#i had a hematoma on my big toe that had to get removed

[kingluffy5]

Playing Detectives Pt 4 (Wednesday x Male Reader)

Y/N and Wednesday learned of a potential new lead in their case in the form of Jericho’s founder Joseph Crackstone, meanwhile Wednesday’s latest stunt puts her on thin ice and when they learn that the monster is actually human Y/N and Wednesday start considering who they can trust.

I already have enough on my plate to deal with as it is with the prophecy only getting more confusing as a four hundred year old pilgrim who discriminated against out casts and tried to kill Wends’ ancestor is now seemingly involved, as well as the monster being a human, now I have to consider who I can trust outside of Wends anyone is a suspect, and of course Xavier just about proving that the Rowan we saw was a doppelgänger. But I also have to deal with possibly one of the worst things about this place, the Rave’n, one of our many school dances. I used to get asked a decent amount but I think they gave up trying, that or no one wanted to go with me after the scar on my eye took up part of my face. I would ask Wednesday to go as friends but our time would be much better spent focusing on the case.

Another thing on our plate is that Ajax stood Enid up on their date, I had to stop Wends from shooting him with a nail gun. I asked him about it and it turns out he stoned himself and missed the date, I suggested he tell Enid but he was too embarrassed, and I won’t tell her because it isn’t my place to.

At the moment however I should focus as me and Wednesday are sneaking into the morgue to inspect a dead body, we got word that the homeless guy we found in the old meeting house had been brutally murdered. Me and Wends slide in under the door as Thing sticks bubblegum onto the camera.

“Find the files on the monsters other victims and make copies, don’t pout, your scalpel skills are questionable.” She tells Thing as we go to find the body.

“Remember on my thirteenth birthday when Uncle Fester got me that cadaver, you sliced right through that man’s carotid.”

We check various containers and make occasional comments.

“Magnificent hematoma.”

Eventually we find the one, Wednesday starts recording her findings as we check the bodies injuries and Thing makes copies.

We see that the body’s left foot is missing when Thing starts telling us people are coming, we shut the container and hide in some empty ones.

The Sheriff and Mortician talk for a minute before the Sheriff leaves, the Mortician then opens the container with Wednesday in it but believes her to be a dead body and then leaves.

Thing opens our containers but Wednesday requests five more minutes inside.

— — —

Me and Wends are hanging out in her dorm putting our findings on a board.

“When I suggested giving your side of the room a makeover I did not have Ted Bundy’s Pinterest in mind.” Enid says.

“Still not as creepy as your stuffed unicorn collection.” Wednesday replies.

“Is this why you snuck out last night?”

“We may have made an unsanctioned trip to the morgue to copy the files of the monster’s victims.”

“Okay, there are so many levels of ew in that statement I don’t know where to begin.”

“We need to get inside its head, discover any patterns or anomalies, we’ve already made a big discovery, turns out all of the monsters victims have had body parts surgically removed, the first one a kidney, the second one a finger.” Wednesday says while handing Enid pictures.

“Wednesday, I don’t feel-”

“Third a gall bladder, and the bearded man from the meeting house two toes, do you understand what this means? These models aren’t mindless, he’s collecting trophies like a seasoned serial killer. It’s impressive, actually.” Wednesday says as we turn around and see that Enid has fainted. We turn back to Thing and request that he fetch the smelling salts again.

— — —

We are in Thornihill’s class now, I’m dozing off as I sit next to Gwen, I get excited when I hear Thornhill bring up something about sexual trickery but get disappointed when I realize she’s just talking about plants.

Bianca makes some joke about the Rave’n which causes Thornhill to solidify herself as my favorite teacher by revealing that because of the dance she isn’t going to assign homework.

Xavier talks to Wednesday about the dance but she says something about sticking needles in her eyes, we then both notice the scratches on his neck.

We look to each other and silently agree to follow him.

— — —

We follow him to his art studio and hide behind some trees.

“We need to do this, Xavier didn’t get those scratches from fencing, he’s hiding something.”

We walk into the studio and see several pictures of the monster looking like they’re staring right at us.

“I suppose every artist needs a muse.”

“A muse is a pretty girl or a bowl of fruit, this is just creepy.” I say

“Xavier you just said that much more interesting.” Wednesday said as she grabbed some pictures.

We head out but Xavier spots Wednesday, I duck behind the shed to avoid being seen.

“Wednesday.”

“Xavier, hello.”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, I just saw you come out this way, what is this place?”

“It’s kind of my private art studio, I cleared it out and fixed it up so Weems lets me use it.”

“How very entrepreneurial, I would love to see inside. Why don’t you give me a tour?”

“Not right now, it’s a total mess.”

“I shadowed a crime scene photographer last summer, I’m not easily fazed.” I feel like she wouldn’t easily be fazed even if she didn’t shadow ad crime scene photographer.

“Maybe another time, why were you looking for me?”

“I wanted to go over Ms. Thornhill’s homework assignment.” Damn it Wends Thornhill didn’t give out homework, now he’s going to realize that we think he’s the monster.

“She didn’t give us homework, remember?” Shit, shit, shit shit. “Why are you really out here?” Double shit. “Is this about a certain dance that makes you want to poke needles into your eyes, perhaps?” Well, that was lucky. “I’m all ears.”

“Are you really going to make me ask?” Wednesday said. Wait what?

“Oh, absolutely.” Why this cocky, why would Wends actually go with him, I thought she hated the idea of dances just like me.

What then followed was a near half minute of Wednesday trying to ask Xavier to the dance before finally managing to spit it out. I don’t know why but when she finally asked and Xavier said yes it felt like my stomach dropped and everything just stopped for a second, why would I be disappointed about Wends going to the dance with X-, oh shit, I see what’s happening, I am starting to like Wednesday romantically, well shit, this sucks, we’re partners and good friends, being a couple would just ruin all of that.

— — —

While it’s clear that Wednesday is only going with Xavier to get info and check to see whether or not he is our monster, it still honestly feels sucky. And now I have to deal with therapy.

“I do actually have something I want to talk about today.” I say when I sit down.

Dr. Kinbott looked shocked by this and immediately grabbed her notebook. “Really, ok, what is it?” She asked.

“There’s this girl I like who I’m really close to, and I just realized I like her as more than friends, and there’s a dance coming up and she’s going with someone else and I know she’s not interested in him she’s just going for other reasons but I still feel shitty about it, I also don’t want to ruin our friendship by asking her out, and would I be a bad friend if I don’t feel happy if she was happy with someone else?” I ramble.

“That’s a lot to unpack, let’s start with this girl, is it Wednesday?” I normally would say no but the shocked face I give her manages to reveal the truth. “I see you two walking around a lot, you would be cute together, why do you feel like your friendship would be ruined by asking her out, or why do you think she would say no?”

“Well we just work so well as friends and partners, and I know that she would say no because she is this pretty, cool, smart, girl who seems to have guys throwing themselves at her, I don’t want to be selfish by putting my desires before our friendship.”

“It isn’t selfish to put your own happiness first every now and again.” She says trying to support me.

“Why would she go out with me, she’s perfect, and I’m broken.” I say putting my hand over my scarred eye as I smile at Dr. Kinbott.

“What do you mean by broken? Is it your scar? How did you get it?”

“Under normal circumstances I would never tell you this, but stuff has been feeling shitty recently and … I guess I finally need to let some stuff out to someone who doesn’t share my last name. I had another brother once, my parents first kid, he had bipolar, some days we were best friends doing everything together, others he hated me and stayed in his room all day, one time during dinner, on one of his bad days, I was joking and being loud and it was annoying him, so he grabbed his steak knife and cut at my eye, my parents rushed me to the hospital and not long after that he put a shotgun in his mouth.” I confess, telling the story for the first time since it happened.

I start to break down and the doc comforted me, handing me some tissues and saying it’s alright while all I said was either it’s my fault or that I’m broken. God I miss Arthur, so much.

— — —

After that I walked around Jericho before running into Wednesday.

“Where are you coming from?” She asked.

“Therapy.” I answer. “You?”

“Enid wanted to take me dress shopping but I managed to get out of it, now come on let’s go see the Sheriff.”

We then walked over to the Sheriff’s office and showed him the pictures we found in Xavier’s studio.

“We both know there is a monster out there, if we’re going to stop it, I think it’s time we put our differences aside and work together.”

“And this is your stake for me to deal you two in.” He then takes out any other picture and compares them. “I’m sorry, you gotta do better than that, you got some nice detail though.”

“We didn’t draw it.” I inform him.

“I need to know who did.” He says.

“Unless we’re exchanging intel I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Why would I share information on an ongoing murder investigation with a couple of high school kids?” He asks.

“Because we go to Nevermore and you don’t, don’t you want some eyes and ears behind those ivy covered walls?”

“Listen, Velma and Shaggy, why don’t you and the Scooby gang stick to your homework and leave the investigating to the professionals.” He says before getting a phone call, personally I feel like I would be Scooby but alright. “What?” He starts to talk on the line before calling us back.

“Let me see that sketch again, the person who drew this, that your suspect? When you bring me some concrete evidence maybe we’ll talk.”

We then finally leave the office but we end up running into Tyler.

“Don’t wanna ask what trouble you’re in now.”

“Nothing we can’t handle, your father’s in particularly frustrating form today, avoid.”

“Welcome to my world, you guys have the Rave’N this weekend right? It was all the buzz at the Weathervane today.”

“I must be the only one not obsessed with this stupid dance.” Wends says.

“So you’re not going?” He asks

“Actually, I was forced to ask someone as an act of self preservation.” I died a little inside when she said this, liking someone is so annoying.

“Sure that happens, I guess. So who is it?”

“Xavier.”

“Got it, hope you two have fun.”

“I’m not sure why you’re upset.”

“That’s kind of the problem, I mean call me crazy Wednesday but you keep giving me these signals.” I’m sorry what signals, occasional conversation is signals for this guy.

“It’s not my fault I can’t interpret your emotional Morse code.”

“Then let me spell it out, I thought we liked each other, but then you pull something like this and I have no idea where I stand, am I in the more than friend zone or just a pawn in some game you’re playing?” Well at least when I like a girl, I don’t blame her for not liking me back.

“I’m just dealing with a lot right now, I need to prioritize.”

“Thanks for cleaning that up, I guess, give me a call if I ever move up your to do list.” Tyler says before walking off.

“Not one word.” Wednesday says to me and Thing.

— — —

Wednesday and I moved our murder board into the beekeeping shed, with Eugene’s permission and Enid’s insistence.

“No worries. Mi colmena es us colmena. I assume this is the creature that’s been rampaging in the woods”

“You told him?” Wednesday glared at me.

“We told your roommate.” I said deadpan staring at the board.

“Mr. Fits banned me from bug hunting until further notice. Speaking of monsters with sharp claws can you give this to your roommate, put in a good word for me?” He asked Wends. “I hear she’s still sans date for the Rave’N.”

“Eugene.”

“I know the chances of her asking me are next to zero, but I don’t care. I’ll keep putting myself out there until Enid finally sees me.” God I need this kid’s confidence.

“And if she never was.”

“She will, I’m playing the long game, my moms say people will appreciate me when I’m older, I know they’re just trying to make me feel better, but-”

“Listen people like us, we’re original thinkers, intrepid outliers in this vast cesspool of adolescence. We don’t need these inane rites of passage to validate who we are, Y/N?”

“Most of the people going are self absorbed shit bags anyway.” I chime in.

“Exactly.”

“So you’re not going to the Rave’N either?” He asks us.

“I’m not.” I say.

“Actually, I am, with Xavier”

“I see.”

“It’s not like I like Xavier, I just have ulterior motives, sketches are the closest thing me and Y/N have to a lead to try and stop this thing.”

“That circle, I think I know where that is.” Eugene tells us.

“Show us.”

We walk through the woods for a few minutes before coming across a cave that looks like the circles in one of Xavier’s drawings.’

“You think it’s in there?” He asks us/

“Only one way to find out.”

We walk up to the entrance.

“I’m not a huge fan of enclosed spaces, I’m claustrophobic.”

“If you hear me screaming bloody murder there’s a good chance I’m just enjoying myself.”

We then walk into the cave and look around with our flashlights, we find deer bones and find some shackles attached to the wall with scratch marks around them and a claw jammed into the rocks.

— — —

Me and Wednesday go into Xaviers studio to find something to match for DNA to present to the Sheriff.

After we grab something Xavier walks in.

“The hell you doing he asks us?”

“How do you know what the monster looks like? Or all these just self portraits.”

“What, you think it’s me? I saved your life.”

“So did the monster. Or was that you the night Rowan was killed?”

“You are so out of line right now.”

“We’re just trying to uncover the truth, and your art seems to have a recurring motif.”

“Yeah, this creature’s been haunting my dreams for the past couple of weeks, I try to block it out, but I can’t so I just come in here and paint it, when I was painting this one the claws reached out of the canvas and took a swipe at me, that’s how I got these scratches”

“I thought you were able to control your ability.”

“Not when it comes to this thing.”

“Maybe it’s just your guilty conscience.”

“I told you I’m not the monster, okay?”

Wednesday then takes out the drawing of the cave.

“So you just happened to draw pictures of it down to the location of its lair in the woods? Those are some pretty vivid dreams.”

“You were in there before, when I caught you, that’s the only reason you asked me to the Rave’N isn’t it? To try and cover, you are unbelievable.”

“It’s nothing personal.”

“It never is with you is it? I mean, do you even care about anyone or anything at all, Wednesday? Get out! Both of you out!”

We do as he requests and leave to go to the Sheriff’s.

— — —

We hand the Sheriff our DNA samples.

“That’s the claw of the monster and that’s a dried blood sample from a potential suspect, he used it to dab scratches on his neck, run the DNA test and see if they match.”

“I’m sorry, do I work for you?”

“You asked for concrete evidence, that’s it”

“Where’d you get this? And who’s the suspect?”

“Run the test first then I’ll explain everything.”

“I’m not playing games.”

“Neither are we Sheriff.”

“Bernice, bring me a DNA authorization form please.”

— — —

Me and Wednesday were now back at Nevermore, we saw Eugene sulking by the fountain.

“Why so glum?” She asked him.

“Saw Enid at lunch, asked if she got my honey.”

“It’s not like I didn’t warn you, since none of us have a date to the dance-”

“We should all go together!” Eugene said enthusiastically.

“What? No, I was going to suggest we stake out the cave and identify the monster, whoever it may be.”

We then looked over at Xavier before walking off.

“Don’t worry man, someday you will get a girl who genuinely loves everything about you.” I comfort him.

— — —

Me and Eugene spent the better part of the afternoon getting ready, I was bringing minimal supplies, flashlights, some snacks if we get hungry, and I snuck one of my swords from my forgery with some runic engravings on it for extra measure just to be safe, the runes give it some ice powers and stuff, also some walkie talkies.

We began to head downstairs to meet Wends and head out.

“You excited buddy? Your first stake out.” I ask him.

“Yeah, I also just wanted to say thanks, if it wasn’t for you and Wednesday I wouldn’t really have any friends so it means a lot to me you guys are including me.”

“When you’re an outcast amongst outcasts it’s probably smart to stick together.”

“Yeah, not many others here love bees as much as us.”

“Also I have a massive pile of manga in my closet.” I confess. “The only ones who know are now you and Thing.”

“What?” He laughs.

“Tell anyone and I’ll kill you and hide your body in one of the hives.” I threaten also laughing.

We keep walking until we see Wends, in a dress, with Tyler, shit.

“Wednesday, what’s going on?” Eugene asks her. “What happened to staking out the cave?”

“Don’t worry we get it, we’ll check it out ourselves.” I say turning to head out.

“No, it’s too dangerous, stand down.” She tells us. “We’ll go together tomorrow night, understood?”

“Come on Wends, this our first real lead in a while. I’ll watch out for him.” I offer, she should go and have fun, even if it isn’t with me.

“You especially shouldn’t go.” She tells me almost as if it was a warning.

“Come on, here.” I hand her one of the radios from my bag. “We can be in contact at all times, if things gets hairy we’ll call.”

“Fine if you must go, you will remain by your radios at all times, and at the first sign of danger, run.” She tells us sternly

“Yes ma’am.” I say jokingly.

With that we part ways, Wednesday to the Rave’N with Tyler, me to the cave with Eugene. But, if there is one thing I know about Wednesday is that she always looks forward to the next thing, she never looks back, so why did I notice her looking back at me when we left.

— — —

We’ve been here for half an hour by this point, I always loved the vibe of the woods at night, the bugs chirping, owls hooting, the moonlight shrouded by the clouds. It just feels peaceful. Eugene talks in his voice recorder about how there has been no movement but he did here a type of bug he liked so that’s nice.

“Hey man put that thing away for a second will you?” I ask.

“Sure what is it?”

“What I’m about to tell you never gets out, you will tell no one, not Enid, not Thing, nobody.”

“Not even Wednesday?”

“Especially not Wends.”

“This feels a bit more serious than a giant manga collection.” He jokes.

“Yeah it is, I may or may not have been developing romantic feelings for a certain goth girl in our beekeeping club.”

“First we’re called the Nevermore Hummers, but wait, you seriously have a crush on Wednesday?”

“Yeah.” I confess.

“Well why didn’t you ask her to the dance?”

“I don’t know? First she was going with Xavier, then we were staking out this cave, and now she’s there with Tyler.”

“I can’t believe she bailed on us for the dance.”

“Don’t blame Wends, she’s been focusing on the case a lot, she deserves to have fun.” I defend her.

“But you’ve been focusing on it just as much, you should be able to go as well.”

“Yeah, I guess, but it wouldn’t feel the same not being there with her, at least when she was going with Xavier I knew she didn’t have feelings for him, but with Tyler it’s different, she’s choosing to be there with him right now.”

We then wait around a couple more hours before we hear a car pull up to the cave and someone gets out. They walk over to the cave before throwing in a Molotov cocktail. After throwing it in they shine their flashlight directly at us and run away as fast as we can.

We run for a few minutes before hiding behind some trees. We stop to catch our breath but we start to hear the monster snarling and we continue our run.

In the distance I can hear Wends shouting our names, either that or I’m just hallucinating. Before I know it Eugene trips over and loses his glasses, I turn to try and run back but the monster gets to him before I do. He slash my sword at it a few times before it runs off.

“Eugene, wake up kid, it’s gone, you’re alright.” I try to say to him. Before I know it I’m hyperventilating, my vision’s getting blurry, and everything is feeling numb, I don’t even notice it until Wednesday shakes me and yells my name.

“Y/N”

That starts to take me out of it as I notice her hand on mine and her terrifying yet somewhat comforting stare into my soul.

Thornhill runs in and yells. “Is he’s alive!”