Edit: Deleted some words that I leftat the nottomof the page by accident .
Episode 2
Welcome to Nerve: Part 1
"Time to go soon…" Aunt Cass whispered softly, shadows under her eyes telling the tale of how restful her night was. She pushed a plate with strawberries and grapes towards Hiro, "Do you know where Tadashi went?"
Hiro shook his head. He had woken up alone in his bed, the blankets draped gently over his form. Tadashi hadn't answered any texts or picked up his phone once. The pressure from last night returned in a slow, steady build, like a pressure cooker ready to pop. He couldn't face Gendo by himself, he didn't have the courage to.
Footsteps stomped up the stairs. Aunt Cass and Hiro looked up to see Tadashi reaching the last step, red faced and panting, holding a red container under his arm.
"Sorry…about…that," Tadashi said in-between breathes, "Had to…pick something…up from…SFIT…"
"Tadashi…did you run all the way?" Aunt Cass asked in amazement.
Tadashi nodded weakly, "Forgot about…the moped…didn't think through…it…my bad…"
Hiro peered at the containing closely, trying to remember where he had seen it before. After a moment, he said, "Ow."
The container beeped and Hiro felt satisfied until he realized that Tadashi was still holding the container as something massive and white began inflating. Tadashi dropped it in surprise as the white mass finished inflating and stood upright. Hiro barely registered the scowl his brother was giving him and stared at the humanoid robot with the pudgy torso and solid black eyes with no mouth.
The humanoid raised its right hand and waved it in a circular motion, speaking in a masculine monotone, "Hello, I am Baymax, your Personal Healthcare Companion. I was alerted to the need for medical attention when you said: 'ow'."
Baymax's chest lit up with ten different faces going from a smiley face to an expression of pure agony, "On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?"
"I'm satisfied with my care," Tadashi said quickly. Baymax immediately began to deflate, going back into his container.
"Sorry," Hiro mumbled to his brother and aunt, "I was just testing it. Why'd you bring Baymax home?"
Tadashi sighed, "Well, since we're both going to Japan against our will, I figured I could at least bring something along to work on. I just got Baymax working and I can't just leave him here. He'll need constant testing and adjustments."
"In other words, something to keep you busy," Hiro supplied. Tadashi didn't answer, but his shoulders slumped a little.
Aunt Cass went over and guided Tadashi towards the table, "You should eat something, sweetie. It's going to be a long plane ride."
"So we're just going to let this happen?" Hiro asked out loud, "We aren't going to do something to make that prick back off?"
But he wasn't expecting an answer from either of them. Hiro just wanted to vent and they knew it. What could any of them do to prevent this?
There was a loud knock downstairs that made everyone jump. Mochi, who had been drinking from his water dish, sat upright and perked his ears. Aunt Cass and Tadashi shared a look.
"It couldn't be…" Tadashi whispered.
Aunt Cass shook her head, "Not for another hour."
As they spoke, Hiro stood up and grabbed the most threatening thing near him, a broom, and braved his way downstairs. He creepy down each step, keeping the broom head upright like a sword, and spunk along the walls when he reached the final step. He let out a sigh and weakly smiled when he saw Honey Lemon standing outside the door to the café, her face peering through the windows that weren't covered by blinds.
He walked up and opened the door, yelping when Honey Lemon immediately wrapped him in her arms. Hiro was hoping that she wouldn't notice how hot his cheeks were becoming.
"Thank goodness, we were so worried about you two. What happened?!"
Almost immediately, his face went icy cold and he gently pried himself away, trying not to let Honey Lemon see how distraught he was becoming. He didn't register the broom had slipped from his grasp and cluttered to the floor as he placed his weight on a nearby table for support.
"Hiro, who is it?" Aunt Cass called down anxiously.
"Its H.L.," Hiro managed to get out weakly, "You can come down."
His heart sank as he looked between Honey Lemon and Tadashi as he stepped downstairs, knowing that neither of them would be seeing each other for a while and it was all his fault…
"Guys?" Hiro froze when he heard Go Go behind them, hearing her walk in without invitation. He slowly turned and tried not to let any of them see how much he felt like crumbling.
Fred and Wasabi stood at the door, waiting to be welcomed in as well.
"Is that guy gone now?" Wasabi asked nervously.
"Was…" Fred's voice faltered as Tadashi slowly walked to the door and gently pulled the two in. Fred tried again, "Was that really Hiro's dad?"
Hiro bit his lower lip and ducked his head, unwilling to answer.
"We're supposed to leave for Japan today," Tadashi whispered.
"What?!" Wasabi protested, "Why?!"
"We can't say," Tadashi answered in the same mumble, "We can't say no, either. He made it clear he could separate us if he wanted to. If you guys have anything to say, now would be the good time to do so."
No one waited for a response and simply grouped together like lost sheep. Hiro curled into himself and clenched his eyes shut, not wanting to see the hurt in everyone else's eyes and be reminded that if it wasn't for him, his brother wouldn't have to leave. His brother wouldn't have to go off to Japan for reasons unknown. Any goodwill he might have built up with Tadashi's friends might already be gone now, no matter what anyone else told him.
"We'll send letters. Or emails," Honey Lemon offered, "Just try and let us know you're okay."
"We'll try," Tadashi said.
"When are you leaving?" Go Go asked quietly.
"About an hour or so," Tadashi sighed.
"What can we do until then?" Wasabi looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
"Just…just stay here until we have to leave," Hiro replied and then added nervously, "Please?"
"Always," Go Go then proceeded to pull Hiro into her arms. He stood limp in the embrace, dimly aware of how startled everyone else was.
He couldn't remember how long she was holding him for. Hiro started to suspect – in a schadenfreude way – that he was beginning to pick up the ability to black out on the spot if things were getting more than a little emotional.
For example, he couldn't remember being seated at one of the empty café tables. Nor could he recall what he was chewing in his mouth, though he did taste cinnamon and sugar. Did someone else bring down the suitcase and carry-on or did he forget about that, too? And how long had that limo been parked outside the café for?
Then he saw the woman – Katsuragi, was it? - stepping out and making her way to the door.
Aunt Cass begrudgingly let the woman in. Katsuragi stood calm and cool, as if she didn't realize she had just stepped into a den of lions. Her face softened a little when she caught sight of Hiro, though.
"We're waiting for you two," she said, as if the limo outside wasn't obvious enough, sparing a glance at Tadashi when she did so, "I hope you two are done packing."
Tadashi had been standing up, his frame leaning against a chair next to the table Hiro was sitting at. He sighed deeply and nodded slowly.
Katsuragi looked at the others with a small amount of suspicion, now, "And them?"
"Why are they heading to Japan?" Go Go asked briskly.
"Classified," Katsuragi said without missing a beat.
"Hey, I never got to ask you this, but are you Hiro's dad's groupie or something?"
Katsuragi's face morphed into something cartoonishly irritated, her eyes popping out and her mouth gaping like a fish, "I-I don't know what you're talking about…"
"You know," Fred continued, "Girlfriend? Friend with benefits? Sex buddy?"
"I'm none of those things and my relationship with the Commander is strictly professional," Katsuragi managed to regain her composure, but her right eye still twitched with irritation now and again, "And I would appreciate it if you didn't ask those kinds of questions again, young man."
"Aright, alright," Fred said dramatically, and then muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, "I still think you're a groupie, though."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that last part," Katsuragi said calmly.
Hiro slowly stood up, grabbing a bag in each hand and waited for his brother.
"We'll keep in touch with you two," Honey Lemon said gently, though her eyes were watery.
"Don't let that guy push you around," Go Go added. She patted Hiro twice on the shoulder and moved out of the way.
"We'll miss you two," Wasabi looked at Hiro and Tadashi with a solemn expression.
You'll only miss Tadashi, Hiro thought quietly.
Fred was the only one who didn't speak up, his face flush with either barely contained anger or embarrassment, Hiro wasn't certain. Without saying anything, Fred walked over and touched Tadashi's shoulder. And then pulled him in, kissing him lightly on the lips for a moment. Fred pulled away just as quickly. Tadashi stared at him with wide eyes, before placing one hand on Fred's cheek.
Hiro stared, his insides becoming chilly.
"I had to do that," Fred replied, his voice cracking and his eyes avoiding Tadashi's gaze, "Just once."
Tadashi smiled back just as weakly, "It's fine. Just warn me next time we meet up."
Fred's eyes bulged, "Next time?"
"Well, if you wanted to try something when Hiro and I get back…" Tadashi's voice trailed off.
"Yeah," Fred nodded eagerly, clearing his throat as his voice cracked a little, "Yeah, I'd like that."
Hiro bit his lip. He didn't know Fred that well, he couldn't really claim to consider him a friend, all things considered. But he was Tadashi's friend for a good length of time, so his brother would naturally know him better. What he just witnessed at that moment could have been building up for a while, now. Whatever might happen next wouldn't occur because of this. Hiro was reminded of one more thing he was pulling his brother away from and wished that Tadashi wouldn't be so selfless for his own sake.
(0-0)
Clouds drifted, like small waves lapping a shore. They curled and drifted daintily, massive and enveloping the earth beneath it.
Hiro had never been on a plane before. Well, he doesn't think he's been a plane before in memory, and now recent developments have made it clear that that was being called into question now. Did he ever get a passport? Was he born in the U.S.? Was that why he didn't have anybody try to deport him or something like that?
He knew that he couldn't get any straight-forward answers from Gendo and he wasn't going to start trying to.
A private jet. That is what was waiting for them at the airport. An entire plane to themselves with velvet seating, wide space and several rows of flat screen televisions that gave the impression of being a fancy-schmancy movie theater.
Hiro and Tadashi had taken seating in the back as far away from Gendo as they could. Which worked out well, as Gendo had taken a seat near the front with Rei. Katsuragi had, thankfully, gotten the hint and also gave the brothers a bit of berth as well. The resentment Hiro felt for her had dwindled a little and he smiled in appreciation her way when she caught his eye.
(0-0)
A little over 12 hours later, Hiro was stretching and yawning loudly. It was nighttime by now, he was certain of that.
"We should be reaching headquarters shortly," Katsuragi followed Hiro and Tadashi off the plane into the airport, "Just sit tight for a little bit, okay?"
"Hey, since we're in Japan," Hiro started, "I had a thought. Is English your first language?"
"Nope, second or third," Katsuragi responded.
"…" Hiro turned his head, "Your accent's really good, I couldn't tell the difference."
Katsuragi gave him a bright smile, "Aw, thanks! Hope your Japanese isn't rusty."
"I live in SanFransokyo," Hiro responded drily, "I grew up on that and English."
"Good, cause you're gonna be speaking Japanese for a while."
"Yay…" Hiro spoke in the same, dry monotone.
"Trust me," Katsuragi continued as Gendo and Rei picked up the rear, "When we get to Tokyo-3, it'll feel like you never left home at all…"
As they entered into the airport, her voice faltered as they all stared at a literal sea of hats – no, sombreros – threatening to engulf them all. Swarms of people trying to get through security to simply standing around and talking in clipped phrases that Hiro couldn't make out.
Hiro was only able to get out one word,
"What."
He noticed someone else had spoken at the same time he did and looked for the source. Hiro found himself looking at Gendo and turned away, scowling.
Just because they both were thinking the same thing out loud did not mean he was going to get along with the older man.
"Great minds think alike, don't they?" Katsuragi tried smiling despite the kill intent radiating from both Hiro and Gendo.
(0-0)
"…so when we got to the showcase, he was demonstrating some really cool invention, I even recorded it for you, see?" Misato shoved the camera into Ritsuko's face suddenly, regaling her friend with what had happened in the past few days since they say each other, "And I know for a fact that Section 2 men delivered all of those microbots back to their place, but I don't think anyone told him yet. His brother came along with us and –"
"Brother?" Ritsuko interrupted as she adjusted her glasses, frowning, "The files indicate that he's an only child."
Misato waved at her dismissively with a smile, "He was adopted into his uncle's family and if Hiro wants to refer to his cousin as his big brother, I'm not gonna correct him on it. Plus, it's kind of cute."
"I see he's using the alternative name, then?"
"Yeah," Misato's face became somber, "He…he didn't really take the truth that well. I feel kind of bad for him and his family."
"We have more important things to worry about than the feelings and issues of a small family being separated," Ritsuko said indifferently, "The Angels are arriving soon, and our top priority is making sure that we're ready."
Misato sighed in defeat, "I know. I still feel bad for the kid…that reminds me, actually. Speaking of the Third, I wanted to discuss his living arrangements…"
"Misato, you still haven't explained to me where you got the weird hat from…"
"Oh, this?" Misato gestured to her sombrero, "When we got to the airport a couple of hours ago, everyone was wearing one. It was Free Sombrero Day and I even got you one, too."
Risuko Agaki knew better than to ask her friend how she managed to conceal a second sombrero in her bag without damaging it. She took it with a quiet word of thanks and placed it on her desk as close to the edge as she was able to. Then scowled when Misato took the damned hat and slammed it on top of her head, knocking her glasses askew.
"By the way, how was he while I was gone?" Misato was all smiles again.
Ritsuko adjusted her glasses, "Fine. The cats didn't mind him, but could you please give me a few days' warning the next time you need to go somewhere?"
Misato shrugged, "Take it up with the Commander, he was the one who dropped the bomb on me the last minute. Anyways, did I miss anything while I was gone?"
"Maya's making good process on the new tasks I've assigned her now," Ritsuko smiled, thinking about her successor, "I'm confident she can take over for me in a few years. People like her are hard to come by."
"I just told you about the Third Child's demonstration at the showcase, shouldn't that make him 'one of those people'?"
Ritsuko looked at the camera and examined the recent recording for a few seconds, "I see he's applying magnetic bearing servos. Not really original, but not bad for his age."
"W-what?" Misato looked startled, "But he made them all move and, and he turned them into a hand and he was hanging from the ceiling –"
"Interesting, but not in my realm of science," Ritsuko waved her hand dismissively.
Misato sighed again. Ritsuko looked at her friend and felt a bit of pity, "It is good, Misato. I could ask him a few questions about it, maybe we can find some uses for them."
Misato perked up almost instantaneously.
Ritsuko nodded with a small smile, "Alright, then. You wanted to talk to me about the Third Child's living arrangements?"
Misato opened her mouth…
(0-0)
Down one of the hallways within NERV headquarters, Lieutenant Shigeru Aoba was carrying documents to Doctor Akagi's office for approval when someone started shouting,
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
Slowly picking up the papers that slipped from his grasp, Aoba took one look in the direction the shout came from and slowly walked backwards, certain that Akagi could look at the documents later.
He would later deny that he ran full speed, despite eyewitness accounts from a Maya Ibuki and several security cameras.
(0-0)
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry for the wait, I'm trying to find time between work and personal matters to get this story written. Still need to fix the bbattery problem on my laptop, too.
What did you guys think of the characterization of Hiro and Misato? Did you like the kiss from Fred? Let me know in the reviews, please!
Happy Holidays!
