you do you

Enid watched her roommate tap away on her typewriter less attentively than usual.

It was often that the blonde would sit cross-legged on her fluffy bed adrift in a rainbow room and just watch Wednesday write, admire how the slightest twitches and raises of muscles in her pale face reflected her passion for her words. The goth would become so absorbed in her literature that the external reactions were more visible and exaggerated-

It was then, and in the midst of cello sonatas, that Enid believed Wednesday was really at home.

Other than in the throngs of a fight, that was.

"You are staring again."

"Yep." Enid's mind was somewhere else, really. She was flung back to the present by Wednesday's disdain.

"Why are you nervous?"

"I'm not nervous."

Without so much as a glance her way, Wednesday said: "Another minute or so and you're going to have to say farewell to yet another duvet cover."

Enid glanced down. She was right. Her colourful claws were stuck right into the material.

She groaned and sheathed them. "I'm usually more aware than that."

"You have less awareness than a pistachio nut."

"I have a hearing range three times more advanced than yours!" Enid spluttered. Wednesday turned to smirk at her. "How dare you."

"Why are you nervous, though?" The goth tapped a few more times, then lifted the complete page from the black bar with a flourish, placing it neatly in her box. She turned round fully in her seat. "Curiosity is gnawing at me like maggots in flesh."

"Disgusting." Enid said brightly. "And I'm fine really. Just...full moon tonight. You know.."

"No, I don't. I thought you would be excited at the prospect." Wednesday tilted her head. "Ever since you first turned, haven't you been relishing in the chance to explore your more powerful side?"

"Hey, I'm just as powerful in human form!" The werewolf protested. "Wolf me doesn't have my incredible, ability, to, um." She faltered. "I can sing well! Kinda. And wolf me can't do karaoke with Yoko or paint Thing's nails-"

The disembodied hand in the corner gave a tap of acknowledgement.

"You consider your instinct to socialise a power?" Wednesday considered this. "Though I'm personally more inclined to get things done myself, my time here has showed me possibilities. I suppose being able to charm mutuals into accomplishing tasks does have its benefits."

"Sure let's go with that." Enid got up and began to pace.

Wednesday continued to watch her. "Do you not like your experiences with the Furs?"

Wow. Straight to the point.

Enid exhaled through her nose sharply. She patted her hands at the sides of her sweatpants.

"It's not that I don't like them." She said. It came out slightly bitter. Hurt. She envied Wednesday's ability to mask her feelings.

"Then what is it?"

"They don't like me!"

Wednesday looked surprised at her exclamation. "Why ever not? You're one of them."

"You'd think!" She cried. "I finally shift and become a proper werewolf, and they still treat me like...a fake!"

Wednesday furrowed her brows. "Well, that's stupid."

"Right?!"

"Why don't you just run around out there and be all wolfy on your own? If they don't treat you right and give you the respect that you have owned and have always deserved, then fuck them." The black-haired girl stared at her as sullenly as ever.

"Ditch the losers. Don't bother trying to earn their loyalty when you're probably better off without it."

Her flat words captivated her, and Enid was frustrated to feel her eyes stinging.

She turned away. "Yeah, I guess."

"It might be freeing to wolf out in your own way."

"It's just.." Enid sighed. "Weds, my whole life I've been trained and trained into believing in the pack. Everything in our culture revolves around it. You stick together, you back each other up, and one day you'll find your true mate."

If her words were wobbling, she hoped her roommate didn't pick up on it.

"It's your choice whether to define yourself by that." Wednesday said, after a few moments. Her voice was close, and Enid realised she must've walked over. Damn her ghost footsteps.

"I don't understand the difficulties, I know, but-" The shorter girl awkwardly patted Enid's shoulder. "You do you."

"You do you." Enid echoed with a wet chuckle. She faced Wednesday with gratitude. "Where'd you pick up that saying? It doesn't exactly sound like you."

"Eugene." Wednesday stepped away from her. It seems she had reached her limit on physical contact.

"Yeah. Figures."

"Why don't you just turn here?"

Enid snapped her gaze up, wide-eyed. "What?"

"Just wolf out here." Wednesday said. "It might mimic aspects of...pack mentality. To not be alone. Though it was only an idea, and it's nothing compared to the woods and-"

Her words grew faster, and Enid stopped her by stepping forward and reaching for her hand. Wednesday allowed it for some reason.

"Absolutely not, I'd hurt you!"

Wednesday levelled her with a glare. "I will be fine."

"You'll be fine? When I transform into a huge fucking monster with razor-sharp teeth and claws and a hunger for meat?" Enid countered, folding her arms. "You'll just...be fine?"

"Yes." Wednesday said simply. "You protected me against Tyler when you first turned. My research has led me to believe the first turning is always the most savage, and as you turn over time you begin to master your inner wolf. Clearly, you have had full control from the start."

Enid opened her mouth, then closed it again. Wednesday had done...research... on werewolves?
Then she said haltingly: "That might have been a fluke."

"I doubt it." Wednesday said firmly. "I am an excellent judge of character. You are strong."

Her last comment was said with stern, shining eyes that reflected utter belief and faith.

You are strong.

"Fuck, I'm gonna cry again-"