When Stars Collide, a BH6 x Dr Who crossover

Chapter Thirty Three: Decisions

Hiro felt like crap. There was no other way to put it. His body felt pummeled, and his head was killing him. He vaguely recalled hearing the most awful noise before losing consciousness, realizing he was technically asleep. It was a weird sensation, knowing he wasn't awake.

"Hey, bonehead." Tadashi was flicking him in the forehead and he opened his eyes.

"Stop it," he admonished his older brother, one hand going to his head to try and calm the raging headache.

Tadashi leaned back against something, a chair maybe? Hiro wasn't sure. "Not bad," the older Hamada said. "You did good. Got the crap beat out of you, but you did good. I'm proud of you."

Feeling rather groggy, Hiro groaned as he tried to move. "Thanks? I think?"

Tadashi helped him to a more upright position. "You've helped out a lot of people, you know. You're a hero, and I couldn't be any prouder. But I have to tell you something. The entity promised to help you with something if you helped them. Don't ask them to bring me back, okay?"

That brought Hiro upright in a hurry. "What?! Why not! All I ever wanted was to have you back! Don't take that chance away from me!"

Hiro felt his brother's hands settle on his shoulders. "Hey, I already told you. I'll always be right here." He moved one hand to touch Hiro's chest, just above his heart. "Isn't that enough?"

The boy shook his head, tears leaking from his eyes. "It's never enough," he sobbed. "I miss you so much. I don't ever want to lose you again."

"Even at the expense of what you have now?"

Hiro looked up at that comment. "What do you mean?"

Tadashi removed his hands and cupped his neck as he sighed. "You can't have it both ways, you know. Someone I once met told me that some events are set in time, that stopping them would unravel the fabric of time itself. They're set for a reason. My death is one of those times."

"No!" Hiro protested, throwing himself at his brother's chest. "No!"

"Hey," Tadashi soothed. "It's okay. Just think about it for a moment. If I don't die, would you be who you are now? Wouldn't that change things?"

Sniffling, Hiro had to nod.

"Don't be sad," Tadashi continued. "You'll get through this, one day at a time. I know you will. You're strong. Just remember that everything I did, I did for you. Make that count. Don't dwell on the past."

Tadashi vanished from his arms like smoke. "Tadashi! No!" Hiro cried out as he took a few quick steps forward to regain his balance. "Don't leave me!"

"Hiro."

The boy turned around to see his friends standing in front of him. "Guys. I..." he swallowed hard, more tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

"You have done well," Baymax said. "We require only one more thing, a way to return home. Once that is accomplished, we will help you with your wish."

Tadashi's words echoed in Hiro's mind. Don't ask them to bring me back, okay? Something seemed to rip inside his heart but he nodded. "I don't want you to bring him back," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I don't need a reward."

Wasabi nodded. "That's fine. But as you are the only one we can connect with, we still need you to take us back home. The rip in time and space is closing. We don't have much time."

Hiro closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to rally his spirit. "I don't know how to get you back there," he confessed. "I'm still just a kid. I can make things and I'm good with my hands, but I don't know how to get you back there."