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“You know, I never thought I’d live to see the day where Wednesday Addams brings me soup.”
“You almost didn’t,” Wednesday says bitterly.
Enid immediately softens. “But I did because you found me.”
“After three months.”
“I would’ve waited longer.”
Wednesday’s hand freezes just as she’s about to raise the spoon.
In an effort to move past the heaviness she just created, Enid reaches out and takes the soup herself. She drinks straight from the bowl and gives a satisfied sigh. “Tell Lurch his cooking is amazing as usual.”
“He used the best roadkill possum we had.”
“I don’t even want to know if that’s a joke.”
“Do I ever joke?”
“I mean, isn’t that what your death threats are?”
“I could still poison the food.”
“You just proved my point.” Enid smirks at the pout she receives. “Besides, you haven’t spent the last five days nursing me back to health just to kill me off.”
“Debatable,” the seer mumbles, snatching the already empty soup bowl back. She puts it to the side and scrutinizes the wolf currently propped up in one of their guest beds. “How are you feeling?”
Enid smiles softly at the genuine concern rolling off her broody best friend. “As good as I’ve felt in a long time.”
Wednesday tilts her head, trying to gauge how honest the wolf is being. “Your fever finally broke last night.”
“Thanks, Dr. Addams.”
The seer is not amused by the nickname.
“Actually,” Enid continues. “I think I can go for a walk today.”
“You could barely lift up your head not three days ago.”
“Yeah, that spell you guys used to change me back really took me out. But I’m really feeling better now. Honest. Werewolves heal quickly.”
“So you’ve said,” Wednesday mutters, still sounding unconvinced.
“It’s just a walk. Or is Dr. Addams confining me to permanent house arrest?” Enid tilts her head with a teasing smile.
Wednesday scowls. That didn’t sound like such a bad idea actually. If only to keep Enid from terrifying her in such a way ever again.
Stupid werewolf savior complex.
“Fine.” The seer relents. “If you’re sure you’re up for it.”
“I am,” the wolf insists, pulling back the blankets and climbing out of the bed. Though she’s almost immediately proven wrong as she teeters on her legs that are wobbly from disuse.
Wednesday catches her arm firmly with a sharp glare.
Enid quickly looks away from the girl now invading her personal space. Lest her legs become wobbly for entirely different reasons.
“Wends, I’m fine.”
The seer doesn’t let go. And Enid has a fleeting thought of pretending to need more help, just to keep Wednesday this close. But then she’d probably never be let up again.
“Come on.” Enid pulls away and grabs her coat. Deliberately walking toward the door under her own power, already feeling steadier.
Wednesday is less than thrilled by the turn of events. But she follows the wolf down the stairs all the same.
They head out to the grounds, and Wednesday finds herself being a reluctant tour guide to her roommate who hadn’t been outside since arriving at the mansion. She despises every second of it. Except the moments when Enid is smiling widely. Which is the entire time.
Eventually, and unfortunately, they stumble across her mother in the family graveyard.
“Ah, Enid! Glad to see you’re feeling better!” The Addams matriarch greets the werewolf with open arms.
“Only because you guys have been taking such good care of me!” Enid happily returns the hug.
“It’s our pleasure. Isn’t that right, Wednesday?” Morticia smirks slyly at her daughter.
The raven’s glare is deep enough to bury her mother in the graveyard then and there.
“Anyway, you’re just in time. I have something to show you.” Morticia grabs a box of old printed photographs she had been going through and holds one out to the young wolf.
“Oh my gosh! Baby Wednesday??” Enid takes the photo with a gleeful grin.
Wednesday scowls at it over her roommate’s shoulder. “I was three in that picture. Hardly a baby.”
“You were so cute!” Enid squeals. “With your tiny bangs and braids!”
“I could already speak three languages,” Wednesday grumbles sourly, feeling embarrassment prickle her neck.
“Doesn’t make you any less cute.”
The seer attempts to spontaneously combust the photo with her eyes. But alas, pyrotechnics are not her power.
Morticia smiles and hands over more pictures. “These are from our family trip to Barcelona. Right before Wednesday started pre-school.”
“Which I flooded with spiders,” Wednesday adds, trying to save some semblance of her reputation.
Enid pays her no mind though, continuing to flip happily through the photos like they’re a gold mine. “Aww, Wends! Baby you was so cute riding in your Uncle’s side car back then! And you kept the dalmatian helmet look I see.”
Wednesday snatches the pictures and pulls out a lighter.
Morticia tuts. “Burn them all you like. I already had Pugsley store copies of them in the cloud.”
“You HAVE to send me those!” Enid begs.
“Of course, my dear.”
Wednesday turns her glare from the photos to her roommate. “I should’ve left you in the woods.”
“But you didn’t!” Enid says cheerfully. “Besides, it’s cool you guys went on family trips. The most my family did was go to werewolf camps my mom dragged us to.”
That makes Wednesday put her lighter away. “If you wanted to go on a trip, where would you go?”
The seer pointedly ignores her mother’s raised eyebrow at the question.
“Hmmm,” Enid considers. “Maybe Paris? I’ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.”
“How poetic.”
“Oh come on. Even Wednesday Addams can appreciate beautiful things, can’t she?”
The raven’s lips turn down in distaste. “I much prefer the macabre.”
Enid rolls her eyes fondly. “Yeah. I know.”
“Well, I’ll let you girls get back to your walk.” Morticia stands and holds out her hand expectantly to her daughter.
Wednesday huffs, but hands over the old photographs.
Morticia’s eyes twinkle. “And I’ll call Fester while I’m at it.”
Enid frowns in confusion. “Fester? Why?”
Neither mother nor daughter respond.
---------------
“Enid, wake up.”
Wednesday shakes the wolf’s shoulder lightly.
“W-Wends?” Enid blinks her eyes awake. “What’s wrong? What time is it?”
“4:07 in the morning.”
“...Am I dead?”
Wednesday rolls her eyes. “As if you haven’t stayed up to this hour before scrolling through those incessant puppy videos.”
“They’re cute!”
“They’re loud and unruly.”
“And a typewriter is so quiet.”
“At least it’s functional.”
“Is there a reason you woke me up in the middle of the night other than to have this age-old debate?” Enid asks in growing annoyance.
“...Yes.”
The wolf straightens at the unusual hesitation. “Is something wrong?”
“We must leave.”
“To…??”
“Paris.”
“Uh, come again?”
“The family jet leaves in 25 minutes.”
“Jet…Paris…what???”
“Was I not clear?”
“Wednesday.”
The seer clenches her jaw in an effort to hide her bashfulness. “My Uncle believes he found a lead in the Paris catacombs about Aunt Ophelia. And I…thought you would want to accompany me. Us.”
“Oh my gosh, yes!” Enid springs up and starts zooming around the room with her werewolf speed to pack. “You could’ve told me earlier though!”
“The plans were solidified mere minutes ago.”
“Of course they were. Because why do anything normally?” Enid mumbles, struggling to shove all her clothes into her bag at once.
“This is normal for Addams,” Wednesday reasons.
Enid sighs. “You know, sometimes I really wonder what Weems was thinking when she put us together as roommates.”
“Enacting some form of torture.”
“And yet, you’re still here.”
“...23 minutes.”
-----------
The journey to Paris is a whirlwind.
Mainly for Enid. Who is baffled how she went from roaming the Canadian woods alone only weeks ago, to traveling in the Addams’ ridiculously large private jet across the ocean.
The chaos doesn’t stop there though. Because as soon as they land, Wednesday is dragging her to meet Fester and Thing by the catacombs.
“Only Wednesday Addams would take me to Paris to immediately see human remains,” Enid mutters.
“The plane is still here if you want to go back.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Hey kiddos!” Fester and Thing ride up on their motorcycle. “Enid, glad to see you’ve made a full recovery!”
“All thanks to your help in finding me.” The wolf smiles back.
“Ah, I didn’t have anything to do with that. That was all this one.” Fester points at Wednesday. “She was relentless.”
Enid glances at her roommate who is studying the ground intently. But the wolf’s keen eyes pick up on the pinkness of the raven’s ears.
“Let’s go,” Wednesday says impatiently, striding through the entrance of the underground tunnels and leaving the rest of them to follow.
It takes all of two seconds for Enid to hate the catacombs. The darkness. The smell. The chill that shivers up her spine. Everything.
So she knows Wednesday loves it.
“Uh, why are we here again?” Enid squeaks, barely resisting the urge to cling to her roommate’s arm.
“It was in Aunt Ophelia’s diary,” the raven explains, unbothered by everything that’s making the wolf uncomfortable.
“Right. And we’re using your aunt’s diary as a travel itinerary why?”
“I believe there to be another raven in the Addams line buried here. We may find some sort of clue lying with them.”
“Oh. Awesome. Just what I wanted to hear.”
“Did you prefer the trip to the Gates mansion?” Wednesday asks dryly.
“That’s a low bar,” Enid grumbles. But she’ll admit she feels far safer now than then. Especially with Fester and Thing in place of stupid Tyler.
They travel deeper and deeper into the tunnels. And though Enid has overcome a lot of her fears since meeting Wednesday, she can’t seem to ignore the pit of anxiety in her stomach that grows with every step they take. The thousands of human skulls lining every wall don’t exactly help either.
Eventually, they veer off the beaten path. Into a narrow, unlit passageway that Enid can only see in due to her werewolf vision. Though from the way the dead eye sockets of the skulls surrounding them seem to follow her, she almost would’ve preferred darkness.
Wednesday strikes a match. Which Enid is grateful for. Because now she’s completely distracted from the creepiness of the tunnels in favor of staring at the seer’s perfectly illuminated face.
“Here.” Wednesday points at a wall of bones. “This structure matches exactly what Aunt Ophelia drew in the diary. Thing?”
The hand scuttles up and into the bones, causing Enid to grimace in disgust. Only a few minutes later though, Thing scurries back out, dragging an old piece of cloth with him. He hands it to Wednesday.
The seer squints at it with a frown. “There’s nothing on here.”
“Perhaps a secret message?” Fester suggests.
Wednesday strikes another match, but a strange gust of wind immediately blows it out.
Enid feels a prickle up her spine. Her inner wolf sensing danger brewing. “Wends-”
The seer strikes another match.
But again it’s blown out.
“Wednesday!” Enid yells, panicked now.
The threat is right on top of them. She can feel it.
Out of pure instinct, she grabs her friend’s shoulder.
The raven’s head snaps back.
Wednesday stares at herself.
She’s older. Based on the long, leather jacket she doesn’t yet own. Based on the heeled boots she rarely wears. Based on the worn out look in her eyes.
“Uncle, stop drinking from the river and let’s go,” older Wednesday calls out, climbing from the motorcycle side car.
Fester takes a few more gulps of water and gets up to follow his niece down the concourse.
Moments later, they come across a mime.
Older Wednesday steps up. “The werewolf in your circus. Where is it?”
The mime gives silent gestures of ignorance.
“It is a giant wolf, you cannot miss it,” Wednesday growls.
The mime shakes his head.
“I know she’s here!”
Younger Wednesday is taken aback by the pure anguish in her older self’s voice. Was that always how she sounded looking for Enid?
The mime shakes his head again.
Older Wednesday goes for her hidden knife, but Fester steps in.
“I got this, kiddo.” Fester grabs the mime and gives him a firm smack across the face. “More where that came from!”
The mime holds his cheek and scowls in outrage.
Fester holds up his hand again.
The mime gestures frantically at a large building across the river.
“Better,” Fester says with a nod.
The group departs toward the building. Wednesday trailing behind herself in the vision.
They enter through an alley door.
On the other side, dozens of circus performers, props, and staff fill the space. The entire place buzzing with energy due to the upcoming performance down the street.
Both Wednesdays only see one thing though.
A cage.
With a werewolf sign on it.
They run over.
The cage is empty.
But both Wednesdays can tell it hadn’t been for long.
Fester takes a deep breath as he measures his next words carefully. “Kiddo, it may not be her-”
“It is her!” Older Wednesday says harshly, that anguish from before slipping back into her tone. “It has to be her.”
She grabs the nearest worker she sees. “The werewolf. Where is it?”
“I don’t know-”
This time, Wednesday immediately goes for her knife, pressing it to the worker’s neck. “Where. Is. It.”
“Out back!” The worker screeches. “I saw them move it out back just minutes ago!”
Wednesday shoves the person aside and runs toward the backdoor.
They burst through.
There’s a truck.
With a werewolf.
“Enid!”
The wolf jumps up in its cage and turns around.
It has blue eyes.
“Enid.”
Wednesday stumbles toward the cage.
But then the truck is moving.
Fast.
Away.
“Enid!”
The werewolf howls out.
But the truck is already gone.
Younger Wednesday watches in horror as tears form in her older self’s eyes.
But what’s even more horrifying is that she senses them in her own eyes as well.
Because she knows this feeling. Down to her very bones.
The tears don’t fall.
But the Paris rain does.
“Kiddo.” Fester pats his niece’s shoulder. “We can find her. We’re close.”
Older Wednesday clenches her fist.
Then pulls something from her coat and throws it on the ground.
Then storms down the road after the truck.
Younger Wednesday lingers though. Looking at the object on the pavement being soaked by the rain.
A newspaper.
With a werewolf on the cover.
The headline in bold print.
La Bête de Paris.
That’s not what drags Wednesday’s heart into her stomach though.
No. That would be something else. Something in fine print at the bottom of the page.
September 3rd, 2027
Two years.
She had been looking for Enid for two years.
“Enid!”
The raven sits up with a gasp. Black tears flowing down her cheeks. Moonlight blinding her eyes.
“Wednesday!”
Enid is kneeling by the seer’s side on the pavement of the secluded alleyway they had rushed into.
Wednesday sucks in deep breaths, trying to pull herself away from the vision.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay,” Enid says frantically. Wanting to reach out and cup the girl’s face, but not wanting to overwhelm her more. “You’re okay.”
It’s only when Wednesday finally registers the weight of a hand on her own that she starts to come back to herself.
She looks down at the hand. Purple and green nails.
She looks up at its owner. Blue eyes.
“Enid?”
She hates how small her voice sounds. But the hand clasping her own tightens.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m here, Wends.” Enid leans in a bit, as if trying to prove she’s real.
Which somehow only makes Wednesday’s stomach churn more.
Fester bends over his niece. “You okay, kiddo?”
“I’m fine,” the seer deflects.
But then she notices the object in her other hand.
The cloth.
She shoves it at Thing. “Take this to Grandmama.”
Thing nods dutifully and grasps it.
“I’ll go with him,” Fester says. “You guys go back to the hotel.”
For once, the seer doesn’t object to being left out of the action.
Fester and Thing zoom off on the motorbike, leaving the two roommates still on the ground of the alley.
“Wends, are you-”
The raven stiffens, just now realizing she’s still holding Enid’s hand. She reluctantly pulls away and climbs to her feet.
“Hey!” Enid scrambles up as well, and practically has to jog to keep up with the brisk pace the seer sets back through the streets of Paris. “Wednesday, what happened back there?”
“I had a vision.”
Enid fights the urge to pull out her own hair. “Yeah. I noticed that. I meant, what was the vision?”
“It is of no concern.”
“The black tears on your cheeks say otherwise.”
The seer hastily wipes at the streaks.
“Was it of my death again?” Enid presses.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Nothing.” Wednesday huffs as they march through the hotel lobby and into the elevator.
“Wends,” Enid says softly. She takes a step closer, but stops when the seer backs away. “Just tell me. Was it about me?”
The raven bites her cheek and looks at the ground.
It’s all the confirmation the wolf needs.
“Well, it can’t be worse than my death, right?”
Wednesday’s eyes flicker.
No. Not worse. But close.
Two years.
As soon as the elevator doors open, Wednesday hastily strides down the hall to their room and opens it.
Enid trails after the seer into the room. “Wednesday-”
“I’m going to shower.”
The bathroom door slams.
Enid's shoulders slump as she runs a hand through her hair.
She supposes this is what she gets for falling in love with a raven.
When the bathroom door finally opens, Enid jolts up, having almost fallen asleep on the couch. It had been a long day after all.
She gets up and follows the seer to where she’s hanging clothes in the closet. “Wednesday?”
“What, Enid?” There’s an edge to the tone. But there’s also a deep sense of exhaustion.
“You don’t have to tell me,” the wolf says softly. “But just know…I’m here. Always.”
Wednesday doesn’t turn around. But the tightness of her posture indicates she heard the words.
Enid then goes to shower, and when she returns, the seer is already lying in bed, arms crossed over herself. She internally sighs and gets into her own bed a few feet away. Then reaches out and turns off the light.
“Goodnight, Wednesday.”
Silence takes over the darkness.
And Enid is just about to fall asleep to the steady thump of her roommate’s heartbeat when it ticks up ever so slightly.
“I didn’t find you.”
As tired as Enid had been just seconds prior, she’s wide awake now. “What?”
“I didn’t find you.”
Enid switches the light back on and sits up to look at the seer who is still lying like a corpse.
“What do you mean?” the wolf asks, though the twisting of her gut indicates she already knows the answer.
“When you wolfed out to save me...” The words sound physically painful for the raven to say. “I didn’t find you.”
“Wends, that’s not-”
“For two years.”
Oh.
No.
That isn’t how the story goes.
“But you did find me. I’m right here.”
“But the vision-”
“Wednesday.” Enid gets up and tentatively sits on the edge of the other bed. Still maintaining a fair distance. “Look at me.”
The seer slowly opens her eyes and moves to an upright position, but doesn’t meet Enid’s gaze.
“You found me,” the wolf insists firmly. “What you saw wasn’t real.”
“But it could’ve been.” The anguish in Wednesday’s tone matches that of her older self in the vision. “Or perhaps you wolf out again in the future and-”
“No.” Enid shakes her head. “That won’t happen.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“Enid-”
“Trust me.”
The seer has no challenge for that.
Enid fidgets with the blanket on the bed. “In the catacombs. I felt something. I-It wasn’t right.”
That jolts Wednesday out of her agonized haze. “Felt something?”
“Yeah, like this supernatural force. At least, my wolf felt it.”
“As did I.”
“Yeah? Then maybe it affected your vision.”
The seer considers the words for a moment. “I suppose it’s possible. If unlikely.”
“So let me touch you again.”
Wednesday raises an eyebrow.
Enid flushes to the roots of her blonde hair. “I-I just meant like let’s try to trigger the vision again and see if it’s the same.”
“That…” Wednesday looks down at Enid’s outstretched hand, not exactly anxious for a repeat experience.
“No matter what. I’ll still be here.” The wolf vows. “Always.”
The seer has no challenge for that either.
She nods.
Enid’s hand meets her shoulder again.
Her head snaps back.
The vision is different this time, Enid can tell. Purely from the fact that no black tears stream down the raven’s face. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re out of the woods.
Wednesday’s head snaps back up.
“What did you see?” Enid asks anxiously.
Brown eyes are wide with shock, and perhaps a tinge of fear.
So still not a good vision.
“We should sleep,” Wednesday mutters.
“Wends-”
“Enid.”
The wolf sighs, knowing she had pushed as far as she could for one night. She crawls back into her own bed and turns off the light.
“Goodnight, Wednesday.”
She once again focuses on her roommate’s heartbeat.
It’s racing.
But she falls asleep before she can ponder why.
---------------
“Enid, wake up.”
“Ugh,” the wolf groans. “It better not be 4 in the morning.”
“It’s past noon.”
“What? God, why do I still feel so tired?”
“I believe they call it jetlag,” Wednesday deadpans.
“Ha ha.” Enid finally opens her eyes fully and looks at the girl peering down at her. The raven is already dressed in black pants and a black leather coat that looks stupidly good. “Going somewhere?”
“I assumed you’d be hungry.” Wednesday holds up a paper bag.
“You assumed right!” The wolf gets up and snatches the bag. Then opens it to find the largest croissant she’s ever seen. “Oh my god, this is bigger than your head!”
Wednesday’s ensuing scowl is gloriously predictable.
Enid laughs and happily bites into the croissant. “So, what terrifying case work are we up to today?”
The silence that follows is surprising.
“Wends?” Enid glances over and finds herself in one of those rare moments where she can’t interpret the look on the seer’s face.
“There’s no case work for today,” Wednesday says, eyes distant.
“Okay…so what’s the plan?”
The seer shifts. And this look, Enid recognizes.
Wednesday’s nervous.
“Wends, are you ok-”
“What would you like to do?”
It’s asked in a somewhat rushed manner, but Enid is too surprised by the question to really notice. She assumed this entire trip would just be chasing whatever crazy lead the raven had. “Um…see the Eiffel Tower, definitely.”
“You mean the one that’s right there?” Wednesday points out the window.
“What?” Enid turns with a confused look on her face. Then drops her croissant. “Oh my gosh!!”
The wolf jumps up and flings open the balcony doors to step outside. Sure enough, the Eiffel Tower is right there. She had been so tired last night from the whirlwind of activities that she missed it. In fact, she missed basically everything about the hotel they were staying at. But now she notes that they have a ridiculously lavish suite overlooking the entire city.
The realization makes Enid’s stomach flutter. Because if she didn’t know any better, this entire trip would seem incredibly romantic.
But she does know better.
Because this is Wednesday Addams.
Her best friend.
Who is definitely not a romantic.
“I can’t believe you got us a hotel right here!” Enid exclaims as Wednesday joins her on the balcony.
“Technically, Thing booked it,” the seer grumbles. A tint of pink coats her cheeks, but Enid is too preoccupied to notice.
“We have to go up the tower!”
Wednesday’s eyes never stray from the distracted wolf in front of her.
“As you wish.”
45 minutes later, they’re climbing up the stairs of the tower. Enid buzzing with excitement while Wednesday walks stiffly beside her.
“Oh my gosh, this is amazing!” The wolf claps giddily when they reach the top. “You can see everything from here!”
“That is generally how heights work,” Wednesday deadpans.
“I’m surprised you know that considering how lacking yours is,” Enid immediately teases back.
The seer scowls. “My height has never prevented me from accomplishing anything.”
“Because you wear really tall shoes. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. It’s like you want to be on my level or something.” Enid smirks knowingly.
Wednesday’s eye twitches. “You’re missing the view.”
“Am I?”
The words spill from Enid’s mouth before she can stop them. But she doesn’t regret them. Especially considering how flustered they seem to make the usually unflappable seer.
Still, Wednesday had a point. And Enid can feel heat on her own cheeks as well. So she turns to look back out at the city.
Reluctantly.
The scenery eventually becomes the wolf’s photobooth. With her taking what Wednesday calls a "criminal" amount of pictures. Though she never quite gets the seer into the frame of one.
Afterward, they end up back on the streets, walking past dozens of shops and restaurants at every turn. Wednesday is on auto-pilot navigating the crowd when a firm hand shakes her arm.
“Let’s go in there!”
“...A souvenir shop?”
“Yes!”
The wolf bounds inside the store without any further discussion, leaving the raven no choice but to follow.
“Oh, postcards!” Enid eagerly goes over to the rack and begins to browse the options.
“To whom would you be sending a postcard?” Wednesday asks incredulously.
“I don’t know, Yoko maybe?”
“Don’t you text her every day?”
“Yeah, but that’s different from an actual postcard from Paris!”
“That hardly gives that piece of paper any more value.”
Enid rolls her eyes. “Well I can’t exactly get her an Eiffel Tower magnet with her name on it, can I?”
“A pity.”
“You know, if they had a 'Wednesday' one, I’d get it for you just to spite you.”
“Your threats of violence could use work.”
“Please, we both know you’re far more horrified by these cheesy souvenirs than any act of violence I could commit.”
Wednesday supposes that’s…true.
Enid grins in victory and heads deeper into the store. She stops to point out a variety of items along the way. Some that actually interest her. Some just to annoy Wednesday.
By the end, she’s actually proud at how few things she buys. Just some postcards, a keychain, and a magnet with the Paris catacombs on it. For no particular reason.
“That thing is burning my retinas,” Wednesday grumbles, frowning at the ‘I love Paris’ bag the wolf shoves all her trinkets into.
“Then it’s perfect.” Enid grins as they walk up to the counter.
Yet as she goes for her wallet to pay, Wednesday slides a handful of euro notes to the cashier and strolls out the door.
Enid blinks for a second. Then grabs her bag and rushes after her roommate. “Hey! You didn’t have to pay for it. You already paid for the trip and hotel.”
“My family paid for those.”
“Well…still.”
“If it makes you feel better, I will not be paying for anything you get with my name on it.”
Enid snorts. “Please, the only thing we could find with your name on it is a calendar…OMG I should have gotten a Paris calendar!”
Wednesday’s eyes widen with that previously mentioned horror, and she takes off down the street.
The wolf sighs and looks wistfully back at the shop. “Next time.”
They end up walking along a river.
The same one from Wednesday’s vision.
The first vision at least. The second one…
Wednesday shoves her hands in her pockets to keep from brushing up against her roommate’s.
Enid immediately picks up on the discomfort. “Hey, what is it?”
The lack of response is easy for the wolf to interpret.
“It’s about your vision, isn’t it?”
The seer clenches her fists in her pockets, trying to tamp down her annoyance at being read so well. “This is the exact spot that I saw.”
“Can you tell me about it?” Enid asks quietly. “I mean, I know you said it was two years later. But what exactly happened?”
“You were captured by a circus.”
The wolf stops in her tracks and fights back a laugh at the pure absurdity. “Uh, what?”
“You heard me.”
“Well, jokes on them because I’m not much of a performer.”
Wednesday looks over sharply.
“Sorry,” Enid mumbles. “But Wends, I’m here. That didn’t- doesn’t happen. I mean, you saw something different in the second vision, right?”
Wednesday hesitates before nodding minutely. “Which is why I must investigate my aunt’s journal further. My premonitions should not be so unreliable.”
“Sounds like there’s more to this plan,” the wolf says suspiciously, not missing how the seer continues to avoid discussion of the second vision.
“I’m going to retrace her steps.”
“Didn’t she descend into madness from overusing her powers??”
“Indeed.”
“So, um, no. You won’t be retracing her steps,” Enid says firmly.
“I don’t intend to make her mistakes. But I think there is more to Addams’ psychic powers than any of us realize. I believe Aunt Ophelia was close to unlocking that before her descent into madness.”
Enid crosses her arms and looks at her roommate in heavy annoyance. “Do I have to lecture you again on your proclivity for making mistakes when it comes to your own self-preservation?”
Unlike last time, Wednesday isn’t fazed by the outburst of the girl next to her. In fact, she had been expecting it. Relying on it even.
She takes a deep breath and forces out the next words. “That is why I am asking you to accompany me on this journey.”
Enid blinks. “You want me to help you follow in your aunt’s footsteps where you may potentially go insane or even die??”
“Yes.”
“Oh absolutely fucking not-”
“Because I know if you’re there, that will not happen.”
“...What?”
Wednesday looks at the ground uncomfortably. “I…will not fall into insanity if you are there.”
Not that kind at least.
Enid would be swooning at the sentiment if she wasn’t so horrified at the reason it’s given. “Agnes told me you nearly went insane from your premonition of my death last semester.”
Wednesday silently plans the redhead’s decapitation in seven different ways before speaking again. “That is only because I did not inform you of the vision then. But now…you know.”
The vulnerability in the seer’s tone finally makes Enid pause long enough to realize what her roommate is asking. What she’s implying.
Wednesday trusted her.
Perhaps more than anyone else.
The realization makes her catch the raven by the arm. “Wednesday.”
Brown eyes don’t look up from the ground.
Enid grasps harder onto black leather fabric. “I’m really honored that you trust me.”
If this was two years ago, Wednesday would’ve long pulled away from the wolf’s hold.
But it wasn’t.
And she might just lean in a bit closer instead.
“I’ll help you,” Enid whispers, raising her other hand to fidget with the black jacket collar. “But…I-I can’t lose you, Wednesday.”
The seer flinches. If you only knew.
“So if I even get so much as an inkling that you’re starting to go insane, I swear I will drag you to every single event Nevermore has to offer, and blast my pop music so loudly that you won’t be able to think about studying your powers again.”
That elicits a visible cringe from the raven. “A plan that is much more likely to drive me to real insanity.”
“Pick you poison then.”
Wednesday finally looks into blue eyes.
Poison already picked.
“Deal?” Enid asks.
The seer nods once.
They silently continue their walk. Both lost in thought about what the future holds.
“Hey, look.” Enid taps her friend’s shoulder to get her to look up at a nearby tree. “A raven. I hear they’re really rare here.”
Wednesday studies the bird. Not as magnificent as a wolf.
As if on cue, Enid’s stomach growls.
Wednesday’s lips twitch up ever so slightly.
They end up at a fancy, high-end restaurant that Enid is 100% sure they’re underdressed for, given her shaggy brown coat and Wednesday’s leather one. But the Addams asks for a table in such convincingly perfect French that the hostess doesn’t even bat an eye at their appearance.
To be fair, Enid doesn’t either. More like stares dumbly at the back of her overly capable roommate as they’re led to their seats.
Sitting down doesn’t help with her staring problem though. Because the lighting makes the seer look like a beautiful fallen angel. And the Eiffel Tower is right outside the window. And Enid doesn’t think she could’ve imagined a more perfect date if she tried.
And she had imagined plenty with Wednesday.
“You’re staring,” the raven points out.
“Um, sorry. I was just…considering what to get for dinner.” Enid flushes deeply and buries her face in her menu, despite not being able to read a word of it.
Wednesday shoots her a look, but doesn’t challenge the wolf further. If she’s being honest, she’s feeling nervous as well. Which is ridiculous of course. They aren’t in any danger. And it’s just Enid.
But therein lies the problem.
It’s just Enid.
Just like…
The waiter comes over.
Wednesday asks the wolf what she wants and orders for them.
“So, um, how are you feeling about next school year?” Enid scratches her arm shyly.
“I expect it will be as intolerable as ever.”
“Right.”
That’s about as far as they get. Because two years of living together apparently doesn’t ease the tension of your first (hundreth?) not-date with your best friend.
Luckily, food does. And they’re both relieved to find they fall back into their easy banter when they have something to distract themselves with.
When the bill comes, the Addams pays. Though Enid puts up a pretty good fight about it. She only loses because she can’t speak enough French to force the waiter to take her money like Wednesday does.
Once they’re outside again, Wednesday turns to her roommate. “Would you like to go back?”
“What do you want to do?”
Wednesday considers the question. “Père Lachaise Cemetery is nearby.”
Enid smiles fondly. A cemetery date? Definitely one of the ones she had imagined with Wednesday. “Let’s go.”
When they arrive, Enid almost regrets saying yes. Because it’s far darker and creepier than she expected. And they have to suspiciously climb over the gate to enter. But Wednesday pulls out some flashlights and steps an inch closer, and it’s enough for Enid to push aside the creepiness. Mostly.
“Anything in particular you want to see?” the wolf asks.
“Oscar Wilde’s tomb is here.”
“Please don’t tell me you have some plan to dig up his remains or something.”
“That can always be arranged,” Wednesday says with a hint of intrigue.
“Nevermind, forget I said anything.”
They travel along in silence for a while. Brushing shoulders as they walk. And pinkies.
Enid bites her lip. “Do you remember the last time we were at a graveyard together?”
“It was not so long ago that I would’ve forgotten,” Wednesday says knowingly. Remembering the disconcerting feeling of staring into her own brown eyes and feeling an overwhelming sense of longing.
“Yeah, that was a crazy night. Day. Whatever it was.”
“Which is why I put a curse on Rotwood’s grave,” the seer mutters.
The wolf smiles slightly before turning serious again.
“But…I learned something important that night.”
Wednesday looks over with a curious expression.
Enid inhales deeply and turns to face her best friend who is barely illuminated in the glow of their flashlights. “I learned that…you’re my pack, Wednesday. I know I said it before. But…it’s still true.”
It will always be true.
Wednesday stares at her roommate in the middle of the cemetery. The moon shining overhead. And she almost drops her flashlight. Almost grabs the wolf’s jacket lapels and tugs her forward.
But then footsteps pound on the path.
In a flash, Wednesday pulls Enid behind a large tombstone. Just as a person rounds the corner.
Security guard.
Enid lets out the breath she had been holding as he just continues walking onward. She supposes it wouldn’t be a true date if they didn’t end up hiding or running from something at least once. Not that that criteria even applies right now.
“Wilde’s tomb is just over there,” Wednesday says stiffly, moving off once more.
The wolf sighs in dismay. She thought that maybe…
It doesn’t matter.
She follows her roommate.
“Uh, why is there lipstick all over it?” Enid frowns at the tomb enclosed in glass and covered with kiss marks.
“A pathetic act of admiration.”
The werewolf tries not to be offended after what almost just happened.
“Sooo do you want me to take a picture of you with it?” Enid teases as she pulls out her phone.
Wednesday scowls. “Tombs are permanent. Why take a picture?”
“Because then I can send it to your mom and she can put it in the box with all her other cute photos of you!”
“Absolutely not.” Wednesday reaches out to grab the mobile device.
The wolf smirks and holds the phone over her head. “Too bad you’re too short to reach.”
“Enid, stop being childish,” Wednesday huffs. Even as she childishly tugs on the wolf’s arm in a futile attempt to grab the treacherous object.
Enid giggles loudly. “Too late. I got the photo.”
Wednesday finally snatches the phone. It unlocks when she lifts it.
“Ugh, I should’ve taken your face ID out after the body swap,” Enid mutters.
The seer clumsily swipes through the device.
Enid giggles again. “You don’t know how to delete the photos, do you? Finally something that stumps the great Wednesday Addams.”
Wednesday huffs and shoves the phone back into the wolf’s hands. “If you send that to Pugsley, I will personally ensure your swift demise.”
“Hmmm promises, promises.” Enid leans in teasingly.
“I’ll dye your stuffed unicorn collection black, Sinclair.”
“That could be cute, Addams.”
They’re inches apart now. And Enid is 100% thinking about leaving lipstick stains on her roommate rather than the dirty old tomb.
But then something flickers through Wednesday’s eyes and she’s pulling away.
And Enid wonders if maybe it’s all just in her head.
---------
When they get back to the hotel, it’s near midnight.
Enid can feel the jetlag creeping into her bones once more. But she doesn’t want to sleep. Doesn’t want the day to end. Because tomorrow they may be running around on some case again.
But today felt like…Wednesday was hers.
Even if she wasn’t.
Enid opens the doors to the balcony and steps out in the cool night air. The Eiffel Tower glows in the distance. More beautiful than she ever imagined, but not the thing that causes the yearning in her chest.
The source of that steps onto the balcony behind her.
She turns and gives her roommate a small smile. “Thank you for today, Wends.”
“There is nothing to thank me for.”
“I mean, you stayed an extra day in Paris just to show me around. Even after everything that happened yesterday in the catacombs.”
Wednesday grips the balcony railing tight enough for the wolf to notice the discomfort from the previous night has returned.
“Hey, talk to me,” Enid implores, taking a step closer.
“I…heard from Uncle Fester this morning. They know what the cloth we found is.”
Enid tilts her head in surprise at the new information. “What is it then?”
“A talisman of sorts. Specifically for a raven.”
“To do what exactly?”
“Enhance their powers. At least that’s what Grandmama thinks.”
Enid’s face falls. “So your vision of me…”
“But I have a different theory. As does my mother.”
“Woah, you’re agreeing with your mom for once?”
Wednesday gets a look in her eye as if she knows something no one else does. “I have good reason to.”
Enid swallows thickly. “Okay. So what’s the theory?”
“The talisman does not enhance a raven’s powers. It distorts them. Corrupts them.”
“So you think your aunt came across something similar and that’s why her powers went haywire.”
“It is a logical conclusion.”
“But there’s more,” Enid senses.
“I believe that through the corruption of a raven’s powers, the talisman distorts visions to no longer show the truth. Or even real possibilities. It shows something else.”
“Which is?”
Wednesday looks out into the distance.
“A person’s worst fear.”
“Wends,” Enid murmurs. “The chances of me getting captured by a circus are kinda slim I think.”
The seer shakes her head. “The talisman could give me the vision a thousand times, with a thousand different scenarios. But everytime…”
“Everytime…?”
“I would lose you.”
“Wednesday.” Enid’s throat is tight, and she can’t stop herself from resting her hand on the seer’s. “I’m afraid of losing you too.”
Wednesday looks down at purple and green nails interlacing with her black ones.
“But, that won’t happen,” the wolf insists.
There’s a long pause.
And Enid braces for the pessimism. The excuse. The reason why it will all go wrong.
“I know.”
Wednesday says it like the outcome has been carved in stone since the beginning of time.
“You do?” Enid whispers.
The seer finally turns to face her roommate. For once, inviting the wolf to read her like an open book as she had so often done in the past.
“W-Wednesday.” Enid's entire body is shaking now. “What did you see in the second vision?”
The moon gazes at the sun.
“This.”
In a single step, Wednesday closes the distance and grasps her best friend’s face to pull her into a soft, determined kiss.
Enid melts into it immediately. Gripping at leather with one hand. Running over braided hair with the other.
It isn’t rushed or frantic. It’s sure and determined. Confident in a way that only comes when one knows the ending.
Because maybe they always had.
Enid presses deeper first. Swiping her tongue on the seer’s bottom lip in a request for something that would last far longer than just the next few minutes. A request that’s immediately granted and escalated as Wednesday tugs her even closer by her shirt.
When at last they pull away, Wednesday doesn’t go far. Still cupping the wolf’s face in her hands and looking into shining blue eyes.
They stay like that for a long time.
But of course, Enid blinks first.
“You’re staring,” the wolf whispers, struggling not to duck under the intensity of the raven’s gaze.
“I’m appreciating beautiful things.”
Enid’s jaw goes slack.
Then she surges forward and kisses Wednesday again. Harder this time. Pushing her against the balcony railing.
“I love you.”
Enid murmurs it against the seer’s lips. Then against her jawline. Then against her ear.
Wednesday doesn’t respond. But the tightening of her grip is the only answer Enid needs.
After significantly more time, the wolf rests their foreheads together. “Did you really see us in the future?”
The seer nods.
“God.” Enid tugs the collar of Wednesday’s shirt down just enough to trail her lips under it on smooth skin. Hearing the raven’s heartbeat in her ears once more.
She knows why it’s racing now.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s fingers get lost in blue and pink hair. And it’s every cliché she swore she’d always despise. Wrapped in abysmal, colorful perfection.
That she knows she’ll choose over and over.
“Take a picture with me.”
“What?” The raven asks dazedly as the wolf abruptly pulls back. Causing Enid’s eyes to light up with mirth.
“A picture. I want to remember this moment. Forever.”
“Is that not what a hippocampus is for?”
“Wednesday.”
The seer sighs, which the wolf takes as a sign of victory. She pulls out her phone and holds it up with a grin. The glow of the Eiffel Tower illuminates the background.
“Smile.”
Wednesday puts on her best scowl. But as Enid kisses her cheek and snaps the photo, it softens ever so slightly.
“Perfect,” Enid says with a dazzling grin that makes the abhorrent use of technology worth it. She puts the phone away and rests her hands on Wednesday’s waist. “I can’t believe you took me to Paris just because I said I wanted to go.”
“It was to investigate the catacombs.”
“Uh huh. So what are we doing tomorrow?”
Silence.
Enid smirks and starts to lean in before something flashes across her face. A look of realization that has her features darkening. “Wait, I thought ravens didn’t see the light. How did you see us in the future?”
The seer’s eyes go distant for a moment as she runs her fingers over the wolf’s cheek.
“I’m not the only one who left psychic scar tissue.”
All Enid can do is kiss her roommate again.
And maybe she prints the picture.
Maybe she frames it.
Maybe she gives it to Wednesday on her birthday.
And maybe Wednesday keeps it in her desk drawer.
Maybe for 80 years.
Maybe.