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]

I was worried about that. You going, I mean.[Wait no don't be that obvious.] Glad you're not.

[The mention of food almost makes him queasy. He'd already eaten more in the last twelve hours since the collar shock, the thought of more just... No thanks.]

No uh. They have been, almost too much. Barely even finish one plate. I think my aunt forgets to leave some for herself.

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan nods at the first- and actually laughs at the second. so much for his attempt at hospitality. he gestures for Tadashi to follow him as he moves to the seating area, and settles himself down on the couch] They're probably just glad you're back, and afraid you'll disappear if they don't give you a good reason to stay. I'm sure you've got plenty now, though.

[more to stay than to go back out with him, at any rate. assuming he could even do that, himself. Callaghan has the feeling he'll be staying here for a while, half-planned escapes or not.]

You'll want to keep a low profile. [he figures Tadashi already knows, but...it's worth saying.] I get the feeling the 'heroes' will keep an eye out for a while, but...

[tadeadshi]

[He nods at the concern, completely understands it. There's only so much the Six can do long term.]

They're still just people. Can't keep eyes on us forever, not with the whole city to look after.

[But he does follow Callaghan's invitation, sits next to him just at arm's length. It's worry and habit informing his actions now when he reaches over to tug gently on the edge of his sleeve.]

You weren't hurt before right?

[pushtheboundaries]

Just my pride. I may have overreacted when they showed up. [it's a subtle apology, to anyone listening; whether or not Tadashi picks up on it remains to be seen. for now, though, he reaches forwards, a hand palm-up]

Is your hand still hurting? Let me see.

[this isn't a request he's made in some time; Tadashi occasionally has overworked himself, both of them have, really, but that phrasing...he hasn't really used it since they both were outright prisoners. this isn't the same, but all things considered, the cover an excuse seems safer than anything else]

[tadeadshi]

[He opens his mouth to answer, but finds himself obliging the request first, offering his hand to Callaghan. Still some of that that's got to be worked out of Tadashi, it seems. He makes a face at him, quizzical before the realization hits and the corner of his mouth turns up a little. ]

Think I fell on it pretty hard before, when the. That happened.

[The shock. Honestly, he's not sure how he fell or what position but it works for this.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[some of it does, but for right now, Callaghan is oddly glad he hasn't gotten over it yet. he's well aware that's a rather selfish thought, but it gives him the opportunity to take that hand in his and rub his thumbs along it]

Mm, it might just be achy for a day or so. Nothing to worry about. [that doesn't mean he won't massage it, smiling a little as well. they both know what this is about, he thinks, but so long as Tadashi's willing to indulge him...]

Tell me about your family. How are they?

[tadeadshi]

's what I figured. Trying to take it easy for a while.

[But he does smile a little, the contact easing some of the cautious nervousness he'd built up. Tadashi turns a little to face him, still letting Callaghan work with his hand and perfectly content to indulge him.]

I think... Still adjusting to the shock? Haven't really talked to our aunt yet, but Hiro...

[Hnm. He lowers his gaze to just their hands at that.]

Can tell he's worried. Just hard to talk to until... [Until he can figure out how to be 'normal' after all this without pretending it didn't happen.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh, Tadashi. if only you knew...

but Callaghan's kept it to himself this long, and with Hiro in no mood to reveal the secret...he can only nod slightly]

We've gone through a lot. I can only imagine how it'd be for me, if Abigail was around. On one hand, they're [read; family] the reasons we've held out this long. On the other...

[...he doesn't really think he needs to finish that sentence.]

[tadeadshi]

Right... [He nods at that. He carefully closes his thumb around Callaghan's hand and leans his side against the back of the couch. The hand massage, even if it's not much, is relaxing in its own way. So much that he just goes right on ahead bringing his knee up on to the couch, touching Cal's leg with it and not even caring. ]

Hardest part is just getting started, I guess. Don't really know where to start.

[pushtheboundaries]

[if he weren't convinced they were being observed - and while he's seen no cameras, paranoia whispers that this place isn't safe in its own right, that he can't risk doing or saying anything he doesn't want observed - he'd try tugging Tadashi a bit closer, see if he could work some more direct physical contact. as it is. he pushes forwards with his leg a bit, giving the hand a squeeze. ]

...do they have any idea where you've been for the past couple of years?

[tadeadshi]

No. I can't... I mean, how would I even say that?

[He squeezes the hand right back, eyes looking up to him looking lost. Nevermind he's fairly certain Robert doesn't have a clue either.]

It's for the best I think.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he really doesn't have a clue; in that regard, it's easier for him. the one person who'd ask already knows at least half, and he's admitted most of what else there is to say. as for what he'd tell Abigail?...

he doesn't want to tell her anything, yet. he feels awful for it, and yet...]

I'd say something about blaming me, but that might open up a new can of worms. [he chuckles humorlessly, rubbing thumb and forefinger on one of Tadashi's digits to work some of the muscle. this may be an excuse for contact, but he's still going to give attention to it] They're going to ask sooner or later why you stayed away. If you're not comfortable talking with them, then you should find someone you can talk to, since you're now in a position where that's possible.

[get some real help, he means. not an old man who's just able to offer triage.]

[tadeadshi]

[Yyyyeah, Hiro already asked why he couldn't come home. And Tadashi hadn't brushed him off so much as just shut the conversation down. And he knows he's done blaming Callaghan; blamed him enough already while they were inside and that had gotten him nowhere except miserable.

Someone to talk to... A therapist? He sighs, leans his head against the couch as well.]

How 'm I supposed to do that when I'm dead?

[Coming out of the woodwork to try and find a therapist would open him up to be found by everyone looking for them. Not to mention having to go through insurance agencies and healthcare.

Well. There is the option of the on-campus school counselor? Maybe? But that'd still be a fairly big to-do.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[all Callaghan can think of is when they had to track down a street surgeon. ironivally, he thinks that may actually have been easier than this daunting task, all things considered, and makes an expression somewhere between a grimace and a grin.]

I'm sure there's a way, somehow. But- it probably won't happen for a while. Just keep it in mind, all right? Maybe something will come up.

[tadeadshi]

Not until all this is cleared up anyway...

[And who knows how long that'll take. He looks down at their hands again and... Really he just wants to hug him? Hugging Baymax and his brother are great but not... really the same. They don't know everything. Callaghan does. And it's been a while since he slept in a bed as small as his own. Or slept alone. He swallows down the heavy lump in his throat and carefully closes his hand around Robert's completely. No question about it now, if someone was watching.]

If I do decide to tell him, it's-- ... It'll be a while.

[pushtheboundaries]

[if anyone's watching, they'll notice that Robert does not do anything to discourage that grip. he only watches Tadashi for a long moment, then - slowly - brings that hand to press at his mouth. it's an intimate gesture, no matter how you slice it, but it also veils one even more so- his lips moving, however briefly, against Tadashi's skin.

and then he lowers it away, simply holding that hand with both of his]

I understand. Don't let yourself feel rushed, even by yourself. It's okay to...not be.

[and there's a bit of a crooked smile from him.]

[tadeadshi]

[That simple action sends heat through Tadashi and down - probably giving some odd readings through Baymax's scans if Hiro's paying close enough attention to that and not what Callaghan and Tadashi are saying.]

No, I know.

[He said that a little too fast. But he's not rushing to pull his hand away either. He feels a little more at ease having that contact.]

... What's going to happen to you now?

[pushtheboundaries]

[heh

Callaghan manages to shrug a bit, for all the world nonchalant- but Tadashi probably knows him well enough to tell that he is, in fact, a bit concerned. Baymax can tell that his stress levels remain above average, for all that he portrays calm- and this, this is something he's learned over decades. how to act as though everything fine when it feels as though they're anything but...]

I think I'll be staying here for a while. Take it easy, put my feet up. Maybe I'll write a book. [read; he has no idea]