First time dipping into this fandom, I'm excited!
Warnings: There will be foul language, violence, abuse (both physical and psychological, but nothing sexual). No pairings aside from a Tadashi/Honey Lemon if you squint. Mainly, I'll be tuning in on the brotherly relationship of Tadashi and Hiro.
Lots of hurt/comfort in this fic, mainly centered around Hiro. I've got a general plan, and a couple more chapters written. We'll see what happens, but I plan on updating weekly until I either finish it or run out of pre-written stuff. I would estimate ~20 chapters, averaging 2.5K words each.
Note: I will never hold chapters hostage for reviews. That saying, I appreciate feedback, both positive and critical. Due to my knowledge of people enjoying this story, there is a positive correlation between reviews and frequent updates.
Disclaimer: I do not own Big Hero 6.
"Yes, sir," Tadashi answered over the phone. "I understand, sir. Have a good day." Sighing, he resisted the urge to slam his phone on the desktop. He turned to his team. "That was Callaghan. He said that if we don't get a lead soon, he's passing the case onto BH7."
Gogo scoffed. "Those losers? They couldn't find a needle in a haystack if it was given to them on a silver platter."
Tadashi hummed in sluggish agreement, wracking his brain to come up with a new angle to solve their latest case.
Tadashi was the Head Detective and team lead for BH6, one of the tech teams of the San Fransokyo Investigative Taskforces, ranging from BH1 to BH15. For the past couple of years, SFIT had noticed a subtle monopoly emerge from advanced robotics- technology that was miles ahead of anything else on the streets. Still, the coveted tech never seemed to hit major markets, sticking with the small but powerful gangs that riddled the city. The few pieces of tech that SFIT had managed to get their hands on had self-destructed almost immediately. With what little information they had, they couldn't tell if it was being manufactured by any of the major companies that was on their radar- like Krei Industries. Now, it was BH6's turn to tackle the case: to find and take down the operation that was creating numerous problems in San Fransokyo.
Still, Tadashi pursed his lips grimly, that wouldn't happen if they didn't get a lead soon.
"Anything, Wasabi?" Tadashi directed his attention to their main tech specialist. With a broad range of coding languages and data analytics, Wasabi was their best coder. He also had a keen eye for details and was able to outfit most of their tech and gear-related needs.
The man glared at his screen. "There's some chatter about something going on tonight, but I don't have a specific location."
"We already know that their operation is bigger than any of the mom-and-pop botfights." Gogo pointed out dryly. "If anything, it should be expected that it's an invite-only type of gig." She chewed absently on her gum. "I'll hit up some of my old contacts, one of them is bound to get me some info."
Tadashi had recruited her early on, back when she had lived a less than legal lifestyle. Street-savvy with impressive field skills, he had managed to convince SFIT to grant her a spot on his team. She had since proved an invaluable teammate and asset.
Tadashi had barely absorbed her statement when Honey Lemon, their forensic analyst, walked in. Although she specialized in Chemistry, they had both worked closely in school. She had taken to the job like honey to butter; her skills in the lab shined with her unique energy whenever they had evidence to analyze. Honey Lemon shook her head at Tadashi's hopeful face. "Nothing. We stripped the warehouse that you busted last week- toxicology reports came up clean and there were no signs of fingerprints or DNA. I'm sorry, Tadashi- it was wiped clean."
Tadashi grit his teeth, slamming his fist down on his desk, frustration etching his features. He sighed before composing himself once more. "I'm sorry, Honey Lemon," he apologized when he saw his friend bite her lip. "I'm not angry- I just..." He sighed, rubbing his face. "Gogo, where are we with your contacts?"
Gogo didn't answer immediately, peering intently at her phone screen. "One of my contacts just pulled through." She looked up, lips twitching in a rare smile. "I got a location- and an invite," she added.
Finally- a break in the case.
"Good work," Tadashi praised, while the rest of the team cheered. "When is it?"
"Less than two hours," the woman answered.
Tadashi thoughtfully chewed the eraser on his pencil. "Not ideal, but it's a lot better than nothing." He turned to address the other team members. "Gogo and I will work out our game plan, can you two prep surveillance equipment? It can not be detectable," he stressed. Tadashi frowned, suddenly noting the absence of their last unofficial-official teammate. "Where's Fred?" While technically only an intern, he was still an honorary member of the team. He also played a key role in lifting team spirits- he did essential work as their team mascot.
"I think he's out getting pizza," Wasabi answered offhandedly as he and Honey Lemon turned to go back to the lab.
Tadashi cracked a smile. "Awesome, we could use some food before we go out."
Gogo leaned back in her chair, kicking her feet on the desk. "So what's the plan, boss?"
Tadashi pursed his lips. As far as nicknames went, Fred definitely hadn't given him the most original- or creative- one. Still, it was harder to feel like a team leader when he was he was barely older than any of them. He supposed the nickname helped in that regard.
Tadashi's thoughts drifted back to Gog's question. "You'll go in, sniff out the head honcho- if he's there, that is." His thoughts began to solidify into a cohesive plan. "You'll need to set up a buy for your employer- me," he supplied. "I'll be from some anonymous branch at a large company, who hired you to find the engineer behind all the tech. We'll get Wasabi to work out our cover IDs and background info."
Tadashi could see her mulling over the plan- no doubt checking for flaws and weaknesses, before she nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan, boss."
O-o-O-o-O
Tadashi's mouth watered as he took his first bite in the gooey pizza that Fred had just gotten for him.
"This is sooo good," he raved, savoring the wonderful taste of cheesy goodness as he wolfed it down.
Gogo glanced doubtfully at her own piece. "I'm surprised you can afford a place like Ricette Antiche."
Fred grinned. "I've got connections," he winked mysteriously.
The young woman merely rolled her eyes but muttered a thank you.
The smell must have carried out to the lab because it wasn't long until Honey Lemon and Wasabi also entered the room.
Wasabi's eyes widened as he saw the pizza. "Yes! You got Ricette Antiche! Did you know they got 100% for their last food safety inspection?"
Honey Lemon immediately got herself a slice, smiling. "Thanks, Fred."
O-o-O-o-O
It was a quick drive to the botfight, nearing 9:00pm when they got there.
Gogo grumbled impatiently while Wasabi fitted her with the usual tracker and listening devices. She also took the bot that Tadashi had designed. Fitted with rammer armor and a sharp spinner, it was guaranteed to impress- especially with the secret weapon it possessed.
Gogo confidently made her way to the entrance. She muttered the password to the bouncer, who let her in without a second glance.
The large room was smokey and dark, stinking from the sweat of too many people cramming themselves inside. It was packed- there was no way this room was built for this many people.
She scanned the room quickly, immediately zeroing in on her target- Yama. It was obvious that he controlled the room - from peoples' micro-expressions of fear and their plastered smiles designed to comply with whatever he wanted.
One thing caught her eye- something that didn't match the room was in the form of a boy- in his early teens, she estimated. Messy dark hair covered his facial features- maybe Japanese heritage? Dressed in a worn pair of cargos and a plain t-shirt, she wouldn't have given him a second glance on the streets of San Fransokyo. If not for the immediate and hazardous criminal activities in the vicinity, he wouldn't have stood out at all. Still, it was the way those hard brown eyes swiveled to warily inspect his surroundings- it wasn't the behavior she would expect from a child his age. Odder still, he seemed to be specifically watching Yama. The gang leader took no notice of him, despite the teenager following him around like a dog.
"Target acquired," she murmured into the com. "But there's a kid with him, which is weird."
"Wasabi, run facial recognition on the kid," Gogo heard Tadashi order over the microphone.
Her eyes narrowed at the object the boy had clutched tightly in his hands. "Guys, the kid has a bot-" her mind flashed to the grease-stains dotting his clothes, hands calloused but also grimy with dirt and oil. And then… the way his fingers were flying over the bot, checking and double-checking for any flaws and-
"He built it," she blurted out in realization. "He's the one behind all this advanced tech."
A pause.
"Are you sure about this?" Tadashi questioned.
Gogo didn't hesitate to answer. "Yeah, I'm posititive."
O-o-O-o-O
A teenager behind the tech they had been chasing after… Tadashi mulled over the thought. It wasn't impossible, and Gogo's gut instincts were rarely wrong. "We're going through with the original plan," Tadashi firmly decided. "If it works out, we'll be able to 'hire' this kid while the night is still young."
"Got it," Gogo responded through the coms.
Tadashi's gaze flickered to Wasabi, fingers still flying over the keyboard. "Anything on the kid?" he asked.
"Still looking," Wasabi replied, his eyes scanning his laptop screen. He was obviously distracted, viciously uncovering any and all information on the mysterious teenager.
"Alright, Gogo- proceed to the next part of the plan."
"Roger that."
O-o-O-o-O
Gogo watched distastefully as Yama's bot, so-called "Little Yama", ripped its opponent into shreds.
"And the winner, the undefeated champion by total elimination, goes to- Little Yama!" the referee shouted to the cheering crowd.
Yama yelled triumphantly, hands greedily grabbing his winnings.
He was taking full credit, Gogo noted sourly, still throwing obnoxious insults to his newest victim.
She studied the teen- Hiro, she'd caught the name as they were walking past. He was surprising her, yet again. The entire night, he hadn't shown the least bit of enthusiasm or excitement from the hilariously unfair fights. Was it boredom? Maybe his bots had won so frequently that he had gotten tired of it? Perhaps she had guessed wrong- that he hadn't made those bots after all, and that he was just tagging along?... no, that theory didn't really fit; there were no reports of Yama having children, and they shared no resemblance whatsoever. So if Hiro hadn't built the bot, why was he randomly tagging along with Yama?
She knew he was watching the fights- quite intently, too, by the way his eyes took in the details of every movement. His hands were shoved deep into his pants' pockets, shoulders hunched defensively.
Hiro chewed his lip- a sign of anxiety? She couldn't tell.
Gogo tuned back to what the ref was saying.
"Any other takers?"
She popped a bubble with her gum. "I'll have a go at it." Without any further instructions, Gogo shoved a handful of bills to the ref, before taking out her bot and its controller.
Yama snorted, obviously unimpressed. "You're just a little girl! Do you really think you can defeat the Little Yama?!"
Her eyebrow shot up, gaze hardening. "You scared? I'll double my wager," she taunted as she tossed in another wad of cash.
Yama simply chuckled as he put forth his own money. "If you say so, princess."
Gogo's jaw clenched, but merely ignored him as she sat down on the mat, firing up her own bot. She had deviated slightly from the plan- doubling her wager instead of goading him into a second game after she 'lost' the first time. Either way, it would be the same result.
Gogo took a quick glance at Hiro, and was surprised that he seemed to view her with a bit of respect. But why? For standing up to Yama?
Until tonight, she hadn't seen this type of bot in action. She and Tadashi had both guessed that the tech, relying on intermagnetic suspension, would mean a quick shot of an EMP blast would wipe out any opponents temporarily. The only tricky part had been making sure it would look like a mechanical failure on the other bot; it couldn't affect any other electronics for it to work. Thankfully, it had been tested and tried enough that Gogo was confident in its abilities tonight.
"Ready, set… fight!"
Given the fact that she had been watching him the entire night, Gogo knew how Yama fought. He liked to draw his opponents out- taunting, playing with them, before ultimately crushing them. She would need to play along with his game in order for them to get away with the cheating EMP tech.
Soon after the beginning, she sent out the first beam of the EMP. As Little Yama came in for a hard blow, the EMP beam made the bot stutter ever so slightly. It was only a seconds' hesitation, but it was just enough for her own bot to avoid the blow. Yama seemed to subconsciously shrug it off.
The next, stronger, beam, allowed her to get in a nice hit- damaging the arm of Little Yama, but not lethal.
This time, Yama definitely did notice something was amiss, realizing that it was time to end the fight sooner rather than later.
Right before his bot was about to complete its last devastating attack, Gogo released a powerful beam of EMP that completely knocked out Little Yama's systems, while twisting her own bot into an attack that seemingly broke off a large chunk of the bot's other arm.
Yama pounded on his controller, yelling obscenities as Little Yama failed to respond.
The whole crowd took in a sharp breath, waiting to see if the bot would be able to respond.
Even the referee seemed shocked. "And the winner goes to… Killer Tanaka!"
Members of the crowd both cheered and glared, some previous losers glad that someone had taken Yama down a peg, others angry who had lost their own bets.
Gogo couldn't help but smirk as Yama's jaw dropped, his expression dumbfounded as she took her winnings.
The man's expression grew hateful. Suddenly, she realized with a start that wasn't being directed at her, but at the teenager- Hiro.
The teenager's tight smile had disappeared, widening in panic and dread. "Yama, I-"
"Quiet," Yama ordered in a low voice; the teen's words died on his lips.
Then, he turned to his obvious bodyguards. "We're leaving," he snapped. Ignoring the crowd completely, he grabbed Hiro by the arm and began dragging him toward the exit.
It was harder for her to follow them- the next bot fight was already starting, and the room was even more packed than before.
"I'm proceeding to the next part of the plan," she hissed to her teammates, not waiting for any approval or confirmation before she burst out into the alleyway.
Her heart sank, proof right before her eyes that the bot was Hiro's. Yama was yelling- practically screaming- at him, two of his goons holding Hiro between them. The teen's breathing hitched, a fresh bruise forming along his jawline.
She cleared her throat. "Excuse me."
Yama's head swiveled to her, face red with anger. "You. I know you cheated- no one beats Little Yama!" His attention was now directed to her, she noted with grim satisfaction. Good.
Hiro bit his lip, relieved that he wasn't the main target, but still obviously worried about her safety. Her lips twitched in amusement. How sweet.
Gogo huffed out a laugh, tossing the bills at his feet. "I couldn't care less about tonight's trinkets." She expertly straightened, posture transforming to one of a professional, corporate employee. Her accent shifted to enumerate a polished speaker, her voice smooth and clear. "My employer hired me to arrange a meeting with you."
Yama's eyes become hungry with greed, falling for the act that she was putting on. "Oh yeah? Who's your employer and what the hell does he want?"
Gogo's smile didn't reach her eyes. "I'm sure you can understand his desire to remain discrete."
She discretely glanced at Hiro- he wasn't buying it, not one bit. Smart kid. The woman's eyes narrowed- he had better not blow this operation.
"We want to hire the team behind your bots- we need them for a… special project of ours."
Yama frowned. "You don't have your own techs to do it?"
Gogo displayed a slight air of irritation. "We have the facilities," she admitted. "But in order for our operation to be off the books, it's too much of a security risk to have our own techs to do it.
"We would pay you, the middle man, for the delivery of your team," she pressed lightly.
Money. Money was the universal language.
Yama licked his lips in anticipation, nodding. "I like the sound of that."
Gogo clasped her hands together. "Wonderful. I'll arrange a meeting with my employer." She turned to leave, tossing one look over her shoulder as she flicked him a fake business card. "We'll be in touch."
O-o-O-o-O
It took all of Tadashi's willpower to step in the van and drive away.
"Gogo, we'll meet you at the rendezvous point in ten," Tadashi informed her as Wasabi started the ignition. "Wasabi?"
Wasabi nodded. "Sure thing, boss."
They couldn't risk following Yama and blowing the whole operation. This meet would have to work.
Tadashi breathed a sigh, closing his eyes. The night had been successful.
And yet…
There were still a lot of unanswered questions. They needed to find out why a kid was mixed up in this. If they were able to steal him away from Yama, would he help? Was Hiro actually one of the people behind this new tech?
There was only one way to find out.
Please tell me what you think!
Loved it :)
Hated it :(
Meh :/