“I don’t like this costume. It’s not scary — it’s just pandering to the male gaze,” Wednesday says flatly.

“Oh, come on, Wednesday! It’s Halloween!” Enid chirps as she leans toward the mirror, drawing on her whiskers.

“Exactly. Halloween. No Poe Cup in sight, yet somehow I’m in a catsuit and heading to a normie party. Tragic.” Wednesday rolls her eyes.

“Because your boyfriend is a normie, and he has normie friends, soooo…” Enid sets her makeup brush down and grins at her reflection.

“Don’t call him my boyfriend,” Wednesday replies, tone sharp. “He’s a Hyde. And his normie friends are living proof that evolution can, in fact, go in reverse.”

Before Enid can respond, there’s a knock on the door.

“Girls?” a voice calls from the other side.

Enid’s face lights up. “That’s Ajax!” she says, practically skipping to the door. She opens it, greeting him with a kiss.

Wednesday crosses her arms. “Affection is disgusting. It makes people weak… and worse, predictable.”

Enid turns to her with a smirk. “Please. What do you do with Tyler behind closed doors?”

“Yes. Behind closed doors — where witnesses can’t ruin my reputation,” Wednesday answers without blinking.

Ajax looks between them, completely lost. “Uh… why are you two wearing your Poe Cup costumes?”

“Why are you wearing a costume that looks two sizes too big for you?” Wednesday shoots back.

Ajax blinks, glances down at his oversized skeleton suit, and laughs awkwardly. “Oh. Uh… yeah. Didn’t think about that.”

“Anyway!” Enid claps her hands. “Let’s go! Everyone’s already there!”

And just like that, two cats and one far-too-tall skeleton head out into the night — off to a normie Halloween party.

⸻

The music thumps through the house as they arrive.

“Tyler! Your girl’s here!” someone calls across the room.

Tyler closes his eyes briefly. God, please don’t let her have heard that. Of course, she did. And of course, she’s going to kill him for it later.

He finds her quickly, moving through the crowd. The second he sees her in that black catsuit, something in his chest tightens. Thank god the room is dark — no one can see how his eyes flash yellow.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, his hand already finding her waist.

“What happened to, and I quote, ‘not being a woman for the male gaze’?” His voice drops low, teasing. “Because this costume—”

“Don’t,” Wednesday cuts him off sharply, her tone like a blade.

“Enid’s idea?” he asks, that sly grin tugging at his lips.

“Enid’s idea,” she confirms.

“Then remind me to thank Enid later,” he says, eyes glinting.

“You can thank Enid yourself — assuming you don’t mind talking to headstones.” Her voice is flat as ever, but there’s the smallest, fleeting curve of a smile on her lips.

She likes that he finds her attractive. She likes being the object of his hunger — though she’d rather die than admit it.

“How’s my Hyde?” she asks, her eyes finding his through the dim light. “Violent as ever, I hope.”

“Protective,” he says, voice low and honest — the only thing he can manage while her gaze holds him captive.