"Choose me, Henry."

Chapter 24: Going Into The Lion's Den Part 2

Everyone in the Government is going to stop the Toppat clan once and for all, however, things might be harder for them than they thought.

The next few days were tense for everyone, everyone was getting nervous each day leading up to the mission. 

Rupert, Henry, and Charles weren't talking to each other, well, not willing. The only time they all have to talk is when Dave forces everyone to get along, they all do it for Dave's sake. If there was ever a fight, Dave would immediately give out his death glare and everyone would feel guilty. 

On the day before the mission, Henry was in his tent, thinking. 

Henry was thinking about his last confrontation with Sven, the last encounter was hostile and tense. He knew Sven hated him and never wanted him to be Toppat leader. And Sven didn't even bother hiding his hatred for him. Sven would try to dissuade everyone that Henry is a bad leader or he's incompetent or going to fail the Toppat clan but nothing worked. Henry was still Toppat leader until somehow he got captured by the Wall and the Toppat clan made a plan to break him out. He almost made it back to the Toppat clan, however, he was betrayed by Reginald because Reginald wanted to be Toppat king again.

Henry paced around his tent as he thought about his time with the Toppat clan, the good and bad memories. He choked out a sob as he thought about the friends and family he made, but it was quickly replaced by a bitter feeling that simultaneously made him angry and sad. He stopped pacing as he went to look in the mirror and saw tears streaming down his face. His eyes were red and puffy as well. He wanted to cry some more but saw Rupert entering the tent in the mirror with a huge smile.

Henry quickly wiped his tears as he smiled, he turned around to find Rupert with his hands behind his back. "Oi, Henry, " Rupert said as he kept smiling, "I have something for you-"

Rupert's smile disappeared as he paused, he saw Henry's red and puffy eyes. He frowned as a dark feeling came over him, who made Henry cry again?!

"Oi, who made you cry?" Rupert said angrily, "Was it, Charles?"

Henry shook his head, "No, just... feeling emotional." he replied, his voice cracking a little, "I'm fine."

Rupert didn't look convinced but he dropped it, he was going to ask him again later. "Oi, I got something for you to cheer you up," he said softly. 

Henry blinked for a moment, "You do?" he responded in a surprised tone.

Rupert nodded as he asked Henry to close his eyes, Henry did as he was told. Rupert got out a medium-sized box and opened it, he took out something from the box and put it around Henry's neck. Henry felt Rupert put something around his neck and he was curious about what Rupert just put around his neck. 

Rupert stepped back from Henry, "Okay, you can open your eyes now." he said softly. 

Henry opened his eyes as he looked in the mirror, he gasped in shock as he saw he was wearing a black choker with what looked like a shrunken Tunisian diamond in the center of the choker. He glanced over at Rupert who was blushing furiously, Rupert rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. 

"Do you like it?" Rupert asked softly.

Henry stared at Rupert for a moment then he felt tears streaming down his face, Rupert saw this and started to freak out. He quickly went up to him, he wiped his tears. "Do you not like it?" Rupert asked anxiously. 

"N-no, I love it..." Henry replied as he kept sobbing, "It's just... no one has ever given me a gift that was amazing." 

Henry's face was red as Rupert wiped his tears, Henry ceased his sobbing as he felt Rupert wrap his arms around Henry.  "You do?" Rupert said gingerly as he rubbed Henry's back gently.

"Mmhm," Henry replied as he hugged Rupert.  He was basking in the warmth Rupert was giving from his body heat, he closed his eyes as he sighed in contentment. He opened his eyes as he looked down at his choker, the diamond was glistening. Henry blinked as a thought came to him, he let go of Rupert to stare up at him. 

"Is this the Tunisian diamond?" he asked in a curious tone.

"Yes," Rupert replied truthfully. 

"Really? How did you manage to get it and why is it small?"

"Oh, the General called in a favor and he didn't tell me how he made it small, he just gave it to me like that."

Henry nodded in understanding, "Then did you make this choker?" 

Rupert nodded as his face was redder, Henry chuckled at him. Rupert turned away from him, and Henry began teasing him. Despite that they are a couple now, they still tease each other. Rupert quickly told him to stop but Henry kept teasing him till Rupert's head looked like a tomato. Rupert let go of him and sat down on the bed. Rupert crossed his arms as he pouted, Henry smiled as he sat next to him. Henry hugged Rupert but he was still pouting, Henry kissed him on the cheek which made him smile a little.

Then Rupert got an idea, a cheeky idea.

Rupert's smile turned into a smirk, Henry saw this and was about to say something but stopped when he felt Rupert's arm wrap around his waist and pull him close to him. Then Rupert gently pushed Henry on his back and started to kiss him. Henry protested but he melted under Rupert's kiss,  Henry threaded his fingers into Rupert's hair as Rupert nipped Henry's lips to get him to open his mouth. 

They continued to kiss as the kissing became a makeout session, they were enjoying the makeout session. 

The next day, before everyone took off to stop the Toppat Clan, the General briefed everyone on the mission.

Galeforce told everyone to be careful and not to let one Toppat escape. He then assigned teams, and Rupert and Henry paired up again which made them very happy. Charles and Dave were paired up and they were also happy. The others were also paired up, and the General gave them their assignments. 

Everyone boarded the helicopters and headed off. 

A couple of hours later,  they found the location where the rest of the Toppats were at. The General told them to be careful again and told them to go them. Charles and Dave stayed behind while Rupert and Henry went inside the building the toppats were in. The building was huge with a dozen windows, Rupert and Henry went inside the building to find it was a deserted office building. 

Rupert searched around to find any toppats but didn't, then he felt someone grab his hand. He was about to punch them when he saw Henry holding his hand, his face became cherry red when he realized he was going to punch Henry. Henry seems not to notice. He pulled Rupert close to him, and Rupert's face was still cherry red. Sometimes, Rupert couldn't believe he was with Henry.

Henry opened Rupert's hand so his palm was visible, Henry then used Morse code to give Rupert instructions. They will split up and find the Toppats and Sven. Rupert didn't like the idea of being split up but they may cover more ground by splitting up, Rupert nodded as Henry finished explaining the plan. Henry hugged him before he left in one direction, Rupert felt warm as he stood up and went in the other direction.

Rupert searches through nook and cranny but finds no Toppat. He stumbled upon an area where it was dark, there was a light or two shining in the area but it was still dark. He brought his rifle and slowly walked into the area. As he was walking, he felt uneasy. He used a flashlight on the rifle to look through the darkness, he stopped when he heard something from behind him. He quickly turned around and gasped when he was greeted by a pike near his neck.

He checked to see who was holding the pike, and he saw a female Toppat holding the pike. She was giving him an evil smirk, and Rupert gave her a death glare in return.

"You must be the ex-boss's new boy toy."

A/N: Sorry if this update took so long but this week is my finals week and then I'm off for the winter break.