Chapter Text
The Weathervane was fairly vacant, just how she preferred it.
Wednesday quickened her pace, opening the door and distantly hearing the soft chime . She was displeased to find someone other than Tyler at the front counter. A brunette whose hair was wavy, spilling down her shoulders and who stood slightly taller than Wednesday did. Lips thinning out, she scanned the lobby in search of him. He should be there. He’d mentioned offhandedly that he was working all week from noon until closing. Straightening her shoulders, she approached the girl, telling herself that for the girl's sake, she didn't make this anymore difficult than it had to be.
“Hi!” Lisa, in an overly peppy voice with a smile that was far too wide to be genuine, greeted her. “Welcome to the Weathervane. What can I-”
“Is Tyler working?” Wednesday cut her off. If she had to listen anymore to that pathetic customer service voice, she might just pour scalding hot coffee in her ears.
Lisa was rather miffed by the interruption. “Excuse me?” She was trying to maintain politeness.
“Are you having difficulty hearing? I was quite clear,” Wednesday was in no mood for this. She asked a simple question, expecting a straightforward answer.
“Why are you asking?”
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” Wednesday responded without hesitation.
“If you can’t tell me then I’m afraid I can’t answer your question,” Lisa’s attitude changed, becoming smug enough that thoughts of homicide crossed Wednesday’s mind.
Eyes hardening, Wednesday spoke softly, yet with her threat unmistakable. “If you’ll know what’s good for you, you’ll answer me or I can personally guarantee you will have nightmares for the foreseeable future.”
“Are you threatening me?” Lisa, in a laughable attempt at standing up for herself, tried glaring at her. Although, Wednesday could easily spot her fear that was poorly concealed.
“I assure you it’s a promise.”
They stared at one another for approximately five seconds. Taking one step back, Lisa called out timidly, “Tyler! Someone’s, uh, here to see you.”
“Excellent choice,” Wednesday commanded her. “I didn’t want to have to resort to using my knife. I haven’t had the chance to sharpen it all week.” Satisfaction bubbled up within her when the girl let out a strangled sounding squeak.
“Hey,” Tyler came out from the back, smiling warmly at Wednesday. “I didn’t expect to see you this early.”
“I have a free period,” she said.
He nodded. “Do you want your quad now or can I expect to see you later?”
“I’ll take it now,” she decided.
“Of course,” he said. “I’ll get right on it.” She remained standing there, watching as he worked. “By the way, this is Lisa. She usually works in the morning, but she’s working the afternoon shift this week.”
Wednesday set her eyes on her, inwardly smirking when the other girl looked away. “We’ve met.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
“I think I’ll go work on inventory,” Lisa said, avoiding looking at Wednesday. “But if you need any help just holler.”
“Okay,” Tyler glanced over his shoulder as she left, then turned to Wednesday. “What did you do?”
“I find it insulting that you assume I had something to do with it.”
“Ah, but you forget that I know you,” he smirked.
“It was hardly my fault,” Wednesday dropped the facade. “If she would have just answered my question, we could have skipped past the threats.”
“Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday,” he said dramatically. “You’ve got to have a normal conversation one of these days. Not everyone appreciates your kookiness like I do.”
“Spooky,” she corrected out of habit.
“You know what? You don’t get your preference validated when you make threats,” he sounded as though he were talking to a small child. “When you behave, we’ll talk about it.”
She scowled.
He laughed. “What are you doing here, anyway? You’ve never come this early before.”
“We have important matters to discuss,” she told him. She could hardly believe she was doing this. Never had she thought she would be destroying her dignity like she was about to.
“Oh, do we?” He paused in the making of her quad, propping his chin on top of one palm. “What kind of important matters?”
“Finish making my coffee and I’ll tell you,” she said. “I’ll be in my spot.”
A minute or two later, he sat across from her in the booth she normally sat in. With one arm over the arm of the booth, he leaned back. She’d been trying to figure out how to broach the subject. It wasn’t typically a problem for her that she needed to think about it, but this was different. She wasn’t certain that he would agree without taking time to consider it.
“It appears I have made an error.”
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that? Did Wednesday Addams just admit to making a mistake ? I thought you were above such nonsense?” Tyler said, his eyes gleaming in amusement.
Wednesday contemplated strangling him. Unfortunately, she needed him very much alive for this assignment. Ignoring him, she said, “My mother yet again has shown her blatant disregard for my own views and desires. Pugsley called me on the crystal ball this morning to inform me Mother is going to use this Christmas as an opportunity to set me up with a potential suitor.”
“Oh,” Tyler let out a breath. All the mirth was gone from his face. “Haven’t you, uh, told your mom that you’re not interested in having a boyfriend?”
“You clearly do not know my mother,” Wednesday sighed. She had tried . Multiple times, in fact. “Regretfully, she is quite persistent in her longing for me to partake in tribal adolescent cliches.”
Tyler leaned back against the booth, running a hand through his curls, effectively messing them up. She eyed him with distaste. “You know,” he said wryly, “usually parents don’t want you to date.”
“My parents don’t believe in puritanical ideals.” Indeed, they’d always been that way and perhaps in another life, Wednesday might have appreciated that. However, in this one, she despised it.
“Right,” he said. “So do you know who she’s trying to set you up with?”
“Alas, no. Mother likely knew Pugsley would be informing me so she’s kept quiet on the specifics.” It was a frustrating mystery to Wednesday. It must be someone her mother was acquainted with. Wednesday did not know many males beyond those she bothered to remember a name for at Nevermore, Tyler and a few of her relatives.
“That sucks,” Tyler said unhelpfully.
“Yes, it appears it does.”
Drumming his fingers on the table, gaining a twitch from Wednesday’s eye in the process, he said, “But what does that have to do with me?”
Wednesday pursed her lips slightly. For once in her life, she did not stop to think this through. It was a grave mistake, one that she was mortified to have made. “I’ve done some thinking. It’s useless to try and get Mother to change her mind on this matter. However, she cannot persist if she learns that I do indeed have a boyfriend.”
Tyler looked lost, furrowing his eyebrows. “Right, but you don’t .”
“That’s where you come in,” she said and the table fell silent. Tyler stared at her, silently encouraging her to continue and so, that's what she did. “I don’t have many options. I will not let my mother believe she can control my life and I will not put myself through a boorish holiday. You’re suitable and you would ultimately satisfy my mother’s expectations as a suitor for me.”
He inhaled sharply. “So...wait...”
She waited.
It took Tyler a second or two for him to collect himself again. “You want me to be your boyfriend?” He clarified.
“Just for this upcoming Christmas,” she told him. “Then we will break up and never speak of this again.” Then she added reluctantly, “Please.”
“Uh-” He appeared to still be in shock. Wednesday could not figure out why . It wasn’t complicated to understand.
“Are you already courting someone?” She asked suddenly. “Is that why you’re hesitant?”
“No! No...I’m not, uh, courting anyone,” his nose scrunched up at the unfamiliar word.
“So you’ll do it?” She said impatiently.
Rubbing his hand over his face tiredly, Tyler’s eyes searched her face. “You’re serious about this?”
“Unfortunately,” she said with dread of what she got herself into. “I wouldn’t have brought the matter up if I wasn’t. But that is not important. I must know if you are willing to go through this or not. It will be excruciatingly torturous and not in a good way.”
Her forewarning made him chuckle. “Consider me warned. Don’t worry, Wen, I’ll do it.”
She stared at him suspiciously. Wednesday had not expected him to agree so quickly. “Why?”
He shrugged. “I’ve got nothing else better to do. Besides, how many lucky guys out there can say they’ve been Wednesday Addams’ boyfriend?”
“None that are alive.”
“Reassuring,” Tyler said. “So, how are we doing this?”
“I’m allowing you to lead,” Wednesday liked being in control. But even she knew she was in over her head with this.
“Oh, you’re allowing me. How generous of you.”
“I don’t have any relationship experience,” she said. “But I’m assuming you do.”
He nodded. “I had a girlfriend a few years ago.”
“So you’re aware of the proper customs,” she noted. “Very good.”
“I aim to please,” he quipped. “Besides, it won’t be that hard. Don’t I just have to act like your boyfriend in front of your family?”
Wednesday grimaced. “This is where my error is relevant.”
He raised a brow.
“When Pugsley called me, I was studying for an exam with Xavier.” Ever since Wednesday made it explicitly clear she would never reciprocate the feelings Xavier seemed to have for her, he backed off. It took some time before she tolerated his presence for more than a few seconds, still recalling his artwork of her he’d since destroyed. She didn’t know if she'd go as far as to call him a friend, though she didn’t find him as repulsive as she did during her first semester at Nevermore. “I’d gotten caught up in my own fury and I'd forgotten he was there when I made the mistake of telling Pugsley I was already seeing someone.”
Tyler exhaled a soft oh .
“You can tell Mother her efforts are unwarranted,” Wednesday said as an idea sprung to mind. “I am already seeing someone.”
A choking noise from beside her caused Wednesday to freeze. In the midst of her ire, she forgot all about Xavier Thorpe being in her room. He technically wasn’t allowed in the dormitory but she’d never cared to adhere to useless rules. They both needed to study and everywhere else was too grating for Wednesday’s ears.
Her head snapped in his direction, meeting his wide-eyes and oddly delightful grin. “I knew it!” He crowed. “After all the crap you gave Enid about Ajax!”
“Silence!” She hissed.
“Is that him, Wednesday?” Came Pugsley’s voice.
“No,” she snapped. “I will talk to you later, Pugsley, and if you are not alone, you will face my wrath upon my return.” she ended the call, whirling around to face the artistic psychic with a dangerous look in her eye.
“So...” Xavier dragged out, unfazed by her glare. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“It is none of your business.”
“Oh, come on,” he chuckled. “Do I know him?”
“I am not entertaining your inquiries.”
“So that’s a yes,” Xavier concluded. “Well, we know it’s not Ajax. Enid would be clawing at your face if it was.”
She inhaled slowly, mustering up much needed strength.
“Is it Kent? Davy from Fencing?” He kept listing off name after name. Wednesday rolled her eyes, diverting her focus back to her assignment. His initial reason for being here. Not interrogating her on a matter that didn’t involve him.
Suddenly, he stopped. She thanked Satan for the peace and quiet. But her gratitude didn’t last long when she caught a glimpse of his smirk.
“What?” She said through gritted teeth.
“It’s Tyler, isn’t it?” Xavier grew more and more confident at her silence. “Right, of course it is.”
If this were months ago, he would have sounded bitter. Bitter at her for continually associating with his assaulter. But he’d made amends with Tyler, with his own tormented feelings on the whole thing. Now the two of them were acquaintances who occasionally spoke on the one interest that bonded them together--sports.
Wednesday noted he sounded amused. It intrigued her. But she couldn’t focus on that for long.
Just how had he been able to figure it out so quickly? It was true; in that split second of a decision, she immediately thought of Tyler. It made the most sense, though. He challenged her in a way others did not, easily keeping up with her quips. Not once did he try to morph her into someone else. She didn’t need his approval of course, but it was less exhausting to deal with someone who enjoyed everything about her and it did not wear off after a week or two once they realized this was who she was.
She could admit it was probably strange to bring a normie back to her family’s home. Her parents wouldn’t fuss. They held no prejudice towards anyone--she could have come back with a swamp creature and they would have been thrilled regardless.
“Something else to say, Xavier?”
He shrugged. “It’s about time. We all wondered when you and Galpin would finally admit it.”
Wednesday almost blinked. What in Lucifer’s name was talking about? There was nothing going on between her and Tyler. They had a strictly platonic companionship going on. Tyler usually cut her off to correct her by saying they were friends, but it was a juvenile term.
He continued, oblivious to her thoughts, “Enid thought we were going to find Laura’s picture on the news someday saying she was missing.”
Laura was someone who Tyler went out with a few times. For a while, it seemed like things were getting serious between them but ultimately, it was not meant to be. Their relationship had been short term, ending for reasons he didn’t want to disclose. Wednesday had never liked her.
In the present time, she relayed most of the information to him, purposely omitting certain details for obvious reasons. There was no need for Tyler to get the wrong idea. Thus far, he’d listened attentively without interruption. She noted his facial expression didn’t indicate he was feeling annoyed or hesitant by her request.
“So Xavier knows,” Tyler said with a nod. “That’s not so bad, right? I mean, it’s not like he still likes you or anything anymore.”
Why had his tone changed ever so slightly? It tinged with displeasure that someone else might not have caught. But she did. As far as Wednesday was aware, he harbored no hostility towards Xavier
“I would make him regret it if he did,” she replied, observing the way the corners of his mouth drew up into a smile. Perhaps any dislike he might have had regarding Xavier still lingered.
“Good,” Tyler said. He then studied her face, saying nothing.
“I assume you have something to share. I suggest you get on with it and stop wasting my time.”
“Mhm, okay. You do realize we’ll have to be affectionate with each other for this to work, right?”
“I understand,” she responded. It was rather unfortunate but there was no other option. She supposed she didn’t entirely mind it when it came from him. She certainly didn’t like it, but it felt different coming from tyler. Wednesday hypothesized it to be because he actually respected her boundaries. He didn’t force physical contact on her like so many others had tried--and became subsequently injured.
“So that means no cutting off my fingers or threatening to cut off my fingers.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Or getting revenge later. You gotta be convincing, Wen.”
“ Yes ,” she repeated, jaw tightening. “I know.”
“And we’ll need pet names for each other,” his grin widened.
“Absolutely not,” she shook her head.
“Couples have pet names for each other,” he pointed out.
“We don’t have to be like other couples,” she argued. “We’re within our right to use our given names only.”
“So I can’t call you, Wen? That’s not your given name,” Tyler smirked.
“That is different and you know that,” Wednesday snapped.
“Say what you want, Sweetums, but you know I’m right.”
She was no longer going to have a fake boyfriend because she was going to stab him again and again until she was covered in his blood.
“What, no comeback?” He teased.
She closed her eyes, exhaling. “I despise you.”
“Yeah, you despise me alright.” She opened her eyes to see him grin. “You despise me so much you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend.”
The circumstances must be messing with her mind. She’d seen him smile far too many times in the past. Why would it affect her now? And yet, a strange sensation occurred in her stomach. It wasn’t nausea or pain. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact culprit.
“You are the only one competent enough for me to delegate this task to,” she said forthrightly.
“Well, if Wednesday Addams tells me I’m competent, I must be.”
“It’s one of your rare key attributes.” He couldn’t get an ego out of this. She wouldn’t let him.
“Thanks, Baby,” he beamed.
She glared darkly at him. He would use those blasted pet names no matter what she said. “There’s no reason to begin now.”
“Why not? You do need the practice,” he said matter-of-factly. “Change that look of death to something that suggests you actually like me.”
“That sounds like an impossible feat.”
“True, but you always manage to do impossible things,” he shrugged.
“Are you referring to how I saved your geometry grade?” Tyler had been all but failing the class until Wednesday stepped up to help him. She put together a schedule and explained each concept in great detail until he understood. It was purely for her own benefit; Tyler’s dad threatened to ground him if he didn’t bring his grade up to a C. He wouldn’t be useful if he was stuck in his house until further notice.
“That’s one of them,” he agreed. “Which reminds me, I don’t think I ever properly thanked you for that.”
There’s no need to,” Wednesday said.
“At least let me get you another quad,” he offered.
She considered it. “I’ll accept it.”
“I knew you wouldn’t say no to more caffeine,” he grinned, standing up. The door chime alerted him to the presence of a customer. Wednesday did not want to wait when she saw who it was; one of the regulars who was notorious for ordering the most complicated coffee order the shop offered. Tyler loathed that customer more than anything. She bid him goodbye when he handed her the coffee, telling him they would discuss things later on. Enid was going to head off to Yoko’s room for a dance party along with Divina. It meant she and Tyler would have the whole dorm to themselves to work out the plan.
Of course, she would need to get Tyler past Weems but that was practically child’s play.