What if...
...Tadashi never ran into the building?
The two Hamada brothers stood side by side, in silence. No words were needed, they just stared at the vast tapestry of night sky, enjoying one another's company. Hiro looked up at his brother, whom he'd grown to adore.
"Hey," he murmured softly. "thanks, nerd." he grinned. The elder Hamada chuckled, removing his cap. Short, cropped black hair fell out, a sight that not many got to see. The baseball cap was placed on the shorter boy's head, falling down into his eyes.
"You're welcome." Tadashi smirked. They fell into a comfortable silence once again. Suddenly, a wave of heat washed over them as the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology behind them burst into flames. Without a second thought, the two brothers raced towards the building, where teachers and students were running for their lives. Tadashi reached out to an auburn-haired student, her body racked with coughs.
"Are you okay?" he escorted her quickly to safety. The girl let out a string of breathy coughs.
"Yeah, yeah I'm okay." she stood shakily. "But, Professor Callaghan's still in there!" Hearing this, Tadashi immediately turned to retrieve his beloved professor. Hiro, who had watched this incident in silence grabbed his brother's arm.
"Wait, Tadashi!" he protested. His elder brother turned to him, eyes wide with concern. A silent understanding passed between them. If Tadashi went in there, he might not come out. Hiro felt tears jump to his eyes, and his throat swelled.
"You can't." he choked, voice cracking. "I can't lose you too." the second phrase came out as a hoarse whisper, shaky and weak. Tadashi pulled away gently, full of regret.
"Professor Callaghan is in there." he pointed to the flames. "Someone has to help."
Hiro felt his heart sink in realisation. Tadashi was going in, no matter what. Because that's the kind of person his brother was. Somewhere in the background, a female voice called out.
"Tadashi! Don't!" Honey? Gogo? Someone else? It didn't matter. Hiro could only stare as he caught a last glimpse of his brother's brown eyes, filled with determination.
Suddenly, the entire building exploded, sending the two Hamada brothers flying backwards. They hit the cold, hard concrete as they were flung by the force. Minutes passed, Hiro could only hear his own thudding heartbeat and the cackling of flames erupting around him. He could only feel heat. Hot, harsh, thick heat enveloping him. Thick, black smoke filled his lungs and his entire being. He didn't dare open his eyes. Flames lapped at his cheeks, singing the tips of his hair. A pair of strong arms were lifting him up now. Tadashi?
"It's okay," a soothing voice calmed him. "You're going to be alright. What's you're name, son?" Hiro opened his eyes for the first time and looked up at the fireman. As he tried to speak, heavy coughs racked his body.
"Hiro... Hamada." he rasped, between coughs. The man carried him carefully to the ambulance.
"You're going to be alright, Hiro Hamada." the young boy was assured as he was lay down gently in the stretcher. The fourteen year old protested weakly, desperately looking around for his brother.
"Tadashi?" he groaned. "My... brother." he added weakly. A female medic smiled down encouragingly.
"You're brother's going to be fine, right now we need to get you to the hospital." she soothed. Hiro fell back into the stretcher, fatigue washing over him. After a few minutes, his eyes began to droop, and darkness washed over him.
. . . . .
. . . . .
Tadashi stared down at the picture of his late professor. Guilt washed over him for the hundredth time. He could have done something. He should have done something, but instead, he let himself be distracted from the task at hand. But it wasn't Hiro's fault. It was his. If he had been a little faster... maybe, maybe he wouldn't be standing over his professor's grave, dressed in black.
Callaghan had always been Tadashi's favourite teacher; he did everything he could to impress Callaghan, to make him proud. And now, he had failed. And Callaghan had paid the ultimate price.
A single tear escaped his eye, melting in with the endless rain that poured down on his cheeks.
"... I'm sorry."
I don't own Big Hero 6