As the sun set over the city, the lights came alive, illuminating the whole area like a bunch of fireflies. The coldness of the bay came in full swing, freezing winds catching anyone unprepared off guard… Just how he liked it.
Now just a matter of what happens tonight…
He narrowed his eyes before rushing off, disappearing into the dark.
Let's just hope for the best.
oooooo
"Hiro?"
The boy looked up from his work, seeing Aunt Cass standing in the doorway.
"Dinner's ready… You coming?"
He nodded saving his file before getting up. "Yeah… Wings?" He asked hopefully.
"You know it." She grinned, heading downstairs. "Get on down here before they get cold."
"Coming!" Hiro chuckled following after her. If there's one thing that will never get old is Aunt Cass's hot wings. "Just don't let Mochi try to swipe mine!"
"No promises!" She laughed sitting down at the table, said cat hiding under one of the chairs… lying in wait.
Hiro laughed taking his seat. "Thanks." He said before digging in… Trying to keep said cat from climbing onto his lap. "Why do you always do this to me?"
"Meeeeeoooow."
Aunt Cass clicked her tongue.
"Here kitty."
Mochi darted over to her sitting beside her chair. "Mew!"
She giggled, picking the cat up, setting him in her lap.
"Silly little kitty." She scratched behind his ears before looking to Hiro. "So, how was school today?"
"It was good, classes are going well. Honey blew something up again, I swear one day the roof is gonna come off the robotics lab from that. And we might be getting a new student. Professor Wylie was showing him around." Hiro told her between bites, taking a few drinks of water. "Whew that's hot…"
"Yep, we're gonna be feeling these in the morning." Aunt Cass was chugging her own water. "Well that's cool to hear you might be getting a new classmate. Was he nice?"
"Yeah, kind of quiet though." Hiro shrugged a bit. "He felt… Familiar, like I had seen him before but I couldn't place it. Guy lives all the way out in San Ramon."
"That's a long ways from here. Like an hour drive I think." Aunt Cass hummed in thought. "I don't know anyone from there though…"
"Me either. He's going to DVC currently but he's doing all the exams and stuff to get transferred to SFIT. For all I know I could've just passed him when he was first walking in to talk to the teacher." Hiro shrugged. "Didn't really think much of it… Didn't wanna seem like I was staring since he's got some burns on him… Didn't ask either since I know the rules of society - Ask and you may or may not be smited."
"Good to hear…" Aunt Cass frowned a bit. "Poor baby though. I wonder if they came from the recent fire that almost torched DVC. I heard some people got hurt."
Hiro frowned. "It's possible… He didn't talk much about himself so maybe. Didn't seem like they still bugged him though. He was smiling and stuff. Oh! And his mom was at the showcase… He knew about the microbots."
"Huh… interesting. Well, he seems like a nice young man. Did you get his name?"
"Yup. His name's Takashi Sky." Hiro leaned back in his chair sighing in content. "That was really good Aunt Cass."
"Glad you liked it." She got up, ruffling his hair before picking up his plate. "More importantly, glad to see you eating more. Need your energy kiddo."
Hiro chuckled smiling. "I try. Kind of tired of being short." He smirked. "One day I'll be taller then everyone… Or at least as tall as Wasabi… I can dream right?"
"Yes you can." She chuckled. "Any plans for the night?"
"Mostly just finishing up the pile of homework waiting for me upstairs and maybe work on doing some maintenance for Baymax. Not much else." Hiro shrugged. "It's a slow night."
"Got it. Well… I'll be down in the cafe. Beat Poetry Night." She smiled gently. "Don't be afraid to come get me."
Hiro smiled warmly. "I know… Love you Aunt Cass." He got up hugging her quickly. "Last hug."
Aunt Cass hugged him back, kissing his head.
"That's my boy."
Hiro kissed her chin before picking up Mochi heading back for the stairs. "Just me… A nerd with a mess for hair." He smiled as Mochi nuzzled him. "And finally this cat likes me again!"
Aunt Cass shook her head.
"He can just be moody sometimes."
"Miaaaaaau." Mochi curled up, purring.
Hiro rubbed his head smiling. "Still… A day where he's not trying to lay on my face while I sleep is a great day in my mind."
"Understandable. Now go on." Aunt Cass gave a wave as she headed downstairs.
He smirked and headed upstairs setting Mochi down on his bed before getting back to work.
Ugh… So much homework…
Hiro worked for awhile until he noticed an alert come across his browser. He clicked it and narrowed his eyes.
The high school he had attended was on fire.
"Baymax! We got work to do!"
oooooo
There were screams heard. It was supposed to be a fun night for the students at Sacred Flame High School. It was a big dance, the last thing they were thinking that would happen would be a fire engulfing the majority of the auditorium.
Students were running, some getting trapped inside as they lost their way in the panic.
"Guys, focus on getting people out, don't worry about putting the fire out!" Hiro ordered as the team arrived on the scene. "Baymax? Can you pick up how many students are trapped?"
Baymax fired up his super scanner, his sensors picking up readings.
"Yes. The results are not in our favor. There are at least 10 students total trapped inside."
Hiro narrowed his eyes. "Then let's get to work. Get in, get out, try to avoid the flames. Got it?"
"You got it Hiro!"
Everyone got to work, avoiding the flames as they went, also minding the firefighters that were running along side them, trying to put the fire out and look for victims.
"HEY! LET ME GO!"
Hiro's head snapped towards the noise, seeing a student being held by their throat by a man in a trenchcoat. He sneered at her.
"You saw too much kid… and besides… can't let you go tattling on us now."
He threw the girl aside, the girl gasping as some rumble came crashing down, trapping her. The man laughed a bit before running out.
Hiro growled jumping off of Baymax's back rushing over to the girl. The man he could worry about another time. 'Hey, hang on! I'm gonna get you out!"
The girl looked up, a pleading look her in eyes.
"Please!" She coughed.
Hiro nodded as he worked to get most of the rubble off of her, lifting a beam off her back with some difficulty. "Go!"
She slipped out, though didn't get far as she keeled over, coughing from the smoke.
"Ugh…"
He dropped the beam, lifting her up into his arms. "Just hold on…" He hurried for the entrance glancing down at her. Just please… Keep holding on…
CRACK!
The girl's head snapped up, seeing more beams coming down.
"Look out!"
Baymax was by their side, bringing his form over them. They all braced themselves… then found themselves being shoved away as the rubble landed on the ground they were pushed away from.
"H-Huh-" The girl stopped short. "No way…"
Baymax and Hiro looked to where they had been… seeing a man in a suit of blue orange and yellow armor standing on the other side… a suit they had seen before.
"The Phoenix…" Hiro's eyes grew wide. "It's him…!"
The Phoenix kept his stance.
"Get her out." He said loud enough to be heard before disappearing into flames.
Hiro was just stunned. He couldn't move. His senses came back to him when he felt Baymax's hand on his shoulder.
"We need to move."
"R-Right."
They quickly moved out, getting the girl to the paramedics. Soon as she was out of his arms, Hiro and Baymax went straight back to the building.
"Baymax did you get a scan on that guy?"
"Yes, and they are not normal readings. He appears to be running on a higher body temperature than would be considered healthy."
"Got ya." Hiro looked around as they headed further in. "Hello? Can anyone hear me!?"
CRACK!
Baymax pulled the boy back as more rubble fell. "Careful."
"I know…" A thought came to him. "Fire up the super sensor, see who's close by."
Baymax nodded, doing so.
"There." Baymax pointed to a corner of the building. "I'm detecting signs of distress."
"On it."
Hiro ran ahead, the robot having a hard time keeping up with him.
"Hiro! Waitl-"
CRACK!
Hiro looked up wide eyed, seeing rubble come down on top of him. Baymax tried to get to him but was too late. Hiro was buried, the rubble trapping him.
"HIRO!"
Hiro blacked out for a moment, but soon regained consciousness, coughing a bit. He was stuck… he couldn't move… and he could feel the heat around him rising.
"Baymax… help…" he wheezed… whimpering a bit.
Help… Please… It hurts…
He felt a hand hold his. He looked up, his eyes widening a bit as he saw who was standing in front of him… The Phoenix…"
"You…" he whispered.
He nodded, squeezing his hand.
"I'm gonna get you out, just stay calm. Okay?"
The boy gave a shaky nod squeezing back.
"O-Okay…" He coughed.
The Phoenix frowned, getting the boy's helmet off before offering some kind of mouthpiece for him to bite on.
"This is a rebreather. It's rich with oxygen. Bite onto it and don't spit it out till we're out of here."
"Right." Hiro did as told, once it activated he calmed down some, glad he could breathe.
The Phoenix got to work, getting rubble off of Hiro, stopping as he saw Baymax approach.
"Is there anyway I can help?"
"Yes, help me get this rubble off him."
Baymax nodded, doing so, speeding up the process. Soon as enough was off, The Phoenix slipped him out, cradling him in his arms.
"Got ya."
The boy nodded to him, holding on a little. I don't really care right now about mystery or tech… I just wanna get out of here alive… He was shaking a bit. If this is how Tadashi died…
The Phoenix handed him off to Baymax, picking up Hiro's helmet.
"Get him out. I got one last person to rescue."
"But what about you sir?"
"I'll be fine." He broke off from them. "Just go!"
Baymax hesitated before carrying Hiro out, trying to keep Hiro calm.
"You will be alright."
The boy gripped his armor tightly giving a quick nod, closing his eyes. No… Don't freak… Calm…
Once they were outside, paramedics quickly gathered around Hiro, treating him. He didn't really mind them… his eyes couldn't help but watch the burning building… waiting for The Phoenix to reappear…
For a moment… it wasn't the Sacred Flame Auditorium…. It was the showcase building… he could see someone running in… Tadashi…
BOOM!
There was a huge burst of flames, everyone gasping at the sight.
Hiro reached out at the building Baymax holding him tighter. "Nononono….!"
It was silence as everyone stared at the fire. Paramedics still went about their jobs, firefighters doing what they could but… it seemed the whole area went quiet, some voices speaking up here and there.
"Someone was still in there!"
"Oh my gosh…"
"This is horrible…"
Hiro lowered his head.
Dang it… The idiot…
Crack…. CRACK!
Everyone's head snapped towards the sound… seeing The Phoenix crashing through the remains of a broken window… a young boy in his arms that was currently wearing Hiro's helmet for protection. He rolled as he landed, but was back on his feet, panting a bit as he stood.
The people were shocked before the paramedics rushed over to him as the boy was passed off to them. "Thank you…" The boy coughed.
"Anytime kiddo…" He slipped the helmet off. "Excuse me."
He walked over to Hiro, offering it to him.
"I believe this is yours. Thanks for letting me use it."
Hiro took it back looking him over. "A-Anytime… Thanks for helping me out of there…"
There was no sign of injury on him… just a lot of soot covering his suit.
He gave a nod.
"You're welcome. No one gets left behind."
"Right… Though for the record… That was totally nuts!"
"Heh… I've done crazier things…" He turned on his heel, heading out. "See you around, H-1."
Hiro's eyes widened.
"H-Hey! How'd you know my name!?"
The Phoenix stopped, turning to him.
"I hear about things through my work. Big Hero 6 is something I've heard plenty about."
Hiro raised an eyebrow but gave a nod. "Got it… Still… Thanks again… See you.."
The Phoenix gave a wave.
"Be safe."
With that, he ran off, disappearing into the dark.
Hiro laid his head against Baymax the adrenaline starting to wear off.
This is all nuts… Just totally nuts… He closed his eyes. "Tired…"
"Rest…." Baymax said quietly, rocking the boy. "You are safe now…"
He nodded soon drifting off to sleep, everything fading away into quiet.