Work Text:
Jacob sat in the middle seat of his car, he was wedged in between his two uncles uncomfortably, the only thought going through his mind was he wished he wasn’t there, he missed being with his family his real family
The family who wouldn’t gaslight him or call him crazy, the family who wouldn’t hop him up off pills the second they suspected he wasn’t ok, the family who wouldn’t send him to the looneybin.
He’s never felt so alone in his life even when surrounded by “family”.
But he was the one who wanted to go home, to be a good son. But no matter what he did, he wasn’t a good son and would probably never be, it really hurt.
Even looking back he realised that his parents probably don’t love him as much as he wished, he can picture the glares and the silent “shut up” Jacob wished he realised before that he was happier with his real family, how he was less timid and shy and nervous.
They helped him get confidence and even if he was scared they wouldn’t shame him for it (maybe some light teasing but nothing serious) He pulled his knees up and shoved his face into them only to be shoved into a normal seat position by his uncles
He was tired, exhausted.
He was more tired than he was fighting the whites, a part of him wished he’d never defeated them so that he’d never have to be here.
The car started to roll down the driveway and Jacob squeezed his eyes tight only for them to fly open when the car jumped to a stop as his dad slammed on the break yelling
“WHAT THE FUCK”
The youngest in the car looked up and looked out the front window of the car only to see his family not his “real family” but his family Mrs Peregrine, Hugh, horace, Emma, olive, Claire, Enoch and what he assumed to be Millard were standing in front of the car, an aggressively calm look etched into their faces as they started to walk to the window of the car, his dad rolled his window down when the bird came up to it
“Hello mr portman!”
“WHO ARE YOU GET AWAY FROM MY CAR”
“Now there’s no need for theatrics is there? We’re just here for Jacob”
“What.”
“He requested our help with this whole “loonybin” situation”
all eyes in the car darted to the boy as he watched his family through the window exchanging a little wave with Claire but stopping when he caught his parents eyes
“Jake. You hired people. To be your imaginary friends?!”
“They’re not imaginary, they're right there!”
“YOU HIRED THEM JACOB THERE NOT REAL”
“I DIDN'T”
he heard miss peregrine sigh and try to reason with his parents only to be told to “shut it” and “that they’ll handle it so fuck off”
She looked up at her children motioning for them to come to the window to help persuade Jacobs family. Still leaving Bronwyne in front of the car in case they tried to drive away.
Jacob was going to say something to them before he heard his uncles whisper to each other
“Jesus all this trouble for him”
“Is he really worth this? Look I like the kid but c'mon”
“We’ll just throw him in the nuthouse and then go get a McDonald’s”
Jacob caught his family’s eyes when they said this and they looked like they had just about had enough
“Look” miss peregrine said she said calmly but with authority so that his parents would listen
“How about. We go inside and talk this out.” She sighed clearly annoyed with his parent “I’ll make tea and we’ll talk this out like normal adults”
there was an annoyed tone to her voice that only people who knew her could pick up on
“No.” He saw her knuckles go write with the grip of her skirt
“No..?” Mrs peregrine murmured looking at her in confusion
“I’m done with all this” Jacobs mum looked dead, like a corpse if the woman she used to be
“Mum what do you mean-“ Jacob let out a nervously laugh before they met eyes
“Jacob get out the car”
“Mum what…?”
“I’m done with all this, this delusion, fantasy I’m not putting up with anymore. I looked for you so hard and you don’t even have the manners to act like yourself—“
“mum?“
“I’m not your mum. Get out of my car”
“Miss Portman, that's quite an overreaction. We can go and talk this out. He’s your son.”
“I don’t have a son.”
Jacob felt his world crash around him, he knew what his mum meant but he didn’t want to believe it. He looked away from his family who were now glancing at each other with understanding and protective rage.
“Miss portman.”
“Please just get him out of my car.”
His uncles paid no mind to the boy who was asking his mother what she meant, only silently guiding him out the car and locking the door behind him. Jacob felt tears run down his face and his legs started to get shaky.
It was as if he was about to pass out so he did the next thing he could think of. Try to open the car.
He was pleading with his mum to tell him she didn’t mean it, but all the sixteen year old got was a blank unloving stare.
He tried to pry the door open with his nails to the point it was drawing blood only to be stopped by bronwyne who was giving him a saddened look, he tried reaching for the car again only to be pulled out the way of the car that drove away as fast as possible.
Jacob stood there shaking, he probably would have collapsed if he wasn’t being supported by Millard and Hugh who silently lowered him to the ground
“She was joking right?”
“Jake..” he heard bronwyne say from behind him
“She wouldn’t actually mean that?” He lowered his face into the crook of Hugh’s neck as he felt Millard rub his back as the rest of them started to crowded around them
“She loves me.” He said weakly, as he felt his family try and reassure him that he doesn't but need them
“She has to love me…”