san_fransokyo | how come i never seen your face 'round here?

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how come i never seen your face 'round here?

[Admittedly, Hiro's been waffling on this for a couple of weeks now. He doesn't want to do it, but the idea still gives him that little thrill of adrenaline he used to get every time he pulled up the rankings and schedules to find a new spot to hit.

Only problem is the last time he did this, he got himself in major trouble. And then he left it behind for a newer, probably better direction. Sort of.

So taking Baymax out to do hero things isn't exactly the same as bot fighting, but it's similar. Just more constructive. Which is maybe where he got the idea to constructively, actually take Baymax into the bot fighting rings. For justice.

Which is why this evening he's been fidgeting at his desk, intermittently messing with algorithms on his computer, and then he finally just picks the laptop up and walks over to plop it onto Gogo's workstation, looking serious.]

Hey. Gogo. Can we talk?

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Hiro?

[What the heck, boy. She raises her eyebrows at the laptop.]

What, did Fred accidentally send you a virus again?

What? No.

[Like, that hadn't even occurred to him that she'd think that was a thing, and for about ten seconds he's confused. Then he decides maybe he'd better clarify, so he turns the computer around to show her the screen - full of bot fighting rankings and scheduled matches, as well as their locations.]

You tried the street racing circuit looking for info on what's going down in the underground, right? And you got close. But if we really wanna get to Yama or any of his top dogs, we have to make waves in the bot fighting rings. That's where he shows up in person.

How'd you figure--never mind, I don't want to know.

[Somehow, somehow she's not surprised Hiro knows. She's more surpised it's taken this long. But she looks.]

I saw the eldest Fujita there. Caught her one eye...but Yama showing up in person... Do you know where he frequents now?

....Yes?

[Awkward grin. He's not gonna pretend he's proud this is a thing he knows, but yes. He's been snooping. Yama and his henchmen laid low on the botfighting for a time after the whole "everyone got thrown in lockup" incident, and they haven't frequented the same area since, but they came back eventually.]

Okay, but there's an abandoned warehouse down by the waterfront where they hold a lot of fights. Yama shows up on Fridays with at least one of his Fujitas in tow, if not all three of them.

[She raises her eyebrows but she doesn't ask. After all, hadn't she been trying the same thing?]

Are you sure about him being there on Fridays? Is it every Friday?

Not...every Friday, necessarily. But lots of Fridays. He's proud of his botfighting skills, he likes to show off when he can.

[Just like a certain someone. Hiro learned this the hard way, and nearly got mugged for it that one time.]

Look, I know it sounds shaky at best, but this is a lead!

...Which leads me to my next point: we have to go if we're gonna find out.

I worked off less.

[That's true enough... Gogo really can't blame him in that case. Except for one thing.]

You do realize tomorrow is Friday, right?

...Yes. Look, I've got a bot but a thing happened and now if I take it out to the ring Yama will know it's me.

[A thing happened is probably an understatement, but he's not regaling her with stories of his past conquests unless she makes him. Which, it's Gogo. She could probably make him. He taps a few keys to bring up a 3d model of a new set of armor for Baymax - based off his prototype armor, sans wings and with some colorful decals. Skulls and shit. Perfect for botfighing.]

I was thinking we could take Baymax.

[It's very...botfighter-y.]

So you need me to get in.

[Hiro nods reluctantly after a couple of seconds, rubbing the back of his neck. He's had the lecture about working together. He figured maybe he should make good on it.]

Listen, I won't ask you to anything you don't wanna, but I can't do this by myself. It's asking for trouble. And...out of everybody, you're probably the best person for the job.

I should tell you 'no'.

[She should say no, be the responsible one. The idea of being so close to Yama again...with back up? It's tempting.]

But I won't. This might be the only chance we have.

You -

[He'd been absolutely expecting a no. Because, okay, de facto leader or not a lot of his ideas err on the side of "things no reasonable adult would recommend, ever."

But this? A look of shocked relief floods over him.]

For real?

For real.

[You've made him a happy Hiro. Congrats, Gogo. He hops up from his seat, sort of half-bouncing, and grabs his computer off her workspace.]

Okay! Wear street clothes, something kinda inconspicuous. We can meet up here tomorrow to get ready before we go. Sounds good?

[Easy, boy! She's going to make sure he doesn't knock some of her stuff off the desk.]

Alright, alright. I will.

[Hiro's the one that put him in armor in the first place, but even Hiro has to admit Baymax looks silly in black chrome and flaming skull decals.

Baymax, for his part, doesn't protest until they're standing outside the warehouse on the waterfront Friday night, watching a few dozen people slip into the back entrance. Every time the door opens, loud music and flashing lights slip out through the cracks.

Baymax blinks slowly. And then glances down at Gogo and Hiro.]

This definitely undermines my non-threatening, huggable design.

[Gogo's seen quite a few silly designs in her time and this takes the cake. She had to keep herself from laughing when she saw him fully in his new armor.]

It's not going to be forever, Baymax. Think of it as a costume.

[Baymax blinks a couple of times and then stares ahead; there's a distinct sense that, were he human, he'd be grumbling quietly right now. But being Baymax, as long as he doesn't have to hit anybody alive, he's fine.

Hiro laughs and tosses Gogo a controller.]

All you have to do is make it look convincing and let Baymax do his thing; in the meantime, you have plenty of room for eavesdropping. I'll listen around and see what I can pick up.

[There's a pause. Deep breath.]

Throw the match if it looks like he's gonna lose. Bot-fighting isn't....nice to losers.

Right...I know how to put on a show.

[She's a racer, she knows the dangers of a place like this but she glances around.]

You look after yourself, okay?

[Hiro fidgets uncomfortably, sheepish at the concern.]

Yeah, well...you make sure to stay out of trouble, too. Don't get hurt just for a little info.

[He tugs his hood up, motioning for Baymax and Gogo to follow as he slips in through the door behind a couple of tattooed thugs, into a bot fighting world that's way beyond anything he ever experienced back in his days in the ring.

Hiro's used to small, back alley affairs. This? Is a party. There's a fully equipped raised fighting ring in the center of the room, lights flashing, loud music, even a bartender serving drinks off to one side; this is probably the kind of place Yama prefers to spend his time.]

I'll be careful, Hiro.

[She gives a small smile. She knows he's concerned--he doesn't want any of the team to get hurt. Not that she blames him after what happened.

Now this looked like something out of the movies. She follows, keeping a watch out for the Fujita she saw at the race.]

[Luckily, she's not hard to find. Unluckily, she's at the bar getting drinks with her boss.

Yama's looking a little more dressed up tonight - not track pants and jogging jackets, but tailored pinstripes and a fedora. Hiro sucks in a breath and nudges Gogo.]

Hey. Check it out.

[He jerks his head toward the bar, and then he's gone, ducked behind Baymax for cover. He and Yama aren't friends, and he's not counting on the big guy not to remember his face.]

Looks like someone dressed up.

[It's a little ridiculous but she guesses if you had the money then sometimes it was best to throw your weight around like that. Yama's definitely a big shot.]</small.

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how come i never seen your face 'round here?

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who just wants to skip to bot-fighting now tbh

we can if you want

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