Chapter 1
Tadashi dragged a hand across his face, sighing in frustration. The new project he’d come up with seemed like an impossible task. Who was he kidding though? Of course it wasn’t the project itself that was the cause of his lack of concentration!
He’d known for a long time that he’d have to tell Hiro sooner or later (please let it be later).
His little brother was an absolute genius. Tadashi had always known Hiro was something special, ever since the first time his parents had given the tiny bundle of new life for him to hold in his arms.
He’s always loved Hiro (how could he not love his adorable, cute, smart and...alright let’s stop there) but the love he felt for Hiro now and way back was...different. It had started like any other brotherly relationship (perhaps unusually strong, but an unusually strong, brotherly bond would naturally be the case if you’ve lost your parents at an early age like they had, right?).
When had these brotherly feelings began emerging into...something else? He couldn’t even remember how a platonic relationship with Hiro had felt like anymore. Best not dig in too deep.
It had been easier to push away these “unbrotherly feelings” when Hiro was still a toddler. As his little brother grew older though (or perhaps it was because of how long Tadashi had tried to ignore those feelings) it, gradually, became more difficult.
He’d never told anyone, not even aunt Cass, about those GPS tracking devices that he’d sewn into Hiro’s favorite hoodie once the boy started bot fighting.
A yawn made it’s way out of Tadashi’s mouth before he could stop it. Ok he had to cease the bad habit of staying up this late. He should try to get some sleep before school tomorrow.
As he was making his way up the stairs, the noise of his little brother padding out of their shared room met Tadashi’s ears.
“Tadashi?”
”Yes Hiro?” Studying his little brother in the darkness as best he could, Tadashi took the few steps left to the second floor. He reached out and felt unruly, black locks, carding his fingers through them. Hiro leaned into the touch.
“Nightmare?” Tadashi whispered, silently cursing. He should have been there when his brother needed him.
He felt Hiro nodding against his hand which had made it’s way down, stroking those wet cheeks.
“Alright, you’re sleeping in my bed tonight”.
“Really?” Hiro sounded eager and Tadashi’s heart skipped a beat.
“Of course”. Putting his hand on the small of Hiro’s back without thinking, Tadashi steered Hiro to Tadashi’s bed.