#me @ the karaboudjan sailors | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tintin-is-my-life · 5 years ago

Text

- FANFICTION - 2nd part

An Unexpected Meeting

At that moment, Kathrynn had just woken up. She was determined to get out of the hold of which she was trapped. She shouted to Sakharine's attention:

Sakharine ! I'm talking to you, who do you think you are? You are on my boat! You have no right, especially not to command my crew or even to corrupt them for whatever reason !

LET ME OUT OF HERE!

At that moment, the door opened. Thisis Tom, come to put Kathrynn back to sleep

She barely had time to slip behind the door When Tom entered the room, he saw it was empty. But, he soon realized that he had been the victim of a ruse, since without warning Kathrynn came out from behind the door and knocked him out with a punch in the face.

He gave the alert:

Haddock has escaped !!!

Once again he received another punch,this time from Allan.

You idiot !! Said Allan.

Allan, then took all the necessary steps to find Kathrynn But they still had to warn Sakharine. And he was afraid of that, after all the blunders they'd just committed.

Kathrynn tried to find a hiding place in the meantime, because all the exits had been made. So she went into one of the holds. She barricaded the door. Then, when she turned around, she saw... Tintin, still asleep.

Kathrynn: Who is it? I don't know him...He's in really bad shape ! I don't know why they did this, but they're gonna hear me upstairs!

She took off her chains. And laid him down on the floor, resting his head on his coat.

Ahh, he's waking up ! She said.

Tintin: Mmh

Kathrynn: Sir, are you okay ?

Tintin: Mmh, my head...

It hurt a little bit all over. And he was still bleeding from the many blows Allan and Tom had dealt him.

Kathrynn: Let me help you up !

Tintin: Who are you, by the way ? he answered.

Kathrynn: I'm the captain of this ship ! she said.

Tintin: I see ! Is it because of you that I'm here ? You're on Sakharine's side, aren't you?

Kathrynn: Not at all ! I too was a victim of that scoundrel ! He corrupted my entire crew and had me locked up in the hold. I managed to escape and I had to hide. That's when I found you. She turned back.

Tintin: I'm sorry if I've offended you...

Kathrynn: I probably would have reacted the same way. (^-^)

Tintin: By the way, my name is Tintin. What's yours? It seems to me that you haven't told me your name yet...

Kathrynn: That's right ! My name is Kathrynn Haddock!

Tintin: Did you just say "Haddock"?

Kathrynn: Uh... yes, is it that important?

But Tintin doesn't have time to answer. There's a voice behind the door.

It's Allan's: Found ! It's not a very clever hiding place.

Kathrynn: We have to get out of here before they can get in !

When Tintin saw a few things, he exclaimed:

I've got an idea! We're going to use this to get out!

They opened the porthole, and threw the rope that allowed them to reach the porthole on the top floor. Allan and Tom managed to get in shortly afterwards. But of course, the hold was empty.

Where is your radio room? We've got to send a signal to the authorities before we leave ! Said Tintin.

In the meantime, Allan and Tom went to warn Sakharine about what had happened.

Sakharine was desperate. How could he trust two such idiots, he thought.

Then he came out of his silence:

Sakharine : How could you let them escape?? I want you to find them ! Both of them! If you kill, Tintin it's not so bad but I want Kathrynn ALIVE ! I've got some business to attend to with her. I have vengeance to exact!

Right, boss ! They exclaimed.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

While the whole crew was on their heels, Kathrynn and Tintin managed to reach the radio room. Kathrynn left Tintin and went to prepare a rescue channel. But suddenly, while Tintin was busy sending the distress message, he was interrupted by Tom who was passing by. Tintin knocked him out with a punch. Tom had time to sound the alarm. But Tintin didn't have time to finish his message. Shortly before, he had discovered the destination of the boat. He was on his way to Bagghar to get his hands on the third boat and thus on the third and last scroll, that of a certain Omar Ben Salaad.

Tintin is pursued by several men, but they are not fast enough to catch him. Kathrynn was able to reach the rescue channels but she was also spotted. The canal is ready. Tintin runs with all his strength, despite his injuries, to join her. They finally manage to escape, but Sakharine won't stop there.

At dawn, we find Tintin and Kathrynn on their small canal in the middle of the ocean.

Tintin takes the opportunity to ask her some questions about the Unicorn:

Tintin: So, are you a Haddock?

Kathrynn: Yes !

Tintin: I thought this family had no more descendants?

Kathrynn: Yet, I'm way ahead of you!

Tintin: Can you tell me what happened, then?

Kathrynn: This is going to sound strange, probably, but I don't remember anything ... at least not yet...

Tintin: What do you mean?

She takes her head in her hands.

The story I was told got lost in my head... It's as if that memory has been taken away from me...

Tintin: It will inevitably come back to you one day, don't worry ! (^^)

Kathrynn : Still, I'm sure this story has something to do with this Sakharine. There's got to be something, otherwise why else would he have chosen my boat, my crew?

Tintin: I think you're right! I have that impression myself...

A few hours later, the canal fell victim to the shooting of Karaboudjan's plane.

Tintin and Kathrynn protect themselves with the hull of the canal. Fortunately, Tintin still had a weapon (the one he had stolen from one of the sailors).

He only had one bullet left. He had to be well concentrated to hit his target.

Shortly afterwards, the seaplane landed. Tintin hit him. As the pilots didn't know that he didn't have a single bullet left, Tintin took the opportunity to put them under control. They too, had a gun, but they didn't expect Tintin to arrive, so they were not suspicious.

Now, Tintin and Kathrynn have a way to reach Sakharine in Bagghar and prevent him from stealing the third scroll.

But, on the way, they hit a real storm and the plane crashes in the desert.

Everyone is safe except for the two pilots who escaped with parachutes.

Tintin and Kathrynn continue on their way in order to find a way back to civilization.

But of course, it is unbearably hot and after a few hours they faint. They are found in the night by an army commander and one of his troops, and are brought back to the command post.

Tintin has been awake for a long time, but Kathrynn is still in a deep sleep. Tintin is at her bedside. She seems to be having a rather agitated dream. Then suddenly she wakes up.

Kathrynn: I remember everything!

Tintin: Really ?

Kathrynn: Yes! My dream reminded me of a lot of things. But there's one thing that still intrigues me. In my dream, the pirate was wearing a scarf over his mouth. I couldn't see his face.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers comes into the room, it's hot outside, he's wearing a scarf and he takes it off when he comes in. And then Kathrynn has a flash. She sees her ancestor take off the scarf of Captain of the Pirates, a man named Red Rackham, with a sword.

And now she sees his face.

Kathrynn: That's impossible !

Kathrynn: What's going on ? Said Tintin.

Kathrynn: So that would be his real reason. The treasure is just some kind of bonus for him. What he wants most of all is revenge.

Tintin: ?

Kathrynn: You're not going to believe me... Sakharine is the true descendant of Red Rackham ... Well, the captain of the pirates who invaded "The Unicorn" at the time! And just as my ancestor defeated him, and Sakharine is his descendant, he wants revenge for the bitter failure of my ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock.

Tintin: How? But it's unbelievable! At the same time, it would explain a lot.

Kathrynn: Indeed. We have to leave for Bagghar soon!

Under no circumstances will I let this Bashibouzouk steal the treasure of the Knight of Hadoque!

Tintin: Let's go without further delay!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When they reached the heights of Bagghar, they saw the port where the Karaboudjan was moored.

We are on the right track. There it is ! Said Tintin.

And they entered the city.

A few minutes later, Tintin gave the alert. I think we're being followed !

What do you mean, we're being followed ? Said Kathrynn.

Indeed, two people seemed to be following them, quite closely too.

Tintin and Kathrynn took them by surprise. And there they discovered... the Dupondt. The latter had received the distress message Tintin had sent from Karaboudjan. They had come to join them in Bagghar. And they also had the wallet that Tintin had had stolen and in which he had put the scroll.

Now we're on equal terms. He says.

When he looked up, he discovered that posters were being put up on either side of the city gates. Bianca Castafiore, a famous Milanese singer was giving a concert tonight in the palace of Omar Ben Salaad. Palace in which the third and last "Unicorn" was located.

Tintin and Kathrynn were present at the concert. They're pretty well dressed. They took the time to buy Moroccan-style clothes, perfect to blend in with the crowd.

When they sat down in the distance in the hall, they saw The Unicorn well exposed in a display case by a bullet.

I wonder how Sakharine could break that glass and take "The Unicorn" ? Said Kathrynn.

Tintin didn't have time to answer, so the diva entered the scene. She had short blond hair and wore a long pink mermaid dress, which ended with small ruffles. She began to sing. Honestly, her singing is unbearable. She sang almost out of tune. But Tintin and Kathrynn tried to bear it. Looking around, Tintin noticed Sakharine, who was watching the scene from a balcony. He had one of the best seats, at the same time, he was the one who organized everything, which Tintin and Kathrynn didn't know.

Towards the end of the song. Bianca went higher and higher. Tintin understood pretty quickly what was going on. Sakharine had organized this concert himself, because only the voice of the famous Bianca Castafiore was powerful enough to break the glass that surrounded the caravel, glass by bullet moreover. Then Sakharine's falcon flew towards "The Unicorn" and then broke the mast and stole the parchment that was hidden there.

And there, everything followed, Sakharine, who had long since noticed the presence of Tintin and Kathrynn, pointed them out to make them take the blame for him and thus save time. The Sheikh's guards approached them. Tintin and Kathrynn defended themselves and finally managed to escape to pursue Allan, Tom and Sakharine, who were fleeing by car with the scroll.

Eventually they caught up with them. And fights broke out. Punchings broke out as well.

With all this, they finally made it to the harbour.

As they fought, Sakharine noticed the scroll the Dupondt had returned to them. He knows that Kathrynn has it on her. Sakharine provoked Kathrynn. Tintin was in a bad position at that moment. Sakharine pointed a gun at him and then he said to Kathrynn :

If you don't want him to die, give me the scrolls !

A serious look on his face. Then she turns to Tintin. She closes her eyes. Tintin is always ready to take the slightest risk, but right now, it would be too stupid to die for a simple scroll, even if it leads to a magnificent treasure. Kathrynn decides to give the scroll to Sakharine, who is more than happy to receive it.

Sakharine : There you go, I've won !

I wouldn't speak too quickly if I were you, said Tintin.

And as if for fun, Sakharine shot Tintin, but fortunately he didn't manage to touch him.

While Kathrynn and Tintin protected themselves from the bullets, Allan and Tom had time to start the car to return to the boat.

They watched the car run away with an awful feeling of failure.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Tintin and Kathrynn had sat on a café terrace waiting to find a solution. All his emotions had made them thirsty and they needed a pick-me-up, without alcohol of course.

Kathrynn: We have to find something, we can't let them take my ancestor's treasure like that! There's got to be a way! We've got to catch up to them!

Tintin: I wish I was as optimistic as you are, but there's no hope left! They're too far ahead of us. And we have absolutely no idea where they're headed.

Kathrynn: I think you're more optimistic, but we can't give up at this point.

Tintin: I'm more of a realist, if you don't mind.

Kathrynn sipped her mint tea and thought. There had to be a way to catch him. Then suddenly she had a click.

Kathrynn: OF COURSE ! Tintin, did you use the radio to send a message?

Tintin: Yes, I did... He replied a little desperately. Wait a minute! You're right, I know what radio frequency they're transmitting on, which means, if I give that frequency to the police, they'll be able to find the boat wherever it is!

Kathrynn: We need to find a plane !

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A few hours later, Tintin and Kathrynn found themselves in the port of Brussels, accompanied by a few policemen ready to trap Sakharine and his henchmen. Sakharine came down the gangplank and ordered Allan and Tom to keep his actions secret. Then he went to his car, where Nestor was waiting for him. Sakharine got in, but Nestor didn't have time to do the same. Just as he tried to open the door, the car was lifted into the air by a crane operated by... Kathrynn, who was enjoying herself. She placed the car near the crowd of five policemen, including Dupont and Dupond, as well as Tintin. They approached the car to put Sakharine under yoke, but they saw absolutely no one. Until Sakharine came out of the front seat and yoked them in turn. He threatened them, then shot them, wounding one of the policemen in the leg. Sakharine took advantage of the policeman's attention and fled. Meanwhile, Kathrynn had come down from the crane, thinking she would be more useful on land. She came face to face with Sakharine, who pointed her gun at her, a finger to her mouth to tell her to shut up. Allan and Tom, who had noticed that the situation had degenerated, got out of the boat discreetly and positioned themselves behind the policemen and Tintin so as not to be spotted. They pointed guns at them and Allan ordered Tom to tie them up so that they couldn't bring in more reinforcements. Tintin, also tied up, was forced to follow Allan and Tom, who of course pointed a gun at him. They joined Sakharine and Kathrynn on the deck. Kathrynn was stunned to see that Tintin was now Tom and Allan's prisoner.

Sakharine spoke up:

Good ! I hadn't planned any of this, but I figured we could settle the score here after all. He said, looking at Kathrynn, and ready to draw his sword at any moment.

Red Rackham ! Kathrynn said

Sakharine : I am delighted to see that you have finally understood! It would have been much less fun to kill you without you knowing the whole truth! I tracked you down by documenting myself on a boat I had discovered a long time ago at a flea market in Russia. "The Unicorn", of course! So I swore at that moment to avenge my ancestor for the humiliation Sir Francis had inflicted upon him. The treasure is only a bonus on top of that, but it is also a real pleasure to see me get the treasure that has been in your family for generations.

...

So here's what I propose: Let's fight here and now to end it all in good faith! Only one of us can win and it will be me! You are obligated to accept. If you don't, I'll order Allan to pull the trigger and you can say goodbye to your friend. Ah-ah-ah-ah! Tonight I will finally restore my ancestor's honor! He said with determination. What is your answer?

Kathrynn: I accept, of course ! she said, looking at Tintin.

Tintin: Kathrynn, it's much too dangerous.

Kathrynn: If I do nothing, they'll kill you! I have to do it!

Sakharin: That's enough, let's get down to business !

Allan and Tom held Tintin firmly in addition to his bonds so that he wouldn't come and interrupt the fight. Sakharine, quickly drew her sword stick. And Kathrynn armed herself with a piece of piping she'd found on the deck, it was it or nothing.

Sakharine warned her, and Kathrynn tried to avoid the blows. It was a tough fight. Kathrynn was fighting with all her strength, for her ancestor, for Tintin, but also for herself. Suddenly, Sakharine succeeded in disarming her. Her weapon fell a little further. And soon after, Sakharine pierced it with her sword stick. With the shock, Kathrynn coughed up blood, and her eyes began to water in pain. The blade was still in her body. Sakharine moved the sword to cause her more pain, then pulled it out with a violent kick to knock her down. Kathrynn fell to the ground.

Tintin: No! Kathrynn !! He shouted in fright.

He wanted to join her to help her, but Tom and Allan stopped him.

Tintin: But let go of me at last!

Tintin tried to fight back but nothing helped. To calm him down, Allan hit him in the stomach. Next time it's a bullet in the head!

Kathrynn was bleeding a lot. She still had enough strength to get up again, but Sakharine stopped her by pressing her foot on her back, which made her fall back down. He grabbed her by the hair and whispered in her ear:

So, how does it feel to lose?

Kathrynn: Ahh!

Then he turned her over to make sure she was on her back. He kicked the hand that supported her wound and put his foot in its place, making it suffer even more. She could no longer move, and fainted a few seconds later.

Sakharine raised her head and smiled: Ah ah ah! I hope you are proud of me, dear Rackham! My revenge is finally accomplished!

Tintin was totally impotent, he had tears in his eyes. Kathrynn... He had never been in such a situation before. He had always known how to get out of danger. He felt awful. Even in all his adventures, he'd never experienced such violence as he did now. Sakharine was a more fearsome man than all the bandits he had known before and would do anything to get his way.

Moments later, Sakharine ordered Allan and Tom to let Tintin go, and Tintin rushed to Kathrynn. He took her in his arms. A bond had been created between them, something Tintin had never felt before. Feeling Tintin's touch, Kathrynn managed to open her eyes. She looked at him and smiled at him :

I'm glad I was able to live this adventure with you... she whispered to him.

Tintin saw the light go out in her eyes. He couldn't stop crying. He hadn't told her anything, but he was beginning to have feelings for her, what he didn't know was that she too...

Tintin gently laid Kathrynn's head on the ground and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then, with clenched fists, he stood up looking at Kathrynn's inert body.

You're going to pay for this ! He shouted to Sakharine, who watched the scene with an amused and cruel look.

Tintin heard a noise behind him. He barely had time to turn around when he saw Sakharine pointing a gun at him. He didn't have time to react, Sakharine touched him on the head.

The end.

#tintin #les aventures de tintin #the adventures of tintin #the adventures of tintin the secret of the unicorn #les aventures de tintin le secret de la licorne #sakharine #ivan ivanovitch sakharine #kathrynn haddock #allan thomspon #tomtintin

10 notes · View notes

shads-shipposts · 5 months ago

Text

So, my sailor fic Anachronism won't be released in full until at least 2029 due to other projects in my neverending queue, but! There's a profound lack of Karaboudjan crew content on this site and I feel like rectifying that. Plus I haven't cursed this hellsite with my nonsense in ages, and that's gotta be fixed.

So, here's a touch-up/completion of something I'm fairly certain I posted a while back. Ch 2 of Anachronism, called Run and Gun! It takes place the morning of the Tintin movie's beginning, but don't worry about not having chapter 1 to read yet. Honestly, things will probably make less sense if you read chapter one. Plus I haven't written it yet.

All you need to know is Anachronism involves a literal self-insert (I get sucked into the movie) but with the twist of its actually the same universe as one of my old Tintin fanfics that was never finished. Hence why Allan is after me, he's got bits of memory missing and ain't happy about it. Also, being a black belt ain't made up. I trained for 4 1/2 years and got it in 2019. This story takes place in 2020, specifically Jan 1.

Enough ramble, on with the show! Depending on the reception, I may post more book snippets as I go along. So be sure to leave a comment if you enjoyed! Or if you have thoughts on characterization, it's been a while since I've written with these guys.

CW: Langauge, minor peril, utter chaos

Word Count: 3700

---------------------------

“Catch that kid! I want her alive!”

Well ain’t this dandy? All I wanted to do was sketch the ship, now I’m in a run and gun chase scene! This is what I get for being curious!

At least this was just a dream, so I couldn’t really get hurt.

Right?

Usually my dream would have shifted into something unhinged by now. Things were too stable, too realistic. Too… what was the word? Linear.

Footsteps came quick behind me, and close. Blackbelt or not, running was not my forte. My fighting style was quick and brutal, so I never had to worry about stamina. Fights were only supposed to last a few seconds, otherwise they were brawls.

I was not trained for that.

I just really hoped it wasn’t Allan right behind me. He had questions, and to be fair I had a hell of a lot of my own, but I didn’t think he’d be keen on sitting down and having a calm chat about them.

I risked a glance behind me.

Not Allan, or any other sailor I recognized, but a young guy. No older than me, or taller, but probably faster.

“No hard feelin’, doll!” he called. “Boss wants you back, so I’m takin’ ya back!”

“Ain’t you precious!” I retorted, anger sparking through me at the nickname. “Call me that again and I’ll drop your ass!”

“That fire won’t do you any favors with the boss!”

“And your smooth talk won’t do you any favors with me!”

I had to lose this guy, he was getting close.

Spotting a brick wall maybe eight feet high, I changed course and headed straight for it. Hopefully this young fella couldn’t vault walls like I could.

Let’s see if all that self taught parkour pays off!

Jumping at the wall, right foot first, the treads of my boot caught the rough brick and I propelled myself over the obstacle. I landed in a puddle, but at least I was gone from the bad side of the wall.

“Oh what the hell?!”

Ha! Lost him!

“Nick! Where’d she go?”

“She vaulted the wall!”

Well, that was no good. That sounded like Neil, and he could probably toss Nick over the wall.

Time to make like my name and vanish!

Spying an open door, I darted inside a warehouse and climbed up behind some crates. I was careful to not put myself into a corner, however, because I knew my harsh breathing would give myself away. I could control it decently well, but even still.

My reprieve was horrifically short lived.

Voices, inside the warehouse.

“Those footprints led in here.”

Damn puddle.

“Be careful, fellas. She’s feisty!” came Nick’s laugh.

“Anyone would be annoyed to deal with you,” another sailor snorted. “Remember, boss wants her alive. Preferably unharmed, but use force to get her down if needed.”

Oh, it’s gonna be needed.

Noise came from my right, and I turned in anticipation as I waited for the sailor to show himself. He sure was making a lot of noise, and I thought I even heard a crate tumble down to the floor.

The reason for all the excess noise soon revealed itself.

“Gotcha!” Nick laughed, arms wrapping around my middle. He hauled me up and towards himself, but that gave me an idea.

Throwing all my weight back into him, he yelped and we both tumbled backwards, heels over head, down the tall stack of crates. Something that should have hurt like the dickens, but didn’t.

This was a dream after all.

Down we went, Nick having a much worse time than me. It was a long way to the cobblestone floor, the sailor who made all the noise rushing to beat us to the bottom where another sailor waited. I didn’t recognize them, so I didn’t feel too bad when I kicked off the pile of crates and launched us both into the legs into one sailor as he darted below us to grab me.

He went down, he and Nick ending up in tangled a pile of sore limbs, leaving me free to spring free and ready myself to square up with the remaining sailor.

Though I honestly wished he would have been the one Nick currently struggled to detangle himself from. I’d faced off some big guys in karate, but this fella was on another level.

Leverage. I’d have to use leverage.

In a way that did not anger this big guy.

“Little girl has skill,” he remarked in a thick Russian accent, giving me a smile that was surprisingly more good-natured than sinister. “But sadly will not make safe.”

“Get ‘er, Ollie!”

Diving into a shoulder roll, I sprang up and immediately changed direction and dove into another one just as his arms closed over the spot I just was. I darted out the door, immediately slamming into another sailor and taking us into the street.

I could not catch a break!

A car horn sounded, but before I could react, the sailor I ran into snatched the back of my jeans’ waistband and rolled us out of the way to the other side of the street. I kicked off with my legs, aiding him the best I could.

Neither of us were gonna be able to fight if we both got flattened by multiple tons of steel.

Angry yelling followed from the driver, but I didn’t really have the time to say sorry as I found myself locked in a grappling match with the sailor who saved both our skins.

Why couldn’t the other black belts have just ignored the awkwardness and taught me grappling?! I didn’t know dick about this!

But I did know one thing.

As an arm came down and tried to loop around my neck, I bared my teeth and sank them into his bare arm.

It tasted like sweat, dirt, sea-water, and engine grease.

Not that I knew what the last tasted like.

“Youch!” a semi-familiar voice yelled, quickly releasing his hold on me.

Diving away, I sprang up but stopped in horror as I found myself staring down a dead-end alley. Spinning around into a right fighting-stance, guard up and front leg ready to strike, I finally saw the sailor I’d nearly gotten run over.

Neil knelt on the ground, blocking my way out as he nursed his wounded arm. I hadn’t bitten too hard, more concerned with just getting free via surprise, so all he had to worry about was spit and a bruise. Inspecting the bite mark, he then looked up at me with an expression halfway between amusement and shock.

“You just bite me, Shortie?”

“Well pardon me for wantin’ to escape!”

He snorted in amusement, a partial smile on his face. “Apology accepted, but afraid I can’t grant that escape.”

As if on cue, more sailors joined him at the entrance to the alley. Hobbs, Tom, Ollie, Nick, the unnamed sailor Nick fell on, and…

“Shit,” I hissed, locking eyes with Allan.

“What’s the rush?” he asked. “It’s rude to not say goodbye, kid.”

That easy-going and nonthreatening smile don’t fool me, Al. Tom’s the Golden Retriever, not you. You’re a German Shepherd with anger management issues or some shit.

Nick and the unnamed sailor stood on either side of the entrance, looking the opposite directions as they presumably kept a look out for any passersby. The others moved into the alley, pushing me further back.

Hobbs laughed, looking me up and down. “What’re we all standin’ around for? She’s not so tough, watch!”

He came forward, reaching for my arm. I waited until he got just close enough, subtly shifting my weight to my left leg, before letting it fly.

It caught him in the chest, knocking him off his feet and back towards the group.

“Nice strike,” Ollie said, arms crossed and stance relaxed as Neil erupted into laughter.

“Don’t encourage her!” Hobbs spat, slowly staggering to his feet.

“Looks like we got a martial artist on our hands, boys,” Allan remarked, looking me up and down. “No wonder they felt so safe takin’ a stroll down the docks.”

Not my brightest idea, but even in a dream I can gather ideas.

“Now I get why you said it was reflex after you smacked me in the face,” Neil said, still laughing at a wounded Hobbs.

“Sad to say, kid, all that fancy dojo-learnin’ won’t do you much good here on the street. But we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Allan said, tone now conversational and even charismatic in a way. “Up to you.”

Of course he’d switch to charming and agreeable now, he had me cornered. Ol’ good cop bad cop, except Allan Thompson played both roles. Good trick, scare someone out of their wits then act all friendly so they would be more likely to cooperate and “make it easier for everyone”.

Unfortunately, I never in my life “made it easy” for anyone and I sure as hell wasn’t gonna start now.

“All we need from you is some answers,” Allan continued, stance relaxed and arms loose by his sides.

“You and me both,” I muttered.

The way you shift from threatening to trustworthy is amazing, sir. Were you not out for blood, I’d study you like a prison psychologist.

“Quit fightin’,” Hobbs growled, coming up on the right. “You’re just gonna get yourself hurt.” He emphasized his words by pulling a blade out.

I ain’t the one that got Sparta-kicked just a minute ago.

“No need for violence,” Allan called over to him, but he said nothing about sheathing the blade. He looked back over at me. “I’d suggest playin’ nice, kid. No more of that warehouse nonsense, these fellas won’t be as easy to deal with as the new guy.”

“Drop the act, Allan,” I growled. “You and I both know that sweet talkin’ is empty and I ain’t so stupid as to be charmed by honeyed words like that.”

His expression changed, the easy-going smile shifting to something not quite sinister but definitely not friendly. “We’re gettin’ those answers, kid. One way or another.” His tone darkened. “You want to play rough, we can play rough.”

Hobbs flanked his right with a blade, Neil his left with nothing but his bare hands. Tom stood back, waiting and watching the scene unfold with sharp eyes and a hand on his hip close to what I knew to be a firearm.

“Four corners, huh?” I asked, shifting into a ready stance with my weight on my toes. “A gun, a knife, and fists. All I need is a kicker. You good at round-house kicks, Allan?”

He didn’t say anything, still bearing that dangerous smile that sent shivers down my spine yet also brought a similar smile to my own face.

“Think this is a game?” Hobbs demanded.

I flashed a toothy grin his way. “Play ball, bitch.”

Allan shrugged. “If you insist.”

Hobbs came first, blade aimed for my leg. A simple horse stance to horse stance paired with a wrist throw took care of him.

Neil was next, swinging wide with a haymaker that didn’t make much sense but he’d already proved enigmatic in his methods so I didn’t spend time questioning him. I just stepped in, blocked the punch on the inside of his arm, and wrapped my hand around the back of his neck. By a stroke of luck, I threw him into Hobbs and they both went down.

But now I found myself facing Tom, or rather, not facing him.

He locked me in a bear hug from behind, but unlucky for him this was one of the easiest attacks to break.

Drive my heel onto the top of his foot, punch out and step into a horse stance to break the hold, elbow to the gut to wind him, grab the arm, kneel, bend, and flip.

Tom fell hard onto the cobblestones in front of me, arm trapped in an armbar, but as I drew back a fist to strike his ribs, I found myself unable to commit.

Instead, I threw his arm away and dove into a shoulder roll to escape before he could spring up and grab me.

But what was waiting for me was worse, and I sprang to my feet to find Allan’s pistol pointed straight at my chest.

He was in arms reach, and I knew how to disarm him, but I risked the trigger getting pulled and the bullet hitting one of the others. If I could just get him to shift slightly, then I only risked the wall getting hit.

Unless it ricocheted…

“Hey, what gives?” Hobbs groaned, cradling his wrist. “Why does Tom get let off easy?”

“Maybe because he didn’t try stabbin’ the kid!” Neil smacked him over the head. “What were you thinkin’, dickhead?!”

“I was just aimin’ for ‘er leg! I wouldn’t hit anythin’ vital!”

My attention slipped, focused on the bickering pair.

Allan immediately took advantage of the mistake.

“Tom.”

Act!

I stepped in, both hands grabbing the top of Allan’s and forcing the gun down. For some reason, it didn’t go off. Snatching it from his grasp, I slammed my foot into his gut and drove him back. The force sent him off his feet, just like Hobbs, but before he recovered I had the gun ready and aimed at him.

I’d never be able to pull the trigger, even with it just aimed at his foot, but I just hoped they wouldn’t know that.

Allan did notice, however, where I was aiming and where my finger was; resting along the barrel, far from the trigger. Still kneeling, his eyes traveled from the gun to me, slightly narrowed. Tom came up from the side, cautiously, but Allan stopped him with a hand.

“Why would you risk gettin’ shot to get the gun,” he asked, one hand over his stomach where I nailed him. He stood, eyes trained on mine. “Only to aim it somewhere that wouldn’t even stop your attacker?”

“Mind your business.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Considerin’ I have my gun aimed at my foot, think it is my business.”

“I ain’t lookin’ for a murder charge.”

Dream or no dream. Not that that is the whole reason.

“Did not stop you from trying to break neck in warehouse,” Ollie commented, still standing calm as could be near the front of the alley.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that.”

He tilted his head. “You are not desperate. Dedicated to escape, but not desperately seeking.”

“Didn’t realize I was bein’ chased by a buncha shrinks.”

“He’s right, though,” Allan said. “You’ve not once been lethal. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

“Sure was painful,” Hobbs grumbled, shaking his wrist.

Allan stepped closer, and I raised my gun to his arm.

He shook his head. “Again, not lethal.”

“Good trigger discipline,” Ollie commented.

“Won’t help.” Allan stepped closer again, hands still at his sides.

I still couldn’t bring myself to aim at his face. You never aimed a gun at something you didn’t intend to shoot. Aiming it anywhere near him was already breaking that rule.

Instead, I warned, “Back! Don’t test me, mate, I’ll pull this trigger.”

Lies. All of it lies.

I knew that… and so did Allan. We were in the 2011 movie, but I was not dealing with movie!Allan. I was dealing with some variant of the one I originally wrote with all those years ago, which was closer to the comics; smarter, more cunning, and a lot sharper than anything the movie even hinted at. The charismatic side was new, but very unwelcome. I didn’t know how to even begin thwarting it, and he fucking knew that.

“Come on, then.” He opened his arms. “Pull the trigger, kid. Shoot me down.”

I looked into his eyes, reading the challenge there clear as day. The moment I pulled the trigger and hit any part of him, the others would pounce. They’d already tried attacking separately once before; they would not make the same mistake twice.

We were both within striking range, both able to absolutely ruin the other’s day. But still we remained, unmoving, staring the other down. Locked in a battle of wits, a battle which neither party was going to give up easily. There was too much at stake to walk away.

We both wanted answers. The only question was… who wanted them more?

Tom stepped into my field of view, slowly. “Shadow, just drop the gun, yeah?” he tried, a hand reaching out. “Ya can’t hurt us.”

“Don’t mistake my inaction for inability,” I growled, not taking my eyes off Allan. “I know my way around a gun.”

“It’s not that. You don’t want to pull that trigger, trust me.”

Neil and Hobbs were cautiously approaching now too, staying back at a gesture from Allan. The first mate didn’t take his eyes from me, however.

They were way too calm considering I had a loaded gun. Or…

My eyes widened.

Did I?

Grabbing the slide, I aimed away from Allan and looked inside to find an empty chamber. Ejecting the clip, I found it to also be empty.

They weren’t scared of the gun because there was no reason to be scared of it. It was useless, unless I threw it at one of them. That wouldn’t do any good.

“You gotta be shittin’ me!” I whined, dropping the gun.

Allan reached out with his foot and slid the gun behind him, where Ollie picked it up. “Tough luck, kid.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled.

“It’d be best if ya just came with us,” Tom said, stepping forward only to stop when I shifted into a fighting stance and brought my guard up.

“Er, not a good idea,” Neil said, shaking his head. “Can’t win a boxin’ match wit’ Tom, Shortie. You got lucky he grabbed you. He usually just punches.”

“A, I’m taller than him,” I grumbled, gesturing at Hobbs and earning a venomous glare. “B, I know I can’t beat him.” I looked between the men, heart pounding against my ribs. “But I sure as hell can make you wish you left me alone.”

Dismay crossed Tom’s face. “Doesn’t ‘ave to be like this.”

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I prepared to go down fighting. “We both know it does. Unless you let me walk outta here.” I smiled humorlessly. “And that clearly ain’t happenin’.”

Dream or not, this was gonna hurt. Emotionally, and physically. Getting beat up by Tom was not something I ever wanted to go through. Something told me he would take it relatively easy on me, but even a light yet solid hit to the diaphragm from him would take me down. If I was bad at grappling, boxing was even worse.

And we already established I wouldn’t be able to hurt him.

“We won’t ask again, kid,” Allan warned as the men all took a step toward me. “This has gone on long enough.” There was no smile on his face and no amused tolerance in his voice with his next command. “Stand down.”

I shook my head. “No. Y’all square up.”

“Yoooo, Shadow!”

We all looked up, fight briefly paused, and rage filled me as I saw Trevor looking down at us from the roof.

“You miserable and worthless list of terms and conditions!” I hissed. “Get your ass down here so I can at least fuck up your face ‘fore I’m torn to bits!”

He laughed. “What, after I was gonna offer you an escape?”

“Oh yeah?” I gestured angrily at the sailors. “Little late!”

“Not really! Got a little magic trick!”

“Now ain’t the time for games!”

“Not a game! Watch!” He threw a small sphere at us. “Abracadabra!”

It bounced off a crate and landed at my feet, making the men jump back.

“Grenade!”

A hiss and explosion of smoke later thankfully disproved Neil’s initial theory, but left us all with sore throats and watery eyes.

Not that it stopped one sailor.

A shoulder slammed into my stomach, driving me back into the wall. I brought my elbow down, hitting the tender spot between the shoulder blade and neck, but the man grabbed me as he fell and we both went down. Arms tightened around my middle, whoever it was trying to pin me to the ground.

Allan, judging by the feel of rolled up sleeves.

He brought his full weight down, nearly knocking the breath from me and almost causing my arms to buckle. The man was heavy! A hand grabbed one elbow, yanking it back, and down I went. I rolled as I fell, teeth aimed for his shoulder. I missed the bulk of it, but managed to at least catch the cloth.

Tasted and smelled heavily like tobacco and what I assumed was some time of smokey yet slightly sweet alcohol. Bourbon, maybe?

Writer brain off, Fighter brain on!

“Damn it all, kid, quit bitin’!” came the raspy yell, but I couldn’t tell if it was anger or smoke that caused his tone.

“Nien!” I growled through a mouthful of shirt.

He rolled us both out of the alley onto the sidewalk, out of the smoke. I ended up on top as we came to a stop right by the curb, but before I could strike, a hand snatched my arm and dragged me away from Allan.

“Time to go, Shadow!”

“Trevor?! Get off-!”

“Let’s go, let’s go, no time for slow!” Trevor sang, yanking me to my feet before turning to Allan. The hair all along my body stood on end before Trevor hit him smack in the chest with a small blast of lightning.

It sent Allan back to the sidewalk, and damn near sent me into shock.

“Trevor, are you tryin’ to fuckin’ kill him?!” I screamed, frozen as Allan laid groaning on the ground.

“Relax, he’s fine!” Trevor yanked me down the road, away from the alley and the docks. “C’mon!”

Giving one last look at Allan, who was indeed slowly recovering and coming back up on one knee, I turned and followed Trevor away from the scene.

#karaboudjan #tintin 2011 #tom karaboudjan #allan thompson #neil karaboudjan #hobbs karaboudjan #OC ollie #OC nick #Anachronism fic #if you require serious fics #this ain't the one #we got furries and magic and self-awareness up in this ish

4 notes · View notes