CH 2: God of War
2 Months Later
It was heartwarming to watch the way that Catherine and Tadashi treated each other, though it was also nearly impossible to tell if they were best friends or a couple. Their conversations were mostly about whatever was happening and never held any double meanings at all but they were always together. It was so innocent and sweet that Honey Lemon hadn't hesitated to constantly label it "cute". Tadashi's friends were all aware of how much the boy liked Catherine but only limited their comments about the relationship to mild teasing.
"Can you hand me that wrench please."
"Mmhmm." Catherine hummed as she went to the toolbox and pulled out the utensil Tadashi had asked for.
"Thanks." The boy said as he received it and touched up Baymax.
"Is it ready?" Catherine asked while leisurely spinning in her chair and watching Tadashi stand back from the bot.
"I think so." He stepped back and stood behind Catherine as they both observed Baymax's actions.
"Hello, I am Baymax, your personal health care companion." The bots voice started up after Catherine faked an "ow".
"On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your pain?"
"10! Oh, I think I'm having a heart attack!" The girl dramatized as she spun in her chair. Tadashi chuckled as he watched her unrealistic acting.
"My hands are equipped with defibrillators." Baymax stated this as he rubbed his palms together and blue circles shined on them. "Clear."
Catherine looked to Tadashi and smiled to show that his new function had worked perfectly.
"Actually I'm all better." Catherine said as she stood from the chair.
"Are you sure?" The fluffy white robot asked her and she nodded.
"Much better. I am satisfied with my care." She said this while linking her fingers to each other as she hung around Tadashi's neck. The two of them watched Baymax go back to his charging plate then turned to face each other.
"You're a genius, you know that, right?" The girl smiled to the boy in front of her. Tadashi slightly blushed at the comment and gave her a small peck on the lips.
"I can't wait to be assisted by one of your amazing inventions at the hospital." Catherine said after licking her lips and removing her arms from the boy's neck. He held her arm and pulled her in closer staring deep into her eyes.
"Till then maybe I can assist you personally." He grins slyly as his hands snake around the girl's hips.
"You think?" Catherine replies with a grin of her own and Tadashi nods as he looks down to her.
"How so?" She asks while her boyfriend's hands traveled up to her waist, his thumbs massaging small circles wherever they touched.
"Mind if I show you?" Tadashi's words slur out, heavy with a lustful tone. He didn't need an answer as he began to kiss the girl's neck and pressed her body closer to his. Catherine stumbled back at the feeling and caused a small smile on Tadashi's lips. He led her to the desk he was just working on and grabbed her up to sit her atop it. He then began nibbling on Catherine's collar bone before his tongue slid down her chest. Hesitant moans were extracted from the girl as he inhaled her perfume and snuggled his head to her breasts.
"Ta-dashi." She stuttered and the boy's eyes looked up to her burning red cheeks.
Tadashi smiled and straightened up. He wasn't going to do anything she didn't want.
"Wanna go get something to eat?" He asked to make the whole thing blow over quickly.
His sensitivity struck Catherine's heart instantly and she could barely hide the beaming smile he caused. She nodded and he kissed her one last time as she slid off the desk. He took her hand, intertwining their fingers as they walked out of the lab.
"So you've gone soft, huh?"
"Shut up, Kade. What do you want, rather forget it; I already know." Catherine said reaching for her wallet in her bag.
"Not so fast kid sister. I got cash." The taller boy said walking up to his sibling and putting an arm around her as he watched Tadashi ride off on his bike. Catherine turned to face the same direction with a worried look.
"I just wanted to check if you hadn't scared away that little nerd. But looks like there's nothing to worry about; he's got you wrapped around his finger." His dark gaze turned to his sister and lightened up a bit.
"Finally someone to tame you." His plump lips curled into an irritating grin and Catherine pulled away from his grasp.
"He hasn't tamed me, Kade. It's not like I'm his pet." Catherine barked back at the boy who seemed nonchalant even with the tone of voice she used.
"Well you look well-trained to me: haven't seen you around town much although I heard that your grades have lowered a tad bit, probably spending more time 'being handy' at the lab than the hospital, and look how cute..." The guy flicked his wrist and checked the time on his elegant silver watch. "home by 9:00." He smiled as he showed the girl the watches hands.
Catherine was enraged but simultaneously shocked. It was true; she was dedicating herself too much. Somehow Tadashi's sweet way had gotten under her skin, but she wasn't the type of person to just let someone else take the reins. She could feel herself changing; toughening even then as she sharply gawked at Kade. He knew just how to hit a nerve. All he had to do was mention her potential, say that she could be easily swayed and there he had it; the spectacle of power, ferocity and coldness that his sweet, caring baby sister had mastered at thirteen.
"You're just so weak." The words echoed and transported Catherine back to her childhood; standing in her brother's room, her small arms wrapping around his middle as she soaked his shirt with her tears.
"Mom and dad are so mean to us big bro." Catherine's kid voice rang in her brain. Her teenage brother stroked her soft hair. She lifted her head and saw her brother's smile.
"They just want smart kids is all." He calmed her down a bit.
"But they always called you stupid. You're not stupid, Kade." Catherine gripped the boy's torso tighter.
"You're just so weak." He giggled darkly.
"Huh?" The little girl looked to the twisted grin her brother gave.
"I really am stupid but you're weak. Mom and dad are super smart so they're just angry they have two useless children, right?" The words felt bitter in his mouth as he spat them out.
"No, Kade! I'm not weak and you're not stupid!" The younger sibling shouted as she shook her head.
"You're so simple, Cathy." He teared down the girl's last hope at being cared for. "When you grow up, people are going to smother you, because you're easy to own. You're just a baby." He giggled as he watched his sister's expression.
"I'm 9 already! I'm not a baby!"
"Whatever, just make sure you toughen up before you're a teenager or else you're gonna be a rag doll in everyone's hands."
Catherine came back from that memory more vicious than before.
"Go away, Kade." Her voice was monotone and stamped with the droplets of rancorous hatred Kade recognized so well. In fact it entertained him to see his sister in that state. In his mind he was accomplishing some part in her process in becoming an adult.
"Sure thing." He smiled and kissed her cheek.
"It was nice seeing you, Cathy." The guy waved as he started down the stairs of the apartment building.
All Catherine could do was sulk. She'd been brutally averted once again by her brother about being too soft in the jungle that was life and she wasn't too happy about it. Especially when the aversion was in regards of Tadashi, the person who, up till that moment, had been occupying the post of her number one priority.
Catherine worked diligently at the University's hospital as she went from one patient to another, helping everyone as much as she could. Her speed and detail with the patients was admirable and had already given her the reputation enviable by anyone in the area.
"Dr. Anders, could you help us out here?" One guy said as he stood over a patient who's arm was broken.
"Sure thing." As Catherine answered him she caught sight of Tadashi walking in. Her vision went straight to the boy and a pang of insecurity washed over her body. From afar Tadashi smiled to her. She didn't reply.
"Hey, need a ride home?" The boy said while observing how attractive his girlfriend looked in a doctor's coat. Catherine was stale at the question.
"I need to stay here a bit longer actually." The tone was bland and Tadashi noticed right away.
"You okay?" He questioned her while reaching for her hand.
Catherine instantly put her hands in her white pockets.
"I'm fine, but I really do have to go now. See you later." She speeds to say this then spins away from Tadashi. The boy is left standing there a bit confused and embarrassed.
It was obvious to Tadashi that something was on her mind. He replayed everything that had recently happened between them but couldn't find one thing that she could be angry about. He left in a terrible mood. At home Hiro noticed it and questioned him on it.
"What's up with you?" The younger Hamada asked as Tadashi threw his bag in a corner of his side of the room.
"It's just..." The boy sighed and sat on his bed with a plop. "My...girlfriend's mad at something and I have no idea..."
"You have a girlfriend?" Hiro was surprised to hear that his nerd brother could actually manage such a task. Tadashi only glared at his brother and Hiro gave him a cheeky grin.
"I'm really worried about it, Hiro." The boy confessed and Hiro stopped joking so much.
"Just a thought here, but you could you know, just ask her about it." The teenager suggested as he spun around in his chair to face his brother.
"That's what I thought...but...she didn't say anything. Maybe it was because she was working." The older boy said this as he took off his cap.
"Yeah, maybe she prefers to talk things out privately." Hiro tried to sooth his brother's worry.
"Yeah...yeah, you're probably right. I'll just talk to her tomorrow." Tadashi decided as he stood with a towel to go shower.
"Good luck." Hiro chuckled and turned back to face his computer screen.
Tadashi hoped that it was something simple. He hadn't really ever had an actual girlfriend, of course he'd kissed a girl before and even went out on a few dates but it was different from now. He wanted to be serious with Catherine. He didn't know why but every time he looked at her face, her dark coco eyes, her auburn brown locks that flowed so perfectly straight he felt like he wanted to be with her no matter what. Although it had only been two months since they'd started being together he saw her in his future. The feeling he got when she was with him was so warm and peaceful, like he could be completely himself around her. He wasn't going to give up so easily. As a matter of fact, Tadashi was the type of person who never gave up.