Hiro had tried to stay out of trouble for a couple weeks. He had been doing well and keeping all of his promises to Tadashi. But now he needed a break. Tadashi went home after his classes. He had pulled too many all nighters in a row and needed his rest. It was now close to midnight and the lab was emptying out. Hiro grabbed Megabot off the shelf where he had been sat for inspiration and tucked him into his hoodie before looking up the nearest bot fight.
"Where you going little buddy? Want a ride home?" Wasabi asked as he tried to leave.
Hiro faked a yawn, "I'm kinda tired. But I feel like walking so uh thanks but I'm gonna go now," He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb.
"Alright have a good night. Stay safe," Wasabi said. He turned and almost ran straight into Go-go who stood in front of him with her arms crossed. She popped her gum and scrutinized him, "Let Wasabi take you. He's leaving anyways."
"Nah it's okay. I'm fine," Hiro said, "I'm okay guys really."
"Wutcha got there?" Go-go asked poking his hoodie.
He tensed, "N-nothing important."
"Hiro..." She warned. Hiro sighed and pulled out his robot.
"Explanation. Now," Go-go demanded.
"What's going on?" Honey Lemon asked.
"Hiro's in trouble," Fred whispered to Honey Lemon.
"Maybe he's not," Honey Lemon answered.
"Maybe he is," Fred argued.
"Maybe he's not," She answered back.
"Guys! We can all hear you," Wasabi chastised them.
Hiro rolled his eyes, "I'm just taking it home to work on some stuff."
"Then why'd you hide it?" Go-go asked.
"I... well... I wasn't... I just... it's not a big deal okay?" Hiro asked.
"I'm calling Tadashi," Go-go said.
"No! I mean no don't do that... he's probably still resting," Hiro tried frantically waving his arms.
"Then come home with us," She said stubbornly.
"Why? I told you I want to walk," Hiro tried again but the cool girl wasn't buying it. She pulled out her phone and he visibly cringed.
"Alright alright!" He agreed, "Can we hurry though?" He didn't want to miss the next fight.
"Ready everyone?" Fred asked.
"I told you he's not in trouble," Honey Lemon smirked and strode towards the door happily, "I love when we all go places together!" She gave Hiro a hug.
He smiled at her still wondering if he could make it in time for the next bot fight, "Y-yeah me too."
"Ready Wasabi?" Go-go asked.
"Yup everything's in it's place," He answered admiring all his tools tucked perfectly inside their lines.
Thankfully the group dropped Hiro off first, honking as they left. Hiro cringed. If Tadashi heard that he could know it was them. Hiro waved goodbye at his friends with a plastered smile on his face until they rounded the corner. Then he slunk away into the back alley determined not to be seen.
Tadashi wrapped his towel around him and headed towards his bedroom leaving a trail of wet footprints as he went to answer his phone, "Hey Go-go what's... Where is he now? What? Let me check." He ran to the stairs but he didn't want to worry Aunt Cas so he called to her softly, "Hey Aunt Cas?"
"Yes honey?" She asked.
"Is Hiro back yet?" He asked.
"Not yet. My little college man must be working so hard! Oh I hope he's not overexerting himself," She called.
"I'll take that," Hiro grabbed the money from the pot beaming at the other fighters, "So anyone else want to play?"
"You little brat! Next time I'll..." The lady began.
"Oh there won't be a next time," Spoke a voice from behind him. Hiro cringed and turned to see who it was.
An older chubby man beat his fist into his palm, "Right boys?"
"Y-yama... h-hey. How've you been pal? I gotta say a little jail time looks nice on you man," He began.
"Zeeero," Yama growled.
Hiro pulled his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. Three missed calls from Tadashi! If these guys didn't kill him his brother would, "Well look at the time I actually have a morning class tomorrow so I'm gonna go now. Catch ya later!"
Hiro bolted for the exit with the guys right on his tail. Well the skinnier ones anyways. Yama was still a bit out of shape... okay a lot. He bolted around the corner and ducked down behind the side of a dumpster. Eight missed messages from Tadashi.
Hiro where are you?
Hello?
Are you okay?
What have I told you about not answering your phone?
Go-go told me you lied to them and she thinks you're going bot fighting again.
Hiro if I find out you are bot fighting again so help me, you're going to regret it.
I'm coming to get you.
Hiro's heart skipped a beat at the last message, "When I find you you better have a damn good explanation little brother."
"There he is boss!" One of Yama's men called.
Hiro tried to bolt for it but the man grabbed him by his arm and pushed him up against the wall, "You're not getting away this time punk."
He tried to struggle, "Let go of me. Megabot destroy!"
The other man caught up just in time though seizing the bot and throwing it into the dumpster just as it started going off.
He closed the lid with a slam. He could hear megabot was fighting profusely but it's little build wasn't strong enough to get through the metal walls of the dumpster. The man seized the remote and threw it down the alley way before hitting Hiro in the face hard.
"Ack!" Hiro cried out.
"Not so tough now are ya kid?" The man laughed.
"Let's teach him a little respect boys," Yama said as he reached the three of them. Suddenly sirens and shouting came blaring down the road next to theirs where the bot fight was probably still going on and they all panicked.
Yama pushed Hiro to the ground and the three of them took off yelling cries of, "Not again!" and "Let's get out of here!" Hiro opened the lid grabbed his remote and his cell phone. He clutched his bruised cheek and quickly dialed Tadashi's number.
"Are you hurt?" Tadashi asked.
Hiro laughed nervously, "Nothing I can't handle."
"I'm almost there," Tadashi said, "When your location moved you scared me half to death."
Another chuckle from Hiro, "That phrase seems a little ironic don't you think?"
"That's not funny and this is no time to be joking where are you going?" Tadashi asked following his location. Tadashi had synced the gps in his cell phone when he first got it. That's how he found him last time.
"I'm heading into the main road. I can't get caught again Aunt Cas will freak. You didn't tell her did you?" Hiro asked. He found no point in denying where he'd been and what he had been doing. Tadashi would know.
"No I didn't want to worry her. But I'm the one you should be concerned with. Bot fighting? Again? Is this what we're back to?" Tadashi asked clearly disappointed.
"You know what? Don't bother coming I can get home on my own!" He hung up and stomped towards the direction of the house. A moment later Tadashi pulled up, riding slowly beside him, "Come on. Get on." Hiro crossed his arms and turned away as he picked up his pace.
"Now Hiro, don't make me get off this bike. You will regret it," Tadashi warned.
"I don't need your help I can handle this on my own," He argued.
"Oh so his ears do work? Good to know. I thought I was going to have to get Baymax to-" Tasashi began. Hiro stopped to glare at Tadashi and rolled his eyes.
"Oh his eyes work too. What a relief," Tadashi said. Hiro waved him off and continued to walk.
"Hiro Hamada," Tadashi called sternly.
Hiro stopped moving and cringed. His brother rarely ever used his full name and when he did it was never a good sign, "Tadashi I..."
"Later kiddo," Tadashi explained, "Right now you have three seconds to get on this bike. 1..."
Hiro hurried over and hopped on the bike before Tadashi even had to say 2, "Am I in trouble?"
"What do you think Genius?" Tadashi asked putting the helmet on Hiro's head.
Hiro clung to him, "No?"
"Hold on," Tadashi said and took off without an answer to his question. Hiro clutched him tightly.
"Tadashi I just want to say..." Hiro began.
"Nope," Tadashi cut him off.
"Huh? But I..." he tried again.
"Nope," Tadashi spoke.
"Nope I'm not in trouble?" Hiro attempted.
"Nope I don't want to hear it. Sorry kiddo but you are in a load of trouble, and nothing you say will make it any better or rationalize this so I suggest you accept your fate," Tadashi warned.
Hiro rolled his eyes and Tadashi turned to swat him with each word, "Dont. Roll. Your. Eyes. At. Me!"
"Ow! ow! ow! ow! okay! I'm sorry!" Hiro answered before retightening his grip around his brothers waist.
"You promised me and Aunt Cas! No more bot fighting! Remember?" Tadashi asked.
"I slipped up. It was a mistake! I was bored!" Hiro answered as they pulled into the garage.
Tadashi clicked the button and the door shut behind them with a shudder. Hiro winced knowing his fate was sealed.
"Boredom! That's your best excuse for breaking your promises, lying, and doing something illegal?" Tadashi asked his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
Hiro shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck" "I guess..." Tadashi sat and motioned Hiro forward.
"Oh no. no no no! Not that again!" Hiro argued.
"You knew what I would do the moment you made that decision to go Hiro," Tadashi said.
Hiro flung his arms out like his answer was the most obvious thing in the world, "But I never planned on getting caught! Duh!"
"And that's the ruler," Tadashi replied.
"What? N-no! I didn't mean to say that! I said I was sorry and it won't happen again I swear!" Hiro pleaded.
"Bring it here with you," Tadashi answered patiently, If I have to come to you you will be bare."
Hiro scurried to the work bench quickly not wanting his brother to get up, "Okay, okay!" He grabbed the wooden ruler and shakily handed it to his brother before taking a large step back. His brother raised an eyebrow at him and he slowly laid over his lap after rolling his eyes one more time.
Tadashi began swatting him forcefully with his hand, "What did I tell you about that?"
"Ow! Ow! Whaaaat?" Hiro asked.
"Rolling your eyes at me? That's the third time tonight!" Tadashi continued
"Ow! It was, owwww a mistake Tadaaaashi!" Hiro whined.
"Do you realize if you get arrested again you could lose your place at the school? Then what would you do huh?" Tadashi asked pausing a moment to let the words sink in.
"Uhhh not be bored in my history of robotics class?" Hiro asked bravely.
"Wrong answer kiddo. Why do you always insist on being so sarcastic?" Tadashi asked as the swats continued.
"I learn from the best," Hiro answered and the swats became harder though Tadashi couldn't help the slight grin that came to his face from that comment.
"Owwiiiee okay okay! I'm sorry Tadashi! I'm done! I promise! I'll behave!" Hiro said.
"And?" Tadashi asked.
"And no more bot fights!" He agreed.
"Funny I think I've heard this before," Tadashi said.
"See you're just as sarcas... Ow! Ow! Wait! Okay! Okay! I promise! I promise! No more! Please Tadashi! No more. I promise," Hiro cried. The color in his backside was deepening into a darker shade of red and he wasn't sure how much more he could take.
"And?" Tadashi asked striking his sit spots once more.
"And..." Hiro thought. Tadashi tapped him lightly a few times in warning.
"And no more lies!" Hiro agreed.
"There you go genius. Now there's one more topic to discuss. Can you figure it out?" Tadashi asked. Hiro whimpered in response.
"Think real hard," Tadashi said giving him another swat.
Hiro gasped, "M-my... my attitude?" He asked.
"Good guess but I think we covere that. It's another topic we have discussed many times," Tadashi stated giving him another hard swat, "Think hard Hiro."
"Ow! My... Uhhh... oh not answering my phone?" He asked.
"Bingo. now how many missed calls did you have Hiro?" Tadashi asked.
"Three..."Hiro squirmed but Tadashi wasn't letting him up.
"Good now why don't you count these ones kiddo? Assuming you can still count that high genius and not all of your brain cells escaped you today. Though I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case?" Tadashi asked.
Hiro groaned, "Yes Sir I can..."
Tadashi brought the ruler down forcefully and Hiro cried out, "O-one Sir!"
Another smack filled the room," Ack! t-two S-sir."
One more, Hiro thought as he braced himself for the third strike "Th-three Siiirrrr!" Was it over? He tried to move but Tadashi tapped the arch at the top of his thighs lightly making him wince.
"And how many text messages did you miss?" Tadashi asked. Hiro's eyes widened and he clutched onto his older brother's jeans tightly.
"Come on Hiro. Don't make me pull your pants down. We are almost done here," Tadashi warned.
"Ei-Eight S-sir," Hiro answered reluctantly.
"Good job, eight more little buddy. You don't have to count these ones," Tadashi instructed, "You ready?" Hiro nodded solemnly knowing that arguing wasn't going to help him in his current predicament.
Tadashi landed the last eight making Hiro lurch forward with each smack. He mouthed "Ow" a few times but he didnt say a word. Tadashi rubbed his back when it was over and pulled him up into a tight hug. Hiro cringed and stood quickly, rubbing his pants to try to get rid of the sting.
"Hiro, you know I love you right, and you understand why I punished you?" Tadashi asked. Hiro smirked and rolled his eyes earning himself another swat from Tadashi, "That's four eye rolls tonight."
"Ouch I know. I'm sorry. Maybe my eyes are broken?" Hito asked. smirking as he stepped into his brother's embrace. "I know. I love you too."
Tadashi grabbed Hiro's chin and looked him over, "Actually. Your left eye seems a bit red and it may be a little swollen."
Hiro laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck, "Haha yeah about that. I may have ran into a few friends."
"You were hurt? Abd you didn't say anything?" Tadashi asked his voice growing more stern.
"I forgot. It's no big deal honestly. I was a bit preoccupied. My a.. uhhh... butt hurts worse thanks to you," Hiro said.
"Should I add a few more swats for language?" Tadashi said raising an eyebrow.
Hiri shook his hands placatingy, "No no that's okay. I didn't say it. I almost did... sorry Sir."
Tadashi sighed, "Come on let's go get Baymax to check you out." They snuck upstairs calling out goodnight to Aunt Cas as they reached their room.
"Goodnight boys I love you! Sleep well!" Aunt Cas answered followed by a hearty meow from Mochi.
"It seems your buttocks is inflamed. I would suggest..." Baymax began.
"No Baymax he has brrn disciplined, his eye is the problem," Tadashi instructed making Hiro blush.
"Oh I see... Your eye is slightly swollen I eould suggest an ice pack. The swelling should go down by morning but I can give you this to help with any bruising." Baymax handed him a creamy substance.
Hiro twirled the compact disk in his hand, Wait a second. Baymax? Is this makeup?" Hiro asked, "Is this Aunt Cas's?"
"Unfortunately I do not have a cure for bruising. But this should help to cover it up," Baymax said, "Is there anything you wish to talk about?"
"No Baymax, I got in a fight. Sorry to worry you," Hiro answered.
"If you don't sleep well this also helps with dark circles, and age defining wrinkles. Maybe She's born with it. Maybe its Maybell..."
"Okay! Thank you I am satisfied with my care," Hiro said. Hiro shook his head. "Maybe we shouldn't leave him activated so much. I think he's been watching too much TV with Aunt Cas." Hiro laughed.
"I know," Tadashi shrugged, "But she says she likes the company."