A/N: I love this movie and I am forever indenial. And I love the brotherly bond between Tadashi and Hiro. Family feels!

Summary: Hiro always knew that nightmares were not to be confused with reality, but what happens if a nightmare turns out to be prophetic? Alive!Tadashi

The fire siren was bleeping and the heat and ember were beginning to shroud the night's sky. The showcase building was on fire. The people screamed and ran in panic outside.

Tadashi caught a young woman struggling to walk and coughing from the smoke.

"Are you alright?"

She tried to keep calm as she replied.

"Yeah, I'm ok, but Professor Callaghan is still in there!" She then continued to run, needing to get away from the smoke.

Hiro knew the look in Tadashi's eyes. He didn't like it. He desperately clasped unto Tadashi's arm.

"Tadashi no!"

Tadashi knew what his brother was asking behind those words, but this time he couldn't do it, not even for Hiro.

"Callaghan is in there. Someone has to help." He bolted up the stairs and as he ran his beloved hat slipped off his head.

In the midst of his panic Hiro saw Tadashi's hat land by his feet. He picked up, staring down at it. Hiro couldn't stand it, he had to go in after him, but just as Hiro had made up his mind he was blown backwards by an unseen force. The next thing he knew he was on the ground and as he looked back up the building was completely engulfed in flames.

Hiro stared at the fire as he finally realised what had happened.

"TADASHI!"

Hiro shot up gasping for air. He was covered in sweat, frantically looking around at his surroundings. Hiro quickly realised that it wasn't leftover debris, but his bedroom. His first thoughts were of his brother.

Tadashi!

He stumbled out of bed, hitting the floor as he went to check the other side of the room. Hiro felt like he could breathe again because there he was; his big brother asleep in bed, safe and sound but most importantly alive. Hiro let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. He took another moment to quietly watch his brother from a far. Hiro watched as Tadashi's chest rose and fell with each breath.

Hiro knew watching someone sleeping was creepy. He also knew that if Tadashi found out he would never let him live it down. But it provided him the needed reassurance that it was just a horrible dream. He convinced himself it must've been caused by stress. He had been up late due to nerves.

Suddenly, Aunt Cass' voice was head from outside the door.

"Hiro! Tadashi! Time to get up! You two have a very big day ahead!"

Tadashi groaned and moved his pillow over his head in protest. Tadashi was usually an early riser, but he still had his days where he just wanted to sleep in. It gave Hiro a chance to slip back to his side of the room as he looked at the poster about the showcase that Tadashi stapled up on the wall.

Pull yourself together, Hamada.

Hiro knew that he needed to have his head in the game. He needed to go to that nerd school.

I shouldn't let something like a stupid dream stop me. Besides, it was just a dream and they're harmless. Tadashi's fine. Nothing's going to happen to him. Or rather that's what he kept telling himself.

Hiro turned around with a sly grin. He ran and leapt on to Tadashi's bed and started jumping on it.

"Tadashi, time to get up! C'mon you big nerd!"

"Agh! Get off me, you bonehead!" Tadashi immediately whacked Hiro with his pillow.

As they ate breakfast Hiro just kept staring at Tadashi, like he told himself before, it was just a dream. But he couldn't help but be at least a little shaken up. It wasn't everyday that he'd dream of his brother perishing in a fire.

It was unfortunate for Hiro that Tadashi finally noticed Hiro's gaze on him.

"Do I have something on my face or something?" Tadashi asked.

That's when Hiro knew that he had been staring too long. He quickly saved himself from the truth and embarrassment.

"Yeah you got a lil' something all over your…oh wait, never mind that's just your face."

Tadashi shook his head at Hiro's lame joke.

"Even for you Hiro that was so lame. You can come up with better than that."

"Is that a challenge?" Hiro smirked.

"So coming up with good comebacks is a challenge for you?" Tadashi was obviously amused with himself as he gently, but not too gently, kicked Hiro from under the table.

Hiro would've started an all-out war against Tadashi if their aunt hadn't halted the 'fight'.

"Boys, please, not at the table."

Silently obeying their aunts request, the two stopped. Tadashi went back to drinking his milk with a smile, obviously proud of himself that he got the last word in. Hiro rolled his eyes.

Dream or not, Tadashi's fine.

Hiro felt like everything about the day seemed too familiar for comfort. The showcase hall, the inventions, the people. The list could go on.

It was almost like he had lived the day before. But that was obviously an illogical notion so he brushed such thoughts to the side for the entirety of the day. And by the end of the day, all such thoughts were drowned out by his happiness. Hiro had just got accepted into the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. He was ecstatic.

As the whole gang happily exited the showcase, Tadashi told their Aunt and the others to go ahead as he pulled Hiro to the side. Tadashi lead Hiro to a railing that showed a beautiful view of the campus. Hiro smirked as he approached his brother.

"I know what you're going to say," Hiro put on a mockingly deep voice. "I should be proud of myself because I'm finally using my gift for something important."

Tadashi had a larger smirk than of that of his little brother's.

"Oh, no. I was just going to tell you that your fly was down for the whole show."

"Ha-ha, hilarious." Hiro sarcastically rolled his eyes, but a part of him couldn't help but wonder…. "What!?"

He quickly zipped up his fly and elbowed Tadashi as he began to laugh. The two quickly got over it as Tadashi smiled.

"Welcome to nerd school, nerd."

Tadashi was so proud and Hiro knew it, and that meant more to him than Tadashi would ever know.

"Hey, I..uh…" Hiro didn't know how to express what he wanted to say. He felt slightly embarrassed but he knew he could swallow that 'manly' pride for a moment or two. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you so, you know….Thanks for not giving up on me."

Tadashi smiled. He was about to tell Hiro that he never had to thank him for that. He didn't need to ever say that, not to him. But the moment was spoiled by a siren that echoed through the air.

The screeching triggered something in Hiro. He recognised the sounds of the sirens. It was the same to his dream.

That can't be what I think that is.

Tadashi looked to Hiro, his eyes filled with worry. Tadashi began running off toward the source of the sirens. Hiro hesitated for a moment before following his brother's footsteps. The two ran to the building following the sounds of screaming mixed with the sirens. Hiro froze at the all to familiar sight.

That's impossible! It was just a nightmare! This can't be happening!

The building was completely on fire from the inside. Everything became identical to that horrid dream. It was all coming true, right down to Tadashi asking a young woman if she was alright for her to reply exactly the same that Tadashi's mentor, Professor Callaghan, was still inside the burning building.

Without even thinking, Tadashi was about to run toward the building. Before he had the chance, Hiro grabbed onto Tadashi's arm.

"Tadashi, no!" Hiro yelled. Only after he had said it did Hiro realise that he was repeating what he had once said in his dream.

Hiro saw Tadashi's conflict written across his face. Tadashi looked at the building then back to Hiro. Tadashi knew that he couldn't leave his brother outside alone in the chaos, but he had to do the right thing.

"Callaghan is in there. Someone has to help." Tadashi said with a mix of fear and determination.

Hiro slightly gasped at the repeat of hearing those words once again. His nightmare was now a reality. Hiro's heart was pounding and he began breathing too quickly. Under different circumstances Tadashi would've seen his younger brother's distress, but he didn't in that moment of panic.

Hiro loosened his grip long enough for Tadashi to think Hiro was letting him go so he tried to attempt to run toward the blazing building.

No, no, no, no, no! It can't be happening! Not again!

The memory of the dream and the current reality were clashing together.

It all boiled down to one simple fact.

Tadashi was going to die.

Hiro suddenly couldn't breathe. He clutched his chest and collapsed down to his buckling knees. His hearing and sight began to fade in and out with each failed breath.

He couldn't see it happen all over again. Once was enough.

"TADASHI!" Hiro yelled with everything he had inside him. His voice dripping with fear and desperation. He needed his big brother and he needed him alive.

Tadashi wasn't even half way up when he automatically stopped at the sound of Hiro's screaming his name. Never in his whole life had Tadashi heard Hiro scream like that. He immediately turned around only to see the sight of his little brother collapsing and clutching his chest.

"HIRO!" In that moment, Callaghan was forgotten. All that mattered was Hiro.

Tadashi was back down the stairs and to Hiro's side quicker than what anyone would have thought was humanly possible. He only found a small relief in the fact that Hiro was still conscious, but that was before he discovered that Hiro was barely breathing.

Tadashi put a strong and steady hand on his shoulder.

"Hiro! Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Both were stupid questions to Hiro. No, he was definitely not okay. His moron of a brother was about to run to his fiery tomb. There was 'obviously' nothing wrong with that. Hiro just began to spout words that ended up mostly incoherent. All Tadashi could gather was something along the lines of 'you'll die' but that didn't make any sense to him.

"Hiro, please just breathe. Deep breaths."

With what little breath that Hiro could muster, he tried to explain himself.

"The...the building...is about to..." Hiro shook his head and ended up pleading. "...just don't go in, don't do it! Please!"

Tadashi just furrowed his eyebrows in further confusion. However, before Tadashi could reply like on a cue the building exploded. The pair were knocked over to the ground by the force of the blast.

For a moment, everything went white. All Tadashi could hear was a ringing before it finally died down and he saw the building now completely engulfed in flames.

"Callaghan." Tadashi slowly muttered. Before he could fully absorb what had just unfolded, a realisation suddenly struck him.

Wait...Hiro!

Tadashi frantically looked to his side just to see Hiro sitting up and seemingly uninjured. But what worried Tadashi was that Hiro was blankly staring at the flames from the building infront of them.

"Hiro?" He softly shook his shoulder and felt Hiro trembling under his touch. Hiro didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the fire like it had him entranced. Tadashi felt a spike of panic go through him. He tried again as he moved himself infront of Hiro to block his gaze from the flames.

"Hey, c'mon buddy. Look at me." Hiro's gaze was still elsewhere. It was like Tadashi wasn't there. Much like his gaze, Hiro's mind was else where. Somewhere where he could try and make sense to what he had seen and what was going to happen.

Tadashi tried his best keep calm as he was suddenly overwhelmed by the fear that Hiro could be slipping away. In a last attempt to bring Hiro back to reality, Tadashi cupped the sides of Hiro's face.

"Hiro, please. I'm right here, look at me. Don't look at the fire, look at me. C'mon, comeback to me."

A few heart clenching seconds passed before Hiro finally responded. Hiro came back to his sense as he blinked and realised who was infront of him.

"T-Tadashi?"

Tadashi let out a sob in relief.

"Oh thank God." Tadashi whispered to himself as he attempted to pull Hiro in an embrace, but Hiro wasn't having any of that.

Hiro began to slam his fist against Tadashi's chest. The punches were getting harder and much more aggressive. It was nothing like when they were playfully fighting. They were real punches.

"Hiro! Hey! Stop!" Tadashi sloppily tried to shield himself. "What are you-"

Hiro cut him off as he angrily yelled at him, enunciating each word with a punch.

"YOU-STUPID -IDIOT! WHAT-WERE-YOU-THINKING!?"

Hiro stopped punching and he tried to shove Tadashi, but failed to push him right over. Hiro threw his fists at Tadashi with no real aim.

"AND YOU CALL ME A KNUCKLEHEAD?! WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU..." Hiro couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence.

Tadashi caught Hiro's fist before it could collide with his face. Hiro's angry facade began to crumble down. Hiro began shaking more than before but he still tried to keep composure of his voice.

"What would happen-...what would've I done if you...?" Hiro's voice broke and so did the angry expression on his face.

Tadashi felt his own chest tighten as he was hit by a wave of guilt as he knew exactly what Hiro meant. Before Hiro was about to break into pieces right infront of him, Tadashi pulled Hiro into his arms. Tadashi's embrace wasn't too firm or too gentle.

Hiro weakly tried to pull away in an attempt to stay mad, but Tadashi just held him tighter. And Tadashi wasn't planning on letting Hiro go anytime soon. It wasn't long before Hiro let himself melt into the hug. Hiro shut his eyes focusing in on his senses. He listened to his brother's breathing and constant heartbeat.

Tadashi was right there with him.

My dream didn't come true. I stopped him in time. He's alive.

Hiro couldn't stop himself from trembling even though he knew that the calamity had been avoided. Tadashi rubbed soothing circles on Hiro's back. It was only a whisper, but what Hiro said next almost broke Tadashi.

"That could've been you in there."

It hit Tadashi hard that Hiro was right. If Hiro hadn't called him back, he would've been in there during the blast with Callaghan. He would have shared the same fate. Tadashi knew that he unknowingly had to make a choice; his brother or mentor. When push came to shove and Tadashi ran back to Hiro, he made his choice. He chose Hiro. The weight of the situation didn't hit him quite yet, but none of that mattered. All that mattered in that moment was Hiro.

Tadashi forced himself to pull slightly away from the hug enough so he could look Hiro in the face. Hiro wasn't trembling anymore, but he looked clammy. Hiro instantly knew that his brother was already scanning him for any injuries, but he didn't get the chance to do it properly as the paramedics and firemen came swarming at them.

Tadashi and Hiro sat by an ambulance as the paramedics wanted to give both Tadashi and Hiro quick examinations. Neither of the brothers had anything serious, just a couple of grazes and bruises. As the paramedic was just finishing up they heard a panicked shout.

"Tadashi! Hiro!" Aunt Cass almost tripped over herself as she ran down to the two and immediately starting inspecting the two as best she could. "Are you two alright? I saw the smoke and then heard the explosion and I thought-"

"Aunt Cass, we're okay." Tadashi interrupted as he attempted to reassure her, "We're just a little shaken up."

"Oh my boys!" She gave out a large sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're both alright." Aunt Cass wrapped her arms around the two. Both of the boys leant into the loving touch of their aunt.

The moment was interrupted when they all heard a familiar and loud voice from a distance.

"That woman has to have super speed, I'm telling you guys now cause I'm calling it." Of course Fred would be the one to comment on Aunt Cass' speed.

The group visibly relaxed at the sight of both Hiro and Tadashi. They were alright. It wasn't long before the policemen arrived. They asked Tadashi to give them a witness statement.

But it took a while to pry Hiro away from Tadashi since he wasn't letting Hiro go. If it weren't for Hiro pulling away first and giving the nod to signify to Tadashi that it was okay, the others knew that they would've had to get a crowbar between the two to get Tadashi to finally let go.

"Call us if you need anything."

"We're here if you need us."

"We'll drop by tomorrow to see how you two are doing."

Tadashi couldn't be more thankful for his friends. They really cared about him and Hiro. They said their farewells and the brothers finally got into Aunt Cass' car and she began to drive them the two home. Tadashi pressed his forehead on the cool glass of the window and let out a deep sigh.

It was a long and eventful day, but he was just thankful that everyone came out of it alright, well, everyone except Callaghan. Sorrow finally began to fill his heart as the gravity of what happened started to settle in. Tadashi was quite close with the man and he really looked up to Callaghan. He felt guilt trying to take its place over sorrow, but that's when he looked to Hiro. He saw him sitting in silence and staring off into the distance.

Tadashi lightly nudged Hiro's shoulder.

"Hey." Hiro looked to him after a delayed response. Tadashi slung his arm over Hiro. "You should try and get some rest, we should be home soon."

Hiro didn't even attempt to protest as he leaned his head against his Tadashi's shoulder.

Tadashi slightly moved his head on top of Hiro' understood that it was impossible to get to Callaghan in time, but all those 'what ifs' flooded his mind, but they were silenced by his want to be there for his brother. Without even realising it, Tadashi disregarded how he felt. Hiro came first, at least for now.

Tadashi thought it was a miracle, but Hiro was fast asleep by the time they got home. Aunt Cass helped open doors as Tadashi carried Hiro back into the café and up the stairs before Aunt Cass kissed both Tadashi and a sleeping Hiro on the cheek before wishing them to try and get some rest.

"I'll be down here if you need anything." She whispered.

Tadashi nodded and continued to walk back into his and Hiro's room. He carefully placed Hiro back on his bed. He slowly peeled off Hiro's jacket and shoes before making sure he was tucked in. Tadashi brushed his hand through Hiro's hair.

"Goodnight Hiro."

Tadashi flopped on to his own bed and let out a massive sigh. Callaghan was gone. Tadashi pinched the bridge of his nose, keeping his tears away. Tadashi lied down, not intending to sleep but just rest. He still wanted to have a shower.

Though as soon as Tadashi went to his own bed, Hiro began to twitch uncomfortably in his sleep.

***EDIT UPDATE: Finally got to fixing up some grammatical mistakes years later. Whether you're enjoying this for the first time or re-reading it, I hope you don't mind some of the minor tweaks I've made. Hope you're having a lovely day and thanks for reading!