man your battle stations, we'll have you dead pretty soon

[tadeadshi]

[Panic had run straight through his core when he knew someone had found their safe house. It'd been the best one yet, they had managed to stay there for months now, but it really was too good to last. They still had so much to find and clean up, he wasn't ready. He grabs his bag, the one he kept packed for if they had to run fast, and made for the door but stopped just outside.

It was them. It was the Six, they'd found him and Callaghan. He's not sure how, Callaghan's mods to his collar had jammed their trackers so... It must be something else they used. But if they're here then they could help. They could take over this mess, and he could go home.

Maybe.

Tadashi's throat's gone dry with the dirt and dust kicked up from their landing and scuffle with Callaghan off to the side and he stands watching, swallowing the lump in his throat. Callaghan, that's right, he-- He'd done so much to get them out, he couldn't let the guy just be taken back to prison, he'd be killed from the inside --

He makes a run towards the group, waving and trying to call out but any sound he makes drowned by the shouting.]

Comments

[tadeadshi]

Really?

[He sounds hopeful at that. His brother making prosthetic limbs? Sign him up for that newsletter.]

Tell me about them? They've got to be amazing if you're making them.

[microbrobotics]

[ A bit of that good ol' lopsided grin. Hiro still loves to show off, okay. And he hasn't even gotten to do it in front of his brother yet. ]

Well, duh. I'm making them so that they interface directly with a neuro-cranial transmitter. And I did some extensive sensor work, so the prototypes I have almost feel the same as real limbs. Almost makes me wish I were missing something.

[ It had been close, with that arm. He'd sure considered the possibility for a while there... ]

[tadeadshi]

Hiro, that's--

[His mind flashes to the things he'd had to design and make, the kind of hurt they likely caused. And then to his little brother working on things that could repair the damage.]

That's amazing.

[microbrobotics]

[ What an uncanny coincidence, huh? He ducks his head, flushing just a bit. Brother approval. ]

I had to live up to you, bro.

[tadeadshi]

I--

[Ow.

Ow.

That hurts him, right in the heart. After the things he's done, had to do, the levels he's stooped to... There wasn't much to live 'up' to, only ways to go down for him. He never wanted Hiro anywhere near following those footsteps.

His jaw tightens and he goes to wipe his eye, still got some sleep crusties in the corner obviously, he's not about to break down on his brother. Maybe when he leaves. But not at this moment, he'll fight it off.]

Doing great at it. Passed me somewhere I think.

[microbrobotics]

[ He'd meant it as a compliment, of course; he doesn't expect the near tears in his brother's eyes. But - maybe he should have expected it? Tadashi had been forced to make weapons, something he can't picture his brother wanting to do ever. Damn it. He definitely said the wrong thing, then. ]

No way. You built Baymax. And - and I found your messages too.

[tadeadshi]

My messages?

[He didn't leave any messages did he? He can't remember, it feels like a lifetime ago.]

Which ones?

[microbrobotics]

Your recordings? The ones you made while you were making him?

[tadeadshi]

Oh.

[Oh, wow.]

How'd you even find those, they were half-buried in Baymax's memory discs.

[microbrobotics]

... He pulled them up. I was having a hard time after you were gone, so...

[tadeadshi]

[Tadashi watches his brother, knowing exactly how that likely felt. He remembers the pain from their parents, and then Hiro had to go through it for nothing.

He... Good he wants to hug his brother, but that means contact and he freezes st the thought.

But he has to do this, this one simple thing. Shaking, he moved to carefully out a hand on Hiro's shoulder.]

Hiro,I.. I'm sorry.

[okay. Okay he moved in, motions deliberate and calculated and hugs his brother.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Ah. Hiro forces himself to relax slowly, to keep from just leaning against his brother and squeezing until he pops. He makes himself settle for gently, gently putting a hand on his brother's back. ]

It's not your fault. They're the ones who...

[ He's going to burn them to the ground. Everyone who ever hurt his brother. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Perfect. Nailed it. This is the best kind of contact he can do right now, this is what he can handle until he gets settled again.

Oh. Wait. Crap.]

Does everyone else know yet?

[microbrobotics]

[ Of course they do. But Hiro shakes his head. ]

I was gonna send them a message once you're ready. Figured me and Aunt Cass and Baymax would be enough for now.

[tadeadshi]

[The tension bleeds out of him at that and he nods, giving him the gentlest squeeze.]

Thanks. Grew up a lot while I was gone.

Finally reach the top shelf, huh.

[microbrobotics]

[ It helps that they've already seen him and know how bad the damage is. All of them know to keep their space for now, and Hiro has first dibs. He snorts a bit, almost a laugh. ]

It's not all it's cracked up to be. Aunt Cass makes me grab more stuff now.

[tadeadshi]

Told you so.

[And - yep that's about all he can handle of physical contact. He thumbs a little circle against Hiro's back before pulling away, his own kind of signal that he's done for now. He moves back to lean against the wall, almost cornering himself there so he can see everywhere clearly.]

Should've built her a - remote grabber or something.

[microbrobotics]

[ Ah. He feels that and leans back. ]

I tried, but she said Baymax was the only bot she wanted.

[tadeadshi]

Makes sense. Baymax is... [Somewhere around? He could stand to see Baymax, he sees the charger port against the wall between their spaces.] Pretty great. Great for, uh. People who Don't really like too much tech.

[microbrobotics]

Right. Soft and huggable.

[ Speaking of which, there's soft, squishy footfalls on the stairs. Here he comes now. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Look. Hiro, you're great, you're the light of your brother's life but a little much for him right now. Soft squishy footsteps are probably the best thing he could've asked for. He looks to Hiro, then to the sort-of-doorway made by his screen before carefully - painfully - easing himself off his bed and around the corner.

But there he is, his (so far) life's work. Enough to bring a tear to his eye, he smiles a little.]

Hey, big guy.

[He sets about analyzing his bot, checking him over for changes, malfunctions, potential repairs, but finds nothing. Still as good as new like he left without opening him up and looking inside or checking his data. But he's relieved. Relieved and glad, something he made, something intended to help and heal, something not life threatening is right here in front of him, like it knew he needed to be reminded he could do things like this.]

It's... really good to see him.

[microbrobotics]

[ You love your dumb robot more than me!! ... No, he gets it. And maybe now is a good time to check on Callaghan anyway. It's not like Baymax can't just route Tadashi's vitals to his phone. ]

Did you think you wouldn't? Jeez, come on. We're buddies now. Part of the family.

[ Although technically, this Baymax isn't "something he made" at all. Hiro rebuilt him, after all, and there are very small details differentiating Hiro's work from Tadashi's. A slightly less steady hand on some of the soldering. Similar actuators, machined in-house, but not identical. Supercapacitors instead of lithium ion. And ... a couple tiny, strange sockets on the very back of his head, just near the neck. But otherwise, very similar. ]

[tadeadshi]

[He'll probably find all of that when he's not feeling like he's going to fall right back asleep. Tadashi nods, still smiling and so glad Hiro finally came around to his walking marshmallow of a robot.

He finally reaches up to give the thing a hug, not caring how absolutely silly it looks to be hugging a seven foot tall Mr. Stay Puft. Only after it lingers for a few minutes does he sag, Baymax holding him up to adjust so Tadashi can sleep comfortably against him, already feeding new readings to Hiro's phone.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Well that stings a little bit, seeing his brother hug the robot when he clearly has issues with him but ... With his brother finally resting, that doesn't really matter. This is the most improtant part. ]

Just keep the feed on, buddy.

[tadeadshi]

[While Hiro's gone, he sleeps. Sleeps right through most of the morning. Sleeps through Aunt Cass coming up to see if he wanted lunch, only for Baymax to put a finger to his face shell and give a rather loud Shhh. Tadashi is sleeping. That almost got him to wake up, just a quiet repositioning while his aunt looked him over.

He only starts to wake up around mid-afternoon, not sure where he is for a minute before he remembers. He almost feels like a stranger in his own room, looking at and touching everything to get reacquainted with his things without Hiro around to loom over him. Baymax even offers names and some insight for new things Hiro's built. Tadashi finally finds himself sitting in his brother's chair (better to see the entire room at once) and takes a deep breath, leans to rest his elbows on his knees and rubs hands over his face.

He really is home. Not just a fever dream or anything else. He looks to Baymax, still watching Tadashi and feeding vitals to Hiro whether Tadashi knows it or not.]