A GOLDEN SOUL - Chapter 9 - Past Choices
Henry meets his oldest brother and Gordon heads to the mainland.
The LNER calls upon Scotsman's opinion after their newest designer is dead set upon using Great Northern for his plans.
ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN | Fanfiction.net
"My word, you must be Henry correct?"
Henry was startled as an unfamiliar voice called out to him. The sound of a large engine slowly to a stop next to him echoed across the fields around them, its bark loud and rhythmic.
Henry had begun to recognise it as the sound of his siblings. Their engines sounded powerful and loud as if they had a bark to them. The sound of a true workhorse as Hillsy said.
"Yes I'm Henry," Henry said with a nervous smile as the black engine stopped beside him. The engine gave a hearty laugh.
"My what a strong engine you look," he said looking Henry up and down. He had a slight Scottish accent, Henry noted. "Your railway has kept you in fine condition."
"Thank you!" Henry blushed. "Who are you?"
"How rude of me I haven't introduced myself," the engine gave a throaty chuckle and grinned a friendly grin at him. "I am 5025, I'm somewhat of the leader of our class."
"Oh um hello, I wasn't expecting to see you, um," Henry immediately became flustered at the presence of the engine that his sister had told him he needed approval from.
5025 just laughed. "It's fine, completely fine! No need to be so nervous Henry! I'm not that important."
Henry just blushed, feeling incredibly self-conscious.
"I hear that Hillsy is making a nuisance of herself again," 5025 said and Henry looked at him nervously.
"She uh, she's been um, not very nice to my closest friend," Henry said looking down at his buffers. "My friend hasn't said anything though, I don't think he wants to upset me."
"Gordon, correct?" 5025 asked and Henry was surprised.
"I, yes, she's been passive-aggressive towards Gordon," Henry admitted. "Do you know him?"
"Met him briefly while he was covering for his brother on the mainland," 5025 said thoughtfully. "A nice engine, hard worker. Kept to himself and didn't involve himself with the drama we tend to have on the mainland."
Henry smiled. "That's him."
"I'll have Hillsy removed and replaced with another of our siblings," 5025 said matter of factly.
"What?" Henry was shocked. "I don't mean to cause trouble."
"It's no trouble at all Henry," 5025 reassured the green engine. "Hillsy has a history of inciting drama between engines of other railways. She promised me that she would behave herself but she has not. I do not wish any of our class to harass other engines, especially friends of our new sibling."
Henry was surprised. He hadn't been expecting 5025 to be so understanding or so accommodating.
"Thank you 5025,” Henry said with a coy smile. "It's been hard, I've been conflicted over this for days. I didn't want to upset either party but I fear I may have upset Hillsy by telling her to leave Gordon alone."
"You're loyal Henry," 5025 said approvingly. "A good quality in an engine. I do hope that Gordon does not hold it against us."