A/N:
Sorry for the long wait, but this is probably the best chapter I've ever written next to when I wrote a dual between the Iron Giant and Kent Mansley's great grandson's robot 8 years ago...
This, this chapter is a game changer, guys.
For Big Hero 6 and the story. I hope you like (love) it. I've had a real experience writing this. :)
More chapters soon!
I.
Down on the campus of San Fransoyko, magnet-generated lighting ran as a sort of perpetual-motion source; an invention some new students were developing. Above, a shadow rocketing in took the advantage of a narrow margin of unlit space between two of the tall, stadium-like lights and a pulse of blue plasma was launched.
Effectively striking the batteries and causing the lights to go out.
In the moggy, loaming nighttime, a dark figure and it's occupant alit on the site of a building under reconstruction. As the person slid off, the flier it gave it's long body a floppy-earred shake. An unusal attitude came off the person as the green-eyed dragon saw the nulled magnetic sparks in the darkness. The person started to shove some rubble aside and Toothless, not understanding, went to help remove some of it too. When it was cleared, a purple, glowing fracture was there. The dragon inhaled. Fred showed zero emotion.
"I figured we had chance of this," he said. "Just had a feeling..."
"Hmm?" Toothless breathed out.
"I dunno," the remoteness in his voice and the faroff look in his eyes concerned the dragon. He rose to his feet like he did not see his friend's reaction. Then. "Go!" Fred whipped around, ordering.
"Rawr?"
"Go on!" Fred shouted hoarsely, pointing. His light blue eyes had the cloud of quarrel in them Toothless had shown earlier. "You... you think you can just act that way to my friends, our friends... to, to grab Baymax against his will, uh..." Even that thought made him pause a moment. The dragon came closer, whining. "NO! You go!"
Toothless whined again, pleading.
"What you tried to do t-to Gogo!" Fred said vehemently. "I know. I know what she did and I'm sorry. But you? You were gonna... No."
His decision was firm and final.
"You need to go back to Berk. Back where you came from." Fred pointed sharply into the narrow space. "Don't ... don't bother with coming back." The dragon turned his ears to the airy noise of crafts approaching, whining. "It's to protect you, too, buddy." Fred added.
Toothless tried arguing once more.
"You don't belong in this world! You're an alien on life support... and, and it's not safe for anyone. You, you have to go... right, right now." His scaly friend tried one more time. "Now!" Fred screamed.
The dragon, with a soft, lonely mew, sped off and into the crevice.
As the authorites landed, Fred bowed his head. He was in for it...
And Hiro and Baymax might never forgive him.
"Frederick?.!"
His father stepped out of a craft with Heathcliffe and RRC agents right behind them. As Fred pointed out despondently where there was still an opening of portal, Mr. Lee took his son immediately in his arms and Heathcliffe rubbed his old beanie-hatted head gently.
"I seriously messed up."
"You seriously have done what you think is right." His father said.
"What's the RRC gonna do?" He asked vulrenably as they filed by.
"Hmm," Healthcliffe straightened.
"My man?"
"If you wish me to speak out of turn, Master Frederick, I believe the next thing to do is to prepare for a future of heroes of all sorts."
They watched as the RRC sealed off the area before leaving.
II.
Morning came and Hiro awoke to untouched tea still warming on a small auto-heat desk on his table. With a grin, he sat up in the sun-filled room and took a long sip. It was sweetened... and healthy! A bemused twist came to the set of his lips when he recalled that this was the day he was going to see- With a scramble, Hiro thrust right out of bed with his legs, threw on his best clothes before realizing Baymax wouldn't care about this, discarded them and struggled to get into his cleanest normal clothes. He got a backpack to shove a few items inside and headed downstairs to the kitchen to grab a-
Dian, smiling ironically as she expertly spread mayo over a slice of bread, pointed to a paper bag with Hiro's name neatly written on it.
"Uh... thanks!" He picked it up. "Where's-? I mean, what-?"
"Mei is on a grocery errand with Roshi, Aunt Cass took Huan up to the prison to visit Hasaki," Her red eyes, in spite of herself, flashed up to take in his reaction. Hiro blinked, and knew that on any other day that would be the biggest news. "You have fun today, okay? It would be wise to remember what we discussed," Dian finished up on a neat stack of sandwiches. "Give Baymax my love, will you?"
"Of course! Thanks." He started to leave.
"And don't bother going to school tonight, classes are cancelled."
"Why?" Hiro turned and the start of hero duty was in his eyes.
But Dian was in the know, "Because it's top secret RRC stuff," Her love of irony was in her pointed smile, "But I would not cozy up to my cuddle bot just to get the dish on that. It's 7:15. Time to scoot."
"I don't even really care," He shook his head and shrugged once.
And, honestly, it was the truth.
"Good luck, Hiro."
"Thank you, Dian."
Accepting of his new role, the teen stared to leave. As he passed down the foyar's hallway, he saw just for a moment someone had placed his helmet from yesterday under a little table on a low shelf with his mother's mirror hanging over that. Just briefly, Hiro gave into the desire for his former life, and then he went off into the big, new world on his own. Behind the old helmet, two more hid away.
A red one. Behind that, an white-and-orange one.
...
The glimmer of sun on red moped put Hiro in an optimistic mood as the wind rushed off his head and he blazed down what were by now memorized mountain passes. His own re-purposed mountain penthouse stood tall and proud as he whizzed down a well-lit little incline of mountain and then down into the valley of giant peaks in which the dark turbine, simply a black blimp today, was stationed.
Hiro didn't feel intimadated or unwelcome; he felt like the friend who was dearest to his heart was inside. A ramp had already been settled down in wait for him and, holding both items close, the 16-year-old climbed off his brother's moped and walked up to the very bottom. He briefly wondered if a magnet wall would part or lift for him when the floor beneath him levelled and he was ascended fast.
When he looked down, he saw that steps moved him like a piano.
Barely having time to blink, Hiro was deposited before a standard pair of sliding doors. He finished his blink and looked down to see that the thin glossy steps had flashed closed again like the blinds in a window. Hiro swallowed a little and raised a fist to give a knock.
"Hello, Hiro." Baymax stood off to his side.
"Baymax!" Hiro spun excitedly around.
"Come with me," the robot headed forward, waved his hand over a scanner and they shot up 14 stories on a magnetic, ovalular saucer.
"Baymax... aren't'cha gonna hug me?" He held out his arms to him.
"I do not see the reason in that," Baymax cocked his head.
The breath escaped Hiro's lips as the bot trundled off.
He tailed close.
"I don't get it. Are you mad? You have every right to be! But-,"
"Hirrrrrrr-oooooo," A familiar, slurred voice warbled out.
The teen turned to see his Baymax hanging lopsidedly and waving dizzily from the doorway. Hiro's eyes popped wider in surprise and he clipped away fast from the Correction Companion. "Er, thanks."
"Hello, Hiro," his friend flap-circle-waved as Hiro rushed over.
"Buddy, what'cha doin'?.! You're low battery." He took his arm.
Baymax blinked one eye at a time. "I am merely... you are here."
"Baymax," Hiro said in hushed concern, "Let's get you inside."
"That is good..." The robot pointed up. "It is raining."
A quick glance revealed it was still sunny out.
"Yeah... c'mon, buddy." He stirred him inside. "Time for charger."
The robot, physically unscathed but wobbling about, paused under his hands. "I do not need... charging. I am... siphoning my battery."
Horror entered Hiro's eyes.
"Baymax, that's dangerous! Why-,"
"To attempt to control my new-," He blinkled wonkily. "It is for-,"
"Whoa, buddy, come on. You gotta get charged." Hiro knelt and took out the back-up battery he always brought for the robot, of which Baymax didn't fail to notice. "Oh! Hey. Your charge port?"
"I had it moved to here," Baymax held out his chubby finger.
Hiro was momentarily reminded of Hanzel and Gretle.
"Buddy?" He patted it and squeezed the silver piece into the tip.
"I have had... many different adjustments and-,"
The boy gently settled down by him and, with a hand on his belly, Hiro moved to lean against the wall to wait now. Baymax could've gone on but Hiro was lost looking up at the ceiling; at long, frosted tubes that ran in channels along the well-lit upper levels of turbine.
When Hiro looked back over at Baymax, he was back to normal.
"Baymax!" He leapt up.
"Hiro?" The automaton said as he rested his hands on his belly.
"I can't believe you would do something so reckless."
" 'Reckless?' " His head cocked.
The teen ignored what he knew, himself, was a double standard.
"Yes!" Hiro stressed, leaning in close to him. "Baymax 2.0 Tadashi Hamada, you know better than to run around on a low battery... let alone siphoning it off! And all alone? Don't you see how worried-"
The teen stopped. Baymax was in as much realization as Hiro was.
His friend didn't drop his guilty eyes. "Please," Hiro leaned over to him and stroked his oval face. "If you have to do this, don't do it all alone!" He realized hypocrite was not a strong enough word. "Here Max," Hiro began helping him up. "Let's get'cha on your stubbies."
"It would appear," Baymax stroked his cheek back. "You are now the Healthcare Companion," he watched Hiro's eyes light up and a smile cross his face as he laughed. An odd noise emitted now from Baymax and Hiro slipped on his left stub in surprise. "Oh... whoa!"
He found himself eye-to-eye with his best friend.
And grinned.
"Why, Baymax!" He touched his chin in play, grinning devilishly now, "Your eyes are like the most lusterous orbs of anti-matter..."
Baymax blinked.
"And your eyes are organs with lens that focus light on retinas."
Hiro blinked back. He was suddenly unsure yet oddly comforted...
Of course, this was the normal protocol answer. So why had he-?
Baymax lightly lifted his bangs on purpose and moved in. "And are like two gold sunsets cresting a hillside," he said deliberately, with no hesistance over how Hiro would react. The boy cracked a smile.
The bot leaned away at his reaction, seeming surprised by it.
"Much better." Hiro flicked a finger for emphasis. Baymax gave a typical blink and suddenly the two were laughing, the automaton's own an echoy bell-sound as they touched foreheads. A light came on and warmed Hiro's lonely heart. "You got a cute laugh, buddy."
Baymax met his eyes in curiosity. Hiro's common sense kicked in.
"Did you just laugh?.!" He realized.
"HIRO!" The automaton, suddenly freed of all repose by Hiro's openess, caught his friend up in his hands and spun him around.
"Baymax - whoa! Baymax - WAIT!" He flailed.
His friend's voice was high, clear and joyous. "I did not think you would come! But you are here. You are really and truly here!" The boy was twirled around and Baymax's rush of words both clamored at his heart, unbinded his mind and made him rush to take charge...
... To make sense! Hiro tried to gather his overloaded wits.
"Baymax, I told you I was coming, buddy. Remember?" He said.
"Yes!" His friend's sudden tone-shift to doubt was jarring. "I know. But after yesterday I did not know if you would really come," The automaton shook his head and ruffled Hiro's hair quickly. "But you did!" Baymax cried in joy. Hiro's jaw just dropped. "You are here."
He lowered his friend to eye-level, still clasped securely now.
"I said I was buddy," the boy's brows dipped up, his voice low.
"I know. And I am so glad." The puffy bot trilled softly.
Hiro recovered, grinning sheepishly. "Wow! Baymax... I've never seen you so," he searched for the right words. "Excitable before!"
His own enthusiam roiled with great uncertainty.
Baymax tilted his head brightly. Just because.
"Ya sure you got a full battery, buddy?" Hiro glanced down.
The automaton did so, too, still excited.
His battery lit up green on his chest.
"Yes," he met Hiro's eyes chipperly.
"Magnet waves on the brain...?" He gestured with a chuckle.
"Huh-huh," Baymax bell-chuckled, eyes closing.
Hiro's own eyes grew to the size of suns.
"Hiro," his friend told him in gentle amusement. "I am functioning uninhibited by any scripted code or protocol, past or more recent."
The wording sounded right.
That was all.
"Baymax," Hiro said his name in deadpanned horror, eyes framing in disbelief. "You mean you're running on zero programming?" It was an impossiblity, even if Baymax had free will. "None at all?"
"No, not for the last few days," his friend shook his head.
Fear, shock... Baymax calmly waited for Hiro's judgement.
His brows lowered in concern over his eyes. "Are you okay?"
Only his voice seemed real as dissociation tried to tether him.
"Yes, I am fine. But I am only concerned for you."
This brought Hiro back a little bit and he realized this was the same Baymax he'd spent yesterday with. He was quite stunned. "I don't know what to say," He admitted as something deep inside kept him there... a much greater force kept Hiro from running away in terror.
"Does that matter to you?" Baymax tilted his head, saying gently.
Hiro's entire being settled on this option. He took the life preserver.
Suddenly, Baymax's joy registered and he smiled geniunely.
"It only matters to me because I'm excited for you, Baymax."
His acceptance made the automaton bring him closer.
"I still cannot believe it... Hiro." The ring of his love awoke Hiro's deepest heart. "Baymax," he said desperately. "You have come," his friend said it so tenderly, he went paralyetic. "You are here."
The bot pressed him to his right side.
"I cannot believe it..." His voice wisped off in amazement.
Hiro shuddered a little, realizing what he had done. Realizing if he had not made the last-ditch offer yesterday, he might have never seen his best friend again. The boy hugged him close, both heart and mind infusing to acceptance over what Baymax had become.
"I'm here, Baymax." He cried softly, squeezing him. "Just like I should have been," the bot gently rubbed at his head, slowly. It wasn't so different. Hiro's voice hitched. "And. I'm-," Baymax's gentle carress became a pat. "Did you really not think I'd come?"
His best friend held him out and set him down.
"I did have faith you would, Hiro, but I did not know when."
They stared at each other. Hiro now knew the truth.
"Baymax, I'm gonna be here for you," He touched his hand. The person in the bot's eyes waited. "And I'll keep an open mind," he smiled, knowing this was Baymax; just one he had to get to know.
The botman tilted his head. "And I will keep an open mind, Hiro."
His friend nodded with a warm smile and rubbed his big fingers.
A light smack of feedback from an intercom popped.
Hiro looked up curiously but Baymax never turned away.
"Last snuggle," he said softly and nestled his face into Hiro's.
"Bay-max-stop!" His friend laughed in happiness.
"We have a 105 infraction, Baymax."
The bot pulled Hiro instictively to him and Hiro patted his arm.
Baymax patted his.
"Is... that something you gotta-?"
"I will re-direct orders to an available Care bot," A flash of text appeared on his chest. "It's done." Hiro grinned. "Come along..."
"Got the whole day, buddy."
Baymax blinked.
"No classes," Hiro shrugged, "Got all day with ya... unless-,"
"I have cleared the whole day for you, too, Hiro."
"You... you didn't-,"
Baymax gathered him in a hug, near his access port.
"I would do anything for you, Hiro." He said softly.
"Me too, buddy." Hiro knew he said a little too fast. "C'mon, you got a tour to give me." He let Baymax half-shelter, half-hold him to his side. The two friends walked on together into the giant turbine.
II.
Aunt Cass led Huan by the hand down past open windows of what she had explained were perforated nano-glass. The boy felt a little better seeing vases of flowers here and there, sometimes a picture...
"Hello, Hasaki," she stopped by one in particular.
3-year-old Huan turned his eyes up to see a picture of a buddha and an old Yin/Yang sign in simple bamboo half-facing away and half-facing him. He concentrated closer, angling his head when a jailer with thin dark hair and calm eyes that reflected his own appeared.
A gasp escaped his lips and he rushed behind his aunt.
The man's exhale was one of disappointment.
"Did you make it here all right?"
"I think... I think you'd better address the real issue first," And his aunt had her hand on the small of his back and was moving him to face the strange, familiar man. "Huany, this is your grandfather." It was with surprise he heard Chinese whispered in his ear and Aunt Dian's harsh use of the language seized him. He looked up, afraid.
"Cassie, he's mortified. Absolutely terrified!" The man said it like it was an accusation, and Huan wondered if it was directed at him.
She gasped and straightened.
"Now then, Sunzi," Hasaki knelt and disappeared. Huan looked all about and a quick tap on the lower wall revealed his grandfather as kneeling and waving. "No need to be afraid, son. I'm Dian's father and your mother's father-in-law." Hasaki blinked. "Hiroto's uncle."
"Hiro hates that name," Huan said flatly.
Aunt Cass repositioned him to her side and glanced over a ledge.
"Hasaki, they'll be time for this later," He met her up at the top. "I need you to tell me what you have to," Huan watched the man nod.
Something about the sad side glance he sent the boy both guilted and disturbed him. He began to speak in the language Huan now knew he hated, in a place he disliked and a man he did not even know, who frightened him, calling his Aunt Cassie only "Cassie".
Huan ran.
They called for him and as a Correction Companion appeared the boy caught his stubs, glaring up in demand. "Show me Beemax!"
It responded and Huan saw his Hiro... hugging his Beemax.
From further down the hall, a startled gasp was heard. Aunt Cass caught up her nephew and excused them both as they left. In his aunt's secure hug... and then down to the truck he knew, a warm sense of safety overcame Huan and he hugged her neck, her thin necklace pressing into his cheek. Huan watched the prison as the two went back to her truck and her eyes stayed on all of her tasks.
The boy saw the shadows of the building shift as they pulled back, then fall as they drove off. He felt it's darkness and it would take a loving stroke and warm smile from Aunt Cassie to return his light.
"I love you," Huan murmured.
"I love you, too," She promised, soft sadness in her eyes.
They crossed the San Fransokyo toll bridge to go home as warmth from the new sun cascaded over the large ocean Huan, peering out with curious hope, remembered not too long ago soaring over free.
...
Baymax and Hiro, almost knitted together as this point, arrived at what the boy realized was a sort of checkpoint. His botfriend gave an indication that the light over them was red and Hiro gave a grin.
"No red lights in car chases," he said.
"After we enter, we can go faster," Baymax told him.
Hiro shrugged. "We can go as slow as you want." And chuckled.
Baymax cocked his head as the teen moved forward and placed his hand on the human-print metal case button. Nothing happened. The look on his face was confusion and Baymax pressed his own on the one next to it. The door slid open and Hiro grinned at him again. It was when Baymax took his hand Hiro realized the bot's elbow had been touching his arm and there was no quicker means beyond this.
"Oh... I thought you meant we literally wouldn't have to walk."
Hiro smiled at him, saying this.
Baymax tilted his head and saw Hiro's deeper concern. "Walking promotes good health," he said it naturally but Hiro knew Baymax didn't see the necessity of saying this. The bot touched his arm as he walked on. "I'm afraid the only way in for you is piggybacking."
An impish gleam flashed in Hiro's eyes and Baymax, his hand still resting on his arm, found Hiro grasping onto his back with a grin.
"That is not quite what I meant," He said as he hoistered Hiro up.
They sideways-hugged and Hiro pointed. "Let's go, buddy! Fly!"
Humoring him, Baymax shot out his arms and "flew".
Once inside, Hiro slid off and let his friend drape an arm around him. He felt the warmth of Baymax and the two continued on in this manner, an arm wrapped around one another until the two of them both reached a side saucer dish. Suddenly, footholds caught.
"Uh... Baymax?.!" Hiro gasped.
"I suggest you hold on," He said and they ascended rapidly.
Hiro's screams echoed off the walls as they moved up fast and in a moment the two were at the very top, over looking everything. A stunned Hiro was carried over to an open glass tube, gawking like he always did when Baymax did or showed him something unsual.
"What's this for?"
"You said you wanted to fly," the bot obliged. "And I know we are happiest when flying... and closer," his tone caught. "When in air."
"Well, yeah, but-,"
"This is the Care Correction Bot trial highway," He explained.
"Huh? Trial?"
"Yes, in testing," his friend turned to him. "Here we go!"
Hiro gasped, trying to stop him, but Baymax plunged them inside.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"BAYYYYYY-MMMMAXXXX."
...
They tumbled forth through the streaming channels of blue. Hiro felt Baymax's hands on him and he clung close. The two rolled in mid-air and Hiro found that Baymax had placed him on his back.
He laughed and held on to his neck.
"SOAR, Baymax!" And Baymax lifted his arms.
"Hold on now," an arrow appeared on his chest and the two veered. Hiro cried out in amazed alarm. "And now right..." He brought the teen off of him and let him float away. His friend tried to grab him.
"Baymax!"
"Yes, Hiro?" He reappeared behind him.
Wordlessly, they grabbed hands and tumbled over each other. Hiro let the weightlessness grab hold as they fell forever. They twisted... turned, changed hands and pivoted like a compass. Hiro grinned as Baymax and he straightened up and together flew on hand-in-hand.
"Not gonna say what this reminds me of!" The boy laughed.
He turned with shiny golden eyes, his hair whipping behind him as what looked to be code filled the dark shadows. Hiro reached out.
"Uh...?" He turned.
"It is fractal magnetism," Baymax ran his fingers through gentle streams of blue. "Completely harmless," he tossed strands of it to Hiro, like it was snow. His friend took the hint, bouncing it up in his palm and then ran his fingers through it while Baymax took his hand again. A fantastic phantasm filled him as the waves parted by.
His excitement heightened and he pounced on Baymax.
The two lightly pushed off each other, bouncing like they were in a bouncy house. Hiro felt Baymax's joy as Baymax could sense his... a joy, a thrill like they'd never known. The bot being ran his fingers through the fractal magnetism and moved both hands as if he were telling fourtunes. Hiro laughed and Baymax tossed the ball back to him. Anything else was forgotten as they threw it back and forth in a blessed harmony. Almost giddy, Hiro held his hands out to him... and Baymax took them. They stared at each other, merely children.
Purely best friends.
Hiro embraced Baymax and the bot gently lowered them down... it was in a sense he was controlling it, but the etheral feeling couldn't be broken. Baymax landed on his chubby stubs and looked down at Hiro. His small buddy looked and Baymax saw that the amazement in his face was a familiar one. The bot set Hiro down but encircled.
The boy exhaled softly.
"You see now," His friend told him. "You have not lost me."
Hiro nodded with a little tremble.
"That was amazing, Baymax." He started getting his breath back.
They hugged.
"Gonna scan me now?" Hiro chuckled. "Oh, right! Uh... can you?"
"I am unable to scan you, Hiro." Baymax told him. "My healthcare protocol is now defunct." He saw Hiro's eyes shift. "It hurts you?"
"Well... maybe a little. I mean, it's part of you. Uh... it was."
His friend tilted his head. "You believe it takes away a part of me?"
"Well, not really, but-,"
"Hiro," Baymax lifted his chin. "The part of me that cared for you is still here," he touched his access port. "That cannot be undone."
"I know. But I mean, would I want to be tethered down by a chip?"
Hiro's eyes shifted in consideration and Baymax touched his cheek.
"I will never regret my time as your Healthcare Companion..." The bot being told Hiro; whose eyes lit like suns again and he leapt into Baymax's arms. He hugged him. "I will always take care of you if you need me." Hiro sniffled a bit and Baymax shifted him slightly.
A row of familiar faces appeared.
"On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your level of..."
Hiro waited.
"Excitement?" Baymax's eyes seemed to widen.
The teen chuckled. "Oh, I dunno," he shrugged, pointing. "9."
" '9'?" His friend looked down. "Only a '9'?" He said playfully.
Hiro really laughed and it felt wonderful.
"Okay... 11."
Baymax wouldn't have it. "11? That is an impossiblity infraction," he actually moved his head for emphasis. Hiro smiled and gave a shrug; he could this all day. "Treatments include; snuggle attack."
"No, wait, Baymax!" And the bot smothered him in soft kisses.
An agent walking by peered over at them, unsatisifed.
Baymax circle-waved. "Hello."
"Hey there!" Hiro grinned, red-faced.
The man kept walking, stopping an eye-roll.
"Well, that wasn't nice," the teen said. "You run this place, right?"
"In a sense, I do." Baymax turned to him. "But he is probably still dissatisfied with my past attempts to hug everyone; Gogo's family are not a... hugging sort." Hiro squeezed him in reassurance and he returned it. Suddenly, the teen's gold eyes lit up in new inspiration.
"So wait, you really don't diagnose or scan people now, Baymax?"
"I can add the feature back later for you if you'd like," he said.
Feature... like a radio in a car or a character prompt on a video.
Hiro considered this. "Do you really want it back?"
"I believe..." Baymax touched his cheek. "The truth would hurt you." His friend waited. "I do not really see the necessity of it."
Slowly, the teen nodded. Baymax hugged him.
"But I will never regret being your Healthcare Companion."
"Personal Healthcare Companion," Hiro murmured softly. He looked up and his eyes filled with something like nostalgia and Hiro really saw the wondering in Baymax's eyes. "And so you..."
"I am afraid that my question for you may hurt you. Again."
"I do that every dang day, Baymax. Just ask it."
"I wonder... if I am still your Maxie?" The bot prodded softly.
Hiro really looked at him and suddenly more people came by.
Baymax took him back into the channel and it closed.
The bot blinked. They didn't float away but Hiro still chuckled.
"If you snuggle me, I'll have no choice but to answer."
Baymax blinked. "Okay." He knelt and did it lightly against his ear. The bot straightened and waited for his answer. Hiro really considered this and touched Baymax's shoulder - and answered,
"You are my best friend, Baymax, and our bond has not changed."
An airy sound came out of his mouth and his eyes shined.
He tried so. hard. to say it.
When Hiro nearly broke down, his best friend held him close.
They both knew Hiro wasn't ready.
"That's not fair to you!" He owed his "best friend" so much better.
"Take your time," Baymax offered.
"Okay," the boy was a child. "You are my Baymax."
Oh, but how cheap Hiro sounded!
"You are my Hiro."
The boy gave a weak chuckle and not because it wasn't funny.
Baymax took him under his arm and they went together back out into the now crowded halls. "It is the busiest time of the day," he explained and turned now. Hiro smiled and snuggled even closer.
They walked out into the halls and Baymax placed him on top of his shoulders, looking up. Hiro looked back down now, squeezing his arms to let him know he was right there. People actually began to part at the unsual sight, until Baymax half-lowered him and then the two walked, arms linked, until they entered a new hall with less people. Hiro was suddenly thinking, his hands pushed into his hair.
"Baymax, this is incredible!" He turned and he was himself.
The bot blinked.
"Max, you have... sentience! Self-willed identity. That's amazing."
His next blink was thoughtful. He raised a finger. "Hiro."
"Oh, man! We gotta tell people... the team! Oh, we GOTTA-,"
Baymax gently clasped his mouth and held him to his stomach, an assuring pat on his head as Baymax and he watched others pass. It was then that Hiro turned to him in confusion. Baymax pressed his butt against a wall, the wall shifted and he and Hiro were inside a control room for the whole floor. The bot gently took Hiro along.
"Eventually... I want to you show you all of this, Hiro."
"Baymax," Hiro stopped him. "What's going on?"
The bot turned to him. "Am I frightening you?"
"No," his reply was firm.
"All right," the bot shuffled forward and gently touched the very tops of his arms. "Hiro, I have informed very few of my free-will."
The teen blinked. "Really?"
"The only ones who know are you, Gogo and Keio."
"But in the park -?"
"I believe they took that more... metaphorically."
"And when you scanned me at home?" He felt pride in his friend.
Pulling one over on a tech wiz...
"Deceit was not my intention." He patted his arm. "But you see...?"
"I see. Yeah. Not the best way to start off, if you'd told me all this."
Was skinned alive hyphenated? Hiro would ask Fred later.
He cracked a smile. "Your secret's safe with me, Baymax."
"Thank you, Hiro. I was thinking... another week."
"What?.! But..."
"Your opinion matters to me," the bot touched his arms again and patted them with meaning. "I tell you as you are my closet friend."
Hiro touched them. "Thanks, buddy. Your opinions matter to me, too. They always mattered." Baymax tilted his head and Hiro gave a small laugh. "Hard as it is to believe," he shrugged. "Wait, so you said Gogo knows?" And Hiro said her name with zero antagonism.
Baymax tilted his head. "Yes."
"What does she think!.?"
The bot snuggled his hair a little. Hiro chuckled.
"She is very... supportive."
"That's great," they encircled arms, "I support you, too."
"I know, Hiro." Baymax acknowledged but it was open-ended.
They held on tight and walked out into an empty hall.
Hiro picked up on his hesitation, oddly enough.
"So," he smiled slightly, and Baymax hugged him closer. "If I've gotta have a Correction Companion, can't it just be you, buddy?"
"I am not programmed to be one." Baymax activated something and the walls formed an aura of blue. Hiro looked up at him in confusion but trust. The bot touched his shoulders. "The walls surrounding us are impenetrable and sound-proof." A grin fell across Hiro's face as he pictured another flight simulation or a snuggle attack. "Hiro," he touched his shoulders, "I am not so concerned over what is most important anymore," Baymax saw Hiro's smile was smug and he gave his face a gentle pat to listen.
Hiro sighed. "I know, buddy."
"Please allow me to continue," the bot said softly. Hiro nodded.
"This is going to be a very big change, adjusting to this world. It has taken several weeks to just get the city in a general sense of calm," Baymax waited, knowing this was their second conflict...
The other was untouchable.
"Baymax, I don't understand everything you've done, but... I will listen." Hiro took his opening hand and smiled. "You... were just trying to correct me, weren't you?" He nodded and motioned now.
"I was trying to teach you," Baymax responded.
"Right, but I know when not to-," the bot blinked. "Interrupt."
"I am sorry about that."
Hiro took a deep breath and Baymax brought him closer.
"We both have differing opinions on what you're doing, what the RRC is doing." Baymax nodded. "But yours matter to me." he said.
They hugged. "You will listen, even if you do not agree?"
"Yes," Hiro told him. "I mean... you didn't always agree with me and you still helped me." He wondered how far or how-, he sighed.
Baymax touched his arms. "I wish I could tell you nothing else has changed... but, things have and lot of them for the better, Hiro," he took his hand and showed him different parts of the city just on the wall. Hiro laughed a little in surprise, imagining the two airborne...
"Poverty levels have lowered, public sanitation and safey are-,"
"You did all that!"
Blink.
"Sorry, go on."
Baymax side-hugged him. "And all these were done with-,"
There was a thump on the roof.
"Uh...?"
"I believe squardron C-03 of the Care Correction Companions have returned." He led Hiro out and they walked hand-in-hand.
People passed them and so did some of the bots.
"Care Correction?" Hiro said in confusion.
"Yes, that is their full-name."
"Wow, that's something, buddy. But wait! You can't change our society. I mean, the way people... are." The agents walking by in dark suits glanced unhappily his way. Baymax tilted his head now.
"I believe they can, Hiro." His friend squeezed his hand softly.
"Well, you can't change me." Hiro touched his tummy. A sense of uncertainty came to his eyes and Baymax hugged him so that every person there had to manuver around them. "You won't... try... to?"
"I do not want to change you, Hiro," the bot explained, patting and stroking his cheek. "Small improvements to behavior, at the least."
Hiro hugged him back.
"Yeah, that sounds about right," he looked up. "So, do I have to... you know," Baymax lifted his chin. "Have to have a triple C bot?"
His best friend rubbed his arms. "We will talk about this later." he gave Hiro's shoulders a pat. Hiro saw something he never had seen before; something he, himself, had done. Baymax nodded at this in admittance. "I am not saying 'no', but I want your opinions, Hiro..."
"K, Care Bots gotta go," Hiro grinned at him, pointing.
Baymax blinked and took the hand he lifted. "You are silly."
"Tch tch." Hiro pointed with Baymax's hand instead, winking.
The teen chuckled... before he noticed the modulated monotone that Baymax was using around everyone. Hiro, fearless, gripped Baymax's hand in a supportive squeeze and they walked with no glimpse at anyone unless they had to. Baymax lifted his arm on occasion. When it was a triple C, they would interchange hands.
Twirling almost.
Hiro chuckled when Baymax squeezed him close and felt an odd sense of emptiness when he didn't hear Baymax laugh back. The bot squeezed him again. It was loving, but more mechanical. As soon as they were alone, Baymax turned to look at Hiro's stride.
It was angry.
"Hiro?"
The boy turned.
"Just be yourself, buddy," he shook his hand encouragingly.
"Hiro, people may not be-,"
"I don't care! I don't care what they say. If anyone has a problem with you, they can deal with me. You're my best friend and I'm-,"
Hiro sighed and plunged his face into Baymax's chest.
"I did it again," he said, voice muffled.
Baymax hugged him for a few moments, then backed him up a bit.
"Thank you for your love and support."
"Don't even have to ask, buddy." Hiro grinned.
"But I will tell everyone in my own time, I am still experimenting with this... to see if it is safe," Hiro got the gist of this and Baymax told him gently. "Yes, Hiro, for future Care Companions." He very deliberately dropped the 'Correction' part. "I want to make changes before-," Hiro touched his arm. "That's why... I'd like your input."
"You're not gonna like my input, buddy," Hiro told him softly.
Baymax reached for him.
The teen took his shoes off and climbed up on Baymax, the bot brought him close. "I... can't help you with this when we disagree so much," Hiro explained and they touched foreheads. "But I do support you, Baymax." His bot friend chuckled. "That's a buddy."
"My buddy," Baymax snuggled his forehead once, then he set Hiro down so he could slip his shoes on. Rounding a corner, they came into an auditorium. "It it time to work on this?" he poked Hiro on his flat belly. Hiro covered his mouth, almost snorting. "Hungry?"
"Max, you can - oh, yeah! You're right, it's getting close to 11."
"An impossibilty infraction!"
Hiro side-bumped him playfully.
"There is a cafeteria not far from here, we can-,"
A blitz on the wall signaled.
"It is Wasabi."
Hiro's face lightened up. "The guys! You wanna tell -,"
"Yes, but when we are all together."
"But before everyone else." Baymax nodded. "Good, okay, so-,"
The bot answered and Hiro chuckled. They both squeezed hands.
"Laugh, Baymax."
His friend shook his head lightly and the boy shrugged.
Wasabi appeared. "Hey, Max. Looks like today's leave is tomor-,"
He saw a grinning Hiro and Baymax looked at the boy with pride.
As much as he could show.
"You guys are together!" Wasabi declared happily.
"Yep!" Hiro was so delighted as he looked up at Baymax.
"That's great! We can check you guys tomorrow, when we- uh...?"
He noticed his friends holding hands.
"Yeah, definitely. We all need to touch bases and..."
Hiro noticed Wasabi's preoccupation.
"Uh...?"
"What, man?"
Clearing his throat, Bi pointed for them to look down.
Hiro and Baymax did as instructed.
"So?" The boy sensed Baymax was letting him take the lead.
Hiro felt a bit sick to his stomach.
"Yeah..."
"What? Baymax and I have held hands plenty of times."
"Well, he does. You usually can't stand it," Wasabi crossed his arms. Hiro grinned. Baymax blinked. "Baymax, let go of Hiro."
The bot's casual defiance to this made Wasabi raise a brow.
"I will do so if... Hiro wants me, too." He turned to Hiro.
"Hiro, let go of Baymax." Bi gestured reasonably.
"OK," Hiro shrugged, transferring Baymax's hand to his back.
"Huh?"
"Ta-da!" The boy grinned, holding up his hands.
"You know that's not what I-, You guys are acting... really weird."
Hiro's heart fluttered and Baymax took his hand again.
"Look," he held up their hands. "We're together."
"I'll say!"
"And... we're closer."
"I'll say again! Baymax, is there something wrong with him?"
Hiro sensed Baymax was deliberating how literal Wasabi was being. As bizarre as it was, he almost thought Baymax seemed almost ready to defend Hiro verbally; but he would never hurt-,
"Max," Wasabi said in confusion when he wouldn't respond.
"Yes, Wasabi?" Baymax's voice was a steady monotone.
Hiro smacked his face.
"Baymax, why don't you scan him, buddy?"
"Yeah buddy, go head and scan me." Hiro said quickly.
Baymax's softening voice was uncertain.
"Hiro, you know I cannot-,"
Hiro squeezed his hand. "Yes, but Wasabi expects it."
Baymax blinked. "Oh! Yes." He lifted a finger in point and then turned to Hiro. "I will scan you now," the bot turned to face him.
"Scan away!" His friend grinned cheesily.
Wasabi blinked at the weirdness.
"Um..." Baymax lingered doubtfully.
"Not um." Hiro grumbled. "What's wrong with me, Baymax?"
" 'What's wrong with him Baymax,' " Wasabi repeated flatly.
"You appear to be...uhhh."
" 'Uhh?' " Wasabi was floored.
Hiro, thinking fast, gave his stomach a pat as a hint.
"You would like a belly snuggle?"
"No, Max! 'Member earlier?" He whispered fast.
"Oh, yes! You are... hungry."
Hiro gasped huge. Wasabi rolled his eyes.
"BAYMAX, you brilliant Healthcare Companion!" He leaned on Baymax's belly to direct him. "Elaborate. Treatments include..."
"Treatments include... eating!" Hiro nodded crazily. "Something."
The boy clutched his face, shaking his head in amazement.
Wasabi was beyond speechless.
"That is an easy... treat." Baymax continued merrily; but staying within the realm of proper modulation. "You must now go... eat!"
"I'M SAVED!" Hiro thrust out his hands.
"The treatment was a success." the bot declared.
"He didn't eat yet," Wasabi instantly put in.
"There is a cafeteria not far from here," Baymax took Hiro's hand who winked at Bi with a thumbs-up. "Hiro can have, er, nutrition."
"I am a growing boy," he shrugged with his free arm.
"You are." Baymax patted his head.
"The end." Hiro turned to Bi.
"Scan complete."
Hiro's face burned and Baymax's grip tightened in great concern.
Wasabi looked between the two... then burst out laughing.
The teen gave Baymax's hand a pat. "What? What?.!"
"That was... the fakest scan I've ever seen! Even when we imitated Maxie in the very beginning, we never were that lame," He had to cover his mouth. Hiro glanced up at Baymax, Baymax hugged him to his side. "What...?" Wasabi stopped. "I didn't offend you, did I?"
"It is all right," the bot said gently.
"But you can't be offended." Bi told him.
"Wasabi..." Hiro tried guiltily.
"You, you guys are keeping something from me..." He noticed the way they clung to each other. "It's not just that. What's going on?"
"Well, there's some personal changes with Baymax-,"
"Baymax?" Wasabi was more hurt than accusatory, "Ya know, I just had this feeling. Are you keeping secrets? That's not like you."
Hiro bristled in his defense; like a dragon.
"Wasabi," Baymax said gently, allowing a little of his new self to show in his voice. Wasabi's eyes shot open. "Is this something we can talk about later?" He felt Hiro squeeze him. "When you visit?"
The offer hung like a heart swinging from a valve.
Debate was in Wasabi's eyes and Hiro jumped in fast.
"That's what we've been doing, Bi, taking all of this day-by-day... Not getting ahead." He elbowed. Wasabi's turned unhappy eyes on him. "Bi... we'll tell you. Baymax and I will tell you all tomorrow."
Hiro met Baymax's eyes for approval and Max nodded.
"Were you just getting his-?" Wasabi shook his head. "Um, OK, all right," he thought quickly. "Are you okay, Max?" The man asked.
"I am fine, Wasabi," He was geniune but modulated.
"Hiro?"
"Just fine!" The boy squeezed Baymax.
"And you both are..." Bi thumbed in between them.
"Best a friends."
"Always," Baymax agreed.
Wasabi nodded. "Okay, okay... that's the most important thing."
"We miss you, Bi."
"We will always be friends and care about you," Baymax added.
"Of course we will," Wasabi was no idiot, he saw what they were really concerned about. "I care about you both, too. Um... okay, I guess Honey, Fred and I will meet... all three of you?" He turned to Hiro, who nodded peacefully. Not resolved, but the door was open. Bi turned to Max with love. "Whatever else, we work through it..."
Baymax nodded quietly and Hiro grinned optimistically.
"Love ya guys. See ya tomorrow." Wasabi tapped out, smiling.
"Love you too, Bi. See ya." Hiro said.
"Goodbye, Wasabi."
The teen turned to his friend.
"I feel very guility about misleading Wasabi." Baymax admitted.
Hiro tucked in close and touched Baymax's face. "We'll tell them tomorrow," the bot gave a nod. "You're still just coming into this."
"Thank you, Hiro," Baymax hugged him. "I do so appreciate you."
"Of course, Max. Oh!" His eyes lit up. "You said "I do!" He took the confused bot's hand and held it tightly to his heart. "Baymax!"
"Hiro?"
"I know we've only known each other two years, but... marry me."
Baymax blinked, then snuggled a laughing Hiro close.
"You are silly," he said gently. The bot looked at Hiro.
"You can tell me anything."
"Things will continue to change..." He said, almost uncertainly.
Hiro touched his cheek. "This stays the same."
"Yes," Baymax agreed.
They held hands as they walked towards a new checkpoint. As Baymax moved to touch the access button, Hiro touched him to stop him. He gestured to the human print. "Do these move at all?"
"Yes, a Care Companion can adjust them."
"I wonder..." The sly was in Hiro's eyes as he expertly flicked his down like it was a screen and aligned it perfectly with the bot's. It was a blink before Baymax realized that Hiro-, The boy gently let their hands press down on the buttons together; Green flashed on.
Hiro, satisifed, turned to him. "It should have only worked... if it was programmed to do that," he nudged his Baymax, who hugged him in acknowledement. Courteously, he motioned Hiro first and Hiro bowed dramatically. Baymax snuggled his ear with a chuckle for his sake and the two walked hand-in-hand into the big cafeteria.
The bot looked wonderingly at their hands and Hiro tightened their grip, smiling haughtily. Baymax tilted his head and the two walked over to a long table that was still seating itself; Hiro barely noticed.
"So, where do we sit?" The boy asked casually.
"Normally, Correction Companions-,"
"Hey, Hiro!" Stiffening, the teen turned slowly. "Ha-Jun? Ji-Min?"
The shorter one waved sheepishly, while his brother gave Hiro his largest sneer. "Correction Companions there," he leaned over on a lounging arm, "Correction Companion agents... over here." Ji-Min was nudged at and he just shrugged haplessly as their side filled up fast. Hiro's face was ten shades of red. He ducked his head a little.
"Well, I guess I'll..."
A big, soft arm touched his shoulder and gently steered him to the end of a large metal seat big enough for six or seven of Hiro. Then, Baymax let out some air so Hiro could sit comfortably beside him.
Hiro added to the gentle pressure Baymax already had applied.
Ha-Jun and Ji-Min gawked as the other CC's found their seats and Hiro shrugged at them "helplessly". "Guess the bot boss says here."
Baymax ruffled his hair playfully but in a careful manner.
It wasn't too out of place and the boys, ever the stupids, bought it.
...
Gogo, returning from a trip to the nearest dojo she was a member of, glanced past Keio's chair to where Hiro's was at her left hand. Her eyes popped open and the arms behind her back tightened at the empty "Reserved" seat. She looked up at the lines that finally seated themselves, blinked, then raised a brow as the truth settled.
Her aunt, a tall, limbered woman who commanded presence, came to stand beside her. "I see the boys aren't here," she glanced down.
"No, apparently they had to catch up on Baymax and Hiro's end."
The woman's eyes flashed wide. "Silence." she raised her voice.
Everything went still.
"I believe my sons and the Guest of Honor are misplaced."
"Uh... Mom-," Ji-Min leaned forward.
"Your place, son." She pointed sharply to her right. Gogo blinked passively as she watched. The two mumbled as their Correction Companions matched up behind them. "There is nothing wrong with switching places tonight," she said softly. "So that Hiroto-,"
"Actually, it's Hiro!" The boy leaned forward.
"Welcome, Hiro," Keio held her long, sharp hands out. Everyone applauded precisely. Flushing red, he hid. "Please, join us down here. My sons are only temporarily seated with Correction Bots."
They mumbled their quiet protest, detesting their assigned places.
From where Hiro sat between his Baymax and all his look-alikes, everything felt safe and familiar. "No, thank you. I'm good." He smiled up at Baymax's head tilt and it was just like it always was.
But he still wondered-,
"Your assignment," She pointed calmly, "Is to be seated here."
Hiro blinked. "Thank you, Ma'am," he bowed. "But my buddy-,"
"Baymax attends to the Correction Bots, you-,"
"Keio," The bot clutched him close and Hiro almost leap-frogged out of his skin over a Correction Bot at the assured authority that was in Baymax's patient voice. "I have asked Hiro to sit with me," he turned and patted Hiro's cheek. Everyone looked around at the others with unease, Hiro noted. They suspected and were worried.
"I'm sorry, Baymax, but rules are rules," Keio furthered, denying Baymax's contestment. A light under her black robe sleeve went green and Hiro found himself begin to airlift by a CC tube lift. "I make the rules on the human end; let's just not forget this, Plush."
"Bayyyy-mmaa-!"
Baymax caught Hiro's legs before he flew away and the force of his hold was with a strength Hiro had never seen. "That is enough."
And somehow his soft voice was older... in charge.
The tube switched from a feature on his chest and Baymax easily caught Hiro, situating him protectively under his arm. Everybody was flabbergasted. Baymax was patient as ever as he turned now.
"Keio, Hiro has not violated any infractions. He is merely seated in a location of his preference," The bot looked at him. "Unless you... want to?" The thing that scared and awed Hiro was the sheer sense of command Baymax had developed, especially in his even, perfect monotone. Baymax touched his cheek assuringly and Hiro, just as stunned as the rest, thrust a head shake. "Then let us proceed on..."
Gogo mirrored his calm command flawlessly.
"Everyone, pay attention." The young woman told them.
It was like the two were their own team, Hiro noted uncertainly.
"Let's go over the flowcharts," She said as the food staff appeared.
Hiro blinked stupidly; and this was a parody of a parallel universe.
Instead of singling Hiro out, Baymax turned on a feature and food that was laid where he was supposed to sit was moved just like the stair plates. Everything, Hiro really noticed when his attention fell from Baymax, was coated in a strange nightshade. He grinned a bit as his plate specfically came to him. The boy picked it up as all the proper plates went to the proper agents. Hiro nodded to all of them.
"Thank you!" He enthused and he picked up a dumpling.
It was asparagus creme dumplings, wheat rolls and tapioca mochi.
"They are all tailored to diet and taste preference."
Hiro held up one with his chopsticks and started to nudge Baymax like they always did, but the bot merely placed his hand down and stroked his cheek. Gogo jumped in suddenly and they all discussed business. Hiro ate steadily, eyes on Baymax as he paid perfect and respectful attention to all of this. Contributing here and there. The food was delicious, every bit as good as Aunt Cass's or Mei's. Hiro knew, perhaps instictively, that if Baymax had not held and kept stroking his head like he was a Hairy Baby, that the meal would have been lacking. That would have been the real difference... It humbled and warmed up Hiro as the screens around him dimmed.
He was a kid.
If only for a while, he was just a kid with his robot guardian friend.
...
As soon as everyone had left, Gogo circled to where Baymax and Hiro were. "I'm glad you stuck up for both of you... but that really was pushing it, Maxie," she said this as a fact. "They suspect and-,"
She saw Hiro pressed evenly to Baymax's side and smiled softly.
"Maybe it's time to get him home," Gogo told him.
Baymax didn't respond, he merely stroked Hiro's hair.
"Maxie," She touched his arm.
"Are you afraid of me?" He turned to her.
Gogo's eyes widened and she hugged him fiercely. "Of course not!" They looked down like parents at Hiro tucked beneath his arm. "You asserted yourself just enough. You are in control..."
It was only himself she meant and he knew; a deeper knowledge of how all of this worked they shared but didn't need to speak of.
"It would be the right thing." Baymax said.
"But you don't want to," Gogo gave his arm a pat.
The bot did not use Hiro's supposed consent as an excuse but he could not bring himself to admit selfishness was tempting. At this, Baymax gathered him up and decided. Gogo smiled with approval.
"I will take Hiro on the last leg of our tour," he reasoned. Her smile was a grin. "He needs to make the decision himself, regarding our involvement as friends." Her eyes grew sad. "Then, if he does not want to be... I will assign someone the issue of addressing all that must be adhered to from here-on-in." Baymax would not look up.
"He would never not-," She touched his shoulder.
Max blinked and she let it fall. They knew things could change...
Especially as far as Hiro's involvement went.
"Have faith," Gogo slowly reached out to stroke Hiro's hair but Baymax took her hand instead and gave it a gentle squeeze then.
"You are a great friend, Gogo." He said softly.
"Takes one to know one, buddy," she grinned.
And they laughed softly at the cheesy imitation of Hiro.
"It is not nice to laugh at others," Baymax stopped abruptly.
"Guess the expense is on my tab," Gogo shrugged and turned.
"Do you need to talk?" He touched her shoulder and she looked one final time at Hiro in Baymax's arm. She shook her head and they exchanged a brief hug. "If you change your mind..." With a gentle nod his way, Gogo picked up her work tablet and went on.
Baymax, watching her go, absently stroked Hiro once.
With no one around, he flew into the highest levels of the turbine.
...
The teen let out a huge yawn. What day was it?
"Max...?" He looked up from the soft, warm folds of his friend who had him cradled to his chest; walking? "Maxie, I'm stuffed. Did we just have dinner?" The bot's arms tightened. He laughed. "Where-,"
?
His memory flashed.
"Please," Hiro suddenly felt like the bot was carrying him to meet his maker. "Please," Baymax stopped and abruptly set him down.
The boy wavered and his friend caught him, stroking his head.
"I am sorry," the strange voice touched his ears and then his heart.
Hiro looked up in surprise, sad longing closeby.
"I am sorry," Baymax patted his face. "Perhaps I should have... at the least waited until after you came to start my conversion." Hiro gave his head a deliberate shake to wake up. "I have upset you so much; you do not deserve to be disturbed like this." He stroked at Hiro's face. And Hiro, for once, was too stunned to interrupt. "I did not want you to see me if it went awry, but at the very first hint you wanted to-," His sorrow broke Hiro's heart. "Wanted to see me..."
Hiro grabbed him and kissed his access port. "Baymax, enough! I don't care if your chip is defunct in you. It's- It's still in there, in... you." He smiled waveringly at him. "My buddy is still in there." A hand on his port and then he removed it. "Sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"It is okay," Baymax took his hand and placed it lovingly where a blue chip with all of his health protocol, fighting moves and all of his memories, lay within. With a sliver of Tadashi's chip. "I want you here," He saw the smile on Hiro's face grow and they hugged.
"Thanks, buddy." The bot patted his back.
"But there is more I must share with you," Baymax looked at him.
"Anything at this point, I'm game." Hiro winked and nudged.
His friend blinked, not uncertainly but in wonder. He led Hiro into what the boy guessed now was the control center for all Care Bots. Monitors, a large motherboard with controls... and pictures of the Team that were uncolored or unfinished taped on the far left wall. There were hundreds. "562..." Hiro was very nearly done with his three-second calculation when Baymax took him over to his work.
"This is where I monitor everything," He spread his hands out.
"Righteous," Hiro nodded in approval, and then stopped. "You... monitor the city?" Baymax nodded. "And every Double C, right?"
The bot nodded again, eager to show Hiro all his new job duties.
"All of this in a moment," He took Hiro's hands and the boy let a grin fall over his face. "First, I want to show you something else."
"What? You really miss Dance Mode, eh?"
"Yes, but that point is moot, Hiro." Baymax brought him closer.
"Am I the daddy?" Hiro patted his tummy.
"Let us refrain from jests for a moment," The bot patted his head.
Hiro nodded. The bot touched his access port.
"You need some work done?"
Baymax clasped Hiro's right hand to his chest but freed his other.
He gave Hiro the option to step back but Hiro stepped closer.
"Will you be afraid?"
"No." The leader of Big Hero 6 was in Hiro's voice.
Baymax blinked down and opened his access port.
There was nothing.
Hiro's eyes widened and then he shook his head. "That's... that's-,"
A white chip slid out.
"Uh...?"
"It does not have... any programming. It's recording how I interact now and saving it." Hiro realized, as Baymax still held their hands there, he really had no clue how he was able to do all of this either.
Hiro, feeling uneasy, reached out.
"Do not ever hesitate," Baymax told him softly, taking his hand to let him run his fingers over it. "Our trust must be stronger now in these times more than ever." Hiro smiled, nodding. Baymax gave him a squeeze into the middle of chest and Hiro stroked his access port and the chip. Baymax stroked his head. Ji-Min suddenly came into the room on them. Baymax and Hiro hid his view of the port.
He blinked. "Uh...? Is this a bad time? I'm sorry, I thought-,"
"You are always welcome," Baymax looked over, downloaded a file from a computer on his right, and then to the tablet. It took a split second. "All done. You may stay if you would like," The bot subtly took Hiro's hand and clasped it carefully away without once moving his left hand from the port. He pressed it closed and stood.
"No that's okay," Ji-Min smiled slightly. "Uh, nice seein' ya, Hiro."
He turned to leave.
"Hey, you too, Ji."
Hiro turned and Baymax shrugged.
"It is different."
"I'll say. No locked doors?"
"None. Anyone is allowed in."
Hiro chuckled darkly. "It's no problem, Max. But, where...?"
"Is my Healthcare chip?"
"You don't have to show me."
Baymax took his hand wordlessly and led him to a small glass box. Kneeling, Hiro tried to look closer and Baymax did something that made small lights come on inside. It was untouched and looked on the lonely side. Hiro bit his lower lip and Baymax slid the pane to the left. He delicately removed it like an artifact (but like one might hold an item nonetheless) and placed it in Hiro's hand. The boy let his thumbs run over it. The chip Gogo had made... and touched the small sliver of green that was Tadashi. Questions, morales, feelings Hiro did not know he had, went to war inside of his knotting heart.
He sensed when Baymax had moved.
The boy looked over as his best friend went to the monitors, down at the chip that was no more then a memorable tech display or even a conversation relic, and placed it back inside. Hiro closed the door and walked slowly over to Baymax, set on showing his friend that-,
"It is not enough!" The strain of frustration in the bot's tenor voice jolted Hiro back. To actually hear his best friend's emotion, rather than just suspect. "I can mend many problems in the city, I can do so much good for people..." Hiro thought he knew where this was leading to. Baymax turned to him and Hiro realized how he looked.
The bot was instantly before him. "I am sorry, I am sorry," he gave Hiro a series a gentle pats. "I did not mean to show you that. I-," It was a hand on his access port that stopped him. "It is not the chip."
"Then what is it, Baymax?" Hiro asked gently. "How can I help?"
Baymax blinked and Hiro remembered his earlier words.
His friend took him to his side and stroked his hair. "Let me show you my work process..." He led Hiro over now. "It is not that any of it is too complicated." Baymax operated many different cameras and looked over many charts... He looked down and Hiro grinned.
The bot snuggled his hair once and showed him everything while Hiro looked at him admiringly, like a proud parent or a child with an inconquerable older sibling-, Baymax gripping the buttons and modules brought him back. The bot blinked at all that there was...
"I do the very best I can," he leaned in, lit by many different lights.
All reaching out to him.
Hiro nodded slowly.
"But I wonder if it is enough though. Often, I do miss the help and support of our team," Baymax told him honestly as he still nodded. "I would not interfer with anyones' lives or duties, but it would be a comfort to hear their voices or obtain their advice. The workload not being the issue, of course." He looked down at the sole, metal print that was meant for his hand. Hiro's eyes turned incredibly sad.
Baymax blinked at it. "I do not know who else could do this work, you being my first priority of why I am otherwise here." He slowly placed his hand upon the button. "But if I do not do it... who will?"
One moment it was just his hand, round and white, laying there.
And then a second hand, a human left, laid atop it.
Baymax blinked like he was dreaming.
When he looked up Hiro, still under his arm, was smiling down at their touching hands. He looked up into Baymax's eyes with what the bot remembered was the same look Hiro had given the day of his reactivation. The boy met his eyes. "Who do you think, Max?"
The bot blinked again, speechless.
"You've always been there for me..." Hiro patted his hand. "Let me be there for you." Baymax inclined his head, like he was seriously looking for validation that this was real. Hiro grinned fast. "Max... we're friends, buddies, family." His eyes shined with golden hope; like two sunrises, he knew. "Let's be partners again?" Hiro offered.
Baymax blinked at him a final time.
"HIRO!" He pounced on him and they went to the floor.
"Uh... not like that, buddy!"
"Last snuggle," the bot rubbed his face on Hiro's cheek.
"Ma-ha-x!" He laughed helplessly, another syllable not far off.
An alert came to the control station.
"Oh," Baymax got them up quickly. He used one hand to type and the other to hold a confused Hiro's hand tightly. "I have an urgent alert needing my..." he turned to Hiro. The boy blinked and right in that moment knew what Baymax meant, but the robot quickly went to reassure him anyways. "I hope you will not misunderstand, but I will need to take this... in confidence." Hiro felt the vibe of what he knew was Baymax's frustration; of having to hide this. "I will not-"
"Baymax, it's okay," Hiro went into his strong, instant embrace.
"I will see you as soon as I can," Baymax touched his face.
Hiro looked at him meaningfully.
Baymax nodded, knowing what Hiro meant.
The pat on Hiro's cheek made his eyes mist up.
"I love you, Baymax." He said.
"And I-,"
"WHOA!" Hiro was propelled down as a new image came on the screen, but it was only Baymax guiding him. The robot gave him a circle-wave and Hiro, feeling his best friend beside him, went into the tube ride with a sense of control as it deposited him on the main level. The teen looked around at all the members of the RRC, all of the Correction Bots, and their curious, suspcious stares. Hiro shook his head, raising his bangs. "Whooo! Talk about a fall from grace."
"Talk for yourself," Ha-Jun suddenly appeared.
"What'd you mean?" Hiro turned to him.
" 'What do I mean?' " The man repeated accuatorily. "Why are you here?" He stepped forward and threw a sketch pad at the boy's feet. Hiro's eyes went wide. "You scribbled out a few of them but..." He heard Ha-Jun say and then suddenly bands of violet light showed on everyone's arms, but the looks on everyone's face were shocked.
Mostly.
"You wanna see what magnetism can really do..." Ha-Jun started.
"I dunno," Hiro grinned slowly. "Why don't you show all of us?"
And everyone's Correction Companions were beside them.
Ha-Jun fisted his hands as they all issued infractions or near ones.
"Our programming does not allow us to injure a human being," A confident Hiro recited, but something in Ha-Jun's eyes said things were not quite that. He lifted his brows as he mirrored Hiro's own confidence darkly. The man took his CC's arm, one just like all the rest, and rubbed it on his lit-up band before ruffling a wordless Ji-Min's head. His hair poofed out on end. Surprised, Ji-Min blinked.
"See," He grinned sharply, just like his mother's smile but without the veneer of kindness, "I just showed you what it can do..." Hiro took a deep breath and held his eyes steadily. Ha-Jun scoffed. "5 more minutes," he annouced, obviously everyone was on a short break. The crowds turned from Hiro; who was then on his own...
Instantly alone.
"Hey, Hiro," Gogo passed him on her way to what he saw were all manner of stands and vendors. The bottom floor was some type of market place. Hiro instantly clipped along after her measured pace.
"Hey, wait!"
She disappeared a moment, then returned. Her pointed look held a focus and measured expectation Hiro both recognized and did not.
"Yes?" Gogo was patient but careful.
"H- h-how are you?"
"Been better," She shrugged. "Not too bad today. You?"
Hiro nodded dumbly. Gogo nodded back.
This wasn't what he'd expected at all; holding a casual convo...
"I'm on my way to lunch," She hitched a thumb back.
"We already had lunch." He said stupidly.
"I was heading the meeting," Gogo explained, smiling just a bit.
Hiro was at once a guy who wanted more and a child needing a friend. Her eyes and voice softened even more. "Wanna come?"
A flicker of something lost came into his face and Gogo started.
The light in his eyes and his eagerness for her company made her own smile give way to warmth. He started forward but something like a bullet struck a bullseye in his mind. Gogo's eyes shot open in her own realization. Hiro stepped back; reality hit him like a sniper strike. The girl suddenly ducked into the crowds and Hiro stood all at once motionless, but another warmth was not far from him now.
"Hiro?" Baymax trundled up.
He snapped.
"Baymax, please come back!" Hiro threw himself at the bot.
Crowds gasped.
"Hiro?" Baymax touched his arms, Hiro's hands were like snares.
"Come back with me, buddy, come home."
The emotion lit unmasked in Baymax's voice, but he kept it low.
"You know I cannot-,"
"I don't care! I don't CARE." Hiro beat upon his arms.
"You do," the bot gently refuted.
"I don't! I don't!" The boy cried up at him. "Baymax, I don't care about any of this. I don't care if we were fighting or who's right or who's on who's side! I want you home, we all want you home!" He pushed his reasonings onto Baymax, who held his hysterical friend.
"Hiro, you must-,"
"NO BAYMAX!" Hiro cried defiantly as the agents whispered and the CC's issued infractions. "I know you don't care about any of it, either!" He went into full pleading. "Baymax, I'm begging you! I'll get a Correction Companion, I'll eat all my vegetables and not ever use sarcasm or roll my eyes, I'll submit to all changes, just please-,"
"Hiro, enough." Gogo's swift fist to a metal vendor shocked all to silence. Hiro, trembling in Baymax's arms, turned to someone he'd once entrusted all to. All his life. The bot tried to hold him but Hiro held out a hand to halt this. "That..." She walked. "Is," Gogo took point. "Enough." No one was on her side, no one even braved that.
From where they'd been feasting, food dangling from their mouths, Ha-Jun elbowed Ji-Min. The two beat fists and ran over to observe.
But Hiro faced down his own, using his leadership to confront her.
Gogo didn't blink.
"A head can't work without it's body." Her words were iron.
He wrinkled his nose and drew forth, just as she had yesterday.
"Hiro-," Baymax reached out.
"I'll take care of this!" His hand shot up again.
And suddenly the assembly edged-,
Gogo pointed them to a halt.
Hiro found himself doing so, too.
The leader Gogo now was stood cemented in her fixed eyes.
If that wasn't reason enough-
Hiro sensed Baymax almost over him.
"What have you done to hi-?"
"This isn't about him," Gogo spoke low and fast, "This is all about you." Hiro was now in the crosshairs of her words. "It was always about you." She unmasked him effortlessly and Hiro mechanically started-, "No." Gogo shot again. "There's no retreating from this."
Hiro was snared.
"You don't have anyone to hide behind, Hiro Hamada, and you are going to hear all of this." Death was so close, the death of all-, "We loved you," Gogo said slowly and he blinked like a robot without a purpose. "We all loved you," and her words mirrored herself for a moment. "And that love can never be broken." Gogo said earnestly.
Her calm, quiet voice held everyone.
Hiro came alive a little, aware that shadows arched overhead. His best friend moved his head towards him; Reality was a calm storm, but it was still a storm. "This was a novelty, a grand chance for you to relive and recapture all our glory days... and now it's come to an end." Hiro turned slowly to Baymax. The bot reached for him and Hiro clutched at heart, backing away slowly. Gogo's voice was the steadiness of a rising omen. "Think about what you're losing, think about what it's going to mean when you walk out of here, Hiro." It was both an acknowledgement and a reality check; she was not in any way pleading for him to stay. Baymax trundled over as fast as his stubs could carry him. Hiro clutched tighter, his eyes petrified.
The love that had held him was now the love that was losing him...
A love Hiro now realized he had never lost.
Gogo said one last thing. "You can go, but you will never have this chance again," the boy moved, heart frozen, eyes never leaving the bot. A wave of violet light encased the bottom floor as Baymax in one last attempt held out his hand to Hiro. The boy hooved it away.
"Hiro, please!" He called out in heartbreak, his voice a silver ring to the storm that thundered overhead. "We were going to spend the rest of the day together! We were making such progress. You-we-,"
Hiro ran from his self-imploding daydream, the frightful reality of his self-deluded nightmare, and flung himself into something Hiro vaguely knew he undersood. Something, someone, grabbed him...
The other side ripped him up like the tradewinds of a hurricane.
Once thrown inside, protected by his aunt's familiar truck, the truck that had shielded the boy since he was a toddler, a strong hand took the manual shift into reverse and with a sense of control sent them going back and then piloted them both away to safety. Hiro was in that moment a helpless heap on the passenger side before he tried to pull himself up and see his aunt through his tears- A new grasp found his arm and yanked him into her hold with binding strength.
Hiro, in the side-embrace of his cousin Dian, was driven home.
The boy looked back once but her firm hand brought him to her.
Away... away they drove.
To be continued...
A/N: I don't even know, dudes. :P
Preview for next ch:
Hiro kept his door open, wide, unlocked every window as if his life depended on it, flipped on all his computers and unblocked every blocked connection (even to the RRC... especially them) and lastly, most importantly, Hiro brought all of his messages up from the stored inbox of e-mails and text alerts. He skimmed through them, seeing every picture and word Baymax had sent. The boy knew no matter what the next day, or so on, he would be going over all of them.
He would memorize every facet of picture, meaning of text and hint (if Baymax really could drop them like Hiro knew he now could) until it was burned inside his mind and soul.