Chapter 2
Henry sighed, leaning back against the bar with a drink in his hand. It was a small pub and the bartender he knew well. Jack Daniel was an amazing bartender and luckily, while he didn’t understand sign language, could understand Henry’s pointing and gestures, having to deal with drunks all the time after all.
He had gotten some info from someone on the ship. While RHM didn’t see him, they had apparently started to increase their efforts to find him. Something about having a plan to go into space. Henry was excited about the idea but nervous about seeing his dads again.
“Henry!” Charles called out, making Henry break out of his thoughts and look towards the voice, seeing the dorky pilot smiling at him as he sat beside him. “Glad we could finally hang out, this place is nice I can see why you like it.” Charles continued smiling.
Henry smiled and nodded, motioning to Jack.
Jack strode over and grin. “So Henry, finally got a friend with ya this time? He knows the rules of the place?” He asked, making Charlie blink curiously.
“Rules? What rules?” Charlie asked curiously, making Jack sigh light-heartedly.
“Well, we have simply a simple rule of this place. Anything you hear or anyone you see doesn’t get out. So if you see a wanted criminal, you better not tell anyone. This is a place to get drunk and have a good time.” Jack explained. Henry bit his lip, wondering if Charlie would agree. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken him here first-.
“Alright. I understand that.” Charlie agreed with a grin on his face, making Henry blink in surprise as Jack chuckled.
“Good, now let me serve you up something to drink,” Jack told him. Henry grinned at Charlie who looked at him with a smile.
“What? I kinda figured it was a place like that when you texted and said you had been going here for a long time. I’m pretty good at keeping secrets so it’s not hard to keep this a secret too.” Charlie answered him with a grin, making Henry chuckle.
“Good to know that I can have you keep a secret then,” Henry replied, grinning as Charlie nodded with a large smile, taking a sip of whatever Jake had brought him.
“Yep! I’m the best secret keeper ever!”
Henry leaned against the wall to the side of the building, waiting for Sven to arrive.
Out of everyone he knew on the ship, Sven was the only one he kept contact with throughout the years. He was his inside man in a way, letting him know what was going on around the ship and if he needed to move around again so he wasn’t found.
Henry sighed, wondering if he should see his dads soon. It had been six years. He felt embarrassed though about why he left, even if it was justified slightly. Henry had just been so tired of feeling caged up. They acted like he was going to break if he went out. Now, look at Henry. Several solo heists completed, broke himself out of jail, living comfortably, and even got the government off him and the Toppats for a while.
Henry looked up to see Sven walking up to him. “Heya Henry,” Sven said with a smile. “How have you been?”
Henry shrugged a little, glad to see his childhood friend again. “Good. How is everything at home? They never found out it was me who was on board right?” Henry asked quickly, nervous about those he knew finding out.
Sven shook his head. “No, they don’t think it’s you, not even close. The Boss and Right-hand man are both doing well, they miss you a lot still even if they don’t show it. I and the rest of the crew are doing good. Though, I have to ask. You and a military pilot? Kinda scandalous don’t you think, Toppat prince?” Sven asked, grinning a little at Henry’s reddening cheeks.
“I’m not with Charles! We’re just friends!” Henry signed frantically, his face reddening more the second while Sven laughed.
“So his name is Charles? Well, if he makes you happy Henry then I support it, though do realize your dads are going to freak if they find out you like a military man. One that is constantly bothering us as well. I think Right was talking about trying to get him to join because of his skills.” Sven told him, grinning as he dodged a hit from Henry as the mute swung at his head in embarrassment.
Charles? A Toppat? Henry couldn’t see it.
“Keep it up and I’ll beat your ass,” Henry told him, his voice rough from misuse as his throat stung in pain. Henry missed talking sometimes, people looked down on him at times for being a mute. But he didn’t really want to deal with the pain of talking. He still needed to go back to the doctor about it actually. Oops.
Sven chuckled, stuffing his top hat into his bag. “Come on, while we catch up I’ll buy lunch. No one recognizes me without the hat on anyways and you’re a pardoned man right?” Sven said, making Henry snort before nodding, following his friend to a restaurant nearby.
“You do look like a different person without it. But you still look like an idiot either way.” Henry joked with a grin, dodging the smack heading towards his head as he laughed.
“Hey! You jerk! See if I buy you lunch anymore!”