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Henry was very greedy. He didn't believe he was born that way, rather he was shaped into it. As a child, he had nothing. Couldn't get anything, too poor of money and love. His companion was the yearning desire for what his peers had.
Yearning grew into jealousy with a sprinkle of wrath, it was not his fault that he was without. It was not his fault he was born into circumstances beyond his control. He hated how they flaunted and devalued what they had.
He was made to be this way. Hungry and greedy for more, whilst resenting those who could do more but turned away.
Henry was born to nothing, and now he was something. A leader, a King, a friend..
People used to preach that blood made family. Maybe it was the blood you spilled side by side with another that made you family. Henry found it was actually hats of all things that made a family. Top hats to be precise.
He was once a thief trying to survive, before being captured by the government to do their dirty work for them. He was nothing in their eyes and he was positive they'd get rid of him instead of upholding their end of the bargain. A bargain he had no say in, mind you. But Henry's final mission brought him something else, and his dedication kept him firmly in the throne.
Though he did think, there was one good thing about the government. A pilot named Charles. One of the few people who was ever good to him, a presence warmer than even the most expensive heater.
Someone he was completely head over heels for.
Someone he betrayed.
Someone he would rescue.
And the world that treated him so cruelly finally gave him what he wanted on a silver platter..
The bank's alarm blared loudly throughout the facility. Henry could barely hear himself giving orders and directions, mixing it with gunfire just made it all the more chaotic. The government managed to get here much quicker than calculated, but Henry was adaptive.
He organised carefully, while riches were desirable the safety of his team was all the more precious. They did have an excellent medical bay on the station so the injured would be in good hands.
He covered his faithful Right Hand Lady as she pulled the injured Sven behind debris. Ellie looked to him worriedly, and he nodded in turn. She's able to adjust his position before carrying him to the roof for safety. Henry and one other member followed to provide cover, bank notes now red littering the floor.
Rounding a corner, Ellie and the other Toppat gunned straight for the stairs. Henry was right behind, when the glimmer of a different red caught his attention.
Charles Calvin.
Charles was laying against the wall, his breathing slightly laboured. His uniform was red with his own blood, his leg twisted awkwardly beneath him. He was wounded, in agony, and he was all alone.
Rage ignited in his stomach, realising they had abandoned Charles when he was saveable. Where they just going to collect his body once it was over?
The Toppat leader ran to the pilot, kneeling in front of him. He kicked his gun away, though Charles barely noticed.
"Charles? Can you hear me?" His rage was cast aside for tender care, his hand cupping Charles' cheek. The other's beautiful green eyes turned to look at him, just barely focused.
"Hen.. ry?" His tone was of confusion, maybe a little delirious from blood loss. He didn't seem mad though, which Henry noted with unrestrained delight. "What are you.. Doing here?"
"Stealing." Henry stated, matter of factly. He saw two Toppats running past, massive bags of money slung over their shoulders. One paused to look at Henry, but he waved him off with a smile.
"Toppat.." Charles seemed to realise, and Henry winked cheekily at him. "You're.."
"Now I'm rescuing you." He looked around for anything he could utilise to keep Charles' leg from being too jostled. He couldn't much to his dismay. "It's gonna hurt though."
Charles gave what Henry could only presume to be a glare. It was poor in quality given the combination of pain and exhaustion in his eyes.
"Don't worry.." Henry murmured as sweetly as he could, readying himself to carry Charles. "You'll be safe with me."
Carrying Charles to safety, he did his best to soothe his pained cries with loving coos. His heart was hammering in his chest, he found this heist to be successful.
As Henry anticipated, reaching the base with the pilot in his arms was met with confusion. Even getting to the roof, the lookout was giving him a confused look as he readied them to be teleported back. Henry noted during that time the lack of a military presence, realising to his shock and horror that they abandoned Charles to die. The facts led him to bristle internally, but with Charles in his arms he was going somewhere else now. He would be cared for, he would be loved.
Arriving at the orbital station was easy, Charles was passed to medical personnel who looked at him confusedly before rushing off. He shooed off a few lingering medical Toppats by assuring them that he was fine, that the blood on his clothes were not his. It is easy to do, they are already swarmed but Henry does find himself warming a little internally at their worry. Truly, the Toppats were some of the best people around. A lovely little family he had been brought into, and he would care for them with equal tenderness.
As he watched Charles being carried off, he noted a pink hat making it's way towards him. Henry turned to look at Ellie as she came to his side. She glanced at the closing doors, before turning her attention to Henry.
"So you finally managed to catch your gem?" She inquired, a teasing tone dripping through her voice. She gave him a teasing poke to his arm, which caused Henry to roll his eyes with an amused smile.
"Well, I'm going to have to speak with the other commanders later." Henry stated with a shrug before jabbing her in return just as playfully. "Now that Charles is in my care, we don't have to be so worried about dealing with any.. Problems that might arise."
//
The medical unit in the orbital station is of a decent size, large enough for a bit of privacy. The curtains were good for that, and they were surrounded by equipment they purchased instead of stealing. Hospitals were good for the most part, Henry and the other Toppats refused to take resources that helped the less fortunate.
He flipped through a proposal sheet that Reginald had given him a few weeks ago, one he had been hesitant to approve with Charles still being out on the street. Now with him in Henry's custody, the danger had dwindled.
Speaking of Charles, the pilot laid in the hospital bed had begun to stir a little. His wrist was cuffed to the bed so he didn't do anything that could hurt himself, which included escaping of course. Henry's attention was on him instantly, and he set the paper aside to go to his side.
Beautiful green eyes opened slowly, gracing Henry with hues that emeralds envied. It's enough for him to soften, and he takes Charles' hand within both of his. His thumb brushing along the bruised knuckles, his smile gentle as he watched Charles take it all in. Finally those eyes landed on Henry and he watched as Charles' confusion only grew.
"Henry..?" He whispered softly.
Henry hummed an affirmative, taking one hand to tuck a strand of hair behind Charles' ear. He looked so preciously cute and Henry wished he could take photos of every expression that Charles showed but he did not need to. Not with Charles here, but his exhausted state was simply precious to him. He couldn't wait for Charles relax more around him, but Henry had to contain his excitement to not scare Charles away.
"Where are we..?" Henry smiled sweetly at the innocent question, glancing around the room and then to Charles' casted leg.
"You were hurt." Henry explained tenderly, stroking Charles' cheek. The other nuzzled into his hand, completely out of it from just waking up and the pain medication in his system. Henry's heart almost stopped. "So I took you someplace where you would be safe.."
"You've.. Got a top hat on your head.."
"I do."
Charles scrunched his face up slightly, staring tiredly at Henry's head. His eyelids continued to droop every few seconds and he yawned once more. Henry shifted to pull the blanket up over Charles' body as he started to drift off again.
"I'll explain everything soon, my little birdie." He cooed sweetly, taking the papers and leaving the room.
//
Time passed, and Henry was lighter than air. Between heists and speaking with Charles, he felt truly like the king of the world. His Toppats were cared for and loved, they were thriving and Henry preened under their praise. He enjoyed the celebrations from their successful heists, he had spotted Reginald making out with his Right Hand Man and it looked like Ellie was flirting with one of the other higher Toppat members. It was fun, and he couldn't wait for Charles to be by side there.
The pilot had been moved to a small luxurious suite connected to his own, one that he couldn't escape from. Henry entered with a whistle, observing that Charles had been investigating the room and the leader got a view of his ass. The pilot quickly straightened, his face a delightful bright red. His signature headphones still on his head though altered so he could not contact anyone, it was only good for music now.
"Lovely to see you moving around." Henry hummed, strolling towards where Charles was standing. He was still recovering though he was free from his cast. The pilot eyed him wearily, not yet completely trustful.
While Charles was seeing the truth, seeing how the government had abandoned him and left him to die. How Henry had rescued him, how he was so much better here, He was still struggling to come to terms with everything. Henry didn't mind though, he was there to support Charles and ready to love him with every fibre of his being.
Charles stumbled a little, falling into Henry's waiting arms. He shifted to pull Charles closer and to his delight he wasn't pushed away. Instead, Charles just collapsed further into his arms if such a thing was possible. Crumbling to a quiet, too tired mess.
Henry was able to fall into a comfortable sitting position, scooting to rest his back against the wall. Afterwards, he would adjust himself so Charles was laid in his lap with his head against Henry's shoulder.
"My little birdie, are you feeling well?" He purred sweetly. Charles just shifted to press his face into Henry's chest. He only responded by pulling Charles tighter into his own body, nuzzling him tenderly.
He took his silence as his answer.
"You were thinking about them, weren't you?" He was a little annoyed admittedly, but with practised precision he was able to disguise the venom in his voice. Henry sighed softly as Charles responded with the quietest of noises. He set his anger to one side, instead allowing concern to overpower it.
"Oh Charlie.." Henry murmured sweetly, shifting to grasp Charles' chin and turned him to face him. "My sweet sweet little birdie.. They left you behind, they do terrible things... Ever so terrible things, neglecting people like us."
Charles had been born a lonely little boy like him.. Failed by the world around him. With his short time with the government, he saw how Charles was still ever so lonely and ever so desperate for affection. Henry was sure to never fail him, because now that Charles was in his care he would be ever so happy.
"They do care." Henry huffed, resisting the urge to just roll his eyes at Charles' stubborn loyalty. What was it even born from? Something those damn government scum took advantage of. Regardless it was precious, and now it belonged to him.
"Charles, they abandoned you. They could have gotten you out of there but they didn't. They discarded you.. Like trash.." Henry couldn't help the growl that came out of him, his body shuddering in remembrance of the filth he witnessed that day. Every drop of hate was spilling out and when he thought of the members who ran and left him to die, Henry saw the most beautiful shades of red coming from their lips.
He's brought out of his anger by gentle hands cupping his own face, and Henry looked at Charles in surprise. Charles looked at him tenderly before glancing away and letting his hands drop. Henry internally mourned their departure and bit back the desire to bring them back.
"They wouldn't have come back Charles."
"Do you go back for every Toppat member?"
It is a valid question, but it is one that Henry doesn't have an immediate reaction for. He thankfully doesn't need to think too much on it, he knows the answer though it hid itself for that moment.
"We try to, we do what we can but they didn't even try for you. They left the moment it got too much." His eyes wandered to Charles' healing leg, his lip curling a little in disgust as he remembered seeing him laying there with green suits retreating. "They left you.."
Charles sunk into Henry, his shoulders slumping a little. Henry supported him without hesitation, peppering a few light kisses to his hair. The pilot is still in his arms, but Henry heard him sniffle and that's enough for his heart to ache.
"Oh my birdie, oh my sweet little bird.." Henry cooed sweetly, brushing Charles' tears away. Previous boundaries be damned, Charles needed every ounce of love that Henry held. The Toppat leader was more than happy to provide. The pilot tried to shy away from the attention, but Henry kept a firm hold on him. "Don't hide my dear, I've got you.. Let it all out, let it all out. You never have to hide from me."
Charles sobbed into Henry's chest until he fell asleep, and Henry would put the pilot to bed. He untangled him from his body though his heart ached at the action, tucking him in and providing a sweet kiss to his forehead. Later that night, Henry painted a military base red.
He's sure that sweet little Charlie wouldn't want Henry to do anything about them, but he wanted to and he was sure Charles wouldn't say anything. So he let soldiers he knew that failed Charles bleed from slit throats, their hands reaching for some sort of hope. He stomped that out beneath his heel, and stole all of their supplies after ensuring there was no GPS trackers within them.
When he returned, he took a shower and he went back to Charles. His people were ecstatic with the new weaponry, and he is sure some of them are especially thrilled with the prospect of using a tank. He can't blame them for that, but he's focused on something else.
Charles clung to him like Henry was the only stability in his life, and that was true. They sat on a sofa chair in Henry's room, big enough for both of them. Though Charles was half on the chair and half on Henry's lap, his head pressed against Henry's shoulder. The Toppat leader could hear the faint ramble of a audio book through Charles' headphones, and he perked an eyebrow at this.
Everything is perfect. Everything is as it should be.