CA

Henry strolled over to the two chatting idly in the corner. "…we'll need to leave in a few weeks if we want to be on time," said the red cap one.

The blue cap one scoffed, "I don't want to be on caravan duty."

"Oh, it's not so bad," reassured the red cap one. "It's–hey!" Immediately, their cool attitude turned sharp. Both turned a hostile stare at Henry and Ellie. "A-B conversation, scat."

The blue hat one waved his hand at his friend. "Knock it down a peg, 'cap. What do you want?"

Henry held up his hands. "Hey, don't be so suspicious." He sat down between them with a relaxed grin. He waved to Ellie, who hesitantly took a seat between him and the red-cap one. "You don't recognize me?"

The red cap one let out a quiet hiss. The blue hatted one narrowed his eyes and then sucked in his breath. "Waaaaait, you're the chief's kid!"

Henry grinned with a swift nod.

"Who's you're friend?"

Ellie chipped in, "I'm Ellie. Who are you guys?"

The red cap one glanced around. "Er… yeah. Hey, what are you doing all the way out here?"

Henry smirked and glanced at Ellie. "Hopping fences, climbing walls, trying not to freeze." His smile fell. "Look, bottom line is: Ellie and I need to get back home. What are you two doing?"

The two looked at each other. The blue hatted one said, "We're not entirely sure. We just know that we're being called by the Ground Division. They're starting to pull their forces and riches."

Henry raised his eyebrows. "They're doing what?"

"Snowcap and I were assigned to caravan duty," the blue hatted one said. "We're shipping out soon."

Henry hummed and narrowed his eyes. "That is a little odd. I'll need to talk to my father. When are you leaving?"

"Icepick and I are leaving in a couple of weeks," Snowcap informed him.

"Okay. Well, good luck, you two." Henry gave them a smile and left, Ellie beside him. "Okay, Dad's going to call me back with his answer. So, we can wait here for a while."

Ellie asked, "What if he doesn't recruit me?"

Henry thought for a moment. "Then… I ride with you back home? Where is that?"

"Oregon," Ellie informed him.

"Well, I'll ride with you back to Oregon, then," Henry stated.

"Cool. Wanna get a head start? Just in case?"

"To get out of this cold? Sure."

Ellie walked up ahead to open the door for him and then hopped onto the motorcycle. Henry jumped on behind her and held on tight. Although the wind was quite frosty as they drove through the quiet road, Ellie was warm. He didn't remember the last time he and Ellie rode together, but he knew it wasn't often. Though there was that time back in February Henry's scooter got busted. So instead of taking him to the nearest mechanic to look at it, Ellie convinced him to go with her and they rode as fast as humanly possible down into the thick forests of the Midwest. Given it wasn't cold, but Henry did almost have a heart attack.

Dad Reginald was definitely going to let Ellie into the Toppats. There was nothing else to it. Ellie was an extraordinarily talented woman, and they had both known her for thirteen years. She was Henry's best friend, and Henry knew her well enough to see her talent. So, really, it was just a matter of time. Right? He hadn't lied to Ellie; a maybe was a maybe. Ellie's mother was in the government, that was true. So maybe…

But, no. No, that didn't matter. Well, very much. They were going to accept Ellie, that was that. There was absolutely no reason–except her mother being in government–to deny her. She even admitted to wanting to be a recruit.

Then came the question: What were they going to tell Charles?

Henry didn't want to hurt the man. Charles was an amazing human being and shame on anyone who would want to hurt him personally. Henry didn't want to. Still, if Charles knew he was a Toppat, he'd be morally and legally obligated to hand him over to his boss. The same with Ellie, if Ellie joined them. Henry half-hoped there was a way they could all be together. A team, the Triple Threat. Just the thought sent him soaring. Man, to be together again, this time as friends out in the open with no need to keep secrets from each other!

…oh, but that was a kid's dream, wasn't it? They were adults, now. Different people with different lives. They had taken different paths and now were in their own different stories. The thought was just… ugh. Yeah, yeah, the whole "cake and eat it, too" baloney probably applied here somewhere, but he didn't care. It wasn't fair. Henry liked the guy. Loved hanging out with him, talking, going out to eat and having game nights. His life just wouldn't be the same without that man. They were best bros, right? Charles had been concerned, not angry, when Henry came back. He'd been disappointed in Henry's illegal activities but didn't turn his back on him.

Ellie asked, "So, about the whole Toppats thing. You really think I'd be a good fit?"

"Well you'd be an amazing Clan member," Henry pointed out. "But the rest is up to you to decide whether or not you want to be one."

"Okay. Hey, any cute girls there?"

Henry chuckled. "Well, I've lived with Katie since she was eight. Miss Demeanor is rather new and she's kinda cute. But we don't have that many women. At least, our age."

"Damn. You should change that."

Henry chuckled and then gasped. "Wait! I know! Joan recently became a full member."

"Joan? Joan Scone?"

"Yep!"

"Daaaaaaamn. Didn't know she'd become a Toppat."

"I know right?"

"So, what about that cousin of yours? Howie?"

"Toppat. I moved in with him after my adoption. He was adopted, too."

"So that's why Mom always gave him weird looks. And why you were adamant about never letting anyone over to your house."

Henry shrugged. "Dad said I couldn't bring friends over to the airship. Especially ones with government family. Like you and Charles."

"Heh. I understand why. So, while you were raised by the Toppats, did you ever go on any extra dangerous missions?"

A wide grin spread across his features. "Oh, definitely. Where do you want to start?"

"Hmm… your first heist!"

"Ooooh! I did that when I was eighteen, old enough to become a full member. It was just about two months after my ceremony, to set the scene. Howie doesn't normally go on the big heists, he mainly deals with negotiations, deals, and checking–or following–up–on clients. So, he wasn't with me, which was a little sad. So, anyway, it was Tony, Wallace, Matilda, and I…"

PD

Before he could trap the words in his mind, Henry asked, "Hey, you two can keep a secret, right?"

Howie blinked. "A' course."

Cool Katie tipped her head a little. "Er… yeah…? Why?"

Henry bit his tongue. "Look, I don't want to get you on the wrong end of my dad's temper, but can I walk off on my own for a little while?"

Howie stated, "Uh, no. Sorry, li'l buddy. Ah agree with the Chief."

"Yeeeeeah, like, as much as I'd like to, he's got a point. Why?"

"I… never mind. Actually, yeah. He might be right." Henry shook his head.

"Is it 'bout Ellie an' Charles?"

"No. …kinda," Henry admitted. "I talk to them in the evening, usually, after we get back from work." Dave doesn't have work. "I just want to, uh… think for a while."

Howie raised his eyebrows. "Yer wantin' to visit that prisoner."

Cool Katie looked at Howie. "Wait, the prisoner?" She turned back to Henry. "You're seriously trusting another prisoner?"

"N-no!" Henry's voice got a little high-pitched and he cleared his throat. "No. No, I just…" Fuck. "I deliver meals and stuff to him, like everyone else. That's it."

Howie eyed him. "Like that Russian guy back when you were a kid."

"Henry, that nearly got us killed," Katie pointed out, almost before Howie stopped talking. For the first time in a very long time, her cool, level composure cracked. "Trusting that asshole nearly got us both locked up for life o-or killed."

"Dave's not a Wall guard, he's a security guard. For a museum. Formerly a police officer. Stationed at a jail," Henry said. "They're nothing alike. Dave's a nice guy, anxious but nice. He was nice to me back in Red Mesa, even after I got arrested."

Cool Katie gave him a firm look. "Like that Wall guard was all nice to you?"

"They're not the same."

"They may as well be," she stated curtly. "Those kinds of people, authority who get captured by criminals like us? They're not chill just being friends. They don't like us. If they're being nice, that's just because he's trying to manipulate you."

"Oh? And he acts like that to you, right?"

"I never talked to him. He never said anything back. He knew I wasn't about to help him. But you're being nice to him."

"I won't just sneak him out under everyone's noses. I learned that the hard way, too," Henry pointed out, unable to keep a barb from his tone. "But he's still a human, and he still helped me."

Howie gave him more of a sympathetic look than Cool Katie. "Henry, Ah know ya feel fer the guy, but it ain't a good idea. Even if ya don't wanna let him go, what kinda future are ya talkin' about? Jus' get ta know him ta what end? What if the Chief wants ta execute him? What'll ya do then?"

"…try to talk him out of it," Henry admitted. "But that's all. I'm just talking to him. He'd have gone crazy a while ago if there wasn't anyone there for him, you know that."

"Ya've got a real soft spot for authority. That ain't a good thing."

Cool Katie nodded. "I know you have friends in the military. We all know. That's just going to be trouble in the future. But Dave's trouble here and now."

"He's not trouble," Henry crossed. "Look at me, Katie. I'm not even leaving this ship for at least a month. And I'm not allowed to handle any keys to the cells. What am I going to do?"

Cool Katie did not answer, but Howie did. "An' if an'one finds out? Somethin' could happen ta Dave. If someone really wanted ta hurt ya, they'd hurt Dave or, worse, help him escape." When Henry gave him an odd look, Howie explained, "Yer parents would automatically assume it was you, jus' like the rest a' the ship. Ya grew up here with us, just like Katie and I. But that just means people'd figure you'd give in one day an' help him out. Then what would happen? Would an'one trust you in a raid or heist that had potential government or police intervention? If no one could trust ya on somethin' as vital as a heist, an' ya very well know that negotiations aren't yer forte, yer presence would jus' be fuel to accuse the Chief of bein' bias, which he is. People've been expelled from the Clan for bein' useless. Terrence was thrown overboard fer bein' incompetent and endangerin' people."

"I'm not Terrence," Henry snapped. "I'd never endanger the Clan, you guys are my family. This place is my home!"

"An' if it was a choice between yer home and your friends outside?" Howie prompted. "Charles is a government pilot. If he was carryin' someone who was a real danger to the Clan, if he became a threat, what'd you do?"

Henry… had no response to this fear he had been trying desperately to ignore for years.

"Li'l buddy, Ah love ya." Howie's voice grew soft and he uncrossed his arms so he could set a hand on Henry's shoulder. "We all do. But there are jus' some things that ya shouldn't be doin'."

Henry looked away. He knew Howie was right. He knew Howie and Cool Katie were looking out for him. But to just… ignore Dave because he was afraid of what people would think of him? That was ridiculous. Henry didn't care what people thought of him before, and he didn't care now. For the most part.

The young cyborg nodded but didn't look either of them in the eyes.

IRO

It was hardly noon by the time they made it back. Henry, his nice, official pardon with the president's signature on it in his pocket, walked beside his friend as they left the base.

"So, do you think you'll be able to visit more often?" Charles asked.

Henry hummed. "Maybe. I mean, I'm not wanted anymore, so probably."

His pilot friend grinned, an action that never failed to turn up Henry's own mood. So, maybe he didn't like spending time at a government base. But he was with his best friend! What could go wrong there? Nothing, that's what.

…unless his parents found out what he did…

Ah, but that wouldn't happen.

Probably.

Right?

Yeah.

Definitely.

…hopefully.

"So, what do you think of meeting up with Ellie?" Charles asked.

Henry nodded. "Oh, definitely." He hesitated. "Do… you know where she is? I haven't heard from her."

Charles hummed. "Yep! She's at another base."

"Another base?" Henry echoed.

"Yeah." Charles frowned. "She… she got locked up at the Wall. Buuuuut it was just a misunderstanding. Another General gave my parents and her mom the okay to pick her up."

Henry let out a quiet sigh. "That's good. The escaping part."

"Yeah." Charles' smile dimmed.

"…what's that look?"

"She… well, the Wall isn't really nice to its prisoners. You know Ellie, she's a fighter. She took on three armed guards at once during an escape attempt. She got really far, almost made it out. Something got her at the last second. So, she's kinda banged up. But she got medical treatment."

A dark look fell over Henry. Oooooooh, those guys were so dead. To hell with being an inescapable prison, he was finding a way to bring Dmitri down.

"Henry, I know what you're thinking, but it's not a good idea," Charles went on. "You could get hurt or arrested–again! Then what are we going to do?"

"That place was horrible!" Henry pointed out. "Can't the government do anything about it?"

Charles shook his head. "No, they're based in another country. Captain says he's trying, but it's really hard to get to the Wall."

Henry let out a quiet laugh, humorless and short. "If he does manage to convince some high-ranking government dude to launch a raid against the Wall or try and shut it down, can I join?"

Charles gave him a small smile. "Sure thing, Henry. You'll be the first person I recommend for the job!"

"Good thing I have such an awesome friend, huh?" Henry punched him in the shoulder, knocking the man off balance a little. Charles returned the favor, nearly pushing Henry off his feet. Huh. Charles was pretty strong.

Henry's phone rang.

Henry jumped and immediately picked it up. "Yeah?"

"Henry." Dad Reginald's voice came from the other side. "Where are you?"

Henry cleared his throat. "Uh, I'm out with Charles, just, you know, hanging out."

"And what did you do this afternoon?"

"Uh… nothing really…?"

"Harold would really like a word with you. Where are you?"

Henry put a hand to his mouth. "Harold? Wh-why?"

"Henry, you talked to Wilhelm in the room before. What are you trying to accomplish?"

"Look, Dad, I'd love to talk, but I'm, you know, outside. With Charles. Near the base. Can I call you back later?"

Dad Reginald's voice calmed dramatically. "…alright. Well, call me back when you're not busy."

Henry hummed, "Goodbye!"

Click

Charles raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?" He sucked in his breath. "Oh! Are your parents looking for you? We could get a ride back to wherever they are, if you want!"

Henry shook his head. "No, no. He just… he was worried because he didn't know where I was. It's fine. But he knows I'm near the base with you, so I'm safe. You'd never let anything happen to me, right?"

Charles chuckled. "Y-yeah, of course! You're my friend, Henry! Uh, so, I'm kinda hungry. Do you want to pick something up?"

Henry perked up, the thought automatically sending a pang through his stomach. "Definitely."

"Great! I know a few good places around here!"

Henry eyed him as they continued down the trail to town. "You aren't thinking of a Chinese food place, are you?"

"…heh. Maybe." Charles shook his head. "Oh, I know you're not a fan. But there's this really nice Mexican food restaurant close to here. You'd love it!"

"Hmm… close by?"

"Yep!"

"Well then. We were both cooped up in that copter for a while. How about you show me how bad you got, huh?"

"Hey, I didn't get bad!" Charles immediately rebuked.

"Prove it!" Then, Henry was off in a run.

Charles rushed after him, yelling something Henry didn't quite hear. Henry didn't know how long the trail was, so he should probably be tempering his use of energy. After all, he was used to stealth and slow missions with the occasional brief-but-explosive fight. Charles was an ace pilot, trusted heavily in the government. If his training and exercise was anything like Dave described his own training had been like, Henry might be in trouble.

Well, that was if Henry could be in trouble, right?

Henry heard Charles' footsteps getting closer. He threw a glance back, a shock causing his heart to skip a beat seeing how close the man was. He ran almost beside Henry, focused on the road ahead, his red booted feet stirring up dust. Huh. Good thing Henry never got on Charles' bad side. If anyone at the prison or museum was even close to Charles' pace, Henry might not have stood a chance.

Henry could see the buildings of the town poking out from behind the tree line. They were getting close… and Charles was currently ahead of him. If Henry didn't look out, he'd be beaten at his own game–with a head start, at that!

"Charles!" Henry called. "Someone's calling you!"

"Huh?" Charles looked back, slowing down a little as he searched the trail. Only after Henry rushed past him did he understand and he yelled back, "Cheater!"

Henry managed to reach the road before Charles, laughing and wheezing, sweat gleaming on his skin. He stopped and nearly keeled over, his hands on his shaky knees. Wow, he wasn't built for long sprints. Short sprints he could do. Long walks, maybe long jogs? Sure. Climbing through an entire building's worth of ventilation shafts? He could do that in his sleep. Bolting from one end of the airship to the other, balancing speed with agility as he ran over catwalks and hopped stairs? Absolutely. But a straight, dead sprint from halfway down the trail to the nearest town? He wouldn't be surprised if he was actually dying.

Charles stopped beside him, his own breaths heavy. Still, he stood with his feet planted into the ground strong and sturdy as ever, one hand on his waist and his eyes, glimmering in excitement, on Henry. "You, Henry, are a cheater."

"I am!" Henry somehow managed to articulate his thoughts. "And you know it."

The pilot sat down, leading the thief to do the same. He winced at how heavily he went down on the sidewalk but made no noise to show it. "You know, Henry, if you're staying around here a little longer, you could come with me to the gym."

"Gym? Oh, yeah." Henry managed to get his breathing under relative control. "Yeah, definitely. I do that all the time. Sorta. I used to, but, uh… got a little busy." When he was no longer forced to do so by Dad Right, of course, at eighteen. It's not like he was slacking; carrying an inordinate amount of loot and running from an alarm and security guards was exercise enough, right?

"Yeah. Busy, huh?"

"Definitely." Henry cleared his throat.

A few minutes silence spanned between them as Henry regained his breath and energy.

Henry said, "So, how about that food, huh?"

A little over an hour later, Henry stood out in the forest, far enough away from the government camp to not be spied but close enough to walk back. Charles had been a little confused at first but thought nothing more on the subject and offered to let him stay over at his apartment.

Henry hardly had to wait for the phone to ring once before it was picked up. "Henry?" answered Dad Reginald.

"Hey, Dad!" Henry hummed, trying for a smile he knew his father couldn't see. "So, was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"You're a very intelligent young man. Is there a reason you're playing dumb?"

Henry sighed. "Okay, I know. I know what you're going to say. But Charles helped me escape the Wall and I had to help him."

"Wait, he did what? What were you doing at the Wall?!"

"Oh, right. I, uh, didn't tell you that part. Well, you remember that mission I went on in Alaska, right? Things, um, things went South very fast…"

Henry did a brief recap of the story, which honestly wasn't that long. He got captured, transferred, and broke out, leaving in a helicopter with Charles. "…but Charles couldn't really do that, on his own, at least. He needed permission. So, the Captain made a deal with him. He'd sanction the pick-up if he could recruit me on a mission. Captain Galeforce told me that if I infiltrated the airship and found a way to bring down the Toppats, he could give me a pardon and we'd break even. But, uh… you know I couldn't… do that. Right?"

"Yes." Henry couldn't decipher the tone of his father's voice.

"So, I snuck in, tried to get as little heat as possible, and stole some of the blackmail we give to one of the nastier groups of criminals we happen to trip over. It has our name on the folder, but no solid evidence or proof or whatnot of Toppat intervention or wrongdoings," Henry continued. "Now I'm staying at the base for a little bit with Charles. People are giving me some foul looks, but I can be out in public again! With Charles! In a government base! Crazy, right?"

…

"Henry," Dad Reginald stated. "If you were able to get in a position where your government pilot friend could have helped you, would we have not been able to help?"

"Well, technically you could? Maybe?" Henry relented. "But I remember the last time you guys got in a skirmish with the Wall directly and I didn't want that happening again. Charles is an ace pilot. He was able to fly in and out in no time! We didn't risk any Clan members, it was just Charles and I. Since he's government, they wouldn't really be able to do anything to him."

There was a heavy sigh. "Henry, I'm so happy you're alive and free, but this is just… I would rather you not have had a debt to pay to the government in the first place."

"But we're kinda friends now?" Henry pointed out. "Look, Dad, I love you. I love the Clan. But… I love Charles, too. He's just amazing. And I know it's stupid of me, but I want to stay his friend. This plan here, I made sure that I could be with you and him. I didn't hurt the Clan, didn't double-cross the government, and now I get to hang out with Charles, and I have a clean record. It's a win-win situation!"

"That is true. Henry, that was a very dangerous plan, but you managed to pull it off. Well done. But if you do it again, I'm not letting you off this airship."

Henry snorted and nodded. "Okay, Dad! I'll try not to get abducted by the Wall again! Oh, you know, Charles was going to show me around. I was wondering if I could stay here a while longer? I-I know I have a job to do. I have a job planned with Red Crimson, Harry, and Floyd tomorrow evening. But I don't think I have anything scheduled for today. I mean, yesterday, while I was locked up at the Wall, I think I did."

"If you truly have nothing scheduled for the day, it may be appropriate. But once you get back, you will need to work for the time you lost. Understand?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good. Stay safe, Henry."

"You, too, Dad. Tell Dad Right I said hi!"

Click

Henry took a deep breath and put away his phone. Thank God. Maybe… maybe things were going his way. Maybe he wouldn't have to choose between his friends and his family. Maybe they could all live happily. Apart, at conflict, but not in open war.

…what if…

No. He shouldn't doubt the Toppat Clan. Henry was accepted and loved. He walked around the government base with Charles and got nothing but scorn. Sure, other Toppats didn't like Dave, but Dave was a prisoner who'd gotten caught in their plans. Henry was a free man who'd helped the government. Someone who helped the Toppats wouldn't have been so openly despised. His parents were right. Despite all their grandeur and talk of being the best force for the people, they really were conceded and hypocritical.

Well, not Charles, but he was… well, Charles.

Now, about the offer to take him to the gym.