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]

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.

[tadeadshi]

[He's so much easier to squeeze, almost as thin as Hiro. Easier to tell when his whole frame shudders fighting back a sob at the words - words he didn't think he'd ever hear, doesn't think he deserves - and buries his face in his brother's shoulder. He whispers a few more apologies into the fabric, knows this isn't the person Hiro would've wanted him to be when he got back but he can't change himself back.]

Sorry. I'm s-sorry.

[microbrobotics]

[ He nods, gently, against Tadashi's shoulder. Keeps his own breathing as steady as he can manage. He has to be steady for the sake of his brother, dammit. It's his turn now. ]

I want you to feel better, Tadashi. It's okay.

[ "Feel" and not "get." He knows that his brother making a full, true recovery might be a longshot at this point. ]

[tadeadshi]

[It's not okay. It's so far from okay and he's lost and doesn't have a map anymore without Callaghan here and he can barely stand being touched and --

His throat feels thick when he swallows down his tears.]

What- What can I do to help you?

[microbrobotics]

[ Nothing, he wants to say, but he senses that will have the opposite effect. ]

... Talk to me more? Tell me everything you can. If you want, I mean. You don't have to.

[ He remembers too late not to phrase it as a command. Hopefully that softens it enough. ]

[tadeadshi]

[His breath hitches at that - tell him everything? He closes his eyes, slowly clutches at the back of his brother's hoodie, tries to think. Everything about... what? The voice that comes out is tired, fragile.]

What do you want to know about?

[Ask: and ye shall receive.]

[microbrobotics]

[ He thinks for a moment. This is something he'll have to ease his brother through in stages, probably; he's too tired to think through it properly now, though. ]

What you went through. What happened. ... But not tonight.