Safe in Brother's Wings They Grow Much Faster Than Bamboo, a DuckTales + Big Hero 6 Crossover fanfic

Chapter 61, everybody! And back off track I'm sorry but there's a lot of action I'm having to unravel and put down and then put it down in such a way that I know where it's going (had to write up a good chunk of the next chapter before I figured out where this one ended). We're getting there though, just gotta keep working!

So as with all my fics, the climax and ending give me grief sometimes because aaaah sitting down and writing it aaaah—I mean I wrote down an outline so I know where to go but STILL. Doesn't help that new scenes keep worming their way into the outline, but it helps with the flow of the story.

Also at this point I'm thinking the whole showdown at Sycorax might as well be Phase Three of the fic this section is easily as big as Phase One (heading to San Fransokyo) and starts on Chapter 48, which splits it fairly evenly…and also means we're within 10-15 chapters of the end OH BOY—

Continuing blanket disclaimer: I still have not finished Season Two. We're flying blind, boys. And again, I am still in denial of the end of "Countdown to Catastrophe" don't at me this is how I cope, okay? D: And it's very strange writing this knowing both shows are over but were going strong when I started that's a weird feeling and yet I should be used to it by now. Once again, if you are dissatisfied with these shows ending, send all salt to Disney corporate every nastygram they get that represents fifteen people who couldn't be bothered so WRITE TO THEM.

So back to the fic…we do see inside Fred's suit a couple of times and while he doesn't have cupholders (he says it in the episode "Big Hero 7") I'm pretty sure he has some heads-up-displays (HUDs) because I feel like the suit has some problems with peripheral vision. So, Hiro tweaked it. :D Also Fred is quoting Buzz Lightyear and picturing that one long fall in Portal 2.

In other news…bird-people! And…on a meta-level 'Kase is currently about two years old—I started this fic in July of 2019 and it's April of 2021 as of the posting of this chapter so…a little under two. In the fic…honestly if she's a full year old I'd be surprised.

Also, the dinosaur conversation came from a Tumblr conversation with Spyrkle4—really need to illustrate the one exchange that came from that. XD Hiro's wanting Tadashi to reenact the T. Rex escape from Jurassic Park, by the by. And I headcanon that Hiro is a fan of Gravity Falls and I have gone on record saying that that weird plant-thing that's in Sublevel Nine came from there.

Speaking of said plant…couldn't resist some Jumanji moments here, and since Nega-Globby runs on feral rage but didn't get a form until getting one of those eye-bulbs, I'm going to say that thing has some sentience, as horrifying a concept as that is. The chapter title is in reference to a line from Jumanji, when the giant plant is summoned, and…I really need to figure out how to fit this thing eating Chief Cruz's car in. XD

On that note—like the fire-suppression sprinkler water, the contents of a fire extinguisher have a TON of chemicals in them, so spraying someone with one should really only be in a dire emergency (putting a fire out when there's no other speedy options/stopping them if they're coming to hurt you). And yeah couldn't see Tadashi leaving that monster to its fate. Could see him quoting Megamind, though. As for the bird-kid's appearance…looked up aggressive bird species and one of the first results was a red-tailed hawk. Since Della is partially based on a Peregrine falcon, it fits. :D

Sashi is…I'm not sure how many people remember the movie Zathura but he has a big fat reference to it. And I finally was able to fit in the quote from Tremors YES. Also I am certain that the line "I have never been more attracted to you" comes from SOMEWHERE, but I don't remember where. As for 'Kase's question…yes bird-people are oviparous.

And…okay depending on how the timeline goes I'm pretty sure the events of the movie take place late Spring/early summer with Season One Episode One taking place in early September, so depending on when you want to say Dr. Amara started snatching people Big Hero Six would be common knowledge for…well everyone who isn't Tadashi Hamada. ^^;

Also Baymax is probably not okay with arson and Hiro is terrible at secret identities. And robot uprisings might be one of the things preppers prep for I don't know maybe it's just the ones I know. And the calming chant from Mulan strikes again. XD

Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! YAY thank you! :D Ah glad you like those they entertained me when I was writing them—and yes she gets some time to shine! Me too, and thank you! :D

Hexyah, thanks for the review! *slams hands on desk* Dangit why didn't you suggest that a couple of chapters earlier now I'm picturing a version where Karmi has a whole panic attack about the feathers and the other bird-people talk her down…okay at the very least I'm going to draw bird-Karmi because I like that idea.

Despite dramatic declarations, things were not, in fact, going well.

Well they were, but Fred was banking on some final dramatic zerg rush, or big boss fight—his comic book senses were tingling and telling him that something was sus, cemented when Sherman the Tank (that was now going to be his official team name Fred had already decided) beaned the last monster and no more came. Very suspicious. Pull up the schematics Hiro had sent, try to raise him on the radio—

The last set of schematics Hiro had sent had a very concerning number of red dots—which OBVIOUSLY meant DANGER—trickling down from the higher levels. Some were heading for the floor Honey Lemon and Gogo were on, some were already past them and heading for Sublevel Nine—

Some were already waiting for Hiro and Tadashi down there.

Wasabi looked all levels of horrified upon him sharing this news. "See I TOLD you splitting up was a bad idea!"

"This is true, he did!" Mini-Max said, once again perching on Sherman the Tank. "And splitting up is always among the worst decisions in horror tropes!"

"It is," Fred said, debating. "Except when it's to better save our friends! You guys, upstairs to the girls—I'm going after the others."

"But it is dangerous to go alone!" Mini-Max protested. "Especially in a building covered with monsters! Present company excluded," he added, looking at Sherman the Tank.

"Wuff," Sherman the Tank noised—which Fred was translating as no big bro.

"That's why you're coming with me and Sherman the TANK is going with Wasabi," Fred explained, already stepping into the stairwell.

"Why is it raining indoors?" Wasabi asked.

"Hmm," Fred noised, poking at the little HUDs that Hiro had built into the sides of his suit, like Iron Man's suit but AWESOME. "According to Hiro's last report, the fire alarms on the fourth floor were triggered—gasp it's a flame-based monster."

"Fred…no," Wasabi sighed. "At least, I hope not."

Fred did too—mostly because despite the thematic and dramatic elements of it all he did not wish that on the Hamada brothers. Dealing with one fiery event was enough.

"Also why water why not an inert gas—Fred get off the railing," Wasabi squawked.

"No time," Fred declared. "We have to get to the others quickly, and this is the fastest way for me. Mini-Max!"

"Coming!" Mini-Max declared—small tmp-tmp noises told him Mini-Max had landed on the top of his suit. "Here we go to save the day!"

"Fred," Wasabi said sternly.

"Wasabi," Fred said, using the same tone. "My dude, we can't waste time arguing—go."

Wasabi sighed, quietly told Sherman the Tank come on, started heading up the steps. Sherman paused to look at them, went up as well.

"In a moment of dire need, our intrepid heroes are about to do something that should not be tried at home," Fred declared. "Mini-Max, let me know when we get close so we can stop. Ready?"

"I am READY!" Mini-Max declared.

"Okay…to infinity…and BEYOND!"

And with that, they were plummeting down into darkness, lacking a sarcastic potato but about to gain a whole cadre of bird-people that needed their help and the Hamada bros that needed backup.

Here was hoping they arrived just in the nick of time.

Tadashi was not liking this.

Mostly because it looked like something else had gotten here first.

"Huh," Hiro noised, holding up the battered remains of a keypad and turning it over in his hands. "That's…not good."

"Oh look at that, he is a boy genius," 'Kase said, sniffing at the doorjamb before stepping in.

"At least I'm not smelling the door," Hiro muttered under his breath.

"And yet one more crack like that and you'll be smelling the floor."

"Tadashi, she's picking on me."

"So despite the number of times I went over these introductions in my head, somehow I didn't see this happening," Tadashi said, gesturing to them both. "You two are acting like children."

"Point of order: I actually am a child, technically," Hiro pointed out.

"And I know this has crossed neither of your minds at all, but at most I'm a year old," 'Kase said.

Tadashi and Hiro both had to take a moment to stare at her.

"Nope," she said, looking amused. "Never crossed your minds at all."

"Seriously?" Tadashi demanded, stalking after her.

"Maybe two or three—I don't know, I just know it's not in my thirties like some people. How old did you think I was?"

"It depended on the day," Tadashi told her, eyes narrowed.

"Cute." Sniff at the air again. "This way."

"So I was thinking," Hiro told him quietly. "We're technically following a dinosaur."

"You just heard her say she'd like toddler age," Tadashi told him.

"No, I mean the build."

Tadashi really didn't like the look Hiro was giving him right now. "You know what? The girls are right, we don't have time for movie quotes."

"Okay, but I have some really tiny fences and cars I need you to terrorize later."

"Is this how you boys cope?" 'Kase tossed over her shoulder. "Endlessly quoting movies?"

"It works," they said at the same time.

"Oi give me strength."

Tadashi exchanged glances with Hiro, started sorting through relevant movie quotes, was getting ready to toss one at her when the bird-kids hissed and she flinched back and down, ears flat then up.

"What, what is it?" Hiro asked, before looking back. "Baymax?"

"Scanning," Baymax declared. "There are: multiple genetic anomalies, on this floor."

"Can you tell which are which?" Tadashi asked.

"There are several: bird-people, there, and there," Baymax said, pointing in two different directions. "There are also several other genetic signatures that do not match anything I have in my database."

"Oh great," Hiro said, sounding a few shades below hysterical. "So that's…not good."

"Let me guess, you shut down the raptor fences," Tadashi said.

"Uh…well she does have a weird plant that looks like it came from Gravity Falls, so—"

"Will you stop with the movie references!?" 'Kase hissed.

"Gravity Falls is a TV show."

'Kase looked like she was about to tell all of them some very unpleasant things, was prevented from doing so by Baymax's oh no—

Spun and leaped over a lithe little monster diving for her, spinning around and snarling around a flower-like mouth that peeled back to show a second set of jaws, sharp claws flashing on six limbs. Hiro flinched back, Tadashi was already shoving Nox behind Baymax—

"Aw, you're cute," 'Kase said to it. "And no spines either. By the way, just beat up your big brother upstairs, so…."

The monster looked momentarily confused before 'Kase grabbed it by the neck and slammed its head against the wall. Repeatedly. And then flung it at a second one that was charging up at her, sending them both tumbling.

"Next victim," she declared, flexing her hand.

"So we're going to have to revisit the just beat up your big brother portion of that conversation," Tadashi said, stunned to inaction about halfway through flinging Hiro onto Baymax.

"Yeah put me down," Hiro said, squirming free before crawling up on Baymax himself. "Baymax, we need numbers—how many monsters are there?"

"Scanning," Baymax said. "There are: twelve signatures matching my database on: bird-people. There are: eleven signatures that do not match any body type in my database. There are: five signatures that match my database on other: monsters."

"Great," Hiro muttered.

"Yeah. You, you, you and you," he said, plucking the girls off of Baymax and ushering them and Nox to the door. "Head back upstairs, now."

"No!" Nox wailed, clinging to him, the girls echoing his sentiment. "No no no no no—"

"Quiet!" 'Kase hissed. "'Dashi, stop stressing them."

Hiro glanced at him, like he dearly wanted to tell him to take the kids and run—started at another noise. "Tadashi, we got this, take the kids and go."

So that was on the list of things he didn't want to do. "Kids, listen to me, wait in the stairwell, we will be right back. Okay?"

Lena hissed, not looking at him—turn to follow her line of sight—

One of the bigger monsters was advancing on them, snarling.

"Kids go—now right now!" he barked—they fled, he dashed after, the monster slammed into the wall between him and the others—

From the sounds of it, more had found 'Kase and Hiro.

"Hey ugly!" he hollered at the one shaking its head—they didn't need to be fighting on two fronts. "Come get me!"

"Tadashi!" Hiro barked. No time though, monster was chasing him—bird-kids turned at the stairwell hall, bolting—

He lashed his tail, slapping the monster in the face before pouring on the speed on the straightaway, low to the ground and focusing more on getting away than on running on all fours. Bounced off a wall into a turn, monster slamming into the corner before chasing after him—

Squawked when the ground suddenly dropped away into stairs, tumbled down into a deeper area before colliding with a computer bank. Scrambled upright, trying to see everywhere at once—

Leaped back, strangling a scream at something with way too many eyes—

"Ah," he noised, realizing it was still in glass—and a plant, somehow. "Found Hiro's Gravity Falls plant."

It hissed at him, vines beating against the glass—no wait that hissing was outside. Spin to see the monster leaping for him, dive out of the way—

CRASH!

Spin around, staying low to the floor, to see that the monster had basically headbutted into the glass enclosure, was trying to back out of it, flailing increasingly frantic—

He wasn't sure what was going on, but the eyeball plant looked like it was trying to eat said monster.

Okay you know what—you know what despite someone else (namely 'Kase) possibly chalking that sort of thing up to karmic retribution, he wasn't about to willfully visit that fate on anyone—scramble around, found a fire extinguisher, unhooked it, muttered a muted apology before dodging the vines and shoving the hose in the broken glass.

As he expected, the eyes functioned like regular eyes and did not react well to having chemical foam suddenly sprayed all over them—the plant recoiled, the monster was able to tumble back, free, rolling around and wailing—

"Okay," Tadashi said, flinging the empty extinguisher away. "Important thing to get across: you are not repaying that with eating me or anyone I care about, got it? I'll let that plant chew on you a second time if you do, okay? Okay. Good chat." Skip away from the vine trying to wrap around his ankle, try to retrace his steps—

Another monster rounded the corner.

"Oh come on," he groaned.

Said monster didn't care about its buddy still laying on the floor, moaning, nor the vines Tadashi was now having to actively dodge—injured monster had crawled back up the way it came when Tadashi finally found a secondary exit and took it, second monster staying hot on his heels.

"Can we talk about this!?" Tadashi demanded. "Your buddy seemed reasonable enough!"

An angry bellow answered that question.

"Okay see I don't know where to go with that—"

Yelp at another steep incline, curse whoever designed this stupid place—this seemed more technical, more toolboxes and crates everywhere, no test tubes hiding questionable plants in sight—

"'Dashi!"

"Della!?" he squawked, spinning as she tackled him in a hug. "No no no what are you doing here—"

The monster crashing down to his level reminded him that he had bigger problems.

Back up, keep backing up, keeping a tight hold on a shrieking Della and scanning around for some other way out—mostly straight up, but he didn't want to rely on his questionable ability to get airborne right now, not when this thing looked like it could easily leap high enough to catch him—try looking big and threatening, aware of the fact that his feathers were standing on end and his wings were spreading, a hiss forcing its way out his throat, angling his body so he was between it and Della—have the whole breakdown about that later, right now it was very important to avoid having this great big thing eat you.

Said great big thing reared, bellowing, clawed hands ready to snatch—

And then something small launched itself at the monster's throat, all ruddy and cream as it screeched and clawed—clamped down hard on the softer flesh and hung on for dear life, body flailing about limply as the monster thrashed, it still with a death-grip on its throat—

Tadashi recognized the basic shape, tucked Della under a heavy desk before running forward and gut-checking the monster as it reared up, trying to scratch the bird-kid off—

He reached up, grabbed the bird-kid, planted a foot against the monster and tried to yank it free—it still wasn't letting go—finally reached up, dug his fingers under the beak and pried it free so he could yank the kid away from danger right as the monster's paws found his chest—

A screaming Brittany launched herself at the monster, giving it something else to focus on—Tadashi tumbled back with the bird-kid, now semi-lifeless in his arms—Brittany kicked out against the monster's neck, scoring against where the bird-kid had bit—

'Kase came down, smashing a canister down hard on its head and sending it down for the count—

Seemed surprised when Brittany hugged her tight. "Uh—"

"I'm so glad you guys are all right," Brittany sobbed.

'Kase looked at him helplessly, finally gingerly returned the hug. "Careful there, I think I liked you better as the tough-girl." Hug tighter, resting her beak on her shoulder. "Hey—hey, remember what I said."

"I know," Brittany said thickly. "Just—give me a minute."

Tadashi gave a little sigh, returned his focus to the bird-kid, put an ear to its chest as Della cantered back out—still a heartbeat, still breathing—

Hold it.

"Uh," he noised carefully. "This isn't one of ours."

"Y-yeah," Brittany said, carefully wiping at her eyes as she finally let go of 'Kase. "Della found it in the cages where we were being held."

Tadashi looked it over, noting the red and cream striations in the feathers that did a good job of hiding scratches and scabs—felt under the feathers to find more scabs, the poor thing was thin and had been through the wringer—

It blinked awake, slightly enervated—

Flashed upright, beak snapping, hissing as it tried to face everywhere at once—Tadashi cast about, grabbed a labcoat resting on the back of a nearby chair and threw it on the bird-kid, pinning it and bundling it up before hugging it close.

"Hey, hey, chill," he said, rocking it gently. "Chill, buddy, it's okay—it's okay. We're the good guys, we're not going to hurt you."

"Fwee," Della noised, sounding like she was in his corner on this.

Loud kees slowly wore down, the bird-kid running out of air to scream and focusing more on catching its breath—eyes slowly went from pinned and unseeing to more focused and it stopped kicking so much with its feet and tail…sagged against him finally, tongue lolling out slightly.

"Oh yeah, you're definitely Donald, aren't you?" he asked the kid, amused now that he was certain it wasn't about to try to eat his face.

"Now why would you call a kid that?" 'Kase demanded.

"There's naming themes to consider," Tadashi said, standing up. The bird-kid started to struggle, ceased when Della whistled and pointed.

"It was Sashi's suggestion too, so I think you're going to get outvoted," Brittany told 'Kase.

"Wait, where is Sashi?" Tadashi asked, looking around—

Screamed with the rest of them when the monster got back up—

Said monster got blindsided by a rolling toolbox that had been pushed down the stairs. Tried to rear back up—

Went down to Sashi leaping off the upper level and bashing a mop down on its head.

"SASHI. IS. FINE," Sashi ground out, feathers standing on end and chest heaving.

Everyone had to take a moment.

"Wow," 'Kase noised, staring at him.

"Guess we can't make fun of Sashi's lifestyle anymore," Tadashi told her in an aside.

"Watch me."

"Wow," Brittany said, having to put a hand out. "Wow. I have never been more attracted to you than this moment."

Sashi blinked, twitched as he looked at her. "Wait, really?"

"Really. I want to see this version of Sashi more often."

"I do too he's more interesting," 'Kase agreed.

"Girls, play nice," Tadashi scolded. "Where are the—oof!"

"'Dashi!" Sashi squawked, hugging him tight. "And Donald—by the way we're naming the new kid Donald."

"Ah good, we agree." Look at Brittany. "And where's my hug?"

Brittany hugged him too, tugged 'Kase in on it.

"Okay that's enough," 'Kase said quickly, squirming free. "We can do the whole hugging thing when we're out of here."

"Fair point," Sashi agreed, letting go.

"Where are the others, do you know?" Tadashi asked, cradling the kid better and yes his name was going to be Donald he didn't care what 'Kase said naming themes were important.

"Last I saw anyone, we were scattering to avoid one of those," Brittany said, pointing at the monster still unconscious under the toolbox. "But it's Beth and Sue and the younger kids—I don't know what happened to some of the others like Grump but apparently some of the kids must have made it out because here's Della and Dewey was here—"

"'DASHI!" Dewey cheered, tackling Tadashi.

"Dewey is here," Brittany corrected.

"Grump made it out too, he's here," Tadashi told her after recovering from the assault, trying to reach back to support Dewey clinging to his back and hugging his neck. "The other kids too."

"You brought kids on a heist?"

"Hey don't at me they came on their own."

"Focus, please," 'Kase squawked.

"Speaking of, where—"

"Avoiding getting eaten, like we should be doing."

"Right—we all agreed when we started that if we got split up we'd keep trying to head upstairs, it seemed like the best bet," Sashi said. "It feels like we're underground but even if we're not we've got the wings for an escape plan so…."

"Good plan, I like this plan, let's get out of here," Tadashi said, patting Sashi on the shoulder. "Let's go."

They picked a direction and fled, Tadashi trying to scoop Della up too but Della not having any of it, ended up having his hands full with Donald—

"So you're really serious about that?" Sashi was asking Brittany. "You'd go out with me?"

"I mean yeah, maybe," Brittany said. "If we survive this, sure."

"I am now SUPER motivated."

"And what were you before!?"

"So, question," 'Kase asked Tadashi quietly as they skidded to a halt at an intersection, looking every which way for the stairs. "If they get together and all that…think we lay eggs?"

"'Kase, I am begging you not to ask me these questions in the middle of a crisis," Tadashi told her.

"What about after?"

"'Kase, I am begging you not to ask me these questions ever."

"Okay, but these feel like things that need to be addressed at some point," she countered, picking a direction and going. They followed her—

Fell back with startled squawks when Fred bounced into the hall.

"Dudes! Bird-people!" he cheered, gesturing. "Okay good news you are now free to use the stairs epic battle won't bore you with details…bad news is you can't use the ground floor for reasons. Also the second floor is kind of a question mark and the third floor is…okay the good news is the stairs are good."

"Fred, what—" Tadashi started—leaned away when Sashi started squawking.

"We lost Sashi," 'Kase declared.

"My dude are you okay?" Fred asked. "If it's the general look don't worry this is not my real face and body."

"Right—Sashi, chill," Tadashi told him. "Fred, where are the stairs and how is everyone doing? Actual answer please."

"So that might actually be part of the reason why floors one through…four, I think? Are kinda closed—"

"No no no now wait a minute!" Sashi demanded, pointing at Fred but looking at Tadashi. "You didn't say you knew Lizard Guy!"

Tadashi pointed at Fred. "Uh, Sashi, this one's a costume."

"No I mean this dude is from Big Hero Six and you know him you've been sleeping on the cool stuff."

"I see you too are a bird-dude of good taste," Fred said, giving Sashi a thumbs-up through the mouth of his costume.

"Okay seriously I need an autograph."

"If Red Panda's here too my little brother will be wanting one from him," Brittany said.

Tadashi flopped his free hand in exasperation, looked at 'Kase. "Am I just the last to know or something?"

"I feel like the answer is yes," 'Kase told him.

"Okay you know what I'm mad at you all we have been travelling together for months and you all knew about this and not one of you mentioned a superhero group in San Fransokyo I blame you."

"You never asked," Brittany pointed out.

"I thought it was common knowledge," Sashi admitted.

"I just didn't care," 'Kase declared.

"Dude, harshness," Fred said.

"This is what I've been travelling with for the past several months," Tadashi told him.

"And I still want details but we can have them over shawarma, Mom's pancakes or your aunt's poke for now let us go! Success is just a few floors away!" Fred cheered, bouncing away down the hall.

"So he's weird," Brittany said.

"You have no idea," 'Kase told her.

"I—hey wait a minute," Sashi said, pointing after Fred. "Fred, you said—is he the underwear guy?"

"Unfortunately," 'Kase muttered.

"I—hey wait a minute come back!" Sashi hollered, running after Fred. "I got some stuff I gotta discuss with you!"

"And now we've lost Sashi and any inclination I had to date him," Brittany sighed.

"Which is a shame because you two would have been cute together," Tadashi told her.

"Okay, all of you shush," 'Kase said, following the boys. "The only reason I'm following them right now is because hopefully they are heading in the direction of the exit. Now let's go."

Okay, real talk, Hiro had not needed Tadashi yelling for the monster to chase him, had his hands full with keeping other monsters off him and 'Kase, the latter bolting down a side hall as Baymax blasted a wall open and dove through, Hiro firing several magnets back to form a hardlight net—was nearly jolted off on the landing, Baymax launching up again at—okay vines snaking along the floor when did vines get to be a problem who started a game of Jumanji they had enough problems—

A monster slammed into Baymax, knocking Hiro off and against a catwalk, him clinging frantically as Baymax crashed, the monster trying to bite down on him, leaving arcs of teeth marks in the red armor—

"Aggression: is not a good way of expressing oneself," Baymax counselled. "It is important for you to be calm so as to better express your needs. There, there."

"Baymax!" Hiro yelled, scrambling. "Rocket fist! NOW!"

"Apologies," Baymax said, before launching the monster across the room—arced up, caught Hiro when he let go, landed on the catwalk—

"Go go go," Hiro ordered, pointing when the monster got back up—slipped free and started running. "Where's the others?"

"Scanning," Baymax said as he waddled after Hiro, who paused at the door to look. "Error: increased plant growth is blocking my sensors."

"Do what?" Hiro asked—squawked in alarm at a vine forcing its way through the metal slats. The monster that had attacked them squawked as well, fled from the vines now snaking across the floor in earnest.

"Increased plant growth—" Baymax started—

Was cut off by Hiro dragging him along. "Yeah I got that part!" he yelped, dodging into another hall. "Tadashi! 'Kase! We need to go!"

"We have yet to find the other bird-people," Baymax pointed out.

"Well unless you're suddenly okay with arson we can't stay here," Hiro pointed out. "Stairs stairs where's the—"

Backpedaled with a yelp when he nearly ran into something at a corner, panic increasing at the angry hisses and mantling wings—wait.

"Hey!" he squawked. "No wait it's okay—"

"Hello," Baymax greeted, waving. "I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion. We are here to help."

"We're with Big Hero Six," Hiro persisted, as the two bird-people slowly calmed to better…more than two, there were young bird-kids clinging to them…way young, like most of them had baby fluff young.

"No you're not," the older woman said flatly. "No. I have grandchildren older than you—what are you doing here?"

"Ideally? Getting you guys out," Hiro said, gesturing at the hall they hadn't tried yet. "Uh, Baymax, stairs?"

"The: stairs, are in: that direction," Baymax said, pointing the other way, where vines were starting to crawl into.

"Uh yeah no we're not doing that, different route time," Hiro decided, looking up. "Think you can bust through the ceiling?"

"I will need a moment to access schematics to ensure that such an action will not cause more harm."

That left Hiro in an awkward position. "So uh, hi," he tried, waving a little. "Usually rescues are more dynamic than this."

"I've really had enough dynamic for one day," the older lady said, adjusting her hold on the little bird-kids. One tried to reach for him. "No, Taylor, you stay."

"Dsshi," the smallest one said.

"Yeah he's here somewhere," Hiro said, keeping the part where he tied Tadashi's tail around his neck for being so stupid to himself—wasn't expecting the bird-people to perk up—

"Please stand back," Baymax announced—Hiro and the bird-people backed up—

One rocket-fist to the ceiling later, and they had a cleaner out.

"Will you be needing assistance?" Baymax asked the bird-people, already offering a step up.

"Okay, remember that conversation Sashi and I had about whether or not a robot uprising was likely?" the younger bird-lady asked, accepting the boost, lifting the bird-kids up before crawling up after them. "If this is the standard we can expect, I welcome our robotic rulers."

"I don't know," Hiro said, looking around and trying to smother his amusement. "Baymax can be real pushy when he's being a healthcare companion."

"Depending on what his service is like I may switch plans," the older bird-lady said, handing the bird-kids up to the other bird-lady, Hiro and Baymax assisting. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," Baymax said.

"I feel robbed by the Terminator and Matrix movies," younger bird-lady said.

"The Matrix had Keanu Reeves—you weren't robbed," older-bird-lady countered.

"Dsshi," the littlest bird-kid that Hiro was holding said again, pawing at his helmet. "Dsshi-Dsshi-Dsshi—Dsshi-Hrrh."

"Yeah hi," Hiro said, leaning his head a bit to avoid getting his visor scratched up. "You go up there now."

"Dsshi-Hrrh! Dsshi-Hrrh!" the little bird-kid insisted, trying to paw back at him despite being handed off.

"Mei honey we're working on it," older-bird-lady said, taking the little bird-kid and accepting Baymax's boost up. Hiro looked around again—backed up a little at more vines snaking in.

"Hiro," Baymax said, snapping him out of it. "It is not safe to remain here."

Hiro shook his head, climbed up on Baymax. "I know, but—"

"Wait—did you say Hiro?" older-bird-lady asked, both bird-ladies' attention snapped to him. "Not Tadashi's little brother."

"Dsshi-Hrrh!" the little bird-kid Mei chirped.

Hiro had to take a moment before thunking Baymax's helmet. "Baymax, we need to talk about secret identities again."

"You probably shouldn't have confirmed it just then," the younger bird-lady said, smirking as Hiro groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Does Tadashi know you're here?"

"Does Tadashi know you're moonlighting as a superhero?" the older bird-lady asked, still looking concerned as Baymax boosted up to their level.

"OKAY you know what these are questions we can ask later," Hiro said, waving them off. "For now, stairs—"

The door that Baymax had identified as having the stairs suddenly burst open, Tadashi and 'Kase and several other bird-people diving in, Fred leaping in and flaming the stairwell frantically before slamming the door shut.

"Oh hi guys!" Fred greeted, waving. "So…these stairs are out of order. For reasons."

"Plants tried to eat us," 'Kase said, pushing herself out of the bird-pile.

"Beth! Sue!" one of the bird-people he didn't recognize exclaimed as the bird-ladies helped him up—hugged the younger one as the older one hauled Tadashi up and hugged him tightly. "'Kase's being mean to us."

"She's banned movie quotes," Tadashi said—yelped in pain when the older bird-lady bonked him on the head. "OW! What was that for!?"

"Why is your little brother here and dressed up like a superhero?" she demanded.

"Okay that is not my fault."

"It is his fault," Hiro said, not missing an opportunity to give his brother grief—yelped and jumped back at a bird-kid leaping up, hissing and spitting—

"No wait dude I got it," Fred said, bounding forward and catching the bird-kid, rocking it and chanting Chien-po's calming mantra from Mulan—which worked, oddly enough. "Aw yeah, perfect."

"That is two bird-kids that has worked on," Mini-Max observed.

Hiro was pleased to note that he and Tadashi both were giving 'Kase smug looks. "Movie quotes work, 'Kase," Tadashi said.

"I give up," she groaned, squeezing past Baymax (who now had several bird-kids crawling on him) and stalking down the hall.

"No, come back! Embrace it!"

"I am feeding you idiots to that stupid plant."

"Which reminds me," Fred said, handing the bird-kid off to Baymax. "So this is Baymax, Baymax is nice and we like Baymax."

"Hello," Baymax greeted, accepting the bird-kid as some of the others filed past. "I am Baymax." Blink at it, look at them. "The: bird-kid, has signs of multiple older injuries, as well as malnourishment."

"We'll address that later," Tadashi said, scooping a bird-kid up to hand to someone before steering Hiro down the hall. "I might have accidentally let your Gravity Falls plant out and I think it wants to murder us."

"What?" Hiro squawked. "How? Why?"

"Because the alternative was getting eaten by a monster?"

"Yeah by the way that's YOUR fault great job on that thanks for listening."

"Remind me why I was in such a hurry to get back," Tadashi said, looking back at the bird-people behind him.

"Because he's your brother, you love him, and the only one who gets to torture the little trog is you," a bird-girl about Tadashi's age said in a Valley girl accent.

"Okay fine, good points," Tadashi sighed, redirecting his attention forward as they reached the others.

"Okay," Fred said, gesturing a little at the keypad 'Kase was examining. "So first we check for wear on the keys to narrow down which numbers to use—"

"Uh-huh," 'Kase said, digging her claws in and ripping the keypad out.

"Or we could do that, it's good to have options," Fred acquiesced.

"Yes!" Della cheered—grabbed a handful of wires and yanked.

"No Della honey no we don't do that that's dangerous," the younger bird-lady said, tugging Della away from the door.

"Still worked, we'll roll with it," 'Kase said as the door slid open—blinked at the quartet of bird-kids there, mostly looking stern—although Webby and Violet immediately yeeted themselves at the bird-ladies, cheering.

Nox and Lena were still glaring at Tadashi. "No. Bad," Nox said.

"Ha," Hiro barked at Tadashi.

"Scold me later," Tadashi ordered, pushing Hiro into the stairwell.

"Yeah," a bird-guy said, squeezing by with a bird-kid in his arms and heading upstairs. "I don't want to stick around for Revenge of the Killer Kudzu—oh yipes!"

Hiro spun from helping usher the others upstairs, saw a slitted red eye on a vine coming up from beneath—

"Oh yeah that's the one I was talking about," Hiro squeaked—scrambled when he spotted Webby on all fours in front of it, back arched, wings spread, beak open in a hiss. "Webby NO—"

Webby lunged forward and slashed at the eye with a handful of sharp talons, sending plant juice spurting everywhere and making the eye duck back down with—okay under normal circumstances plants did not screech.

"Okay time to go," he said, catching Webby around her waist and hauling her up the stairs—squawked when Tadashi grabbed them both and bolted after the others.

"Have no fear!" Mini-Max declared. "For we will flay this foul foliage back as weedwhackers of JUSTICE!"

"Mine," Lena said, doubling back to grab Mini-Max before darting back upstairs.

"This complicates matters somewhat," Mini-Max said.