Maiagaru: to soar to fly
舞い上がる
Summary: All Tadashi wanted to do was go home. Being snowed in at the airport was not the plan. Still the cute guy he was sitting next to might make it worth it. How do you fall in love with someone in four days? Hidashi (Not-Brothers!AU)
Warnings: Hidashi pairing. They're not related in this story but if you can't even stand Hidashi in any form, consider yourself warned. Honestly, this fic is going to be very lighthearted and fluffy. I currently don't even have plans to have them kiss!
zestychicken2 asked me if I would ever do actual chapter BH6 stories and not my drabble-style. This... is what I came up with. You should be forewarn that I have a terrible track record with chapter stories, please proceed with caution.
"I can't believe this is happening!" Tadashi collapsed into the uncomfortable leather seat. A blizzard had rolled in just as Tadashi had arrived at the airport, grounding all flights from leaving. Instead of being on a plane heading back home, Tadashi was now forced to wait until the weather cleared. Tadashi buried his face in his hands. Could this day get any worse?
"You're stuck here too, huh?"
Tadashi lifted his head, turning toward the unknown voice. It came from a teenager, younger than him, sitting two seats away. His black hair was unruly like a giant fluff ball and he was dressed in a thick blue sweater and light brown pants. On his lap, rested a beaten up red backpack that had seen better days.
Tadashi gave a weak smile. "Yeah, no flight home for me. Is your flight grounded too?"
The boy grinned widely, revealing a gap in between his front teeth. "Yeah, they delayed my flight, then outright cancelled it a hour ago. There's no flying in this weather. I'm stuck, you're stuck, we're all stuck in this airport."
"Harsh. I'm Tadashi Hamada," Tadashi introduced himself. "Where were you headed?"
"Hiro Takachiho. I'm heading back to New Yosaka," the teenager said. "You?"
"San Franokyo," Tadashi replied.
"Opposite sides of the country," Hiro said. "Why on earth are you in Chicakaidoo?"
"ARC's Robotics competition," Tadashi answered. The 48th Annual Robotics Competition (ARC) was a week long festival of robots and science. It had started off as a purely robotics competition before expanding out into other fields of science and engineering, encompassing all different parts of science and technology. There were battle bot fights, robot building team competitions, a science bowl, chemistry demonstrations, physic magic shows, fruitcake catapults contests, showcases and lectures from leading robotics experts, scientists, and engineers and even an amateur contest for students to show off their projects.
Tadashi's entire class had packed up to attend to this. Professor Callaghan was one of the main speakers and Tadashi had joined the team competition with his friends. They managed to score first place. That was the first time SFIT had gotten first place in the three years since Tadashi had started college and he proudly took home his first place medal.
"No way!" Hiro said. "You too?"
Tadashi blinked. 'You too?' Hiro had been at ARC? "You were there?" Tadashi asked, clearly surprised.
Hiro nodded. "Yeah, I was in the battle bot tournament."
Tadashi felt his jaw drop. There was no way. The battle bots tournament was only opened to college students. There was no way Hiro was old enough to be a college student. He didn't look old enough! "How old are you?" he blurted out before he could stop himself. Groaning, Tadashi slapped his forehead with his hand. 'I'm such an idiot,' he thought.
Hiro on the other hand, only laughed. It was a brilliant and clear laugh that reminded Tadashi of bells. "I'll have you know my 18th birthday is next month," Hiro said.
"I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me," Tadashi apologized.
Hiro waved his hand flippantly, dismissing the apology. "It's okay, you're not the first one to question my age. That's what occurs when you graduate from high school at age 13."
Shock filled Tadashi. Thirteen?! Tadashi had graduated high school early at the age of sixteen, but thirteen? How smart was Hiro?
"So why are you still in Chicakaidoo?" Hiro asked, curious. His head tilted to the side as he looked at Tadashi. "ARC ended last weekend."
A broad smile broke across Tadashi's face. "Yeah," he said, voice fond. All of his friends and teachers had left this past Monday to return to San Franokyo. However, given SFIT technology based program, the fall semester always ended the Friday before ARC started. Nothing said 'awesome' like ending the year with a robotics/engineering/science competition. Since Tadashi had never been to Chicakaidoo before, he decided to delay his return to San Franokyo to explore the city a little. One of the few distant cousins he had also lived just outside of the city limits and Tadashi didn't get to see them often. It was a good excuse to stretch his legs, never mind that the winter season was in full swing. Aunt Cass didn't mind and he should have been back before Christmas… before this blizzard grounded his flight back home.
"My college always ends the Friday before ARC, so I'm already on break. I've never been to Chicakaidoo before and figured it was a good reason to explore the city," Tadashi explained. It had been an enjoyable experience. "What about you? I could ask the same about you."
Hiro laughed again. "Yeah, but see it make sense that I'm still here considering I go to Chicakaidoo Tech!"
Chicakaidoo Tech was San Franokyo Institute of Technology's eternal rival. The two schools frequently completed for the top Technology School in the nation. Tadashi had been offered a partial scholarship to CT before he turned it down. SFIT had offered him a full scholarship and it allowed him to stay close to Aunt Cass, which was why Tadashi had ended up at SFIT. 'You would have met Hiro sooner if you had gone to CT,' a voice in his head whispered.
Tadashi pushed those thoughts aside. "I guess that makes us epic rivals," he joked, amused.
"Does that mean you're a SFIT nerd?" Hiro asked.
Tadashi nodded.
"Epic rivals, indeed! We still crushed SFIT in the battle bot competition," Hiro boasted. He stuck his tongue out playfully.
"Ah ha! But we won the robot building team competition," Tadashi teased back. That was a sweet victory, to win first place over CT.
"Psh, it's only because I wasn't able to be on both teams. They should change it so that the battle bot fights and the robot building team competition happen at different times," Hiro said.
Tadashi laughed. He admired Hiro's confidence. He figured given Hiro's smaller stature and young age, Hiro would have been more insecure. "Aren't you a cheeky one," Tadashi said.
"I'm lovable," Hiro replied.
A comfortable silence fell over them. Tadashi couldn't suppress the joy that was beating in his chest. Hiro was shaping up to be a really good friend, epic rivals aside. Tadashi could easily see the passion and pride Hiro had when it came to robotics; it reflected in his voice, in his eyes as they had spoken about ARC. It was a shame that they went to different schools. Maybe Hiro had a Skype? Or any kind of instant messenger; email worked too. Tadashi would love to have someone to bounce ideas off of. He was having a little trouble with Baymax's battery, and while Professor Callaghan was a help, Tadashi craved someone closer to his age group to share his love of robotics with. None of his friends were in the robotics field exactly.
A rumble interrupted Tadashi's thoughts. He chuckled as he looked at Hiro. "Hungry?" he teased.
"Oh, shut up," Hiro said. "I haven't had time to grab anything to eat yet. Been too busy trying to figure out what I'm going to do."
Tadashi peered down the stretch of the hall. At the very end, the lights in the Starbucks were still on. As it was eleven o'clock, going on midnight, most of the stores and eating places had closed already. "Wanna hit the Starbucks? We can grab something to eat and drink there. I'm sure they still have pastries leftover. Then you can give me suggestions on what to do."
Hiro snorted, already standing and swinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Not sure what help I'll be. There's that hotel just outside of the airport, but I'm not willing to brave it out there in this storm, nor do I have the funds for it. I'm almost certain that it's already filled given how many flights have been canceled. CT had already closed their campus, kicked their students out of the dorms, so there's no going back there even if we could make it."
Tadashi's longer stride easily caught up with Hiro, falling in place next to the smaller boy. "Well, yeah, I used most of my money already on hotels. I can't exactly afford it either. What about your friends?" Tadashi said.
Something dark flashed across Hiro's face, but it was gone before Tadashi could analyze what it was. Instead Hiro tried to smile, but it came across as frail and bitter to Tadashi. "Don't have too many friends, and definitely none that would take us, me, in during this blizzard. So I'm pretty much thinking of crashing in the airport until the storm clears. Sure the chairs are uncomfortable, but it's warm in here, there's food, the general store near the security check in has toothbrushes and toothpaste, and I'm pretty sure there's an employee shower somewhere I could use if I asked someone really nicely," Hiro said.
"Good plan. I was thinking the same," Tadashi said. He didn't remark on Hiro's comment about potential friends.
The smell of coffee filled the air as they approached the store. A few people lingered inside, warming their hands around styrofoam cups. To Tadashi's delight there were still pastries in the window. There was even a few sandwiches left in the fridge section. Hiro stepped forward, quickly ordering his drink, two cookies and a sandwich.
"I'll have your grande peppermint hot chocolate," Tadashi ordered. "And your old fashion doughnut."
The barista smiled brightly and rung up his order. "That'll be $6.18," he said.
Tadashi handed over the money. "Thank you," he said as the barista handed back his change and his doughnut.
"Hot chocolate," Hiro questioned. He was clearly amused by Tadashi's choice of drink.
"Best part about the holidays," Tadashi answered firmly. "Beside what are you talking about. You're the one who ordered peppermint hot coffee."
"Seasonal drink. Might as well enjoy them while I can," Hiro said.
They grabbed their respective drinks from the counter and wandered back to where they had originally met. Tadashi took a blissful sip of his hot chocolate, enjoying the sweet taste of his warm drink. Next to him, Hiro was scarfing down his sandwich with much gusto.
"So does that make you a pumpkin spice lover too?" Tadashi asked.
"Yup," Hiro said. "Though nothing really beats a straight up cup of coffee. What else is going to keep me up through my projects?" A mischievous grin played on his face. "I suppose hot chocolate is alright too."
"Don't mock the hot chocolate!"
Hiro wiped his hands with a napkin, tossing it into the now empty plastic sandwich container. He then moved onto the bag that held his two chocolate cookies. "Coffee is better than hot chocolate," Hiro said.
"Tea is better than coffee," Tadashi challenged. To his amusement, Hiro gaped at him in shock. Hiro was definitely a coffee purist.
"Tea has nothing on coffee!"
"It's better for your health," Tadashi pointed out. He took another sip from his cup to hide his growing smile. Hiro was downright adorable when his feathers were ruffled.
"Bah!" Hiro threw his hands up in disgust. "Don't talk to me."
Tadashi laughed and began to eat his doughnut. The silence continued peacefully as they both ate and finished off their drinks.
"Ah, that hit the spot," Hiro said when he was done.
Tadashi gathered up the trash and dumped it in the nearest trashcan. "Stomach satisfied?" he asked.
"Definitely." Hiro peered out the wide windows. The bright lights from the outside lamps glowed softly like hitodama, barely visible through the snow. The entire airport was covered in a thick blanket of white snow as the storm continued to rage. "Think the blizzard will clear by tomorrow morning?" Hiro asked.
Tadashi sat back down in the seat next to Hiro. He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we'll see huh?"
Hiro leaned against Tadashi, resting his head on Tadashi's shoulder. Surprised, Tadashi glanced down at the smaller boy, eyebrow raised.
"You can be my pillow until tomorrow morning," Hiro said. He closed his eyes.
"Guess the coffee isn't going to keep you awake," Tadashi teased. He shifted slightly into a more comfortable position. Hiro made a noncommittal grunt, already on his way into dream land. Tadashi smiled softly to himself as Hiro relaxed further into a deeper sleep.
There was a small part of Tadashi that hoped morning never came.
Please don't ask me where this came from. No, actually, I'll tell you. The stuck-in-the-airport was a 'AUs I want to see written' post on tumblr floating around. The Hidashi pairing? That's a surprise to me too. I rarely go with the incest pairing (even with AUs where they're not related), sure I might read a couple but they are rarely my OTP. So it's a surprise that Hidashi is shaping up to be my OTP for BH6.
Until next time.