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The dim light of the old desktop lamp standing before him, shining upon the scattered documents he’d been working on for the last couple of hours, was beginning to make Charles dizzy.
He moved his hand in a weak attempt to keep writing, at least he could finish one more page... But his letters, words, were getting wavier and more and more unrecognizable.
Finally, he laid down the pen to be able to rub his eyes and stretch for a second. He hadn’t realized how tired he had been.
But after all, it had been a long day.
All the things Henry and him had went through… Even though he’d spent most time sitting up in his helicopter, he felt his back ache from the stress and his brain rotate with all the thoughts that had went through it. And still did.
But someone had to write the report, and Henry was certainly not going to do it.
So, he focused his thoughts back on the paper as he took the pen, even though he only really got to hold it on his second attempt.
He sighed. Actually, maybe he should get up and grab a coffee before he continued writing.
He pulled back his chair and stood up, stretching his arms and legs. Finally getting away from his desk was a relief.
But as he started making his way to the door, he was suddenly startled by an energetic knock on it.
A knock only one person he knew would make.
He looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. Of course they had returned pretty late after their mission but he still wondered why the General would visit at such a late hour. He was normally only called out at night for emergencies and considering that, he was a little concerned when he opened the door.
„‘Evening, Charlie.“ General Galeforce said, voice a little rusty from the day but still, friendly as always.
„General. What is it?“ Charles answered. The confusion in his voice had to have been pretty obvious.
„Oh, don’t worry. It’s not an emergency or anything. I just finished the final paperwork regarding Henrys enlistment.“
He stepped a foot to the right, revealing a smiling Henry, only a little tired as it seemed. He waved at Charles and Charles smiled back at him.
„Anyway“ the general continued „Since this base is currently being used by one of our other units, we don’t actually have enough rooms for everyone coming back from the mission. I was going to ask if Henry and you could share a room for tonight. It would only be one time since we’ll be moving to the main base tomorrow.“
He gave Charles a questioning look, signaling he was awaiting his response.
„Sure, why not?“ He answered. There weren’t any actual good reasons to deny the favour after all. Henry had proven himself to be more than trustworthy, to the point that Charles would consider them friends.
„Great.“ The General answered, nodding in relief. „That’s one less person having to sleep in the hallway tonight.“
He looked at Henry, then Charles. „I’ll be off, then. You two can figure out who gets the bed by yourselves.“
Charles nodded, as the General started to turn away into the Hallway. Before he could leave though, he seemed to have caught a quick glimpse of the paperwork that was still scattered on Charles desk.
„Oh, and you don’t have to finish these today. You can give them to me when we’re settled in at the main.“
Charles knew that was more of an order than a recommendation. After all, he wouldn’t have time to be tired tomorrow as there were many people in need of transport and few who could fly a helicopter. But he somehow knew that wasn’t the only reason the General had had in mind. And he appreaccited it.
As Galeforce had left the two alone, Henry was still standing at the door.
„What? Come on in!“ Charles said, smiling as Henry stepped into the small room, closing the door behind him.
„So? How’d it go?“ he asked, curious of what Henry thought of his new home. Well new home, at least for this night.
„It’s nice, really! Feels like I’m in a video game with all this… military stuff… Don’t really know any of it but it looks so cool!“
Charles laughed. He knew the feeling.
Henry’s glance was trailing around the room now. It was awfully blank with its empty green walls and the field bed in the right corner. Finally, his eyes stopped at the desk, still full of scattered papers. He gave Charles a confused look.
„Oh umh don’t… mind that.“ Charles quickly said. „It’s just a report, y’know, about the mission. But it can wait.“
He made his way over to the desk as Henry answered: „Report? Oh please no…“ his shoulders sank visibly. „Do I get to write these too, now“
Charles laughed. „Yeah, it's not the best part of the job. But you’ll get used to it, besides, you can always ask me if you need help with anything.“
He stacked the remaining papers into a pile in the corner of the desk.
Henry didn’t reply but Charles was sure he’d heard a sigh of relief under his breath and as he turned around, he gave him a reassuring smile.
„Anyways, we’ll have to be up pretty early tomorrow so it’s probably best if we get ready for bed soon.“ he said and Henry nodded. Charles grabbed a small bag hanging from the chair as they left for the shared bathroom in the hallway. When they entered, the bright industrial lights on the ceiling flickered for a moment before settling and illuminating the white tiles and old, but clean sinks on the wall.
As Charles opened the bag to take out his toothbrush, he noticed Henry only leaning on the wall, waiting.
„Wait, you don’t have anything with you, do you?“ He felt stupid for not thinking about that sooner. Henry had just recently escaped the wall after all and there hadn’t really been time to settle in before they’d been send on their next mission.
„It’s fine I’ll get by the one night.“ he answered, brushing it off with a smile. But Charles wasn’t going to let him go so easliy.
„No, you can use mine if you want.“ He handed Henry the toothbrush. „Don’t worry I haven’t had it for long.“
Henry hesistated for a moment but then shrugged as he took the toothbrush. He didn’t really care about things like that and also knew it would only lead to akward conversations if he’d declined the offer.
Charles waited as Henry brushed his teeth, leaning on the wall not far from where the other had stood before. He widdled his thumbs to pass the time and ocasionally looked at Henry in the mirror. For some time, they were just standing there in silence, the industrial light illuminating the room and reflecting in the tiles.
As Henry was finished, they swapped places and Charles was now standing at the sink while Henry watched him, hands in his pockets and cocking his head from time to time.
Charles was looking in the Mirror, watching him absently.
To him, it was still unusual seeing Henry like this. The times they’d met before, they were always in action, moving. On a mission with constant threat to both of their lives. They’d Rarely even had time to take a break.
But now, everything was still. The noise, the light, even the man behind him that was normally the most restless of all.
He noticed then, that Henry had lifted his head and was looking into his eyes. Charles blinked, but didn’t move. They just watched each other for a few seconds, before Henry finally chuckled and turned his head away again.
As Charles had put his toothbrush back into the bag and they finally left the bathroom, the automatic light flickered behind them, this time turning the room back to a darkness that stung the eye the same way the fluroescent lamps had before.
None of them said anything as they walked back to the room and their steps on the metal floor were the only sound that rung through the dark hallway.
They didn’t need to talk to understand each other this time. Both knowing how long the day had been, in the end, they were just tired.
Charles opened the door to their room, letting Henry enter.
When he’d closed it behind them, Henry was already sitting on the bed, bouncing on it as if to test iff it was comfortable. It was not.
Charles sat beside him and began to take off his shoes which were still covered in dirt and mud. It was hard getting the laces to stop sticking to each other.
Henry had also taken off his jacket and shoes. They didn’t have any sleeping clothes with them, so for this night, they’d just keep on their jeans and t-shirts.
Finally, Charles got up, streching one final time before walking towards the door to turn the lights off.
The room immediantly turned to a rich, black darkness.
The only light shining now was the blinking lamp on Charles headphones, which were still dangling around his neck. He gently took them off and laid them on the small nightstand before finally lying down next to Henry.
There was a moment of silence, in which the darkness slowly formed illusions of flickering lights before their eyes while they laid on the bed, completely swallowed by the absence of light before Henry finally said:
„I… I really should say thank you.“
Charles turned around, surprised at this sudden acknowledgement.
„For what?“ he chuckled, quietly. He couldn’t tell what Henry was referring to. After all, they’d helped each other out quite a couple times in the last few days. Of course they had.
„I’d probably still be in there if it weren’t for you.“
And even though he knew Henry couldn’t see it through the dark on the room, Charles smiled.
„Don’t worry about it. We’re friends right? You’ve helped us out so much in the past. It’s only natural I’d return the favor.“
„Yeah… you’re probably right.“
Another moment of silence passed before Henry asked:
„Charles?“
„hm?“
„I…“ He hesistated for a moment.
„When I was on the Toppat airship. Back when we first met.
…
Somethimes I think about what would’ve happened if I just… hadn’t come back.
It would’ve been so easy… I bet they would’ve let me join with everything I did in the past… I could’ve flown off… lived the life of a Toppat. Would probably be a pretty decent one with all the money they have.“
Charles listened, silently.
Where was Henry going with all this?
„…You think that would’ve been better?“ He asked finally. Not as an accusation but a calm, genuine question.
„… I don’t know.“
Henrys body was still unmoving, but something in his voice defied that calmness.
As if he had finally spoken out a question he’d had for far too long.
„…I mean, that seems like something I’d want.
When I was in the wall, waiting for my Transfer… I didn’t know if I would ever see the outside again. And I caught myself wishing… I’d made that choice.“
Charles felt his stomach sink.
He really… thought that?
A few seconds of silence passed and Charles felt himself open his mouth to say something, anything, but before he could, he was already cut off by Henry again:
„But also then… when I’m here… with you…
… I don’t know, It feels like I did the right thing after all.“
Charles felt a sigh of relief leave his mouth he’d held in for far too long and he closed his eyes, even though the world around him didn't change by that.
„I’m sure you did.“
„Of yourse, you’re in the military.“ Henry replied, a slight chuckle in his voice. But it was more of a cover-up than an actual laugh.
„Sure…“ Charles answered.
„But that’s not the only reason.
…I mean if you’d joined the Toppats, you and me probably would’ve never even had the chance to talk properly.
I’d miss that.“
„…“
„Even if you knew the reason we didn’t?“
„I mean you’d be Toppat but you’d also still be Henry, right?“
„…“
„I’d miss Henry.“
Charles began to laugh quietly and before he knew it, Henry joined him until they were both laughing like two little boys, filling the quiet darkness of the room.
„Oh man, now I have to thank you again.“ Henry chuckled.
„Do that tomorrow. We’re both probably just tired.“
But before Charles could pull the thin blanket over them both, he suddenly felt Henry’s arms wrapping around him. And he didn't hesitate to return the hug.
They stayed like this for a moment, just enjoying the warmth of the others body defying the cold of the room.
As Henry finally pulled back his arms, Charles still couldn’t see his face. But he knew he was smiling. And he smiled back.
Henrys hand was still on Charles shoulder, its holder already half asleep but Charles didn't mind.
After all the things they’d talked about before, it felt somehow… reassuring.
He didn’t know what would’ve happened if Henry had joined the Toppats. If they would be enemies or… wouldn’t even have met at all.
But his arm and warm breath, slowly becoming calm and even, reminded him that, despite everything, this wasn’t how things had gone.
That right now, right here he had made a decision that wasn’t surely but certainly felt like the right one.
And so, letting himself be embraced by the comfort of the bed and Henry lying next to him, Charles also slowly closed his eyes as sleep began to fog his thoughts, until they fully faded into the cold, that had now become warmth, of the night.
And yet we’re here.