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]

[ A wince from Hiro at that. ]

Don't tell me how to talk to my brother. I know him better than you do.

[ But that stab of jealousy won't stop him from taking that advice into account; he wants his brother as happy as possible, dammit, even if that means accepting Callaghan's help. In fact, come to think of it ... his brother had been awful worried about the professor. It would probably benefit Tadashi to be able to see Callaghan again. He takes a deep breath to steady himself. ]

Does he know? What you did?

[pushtheboundaries]

[...

to that? Callaghan just nods, and looks away again, finding something particularly interesting about the artwork on the side wall.

his hand on the couch, however? it's clenching hard enough for the knuckles to begin to turn white]

[microbrobotics]

[ No, he's not going to take that for an answer. He needs to know for sure before he lets his brother get anywhere near this guy. He takes a step forward, into Cal's line of sight, so he can't be ignored. ]

About the fire? He knows that all of this is your fault, right?

[pushtheboundaries]

[at first, Callaghan seems like he's going to continue avoiding Hiro; then there's a subtle shift. an imperceptible squaring of his shoulders, a tightening of his jaw, the almost blanking of features even as he meets Hiro's gaze. and when he speaks, the voice is short, clipped, and flat.]

Yes, he knows.

[that look of betrayal will be burned in to his memory forever, as will Tadashi's coping mechanism that night.]

[microbrobotics]

[ And yet Tadashi still cares for this man. God. Hiro can't suppress a look of revulsion - but his brother is his brother. And now it's clear to Hiro that he has to let the two of them meet up again, even though he hates it. Goddamn it all to hell.

He takes a step back after a moment. And nods. There is one more thing he can check to make sure Cal's telling the truth. ]

We found their security footage, by the way. Of the room you and he were in. So if you're lying about anything, I'm going to find out real quick.

[pushtheboundaries]

[and that? that gets a short, closed-mouth little laugh. absolutely humorless, but what worse could it do to him at this point?]

Fine.

[not 'i'm not lying' or any other sort of defense-

this isn't a battle worth fighting.]

Anything else?

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro shakes his head. ]

No.

... I'll be back tonight. One way or the other.

[pushtheboundaries]

I won't be going anywhere.

[it may be dry and borderline sarcastic, but if nothing else, it's reaffirmation that he's not planning to escape. or...at least not admitting to such. at this point, however, his looking away is only to glance at that armory he spread out for Hiro's perusal]

I saw a few bags in one of the closets that may carry all that, unless you have another container.

[microbrobotics]

[ His gaze flicks between the two ... right, best not to leave all this here. He definitely doesn't trust Callaghan that much. ]

Nah, we'll use that. Put it somewhere safe.

[ Somewhere Callaghan can't get at it. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[hence its surrender. if he had wanted to earn even a shred of Hiro's trust, then he needed to put him completely at his mercy. Callaghan nods, releases the couch, and moves for said closet]

It's all disarmed and the safeties are on all of them, but you'll want to be careful, anyway. The bracers have bio-recognition in them, and may try and tranq if you put them on - I think the EMP shorted that out, though, but better you know it now.

There's a few more notes on the pad over there.

[a couple things regarding Tadashi, a couple things regarding his own devices - and, perhaps, the beginnings of notes on their progress and what they still had to do in terms of clean-up...but he'd trailed off quickly on that front.

with the promise of an end, though, he seems a bit more at ease. there's still a tight professionalism to him, though, even with the change in topic]

[microbrobotics]

Wasn't planning on putting them on.

[ Fred though ... Fred's probably passed out somewhere already. He snags the pad of paper, glancing it over briefly before tucking it away. He's got a lot to think about in general, seems like. Plans to make. It's already exhausting and he hasn't even started going through the footage, which he's sure will be worse. ]

... Thank you, Professor.

[pushtheboundaries]

[...]

Don't mention it.

[he means it. don't...thank him for basic cooperation, which is the absolute least he can do. he'll get the bags, double-bag a few, and hand them to Hiro- he figures it's 'safer' to keep his assistance there, as opposed to outright helping him pack up, because of course Hiro doesn't trust him and wouldn't be surprised if he took that opportunity to try and use a few to escape...

but once he judges their conversation done, he'll retreat to another room.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Well. If Callaghan insists. He stays silent as he gathers up the rest. And then he's gone. Off to review footage, off to check in on his brother ...

But he will be back that evening, as promised. With Tadashi in tow, if all goes well. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[at some point between now and then, Callaghan may even get a bit of sleep in; mostly, however, he'll be damnably bored. at least with the mob, there was always something to do; plans to make, designs to implement, so on and so forth. when he was outright on the run, as well, there wasn't much time to rest, and what time was all but sacred.

he tries watching TV, finds himself flipping from the news to an action movie- finds himself turning it off in disgust. he starts taking down a few more notes- finds himself wadding up the paper and throwing it away. stares out the window, does some basic exercises, exchanges routine pleasantries with Heathcliff when he's checked up on...

he'll likely be reading by the time Hiro comes back, one way or another. it's either struggling to find something to occupy him, or struggle not to think of a hundred thousand escape routes.

Robert Callaghan does not do well with boredom.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Alas, there's really nothing to do here. No internet connection, even, and no visitors other than Fred and Heathcliff - the former unlikely to be a good conversational partner for Robert, and the latter only stiffly formal. It's quite dark by the time there's a knock on his door. A metallic one, from Hiro knocking on it in his armor. The voice that comes out is, unsurprisingly, modulated. ]

Open up.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he considered inviting Heathcliff to chess. he didn't; the man probably has better things to do than babysit him. the knock immediately catches his attention, though, and he's just getting to his feet when he hears the voice-

-ah. armored, then.]

Coming.

[and he's there a moment later, opening the door and regarding the figure, and then asking for another piece of vital information;]

How should I address you?

[microbrobotics]

[ It's dark out there, shadowed; hard to tell how many are there. But Hiro clearly isn't alone. ]

They call me One. That'll work.

[ There's a warning in there too. Don't you dare use my real name. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Speaking of not being alone, his voice carries from behind everyone else.]

One? -- Oh. I get it, 'Six'. Right.

[No question of where they are or what this guy is doing bringing him here. Lot of that got asked along the way.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan's eyes are only for Hiro- One, at first, as he nods and begins to move aside. he's not sure if he's going out or if they're coming in-

-and then, abruptly, he halts, looking around the shadowy figures]

Tenshi?

[since his mind is automatically moving to codenames, Tadashi's slips out before he can think of it]

[microbrobotics]

[ Tenshi. It's a good thing that faceplate is one way, otherwise both Tadashi and Callaghan would get to see Hiro roll his eyes. Seriously. God. Like watching his brother and this guy hug wasn't bad enough. ]

Is that what you called him?

[ So. Fuckin. Dry. ]

[tadeadshi]

[He can practically hear it, even through the suit's modulated voice. Tadashi looks around nervously; even with an oversized hoodie pulled over his cap, he still feels a little too out in the open.]

Would you rather he called me some other name and risk being found?

[microbrobotics]

[ At least with Fred's walls around the mansion, they're pretty well secure. And all the lights are off so it's hard to place where they are exactly. To someone like Tadashi who doesn't know already. ]

I'm judging his choice of that name specifically. [ A pause. God, he should probably shut up; the more he says, the more likely it is Tadashi will realize who's in the suit. But he can't resist... ] So, you're Tenshi and Yokai.

[pushtheboundaries]

[oop.

well, at least other than Hiro One's unamusement, no harm seems to be done- Callaghan finishes moving to the side a moment later, though he does cast a gaze towards Hiro as if asking if he should be the one stepping out. is this a trip, or a visit...?]

I figured it fit, all things considered. I never claimed to be a saint.

[beat]

Should I get my coat?

[he steals a glance back towards Tadashi, though, arching his brow in a silent query ; are you okay? on some level, he knows it's silly to ask- none of his friends would hurt him, no matter the circumstances- but he can't help it.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Hmph. That's all Hiro will say on that subject, anyway. He shakes his head lightly in response to Callaghan's question. ]

He's staying here for a little while. I'll be close.

[ Then he turns to Tadashi. ]

When you're done, press the comm button I gave you. Don't be too late. Your family will notice if you're not there in the morning.

[ There's an underlying caution in there too - if Callaghan does anything Tadashi doesn't like, then he can press it immediately. Plus when Hiro said he'd be close, he meant it. Outside the door at best, and still within hearing range of their conversation. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Once he can step inside, whatever anxiety Tadashi had fades. Being indoors is infinitely better than out right now, enclosed in a secure mansion or not - not that he could see it with how dark it is. He flashes a quick look to Callaghan, processing the silent question and nods, lips pressed together hard forming a thin line and then One is talking again.]

I-- understand, I don't want them worrying. But seriously, thank you. For this.

[And he means every word, pouring gratitude into his voice as he nods to the hero. His hand grips around the comm he was given in his hoodie pocket before he watches him go, then looks back to Callaghan, tilts his head; What now?]