NON Sam and max stories (mostly THSC)

It actually worked... (Stickvin)

(art by Puppyrelp on DeviantArt)

"R.I.P

Charles Robert Calvin

1996-2020

Brave soldier, Loyal friend to many,

Loving soulmate of H. Stickmin...

And a valiant hero.

Fly high, bold action man."

That's what the headstone said.

You'd think Henry would have memorized it by now, considering how many times he'd been here in the month since Charles...went kablooey ... but, alas no.

He didn't read it very often.

He didn't want to read it...

But, here he was again, standing in front of it, holding a small bouquet of red dahlias, eyes scanning over the engraving once again.

He kneels down, gently placing the flowers in front of the grave.

He then turns his attention to the set of headphones resting atop the gravestone.

Tears pricked his eyes as he leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to the top of them.

He could have done so much more for him.

He sadly sighs, slowly standing up.

He remained there, standing still... until-

"You know, they really could have made it fancier looking."

Henry jumps, turning around.

His eyes widened when he saw the very much alive pilot standing behind him.

"Like, they didn't even do any fancy carvings or anything, it's just a plain shaped grave." Charles said sarcastically, a sassy expression on his face.

Henry slowly stepped forward, his eyes wet with tears.

"Ch... Charles...?" he said, his voice almost a whisper.

Charles smiled, his expression softening.

"Heya, henry." he said, tearing up as well, his voice soft.

"CHARLES!" Henry yelled, running over to him and scooping him up in his arms, hugging him more tightly than he ever had before.

Charles grunts a bit as Henry collides into him, but soon hugs back just as tightly, burying his face in Henry's shoulder, laughing happily.

"Y-you're alive..." Henry said quietly, rivers of happy tears streaming down his pale face.

"Yeah... I am..." Charles replied, crying as well.

The two remained in a tight embrace, happy tears flowing from both their eyes and joyful giggles spilling out of their mouths.

When they finally pulled back, Henry looked happy, then confused.

"W-wait... h-how are you even.."

He steps back a bit, holding his head.

"T-the escape pod... you didn't make it out in time.. And the station.. E-exploded... and..."

Henry looks him in the eye. "Just... h-how....?"

Charles then looked a bit nervous.

"Well, I... might have pickpocketed something from you while we were fighting the Toppats...'' He said, reaching in his pocket.

He pulls out a small, green, remote looking device with a big red button on it.

Henry's eyes go wide, and he backs up a bit. "Is..is that..."

Charles nods. "Yeah, it's your teleporter." he laughed. "Never thought this thing would be the thing to save me from space death."

Henry was dumbfounded. "I-it actually worked...?"

Charles nodded. "Yeah... just before it exploded I entered the coordinates for earth, and, bingo!" he smiled. "I was back on the sweet ground." he then giggles. "Only the thing teleported me to the middle of the desert, so I was kinda lost."

Henry smiled. "Well, at least it didn't send you to another dimension." he says. Charles giggles. "yeah!"

He then looks down, sadly. "I'm... Sorry I took so long to get back to you, hen..."

Henry hugs him gently again. "It's okay.. I'm just glad you're alive..."

Charles hugs back, smiling.

The two stay in a silent embrace for a while, enjoying the moment.

"I can't imagine what it must have been like..." Charles whispered. "When I was... 'dead'..." he gently strokes Henry's back.

Henry says nothing, just holds him a little tighter.

After a while, the two pull back, smiling at each other.

Henry then cups Charles's face in his hand, making him blush.

"I know I don't say this as often as I should, but..."

He leaned in closer, so their noses were barely touching.

"I love you, Charles."

Charles smiles widely, taking Henry's free hand in his own.

"I love you too, hen."

Their lips finally met, Henry moving his hands to hold Charles's shoulders and Charles moving his to hold Henry's waist.

The two kissed gently for a few minutes, before pulling back, dreamy looks in their eyes.

"Oh!" Henry then lets go of him and turns around, picking up the flowers off the grave. He turns back around, offering them to Charles. "T-these are for you..." he says, blushing.

Charles blushes too, taking them. "O-oh, thank you..."

Henry smiles. "I'm glad I can... actually give them to you..." he says, almost tearing up again.

Charles smiles, smelling the flowers. "Well they're lovely." he says sweetly.

Henry smiles. "Glad you like them."

He then holds out his hand. "Let's... go home."

Charles smiles and nods, taking it.

And so, the two stickmen walk off together, hand in hand, away from the now meaningless grave.