The adventures of Tintin, Malory and Snowy.

Valentine's AU. (Special Chapter)

(A/n: Due to the last book, Black Island, being pretty short compared to the others, I've decided to make it up by making a special. Sure, it ain't Valentines now but in the book's timeline, if you've noticed, it is! Also, the following arts, aside from the writing, isn't mine. So enjoy!)

An Arrow from a Robin.

No One POV:

"So what are your plans for today, Malory?" Tintin asked, handing her the extra cup of coffee he made.

"Thank you, not much! Except for nothing, nothing and nothing!" Malory shrugged, sipping from the coffee.

"So much nothing? Take it easy, okay?" She smirked as he sat down before her glance ''incidentally'' averted to the calender behind him.

"Oh look, it's Valentine's day!" She told him and he looked back as well.

"Oh that's right! All this excitement back at Kiltoch and getting the Black Island story published on time made me forget that." Tintin said, looking very causal about it although deep inside he was shaking.

"You don't sound too upset." Malory pointed out.

"Well, you aren't either." He replied, which made her smile sheepishly.

"What can I say? Valentine's was never much of a sepcial occasion to me. More like a bad omen."

"Your parents?"

"Every year! Why do a 9 year old have to suffer lame courtships from stuck up snobs just because someone decided it's the day of love?"

Tintin hummed, "So you don't like Valentine's day."

"Well... up until I started the High Class. It was the only day in the year where the rest of the girls were looked after more than me. Don't know if I should be offended that they didn't think I was a romantic craze like everyone else were. Now I simply don't have any major opinions about it."

Her words made Tintin mentally cower into himself and give up on his plan and quickly he hid his disappointed face by taking a sip just as Malory decided to test the waters.

But maybe test them TOO carefully...

"Although... if someone was to ask me... Maybe I'd start looking at it differently..." Malory shrugged casually but her eyes kept peeking at Tintin and move away quickly.

And the oblivious Tintin, who still felt let down by the unintentional rejection, didn't even spare a glance at her and kept his gaze fixated on the cup as he set it down, mumbling, "Is that so...?"

And now, it's was Malory's turn to feel let down but she chose a less subtle way to hide it, still subtle! Just not as much, and she got up from her seat and went for the refrigerator and with the hope her voice wasn't wavering, she asked:

"And what about you? Any special plans for today?" She opened the refrigerator and bent down as if looking in while in actual she wanted to hide whatever her reaction would be to his answer.

But maybe she shouldn't have, because then she would've seen Tintin's hurt look when he replied:

"No... nothing." Instead of getting a more hurt and disappointed look herself.

She needed to get out! She knew she was about to cry a bit.

"Well! Looks like I'm not as lucky, my Nothing Day has turned into a SOMEthing day since we just ran out of basically everything! And you know what? Maybe I should get ingredients for a cake while on the way." She announced, faking a cheerful voice as she slightly slammed the door, startling the up until now sleeping Snowy, who barked in question and looked over, "Yeah, I think we're going to celebrate this day as partnership day. Just for fun!"