#tyler x reader

The Tyler Galpin that you had known was very different to the way the world now knew him.

He had actually been the first person you had met when your parents had shipped you off to Jericho for your Senior year. There was very little to offer, and the locals even more unfriendly.

You had walked into perhaps the only coffee shop in town and had been greeted by friendly, hazel eyes and a flop of messy brown hair.

'Let me guess,' he had said before you could even speak. 'You're a drip girl?'

You shook your head as you nodded to the coffee machine.

'Americano girl.'

The hazel eyed, friendly faced boy clicked his fingers in disappointment.

'One day, I'll get someone's order right.'

It had started off innocently. He made sure your Americano was waiting for you each day, he'd greet you with a smile and you'd smile back.

Soon he began asking you questions about yourself. Where your family was from, why you moved to Jericho, how you were liking it, and soon you found yourself talking to him long after his shift was over.

The first night he kissed you was after a late shift, you had waited for him to close up, nervously bouncing back and forth on your heels as Tyler shut the door behind him.

'I'm going to do something, and I hope that's okay.'

Before you can even question him, his lips are pressing softly into yours. Your eyes widen in surprise before fluttering shut. You had been imagining this moment for quite awhile, but had been too nervous to make the first move.

The rest of the time is spent similar to this. Stealing kisses in the storage room of the coffee shop or in the back seat of his car. His hands always pausing, waiting for the silent permission before moving any further.

Then the attack happened on the outcast, you had been shocked that Tyler had been involved. You had figured he was like you when it came to the outcasts. You didn't exactly associate with them, but nor did you have any issue with them. They were just trying to survive in the world like everyone else.

The attack wasn't the Tyler you had come to know. The one who shot you shy smiles when no one was looking, the way he always reached for your hand when walking together. The ever patient person who was happy with stolen kisses in a store room.

You aren't exactly shocked when Tyler informs you that his dad is shipping him off to some boot camp. His father was the Sheriff, and he had an image to maintain.

It's the first time you've ever seen Tyler truly anger, the way he angrily throws one of your books across your room as you sit on the bed wide eyed. Perhaps this was the Tyler who had been lingering beneath the surface all along.

'It's only a few weeks.'

He is sitting at the edge of your bed, head in his hands. You reach out and touch his shoulder gently.

'It'll be okay.' You assure him.

Soon he is atop you. Those hazel eyes staring intensely down at you as you tentatively reach for the button of his pants. His eyes widening.

'We don't-'

'I want to.'

He knows it's your first time, and he is gentle. The way his hands caress your face gently, each movement careful and deliberate, and he cradles you afterwards.

'We'll see each other soon.'

*~*~*

When Tyler comes back from the boot camp. Something seems different about him. You can't quite place your finger on it but something has shifted in him.

He seems more patient and calm, but you catch small glimpses.

The way his hands clench whenever someone shoots abuse at the coffee shop, the way his eyes darken at the mention of his father. His hand grips yours a little bit more tightly. His hands a little more rough when exploring your body in the store room.

Those friendly hazel eyes no longer seek permission, instead demand as his rough hands explore your body. His hands roughly cupping your breasts, his hand slipping down your pants as you gasp into the hand covering your mouth as the customer go about their business on the other side of the door.

He becomes rougher with you, the night at the fare when he pins you beneath him in the back of his car. The scream and shouts of the fair goers behind you as he growls low in your ear. 'Lover.' He breathes out as you come undone beneath him.

Soon he becomes even more distant. Perhaps that boot camp really had changed him, and he realised he was more than a small-town girlfriend. Occasionally he'll pull you into the store room at the coffee shop, either your on your knees while he roughly tugs at your hair or your shuddering while his head is buried between your thighs.

Eventually you rarely see him at all, he is too busy with the outcasts and seemingly avoiding his father. You try to focus on school, not thinking about the stark difference between the boy you met and the one you see about Jericho.

Then one night he is climbing through your window, out of breath and staring at you with a wild look in his face. He doesn't utter a word as he climbs into the bed with you, pulling at your pyjamas and holding a hand over your mouth as you come undone on his fingers. You watch with wide eyes as he takes the two fingers, glistening with you as he takes them in his mouth and sucks on them like a man starved.

'You've always tasted like strawberries.'

Is the only thing he utters before he is climbing atop you. The sounds of your quiet gasps and whimpers filling the room before Tyler falls next to you. His chest falling and rising rapidly.

When you awake, he is gone, only a simple note left on your bedside table.

I'm sorry.

Then it all comes out- those murders happening around town. The murders everyone had been blaming on an outcast from Nevermore.

It had been Tyler.

You felt your stomach drop when the news quickly spreads through the town. That he was some monster, an outcast himself. Being controlled by someone. That he was being shipped off somewhere nearby, no doubt some hospital that could try and help him.

You don't know how many times you empty the contents of your stomach thinking about it all.

How the friendly, hazel-eyed boy who had failed to guess your coffee order could do such heinous things. That he had been some monster that had torn people about, destroyed lives around him.

A hyde is what people had called him.

You researched for hours but found very little, they weren't amongst the common outcasts like werewolves, sirens or vampires. It would seem Tyler was a rare species.

You tried to cling of the memory of the friendly boy who had became your first friend in Jericho and then your first lover.

But that soon disappears the more you hear. How he had enjoyed it.

He had enjoyed the killing.

The hunting.

The teasing.

Perhaps the friendly faced boy had never been there at all.

Just the monster who had lurked been itching to come through all along.

*~*~*

After awhile it feels like life was slowly returning back to normal. That Tyler had been nothing more than a big learning lesson in trust and taking people at face value.

Until you hear the police report.

Inmates had escaped from the local asylum.

'One being the extremely dangerous Tyler Galpin.'

You feel your heart drop at the mention of his name.

Your parents are straight on the phone to you. Telling you to make sure all the windows and doors are locked. Even though you know that won't stop him from coming for you if he truly wanted to.

You still find yourself walking through the house, double checking locks and windows. Despite the warm breeze, you feel yourself shivering as you peer outside, expecting to see a monster lurking in the shadows ready to pounce.

Eventually you find yourself in your room, laying in bed, trying to focus on your latest novel but still finding yourself jump at any noise, the sound of the wind crashing against your window. You wonder if it'll start raining and thundering; a perfect crescendo to your nightmare night.

You practically jump off the bed when you hear a loud crash down stairs. Throwing your book across the room as you uncurl yourself from the bed, tentatively opening your bedroom door.

'Mom?' You call out in a small voice.

'Dad?'

Praying it was simply your parents returning home from their dinner party.

'Not quite.'

A hand is around your throat, pushing you back into your room before you can even react. Your eyes widening as Tyler comes into view, his curly hair wild around his face. The faint scar across his handsome face as he pins you to the wall.

'Miss me, lover?'

Your heart is thundering in your chest, you think you may throw up as Tyler's grip on your throat tightens as he smirks down at you. Your eyes fluttering shut as he leans, his nose nuzzling against your neck and breathing in your scent.

'Still smell like strawberries,' he groans into your neck. 'Do you still taste like them, lover.'

His hand loosens on your neck.

'Ty-Tyler. What- you can't.'

'Can't what, sweetheart?'

'You can't be here.'

'Says who?'

You knew that he should disgust you, that you should try screaming for help. Begging him to let you live, that you aren't apart of all this. You were simply a ridiculous fling. You mean nothing to him.

He had tossed you aside as quickly as he had you.

'You don't even care for me- you left..'

Tyler chuckles darkly. His other hand coming up and stroking your cheek, the touch is tender and loving and it almost causes your eyes to flutter shut. His touch was like a memory etched into every inch of your being. A hideous, stark reminder of what you had allowed to devour you so willingly. Perhaps you had always seen the darkness in Tyler, and perhaps it's what had attracted you to him.

'You are all I have thought about. Even when I was locked away, the thought of your lips. Your taste, your scent. You are like a drug and you don't even know it.'

Then why had he tossed you aside with such ease.

'How I wanted to take you with me. Show you just how much darkness is in you. I felt it, I smelt it the moment you walked in. A black rose waiting to bloom with the right touch.'

His hands coming up and resting either side of your head as he stares down at you. Those hazel eyes lingering over every inch of your body. The only eyes that had ever truly seen you bare in every way.

'You're a monster.' You manage to murmur out. The heat from his body radiating onto yours, his strong hands still placed either side of your head as he chuckled deeply.

'And you loved every second of it.'

Your heart is thundering in your chest as you stare up at him. He still looked the same, the same Tyler that you had fallen for but there was something else there. Something lurking beneath the depths of his eyes that frightened you, and excited you at the same time.

'Remember that time I chased you through the fare, hunted you through the house of mirrors, and then fucked you in the back of the car, anyone could've walked past us, and they would have definitely heard you. You've never cum so hard and fast, you loved every second of it. My scared little girl, wanting so desperately to be devoured.'

His strong hand coming out and gently stroking your locks before gripping a fistful and tugging on it harshly.

'Or what about the time I made you suck my cock in the storage room? Moaning and gagging around my cock like a desperate little whore, I saw the desire dripping down your leg.'

You breath catches in the back of your throat.

'That was before.' You try to ignore the growing ache between your legs as you stare up at him.

'Before what?'

'Before I knew what a monster you were.'

Tyler chuckled once more, tugging even more roughly on your hair. 'You know this ability has given me heightened sense..'

You watch as he leans down. His tongue darting out and licking the shell of your ear before biting down on the lobe, his hot breath sending a shiver up your spine. 'And I can smell your cunt from here. You want it. You want the monster.'

He isn't lying. You can feel the wetness pooling in your panties despite your fear. Perhaps the fear only heightened the desire you felt growing in the pit of your stomach.

'How about it lover? Can I still make you fall apart with just my fingers.'

You watch wide eyed as Tyler takes two fingers, eagerly placing them in his mouth and suck on them before pulling them and sliding them up your nightgown. Groaning as his hands danced upon your thighs. A familiar dance only the two of you knew.

You gasped as Tyler lifted you with ease, he had always been strong but he lifted you like you weighed nothing at all. Slamming you onto the edge of your vanity, the cold wood connecting with your skin, no doubt bruises already forming on your skin as Tyler's rough hand slid up your nightgown, his fingers teasingly brushing against your dampened underwear.

'Does this cunt still belong to me?'

His fingers press more harshly against your core as you finally let out an audible gasp, your body shuddering in the unfounded pleasure that surged from the rough touch.

'I said,' his other hand coming up and wrapping around your throat. 'Does this cunt still belong to me?'

His hand gripped your throat more tightly as you gasped for air.

'Answer.'

'Yes, yes it does.'

Tyler's eyes darkened even more before that beautiful, sadistic smile graced his features.

'There's my girl.'

He is kneeling before you, opening your legs with ease as he inhaled deeply. His head moving closer towards you, his nose stroking against your inner thigh teasingly as he stared up at you.

'We don't need these.' He muttered, pushing your nightgown up around your waist and gripping your underwear with ease. The sound of the material ripping filling the room as you are finally laid bare to him.

Tyler wasted no time burying his head between your legs. That magical tongue coming out and lazily lapping up your desire, causing your back to arch and your hands to claw helplessly at the smooth wood, looking for anything to ground yourself as Tyle continued to lavish you.

Your hands eventually tangle in his curls. Tugging on his hair as you let out a pathetic whimper, yours legs shaking with pleasure as Tyler eagerly laps at your pussy. Eating like a man denied of his favourite food for years.

He pulls away and stares up at you. His chin glistening with you as he smirks at you. His fingers eagerly replacing his mouth. Your back arching off the vanity as you cry out. Tyler watching your every reacting intensely as he curls his fingers upwards. Your body shuttering as you fall apart around his finger. Tyler groaning in delight.

'My darling girl, always so perfect.'

His fingers dancing down your thighs. Leaving your desire glistening on your thighs before he eagerly sucks on his fingers, groaning around them and his hazel eyes shutting as he continues to suck on his fingers.

'Still taste like strawberries. Tell me, lover.' He is leaning in. His scent; woodsy, metallic and intoxicating filling your sense. 'Has anyone else had you?'

You stare at him, still coming down from your high. His hand wrapping around your thigh and squeezing tightly. You know there will be marks tomorrow but you don't care. All you wanted was him.

Monster and all.

Your beautiful, beautiful monster.

'Tell me, has anyone else had you? Touched what's mine.'

You finally shake your head.

And it was true, you hadn't as so much kissed someone else. The grief and memory of him was too strong.

No one would be able to match the dance so perfectly. Know the steps of the murderous, all-consuming tango like Tyler.

Tyle grins down at you. You can see his hard cock straining in his pants.

'My perfect girl.'

His hand is stroking your cheek again, and despite the situation and who was before you. No one would ever compare to the hazel eyed moneter before you.

'Say you want my cock.'

You shudder at the words, oh how you wanted him. So desperately.

'Say you want my cock.'

'I want your cock.'

His rough hands grip you with ease, lifting you up and tossing you onto your bed like you weigh nothing. You lay on the bed, your nightgown still hiked up around your waist. Your pussy still dripping with desire as Tyler stands at the end of your bed.

His bare stomach taut and strong with muscles, his cock still twitching in his pants as he reaches for the button and fly. Pushing them down, and you pick your lips as his hard cock springs free. His cock dripping with pre-cum as his eyes trail over your body.

'Strip.' He growls out.

You hurriedly pull off your nightgown, your body completely bare for him as Tyler lets out a groan. Lazily stroking his cock as he stares down at you. His eyes black with hunger.

'Look at you,' he mutters, 'still perfect for me.'

He draws onto the bed, his eyes never leaving yours as he stares at you. Like an animal finally cornering his willingly pray. Oh how you wanted your monster to devour you. Make you completely his.

His strong body looms over yours.

One strong hand reaching out and pinning your arms above your head. A leg sliding between yours and nudging your legs open with ease.

'You know there is no going back, lover.'

You nod.

You knew there was no going back the moment you walked into the coffee shop and were greeted by hazel eyes and a friendly smile.

Oh, how that friendly smile had been so deceiving.

You feel his cock move up your thigh as his tip teases your dripping folds as he groan. His back muscle tightening as he shudders with pleasure.

'My beautiful girl.'

Your eyes fluttering shut at the surprisingly tender words. His hand still gripping your hands tightly, no doubt leaving marks on your skin.

And you wanted him to mark you. Litter your body with black and red marks, a manifestation of his hold over you.

He wastes no time lining up his hips with your own, slamming his cock into your pussy with one, fluid movement. The sensation causing you both to groan in pleasure and some pain.

'Fuck, I forgot how tight you were.' Tyler grunted in your ear as his hips snapped into yours roughly. Wasting no time setting a rough, fast paced rhythm. His mouth falling over, groaning above you as you feel his cock stretch you with each flick of his hips. You felt so deliciously full. The perfect mixture of pleasure and pain.

Those lines had always been blurred between the two of you.

Tyler continues to pant above you, his hips rutting eagerly as you mewl beneath him. He leans down, biting into your shoulder and you feel the blood dripping down your shoulder. Tyler groaning loudly as he tongue swipes out, eagerly lapping at the blood as he thrusts into you.

His hand coming down, gripping one of your thighs ans bring it up. Holding it pressed to his waist as he thrusts above you. His lips shining ruby with your blood as he grins down at you. His eyes crazed with lust, his hand gripping your thigh more tightly. You know there will be a bruise forming by the morning.

'Are you close, lover?' He pants out.

You can feel your walls tightening around him as that delicious, torturous coil begins to tighten in your stomach. You can feel yourself on the edge of the cliff, ready to make that leap and become his forever.

Your perfect monster.

Made just for you.

You can feel Tyler is close. The way his thrusts become more erratic. The way his jaw is clenching in concentration. The tightened grip on your thigh.

'I need you to cum.'

It doesn't take much. One, violent thrust that sends your body surging up the bed and that coil bursts. Finally releasing you as you cry out, clenching around him as your back arches. Your eyes roll to the back of the head and Tyler groans watching you fall back because of him.

You fall limp beneath him, lazily aware that Tyler is still thrusting into you until he pauses, groaning as he shudders above you. He continues to lazily thrust into you as he rides out his own wave of euphoria.

'Maybe I should make you have my baby.' He mutters, still thrusting into you. 'Make you have my monster.'

You whimper at the words as Tyler finally pulls out, collapsing beside you as he pants, glancing over at you. His chest rising and falling rapidly as you feel yourself instinctively clenching your thighs together. Already missing the feeling of him inside you.

'Please don't leave this time.' You mutter.

Feeling pathetic for even having to say it.

Tyler looks at you, propping himself up on one elbow and staring down at you.

'You aren't ever going to leave me.' He mutters and you believe.

Wherever he's, no matter what he does. You will follow him blindly.

'We are leaving tomorrow night.'

You nod your head. Not even considering the consequences of leaving your family behind, your parents. Being on the run with a wanted outcast; a known and hunted monster.

'Meet me at Skull Tree tomorrow. Midnight.'

You watch as he removes himself from the bed, staring down at you. One hand reaching out, gently swiping some of the blood from your bite mark, and rubbing it on your cheek before gripping your chin.

'If you aren't there, I'll find you. I'll kill everyone close to you, and anyone who dates look at you. Do you understand me, lover?'

You still feel dazed but nod.

Tyler smiling down at you. It was nothing like the friendly smile that had first greeted you.

This was pure animalistic, dangerous and vicious and both a threat and a promise of what was to come if you dare disobey him. And you didn't want to, you wanted to entirely be his and his alone.

Tyler was still laying beside you, staring down at you.

'I'll stay until you fall asleep.' Is all he says. He can't stay here, not when he is on the run and being hunted.

You aren't shocked when you awake the next morning but see a note on your bedside table. Just like last time.

You are mine.

You genuinely thought you found a nice boy to go steady with. Being the romantic soul, like your mother, you even fantasised about a wedding. Wednesday almost burst a vein in her eye when she accidentally brushed your hand and had her mind flooded with your wishful thinking.

But it all shattered when the monster your sister had been hunting all year turned out to be Tyler. Your heart broke when you found Wednesday and Tyler in the woods, Tyler's Hyde-form showing with his claws around her neck.

"Tyler...", you couldn't help but whimper out, heartbroken, and the Hyde turned around, something akin to fear flickering in his bulbous eyes.

When he tossed Wednesday to the side and approached you, you didn't know if it was to hurt you or not. But then something jumped from the side and attacked him. Scrambling away and dragging Wednesday with you, you hurry towards safety.

After everything with Crackstone, you stood hugging Enid, whispering how brave she was when you saw Tyler being led away in a straitjacket and thrashing violently. But when his eyes met yours, he calmed for a second. His lips formed words that you didn't hear. You turned away so he didn't see your tears.

Going home for the summer was actually a blessing. You've spent most of your time in your room with Thing — who wiped your tears away gladly — or with your brother. Pugsly discovered he had the same powers as you and was very excited.

The two of you frequently sat at the dinner table with your hair fried upright. It happened so much that you've begun noticing some white chunks growing.

At first, you tried to hide it. It made you look like Grandma Frump, and you knew she and your mama didn't have the best of relationships. But your mama, being your mama, she knew you were hiding something, and you pulled down your hoodie, revealing your white streaks.

She hugged your worries away and kissed you on the top of your head.

When the new year at Nevermore finally began, Pugsley joined you and Wednesday. You were far more excited to have all your siblings close to you than Wednesday, but you paid her no mind.

Because of your closeness with Pugsley, you were actually the first one he introduced to his new pet, Slurp. Pretty early on, you realised it was actually the poor boy who died in the Iago tower accident thirty years ago. Prof Orloff once talked about the boy who extended his life before tragically passing early, never dropping his name.

You grimaced as Pugsley forced the zombie to eat honey and caf mystery-meat-sandwiches. As you walked through the forest after another visit to 'Slurp', you suddenly got the idea when you saw a dead dear on the ground. A really weird and disgusting idea...

Grabbing a pair of gloves, one of Wednesday's knives, and a Tupperware container or two, you ventured into the forest in search of dead animals. After a while, you had collected a bunch of mice and squirrel brains, and you returned to the bee shed.

Taking a deep breath, you opened the door and closed it immediately behind you. The zombie turned around from where he was facing the wall and stumbled towards you. Quickly, you pulled out the container and threw the brains towards him. He scrambled towards them like a man starved (which he was) before devouring one after the other.

Once he finished, he looked at you with his one eye, and it seemed like it was a little bit clearer. "Was that okay? I'll try to find more, but I can't promise any of the good stuff." You send the zombie boy a guilty smile before exiting the shed again, almost puking because of the stench and the sheer absurdity of what you just did.

To get your mind off the zombie in the shed, you decided to accompany Wednesday to a visit to Willow Hill. To Tyler. As a good older sister, you couldn't let Wednesday visit that place on her own, so you joined her, much to your sister's dismay.

After signing some paperwork and having a very weird conversation with Miss Spannagel, Dr Fairburn led the two of you towards a heavily secured part of Willow Hill. Once inside, your heart broke. You couldn't help but rush towards the bars, clutching them tightly.

There was Tyler... His hands were in chains towards the wall and a thick strap around his neck. At the sound of your trembling voice calling out his name, his head snapped towards the three of you.

"Am I dreaming or is that really you?", he rasped out, slowly stalking closer.

He looked bad. Grimy and sweaty and dirty and deranged. Not like the boy whom you previously shared kisses with. His eyes were wild, sizing you up before snapping towards Wednesday. With his head cocked to the side, he moves towards you like a predator seeing his prey.

Your feet moved on their own and brought you towards the bars of his cell, clutching the cold metal. You ignored the warning coming from your sister and leaned your head against the bars. "I missed you", you whisper, almost guiltily.

Because it felt so wrong to miss him after all he had done. He killed so many... Even if your sister is all about murderers and homicide, you aren't.

Before you could pull away, a hand grabbed your jaw roughly through the bars and you let out a whimper. A spark escaped from your hands as Tyler's lips crashed upon yours.

Tyler moaned into the kiss, his hand going from your jaw towards your throat. "I like your hair", he whispered against your lips once he finally parted from you.

Not long after, you were pulled away from the bars by a security guard and Tyler let out a guttural scream as electricity coursed through the collar around his neck.

You couldn't help but let out a scream as you saw him fall to the ground and on the verge of Hyde-ing out as the guard dragged you towards the hallway. Tears streamed down your face, a hand clutched over your mouth as you stared at the locked door in front of you.

Hugging yourself, you didn’t wait for your sister to finish up and make the long walk back towards Nevermore. At your dorm, you collapsed into your bed and pulled the covers up to your face.

You heard a bunch of tippy-taps and Thing made his way to you, keeping you company and letting you vent about Tyler and your sister and everything that's on your mind. He suggested to join the camping trip to led out a little steam.

But of course, nothing goes to plan...

Your idiot of a brother actually brought the damned zombie with him to the trip! And he found it weird that the creature escaped and ate a man's brain clean out.

You, Pugsley, and Eugene tried to look for the poor zombie, but your search wasn't very fruitful. Until he started to attack the campers and your father, who was showering. He clumsily swung the axe around until the police were finally able to catch him and drag him away in chains.

The sight felt very familiar to you, and you couldn't help but shudder at the thought.

After the disastrous camping trip, you actually had some free time again — Pugsley and Eugine were in detention and Wednesday had made a new friend that she pulled into her investigation or whatever. You didn't really care.

However, there's news that an incident occurred at Willow Hill, resulting in multiple patients escaping, like Tyler and the zombie. But what worried you more was that Uncle Fester and Wednesday were there. Wednesday even got thrown out of a window!

You spend most of your days at her bedside, caring for her and making sure nothing happens to her. But one day, as you were leaving the hospital, a nurse stopped you and gave you a bouquet of dark, almost black roses. When you asked who they were from, she pointed towards the end of the hallway and you just barely caught a view of Tyler's curls.

Angry and heartbroken, you hurry after him, desperate to catch him. But he was too fast, losing you in the crowd.

Going back home towards the cabin your parents staed in, you collapsed in your papa's arms and explained what was going on with tears in your eyes. He held you tightly and let you cry. Afterwards, he suggested you join him and Pugsley in finding Slurp, your brother still hopeful that the zombie will return to him.

The three of you track endlessly through the forest surrounding the school, but found nothing. Only a crowd that went to Pilgrimworld's Dia de los Muertos festival. Sharing a look, you all agreed to not tell Mama.

The cultural appropriation... was something else. But at least it's fun. Until there was a scream and people fleeing from the haunted house. Pugsley started to run towards it, and you and your papa follow after him, but only you go into the building.

There, you found Pugsley and Slurp Isaac in a conversation, the now half-zombie convincing your brother to let him go. But just as Isaac left, his eyes found yours and it seemed like he hesitated for a moment. Until he showed you a half-smile-half-smirk and left.

It sent chills down your spine that you couldn't explain. So you decided to search for answers with the only person you knew talked about the boy before. Professor Orloff.

So, the next day after classes, you made your way towards Prof Orloff's classroom. The question was almost halfway out of your mouth when you stopped abruptly.

A grotesque slurping sound came from the front of the classroom. There stood a figure bent over Prof Orloff's fishtank. It was cracked open and the water inside turned red.

A scream escaped your lips before you could help it, and the figure looked at you like a deer in headlights. It was Isaac.

You decided to not wait until he made a move. You turned around and sprinted. But a sudden force swept you off your feet and slammed you into the wall. Your head collided hard into the wood panelling and you slumped down. You just barely saw two feet shuffling towards you before you passed out. A mop of black curly hair was the last thing you remembered.

And that's how you end up here... Tied up in metal chackles in the Hyde-out bunker of the Galpins.

Your head feels heavy, your throat like sandpaper. As you reach up to touch the sore spot on your head, the sudden sound of metal makes you hesitate. Old, rusty shackles bolted to the wall are clasped tight around your wrists. Every movement irritates your skin. You hiss.

The sound gets the attention of the people not too far away from you at a sort of breakfast table. Two of which you recognise — Tyler and his mother. He showed her the few pictures he had of her. You remarked then that they had the same eyes. That made the boy smile.

Those two pairs of the same eyes look at you very differently; one curious and the other worried. Tyler whispers your name and wants to rush to you, but his mother's hand on his arm stops him.

Instead, you watch the other person, a man, stalk towards you and lower himself to be on your eye level as you sit tied up on a mattress on the ground.

"You're awake", he smiles and reaches out, brushing hair out of your face. "Did you have a nice nap?"

You narrow your eyes as you try to place his face. You swear you've seen it before. And then it clicks. You did see his face before, but it was less human-like. His skin still sags here and there, but his hair has grown completely back and the open wounds are no more.

"Isaac?"

A wide smile grows on said man's face, and Tyler's mother claps happily in her hands. "Isn't it marvellous!"

Isaac straightens out and you scramble slightly back until your back hits the wall behind you. "Excuse my sister's excitement. It's been... a long time we've seen each other."

Sister? So that means... You furrow your brows and turn towards Tyler. He has slumped down in his chair with an annoyed expression on his face.

"Well", she smiles, rising from her chair and walking towards the kitchen. There is a kitchen? Where on earth are you? "Come join us for Tyler's favourite breakfast."

You tug your knees under your chin and turn your head away, not in the mood to play happy family along with your captors. The gesture's not received well because Tyler's mom storms over towards you and raises her hand. But before she can strike you, two sets of growls vibrate the air.

Both you and the woman turn wide-eyed towards Tyler and Isaac. They both stand ready to pounce; Isaac's hand raised in the air and Tyler's lips curled up in a snarl.

"Now, Françoise, no need for violence." Isaac's voice sounds dangerous- protective. Sickly sweet at the same time. It makes the woman falter in her anger.

You slowly scramble up from the mattress — your legs wobbly and unsteady. You take place at the table and look at the plate stacked with pancakes before you. Anxiously, you scratch the top of your hand, realising you're very much in danger with these people.

Out of instinct, Tyler reaches under the table towards your hand to soothe your nerves. Instead, you snatch your hand back and hiss, "Don't touch me."

He looks heartbroken at your tone and balls his fists.

"Why am I even here? Where the fuck is here?"

Isaac takes the seat next to you and shuffles closer. "You, my dear, are the key to curing my sister. The Hyde gene is taking more and more from her and with your... co-operation she will finally be rid of that plague."

Meeting his eyes, you frown. "And what do you need from my co-operation?"

"Your Spark. Your father tried back then, but from what Tyler told you are quite the powerhouse."

That makes your head snap back towards Tyler. "He did what?" Your fists curl in anger and accidental electricity zaps around them.

A gloved hand grabs your wrists and Isaac studies your hand fascinated. "At first, I wanted to go for Pugsley. As a little payback for the mystery-meat sandwiches. But then, quite brilliantly, Tyler remarked that the only one with a bit of power control was you", he lets go of your wrist and instead holds your jaw, "And how could I forget the one who so kindly helped me. Who fed me actual meals instead of the slop?"

Isaac opens his mouth wide. Out slithers an elongated, black tongue. It swipes a long, wet stripe up your cheek. Almost like a kiss.

You squeeze your eyes closed and contort your face. Please let it end soon. Please let it end soon.

Even Tyler and Françoise were too stunned to speak. They watch their brother and uncle have a satisfied look on his face as he leans closer to you, his lips against your ear. "I will be your Frankenstein, and you will be my bride. You've got the look and powers for it, now only one thing is missing..."

With that, he stands up with a flourish and calls his sister with him, disappearing through a thick metal door. At the slam and sound of a mechanism locking, you let yourself fall out of the chair and drag yourself back towards the mattress you woke up on.

Once you collapse there, you can't help but let out all the pent-up emotion. You start to sob. This is it, this is how you die. At the hands of a maniac who has thought up a weird, obsessive tale about you and him.

A warm hand slides up your back. You want to pull away, scream at him to get lost. But you don't have the energy. So you let him. Let Tyler comfort you and pull you into his arms.

As Tyler rubs soothing circles over your back, he whispers apologies against your temple. That he didn't mean for this to happen, that he only wanted to see you again, hold you in his arms again.

You're too tired to protest or struggle out of his hold. And not soon after, you feel yourself get drowsy. The familiar earthy scent of Tyler lulls you into false comfort. You're passed out cold pretty quickly.

Apparently you've slept for hours, because by the time you wake up, there are two sets of arms wrapped around you; Tyler holds you tightly against his chest, scared you're about to vanish. Behind you lies Isaac, his arm draped over your middle and his face pressed into your back.

The contrast between the two men is jarring. While Tyler is running hot like a furnace, Isaac is as cold as a... as a corpse.

Feeling overwhelmed (and also having a full bladder), you wiggle out of their iron-clad holds and shuffle towards the bathroom — you gather as much of the chains in your arms so you don't make a lot of noise.

Once you've done your business and open the bathroom door, you almost let out a surprised scream as Françoise stands in front of you, her head cocked to the side.

"I can see why my son loves you", she whispers, her voice wavering.

That makes you frown. Looking over towards the boy curled on the mattress, his arms wrapped around himself and his back towards Isaac.

"He looks the same at you as he did at a girl from a cartoon he used to watch on Sunday mornings." A fond smile grows on her face as she calls back the memory. She wraps her arms around her middle and moves towards the kitchen table, sitting so she can watch both men.

You slowly move towards the chair next to her. Eyeing her warily, you lean back.

"I've missed so much of his life", she continues after a while. "How is he? As a person?" Françoise turns her head towards you expectantly.

"He is...", you trail off, not knowing what to say exactly. Does she want the Tyler you knew or this new Tyler? "Tyler's very social. He can talk up anyone like that, you know. That's how we met, actually."

You can't help but smile at the memory. "I used to come study at the Weathervane. Tyler worked there as a barista after school. In no time, he knew my order by heart. He actually tried really hard to make a heart out of foam every time. It looked absolutely horrendous — even a bit phallic at times — but he meant well."

As you ramble on, Françoise looks fondly at you. Oh how happy she is that Tyler found someone like you.

She sees so much of Morticia in you, and it makes her heart ache. Françoise feels bad for the plans Isaac has for you, how he wants to use you like he did to your father.

"Better get back to bed, dear. It's bad to turn your day and night around."

A lump forms in your throat that's hard to swallow as you watch the empty space between Tyler and Isaac. Glancing back at Françoise, you see her smile at you like a mother does at a child she just ordered to do something.

Raising slowly, you make your way back towards the mattress. Dread fills you as you move snail-like between the two men, lying on your back. Like they sensed your presence, both men move towards you and wrap their arms around you, snuggling closer.

This is going to be a very long night...

You loved the Addams Family, you really did.

Ever since you befriended Wednesday (well, to the extent that anyone could befriend the girl) they had all welcomed you with open arms. Despite your love for them, you were starting to really question your connection with them.

It seems they were the reason you always got into life threatening situations.

First, it was you helping Wednesday investigate the hyde, which put your life in danger multiple times. This time around, you just wanted to help the youngest Addams take care of his new zombie pet. Unfortunately that kindness had cause you to be knocked out by the same pet and dragged to an unknown locatin. 

“Wakey wakey”

You’re eyes gorgily opened as you were met with a face close to yours.

“There she is.”

You blinked your eyes wide as you registered the pale face and brown curly locks in front of you. You had never seen this man before, though there was something so familiar about the little markings on his face.

“Slurp?”

Isaac let out a forced laugh as he shook his head. “No..no.. You guys REALLY loved to call me that,” He laughed in a way that seemed he was one step away from a break down. “No, my name is Isaac.”

The man held out his hand for you to shake, which, on instinct, you went to return.

As you did, you became aware of the heaviness of the movement. Looking down you notice that you had been chained up, with big buckles on your wrists and ankles.

“Don’t worry, you can still move,” Isaac spoke with a sweet smile. “They're just there for safety reasons.”

You slowly looked around the room, which seemed to be a bunker styled after a 60s home. You would have almost been impressed if not for the fact that your life was in danger. You noticed that you and Isaac weren't alone in the room.

On a kitchen table that was stacked with pnackes sat a woman you also didn't recognise, and a boy, that unfortunately you were all too familiar with.

“I see you know Tyler,” Isaac spoke almost excitedly as he moved over to the two. “And this is my sister -”

“Francoise,” The woman spoke kindly to you as Isaac placed a hand on her shoulder. If it wasn't for Tyler’s gloomy face, they would have looked like a picture of a nuclear, straight from the 60s.

You blink a few times, still trying to process the situation you were in. “Wha-I-” You tried to speak, but your mouth was too dry.

“Oh, Tyler, get her something to drink,” Francoise spoke, and the teenage Hyded grumbled, getting up to grab you a glass. You watched as he did so, clearly picking up on the fact that he was avoiding any eye contact with you.

It felt so weird to see him again, especially in an environment he wasn't in his monster form. It strangely felt like before you found out how he really was… well, except for the fact you were chained up and scared.

“Now I know you know about my Tyler’s condition,” Francoise spoke up, and you turned your attention to her. “It’s just awful, isn't it?”

You nodded slowly. “Yeah,” You agreed with your scratchy voice: it was awful. But you assumed you had different reasons than Francoise to agree. You were more worried about the people who got hurt in the Hyde's rampage.

“Well, my brother here…he’s a genius.” She pinched Isaac's cheeks. “And he has come up with a way to fix him… to fix me.” She coughed lightly in a red-stained cloth. Isaac looked at his sister with a worried face, though Francoise continued to smile at you as she spoke softly. “It would save our lives.”

They all seemed to be looking at you expectedly, as if you were meant to have a response to this information. Tyler approached you, handing you the glass of water, still not looking you in the eyes.

You took it, not being able to control yourself as you downed the entire thing. It didn't do much, but your throat definitely felt clearer. When you placed the glass down, they were still looking to you, waiting for a response.

“Um…that’s- that’s good. I’m happy for you,” You responded, not to sure why you needed to know all of this information. It wasn't even like you had stumbled upon Isaac and seen his secret plans. You had been taking a walk in the middle of the day when the ex-zombie decided to kidnap you.

Francoise clapped her hands together, seemingly delighted by your response. “Well, I’m glad you think that. That’s so - well-” She nudged Isaac, wanting him to take over for the rest of the speech.

Isaac nodded, moving back towards you. “Well, you see, for this to work, we’re going to need pixie blood.”

You felt your heart drop in that moment.

Ever since you were a child, you were told all about the powers of your species' blood, the unknown healing properties, and the rumours of it being used to cure anyone of anything. You're family had no way of knowing how much of that was true, but every pixie could feel it in their body - there was something special about your blood.

That's why there were so few of you.

Your parents taught the dangers of people wanting rare pixie blood, but you assume it was one of those things your parents made up to keep you from talking to strangers.

“You know, I thought that finding pixie blood would be the hardest part of all of this, but when that Addams boy brought you to see me in my zombie form, I knew I would be able to actually do this.” You silently cursed Pugsly and his puppy dog eyes that you couldn't say no to.

Isaac seemed to take notice of your scared face. “Oh, don't worry, we won't need to take that much. We're not planning on anything happening to you.”

“You’re barely noticing it’s gone,” Francoise spoke up, as she wrapped an arm around Isaac. “And it’s for such a good cause.”

You’re eyes darted between all of them. You had no reason to trust a single word they said, especially with tyler there. Your eyes landed back down on the chains that were keeping you tied to the location.

“I’m sure you can understand our precautions, but you're not a prisoner here,” Isaac spoke, as his hands dragged along the chains you were attached to. “Compared to those two boys, you treated me liike an actual person, not just some dog. Of course I want to treat you with the same respect” Isaac spoke, and Francoise nodded.

“Yes boys can be so rowdy, I’m sick of them,” Francoise joked, her tone teasing and not at all fitting for the fear you actually felt. “It’ll be nice to have another girl around… assuming that you’ll help us.”

They looked to you, this time, even Tyler fixing his gaze onto you expectantly. You couldn;t bring yourseflt to say anything. You didn;t know how to respond.

“Oh look at us, bombarding you with information while you just woke up.” Francoise shook her head, speaking as if you had woken up from a nap, not from being kidnapped. “How about Isaac and I go run some errands, and you and Tyler can catch up?”

She kissed Tyler on the cheek and led a clearly frustrated Isaac out of the bunker. “We’ll be back in an hour,” she said, sending Tyler a wink. It made you feel sick that the boy you hated was being treated like your high school friend - not like one of your captors.

You looked to Tyler, not knowing what to expect from the boy. He kept eye contact with you for a second, before scoffing and going to do his own thing around the bunker.

You stayed still in your spot, not moving from the cot they had placed you in. Neither of you spoke, letting the silence linger in the air for what felt like hours. There was a bang above you, and you let out a squeak as you jumped.

Tyler shook his head. “You don’t need to be so paranoid.” He finally spoke, “They were being honest, they don't plan on killing you.”

You scoffed, “Yeah, thanks. I now feel so safe locked up in a bunker.” You jangled your chains unenthusiastically.

“They're not because you're a prisoner.”I only just got out of wearing chains; it’s not an odd occurrence around here." He revealed, and you rolled your eyes. “Wow, such a loving family dynamic you got going."

“Well, it’s better than Willow Hill,” He snapped back, “The place you helped get me locked up in.”

“That was all your own fault, you know that,” You snapped, finally looking back up at him. "Don't shift the blame on me."

“Really? Cause I seem to remember YOU being the one who called the police after you and your freak friends attacked me. My going to the hell hole is very connected to your actions.”

You blinked. “Well, here's a crazy thought, maybe my 'freak friends' and I wouldn't be attacking you if you weren't a monster who was trying to kill everyone.”

You were yelling now, and Tyler growled, standing up and walking toward you. “Be careful what you say-”

"Or what, you’re gonna kill me? You need me to save you from this sick psycho disease you have that-”

“How dare you!”

The tension was cut between you and Tyler as both your heads whipped around to see Isaac and Francoise standing at the entrance of the bunker. It seems your hour of 'alone time' was up.

“How dare you speak to my son that way?” The woman stormed up to you, hitting you across the face with such force you fell to the ground.

“Mom!” Tyle yelled, concern in his voice. Yeah maybe he had been fighting with you, but he hadn't expected any actual harm.

“We let her into our house, we treat her with kindness, and this… this is what she does.” You could hear Francoise complain, but your eyes already stung with tears; you couldn't see anything but the blurry ground.

You could hear Isaac muttering something to her and deep breaths being taken.

There was a moment of silence, and you could hear a small “I’m sorry” come from the woman. 

You just lay there, hoping somehow, some way, someone would find you and save you.

---

“These are amazing pancakes.”

You rolled your eyes at Francoise's dramatic act as she ate breakfast with her brother and son, “You sure you don’t want any y/n?”

You didn’t respond.

You had been in the bunker for 3 days now and had refused to say anything since the first day. You would eat and drink enough to stay alive, but any additional amenities the family tried to give you, you rejected.

Still, Issac and Francoise seemed determined to try and lure you to the family, promising you that they would barely take any of your blood. That they would let you go after all of this would be over, and you would even be invited to their weekly family dinners.

You would never respond, which would often lead to Francoise freaking out, leading to an outburst. Each time she would apologise to you afterwards, Isaac lingering over her with the same smile you know existed only to cover up his absolute disdain for you.

You knew he hated having to rely on you. Having to suck up to you because you were his only chance of getting pixie blood, and he didn't want to risk you bolting.

“Tyler, why don’t you bring her some?” Francoise told her son, handing him a plate of pancakes she had stacked for you/

They seemed to believe that Tyler and you had some sort of connection, since you had been 'friends' before. They would often spend parts of the day out of the bunker, just to give time for Tyler to build trust with you.

The times they left were just filled with Tyler trying to make conversation while you stayed there silently. You didn’t know why he spoke to you. You crossed out the idea of guilt; if that boy was capable of feeling guilt, he would have a lot more to worry about.

Still, you suspected it wasn't just trying to manipulate you, he very rarely tried to convince you of anything or even expect a response. He would just talk, like you were his own personal journal.

You suspected maybe it was the isolation getting to him, since you doubted Isaac and Francoise really listened to what he had to say. You were just a captive audience.

The only time you felt different was when he'd try to convince you to just go along with his mom's and uncle's attempts. He'd always tell you that it would be safer for you, that you were less likely to get hurt.

He would act as if he actually gave a shit about your life.

Tyler moved towards you with a plate of pancakes, sending you a look with his eyes. It was a warning: don't do anything stupid.

You were too stubborn to listen, and as soon as he came near you, you hit the plate out of his hand, causing it to smash on the floor.

Instantly, Francoise stood up, “What did you just do, you ungrateful-“

“It was me,” Tyler quickly jumped in to take the blame. “I dropped it before I even reached her,” he looked between Francoise and Isaac, anxiously waiting for their reactions.

“Oh, we’ll be more careful, honey.” Francoise’s attitude changed completely. Isaac just stared at his nephew. Clearly, he had seen what went down, and Tyler stared back nervously.

“Well, Francoise, I think it’s time for us to run some errands,” Issac spoke, breaking his gaze with Tyler and redirecting it to you. “We’re almost completely ready,” Francoise nodded, moving to Tyler and giving him a kiss on the forehead, and sending a small apology your way.

As soon as the door closed to the bunker, Tyler sighed, moving to grab a dust pan and broom.

“I don’t get why you have to be so stubborn,” he complained as he swept up the mess.

“I see it less as being stubborn and more like protecting my life,” You snapped back, your voice being a bit more confident with just Tyler. Yeah, maybe the two of you disliked each other, but he seemed to be the only one fully obsessed with hurting you.

Tyler just rolled his eyes, annoyed that it was the first time you decided to respond to him. “Really? You're still on that. I mean, offering you pancakes really doesn't seem like a threat to your life.” Tyler put the broom away. “I know we’re not the most trustworthy people, but we’re not monsters.”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Don’t”

Tyler quickly spoke before you could open your mouth. “I know I walked right into that one. I just mean… are we that bad?”

You looked at him in disbelief. “I feel insane right now. Are you seriously trying to guilt me?” You asked, and he shrugged

“I mean to some extent, yes,” He shrugged, his voice rising every so slightly with frustration. “I just think this would be a lot easier if you stopped villainising us.” He didn't understand why you couldn't just join in on the family activities.

Maybe they were forced and hollow, but they seemed better than cowering in the corner.

“I have every reason to villainise you, Tyler,” you spat. “I don’t trust you.” You made it clear that you meant him, not just the whole Galpin family.

Tyler rolled his eyes again. “Oh, because of Wednesday? You really think that loyal, you’re willing to make your life harder to stand by her message?”

You groaned at his words, filled with frustration and passion that seemed to disappear during your time at the bunker. “I'm so tired of everyone assuming all my actions are because of Wednesday. I'm my own person with opinions, you get that right?”

“I mean, you’re stuck to her side all the time. Last year, I never saw you without her. So why else would you mistrust me, because you have-“

“Because you betrayed me, too!” You yelled at him, and Tyler went quiet. “I know it’s stupid, even before you betrayed us, you clearly cared more about Wednesday, but you were my friend too,” You admitted, and Tyler’s gaze moved to the floor. "I'm sick of everyone pretending like you weren't a part of our lives, because you were my friend and I cared about you."

It was hard to believe that this time last year the two of you were joking together, as Tyler gave you free coffees and you joined Wednesday in her discussions about the Hyde. Yeah, maybe you and Tyler were never alone, but he cared for you and did what he could to make sure your opinion got heard. On many occasions, he seemed to be willing to put his life on the line to help protect you.

At least he tricked you into thinking that.

“I don’t get close to many people, I don’t have many people that don’t just want to be near me cause I’m rare. I let you into my life, so stop acting like you didn't hurt me too.”

You both went silent for a moment. Only then did you fully process what you had admitted, a small blush forming on your face. You really hadn't expected to ever reveal to Tyler how his leaving really hurt you, especially while being kidnapped by his crazy family that wanted your blood.

You sighed, realizing Tyler wasn't going to say anything in response. “So if I’m going to die either way, I’d rather not spend my last days sucking up to a guy who tried to kill me multiple times.”

“You’re not going to die,” Tyler spoke quickly. You were honestly shocked by the firmness of the statement, like not only did Tyler think that, but he needed it to be true. “Isaac told me we’re only taking a bit of blood, it's not enough to do any real damge to your health”

You raised an eyebrow, shaking your head. “You really believe that?”

Tyler silently nodded, his eyes raking your face as he realized you didn't agree.

“Even if that’s true, do you really think they're just going to let me walk free. After everything I’ve seen, after eveyrthing I know, you guys will just release me into the world to go tell everyone”

Tyler’s eyes darted around the room as his brain sped up to keep up with the information. It was clear he hadn't thought of that.

You scoffed, almost offended by his expression. He seemed to be really wanting you to believe that information stressed him out.

“So I don't care if you guys want to try and get me to join the family fun before I die, but don't demean me by telling me it’s not inevitable." You stared firmly at Tyler as you told your truth

"I'm not walking away from this alive.” 

---

Despite despising the boy, you looked to Tyler for some sick form of comfort as you were strapped to the medical table.

“Don’t tell me you're afraid of needles.” Isaac smiled down at you as he prepared for the extraction.

“I’m more afraid of the machine you have me next to,” You admitted, looking straight at the buzzing machinery. You hadn't expected such a dramatic sight, which was definitely amplified by the fact that you were in the basement of he abandoned Psychiatric Hospital.

The day you dreaded the most had finally arrived.

“Tyler, honey, makes sure she’s strapped in properly,” Francoise spoke to her son. “We want to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Tyler nodded, kneeling beside you as he tightened the straps. You winced as you felt the leather dig into your skin, and your heart beat sped up.

Tyler sighed, taking notice of your clear distress.

“You know I always liked you,” Tyler spoke softly, and you rolled your eyes. “See, you’re coming around to me dying.” You referred to his use of the past tense when referring to you.

“No, that’s - you’re not..” He huffed, stumbling on his words. Even in your last moments, you always had the ability to push his buttons. “I mean, when we were… friends. You were the only one that I liked.”

You looked at him, amazed. “But you tried to kill me?”

“Oh yeah, well, I still hated you. A lot,” Tyler revealed, and you snorted. The whole situation was messed up; you couldn't help but find some sick humour in it. “But you were the only one I also genuinely liked… like in those moments, there wasn't hate, I actually liked you instead of feeling indifferent. If that makes sense.”

You shook your head, as well as you could being strapped down, in some strange way, completely understanding what he meant. You hated Tyler so much, yet in that moment, seeing the face of someone you once saw as your friend brought a lot of comfort.

“I never really stopped caring about you," You blurted out suddenly. You decided either way, you were dying, so who cared? “Even after you betrayed us, and you were sent away, I thought about you and if you were alright."

Tyler just nodded, his eyes looking deeply into yours, even if his expression didn't change. He figured anything you two needed to talk about, you would do after the experiment. Of course, after he rubbed it in your face that you were wrong about dying.

Stepping away, Tyler let Isaac step forward and take his place beside you. “It’ll just be a little pinch,” Isaac smiled, clearly getting enjoyment from the fact that he didn't have to suck up to you again.

He had taken back control.

You winced as you felt the needle enter your arm, refusing to look at the blood that was being sucked out of you. Tyler winced as well, not expecting the bag to be so big. Still, he tried his best not to seem too scared, trying to keep you calm.

You felt woozy by the time the bag was full, though you were still conscious.

Tyler smiled at you, and you weakly sent one back.

Then you felt another pinch on your arm, and you watched as Tyler’s face dropped.

“What are you doing?” He asked Isaac, and you turned just in time to see a new empty bag slowly filling up with your blood. You tried to thrash against the straps tied to you, but unfortunately, Tyler had done a good job at tightening them.

You were stuck in place.

“What are you doing?” Tyler repeated, growling slightly under his breath. “I thought you only needed one bag.”

Isaac shook his head, lightly wrapping his arm around Tyler. “That was the required amount, but when you're a scientist as long as I am, you learn to make sure you have extra. In the rare case of any mistakes”

Tyler’s eyes darted back to you as your face slowly lost all of its colour. If the first bag had made you feel a bit dizzy, this bag seemed to be completely draining you.

“Stop it,” Tyler hissed, and Francoise quickly came up to him, rubbing his arm comfortably. “It’s ok, love, she’s completely fine”

Tyler wanted to believe his mother, but the way you whined as you tried to use the little bit of energy you had to pull on the restraints seemed the furthest from fine anyone could be.

“You have enough,” Tyler snapped, gesturing to the bag that was basically full.

“Just a little bit more,” Isaac smirked, and Tyler growled, glaring harshly at his uncle. Isaac chuckled, as if Tyler’s outburst was from a little kid. “Fine, fine, I’ll let her go.”

Tyler didn't miss the fact that Isaac purposely paused before taking out the needle, allowing the bag to fill up completely.

You slumped over, clearly now unconscious, though your body raised and lowered the tiniest bit.

You were still breathing.

“I’m surprised she made it through. She's stronger than she looks,” Isaac spoke, almost impressed, a phrase that filled Tyler with rage.

Isaac hadn't been expecting you to stay alive.

“Well, why don't you take her to one of the cells?” Isaac gestured to Tyler, who was quick to rush over to you and unstrap you. He picked you up bridal style, holding you close to himself as if Isaac or his mother would snatch you from him.

“It’s for the best… she'll be safe in a cell,” Francine spoke, though Tyler suspected that’s not what she really cared about. She just cared about the experiment and making sure you didn't do anything to ruin it.

Tyler was gentle as he placed you into one of the cells, draping his jacket over your body to provide some warmth. He was filled with a lot of emotions, though the biggest one was guilt.

You had told him so many times that it wouldn't be safe for you, but he ignored you. He wanted to believe his mother so much that he ignored all the signs.

And because of that, the one person he really cared about, who genuinely cared for him too, was on the verge of death.

He didn't know what he could do, but from that moment, Tyler had a new goal:

Keep you safe at all costs. 

You worked quickly, stripping your bed sheets and throwing them into your washer. Somehow it was colder downstairs, by what felt like twenty degrees. 

Running around your house like a headless chicken seemed to warm your body up, but that wouldn’t last long. 

The minute you had to get dressed, you were already cursing the cold weather. Cold hands to cold skin, cold jeans and even colder socks. 

“Oh, come on!” 

Passing your hallway mirror, you caught a glimpse of yourself. Your outfit wasn’t too bad, but you looked like you’d been dragged through a hedge backwards. Going on a mad dash for a hairbrush, you eventually found one in your downstairs bathroom. 

You hadn’t even left the house yet and you already wanted to be back home. 

Grabbing your bag and keys, you stopped short of the steps of your porch. You still needed to shovel the driveway. 

Before you could call out a string of curses, however, you spotted a familiar red truck slowly crawling up the gravel lane towards your home with a snow plough attached to the front. 

“You look like hell,” Tyler called from the window of his truck as he pulled up. 

You could have kissed him. “You’re a life saver.”

Tyler flashed you a smile. “Figured you might have wanted some help. Kate said she thought you might have been coming down with something.”

You shook your head. “I feel fine. Just tired, really. And in need of groceries.”

Tyler shrugged. “Want me to drive? Already got the truck warmed up inside.”

You nodded. “You are a goddamn saint.”

Tyler chuckled, “Well, hop in.”

“Do you not want some help getting this thing off?”

Tyler hopped out of his truck, shaking his head. “You just get in. You look like you’re five minutes from getting frostbite. No offence.”

You shook your own head, trudging through the snow. “None taken.”

Standing on your porch, your knees had been practically acting like cartoons. Shaking and shivering, almost knocking together. You could barely feel your ears, having forgotten your hat inside and the tip of your fingers, despite wearing gloves, were starting to feel numb. 

Twenty minutes later, Tyler was pulling up outside the grocery store. Apparently people had the sense to check the weather app before the snow hit and came shopping then. 

It was the quickest grocery shop you’d ever done. Which was probably helped by the fact they hadn’t rearranged the shelves again, and you just wanted to be back at home. 

At the checkout, you found Tyler waiting for you on the other side, holding his own bag of groceries. He grabbed two of your bags, helping you haul them to the truck before he started the drive back to your home. 

“How much snow are we expecting?” You asked him as he turned up your gravel lane just as it started snowing again. 

“Not much. It should be melted by next week. Back to the cold wind and rain.”

Helping you inside, Tyler closed your front door behind him whilst you put your groceries onto your dining room table. 

“Fancy some company?” Tyler offered. “I’ve got some time off? Could stick around for a while?”

You nodded. “Sounds good. I’m gonna go for a shower first. We can continue our movie list? I found a couple at the thrift store the other day.”

Tyler nodded in agreement. “Extra wood outside?”

“Yeah!” You called back to him as you ran upstairs. 

Half an hour later, you were showered, a little warmer and finally able to start your load of washing. Tyler handed you a hot cup of tea as you stepped out of your laundry room. 

“Here, this should help.”

Raspberry leaf. 

“How did you know?” You asked, bringing the hot drink to your lips. 

Tyler smiled a little as he turned around and continued preparing the grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. “I think I’ve been your friend long enough to know when.”

You hummed in surprise. “Nearly a decade of friendship and you know my cycle.”

“Creepy?”

You hummed some more, debating it in your head. “Out of context, maybe. But, no. Not creepy.”

“Phew.”

“Whatcha making?”

Tyler simply showed you. And you nearly cheered. “Yes!”

As more snow fell outside, you and Tyler curled up on your sofa in front of the TV, following on from where you’d both left off with your movie list. 

Ever since becoming friends, it had become a ritual to spend time together that wasn’t locked in intense, adrenaline-pumping, situations. 

As the dark night drew in early, you took a peak outside of your front window. With the snow that had fallen, and the colour of the sky, you didn’t feel comfortable having Tyler drive home in it, alone. 

“You’re staying here,” you told him. “I’ve got fresh bedding for my spare room in the closet. You’re not driving home in that.”

Rather than argue and point out that he still had the snow plough for his truck, that he’d driven into tornadoes and planted himself in the middle of the ‘suck zone’ and that his tyres were built for the weather outside your home, he simply said; 

“Yes, ma’am.”

Two hours later, Tyler was finished helping you make your own bed and walked into your spare room with you, carrying the warmer sheets you’d pulled from the top of the closet.

“You’re not decorated yet?” Tyler asked, a little shocked as you turned the light on. 

“Uh, no. Not yet.”

“Didn’t you move in, like, a year ago?”

“Ten months,” you corrected. “And…I’ve just been busy that’s all.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “The girl who found time to fully redecorate her entire room a week before finals in college hasn’t found time in ten months to decorate her spare room.”

You shrugged. “It’s..nothing.”

Tyler paused by the room, watching as you pulled the old sheets from the bed. He took his time, studying you, as he placed the fresh ones on the desk to his right and started helping you. 

“What aren’t you telling me?”

You swallowed thickly when you looked in his direction. “I broke it off with Pete.”

Tyler felt his soul stand still. “What?”

You nodded, continuing to strip the bed. You needed to do something as you told Tyler the full truth. “Please don’t be angry with me. I know I should have said something to you, or anyone for that matter, these past couple of months. But I just…”

Taking a breath, you started from the beginning. “We both travelled a lot for work and he was wonderful; he did all the right things but I just…” You sighed. “I wanted to settle down here. I’d been accepted into my EMT job and I’d finally bought this house and he just…he wasn’t ready and I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

“So…you broke it off?”

You nodded. “And I’ve spent the last ten months realising that I cared for him, deeply. But I don’t think I loved him.” You chuckled a little. “It’s a little cliche saying I loved the idea of him but not him.”

Tyler shook his head, softly. “No. Well, maybe a little. But…sometimes people can do everything right and it’s just…not meant to be.”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“Always.”

“I was kinda glad when I did,” you admitted. “It felt nice not having to hold back information about my work because he found it boring. It felt even nicer that I wasn’t cut off when I was talking about my work. It might just be my plants and walls, but…it was really nice.”

Tyler sat down on the bed opposite to you as you fell into the bare sheets. “Is this why you’ve been taking so much overtime?”

You nodded, feeling the emotions well in your chest. “I love my life and that I have the freedom but, it’s kinda lonely sometimes. Too quiet.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

You shrugged. “Never felt like the right time.”

“I’m glad you’re telling me now,” Tyler replied. “Are you okay?”

You nodded. “I will be. I am. I…I’m honestly just tired.”

“Well, can I be honest?” 

You nodded. “Always.”

“I didn’t really like him.” Tyler told you. “He was a nice dude, but kinda…”

You already knew the word he was searching for. “Boring?”

Tyler nodded with a small grimace. “Yeah.”

You couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Lily had already told you what they all thought about Pete, your ex, one night when she and Boone had taken at least twelve tequila shots. 

“I don’t know,” Tyler shrugged, quickly. “I just always figured you’d be with someone…more.”

You shrugged a little, considering it. It did make more sense then you and Pete. Your life was full of adventure and adrenaline and, as much as you wanted someone to be your calming factor, you also needed someone who could understand that side of your life. 

Not someone who wanted to ignore it.