Disclaimer: Big Hero 6 is owned by Disney Animation. I have no rights to any character that may appear in this chapter.
Chapter 5 - An Uncomfortable Conversation
Good Luck Alley, despite its happy and innocent name, is anything but. In San Fransokyo, this is one of the dens for scum, villainy, and crime is rampant, and watching your back is a necessity. However, we cut to someone with a childlike physique and his hood up navigating this cesspool with apparent ease. Anyone following the story so far would know this tiny assailant to be none other than Hiro Hamada.
To an outsider, it would seem like he was a lost child, but anyone who knew him would see the calculative look in his eyes as he searched the alleyway for a familiar face. He finally spots said person in front of what looks to be an illegal gambling house and approaches with determination in his step.
"Sorry kid, but this is a little above your age range," states Felony Carl as he stops Hiro from entering the event.
"Actually, I came to speak to you," Hiro says as he removes his hood.
"Hamada? What the heck are you doing here?" Felony Carl states in his usual gruff voice. "You know Yama has half the alley on the lookout for you."
"I needed your advice on a personal matter," Hiro starts, "According to Honey Lemon and Globby you're very informative on this subject."
"In case you haven't noticed I'm currently on the job." He states matter-of-factly.
"But it's a matter of…" he starts before he cuts off, glancing around to make sure they're alone, "the heart."
Felony Carl's eyes widen ever so slightly, the only expression change he's made since they started talking, as he motions for Hiro to follow him. Before he leaves, he sticks his head into the building, yelling that he's on break.
They arrive at what looks like an abandoned warehouse, but inside is a bustling restaurant filled with alley crooks and thieves.
"I didn't know this place even existed," a stunned Hiro gasps.
"This place is only known to the upper echelon of the alley," Felony Carl states, "You never made it past the alley's middle class."
"Ouch, that's a bruise on my ego," Hiro winces. I thought I did pretty well back in the day."
"You were good, but your heart never lied in crime," he states matter-of-factly.
He motions for him to sit at a table in the far-off corner of the building.
"Ok, spill," he jumps straight into it, "Why come to me when you have Honey Lemon."
"Honey Lemon is helpful, but she's way too…," he pauses, "chipper and tends to be overly optimistic." "I want to hear some cold, hard truths."
"Why not GoGo then," he adds.
"I'd rather not have to hear her gloat about how she 'told me so'," he sighs. She can be really condescending when she knows she's right.
Felony Carl nods as if this isn't the first time he's heard this information.
"So, which girl is giving you heart troubles?" he starts. "Is it the police chief's daughter, Megan, or that Karmi I've heard so much about?"
"How do you even know about either of them," Hiro asks skeptically.
"Me and Honey Lemon have tea every Tuesday," he states, "She's actually quite the gossip."
"That's good to know," Hiro mutters. It's not Megan; she and I are just friends." "No, it's Karmi who's the problem."
"Mhmm, so that's a twenty I owe GoGo," he casually lets slip.
"You guys bet on me," Hiro says while slowly raising one eyebrow.
"She joined me and Honey Lemon for tea once," he started, "This happened to come up. One thing leads to another, and we made a bet, it happens."
"No, it really doesn't," Hiro deadpans.
Carl just shrugged and continued past the invasive bet at Hiro's expense.
"But this means GoGo was right, though," he smirks. You do have the hots for this Karmi girl."
Hiro blushes a scarlet red as he stutters his response, "No… yes… I don't know," he sighs, defeated. "It's complicated," he ends on.
"It doesn't sound all that complicated to me," Carl begins. All it sounds like to me is that you're in denial."
"I'm not in denial," Hiro exclaims before quieting down when he notices he is drawing a lot of stares. "I know I have feelings for Karmi, but what those feelings are is beyond me."
"You geniuses are all the same," Carl chuckles. You can create a generator out of popsicle sticks, but when it comes to emotions, you're just as clueless as the next person, maybe more."
Hiro sinks lower into his seat, and his face falls.
Seeing his expression, Carl gives him some advice: "Look, kid, I can't give you the answers because I'm not you," he begins, and Hiro's face falls even more. But I can tell you that if you wait long enough, the answer will just come to you."
"Just like that," he asks.
"Just like that," Carl repeats.
"So what do I do until then," he asks uncertainly.
"Just continue spending time with this person," he says, "that'll make the answer come that much quicker."
"Like you and Globby," Hiro smirks as he is a little better.
"No comment," Felony Carl denies, but he's smiling.
"Thanks Carl," Hiro says, "This has been very helpful."
"No problem, Hamada," Carl waves off. I like giving out advice; it makes me feel wise."
As they get up to leave, they notice a sketchier bunch walking in. On further inspection, Hiro notices they're a part of Yama's gang, so he quickly hides behind Felony Carl's large frame.
"Um Carl," Hiro whispers, "I'm gonna need to make a quick and quiet exit."
Carl glances in the direction that Hiro is looking in and nods. They slowly make their way to the back entrance, with Carl blocking Hiro from view. Once outside, Hiro breathes a sigh of relief.
"Thanks again for the advice Felony Carl." Hiro says, cutting through the silence.
"My pleasure, Hamada." Carl starts. "Finally, it feels like I'm putting my street smarts to good use. Just remember, if things don't work out with this Karmi girl, there's plenty of fish in the sea, especially in a big city like San Fransokyo."
Hiro nods, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Thanks, Carl. I appreciate it."
"Anytime, kid. Just be careful out there, and if you ever need advice again, you know where to find me."
"I will, and hey when you see Globby tell him I said hi." Hiro says as he begins to walk away.
"Wait, he didn't tell you guys," Carl asks, looking confused.
"Tell us what." Hiro asks, looking equally confused.
"He's out of town, I came back to our shared apartment one day," Carl starts, "and found a note that says he was going to discover himself or something."
"Hm, that's strange. He never told us anything like that," Hiro says as he starts to ponder every scenario.
"I'm sure he's fine," Carl begins. "There is very little that can actually hurt him." "Besides, this isn't the first time he's disappeared without telling anyone first."
"If you say so," Hiro relents, "you know him better than most people."
"That I do," Carl agrees, "Now get outta here before Yama's men find you."
They split off in opposite directions, and Hiro gives Carl one last wave before he begins the long trek back home. As he makes his way out of Good Luck Alley, he can't help but feel a new sense of clarity wash over him. He can't predict what the future has in store, but he knows that he will at least be prepared for it.
However, as he makes his way down the street, he can't help but shake this strange thought. He knows that he and Globby aren't the best of friends, but it's weird that he just up and vanished without a single word. Even though Carl had tried to quiet his nerves, he couldn't help but feel that something was off. He shakes his head. Maybe his friends were right, and he was just naturally paranoid, or maybe his instincts were trying to tell him something was coming. Something big, but what?
Author's Note: I have returned with another thrilling installment of my story. This was one of the trickiest chapters to write. Felony Carl does not have much to go on. Some of you are wondering why I chose Felony Carl as his go-to, but I wanted to use characters outside the standard cast, and Felony Carl was right there. Also, I thought it would be funny to get advice from Felony Carl, so sue me. I don't know when my next chapter will be, next week or month. I am inconsistent, but I will try my best to finish this story. Until next time, Excelsior True Believers.