Chapter 7
“Henryyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Show us around!” Charles whined, the three of them in Henry’s old room. The Toppats still lived mostly on the airship until the rocket was fully complete and Henry wasn’t allowed out for a while to make up for the fact he disappeared. Charles was there because he was a captive, but he was allowed to stay with Henry because he was friends with him. Ellie was there just to hang out, the Toppats not really caring about her, though she was debating on joining them, she preferred to stay with Henry for now.
“Yeah Henry! Show us around. Let us meet your friends. The secret spots. All that jazz.” Ellie continued, grinning at Henry as the mute rolled his eyes.
“Fine. Only because if I don’t, you two will get lost. This place is a maze even for the members.” Henry agreed, getting up and opening the door, the two following quickly behind him.
“So, other than that Sven guy, who else did you hang out with?” Ellie asked curiously.
“Ehh, mainly spent time with Sven and Burt when he joined when we were around sixteen. Wanna meet him? He’s a bit monotone sometimes but he’s cool. He kinda acts like a lot calmer version of Charles sometimes.” Henry told them.
“Oh, the dude you set Sven up with? Sure thing!” Ellie replied, grinning. Charles nodded happily before pouting, realizing what Henry said.
“Sure! And I can be calm! I can’t help you can’t handle my energy! I need to move around and spread my wings!” Charles defended himself, making the other two laugh.
“I’ll show you the training area later okay?” Henry offered, making Charles grin happily.
Henry led them through the halls, twisting and turning before smirking when they get to the door to communications, knocking to the beat of the Toppat’s theme song before going inside.
“What do you want Henry?” Burt said before turning to the three with a small smile. Henry grinned, glad to see the headphone-wearing Toppat again.
“Boredom and showing these two around. When you popping the question to Sven?” Henry shot back, watching the normally calm Toppat blush.
“Next week, now stop being annoying because Sven will threaten to ban you from the wedding. You’ve stressed him enough over the years.” Burt said with an eye roll, looking at the other two following the Toppat prince. “Nice headphones.”
“Thanks! Yours are cool too. I’m Charles!” Charles replied grinning.
“Burt Curtis. I’ve heard about you from Sven. Henry’s pilot friend from the government right?” Burt asked, earning a nod from Charles as he looked at Henry.
“You told your friends about me?” Charlie asked, making Henry blush slightly, seeing the grins from the other occupants in the room.
“Yeah. Sven would have killed me if I didn’t tell him. The worrywart.” Henry admitted embarrassed. He was so getting Burt back later.
Ellie snorted. “I’m Ellie, Henry’s escapist buddy. Got any embarrassing stories about Henry when he was younger?” Ellie asked, grinning.
Burt chuckled. “I do, but Sven has more along with his dads. I think Sven is actually helping Right-hand man in the training room right now.” Burt told her, making both Ellie and Charles grin before running out.
“Come on Henry!” Ellie and Charles both called, at the end of the hallway already.
Henry groaned, looking at Burt. “I guess I’ll see you later than Burt,” Henry told him, starting to head out.
“See you, Henry. Also, hurry up and ask the pilot out, or Sven and I will get involved.” Burt told him, making Henry blush brightly and run out of the room, ignoring Burt’s laughter that followed as he caught up to the two.
He was definitely getting Burt back later. Maybe he’ll get him and Sven something as an engagement present.
Henry led the two into the training room, seeing RHM and Sven together talking about something. They were quick to notice the three, Right motioning them over. “What are you doing Henry?”
“Well, boredom is a thing.” Henry sassed, earning a sigh from Right as he glared at his son.
“Well. If you’re so bored, how about you help train the newcomers?” Right asked, making Henry grin.
“Can’t. There’s too much yelling involve and Dad will kill us both if I permanently ruin my throat.” Henry shot back, making RHM sigh as the rest held back their laughter.
Charles looked at the training course, watching some recruits do the obstacle course. “Say… What’s the record on that?” Charles asked, pointing to it.
Sven blinked, thinking. “Two minutes and seventeen seconds. Why…?” He replied, looking at the pilot warily, who grinned.
“Oh I can so beat that,” Charles told them, running off to the start. Henry snorted as Ellie was quick to grab a timer, following him over and timing Charlie as he ran through the obstacle course.
“How hyper is that kid?” RHM asked as the three watched the two.
“Very. Blaming it on him being in a helicopter all the time. Might be why he also wants to crash his helicopter all the time.” Henry answered with a sweatdrop, watching the pilot. He adored that happy little face on Charles though. He was a little worried that everything happening would affect him but it seems like Charles was taking everything alright, even though he was still technically captive.
Right looked at his son, before chuckling softly, knowing that look that the Toppat prince was sending the pilot. ‘Seems like the boy really has grown’ Right thought. He may not fully approve of the relationship, but if the military pilot made his kid happy, then so be it. Reg was going to throw a fit about it though.
Charles ran back over with Ellie, smiling happily. “How fast was I?” He asked her excitedly.
Ellie grinned, showing off the timer. “Two minutes on the dot. Nice job Charles!” She told him smiling. Charles cheered happily as Henry chuckled.
“Congrats. Bet I could beat you though. My time when I was eighteen was a minute and a half on the old course. It’s been updated since then though.” Henry challenged with a grin, making Charles grin back.
“You’re on!” Charles replied, the two of them heading back to the obstacle course. Ellie laughed as she followed.
“Charles! We came here in the first place to learn embarrassing things about Henry’s past! Not to race!” She called, though she was quick to join them. “But I bet I could beat you both either way.”
“We can do that later! For now, let’s just have fun!” Charles exclaimed. Henry smiled and nodded, getting ready to go through the track.
“I would rather you guys not worry about my past mistakes though. I was an idiot as a kid.” Henry told them.
Sven snorted, standing on the sidelines with Right. “You still are.” He told Henry.
Ellie and Charles both laughed as Henry rolled his eyes, unable to get the smile off his face.