It was a peaceful evening after a long school day. Nice despite the fading sunshine streaming in the windows Wednesday hadn't bothered to shutter, knowing April liked to bask in the warmth of the rays, for some reason.

  Wednesday watched as Chad sighed, dramatically flopping down onto the floor beside her for their bi-weekly appointment. Soon offering up the hand closest to her without prompting. Immediately, she set about removing the old, badly chipped nail polish from his nails. The pleasantly smooth, chemical bite of acetone wafting in the air as she scrubbed away the forest green that remained.

  "Hey, people usually talk about random life stuff at nail appointments, right? At least, they do in the movies." Wednesday arched a brow at the hesitant question, starting to push back his cuticles.

  "Some do. Not everyone, though. Many find the stranger performing a skill that requires extended semi-intimate touch to be a safe person to speak with about personal things due to various social and psychological factors."

  "Oh...well can I vent a bit? I just- people confuse me sometimes and I was kinda hoping you might have a bit of perspective here." He admitted, earning a more intensive look from her.

  "Wouldn't it likely be more prudent to ask for perspective from others your age?"

  "Well, maybe, but I kinda think I need a more objective, factual perspective. You're really good at that while I kinda just lead with emotions. April's a morbid romantic-No offense, April."

  "None taken." She assured from where she was seated nearby in the library, focused on using what appeared to be the world's tiniest brush to paint designs onto Thing's nails. After the assurance, she broke her concentration to give an understanding smile. "Thing and I are going to finish out his manicure in my room." She declared sweetly, carefully scooping up the sentient hand to let him settle on her shoulder. "Seems like a private sort of conversation. I'll see you both at dinner!" Chad gave a lazy wave with his free hand as they left before continuing.

  "So anyways, Bren's whatever you'd classify your parents as-"

  "Individuals affected by Limerence underscored with consistent risk-taking behaviors and hypersexuality." She intoned "It runs on Father's side of the family. I've yet to determine if Mother was also naturally predisposed or if it is a transferrable psychological state. I'm observing Bren to see how they progress since as of now they just appear to be experiencing Limerence, primarily.'

  "...I understood like three quarters of that which I'm pretty dang proud of. But yeah, I'll trust you on that diagnosis. Fin's honestly not the sort of guy I'd ask about more social things because while he's great he's a bit of a loner. Then there's your parents and Uncle Fester. While he knows how to light up a room he doesn't seem the best source of advice for this. Grandmama would likely just tell me to drink some mystery concoction and get some rest. Lurch and Thing are great listeners, but I'm not the best at picking up on their subtleties at times, ya know? They're very passionate individuals and it just goes over my head sometimes."

  Wednesday nodded. "And Pugsley?"

  "Oh Pugsley's great, but he'd try to spare my feelings a bit. Also he likes using the Socratic method and I've already asked myself enough on this topic to make my head spin. I could use your cold brutality."

  "Flattery is a cheap manipulation tactic. That said, I can try and offer my perspective if you want." She agreed, filing his nails back to the length he preferred.

  "Okay, so there's this girl I've been doing this group project with..." Wednesday listened patiently as he described their interactions in excruciatingly unnecessary detail. "-and I was genuinely having a good time hanging out and watching a movie and out of nowhere she starts touching my leg but like up on my thigh. Getting all in my space, which you know I normally don't mind because I think platonic physical affection is super valid and important for your mental health. But anyways the vibes were super off and she was getting suspiciously close to the no-go zone then she tried to kiss me and started talking about how cute my flirting had been. But, Wednesday, I never flirted with her! Not even once! I have a very short list of people I flirt with and the list is mostly Bren because I know they aren't going to take it as anything but a joke!"

  "You two are disgustingly affectionate with each other." Wednesday commented, though not disparagingly.

  "Thanks, I'm thinking a summer wedding. They'd look great in white. I'd offer but it washes me out." He joked before focusing back on topic at the gentle tap on his other hand to offer it to her. "Right, sorry. Anyways, once I finished tossing her off me and was safely using a throw pillow as a shield I asked her what flirting she was talking about and she just described how I treat basically anyone else I spend more than a few seconds with."

  "Sounds like you just have an overthinking individual who made leaps in logic." Wednesday offered, considering color options and selecting a deep, near black blue that caught the light prettily. Like light catching on oil in certain spots.

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  "Except this seems to happen all the time! Like last week with a guy I'd been having lunch with sometimes. One minute we're talking about this artist he likes and the next he's trying to make a move! That's just this month! He said I was being flirty, too! Now it's super awkward whenever we run into each other and I don't have a Thursday Brussels Buddy anymore!" He nearly wailed as Wednesday calmly considered his plight.

  "Chad, may I ask a few questions?"

  "Yeah."

  "Why exactly does it bother you that they think you are trying to flirt with them? It seems their advanced are unwanted, yet you have admitted to enjoying them as individuals." She hummed, finishing applying the first coat and settling back to wait for it to dry. He sighed. A long, weary, burdened sigh truly befitting an Addams.

  "I...well...I'm really not sure, honestly. I just never have really felt attracted to someone like that. Haven't even really ever wanted to. It's like-I don't know! The whole romantic love thing just never really happens for me." She listened as he squirmed slightly under her scrutiny, voice softer and more hesitant than usual for the boisterous boy. "Like, I'm happy for Fin and Claire. I hope they stay madly in love and eventually get married and have their little tadpoles if that's what they want. I see how much Fin's been smiling more just in the past couple of days, and I hope Claire's lit up like a Christmas tree. It's cute and sweet and amazing to see, but I don't want that. I know it doesn't make sense, but I don't. I never really have, if I'm being completely honest."

  Wednesday nodded along, stopping him from picking at the rug and redirecting him with the stress ball she'd started keeping on hand for while the hyperactive blonde's nails were drying.

  "Which, that's crazy, right?" He rambled on, Wednesday not daring to inturrupt. Sometimes someone just needed to think out loud. "I mean, sure it could be a result of growing up in a household where no romantic relationships were displayed, I guess? But then again I was surrounded by tons of family friends growing up that displayed healthy, happy romantic love. Then there's your parents and they're just right for each other. They're so incredibly happy and in love and it's really heart warming to see. I know that logically I should want that, but, it just doesn't interest me. Never has...that's insane, though, right?" His voice had turned into something soft and vulnerable with that final thought.

  A tone that Wednesday found nauseating. With a slight wrinkle to her nose, she scoffed, ignoring the shocked hurt at her reaction.

  "You're an Addams. I would be concerned if you weren't mildly insane." She informed bluntly, unwilling to sugar coat anything for anyone. Especially people she cared about. It never did anyone any good to pretend things weren't exactly what they were. "Besides, Aromanticism isn't a symptom of insanity." Wednesday could practically see the hamster die on its wheel behind his eyes as she calmly continued with the manicure.

  "Arrow-what-a-scism?" He finally asked, that horrid pitiable tone replaced with the familiar confusion she associated with the ever effervescent blond.

  "Aromanticism. A romantic orientation characterized by experiencing little to no romantic attraction. Individuals who identify as such use the self descriptive term Aromantic. Not to be confused with Asexuality, which is a lack of sexual attraction. Though an individual can identify as both." Big blue eyes stared up at her, unblinking. Allowing her to enjoy the stunned silence as she tapped his other hand, seeing the now ingrained signal work as he mechanically offered it to her. It took until she finished putting a layer of polish on each nail for him to speak again.

  "There's a word for it?"

  "Yes."

  "Which means someone came up with a word for it."

  "Correct."

  "Which means...I'm not the only one who feels like this? I'm not-Im not...broken?" That horrible vulnerable tone returned and she sighed, looking down at the odd young man still sprawled on the floor. Though her displeasure dissipated a bit at the shine of tears veiling his eyes.

  "Everyone is broken in one way or another, Chad." Wednesday insisted, settling on the floor next to him. Reaching over after a moment to stop the fingers beginning to rake through the rug again. Instead threading her own fingers through his to grasp the much larger hand. "But this part of you? No, it isn't a broken piece. That sort of thing is never a broken piece." Her words were firm and sure like the grip she held him with. "But, yes, there are countless others who are like you, and there's nothing wrong with it."

  He gave her hand an answering squeeze as they simply lay quietly, studying the ceiling side by side. Eventually, he spoke. Chad never was one for long silences, even comfortable ones.

  "Shouldn't I be the one giving you advice and life-changing wisdom? Since I'm older and all?" Wednesday smirked slightly at the somewhat weepy attempt at his usual light-hearted banter. Though she preferred dark humored conversation, she found she didn't mind making an exception for Chad.

  "Normally, but we both know I'm much more mature than you are, ma grenouille." She reasoned, hearing him groan at the bit of French she'd often used when teasing him.

  "I still have no clue what that means, you know. Your mother refuses to 'spoil your fun' as she puts it." He pouted, though the gentle squeeze to her hand showed he wasn't really upset. "At least assure me that you aren't calling me ugly or something?" She found herself returning a gentle squeeze of her own.

  "I promise, it isn't anything awful." She assured. "If nothing else you can be assured Mother wouldn't allow me to call you anything unsavory."

  "That's true, hadn't thought about that." He hummed. Another brief pause happened before he spoke again, his hold tightening slightly on her hand. "So this whole Aromantic thing...do I have to like, come out or something?"

  "Not necessarily. Do you want to?" She asked, almost gently.

  "I...I don't know." He admitted quietly.

  "Well, then don't say anything until you feel like you want to. It's no one's business but your own unless you want to share." She considered for a moment. "Is there a reason why you wouldn't want people to know?"

  "I mean, what if it makes them think badly of me? Seems like everyone else feels like romance is important and precious. Which, it is, just not for me. What if they feel like I'm this heartless person who's incapable of love because I don't want that?" A scoff escaped before Wednesday could stop it.

  "You? Heartless? Chad, out of everyone in this house you are the last I would call heartless." She informed frankly. "Sometimes you're so perky and sunshiney it's a bit disturbing. You turn basically anyone into your friend in a matter of minutes, you are constantly disgustingly optimistic and are personable and charming to a near impossible level while being so unapologetically you it sends sensibly minded people reeling. It's unnatural and unsettling...yet it's you and it's wonderful despite all of that. It would be unfortunate if you ever changed. Besides, love can mean a lot of things. The Greeks had eight distinct types of love they recognized. You just don't identify with one of them." After a comfortable lull, he spoke softly.

  "Thank you. I...I think I want to keep this to myself for a bit. Kinda get a feel for it now that I've got a word for it."

  "I understand. I will not speak of it with anyone else. This conversation never happened." She assured before continuing, voice hard. "That said: If you do ever choose to share this aspect of yourself and anyone tries to cause an issue over it or mistreats you, I promise you that they will regret it. Physical and mental torture is reserved for family and significant others. They will perish by my hand and I'll nail their hearts and tongues by the gate to warn others idiotic enough to consider harming you."

  "If it ever happens, you'll be the first to know, Wednesday." Nodding, she sat up and reached for the bottle of nail polish again, ignoring Chad's slightly reddened eyes and the drying tear tracks at his temples.

  "Time for the second coat. You were mentioning some new animal you learned about at breakfast. I didn't quite hear it." He simply nodded at the little white lie, giving her a watery smile before happily shifting to the new topic.

  "There's these absolutely ugly little cats! Oh you'd love them! They're called Lykoi cats and they're like if a cat was crossed with a balding werewolf!"