moments with you.

10. Hair

Author's notes: This was originally intended to be a drabble, inspired by a fanfic I read. But since it was too short, I extended it a little. Unfortunately it took on a darker tone from there. I'm not really pleased with how this turned out :/ I hope GoGo and Tadashi aren't too OOC in this; Do give feedback, and if this chapter is really badly written or perceived, I'll take it down and replace it. Thanks for sticking with me for so long, readers!

~

"You really should tie your hair up, GoGo." The words are addressed at evening time, after lessons, to an exhausted and irritable GoGo Tomago in the Nerd Lab.

She glares at the speaker. "Shut it, Hamada. My hair's fine this way." To prove her point, GoGo sweeps her fringe away from her face casually. It doesn't work as well as she hopes - Her hair is plastered to her face, sweaty and limp after a day of lectures and gym. Admittedly, it has been some time since her last hair cut, and to emphasise that fact, her usually short and unkempt hair has somehow managed to graze her shoulders.

Tadashi's hand is already outstretched, an extra towel dangling casually from his fingers. Part of GoGo wonders if he has brought one on purpose, seeing as she has forgotten to bring hers. Tuesday's schedule definitely required a towel in light of the day's considerably strenuous gym class, but she has been up late the previous night again, working on the blueprints to her bike, and it has ended up slipping her mind. Her best friend certainly knows her well enough to foresee her actions, or maybe it was a mere coincidence. Sleeping at three in the morning did wonders to your memory and brain.

GoGo grabs the towel - careful not to let their fingers touch - and proceeds to dry her hair aggressively in response to Tadashi's calm but knowing smile.

Honey Lemon, Wasabi and Fred have left a while ago to dine at a nearby cafe. Not in the mood or energy for dinner, GoGo has excused herself, and Tadashi has opted to decline as well ("I need to check on my little brother"), though he does not seem in much of a hurry to leave now.

"Aren't you going to check on your little brother?" Her voice is tinged with sarcasm. Just as Tadashi is admittedly her best friend, the bond stretches two ways. GoGo's been friends with Tadashi long enough to know that his earlier excuse was most probably a lie, and that his younger brother isn't in a dangerous situation that would warrant his immediate attention. If that had been the case, Tadashi would have been out of the door and on his moped ages ago.

"He'll live," Tadashi answers breezily, though the thought of Hiro does seem to sober him up a little. GoGo gives an indifferent grunt ("Suit yourself.") and drapes the towel around her neck, seating herself on the empty chair next to her. She tries to ignore Tadashi's contemplative stare before he disappears out of his lab. He may have been staring into space, considering how to get Baymax to work (Or, at the very least, stop short-circuiting and setting his clothes on fire), for all GoGo knew. And these are the times when she thinks she doesn't really know her best friend that well, after all.

Her myriad of thoughts are cut off when she feels Tadashi's hands on her shoulders. Her first instinct is to swing her right elbow back and jam it into his ribs, but Tadashi seems to have more or less predicted her train of thought.

"Relax," He soothes hastily. "I'm just trying to tie your hair."

It's a little uncomfortable, GoGo thinks, her body snapped out of its casual slouch as she straightens her back in her seat. She fidgets slightly restlessly, her shoulders still tense under the warmth of Tadashi's fingers. On the other hand, Tadashi himself does not seem as bothered, though it is not like she can tell even if he is from her current position.

"How'd you get a hair tie in the first place?"

"Honey Lemon left it on her table." It's strange, given how her closest and sole female friend has never found a use for hair ties despite having the longest hair in the Nerd Lab. GoGo narrows her eyes contemplatively and mulls over delving a little deeper into the matter later.

"Where'd you learn how to tie hair, then?"

"Mother taught me when I was young. It was before Hiro was even born." His voice softens. "I think a small part of her was disappointed that I wasn't a daughter, so I learnt it to please her. She let me tie her hair after I got it right." Here, Tadashi gives a sheepish laugh. "It took her half an hour to remove it when it was time for bed. But she still kept it on for the rest of the day before that." There is a distinct pause, and Tadashi's hands stop moving. GoGo remains quiet.

"When I look back, I don't think I made a very great son to her after all."

GoGo doesn't quite know what to say to that, but she does know the feeling of missing one's mother. She remembers a time when she had a happy family, with a house deserving of the name 'home', and a mother who always taught her something new everyday. She also remembers how all of that has faded over time, how the marriage has strained and failed to work in the end, how goodbyes were said, and empty promises made, and how she has never seen her mother save the occasional letter afterwards.

Tadashi snaps her out of her reverie by saying, "I'm sorry for going off like that. You alright, GoGo?" His concern makes her flinch at her momentary weakness, and she hurriedly emerges from her chair. Her neck feels pleasantly cool now, her strands of hair suspended by the purple hair tie Tadashi has borrowed from Honey Lemon.

GoGo pats her short ponytail tentatively - it is a simple hairstyle that should not have taken so long, but as her fingers grazes water droplets when she combs them through her hair, she thinks it took a reasonable amount of time in the end.

"Hey, Tadashi." Tadashi is long preparing to leave as he gathers his notes and stuffs them into his bag. At the mention of his name, he turns towards GoGo curiously.

"I... Thank you. You did a good job..." GoGo clears her throat, feeling slightly awkward. "The point is, you're a great brother and a great friend. And I bet you were a great son too." GoGo gives a small smile, an unusual break from her stoic mask. "That's why I'm sure your mother was really proud of you."

Tadashi replies by staring at her quietly for a few seconds, until her she is starting to fluster under his gaze. Then his face breaks into the softest smile GoGo has ever seen (and that's something, coming from him).

"Thanks, Leiko." Hearing him use her original given name - the one her birth mother of Japanese descent has given her, takes her breath away for some reason.

"You should tie your hair more often. You look pretty." The momentary spell is broken by his words and GoGo glares at Tadashi, stomps on his foot as she stalks past him, and proceeds to locate the nearest barber on her motorbike.

She hopes he doesn't see the smile on her face when she leaves.