The fire had spread so quickly, it was a mystery what had set it off. Elsa had been walking through the exhibits, occasionally spotting one of her lab-mates ogling over something – or in Honey's case, getting actively involved with a chemistry experiment that covered everything in a thick orange goo, that set both her and the potential student into a frenzy of excited conversation.

There had been an explosion on the level below the Exposition Hall, that much she knew. It had made the entire building shake, the air punctuated with several screams. As soon as the word "Fire!" had been shouted, people had started running for the exits, experiments and displays forgotten.

Elsa had stood still, looking desperately for signs of her classmates, standing her ground whilst terrified students and visitors shoved their way past her to get to the exit. She looked back at where she had last seen Honey – GoGo was desperately trying to pull her and the younger girl from the orange goo, but as Elsa took a step in their direction, Wasabi swooped in and pulled them both free, running out with GoGo in tow.

She breathed a small sigh of relief and continued looking, ushering terrified people towards other exits as she tried to spot Fred, Hiro, Aunt Cass… Tadashi.

She caught sight of a large blue lizard stood on the main stage. Ever the mascot, Fred was directing people to the main entrance with a cheery grin on his face. Aunt Cass climbed onto the stage and dragged Fred off by the head of his costume, shouting something about him not being a fire breathing lizard and susceptible to grievous bodily harm.

Right behind his Aunt was Tadashi, Hiro on his back, clearly looking around for something – or someone. Elsa breathed out a sigh of relief at seeing that they were on their way out. She caught a glimpse of Baymax at the exit, and felt an odd sense of relief that the robot was okay. Finally taking a step towards her own safety, she heard a series of sharp banging noises behind her, and caught sight of a panicked face in the window of a door – Callaghan. She ran over, trying to avoid the bits of debris that were now beginning to fall.

Elsa turned the handle and shoved at the door, but it had started to warp in the heat and wouldn't budge. She shouldered it, kicked it, to no avail. Running out of ideas, she put her hand to the door, willing the wood to cool down.

Callaghan was still tugging on the door, oblivious to Elsa's efforts. Unsure as to whether she had managed to decrease the temperature, Elsa shouldered the door again. Callaghan, desperation mounting, had pulled hard on the door handle again at the exact same time, using his entire body weight to force the door open. Elsa's momentum carried her halfway into the room and stumbling over, her shoulder and hip making harsh contact with the floor. Groaning, she sat up, only just catching a glimpse of Callaghan fleeing, without so much as a quick glance over his shoulder.

She watched as an experiment exploded near to him and took the surrounding area with it, blocking a side exit and her view of Callaghan's escape.
She wondered, briefly, if he survived.

Her whole left side throbbing from her fall, Elsa pushed herself and started to navigate the fiery remains of the Exposition Hall. A large portion of the ceiling fell down a few feet beside her, and she flung her arms up in an attempt to shield herself from the debris. Glowing embers flew around her in the wake of the impact, several landing on her arms, her sleeves torn from her assault on the door. Sparks flew everywhere, the smell of melting plastic lingering in the air.

She watched as one of the embers on her arm hissed slightly, before slowly dimming. She heard a hissing from a sprinkler above her head, the liquid evaporating before it had even left the pipe. It was obviously hot. She should have been hot. But she wasn't.

Of course, she knew why – her damn curse. It had plagued her for all her life, and now all it seemed capable of doing was proving her with personal air conditioning. She couldn't even create the tiniest bit of snow to clear a path, or raise a barrier to stop her from getting her head taken off.

I'm going to die by fire, like some witch in the 1800s. How fitting.

She scanned the room again, a tiny part of her hoping there might still be a way out.

I don't even know if I can be burnt. Can't exactly walk through fire to test it either… I can't even die properly.

Elsa's glimmer of hope vanished.

At least Tadashi will be safe.

He was safe from the fire and in a few minutes, he'd be safe from her. Anna too. Oh god, Anna. How would she react when she found out?

You've been all but dead to her for years, it won't make any difference. Hell, it'll be easier for her. She can stop hoping you'll change. Kristoff, Kai and Gerda will take care of her, like they have for years. Unlike you.

She came to a slow stop, amidst the wreckage of yet another display. She couldn't make out a clear path to safety, fire raging in every direction. She'd barely made it twenty feet from the room in which she'd rescued Callaghan, and the exit seemed to get further and further away with each passing moment. Acrid black smoke was draped over the room like a blanket, and it was getting harder to breathe. Harder to think. Harder to keep going.

What's the point?

She looked down at her hands – she could feel the ice just under her skin, but It was nowhere near strong enough to rear its ugly head and save her. She chuckled in disbelief. Looks like your mantra finally worked, Papa.

She dropped heavily to her knees, ignoring the shooting pain it caused and shut her eyes, revelling somewhat in her light-headedness, listening to the roaring of flames licking the walls, the crackling and popping of the displays, glass shattering, someone shouting her name…

Wait… what?

She opened her eyes – even in those few seconds the fire had engulfed the front entrance – and saw a dark figure running the wrong way through the doors, a cap flying off his head due to back draught.

No… no, no, no…

"Elsa!"

Tadashi, no!

She didn't realise she actually shouted her plea aloud until Tadashi's eye made contact with hers, and then it was too late. He ran to her, yelling her name, telling her to hold on, not paying enough attention to what was going on around him… or above him.

Elsa saw the beam fall long before the sound made him look up and she reacted instinctively, her head clear and mind focused. Throwing her arm out, aiming just to the side of him, a huge pillar of ice shot up from the ground and stopped the beam from landing right on top of him. The flames licked at the blue-tinted ice, but it didn't melt. The glow of the flames refracted through the pillar, casting eerie streams of orange light over the scene. Despite the situation, Tadashi couldn't help but admire its beauty, stunned at what Elsa had somehow managed to create.

Tadashi's look of shock and awe turned to horror as he watched the fallen support beam simply fall in the same direction he'd been running, unable to do anything.

His terrified face was the last thing Elsa saw before her whole world went dark.

"Tadashi… 'dashi, sweetie, come on. You need to get that looked at." Aunt Cass sighed as Tadashi just shook his head again, bandaged hands in his lap, staring at the blonde lying on the gurney in front of him.

"It's alright Ms. Hamada. If he prefers, I can tend to Tadashi here?" He didn't tear his eyes away to look at the nurse… but he nodded. If only to stop Aunt Cass from worrying about him. He's fine.

Elsa's not.

He turned slightly in his chair, holding out his hands for the nurse, who diligently tended to the burns on his palms and forearms before bandaging them up again, more delicately than the EMTs had had the time to. She handed him a soft drink and some chocolate, saying something about returning with antibiotics and pushing a button if he needs anything, before he was left alone again.

He put the drink on the bedside table. He couldn't bring himself to look at the chocolate bar and he brushed it from his lap to the floor.

He waited.

People came by. Aunt Cass & Hiro were the most frequent visitors. At one point, she mentioned something about Anna and planes. GoGo, Honey, Fred, Wasabi paid a visit too, all shaken up, but none the worse for wear. They didn't know what happened to Callaghan. Tadashi didn't catch what they found out from the fire department.

He just waited.

"Tadashi?"

Baymax, somewhat deflated, managed to squeeze into the bed area, the curtains falling back around him.

"Tadashi?"

He gave a small hum in response, but nothing more. He heard the tell-tale beeping of Baymax performing a scan.

"Tadashi, my scan indicates that you are suffering from smoke inhalation, first degree burns to your face and neck, and second degree burns to your hands. You are also suffering from shock and dehydration. You should be in the bed assigned to you by the medical staff."

"… not now, Baymax."

"Tadashi," Baymax took a few steps closer, and gently wrapped his arms around Tadashi's upper body, the robot's head resting on his. "Elsa will be okay."

Both were silent for a few minutes, Baymax content to hug his creator in order to try and assist him in some way – the doctors and nurses had forbidden the unknown, untested, unqualified robot from providing medical treatment, despite the protests of his companions.

"… Baymax?"

"Yes, Tadashi?"

"Could… could you scan Elsa for me? The nurses… I didn't really hear what they told me earlier."

"Of course." He immediately released Tadashi from his hug, stood up straight and directed his gaze towards the bed.

"Elsa is also suffering from smoke inhalation, though there is little evidence of burns. She has a severe concussion and bruising to her left side. Her body temperature is quite low," - Tadashi made a mental note of that one - "which is a symptom of shock. She is also dehydrated, however this is being corrected by the intravenous infusion of sodium chloride and acetaminophen 450mg – I would recommend this for you as well, Tadashi, if you are not going to consume the drink provided to you by the nurse."

"Yeah, yeah… later." There was a pause, and Tadashi hoped that was the end of it. Much to his dismay, Baymax started talking again.

"Her serotonin levels are extremely low, most likely due to the dissipating levels of Sertraline 50mg in her system – are the nurses aware of her current medication? This is important when new medications are prescribed."

Baymax's chest brightened, the chemical makeup of the drug flashing up on his chest, along with a short list of reasons for its use.

Tadashi frowned; Elsa had never mentioned anything like that, and the reason became evident as he read the list, curiosity getting the better of him. Of could she hadn't you dumbass. That's damn personal. He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for having asked Baymax to scan her without her knowledge, and resolved to tell her as soon as she was well enough to hit him for it. "I… I dunno. I'll make sure they know."

"She has several small cuts and abrasions caused by debris, similar to your own. They are not serious, but should be kept clean to minimize any risk of infection."

"… is that it?" Please say that's it.

"No, Tadashi," His face fell. Baymax continued, "Her heart rate and breathing are increasing, which indicates she is regaining consciousness."

Tadashi immediately pushed himself up in his chair, his hands screaming in pain, but he ignored it, taking one of Elsa's hands in his own and leaning closer. "Elsa?" Nothing. "Elsa, can you hear me?" Carefully, he lifted a hand to her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

She groaned.

He grinned, giving her hand a squeeze, ignoring his own injuries. "Elsa, come on, open your eyes. C'mon. I won't stop bugging you until I see 'em. Come on. Open up. Open up, open up, ope-"

"Okay, okay… stop being so loud." She couldn't help but smile slightly, opening her eyes by the slightest margin, a blurry Tadashi coming slowly into focus.

"Hey there."

"Hi." She sounded just as hoarse as he did.

"How're you feeling?"

"… like I just got hit by a truck."

"Don't remember that exhibit."

"Was right at the back. Not much fun." Her smile faded slowly, looking away from Tadashi.

"Hey… it's alright, you're okay. You're safe now." He squeezed her hand slightly, running his thumb across her knuckles. "… you scared me."

"Sor-"

"No." He took her by the chin and gently turned her to face him, "No, you don't apologise. None of this was your fault. Just… promise me you won't do it again."

She didn't respond, just turned her head away, wincing as she did so. But she was determined not to look at Tadashi. She couldn't.

"Elsa… Elsa, please. I don't know what went on to make you want to give up like that, but… let me help. I won't give up on you. I can't. I…" He swallowed hard, looking down at the bed. "I can't lose you."

There was silence, neither of them looking at the other. Tadashi was the first to move, leaning in close and placing a lingering kiss on Elsa's temple. When he pulled back, her head turned slowly, watery eyes wide as saucers, staring at him. Tadashi stood his ground, unmoving, not willing to keep his feelings hidden away any longer.

"You were safe." Elsa's voice was so quiet, Tadashi almost didn't catch it. He frowned, but dared not interrupt her. "You'd got out, you were away from the fire… away from me…" Her voice hitched and she looked away again. "That's why."

Tadashi's frown deepened. Cautiously, he pushed a little further, fearing if she closed herself off this time, he'd never get her back. "Elsa… why do you think I'd be safer away from you?"

Valiantly trying to fend off tears, she wrung her hands together. A nervous habit she'd had from day one – he was finally connecting the dots. "Because… because of wh- … what I can do."

"Elsa… you saved my life with what you can do. It's amazi-"

"No. No, it's not, it's a curse. Sure, you think it's great now, but I'll end up hurting you just like I hurt my sister." Another dot connected. Tadashi took her hands, and refused to let go of them, no matter how hard she tugged, "Tadashi-"

"Elsa. It's not a curse. A curse can't possibly so amazing, wonderful, beautiful- can't possibly be part of you. I refuse to believe it. Ah!" He raised his eyebrows to silence her objections. "No. Can't believe it. Won't believe it. It's part of you, and I love it just as much as the rest of you."

Elsa stilled. "… what?"

"I love you, Elsa. And I'm going to do everything I can to make you love you too. I won't give up on you."

Elsa couldn't fight the lone tear that slid down her cheek, nor the tears that followed. Tadashi let go of her hands, but before she could mourn the loss of contact, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back.

"So… do you promise?"

A sniff. "Huh?"

"Promise you won't scare me like that again?"

A pause… then a nod. "Promise."

Grinning, Tadashi kissed the top of her head, mindful of the huge bump that was hidden under her ash covered hair. "Thank you. Now," He pulled back, hands on her upper arms. "Wanna help me with my chocolate? Nurse's orders, y'know."

She gave him a watery smile, and a small nod. He retrieved the previously discarded chocolate bar, broke it in two and handed her half. They sat and ate quietly, Elsa's cool hand in Tadashi's bandaged one, soothing in more than one way.

Yeah. We'll be okay.