Check 25 - Reality is a battle between what happened and what we want to remember
After getting up from the table, Hiro couldn't really recall what had happened with much clarity. His stomach had given a rather uncomfortable lurch, and he wasn't sure if he'd end up throwing up or not. The dizziness didn't help either, despite previously looking forward to the katsudon that had sat before him. But with his stomach feeling more than a little queasy, especially after Daisuke asked him about what he saw in Aunt Cass's head, he hadn't felt much like eating.
A few steps past the table, he knew he was in trouble as, once again, everything had shut down. Somewhere between that and the hazy echo of voices just out of earshot, he floated in the ether. Well, it was better than throwing up what would have only been stomach bile, but it still sucked.
Usually when this happened he was either left to float until his mind and body decided to come to friendly terms again, or something else happened. And when something else happened, he usually wasn't thrilled with whatever it ended up being. Typically speaking, those things ended up being something like a mental journey down traumatic memory lane, or some kind of premonition of horrible things to come. Yeah, he'd definitely prefer to float in the ether if he had any say in the matter.
You're forgetting something.
It sounded like Tadashi, and yet not at the same time. It was almost like the voice was changing from the more familiar to one he'd only known for a short while, and that was just weird. Except that it didn't change quite all the way, staying between the two. And there was no visual representation like he was used to having. But why? Why did Tadashi's voice have to blend with Daisuke's?
Groaning, Hiro attempted to turn his body, feeling that he was somehow lying down. It wasn't the most comfortable of positions, leaving him feeling just as stiff and made of lead as he'd felt only the day before. Had it really only been twenty four hours ago? Or had it been longer? He had no real sense of time anymore. It had to be longer. Two days, right? Whatever.
"What am I forgetting?" he asked the ether, wishing it would just make up its mind and tell him, something he knew it would do. It never did, preferring to make him figure things out the hard way. Just like he'd had to learn the hard way that he still had limitations, especially after he'd been basically beat to a pulp by life. Again. He had to stop doing that.
You rushed in.
Hiro pressed his lips together, repressing the scowl that wanted to come out. He wouldn't give whatever this hybrid voice was the satisfaction. He inhaled, throat feeling a bit off, but that was also something he'd worry about later. It tickled, but how did a throat tickle in a dream anyway? What was this voice talking about? Rushed in? To what?
You weren't fully prepared and ended up paying for it.
Was the Tadashi/Daisuke hybrid trying to say he should have done something more before trying to delve back into Aunt Cass's memories? In part, he could imagine himself as a swimmer at the beach told he could go diving in the water. But, in this hypothetical, he didn't look where he was going; check the currents, the depth, or even the overall landscape before rushing in. He had just run in, head first, diving like someone trying to show off. And that had been a big mistake.
Okay, technically not fully accurate on the allegory, he told his brain. He had tried to calm himself, but the rest was pretty much on the money. He'd gotten a bit too confident, having accidentally slipped into her mind not that long ago. But he'd forgotten that even that jolt hadn't exactly gone well either. And there he was, trying to pit his will against his aunt's. Yeah, he'd been doomed to fail from the start.
A lot of people didn't give Cass Hamada the credit she deserved. As basically a single mother, in aunt form, she had raised two genius-level boys, one who bucked against the system at every turn. Not only that, but she successfully ran her own business, and had for about fifteen years or longer, dealing with people from all walks of life, and all temperaments. Not only that, but she'd repelled reporters and gangsters alike.
From the outside looking in, it would be easy to think of Cass as a pushover, but Hiro knew differently. She was strong, and not in the way most people liked to think of as strength. She had a quiet grace to her, a sense of safety. He'd never had to worry about whether or not she didn't care for him, wouldn't take care of him. Her quiet strength had lifted him most of his life in ways Tadashi's never could have. She was, in the truest sense of the word, a mother.
And now, learning she had held not one but two traumas inside her, slowly building a cocoon of scar tissue around each one just to survive… Just seeing her brother and sister-in-law killed in front of her should have been enough to send her into a tailspin. And yet she'd not only rallied, she'd taken on the care of her two young nephews.
To be fair, maybe it was because they gave her purpose. Something similar might have happened when Tadashi died. But now… with learning she had experienced another trauma in her life, one her own mind had buried deep… yeah, Hiro had messed up big time just rushing in like a kid playing hero. It was no wonder he'd been shoved back, much like he'd shoved against Loki when the man had tried to delve into memories he didn't want touched. There were always consequences, and even he sometimes needed reminding at just how strong Cass's will was.
Sensing he was on the right track with whatever thoughts his subconscious wanted him on, Hiro found his mental self standing instead of lying down. If he had better prepared himself, he would have tried peeling back the layers. And while his rushing in had probably triggered her mind to close off the wound, the wound still remained. He had suffered the rebound, like the soul's antibodies realizing someone had intruded, and, not understanding the purpose behind the intrusion, had repelled it with everything it had. In the end, there was a temporary peace inside, but he knew from past experience that it wouldn't last for long.
Now that something had torn open the protective cocoon around that memory, it would continue to seep until something went in to help cleanse it from the toxins. Like an infected wound getting lanced to release the pressure, her trauma needed to be allowed to breathe or it would continue to fester deep inside, ruining her peace. And he could not let that happen.
There was, however, a big hurdle he had to overcome first. His body was definitely not in any condition to handle much more strain. He'd taken on too much, just rushing in and not asking for help. It was a decided bad habit of his. Unfortunately, those whom he might ask for such help were far from his current location. Not even his friends, his team and adopted family could help in the way he probably needed it. And, for whatever reason, his inner psyche had been relatively silent. Until now. He somehow thought it had spoken up only to point him in the right direction because he'd bungled things up so badly.
In the end, he was still technically mortal. He didn't have super healing abilities like his friend Kally did. He wasn't an Avenger, even though the offer had been given. But he did have family nearby, just not the family he was used to. And even with that, he could also still rely on Aunt Cass. He just wasn't sure yet how they could help him, outside of the typical taking care of his body. There had to be something more.
An almost sense of euphoria filled him, an almost reassurance he was on the right track. He'd just have to hope he figured it out before things got much crazier. For the moment, it might be the calm before the store, and he knew he needed to take full advantage of that while he could. Because once the storm hit, there would be no more time for recovery until all was said and done, if he was given that chance at all.
…..
In light of the current state of events, both Cass and Katou thought it best to try and have dinner in the kitchen. Part of it might have been the nature of the meal they'd prepared, but it made sense. There was an elevator nearby, which they could take if Hiro woke up. If they left Baymax there, the robot could report to them should there be any changes, as could HEUSC.
Unlike most kitchens Cass was used to, there was an area set aside for the staff to eat at. She hadn't had the chance to work in any kitchen inside a manor before, though she could have taken the opportunity to peek into the one at Fred's place on more than one occasion. She just hadn't because she hadn't thought about it and because the idea also seemed rude. But here, it was something she felt a need to do, something she could contribute besides wringing her hands.
She nodded in satisfaction at the table, which was probably set in the least formal manner possible, going for a more "family style" setting than single person servings. After all, this meal wasn't exactly one ordered at a fancy restaurant, but one she and Hiro, and Tadashi back in the day, had shared as a family. It was almost a tradition. And while Hiro likely wouldn't be partaking of it this time around, she wanted to share it with Daisuke and the others.
For his part, Katou had taken the opportunity to investigate the kitchen and storage areas when he wasn't needed as a sous chef. This gave him the time he needed to investigate any other potentially contaminated food items. With his access to HEUSC, partly through the watch Daisuke had given him, he was able to confirm that the rest of the food in the pantry had not been tampered with. It was reassuring, but still didn't tell them who had messed with those sports drinks earlier.
Now that the meal was ready, and Katou felt certain most of their party was feeling the impending need for food, he volunteered to call down to the others, inviting them up. It was his idea that they could safely leave Hiro in Baymax's care. Cass had contemplated the idea of carting the food down to the holding room but he'd managed to convince her it would be better to not crowd the area. Besides, with only one small table, there really wasn't the room.
Using his link, Haru informed Daisuke and Suzue that it was dinner time. Part of him couldn't help but wonder how they'd take what was prepared. But Daisuke seemed game, most of the time, to try new things. At least when he was out and about. Now was as good a time as any to see just how refined his palette really was, and just how much heat he could handle.
Footsteps sounded outside the kitchen as Suzue and Daisuke headed their way. Chances were good neither really spent much time in the kitchen. It was understandable, especially when Katou recalled just how horrible Daisuke had been at helping him prepare curry the year before. While the man could handle weapons of most types with ease, wielding a kitchen knife seemed above his skill level.
Daisuke entered a few dozen steps ahead of Suzue, pausing a bit at the sight before him. He had to admit that Cass ran a tight ship. Part of him had expected there to be a mess left out from her cooking, but he was pleasantly surprised to see the dishes mostly washed and set out on a rack to dry. The counters and stove had also all been wiped down. Outside of the dishes on the table, the only pot not put away was on the stove, set to a low simmer to keep it warm. He assumed it contained some kind of soup for Hiro.
Not far behind him, Suzue entered, also pausing before making her way to the set table. At the center of the presented food sat a bowl of rice and an even larger bowl filled with fried and sauced chicken wings. There were various steamed vegetables also available, and a can of what looked like a cheap brand of beer at each place setting. She exchanged glances with Daisuke, not normally partaking of alcohol.
Cass stood proudly at the end of the table. "I hope you guys are ready to get your faces melted off, because these babies are hot!" She had an almost gleeful look in her eye. "Gonna feel these in the morning, if you know what I mean."
Looking more than a little concerned, Suzue gave Daisuke an almost pleading look, as if asking for intervention. There was no way of knowing what Cass meant by "hot". Each type of cuisine had their own version, some more heat than flavor. And, knowing the Kambes' palettes weren't used to the more heat-intense spices, she couldn't help but worry.
Katou held out a chair for Suzue, giving her a smile similar to Cass's. Since he'd helped her prepare the meal, he knew exactly what had gone into it, though he wasn't sure about all the measurements. "I know you don't usually drink beer, but I found some in the pantry and figured it might be a good accompaniment. That and the alcohol will help cut down on any of the burn."
For his part, Daisuke managed to keep his expression neutral. He wasn't sure what Cass was up to with the unusual dish, but he supposed she had her reasons. The almost gleeful look in her eye made him wonder if this wasn't, in part, some kind of revenge for earlier, but he dismissed the idea as ridiculous. She didn't seem that type of person.
Once everyone was situated, Cass made sure Daisuke had left Hiro in a decent-enough state, secured behind the locked door in case anyone got any ideas while they were upstairs. As an added precaution, the man had taken off his wristwatch and had HEUSC project the security feed for that room onto the wall so they could see things in real time.
"This looks…. Delicious," Suzue said with a gulp as she contemplated the red-ish orange-coated chicken. Not a stranger to something similar, she wasn't sure about the color as she delicately placed one wing on her plate with a healthy helping of rice and vegetables. "Thank you for the meal."
Used to a more formal setting, Daisuke did tuck a napkin into his collar, to protect his clothing, before asking for the serving dishes. He was a bit more liberal in his helping of the chicken, justifying it with the assurances from Katou that it was all perfectly safe to eat and he shouldn't be a baby about it.
Cass and Katou gave themselves three wings each to start, Cass making sure everyone had a good helping of the steamed vegetables and rice. While she and Hiro enjoyed their wings on the extra spicy side, she had tried to keep in mind that her more traditional Japanese family might not enjoy quite the same level of burn. But, not wanting to compromise too much, she'd also not sacrificed too much of the usual heat.
Without any further fuss, Cass and Katou both tucked in, amusement on the cop's face as he watched Daisuke and Suzue try to eat their first piece of chicken more delicately. When in Rome, as the saying went, they did try to emulate the use of hands over utensils, but were a bit ginger about their handling of things.
Suzue's eyes began to water at the second bite, her ears starting to show hints of red. She'd tried some variations of spicy food over the years, but this was by far the hottest she'd ever tasted and it showed on her face. And it was the kind of heat that kept building. "My, what an… unusual flavor."
Beside her, Daisuke had taken a few bites as well; handling things with better decorum, but there were red tinges around his ears as well, though he doggedly did his best to ignore them. He did tug a bit at his collar though, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.
Katou cracked open his beer and took a swig, having eaten two wings already. "That hits the spot," he declared, giving Cass an appreciative smile. While he had helped, she had done the majority of the cooking. And he'd definitely not seen everything she'd put into the mix. But there was no mistaking she knew what she was doing.
The proprietress had her beer open as well, though she was taking only small sips to cool her tongue off as needed. "It helps if you drink a little between," she said, noticing Suzue's reddening face. "Just don't tell Hiro I was drinking."
Suzue cleared her throat, looking more hesitant than ever as she opened her can and took a small sip. When she realized the alcohol somehow cut through the heat, she took a bigger one.
Doggedly working on his chicken, Daisuke supplemented his with the occasional rice. It helped, but he couldn't help but feel the burn intensify as the meal progressed. Was this what she'd meant by "melt your face off"? He resisted the urge to wipe the sweat off his face, feeling sure his ears were now red. Suzue's nose had started to run and she sniffled next to him. How on earth could both Katou and Cass down those burning embers like they were nothing? Was this normal for them?
The younger Kambe tried to fan her mouth before eating some rice, which helped. "I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but just how hot did you make these?"
Cass smiled, looking as though she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Unlike the Kambes, her complexion hadn't really changed too much. She did seem to have a healthy glow of warmth around her mouth and eyes, but her ears hadn't gone as red as a cooked lobster, nor was her upper respiratory system trying to help drain the heat from her body. "Well, Hiro and I normally eat something a lot hotter than this," she confessed. "I'd have to guess this is probably around six or seven hundred thousand Scoville."
Suzue looked like she was about to pass out at that announcement. She managed to choke down a mouthful of rice. No wonder she'd said they'd feel it in the morning. She gave Daisuke a helpless look, but he continued to almost mechanically eat as if determined to not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him fail. She coughed a bit, feeling a bit like there was a star trying to explode inside her stomach. She took another swig of the beer when she saw Daisuke do the same.
"How you doing over there?" Katou asked, giving his partner a knowing smirk.
Daisuke swallowed what was in his mouth, refusing to look Katou's way. "I'm fine." He had to blink as a drop of sweat threatened to slide where he didn't want it. He used his napkin to wipe it away under the pretext of dabbing his lips. Oh he was going to feel that later, and it was likely going to be worse than any potential recovery from the belladonna might have been. He almost wished Hiro would just hurry up and wake up already so he had a reason to leave the table early.
Katou and Cass exchanged more secretive glances, laughing quietly amongst themselves. It did not help improve Daisuke's mood. His lips burned, as did his throat and sinuses. The beer did help, but it wasn't quite enough. He could tell Suzue was also struggling. Indian Curry had nothing on Cass's chicken wings. At least not any he'd had before that point.
Perhaps feeling the two Kambes had had enough, Cass stood, looking amused. "You've been really good sports," she admitted as she stood and headed to the stove and the pot still on it. She turned off the heat and brought it over, lifting the lid. "I thought you might have trouble with the spice so I made some orange chicken with a more reasonable heat level."
The scent of citrus and a milder spice wafted up into the air. It took all of Daisuke's self-discipline to not grab the pot and serve himself right then and there. Instead, he waited for Suzue to sample it before sighing in relief at the more diminished heat level of the second dish. Why on earth had she not started out with this, he wondered as he, too, sampled the second protein before giving himself a healthy serving. It did leave him wondering what Cass had made for Hiro, though, and where she'd put it.
