Steadfast Soldier

White Out

"Ow! Ow, stop!"

Hiro lifted his hands to swat at Baymax's gloved digits, trying to keep them from touching his aching head. Despite the crusted blood in his hair, Hiro insisted that it was a mere bump and refused the help that the nurse bot kept offering. He pushed the glove up and away, armored body shivering as the cold winds rushed through the crevices of his plating. They were keeping up well enough with the jet, but they had lost the trail once the heavy snow settled in. Unable to fly through the white walled sky, Hiro chose to land and wait out the harsh winds in hopes of catching a moment of slow weather. Baymax, as he usually did, took the rest stop as a moment to scan and begin treating his charge's wounds. With an annoyed sigh of defeat, Hiro let the nurse bot continue with his procedure, dropping his arms in his lap. He brushed snow from the black leather of his boots, grumbling about the cold.
"You have a laceration along your skull. I will apply a mild antibiotic to allow a speedy recovery."
"Whatever you want, bud," Hiro replied, tilting his head as the other worked.

The sting of the spray had him wriggling in his spot, fingers curled into tight fists as he avoided hissing in pain. Signs of pain could lead to more care and protocol from Baymax, which would only delay their departure further.
"You are: tense."
Hiro resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he shook out his arms and settled in his spot, only moving with the shivers of his body. The wind had a familiar crispness to it, reminding him of the heavy winds blowing from across the bay, though he was hardly used to the temperatures that brought snow. He crossed his arms over his chest armor, coiling his body tight to gather his warmth.
"It's just cold, that's all," Hiro mumbled, shivering in his armor as he clutched his arms, "I hope we don't lose the trail. The last thing we need is to be stranded out here in the middle of a snow storm."
Although Baymax didn't answer, Hiro assumed that the bot had the same concerns that he did.
"The storm should settle soon." Armored digits fixed his hair, pressing upturned strands down, settling them in place. Hiro allowed Baymax to finish his treatment, smiling slightly at the familiar feeling.
"Really missed you, buddy."

Ever since he had left the comfortable café in San Fransokyo, Hiro had felt an ache within his heart. He often wondered how his Aunt was doing and if she was staying away from any potential dangers. There was still so much he didn't understand about the world he had immersed himself into and Cass hardly had any idea. His Aunt was wise in many ways, but also very oblivious in an innocent way. In Hiro's genius opinion, Cass wasn't ready for the gravity of the truth he continued to keep from her. Not only were the Avengers fighting one another, but the entire idea of the Avengers was falling apart, and he had no personal ties, aside from his connection to specific members. For Hiro, the airport battle had been very much like watching a fight outside of the café. He had no say in the situation, but he still chose to step in and help when it was necessary. The Avengers may have been broken apart, but he knew that they would continue to do the right thing if it was called for.
"How's Aunt Cass?"
"Aunt Cass is doing: well. The café has been busy. My job is: dishes."
"Yeah? I bet you're great at it," Hiro mumbled, gloved fingers plucking at his armor seams along his arms, "How's she doing...emotionally?"

The answer, although obvious, was still left in the unknown. Hiro expected her to be angry with him for leaving so abruptly, but he also knew that she may also have fallen into worry. The last thing he wanted was for his Aunt to stress herself out, struggling to understand where Hiro was and if he was safe. Baymax was silent for a moment, but his blinking optics gave way to a slight crease. When Baymax reacted in these subtle ways, Hiro liked to imagine his expressions, if he could have them. When the beady optic was narrowed by the white shutters, Hiro saw an invisible smile (or an annoyed frown), on the bot's faceplate.
"She expresses feelings of: grief and remorse but is overall happy. When I left her side, she expressed: concern. Aunt Cass misses you. And I have missed you as well."
The feeling of relief washed over the young genius and he wasted no time letting go of the breath he'd been holding. As disheartening as it was to hear that Cass was grieving and regretting, Hiro chose to relish in the fact that she was succeeding in her business and Baymax was helping her achieve a less stressful lifestyle. His smile was weak, but it seemed to earn approval from the nurse bot.
"I missed you, too. Both of you."
The time he had spent with Baymax, whether it had been alone or with friends, had always been the most memorable. He had such a close attachment to the Hamadas, regardless of who he stood beside. He knew that his Aunt had appreciated his presence just as much as Hiro had. With secrets now out in the open, however, Hiro knew that breaking apart the small family they had created was only to protect them. Homesickness was to be expected, though Hiro had little time to linger within its clutches for long.