I've got a dark alley and a bad idea

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro's really, actually sneaking into a bar called the Mean-Eyed Cat. The irony doesn't escape him.

He could be at home, at The Lucky Cat, but no. Mean-Eyed Cat it is.

That he even manages to sneak in behind a couple of conversationalists in ill-fitting suits is dumb luck; it's freezing out (it's snowing, it hasn't snowed in years), business is slow, whatever bouncer should be watching the door is hanging out at the counter instead where he doesn't have to deal with the drafts from the door. That he makes it to the other opposite end of the taproom and into the back hall before the bartender manages to mutter a hey wait is because he's small and knows how to duck behind obstacles and look inconspicuous.

Nobody comes after him, so that's a plus. He pauses at a corridor corner to get a good look around and listen to the noise, see if he can get some kind of direction.

He has a small port of Baymax's scanner, but it doesn't have the power to give him more than a general location. From there it was always going to take his own resourcefulness to find the guy. But he's definitely in this building - Hiro asked around, got some incredulous talk about the old-timer, yōkai, guy with the metal creepies, doesn't talk much, at that one bar down the street - stuff like that.

There's a couple of empty rooms - couches and televisions and darts, chipped paint and cracked baseboards, low hanging ceiling bulbs and so much dust and secondhand smoke he fights off a coughing fit - and then there's one with voices, near the back. He peers through the cracked door and finds who he's looking for, skulking on a couch in the back. Between the two of them, though, there's a couple of thugs playing pool and talking shit at each other.

Okay. He was sort of hoping Callaghan would be alone.

He tightens his grip on the folded duster tucked under his arm and stuffs the other in his pocket, fingers tightening around the solid metal object inside. And then he shoulders his way through the door.]

Hey. Delivery for the guy with the metal creepies.

Comments

[muffled one republic playing in the background]

[pushtheboundaries]

[on one level, it's nice to hear an apology. on the other, it's too late to apologize at this point, and Robert seems more derisive than anything, shoving Hiro just a bit harder against the wall while holding out his other hand in an unspoken demand.

one of the cues is promptly placed in it.]

Of course you do. What's next, an apology for what you s-

[his sneer is cut off by the clothing being shoved at him. he looks down briefly at it, curls his lip, then looks back up at Hiro- and then half-drops, half-tosses him to the ground. the cue is promptly pressed to him, an unspoken warning to stay down as Callaghan's now free hand grips the clothing and-

-what's that?

the thugs - though confident that the man can handle things from here - are nonetheless sticking around to watch, but they're a little confused about this. still, one can't help but crack a joke; he tryin' to be your laundry boy or somethin'?

Callaghan doesn't even deign it with a response, though the brief shift of microbots towards the thug is enough to shut him up. the other shoves him lightly, because dude, you know he ain't got no sense of humor]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Eighteen seconds. Hiro is painfully aware of both his time ticking away and of the pool cue digging into his ribs; he considers giving this up and making a break for it, but with Callaghan and both his wingmen between him and the door, he's not sure how far he'd get. He stays on the floor.

The microbots are still there - always there, lurking just out of range but reminding him they're waiting with the quiet rustle of metal parts folding geometrically over one another as they move. Eleven seconds. He stifles a whimper. People don't scare him as much as the microbots scare him; he made them, but they scare him.

Eight seconds. Start talking. faster.]

That's yours, too.

[A jerk of his head toward the envelope. One second. Zero. Time's up, twist the knife.]

Abigail, right?

[His shield lasts approximately three seconds longer than estimated, and then there's a beep as it powers down.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[keeping Hiro down with the cue - for all the good that'll do if he tries to get up, but the warning's there, and if he /does/ move, well, he was warned - Robert manages to juggle the coat to where he's grasping at that envelope just as Hiro indicates it properly. he frowns at it, looking back, confusion warring with lingering hostility is this some kind of

trick

and a look of surprise crosses his face as the microbots go very, very still.

for a few more seconds there's nothing, tension filling the air as he stares at Hiro and the two thugs stare at one another because the hell? Yokai was just about to end the kid but with his back to them they can't read him properly, and that first one half-raises his cue because he's not sure if they need to go back to ending the kid for him, laundry boy or not, but then the microbots are deliberately rolling in to the distance between them all as Robert speaks very, very quietly;]

Out. Now.

[wait, what's he go-

oh shit there go the microbots as he half-turns, outright snarling in anger at being ignored, because he just gave another warning and it wasn't listened to and with the hostility turned upon, them the two goons practically trip over one another in their haste to get out.

a moment later, the pool cue upon Hiro is tossed to the side as Callaghan uses both hands to open the envelope and pull out the photos inside.

if his hands are trembling, he doesn't seem to notice.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[If Hiro is trembling for his own reasons, hopefully Callaghan doesn't notice that either. He exhales in relief, pushing himself up off the floor with shaky arms and taking a careful step back. He's mindful of where he places his feet; the microbots are all over now, and they can get as close as they want.

He keeps still and quiet for several long moments. No sudden movements, no loud noises, no sprinting for the door. The goons may be gone but the microbots are much faster and much more volatile - because Callaghan is volatile, and Hiro still isn't sure how he's going to take this, he hasn't said or done anything yet -

Hiro swallows hard. He's watching the microbots moving around him, not Callaghan.]

I thought, maybe, you'd want those back.

[pushtheboundaries]

[the microbots are quite a bit more responsive than Callaghan is. they don't seem quite certain what to do, really; a group still seems to be wary of him, circling him in quick motions and making tiny feints- others have returned to their controller, crawling up on him and...clinging to him? is that the way to describe it?

finally, after what seems like hours of just staring at the photos he hadn't even thought about them and he knows and a gloved thumb reverently traces over the face of a woman who hasn't been there since Abigail was a child but whom he still misses so damn much

he brings himself back to reality, glancing up at Hiro and pressing his lips together in a wide, unhappy expression. then, abruptly, he turns away- but only to move back to and sit down in the couch, the photos returned to their envelope and carefully placed within his current jacket. it's nowhere near as long or as sweeping as the coat was, but it's black, and it's worked for what he's needed it to. that's not important.

what's important is him leaning forwards with his hands in his lap, eyes on the boy, and his very simple statement;]

You have five minutes.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Five minutes is more than enough. When he gets going, Hiro can talk fast, and he'd originally had to plan this for two anyway. He plants his feet firmly on the floor - no more jerking around trying to avoid microbots - and faces Callaghan directly.

Deep breath.]

Tadashi's dying.

[It hangs in the air for a moment, not because Hiro's trying to let it sink in but because - he has to stop, for a second. He hasn't told anybody else this, not even Tadashi himself, and saying it out loud is a scary kind of confirmation.]

Or what I mean is - something's wrong. Not emotionally, not medically, and I don't have any science to explain this to you except that he gets see-through like he's on the edge of not existing anymore, and it makes him sick and weak and it's not good. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it's gonna kill him, eventually.

And Krei Tech has something to do with it. I know they do, because I pulled the security footage from the hospital the day they called about Tadashi.

[He does pause for a second to let that sink in.]

You know more about what's going on inside that company than anybody.

[pushtheboundaries]

[five minutes is all Callaghan needs to get some form of backup ready, should he need it. in the distance, he can imagine a greater mass of microbots, ready and willing to come should he just ask them to- but for now he makes do with the ones he has, the same ones that are rebuilding upon his shoulders. the coat is brought a distance towards him, but only given so much direct attention; especially as Hiro drops the proverbial bomb.

he blinks.

on one level, his first impulse is you've got time to say goodbye- and a subtle glance towards the side wall reminds him of what happened another time when Hiro brought up Tadashi's death, and him reacting on impulse. with the constant movements he's had to make, he clenches his jaw to help keep those words at bay, in no mood to have the thing enter like some sort of dark parody of the Kool-Aid man if he says the wrong thing.

the microbots upon him flex unhappily, forming subtle hackles upon his shoulders as he looks back at Hiro. he does not like feeling as though he's under duress, even if there's a dark and morbid satisfaction at the thought of Krei finally screwing up so he has a reason to go after in him force like he promised...

he brings a hand to his mouth, rubbing the skin there. not so much for the gesture, as to unconsciously mask some of his expression.]

So- what? You're going to offer calling off Baymax if I help you?

[he sounds...irate. at best.]

[bigdamnhiro]

Wait, what?

[He had all his words carefully chosen, all the possibilities thought out, but this catches him off guard. He has no context or frame of reference for why Callaghan would choose to bring up Baymax now, when it should be obvious he didn't bring the nurse bot with him. The idea was to present as little of a threat as possible by not bringing any armor, or armored robots.

He stares at Callaghan for a long couple of moments, frowning, eyes narrowed, tilting his head trying to get a read on what's going on. He's learning that while Callaghan might be unreadable, the microbots make him an open book - and right now they look unsettled, angry.

Is it paranoia? Is Callaghan that afraid of Baymax?]

Call him off of what? I left him at home. He's not coming after you, and even if he did, it wouldn't be like - like - [He fumbles over the words, a flash of red pinprick eyes coming to mind; another deep breath.] - it wouldn't be like before. I patched all the possible loopholes and made everything dependent on his healthcare programming so he can't - can't be used to hurt people.

[He doesn't trust himself not to do it again someday, so he took the option away. Simple. But he's not going to say that out loud.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[remember how the microbots were just raising up? they're flexing more and more as Hiro goes on, and Callaghan's expression is darkening, until he finally shoves himself to his feet, throwing out a hand to the side] Don't lie to me! I haven't spent the last week barely able to sleep because a few hours after I'm in one place, there's that thing coming after me!

[and then something clicks. occam's razor. if Hiro didn't program it to attack- and based on everything else that's happened-]

Has another thing you've 'improved upon' gone rogue, then? Is that what you're telling me?

[he may not be making a move towards Hiro, but those writhing pieces of metal? they're pulling in tight, as though to form some sort of armor or shield to protect him. a warped sort of chainmail, perhaps.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Maybe the microbots haven't gone after him yet, but Hiro takes two or three steps back anyway once Callaghan's on his feet. All the alarm bells in his head are screeching crazy and he finds himself reaching for one of the discarded pool cues without thinking about it.

This is stupid. This is so stupid, why did he even try, Callaghan's not even in his right mind and no matter what Hiro says to him it gets twisted into something else. He balls his fists and snaps right back.]

No, that's not what I'm telling you! What I'm telling you is it's impossible because I made it impossible when I rebuilt him. Besides, I think somebody would've noticed if Baymax went missing for huge chunks of time to go beat the streets for a crazy asshole in a mask!

Maybe it's an ugly dog! Maybe you're hallucinating! Did you ever consider the microbots might be messing with your head?

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan knows they're messing with his head. but he also knows, deep down, that this isn't one of those. he knows that there's some nuances changing within him, he's finding it easier and easier to consider and commit things he never thought himself capable of, but he's not sure how much is outright himself and just given the opportunity and motive to do so-

-because, after all, he is only human. and humans do things. it's one of the reasons he was so passionate about robotics, because robotics were simple in comparison.

nonetheless, like /hell/ he'll admit that- instead he reaches for his pant leg, hoisting it up. while he does have the wrappings there to hold them in place, the ones on his left are now revealed to be microbots, and he doesn't-quite-sag with them shifting around the limb. they almost seemed to be doubling as a guard, but now...]

Does this look like a hallucination!?

[...now, with an exoskeleton-like frame, it's clear that he needs them to actually /stand/. there is an injury, there, one that is fresh and gruesome and ugly. even with the basic first aid Callaghan's applied, it's clear that this is something that needs further attention]

You want further proof? Fine. Wait here for a few more hours, I'm sure I could get the bartender to even get you a drink. I wasn't planning on staying any longer than I needed than for Yama to make good on his promise of a doctor, but if that's what it takes for you to see the full consequences of your actions, fine.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro presses a hand to his mouth, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea. He's not prepared for this. He doesn't have a sharp reply or a logical counter that he hasn't already given, except that this is recent and Hiro knows Baymax was docked at his charging station just this morning, that he'd been there all night long. But Callaghan isn't going to hear it.

Something hurt him. Hiro isn't convinced it's Baymax, but there's still that festering, tiny doubt, like what if, beyond all odds, it was true and somehow this all came back to him. Full consequences of your actions. Hiro flinches visibly.

Even if Callaghan's really paranoid and making this up, that's still a direct consequence of setting Baymax on him in the first place.]

I didn't do this. I swear. I don't know what's chasing you, but it isn't Baymax.

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's a bitter satisfaction at Hiro's reaction- hadn't realized it might not be quick and clean like you hoped?- but he remains standing for a few more moments before letting out a heavy breath and letting the microbots return to their position.]

I don't have any reason to trust you.

[there's a slight wince as they reseat themselves and as he sits down, but it'll pass. with the area deliberately numbed it's more uncomfortable than painful, especially with the microbots taking the weight. he still tries not to move it more than he has to, especially not when any revealing of weakness...

...hell, it was a bit frustrating to even ask for that doctor, with the forced promise of assisting in a heist.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro growls out a frustrated noise, eyes on the floor and fists balled at his side. He should give up, he's obviously not getting anywhere. But he's stubborn. In his opinion, more stubborn than one old man with a grudge and no sleep.

He came here to get information to help his brother. He's not giving up that easily.]

So you're not gonna help me. Fine.

[He pulls up a bar stool and plunks down on it, folding his arms and raising his chin.]

I'm gonna help you find and stop whatever's chasing you, and then you'll owe me again. Simple.

[pushtheboundaries]

[get out, Hiro. Callaghan certainly expects him to do as much, and by the beginnings of the slouch, seems about ready to return to his earlier position.

before pausing, as Hiro seats /himself/. he blinks a few times, expression shifting in to a slightly different frown.

you're serious, he wants to say. instead...he manages to snort, lightly, hiding his surprise by running a hand through his hair]

I was going to meet some people here.

[and you being around is going to make things incredibly awkward.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Yama's doctor, right. And whoever of Yama's crew decides to come with him. Hiro stifles the nervous look threatening to dart across his face and shrugs instead, scooting the stool over and emptying his pockets on to the pool table. Battery-drained EMP generator, a small screwdriver, some rubber bands and a couple of nickels, and his phone.

He swipes a button on the screen and brings up the info he needs to get in touch with Baymax. Easy. He's text-enabled; Hiro can get him to hop a bus downtown with one simple message.

....And then he hides it behind a game of tetris, just in case.]

Don't let me interrupt you. Unless you'd like somebody with a little bit more medical experience to look at that.

[pushtheboundaries]

[the fact that Hiro's turning out his pockets without even being asked is...a little surprising, honestly. Callaghan might have demanded it as a condition, if and or when it occurred to him. a reassurance that he hadn't other tricks up his sleeves, so to speaks. he can't help but glance over, brow furrowing before he glances towards some of the microbots as if to ask 'seriously?'

they make the rough equivalent of a shrug.]

If your brother's waiting outside, I'm going to be a little upset.

[it probably says something about the quality of care he's expecting that Tadashi is 'somebody with a little bit more medical experience'.]

[bigdamnhiro]

Yeah, right.

[He laughs a little in spite of himself. Hiro has some lines he won't cross, but there are far more he wouldn't think twice about crossing - especially when his brother's life is at stake. Tadashi's...not that kind of person. He's too good for his own good, sometimes.

Hiro doesn't like lying to him, but he doesn't have time for "safe" solutions.

He sneaks a sidelong glance at Callaghan, and then quickly, while he's looking at his microbots, keys in a message with a series of commands to Baymax - coordinates, transportation instructions, no armor, bring the nice first aid kit with the bells and whistles. It's sent and gone just as fast.]

Trust me, if Tadashi knew about this, he wouldn't be here and neither would I.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he's learning to expect anything with these two. or to expect nothing, and simply prepare for the worst. nonetheless, he looks back at Hiro just in time to not catch sight of anything suspicious.]

Fine. Then who...

[waitaminute. he narrows his eyes. you better not be implying whom he thinks you might be implying.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Well, at least Callaghan hasn't figured out he already sent out the call for help. Now he just has to stall for time, which he does by folding his hands in his lap and somehow managing to look totally innocent.

He's practiced. Baymax isn't the only one who knows how to look huggable and non-threatening. Hiro just uses it for less honest reasons. Previously, bot fighting cashmoney reasons.]

Don't look at me like that. He's very nice and knows over 10,000 medical procedures. And if you're a good boy, you'll get a lollipop after.

[pushtheboundaries]

[unluckily for Hiro, Callaghan knows very much what a little shithead piece of work he really is. he's not fooled, and the slow roll of the microbots affirms it. Hiro may have attempted to be reassuring, but he's being the exact opposite, right now.]

You have a short attention span, because I believe I already mentioned how my latest encounters with that thing have involved it trying to destroy me.

[he's not quite standing up to leave, but he looks close to it. guess who's getting upset anyway?]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Woah now. Cool your jets there, Callaghan. Hiro hrrmphs, dropping the innocent look to replace it with frustration.]

And you have some really weird logic going on in your head! You have information I need. Don't you think maybe the last thing I wanna do right now is try to destroy you? You need help. Baymax can help.

He can even do it in huggable, squishy mode if it makes you feel better.

[pushtheboundaries]

Don't patronize me. [it doesn't suit you, Hiro. still, the snapping is more for bravado than anything else, because he has to admit (to himself, if no one else) that he's not looking forwards to what Yama is going to supply him. logically, he knows that they're going to do the job; Yama wouldn't dare send him subpar anything, not with how intelligent he knows Callaghan is. the anesthetic may be questionable, but he should be able to at least set the bone properly.

or figure out an alternative.

...Callaghan is not looking forwards to an alternative.

he ends up getting to his feet, and while he does take a few steps for the door- he also turns and takes them right back, pacing.]

Assuming I do end up helping you. Through what conditions does Tadashi...'fade'? [he glances briefly at Hiro as though to confirm the term.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro is not-so-subtly halfway to his feet when Callaghan turns back from the door. He'd thought, for a second there, he'd have to chase the man out into the street - and he absolutely would've done it. That he doesn't have to shocks and humbles him enough that he thunks back down onto the stool without a word, his mouth open but struggling to form words.

A friendly reminder that he still can't ever predict what Callaghan's going to do next.]

It...h-he...

[He fumbles over words, and at first he can only nod and acknowledge, yes, fade is probably as accurate a description as anything else he could come up with. He didn't think he'd get the chance to explain so soon; consequently, he's not prepared to do so, and it all just sort of tumbles out in a rush.]

...Mornings, and late afternoons, almost never at night. The first time, it happened while we were out flying with Baymax, but I don't think that caused it because sometimes it just happens when everything's calm and normal. And it's happening more and more frequently.

He gets...warm. Burning up. Not like a fever, but like a space heater. And parts of him start to disappear, like see-through, like you could reach right through him - which I'm not planning on trying, by the way.

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan's only ever followed his own patterns, which, to a degree, are predictable. he does what he believes is necessary, whether it be taking a firm hand with his students, doing a little bit of manipulation to help them get over themselves, or setting a fire to cut himself off from everything that could have gotten in his way of closing an unpleasant chapter of his life. when stressed, he tends to simply things - perhaps too much - and with the 'threat' of Baymax being pulled in (even if he /is/ going to come, sooner or later, a simple fact that Callaghan has come to understand and perhaps not accept but acknowledge), he's trying to simplify what he can.

but as a man of science, Hiro's lack of attention to detail offends him. the narrowing of Callaghan's eyes is solely because if any of his students had given him that vagueness, he may have assigned them some extra work because clearly they weren't doing enough on their own. they - and Hiro - should know better]

Start a log. Time, date, any and all circumstances you can think of. Or find out if your brother already has, because if he's not doing so then he's slacking off.

[he raises a hand to point, and the microbots make their own sort of gesture in accompaniment...before pulling right back to him as he lowers his arm. they've taken to a slow flexing and curling, a tight writhing that only ever goes so far away from his body. it's almost as though someone was constantly working their fingers in to and out of fists, but for the most part, they avoid moving towards Hiro- Callaghan's attention seems to be inward enough that they focus on /him/]