The Secret of the Unicorn ~ Tintin x Reader

'It's a funny life, huh?'

Eleanor's POV

Lunch was amazing, because one, it was nice to eat real food after everything, but also because Tintin would hold my hand under the table and we would sneak glances at each other constantly. Snowy enjoyed lunch too as Tintin and I would feed him some of our food, which I'm sure he definitely enjoyed. By the time we wrapped up lunch, it was time to meet up with Haddock at the docks again.

As we pulled up the docks, Haddock called out to us. "Don't get out, I'm coming to you!" Tintin and I looked at each other confused. Weren't we going out to sea again?

"Follow my directions, laddie." Haddock told Tintin. He nodded and I just sat back to enjoy the ride. Snowy felt the same too, sticking his tongue out and smiling. Haddock stood in the back of our car with his sextant up to his eye.

I watched Tintin as we drove and I couldn't help but giggle when I saw his hair quiff in the wind. Tintin caught my eye and rolled his eyes playfully, knowing exactly what I was looking at.

"Almost there, Mr. and Mrs. Tintin!" Haddock exclaimed making both of us blush furiously. "A nudge to starboard should do it."

"Are you sure we're on course? I thought we'd be at sea." I asked him. "Trust me, Ellie. I know these parts like the back of my hand." He nodded to me, leaning away from his sextant.

He put it back up to his eye and suddenly began shouting. "Starboard! Quickly! Quickly!" He pointed with his finger.

"There's no road!" I interjected but he didn't care. "Aye, Captain! Starboard it is!" Tintin said, driving straight through the line of bushes on the side of the road. I ducked so I wouldn't get hit.

Tintin drove straight for a few more moments before slowing down. "All stop!" Haddock shouted. I leaned out from the inside of the car only to see a familiar building.

"Marlinespike Hall..." Haddock gasped. "Those coordinates lead here?" I laughed. "The irony."

"How do you mean?" Tintin inquired. "Well, Sakharine killed for these coordinates, yet he was literally living the in the house they lead to all along." I explained and he nodded.

"This is where Sir Francis hit it?" Tintin looked at the manor. "I thought the treasure went down with the ship like Ella suggested not long ago with us not being at sea."

"Also, is anyone else concerned that our car is smoking?" I called out but neither of them seemed to be listening.

"Master Maddock, Mr. Tintin, Miss Simmons..." Hector called out to us as he opened the manor doors. "I've been expecting you." He bowed before walking over and opening my door for me.

"Thank you." I smiled at him, earning the ghost of a smile back. Tintin came around and offered me his arm, leading us into the manor.

"Welcome to Marlinspike Hall." Hestor announced. "Officially this time." He whispered to me making me chuckle.

"Will you look at his place?" Haddock laughed. "I don't think it's changed at all since I was a wee boy." Haddock's eyes glistened at the fond memories of the house.

"And may I say, sir, how much I'm looking forward to having a Haddock back in charge of the estate." Hestor bowed.

"You'll be waiting a long time, mister. There's no way I could afford to live here." Haddock refuted.

Something clicked in my head. "Wait a minute. When I was looking at the property records for Marlinspike Hall in order to acquire Sakharine's name - I read that he was only the caregiver, which means that he never owned this manor." I said.