It took a couple of days but Hiro finally figured it out, Mercury was a genius well beyond his years just like Hiro. So, logically speaking, the best way to communicate with Mercury would be through knowledge!
Hiro spun around in his chair trying not to fall asleep, it was maybe six in the morning and he was hoping to talk to Mercury alone. He heard that he usually opened the lab because he was always an early riser. His suspicions were proven correct when he heard the door beep and Mercury walked in with a smile on his face and a large mug of coffee.
The second he realized that Hiro was also in the room he visibly deflated "No! Why?! Why are you here?!" he asked in annoyance. Mercury sat down and slammed his head into the desk, Hiro cleared his throat not the greeting he was expecting.
"I was hoping to talk to you. I need your help." Hiro asked softly. Mercury turned his head and looked at Hiro in the eye confused. Hiro took this chance to walk over and show his notebook "I'm having trouble figuring out the problem on this helmet of mine." he explained not giving away too much information.
Mercury glanced at the page for a split second before glaring at Hiro again "You're using the Heimer Equation when you should be using the Dopper Equation you idiot!" he said before opening his notebook. Hiro was stunned, he had barely looked at the page and he figured out the problem immediately. Hiro had been struggling with the problem for over a week and Mercury figured it out in less then a second, he gave a smile and Mercury glanced back at him "What?" he asked softly.
Hiro noticed that there was no anger in his question, only curiosity. Hiro leaned over "What are you working on?" he asked, Mercury glared but Hiro gave his classic innocent smile and he rolled his eyes.
"Trying to figure out an equation that can keep electricity stable enough to be permanently harnessed as an energy source." he muttered before standing up. Hiro followed him and continued to ask questions about his work. Mercury walked out of the lab holding the notebook "Look can you leave me the hell alone?! I can't think when the most annoying person on the planet is hovering over me asking questions!" he growled and Hiro nodded.
Mercury had taken five steps when Hiro blurted out "Why don't you like me?!" he practically shouted, it echoed through the empty building. The taller teenager turned around and looked at Hiro with a bored expression, then he left without another word.
Hiro groaned in frustration before he walked back in the lab and took out his helmet. He quickly encoded the correct equation and put the helmet on "Hey guys? Can you hear me clearly?" he asked into the microphone.
"Loud and clear from the Fredman!"
"Yep reading you!"
"Why are you talking?"
"Oh you got it working again! Yay!"
Hiro smiled, he loved his friends so much, they were all so different but still so amazing! The door opened and he quickly turned around and took off his helmet. Mercury rounded the corner and Hiro gave a smile and wave as the teenager stared at him strangely.
"You're a weird dude. I forgot my coffee." he said and walked over and grabbed his mug. As he was walking Hiro continued staring at him, he probably should not have been having the thoughts he was having but he couldn't help it. Tadashi was the only person that ever knew about...his feelings. Ever since he was a kid he always looked at guys, he never looked at girls and he always thought that he was a freak because of it. Tadashi said that it was totally normal and that he should never be ashamed of who he is...and then he died.
He continued staring at Mercury as he started for the door and he stopped and started to turn around. Hiro freaked and quickly looked back at his notes but he was sure that Mercury saw him staring. He waited for him to insult Hiro and call him a weirdo but he was met with the sound of the door closing.
He turned around and Mercury was gone, probably went to work in his personal lab that everyone was issued. Hiro sighed and decided to do the same, he walked into it and realized that maybe he should clean up all the trash and broken gadgets. Wasabi had refused to even set foot in his lab because it was so filthy and disorganized.
Hiro sat down at his desk and put his face against his hands, this was going to be so much tougher than he thought. He couldn't even figure out why Mercury hated him because he would just not respond! He threw his helmet at the wall and it bounced back and hit his nose.
"OW!" he shouted as he grabbed his throbbing nose.
Suddenly he heard a beep and his best friend/personal healthcare robot activated "Hello, I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion. Hello Hiro, I am detecting a small injury in the nasal cavity, would you like a tissue?" Baymax asked walking over to the table and picking up a tissue for him.
Hiro took it and pressed it against his nose, he was just so glad that Mercury wasn't there to see him hurt himself. Baymax walked over and displayed a heart monitor "I am detecting elevated heart rate. Are you feeling alright Hiro?" he asked.
Hiro nodded as he threw the tissue away and picked up his helmet and looked at the small crack in the visor. He put it down on the desk and pulled out his tools, he took out the visor and worked on the visor to fix the crack. He heard a small knock but barely registered it "I will get it." Baymax said and walked to the door. He heard the door opened "Hello, I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion." Baymax said.
"Holy crap...Never thought Tad would actually get you working." a bored voice said. Hiro shot his head up to see Mercury standing there with his coin in his mouth like usual staring at Baymax. He cocked his head and Baymax followed his movement.
"My scanners detect severe burns on your left hip. Might I suggest..." Baymax started but Mercury cut him off.
"You can take your suggestion and shove it Baymax. Granville is looking for you kid." Mercury said and Hiro nodded before he walked out the door and said goodbye to Baymax.
They left the larger lab and started down the hall "Why does Granville want to see me?" he asked curiously.
Mercury sighed heavily "Don't know or care all I know is she wanted both of us to see her right now." he said as they walked into her room. She was sitting at her desk filling out papers and when she saw them her eyes seemed to brighten.
"I see you two have become friends." she said and Mercury scoffed which hurt Hiro but he said nothing. Granville heard the scoff "Maybe not, I have called you both because I have been asked to task two students with coming up with a new source of viable energy that could sustain the city. Since you Hiro, have been one of my top students and you Mercury, are not only my top student but have been working on new energy sources already I can think of no one better to work on this assignment." she explained.
Mercury looked like he wanted to vomit "You can't be serious?!" he blurted out and Hiro looked down at the teens harsh words. Mercury looked like he was about to complain some more but Granville slammed her hands onto her desk scaring both of them.
"Enough of the complaints Mr. Tetch! You two will just have to get along! That's the end of it! A lab has been cleared so you two can work in peace! You have three months to come up with a new source and I hope to see results!" she shouted and both boys nodded in fear.
They left the room and Mercury walked down the hall holding a piece of paper that had the information they needed on the new energy source and their lab number. Hiro followed close behind and Mercury opened the door and gave a deep sigh at the lab, Hiro walked next to him and looked around.
It was fairly large with a work space, a testing room with a glass divider so they could watch and not get hurt, and two desks right next to each other. Mercury looked annoyed beyond belief as he walked over and sat down. Hiro sat at the other desk and gave a shy smile "So I guess we're partners now huh?" he said sheepishly.
Mercury looked at him and glared.
"I hate you."
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