Work Text:
The door creaked open, hinges old and rusted, revealing an elegant old den. Large green armchairs in front of a stone fireplace, a piano in one corner and a bookshelf in the other, floor carpeted in a rich red carpet and dark drapes covering the windows save for a sliver of light gave the room a seemingly enchanted feeling. It was the perfect place to curl up with a book hidden away from the modern world. A young man wearing a multi-coloured sweater entered, eyes scanning the room. The books and trinkets each from some foreign land, though well kept, were dark and slightly dusty. That was except for a lone book tucked away on the top shelf. This is what he had come for.
He pulled it down exposing the beauty of it. The cover was a dark blue with a purple emblem taking up most of the front. Gold was used to accent the corners and bind it together. A thick blue bookmark dangled from the bottom. The appearance alone was mystical and he held it carefully as though it were made of glass. He flipped through the pages quickly, grinning at each picture and quips of long forgotten tales. He stopped on the second last page, fingers softly tracing over the two figures in the final photograph. After a moment he shook his head and flipped to the last page. He placed another photo down, then retrieved a pen from his pocket. He carefully moved the bookmark to the final page and closed the book. He placed it on the table beside one of the arm chairs. Satisfied with his work, he retreated back the way in which he had come. The door swung shut and the room fell back into stillness. But only for a moment.
A man entered not a minute later, being pulled by a young girl in a frilly dress. He was much older than the first, as old as the room it seemed, his grey beard and wrinkle filled face gave him a kind look though his green eyes glittered with a hint of mischief hidden beneath a deep sadness. As he pulled back the drapes to let in the afternoon sun, a sparkle caught his eye. He turned to see the book laying on the table. He picked it up with trembling hands and lovingly ran a hand over it. He flipped to the back, a sad smile on his face as he read the inscription underneath the photograph of two smiling figures, Always remember who your family is. The photo was fuzzy but before he could inspect it closer a small voice broke his thoughts.
"Grandpa! You promised to read me a story!" The girl stood in front of him, glaring with hands on her hips. He chuckled and walked over to the chair patting his lap once he was settled. She scrambled up and he held the book out in front of them.
"This is the perfect book." He removed his glasses from his shirt pocket and placing them on his face. Clearing his throat he began, "Once upon a time there was a boy who could jump through time. He wrote this book to remind him of all the adventures he had, but more importantly to remember who he was..."
Sometime later, child now fast asleep in his arms, he flipped back to the page he had been on earlier. He was surprised to see that the figure on the left was now crystal clear, however the one on the right was still quite blurred. It was then that he noticed the bookmark had been moved to the final page of the book. As the page turned, his breath caught and tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. A picture of a young man with dark hair and white bandana tied around his forehead grinned back up at him. But it was the eyes that caught his attention, bright green and brimming with mischief. Below it read another note: Remember who you are, K~