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

[microbrobotics]

It's fine, Tadashi. They'll understand. You're my brother, dummy.

[tadeadshi]

[He leans back against Baymax, glad to have his own personal body pillow support and watches Hiro. I'm not your good brother though. All in all, Tadashi just looks... tired. Tired and worn and lost. He thought talking with One would help clear his head, but the longer he talks to Hiro, the more he regresses back into himself.]

I'll-- I'll do something to make up for it. For them.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro can see that too; it's obvious, even to someone as socially awkward as he is. The conversation he had as One was so much smoother, so much more natural ... If only there were a way to stay that way forever. Maybe if he makes a point of talking to his brother more often, and minimizing his contact as Hiro ... Maybe his brother can heal.

He swallows, slowly. ]

Sure. I know you will.

[tadeadshi]

[He can sense something. Something that just changed in the conversation and he can't put a finger on it; he's too removed from his element for too long to instinctively know what to do or say to fix things. But he sits forward, leaning to his brother almost worried.]

I'll make this up to you too. I promise.

[microbrobotics]

[ Slowly, hesitantly, he leans back. Just a little bit. ]

You don't have to. Being here is all I want.

[tadeadshi]

Hiro, I...

[His eyes cloud for a brief moment before he sits back again, nods quietly. Don't have to, so don't do it. Understood, then. He sits patiently as though waiting another order before he remembers where he is, who he's with.

... What were they talking about? It got away from him.]

I uh. I did talk to Aunt Cass a little while you were gone.

[microbrobotics]

[ Even with Callaghan's warning, it hurts to see his brother so cowed even by the most mild of implied commands. Stupid. Don't make suggestions like that unless you mean it.

He nods, bowing his head a bit. ]

Yeah? She's happy to see you, isn't she?

[tadeadshi]

She is. Talked about a mile a minute.

[Even he smiles a little at that - Aunt Cass still needs him to be his old self too, but at least the conversation with her is a bit more one-sided. As long as he nods and looks like he's paying attention, he can get through that easy enough. He listens to the faint chatter two floors down, the chime of the door flittering up occasionally.]

... Things're really going well aren't they.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro can't hide his genuine smile at that. ]

Yeah. Word of Baymax got around - we get a lot of people wanting to see him. But he has better things to do, so ... I built some smaller versions to entertain people.

[ Hence the "Baymediums" and "Bayminis" meandering around down there. ]

[tadeadshi]

Better like look after you huh?

[He smiles a bit more. It's what he initially built Baymax for. To look after his little brother. And if it went well, he was going to do a slight reprogrammed version for mass production if he could find a buyer...

But it's probably not possible to do now. Not unless he did the work and sold it through Hiro's name. If facts got about about the things he's done, he could never sell anything with his name on it.

Something to consider a different day.]

Smaller versions? ... Can I see?

[microbrobotics]

Right, exactly.

[ And also help with superheroing work. He can't risk having someone off the street recognize Baymax in his non-armored form, so ... Smaller robots were safer. And plus it was just nice to not have to leave Baymax in the cafe when he needs him in the lab or elsewhere.

That question gets a legitimate grin. He whistles and says a codeword - and a couple of bitty prototypes about a foot tall come waddling out from under his desk. Silicone instead of vinyl, but equally squishy. ]

They're still a work in progress, but ...

[tadeadshi]

[He watches them come out, eyes wide with awe. His design, miniaturized and adorable. Of course Hiro would think up something like this? It makes sense. And it gets a real (if small) smile from him.]

They're amazing.

[microbrobotics]

[ They waddle over and immediately hug Tadashi's legs. Adorably. ]

Based off your design, bro.

[tadeadshi]

Maybe, but I definitely didn't program him to hug this cute.

[They're really adorable and he's not... sure what he should do except to let them keep hugging. Carefully, he pats one on the head.]

What gave you the idea?

[microbrobotics]

[ They seem quite satisfied with that. They're only programmed to cuddle, so ...

Hiro pauses. Obviously he can't tell Tadashi the real reason - so that Baymax can go out superheroing - buuuut he can get close. ]

Couple things? I couldn't have Baymax at the cafe at the time, but he was reeeally popular. So, I made some to just focus on the "companion" side and not the "healthcare" side. Worked out pretty well.

[tadeadshi]

Yeah, I'll say.

[Gosh they're cute and good at hugging? He pats the other one on the head before just kinda. Letting them keep hugging. And tries to relax a little again.]

Seriously, you-- You did great on these.

[microbrobotics]

[ Better than human contact, right? Much safer. Hiro ducks his head a little. ]

Yeah, well ... thanks.

[tadeadshi]

[Deeeeefinitely better than human contact. Even if being crowded by adorable fuzzies is getting to him a little.]

Hey, that's all you. You made these. Sure Aunt Cass appreciates it too.

[microbrobotics]

[ They only cuddle, at least, and back down after Hiro shoos them. ]

I think she does. She seems to like 'em, anyway.

... But you look like you still need rest, bro.

[tadeadshi]

She always likes cute things.

[Ah, but... He shakes his head. Not quite a command, just a suggestion but he's trying to be aware of when he does it. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he misses.]

Feels like that's all I've done since I was brought back here.

[microbrobotics]

You're allowed, Tadashi. It's okay to need rest. ... Just ... do what you need to do, okay? Whatever that is.

[ And Hiro himself is bone tired. Ready to pass out for a few hours before more superhero work. ]

[tadeadshi]

[He watches his brother and definitely sees the exhaustion there. Hates himself, making him worry or concerned or whatever this is now. He looks at the different companion bots before gently pushing himself up and.

Okay he can do this.

He's gonna hug his brother, he's going to initiate it himself and it'll be the best damn hug of his life.

He makes it to putting a hand on his shoulder and has to stop, hand trembling and gripping at his sleeve.

He's fine. He's fine he can do this. He has to, for his brother. It's what kept him going all this time, he can't let up now. So slowly, he pushes himself to wrap his brother in a hug.]

[microbrobotics]

[ God, that hurts. He's glad for the hug, so glad for it, but he sees that hesitation and how much effort it takes for his brother to get that far. Suddenly, he finds himself blinking back tears; his hands tremble as he reaches out slowly to return it, leaning against him. He can't say anything for fear of it coming out garbled. He can't let his brother know he's on the verge of crying here. ]

[tadeadshi]

[When Hiro embraces him back, something in him shifts and he squeezes tighter. No hesitation in him now, just the want to hug his brother and it mean something. For two years, all he wanted was to get back to his brother and hug him, and now he has it. He can't squander it, he has to take advantage of every moment.

Even if getting to every moment is a bit of a struggle.

As it is, he struggles with his own tears, fights to keep his voice steady, so instead it comes out a faint whisper against Hiro's shoulder.]

I'm sorry.

[microbrobotics]

[ He just shakes his head and squeezes a little harder. Relaxes into it, inch by inch, just glad to have his brother back. It doesn't matter what else was done. Doesn't matter how different he is, as long as they can be together again. It's not as though Hiro's hands are clean either. ]

It's okay. It's - it's really okay. I love you.