How to be a (functioning) human being.

Mission Complete

Henry never thought he would live to 30, he thought he would just die from an external source since everyone hated him.

the first time hed ever saw someone he could easily love, he had to betray them. he hated the government so much because they're the reason he was unhealthy, nearly homeless, and had PTSD from his home life.

 it was the government's fault, so he couldn't simply join them. But it seemed like the best option when he thought of it again on the same airship he had met the pilot, the general had called him Charlie. 

 But that was too long ago, he couldn't stop time and go back. That was his last thought as he crashed into the rocket, bringing down the airship.

----

 The first thing he remembered was Reginald (holy fuck, Reginald was like a father to him and then betrayed him. Henry had realised later.)

 He walked away from the man, the bullet through the charging port in the front making it nearly impossible since it hurt so badly. He went limp against a rock, hoping for someone to help, even Burt (though he did have a personal grudge for the man calling him a slut on valentines day when he was 17.)

 But instead, it was a curious pilot who had just landed. "Sir, I found someone near the crash site." He listened carefully with the last energy hed probably ever have. "Uhm, yeah I'm going to look further into it, I know, if they have any life-threatening wounds, first aid." The man pulled out said kit, walking towards the dying cyborg.

 He gathered all his courage and energy to speak, he couldn't sign since his arms were damaged and his flesh one was broken (most likely beyond repair). 'C.. Charlie..?' he mumbled in the voice he hated, it was always too soft for the world's most infamous criminal. Charlie (or was it Charles he introduced himself as?) realised it was him, running over "sir, I found henry.... yeah, Henry Stickmin. ill bring him to base. jeez, you look terrible." he mumbled, picking up henry.

Henry didn't like being picked up normally, it made him feel weak and he was more prone to attacks. But with Charles, even in his state, he felt safe, even a bit secure in the pilot's arms. He quietly thought about it as he was brought into the others helicopter, only then did the man realize something. "Shit- General, he has a bullet hole through his chest, no, no blood, but he doesn't have a real chest anymore- yes, sir, the base would too far away for me to fly with my helicopter. Okay, thank you." Henry let him talk, it sounded like when they first met, only more panicked. "Were going to get medics to help you, okay? and there'll be an engineer for the mechanic parts, you'll be okay." 

Henry mentally disagreed as he fell asleep, a beep running through his head to tell him how little battery he had left.

----

That was until he woke up, the repaired wire (that still looked terrible.) in the charging port which resided, he swore it was broken.. oh! and his belongings that were actually in his pockets instead of whatever dimension they came from was on the table. He had also noticed a pale white cast on his arm.

"Yes... Okay... Oh! Henry's awake!" He saw Charlie and the general outside, beside each other and discussing the thief. Henry didn't care, everyone whispered about him and how he was this and that and why was he so quiet? But unlike their frowns and disappointed gazes, he was greeted with a smile and a curt nod. Charlie (who gave him a smile he nearly wanted to steal and keep forever) came over, sitting beside him. "See? I told you so! You were knocked out for a bit... But you're okay!"

Henry nodded, he still felt the bullet holes and the weight of what he did, but he knew the pilot was right. "the generals considering giving you a pardon for bringing down the Toppats, as long as you give us a reason why you joined. Something about making sure you're not an evil physco or something."

Oh, right. He remembered why again, he had thought about it on the airship. He simply sighed, thinking. His left hand was replaced and he wasn't used to it enough to write, so he couldn't do that. While his right arm was in a cast and could be broken beyond repair, so he might have no choice but go back to jail. (Or The Wall, if they really had hated them.) He let out a muted sigh at his thoughts.

"Henry, are you okay? You seem upset." The pilot asked, concerned at the other's expression. Henry decided to leave him in the dark, leaving him with a thumbs up to signal, yes, he's well enough. (well, as good as you could be when you can't write at that moment and had just died for a few days? weeks?) That seemed to make the pilot happy, getting up "well! when your ready, we can work on the reasoning together, yeah?" He couldnt help but nod at the others tone, smiling softly.

He decided that Charlie was the only reason he'd ever join the damned military, because the pilot made him happy, and he wasnt one to consider others. Maybe now he'd consider someone, as long as it was the pilot.