Chapter 9
I promise I'll come back to you.
"Gogo," Hiro murmured. He almost felt her presence around him.
"Sorry to disappoint," a voice said next to him.
Hiro's eyes fluttered open. "Aunt Cass?"
"Hi sweetheart," she replied, running a hand through his hair.
Hiro closed his eyes and smiled against her touch.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
Hiro looked up at her. He tried to sit up, but when he twisted, he cringed and had to lay back down.
"Sore," he replied.
"I can imagine. You have a broken rib. Baymax patched you up."
"How's Abigail?" Hiro asked.
"She left," Cass replied.
"Gogo? Is she still here?"
Cass frowned. "She…left too."
This time, Hiro frowned. He pushed his head against his pillow and looked up, refusing to let tears fall. He had come back. Barely, but he was here. That moment at the fight when he thought the cannon was going to hit the audience, Hiro was afraid. He didn't want his life to end there, not without telling Gogo how he really felt for her. How much he cared for her. How much her existence meant to him. He had to see her.
"I have to go," Hiro said, this time sitting up slowly and twisting his legs before his torso to reduce pain from his ribs. He was able to swing his legs over the side of the couch and when he tested his feet on the floor, he felt strong enough to stand.
Cass stared at him with an open mouth. "Are you sure you should be up?" she asked.
"My legs are fine Aunt Cass," Hiro reassured her. He put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a small squeeze. "How about some pancakes? I'm starving."
Cass brightened up at his request. "Coming right up!"
Hiro glanced around for his phone but didn't see it laying around. It must be in his room. The café was closed but a figure stood in the doorway. Hiro wasn't sure who it was, so he went over to it and opened the door.
"Oh Hiro! You're up!" Abigail stood with a brown paper bag in her hands.
"Abigail! It's good to see you. I'm glad you're alright. They didn't hurt you did they?" Hiro asked as he opened the door wider for her to enter.
"No, they didn't hurt…me," she said.
Hiro closed the door softly behind her. He turned toward her. She blushed at the sight of Hiro. Her hand came up, just above Hiro's belly. Her fingers grazed over his bandages. Hiro froze at her touch, realizing that he was still in his clothes from the previous night and his shirt had been cut down the middle leaving his front side exposed. He fumbled with the buttons on his jacket as he started from the bottom and began to close the sides together.
"Abigail," Hiro started as he glanced up at her.
"I'm so sorry!" she cried. She buried her face in her hands. "I should have been stronger."
"Abigail, no. You were fine. I was…it was…I…" Hiro stumbled for the words. "I should have thought this through better and had my friends close as back up. But it's in the past. What's done is done. And we're alive. That's what matters."
She hicked and looked at Hiro. Her make up smudged but she smiled through it. "I am glad you're up and doing better. Here, I didn't know what you liked, so I just got you some hot soup," she said holding out the brown bag.
"Thank you Abigail. Cass is making pancakes. Would you like to stay for breakfast?"
"No, thank you. I need to get going," she excused herself politely. "If you ever need anything, you can call me," she said as she slipped out the door.
Hiro waved at her from inside the café and made his way upstairs.
"Who was that?" Cass called from her spot next to the stove.
"Abigail. She came by to drop this off," Hiro said leaving the soup with his aunt.
"That was kind of her…" Cass said accepting the hot soup. She raised an eyebrow at Hiro.
"It's not like that Aunt Cass," Hiro said.
She nodded and returned to her cooking.
"Really not like that…" Hiro trailed off. He headed up the second flight of stairs, this time stopping at the top and clutching his rib cage. All the moving around made him sorer than he thought. He glanced at Baymax who was charging at his station.
"Ow," he said, activating Baymax.
"Hiro. You should be resting," Baymax said.
"I'm fine," Hiro replied.
"You have a broken rib and stitches on your forehead. Your body needs rest to heal."
"Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything strenuous. I just need to see someone," Hiro replied as he dug around his closet for a clean shirt. He slowly lifted his arms and got the shirt over his head. He chose a new pair of jeans while his old ones thudded as they hit the floor. He picked them up and inspected the pockets. His cell phone had been in his front pocket the entire time. He checked it. It was dead. He didn't have time to charge it. He gathered his jacket and headed out again.
"I am satisfied with my care!" he called over his shoulder.
"Oh! Hiro! Pancakes are ready," Cass called, but Hiro was already past her and headed down the first flight of stairs.
"I'll be right back!" he called.
He pushed open the café door and headed down the street.
Just a couple more turns.
His rib cage ached now, but he had to see her.
There! Her apartment building. He sighed when he go to the front door. More stairs! He could make it.
He climbed up. She was on the third floor. He remembered where exactly, even if he had only been here a handful of times. She lived alone in a studio, always embarrassed to have visitors since she didn't have a big place.
He arrived in front of her door. He thought about ringing the doorbell but he hesitated. What if she doesn't want to see you? He winced at the pain in his stomach. His hand went up to his bandages. Gogo. You promised her.
His knuckles rapped at the door.
He soon heard the clocks click from the inside and the door open. Gogo, in all her natural beauty, stood before him, open mouthed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I had to see you," Hiro said.
She noticed he was still clutching his ribs. Her hands invaded him and lifted his shirt to examine the bandages. Her expression grew grim as she touched his tender wound. Hiro felt a tingling sensation through the bandages where she had touched him. She looked up at him, her hand going to his forehead, her thumb ran over his skin just under his cut.
"If I wasn't such a nice person, I would punch you right now," she said.
"But you are a nice person and you're going to invite me in," Hiro grinned.
Gogo's hip popped and she place her hand on her hip. "Well, come on in," she gestured with her other hand for Hiro to come in.
Hiro was grateful to her for allowing him inside. He immediately went to her bed, which doubled as her couch, and flopped down on his back.
"Excuse me for not sitting up," Hiro said as he let out a shaky breath.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Gogo said walking up to her bed.
Hiro grinned. "I know I'm crazy for you," he said softly.
"What did you say?" Gogo said looking closely at him.
"You heard me. I'm crazy for you," Hiro said again. She opened her mouth to say something, but Hiro held up a hand cutting her off. "Listen, you were right. You, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Fred…you should have all been with me. We're a team and I can't do this without you. I don't want to do this without you, Gogo. I want you by my side. I care about you so much…Gogo, I…"
She was smiling at him. He didn't know how to finish, but it didn't matter. She leaned down and carefully cupped his face. His arm encircled her back and his hand pulled her face down to meet his. Their eyes closed and their lips collided. Hiro's heart leapt in his chest. The kiss was warm and passionate as their lips longed for each other. Neither of them refused to let go. Hiro let his hand fall from her neck and traveled to her chest and rested over her heart. He felt her pulse quicken. She pulled away for a breath, but remained as close as she could to Hiro. Her forehead rested on his. With their eyes closed, they breathed together and exhaled together.
"I made you a promise, and I know I haven't kept many promises with you in the past, but I promise from the bottom of my heart, I will always come back to you," Hiro whispered.
She accepted his promise, sealing his lips in another kiss. He kissed her back with as much passion as he could give. He never wanted to break that promise with her.
"So, what is this?" Gogo asked pulling away to look at Hiro. "Am I your girlfriend now?"
"I would like you to be," Hiro said.
She smiled and replied, "Me too."
They shared and smile and began a small chuckle, but Hiro winced at the movement from the laughter. His hand reached for his bandages.
"You need to rest," Gogo pleaded with him, grasping hold of his hand. "Sleep. I'll wake you in a couple of hours."
Hiro nodded off with a smile planted on his face. He took a long breath and could smell Gogo's scent all around him. He relaxed and drifted off to a very comfortable sleep.