The time went by quickly. Tony and Tadashi working on ways to control Tadashi's new powers and to allow him to practice in a safe environment. Within time he was getting better and better control… Until it seemed he finally had it figured out.
He moved quickly rapidly setting moving targets on fire before calling it back to him extinguishing it.
Another training session… I'm not getting as tired quickly… That's a good sign.
Tony grinned, clapping his approval.
"Looking good, Tadashi. Really nailing the fire with fire trick."
The young man grinned giving a bow.
"Thanks Tony. Been working so hard at this… It's really starting to become second nature." He looked at his gloved hands for a moment. "I actually feel pretty happy about this now."
"Glad to hear it. Better to use something to your advantage rather than have it be a burden." Tony unconsciously brought a hand to the center of his chest, some memories coming back to him. "Nice to finally get out of a slump."
He nodded a sympathetic look in his eyes. It was no secret about Tony's way of keeping himself alive before. "Yeah… And I've been thinking about the things you were suggesting before… Using this to help people instead of just control it and keep it to myself.."
"That so?" Tony grinned. "Wouldn't have anything to do with something I mentioned once, would it?"
Tadashi grinned sheepishly. "Maaaybe… Hey I give credit where it's due."
"Good." Tony patted his shoulder. "Because since that's the case, I'd be more than happy to help come up with some equipment designs."
"I'd love that." He smiled. "I wanna help people… But I don't wanna be stuck to just being part of the fire department… I kinda wanna do my own thing."
"And you should because the way you would do things would not march in lockstep with them. Wouldn't be good to tie yourself down like that. Not to mention the powers would probably not be welcomed."
"Oh yeah… I can already picture the taunting." Tadashi rolled his eyes. "If the one doctor at the hospital who got glared at by ALL the nurses for getting jealous over the attention they gave me is any indication I don't wanna imagine what THAT would be like."
"No you do not." Tony grabbed some paper, starting to sketch. "So we'll figure something out…" He smirked a bit. "Can't go back to your old life can you?"
Tadashi gave him a surprised look. "... Is it that obvious?"
"Don't think Shay hasn't told me things… that, and you're young." Tony's look softened. "I heard you were a student at SFIT. A good one at that. Someone like that doesn't' just up and leave without a reason."
Tadashi lowered his gaze a little.
"I did something really… REALLY stupid that night… I wouldn't be like this if I had just listened to Hiro… Goodness out of all the times I yelled at him and stressed the importance of safety and waiting for firefighters when he was little what did I do? Run straight inside…"
"Tadashi no!"
"Callaghan's in there… Someone has to help!"
"I see…" Tony had some concern come into his eyes. "... Afraid to face him?"
Tadashi nodded keeping his gaze on the floor.
"... Yeah… I'm worried of scaring him… Or even hurting him… He's all I have left of my parents… I don't want to lose him."
"Got ya…" Tony gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. "Don't let this power own you though. You're the master here. Remember that."
"Right." Tadashi took a deep breath to compose himself… Trying to relax. "I just don't feel ready… Sounds so stupid with all this work but… It's true."
"That I can understand, then again I had no qualms telling people my secret after everything I had been through. It'll come to you."
"Thanks Tony… Means a lot." Tadashi rubbed the back of his neck. "'Sides… I'm sure I'll have a wok or a frying pan aimed straight for my head… Missing for as long as I have? My aunt would be ready to kill me. She loves us and is the best aunt ever… But don't get her mad."
"Noted…" Tony raised an eyebrow. "I heard from Shay they haven't even contacted your family. You sure they think you're just missing? You ran into a burning building."
"Y-Yeah but there was only one casualty, my professor…" Tadashi rubbed the back of his neck again though it was more out of nervousness… And possibly denial. "I mean I haven't given consent about contacting them… I never even gave her the number for home… I-I mean… It's not like they think I'm dead right?!" There was a desperate look coming to the young man's eyes.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, don't freak out now." Tony placed a hand on his shoulder. "That won't do any good. All I'm saying is that it's something to keep in mind with all that happened to you. They MIGHT think you're dead, didn't say they did."
Tadashi nodded quickly taking a few deep breaths to try to calm himself back down. "Right… Right…" He sighed crossing his arms. "Just hard to imagine it… That's as likely as… I dunno, someone making my healthcare robot fly."
"Careful what you say." Tony mused, continuing his sketches. "Anything can happen. Trust me on that one."
"Considering I'm sitting here with you and working on things… Yeah… Anything can." Tadashi looked at the sketches raising an eyebrow. "Huh…"
"I'm thinking something like firefighter uniforms but more sleek, keeping your arms exposed so you can use those powers of yours." Tony pointed to a visor. "And you may be fireproof, but I doubt your eyes can deal with bright lights without getting blinded, so a tinted visor with scans to help see where you're going."
"Sounds good to me… And they really can't. Shay can testify she practically blinded me with that pen light of hers... " Tadashi hummed in thought. "Maybe a scanner that would also allow me to see if people were inside or if they were hurt?"
"Yeah that would be good. Know what they need for treatment. Heck maybe have a first aid kit on you somewhere."
"Yeah! And an oxygen mask too since… Smoke can get to a person really quickly. Especially an older person or a child…" Or an idiot who ran heck bent into a burning building.
Tony started sketching out ideas, smiling as he saw coming into formation.
"I'm liking where this is going…"
Tadashi grinned. "I do too. Hm… Wonder what else could be added…"
"Well… I think some testing will help us figure that out… and on top of that it's gonna be more than just gear you'll need if you're gonna do this… gonna need to build up some strength and skills."
"I sense more training in the future… The very near future."
"That you do." Tony smirked. "That you do."
oooooo
"Whooooooooaa…" Lily mused as she saw the images on the TV. "And I thought it was just your dad that had cool armor."
Audra tilted her head as she watched before giving a little scoff. "My dad's armor is better. It's stylish."
Lily rolled her eyes… before they got wide at something.
"That robot…" She paused the TV. "I've seen those eyes before!"
Audra leaned in looking herself. The robot in question was large, clad in red and purple armor… With a visor that showed a bit of white including a set of two black eyes connected with a black line. "Where? Pretty unique design- I mean for someone outside of my dad's kind of stuff."
"It was something Tadashi showed me once when we were drawing together. Those look like the eyes on his robot, Baymax!"
"... Should we go get him so he can see this? Cause it looks like someone made his robot a superhero."
"I'll go see what he's up to."
She got hurrying down to the lab.
"Hermano!"
Tadashi looked up from the sketching smiling as he saw her. "Hey Imouto. Having fun with your friend?"
"Yeah, but there's something you REALLY need to see that's on the news! I think I saw your robot!"
"... Baymax!?" Tadashi jumped up letting Lily lead him to the TV. When he got a glimpse of the paused image… His jaw dropped.
What...The… CRAP!?
"Is that him?" Lily asked. "I recognize the eyes but everything else looks different."
"Oh it's him alright." Tadashi got closer looking at the armor. It reminded him of an art style but where…?
Click.
"... Oh I am gonna KILL him…"
"Huh?" Lily got a confused look. "Kill who?"
Tadashi rubbed his temple trying to keep annoyance from flaring up.
"Hiro."
Alright count to ten… One… Two…
TEN.
THAT KNUCKLEHEAD! WHAT THE HECK IS HE THINKING!? He took note of something small and purple clinging to Baymax's back. "... Oh no… That… Oh it better not be…"
Audra looked to Lily with a look of: "Here we go."
"Um… Hermano… Your hair…" She gulped nervously.
"I know…" Tadashi ran a hand through it as it went out. He took a moment to breathe deeply before trying to digest the information sinking in. "... My brother's a total knucklehead."
"Well wait a second… I was listening to what the reporters had to say… It was nuts." She hit the play button.
"The incident at Krei Tech was nearly a catastrophe for all of San Fransokyo. It was unknown what the man wanted, but it was clear that trouble was present. We thank these six brave heroes for stopping him. We don't know who they are, but we are grateful they came just in time before it could've gotten any worse. We will report shortly after more information is given about the man behind the incident."
Tadashi sat down, seeing the images playing out… Replays of what looked like a battle.
And the technology he did recognize.
"Those black things they're fighting… Those are… Those are Hiro's microbots…"
Lily walked over to Tadashi, hugging him.
"Are you gonna be okay?"
Tadashi brought his arms around her.
"If I wasn't, I would be too hot to hug. I will be. This is just shocking…"
"Was hoping I'd be able to tell you myself."
All three looked to see Shaylin behind them, a newspaper in her arms.
Tadashi sighed.
"How long have you known…?"
"The hero part? Didn't find out till this morning… As for… what could explain why it happened partially…" She presented the newspaper, showing on the front was a picture of Professor Callaghan… and Tadashi. "Quite awhile."
Tadashi paled as he set Lily down, taking the paper… Reading about the fire…
And the obituary claiming his death…
He felt all the heat rush out of him, tears stinging his eyes.
"I… I…" He got up and tossed the paper to the side, hurrying for the front door. "I need a moment.."
Shaylin lowered her head.
"I'm sorry…"
Tadashi didn't look back, dropping to the ground as soon as he got outside. Tears running down his face.
"Why…? Why? Dangit…" He closed his eyes tightly. "I'M RIGHT HERE! I'M NOT DEAD!" Unlike when he was upset… No fire came out… He didn't feel any warmth… If anything… He felt a cold numbness coming over him with all of this.
They think I'm dead…
Aunt Cass…
Honey Lemon..
Wasabi…
Gogo…
Fred..
Oh gosh…
Hiro…
"Hiro… Oh Otouto…"
It was quiet all around him for what felt like forever. Footsteps were soon heard, a hand being placed gently on his shoulder… Shaylin kneeling beside him.
"Tadashi… I meant to tell you eventually… I really did…"
Tadashi looked to her.
"I have no home now… They think I'm dead… I can't… I can't show myself to them now… It'd just hurt them…" He lowered his head. "Hiro… Oh gosh…"
Shaylin couldn't help but hurt for him, tears streaking her face. She promised to take care of him… and now look what happened.
Shaylin brought her arms around the young man, hugging him tightly. "Shhh…"
Tadashi brought his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder, sobbing a little.
"I was so stupid… So stupid…"
Shaylin stayed quiet, stroking his back.
"Just let it out… let it out…"
He cried out a little keeping close to her.
"I'm such an IDIOT!"
Shaylin kept stroking his back, humming softly.
You didn't deserve this… no one deserves this…
After awhile, Tadashi slumped in her arms, going quiet, breathing shakily. He sniffled a bit every now and then but was quiet now, a bit curled up to her.
"Tadashi… I didn't want to hurt you like this… please forgive me…" Shaylin whispered, resting her head against his.
Tadashi nuzzled her a little.
"I'm not mad at you… I'm just… Upset at this whole thing… I just… I thought I was just marked missing or whatever… I should've guessed…"
"Life just has a twisted sense of humor…" Shaylin held him closer. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you… You did nothing wrong…"
"It's okay… Life just sucks sometimes… I just…" Tadashi sighed. "I miss my life…"
Shaylin stroked his hair.
"I know… and if I could… I'd give it back… but… I can't… I wish I could but… I only have so much power…"
Tadashi relaxed into her, nuzzling her hand a bit.
"... Can I… If you'll have me… Can I help look after Lily…?"
"She would love that…" Shaylin nuzzled him a bit, kissing his head gently. "She's really grown to love you…"
"And I love her too… So much… She's like a little sister… And you've been treating me so well… Kinda like a mom…"
"Like I said… can't help it sometimes with patients…" Shaylin gave a gentle look. "I'm a mom… it hurts when I see someone young in pain."
Tadashi smiled a little.
"You really are amazing Shay…"
"I just want the best for all my patients… you included…" she cupped one of his cheeks in her hand. "You've got so much ahead of you… I don't want that slipping out from under you."
"That means a lot… Seriously…"
Shaylin brought him close again.
"Tadashi… mi hijo…"
"Okaasan…" Tadashi hugged her keeping close.
"I'm here… I'm here…" Shaylin had tears escaping again, her voice cracking a bit.
Tadashi had some of his own but he was warm… Content to be where he was.
"Love you…"
"I love you too…" Shaylin stroked his back. "I'm here for you… and so is Lily…"
He calmed down, nuzzling her a little, both going quiet.
Maybe one day I can face Hiro again…. Just not now…