Another Big Hero 6 short story. This one, though, is definitely only going to be three chapters in length. I'm excited about this little story, so I hope you like it.

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Memory 1: Bot Fights and Older Brothers

Hiro Hamada chanced a glance over toward the dark corner of the room. For a few hours now, he had pretended to be asleep, but, in reality, he had just pulled the covers up over his head and slowed his breathing. Is Tadashi asleep yet? Hiro wondered silently. I hope so, because I need to get over to that bot fight.

No sound drifted from the corner where Tadashi's bed and the shade that separated the corner from the rest of the room was drawn shut. Good, I should be able to go now. Hiro pulled back the covers and, with practiced quiet, picked up his fighting robot, Megabot, and headed downstairs. Even though it seemed that Tadashi was asleep, Hiro had learned in the past that Tadashi could be a very light sleeper when he wanted to be. Silently, Hiro crept out the door and pulled it shut as quietly as he could so as not to wake his brother or aunt. Success again! Now, how to get to the location of that bot fight?

When Tadashi had not been looking, Hiro had programmed a GPS to direct him to the location of the bot fight. The location looked familiar. He had probably attended a past bot fight at this location sometime, but he could not quite remember when. Hiro had been sneaking out at night to go bot fighting for almost a year now. Not every night…but most nights. Sure, bot fighting wasn't the smartest hobby to engage and immerse himself in, but it was fun and he earned pretty great winnings.

As Hiro approached the bot fight location, he could begin to hear the grinding of metal upon metal and the cheering crowd of spectators. Sounds like it's going to be another fun night! Hiro zipped up his favorite navy hoodie and pulled the hood up over his messy black hair. Inside the pockets of his hoodie, Hiro had stowed away some cash, taken from his stash of previous winnings. He had a good amount stored up from his previous wins so he was able to take more than usual with him for tonight's fight. There was even some saved up back at home…just in case he did not win any fights tonight.

Like always, Hiro's short stature allowed him to sneak in past all the other bigger (and scarier) bot fighters gathered in the make-shift arena. A fight was already in progress, so Hiro had time to analyze the two fighters. He had not seen them before (which actually wasn't uncommon—bot fighters tended to come and go, especially when there were several fights occurring on any given night). Good! No matter who wins this match, I can challenge them with my strategy. In one of his earliest fights, Hiro had watched a timid new bot fighter step up. She had been nervous and made several mistakes which had led to her ultimate defeat. Hiro had taken notes from watching her. If he pretended to be new and trick his opponents, then he could challenge them a second time (they were always greedy for more money) and catch them off-guard, all while taking the victory right from under their unsuspecting (and stunned speechless) noses. It worked every time…well, except for that one time when Hiro had made the mistake of challenging a fighter who remembered his tactic. That was the night Hiro noted to only use his strategy against those he'd never fought before…or those he had not fought for quite some time and forgot his name, face, and strategy.

The match ended with the sickening crunch of twisted metal. Another bot destroyed and another bot fighter back to square one. For a brief moment, Hiro wondered if the defeated bot fighter would leave and create another bot to return someday. Bot fighting was a tough business; rounds were deemed "fight to the death"…or forfeit, but the latter option rarely ever happened. Many bot fighters, once defeated, would leave and never come back. Hiro assumed they figured it to be too much hassle to return home and build another bot. Diehard bot fighters, though, had no problem building new bots, but many never needed to anyway because they just never lost.

"Who's next? Who will challenge me?" gloated the winner.

Now's my chance! "C-Can I try?" Hiro asked, stepping forward. By now, he had perfected the tone of voice used by new bot fighters. "I have a robot. I built it myself." In his hand, he clutched Megabot, making the bot look weak and defenseless.

The victor of the last bot fight sighed, as if this challenge would be way too easy and a waste of time. "Might as well. I could use some more money!"

Before taking a seat, Hiro placed his money into the tray held by the fight's referee. The young Hamada stared into the eyes of his opponent before looking sharply away (just like a new bot fighter would do).

"Fighters ready? Begin!" the referee yelled out, side-stepping as the fight began.

Like always, Hiro threw the first match and feigned distress, begging for another chance. His opponent, though unimpressed with Hiro's "lame" bot, consented and Hiro added more money to the tray. Across the arena, his opponent smirked and readied his bot. You won't be smirking for much longer. "Megabot, destroy!" Hiro's experienced fingers seemed to move on their own as he commanded the moves to take down his opponent's bot.

It took less than a minute for Hiro's Megabot to reduce the opponent's both to a pile of scrap metal. The referee passed Hiro the plate of money and he stuffed it quickly into his hoodie's front pocket. "That was fun."

"Oh, was it?" his opponent spoke up, standing.

Great…he's one to hold a grudge. I was hoping for an easy night. Guess I'll just have to make a break for it.

Hiro's former opponent approached quickly but was cut off by a bright shining light. Turning, Hiro found a welcome sight. "Tadashi!"

His older brother tossed him a familiar helmet and Hiro jumped aboard Tadashi's moped. Tadashi took off without giving Hiro time to secure his helmet. Luckily, he was used to this means of escape and had no trouble fastening the chin strap while Tadashi sped through the back alleyways of San Fransokyo. Tadashi was also experienced at bailing Hiro out of trouble. He never took his eyes from the road in front of him as he scolded his younger brother for such reckless actions.

Tadashi did not slow down until they were out of the alleyways and well on their way back to the café. The older Hamada had finished scolding Hiro and kept silent. Hiro felt bad that he caused Tadashi so much trouble, but he also enjoyed bot fighting (even despite the dangers it posed). Tadashi did not speak again until both brothers were safely back upstairs in their shared bedroom.

"You graduated high school when you were thirteen and what have you done since then? Hiro, when are you going to start doing something with that big brain of yours?"

"What? Go to college like you? So people can tell me stuff I already know?" Hiro mocked. He had not meant for his words to come out with such bite, but he couldn't take them back once he'd said them. "I don't understand, though, Tadashi. You were asleep. How did you…?"

Tadashi's voice softened slightly. "I knew something wasn't right. I could feel it. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. So I went over to your bed to check on you and when I saw that you were gone, I knew why I'd woken up."

Hiro looked down at the wooden floor below his feet. Now he was feeling even worse. It was always like this. He only thought of himself, never his brother. His brother whom he kept up at night by sneaking out to go bot fighting. His brother who then had to attend class the next day after only a short amount of sleep the night before. He, Hiro Hamada, was a horrible brother.

"Listen, Hiro," Tadashi spoke again, kneeling down to look his younger brother directly in the eye. His voice had softened now, taking on an almost sad tone. "You need to stop this, this sneaking out to go bot fighting. I wish I could say that I'd always there to bail you out, but I can't know that with any certainty…and neither can you. You need to stop this before something serious happens."

Hiro understood what Tadashi was asking of him. It seemed simple enough, but… "I'm sorry, Tadashi. I can't promise that."

"Why not?" Tadashi pleaded, desperation creeping into his tired voice.

"Because I love bot fighting. It's exhilarating. It's fun. Yes, it's dangerous, but I love doing it. I know that you can't always be there to protect me or, as you said, 'bail me out' but I never asked for your help anyway. I don't need you, okay? I can do this on my own. Just let me do what I like. Just let me go bot fighting and quit trying to stop me!"

Hiro swore he saw his brother's eyes water as Tadashi stood up without another word and returned to his bed in the corner, slamming his separator shade behind him. Tadashi…

888

It had been almost two years since Tadashi's unexpected death. Almost two years since Hiro, along with Tadashi's friends, formed Big Hero 6. Almost two years later and Hiro could not forget his brother.

Hiro, relaxing after another day of classes at SFIT, lay upon his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He was reminiscing the good times he'd had with Tadashi, remembering the moments with his brother. Hiro liked to do this every so often; it helped to keep Tadashi's memory alive. He had just finished reliving some experiences from his bot fighting days. Then he had felt like such a rebel, sneaking out a night and then telling off his brother for trying to help him. Now he just felt like a fool. If only I would've known. Tadashi, I'm so sorry. You were absolutely right. You wouldn't always be there. Why did you have to…why did you have to run into that fire?

Hiro thought back to the bot fighting experiences he had just relived. Back then, I took the path that you would never want from me. I let you down then, didn't I? Luckily you stopped me before I went too deep into the dark depths of bot fighting. You, Tadashi, convinced me to strive for better. To attend your nerd school.

Hiro laughed a little at those words. Nerd school. He had deemed SFIT with that description when Tadashi had started attending classes there. Now he, Hiro, attended classes at SFIT…and loved every moment of it.

Thinking still on his bot fighting days, Hiro frowned at the memory. So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up for me while I was just a slave to the night, drawn to the undercover bot fights. And that night when I made you cry. I told you that I didn't need your help, but…Tadashi, I was wrong. I do need you. More than you'd ever know…and now you're gone.

On the brink of tears, Hiro still found it in him to smile through the pain. Man, I really gave you hell through all the years, didn't I?

Oh man…this turned out even better than I'd expected! I really hope you like this first chapter. Oh, and any song lyrics taken from Imagine Dragons's song "I Bet My Life"…yeah, I don't own them.

Thank you all for reading and supporting I Bet My Life.

Posted: June 1, 2015