Oh wow, I wasn't expecting such a huge response! Thanks guys. -hugs and cookies for everyone- Special shout out to all your reviewers who left suggestions of what they wanted to see in this universe. You guys exploded the plunny. (There's enough inspiration for at least another chapter or two). Bonus Cookies for Miss Effie T whose suggestions are shown in this chapter.
Important!: This series will now continue in a non-linear fashion. Ages have been added to the beginning of each 'drabble' to help you figure out which go together.
Hiro Age: 3
Tadashi Age: 18
"Tadashi?"
Tadashi groggily opened his eyes, sleep already fleeing. He blinked, still exhausted, trying to get his bearings. It couldn't be morning already could it? "Hiro?" Tadashi said, making out his younger brother through his sleep muddled eyes. The light from Hiro's nightlight shone like a beam in the hallway, dimly lighting Tadashi's room which was across from Hiro's room.
Hiro stood at the edge of Tadashi's bed, clutching Mochi tightly. The cat had taken to sleeping with Hiro at night lately. Hiro welcomed it with, cuddling Mochi in his sleep.
"What's wrong Hiro?" Tadashi asked, sitting up.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Hiro pleaded.
"Can't sleep?" Tadashi asked. The therapy had helped Hiro. The nightmares were fewer between now these days. Time, night lights and the gentle reminder that Tadashi wasn't going anywhere, all helped Hiro sleep through the nights without trouble. Still, there were nights where nothing helped. It was looking like this would be one of those nights.
Hiro nodded, not meeting Tadashi's eyes.
"C'mon bonehead," Tadashi said, scooping up his brother onto the bed.
xXxXx
Hiro Age: 5
Tadashi Age: 20
"Thank you so much for this opportunity," Tadashi said, offering his hand out his newest employer.
Ayame Ayumu, the vice president and head of the R&D of Kinga company, smiled and shook his hand with a firm grip. "No thank you Mr. Hamada for agreeing to work with us. Your Baymax prototype is quite brilliant. I've been watching your progress for some time now. It has been fascinating to say the least."
Tadashi stared at her stunned. He hadn't known anyone was keeping an eye on him. On the scale of genius, he wasn't that smart, not like Hiro, who was already beginning to grasp the basics of algebra and grade 8 level reading. Even compared to some of his classmates, he was just another fish in the sea of genius kids. His Baymax prototype while hailed as revolutionary by his professors and peers was ultimately too costly to mass produce. Tadashi had been floored when the Kinga Company had offered not only him a job, but the research money to further improve Baymax.
"I… I didn't know that," Tadashi admitted.
Delight sparkled in Ayame's amber eyes. "You weren't supposed to. Tier, our CEO, gave me full permission to use whatever resource to make sure we hired you. I was prepared to fend off thousands of companies for you. So I was quite surprised when you told me this was your first job offer."
It actually wasn't. However, it was the only job offer that Tadashi got from a company he respected, didn't want him to move crossed the country, would allow him to continue his studies for his master degree in college and wasn't an offer for weapon development. That he could create something like Baymax resulted in many government job offers to create a fighting version of Baymax. That didn't match with Tadashi's ideals. He wanted to help people, not cause more violence.
The Kinga Company would let him do that. Their company slogan was 'Wishes of Happiness'. They were world renown for producing technology that would change the world for a better place. Nearly two decades and a half ago, they revolutionized the clean energy field, driving down the need for fossil fuel. They are some of the largest contributors to various charities every year, donating thousands to fund the various medical research, food for the needy, and toys to kids in orphanages. The list of achievements could go on.
"Perhaps they weren't seeing your full potential," Ayame continued, unaware of Tadashi's thoughts. "Still, I knew you were going to go places since your junior high school science fair where you invented a lighter but more mobile wheelchair. That was one of the best investments I made in a long time."
"Wait, Double A Medical Equipment purchased that," Tadashi blurted out. He remembered that project. It was one of his first successful inventions. Mr. Morishita had been his science teacher in seventh grade and was paralyzed from the waist down. Tadashi had seen his favorite teacher struggling to get around school and set out to improve that.
Not only did he win first prize at the science fair, but after a spokesperson from Double A Medical Equipment had approached Tadashi and his parents asked them to sell Tadashi's design to them. To this date, Tadashi still received royalties from it. It covered what little his parents' trust fund didn't such as food and the rest funded Tadashi's self-research.
At that, Ayame laughed. "Yes, that's one of my pet projects. Double A is one of Kinga's subsidiaries. Double A, Ayame Ayumu. For all my creativity in innovation, I am not the most creative when it came to branding. I left that to Tier."
"Unbelievable," Tadashi said in clear amazement.
xXxXx
Hiro Age: 3
Tadashi Age: 18
"Carefully, carefully," Tadashi mumbled to himself. He just needed to need to make one final adjustment to Baymax before booting the white robot back up.
"AHH!"
Tadashi fumbled, dropping his tools as a loud crash followed by Hiro's scream rang out. Sharply, he turned around to where Hiro had been drawing, only to find him gone. Frantically, Tadashi scanned the room. "Hiro! Where are you?"
Panic began to build as Tadashi realized that Hiro was not in the room. Tadashi heard Hiro wail again. 'The kitchen!' Tadashi darted up the stairs.
In the kitchen, Tadashi found Hiro cradling his bleeding knee and bawling his eyes out. The pieces fell into place as Tadashi spied the fallen stool. Hiro must have tried to climb up, no doubt searching for something to eat before losing his balance and falling. His brother was going to be the death of him.
Tadashi grabbed the first aid kit. "Hiro," he said in a stern tone, "This is why I told you if you wanted anything, you just needed to ask."
"Sorry," Hiro sniffled as Tadashi cleaned his knee with an alcohol pad. "I didn't want to bother you."
"It's not a bother," Tadashi said. He held up two boxes. "Now which band aid? These new Baymax ones I made or Iron Man?"
"Baymax!"
xXxXx
Hiro Age: 4
Tadashi Age: 19
"Hiro, my sensors suggest that you are worried," Baymax remarked.
Hiro turned his attention away from the front door to look up at Baymax. His lower lip quivered and it was easy to tell that he was just seconds away from tears.
"Tadashi is late," Hiro mumbled. His shoulders slumped, worry and panic bubbling to the surface. It had been a full year since his parents' death, on two months since Baymax had been created. With his mind growing, Hiro had finally a better sense of time and to his four year old self, this was clearly the longest Tadashi had been gone.
"Tadashi announced he would return at 6 pm tonight," Baymax said. "You are right as it is currently 7pm. Tadashi is an hour late."
"Baymax, what if Tadashi doesn't come back?" Hiro asked.
"He will come back," Baymax said.
"How can you be sure?" Hiro questioned. It was his greatest fear that one day Hiro would wake up to find Tadashi was gone like his parents.
"Based on my observations, Tadashi has no reason not to return," Baymax said.
With a plop, Baymax took a seat behind Hiro and pulled him into a hug. Hiro looked up, confusion evident on his face. "According to my research hugs release oxytocin, which decreases stress and anxiety. Tadashi will be home soon."
Hiro relaxed. "Thanks Baymax."
A minute later Tadashi arrived home. "Hiro? Baymax?" He asked, greeted by the picture of Baymax hugging Hiro. Neither of them had moved from in front of the door.
Hiro visibly perked up in Baymax's arms. "Tadashi!"
"Sorry I'm late. Got caught in a meeting that lasted longer than I would have liked. Stayed up waiting for me, huh?" Tadashi grinned as he kneeled down to Hiro's eye level.
Hiro nodded. "Wanted to make sure you were coming home."
"Bonehead," Tadashi said, adding himself to the hug. "I'm not going to leave you behind."
Thanks for reading. Feel free to continue leaving suggestions of stuff you want to see in this universe. :3
