The Kreizler Institute | The Alienist + Mphfpc [Complete]

Chapter Fifteen | A Visitor

Jade's POV:

As Dr. Kreizler and I walked into the back yard, I couldn't help but smile. Marcus and John were keeping the kids occupied while Trinity and Sara talked to each other. I figured the Isaacson brothers had a good deal of experience with children, especially since they helped their sister with her kids every once in a while. Lucius was speaking with Cyrus about something I couldn't quite hear. Stevie was sitting underneath a tree, and I was pretty sure he was dosing off a little. "There you two are." Caleb said. He was eyeing the two of us for a while before a small smirk overcame his features. I'm not sure why, but I was suddenly aware of how close Dr. Kreizler and I were. We were so close that I could smell his comforting scent of old books, cedar wood, and lavender. "I have to go make a few calls in the present day and meet up with a few people. I'll be back with our guest around eight o'clock." Caleb said after a few moments of awkwardness had passed.

We wished him good luck and told him to be careful. Most of the day I talked with the Isaacson brothers. We discussed our peculiar abilities as well as how I ended up finding out that I too was peculiar. Honestly, I felt like they were fascinated by my ability to control hollowgasts more than anything else. But I couldn't really tell them anything, because I had no idea how I was controlling them. "It's some kind of weird language that just... popped into my head. I... I just got lucky." I replied to their probing questions. John intervened and managed to change the subject to something else, which I was thankful for. Eventually they left and It got considerably quieter. Cyrus and Trinity were spending time with their children now that everyone had gone on with their regular day to day life. Sara went to headquarters at 808 Broadway, the Isaacson brothers went to the police station, and John went back to the New York Times office.

"Are you going to the institute?" I asked Dr. Kreizler curiously. "Yes. Would you... care to come along with me?" He replied with a hopeful look in his big brown eyes. "Yes, I promised Marmalade that I'd be back to play with her." I said, and a smile spread across his handsome face. The two of us climbed into the calash after the doctor collected his things. Stevie drove us to the institute. Dr. Kreizler lead me to the playground and informed his employees that I was there to visit Marmalade. The little girl was with her friends kicking a ball around. "Hello." I said as I got within earshot. "You're back!" She said excitedly. She introduced me to her friends before we started playing one of their made up games. It was quite simple once I got the hand of it. They told me stories about how they ended up in the institute, and listening to abuse they suffered broke my heart. But it was obvious how much they all loved Kreizler for giving them a second chance at life. Listening to how much they admired him made me smile.

One of the teachers called out to let the children know that it was time to go inside. A couple of them groaned in disappointment as they turned to go back to learning. I promised I'd be back some other day and play with them, especially since Marmalade had asked me to. Her and her friends seemed so happy that they had someone new to talk to, and I didn't want to make them upset. Kids like them have had so much disappointment in their lives already, they didn't deserve to have any more. I walked up the hallway and found my way to Dr. Kreizler's office. "Come in." He said after I knocked on the door. When I entered the room, he was sitting at his desk doing paperwork. "You, Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, are amazing." I said as I went around his desk and wrapped my arms around his shoulders from behind. I rested my chin on his shoulder and breathed in his wonderful scent. "I am?" He asked with a hint of confusion in his voice. "Yeah, you are. You're so sweet with your students... no wonder they love you so much." I said with a small smile. "I take it they've told you various stories about me?" He chuckled lightly as he placed one of his large hands around my right wrist. "Mhm." I noises to confirm what he had said.

We stayed in that position for a while before he spoke up once more. "Stevie can take you back home if you wish to go." He said softly as he gently rubbed my wrist with his thumb. "I actually prefer to be here with you." I replied. "Okay, but you're going to have to take a seat. You're distracting me from my work." He said and I felt guilty for keeping him from doing his job. As I removed my arms from around him, he moved his hand from my wrist. I started walking towards a nearby chair, but he stopped me by gently grasping my hand. "I meant that you were distracting me in a good way... even if you were keeping me from doing my work." He said with one of those puppy dog looks in his big brown eyes, making my insides melt for the second time that day. I could have hugged him and kissed his cheek in that moment, but I decided against it. Besides... even if I really wanted to kiss his cheek I don't think I could; the nervousness from the thought of doing so would stop me. I nodded once to let him know I understood and he slowly let my hand go. As I waited for him to finish his work, I couldn't help but to watch him.