Lost Time (A Tintin Fanfic)

Lost Time

Hello there you lovely people :) Thank you for clicking on my story, and I hope your reading experience is one that you enjoy.
This story is based on a little idea that popped into my mind one fine day while I was listening to Somewhere Only We Know by Keane.
And I do apologise, there is going to be angst and tragic stuff later >.<
I love the true, affectionate and faithful friendship between the Captain and Tintin.
I personally also like the idea of Haddock being fatherly towards Tintin, and really, from whatever angle you may see it, their relationship is truly adorable :)

[The Adventures of Tintin and any of the associated characters do not belong to me]

Righto then, enough of me talking, now on with the story !

Marlinspike Hall, Marlinshire. Still standing tall in all its glory, but age was evidently catching up with it, seen in the large amounts of rust on the doors and paint cracking across the walls.
The sun was out, half heartedly attempting to warm the little town that autumn afternoon. The chill in the air however was cold enough to make the young man walking up the pathway pull his trench coat tighter over himself.
His sunset tinted hair shone vibrantly in the sunshine overhead as he brushed his fingers through his quiff.
A calm, peaceful expression was present on his youthful face, but there was a certain weariness in his eyes, a certain tiredness, regret. He slowed down his pace as he neared the big entrance door. He tried the doorbell, but no loud chime followed. Not sure whether the doorbell still worked, Tintin chose to grab the large iron knocker and rapped twice sharply.
A minute passed. No reply. A glint of apprehension flittered across his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he repeated his previous action, but this time producing louder knocks.

Silence.
Tintin was trying his best to keep his brave front, but he was definitely losing it on the inside.
There was no bark eagerly greeting him from the other side of the door, no sound of those heavy footsteps coming up to open the door for him. To envelop Tintin into a bear hug, that familiar smell of whiskey and the sea so dear to Tintin as he held on to the older man, face buried into his navy blue sweater. A sense of security and comfort Tintin otherwise hardly experienced.

Shaking off the melancholy memories, Tintin stared at the door as if it would make it open. Tears welled up in his blue-grey eyes as the realisation continued to dawn upon him.

'Maybe the Captain's gone, for good.'

'....Do you know how much time has passed...?'

'It doesn't stop for anyone Tintin....'

'How are you so sure he's there waiting behind those doors, all these years?'

Voices had kept clouding his mind since the last few days when he was deciding to finally return to Marlinspike Hall, to once more resume the life he once enjoyed living.

He grabbed the massive door handles and with all his might and growing hurt, pulled at the doors. His attempts were nothing against the strong iron doors and so he let go with a huff, pounding a clenched fist at it in frustration.
To him it only seemed a few days back, the Captain and him laughing and sharing stories by the fire with Snowy snuggled in his lap, happy spirits aglow with warmth.
The last happy memory he had left to hold on to.

It had been four years since he had last stepped into that welcoming building which had now shut him out.

Four years ago, he had to leave Marlinspike Hall, to go to war. It was not completely a choice, more of an obligation, but once he had been requested to join, he decided to go forward with it after a few weeks of contemplating and lengthy discussions with the Captain. He never approved of violence as a solution to any conflict, but if the army really needed him, he was willing to be determined to fight for his country and people when they required it most.