Pull the Blackout Curtains Down

"Oh, come on. Think of it as your own personal chariot. We can even pretend it has rocket boosters on it." Tadashi said in his best coercive voice. Tadashi was currently in Hiro's hospital room, fetching his baby brother who was being discharged. If the look on Hiro's face was anything to go by, his not so baby brother didn't appreciate the effort.

"I'm not leaving here in a wheelchair." Hiro growled pulling on a dark green T-shirt that Aunt Cass had brought for him to wear. He'd asked her not to bring any red ones. The color reminded him too much of the ragged T-shirt he'd still been wearing during his escape. "I have two functioning legs and I intend to use them."

"But it's a rite of passage." Tadashi tried again twirling the wheelchair he'd been given, around. "You can't go to hospital and not leave in a wheelchair."

"Watch me." Hiro snatched a slim dark object off the side table and headed towards the door, pointedly marching past the wheelchair.

Tadashi rushed after him, still pushing the chair. "You're still supposed to be resting." He pointed out softly, easily keeping pace with his brother's lackluster stride. Hiro may not be willing to admit to it but his exhaustion was apparent in every step he took.

"I'll rest when we get home." Hiro replied, doing his best not to look at Tadashi, focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other. He stumbled, misjudging one of the steps.

Tadashi abandoned the wheelchair and rushed to his side, picking Hiro's arm up to drape it around his own shoulders so he could support him. Tadashi then launched into a reprimand just as Hiro opened his mouth to protest. "It's either this or the wheelchair. I'm perfectly capable of lifting you and dumping you into it you know. I wouldn't try my patience if I were you."

Hiro's lips remained parted for a moment longer and Tadashi could practically hear the gears in Hiro's mind turn as his brother considered his options before closing his mouth with a click. Satisfied with his small victory, Tadashi nodded and guided them towards the entrance of the hospital room where Aunt Cass and the gang were waiting.

"Yo! Little Man! You're alive!" Fred exclaimed moving to launch himself at Hiro in excitement.

Wasabi grabbed hold of Fred's shirt collar, lifting the easily excitable man up, thus effectively halting his forward momentum before Fred could unintentionally cause any harm. "Whoa! Hold your horses, Fred. Give the little guy some space. He's only just been released and doesn't need your over enthusiastic greeting to throw him off balance just yet."

"Sorry." Fred gave Hiro a sheepish look as Wasabi lowered him back down. "I wasn't thinking straight. It's just really good to see you again. The teams been a complete mess without our great and venerable leader to lead us." Fred announced, still bouncing up and down in joy and excitement.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a mess." Gogo protested only to raise her hands in defeat when Fred sent a very pointed look her way. "Whatever. Call it whatever you like." Gogo backtracked before turning to face Hiro once more. The moment of silence that followed was broken by the popping of gum. "We missed you kiddo."

"Thanks guys." Hiro replied giving the group a wane tired smile pulling back to slip behind Tadashi, using his brother as a shield. Hiro appreciated the fact that his entire team had come to see him. Really, he did but he wished they hadn't come. He didn't want them to see him like this, weak, tired and so very broken. All he wanted to do was go home, get into bed and hide from the rest of the world for the rest of his life. It was a sentiment he left unspoken.

"Must be good to finally be going home." Honey Lemon spoke up drawing Hiro's attention to her.

The surge of anger that coursed through him came in a sudden rush of heat and flames. He hated it. Hiro hated the look in her eyes. Honey Lemon was looking at him, unable to hide the pity in her gaze and it made him feel small, helpless and alone. He couldn't do it. He couldn't stay here while she and everyone else pitied him for what he'd been through. They didn't know the half of it! They didn't have the right to know any of it and he wasn't going to stay there and endure their looks when they couldn't even begin to understand any of it.

Snarling in anger, the sound far too feral and wild for anyone's comfort, Hiro twisted, tearing himself away from Tadashi and the support his brother had been offering. Free once more, he turned and ran, right past Tadashi, his Aunt and his shocked group of friends. Hiro fled, only one thought in mind. He had to get out of there, away from the hospital, away from the sickly antiseptic smell that reminded him too much of the lab he'd been held captive in and away from the reflections of his deepest failures in the eyes of those that claimed to love him.

He never made it to the door. One moment the path was clear, pale sunlight filtering in through the doors waiting to embrace him and the next it was gone, blocked by a large white fluffy marshmallow. Baymax stood in his way, arms spread wide to hinder his progress. Hiro immediately tried to twist, to turn and head around the obstruction but he had too much forward momentum and not enough room. He slipped and fell, headlong into Baymax's chest.

White arms closed upon his shoulders embracing him and holding him captive all and the familiarity of the offered comfort broke him once more. Hiro wrapped his arms around Baymax's neck and began to cry burying his face in the familiar vinyl.

Step. Step. Step.

A single pair of footsteps cautiously approached him slowing to a halt as their owner paused behind him. A large familiar comforting hand dropped onto his shoulder at their arrival. "Hiro?" Tadashi's tone was soft, questioning.

"I'm fine." Hiro replied still sniffing into Baymax's chest.

"Considering what you're just been through, it's ok not to be fine, you know." Tadashi continued to speak to him softly reaching up to run hand through Hiro's fluffy hair. The strands were longer and messier than usual, slipping easily between his fingers.

"I just want to go home."

"That's what we're all here for. To take you home."

"I just want to go home, alone." Hiro clarified still sniffing.

Tadashi's heart broke a little. He hated to see his little brother like this, shattered, broken and alone but it made sense. Hiro had just been through a traumatic event, the intensity of which they couldn't really begin to imagine. Wanting a little space to deal with the aftermath was not a surprising reaction. Tadashi dropped his hand onto the top of Hiro's head in order to ruffle his brother's hair again. "Okay. I'll tell the gang you need some time. We can meet up with them later. Ok?"

Hiro nodded still clinging to Baymax. He wanted to whimper when Tadashi withdrew his hand, already missing the comfort and warmth it had provided but he silenced the sound before it had a chance to escape. Pride prevented him from calling out, from asking Tadashi to stay. Aunt Cass and Tadashi returned a few moments later. "Come on. Let's get you home." Tadashi gently pried Hiro away from Baymax before guiding him towards the hospital door.

Hiro glanced back.

The rest of the team were still standing beside the hospital administration desk looking after him with forlorn expressions on their faces.

- BH6 - BH6 - BH6 –

CrazyBlueOwl: * Rushes off to resuscitate the Insane Azure Bird of prey* Yes, I'm going to continue until we revisit the kidnappers and reveal more of their original plans

Ern Estine 13624: Yeah, Hiro is safe... for now XD

Rosycat: No worries XD. Tadashi is going to find out what happened to Hiro and more...

Anony mouse101: I posted the image as the cover photo because I had no way of including it in the story itself XD. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.

Dreamer: Don't stress. I fully understand. I was just wondering if you were still reading and was happy to hear from you again. I hope you ACE all your finals. AS for your PC... It was probably a refresh issue. It was probably showing you old site data and refreshed it when you submitted the review. You are very perceptive by the way. Hiro may no longer be physically captive anymore but that doesn't mean this story is over yet ;). Glad I could surprise you with the logo. I used it as the cover for this image to give my readers a visual representation of it.

shooting2stars: Yes, the team made it in time now they have to deal with the aftermath and it's not going to be pretty. Tadashi will probably be mostly ok after reading the journal but it will give him more insight into what's going on which helps.