Heart of Gold

Henry had no natural body heat in his arm, so often he found the metal cool to the touch. Wearing gloves helped, both for the temperature and to mask his prosthetic limb as he wore a long-sleeved shirt, too. But right now, his arm wasn't covered, nor was his hand. It was no longer cool, either, soaking up the heat between the blanket and Dave's side. Henry had, at first, felt a little bad and very hesitant about touching the man, but Dave had been the one to pull off Henry's glove and hold his hand in both of his.

Not quite asleep but not quite awake, that's what Henry was. It was a little annoying, honestly. He wanted to sleep, to stay in this bed with this man in this moment forever. Dave was always so… peaceful when he slept. Henry had been a little surprised. Knowing the man's present, would he not have had more nightmares?

Well, whatever. The man was not scared, he was happy. After all he had been through, he deserved that much. Henry ran his fingers through the sleeping man's hair. It had grown out through the months and now, rather than being just past ear length, his chocolate brown hair reached past his jaw and nearly brushed his shoulders. Henry would have offered to help if he was any good with hair. But he wouldn't trust himself with a pair of scissors if suddenly everyone with an ounce of hair care knowledge vanished from the face of the earth. A small chuckle bubbled up inside of him. That was a lie. Henry would learn if Dave were to ask. Maybe Dave was just shy. He was a rather anxious, shy man always slow to ask for help.

Henry had nearly put himself to sleep with his own thoughts when a quiet knock came to his door. He stiffened, fear bolting through him so hard and sudden he temporarily forgot how to breathe. Dave stirred, bothered out of sleep by the noise and action. Before Henry could even think of getting up, the door opened. Ellie, dressed in her night clothes and missing her hat, her hair ruffled and eyes dark in lost sleep, strolled inside. Dim light from the hall cast a temporary glow over her before the door shut, leaving the only source of light being the bathroom opened just a crack.

Ellie stopped upon seeing him. For a second, neither person moved. Henry almost felt like crying. Ellie. Of all the people–thank God. She blinked and signed, "Bad time?"

Henry, careful not to disturb Dave, who'd fallen back asleep, poked his hand out from under the blanket. "A little." Unsurprisingly, with one arm being pinned by the former security guard, it was hard to sign. Thankfully, half the "sentence" was finger spelling, and the other half was like a half clap where his hands didn't touch but made the motion.

"Alright. I'll come back later." Ellie's words were slow, deliberate. She had to retry the word "back" a few times. She started to leave, but unfortunately stopped as her hand almost reached the door. She narrowed her eyes at the black hat on the floor. In the darkness, it was difficult to see, and could be mistaken for a random baseball cap. That was, without the once-neat letters proudly proclaiming "SECURITY" on its front. She looked up at Henry, who'd gained a significant warmth in his face. She raised her eyebrows, her night-dreary look slowly turning into a Cheshire Cat grin.

Henry glared at her, his blush mostly hidden by the darkness just getting worse. "Out."

"You do have a thing for uniforms."

"Now."

"Make me."

Henry looked away. God dammit. Now he almost wished it had been Howie. At least he could try to prove his innocence–Dave hadn't wanted to go further, so they didn't–but even if he couldn't, Howie would probably stay quiet. He was a good friend. Ellie wouldn't rat him out, but she certainly wouldn't be quiet.

Henry forced himself to stay still upon feeling a finger tap his head. He looked up at Ellie, whose wide grin had turned soft. "I like to tease, but if he makes you happy, I'll be quiet." She hesitated. "Or is this just a"

"No," Henry whispered, ignoring her next words.

She put a fist to her mouth to keep from making a noise and nodded. "Alright, see you in the morning."

The door shut behind her.

Henry sighed and relaxed again, pulling the blanket up a little farther. Dave mumbled, "What…?"

"It's okay," Henry whispered back, running his hand over Dave's head. "Go back to sleep."

"Okay. Love you…"

"Love you, too."

Okay, so, Henry was going to talk to Dad Reginald and offer to guide Dave off the ship. Drop him off somewhere remote, but with access to necessities. They wouldn't need to kill him, and they had no reason to keep him around or hurt him. Henry had absolutely no personal agenda whatsoever. He didn't even know the guy, much less like him. Henry never even talked to Dave, much less accidentally maybe fallen in love with him. Now that was ridiculous. Henry had absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Nothing, there was no reason for Henry to be nervous. This was just another decision that had to be made for the Clan and Henry was ready and willing to give his input.

Dad Reginald was going to see right through him.

Nope. No, no, no. No dwelling on thoughts like those. That would do no one any good. Howie had already given him a small pep talk and Ellie gave her best wishes. So, now it was Henry's turn. To do this. To talk to Dad Reginald. Right.

Henry took a deep, steadying breath and knocked on the door to Dad Reginald's office. After receiving a welcoming greeting, Henry opened the door and walked inside. Dad Reginald and Dad Right looked over paperwork together. When they spotted Henry, the paperwork was tabbed by a sliver of paper and set down. "Henry," stated Dad Reginald. "Is something the matter?"

Game face, Henry. "Yes. Well, I was thinking about the prisoner situation. I know that you're really swamped with work already. So, I wanted to help take that off you."

Dad Reginald gave him a weird look. "You've gained some interest in the prisoner."

Henry shrugged. "I-I've been looking around the airship. With the month off I had waiting to heal up, I decided to look for things I could do. Like suggesting I stay down on the ground and help with that team in case of emergency during the launch. I just want to help out and thought that dealing with the Brig was a menial enough task that still needed to be passed through authority."

The chief hummed and nodded. "That is true. What are you suggesting, Henry?"

"I think that while we're on route to the jungle, I snatch an escape pod and guide the prisoner somewhere out in the southwest US, like New Mexico or something. That's where the prisoner came from, right?"

"And why would we allow a prisoner to just walk free?"

Henry put down a grimace. "We have no more use for him, like you said. He hasn't been taught anything potentially dangerous to the Clan, he's been so compliant and quiet I hardly remember he's alive sometimes and no one else talks about him–not even Katie! If ever someone was to complain or hiss about a prisoner, it would be her. So, I'm not saying to just toss him out, but he's not worth the headache of a ransom and it's far more civilized to set him back down then to just toss him off the ship, you know?"

Dad Reginald clasped his hands together and set his elbows on the table on either side of his current paperwork. For a very long moment, he thought to himself and then glanced at Dad Right. The stoic man gave no indication of thinking one thing or the other. Dad Reginald turned back to Henry. "Well. I'm very happy to hear you're taking the initiative. We can discuss this further… later."

"Okay, Dad. Thanks. Good morning Dad Reginald, Dad Right! Have a nice day!"

Soooooo that wasn't the absolute worst outcome possible. In fact, that was… good? Right? Right. Yeah. So, he had a few more things to do. They wouldn't miss him too terribly at lunch, would they? Yeah, he could grab his own lunch early and he and Dave could spend a half hour together before Henry had to go back to work!

Henry, a box with a couple of burgers and fries in his arm, made his way to the Brig. The door opened and he walked up to Dave's cell. The man was on his bed, elbows on his knees and head bowed. "Hey, Dave! I was running errands. But I brought back some lunch."

"Huh?" The man jumped so hard it had to have hurt and looked up. "O-oh! Thanks."

Henry's eyebrows furrowed. Dave was a little jumpy and a bit anxious, but now… lunch seemed to surprise him? "Dave, what happened? I didn't scare you, did I?"

"N-no, I was just surprised," the man lied, rather poorly at that.

Henry frowned and opened the door. "Nuh-uh, that's not working with me."

Dave flinched as the door opened, but, after another glance at Henry, he relaxed a little.

Henry sat down beside him, setting the bag of lunch between their feet. "What happened, Dave? You look terrified."

The man did not answer.

Henry thought for a moment. "You…" Henry's eyes went wide and turned on Dave. "Someone did something to you, didn't they? Who was it?"

"Henry…"

"I told you I would not let you get hurt, Dave, I meant it. Was it Wallace? I told him to stay off you!" Upon seeing how much more tense Henry made the man, Dave going so far as to shrink away from him, Henry forced himself to calm. "I'm sorry. Dave, I can't let this go. Who hurt you?"

"…Wallace. The one with the big scar."

Henry glared at the half-open door. "I'll have a talk with that man. But–" Henry took a deep breath and turned back to Dave, a slight smile on his features. "–let's try to talk about something better, huh? Look, I'm sorry you got hurt, I should have seen it coming. I promise, Dave, I will protect you."

"…thanks, Henry. That, that means a lot."

"Wallace!" Henry yelled, stalking into the Bay where he knew Wallace had a shift. "Motherfucker, I know you're here!"

Voices quieted as the half dozen others ceased their conversations and turned on him.

Wallace, who was standing near one of the boxes with a clipboard in hand, snickered. "What's it this time, kiddo?" His own voice was raised just enough for everyone else to hear him. Though, he could be whispering and still be clearly heard.

Henry stopped a few feet short of the man. "I told you once to stay away from the Brig, and I'm not telling you again."

The man barked out a laugh. "Yeah and? I got to feed the stupid dog we've got tied up in there."

"No, whoever told you that was obviously out of their mind, because I took that job from you, you weasel!"

"Hey, I can't go against the Chief's orders," he defended himself, though he still gave Henry a daring smirk.

"Don't make shit up. I talked to Dad Reginald myself," Henry puffed. "Even if he did for some reason lie to me and let your dumb ass take over my job, you still shouldn't be attacking the prisoner!"

"Alright," Wallace conceded. "I lied. What are you going to do about it? He's our prisoner, not our friend. Pfft. Not our friend, but obviously you can't see that being so doe-eyed over him."

"I can see what your doing is wrong!" Henry snapped. "Now you stay away from the Brig or I'll have you thrown in it!"

"You can't do that."

"Or I can open that door and toss your ass off the airship right now."

"I dare you to try. Actually, this whole threatening shit? Not working on me. If you really want me to leave your dearest star-crossed lover alone, why don't you make me?"

Henry gave him a flat look. "You're baiting me into a fight, and it's not working. I know your brutish mind can't comprehend speech, but at least try would you?"

Wallace's smirk faltered and devolved into an ugly grimace. "Oh, no, kid. You're asking for a fight, and you're going to get it. You think that since you were raised by the chief that you're some sort of special. That you deserve special treatment or have more power than you actually earned. Well, hate to break it to you, kid, but you don't. I've been working here longer than you've even been here. If you think you know what's what better than I do, prove it."

Henry shook his head with a snort. "You're really dense, did you know that? Now, I'm going to say this nice and slow so that you can understand me. Stay. Away. From. The. Brig. That's my job. I'm not trying to take yours, and I'm not too little to defend myself."

Wallace rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. Go tromp back to wherever you were and be distracted by a string of faux crystals. I'm not scared of you or the little bitch we tied up a few months b–"

Wallace cut himself off with a wheeze and stumbled back, a hand to his stomach. Henry, his entire perception of rationality burned, grabbed Wallace by the shoulder for another hit. Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment, Henry forgot how much younger and ill experienced he was. Wallace returned the hit with a strike to Henry's eye.

Within moments their fight had degraded into what might be called a wrestling match, though it was mostly Wallace struggling to get a firm grip on Henry, who kicked his feet out from under him. The man brought Henry down with them and the two went for a roll, grappling and struggling to get on top. Henry refused to put much strength behind his left arm. He could knock the guy's lights out with a hit from that, but that wouldn't prove anything.

Henry felt someone grab onto his shoulders. Still holding onto Wallace's throat with one hand, he struck back with his elbow. He heard a hard grunt come in response, but the person's grip tightened, and he was torn off Wallace and dragged back to his feet. Henry, unbalanced, could not get up properly enough to face the new aggressor, who wrapped an arm around his chest just below his armpits and held onto one of his wrists. "Let me go!" Henry snapped, glaring at Wallace through only one eye. Wallace, blood dribbling incessantly down his face from his nose, was also being restrained by Benjamin.

"Jesus, stop being dramatic," Tony puffed.

Benjamin called, "Matt, grab a doctor, would ya?"

"Uh, sure."

Henry, puffing, stopped his futile struggling and settled on glowering at Wallace, finding some petty satisfaction at looking at the wounds Henry had caused. He wasn't so small now, eh?

Geoffrey spoke into a walkie talkie, "Yeah, it's Henry and Wallace. They're going at it."

Wallace grumbled something.

"What's that?" Henry called. "Couldn't hear you with that bloody nose!"

Geoffrey turned on Henry. "Now that's enough of that!"

Henry grimaced but didn't glare at Geoffrey nor retort.

A Toppat with medical knowledge was there rather quickly. Benjamin released Wallace in the other man's care.

Then into the Bay came Dad Reginald and Dad Right. Henry didn't look at them as they approached but dare not back down. He was right, Wallace was wrong, and that was that. He didn't need anyone trying to convince him otherwise. Especially since Dad Reginald was going to take Wallace's side since Henry threw the first punch… as well as started the argument in the first place.

"Tony, let go of him," Dad Reginald ordered. Two-Ton Tony complied, releasing Henry and stepping back.

Henry, who'd gotten used to the awkward position, fell back into an even more awkward sitting position before scrambling to get to his feet. As the adrenaline from the fight wore off, the pain in his arm and ribs and eye started to surface. The doctor checking over Wallace picked up an ice pack and gestured toward Henry. Henry took it and set it on his eye, wincing at the cold.

"Now, Henry, come with me. Right Hand Man, bring Wallace back when you're ready," Dad Reginald stated and walked back up from whence he came. Dad Reginald had his hands behind his back and his head and shoulders squared. Ugh, Henry was in for it, now.

Henry followed, stifling any visual signs of discomfort. "Wall–"

"Don't you dare speak to me," Dad Reginald stated, his voice icy calm. "I will tell you when you can talk. Understand?"

Henry grunted.

Once they passed through the door out of the Bay, Dad Reginald stopped and turned to Henry. Quite suddenly, Henry felt his bravado start to wither. "Henry Stickmin, this is the first physical altercation you've had, but that doesn't make it any better. I've told you time and again that fighting is for brutish men or women who can't properly use their words. I was under the assumption that you could."

There was a slight pause, but there was not one ounce of will in Henry's body to speak.

Dad Reginald went on, "Tell me, now: what started this?"

"Wallace was attacking Dave," Henry stated shortly. "I told him that I'd taken Brig duty off his hands, you were there when we agreed on that. But he decided to go back anyway and hurt him. He walked into Dave's cell and attacked him. That's after months of nagging at him with words, which I guess he got tired of. So, I confronted him about it, and of course he not only admits it, but he sounded proud of it. Like bullying someone who couldn't fight back was an achievement." Henry stood up straight and squared his shoulders. "So, I showed him what a fight with someone who could defend himself was like."

Dad Reginald let out a low growl of frustration. "And you believe that prisoner at face value?"

"Yes," Henry stated. "But more than that, Dave's been acting differently lately. I also got Wallace to admit it. He bragged about it to tease me."

"Differently?" Dad Reginald echoed. "You're talking like this prisoner was an old friend."

"He's not an 'old friend,' though technically I met him before he got locked up here," Henry admitted. "But I've also gotten to know him over the months he's been here. He's understandably nervous, but also much more reserved now than he was before. Shier and more skittish today than he was last week. Wallace, meanwhile, acts like nothing's wrong. Like-like attacking a defenseless man without a mean bone in his body was something to boast about! He's trying to make himself feel better, so of course I'll knock him down a peg. Even if it means breaking his nose." Henry stretched his hand, forcing down a reaction to the soreness in his knuckles.

Dad Reginald stated, "I thought you learned this lesson as a child. They're prisoners, not friends. Wallace is a Toppat, he's someone you may end up defending with your life if the time comes to it. Dave is nothing but a meddlesome nightguard who went where he wasn't supposed to go. Your childish fighting interrupted work in the Bay and caused injury. I did raise you, which I should say I thought I did better than this. But more than that, I am your chief. Now, the punishment for this foolish behavior is menial labor. Not only will you not be allowed into meetings discussing further heists, for the time being, but you'll be working with the kitchen and janitorial staff. And I am not to see you anywhere near Wallace. Am I understood?"

"Yes. Chief." He couldn't help a snort at the word, though he couldn't really put that much defiance into it.

The door opened behind them.

Henry turned around. Dad Right walked in, Wallace–bandaged and wearing a nose cast–limping in behind him. It wasn't a heavy limp, by any means, but Henry was pleased he could still see the slight favor Wallace put on his left foot. Dad Reginald stated, "Their stories match, I hope?"

"I doubt it," Dad Right grunted.

Dad Reginald's eyes narrowed. "Well, I'm sure if all else fails, the five witnesses will clear up any confusion. Henry, leave. Wallace, I would have a word with you."