Just Look at the Stars

Henry could trust Howie. Howie was his best friend, his older cousin. Yeah, Henry could trust him.

Sherman had nothing new to report, but they did go over the mission again. Plans A-D were completely filled in, and everything at least looked well. Sherman congratulated him on his recovery as they parted ways.

Henry found Howie walking through one of the hallways to the front of the ship. "Hey, Howie!"

"Huh? Oh! Howdy, Henry! Didja need something?" The man stopped, looking up from the papers in his hands.

"Yeah, actually," Henry admitted. "Look, it's about… him. Do you have a minute?"

Howie's eyebrows raised. "Ahh. Well, yes, Ah do have a moment ta spare." He tipped his head to the room Howie had just left. The break room was currently empty, being an awkward time in the day not quite in time for a meal but also not in the middle of some event going on, such as a shipment or raid. After shutting the door behind him, he sat down near the end of the table close to the coffee machine. Henry sat down beside him, the both of them ignoring the machine. "What happened?"

"It's not exactly 'what happened' as 'what's going to happen.' Howie, Dad Reginald basically just told me we're not going to have any prisoners soon," Henry stated.

"Oh."

"But! But he didn't say what he was doing with them!" Henry went on. "He just said that he would be doing something but having a prisoner would just weigh us down. I just need your advice. You know, what should I tell him? A-ask him? To let Dave go or something?"

Howie… didn't respond at first. In fact, the man waited for so long, Henry started to speak again. Howie said, "Now, Henry, ya know Ah love ya. Yer my li'l buddy, like a cousin. Ah don't like yer friendship, but Ah understand it. You know what Ah'm gonna say about it. But Ah know ya. Yer gonna do this no matter how much Ah disagree."

Henry nodded.

Howie managed a small chuckle at that. "Well, there's no good way ta come at this. Let's look at our options. What would you do? What do you want outta this?"

"I just want him to be alive and happy. Free, hopefully," Henry admitted. "The easiest thing that comes to mind would be to just… let him out? I know that's seriously oversimplifying things and pretty much impossible. But what I want is for Dave to be free and alive and happy."

Howie slowly nodded. "Okay. What do ya think the chief wants?"

"What's best for the Clan," Henry admitted. "I don't think he feels for Dave. At all, either way. So, something that's easy, clean, and has the fewest negative consequences as possible. If Dad Reginald wanted him dead, he'd had killed him by now. But that's not his style."

"At the baseline–ignorin' yer relationships–do yer end goals align?"

"…kind of." Henry's voice was slow, hesitant. "We both want what's best, albeit slightly differently. I want what's best for the Clan, too, don't get me wrong. But for him, too. I want this to be quick and easy and clean as well. I don't want anything negative going back on us. But Dad Reginald probably isn't wanting Dave to be free and happy. No, not that. I just don't think he's considering what Dave wants or feels at this point. Like he's just a prisoner, an asset or tool that's been locked up for a few months, now."

"Understandable."

There was another silence.

Howie said, "Ah see what yer sayin', an' Ah can see what you'd think the chief would say. Ya know him much better than Ah do, aft'r all. What about Dave? Do ya know what he wants?"

Henry hesitated. "I… assumed he would want to be out free and alive. We don't really talk about it, considering it's never really been a possibility until pretty much now."

"Okay. Well, talk ta Dave about it, get his opinion. After all, this will impact him far more than either of you. Then, weigh yer options again. Henry, Chief Reginald looks out for the Toppat Clan. He's proud of us and himself. If he believes Dave's death would reap more benefits or prevent more accidents in the long run, he will take it. You, Henry, must find a way to show him that Dave's life and freedom means more to the chief than Dave's death. Ah support ya either way, ya know that. If Dave just makes things even more confusin', come back ta me. We can look over our options again."

Henry let out a small breath he was hardly aware he'd been holding. "Thanks, Howie. Yeah, that makes sense. I'll talk to him tonight. You are the best cousin anyone could ever ask for, you know that?"

Howie chuckled. "Ah certainly do. Now." He pushed himself to his feet and picked up his papers. "Ah've got work Ah gotta get done, and Ah'm sure you do, too."

"Yes! Yes, I do. If you need any help?"

"Ah got this, Ah got this! Good luck, li'l buddy."

Henry sat on his bed, waiting. The shower was off, it would only be another few moments before Dave was out. It was Dave's choice between his regular suit or the jacket and top hat. Dave was given this choice every evening. If he chose the top hat, they were going out on a walk or to the gym or outside. If he wore his security hat, they were staying inside, chatting or watching videos or movies or playing games.

Dave left the bathroom, a thin jacket covering his uniform and a top hat set firmly upon his head, pressing down on his dark, shiny hair. Henry perked up. "Hey, Dave!"

"Hey!" Dave sat down on the bed across from him. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Heh. That hat looked nice on him. Henry took a deep breath. "Okay. So, I know we never really talked about this. But some things are coming up. Changes, you know. I was wondering: what do you want? To happen to you? What do you want to do?"

Dave gave him a blank stare. "What… what do you mean?"

"I mean: think about your future," Henry stated. "I was talking to my dad, and he said that we're coming to a point where we can't have prisoners with us. He didn't tell me exactly what he planned to do with you when I asked. So, I plan on talking to him about it. I want to know exactly what you want."

The former security guard's eyes went round. "You… but I… what? You want my input?"

"Yeah, man! Is something wrong with that?"

"Well, no, but, I just didn't think that, you know, me being me and you being you, that you would… I mean, I guess I should know. You really care for me, huh? Heh. Yeah. You–well, Henry. If I'm going to be honest…" Dave swallowed, staring hard at his lap. "I want to be free."

Henry nodded. "Then that's what I'll ask from him. Dave, I swear that you will go outside on your own in the daylight."

Dave looked up at him. "Henry, I… I-I knew–I mean, I thought you were–technically, I know, but–" He fumbled with his words, tears gleaming in those deep, dark eyes of his.

Henry had hardly gotten up when Dave got to his feet and dragged him in for a hug. "Thank you." The broken words hummed in Henry's ear, riding on a choked, heavy breath.

Henry hugged him back, pain twisting his heart into knots. "Of course, Dave."

"Oh, damn," Dave mumbled, trying vainly to steady his breathing. "Thank you, Henry. God, I can't–"

Henry laughed. "O-okay! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, uh… how about we go get some fresh air?"

The former security guard swallowed and nodded. "Y-yeah. Yeah, let's do that."

Henry waited until Dave let go before slipping out of the tight embrace. Dave wiped off his eyes and readjusted his hat. It was a nice fit on him, the brim curled a little so it wouldn't threaten his eyes but long enough like his baseball-cap-shaped security hat to shelter from bright overhead lights or the sun. Plain and black, medium height and medium brim, nothing extraordinary. It didn't need to look extraordinary because the one to whom it belonged would simply outshine it no matter what was done to the hat itself.

The hallways were as quiet as ever.

They didn't need to move long before they found themselves outside and in the open air. They were plunged into the chill of the night plagued by whipping winds as they set foot outside the warm indoors. The door shut behind them.

They both leaned on the rails protecting them against the fall consisting of thousands of feet of airspace into the bushy trees below. Henry crossed his arms over the wood while Dave held on, both sets of eyes turned up at the stars barely touched by scarce clouds. Henry let out a quiet hum. "So, how about tonight? What are the stars like?"

Dave grinned, the look not lost on Henry as the light from the full moon glowed over the man. He pointed up, tracing the constellations with his finger. "That's Cassiopeia, way up there. We have Cepheus close and then on the other side Andromeda…"

Henry only half paid the stars above any heed. Instead, he watched as Dave pointed them out, explaining each one with enthusiasm, his dark brown eyes glimmering more than the starry expanse high above. The moon glowed over his soft skin, showing contrast to the slight scars so faded by time they were indecipherable in any light brighter than the moon's. The top hat looked good on the man, especially as its brim was pulled back to keep the shadow from his face. It was not at all like his flatter hat from his security guard uniform; ruffled and low drawn so he could easily get lost beneath it if he so wanted. Sometimes, even if he didn't want to, the thing being so worn from use and Dave's nervous rubbing and bending of it.

Dave looked down at Henry. "The constellations are really good this time of year. Er–Henry?"

Henry blinked. "Oh! Sorry, I just blanked for a minute there."

"Are you okay?" Dave ventured.

"Mhm. I just got a little distracted."

"Okay. Yeah, you look a little spacey." Dave chuckled. "So, I guess it's appropriate we're out here, huh? Unless you're tired, then it would be a good idea to come inside."

Henry waved off the fear. "I'm fine. You know, you look cute when you're excited."

"I-I do? I mean, oh, um, thank you." Dave chuckled and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. The moonlight washed most of the color from the landscape and from them, but Henry could still see the muted red on the man's face. It was a funny look. "You-you look nice, too."

"Heh. Thanks." Henry idly played with the cuff of his glove on his left hand. He wore gloves on both hands, like Dad Reginald. He didn't know how the man did it, though. Gloves were so annoying. At least he didn't need to look at his hand too much.

Dave gently took Henry's hand in his, bringing the metal limb closer to himself. Henry blinked and looked up at him. The security guard nudged his thumb under the cuff of his sleeve, rubbing the metal of his wrist. "You don't have to hide, you know."

Just like that, Henry's good mood turned into a slow, steady spiral down. "Yeah, I don't. But I will."

"Why?"

"It's easier. Maybe to think that… well, it looks real enough when I don't look at it, right?"

For a moment, Dave didn't answer. "…I like looking at it."

"Why?"

"It reminds me that you're tough. That I don't need to worry if I don't see you for more than a few days. You can withstand anything." Dave drew his sleeve up a little to look at the metal beneath. "You're still Henry, even if you're part robot, now."

He… didn't have an answer to that. Now it was his turn to refuse to meet Dave's gaze.

"Thank you, Henry. For looking out for me. For taking me here. You didn't need to."

"I wanted to," Henry admitted. "You don't deserve to be trapped in there."

Dave let out a quiet laugh. "You're going to get in trouble one of these days, Henry."

"Eh, that's something for Future Henry to worry about."

"That's not really a good mentality to have."

"Then what do you think I should do?"

Dave's smile fell a little. "I… don't know."

They let the words hang in the air a little while. The whistling of the wind and distant whirr of the engines rushed to fill the silence between them.

"I'll stay here," Henry declared.

"What?"

"I'll stay here. With you. We don't need to go back inside any time soon," he explained, looking up at Dave. "If I get in trouble, then, so be it. Heh. Anything'll be worth spending more time around you."

Dave made a small noise of perhaps amusement or embarrassment. The return of the funny pinkish color pointed to the latter as true. "I like spending time around you, too." He leaned on the rail again, still petting Henry's wrist. That couldn't have been pleasant; the metal must be cooler now that they were outside in the windy night so, so high up. Of all the things about his cybernetics that made him uncomfortable, the cold was the worst. When it was cold, the metal on his shoulder tended to refuse his body heat and send shoots of cold into his scapula where the metal of his shoulder and arm was bolted. Now it was starting to get to that point, the chilly wind blowing through his clothes uninvited, not stopped by any body heat Henry produced.

The former security guard ran his hand up his arm, pulling back the sleeve of his navy-blue suit further and leaned forward to take his other hand. Henry didn't fight him; he found no sense in his head to do so. Dave tugged Henry forward and touched his lips to the cyborg's. Tentative, hesitant, like a curious songbird.

Henry managed to find himself and closed the nonexistent distance between them. His fingers tangled in Dave's and he felt a faint shiver pass through the man's body as cool metal touched warm skin.

There was so much air around them, flying past the ship and ruffling their clothes and whipping through their hair. The night chill nipped at every inch of skin, exposed even if only by a technicality as air found its way between skin and shirt. Henry found himself reaching for air he'd deprived himself of, drawing in huge gulps of the chilly ether hitched by quiet, awkward laughter. Dave's breath, warm and marked by the sharp scent of mint, brushed over his cheek. Just like when he slept, the awkward, nervous stiffness in the former security guard's muscles dissipated.

Eventually, Dave slipped from his grasp and chuckled, "We're really high up."

Henry snorted. "Yeah. The, uh, ship doesn't land often."

The former security guard cleared his throat. "So, um, you want to-to get out of the cold?"

"Y-yeah! Yeah, uh…" Henry let go, fumbling with his card for a moment before opening the door. Light, warm but dim, washed over them as they walked inside.