When you show up with kindness, others can be themselves. — Sue Fitzmaurice

I.

Wasabi was done.

"I am never going to catch up..."

"Sure you will," Gogo smiled at him, "if I can catch up, you can catch up."

"Anyone who can catch up to YOU, I haven't met."

"You girls should talk, I'm WAY behind on my mascot duties..."

The three friends were in Hiro's lab as he was the only one who was caught up and all of his studies done. As such, he and Baymax had chanced a leave from the café to visit San Benjiidino; Ever since the events of the two weeks prior, most were trying to keep a low profile... Keyword: most.

"Okay," Fred slapped his hands on the desk, "when are we gonna bring the team back?"

Wasabi and Gogo looked across the way at each other.

"I guess when there's a need for us again," she smiled at him, this time in camardie.

He sent her back a peaceful look. "It's not like we haven't regrouped before..."

"BUT-"

"And don't cry about it," Gogo warned.

Fred slammed his face into the desk.

"We're going to have to talk to Hiro," Wasabi patted on his friend's back, "see what he wants to do...right now, I think the city is just trying to heal itself. Everyone's having second thoughts on..."

"Everyone is too scared stiff to do anything crime-related," Gogo said happily. "I mean, what do they want? The big, bad Care Bots to come back," she joked, finishing up her side of the lab. Wasabi and Fred were more hesitant to joke about it but they finished up their sides for when their friends came back. Gogo saw their fears and walked over to them with a kinder smile, assuring both her brothers,

"Look," she told them, "what's happened has happened and all we can do is move forward."

Wasabi and Fred both blinked and then nodded at her, relieved at least that she was at peace.

"Besides," Gogo said. "With crimes zilched out, we can focus on what really matters..."

She held up tickets to something she'd been planning for them.

"AWESOME. I could probably have just taken us for free, but awesome!"

"What is it?" Wasabi reached over for his.

"Just something I think we've all earned. Besides, with the gang altogether, we-"

The door thumped once, trying to open. When they all looked up, they heard another thump and then after that unsuccessful attempt, someone growled loudly. When Bi walked over and tapped on his side, Ha-Jun fell inside with a groan and went over to sit, bedraggled, at the long, tidy work desk.

"Well, look who decided to join us after promising he was going to help..."

"I don't wanna hear it, Leik."

"Gogo," Fred corrected him.

"Whatever."

She pocketed her tickets. "What's it this time?"

Wasabi and Fred were astounded by her patience with him. Since the events of the last two months, they were surprised by the tranquil calm she had developed. Most of all, how she was willing to open up to them now like she had never done before; Gogo rolled her eyes at their looks.

"Oh, nothing, I just stopped to get to know your friend Mr. Krei a little better; dude totally threw me out on my butt after I reminded him that I was at the memorial and I was there and... And helping!"

"Did you ask him for something?" Wasabi said.

"Oh...well, yeah."

"Well, there you go."

The man placed his hand to his brow. "I don't get it... family has been so brutal lately. I mean, my dad practically went missing, RRC fam won't talk to me, Ji barely talks to me..." He complained.

"I'm talking to you," Gogo said, opening the window to the lab.

"Yeah, but you and Hiro don't count. Hey, you mind closing that? It's really cold in here."

"No," she said, texting to someone, "And you really need to stop bothering Hiro about Baymaxine."

Ha-Jun placed his face in his hands and groaned extremely loud.

Wasabi placed his hand on his shoulder..., again, trying to console his devastation.

"Look man, if you want friends, you have to be a friend."

"Exactly!" Fred came up to Gogo and Ha-Jun watched in bewilderment as she allowed him to place an arm around her and give her a side hug... her actual smile at him in actual AGREEMENT to this.

"How do you do that?" He asked in amazement.

As if Fred had just tamed a wild tiger.

"Well, for one thing, you don't keep bothering people about giving you things," Wasabi said as he gathered his things together, "if you want someone to hang out with you, you've got to be cool with giving in and helping out when they need you. I mean, isn't this stuff your parents taught you guys?"

Gogo frowned briefly, acknowledging to the contrary.

"Lets start simple," Wasabi said, "Now, Ha-Jun, what could have been a better way to get Krei not to throw you out on your butt? What could you have done differently other then just asking for things?"

His rhetorical question was considered.

"Well... I mean, I guess I could have paid him but the dude is rich."

Bi cleared his throat. "Fred?"

"It's like this... Gogo could beat on me all day, but she doesn't because we. are...?"

"Secretly in love?"

Fred's face didn't change. "Uhhh."

"Jun," Gogo got in his face, "what's his name?" she jerked a thumb at Wasabi.

"Ehhhh, Kasabi?"

"What's his name?" she pointed at Fred.

"That's easy. Fred."

"All right and who's that tall girl l hang out with all the time?"

"I thought you hated Dian..."

"Honey..." Wasabi tried to encourage him.

Ha-Jun was reluctant. "Melon?"

"No," he replied flatly.

Gogo sighed. "It's not your fault, Wasabi, you tried..."

As Fred and Gogo start to leave, Wasabi looked back at him.

"Wait, what did you call me?" he asked Ha-Jun. "You were close."

"Your name is Shish kabobi?" Ha-Jun said hopefully.

Fred and Gogo looked at each other.

Wasabi frowned.

"Uh...no."

Mortification.

"Ehhh HHHHH."

II. San Benjiidino...

Hiro stood in the enormous, cavernous shop; the airship hadn't been nearly as big but now he was nervously glancing up at all the parts, pieces... Limbs. He took a deep breath to calm himself, then rocked back on his heels, clasping his hands together as he watched the transfer completing itself.

In and out... Rise and fall.

He bit his lower lip, his hands tightened, he dug his toes into his soles as he watched with stifled composure as bit-by-bit the holoscreen before him had precious data uploaded to it... Hiro willed himself not to look back toward the room where his best friend in the entire world was, he tried not to be nervous... he just wanted this process to be done safely, just as the owner had said. The percentage hovered at 92% on the screen and he almost went over to check its progress further...

Suddenly, the huge metal frame coated in sleek, white material rose from a sitting position. At six foot 4, it was a sight as it slowly folded out its arms. Eyes riveted, Hiro walked over as the metal being looked about itself, a carbon-titainum prototype, as if the being could not believe it was there.

Suddenly, he watched as just two, blue eyes looked up at him.

He wasn't sure how to react when suddenly they blinked at him.

A nervous breath escaped and he almost smiled. As Hiro knew half of his mind was still partly in bewilderment, he felt himself fighting not to move away from what he knew could not possibly be reality; would have been a wonderful fantasy but what could never truly be... two hands opened up.

The android looked down at their palms, their body moving about in the slow, stilted motions, in curious but jerky movements and then their eyes met again. "Hiro," Baymax's voice beesched him.

"Buddy?" he responded.

Baymax's face flinched in it's human-looking frame.

Mezmorized himself, he slowly reached out to Hiro, who was still frozen half in a fascination himself and half in the sort of natural reaction to something almost, someone so... Baymax had reached forward without hesitation and cupped Hiro's face with his three-jointed fingers, slowly the same fingers brushed his hair back from his face and Hiro laughed again, this time more in relief.

"Maxie, you okay?"

"I believe so," his mouth actually moved and Hiro came a little closer, "I believe the transfer was a success." He slowly got to his feet and the different circuits that ran through his body allowed him to stand in a much more humanized way. Hiro felt himself grin and then Baymax looked down at him...Not so slowly this time, he held out his hand to him as if nothing had changed in the least.

Hiro, much more himself, took his best friend's hand fingers twined, and they walked together.

"How's it feel, buddy?"

"It is very different... much more," a fluid fold out of his arm, moving his fingers along, "Versatile."

Hiro chuckled a little, trying to hide his own reaction.

Baymax met his eyes and, without thinking about it, immediately picked Hiro up and placed him against his chest. Sighing contently, the sixteen-year-old laid his head against the accessport which was covered over in this slick, firm layer. He felt his best friend place a hand on his head, stroking his head. Baymax placed arms around Hiro and held him very close, the teen inside his long arms.

"Yeah... I could get used to this spot right here."

"Is it... too different?" Baymax tilted his head which was very skeletal looking.

Hiro cuddled closer. "Not too bad," he poked at his best friend's arm. "Huh. Silicon polymer."

"It is not soft enough?"

"It's just right," Hiro said, sighing.

Suddenly, Baymax lifted up him up to his face. "Hiro," he said in a soft amazement himself.

"Hey buddy," Hiro looked back, feeling the full impact of his gaze. "Definitely not just cameras..."

They both noticed that the way Baymax held Hiro was very different but still so much...

"Well," Hiro laughed a little. "Kind of Uncanny Valley effect..."

Baymaxs head jerked once and Hiro pulled away a little in surprise.

"I cannot scan you, so you will have to tell me what you are thinking."

"I'm thinking... I love them pretty, long lashes, buddy," Hiro joked but gently ran his finger along the silicone fringe. "Huh?" He was brought back to a time that was very similar to this. "Blue eyes?"

It was odd addressing his best friend, the android project, and his own reaction.

"Yes," Baymax answered him congenially but still in excitement I always thought I would have them."

Hiro peered into his eyes and grinned again... Baymax explore his face with his fingers, much to Hiro's involuntary gasp, and felt him tracing his features lightly. Gently, Hiro started to copy him too, sucking in his breath as Baymax instinctively brushed the bangs assuringly off his forehead and behind his ears. He caressed his cheek now, making Hiro smile in affectionate recognition of him.

"Is it too Uncanny Valley?" his best friend asked, encouraging and hopeful.

Hiro bursted out laughing. "The Uncanny Valley affect no longer has any effect..."

Blinking again, Baymax seriously held Hiro to his chest and nuzzled his head.

"I cannot stop cuddling you," he sighed, rocking him back and forth.

"Me either, buddy," Hiro said, clutching him but not having to do much.

"Are you sure that it is not too much?" Baymax insisted again.

"Baymax, we've been through this, I'm here to help you if you wanted to go further with this," he reached up and ran hand on his head. "I'll even help you pick out some silicone hair if you want."

His best friend touched him to his head.

"I just want you to be happy," Hiro said quietly.

"I want you to be happy, too," Baymax lifted him up to his face again... Hiro reached over, took his face and then tried to push the sides of his mouth up. Baymax blinked at this and tried to smile.

"You're a natural," Hiro said even as his jaw dropped at how comical it was...

At the same moment, he knew just how much this meant to Baymax... how much it meant to him and he cuddled up close to his chest as Baymax held him safely and securely in this one place. He rocked him back and forth before a bell-like sound reverberated through his body. Hiro chuckled.

"HIRO," He gently tossed in the air, caught him.

Hiro, excited himself, suddenly reached out for his friend and experimentally took his face.

Baymax tilted his head to the side in question, then, Hiro with his eyes always on his best friend reached over and gently laid his lips upon the parting mouth just for a moment. The bot man blinked at him curiously and Hiro laughed nervously, blinking again Baymax held him to his chest.

"Any disassociation today?" he asked him at his ear, laying his silicon nose against his hair.

"Not today, buddy," Hiro told him. "Well, what do you think?" he looked up with his face still cupped.

"It is very interesting and I am thinking that if we did do this, perhaps, we could apply a layer of vinyl."

"I can definitely do that," Hiro smiled at him and seeing him holding back his his tears, Baymax placed him on his shoulder and Hiro clasped about his neck; Baymax rocking him back and forth another moment before the owner of the store came up behind them. Hiro saw Baymax look to him now. "Well, I think my buddy and I are going to take it... how much we talkin'?" he was repositioned.

"Hiro, you cannot pay for this." The concern on his face and in his voice made Hiro ready himself.

"Maxie, it's okay," he fought his own inner opposition, looking at Baymax...looking at his best friend.

He ignored Baymax's soft yet firm approach. "Besides, I still have some of my uncle's money left."

"Hiro, Hasaki loves you, but this before we knew the truth of your parentage."

"Maxie, it's fine, I'm willing to do this for you...and, I'll still have some left."

"It would not be ethical," he told him. "Thank you," he turned to the man. "We will think about it."

Hiro rolled his eyes at the way his best friend still tried to take charge sometimes, however, he felt himself in another hug and this quelled his own opposition, in that gentle, loving hug of Baymax's, making him reconsider his thoughts. Hiro sighed and nodded down at the good-natured owner.

Just like everyone else, the owner was okay with the sight of robots and people hugging.

In fact...it was a very common thing in San Ben to see robots as...as members of family!

"We'll think about it," Hiro told him.

Feeling his best friend's arms around him, Hiro rested his cheek on Baymax devotedly and forgot the last two weeks; he just concentrated on being with his best friend and nothing else in the world.

lll.

Gogo had only one thing to say after getting off the phone with Ji-Min and a publist associate.

"How?"

"Leik, come on, I told-"

"OK, if you call her Leik one more time..." Fred got closer to Ha-Jun.

The man lifted his brows and even Gogo was giving him a withering look.

"How?" she continued to probe her cousin. "How did the media find out?"

"Well..."

"A cover-up is a cover-up that's why it's called a COVER-UP."

"Okay, should I tell your friends about all the things on your face YOU couldn't cover up?"

Wasabi came into the room, informed as they were and took Ha-Jun by the arm.

"You just better back off!" the other man swung his shoulder out of his grasp.

"Do you have any idea how serious this is?" He showed him his phone, Fred and Go-Go stared at it gravely. "Do you understand the danger that's going to put our friends in? You might have thought it was just a little chat with Krei but that's exactly the kind of thing that's going to hurt people! Don't you understand?" Ha-Jun looked between the three but even Gogo could no longer judge anyone.

She sensed his challenging gaze and met eyes unwillingly.

"That's what I thought," He said. "I'm going to go meet my brother, see you guys."

An arm flew out to stop him. "You're going to personally talk with the District, with that other cousin of yours that's taken Jinsu's place, and you're GOING to convince him enough is enough, Ha-Jun."

"Dude," Fred was unhappy with his approach.

Wasabi glanced at Gogo for back-up...she sighed and stepped away.

"Gogo!" He was shocked.

"Pretty sure this isn't my problem."

Ha-Jun started to leave.

"Pretty sure we didn't want to watch our best friend being torn away from us."

Fred made him stop.

"Ha-Jun," Gogo said dependently on him. Wasabi clenched his fists as if he were being lowered.

As if he were useless.

"Talk to him," she said humbly.

Fred and Wasabi were amazed by her submission.

Ha-Jun thought a moment...then sighed lightly.

"I'll... I'll try to put in a word with Lin."

...

Hiro was even more anxious at the status as he watched the transfer complete itself in the lobby of the Android and Accessory Emporium. The plump, white body of his best friend didn't move for a moment and, for just a split second, Hiro felt a cold twinge in his chest even as the heat from the room was keeping the brisk air outside off of everyone. He walked over... then, the body twitched.

The teen gasped and then two black eyes jerked up to meet his own.

Half a beat...

"HIRO," Baymax cried in unconcealed joy and caught the boy in his arms.

"Baymax!" he laughed in joy himself...and relief.

Hiro reached up and kissed his accessport repeatedly.

Baymax snuggled his face, which made him laugh.

Honey came in from outside and received a hug from them both. "So! What's the verdict?"

"We are interested, but not for now." Her chubby friend replied.

Hiro was beaming, cheeks hot, as the excited trill of Baymax's voice almost matched Honey's.

" 'Hiro?" She asked him with a smile, not noticing any of the differences other might.

He nodded as well but looked away alittle unsurely.

However, Hiro felt Baymax twine his fingers through his and he returned the gesture confidently.

He patted his chest and Baymax patted his but in another communication... it had been a whole week since Baymax had taken the white chip out. Even though they didn't talk about it, Hiro knew the only possible way the chip have been downloaded to the body had been through the red chip still inside him; Baymax recognized his uncertainty right away but side-hugged his best friend close as Hiro did to him. They bowed to the store owner and walked outside with Honey who had her hands on both their backs, sort of halfway guiding them. Hiro tried to act like he didn't notice this.

"I'm definitely not seeing any reason to go to therapy this week; haven't had any lapses today."

The three of them came up to the small rental vehicle Honey had gotten ahead of time.

"Actually, your session has been moved to tomorrow," Baymax advised him, parting his bangs back.

Honey bit her lower lip and nodded to Hiro encouragingly, who tried to hide his disapproval but she lowered down and kissed both his cheeks and he laughed. As they got to the meter, Baymax placed his hand on top to pay the fee and Hiro looked around at the enormous city. It was a lot like San Fransokyo but there was a definite difference; for one thing, mech of many kinds were around them.

"San Ben is a great place for tech, guys, but it can get a little sketchy sometimes," Honey warned.

Hiro and Baymax watched as androids and even as some people with robotic prosthesis were commonplace. The teenager nodded approvingly, his head filling with ideas as Baymax nuzzled his head when suddenly the shop owner hurried out with an assistant android lugging the piece out.

"Please! This was just donated by an adroidnoymous benefactor!"

He bowed to them and then went back inside just as Honey had folded herself back inside the little car; it was a 3-wheel, air pressurized vehicle and she was waiting for Baymax to get in back so Hiro could sit up front and drive; his gold red eyes widened and it wasn't just for his own uncertainty over the android suit as Baymax blinked down at it and hugged him close to his side, saying to Hiro,

"Perhaps it would have been better to fly over here."

Hiro realized that Baymax was joking and then, laughing back, at him hugged him back as well.

The big, soft robot then enveloped him in a giant, warm embrace.

"Maxie..." He sighed in bittersweetness against his port...his home.

IV.

From a top his penthouse, Alistair Krei walked back and forth in his upper living quarters.

"I shouldn't have done that..."

He paced back and forth.

The man nervously thrummed his thumbs on the back of his phone.

"I... I shouldn't have. It wasn't worth it, it won't be when they hurt Hiro and-"

Then suddenly he sent the device flying across the room and into tinted windows. The panel started to ripple and then suddenly the illusion was broken as all around him light from a sunset filled the room; he placed his hands on the glass and looked out at the Golden Gate Bridge. Krei shuddered, remembering that little baby safe in his arms, the man remembered that little boy who had held his little muffin. ... He remembered the expression on Hiro's face during the memorial, the lifelessness.

A loud, uncontrollable sound came out of nowhere.

Krei's hand trailed down the wall- length window as the sun finished setting in the far distance and he was in nothing but surrounding shadows...his choking sobs echoing all around him...what had he done? They were going to come for Baymax, for Hiro. Krei...he had to warn all his friends... FAST.

To be continued...