Absolute and utter Henry Stickmin Randomness

The Mistletoe Incident - Part 3

"You know, I haven't seen you fall and even I think that's a bad place to sit!"

"... I was on top of the railing back then..." Terrence just mumbled it while sitting on the edge of the extended platform on the outside of the airship. His arms resting on the lower bar of the railing and feet dangling over the dense cloud cover beneath the ship. The rotors were probably too loud for Randy to hear him. It didn't really matter though. It didn't take away from the fact that it was a December night above the clouds and freezing cold. Terrence was just sitting there, staring at the dark sky and listening to the noise of the airship. And now also to Randy's footsteps coming closer.

It didn't take the other man long to reach him and, before sitting down on his left, draping a blanket around Terrence's shoulders. Randy himself had grabbed a coat before coming outside, Terrence hadn't wasted any time on that.

"... What are you doing...?"

"Wright already told Sven that I'll take care of you." Randy chuckled. "And I don't want to be reprimanded for letting you freeze your butt off. Or give him any more work in that regard."

"That's not... Nevermind..." Terrence sighed and pulled the blanket tighter around him.

"Did you mean to ask why I am here?" Randy leaned forward a bit to get a better look at his friend's face. "I didn't really feel like listening to Reginald and Carol bicker with each other and I think Wright is more qualified to handle the two."

"That doesn't mean that you need to take care of me. Nobody should need to take care of me." Terrence groaned and started to rub his temples. "There shouldn't be a reason for them to argue. Just once... I just wanted one evening to..." His hands sunk down onto his lap and he sighed again, defeated. "I guess that's the problem... I was the only one who wanted us to just... be together. I told Reg and Carry that it was their fault... but I was the one who wanted them both to be there..."

Randy couldn't really dispute that. As far as he knew, Reginald and Carol weren't seeking each other out to argue in their normal daily routine. He still smiled understandingly. "They're still your wife and your best friend. Nobody can fault you to want to spend time with both of them."

Still looking defeated Terrence just stared at him for a few moments. "... You hate her just as much as everyone else around me."

Randy's smile faded a bit. Yes, he didn't like Carol very much, never had appreciated her attitude and overall character and how she treated Terrence in particular. But Terrence had always loved and adored her and, just like Reginald, Randy had kept his disapproval unspoken. It had been none of his business and he wasn't nearly as close with Terrence and Carol as Reginald and Right Hand Man were. He wouldn't accuse Carol of not loving her husband, only of not loving and treating him how he deserved it.

And despite everything that had happened, Terrence didn't hate her. At least not completely. In return Carol was showing him her nastier and petty side. Clearly spelling it out for Terrence when she was upset with him. To Randy it seemed like Terrence had never seen her like this, while Reginald was very much used to this behavior.

"I don't hate her-" "You're a bad liar." "Ah." Randy raised his finger. "Let me talk." He waited a moment and when Terrence stayed quiet he continued in an almost uncharacteristically serious tone. "I don't hate her like Reginald does. I hate how she talks and treats you. You never showed her anything but love and devotion. You always did what she wanted. You never said anything against her, no matter how much she disregarded your feelings. And that is what pisses me off about her."

"... You could've just said 'yes' and called me an idiot. Would've been shorter..." Terrence turned away and looked at the black sky again.

"Don't put words into my mouth. I don't think you're an idiot."