Perekoo One-shots

After the End of the World

"You know, I rarely tell them, but I am truly proud of them," smiled Alma.

We were on the beach, the children were playing in the distance, and the world seemed once again okay. I ran my hand through my short hair. It's getting too long and I thought that I should trim it a bit again. And re-dye it.

"I love them all."

"As they love you," I said as I stroked her hand. "No wonder." She froze, but didn't pull away and turned her head towards me with a smirk. Her cheeks were a subtle shade of red.

She used to look away every time someone complimented her. An old habit or perhaps the remains of childhood trauma caused by her parents. Whatever the case was, it always caused me great pain, the fact that she felt like she needed to earn affection, that she thought of love for her as unjustified, as if she wasn't worth it.

She didn't do it now. Instead, her emerald eyes found mine, and for a brief moment, I got lost in them.

Since the Great War of Devil's Acre, a lot has changed for the better. Devil's Acre became the epicentre of the known peculiar world, with visitors arriving from all over the globe to have their clocks reset and find a place to call home. There was a lot of work to be done. When Caul revealed our world to the normals, things got complicated and we were once again forced into hiding. But we weren't tied to our loops any longer. Now peculiars could travel, admire, and explore the world freely. Everyone was at ease. Even my darling Alma.

She began to wear her hair in a half-up, half-down style. The small tight bun on top of her head remained, but the rest of her raven hair now flowed freely around her ears. She also changed her wardrobe, switching black for dark navy blue and forest green. The peaceful atmosphere was also shown in the way she treated her children. A smile always shattered her façade, no matter how strict she tried to be. She became more affectionate with them, started to read them bedtime stories, and kiss them good night every day. As stressful as leading the academy was, she always found time for them.

I looked after them while she was teaching. Alma thought that we should spend time together to get to know each other better and maybe in the future we could become all one family. Initially, I didn't share her enthusiasm. I felt like a trespasser; an uninvited guest; a stranger who rudely infiltrated their lives and home. I explained to her that co-leading the Academy with her and intruding into her family were two very different things. That I'd gladly look after them but that's all I'll do, that I couldn't possibly suddenly appear an act like I'm not i complete stranger. She argued that a person's got to start somewhere and that what better opportunity did we have than this.

We fought that night.

The next day we bumped into each other in the library. I was going to ask her if we could talk but she was faster. I remember the day like it was yesterday. We went for a walk around the island. She wore a dark green checkered dress, a jacket with a high collar, and a cream colour scarf that she got from Horace on Mother's day. Her hair fluttered in the wind. Her eyes seemed cerulean in the light of the sun. We walked in silence. She'd occasionally look at me from the side and then quickly turn away as if she'd changed her mind.

We walked to the cliff and I cracked a silly joke about waves. She didn't hear me or chose to ignore me (which was honestly, for the best) and took my hands in hers. She started to apologise, stumbling over her words.
"It wasn't fair to put you on the spot like that. You were right, you never agreed to that and I'm sorry didn't listen."
"Oh Alma...I-," she put a finger against my lips to silence me.
"I never meant to make you uncomfortable, I- I only..." Her words faded away and she averted her eyes to stare somewhere behind me in the endless ocean. She looked unsure of herself, lost. I put my hand on her shoulder. A small smile appeared on her lips but she still wouldn't look at me. And then suddenly with her voice just above whisper, she said, "I only wanted my kids to get to know the person I fancy..."

This was the first time that we kissed.

After that I agreed to try to bond with them, but that at any sign of discomfort from their side I'd retract and we'd leave the matter altogether. But that to my surprise didn't happen.
The children were extremely welcoming. I took only two months before Millard asked me to take french lessons with me. We met every Wednesday after five o'clock in the study to conversate (in french of course) about politics, history and psychology. One evening after our session when I went to our greenhouse to harvest a few specimens for my biology class I met Enoch. He carried a chessboard and said that Miss Peregrine told him where I was and that he needed help.
"Miss Peregrine said that you're some sort of chess champion or something. How do I play this game?" I found his sudden interest curious but I agreed to help, naturally. It was only a few weeks ago found out that he was trying to impress one of our new students. He later 'assured' me, that that was absolutely not true.
I also got along particularly well with Horace since we both have a passion for clothing. We spent more than one afternoon discussing 21st-century fashion and trends, which are, to be blunt, a crime against mankind.

They are all smart and incredibly brave little peculiars. Life with Alma and her wards was wonderful.

"Darling?" I felt a light tapping on my shoulder.
I turned my head to see Alma. She wore a bemused expression. Only now did I notice raindrops falling all around. I turned my palm up to catch a few drops.

"It's raining."

She used her ring finger to push her glasses up and chuckled.

"Yes."

I met her gaze. Her eyes shone like emeralds in the rays of the sun. Her look was warm and loving. I reached out and fixed a strain of her hair behind her ear. Her cheeks immediately turned pink. Before I could pull my hand away, she took it and without breaking eye contact kissed it. Despite the cold weather, I felt warm.

She held my gaze for a couple more seconds, then turned around and started packing our things. I didn't realise I was holding my breath.

"Would you mind calling the children?" She asked and smiled.

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So what do you think? It's been a LONG time since I last wrote something and this was just a sudden rush of inspiration. I'd like to thank all of you who voted and wrote comments under my last one-shot, you made my day! :D