A Night in the Red Light

Tintin sat upstairs in his room a week after his twenty-third birthday. Mrs. Finch finally came over for the party and things were great for Tintin. The only person who was the closest to a mother he ever had. Tintin often wondered about his real parents. The memories were as if they were erased from his mind. Tintin decided to stop thinking about the serious stuff for a bit. He sat at his desk in his room. Then he thought about what he and the Captain did last week and decided to write something a bit more light hearted, yet a learning experience Tintin wouldn't forget. Tintin started to type and halfway through a sentence he began to laugh out loud thinking how silly this would sound in a newspaper, but this would be for his own personal enjoyment years later he thought.

Captain Haddock and Snowy returned from a nice brisk walk outside and decided to go up and get Tintin out of the confines of his room. When they reached the top of the staircase, they could hear Tintin laughing. Curiously, Haddock walked just outside Tintin's door and listened for a moment confused.

A knock at his door soon followed. "What ya up to landlubber?" Haddock chided outside Tintin's door.

"Come in Captain" Tintin smiled as Snowy came rushing in with the Captain jumping into Tintin's lap.

"You can't possibly miss me that much Snowy" Tintin laughed petting him as he licked his hand.

"You'd better believe it!" Snowy barked.

"You've been awfully quiet up here, so I thought I would come check on you and make sure you were alright," Haddock said bending down putting a hand on Tintin's shoulder receiving a kiss on the lips from Tintin.

"I'm fine, thank you Captain!" Tintin said turning around to his type writer.

"Whatcha writing about lad?" Haddock's curiosity peeked.

"Actually Captain maybe you can help me if I forget something" Tintin suggested.

"Sure, beats sittin' down stairs alone while Nestor's busy, Cuthbert's hiding in his lab, and Snowy just panting at me" Haddock said pulling up the extra chair in Tintin's room.

"Well it's about last weekend…" Tintin blushed a little.

"Thunderin' Typhoons Tintin! You're not going to tell the papers about our night out are ya?!" Haddock suddenly asked incredulously.

"Great snakes Captain! No, this is for my journal" Tintin laughed a bit.

"Oh ok, well as long as no one else is going to read it go ahead and type away" Haddock smiled as Snowy jumped out of Tintin's lap into Haddock's.

"Ok here goes…" Tintin suddenly began furiously typing away as Haddock scratched behind Snowy's ears.

It was a Friday night and the Captain seemed more bored than usual. The Captain and I had always talked about our age difference at length but I had just finished reading Jane Eyre again after the Captain and I had another discussion. Jane Eyre was in love with a man almost twice her age! Actually more than that!

"….Eerrr I'm not twice your age landlubber I'm about eighteen and a half! You're twenty-three!" Haddock replied as the keystroke brought each letter the page.

"I was talking about Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester Captain" Tintin laughed.

"Oh… sorry, continue" Haddock nodded rubbing Tintin's shoulder. Tintin began letting the keystrokes fly as the Captain pulled out a flask and watched Tintin with adoration.

XXXXXXX

One week ago...

"You see Captain, it worked out in the end for Jane Eyre" Tintin said positively.

"I know it did lad… it's been awhile since I've read that one. Charlotte Bronte is a good writer!" Haddock commented

"Poor Jane, Mr. Rochester really played with her emotions" Tintin said sympathetically.

"I've never done that to you Tintin. I hope you're not comparing me to that iconclast" Haddock replied.

"No, not at all, it's what all Jane goes through so she can be with Mr. Rochester" Tintin explained.

"Tintin I've been thinking. I think it's time I take you out to the Gentleman's Club" Haddock finally came out with his idea.

"What's that Captain?" Tintin asked innocently.

"Well…it's a place where we can meet other people like us" Haddock articulated well.

"You mean other Captains have boys like me? Captain, you're the only one for me!" Tintin looked surprised.

"Thunderin Typhoons lad, I would never share you with anyone! I just thought maybe we could make some new friends. As for your first comment, some do…some are with other captains while some boys like you are with other boys like you; such as Chang!" The Captain coughed.

"Captain you know I love you and only you like the way we do. Chang and I have a different kind of relationship" Tintin explained.

"I believe you Tintin, I was just testing you hehehhe!" Haddock smiled.

"Go get ready landlubber and get you a bath. I want you to look your prettiest for me tonight" Haddock winked.

"You got it Captain!" Tintin smiled back running upstairs. Soon afterwards Professor Calculus came walking into the parlor.

"Oh Captain you got to see this new security system I'm working on for the gate!" the Professor exclaimed.

"Don't have time Cuthbert, going out tonight and got to get ready. Show me tomorrow" Haddock explained getting up from his seat.

"Well I just thought… wait where are you going?" Calculus asked curiously.

"Trust me Professor you wouldn't be interested" Haddock said as Calculus followed him into the foyer.

"Oh but I am, just tell me" Calculus continued to ask.

"Fine, the Gentleman's Club" Haddock answered.

"Oh can I go too?" Calculus suddenly found the idea of going out charming.

"No" Haddock replied simply.

Calculus looked a bit puzzled as Haddock stopped in his tracks as he walked a couple stairs up and turned around.

"Blisterin' Barnacles Cuthbert, you know I care a lot about you and there's not a thing I wouldn't do for you right?" Haddock questioned.

"Right…but…" Calculus was just a bit confused then it hit him.

"Oh you're taking Tintin out—so you want to—be—alone?" Calculus asked.

"Something like that yes, but you can ride with Nestor if you like…I'm sure he wouldn't mind the company" Haddock suggested.

"Of course Captain, but tell me what kind of place is this 'Gentleman's club'?" Calculus asked confused.

"Do you really want to know Cuthbert?" Haddock folded his arms standing still.

"Well of course" Calculus shook his head.

"Ok…" Haddock started to explain.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Thunderin' Typhoons Tintin you should have seen the look on old Cuthbert's face when I told him" Haddock laughed.

"Poor Calculus" Tintin laughed a little even though he tried not to but found it oddly funny.

"It's fine lad, it WAS funny! I think Calculus actually turned red!" Haddock continued to laugh.

"So anything else happened between the time I was getting a shower?" Tintin smirked.

Haddock lit his pipe and nodded negatively, "Continue…"

XXXXXXXXXX

So that night after I got my shower, I quickly dashed to my room covering myself with a towel and put on my nicest tuxedo. It was a blue one that Professor Calculus bought me for my twenty first birthday! I hadn't worn it yet but figured now would be just as any a good time to wear it.

"Tintin! You're wearing the tux I bought you!" Calculus smiled.

"Yes, the Captain told me to wear something really nice tonight" Tintin smiled joining Calculus in the parlor as he read a book sitting by the fire.

"I have so many suits upstairs that I forget which ones I have" Tintin joked.

"Understandable…so I hear you and the Captain are going out to some… deplorable place" Calculus nodded helplessly.

"Well it's just for likeminded folk" Tintin defended.

"Just be careful Tintin, those kinds of places can be dangerous. I had a colleague once get into trouble going to one of those places whom I always suspected of…you know" the professor shared.

"I'm sure the Captain would never take me anywhere dangerous like this" Tintin laughed.

"You're right, besides if you can outsmart Bordurian agents, and fight tough goons, you should be fine" Calculus nodded turning a page in his book.

Nestor walked in to put the fire out, "Excuse me gentleman but we should be leaving in less than five minutes. I'm going to get the car"

Nestor walked out dressed in his usual monkey tailed suit wearing his gloves. Soon afterwards the Captain came waltzing down the stairs with his monocle and black tuxedo he wore during many ceremonies.

"Captain! Eloquent as usual" Tintin complemented.

"Blue Blisterin' Barnacles! Why Tintin you look quite handsome yerself lad! I never thought you'd wear that tacky blue tuxedo" Haddock laughed.

"Tacky?!" Calculus sounded outraged.

"I'll have you know I paid many Belgian Francs for that from Moreaux's! Hmph!" Calculus glared.

"I'm sorry professor, I didn't realize you bought that for Tintin" Haddock said walking down putting his arm around Tintin as they continued to walk to the car.

Snowy came rushing downstairs, "I'm sorry Snowy you can't go this time" Tintin lamented petting Snowy as he whined.

"Yes he can, he can keep Nestor and I company" the Professor smiled.

Snowy barked happily.

"Captain you were there when I opened the gift, or have you already forgotten?" Tintin giggled.

Haddock opened the door for Calculus letting him in front while he and Tintin got in the back.

"So Nestor, Cuthbert, what are the two of you going to do tonight?" Haddock asked.

"I'm fine with whatever Master Calculus decides to do" Nestor plainly answered as he began driving.

"I think we may go see one of my colleagues at the Observatory and have a bit coffee" Calculus suggested. Nestor shrugged indifferently.

"Well there you have it" Calculus smiled.

"Well that sounds splendid Professor! I'm almost a bit envious of you and Nestor. A discussion about scientific endeavors is always fascinating" Tintin commented.

Haddock began clearing his throat a little annoyed.

"Don't worry Captain, I'm sure you and I will have just as good a time" Tintin back tracked a bit then whispered, "…if not better" Tintin finished quietly.

Haddock took Tintin's hand in his own and smiled as they rode through the Belgian country side that night passing Moulinsart Train station, then could see the small colored lights that lit the runway for the airport off in the distance as they finally began to approach the city of Brussells.