3:

Tadashi was the first to react to Erik's words whereas Hiro was still trying to figure out what he meant by someone finding them. Who? The man in all black because he could have told them that. Not to mention that he still felt dizzy and that the beginning stages of a migraine was setting in.

Tadashi wasted no time, however, and instantly latched onto his arm and demanded in a low throaty growl, "Stay close to me Hiro."

A surge of something warm and fuzzy flooded through Hiro and he didn't even mind that he was 16- no longer a child- and more than capable of taking care of himself yet his brother still felt the need to protect him. It was one of the things he missed- the sense of always being safe and protected. And, sure, he felt safe around the others- his team- but it was a different kind of safe.

So bright eyes latched onto his brother's as he nodded and then they were moving. Hiro doesn't think Tadashi released his grasp on his jacket sleeve as they exited the treehouse or while they were running through the woods, following Erik as he ducked and weaved through the immense tree trunks.

They ran until the sun started to peak through the thick tree foliage and then they only stopped because a sharp pain pierced itself through Hiro's brain causing him to grunt and jerk himself out of Tadashi's grasp as he collapsed to his knees on the dirt floor.

"Hiro?" his brother's concerned voice echoed somewhere through the sharp pangs vibrating through Hiro's skull; his head felt like it was going to explode any second.

"Hiro?" Tadashi repeated when his brother ignored him, kneeling down on his toes to try and fold himself in a tight ball.

"How are you doing baby?"

"Tadashi!" Erik shouted and Hiro didn't have to look to know his brother was wearing a lost and more than slightly panicked expression.

Then Hiro felt his brother's arms circle around his chest as strong arms hefted him up in an equally strong grasp. He wasted no time borrowing himself in the crook of his brother's neck, a soft murmur of pain softly escaping from his lips.

"The doctors tell me that there hasn't been any change, but I know you'll pull through. You're strong."

They were moving again, Hiro could feel the gentle jostling as Tadashi kept easy pace with Erik. A pang of guilt struck through Hiro at the thought of holding them back, putting Tadashi in danger. And the worst part is that he knew he wasn't useless and was more than capable of keeping pace with Tadashi and Erik but whatever the man in all black did to him was slowing them down.

Maybe that's why he had been targeted in the treehouse. He was the most defenseless considering he didn't have any fancy powers or abilities and- the more he thought about it- perhaps that was why he was there at all. Somehow the man in black sucked him into this world as a means of capturing Tadashi.

Hiro's grasp around his brother's neck tightened and it wasn't because of the pain resounding through his head.

There was no way he was letting some jerk hurt his brother. Not after everything they've both been through and, in the end, Hiro was determined to make sure his brother stays happy and safe.

"You okay buddy?" Tadashi asked him suddenly, growing more concerned by his brother's increasingly clinginess; something that only happens whenever his brother is hurt or scared.

Hiro relinquished his grip as he breathed, "I'm fine. You can set me down now."

Tadashi chuckled humorlessly, the vibrations of his throat seeping into Hiro's forehead and, surprisingly enough, calming him.

"Not on your life," his brother denied and Hiro figured it wasn't the best time to pitch an argument with his brother; besides, he doesn't think he would be capable of winning. Not with the overwhelming sense of relief at the fact that his brother wasn't dead- just lost.

"Come on baby, wake up. I can't lose you too."

"Shh," and it took Hiro a second to realize that that had been Erik and not some echoing voice in his head, and Tadashi slowed down to a stop.

Hiro blinked his eyes, peeking his head away from his brother's chest to see that Erik had stopped also and was wearing a serious expression on his face. He looked like he was listened for something. One glance at Tadashi, Hiro realized he was listening for it also.

Can they hear the voices also? Hiro wondered idly as he waited with batted breath, trying to hear whatever had them so worried.

Silence and then a soft crunch. A limb of a tree breaking, tumbling towards the ground, and then Hiro saw it.

The man in all black stood perched behind them, balanced perfectly on a tree limb and watching them through a white mask. Goosebumps spread across his skin at the sight and he opened his mouth to warn the others when his world was suddenly bathed in a white light and a piercing ringing sensation.

He screamed or he think he did.

He was aware of his mouth opening itself up in the pretenses of a scream but can't recall any sound coming out. Or he couldn't hear it over the ringing sound.

And then, as quickly as it happened, it was over.

He blinked into awareness, sitting up on his knees. Beside him, Tadashi was also on his knees eyes clenched tightly shut and painful scream escaping his lips as he doubled over, forehead kissing the dirt ground. On his other side, Erik didn't seem to be faring much better.

"What did you do?" Hiro demanded when he noticed the man in black standing several feet away, seemingly watching them wither in pain like a bunch of pathetic worms.

The man didn't reply and Hiro tried bolting to his feet but the resounding ringing brought him back to his knees. The man remained silent.

"What do you want with Tadashi?" Hiro continued from his spot on the ground as he felt his hands shake, either from anger or adrenaline he wasn't sure, as he continued, "Whatever it is, I won't let you do it! I won't let you hurt my brother anymore!"

It sounded nice, at least.

Unfortunately, the man didn't seem to care what some scrawny 16-year-old had to say as he strolled over to them. Hiro felt his heart quicken as he rose to interfere- the only thing keeping him upright being his determined protectiveness over his brother.

"I-I won't let you touch him," Hiro ground out through painfully tight teeth as he narrowed dark eyes on the threat before him.

Two years ago he probably wouldn't have felt as brave, standing before an obviously powerful enemy without any way to conceal his secret identity or without anyone to back him up, but this was to keep his brother safe- something he never once considered he'd ever have to do.

Now he felt more comfortable with his increased combat skills because what he lacks in special gadgets he gained in combat- a skill he hardly ever has to utilize but it makes the rest of the team feel better that he could usually take them on without their special upgrades. And he was about to put all those long nights of training to use.

Spreading his feet in a fighting stance he pushed away all the access pain. Like GoGo always says, pain is only a feeling the brain creates. Stop thinking about it and it'll stop hurting, which isn't entirely true but it helps fighting wise if he doesn't allow himself to linger on all his aches and pains.

"If you want him," Hiro growled passionately, "you'll have to go through me."

And even then, he doesn't think it'll be enough. By that time, though, Erik should've recovered and, hopefully, whisk Tadashi to safety.

Behind the mask the guy chuckled as if he was amused. Hiro almost chuckled with him because it wasn't every day someone as powerful as him gets challenged by someone as insignificant as Hiro but this was to protect Tadashi. Hiro would rather die than to let anything else happen to him.

Then the man's stance changed to one about to fight and Hiro took another deep breath before charging.

Always charge first, GoGo had told him, it gives you the advantage of surprise. Otherwise you'll have no idea of when they'll attack.

Unfortunately, this man seemed prepared.

He sidestepped him easily, hands latching onto the back of his jacket and throwing him on the ground knocking the breath out of him. Hiro gasped, going to roll over when the man's foot slammed into the back of his head. This time his teeth rattled as his face smacked against the hard ground; something that did his headache no favors.

Hiro blinked away black spots dancing in his vision as he kept his face pressed against the surface, brain rapidly forming a new plan. He kept his limbs limp, faking unconsciousness, and when he heard the guy move away he attacked.

As quick as a striking snake, he swung his legs around to connect with the man's shins. The move not only surprised him but also brought him careening on his butt in the dirt. Hiro wasted no time kicking the side of the guy's head, mostly out of revenge than anything else.

"Eat dirt," he growled, wiping his mouth as he climbed on shaking knees.

The man just laughed as he sat upright so he could observe Hiro with newfound interest as he muttered, "Interesting."

"Yeah well," Hiro shrugged, "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

He reared back to re-kick the man in the face. The man caught his foot centimeters before it could connect to anything.

"You'll come to find," the man spoke in a neutral tone, "So am I."

He surged forward, tossing Hiro over his shoulder simultaneously and Hiro barely had enough time to catch himself with his hands, flipping him over on his rear. When he clambered to his feet, turning back around, the man was still standing several feet away. Watching. Observing.

He lifted a black gloved hand and flexed his fingers in the classic 'come and get it' sign. And so Hiro did because as long as he was stalling the guy by fighting him then he wasn't attacking Tadashi so no matter how this fight turns out he's set up to win.

Protect Tadashi, that's all that mattered.

Unfortunately, though, the man also knew how to play dirty.

He caught Hiro's fist easily, handing clouding around with a black fog and Hiro's entire arm from his wrist to shoulder went numb. He jerked the useless limb free, feeling it slap against his side useless.

"Crap," he muttered glancing up in time to see the fist approaching his face.

He did manage to duck out of the incoming fist's path, tripping the man with his foot and appreciated when he feel to his knees. His arm still felt numb.

"Playing dirty, huh?" Hiro asked turning his attention to his opponent, "Okay then."

Because Hiro had a couple of dirty tricks up his sleeve.

He rushed forward, using his numb arm as a decoy. He swung the useless thing, the man latching out to grab it before he had a chance to process what was happening, and Hiro quickly used his still working hand in every pressure point he knows about courtesy of Honey Lemon and Wasabi.

It was great having smart, overprotective friends.

The man's arm feel limply to his side and Hiro managed one last jab into his stomach before a fist in the gut knocked him back on his back. His lungs emptied and he felt like a turtle flipped over as he gasped for his breathe.

By the time he managed to regain enough strength to glance over to check on how his opponent was doing, the man was already clambering to his feet. The sight sent Hiro's teeth re-grounding together as he tried rolling over to his feet.

"Come on Hiro. Shake it off," he grunted managing to flip over on his stomach, hefting himself up with his elbows and knees as he continued, "It's just bones and organs."

The man, who recovered quicker than the normal foes Hiro was used to fighting, charged again and Hiro actually felt like he was about to die. Surprising enough, though, a wall of vines shot out from the ground in front of him protecting him from attack. Blinking in surprise, Hiro turned to see Erik on his feet with both hands spread in front of him.

"You alright?" he asked and Hiro felt a grin cross his features.

"I've had better days," he responded and Erik chuckled as he bent one arm, drawing it close to his body, and the wall disappeared.

The man in black barely had a chance to process this as a vine wrapped around his ankle and flung him up in the trees.

"Wake your brother," Erik demanded as he walked towards the man, "Maybe he'll respond to your voice."

It was worth a shot. Besides, Hiro was more than willing to hand the fight over to Erik.

Clambering to his feet he rushed to his brother's side, sliding the last couple of feet. His chest hurt, his arm was still numb, and his legs weren't going anywhere anytime soon but Tadashi was on his side, eyes closed, and Hiro felt something inside him sprout back to life as he shook his brother's shoulder.

"Tadashi," he half-whispered and half-growled, "Time to wake up now before your friend gets his tail whipped."

Because Erik might have an advantage over him but Hiro was smart enough to know that the man in black could probably take all three over them and win. Tadashi remained as useless and unconscious as before, though, and Hiro shook his should with his one good hand with renewed vigor.

"Tadashi," and that one came out as a whine as he glanced over his shoulder in time to see Erik go soaring into a tree trunk.

The man in black was playing with them, Hiro realized as the man approached calmly. He was so very dead.

This time when he went to clamber back on his feet, his legs felt like Jell-O and it took most of all his strength to remain upright.

"I'm warning you," Hiro spoke as confidently as he could.

The man just simply raised a single finger and all of Hiro's muscles froze. Then the man snapped and something deep within Hiro snapped and shook and he collapsed on his side next to Tadashi, gasping for air desperately while wild eyes watched the man's black boots as he drew closer.

Never before has Hiro faced anyone with as much power as this guy had and he suddenly yearned for Baymax.

The man stopped before him, lifting him off the ground and over his shoulder like he weighed close to nothing as he toed Tadashi's side and said, "Come save your brother."

Somehow the words must have made its way through Tadashi's thick skull because he groaned as consciousness returned and Hiro didn't see when his brother opened his eyes and realized what was happening but he could estimate based on what he heard.

"Release him!" Tadashi shouted and must have surged forward to attack because the man stepped to the side like he was dodging an attack.

"I don't think so," the man spoke and Hiro's brain tiredly supplied that this was the most he's heard the guy speak since he met him on the beach the day previous before he felt himself flipped over on his back where he stayed, suspended in air like a magic trick while the man continued taunting his brother, "but you're more than welcome to try and reclaim him."

Hiro could practically hear Tadashi's angry growl from his spot floating in mid-air. It was nice to know that Tadashi was as protective of him as he is.

Then his brother must have charged because it suddenly got really hot and he could hear the sound of two grown men wrestling in leather outfits. This was his life now.

Then his headache returned with full force and he dropped into oblivion.


He was back in the hospital only this time he was in whatever room served as a break room for the nurses. They were herded together, a whole flock of pale green scrubs and messy hair put up in tight buns. Each of them clutched a Styrofoam cup of what Hiro assumed was coffee. And they were gossiping.

"That poor child in room B112," one of them cooed as she sipped at the bitter liquid, "Shot and in a coma while he's still so young."

Hiro felt his heart go out to whoever they were talking about and he regretted not being able to rescue him. To keep him safe from things like this but he was only 16 and in college and there's no way he's capable of protecting everyone.

Not that that's ever stopped him before.

"And the family," another woman added, "distraught at the idea of losing him so soon. With still so much untapped potential."

Hiro glanced away, wondering why he was forced to listen to this.

Hiro blinked and the scene faded…


… He woke to the sight of Erik staring down at him.

He blinked, not yet comprehending the sight, as he allowed a frown crease his face at the hard anger in the man's eyes.

"What's up with you?" he demanded and the man smirked maliciously.

"Nothing much," he responded as he laid a large hand over his chest, "but I'm going to enjoy how much this is going to hurt."

And it did. A lot.

Hiro grunted as he felt something snap inside his chest before gravity took back over and he ended up back on the ground.

"Ow," he groaned as Erik wasted no time jerking him back to his feet.

"I've got him!" he called and Hiro noticed for the first time his brother still fighting the man in black, and he looked like he was kicking serious butt.

Flames surrounded Tadashi and every time the man tried to retaliate the angry beatings he had to pull back or risk getting burnt. Needless to say, Hiro's brother looked awesome and perhaps a little scary.

At the sound of Erik's voice, though, his head turned and a relieved look crossed his eyes as he kicked the man in the ribs once more before jogging over where he quickly gathered Hiro in a tight flame-free hug. Tadashi's large warm hand grasped the back of Hiro's head, tangling his fingers in Hiro's mop of dark brown tangles.

"I'm so relieved you're okay," he breathed and Hiro blinked as the man in black seemed to recover.

"Yeah," he agreed pulling away, "but not for long if we don't get out of here."

Understanding flashed through Tadashi's eyes as he jerked away and started running. Hiro followed close behind, dragged along by the hand wound tightly around his wrist.

Something like a whip curled around his waist and he felt himself jerk away, out of Tadashi's grasp and into the arms of the man in black 20 feet in the air.

"NO!" Tadashi screamed from the ground, head bent back to keep his eyes on them as he sprinted towards their direction.

Hiro squirmed but it didn't seem to help any as the man continued to grasp his waist tightly and then a hand touched the side of his temple and he was out.

Again.


Hiro awoke on a comfortably made bed in a comfortable sterile white room without a headache for the first time since being confronted in Tadashi's room. The only other piece of furniture was a comfortable looking chair occupied by a comfortable looking man in black, and then it all came rushing back to him.

He had been kidnapped for still uncertain nefarious purposes.

"Glad to see you finally regaining consciousness," the man informed curtly and Hiro realized it has been the first time he's seen the guy without a mask, "I was starting to worry I'd be bored to death before you finally woke up."

Hiro didn't reply, just narrowed his focus on the almost young looking features of a man that could've been considered handsome had it not been for the long jagged scar marking his left eye. Tufts of blond hair, neatly combed and kept sat atop his head and Hiro would've never guessed it was the same guy that attacked them if it wasn't for the fact that he still wore his black suit.

"I must say," the man continued thoughtfully as he considered Hiro like one would an important piece of art, "you don't look like much but you're a crafty little thing that can throw a good punch."

"Thanks," Hiro muttered as he too considered his captor, "So you were the one who brought me here?"

The man frowned, a sour expression as he replied, "Sort of. I definitely drew you here but I'm not the thing keeping you teetered."

"Which means what?" Hiro asked with a frown.

One day he's sure bad guys will say something that makes sense.

The man just smirked at him as he replied, "I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. My name's Alphonse and yours is Hiro-"

"Yeah," Hiro interrupted with a frown, "Why am I here, and where is here? And what do you want with my brother?"

His eyes were practically burning now, demanding answers. Alphonse just frowned a thoughtful frown as he brought a finger to his chin in careful consideration.

"You're here because of what I want with your brother," he explained slowly before focusing on Hiro's gaze and added with the finality of a doctor that's seen too much to feel anything anymore, "Hiro, you're dying."