Chapter Text
Halloween 2015
The house was aglow with the familiar buzz of juvenile-idiocy. Beer cans littered the front lawn and music blared with unnecessary furore. The stench of sweat and loose morals invaded her senses as she was tugged through the large wooden front door, her hand unwillingly encased in strong persistent fingers. If she could just loosen the grip slightly, she could slip away down the street into the calming cloak of darkness the night had settled over the college town.
But, alas, as though sensing her impending bid for freedom, the grip on her fingers tightened.
“Remember that you love me more than anything on earth and that I never ask you for anything despite being the best, most loyal friend a girl could ever ask for…”
“Debatable.”
“Wednesday Addams. Look me in the eye.” Dark brown flickered to meet the sunglass covered pupils rounding on her, an eyebrow raising sceptically in question. “One night, one night is all I need to secure this date with Divina and then I will let you fester in your own misery for the rest of our college experience, I promise.”
A small puff of air escaped plump lips and Wednesday crossed her arms in a recalcitrant fashion. “If you do not leave this party having requested further accompaniment from the unfortunate object of your affection, I will personally seek her out and publicly share with her the contents of the journal you have hidden under your pillow. A hiding place chosen with, what I can only surmise was, the nonsensical notion I would not know of its existence, despite regularly being responsible for laundering your bed linen and as such, familiar with the underside of the aforementioned bed adornment.”
Yoko’s eyes rolled so far back in her head she was certain she’d lose them there one day soon. “Ok, ok, calm down my little harbinger of doom. I’m going to make my move tonight, I promise, and I am incredibly grateful you agreed to grace me with your presence in a setting outside of our dorm. One night of wing-manning and your solitude is yours to bathe in once more.”
Slender fingers reached out again to gently adjust the black ears peeking out from neatly groomed hair. “Hey, you look totally hot tonight too, maybe you should finally put that brooding-beauty vibe you’ve been curating to good use?”
“No, thank you. Collegiate ritualistic humiliation is not my preferred method of self-flagellation. This costume you have forced me to adorn is enough.”
Yoko shrugged and gently bopped the tip of her best friends’ nose, careful not to smudge the black face painted whiskers and feline features. “Suit yourself, sulky. Now, follow me to the booze, if you so please.”
What commenced was Wednesday’s personal idea of hell. She was quite convinced her purgatory would be attending this house party in a never-ending Groundhog Day loop of torturous social interaction with imbeciles so based she was starting to debate the academic integrity of their school’s admissions board.
Mostly, she stood, back against the wall and arms crossed, observing as Yoko plied herself with alcohol until she had the courage to approach the object of her affections. They had only been in college for two weeks when her best friend had burst into their shared dorm one afternoon and declared she had met the love of her life in her fourth period Advanced Chemistry class (Yoko was a chemistry genius and not at all humble about it).
This was not the first love of Yoko Tanaka’s life. Wednesday had spent the majority of her teens listening as Yoko detailed the highs and lows of high school dating. She had rocked her friend to sleep when her first girlfriend had broken her heart (and then she had filled the girl’s locker with worms fresh from her mother’s garden, but no evidence could be levied against her, so did she really do it?). She had been forced on countless ‘double dates’ – at first with boys that Yoko thought she might take an interest in – and then, when she finally made it clear if she was to find any other human attractive, they would be of the female-variant, girls who batted their eyelashes and reached across tables to place their hands on hers without her consent.
So, forgive her if she wasn’t totally buying into this newest crush. Yoko followed her whims where Wednesday constructed immaculate plans. Yoko was flighty where Wednesday was firm. Yoko buzzed with sardonic enthusiasm where Wednesday seeped cynicism. Their friendship was an equilibrium of sarcasm and compromise and shouldn’t have worked at all. But it did.
Yoko Tanaka was Wednesday Addams’ first, best and only friend.
Which is why she was currently wearing a cat costume at a college Halloween party. It was also why, when her eyes drifted back to her friend from across the room to find her locked in a passionate embrace with a flustered brunette, did she simply nod her head and turn to find somewhere quieter to wait for Yoko’s instruction to leave, with or without her depending on how the current situation escalated.
It was later now and the majority of the party’s attendees were far past the point of reasonable decision-making. Stepping lightly over trash and the occasional body part (no, it was not her business to determine if those strangers were in a drunken stupor or dead, someone else could burden that responsibility), Wednesday made her way to the front porch, hoping to find reprieve from the general aura fogging the house.
Thankfully, the front veranda was vacant and Wednesday took a seat on the edge of the wall facing the street. Hopefully, Yoko would accompany her home or dismiss her at her soonest convenience – either way, she wasn’t leaving until she knew her friend was sorted to leave the party safely, one way or the other.
Zoning out, she allowed herself to rest her head against the wooden pillar of the overhang, releasing a slow hum of contentment as she drifted into a semi-trance like state to bide the time.
It can only have been minutes, maybe ten at most, before the front door slammed open and someone came barrelling out, snapping Wednesday from her pleasant nothingness.
“Oh my goodness, what the heck! Nice one, Enid! Awesome job! So stupid, I can’t believe I thought he liked me.”
A ball of blonde and neon spilt out of the lit entryway and threw itself down on the brick steps, right beside the wall Wednesday currently resided upon. She supposed she must have been rather inconspicuous given her totally black outfit and utter stillness, as the person didn’t appear to register her presence.
“You couldn’t have just chilled out for one second? How overbearing do you even need to be? Jesus, how am I going to show my face on campus ever again?” The stranger continued to berate themselves profusely and at such speed that Wednesday’s left eyebrow rose in intrigue against her will.
“Such a freaking LOSER, Enid. And now you’re alone. Alone at a college party on Halloween, what the actual-“
“You are not. Alone, that is.”
The blur froze momentarily before whipping round to face the source of the noise. Blue eyes widened as they finally fell upon Wednesday and the twinge of something unwritten began to snake itself up her nape in response. Those eyes. Blue wasn’t a sufficient descriptor, but Wednesday’s brain flailed in an attempt to find something more appropriate that wasn’t cheesy or trite. To say she was looking into the crystal pools of God’s holiest baptismal fonts would be antiquated and superfluous. A stranger’s eyes would never elicit such a reaction from her.
The orbs blinked once and Wednesday almost felt she should mourn over their momentary disappearance. “Oh.” Came a squeak, “Wonderful, an audience to my breakdown. Awesome.”
“Misery loves company, or so I’ve been told. I personally prefer to be miserable in total solitude.”
It was softer than she’d meant it to be. Words tripping over themselves in a delicate wave as opposed to the static sharpness of her typical vocal intonation.
The woman cracked the tiniest smile at that, her lips pressing up in a thoughtful turn as she considered the dark figure in front of her. She was hot. Very. Which made her previous outburst even more embarrassing; however, a certain kind of safety radiated from sunken dark eyes and hollowed cheeks adorably adorned with black whiskers, that she couldn’t bring herself to care much about what she had or hadn’t admitted during her humiliation spiral.
“Party not rocking your world, hey?” She spoke softly as she approached with caution, not wanting to scare off her porch-step companion.
“I am not accustomed to attending such events. I find them to be… Overwhelming. Additionally, they fail to incite any kind of joy within me, thus I tend to avoid frequenting gatherings and parties alike.”
Enid nodded earnestly, as though Wednesday’s words were sacred gospel. It was disarming and the creeping up her neck started to feel more like the burn of permanent branding.
“That’s fair. These things can be kinda intense. Lots of hormones and uninhibited young people with underdeveloped pre-frontal cortexes making questionable decisions. I suppose I’m one of those tonight.” Enid shrugged and huffed a small sigh, “Apologies for my earlier tirade… I was just dumped. It was brilliant. Rejected in front of two cheerleaders and three frat bros by a guy I lowered MY standards for. Totally ace-cakes.” She lifted her thumbs in a sarcastic gesture before slumping further into herself on the step.
Wednesday was not born with the ability to understand the emotions of other’s very well. She could intellectualise her own feelings and observe intently to try and determine those of the ones she cared about, but reacting accordingly was a skill she was learning. A skill that Yoko had so patiently spent the majority of their lives thus far teaching her.
It was clear in this situation she was required to offer comfort to the stranger. Usually, Wednesday would have taken this opportunity to turn and march away, not feeling the same obligation that other people did to pander to the emotions of strangers. This stranger, however, with her world-ending eyes and ethereal glow, required something from Wednesday that she was totally and utterly unable to deny her.
So, gently she leant to the right and let her should bump against the other’s, lingering just long enough to, she hoped, convey support and sympathy. “Any person that does not wish to be the object of your affection is defective and shall surely wallow in regret evermore. To exist in the centre of your gaze, is to be cast with golden light and those unworthy are right to cower away in admittance of their own inadequacies.”
Enid stopped breathing.
Wednesday grit her teeth. Perhaps that had come across a little strong, but she had never been one to mince her words and the woman sat before her inspired plenty. Yoko had advised that toning it down could be advisable at times, though. Was this one of those times? “Apologies, that was… intense. I meant only to provide comf-“
“Don’t apologise. Please. That was- Gosh, you are just… I’m. Fuck. Fuck it. I’m going to kiss you now. Is that ok? Please say that’s ok.”
A shaky hand came up and hovered beside her cheek, not quite touching, not until permission was given.
And it was. In the form of a small nod, barely existing but enough for keen eyes to pick up on.
And then there was a warm hand cradling her cheek and breath brushing against her lips. Wednesday’s eyes slammed shut at the sensation. Then softness. Such softness. Lips pressed against her own with a tenderness no one had ever cared to offer her. The touch was momentary, she barely had time to reciprocate, to move her lips minimally, silk against silk before-
“Enid!? Bro, are you out here, what the fuck?” A lanky long hair boy came stumbling through the front door, eyes falling onto the colourful woman and the darkness sat beside her.
They had pulled apart with such haste Wednesday felt as though her neck ought to have splintered down the centre, cold air rushing between them and dark brown eyes locking onto blue, both sets widened in shock. Shock at the interruption and as to what it had been interrupting.
They had met not but minutes prior and yet an innate feeling of knowing had been cast over them both. Wednesday’s pale fingers gripped tightly at the wall beneath her, knuckles white with tension. Her body and her mind had betrayed her, commonsense lost to a desire she was unacquainted with. Her own self twisted into an other she had never met.
“Ajax! Hi! Tah dah, here I am!” Enid flew to her feet, flustered and overcompensating, “Lucas dumped me in front of everyone so my new friend here-“ She gestured down to the woman still sat at her feet, desperately trying to recall if she had learnt her name at any point in the last five minutes. If she had, she couldn’t recall it for the life of her, the only thought crossing her mind were those lips and how soft and glorious and- focus, Enid. “Um, yeah, she was just consoling me.”
Wednesday stayed completely still, barely daring to lift her eyes in acknowledgment she was being spoken about. “Ok, cool… Sorry about Lucas, Nid. Let’s go? I’m feening for a burger.”
The blonde looked down, “I think I’m going to stay a little lon-“
“I must abscond. Have a pleasant night.”
With that Wednesday stood and decisively marched back into the party, weaving between strangers until she located Yoko in the queue for the bathroom.
“I’m leaving.”
“Oh! Hi! Right, cool cool cool. I’m going to stay, and like, you know, seal the deal or something. Actually, that’s gross, don’t tell Divina I said that. Are you ok?”
Sunglasses were pushed down her nose as Yoko peered over the frame at the peculiar look on her best friend’s face. “All is well. Please be safe and use your telephone to update me on your whereabouts.”
“Okay…” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, “Love you, Wends. Thanks again for coming with. Text me when you get home.”
“As always, I reciprocate those emotions. Goodnight.” She gently reached out to squeeze the other girl’s hand a singular time before turning and escaping into the party and then the night, careful to avoid any hint of blonde on her way.
Spring 2020
“I cannot comprehend how I have let you talk me into this. I must have been having a stroke. A momentary brain aneurysm that sadly failed to end my life, only serving to make me acquiesce to your hair-brained schemes.” Wednesday held her phone precariously between her shoulder and ear, using both hands to lace her heavy leather boots.
She was older now. Graduated, earning her own money, renting her own apartment. Time had mellowed her slightly, her hair no longer braided within an inch of its life each day, but shorter, typically allowed to fall in tousled waves either side of her face, highlighting her devastatingly sharp cheekbones and hauntingly deep-set eyes.
“I promise you, it’s going to be great! Divina said she’s such a catch. Apparently, she was in a relationship for most of college and her ex was kind of controlling, but now she’s back in the world, reigniting her friendships and revisiting the dating scene! Seeing what the big wide world has to offer.”
“If I am all the big wide world has to offer, I fear this woman will be both sorely disappointed and potentially scarred from dating for the rest of eternity.” Wednesday drawled, sparing one last glance in the mirror, making a minor adjustment to her outfit – a tailored charcoal pinstripe blazer, vest and pants combo over a plain long-sleeve – formal yet casual, hard yet soft, masculine but with a touch of femininity.
Yoko scoffed, “Fuck off, Wends. You know you’re hot as hell. I bet you’re wearing one of your little pantsuits, looking like a sexy Buffy Summers. Don’t think I don’t know about the revolving door of women frequenting your bed.” She sighed in resignation, “I love Divina more than life itself, but hell am I glad one of us is prolifically sowing their seeds across the city. It’s only right.”
Dark eyes rolled as Wednesday made her way to the motorcycle parked outside her place. “Keep it in your pants, Tanaka. I’m hanging up now. Start praying this isn’t a waste of my invaluable time, or I’ll personally see to it your signed copy of Slouching Towards Bethlehem finds its way into my sharpest shredder.”
A gasp, “Not the Didion! You know she’s-“
With that, Wednesday hung up.
It didn’t take her long to arrive at the address Yoko had given her. A blind date was borderline insanity in this day and age, but she hadn’t been informed of a name or provided with a picture. Simply being told that Divina had reignited a deep friendship with a woman she had known in college, and that her and Yoko thought Wednesday was a perfect match.
Typically, she wouldn’t have entertained such frivolities, but she had owed Yoko a favour and she was nothing if not a woman of her word.
So, here she was. Knocking on the door of a total stranger.
She waited patiently for a few minutes for the door to open, however, it did not. She knocked again. Waited. Nothing. Glancing down at her watch, she noticed it was now ten minutes past the agreed meeting time. Her eyes narrowed.
Wends: I believe your girlfriend’s friend has stood me up.
Tanaka: Wait? What. One moment. Don’t move.
She waited for more than one moment. It was, in fact, many many moments before another text came through.
Tanaka: She’s running a bit late getting home from work. Sorry bb, pls pls wait for her. I’ll owe you.
Wednesday huffed loudly, clenching her jaw violently before stepping down to plant herself on the porch steps.
Wends: Fine.
Wends: I will remember this, Tanaka.
Tanaka: Love you too. Have fun xxxx
It was a painful further twenty minutes of silent porch step stewing before she heard the slam of a car door and the clack of heels on pavement. Her gaze travelled to the garden path just in time to witness a shock of blonde hair burst around the corner.
Time stopped. And suddenly, Wednesday was eighteen again, sitting on a different set of porch steps as a blonde blur made itself loudly known.
“Oh my god. Wednesday, right?! I am so, so sorry. I promise, I’m usually a super punctual person but today was insane, like, firstly I couldn’t find my ke-“
“Stop speaking.”
The woman was at her feet now, mouth slamming shut and brow furrowing deeply. “Ok, rude.”
Was it her? Wednesday could barely bear to entertain the thought. She hadn’t seen her again after that night, half-heartedly having looked for her at various school events but never having much luck. She was friends with Divina this whole time? Although, she supposed not, given what Divina had said about her ex and being cut off from the world.
And now Wednesday had been rude, but rude was better than vulnerable and the other woman clearly didn’t remember her from their brief encounter. Clearly hadn’t been haunted by her eyes every time she shut her own. Clearly hadn’t been searching for a first kiss like the one they’d shared in every stranger who paid her mind.
“Given your tardiness, we have missed our dinner reservation, a reservation I had the foresight to make two weeks ago mind you, and thus my plans for our evening have been ruined.”
Enid’s eyebrows shot up, eyes narrowing at the beautiful woman on her porch, “Like I said, I am sorry to have kept you waiting and for missing the reservation, circumstances were out of my control. We can go someplace else, I’ll figure it out.”
Wednesday scoffed, mind barely keeping up with her mouth so she kept it shut. She didn’t enjoy when plans changed last minute and she certainly didn’t enjoy the lack of control she was feeling as the situation consumed her.
“Fine. You can drop your stuff inside and change into something more appropriate. We’ll take my motorcycle.”
It was Enid’s turn to scoff now. “I’m not getting on your motorcycle. I actually enjoy living, thanks, keep your death trap to yourself. Also, I don’t need to change, thank you, I actually chose this outfit specifically for our date.”
Two perfectly manicured dark eyebrows rose slowly in disbelief. First, Wednesday had been made to wait, then her reservations had been lost, her form of transport rebuked and now she was being made to feel bad over assuming Enid would want to change after her day into something more date-like and less resembling a Christmas-cracker. Unbelievable.
“You know what, Wednesday. I think this was a bad idea.” Enid took the few steps up to stand level with the stranger on her porch, her slight height advantage giving her a newfound confidence. “I have no idea what Divina was thinking, we are clearly incredibly different people. My name is Enid, by the way, given you didn’t bother to ask.”
Now she had stepped forward, Wednesday was affronted with the specific shade of blue she had long-ago given up hope of ever seeing again. Not only that, but they were alight with a spark so dangerous cities could have burnt in their wake - she couldn’t tear her own gaze away. “Enid. Finally, something we can agree on. Yoko must have lost her senses when she thought we could be compatible by any definition of the word.”
Admittedly, she was somewhat unsure how the interaction had spiralled to such a hostile point and she was almost definitely sure she was probably to blame. But she felt unsteady. Her world was tilting. The axis of her existence was twisting, curdling into an irreparable state of disrepair. She was clinging to the only form of control she had left, her words, desperate to escape this front yard and never seen this havoc bringer again.
“I must abscond. Have a pleasant night.”
Her words echoed around the dimly lit porchway, ghosting across Enid’s face in a way that almost made her look back. Almost.
She rounded the corner onto the street before pausing to clutch at her chest, momentarily unable to bring air into her lungs. Softly hissed words skipped over the hedgerow to greet her, “What the hell, Divina? She was so rude! Are you kidding me? I don’t ever want to have to speak with that woman again.”
Releasing a long stream of air from her nose, Wednesday lowered her clenched fists, shutting her eyes for a moment before turning on her heels and storming off to where she’d parked her bike. Yoko was going to suffer for this.
Summer 2020-2025
Fate, it seemed, was not on Wednesday’s side. Ever since Enid’s reintroduction into society, her and Divina had become incredibly close. Which meant she was always around. She was there at Yoko and Divina’s housewarming party when they finally bought their first place together. She was Divina’s maid of honour at the wedding, counterpart to Wednesday, who had been graced with the pleasure of being Yoko’s Best (Wo)Man. It was torturous. She was even there the day Yoko sat her down and told her she was pregnant. And then, when Aya was born, Wednesday had been forced to relinquish her hold on the tiny baby to let Enid take a turn holding her. It was ridiculous. She had been best friends with Yoko since they were FIVE years old and Enid had barely known them five minutes (see: years).
In all honesty, though, their relationship had mended over time. The jibes were no longer laced with poison but instead thrown out in jest; gentle teasing across dinner tables, playful pushes behind Yoko and Divina’s back as they waited on Aya to be handed over. A shared tether to a life that blossomed around them.
The colour of her world had altered slightly with the entrance of the baby. She was a miniature Yoko, adorable and tiny and Wednesday had made a silent vow to protect her at all costs. Enid was softer than ever around her too. She cooed and held her on her hip and Wednesday had had to take herself into the garden to breathe deeply at the sight.
“She’s a natural, huh?”
It was Aya’s first birthday party and the pair had been invited early by her parents to celebrate the four of them managing a year in this new life of parenthood and godparenthood and shared responsibility.
Yoko had followed her friend outside, noticing the slight change in her demeanour when Enid had scooped Aya up to dote on her.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Ok, Wends, whatever you say.”
They stood in silence for a while, shoulder to shoulder as they watched the sun set quietly over the suburban bliss Yoko and Divina now called home.
“I love you, Wednesday. I know this year has changed a lot for us. I know Aya has changed a lot. But it means the world to me that you’re still here. That you’re always here for me, for us.”
Wednesday tilted her head slightly towards the woman she had walked her life beside. “No thanks necessary, Tanaka. You know I would die for you. And now, for your daughter too. My loyalty is unwavering. I-I owe you a lot in this life.”
Yoko snorted, knocking her shoulder into Wednesday’s, “God, intense much. But I suppose I shouldn’t expect any less. You always have been fiercely wedded to the things you love. What a gift to get to be one of them.”
She hummed softly in response, lingering in the softness of the evening.
“Right, well, we better get ready, the others will be arriving soon. Did you see the cake Enid made? It’s insane. I think it’s better than the one she made for our wedding… Which is kinda outrageous, but damn that woman can bake.”
Yoko turned to step back inside, a cold hand slipping down her arm to grip hers before she could leave. “The feeling is mutually reciprocated, you know that, correct?”
A grin came up to meet sunglass covered cheeks, “You can tell me you love me, Addams. I won’t let them know you’ve gone soft.”
“Shut up and go attend to your child.”
With that, she was left in the last of the dappled sunlight, a laugh rolling over her as the glass door slid to a close.
Autumn 2025
The ringing pierced through the heavy silence of her apartment, jolting her from sleep with a start unbecoming of an Addams.
Fumbling, she located the device on her side table and slammed the accept button before it could ring out. “Who is it?”
“Wednesday Addams?”
“This is she.”
“Ms. Addams, this is the County Sherrif’s office, I am calling to request your presence at the station at your earliest convenience.”
Sleep drained out of her in an instant as she sat up, clutching the phone closer to her ear. “Why?” Dread was pooling in the pit of her stomach, anxiety creeping through every cell in her body.
“There’s been an accident involving Yoko Tanaka, Ms. Addams, we really need you to get down here as soon as possible.”
Wednesday stopped breathing. The world stopped turning. “I’m on my way.”
She was there in less than twenty minutes, bike parked haphazardly in a no stopping zone, heavy boots running up the steps and bursting through the glass doors of the precinct.
“Wednesday Addams, I’m here for Yoko Tanaka.”
“Wednesday-“ She whipped round at the soft utterance of her name to be faced with Enid Sinclair. Her hair was in total disarray, mascara smeared down her freshly tear lined cheeks. “Wednesday, I’m so sorry…”
Her blood ran cold, nausea rising in her throat, eyes wild as she took in the woman in front of her.
Enid shook her head, tears spilling as her face split into a sob, “They didn’t make it.”
It was as though a bomb had detonated under Wednesday’s feet. She physically recoiled, ears ringing so loudly she couldn’t make out a single other sound. Her jaw clenched so hard her teeth creaked from the force. For a moment, she couldn’t see. Blinded and deafened, her hands fumbled for her heart. Enid’s words reverberated around her skull, mind tearing itself apart as images of Yoko flickered across the blank page of her brain. Yoko at five with a wicked grin as she handed her a pair of scissors she’d stolen from their teacher. Yoko at nine falling off the swing in Wednesday’s backyard and presenting the broken bone poking through her arm to her like a prized possession. Yoko at thirteen telling her she was in love with the high school’s mascot. Yoko at sixteen losing her virginity to a chick in drama club and regaling Wednesday with every gory detail. Yoko at eighteen forcing her to a stupid college Halloween party where she met Divina and Enid.
Enid.
Enid who had wrapped her own arms around herself tightly as sobs wracked through her small body. Enid whose world was shattering just as hard as Wednesday’s own.
Forcing her eyes closed, she took a breath to steady herself, wrangling her grief with a thousand lassos and forcing it down into an impenetrable steel bunker. Stepping forward, she reached out and opened her arms to the woman in front of her.
Without hesitation Enid fell into them, desperately clinging onto Wednesday’s jacket, nails digging in as she let tears fall onto a leather covered shoulder and pressed her shaking body as close as she could. Wednesday’s own arms pulled tighter, closer, grounding them both. “I’m here now. I’m here.” She whispered into blonde locks, “I’ve got you.”
Neither woman could determine how long they spent in the embrace. Time was non-existent. Nothing mattered. Nothing would ever matter again.
Except it did.
“Aya?” She could barely force herself to pose the question, breathing it barely into existence into Enid’s ear. Not ready to let go, not ready to know.
The blonde pulled back and shook her head again, “Not Aya. Not Aya.” It looked like she wanted to say more but the words wouldn’t come out over the tears that wouldn’t cease. Wednesday nodded her affirmative, turning in Enid’s loosened grip and finally addressing the officer at the desk.
“They have a baby. A one-year-old. Where is she?”