"My mother drew that picture 25 years ago, when she was a student at Nevermore. She was a powerful Seer. Told me about it before she died. My mother said that was my destiny to stop this girl if she ever came to Nevermore, because she would destroy the school and everyone in it!
he's so babygirl. He's a tad bit ooc. I love my men nerdy and needy :(
So needy, wanting your attention and eyes on him only.
Grabbing your hands, arm, thighs, coat, sweater. You name it he'll grab it
Practically follows you around like a lost puppy
"don't go, stay please" you'll give in anyways
fixing his tie and glasses when he's getting picked on. It's comfort to him
It feels so weird having someone always with him. He loves you.
"Where are you going?" Pretty eyes peeking through his lenses
"I have to get to class. Lunch is almost over baby. I'll meet you later ok?"
"Not for another 5 minutes. I'll walk you to class"
"You're gonna be late then. Don't worry. One hour then we'll meet again ok?. Love you" You plant a soft kiss on his temple.
"Alright. I love you" he says while looking at you walking away to your class.
...
Knocks echoing through the halls. He waits while you open the door.
"Hi. Ready to go?"
"Yea! How do i look? Not too overdressed??" asking for his opinion
He walks in and holds your waist. "You look just as pretty" Angelic even. In your white sundress with that flowy cardigan. They look like wings. He felt like he was in heaven.
"Thank you. You look handsome aswell" Holding his hands. Kissing his cheeks.
"Let's go baby" dragging him with you
He's so protective
He'll be seething in his seat watching guys interact with you.
The moment he sees you uncomfortable he'll take your hand and leave immediately
"I don't like how they look at you"
His powers are strong just not yet controlled. Once angers strikes it's almost over for normies.
Searches for you when he's feeling down and scared.
"shh. You're okay baby. Don't worry" you cooed trying to calm him down
smothers himself in your chest after he's calmed down
Contains — Mutual Interest, No Established Relationship, Fluff, Only One Bed (/j) - Only One Umbrella, LIGHT WEDNESDAY SPOILERS (By that, I mean the absolute tiniest sprinkle), Literally saving this boy’s life from an asthma attack, etc
Length — ~1.4k words
Notes — Inspired by The Weekend Run Club’s song called Holliday and also the fact that Calum Ross is really really pretty. Also, Rowan had at most 10 lines, and here I am making this because he stole my heart… SO ENJOY! (Not proofread, I’m so sorry)
“The rain’s getting a bit heavy, don’t you think?”
Everyone gathered around the windows as they watched the rain pour outside Ms. Thornhill’s Greenhouse. Class was already 3 minutes over, you were all sure to be late to your next ones due to the downpour.
“Children, I have a few extra umbrellas and rain coats! You can use them to get to your next class!” Your teacher called from the front, drawing everyone’s attention. They all scrambled to the front, grabbing umbrellas and coats and filtering out of the greenhouse in groups. The only people left were you and Rowan Laslow at the entrance of the class waiting your turns.
You didn’t know the boy personally well enough, just that he was Xavier Thorpe’s roommate, he had Telekinesis, and that he was fairly cute. You tried to make a habit of being nice to everyone despite most people’s assumptions of sirens. The most you’d ever spoken to him was being partnered with him for an English assignment. After that, it was nothing but Hellos and Heys in the hallways. You did catch him staring once during lunch, you had given him a small wave and he immediately looked away.
You were lost in your thoughts, hand outreached into the rainfall, feeling your scales slowly come out. You let out a smile, water was the element you always felt at home with, so what was a little rain gonna do to you?
“I only have one umbrella left.” Your attention turned to Ms. Thornhill and then to Rowan. He gave you a weak glance before attempting to hand you the umbrella.
“You can take it.” He mumbled shyly. You eyed the boy, brow creasing in confusion. Rowan Laslow looked like he’d get sick from eating an ice cube, why would he offer you the umbrella when he’d absolutely get drenched out there?
“What are you talking about? You’d practically die out there without this.” You joked grabbing his wrist, taking the umbrella within your other hand. He yelped as you pulled closely him to your side before opening the umbrella with the other. He understood what you were up to pretty quick, adjusting himself to a safe distance where he wasn’t squished against you but still under the umbrella. He hesitated wrapping his arm around you, balling his fist to avoid making you uncomfortable.
“Ready?” You awaited his response. He stared wide eyed into the rain, gulping before he gave you a small nod. That was all you needed before you both stepped into the rainfall. You could feel the heavy patters hit you almost as if it were hail. It wasn’t too bad to walk in, but it seemed the wind had other plans.
Your umbrella blew backwards, the wires breaking in on themselves. It was a useless shield now, you were both drenched head to toe. Your back hit Rowan’s chest as you both pushed against the wind. You both definitely couldn’t make it to class at this rate.
“Hold on, there’s a shed!” You could hear Rowan’s attempt to shout. You looked in his direction, finding Eugene’s Hummers shed. That would have to do.
Each step you took was harder than the last. You were going the opposed direction of the wind, the only thing keeping you from being blown away was Rowan holding onto you. Thankfully, you both made it in and set your belongings down on whatever dry surface you could find. There were a few leaks in the roof, you could tell it was handmade.
You had no time to think about that though. You could feel Rowan’s touch leave you as he dropped to the floor wheezing. You quickly reached for his bag, rummaging through unorganized bits of assignments and loose sheets of work. You’d expected the boy to be more organized considering how great his grades were, how neat his uniform was kept, and how he styled his hair so nicely to the side. Not that you were paying that close attention or anything. Who would do such a thing? Definitely not you. Totally.
You couldn’t find his inhaler anywhere, and to be frank, you were panicking. You were totally about to watch this kid die in some shed and you were gonna go to jail or something. It wasn’t until you felt Rowan’s touch lightly against your wrist that you snapped your attention his way. He peered up at you, brows creased, eyes leading you to his blazer pocket behind his fogged up glasses. You got the message, reaching into his pocket you brought his inhaler to his lips. He lifted his hand to yours, instructing you before he breathed in.
You let out a breath of relief, you hadn’t realized you were holding onto it. He was breathing easier now and you could feel him loosen up in your arms. You dropped your head into his chest before pulling back into a laugh.
“Gods almighty, do not scare me like that again!” You lightly punched him. Rowan looked up at you, the hand gripping yours loosened as he sat up. Realizing the position you two were in, he glanced away from you.
“I didn’t think you cared all that much.” He coughed out awkwardly. You tilted your head, what did he mean?
“Why would I not care about you?” His gaze met yours. You finally managed to see his deep blue eyes past the dissipating fog in his glasses.
“I just mean, I never thought it was possible to be an outcast in a school full of outcasts. Yet you seem to actually care.” He mumbled mostly to himself. Why wouldn’t you care about saving someone’s life? Was he stupid?
“I mean, is it not common sense to save someone who’s on the ground with breathing issues? What do you want me to do, mouth to mouth?” You questioned incredulously, the response managed to make him smile.
“Gods forbid one of the most popular sirens in the school is seen kissing the Telekinetic crazy kid.” He breathed out a laugh.
“Oh please, if I was popular then I’d be in the notoriously super secret Nightshades.” You rolled your eyes at the idea of the division in popularity standpoints, the kissing part didn’t seem so bad though.
“They kicked me out a couple weeks ago, you’re really not missing much.” He fiddled with his hands as you both fell into a comfortable silence. You had positioned yourself next to him, sitting upon the ground as your backs leaned against the shed walls. You two were absolutely missing class, but you were kind of glad it happened like this. The only thing that seemed bad was the fact that you were utterly freezing. Forget what you said about a little water not hurting you, it was terrible now that you were shivering.
“Here,” Rowan pushed off the wall, removing his blazer. He spread it out, presenting it like a blanket to you.
“You’re really stupid, aren’t you?” He gave you a confused look as you took his blazer and removed yours to spread them around you both. It wasn’t nearly enough, but it was the best you could do. He was literally on death’s door a second ago from an asthma attack, yet here he was offering you his coat. He froze as you curled your legs up, leaning into his side.
“Oh, I’m sorry, are you ok with this?” You pulled away, noticing his sudden change. He looked pained for a split second at the loss of your proximity.
“No, no. It’s fine! I just didn’t know if you were uncomfortable with me holding you or anything. I didn’t want to assume and-” He rambled on and on. You hushed him by wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling the blazers back on. You really wouldn’t have been this forward if he hadn’t approved.
“Let’s just take advantage of this rainstorm, we can wait out the downpour.” You hummed, listening to the sound of his breathing and the pitter patter of the rain. It was an easy rhythm to fall asleep to. Besides, what was one day of missing classes?
-
“O-M-G!” You heard not so hushed whispers ring through your ears. “I have to put this on my blog!”
“Enid, do you not remember the fact that they’ve been missing all day? They better have a good explanation for this!” That was definitely Principal Weems voice.
It took you a second to gather where you were. The warmth holding you was, in fact, a person. Not just any person, but Rowan Laslow. You began to remember what happened before you fell asleep. You bolted upright, looking at the source of all the commotion. Squinting, you managed to look past the beaming flashlight to find pretty much everyone you knew and their mothers’ at the door of the Hummers shed.
That was an exaggeration of course… but Principal Weems did not look happy.
Heyy, could I please request Rowan Laslow x fem? Reader smut + scratching his back during sex/reader digging her nails into his back and it leaving scratch marks/nail marks? I'm not sure what you can do with this but honestly I love your writing so much so if you do go through with this request ik whatever you write I will love! I hope this request doesn't make you uncomfortable at all and you 100% don't need to do it :))
absolutely no problem! this didn't make me uncomfortable at all, thank you for being so sweet :( <3
warnings: dry humping, cumming in pants, no penetration, mention of blood, pain kink, low-key praise kink, dom! rowan, sub! reader, female reader, smut, nsfw, 18+, mention of blood.
rowan's shoulders couldn't help but sag downwards, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders, his limbs aching and throbbing as he forced his body to walk into your dormitory. his bag was only added weight, slung over his shoulder as the straps slowly slid down his arms. his skin was sticky with humidity, sweat rolling down his body with the sweltering summer heat still apparent in the night.
you had plagued his mind the entire day; longing for your arms to wrap around him and bless him with the comfort he had craved all day. but, he couldn't help how impure thoughts seeped between the cracks, secretly hoping he could pin you down and let you take his frustration out on you. but, he was above that...right?
with the final part of strength, he pushes open the door of your shared dormitory, immediately letting out a heavy sigh which seemingly released the tension wound in his shoulders. the familiar calm scent of your sheets wafted through the air, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment before he closes the door behind him.
he drops his bag to the side of the door before trudging through the dormitory, glancing over your usual positions while rubbing his eyes. yet, you were nowhere to be seen.
rowan's lips creased deeper into a frown before wandering over to the couch placed to the side of your room, greeted by your figure lazily sprawled across the fabric, a book covering your face from his view.
he hardly has a moment of hesitation before walking over to the front end of the couch and immediately crawling onto your stomach. you can't stop the upwards jolt of your body, a surprised yelp leaving your lips while the book once held in your hands is flung onto the floor.
on any other day, rowan would've laughed, but wednesday's just took a bigger toll on him than he'd like to admit. he simply turns his head to the side, pressing his ear against your skin as he silently relishes in the warmth of your body. his lips part, a gentle sigh filled with relief slipping past his teeth as your fingers graze over his scalp, your eyes quickly widening.
"don't take offence, but you're really sweaty," you murmur with a small giggle, removing your hand from his head, much to his discontent. he hardly reacts, simply reaching his hands back up to find your own before pulling it back down, resting his cheek on it with a quiet grunt.
"don't care," his response is nothing short of blunt; swift and sweet as you liked to describe it. "want you."
you let out a small scoff, unable to hide the smile in your voice. instead of the slight disgust you should feel, you shiver slightly at the feeling of his sweaty body pressed up against you. he shifts his head upwards, just enough to press a small kiss to the crevice of your neck - just enough to make a small jolt of electricity burst underneath your skin.
he doesn't bother to watch for your reaction, already knowing he has you wrapped around his finger. he lets his hands slide down the sides of your body, stopping to rest on your hipbones as he continues to pepper kisses down your neck before stopping at the collar of your shirt.
"rowan?" his eyes shift to look at you, the darkness of his hues making a heat shoot through your abdomen, your arousal becoming noticeable by the second. "what are you doing?"
you know how dumb it sounds as soon as the words fall from your lips, lips twitching into a small smile as he simply raises an eyebrow at you. yet, you can see the way his eyes glimmer at your reactions, his voice dropping an octave.
"i said i wanted you, didn't i?"
rowan moves his hips, the friction of his cock rubbing against your crotch making a quiet whimper slip from your lips before you could even think of holding back. you can see the way his teeth sink into his bottom lip, sucking in a breath through his nose as he closes his eyes briefly.
he gives an experimental roll of his hips, a small gasp falling from his lips at the shared friction. you could feel rowan's cock throbbing against the thin material of his suit pants, craving more. you move your hands from his cheeks, sliding them down to his lower back as a soft moan rolls off your lips.
you try and match the rolls of his hips, pressing your clothed cunt harder against him. you can't help but moan as the tip of his cock catches the tight fabric against your clit, dragging against it. you whimper, nails sinking ever so slightly into his skin before gliding up to grip his shoulders.
his hands began to wander over your body, almost as if he was mapping every curve to your body as he rolled his hips against you. he slid his hands under your shirt, lifting his head up to look back up at you.
“is this ok?” he asked, almost breathlessly as he pulled his hips back slightly. you nodded immediately, bucking your hips as your cunt began to throb between your legs. the warmth of his palms pressing against your skin was only adding to your arousal, desperation beginning to grow in the pits of your stomach.
"words, y/n," his voice is smooth, a shiver running through your spine as his dark eyes lock with your own. your throat runs dry for a second, only able to harshly swallow as you try and even your breath, holding back the desire to jump him.
“please rowan, need you,” you whined, letting go of his skin to raise your arm, showcasing your desperation for him as he peels off your shirt. he chuckles softly, fingers dancing over the skin of your chest before they drop lower, the tips of his fingers hooking around your waistband. you raise your hips, allowing him to pull them off you before carelessly throwing them behind him.
you desperately grab the hem of his shirt, almost clutching it between your fists as you try and tug it off his body. he lets out a small but deep chuckle, pulling off his shirt as blood rushes to gather underneath his cheekbones. you can't help the way you stare at his chest, palms pressed against his skin as your lips curl into a coy smirk.
he slid his hands back up the couch, resting them next to your shoulders and pushing himself up with his arms to lift some of his weight off your body. he gently bucked his hips forwards, his body tingling as you let out a breathless moan of his name.
“fuck…” he mumbled as he began to rut against you, pressing his clothed cock against you, watching as your breath runs short.
you rolled your hips back with each thrust, your nails digging into his skin slightly as pleasure rolled through your body like waves. you can feel the vibrations of rowan's soft grunts against your neck, briefly stopping as he presses kisses against your skin.
you can feel the ridge of a vein on his cock slide against your dripping cunt, unable to help the way your back curls, forcing your body closer to him as your toes curl. the whimper you let fall from your lips makes rowan's body stutter, the grip he has on you growing tighter.
"fuck!" your moan is shakey, nails sinking into the soft skin of his back before making their descent downwards.
you can feel every ridge of his chest press against you with each thrust he delivers, your thighs subconsciously spreading wider to allow him more access despite the need to tighten them around him, forcing his cock to grind deeper against your clit.
his kisses turn sloppy and open-mouthed as he loses himself to lust, the thin material of your panties forcing the two of you to feel everything it allowed; every detail of his thick cock dragging against you and each pulse of your cunt as he grinds further into your cunt.
the feeling of his firm body pressed against you was making your mind cloud over with lust and desire, your fingers pressing into his back as his thrusts began to turn more desperate. his muscles were beginning to ache as he held himself up, his body beginning to tremble involuntarily. he gently lowered himself back down onto your body, a pang of arousal hitting his abdomen as you let out a small cry of his name.
“god y/n,” he moaned into your ear, the sound making you squirm underneath him. “you’re so beautiful, fuck…”
the praise makes you mewl, fingers gripping his skin even tighter as you sob out his name. he can only hiss at the feeling, his cock almost painfully hard at this point. the sounds of your desperate pleas and the feeling of your trembling underneath him are enough to push him closer to the edge.
you claw at his back, trying to hold yourself back and gain some point of control. but, you both know it's pointless.
the dull ebb in your cunt grows stronger, trying to suck him further in despite the cloth barrier between the two of you. he can only hiss through gritted teeth at the feeling, his thrusts losing their rhythm as lust turns to pure fucking need.
his grip tightens around you, sure to leave bruises as he bucks his hips harder against you. your legs wrap around his lower back, heels digging into him in a desperate attempt to push him closer. he moves his head to smash his lips against you, still feverishly thrusting into you as your lips messily slide against his own.
your fingernails and heels simultaneously press hard into his skin as your body tenses, orgasm crashing into you as rowan swallow's the harsh cry of his name. rowan's throat tenses as his orgasm pushes closer, rutting against your clothed crotch.
"fuck, i love you, y/n!" he cries out, voice cracking in the middle, your stomach tensing as your cunt throbs with sensitivity. you let out a small whine, hips tightening as your thighs try and clench shut, hips bucking as his own continue to sloppily rut against your stained cunt.
you're both too focused on catching your breath to notice the sticky sensation that sticks to your inner thighs, arms falling down to your side as he gently lays back down against your stomach. you both bask in the afterglow, the intensity of your orgasm leaving a small throb in your cunt, hips slightly shifting as a way to relieve the pressure.
"fucking hell," was all that rowan could manage to say as he rolls off you, grimacing at the sudden realisation of the sticky sensation of his own cum between his legs. you throw an arm over your eyes, trying to ignore the arousal still nestled deep within your cunt, feeling awfully messy and sweaty.
rowan can feel the stinging ache across his back, his shoulders rolling back as he winces. his eyes harden playfully as he tries to look over his back, only able to slightly see the irritated skin spread over his shoulder bones.
"y/n, how bad are the scratches?" he turns his back to you, looking over his shoulder at you as you throw your arm off your eyes. you roll your head around to look at him, trying to hide the shocked expression on your face.
the once-pale skin of his back is covered with a light shade of red, with small prickles of blood only slightly pooling at the surface of his skin. the marks from your nails are beginning to welt, stretching from his shoulder bones down to the divets of his lower spine.
"not that bad," rowan can hear the strained tone of your voice, laughing in disbelief at your awful lying voice before turning back to face you. "what? I'm being serious."
rowan scoffs with a smile before flopping back down onto your stomach, giggling as you let out a groan. he firmly grips your cheeks before pressing his lips back against yours, overcome with a warm swell in his chest. you can sense the desperation behind the kiss, knowing he's fighting the urge to sink his own nails into your skin and claim you as his own.
"i'll get you back for that," he roughly grits out between kisses as he pins you down against the couch, lips curved into a smirk. "guess i gotta mark you up in return, yeah?"
“Xavier invited his twin sister to his dorm room after class, “You go sit on Rowan’s bed and don’t touch anything or else” Or else what? I’m not scared Xavier, “You should be my roommate has telekinesis and he’d kill you” Xavier warned, “Yeah right I’m not scared I don’t believe you” Vanessa said giggling, “You should be now shut up I’m trying to study” Xavier said annoyed getting his notes out and started writing and studying for his homework assignments.”
“Oh wow what’s this? Don’t touch that! It’s Rowan’s! Xavier yelled angrily, How long has he had this? It’s none of your business now put it back! Xavier said angrily. “You annoy me so much sis” Xavier said. Vanessa giggled then climbed on top of Xavier’s back and tickled him, “Stop Vanessa! I swear to God! Xavier giggled then took his pencil and textbook running away with it, “Hey! Give that back!” Xavier said angrily, she was running away as he chased her around the room then she ran out to the hallways then downstairs, students looked around confused, “Hey! No running in the halls!” A teacher yelled from a distance. Xavier finally caught up to her sister picking her up and lifting her over his shoulder taking her back upstairs to the dorm room.”
“You are in big trouble sis, Xavier said tossing Vanessa onto his bed, “You know what you’re gonna get baby girl don’t you” I’m going to tickle you so hard that you’ll regret annoying me for the rest of your life, Xavier told her looking at her angrily and serious with his green eyes. “You better get ready for this sweetheart stay still” he said lifting her shirt up then started running his fingers down her stomach then blew a raspberry on her bellybutton, “No stop it Xavier I’m sorry okay! Just please stop! Oh god! That tickles and it’s killing me!” Vanessa said laughing hard. Then he picked up her feet and started tickling them, “Stop!” She yelled giggling.”
“Then there was knocking at the door then the door swung open Rowan’s telekinesis opening the door, it was Rowan as he walked in with a puzzled look on his face, “What is going on?” He asked, “Hey Rowan do you mind helping me for a moment, this is my sister Vanessa, “Pleasure to meet you darling, I’m Xavier’s roommate” Rowan greeted. Just to let you know she was touching your stuff while you were gone, Xavier explained, “Oh really? Does someone need to be…punished?” Rowan asked raising an eyebrow, “Yes I think she does you hold my sister down and help me tickle her” Xavier said Rowan held Vanessa down onto the bed as both boys went for her feet and started tickling her, “Stop you guys she said giggling. Then they flipped her around then started tickling her stomach, “Cut it out! No! Stop it! Stop it!” Vanessa said giggling some more.”
“Then Rowan tickled Vanessa’s stomach some more with his invisible hand going under her shirt causing her to burst out more in laughter. Xavier then buried his face into Vanessa’s chest then kissed it, “Stop Xavier!” Vanessa said giggling hard. Will you promise to be a good girl for Xavier and I? Rowan asked, “Yeah sure but please stop tickling me” Will you also promise to not touch our things when we are going too? Xavier asked, “Yes sure whatever” Vanessa replied then they stopped tickling her. Your sister is a pain but she’s really beautiful Rowan said as a compliment, “Yeah I guess so”Xavier rolling his eyes but deep down he still loved her.”
(3) WHAT LOVE DID THEN, LOVE DOES NOW ─── rowan laslow ☾𖦹
ೃ⁀➷ “They wanted each other in the way of flesh wanting to knit itself together over a wound.” — ‘These Violent Delights’, Micah Nemerever.
pairing. rowan laslow x vampire!reader
summary. a certain someone approaches you and rowan. (1) (2) (3)
warnings. swearing, mention of sex + death, spoilers for wednesday s1
word count. 3k
iii.
You completely - and I mean totally, wholly, entirely - underestimated Enid Sinclair’s gossiping capabilities.
The both you had expected her to tell a few people, maybe, just get it out there that, “wow, Rowan and [Name], are, like, totally boning, oh, and he’s a vampire now.”
The whole nonchalant gossiping thing. You’ve seen it happen — aw, Bianca’s dating Xavier, oh, wait, they're over; Davina and Sinclair’s older brother were caught after curfew, that’s nice; one of the fangs knocked out a normie on Outreach Day, go them!
You didn’t know how out of proportion things could get. You were no expert on gossiping - that was Yoko’s thing.
Maybe it was because she was younger than you. These days, being older than two centuries felt like you were a fucking senior citizen.
By next morning, several Fangs had knocked on your door asking about you and Rowan. By pure ‘coincidence’, Rowan would walk by the door, or maybe he’d call you back to ‘bed’, and the inquisitive Fangs in question would gasp, quickly say goodbye, and leave.
In actuality, you and Rowan had practiced this after the first fellow Vampire had come by and asked. By some terrible stroke of luck, Weem’s had permitted Rowan to move out of his dorm with Xavier Thorpe and move into your empty one, as your whole reason for turning him had been to stay together forever.
Ugh. Curse Weems and her disgustingly romantic heart.
When the two of you arrived in your first period (you in Latin, Rowan in Fencing), you had been bombarded with either questions or whispers (you with questions, Rowan surrounded by whispers, which didn’t really bother him. It was like a regular day of being an outcast freak, except now, instead of laughing behind his back, everyone shied away from his gaze.)
You reconvened at lunch, hiding in your dorm to take a break from everyone’s unabashed staring. Even on your way to Karnstein Hall, people popped up left and right, scrambling from their place across the room to see you two up close — holding hands, of course, as you had to keep up appearances.
“So,” you said, putting down your dorm keys on your bedside table, “How was your morning?”
“Ugh,” Rowan groaned, flopping down onto his bed across from yours — which was still bare, as he’d moved in just the night before — “don’t even ask. I was okay with the whispers, but by third period Seance I had people coming up to me and asking for details.”
You shrugged off your Nevermore zip-up, throwing it onto your bed. “God, I saw Davina eyeing me from across the greenhouse - I thought I was gonna get sirened into spilling secr—“
A sharp knock rapted at your cherry-wood door, interrupting your ranting. The both of you paused, far too tired to deal with any more questions.
“[Name], Rowan, I know you’re in there.” A familiar voice said, before knocking once more. Immediately, your expression grew alarmed.
It was Wednesday Addams knocking on your door.
You inched closer to the door, hand hesitantly grasping around the brass knob. From behind you, Rowan looked like he’d rather die again than open the door.
He had told you about his mother’s painting and her psychic abilities - the reason why he had attempted to kill her - and how he still couldn’t trust her. Despite how Rowan knew that psychic powers weren’t the most reliable, and could even make one go crazy - like his mothers had - he still held the utmost trust in her.
Nonetheless, Rowan obliged when you mouthed to him: “Weems is on her case. Any wrong move and she’ll be done for.”
Twisting the knob slowly, you cracked the door open a few inches. “Hi, Wednesday.” You pasted on a bright smile, all teeth and, on purpose, entirely, noticeably, fake.
“I need to talk to Rowan.” She said shortly, black eyes boring into your own. They were completely devoid of emotion, blank and lifeless. If you ever saw her laying on the floor with the same expression, you’d think she was dead.
“I’m afraid we’re,” You grinned larger, trying to flush some color into your cheeks, “having some quality couple time.”
She furrowed her brows. You lifted a hand onto her shoulder, “You get it, righ—“
Suddenly, Wednesday’s head flew back, and her body stiffened. Her back was arched, arms flailed at her side. Wednesday looked completely out of it, eyes rolling to the back of her head, breathing scattered like she was heaving.
“Wednesday?” You whispered, hands curling around her thin arms. “Wednesday!” You repeated, shaking her rapidly when she didn’t come out of her stupor.
She looked like she was about to convulse, but instead her body held still for a moment, until it grew limp and fell into your arms.
You gaped. Then, you looked down the hall, left and right, feeling your nerves practically burn on fire at the thought that someone had seen.
Thankfully, nobody was loitering in your wing of Karnstein Hall, but you knew Yoko was going to grab her herbology kit soon for her next class.
Decisively, you dragged Wednesday’s sagging body into your room. Then, you gently placed her body in the middle of the room, and locked your dorm door.
“What happened? What the the fuck did you do?!” Rowan said, springing up from his bed. His panic was evident as the pitch of his voice climbed higher and higher, nervously hopping over Wednesday’s body and standing next to you.
“Why the hell is that your first thought?! I didn’t do anything!” You said defensively, throwing your arms up in the air.
“Then how come she’s - passed out like that. Is she passed out? Did you kill her or—“ Rowan’s voice was quickly growing staccato, and he was running out of breath.
“I didn’t kill her! What are you even saying?! We were just talking—“
“If you were just talking then why is she on the floor, in the middle of our goddamn room?!” Rowan shouted, heaving.
You were sure Rowan was about to pass out, when Wednesday suddenly lifted her upper body off the floor. It looked like when elder vampires sprung from their coffins, unlike the younger generation of vampires that shed the need for coffins and got their energy from social interaction. Changing times, you guessed.
Wednesday turned to the both of you, almost mechanically, and you both froze on the spot. Her gaze pierced the two of you. It was calculating, all knowing; like she knew secrets you did not.
She drew in a thin breath between the teeth that, suddenly, looked as sharp as knives. “That night - in the forest. You died.” Wednesday looked at Rowan, her eyes tracing the bite scar on his neck.
“But it wasn't the monster that killed you,” Wednesday continued. Her eyes drifted, latching onto you next. “It was [Name]. They followed the scent of blood, found you… and turned you.”
Wednesday’s dull, lifeless eyes grew a miniscule sheen. “Am I correct?” She said, pushing herself up from the wood floors and dusting her black pants off.
You looked at Rowan. He looked at you. You both continued like that for several moments, all the while Wednesday stood watching and waiting. She seemed to have no qualms at all about waiting, like an idle game character.
Never mind Wednesday Addams’s mannerisms — how in god’s fucking name did she know that? In utmost detail, nonetheless, even down to how Rowan’s attack made itself known to you.
“How - did you...“ Rowan broke the silence, fumbling over his words. His hands animatedly expressed his shock.
You pressed two fingers between your eyes. “Who told you this? Who saw this, and who else knows?”
If there was even the slightest chance that this information leaked… the two of you would be done for. The possibility of a homicidal monster being known to parents would effectively close the school - and for how long, you did not know.
(Although Nevermore had never been home, it was single-handedly the only place you and Rowan had ever known so comfortably.
For centuries, you wandered throughout Europe - through Romania and back again, in France, Italy, Denmark, Istanbul when it had still been Constantinople; every country in the North-Eastern hemisphere you traversed, unable to sit still, unable to get comfortable, unable to feel okay, until you crossed into the Americas, into Nevermore. It was not home, but at least it promised something similar.
After Rowan’s mother’s death - no, even before she had passed, his house wasn’t home. His mother’s psychic abilities had ailed her - not physically, which had killed her - but in the head. Rowan’s mother had not been herself for at least a decade before she passed, and when she did die, it was saying goodbye to a stranger, loving a figure who did not love you back, nonetheless raise you.
His father, even moreso, was estranged. Rowan’s father had cherished his mother more than anything in the entire world; more than the family business, more than their heaps of wealth, more than Rowan himself.
When she died, in that large, empty, home, the warm part of his father died with her.
Despite the way he was treated at school, he preferred Nevermore over his house, because at least he was treated with contempt. In the Laslow family estate, Rowan was not treated with anything at all. In that empty house, Rowan felt like a ghost. No one spoke to each other, no one spoke to him, and his father drowned himself in his work.
Nevermore was for the fleeing. You and Rowan fit those conditions entirely. It welcomed the fearful, the alone, the outcast. It attempted to make something of a home out of you all, and even if it didn’t fill the gap in you and Rowan, it, at the very least, filled some of it.
So closing the school could not happen.)
“Nobody told me this. I did not see this matter in the way you think. And no-one else knows, excluding you two, and now me.”
“You lie,” You said. There was no other way she’d get a hold of such intimate details.
If possible, Wednesday looked slightly offended at the connotation. “I have not lied for the entirety of this conversation.”
And lie again. You sucked air in through your teeth, taking short and rapid breaths. What right did she have, knocking on your door and passing out, barging into your business, all knowing and spilling your every secret?
What did she want?
Something dawned on you, your eyes widening with each passing second. Passing out? All knowing—
Wednesday looked you both in the eye. Her gaze was as transparent as glass, and it looked as though she was prepared to lay all her cards on the table.
“I suppose, as I’ve found out your secret, I must tell you mine. A quid pro quo, of sorts.”
“You did not see it in the way we think,” You thought to yourself, piecing together Wednesday’s vaguely knit puzzle of words.
Wednesday’s hands clasped together. “I get visions. Of the past, or the future.”
You and Rowan looked at one another once more. That would explain many things, but you both still regarded the Addams’ daughter with a certain distrust. You did so for reasons you could not quite understand, but perhaps it was her eeriness that held such a discomforting air that made you both need more convincing.
She turned to Rowan, “On Harvest Day, I saw you die. No more, no less. Before you did so, I did not see you try to kill me. Until now, I did not see [Name] save you.”
Rowan’s eyes thinned. “What else have you seen?” He said, distrustingly.
Wednesday looked similarly distrusting, which was not surprising, as Rowan had tried to kill her. Nonetheless, she answered. “I witnessed a Jericho civilian’s death by cervical fracture before he died.”
“These visions… you cannot control them?” You said, interrupting Rowan and Wednesday’s impromptu death-staring contest.
Wednesday blinked. “Touch seems to be a common factor. But no.”
“Are they all knowing? Fixed?” Rowan scrutinized, an unashamed attempt at sleuthing.
Wednesday, in her limited ability to show much emotion, seemed pensive. “To claim my visions are omniscient would be superbia. However, their accuracy has not yet failed me.”
You bit the skin on your nails. You could feel a drumming in your head, and you could imagine that was what a thrumming heart was like.
Everything you asked, Wednesday seemed to answer - or perhaps, counter - completely. She left no room for suspicion, completely devoid of holes in her story.
You exhaled a shaky breath. “Okay. Okay - fine. Yes, I turned Rowan. I - smelt his blood from the festival, followed the trail, and decided the only way I could save him was to turn him.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly, acknowledging. “Smart decision on your part. In terms of eye-witness testimonies to the monster, all victims dead meant no accounts.” Wednesday’s gaze then turned to Rowan, whose previously impugning attitude disappeared.
“I - didn’t see much.” Rowan began, in a meek voice. “As much as you saw, Wednesday. Maybe even less.”
“It does not particularly have to be what the creature looked like. Anything at all that you may remember,” she said, placing her hands in front of her expectantly.
He grimaced. “It… reminded me of a werewolf.” Rowan started, before quickly shaking his head. “But it wasn’t one. No, it was… violent; out of control.” Rowan bit his lip, thin, pointed fangs nipping at the skin so hard he nearly drew blood. “I remember it staring me down - with those huge, crazed eyes. But it - It looked like it… knew what it was doing. Like they - it, was attacking me intentionally.”
Silence filled the room, and it felt like a cold draft blew in, despite zero openings. The environment grew tense, and you looked at Rowan. If possible, he looked paler than before, a certain despair settling into the lines of his soft face.
A heavy guilt weighed on your shoulders. Of course he wouldn’t want to talk about the monster that almost killed him. In what world would one happily talk about their near-murderer?
Breaking the silence, Wednesday hummed. “Intelligence, rather than animalistic instinct. Interesting.”
“I - think it’s best if you go now, Wednesday.” You said, looking at Rowan’s blank stare. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and he looked elsewhere. Far away from the now, melting in his memories.
Wednesday blinked, and looked as if she wanted to say much more, but settled with a curt nod, and exited your dorm room. Before she left, she said, “Try not to let this conversation of ours leave the room. I have reason to believe the monster may very well kill all who know about it.”
After Wednesday left, it was just the two of you in the room. The awkward silence suffocated you both, like a noose constricting around your neck. Any words you wished to say died on your lips, their ghosts coming out as mere sighs.
“I’m sorry.” You said finally, turning away from Rowan, who now lay still on his bed. He looked akin to a corpse in a casket during an open funeral viewing.
“What for?” Rowan droned dully, eyes trained on the popcorn ceiling above you. You knew he wasn’t really listening, and he wasn’t really answering. His mind was so far between from his body, his subconscious answering for him.
“We didn’t have to tell her. We didn’t have to answer. I didn’t mean to force you.”
Rowan didn’t answer, at least not for a long moment. Your simultaneous breathing was all that could be heard; in and out, in and out.
Finally, Rowan let out a breath of air that was tattered, ragged and tired. He sounded worn out; aching. “We had to tell her. She already knew.” He tried to catch his fleeting breath, “And you didn’t force me. I chose to tell her what I saw. What tried to kill me.”
“I’m sorry,” You said, turning to face him. Rowan’s body had turned to face the wall, on his side with his legs pulled up to his chest. “for everything.”
“It’s not your fault.” Rowan whispered, almost inaudibly.
You inched closer, until you were at the edge of his bed. You kneeled beside him, and in the softest voice you could muster: “I’m sorry for turning you. This - being what I am - isn’t anything good at all. It - isn’t what you’re supposed to be.”
“I’m - it wasn’t my choice to make; I — I turned you into something you’re not. Something terrible.”
Rowan rolled over, meeting you face to face. His light brown eyes glistened with small, shining tears, brows furrowed. “You - saved me. I’m not human anymore but I’m — I’m still alive.” His eyes coursed over your melancholic face, “That’s more than anyone else could do.”
“I’m sorry.” You repeated, like a broken toy. The guilt of turning a human into something they should never be, twisted your thoughts in all the wrong ways. You felt sick, icky for playing God with someone’s life, for playing God with Rowan’s fundamental being. “I should’ve never—“
“If you never turned me, I’d be dead, alright?” Rowan said gruffly, pushing himself upright from the mattress. He wiped furiously at his wet eyes, “It doesn’t matter if I was human, or not. I would’ve been dead. Gone. Okay? Stop -“ He pressed his shaking hands together, “stop saying you’re sorry.”
Your lips opened and parted, your throat deathly dry. Words you couldn’t muster clawed at your esophagus, rendering you silent.
Turning Rowan had been, what you felt, like the greatest sin in your entire, long, lifespan. You thought - that deep down, Rowan hated you for it.
“I’m sorry.” You looked him in the eye, weak on the floor. You could only ever imagine repenting for turning him. It was a taboo act - one you knew saved him, for certain, but had ruined him.
You had been born ruined; born without the ability to be saved. There was no reason to condemn Rowan like so; to take away the humanity you so desperately wanted.
Rowan’s eyes crinkled, a sad smile tightening on his lips. He knew he couldn’t change your mind, no matter how much he wanted to. “Don’t be.”
