The dilapidated house correlated perfectly with its background. The sky was dark with night and clouds, the threat of an oncoming storm. The air was damp and smelled of moisture, foliage, and rotting wood. The path that once lead to the plywood door, now on its last hinge, was swallowed up by Nature in her cycle to take back what was once hers.
He stared at the small, ramshackle building, hands deep in his pockets, head tilted, obviously slipping back into memory. A deer bound through the woods, created a racket that brought the blond back to himself. Stepping gingerly over a fallen branch and thorny bush, he made his way to the building. He gripped the door and wrenched it open, accidently tearing it from its frame.
The building was not constructed for inhabitance. Although no one has ever lived within its four simple walls, the house has seen so much more than the ordinary lives of go-to adults searching for their next dollar. This place has seen the imagination of a little boy; this place watched him grow into a man. First, it was a hideout from the strange white-man, even thought it was built with a pair of their hands. Then it was the cabin of a pirate ship, housing the most dangerous pirate the world has seen. Then it was a palace for a powerful king, the home of a courageous knight, and the secret coven for a dark wizard.
Oftentimes, the heroes (for that's what they all were) were alone in their endeavours. But sometimes, the best times, the king worked with the knight and the wizard had a teacher. Sometimes, even, there was a villain or perhaps a princess.
He who shared in with the adventures of the boy was also he who built the house.
As time wore on, the boy grew taller, his adventures more focused on fairness, freedom, and liberty. The blue eyes never lost their sparkle. Eventually, though, the adventures slowly ceased. Now the boy came to be alone. He brooded in silence, and yelled out to no one. He vented on wanting his own freedom and independence, and complained about the man who built the house. The yelling always ended in tears. And event though he'd hit and kicked the walls dozens of times in his anger, the house was always there to support him.
Finally he'd got what he wanted. He was free. Free and alone.
Only one time after his independence did he return to the house. Now he had to slouch to enter and there was definite age in his sparkling blue eyes. He never said a word but there was a pervading air of loss surrounding him. And he didn't linger, only soaked up the room with his eyes and fondly stroked the wall before leaving.
The house stood empty with memories for decades.
Now the boy returned. This forest was going to be turned into apartments, and Alfred wanted to come back one last time. He recalled fondest the times his mentor would help him save the world.
Alfred chuckled to himself. They were still saving the world, only literally this time. Together, as equals.
The boy left the house, content in his memories. Back out on the road there was a car waiting with another blond at the wheel. Alfred gave a genuine smile and waved, "Iggy!" jogging towards the blond and away from the house just as the rain fell.
~x~X~x~
A/N~
Wow, this is sooo short. -_-' Well, I haven't posted anything in... a very long time, so perhaps someone may like this.
I literally wrote this in a fit of inspiriation in about two hours. Enjoy.