How Did It Come To This?

Chapter 4-Birdie

You had made the probably stupid decision of sneaking out of the home for a walk, just to get some fresh air. You returned to the home after a couple of hours when you grew tired. Walking back into the house a wave of warm air rushed over you, only reminding you of just how cold the night was in the loop. You closed the door and went to walk upstairs when you noticed someone standing in the doorway to the parlor. "Oh, hi, Y/n." Miss Peregrine said, as though this were a typical conversation. "Where have you been?" She smiled a bit, probably leading you into a false sense of security so as to catch you red handed.

You don't know why you felt you needed to lie, but you did so anyway. "I was- I was gardening.?" It sounded like more of a question than statement so you repeated yourself. "Yeah, gardening."

"Ohhh." She said like it was a perfectly reasonable explanation. She took her pocket watch out with a flick of her wrist and held it up to you with another smile. "At three in the morning?" She stared at you, eyebrow raised, smile never leaving her face.

"Those bushes need pruning! I told you!" You said, though you in fact had never told her such a thing as Fiona's work with a garden had been wonderful. Her stare only intensified as you spoke, as though she thought that it would drive a confession out of you. And honestly, it might've, if not for the voice yelling out, stopping you from speaking.

"RUN, Y/N!" It was Millard, unclothed once again. You didn't know why on earth you listened to the naked boy, but you did indeed run.

You heard Miss Peregrine yell at him. "Millard, go to bed this instant!" You then heard a caw behind you and when you turned to look back saw nothing. Though looking overhead you found a bird.

"Ah, the consequences of my actions are chasing me once again. I suppose it's literal this time though." You said to yourself as you ran. But you spoke no more as you needed to save your breath for the nightmarish run you had begun. Miss Peregrine flew overhead for ten or so minutes as you ran, eventually swooping down to land on your head, causing you to stop, completely out of breath and basically giving up.

"S-sorry.. about... that." You heaved out in between uneven breaths. She just pecked the top of your head lightly and waited for you to start breathing normally again. Once you did she moved down to your shoulder, though didn't make any effort to land and change back. "You just going to sit there?" She gave a small nod and you sighed before beginning your walk back.

At some point she moved again and you ended up cradling her in your arms. She seemed tired, which only made you feel bad. You'd left the home around midnight and only returned around three, how long had she been awake waiting for you? And not only that but you just had to run away and make her fly after you! You held her closer as you walked, now that you weren't running you could once again feel how cold it really was.

When you arrived back at the house you closed the door, calling out for Millard to see if he was still downstairs, finding that he'd gone back to bed. For a good portion of the walk Miss Peregrine seemed to be trying not to follow asleep, now you looked down at her as she stared at the wall, presumably zoning out. Suddenly, all at once, she changed back. You took a few steps back quickly so you wouldn't be too close to her, though finding you probably should've walked further. Because now, standing in front of you, was the unclothed headmistress herself.

You let out a small scream, turning around before you could see too much, face red as a tomato. She seemed to snap back to reality and began apologizing again and again. "I- so sorry, Y/n! Ones clothes don't travel with them whilst in bird form and I turned back when I zoned out." Normally the woman wasn't the least bit shy about her body, as plenty of her wards had accidentally seen it. And in emergency situations when ymbrynes can't get fully clothed immediately and have to work with a shawl or sheet to cover themselves with, they weren't typically new to being seen by people who otherwise wouldn't see them. Perhaps it was your reaction that made her apologize so much. She was quick to get dressed again. "You may turn around now, dear."

You listened to her, though blushed again when you realized she hasn't even buttoned her undershirt yet. Her fingers were swift and fluid as they began buttoning it up while you tired, and failed, not to stare. You nearly slapped yourself in an attempt to look away. 'She's happily married!' You told yourself. 'Not to mention the headmistress!' You shook your head, staring at the floor. Was the wood always this shade of brown 

"Again, my apologies. I hope I didn't scar you." The last part seemed to be a small joke as she pulled on her jacket and began buttoning that up as well. Only now did you look away from the floor.

"It's alright, I'm fine. Just not exactly what I expected." You shrugged, as if you went still panicking on the inside. "I should probably get back to bed now." She nodded, sparing a glance through the window at the night sky. "You should get some sleep too, you seemed tired on the walk back." She held back a grimace at this, giving you a small smile instead.

"Yes, of course. I think I'll have some tea before bed first though."

"Well, goodnight, Miss Peregrine." You gave her a small smile before walking to the stairs.

"Goodnight, Y/n. Sleep well."

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. . . So.