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“Dakota- you’re gonna get us in trouble!” William hissed at the smaller boy, trying to pull him away from the pile of boxes.
“In trouble for what, dude? Looking around? We live here now, lighten up!” He said over his shoulder as he dug through one of the larger boxes, not moving despite William’s attempts.
“Yeah- but… what if he kicks us out? We aren’t supposed to be down here-”
“Will, he won’t kick us out for being curious! Now help me, you’re good with this whole ‘looking for clues’ stuff.” Dakota set the box aside, pulling another closer.
“I don’t even know what we’re looking for.” The hoodie clad boy mumbled, opening a box of his own.
“Things about Tide! You can’t tell me you- of all people- aren’t curious about him. Or what happened to that team he used to be a part of.” His eyes were bright and enthusiastic.
“I mean- I guess… but everyone knows The Elementals were there one day and then sort of just… gone the next. I still don’t see why we can’t just ask Tide about it instead of rummaging through his things.”
Dakota looked like he was about to respond, before he gasped and pulled a small book out of one of the boxes. He studied the cover, before presenting it to William.
My Family
It read, small stickers plastered on the leather casing.
“Jackpot.” Dakota tucked the book under his arm, and shifted the boxes back into their places. “Let’s go show Vyncent.”
The other boy was sat on the couch when the two returned, looking around wide eyed.
“Did you guys find what you were looking for?” He asked as they sat down, Dakota on his left and William on the other side of Dakota.
Instead of a response, he was presented with the book and a small nod.
“Well- it was enough trouble finding it. Let’s look inside.” William said, leaning closer to get a better look.
Dakota blew at the cover and watched as a small cloud of dust was launched into the air, coughing slightly.
“Jeez- how old is this thing?” He mumbled, rubbing at the book a little more. The edges of the stickers were peeling up slightly, and he was careful not to knock them off.
The better lighting the living room provided him, and the removal of the dust, allowed him to see what the stickers were.
A small wave, an erupting volcano, a lightning bolt, a tornado, and a rock that was cracked.
“Aren’t these the symbols of The Elementals?” Dakota asked, shoving the book into William’s face. He grabbed it, inspected it for a second, then nodded.
“Yeah- they are.” With another small nod, Dakota carefully opened the cover, to see a small written note on the first page.
They said this was a stupid idea- but father didn’t seem to mind. He even got me this book- and he got me the pictures to put in it! My brothers may not like it now- but I bet years down the line we‘ll all look back at it with fond memories.
Another of the small lightning bolt stickers was at the bottom of the page.
“Brothers. Huh.”
“I didn’t know Tide had any brothers.” Vyncent mumbled, and the others nodded in agreement.
Dakota flipped the page over, raising an eyebrow at the photo taped to the next with two stickers- a wave and a volcano.
Tide and Magma’s First Birthday!
A younger Tide in a blue suit- and someone who looked identical to him, though his suit was red- stood behind a chair, their arms folded behind their backs and a stoic look on their faces. An older man was sat in the chair- clearly older, but also with the same face.
“Woah.” Dakota mumbled. “That’s a little freaky.”
“You could say that again.” William practically whispered, his voice soft.
The next page- a photo that was similar to the last, except with a fourth familiar face. He stood to the left of Magma, the same flat expression, arms folded behind his back. Wearing a suit that was beige- earthy tones.
A new sticker appeared on this page- the rock that appeared to have a crack in it.
Seismic’s First Birthday!
Another page, and again. A fifth familiar face. Stood to the right of Tide. Expression impassive. Arms behind his back. His suit was off white- more gray than anything.
The sticker of the tornado made its appearance.
Whirlwind’s First Birthday!
“This feels like an invasion of privacy.” William spoke, leaning away from Dakota a little.
“Come on, man- we’re barely half way through! Don’t chicken out now!”
William grumbled a little, but made no further moves away.
When a sixth familiar face was added, it was clear that it had been a few years since ‘Whirlwind’ came to the team. The new man was slightly shorter than the rest, his suit purple and blue, but he hung between Tide and Magma, using their shoulders to give himself a boost.
Magma was rolling his eyes, arms crossed. Tide looked the happiest they had ever seen him- clearly mid laugh. Seismic and Whirlwind had fond smiles across their faces, as did the old man.
The lightning bolt stickers appeared on this page.
Shockwave’s (Me!! That’s me!) First Birthday!!
“Look how happy Tide looks.” William said, pointing at him in the photo. “I’ve never seen him smile so much.”
“I know!” Dakota complained loudly. “Jeez- what happened that turned him into such a moody old man?”
“He’s not that old though..?” Vyncent said.
“Not the point, Vyncent!” Dakota yelled, flicking to the next page. He froze.
There was no seventh familiar face (though this picture did contain three unfamiliar faces). The six familiar present were all full of joy, and a few of them appeared to be holding dodgeballs. He could see where the seventh face would’ve been- framed by long brown hair- but it had been scratched out. The only evidence there had ever been another person, was the pure white suit.
El’s First Birthday!
There were no stickers on this page. If there ever had been, they were likely removed a long time ago.
“Are you sure we should keep going?” William asked, his voice shaky as he stared at his hands.
Dakota wordlessly flipped the page.
Five familiar faces. Tide stood further to the side, away from his brothers and the old man. Their faces were full of sorrow, Magma’s eyes held a barely contained rage. The suits they were all usually adorned in had been replaced with black suits, their arms once again folded behind their backs.
The One Year Anniversary.
The handwriting on this page was different to all of those previously, and though faded, there were faint tear stains on the page.
William covered his mouth with a hand, turning away.
“Oh gods..” Vyncent looked down, eyes watering slightly.
“We can’t stop.” Dakota murmured.
“We have to Dakota- this seems way, way too personal- and-” Will choked up slightly. “This isn’t right.”
The sound of the page being turned filled the room.
Four familiar faces. Magma was absent from the photo, though Tide still stood a small distance from the old man’s chair. Black suits and solemn expressions stared back at them.
Two Year Anniversary.
Towards the bottom of the page, there was a small note.
Magma didn’t show up, and he won’t answer his phone. It’s clear where he stands- not that I can blame him. It’s my fault our little brother is gone.
William had stood up now, pacing back and forth in front of the couch, tears in his eyes.
“Dakota- I think Will’s right- we should stop- put the book back, just forget we ever saw anything.” Vyncent tried.
“They’re just photos, Vyncent. Family photos. It’s not like we need to forget anything about them, besides. There’s only one page left.” The smaller boy’s voice cracked slightly, but his face stayed determined as he stared into Vyncent’s eyes.
With a sigh, the elf looked away, and Dakota turned to the final picture in the book.
One familiar face. Tide. The chair was still there, but it was empty. His suit, black. The sorrow was present on his face, but his eyes were empty. Devoid of anything.
-Third Year Anniversary
-First Year Anniversary
I’m sorry I couldn’t save him, and I’m sorry I disappointed you.
“And here I was- thinking it couldn’t get any more depressing.” Vyncent whispered, pulling at his hair slightly.
“We have to tell Tide.” William said suddenly, his pacing halted.
“What? Why?” Dakota said, his voice wavering as he rubbed at his face.
“ Because, Dakota. I don’t think I can face him knowing we invaded his privacy like this-”
“You guys are seriously overreacting-”
“Overreacting to what?” A voice from behind them. Dakota yelped, slamming the book shut as he turned, meeting Tide’s eyes.
“Why do you all look so… sad?” Tide asked, moving to a table and setting a bag down on it.
“Nothing- we just-”
“Tide- who’s that?” William interrupted, pointing behind the hero.
“Huh? Why- young William, there is no one behind me.”
“Yeah there is- he looks like the guy in the book.”
“William!” Dakota whined, trying to hide the book despite that.
“Book? What book?” Tide moved closer.
“Your family photos.” Vyncent blurted out, eliciting a sigh from Dakota as he held the book towards Tide.
“I… where did you find this?” Tide took the book into his hands, gently running his hand over it. Just the sight of the book seemed to bring tears to his eyes.
Dakota looked down sheepishly. “A box. In the basement.”
“Oh. Well- I would have liked if you didn’t go through my things… but this is alright. A lot of fond memories come from this book.”
“Was your family nice?” Dakota mumbled.
Tide stopped for a minute.
“It was, yes. We may not have gotten along all of the time, but what family does?” He laughed bitterly. “I just wish I had appreciated my family more at the time. Because once it’s gone… it’s very hard to get back.”
Tide patted Dakota on the back and moved towards the kitchen. “I… have been meaning to take the next picture, but that book is full, and is there really much point in a family photo if you are the only one in it?”
Dakota shot William a look, and he nodded slightly, watching as Dakota slipped out of the base.
“Uh… hey Tide- why don’t you show us your suit?” The hoodie clad boy began, gesturing at Vyncent for him to help.
“My suit?”
“Yes. Your... your suit.”
“I… I suppose so.” Tide disappeared into his room.
“What are you doing?” Vyncent asked quietly.
“Stalling him. And getting him to dress nice. Two birds, one stone.”
Dakota was back before Tide returned, a small book clutched in his hand.
“Gods- you have no idea how far away the closest craft store is.” The boy panted out, leaning against the couch.
“At least you made it there and back safely.” William said, fiddling with a tripod that held a small camera.
When Tide did come back, clad in a blue suit, the three smiled at him.
“Perfect.” Dakota said, dragging him to a chair and sitting him down in it.
“Children? What is going on?” Tide sounded confused as he looked at Vyncent and Dakota, who were both stood behind the chair.
“Earlier, you said that getting a family back once you’d lost it was hard. So I guess it’s a good thing we’ve never been a family before, right guys?” Noises of affirmation came from behind him as William messed with the settings, mumbling something off to the side.
“Children…” Tide wiped his face, trying not to cry and failing horribly.
William pressed a button and ran over, standing on Dakota’s other side. The camera flashed, and William went back over to retrieve it.
“I’m gonna go print this off. No peeking.” The boy left for his room, returning a few minutes later with the paper pressed against his chest.
“Tide- close Your eyes!” Dakota yelled, pressing a hand over the man’s eyes. He laughed slightly, leaning back and listening to the sounds around him.
After a few minutes, he heard a quiet ‘ok’. The hand was lifted, and he was presented with a book. A brand new one, open to the first page.
The photo made his eyes water again, and he motioned for a hug between the group.
Vyncent and William stood behind the chair, smiles on their faces as Dakota used them to seem taller. Tide’s face was shocked, but also appeared full of joy at the actions of the boys.
Slightly to the side of the picture, a faint outline of a man, small blue sparks leaving his body as he smiled excitedly.
Above the photo in William’s neat writing.
-Reunion
-First Group Photo
Tide pulled away from the hug, closed the book and took in the words on the front.
Our family.