Chapter 11
Henry leaned back in his maximum-security cell sighing. He should have figured he would be in one of these cells. He did escape and cause a riot after all.
Still, Henry wished he could at least look out a window to pass the time.
Well, he could always sleep or think of stupid scenarios. That could keep him entertained. Henry doubted he would be leaving this cell anytime soon.
His throat hurt from the amount of talking he had done today. It was still healing after all but at least it was almost fully healed. Henry at least had that going for him. Maybe for good behavior, he could get a ball or a harmonica eventually. Then again, Dmitri didn’t seem like the type to reward his prisoners.
He hoped the bastard died a painful death.
Henry sighed, laying back in his stone-cold bed. He wished he could have at least told Charles how he felt. Or tell his dads he loved them. Or tell Ellie she was doing a good job with her training. Or congratulated Sven and Burt on their engagement. Damn, he would miss the wedding.
Henry was going to miss a lot of stuff in here.
He was kinda sad about it, but it kept Charles safe. His heart had leaped into his throat when he saw the large swollen bruise on his face. Henry clenched his fist. He said he wouldn’t escape but if he found out which guard did that, Henry would make sure that they had a matching one to the one they gave to Charlie.
Henry sighed, looking at the ceiling.
He missed Charlie.
Charles felt the tears freezing to his face as he held onto the scooter, which flew on autopilot. He couldn’t believe that Henry did that, just for him.
When the warden of the wall kidnapped Charles, he wasn’t sure what to think. Why was the warden of a renowned criminal complex want him? Charles had never done anything wrong or against the wall.
Then he found out, apparently the warden Dmitri had people spying on Henry and saw him and Henry together at the bar. They knew he and Henry were friends and kidnapped him in hopes that Henry would come for him.
Charles had tried to escape, not wanting them to get to Henry. He wanted to make sure that they would never touch Henry again. Charles wouldn’t let it.
They just caught him easily, roughed him up, and threw him into solitary confinement. Charles had wanted to cry then but didn’t.
He knew that the general had tried to get him out, but the warden wouldn’t release him, no matter what.
They wanted Henry, only then would they let Charles go.
Charles was horrified when he saw Henry at the gates, leaning against a tree with his scooter. His eyes had instantly gone to Charles and Henry had clenched his fists. Charles had tried to beg him to go. To leave him.
Henry wouldn’t though, and traded himself for Charles.
Charles had started to tear up when Henry hugged him, whispering those words in his ear as he handed Charles his scooter. Charles didn’t believe that would be the last time he saw the thief, he wouldn’t allow it.
Charles felt the scooter stop, but his tears didn’t. He looked up, realizing he was on the Toppat airship, Ellie running to him.
“Charles! Oh god, your eye! Where’s Henry?” Ellie asked, frowning as she helped him off the scooter, leading him to where he assumed the infirmary was.
Charles let her lead him, leaning on her for support. He was so tired. “He… gave himself to them for me. Told them he would never run or try to break out if they left me alone…” Charles trailed off, a fresh stream of tears going down his face. Henry was his friend. He didn’t care about Charles’ weird quirks and he told him some of his darkest secrets which could get him into a lot of trouble if the military found out. All because Henry trusted him.
Now Charles may never see him again. He couldn’t deal with that thought. Henry was supportive of his dumb plans. He would listen to Charles as he rambled about one thing or another. While the thief was a mute, he would tell Charles the funniest things or about his previous heists, the two of them laughing at some of the fails that Henry had done in the past.
Charles realized that his feelings for Henry were not completely friendship related, and he didn’t mind it. While he didn’t know when he fell for the Toppat prince, Charles Calvin could confidently say he was in love with Henry Stickmin.
And that just made the thought of him never seeing Henry again so much worse.