Chapter 9
And I know she'll be the death of me, at least we'll both be numb
And she'll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come
All the misery was necessary when we're deep in love
Yes I know (yes I know), yeah, I know…
"Can't Feel My Face" The Weeknd
(AN: warnings for gangster fights, martial arts violence, and cussing)
The other two boys had left a few minutes earlier on Baymax, leaving Wasabi and GoGo to load the last of the gear and supplies for the rescues into the helicopter. They told them to go on as it was getting later than expected in the afternoon.
Ever since walking into that heated argument earlier at SFIT, Wasabi was reminded again about his growing concern about GoGo. He couldn't help but notice something more going on between her and Hiro. Now just seemed to be the best time since they were together and finally alone, for once. With the semester coming to a close, the amount of time the two of them had to meet and prepare for new ideas for the team's training sessions were further in between. After the failed training session from Thursday, it became more apparent about how much more on edge Hiro was, which in turn was not really helping GoGo. Yes, even though the studious trainer did well in putting aside his more intimate thoughts, he still felt obligated to look out for her as a friend. Besides Honey Lemon, who else would? Fred was just, well, too naïve and possibly also reluctant to ask her for want of not getting beat up. And Hiro, he would almost be the same, if it wasn't for the fact that he also struggled with knowing how to be social.
"Couldn't help but notice how much you're clashing with Hiro lately. Something going on?" He finally asked her, making eye contact with the black and yellow speedster.
GoGo held his concerned gaze for a beat, working her jaw in thought.
"It's just that I'm worried about him." Her answer was brief as she dropped the coil of rope in the helicopter.
Wasabi sighed at her curtness, trying to think of a better approach as he organized the placement of all the equipment in the small space of the helicopter. Her temperament was something else, and there were times he did not think he could ever get that figured out. His only reassurance was that Gogo wasn't as much of a hothead as she had been before. All that the quantum physicist did know was that he wasn't her 'favorite challenge' anymore. She told him earlier that her fascination with him was just a physical one, which was what had led to an intense make-out session after one of their planning meetings. He practically joked it was the Law of Attraction getting the better of them, coupled with the fact that she made for a interesting study in sexual energy.
A couple weeks later GoGo called it off, however, with a short apology that she didn't mean for that to happen. The reason she gave him sounded petty, that she decided it would be better as a team if they didn't get so romantically involved with each other. Of course, he couldn't really argue with that. Too many feelings could and would affect their better judgement in a time of crisis. All of which could explain some of her anger on the other two last Thursday. He had imagined she was embarrassed on his behalf about the boys, who apparently were also flirting with her.
Regardless of that and the fact that his obsessive personality was too much for her, there was that undeniable reality that the fiesty engineer had become emotionally involved with Hiro, otherwise contradicting what she told him. Just the way GoGo would dodge his questions like this made that clear to Wasabi.
"Just 'worried'? You do know he's only fourteen," Wasabi turned around to level with her, his expression clearly serious.
GoGo noticed his tone, and in turn gave him a look that indicated her understanding on the matter and didn't appreciate it. "Yes. Just worried."
"Only worried?"
"He's relapsing! You saw how Hiro was after the gas exploded in his face!" Her voice became more intense as she looked up to him.
"True, that. But I think you need to give him more breathing room." Wasabi may have acted like he didn't hear what Hiro told her earlier, but the teen's request spoke volumes to him.
"Seriously?" She scowled.
He returned her harsh glare, crossing his arms in response.
"You still haven't gotten over it... us," Gogo turned away with a huff.
"Woman, I have! But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop worrying about you!" Wasabi pointed at her.
She stopped to look at him, reluctantly.
"Okay, I know this'll sound strange coming from me… but GoGo, you have to let Hiro learn from his mistakes – that's the only way he will learn. Have more faith in him."
"What makes you say that? You know as well as I do if you give that kid an inch, he'll take a mile. He's so reckless!" she shook her finger at him.
And Wasabi knew that she had a problem with accepting the idea of a kid telling all of them what to do. As well as that other thing. "It's the way you never seem to cut him any slack by questioning his every move. It's like you're afraid he's going to end up the same way as Tadashi."
She continued to hold her unsettled gaze up at him, her arms still crossed. "Are you?"
"It's crossed my mind, when I'm not fearing for my own life," his response was short of sarcastic. But the way she had turned the tables again bothered him more.
"What's bothering you, really?" he stepped closer to her, trying to keep his tone controlled and level so this also didn't turn into a shouting match.
Gogo sighed, looking at him then at the floor. "It's not what you think."
Wasabi imagined she meant her not so pretty past, before coming to SFIT. He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, and gestured with his other hand to stress his point. "What I do know is that Hiro's past – well, everything after his brother's accident – is still affecting all of us. But since you spend so much time trying to help Hiro, I'm worried that's taking its toll on you."
"You think so?"
"Honey and I both, actually," his eyes were intent on hers.
Gogo was silent as she thought out her next course of action. "Say what you want, but Hiro is in over his head.. and hiding something," she put her hand on his for a moment, before taking his hand off her shoulder and turning away to get back to their task on hand.
"Yes, I know," Wasabi sighed in agreement. "He's been stressing over both of his projects, the budgeting and deadlines. The school also told him to apply for a grant, but it hasn't– "
Gogo abruptly swore under her breath, cutting him short.
"You okay?"
"Nothing," her answer was just as terse, keeping her back to the physicist until she got a good grip on the case of flares. He heard an audible sigh before the speedster turned around with it.
"Hiro's bot fighting again," she decided to tell him.
Wasabi just gave her a confused look as he tried to take the case from her. She declined his offer, and hefted them into the helicopter herself.
"That's what he's hiding," Gogo explained as she put a hand on her hip.
"I thought he swore off of that," he said while moving the flares to a different spot.
"Apparently not," she shook her head. "Back at the lab, Hiro blurted out something about not using Baymax to bot fight… which did not make sense at the time."
"Why would he now?" Wasabi prompted. It was more of a question to hear her side of the story, because his obvious assumption was that the young genius now had a plethora of arsenal to make new robots at SFIT. It would be a hard temptation to not give into.
"He must need the money."
Wasabi swore out loud as he also connected the dots.
"Exactly," Gogo looked around real quick, then stepped toward the helicopter. "Let's talk about this later. Starting to get late!"
"Of course," Wasabi flipped down his enhanced visor on his new green helmet before hopping inside. He alerted Heathcliff also that they were finally ready.
"Y'know, you wouldn't have that supped up visor if I didn't say something," Gogo punched him as she felt the need to remind him of that fact. Of course, he was still trying to get used to the helmet in itself. He opted out of one before because it made for an uncomfortably tight fit with his dreads also squeezed inside. But after having a ceiling fall on his head, he was more willing to deal with how the helmet fit.
The other three superheroes regrouped in an alley near the lower side of downtown. Clearly this was where the more shadier side met with the commerce district, and otherwise a very likely hotspot where the police weren't able to keep up.
"Basically, we just go into the shops that aren't barred, flush out any people inside, and then put up a impermeable barrier to keep others out," Hiro explained his plan of attack to his robot and the kaiju. "But if we come across any who are actually trapped and hurt, yeah… help them out and administer first aid."
Fred held his costume's mouth open while he spoke. "And then, if they are actually making off with the stuff, give them the superzilla smackdown!"
"About like that," Hiro nodded, his eyes shifting between them and the street. After much deliberation, Fred finally was given permission to wear Honey Lemon's 'magical' purse inside his suit, after demonstrating that he had memorized the key codes for the small assortment of Chem-balls they planned to use. The other condition was that he also had to temporarily disable his fire breathing apparatus.
"Gotta place more attention on places with pharmaceuticals and alcohol too."
"That stuff isn't under lock n key already?" Fredzilla queried .
"Can't be too sure what they had time to do after the earthquake," Hiro sighed. "Baymax, scan each store to check if anyone is inside."
The big red robot looked at Hiro, showing understanding.
"Okay, let's go!"
The three moved out to take in the situation up and down the narrow street. The police were down at one end, so Hiro pointed they go the opposite.
"We are apprehending the ones who are stealing... for the police," Baymax also felt the need to remind them.
"Correct," Hiro nodded.
"Scan complete. Building clear." The response came as Baymax already checked the one they were next too. It really wasn't a store though.
After a few blocks down, and a couple rescued cats later, Fred spotted someone running in fright from a corner convenience store.
The two entered first into the store, stepping around the small boxes and containers from the shelves littering the floor. Hiro told Baymax to stay outside to stand guard and keep more from coming inside.
"Unhand your deplorable items, and depart!" the blue kaiju bellowed at the group of badly dressed punks who were squabbling over the electronic cigarette products.
"Aww, you hafta be kidding me!" One just started laughing. "Halloween was over last month, kid!"
"Oh no! Barney's f'king ugly cousin is sooo threatening! I'm scared!" a stocky guy with a bald head and tattoos all over his shoulders had put his hands on his cheeks to mock them.
"Are you gonna cooperate, or are you going to wish the cops stopped you instead?" the boy hero warned the group, placing his hands on his hips.
"Define 'cooperate'," a medium-built man with a beanie and a scraggly goatee from behind the others stepped forward while brandishing a darkened silver handgun. He aimed it at the two of them, waving it back and forth indeterminately.
At that, the other punks with their stash took off down a different isle on the assumption their leader was going to keep the two busy.
"Cuz if that means to leave… well, your wish is granted," the surly man laughed, keeping his gun trained on Hiro's head. "Now what're you gonna do?"
"I got it…go after 'em, Katsu," Hiro whispered to his comm while the man was talking to him. The smoked mirror tint on his helmet kept the punk from really seeing his face, or the kind of cunning expression he held. "Baymax'll cover me."
At that, Fred took off after the ones who were whooping and hollering as they vacated the place. The man shifted his sights on the kaiju, but didn't shoot or take chase.
"Please..." Hiro dropped to his knees, hoping this would keep the looter's attention, as he nervously raised his hands in surrender.
"Wishing you stayed with your mommy now?" The man laughed as he took a step closer to the boy.
"Just.. don't shoot," he pleaded.
The man smiled even more sadistically, taking another step closer, the gun still trained on the kid. "Why would you say that?"
"Because!" Hiro suddenly sprung up into action to quickly wrest the gun out of the punk's grip. As he did, his magnetics held fast to the weapon, and somehow, whether he grabbed it wrong or the man managed to squeeze the trigger, it still discharged. Hiro did not feel the hit at first, but he didn't have time to think about it. His adrenaline was surging as he grabbed the man's wrists to pull him forward while at the same time leaping up to stomp kick the man's feet out from under him. The disarmed punk found himself on his stomach, now cussing a string of obscenities only a sailor would be proud of.
"Wow, does your mama know you cuss like that?" the teen asked as he held onto an arm and twisted it up behind, while pressing the barrel of the gun into the punk's back. The gun was only to keep him still. Hiro's finger wasn't on the trigger, and he hoped the man was too distracted to realize the fingers on his gloves were too big for him to be able to shoot the gun. "Stay down!"
As if on queue, Baymax was next to Hiro and ready to assist. "I heard a gun shot," was all he said to the young superhero.
"Zip ties," Hiro told his robot, afraid to let go of the struggling man until he was secured. Baymax quickly pulled out a couple of the plastic stripes from his fingertip, and the teen finally set the gun to one side so he could bind the looter's hands. "Take this one out front for the police, Baymax."
"You are bleeding. You will need to apply pressure to your wound to control it." The healthcare robot told Hiro, all while startling the punk by how easily he was lifted up to his feet by Baymax.
"Just take him up front, Baymax," Hiro repeated. He really did not feel like discussing his injury in front of the one they had just apprehended. All he knew was that it wasn't a lethal shot. His left armpit by his pectoral muscle where the bullet grazed began to throb with pain.
Just a flesh wound, he told himself again, looking at the silver and black revolver in his gloved hand. The last thing he wanted to do was dwell on his mortality.
The young superhero spied a long black scarf by one of the aisle end caps on his way out, and snapped it off the hook. He carefully put the gun on the floor and pulled off his gloves so he could wrap the fabric around the top part of his chest, over his wound. Before running outside to help Fred, Hiro quickly picked up the gun and his gloves. But he was stopped in his tracks when he saw a shaken up man standing up slowly from behind the front counter.
"You okay?" the boy in blue stopped to ask. It looked like the store clerk had been knocked out. Hiro took the moment to set the gun on the counter and get his gloves back on.
"I think so," the clerk looked down at the gun, then around the place as he worked his jaw.
"That's the shoplifter's gun.. just gonna leave it here. But don't worry, sir, we took care of the guys who came in." He stepped up to usher the older man from the store. "I can also secure the place to keep more out."
"You did? …you can? Oh, okay?" the clerk blinked and followed after.
"Did you get 'em?" Hiro called out on his comm-link to Fred.
"You betcha! These Chem-balls are so awesome! A couple got away, but the rest aren't going anywhere."
"We're out. Seal it up!"
Fred had bounded in place right next to Hiro on the sidewalk outside, otherwise giving both the younger Hamada and the store clerk a start.
"Oh, here you go," the colorful kaiju held out the shopping bags full of stolen items to the older man. "That's the stuff they took."
The clerk took the bags from the creature's claws, still appearing quite confused about this whole ordeal with these two.
"Now, stand back!" Fred then spat a couple of balls that coated the glass panes on one side, hardening the surface. Then he stepped around the corner to the other side to repeat the process. Honey Lemon explained it was a unique type of resin that would also quickly liquefy only after a different chemical was sprayed on it. Just in case the store owner and the authorities asked about how to regain access.
As they were doing that, Baymax secured the remaining looters to a sturdy light pole with some rope. Fredzilla did a double take at Hiro, after noticing the scarf. "Aw dude, you got shot?"
"It's nothing.. serious…" Hiro exaggerated the truth on how he really felt, looking down to his left while lifting his arm a little. "Apart from needing to train more with live guns that fire paintballs… or something." It did hurt when he moved his left arm, and the pressure the scarf created made it throb worse. Baymax kept giving him concerned looks too. He sighed and made the gesture that they should keep going up the road.
They did not go far before they came to a sporting goods store that was connected to a string of other stores as part of an urban mall. A few people were going in and out, and this area was a likely hot spot due to the camping and hunting supplies it carried.
"You think the mall cops got this?" Fred wondered.
"Maybe… we can check."
Then Fred recognized a few of the people inside were the ones that got away from him earlier. "Oh goodies!" he rubbed his clawed hands together.
Hiro climbed up on Baymax's back, locking the magnets in place. He decided to have Baymax do the fighting this time since he was worried about the injury affecting his own reaction time.
Except Baymax did not follow after the kaiju monster.
"Why aren't you going?" Hiro asked impatiently.
"If I use karate, I will injure the humans. My programming does not allow me to harm humans." He reminded him.
Hiro sighed. Of course. "Katsumon, wait up."
Their last big battle was primarily against his microbots, so the big guy had no problem as long as they didn't face off with Callaghan. This was also why Hiro made that separate training chip so that Baymax could be part of their superhero training sessions without constantly fretting about the others getting hurt. Unfortunately, that chip was initially intended for training, and the robotics engineer didn't think about bringing it. Plan B, he thought quickly.
"But if you don't, then those bad guys are going to hurt us!" Hiro advised his guardian, all while keeping his voice down. "It's all for defense… can you access the Kung Fu techniques that I also added?"
"I will use martial arts if it will help assist your injured state." Baymax seemed to sigh, in that quaintly familiar manner.
"We can do this."
"Yeesss! We can make like Bruce Lee and 'be the water'," Fredzilla nodded, now showing to them all the boating equipment in that aisle. He wasted no time in grabbing a double-ended oar from the display and spun it real quick to check its balance. A month earlier, Wasabi had decided to also teach him some Bo staff skills to complement his sign-spinning talent. The kaiju had picked up on that skill in no time.
Before they left that aisle, however, Baymax crouched down and motioned for him to wait. Hiro made the 'Shh' gesture then pointed sideways.
"Yeaaah, those were the ones," they overheard one of the looters say in the next aisle as they walked through. "An' don't let their goofy costumes fool ya, they know how to fight."
"If that's the case, then $5,000 to the one who knocks 'em all out!" Another said, laughing menacingly.
After a short pause, another asked his question for clarification while still in earshot. "Would that be $5,000 per person, or for all of them? Do we get more for the robot?"
"Whaaat?" Fred whispered over his com-link. "I'm worth more than $5,000!"
"They're on to us. We gotta stay sharp," Hiro told them to stay focused on the severity of the situation.
"Sneak up on them?" Fred leaned on his oar to peer around the end cap.
"My scanners indicate more coming in from behind," Baymax pivoted around, so that he and Hiro were back to back with Fredzilla.
"More gang members," Hiro whispered, his muscles tensed in anticipation despite his secure position on Baymax's back.
The three of them came running toward him, one actually drawing a short tanto sword. Another had a gun, but it was still tucked in his pants. They had mixed nationalities from America and Asia too, and most of them certainly did not lack in the strength department.
"Baymax, use that kayak as a shield," Hiro looked to his right to a shiny orange and yellow two-seater hanging from the ceiling. The big red robot snapped it from the chains, and holding the seats inside he held it in front of himself. "Block, and counter!"
He stepped forward, knocking the first two to the ground. Then Baymax took a step back to swing the pointed end of the boat at the man with the sword, and knocked the weapon from his hands into the shelving with a loud clang. That made the gruff man angrier as he reclaimed his sword. "Keep them busy, wear 'em out." Hiro advised Baymax. The robot had fought enough times now he knew what actions to take without constant prompts. Then hopefully when Fred was free, he could secure them with the chem-balls.
With this commotion going on, the other gang members that they heard earlier had ran back over to join in. The kaiju monster spun his oar in anticipation, and parried with the first one that took him on. The short man grabbed the oar with the intent to take it, but Fred gripped harder. He twisted his body to spin around, flipping the guy over so much he lost his balance. Then the blue kaiju-mon jumped up and executed a spinning roundhouse kick combo to the heads of the other two men, knocking them out before landing in the adjacent isleway.
Hiro spotted that the one gang member had his gun drawn now, and ducked down close to Baymax while shouting. "Rocketfist, Baymax! Knock him out of range."
The robot's rocket thrusters roared to life as he leapt up to fire his fist, just to keep moving. Baymax back-flipped and then hovered above one of the shelving units, while still holding onto his kayak-shield. The large red fist hit the man, plus knocked another one off his feet like a bowling pin.
..Awesome.. Hiro smiled at the impromptu twists Baymax kept adding to his commands. The robot's increasing responsiveness toward situations like this never ceased to amaze him.
"More are coming," Baymax alerted his young friend, as he was also able to survey the whole store from this vantage point. Fredzilla jumped high and landed ungracefully on the narrow shelf top near where Baymax hovered. "Wow… just too.. many," he gasped, trying to catch his breath.
"Requesting permission to use the chem-balls," Baymax prompted, shifting the kayak to his rocket fist hand so he could transform two of his fingers on his other hand into Chem-ball shooters.
"Permission is not necessary!" Hiro scoffed. "Do what it takes to stop them!"
"Righteo!" Fred leapt from that narrow shelf to another one that was more sturdy, with the amount of grace a drunk cat would have when jumping off the back of a rocking chair.
"Hah-hah! Look at that!" The sassy mascot began bobbing and waving his tail as he did a little jig for everyone's entertainment. "Blue spiky Kaiju-mon dancing on shelf-tops! Yey! Sing with me! Blue spiky Kaiju-mon dancing on shelf-tops!"
"Let's test your knowledge and see what you've learned so far, everyone," he explained to the ever-baffled group of gangsters. "What color am I?" The jovial kaiju held out his hands as he readied a couple chem-balls. "Bluuuue!"
"Um, Katsu? Just to let you know.. there's a hunting section here..with rifles. Watch out for that," Hiro quickly warned him over the comm.
"Okay," Fredzilla did not miss a beat as he threw the balls at the small mob. After the liquid exploded, it immediately transformed into a growing, glowing pink foam that hardened one of the men in his tracks. His feet were fused in the foam, and trapped one had that had touched it. The others made faces, not sure whether to stay or run.
"Hey, where am I dancing?" the monster paused, teasing them with a few more chem-balls that he was juggling around the claws of each hand. "Shelf-tops!"
It was then that one guy tried to hurl various balls and base ball bats at him now in hopes of knocking the obnoxious superhero down from his perch. Fred was already used to this level of abusive mockery from the drunk fans during the university's games. He had learned how to duck and dodge so well now, as a result.
The sudden lurching of the ground as it decided to rock and roll again, however, was not something Fred was prepared for. In true Wile E. Coyote fashion, the shelf abruptly disappeared from under his feet and he fell to the floor below. His side hit the top of the shelf and he tried to slow the fall by hanging on with an outstretched arm. Unfortunately, a wire metal ball bin and an adjacent equipment rack fell on top of him to boot.
"Fre– Katsu!" Hiro called out after seeing him fall. He was still flying above everything on Baymax, and his friend's pained cry immediately caught his robot's attention.
The lone gangster who hadn't been trapped by a Chem-ball or falling equipment in that area high-tailed it out of there. However, the two superheroes no longer cared about him anymore.
Hiro slid down from Baymax, and the robot promptly lifted the structures from Fred.
"You guys okay?" Wasabi's voice also came over their comm-links. "That last one was a doozy."
They had been using a closed line between the three of them, to reduce confusion, so startled Hiro a little to suddenly hear Wasabi.
"Uhm… Katsumon had some stuff fall on him.. I'll letcha know in a minute," Hiro finally answered, switching frequencies.
"Do you want us to join you?" Wasabi prompted.
"We should be okay," he said, watching Baymax scan Fred.
"Just let us know, if you do."
"How's the fire monster, Sansho?" Gogo spoke up to ask also.
"He's standing up now…looks like he'll be fine." Trying to explain their current dilemma with the others was the last thing he felt like doing right now, in case other gangsters attacked them.
"Give us a call, anytime… okay?" She reminded them.
"Absolutely," Hiro confirmed with them, before switching off his frequency.
"Your third and fourth rib have hairline fractures, but the bones in your arm are not broken. It has sustained severe bruising, possible muscle injury." Baymax reported to Fred.
"It still smarts," Fred held his sore arm against his side as he carefully stepped around the structures on the floor. Thankfully his suit protected him from the worse of it.
"Everyone else out now?" the young hero looked to Baymax. He also did a head count of the gang members they did trap in frozen foam. Another moment passed as Baymax scanned that part of the store.
"Yes, and no."
"No?" Hiro queried.
"Yes, in that direction outside the store, I picked up another life signature." Baymax looked toward the interior mall entrance toward the back.
"Right," Hiro rubbed his neck. "Katsu, are you okay enough to go with Baymax to seal up the front? After you're done, come to back me up."
"Yeah, I'll live, buddy. Just holler if you get in trouble."
"I will. And.. Baymax, call 911 so the police know about these guys."
Hiro picked his way around the fallen items in the isles to reach the mall entrance from this store. Inside that part of the mall, there was an open atrium area that was circular and had a set of escalators in the center that went up to the second floor. Some smaller trees and greenery now hung precariously after being shaken loose from the second level balcony walls. Due to the earthquakes, of course, the escalator steps no longer operated either. That did not stop people from using them like stairs though.
He spotted a pretty woman at the bottom of the escalator base, under what looked like a boxy display that fell from the second floor escalator entrance. Hiro decided she was one of the mall employees, from the type of clothes and fancy smock she wore. The young woman was also Asian, possibly Japanese, with long shiny black hair brought up into a tousled bun.
He also guessed she was a tall girl who lost her balance with her platform high heel shoes on her way down, when the earthquake hit. That fashion for woman to wear crazy high shoes like that was something he'll never understand, especially when they were already so tall. (Honey Lemon said they make the legs look longer, but yeah.. doesn't do anything for him.) Hiro did hope she didn't injure her ankle or legs somehow, from the weird way legs were positioned there. The teen tried to not notice, but he happened to spot some dragon-type tattoos on her legs, peeking out from her white knee high and under her skirt on her thigh.
"Are you okay, miss?" Hiro asked as he helped her get the rest of the cardboard off of her.
After taking a moment to look at him, she shook her head while gesturing to her ears and mouth. It took him a second before he realized the lady was telling him she was deaf.
"Oh, okay," Hiro nodded. Unfortunately, sign language was not something he had made an effort to learn. Hopefully he could figure out something. The young superhero persisted by holding out his hand for her to grab, to help her up.
She smiled shyly, shaking her head no. She slowly straightened out one of her legs, favoring it. Then she looked around for her designer leather purse, and once she found it she pulled out her phone. After typing out something, the young woman showed her note to Hiro.
"I am deaf, but I can read lips… if that is easier."
Hiro could not argue, as it was easier than having to write notes on her phone each time he wanted to tell her something. And yet, he could not help but wonder, what kind of job did she have there if she could not talk with customers.
Regardless, the tinted shield on his helmet disappeared so she could see his face. "Are you hurt? I can help you."
She smiled, to acknowledge his thoughtfulness in honoring her request. She returned her phone to her purse, then pointed to her right ankle, frowning.
"Okay, yeah… twisted it?" Hiro nodded. He fancied the idea of helping her up, but if she was taller than him, he couldn't really provide much support.
"Baymax, can you come? We have a civilian with injury," he spoke into his comm.
"Yes, I can be of assistance."
"My friend will be here to help, and take you outside for medical assistance. Is that okay?"
She nodded, her face now pursed in thought, and then she started to take off her heels. The young woman buckled the strap of one shoe to the buckle of the other, so she could carry them easier. Then to his surprise, she made an effort to get up now.
"No, no.. wait!" the boy in blue stepped closer to her to give her a hand. "You don't have to get up… okay, lemme help you."
It was as if she didn't want him to help her now, the way she was acting. Not exactly a good sign. "Are you okay?"
The tall woman stood gingerly, not placing weight on her right ankle as she leaned lightly on Hiro. Then she hopped over to the side of the escalator handedly to lean against it. The girl smiled apologetically as she pulled out her phone again to write something more.
"Don't worry. I had texted my friend earlier, he should be here soon… I should be okay. Thank you for your kindness."
Hiro raised his eyebrow, grimacing to show his gap-tooth. Sure, he felt really short and kind of childish next to her, but that never stopped him. "Are you sure? It's not a problem for me to help."
She rotated her ankle a bit, before testing more of her weight on it now. Her line of vision was redirected past Hiro now, also causing him to turn and look.
"Does she require assistance?" the big red robot walked in their direction.
"She said she doesn't now," Hiro shook his head, feeling a little more awkward about this. The tall woman agreed by also shaking her head no. "Someone is coming to help her."
"Yes, thank you for your help, little sir," another Asian looking guy spoke up as he walked up to them from a separate connecting entrance to the open atrium area.
Hiro turned his helmet's shield back on as he turned to see the woman's friend. This man wore dark sunglasses, his hair was nicely cut, and his face clean shaven. He also appeared very GQ in his designer name jeans and a silky Polo shirt. His appearance was in stark contrast to the looting punks Hiro had to content with earlier.
"Um, yeah," the teen responded meekly. Something was really beginning to bother him about all of this now. "No problem."
Hiro did notice as the Asian man turned to help the woman, similar dragon tattoos on his muscular biceps like those on the woman's thighs. He didn't know why his eyes were so drawn to their tattoos, as so many people he knew also had them. Teenage curiosity, perhaps… or was his instinct trying to tell him something?
After a little playful banter from her boyfriend, he ended up picking up the woman to carry her out the way he came in to that area.
"Everything okay?" the blue kaiju-mon also appeared next to Baymax, at the ready.
"Y-yeah," Hiro rubbed his neck in thought. He walked back over to the others, feeling very unsure of himself now.
"Check the rest of this mall?" Fred prompted next.
Baymax finally turned away from the direction the couple went, to face Hiro. "She did not sustain any injuries. Why did she need help?"
"That's why–" Hiro stopped mid-thought, finally understanding the nature of Baymax's question. "You mean she was faking it? No wonder…"
Shit…
He climbed up on Baymax's back now, suddenly feeling sucker-punched. The younger Hamada whispered to Baymax, out of Fred's earshot. "Was she really deaf too?"
"No."
God, no. Hiro heavily set his helmet with a thunk against Baymax's back in defeat.
"Your neurotransmitter levels are rising," his robot expressed his concern, detecting the strange and sudden shift in Hiro's mood. "What is wrong, Sansho?"
"I messed up," he was barely audible, just enough for Baymax to detect. "But.. why did she want to see my face." Another beat passed before he rose his head with a sigh, realizing more of his mistake. They still had to check the rest of this mall, however, and Fred was starting to get worried.
"Hiro?" Fred whispered, noticing his hesitation. He stood behind Baymax now, looking up at Hiro through his monster's mouth.
"S'okay... just thinking," Hiro drew in another deep breath, deciding what to do. He didn't want to try to explain his problem to Fred though. "Let's go up to the second floor. Climb on, Katsu." At that, Baymax knelt down for Fred to climb up too.
AN:
My many apologies AGAIN for the delay. Besides the usual excuse of work, back to school, and just being lazy….also working on other fic at the same time now.
I hope the wait was worth it for this chapter. If not, then the next chapter should be! The tough part was that my headcanon kept springing up more chapter ideas for the future storyline, but not this. Great for faster updates, but not good in that they won't get posted until this chapter is done!
EchidnaPower - The first movie had hints of TadaHoney, and the way GoGo was 'flirting' with Wasabi, it was like they must ve had some attraction to each other in some way (which can be totally explained!). But as for Tadashi and GoGo, no way. I don't like that pairing either. ;p Thank you for all of your reviews!
See you everyone!
