Chapter Text
They met on a forum about bot-building. NinjaFighter seemed like a goody-two-shoes obsessed with listing by-laws on bot-fighting under every comment that even referenced it.
He got downvoted a whole bunch, but he more than made up for it with upvotes on comments that showed his tech know-how. He’s generally helpful to the community when it comes to building, even writing walkthroughs for more advanced mechanics.
In fact, when Hiro started building his nanobots, NinjaFighter answered his questions and even gave him ideas for applications for it that he didn’t think of. They chatted back and forth, and soon Hiro got more excited to check his messages as MegabotBoy than his own texts. They sent each other memes, theories about the comics they read, and even life updates. Besides Tadashi, Hiro never felt so in tune with anyone.
It’s like NinjaFighter knew exactly what would make him laugh and he was always there for him when he had a shitty day. Whenever he pulls an all-nighter, NinjaFighter’s messages would help him through.
Before long, he learns all kinds of things about NinjaFighter, like the fact he’s an alpha a few years older than Hiro. He’s very idealistic and wants to change the way people see bots and their potential for good. That’s obvious from his public posts, but one thing no one else knew is that NinjaFighter is an orphan too. Not having an alpha role model at a young age has been scary, so he wants to make bots that help take care of people.
Hiro never really thought about having an omega role model. He made bots to fight at first because it helped him feel strong when he was always smaller and weaker than all his classmates. He always looked up to Tadashi, until he realized his admiration was becoming a borderline crush. That was the wake-up call Hiro needed and he started putting some distance between them.
But he doesn’t need to rely on Tadashi anymore. NinjaFighter gives him the kind of push he needs, not just to take his projects further, but to deal with life. NinjaFighter is supportive, sarcastic, hilarious, and Hiro’s best friend. Whenever Hiro gets a new message from NinjaFighter, he can’t help smiling, or the mushy warm feeling flooding his heart. Even when they are just talking about their day or being silly.
So when NinjaFighter got his first job, Hiro sends him bento box emojis as a joke. Even though technically he’ll start Monday and not the weekend.
NinjaFighter: Aww, a bento box? Are you my boyfriend now?
MegabotBoy: Yep. I love you.
Wait what?
Hiro didn’t even think about it before he sent it. He starts typing to play it off as a joke.
NinjaFighter: I love you too.
Hiro stops, his heart caught in his throat.
Really? Does he mean it? Hiro feels warm and nervous. For once, he doesn’t have a smart response. But even he knows it’s not good to leave someone on read when they say I love you too.
What should Hiro say?
He types something quickly.
MegabotBoy: So…do we have phone sex now?
Ahhh! It’s Hiro’s defence mechanism to just make weird jokes. He doesn’t know what else to say!
NinjaFighter starts typing.
Double ahhh! Did Hiro just a can of worms he’s not ready for?
MegabotBoy: I was just joking!!
NinjaFighter stops typing. Then he starts again.
NinjaFighter: About being my boyfriend? Or the phone sex?
Hiro stares. He never felt awkward chatting with NinjaFighter before. Now his feelings are squirming everywhere and he’s worried he made their friendship weird.
MegabotBoy: Tbh you’re my best friend. I love you man. I don’t have a lot of experience with this lol so not sure what happens now
NinjaFighter starts typing again.
Oh god, this is a long one. It reminds of Hiro of the rants NinjaFighter would have about bot-fighting being illegal whenever Hiro used to comment on events he wanted to go to.
NinjaFighter: That’s okay. We can take things slow. As long as I’m the only one…I don’t think it’s a good idea if you try having phone sex with other people on the internet. You never know who might be out there. You shouldn’t just trust anyone you meet online. Be more careful!
Hiro rolls his eyes. Of course he would give him a lecture. That goody-two shoes.
MegabotBoy: Of course you’re the only one.
NinjaFighter: Good.
Maybe the omega can egg him on a little.
MegabotBoy: So can I send you pics of my naked body? Spread my omega hole for you? ;)
NinjaFighter: No. You should never send any indecent photos that might identify you. You don’t need to expose yourself for me to love you.
Hiro’s heart stutters when he reads the word love. NinjaFighter really is sweet.
MegabotBoy: Wow you’re no fun. I would have covered my face.
NinjaFighter: I know you’re joking but you really shouldn’t send messages like that to a horny alpha. What if there were items or places in the background of your photos that made it easy for me to find you? You never know who could be dangerous.
NinjaFighter: Please be more careful love.
MegabotBoy: OKAY INTERNET BOYFRIEND! Or are you my internet alpha daddy?
NinjaFighter: We can sext if you want. But that’s it.
Hiro makes sure there’s nothing in the background and sends a photo of him sticking out his tongue. His face is cut off from the mouth down, showing only collarbone, chest and a pink nipple.
MegabotBoy: What about this? <3 You can’t tell who or where I am.
The wifi is a bit slow so the photo is still loading.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on his door. Hiro jumps. Well this is horrible timing.
“I’m busy!!”
“Hiro, I need your help,” Tadashi calls.
Oh right, his brother is officially moving out today. Most of his stuff is already gone. Right after Tadashi graduated, he got funding to further develop his startup Baymax Inc. at the top incubator in San Fransokyo, Alphabeta Labs.
He’s been slowly moving his things to the Alphabeta campus where his new place is. He stays there more nights than not now. Hiro pretends he can’t wait to have the whole room to himself but he actually misses Tadashi a lot.
The alpha has been working lots of late nights making new models for Baymax specific for alpha, beta, and omega patients. Now that he’s proved the basic Baymax model, the demand for customized care has skyrocketed.
Hiro’s happy for his brother’s success of course, which is why he doesn’t want Tadashi to know it makes him sad he’s leaving. Tadashi literally would move back in just to make Hiro feel better. The omega doesn’t want to hold his brother back.
Hiro pulls his shirt back on and opens the door.
“Hey Hiro,” Tadashi says, raising an eyebrow. “I know you probably miss me like crazy but you can’t keep my stuff locked in here.”
Hiro makes a face.
“What are you talking about? I can’t wait to have the whole pad to myself.”
Tadashi rolls his eyes and grabs his mattress. Hiro helps, even though the alpha does most of the lifting. It’s mainly positioning it down the stairs.
“Wait, don’t they give you a bed at the campus?” Hiro says as they toss the mattress into the moving van.
“Yeah but if you wanted to come visit overnight, then you’d need a mattress too.”
Now it’s Hiro’s turn to roll his eyes. As though his brother has time to host Hiro! He’s so busy with work, it’s a wonder he still has time to go to the gym and still visit him and Aunt Cas every other weekend.
“Like you have any time for me.”
Tadashi stops. Then he turns and clasps his hands on Hiro’s shoulders.
“I always want to spend time with you. You know that right?” The alpha’s voice is so sincere it makes Hiro a little melty inside.
The omega feels lucky he has NinjaFighter to keep his mind off of Tadashi. He confessed to NinjaFighter once a long time ago of his unrequited crush on an older alpha. Of course he left out the fact it was his big brother.
NinjaFighter had so many encouraging things to say about Hiro and even listed all the things that he has going for him. He said that alphas are dumb and only want one thing so Hiro should focus on being awesome instead. That’s when the omega knew for a fact NinjaFighter is a good guy.
“Well, I want to come and build with you.” Hiro’s nanobots could be a great support system for Baymax to use, even though he hasn’t quite gotten it wired to the AI’s commands yet.
Despite nanobots being a powerful game-changer, is it also prone to accidents and mass destruction without the proper fail-safes in place. It’s super boring limiting your own invention so Hiro has been putting it off. Tadashi is always telling him to keep working on it, and so does NinjaFighter.
But Hiro is hoping that getting Baymax to use it would make sure no human uses it for evil. Tadashi says that’s just a shortcut and he still needs to put limits on his invention.
“Or we can just hang out,” Tadashi says, squeezing Hiro on the cheek.
Ugh, he is not a little kid anymore! But before he can say anything, the alpha is already going back in to get the last of his things.
Hiro checks his phone. It looks like NinjaFighter hasn’t seen his last message yet. Oh wait, it just says seen.
He hears a bunch of things clatter to the floor from upstairs. When he goes to help Tadashi, he notices the alpha is a little pink. He gets on his tiptoes and puts his hand on his brother’s forehead.
“Are you getting a fever from overworking ‘Dashi?”
But Tadashi avoids his eyes and gets back to packing.
Sheesh, what a workaholic!
~
NinjaFighter: You’re beautiful baby.
Took him long enough to respond!
MegabotBoy: Don’t sell my pics on the internet ;)
Hiro hopes NinjaFighter will send him a picture too. He seems fit since he talks about going to the gym and getting lots of free things when he goes to the store. Hiro gets freebies too, but it’s more because he’s short and cute.
The omega’s only form of exercise is running. He was mainly from thugs at first or just running late to class. Then it became a habit. He has a bit of a martial arts background from Tadashi, so he does parkour sometimes too. His nanobots are always there to catch him if he falls and he loves discovering new routes around the city.
Most of the time he doesn’t work out his arms as much, which means all the heavy lifting today made him so hungry. Fortunately, Aunt Cas brought approximately twelve boxes of tupperware with meal prep for Tadashi.
Their first official housewarming dinner at Tadashi’s new place is a very hearty meal. There’s shrimp salad with Aunt Cas’ signature sauce and lasagna mashed potatoes. Hiro actually helped with that too.
After dinner, Hiro offers to do the dishes, but Tadashi takes over. Hiro insists on helping but his big brother splashes him and flicks him with foam. In all the shouting and laughing, Tadashi’s phone slips from the corner of the counter. Hiro catches it and Tadashi quickly grabs it out of his hand.
Huh. Weird.
Hiro was only ever that jumpy when he was hiding his bot-fights. The omega narrows his eyes in suspicion at the phone in Tadashi’s back pocket.
“What are you hiding Tadashi? New girlfriend?”
The alpha actually turns red! Did Tadashi really find someone?
“I have a new boyfriend,” Hiro offers, hoping it’ll get the alpha to spill.
Tadashi frowns.
“Who?”
“I met him on the internet.”
The alpha feigns nonchalance. Something is making him uncomfortable.
“Sounds so trustworthy.” Damn Tadashi can be snarky.
“Relax, he’s even more protective than you. He was always on my ass about dangers of bot-fighting and sharing photos on the internet.”
Tadashi chokes.
“Uhm. You really shouldn’t be sharing photos of yourself on the internet with strangers.” The alpha scrubs the dishes harder.
“Well, what about your boo? How’d you two meet?”
Tadashi ignores him in favour of the dishes.
That’s it. Hiro has to know. He snatches the phone out of Tadashi’s jeans and runs away.
“HIRO! GET BACK HERE!”
The omega laughs. Tadashi might be bigger and stronger, but Hiro is faster. There are enough moving boxes around that Hiro can weave through and keep Tadashi from reaching him.
But then Hiro makes a left around the dining table and Tadashi makes a right. The alpha grabs the omega by the hood. Fortunately, Hiro’s hoods are all detachable and he breaks free. He runs to the washroom and locks himself in.
“Boys?! Quit horsing around!” Aunt Cas calls. She’s been putting plants out in the balcony and readjusting them for feng shui for the past twenty minutes.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
“Hiro, this isn’t funny,” Tadashi growls. “Don’t make me spank you.”
The omega shivers.
He’s never heard his brother this angry before. That means he must be on to something! The omega taps the screen, but of course, there’s a passcode. Tadashi is all about internet security. He even set up a private proxy for their entire family. The alpha is so paranoid, even his notifications are secret. It only shows what app it’s from and none of the messages inside.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
“I’m giving you THREE SECONDS to open up or I’m kicking down the door.”
Jeez. Dramatic much?
“You can’t do that! Alphabeta campus will think you’re a brute!” Hiro taunts.
The omega knows his brother can never stay mad at him for long. Besides, why is Tadashi so concerned? Surely there’s nothing on there that’s that bad. Hiro is the criminal in the family anyway.
“Hiro, if you come out now I’ll let you test nanobots on Baymax.”
Hiro snickers. Is the alpha seriously trying to bribe him? Haha, he can’t be bought, even with such a tempting offer.
What could have gotten Tadashi so rattled? Hiro decides to pretend to agree to stall.
“Really? We can work together again?” Hiro says.
Then Hiro sees a notification for an upvote pop up on Tadashi’s phone. It’s from Redchan, the same app Hiro talks to NinjaFighter on. It’s pretty popular and well-known for its many forums.
“Yes, but only if you come out right now.”
Huh. He’s got a strange feeling about this.
“And you’ll let me work on campus with you?”
“Yes! Anything!” Tadashi rattles the door harder.
A crazy thought enters Hiro’s mind. It’s an insane theory but it would explain Tadashi’s behaviour.
No, that would be crazy. It can’t be.
“HIRO?!”
On a whim, Hiro messages NinjaFighter an emoji.
Tadashi gets a new message notification.
It’s silent but it’s there.
Hiro stares, stunned. That must be a coincidence, right?
“That’s it! You have three seconds!” Tadashi shouts.
“THREE!”
Hiro messages NinjaFighter again. Another notification.
Hiro’s blood goes cold.
“TWO!”
Hiro tries one more time. AGAIN a notification.
“ONE!”