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]

[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.]

[microbrobotics]

[ The room is simultaneously neater and messier than Tadashi remembers - neater, because so much more of Hiro's robotics work live at school or at Fred's mansion - and messier, because somehow despite having less stuff he still managed to spread it around the room like an infestation of technological mold. The only neat place on Hiro's half of the room is Hiro's bed, which has been made neatly with the sheets going all the way down to the floor. (To hide his emergency suit pieces more efficiently under there.) And ... Tadashi's room, of course. Even now, Hiro's kept it mostly the way it was before his brother "died." A few books taken here and there, a few storage boxes tucked under his desk for safekeeping.

Downstairs, a bell chimes; Aunt Cass' usual greeting warms quickly into welcoming the younger Hamada home. How was your day? Sweetie, you look so tired - let me make you something. You're growing so fast. And Hiro's murmured responses, too quiet to hear. After a moment, there's footsteps on the stairs, and then Hiro himself coming up with another tray of food. Dinner this time, the mildest of Tadashi's favorite meals on two plates. One has been heaped pretty high with food while the other is smaller, easier to get through; clearly Hiro has the larger portion.

When Hiro sees Baymax with his brother, he can't help but smile. Not like he's surprised, since the bot has been sending him data the whole time, but it's nice all the same. He looks his brother up and down before going to set the tray down on his desk. He is ... tired. Very tired. After that exhausting conversation with Callaghan and then an initial review of the mafia's security footage ... He's burned through enough anger that he's just exhausted, now. ]

Hey. How you feeling? Aunt Cass says you slept through lunch.

[tadeadshi]

[Really, it's any small miracle Baymax didn't let that secret slip when Tadashi got close to the bed. He barely heard the bell, but when he hears the steps, he doesn't move - just stiffens until he sees his brother's hair coming into view before everything else and relaxes.]

Fine. I'm-- I mean, I'm okay, just was tired I guess.

[In all honesty, he's at a loss of what he should be doing. Two years being pushed to work until he passed out for a few days, then back up to work some more; then months with Callaghan packing, moving, developing some new additions, dismantling others, tracking things down. And now here he is, home and free to do whatever he wants with his time. The sheer magnitude of that alone is overwhelming.

So he'll gladly pick at the food brought because it's something in front of him, something someone else brought for him to do so he doesn't have to make the decision himself.]

You look pretty beat. Long day?

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro has trained his bot well, okay. Though. Knowing Baymax, having it slip out is still a definite possibility. Hiro swipes his plate and goes to sit down on his bed. By now, he's tall enough that he can sit with his feet mostly flat against he ground rather than having them dangle.

His ... brother doesn't exactly look rested, does he. Overwhelmed, more like. And still responding to even Hiro's implied orders, like the offer of food, like it's a lifeline. He's not sure what to do with that. He'd yelled at Callaghan that he knows his brother than anyone, but does he? Tadashi was always the big brother growing up; Tadashi was always there supporting Hiro. And now that it's the other way around, Hiro doesn't know what to do. As long as you pay attention, it's not hard to figure out what he needs at any given time. That was what Callaghan had said.

So ... what does his brother need, exactly? ]

Yeah. I had class and then PT. Probably gonna pass out early tonight, no offense.

[ Because he has work to do with the Six - and the beginnings of an idea. Maybe it's too early to bring his brother to Cal, but ... ]

[tadeadshi]

Ah. Yeah, that'll wear you out.

[His eyes flick down to his brother's arm, them back up. Why hadn't anyone caught him when he fell? Why didn't anyone try to stop him from climbing? Why did Fred care about getting a job when he was pretty okay with being school mascot? All questions he could formulate now that he'd had some sleep, but...

His brother doesn't look up for it. So he'll file them away for when he eventually meets up with his friends. Whenever that ends up being.]

It hasn't slowed down your work too badly, has it?

[microbrobotics]

[ They'll mostly tell Tadashi the same story: Fred and Hiro had been alone, they hadn't showed up until later, to drive Hiro to the hospital ... and, well. Fred just wasn't real bright sometimes, was he?

Hiro starts in on his dinner, answering his brother between bites of food. ]

Nah - I have the transmitters, remember? Most of my lab is hooked up to it now. All I have to do is sit in the middle and think about what I want to do.

[tadeadshi]

[Said Hiro in the must mundane tone possible. Like it isn't the coolest thing in the world? No wonder they gave him the lab space. He takes the plate in his lap and swivels the chair to face him, really looking at him now, but still only picking at his food.]

That's... Jeez, even I wouldn't've thought to do that.

You really probably should rest though. You're already eating Aunt Cass out of house and home, I see.

[microbrobotics]

[ He obviously earned it anyway, but - imagine him trying to work in a shared space with his transmitter-equipped tools. Way more difficult. As tired as he is, he's brightening the more he gets to talk to each other. God, it's so good to have him home. He even smiles at Tadashi's joke. ]

Well, it made sense. It's how I got to trying them on prostheses in the first place.

... Aww, come on. You know she loves it. Plus now I can taste test all her new recipes.

[tadeadshi]

[He's still a far cry from himself, even as upbeat as he's making himself be for Hiro. He can tell his brother's worried and being the mess he is won't help things. Better to act like he's not and ... He isn't sure he can take the same role back that he had before, but he can try. His little brother isn't so little anymore and doesn't need big overprotective Tadashi hovering. Which in and of itself is a big relief: an entire role and mindset he doesn't have to try to fit back into, like a shirt he's outgrown. He can focus on just taking care of himself and being a brother.

He mulls all that over taking this bite off his fork, forgetting he's supposed to be talking. He tries to grasp at the last thing he caught Hiro saying.]

She come up with anything good?

[microbrobotics]

[ He didn't really have much of a choice. Not Tadashi dying and Hiro finding himself the leader of a superhero team. He would have liked to have his big brother in his life again, to be his big brother again ... But he's quickly seeing it's not going to happen. His turn to protect his brother. He can't even complain; Tadashi protected him for so many years that it's only right he'd return the favor...

So he makes himself brighten, keeping his tone normal. Like this were any other day with them just hanging out and having some brotherly gossip. ]

Depends on your definition, I guess. We went through a loooot of veggie pastries until she found a quiche recipe that I liked. They're all tiny and wrapped in bacon.

[tadeadshi]

[He's about to make a comment on Hiro eating quiche of all things but bacon fixes all problems. Hmm.]

Get her to try to make a poutine. It'll gross her out.

[Likely not if she makes natto of all things. He wants so badly to have a normal conversation, to try and get some of that simple brotherly feeling back but it keeps feeling like it's missing something. And he knows it's him. The thought of outgrowing shirts though... Ugh this one feels so loose, he's lost a lot of weight. Back to eating.]