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

tadeadshi posting in

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

pushtheboundaries

You didn't know, and I did nothing to change that.

[if Hiro lets things out here, he figures, then he'll be able to make it home without breaking, and his support net there can pick up the rest of the pieces without necessarily having reason to suspect it was anything but a very stressful night. maybe a nightmare, even.

Hiro's words have him hesitate. they didn't- per se, not in the way he thinks Hiro's suggesting. but...]

...that's not what I meant. I can take it. But people like that...they find the ones who can't.

From:

microbrobotics

[ Like his brother. The whole reason why they're here tonight. The thought of them doing that to someone else, as well ... Is that comforting? He's not sure. He just feels sick and wrong and broken inside. There's not much room for anything else. ]

Now they can't hurt anyone else.

From:

pushtheboundaries

Except you.

[by cutting off what pain they would have caused, Hiro's instead taking that pain in to himself. a different kind of pain, but it's there.

it's not fair. if anyone,Callaghan should be bearing that burden, and Hiro could at least blame him in part. now...

now he just looks at Hiro, regarding him steadily.]

From:

microbrobotics

[ Like an arrow with the shaft broken off, the head left to fester deep inside of him. He doesn't know how he can bear it - he doesn't know how anyone could. ]

How? How do you live with yourself?

From:

pushtheboundaries

...because my only other option is to not.

[the admission is quiet, and not something he's even shared with Tadashi. it's not fully admitting it, either, at least not saying it aloud, but by the way he pulls his hand back, the way he wipes at his face...

that's something, all right. he lowers his hand and lets it fall in to his lap, considering leaving things like that.

instead, he speaks again.]

...when I had my chance to convince Yama I was willing to work for him, I had to work with some of those men. And...others. I had to make myself at least civil with them, because Yama only allowed so much infighting. So I found ways to make myself numb, telling myself over and over it was so I could set things up so that Tadashi and I could escape from that place.

I made myself numb to a lot of things. [he blinks down at his hands, palm-up in his lap, and then closes them slowly] I told myself I had to, that it'd all be worth it in the end if I just...if I just did them right and didn't mess up.

[like tonight. he squeezes his hands, then relaxes them, letting out a shaking breath]

...Back in there, you asked what Abigail would think. I think...if she knew what I'd allowed to happen, and what I'd done, she'd probably think I was as bad as any of them. And...I think she'd be right.

From:

microbrobotics

[ He falls silent through all of that. The only other option is to not. He's had the same thought, come to the same conclusion; he can't go through with the alternative, so he has to figure out something else. Something that includes him continuing onwards. And the rest ... god. His shoulders hitch in revulsion, involuntarily; as horrible as all of that was, at least he hadn't worked with those bastards. That thought makes him want to be sick again.

They're all dead now, anyway. It doesn't matter any more. They're done ... He exhales hard and wipes at his face with the heel of one hand. ]

She would be. About both of us. [ Dull, toneless. ] ... We're never telling either of them about this.

From:

pushtheboundaries

[to that? that Callaghan can only offer a sharp, humorless laugh, reaching for Hiro's shoulder]

She might be a bit disappointed, but- you're not numb, Hiro, and I hope you never become that way. I don't know how I can undo this, because until I do, I couldn't bear to look at her.

I hate to say it, but as long as you hate it...you're no monster. It's when it becomes easy that you need to look at yourself.

[he squeezes that shoulder, then starts to get up]

I'll get you some water.

From:

microbrobotics

[ Like hell Hiro believes that. Certainly not while the wound is still fresh and the blood hasn't even dried on his armor yet. But maybe he'll get there someday. ]

Water, sure. Water sounds good.

[ Mostly because he doesn't know what to say to the rest. ]

... I need to get home soon. The sun's almost up.

[ And it's going to take way too long to get back on foot - it'll be well into morning by the time he gets back. ]

From:

pushtheboundaries

[maybe.

but ironically, that just will lead Callaghan to be even further convinced. he returns with the water soon enough, handing it over to Hiro] I'll finish getting this off while you drink it. Slowly. [because he knows that if Hiro downs it too quickly, he may very well be sick again.

when he returns, though, he's changed, and has the armor in another bag. he's probably going to get a shower before going to sleep- he's tired, but not about to pass out on his feet.

not like Hiro seems.]

...do yourself a favor and see Baymax, first thing.

From:

microbrobotics

[ He forces himself to take the glass in slow little sips. Even so, his stomach churns dangerously; he leans back over the basket a few times before it settles properly.

Maybe he doesn't look better, exactly, but he doesn't look worse. And the water has refreshed him a little. He'll make it home and that's all that matters at this point. With the glass finally emptied, he sets it down and reaches out for Callaghan's bag with the same hand. ]

As soon as I check on my brother. Sure.

From:

pushtheboundaries

[no progress is better than negative progress. Callaghan holds out his arm to transfer the armor, but he doesn't let go. not at first.]

Your brother needs you.

[he waits a moment for that to sink in]

Realizing he needed to not be alone kept me going, when I had my more...selfish...thoughts.

[and he leaves it at that, releasing his grip]

From:

microbrobotics

[ Hiro flinches a little at that. Like he didn't know already that Callaghan knew what he'd been considering. That was obvious already. But it still smarts a little, and he bows his head. His brother needs him. He'll cling to that, at least, and use it to force himself to go forward. ]

... I know. I won't leave him.

[ He takes the bag, gripping the handles hard. ]

From:

pushtheboundaries

Don't be like me and be selfish anyway, either. [his voice is wry and self-mocking, but he means it, damn it.] Tadashi's more perceptive than I could give him credit for, and he needs to help people.

[let him help you, is what Callaghan's trying to say here. he's not telling Hiro to tell Tadashi what went on, but there has to be some way that he can let his brother share the burden, something...

Robert sighs, then waves his hand]

You've had enough of my 'wisdom' tonight. The rest, you'll have to figure out, and I hope you have more luck than I have.

From:

microbrobotics

[ Let his brother help him? How? He can't without telling him, and telling him ... no. He can't do that without spilling everything about his superhero antics. And he's certain that doing that would just hurt his brother worse. Better to bear it alone. ]

I'll see what I can do. [ So, that's a no. ] ... Thank you, though.

[ He means it. For the advice if not ... everything else. ]

From:

pushtheboundaries

[it was worth a try.

Robert gives him a long look...then shakes his head]

You have nothing to thank me for.

But take care.

[and with those parting words, he fully intends to retreat for the night.]