Truce
He let out a shuddering breath, dropping his outstretched wand only when the bobbing lights faded from view.
That was close, too close. Even for him.
He adjusted the binder underneath his pit. He grabbed onto the branch with his dueling arm, giving the other a much-needed break.
Catching his breath, he glanced down at the small girl, sprawled out against the tree, looking just as tired as he did. The post-adrenaline high was no joke.
He then narrowed his eyes directly downwards, planning out his route of descent. He launched himself way higher than he expected, almost arching right over the darn thing. After a few seconds of deliberation, he placed his wand in his mouth. He carefully started descending the tree.
That was the trade-off with using Accendio . How the bloody hell did one get down? He knew muggles had a saying, 'What goes up must come down'. But in the Wizarding World, what goes up, might come down…somehow.
He's never gotten the hang of gracefully drifting down like how most adults do after using Portkeys. During the Quidditch World Cup, he always made a fool of himself. Be like a leaf in the wind, they'd tell him. But as leaf-like as he tried being, he always ended up flat on his ass.
Caspian slipped on the last branch, falling right in front of Wednesday.
“Argh…Fuckin hell…” He rubbed his bottom, getting up on wobbly knees.
“How graceful.”
“Shut up,” He scowled lightly. “Great wooden board act by the way. Comes naturally does it?”
“It's easy when you're incapacitated”
Caspian winced. “Right…here you go.”
He gave her the binder, watching her slot it in her bag.
There was an awkward silence as they just shared blank looks. It was like they both couldn't believe they just got away with that. He was confident in his plan. Up until Galpin said 'get the dogs' like he was some dark wizard mega villain. He wasn't sure what a few hounds were going to do, but he didn't wait to find out. A distraction was needed.
Fire was his first option but he deduced it would reveal their locations rather than help. So a beast was the next logical one. A black bear if he remembered Wednesday's words from before. If it didn't deter Sheriff Galpin, he was confident it could eat the dogs.
“You should've left when I told you to.” Wednesday's gravelly voice drew him from his thoughts.
He scoffed. “You should be glad I don't fear you like the others, or you'd be behind bars by now. Can you walk?” He asked when she started pushing herself up.
“Of course, I can-”
He instantly caught her when she slipped on her first step, holding her small waist.
“Ok, so we'll be back by morning if you insist on walking like that.”
“You're not carrying me!” She spat, glaring up at him with her doe eyes.
“Of course not. 'Wingadium Leviosa! '“ He pointed his wand before she could react.
A yellow hue surrounded the girl, lifting her gently off the floor. She whipped her head around her body before glaring back at him.
He smirked, twirling his wand. “Come come now Addams, not a moment to waste. It's getting a bit chilly now wouldn't you think?”
A bit chilly was the understatement of the century. It was a full-on snowstorm by the time they got back to Nevermore. At her discretion, they circled around to the other side of the school where her room was. They both decided that she was in no state to shuffle through the secret passage that was next to his dorm. Caspian stored that fact for later as he took a sharp left straight into Xavier's art shed.
“What are you doing?” she huffed as he shut the door behind her.
Caspian rubbed his hands together, breathing hot air into them. “I'm bloody freezing my tits off that's what I'm doing.”
His warming charm wore off half an hour ago and his hood and scarf just weren't cutting it. He carefully perched her floating figure on top of the wooden table.
“Besides,” He sighed, reapplying the charm. “There's no way I'm climbing some rickety ladder in this weather.”
Wednesday eyed him for a moment before drawing her legs up. “Just until the storm dies.”
“Whatever you say.” He muttered, rubbing every exposed inch of skin against his warm scarf.
He kept moving in place for a while, alternating from rubbing his face and hands. He sniffled his congested nose best he could, feeling warmth gush back into his cheeks. He'll need to learn a full body warming spell, or he'll just have to cover himself from head to toe in charmed clothes. The fashion part of his headed wouldn't allow for that.
Wednesday made an odd sound, like a muffled grunt.
He glanced over at her, the girl cradling her ankle with both hands. “What on earth are you doing?”
“I fixed my broken ankle.” She breathed out with a pained grimace.
He blinked. “Come again? You fixed your broken ankle? Somehow I find that hard to believe.”
“Temporarily.” She hissed, prodding her raw flesh experimentally. “Better than nothing.”
Caspian shook his head, striding over to her. Even as a sweaty cold mess, she still was impossibly stubborn to deal with.
His face twisted sour when he saw her exposed flesh. A mismatch of purple, green, and yellow bruising. “Oohh…my bad.”
“I feel much better now that you've stated the obvious.” She ground out, fighting back a wince when she poked a little too hard.
It was obviously not fixed. However, It wasn't bent in such an unnatural orientation anymore, so maybe she did realign it successfully. But from his first-year human anatomy course, the ankle wasn't a singular bone you could just snap back.
He chewed at the inside of his cheek before crouching beside her. “Do you trust me?”
She looked down at him like he just asked if Grindylows could fly. “No?”
“Even after I just covered for you?”
“I didn't ask you to and in case you're showing early signs of dementia, you're the one who stepped on my foot!”
“You have a point I dunno why I asked.” Caspian ran a hand through his hair, reassessing his approach. “Ok… but do you wanna explain to Nurse Abner how you broke your ankle sitting in your room? Because trust me that woman will handicap you for weeks on end.”
Caspian shuddered at the memory of his casted leg. He still thinks there were other alternative to crutches she could've gave him.
Wednesday pressed her lips into a hard line. What he'd give to be an occlumence at this moment just to find out what she's thinking.
He procured his wand from his jumper pocket, pointing it inches from her swollen ankle. She snatched his wrist before he could even begin the wand flourish.
The look he gave her was nothing short of intense. It wasn't necessarily a glare but it wasn't kind either. Wary would be doing it a disservice but apprehensive wouldn't suffice. Cautious would be putting it lightly, but distrusting would be too harsh. If he was being honest, she looked a bit scared. Uncertain.
He didn't like it when people looked at him like that. There was a time he didn't care if she did, but he did now.
Caspian swallowed the lump in his throat. He opened his mouth not quite sure what to say. Then, he was suddenly interrupted by a faint scratching at the wall.
They both turned to look at the wall, the scratching stopping. He strained his ears, struggling to drown out the howling wind and branch rustling.
The scratching started up again. Caspian rolled his eyes when it dawned on him.
He got up, crossing the room in two strides before yanking the door open.
“Oi! Ya git, what are you scratchin' on about?” He pointed his wand at Gerald accusingly.
Gerald paused. The beast was on his hind legs, forearms extended on the metal wall. He slowly pivoted his head over, staring back at Caspian with beady eyes. The Niffler suddenly jumped when a loud howling wind rattled the shed.
Caspian cocked his chin. “Scared of a little storm are we?”
Gerald sneezed, rubbing his nose before cautiously crawling towards him.
“Yeah I get it…come here.” Caspian sighed, taking a few steps into his enclosure. “Bit chilly innit? Wards are wearing off, I'll fix it up all proper, don't worry.”
He picked up the beanbag beast, slinking him into a cradling position. He still didn't know how to hold a Nifler but babies were held like this. Gerald was almost like a baby but about half the size and double the trouble.
“Maybe I'll add a sound dampener so you don't get scared by thunder strikes or wind. How'd you like the sound of that? I mean nothing stopping you from literally digging under the ground but who am I to judge? Maybe in the nighttime, you lot do some kind of pack call or summin. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, they ain't no one here to form a pack with. Only thing you'll attract is a cold…Do Nifler's get colds?”
Caspian rocked him a few times. Gerald was about to snuggle in before catching a whiff of something. He started clambering away, clawing over his shoulder. “Ey! Tryna slip away you slimy bastar- hey!”
He leapt off his shoulder.
Caspian dove to catch him before he could bounce off the barrier. But in doing so, he stumbled outside the wards. He barely registered what happened when he felt a sharp bite on his hand.
“Ow! What the fuck Geral- Gerald no!”
The blue fur ball raced through the ajar door of the art studio. Caspian stiffened.
Wednesday.
He darted in after him. He wasn't sure if he was worried about Gerald mauling the girl or the opposite, but he knew one thing. Someone was about to get bit.
“Gerald!”
He bursts into the room, just in time to find Wednesday's arms outstretched, Gerald mid flight.
He clumsily drew his wand (the bugger bit him on his dominant hand) before desperately pointing it at them.
But nothing could've prepared him for the scene before him. Wednesday caught Gerald who was currently snuggling against her bosom, making content 'clicking' noises he's never heard him make before.
He lowered his wand, staring dumbfounded.
His eyes darted from his affectionate pet to Wednesday's face, frozen in alarm.
“He likes you.” Caspian blurted out dully, pocketing his wand.
Wednesday blinked her wide eyes. “Well...can you make him stop liking me?”
“You usually do that on your own pretty well.”
“Caspian.” She hissed, clearly extremely uncomfortable with the situation.
She stiffened when he dropped down into her lap, curling up in a little ball.
He felt the corners of his lips quirk up. It was amusing watching her too awkward to even squirm. It was like watching a hippogriff dad with their newborn. The mothers were always caring but the fathers didn't have the patience. Whenever the fouls would clamber on their wings, you can see them stiffen up, debate whether to allow it, allow it, then immediately regret it. At that point, you just sit back and watch as the patience drain from their eyes before they snapped at the younglings. It was comically human.
Caspian shrugged. “Wouldn't know where to start anyways, he doesn't like anyone. Not even me half the time.”
He recalled how he bit Enid and snarled at Xavier and Ajax. Gerald definitely wasn't the most trusting of chaps. If she were anyone else, he'd accuse Wednesday of smuggling raisins in her pockets to win over his affection. But why has he taken a liking to her? Maybe he like the way she smelt and it reminded him of home? Maybe they bonded over her capturing of him? She did look like a mess that day. Perhaps she gained his respect or something? Unless he learned how to communicate with Niflers, he may never know.
Wednesday sent him a ' you're no help at all' look before grabbing Gerald herself.
“No.” She looked deathly into his eyes, placing him to the side.
Gerald simply waltzed right back into her lap with a sniffle.
“I said, no.” Wednesday darkened her features. She tilted her head down, bringing Gerald close to her thousand-yard glare. “Stop it.”
He somehow slithered from her death grip, plopping right into her lap.
“Gerald also doesn't listen to just anyone,” Caspian muttered, leaning beside her on the table.
He would be lying to say he wasn't a bit jealous, but he was more surprised the Nifler had all those cuddles in him. He was clearly touched-starved. Perhaps her former owner wasn't as loving as Caspian thought. A pang of guilt rang through him. He felt bad for leaving him alone. But what was he supposed to do? Keep him under his bed?
“I see you two have that in common.” Wednesday huffed, placing Gerald on the farthest end of the table. “At least I can physically pick this one up and punt him away. Unlike other annoyances.”
Caspian took her side eye on the chin, smirking. “Hey, he's a pain in the ass but he's my pain in the ass, I'll be doing the punting.”
He watched amused as Gerald came scurrying back into her lap. But he was surprised when there was no effort to move him. She put her hands up in defeat before settling them on the ledge. She gave Gerald that same father-hippogriff look.
“Growing soft Addams?”
“He will get over his infatuation soon enough…Once he smells the mercury residue on my pants.”
Caspian shrugged. “I wouldn't count on it, he looks very cozy like that.”
Wednesday brought a hesitant hand up. He arched a brow at her dainty fingers as they twitched closer and closer to Gerald's slumbering form. She barely grazed his fine short hair before pulling back. “Doesn't matter…we'll be leaving shortly anyways.”
“Not like that we aren't.” He gestured to her leg.
She clenched her jaw “You can't keep me here just because I don't-”
“Addams,” He cut in with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. Wrangling a Graphorn would be easier than changing her mind. “Please let me just try to help you…just this once…without the shenanigans…”
She bit her tongue, looking away. He watched her pick at the wooden table for a while. Her eyes darted from the corner of the room to her swollen ankle as she mulled over his offer.
Caspian waited patiently. He learned he could never truly convince someone like Wednesday Addams. Like how you could never fully tame a Graphorn. You'd just have to hope they accept what you have to offer. That may take hours or days or it simply may never happen at all. You just never know.
She glared back at him seriously.
“If you try anything,” She plucked Gerald up, squeezing him slightly. “This one dies.”
Caspian blinked. “Yeah, I'm ok with that.”
She frowned, clearly caught off guard by his flippancy.
Caspian kneeled in front of her. “I'm first going to run a diagnostics charm, you won't feel a thing.”
He ever so carefully brought his wand up to her ankle. He watched from the corner of his eyes how she'd inhaled sharply.
He refocused his attention on the charm, scanning his wand over her limb. By the red light clustering in her ankle, it was definitely broken in several places. Thankfully, the small fragments of bone were still relatively close to the snap, so he wouldn't have to perform any advanced healing magic.
“This is gonna hurt a bit so,” Caspian looked up at her, gesturing to his pet. “Don't be too quick to judge.”
Wednesday only stared back at him with round eyes before averting her attention to the glowing light. If she tried to hide her curiosity, she was doing a pretty shite job.
He locked his jaw, pointing his wand directly at the center of the glowing orb. He rehearsed the line a few times in his head before puffing out his chest. “Brackium Emendo!”
She let out a pained gasp, Gerald squirming a bit in his clutches. He waited for the last of the bluish-whitish stream of light to leave his wand.
He quickly cast another diagnosis charm, eyeing the now orange glow. “Can you move it?”
Wednesday rolled her foot slowly, stopping halfway with a thinly veiled grimace.
“It still hurts,” She chewed her bottom lip. ”But it's better.”
Caspian let out a pensive breath, wracking his brain for anything that could be useful. “Let me try something else.”
He wasn't kidding when he told Enid he tried teaching himself healing magic. He's learned about eight spells so far. From sterilization, bandages, and broken bones, to cough-clearing charms. He was currently working on Vulnera Sanentur easily the most advanced spell he had in his arsenal. It healed deep gashes and wounds and if done properly, won't even scar.
He recalled the wand movement vividly because it was used on him in his third year. It was a rather traumatizing event, being rushed off to the infirmary after being mauled by a rabid dark Mongrel. Madam Abbot's calm and soothing wand flourishes stood out to him during the chaos. It was something to latch onto to keep him grounded.
He was far from her level, but he was better than when he started.
Even though he never got along with Madam Abbot, he admired her chosen profession. She chose to exclusively use her magic to heal. Caspian can't recall a time she hurt anything with her wand, even a fly. He always brushed off the Hippocratic oath as some relic of the old dogma. Did any healer actually adhere to it? Half the fun of magic was all the mischief you can cause, and sometimes you couldn't guarantee the safety of everyone involved.
But after everything he's been through, he understood the importance of such restraint. It was honorable. Knowing you were just as powerful and smart to become an Auror, yet you choose to use your magic to heal, not hurt.
Speaking of, Caspian furrowed his brows, drawing his wand slowly around her ankle. “I'm sorry for hexing Thing…”
He saw her turn her head to him. He wasn't sure what to expect from apologizing again, but it felt right.
'It was easier to break things than mend it.' His mother would always say.
Breaking things came easy to him. Half of dueling was breaking your opponent's shields and stance. But mending didn't come as easily. It was something his mother always tried to push him to get better at. To always do the right thing, no matter what anyone says, even your own head. To follow what you feel deep down. If you feel like something is wrong, do something about it.
If you can't mend things just because it's the right thing to do, mend things for your inner peace.
Even though he never had a good relationship with his parents, he liked the sound of that.
“I'm sorry for almost torturing you.”
Caspian froze at her small voice, the next spell dying on his tongue. Did she just apologize? Unprompted no less?
He wanted to look into her eyes to see if she meant it, but he didn't want to scare her away. Whatever was happening now, whatever bridge they were now crossing, was precarious. He'd need to move with caution and not overthink things.
He took in a bated breath, casting a simple warming spell he didn't have to think hard about.“I'm sorry for lashing out at you with my magic. “
She paused. “I'm sorry for stalking you…partially so, my suspicions were somewhat justified.”
Caspian kissed his teeth. “Honestly, fair enough…I'm sorry for grabbing your arm.”
“I'm sorry for taking out my anger on you.”
“I'm sorry for being a proper dick whenever you tried speaking to me.”
“I'm sorry for watching you excuse yourself in the woods.”
“What?…. Oh yeah, you did do that.” He snorted, recalling the incident. That felt like a lifetime ago.
He caught a peak of her from under hooded eyelids. She was gnawing on her bottom lip, eyes looking everywhere but at him. Classic Wednesday, apologies still didn't come naturally. He never thinks it will.
His eye lingered on her hands. They were absentmindedly stroking Gerald who was now slumbering peacefully in her lap.
“I suspect this won't be the last time we'll be apologizing.” She mused wryly.
“Well, you do have a knack for getting on my nerves.”
“The feeling is incredibly mutual.” She flashed her eyes back at him, catching his stare.
He was caught up in the gravity of her eyes again, drawing him in. This time, however, they were lighter than he remembered. Maybe it was the lighting, but it shone like a very dark honey instead of a deep brown. Maybe they weren't devoid of light and color like he initially thought.
“How about this Addams?” He ran a hand through his hair, squinting in thought. “ I propose a peace treaty, a truce, boundaries, bare minimums if you will. I'll respect you as a regular human being and you in turn do the same. So no more hexing, no more spying or mind games. Deal?”
He thought about offering a hand but ultimately decided against it. He supposes they were beyond handshakes now.
Wednesday eyed him for a moment, pursing her lips. She swallowed before, nodding. “I accept”
“Good,” he noted bluntly like he was just asked how his day was.
The small art studio became suffocatingly silent and still. He shifted his weight awkwardly, sniffling. “Still think you're grotesquely gloomy.”
“And I still think you're unbearably arrogant.” She shot back without hesitation.
They narrowed their eyes at each other. But he couldn't help but grin a bit. He arched a brow when he swore she did the same before looking away.
Perhaps the bridge wasn't so shaky anymore.
Caspian averted his eyes back to the task at hand. “Episky!” He chimed. A white hue blanketed the affected area before disappearing. “For the bruising and swelling.”
He cast one last diagnostic charm, sighing at the now yellow cluster of light. “That's all I can do for now. I think I just upgraded your broken ankle to a sprain, best not put any pressure on it till you get proper medical aid.”
He got up, dusting off his trousers.
Wednesday nodded eye unfocused, her hands absentmindedly brushing Gerald.
Caspian smirked, committing the image to memory. “Mind releasing my Nifler now Addams?”
She blinked up, confused, before following his eye line down to her lap. She instantly pulled her hands back.
Caspian could only shake his head, plucking Gerald's balled-up form carefully. If it took her this long to get around to him, it'll be ages before she admits she tolerates Gerald's company.
“Let me just put this git to bed, the storms easing up a bit, we can leave soon.”
After carefully placing Gerald under his favorite tree, he started fixing up his wards. Caspian didn't know that he needed to protect the wards themselves from the weather, but he knew now. Unfortunately, he didn't know the enchantment for such a spell. He'd just have to manually fix it whenever it would weaken. Or wait for his silver snake ring to notify him if Gerald's temperature dropped drastically.
He also decided to add a sound-dampening ward. It would detect any abrupt rises in noise levels and promptly muffle them.
By the time he was done, there was a lull in the storm. He took that as his opportunity to make their dash for the ladder. So with Wednesday's floating in tow, they snuck across the field.
“That was somehow more debasing than being carried.” She huffed, leaning against the base of the academy.
Caspian dropped her carefully on the floor, massaging his aching wand hand.
“I wouldn't speak too fast.” He yawned, shaking the stiff metal. “You didn't say there was a cage around the ladder.”
“Problem?”
“Well, I was going to originally piggyback you up. There's not enough room for that, you'd be hitting your head on every bracket.”
“Piggyback? Why can't you just levitate me up?”
“Usually wouldn't be a problem in my world. But between 'leviosa-ing ' you around, fixing Gerald's enclosure, and fixing your bones. My magic is a bit drained. Wouldn't want to risk dropping you five stories up.”
Wednesday arched a brow. “Can you explain how one's magic gets 'drained'?”
Caspian lazily rubbed at his neck. “In this world, my magical 'juice' runs out faster than normal. I would've been able to dance with Tyler all live long day back home, instead of passing out like a wanker after round 3.”
“Why?”
“I dunno,” He shrugged honestly. “I have my theories.”
He took her blank stare as a means to continue.
He gestured around vaguely. “Maybe…. the airs different…or the food isn't as nourishing….perhaps its because there's no magic here at all…yeah…No yeah, that's it!” His eyes lit up, snapping his fingers. “I'm like a wetland toad in the desert!”
Wednesday arched her other brow, folding her arms. “Do elaborate.”
“Wetland toads draw a good portion of their daily moisture through their skin. But if you put a wetland toad in a dry climate. It can't be fuelled the same. So they're more sluggish, get tired faster.”
He wet his lips excitedly. He ignored her confused look. It made perfect sense to him and that's all that mattered.
“Back home I felt the magic around me, in every stone, muggle, and Dircrawl I came in contact with. Now, when I summon a stone,” He haphazardly summoned a rock. “It's just a stone.”
He rubbed it gently. It was just a stone. No magical signature, no quirks, no nothing.
“So I’ll climb.” Wednesday clipped.
He shook his head, tossing the rock away. “Unless you want to undo all the work I've done, and take the whole night, I think not. I say we head back to the shed, wait until my magic strengthens.”
“The storms only getting worst.”
He fought back a groan, blinking the tiredness from his eyes. He really was out of it.
“Then there's only one way,” He squatted slightly, extending his arms. “C'mon, we haven't got all night.”
He stared plainly at the bewildered girl. He shivered when a rogue gust tussled his hair.
“What are you…” Wednesday began warily, eyes darting from his open arms, then back to his face.
Caspian yawned. “You do have monkeys in this world, right?”
He would laugh if he had the energy to at how comically wide her eyes went.
“No…no…unacceptable, this is where I draw the line .”
“You make it sound like it's the worst thing in the world, I'm just carrying you.”
“ Just carrying, is what I did to Gerald, this - this” She gestured to him. “I'm not subjecting myself to that.”
“It's a bit weird I admit. But you're making it way more weirder than it needs to be. The longer we dilly dally the colder it gets and the less likely I'll be awake enough to scale this building. What? Is Wednesday Addams scared of a little - “
“Don't,” She cut in brusquely. “Don't even start.”
She hesitated, hugging herself tighter as the wind grew colder. She darted her doe eyes around like the solution to their problem was floating around somewhere.
He rolled his eyes, placing his wand in his mouth.
“C'mon Addams,” he mumbled.
Like he said. Wrangling a Graphorn. But he probably had better luck getting one to juggle than getting Wednesday to agree.
But she gave one last disheartened frown and superstitious glance around, she limped over. She stopped a step away clenching her jaw while sending him a scathing glare he was too tired to fully appreciate.
She brought her arms up slowly, snaking them under his armpits and up to his shoulder.
He patiently waited as she brought her injured leg up around his waist. With one last disbelieving huff, she hopped off her good leg, straddling him completely. Caspian instinctively caught her. The instant her sweet blackberry and leather sent entered his nostrils, he was suddenly wide awake.
He paused, blinking when he realized he was cradling Wednesday Addams. He actually didn't expect her to go through with it. Even when she was approaching him.
Boy, he was definitely out of it tonight.
It was a long shot at best. This night seemed to be full of surprises and firsts.
When he felt her begin to squirm, he swiftly slid his hand underneath her knees pulling her closer before resting them carefully on her small back.
He straightened his posture, going for the ladder.
Before he could even grasp the first rung, she tugged his hair. He was inches away from her dark cold eyes, her cool cinnamon breath tickling his nostrils.
“If you mention this to anyone, you're a dead man. That is not a warning, it is a promise.”
He gulped, before nodding. She didn't move for a while before reluctantly letting go of his hair. She groped about where to put her hands, finally resting them on his shoulders.
The climb up was interesting, to say the least. The first couple of rungs were clumsy and awkward. Wednesday had to press herself more firmly against him so he could get proper purchase. They were lucky she was so tiny in comparison, she was like a backpack or a really clingy sack.
He found his rhythm in no time and they were off. But he'd be lying if he wasn't extremely focused on how impossibly close they were. It was alarming how…easy it all felt. The way she slotted against him, her legs locking around his waist securely. How she'd lay her chin on his shoulder for a few seconds before pulling off. How he sometimes brushes his cheek against her soft one.
He hoped she couldn't feel his heart racing beneath all the layers of clothes.Or feel the warmth that had him sweating bullets. That would be only slightly embarrassing. He wondered if Wednesday thought the same or if someone like her was above embarrassment. Beyond 'adolescent bodily reactions' as she'd probably put it.
“Why are we stopping?” She asked when Caspian suddenly pulled away, leaning his back against the cage.
He bent his knees so she could slide down and into his lap, taking his wand out his mouth. “It's called taking a break. Ever heard of it before?”
“I wasn't aware you'd be needing one.”
“Just because I work out doesn't make me impervious to fatigue.” He scoffed, unable to meet her eyes.
That was a lie. He was tired, but he was more worried about dying of a heart attack and suffocation by sweet blackberry smells than anything else.
Wednesday absentmindedly rubbed her cheek. “Well...you looked a lot more athletic, but I guess looks can be deceiving.”
“I agree with you there, you're definitely a lot heavier than you look.”
He was awake enough this time to feel her scathing glare.
He cleared his throat “Beautiful night out, isn't it….”
She didn't respond.
But he didn't let that spoil the scenery.
It was a rather stunning view if he could say so himself. The rolling mountains in the distance with the small lights of the town in the valley. He could make out the on coming angry clouds rolling their way. The storm never fully stopped, rather took a break which forced them in this predicament in the first place.
The barren forest below breathed with every gust of wind. Like it was alive. Enchanted.The snow-covered ground. The sky was cloudy so no stars. But the moon would sometimes peak through, casting its ethereal glow on the mortal world beneath it. But here, nestled between the grand gothic buttresses of the academy, they were untouched by its light.
They were about at the halfway point. The wind was harsher than before. But unlike before, he welcomed it. It cooled him down and cleared his more radical thoughts from bubbling to the surface. Curse his rampant imagination. He wouldn't even entertain those baseless immature thoughts.
A particularly teeth-chattering gust blew over them. Caspian noticed her shiver slightly.
“Cold?”
“I told you I can withstand extreme temperatures just fine.” She mumbled, closing her eyes. “This is just my body's natural reaction to almost reaching a comatose-like stasis.”
“Even though your body can take something doesn't mean it should.” He finally turned his attention to her.
He took her closed eyes as an opportunity to soak her in. Her small slightly flushing face, her smattering of freckles more prominent than before. The way her braids swayed with the wind and how her fringed outright danced with it. How her plump lips looked like they were always in a perpetual pout. Her black finger-nailed hands rubbed her smooth cheek. Did she always wear nail polish, or was that new?
“Well, I for one am freezing,” Caspian muttered, casting a quick warming charm on his hands. He breathed hot air into them, rubbing them furiously before patting his face.
The instant her eyes opened, he gravitated to them.
“Here, give me your hands.” He reached out.
She drew them back, eyeing him apprehensively.
Caspian sighed. “Just because you bite…doesn't mean I do.”
She blinked. With one final glance down at his wand, she offered her hands.
“Better?” He smirked after charming them.
Wednesday brought them up to her cheeks, showing no emotion at all. “Subjectively.”
“Alright, Ms. Subjective,” He rolled his eyes, placing his wand back in his mouth “Let's get moving.”
He made quick work of the back half of the climb. He did a better job of keeping his thoughts at bay and his body temperature regulated. If he simply imagined her as a bag and not a girl hugging him, he'd be able to get by with no break. But when she suddenly rested her cheek on his shoulder, he missed a rung, almost dooming the both of them.
She's just a bag.
She's just a bag.
She's just a bag.
Just a warm, nice-smelling soft bag.
He repeated that mantra religiously, focusing on getting her back to her room and nothing else. He was so focused in fact, that he wasn't aware he was unlatching the door to her window and he didn't need to carry her anymore.
It was only when he was lying in bed that night did he realize Wednesday never brought it up either.
“Wow...we survived the night.” He sighed, striding over to the monochrome side of the dark room. He would bet good money this was her half.
Everything post almost getting arrested was a walk in the park. The whole night had to be in his top five unsanctioned excursions. Up there with his legendary Honey Duke raid and the Troll dungeon. But usually, these nights ended with the turning on of the lights and a good scolding by either a prefect, ghost, or professor. Looks like he was starting with a clean record.
Caspian 1, Nevermore 0.
Wednesday clicked her tongue. “Well, besides the slip-up at the end that almost killed us.”
“I'm tired remember.” He scoffed, approaching her bed. “I'm sure you are too.”
“Very.” She began disentangling herself as he carefully lowered her down.
Suddenly, he was blinded by light, the room coming to life.
“What…the… shit …”
He froze at the all-too-familiar voice, half holding the stiff girl in his arms.
Caspian slowly swiveled his head behind him, locking eyes at the gawking blond standing in the doorway.
He gulped. Welp, so much for his new record.
Caspian 0, Enid 1.