Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

Claire the Wise

Hugh's POV

Fiona went for her anger induced walk 4 hours ago. The girls had to help me up the stairs despite my protests. My foot felt fine, but my chest had an ache I've never felt before. It was like a dull throb.

I was laying in the dark listening to the acre radio when I heard a small knock on my door.
"Fee?" I asked, I propped myself up on my elbows.
"No, it's Claire." I fell back on my bed.
"Come in." Claire stomped in.
"Fiona's not home yet."
"Oh."
"It's after dark."
"She's fine."
"It's 11 p.m.! Reset's in an hour."
"Well she's probably off saving the world." I said sarcastically. My heart sunk after I said it. I wanted her to be here, safe. But I was also so angry I couldn't even look at her.
"You're being a jerk!" She stomped.
"Claire! You do not talk to me like that." I said sternly.
"Well Wyn says to say what we're thinking and feeling if it might benefit our close friends." She said in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"Well you are a child, and this is grown up business."
"She saved us!" She yelled. Her eyes had tears in them now, "she saved me." She sobbed.
"Claire—"
"I watched her die! I saw her jump and I couldn't help her!" Tears were streaming down her face like a river.
"And now your mad? She saved us from that hollow yesterday! So why are you mad?"
"It's—"
"Don't you dare say it's grown up business!" She stomped. Her face was red with anger and I could hear her back mouth growling.
"I thought I lost her. I thought I'd never see her again. So it hurts when she just runs off!" I yelled back. Claire took it into consideration for a moment.
"Then tell her that." She said softly.
I chuckled, "when did you get so smart?"
"I thought I was going to die. I thought Fiona did." She looked cold, "I had to grow up, I didn't have a choice."
Claire shut the door and walked downstairs.
I listened to the two girls whisper through the air duct before I heard the door open.
"Fee!" Olive's metal shoes clunked on the floor.
"Miss Peregrine called awhile ago, but don't worry, I didn't tell her you left."
Silence.
"We saved you some potatoes and carrots!"
Olive giggled, Fiona must have tickled her. I heard her chickens cluck, finally they came home from wherever they went.

I looked at my clock, it was 2 a.m. Miss Peregrine came home an hour ago and then left again shortly after. I put my slippers on and grabbed my robe. I tiptoes last the girls room and into Fiona's, (who would most likely end up sharing with Noor.).
"Fee," I whispered and taped her shoulder.
"Go away, I'm trying to save the world."
"Damnit Fiona, will you just listen to me for a second?" My anger flared.
"I'm listening." She said with an edge. Fiona and I have fought before, but very rarely and never this bad. I did know however, that Fiona was not someone you wanted to make mad.
"I lost you."
"I'm aware." She sounded softer now.
"No, I really lost you. I thought you died."
Fiona was silent, she was forgetting her hands in her lap.
"I'm sorry I yelled, it's just," I sighed, "every time I'm not with you, every time you wake up before I do, every time I can't see you in the room, I panic. When I thought you died, it was the worst thing I've ever felt." There were tears streaming down both our faces now.
"I just, I can't stand the thought of you doing anything that can hurt you." I kneeled in front of her and held her hands still.
"I love you, I wanna grow old with you— and soon we can! The ymbrynes will find a way to reset our clocks!" I smiled.
"I never meant to hurt you, ever." Her eyes were shining with tears.
"If it's too much, you can go." She croaked.
I hugged her and she sobbed into my shoulder.
"I'll never leave, ever." My mind drifted towards her first night in the hospital.

Fiona woke up in a panic.
"What is darling?" I asked. I had just barley drifted to sleep when she jerked forward.
"Fee, you're ok."
She laid back down but scanned the room with wide eyes. She had a needle in her arm to keep her hydrated. She ripped it out and tried to get out of bed.
"Find them. Find them." She was murmuring to herself. I climbed into bed with her. I put my arms around her and rocked her back and forth until she stopped struggling and went to sleep.

Fiona fell asleep on my chest soon after. I played with her curls and pet her head, I think it helped her sleep. She gripped tightly onto my sweater. The door creaked open and a weak stream of light drifted in. Claire was standing in front of me. She held her thumb up and shut the door.

Fiona and I slept until 9. Miss Peregrine was downstairs talking, but I couldn't hear what she was talking about in particular. We both wandered downstairs. Her hair was a mess and she looked more sleep deprived then I'd ever seen her.
"Fiona!"
Fiona mock waved.
"Go down to the end of the street, there's an attack coming and you've proven useful. There will be someone there to give you orders.
She nodded and ran out the door, not even looking back. I felt hurt, but then I noticed the look in Miss Peregrine's eyes, I wouldn't have turned back either.
"Hugh,"
"Yes ma'm."
"Go to the docks where Sharon works."
"Why?"
Miss Peregrine returned my question with a steely glare.
"Ok, I'm going." I threw up my hands in surrender and walked out the door. Everyone was outside scurrying around, panic was the overall atmosphere. People were running around yelling.
"Hugh!"
It was Millard and Enoch. I jogged towards them ignoring Miss Peregrine's urgent task.
"What's going on, where is everyone else?"
"Bird knows," Enoch grumbled.
"Why is everyone acting like a rabbit about to be turned into a meat pie!"
"Caul's here."
"Well he can't hurt us."
Millard shook his head—I think.
"He's here here."
My pulse quickened and my heart leaped into my mouth. Without saying goodbye, I ran.

3/29/21

How was it? I feel like it was kind of dumb but idk I liked it lol. Please comment!