Chapter Text
Looking back, Eugene should’ve seen it. The way Pugsley looked at him reminded Eugene of the bugs the Addams boy liked to so heinously consume—as if he, too, would melt like chocolate on his tongue. It hadn’t always been like this. Not that Eugene had known of, anyway. But perhaps he had missed a lot in his desperate attempts of denying the boy was actually quite cute. “Not in anything more than a friendly way,” he’d sworn up and down.
However, the truth was anything but friendly. Eugene knew he had a problem. He thought about Pugsley every chance he’d gotten since the moment they’d become “buds.” About his pale, almost ghostly white skin. The devilish grin he wore when he knew he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to be, like housing zombies in Eugene’s shed. His dark brown eyes, almost black, framed by long eyelashes and what the boy had assumed to be eyebags until he had found his roommate rubbing a makeup brush under his eyes, a light dusting of different purple and grey shades of eyeshadow settling onto the desk in front of him.
“Eugene!” called a voice from outside the dorm. Pugsley’s, he recognized immediately.
Eugene sat cross-legged on the floor of their dorm, the cold floorboards pressing against his legs, the chill seeping through his bee-patterned pajama pants. His eyes traveled from the homework he was supposed to be doing to the door, which swung open hard enough for the handle to slam into the wall with a loud thump.
”Eugene.” Pugsley repeated yet again. The beekeeper's eyes narrowed.
”What, Pugsley?” He spoke, picking up his homework and pushing himself off the floor, setting the papers on his bedside table.
Pugsley’s eyes quickly went from excited to slightly annoyed. His body turned to move towards the door. “I was just coming to hang out. Maybe help you with your homework, but it’s fine.”
”No!” He shouted almost too quickly. “You can stay. I need help with my homework.” A lie. A quite obvious one. Eugene had always been exceptionally smart. A ‘nerd’, if you will. But he supposed having the pale-skinned boy around wouldn’t hurt.
At those words, Pugsley’s excited smile returned to his face as he invited himself to sit on Eugene’s bed. “You know, bee boy. It’s about time you get some fun in your life. It’s all bugs, and homework, and whatever else you do in your free time. We don’t have to sit here doing that boring homework. We could go out to town.” He suggested with a shrug of his shoulders.
”Pugsley, I have homework to do.”
“It’s not due by tomorrow, now is it? And if you’re so worried, take the stupid thing with you. We’ll do it at the coffee shop or something.” His roommate responded, leaving little room for argument. Actually, none. Before Eugene could argue further, Pugsley grabbed both his hand and his homework, guiding him out of the dorm and down toward the courtyard.
Eugene blushed furiously when Pugsley grabbed his hand. It reminded him of the moment they had first met at the start of that year. When Morticia had introduced Pugsley and encouraged them to shake hands. Electricity had shot through Eugene’s hand, and he’d recoiled instantly. Pugsley was a spark, and honestly not the best at controlling his ability. He was pulled from his thoughts when Pugsley gently squeezed his hand before letting go.
”Are you alright? You’re red. You look hot,” His roommate said worriedly.
Eugene's eyes met the other boy’s and he felt as if he was going to be sick. Maybe if he was lucky, he’d combust on the spot, just so he didn’t have to deal with these sorts of feelings anymore. There was no coming back from this… crush? Infatuation? Obsession? He just gave a nod and looked forward as they made their way to town.
By the time they reached the coffee shop, Eugene was falling apart. He was an awkward, nervous mess. Pugsley had noticed as well. In fact, he was paying a little
bit too much attention. He’d watched Eugene’s face the entire walk there.
Pugsley held open the door for Eugene, watching the boy’s face flush with a dazed grin. Nothing could take this boy away from him. They’d have to pry the beekeeper from his cold, dead hands. He was determined to make bee boy his and only his. He’d learned a lot about Eugene. Though, Pugsley probably should be a little more careful about stalking him. The boy was smart, and could find out easily if he’d ever had a single suspicion.
“I'll order for us. Find us a seat.” Pugsley said, looking at Eugene.
“You don’t know my-“
was all Eugene could get out before Pugsley was off to the counter. The beekeeper just sighed, finding a table for two. At least it gave him some time to compose himself. He raised his hands to his head in a failed attempt to flatten the messy curls sticking up every which way, then pushed his glasses up his nose.
The cafe door behind Eugene opened with a jingle of the bell attached to the doorframe.
“Aw! Look who it is! What’cha doing here Ottinger? All alone, as well? That seems kind of risky, no?” Lucas. Lucas Walker. One of Eugene’s old bullies, who still found joy in harassing him from time to time.
”What do you need, Lucas?” Eugene asked, annoyed.
”Oh, nothing, bee boy. Just making sure you aren’t eating all the fudge again. Y’know I always wondered how you got so skinny so fast. I doubt you’ve stopped eating everything in sight.”
Eugene just scoffed and rolled his eyes at the statement. He was aware that he wasn’t the fittest when he was younger. He’d struggled with food a few years earlier, though the problem had faded as quickly as it came. He looked better now. At least, he thought he did. He really couldn’t care less what Lucas had to say. Pugsley did, though.
When Pugsley turned from the counter, he was met with what he thought was the ugliest man to grace the face of earth. Lucas Walker. The bully of his bee boy. Pugsley took a few careful steps forward, carrying a coffee in either hand. He set the iced one down on the table. It was Eugene’s. And the order was perfect, the other boy noticed. Pugsley had learned the beekeeper’s order from following him around and acting as if it wasn’t a bit creepy. As for the other coffee, Pugsley’s, which was freshly made and boiling hot, ended up being poured onto Lucas’ head. The boiling coffee splashed across Lucas’ face and shoulders, his shriek echoing through the shop.
”I call him bee boy.” Pugsley spoke, eyes fixed on the cafe door even after Lucas disappeared through it, the door opening with a swing and slamming shut with another jingle of the bell above.
“Pugsley!” Eugene shouted, looking horrified.
“You can’t just… do that, Pugsley!””what?” Pugsley asked, eyes leaving the door to look at Eugene, eyes softening to affection. His beautiful, beautiful bee boy. Soon, the bee boy would be his.
Eugene blinked before sighing. He rested his elbows on the table and his hands dragged down his face in exasperation. He was lying if he said he didn't enjoy the feeling of being so utterly safe with Pugsley. He knew how Addams' men were. Loyal and eager to please. With their lovers, he had noticed, from the way Gomez acted with Morticia. Maybe they acted the same with their friends, because Eugene knew that Pugsley would never return feelings. Or at least, that’s what he thought.
As much as Eugene would love if the other boy would return his feelings, Pugsley had shown no signs of being attracted to men, nor him in particular.
Pugsley sat across from Eugene with a lovesick grin, and Eugene glared up at him.
“You don’t have coffee. You just used it to burn Lucas.” Eugene stated.
”mhm. But I don’t need coffee.” Pugsley responded, smiling.
”but you paid for mine. At least let me pay you back."
"It's my pleasure, Eugene. Don’t worry about it.”
Eugene scoffed at the boy’s stubbornness, rolling his eyes but smiling with affection and then forcing his focus back onto his unfinished homework. Pugsley’s gaze lingered on Eugene shamelessly.
God, he really wanted to please this boy. He’d do anything, truly. He'd let Eugene push him to his knees. Cut his lips with the braces that adorned his teeth. Mess up his hair, smudge his makeup. He wanted Eugene’s hands to hold his face and tell him that he was doing well. That he was a good protector and provider, and that he’d make a good boyfriend.
He wanted to tell Eugene everything.
That he loved him.
That he would kill for him if he needed to.