made.
Enid let out a shaky laugh that dissolved into tears again, leaning forward almost without thinking.
Wednesday froze when Enid's hands left her face, and she wrapped her arms around her.
For a moment, she didn’t move.
Then, slowly, carefully, like handling something fragile and sacred, she lifted her hands and returned the embrace.
Her grip tightened just enough to be felt. Protective and certain.
Enid melted against her, face buried in the collar of Wednesday’s coat, breathing in the familiar scent of ink and old books.
Wednesday rested her cheek lightly against Enid’s hair. “You are infuriating,” she murmured softly. “And statistically hazardous to my emotional equilibrium.”
Enid let out a watery laugh. “Good,” she whispered. “You’re hazardous to mine too.”
They stayed like that for a while, and for once, Wednesday did not pull away first.
…
At some point, they ended up on Wednesday’s bed.
Enid wasn't sure how. The journey from kneeling to sitting, to lying down was a blur of tears and mumbled apologies, and Wednesday's hand, surprisingly warm, rubbing slow circles on her back. Somehow they were there, Enid curled into Wednesday's side, Wednesday's arm around her, the stiff lines of her body slowly softening.
"I do not know how to do this," Wednesday admitted quietly. Her free hand came up, hesitated, then began to card through Enid's hair with excruciating tenderness. "I have never...had someone I wanted to keep before. Not like this."
Enid sniffled, nuzzling closer. "You're doing okay."
"I made you cry." She said sheepishly.
"Yeah, but then you explained things to me." Enid tilted her head up, meeting Wednesday's gaze. They were so close. Closer than they'd ever been. "You said I'm your everything."
Wednesday's cheeks flushed a faint pink that Enid would have sworn was impossible on her porcelain skin. "I...may have been emotionally compromised."
"Wednesday Addams, emotionally compromised." A full chuckle escaped Enid. "I should cry more often."
"Please do not." But Wednesday's voice was soft, and her hand never stopped its gentle motion in Enid's hair. "I dislike the sensation of watching you hurt...”
"How does it feel?" Enid asked sincerely.
Wednesday's eyes dropped to where Enid's hand rested on her chest. "Like someone carved out a piece of me and left the edges raw."
Enid's heart stuttered. She reached up, touching Wednesday's face with trembling fingers.
Wednesday leaned into the touch. instinctive, unconscious, and trusting.
"I love you," The words escaped Enid’s lips before she could stop herself. She panicked, “I mean, you don’t have to say it back, I know you’re Wednesday Addams, and love is probably a chemical imbalance or a social construct or…"
"It is not," Wednesday said softly, looking deep into her eyes, making Enid stop her rambling.
Wednesday's hand covered hers, pressing it more firmly against her chest. "It is not a chemical imbalance. It is not a construct." Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "At least, not for us…because it is you. It has always been you, the one I have fallen madly in love with."
Enid blinked, closing her eyes slowly, meeting Wednesday halfway. The kiss was soft and tentative, full of all the words they had yet to express…
Wednesday kissed her as if she were afraid of breaking something precious, which, Enid realized with a rush of tenderness, she probably seemed to be...
When they pulled apart, Enid was smiling through fresh tears. "You're so romantic…and a huge dork." She giggled.
Wednesday frowned, "I am a gothic prodigy with a body count and an iron will."
"You're a dork who just admitted I'm her 'everything.'" Enid poked her chest. "My dork."
Wednesday's lips twitched. The barest hint of a smile. "Yours."
Enid burrowed back into her arms, pressing her ear to Wednesday's chest, listening to the steady thump of her heart. Wednesday's arms tightened around her, chin resting on top of her head.
“And, I’m hopelessly devoted to you,” Enid added with a chuckle.
Wednesday’s heart skipped a beat as she looked down at the sunshine girl in her arms. “Who is the dork now?”
Enid hugged her tighter, laughing into her chest. “Touché.”
Wednesday was unexpectedly impressed.