Nothing's Changed at All
Business was booming. The café was bustling, full of chatter, laughter and energy. Patrons filled the tables, others stood in queues at the counter and others still lounged outside waiting for a chance to come in. Aunt Cass couldn't keep up with the demand which is why she'd dragged Tadashi and Hiro down to help. Tadashi was manning the counter and Hiro the tables both casually dressed in dark blue jeans and white T-shirts. Tadashi even wore his SFIT cap, the brim just low enough to add an air of mystery and charm to his face.
"Hey, knucklehead, table three is done." Tadashi called out, while packaging pastries into one of the Lucky Cat's custom pink boxes.
"I'm going. I'm going. Hold your horses!" Hiro called back easily navigating the crowd. "I'm not a kid anymore. You don't need to keep telling me what to do!"
"Oh really?" Tadashi handed over the box of pastries and finished ringing the purchase up before turning to face Hiro with a quirked brow. "Then you already know that table 6 has been waiting twenty minutes for their order, table 12 has new patrons that have been sitting for about 6 minutes waiting for you to take their order and tables 15, 7 and 3 have just been vacated?"
Hiro's eyes went wide. "Oh no!" He called out face palming himself before rushing into the kitchen to grab the sandwiches table 6 were waiting for. "I have no idea how you manage to keep track of all this stuff." Hiro complained a few minutes later balancing three plates as he once again navigated the chaos that had the Lucky Cat Café in its grips.
"I have no idea how you don't." Tadashi called back sliding drink orders along the counter. "You're the officially diagnosed genius here."
"You say that like it's a disease!" Hiro called back carefully placing the food orders down before three disgruntled customers before racing over to table 12 to take their order.
"I'm not so sure it isn't one." Tadashi teased ringing up a new pastry purchase. "Social anxiety, lack of sunlight and vitamin D, a smart-ass mouth." He playfully listed symptoms.
"Ha-ha, very funny." Hiro retorted, rushing over to drop the newly written down order onto the counter in front of Tadashi before continuing on towards tables 15, 7 and 3 in order to collect the payments so new patrons could be seated. "Takes one to know one."
"I'll have you know my social skills are more than adequate." Tadashi retorted picking the paper up and sliding it into the kitchen queue. "After all I'm the one that dragged you to my lab to meet the gang."
"I hate to break it to you but our friends aren't exactly the most social bunch on this planet." Hiro picked up the first bill, pocketing the tip before moving rapidly onto the next table. He stumbled to standstill, breath catching in the back of his throat. The world slammed to a halt with him, his mind losing connection to the energy and activity in the café as well as to his banter with his brother as he tried to process what he was seeing. Lying on the table was a photograph of Tadashi helping Hiro into the café. It had clearly been taken the day he'd returned from hospital after being rescued from his kidnappers. A target had been drawn on Tadashi's head.
Lying beneath it was a piece of paper, shining every bit as pale and white as the color of Hiro's skin.
Filled with dread, Hiro reached out, sliding the photograph out of the way before picking the paper up in trembling hands. The paper shook as he unfolded it, revealing the text inside:
Just a friendly little reminder of what's at stake here.
Consider your escape a minor reprieve. We're not done with you yet.
Be Prepared.
We're coming for you.
"…ro. Hey Hiro!" Tadashi's sudden shout broke Hiro out of his self-imposed trance startling him. He turned to face Tadashi only to scramble into motion the moment he realized Tadashi was crossing the café, heading straight towards him and the incriminating note and photograph. Hiro snatched the photograph up off the table and shoved it and the note, into the pocket sewn onto the black half-apron tied around his waist. "You ok there bud?" Tadashi asked as he approached, concern written all over his features.
Hiro frantically nodded, words failing him as his mind continued to grapple with the implications of the note.
"You look rattled." Tadashi scowled, his gaze carefully taking in the pallor of Hiro's skin and the nervous manner in which he moved.
Oh no. Tadashi was onto him. Hiro couldn't afford to have Tadashi call his bluff, not if he wanted to protect him which is why his mind scrambled for and caught hold of the first life that came to mind. Spotting the bill still lying on the table, Hiro snatched it up with a scowl before waving it in Tadashi's face. "They left without paying their bill."
Tadashi frowned, taking the receipt from Hiro in order to check the amount on it. He sighed. The slip was for one sandwich and one coffee. It could have been worse. "Don't worry about it." Tadashi folded the slip before pocketing it. "I'll take care of it."
"No." Hiro shook his head pulling cash out of his apron. "I'll cover it. It's my fault they managed to slip out without paying. I should have been paying more attention."
"Keep it." Tadashi pushed the cash back into Hiro's apron pocket momentarily causing Hiro to freeze in fear as thoughts of Tadashi discovering the incriminating evidence crossed his mind. Fortunately his worst fears never materialized. "You worked hard for that. This place is a madhouse today. There is no way we can expect you to keep track of everything that's going on right now, not without any help. Let me help. It's big brother prerogative." Tadashi announced with a playful wink before turning to make his way back to the counter.
Let me help… It's big brother prerogative. Tadashi's words echoed through his mind, almost mocking him with how out of reach that very concept was to him at this stage. "I'm sorry, Tadashi." Hiro whispered under his breath, heading over to pick up the bill left on table 3. "I can't let you help me with this. I'm not willing to lose you. Not this time. Not again…"
- BH6 - BH6 - BH6 –
A/N: If anyone is interested, I uploaded one of my old original stories for Rosycat. You guys can grab it too if you want to read it. Warnings: It's a young adult novel with dark mature themes. It is also gay romance. Link: Go to MediaFire and add the following to the end of the URL /?m2nqokjqqypr0co
snarky snark: I don't know if you're still reading this or not but I managed to slip in a reference to 'Be Prepared' just for you XD
CrazyBlueOwl: Very observant of you. You are correct. Everything in this story is connected with strings. XD XD XD
WriterGreenReads: Yup. Most of my chapter titles are lyrics. I used lyrics from Fall Out Boys - Immortals, Fall Out Boys - Centuries and Bastille - Pompeii. I'm glad you are having epiphany moments. I have hidden movie quotes in this story as well. I have also written some scenes in deliberate reference to things that happened in the movie, for instance Aunt Cass bought a parenting book because in the movie she commented that she probably should have done that.
Ern Estine 13624: Thank you for the well wishes. Hope yoiur christmas was AWESOME!
Rosycat: But of course, you can't have Hiro and leave out the sass now can you? ;)
Kiki Anderson: Yeah. It was a powerful moment. Hiro realised how much his brother did for him.
Anony mouse101: Good to know XD. Wasabit tried really hard to get the device off without hurting Hiro. Happy new year to you too. Hope your Christmas was very Merry!
Dreamer: I see you like how I linked my story back to the blackout in the movie XD XD XD. I had sooo much fun doing it. I also see you picked up on the fact that the second diary is full of entries that Hiro, who has been rescued, could not have written yet. Well spotted! I'm glad you feel I have laid down enough ground work to explain how the time travel is affecting everything. It was the hardest part to figure out by far! I googled quantum physics in an attempt to write something that sounds believable. Of course, I only skimmed the article and pulled out random pieces of the theory to support my idea of how the portal should work so my entry is not really very scientific but I think it works. Christmas was not too bad this time round XD
shooting2stars: Maybe XD XD ;). You are right, the last scene is a bit eerie but I still like it. I like how it links back to somrthing that happened in the movie without intruding on the scenes in the movie itself. Aunt Cass is AMAZING! She really loves her children and wants to do what's best for them.
Cosmickatsu: Awe... at least I continue to keep you on your toes which means the story is still doing well. I'm glad you are enjoying all the links I am creating in this story. I love interlinking things when I write. I have things in early chapters linking to things that happen much later. I like to see if my readers pick up on them! You saw such an AWESOME cardboard thingy and you did not take a picture and share? O.O :P