"AUNT CASS!"

"No no no no no! Tadashi wait! You promised you wouldn't get mad!" Hiro stumbled out of bed and over to his older brother.

Tadashi glared at Hiro. "What the hell were you thinking? Don't you know how dangerous bot fighting is?"

Hiro looked down at the floor. "I wasn't thinking…"

"Seriously Hiro?" Tadashi groaned.

Hiro grimaced at his older brother's response.

"I'm sorry Tadashi... I know it was stupid but just give me a minute to explain. I'm scared Tadashi… I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Hiro flinched when he heard the door open and he sent a pleading look to Tadashi.

Tadashi's expression softened and he gave a sigh.

"What is it Tadashi? Is Hiro being uncooperative?" Aunt Cass asked from the doorway.

"No, Hiro is fine Aunt Cass. I was just going to ask if you could get Hiro an extra blanket from downstairs but he says he's warm enough."

Hiro looked up at his brother with a relieved smile.

Aunt Cass nodded. "Well alright, go ahead and call if you need anything boys. Do you want some soup for dinner Hiro? It's getting to be about that time. I should start now if you feel up to eating."

Hiro nodded. He could handle soup. In fact it was one of the things he liked most when he was feeling like he was now. "Soup sounds good. Thanks Aunt Cass."

Aunt Cass gave a small smile. "Sure, I'll go ahead and bring it up when it's done."

Hiro let out a nervous laugh when the door closed behind his aunt. "I thought you were going to throw me under the bus there for a minute Tadashi."

"Telling Aunt Cass isn't throwing you under the bus Hiro. She only wants what is best for us. You'd be grounded but she wouldn't get you in legal trouble. You'd better have a good explanation though or else I will have to tell her. Explain from the beginning." Tadashi sat down beside Hiro's bed and stared intently at his younger brother.

Hiro stifled a quiet cough and nodded. "Fine, ok, I will."

A moment passed and Tadashi raised an eyebrow.

Hiro blushed slightly. "It kind of started last year… Do you remember when I started coming home with all those cool parts?"

Tadashi nodded. "Yeah I thought it was a little weird at the time I wasn't sure where you were getting the money to buy those things."

Hiro sighed. "I made a friend at school. He was an eighth grader. I knew when I met him I knew he wasn't exactly a good kid but I was having so much trouble having anyone like me that I didn't want to drive him away by being prude."

Tadashi nodded. "I remember how excited you were when you made your first friend in middle school. I should have tried to meet him. Why didn't you tell me you were having trouble with him sooner?"

Hiro bit his lip. "I didn't want you to say I shouldn't hang out with him. I didn't want to go through middle school without any friends at all! No one else liked me. I think it was because I skipped so many grades. Anyway he and I were in a robotics class together. I think he saw how good I was at building cool bots and he wanted me to help him build something for bot fighting tournament. I didn't realize that was what he was after at the time but even if I did I'm not sure I would have stopped."

Tadashi sat down again and laid his head in his hands. "I think I understand now. I just wish you would have told me earlier. Are you still friends with that kid?"

Hiro shook his head. "He stopped hanging out with me after I built him his bot but by then I was way too deep in with bot fighting to stop. I was making so much money. I could build so much cool stuff and the ring gave me a reason to build and a way to test my skills. I'm sorry Tadashi."

Tadashi groaned. "Alright, that's how you got started. I get that part but what does it have to do with the kidnapping?"

Hiro grimaced. "I'm kind of really good at bot fighting. I've made a name for myself with the red meta rings. The person behind those rings wants to use me to infiltrate another gang's rings."

Tadashi's eyes widened. "You're part of a gang!?"

Hiro shook his head quickly. "No! I'm not sure why they chose me. I just fight in their rings and they took notice. I think they think I'm a good candidate because I don't seem threatening."

Tadashi stood up. "Can't you just walk away from the rings and not go back?"

Tears sprung into Hiro's eyes and he shook his head. "I can't! They know who I am and…" Hiro froze.

Tadashi put his hands on Hiro's shoulders. "What is it?"

Hiro took a shuddery breath. "They're going to come after you if I don't do this for them."

Tadashi gaped. "You're kidding right? Damn it Hiro this is serious!"

Hiro bit his lip. "I know! That's why I'm coming to you Tadashi. I don't know what to do!"

Tadashi groaned. "Just sleep Hiro. I… I need some time to think."