Identity

Tadashi sat on the beach outside. It was his favorite spot on the island. It was concealed behind some rocks so he could come here and be alone with his thoughts. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't get the images from his nightmare out of his mind. The staring faces of his deceased friends etched into his brain. Any hope he had to go home and be with his family was shattered. It would just take one time losing control. Just one time.

"Is all of this worth it?" he asked himself. He didn't expect an answer, no one was around. "I can create fire at will. I can control any flame, whether I make it or not. I can fly. But I can't turn off this stupid fire my body is constantly letting out." He ran his hand over his head in frustration. "What am I doing wrong? This constant stress is eating away at me… I just don't know anymore…"

He was tired. Tired of the constant stress of his condition, constant worry for his family, constant fear of accidentally hurting someone. He didn't use to feel this way. When he first started training he had hope. Hope that either his mastery of his powers would allow him to return to normal or Jane would be able to cure him. Neither happened.

He glanced out to the ocean. Maybe if he jumped in then his fire would go out. That thought was quickly tossed aside when he remember water hurt him now. If he jumped in then he would probably die, then Hiro really would lose his brother. He couldn't do that. He just needed to find another way, to look at things from a new angle. Right? Maybe it would be best to just give up on going home, everyone thinks he's dead anyway.

"There you are!" Nova said as he flew up.

"What do you want, Chris?" Tadashi asked, not happy about being found.

"I'm in my armor, you're supposed to call me Nova. Stanley has a mission for us."

"Fine."

Stanley sent them on a rescue mission. Some kids were playing in an abandoned mine when it when the entrance collapsed. They had to find them and get them out before the rest of the mine caved in. The Teleportal left them outside the entrance, since it doesn't work underground. Quickly clearing the entrance they ran in, White Tiger trying to track the kids.

"I'm picking up scents from this tunnel." White Tiger said.

"Okay, lets hurry and get those kids out and check the blocked off tunnel, just to be safe." Sunfire ordered.

They ran down the tunnel until they reached a part that was blocked off by fallen rocks. Leaving as many of the rocks in place as they could, they cleared the path and pressed forward. Reaching a small room they found three children there, a blonde girl, a redhead boy, and a boy with back hair. They children looked at them, fear clearly displayed on their faces.

"Its okay,"Sunfire soothed, "We're hear to help. We're going to get you out. Are there any more of you" The kids shook their heads 'no'.

"We've got to hurry, this place is unstable." White Tiger urged. No sooner than she finished the room caved in. Sunfire and White Tiger shielded the kids while Nova stopped the ceiling from crushing them.

"Is everyone alright?" Sunfire coughed, taking note of the room once the dust settled. His and White Tiger's suits were in tatters, meaning he could no longer touch anyone, and Nova was holding up a large boulder. He was struggling to keep it up, and was slowly getting closer and closer to the ground.

"The kids and I are okay." White Tiger answered, but it look like Red here sprained his ankle."

"Glad to, ugh, hear that but, gah, can you hurry and, ugh, get them out of here." Nova ordered, the strain of the boulder he was holding evident in his voice.

Sunfire melted a small path through the debris that blocked the tunnel they came in through, absorbing the heat so they can go through right away. White Tiger took the injured boy through, the other two kids following her. Once they were safe Sunfire turned back to Nova, who's feet were now firmly on the ground and his knees where shaking.

"Okay, we need to figure out how to get you out of here." Sunfire said.

"There's no way, just go. Ugh, hurry…" Nova replied, solemnly.

"No, we just need to think of a new angle. Maybe… Maybe if I can melt the boulder…."

"Its to big. Sunfire, Tadashi, I need you, ugn, to do me a favor." Nova requested, as he fell to his knees, "My mom, oof, please tell her, geh, please tell her I'm sorry for not coming back and I love her. And take care of my, ugh, sisters, guh, they need it."

"No, I'm going to get you out of here. I'm-" Sunfire didn't get to finish his sentence when a blue energy blast knocked him out of the room, just at the chamber ceiling hit the floor. "NOVA!"

Tadashi, May, Stanley, and Jane stood outside the mine, candles in their hands. They had built a small cross and grave stone and set them next to the entrance. Despite his best efforts nothing Sunfire did could even budge the large boulders his friend was trapped under. He tried melting away as much of them as he could but there were just too many. Even when White Tiger came back, their combined efforts did no good.

"What are we going to tell his family?" May asked.

"His mom didn't want him here for this very reason." Stanley said, "She's going to be devastated when I tell her."

"I'll tell them." Tadashi said, "He asked me to."

"This is the sacrifice that all heroes risk in their line of work." Jane said. "We should go, he wouldn't want us standing around mourning like this."

"Yeah, we'll go tell his family in the morning." Stanley said, and they entered the Teleportal home.

Tadashi laid on the sand in his favorite, secluded, part of the beach. His thoughts filled with the people in his life. There was one less now. While they didn't know each other long, just over a month, they had gotten close with all the training and missions and just hanging out. And now it wouldn't be the same. The trio was a duo now. This team would always be incomplete.

His thoughts fell to Hiro. What he must have felt when Tadashi ran into the fire to save the monster of a man who caused his transformation, his and his family's grieving. While he was close to Nova and White Tiger, it was nothing compared to his bond with his brother. Despite the age difference they were best friends. He gave his whole being to Hiro when their parents died. And now he couldn't go near his brother without constant fear of hurting him. His time away gave him time to think. Where does Hiro Hamada end and Tadashi Hamada begin?

Tadashi Hamada was someone who loved to help people. He invented a healthcare companion for that very reason. His powers helped save the lives of three young children today. His powers would allow him to save so many more. More than he would be able to without them. They were a gift, not a curse like he had believed. His mind was made up. His powers are a gift, and he's keeping them. He's going to go back to his family and he's going to be a super hero. Not either or, but both.

"My name is Tadashi Hamada." He said out loud, as his flames went out, "And I'm going to help so many people."

And that ends the story. Thanks to everyone who read this.