An Offending Scent

For the longest time Enid decorated her room exactly how she wanted. Bright colors, soft pillows, stuffed animals, colorful lighting, scented candles. Then Wednesday Addams arrived and undid half of her work. Well not undid, more like pushed it to one side.

But it was fine, Enid could live with that. She could live with the daily sounds of the typewriter, she could live with Wednesday's dark sense of humor and clothing to match. Although she really wished she would add at least one more color.

"Don't dogs see in black and white?" The Seer replied when Enid made such a suggestion. "I don't need fashion advice from you, Enid." And that was the end of that. In addition to monotone clothing she also wasn't a fan of strong smells. Well not the sweet kind anyway. "You have a specific brand of torture. I would find it endearing if it wasn't twice as annoying."

Every time Enid would try to liven up Wednesday's space she would get shot down hard. So she stopped trying. She could still live with all of that.

What she couldn't live with is Wednesday constantly ditching her and going who knows where. As a werewolf it irritated her to know someone she came to care about would up and leave so easily.

Every time it happened Enid would distract herself until Wednesday came back. She would do homework, talk to Yoko, update her blog, catch up with her favorite band, paint her nail, watch cute animal videos. Wednesday always came back okay, so maybe it was silly to worry.

She heard the sound of Wednesday's footsteps, light, graceful and deadly, approaching the dorm. "Wednesday! Welcome ba-" The hell was that?

"Evening Enid. I trust you had a productive one." That might have been sarcasm but the colorful roommate didn't care. There was a different scent in their dorm. No her, not Wednesday, not Thing. Who? "Your staring isn't appreciated."

To hell with that. Enid quickly closed the distance between them and started sniffing for the source of the offending scent. The jacket, the shirt, the skirt, it was everywhere.

"If you don't wish to end up as a pelt I suggest you back away." Wednesday's voice was cold, emotionless but carried with it enough power to make Enid take a step back.

The werewolf's nose scrunched up. "You don't smell right. You smell like..." Another deep inhale. "Coffee and cheap shampoo. Were you with Tyler?"

"He showed me a movie." Wednesday didn't see any need to hide it.

"Smells like he showed you a lot more than that." Enid's eyes widened faster than Wednesday's narrowed.

"Excuse me?" The raven took a step forward, the wolf two steps back. "I don't know what you're implying but choose your next words very carefully, Enid."

Shit. Why did she say that? She knew Wednesday wasn't the type to go sneak out with guys like that. Or girls. Or anyone really. She preferred her own company the most. "I'm sorry. It's just that you smell like him. And I kinda, sorta... hate it?"

Enid felt a bit of her life drain away when Wednesday's eyes narrowed further. "He hugged me and then attempted to initiate a kiss. It got interrupted."

"Oh. Wait, a kiss? With you?" Now she kinda, sorta hated him more. Enid knew she had a small spark of a crush on her roommate, otherwise even she, with her happy and bubbly personality wouldn't be able to handle her. Her crush on Ajax didn't seem to be going anywhere for a year and honestly maybe that wasn't a bad thing. Now she could focus on Wednesday. "Did... did you want to kiss him or was he demanding it. Cause if he was I'll-"

"If he was that grave would be his own by now." Right. Yeah, Enid knew that too.

"Do you like him though? As more than a friend?"

"Not really. I like that he helps me with my current mystery. He's been helpful." Helpful. Right… of course.

"I can be helpful too. Why don't you ask me?" Enid offered despite knowing a few reasons why. She was incredibly squeamish for a werewolf which lead to more teasing from her fellow furs. But so what if she likes sparkly things more than bloody things? The only bloody thing she liked is a steak.

Wednesday blinked slowly, as if she was expecting some kind of punchline to land. "Enid. You hate horror, blood, all things you deem creepy and spooky although the bar is quite low and the last time I asked for your help we almost got killed. So excuse me for wanting to keep you from getting your colorful head bitten off."

"Aww Wednesday! You're worried about me!" She almost hugged the goth but remembered hugs were still out of the question. So she settled for a firm pat on her shoulder which ended quite quickly as well. "I worry about you too you know. Especially when Tyler is concerned. I can't help but feel like he wants things from you, and now the kiss… I don't want you to feel pressured into anything."

"Ugh. You sound like an overly concerned mother figure trying to warn me about hormonal boys. Despite what others might think I know what teenagers think about. Trust me Enid, I have less than zero interest in Tyler." That wasn't good enough for Enid. The scent was still there and it bothered the living hell out of her. Just because Wednesday had no interest didn't mean Tyler wouldn't ask her out. Even it wasn't Tyler it could be anyone else. Anyone but Enid.

"What about me?" She asked and felt her cheeks growing hot.

"What about you? You're my roommate and… friend." That last word was very important but very hard to say. It implied a lot of trust from Wednesday. "Are you saying you wish to kiss me as well?"

"No! Of course not! That would- that's so funny! Ha! Why would I-" With every attempt at an excuse she took another step back until they were each standing on their own half of the room. "Wednesday…" Enid groaned at being looked at so closely.

"Is this one of those possessive territorial traits of your kind?" Bingo. Enid's surprised yelp confirmed as much. "If it will calm you down I will allow you to replace his scent with your own. However if you get clingy I will kick you out of here."

"I… what now? You'll let me… okay no, I don't think that's… oh god what would everyone else think?" Enid was very well tapped into the rumor mill of Nevermore, she already knew there were people who thought that she and Wednesday were more than roommates and friends. "Wednesday I don't want to give people the wrong idea."

"Like the one you had about Tyler and I? If I am to be accused of intimacy with someone you are the more appealing choice. Besides of the rumors are focused around the two of you then you can help control and correct the false narrative." That was a lot of trust to put into someone. Wednesday trusted her! Wait… hold on a minute… Enid had to rewind that whole thing in her head.

The wolf side of her was very happy that someone who was a potential mate would allow herself to be marked and claimed in such a way but did Wednesday really understand what she was suggesting? "Not that the idea isn't making me lose my mind but that's a very big deal for me. We don't rub off on just anyone. It's usually pack members and mates."

"We're roommates. Should that not be close enough to a pack? Or is there some sort of ritual or initiation ceremony? If there is please tell me, I would love to know more about your kind." Wednesday was curious by nature and loyal by her family curse. A dreadful combination.

"N-Not really. But you gotta stay still okay? Don't stab me." It was now or never. She would never get this chance again she was sure of it.

"It depends on what you do." And that was the only warning Wednesday would give.

Now or never. Now or never. Now was the moment Enid decided close the gap between herself and Wednesday, wrap her arms around her and press her nose against the shorter girl's neck. Wednesday immediately went as stiff as a dead body but Enid didn't stop. She was slow and gentle, wanting to be sure there wasn't a single trace of Tyler's scent left on her crush when she was done.