Hiro x Mute! Reader: Screaming Is Useless Pt. 3

    People wandered around the showcase, viewing all of the machines and contraptions, while you and the group congratulated Hiro. He had a shy smile on his face, his cheeks a hint of pink. You could hardly hear what he was mumbling over Honey Lemon and Fred being so loud. 

    "Alright!" said Aunt Cass, "Dinner's on me!" 

    "Yes!" Fred fist-bumped the air. "Nothing's better than free food! Unless it's moldy..."

    Hiro held your hand as everyone headed out the door. The cool air gently hit you in the face, cooling down your flushed face. The stars calmly lit the night sky as people exited the building. SFIT balloons were floating weightlessly in the sky, guided by a small breeze. Cass and the others were merrily talking among themselves, heading towards their vehicles. 

    "Hey, Aunt Cass," said Tadashi, "Hiro and I are going to hang out for a bit. We'll catch up with you later."

    Cass sighed. "Ok..." she ran to Hiro and engulfed him in a hug. "I love you!! I love you both!" she exclaimed, before walking away.

    You looked at Hiro. I'll go join the others, you signed. Hiro gave you a confused look, not able to catch every motion of your hands. You mouthed the words to him. 

    "Ok," he smiled and kissed you on the forehead, holding his warm lips there for a few seconds. "Thanks for everything."

    You signed a quick No problem, and began to walk away, before he called you back.

    "Hey, could you actually do me a favor?" he asked shyly. "Could you get Wasabi and the others to help pack up my microbots? I'll help in a second, I just need some time with Tadashi."

    You nodded, turning sharply on your heels to find everyone. A silky warmth was still radiating through your head where Hiro had kissed it. You rubbed it softly and closed your eyes, cherishing every detail of that moment. Who knew? It might be the last time you would ever feel his lips on your skin.

    You wandered around for a while, searching for any of your friends, mostly Cass; none of them were in sight, and of course you couldn't call out to them, so all you had to rely on was your sight. You went back into the convention building, walking through the many displays and technology, still not finding any of them. You were frustrated. It's as if they all ran away when Hiro mentioned the word 'favor'.

    Pulling your phone out of your pocket, you were about to text Honey Lemon when you hatched an idea. They're microbots, right? So you would be able to pack them away yourself, using the neurotransmitter to guide them back into the recycling bins. Of course, you weren't sure what you had to do in your brain to complete the action of moving them, but it sounded like a fun experiment to try.

    You walked around the devices, mentally judging them as you passed them. One of them, a contraption that did nothing more than clap a set of bionic hands, seemed completely useless. However, one that looked like an underwater elliptical, seemed useful, in case you started sweating too much in a workout; the thought of being completely doused in cold water made you smile: you marked that off on your list of things to do before going to bed. 

    Arriving at the stage, you found it completely rid of microbots, and the lights were off. You saw the recycling bins, but when you peered inside them, they were empty. Further inspection showed that the neurotransmitter was also missing. 

    Fear rose into your chest. Of course it wasn't your fault that everything was missing, but still, you could only imagine the anger that Hiro would feel when he saw that his microbots were missing. You looked under the skirt of the stage, searching for anything that resembled a microbot or a headband-looking-thing.

    Nothing. Everything was gone.

    You began to sweat from the anxiety. You pulled out your cell and sent a text to Hiro, telling him to help you find everything. Your fingers shook, and you had to try three times to press the send button. You tucked it back into your pocket, wiping the sweat from your forehead. Why am I so nervous? you thought. It's not like you've never lost anything before now.

    Suddenly, you heard clicking near the back of the building. It was getting louder. And louder. And it was simply annoying the heck out of you. Instinctively, your feet dragged you along to the sound, while you cringed at the annoying noise. It reminded you of your cousin, when she would pick the ends of her fingernails off, instead of just filing them or using a set of nail clippers. 

    The noise grew as you silently followed it, taking you to a side of the building that was rid of displays. You saw a path of microbots, laid out on the floor in a large square. Sweat continued to roll off your face as you reached out towards it, landing on the ground. You couldn't take it any more; the heat was unbearable. You were just about to head out, when the faint sound of screaming came from the north end of the building. 

    You pulled your attention away from the microbots, only finding a thick wave of flame about ten feet away from you. You froze instantly, watching the tongues lick their way across the ground, closer to you. Finally coming to your senses, you jumped back against the wall, looking for an exit nearby; you came up empty. Peoples' screams were getting louder, and the sounds of glass breaking and small explosions. Shards and debris flew at your face, successfully scratching your arms as you made a failing attempt to protect your eyes. You could live without a voice, but not without seeing your friends.

    Hiro. Hiro. 

    You suddenly realized that your boyfriend had probably walked into the building after getting your text. You jumped up and charged the fire; seeing him, even if it was the last time, was the only think that suppressed your fear of heat. 

    You were just about to leap over the flames, when your feet entangled with something unfamiliar. You fell to the floor, just then noticing the tears streaming down your face. You couldn't turn your head enough to see what had gotten a hold of you because of the smoke choking you. There was only one more thing you could think of to do.

    You put two fingers in your mouth and blew a shrill, high whistle. This was a technique you had learned in sign language class, and a relative or friend of the person had to memorize the tone and volume of the whistle in case of an emergency. You doubted that anyone could hear you over the sound of flames licking the walls and glass crashing, but it was the only thing left. You whistled several more times, before your head grew light. You were giving up. Searing heat ran across your shoulders, making you attempt a scream, but having nothing more than a cough come out. 

    "Where are you?!" 

    Recognition. You knew that voice. It hit you in the head like a bullet. Tadashi!

    You whistled again, more momentum and spark in your veins than before. The grip on your ankles tightened, dragging you back against a bumpy, curved surface. You grimaced as your back slammed into it, engulfing your head and back against the uncomfortable wall. Nonetheless, you kept whistling, ignoring the pain in your jaw and the flame-like sensation in your throat. This couldn't be it. Tadashi was out there searching for you. He would find you. He would fi-

    Pain. Force. Heat. You were thrown out of your grasp, flung against the wall of the building. Before you even hit it, it broke open, revealing the outside. Your head slammed into a dumpster, and you heard a sickening crack somewhere in your body. You remembered faint glimpses of orange... red liquid... something black and furry... you could hear your name shouted from far away, but you didn't register it as you. They're not calling for me... They've found me already... I'm over there, in the fire, right... I'm with Tadashi...

    Didn't Tadashi come for me?