Hello all (: couldn't help but do a chapter story for Big Hero 6! How can you not love this movie? That and Tadashi... THE FEELS.
Big Hero 6 © Marvel/Disney
One month, thirty days, twelve hours, seven minutes, and twenty-three seconds. That's how long it's been since I became an only child. How long it's been since I last held onto my older brother. How long it's been since I lost the last immediate family member I had.
I rolled over in my bed, not wanting to get up today. It was a Saturday, which meant no classes. My eyes briefly drifted over to Tadashi's side of the room. I shut my eyes tight, with noises of ambulances and explosions ringing in my ears. Maybe I could go to the island and enjoy some peace and quiet today. I ran a hand through my mop of black hair and sighed.
"Why'd you have to leave me, Tadashi?" I muttered to myself. I tossed back the covers and rolled myself out of bed. I fell onto the floor with a thud and lied there for a minute, staring at the ceiling. I heard footsteps coming up the stairs soon after.
"Hiro? Are you up?" I heard from the stairway.
"Yeah, Aunt Cass," I replied and sat up. She gave a warm smile when she reached my room.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, already knowing what day it was.
"Fine," I replied with a weak smile.
"Aw, honey," Aunt Cass muttered as she walked over to me. I stood up as she walked. She pulled me into a tight embrace, one that I accepted. "I miss him too, Hiro," she whispered as she rubbed her hand across my back. I fought the tears that wanted to spill over.
"It's not fair. He was a good person," I muttered into her shoulder.
"I know, honey. I know." After a moment of silence, she took a step back. "How about I fix us up some breakfast? The café opens in a half an hour; we've got time."
"No thanks, Aunt Cass. I think I'm going for a walk for a few hours," I explained, sort of lying through my teeth. She nodded with a weary smile.
"Okay. Remember your phone. I'll see you for dinner?"
"Sure thing," I said. She began to turn, but stopped and pulled me into another tight hug.
"Last hug," she said with a small laugh. I hugged her back. Aunt Cass smiled and headed back downstairs. I changed into a loose-fitting black shirt and a pair of black pants that hit my calves. I picked up the large red container that held Baymax and began to carry it down into the living room. I stopped short on the staircase when I saw a certain picture on the wall.
Aunt Cass was in the middle. I stood next to her left side, wearing a toothy grin and my favorite blue jacket. Tadashi stood to her right, smiling widely. It was taken at the zoo only a few days before...the fire. I felt a lone tear escape my cheek as I swallowed. I pushed myself forward and down the stairs before I had an emotional breakdown.
Arriving in the garage, I activated Baymax, who inflated quickly.
"Hello Hiro," Baymax greeted. I smiled in reply. "What seems to be the trouble?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to go for a flight," I replied. I heard Baymax step forward and a small beeping noise.
"Scan complete. My sensors indicate your neurotransmitter levels are low. Are you sad?" I sighed and pushed a hand through my hair as I reached for my suit.
"Not exactly."
"What seems to be the problem? You are my patient, it is my duty to care for you." I slipped into my gear and laced up my shoes.
"I want to go to the island," I answered as I started to put Baymax's armor on him.
"Will going to the island improve your emotional state?" Baymax asked. I gave a sigh.
"I hope so, buddy. I hope so."
Within a few minutes, we were soaring above the city of San Fransokyo. I couldn't fight the smile that graced my face. The wind on my skin felt like nothing else; it was both refreshing and chilling.
Baymax flew all over the city, winding and twisting in and out of the buildings. I gave a refreshed sigh as Baymax landed on top of the Golden Gate Bridge and I climbed down to enjoy the break.
"Your neurotransmitter levels are higher now. This indicates that you are happy." I smiled at Baymax. He reminded me so much of Tadashi that it hurt and excited me all at once.
"I'm in a better mood, that's for sure," I replied, taking my helmet off and letting the breeze blow through my raven hair.
"Does this mean I can deactivate?" I turned quickly to him.
"Not yet, buddy. We still have to make it to that island." Baymax turned to look out at the island that now had large metal gates. The government had wanted to keep others out while they destroyed any evidence of Project Silent Sparrow. But those gates wouldn't stop me. I knew that they had not begun a thorough investigation yet. It would take a week or two to gather the government workers for the project, and it had only been a few days since Callaghan was arrested.
I looked over at the city behind me. I wonder if Aunt Cass is wondering where I am.
"Shoot!" I yelled. Baymax looked at me.
"What is the trouble, Hiro?"
"I forgot my phone..." I trailed off, looking between the island and the top of The Lucky Cat Café. I'll be okay. I've got to get out there.
"It is important that you have a way to contact your Aunt in case you have an emergency. Would you like me to retrieve your cellular device?" I shook my head.
"No, I'll be okay. There's nothing out there that can hurt us. I just want to go and think," I told Baymax. His head shifted back to the island. I put my helmet on and climbed on his back, locking my armor in as I did so. "Alright Baymax, let's get to that island." I felt Baymax's thrusters increase and we shot off toward the island. Baymax flew over the metal fence that tried to keep others out. We landed outside the same hole that Wasabi had made in the wall a week ago. I climbed down and stepped inside the abandoned research center. I slowly followed the tunnels until I found the door that was hanging by its hinges. I pushed it back and sat down on the edge of the second story, letting my feet dangle off of the edge. Baymax sat next to me as I took my helmet off.
"Do you like being here, Hiro?" I set my helmet aside and put my head in my hands.
"I don't know."
"Do you want to talk about your feelings?" I sighed and thought it over for a minute before deciding to spill everything out to Baymax.
"What happened to Tadashi was completely unfair. That fire was started on purpose, and Callaghan let Tadashi pay the ultimate price for starting it. I should've stopped him. I should've held him back from that fire. I could've saved him..." I stuttered out as the tears began to fill my eyes again. "He was going to do so many great things with his life. He should've gotten married one day. I should've been an uncle one day. We had so many holidays left to spend together, so many things left unsaid and I never got to say them! And now, there's nothing I can do to fix that. I can't bring Tadashi back.
"I'm tired of hearing how if we never forget him, he's never gone. He was my best friend. He's the reason I go to SFIT. He was my motivation. He made me laugh, made me smile, fixed me up on my worst of days. He always understood. And I took advantage of that for so long.
"If I could go back and start all over again, I would've appreciated every single thing about him. Even the snoring! It seems so lonely now when it's quiet at night. It's like all of the energy that was once in our- my, room, is now gone. And when I watch the TV shows and movies we used to watch together, it's like I'm not really there anymore. I can't get myself to focus on what's going on because all I can think about is how Tadashi would've felt about the events of the show or movie or how he would've reacted. When I see his favorite parts pass, I can almost hear his laughter beside me, which reminds me of how empty the couch is, but at the same time, it's like he's still there.
"I just don't know what to do anymore, Baymax. I can't bring him back, but I can't fill the gaping hole in my heart," I sighed, feeling a bit relieved after everything was off of my chest.
"I do not see any physical wounds. How can there be a hole in your heart?"
"It's just an expression," I replied, leaning back against Baymax. I closed my eyes, letting the silent tears fall down my cheeks.
"Hiro-"
"It's okay, Baymax. You don't need to say anything. I just needed someone to listen," I said without opening my eyes.
"Hiro, I'm-"
"Baymax, really. I just want to sit in the peace and quiet," I replied again, trying to be patient with Baymax.
"My sensors are picking up signs of life." I sat up, opening my eyes and turning to him.
"What?"
"My sensors indicate that another human is in the immediate area."
"Baymax, I thought you said the building structure was interfering with your scanners," I replied, looking at the giant white robot strangely.
"After you fixed them previously, they are in working condition right now. But they are not strong enough to determine anything more about the sign of life." I bit my lip.
"Baymax, are you sure these 'signs of life' aren't just me? I am sitting right here, and your scanner malfunctioned last time we were here."
"No, I am certain there is someone else in this room." I got to my feet and grabbed my helmet.
"Stay here. I'm going to look around if you're so sure about this," I told the robot before walking toward the broken portals. I knocked on all of the walls as I walked, as if hoping to find a secret room somewhere. "This is ridiculous," I muttered.
I gazed up at the pile of rubble that was once the control booth. Climbing back up to the second story of the large room, I shoved open the door, pushing back any rubble that was blocking my path. The caved-in room was almost nothing but a rock pile. I shoved around a few pieces of debris, hoping to find someone somewhere.
"Hello?" I called out. "We're here to help! I have a doctor with me!... Sort of," I trailed off. "My name is Hiro! We're the ones who got Callaghan arrested," I continued, but there was still no answer. My doubt in Baymax grew.
I was about to turn and leave until I noticed something on the ground. It was a different colored panel in the floor, half-covered in debris and rubble.
"Baymax, give me a hand," I called to him, hoping to find something promising under the trap door. Baymax and I pushed the debris back and I pulled the hatch open. It led to a set of stairs that went down into a pitch-black hallway. I stepped carefully down the stairs. "It's so dark in here... Maybe we should go get a flashlight." As I said that, a light came on behind me. I turned to see Baymax with a lit hand.
"My hands are equipped with flashlights," Baymax explained. I smiled gratefully and continued along the dark passage. It was cold and mostly made of stone.
"Where in the world does this- whoa!" I yelled out as I tripped over something. I landed on my hands and knees.
"You have fallen. Are you alright?" Baymax asked. I nodded and turned on my knees to see what I had tripped over. My heart dropped when my eyes landed on an unforgettable, dirty pair of mint green high top shoes. I gulped as I followed Baymax's light along the legs that were covered in ripped brown pants and up the torso that was covered in tattered layers of clothing, including a green blazer, gray cardigan, and black shirt. I felt tears spring to my eyes and my head began to spin as I saw the ratted black hair and closed eyes. My mouth ran dry and my breathing became chaotic. I could barely choke out his name.
"Tadashi..."
Thoughts? Comments? Worth continuing?
