Archive of Our Own

My name is Kurt Vanderpool and for as long as I have lived, I've never known a greater experience that is than being in love.

I have a lovely wife and two amazing daughters. Still nothing compares to the love i've felt to my clocks.

I work as a teacher at The Academy. There I teach government in the first semester and Economics in the second. But one thing that's year round is my clocks.

They've been there for me through it all. Hurricanes, promotions, early mornings, terrible test scores, school rallies, fights with Mary, late nights. Never once have they failed on me. I couldn't imagine living life without George or Mr Peabody or John or any of the other hundreds that have been with me for decades. Pierre was new. I've gotten him 2 months and he's only 50 years old.

A little on the young side, I understand. But I love him no less than the others.

The students tend to find my clocks quite annoying with ticking but they'll learn to deal. After all, children are temporary, clocks are forever. They used the ticking and chiming after two months.

Leo's still ticking after 200 years! He's one of the oldest. Sepia, tall, and six feet of absolute beauty with a floral pattern face that makes me question why I haven't left Mary yet. Sure, she is a great wife and good mother...she's no Pierre and she's definitely not Leo.

Sometimes, when the students are given a test I get bored of watching of them and lock eyes with Leo. I zone in on the sounds of his ticking and his hands moving in calculated precision.

The students won't be able to tell but I hear the subtle change in his ticks when I squint my eyes and raise brows ever so slightly. Even after all these years, no matter how many clocks I fix, I'll always be able to tell.

I'll open his case, my eyes will be trained on his face the entire time. My touches are feather-light, almost caressing. Leo will glace between my hand and eyes unsure of what I'm about to do. I like to keep him on edge. My hand graze his chain before gripping completely. It's old fits and right into my hand like a glove. His hands start to stutter. I smirk.

It's always so easy to get him riled up. I dip my head close to the glass covering his face.

"Careful now, Leo. The students won't like it if you're off by a minute." I whisper, seeing my breathe fog the glass as I enunciate every syllable of 'minute'.

I pull at the chain making sure it's set properly. 

"There we go. All fixed." I shut the glass door.

"Mr. Vanderpool?"

I grumble at the interruption before turning.

"Yes, Scarlet?"

She holds up her test. "I'm done."

Such a smartest kid in the room yet she still doesn't know how to read a room.

"Yes, well has anyone else finished their test and is quietly waiting?" 

Six hands go up.

It's only 10:34.

I sighed. Unfortunately there's 3 hours left. And four until I can more special attention to Pierre.

I was going to be a long day.