Freedom Fighter
Chapter 24: Role model
Snow crashed into his face as he got out the car. "Meet me at the university when you're done!" Tadashi nodded and slammed the door. Gogo pulled away- smoke mixing with the frozen flecks.
He tightened his grip on the plastic bag. 'We're halfway there.' His shoulders pulled together and trapped the heat as he entered the hospital.
Hiro was awake when he came in. Aunt Cass was nowhere to be seen. Tadashi smiled as he approached his brother. Hiro tried to push himself back. He snarled at him and bared his teeth. Tadashi stopped.
His mouth opened as he tried to form words; but failed in misery. His eyes scanned his brother. He was still strapped down- needles puncturing his skin- blankets locking him to the bed. His hair struggled beneath the bandages- his beanie on the bedside table.
His eyes were terrified and glued to him. Hiro was acting defensively. But why was he- Tadashi rushed forward. Hiro renewed his struggles; inching away from Tadashi's reaching hand. He grabbed his brother around the chin and turned his head.
A glaring bruise spread on his cheek.
"Hiro... who- who hit you?" Concerned eyes captured his brother's attention- urging him to calm down. "Are you okay?! Did they hurt you anywhere else? I'm going to kill them! Hiro, are you okay. Oh no. You're hurt."
Hiro tensed as Tadashi stroked a thumb over the bruise. "Where's Aunt Cass? Did she get our message? Did she go back to the cafe? Oh no- you're hurt- did they do it while she was gone? We have to get you out of here!"
Tadashi ran to the door and locked it. He jammed a chair against it and opened the window. They were on the first floor. He could get out and... and carry Hiro to...
'He's paralyzed.'
He closed his eyes; his hands stopping with the leather. His breath hitched as he stared at the sheets. His brother was unable to walk. Oh gosh. Hiro made a noise in the back of his throat. Tadashi's head snapped up.
He could feel the fear radiating from his brother.
Pain shot through him. "No, Hiro, it's okay. I'm getting you out of here." The buckles clicked loose and he threw them over to the other side. He undid the straps around Hiro's ankles and wrists. Hiro scrambled back, on his elbows, but regretted in instantly.
Hiro yelped; reaching an uninjured hand over to his shoulder. Tadashi gently took his hand away and put it in his lap. "Calm. Calm. I'm here to help." He cast a nervous glance at the door; no one heard them. A breath of relief escaped him.
"I brought you clothes- so you don't have to wear the scrubs- I know; they're irritating, right?" Tadashi picked up the plastic bag and dug out a bunch of clothes. "Should I help you dress or-" At the state Hiro was in there was no way he was dressing himself.
"I'll put on your shirt- but your undies and pants- no way!" Being as careful as possible he removed the scrubs and kicked them under the bed- banished to the dark side. The cross collar strap around his shattered bones was the best brace ever, but the worst to manoeuvre around.
Tadashi bundled the shirt and slipped it over Hiro's tangle of black tresses. It caught on the Clavicle support brace. He glared at it and gently tugged it over. Hiro squirmed in discomfort. "Hey its okay, buddy- see it's over."
He left the material and it rolled over his scarred flesh. Tadashi turned his head. He knew Hiro didn't want him to see his scars and to be honest he didn't either. Bad memories.
He handed the underwear and pants. "You can handle that, right?" Hiro looked at the underwear. He opened it and stretched it out in front of his face. The material touched his nose and he sniffed it.
Tadashi bit back a disturbed look. He put his hand over his brother's and lowered the clothing. "You don't sniff underwear unless you're a pervert." Hiro tilted his head. In a flash he put the underwear over his head.
This time he laughed.
"Okay, buddy, I'll help you, but you have to pinkie swear not to tell a soul!" Hiro turned his head; one eye peeking through the leg hole. Tadashi shook his head and ripped the undies away. "Lay back."
Hiro blinked. "This is so embarrassing. You better not be recording this. And don't add this to memory either!" Tadashi poked Hiro's feet through the holes. He looked away as he slipped the underwear higher and higher.
They stopped going up and he risked a peek; one eye stealing a glance. He sighed and let the material go. "There. The pants will be easier now that you're half decent." Tadashi stood and held out the pants.
"Come on; get up."
Hiro blinked.
Tadashi pan-faced. "You have to stop doing that." He gripped Hiro's hand and lifted him out of bed. The little guy winced as his feet touched the floor. His metal foot met the linoleum with a clank.
"Okay, one foot in front of the other."
Hiro lifted a foot; wincing at the pain. Tadashi frowned; concerned. He continued, frowning as he angled the limbs into the material. Tadashi smiled as his baby brother stuck his tongue out in concentration.
"Don't wobble your legs so much. Steady them."
With a sigh and one too many curses Hiro was finally in the cargos. Tadashi grimaced as he zipped the fly and tugged the shirt over it. "Get into your jacket- it's cold out." He held out the jacket, but he made no move to take it.
"Oh yeah- shoulder."
He moved around his brother and smoothed the jacket around his shoulders and through his arms. He zipped it up as well. "At least all the clothes cover up that nasty brace; that's one up for outfits, right?"
Tadashi brightened and gave Hiro a genuine smile. "I got you something!" He hopped over to the bag and removed the last remaining item. He held it up for him to see. Hiro's eyes brightened at the colours.
He stepped forward; feet clicking on the tiles. "This is Superman; he's a good guy- like you. He only uses his powers for good; never for evil. Remember that." He gave the comic to Hiro, who took it with straining fingers.
The little hybrid stroked the colourful front. He tipped his head to the side. He pointed at a robot on the cover. Tadashi frowned. "That's Atomo- the metal menace, but he's the villain." He pressed his finger on Superman who was flying in action. "You're more like the hero. Like Superman."
He reached out to ruffle Hiro's hair. Freezing and glaring at the bandage on his head. His hands grabbed his beanie and situated it on his head. "There. Now you don't look like an escaped convict with a head injury."
Tadashi moved to the window; Hiro hobbling after him. He glanced at the door- satisfied no one entered yet and clattered through. His shoes thudded onto the frost; the cold hitting him full force.
Snow cut into his hair and bit into his exposed fingers. He looked back into the room. Hiro was standing there- looking lost- hugging the comic to his chest like a protective shield. Tadashi curled and uncurled his fingers. He motioned his hands.
"Come on, buddy, let's get you out of here."
Hiro took a tiny step forward, his fingers tightening around the book. "I won't hurt you come on." His voice was soft and soothing. The little one took another baby step. Tadashi breathed through his nose and looked away. He clasped his wrist in his opposite hand.
"Hurry up, buddy, we're running out of time."
The snow white flecks taunted him with their frozen faces as they brushed around his body. He shivered. Hiro rocked from side to side; taking another teeny step. He was in reach now. Tadashi wanted nothing more than to reach out and grab him around the shoulders; pulling him through the window.
He would have done it- hadn't he known of his baby brother's injuries. He looked away- glancing around him- there was no one around. Who would dare be out in this blizzard? "Hiro please."
He tapped the window pane; his voice rising in pitch. Hiro narrowed his eyes and looked at him sideways. He inched forward. He was now standing against the wall right in front of him. Tadashi gave a low laugh.
"Okay, okay- now try putting your leg over the edge."
Hiro tilted his head and frowned. "Okay- wait." He leaned through the window and slinked his arm around Hiro's waist- one arm hooking under his good shoulder. He lifted; Hiro squawked. Tadashi grunted as he lifted his brother out the room.
He placed him on the ground. Hiro wrapped his arms around his waist- his head resting on his stomach, all his weight leaning on him. He shivered and his bones shook. Tadashi frowned and looked him over. He was fully dressed in warmth- he couldn't possibly be-
He slapped his forehead- why is his brain so frozen and slow?!- looking at Hiro's naked feet. "I'm really not in the zone today!" He groaned and closed his eyes. Hiro's shivering brought him back. Tadashi rubbed the nape of his neck and shifted from leg to leg.
He hadn't brought any shoes, but he can't let his brother walk around bare foot.
"I'm gonna kill myself for this."
He blew out a breath- the smoke being cast to the wind. "Hey, buddy, I'm gonna carry you, okay? Okay?"
Hiro let go with a yelp. He touched- touched his shoulder. "For the moment hugging is bad- no hugging- you're going to hurt yourself more." He levelled a look at him; tears collecting in Hiro's eyes.
"Okay, here we go, buddy." He placed his arms behind his knees and the other around his back- instead of his shoulders- and lifted. Hiro weighed next to nothing. "I thought we were regulating your nutrition intake? You're still skinny."
Tadashi started walking; shaking his head. "From now on you're having a pure Mc. Donald's diet so we can fatten you up- no more skinny ass for you!" Hiro rest his head against Tadashi's chest and burrowed into the heat.
"If only Gogo could see me now: talking my brother into eating plastic and grease and having him trudge through snow without shoes- escaping from his room/cell. She'll be so proud- I'm the best role model ever."
Once the cold vanished and his brain freeze melted a cold deeper than anything settled in his gut.
Why was Hiro able to walk?
"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are."
-Arthur Golden
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