[He's stunned into silence. He's grown since she's last seen him - it's been two years in his universe, after all - but she's the same as always. It hurts to look at her. He should really just leave.
He remains rooted to the spot, immobilized by his own emotions.] Hi, Aunt Cass. [It's almost a whisper.]
[Cass grins when she hears that familiar voice, taking a couple steps towards him.]
Hiro! How many of you are there around here? I can barely keep track of one of you, now there's like, a bizallion of you! Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I'm starting to feel pretty outnumbered... [But her smile begins to fade when she realizes just what, exactly, is off. This isn't the Hiro she remembers. He's a little older, a little taller... and that look in his eyes. So haunted. She stops in front of him, so surprised she doesn't hug him yet as she had intended to.]
A lot - a lot happened. And it's been a while since I've seen you, and I don't mean just here. But it's good. Um. So... yeah. ['So yeah' is not a sentence or an explanation, it's not even a sentence, and he doesn't move towards her or reach out to hug her. He looks off to the side.]
[Her worry is etched all over her expression. This is her baby, her youngest nephew, and it looks like a lot had happened to him. Slowly, she approaches him, because the Hiro she remembers would allow a hug - grudgingly, but still.]
Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay. Maybe... maybe I can help you, sweetheart.
I'm okay. Or I will be. I mean, I'm not in danger or anything. But I screwed up, Aunt Cass. I really, really screwed up. [He takes a half step back from her, but his eyes are sad, not in any way fearful.] I don't think this is something that can be fixed. But I'm so, so glad you're okay. Like I said, it's been a while.
[Oh, she just wants to hug him until all the pain somehow goes away. Cass can't stand seeing her nephew like this. It's almost like Tadashi's death all over again - she had to watch Hiro go through that terrible, terrible loss, unable to really help him. She had tried, of course, but nothing had really worked.]
Oh, Hiro... please don't shut me out. I'm here for you, okay? I don't care what you've done, or what you've been through. I'm still your aunt and I love you so much.
Aunt Cass, I love you too. And I know you love me. But I - I - [Breathe. In, out. Soon enough this will be over and he can slip back into his new identity and away from the people he just keeps hurting. This will hurt her too, but it'll keep her away from him, so none of his stupidity ends up resulting in her getting tangled up in the superhero world. He can't let her die.
The words are still forced out through a barely repressed sob:] I killed someone. I killed the man who killed Tadashi, because I wasn't thinking right. I'm not safe to be around. I'm not - I'm not who I used to be.
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Hope an AU Hiro is okay? Profile explains it.
He remains rooted to the spot, immobilized by his own emotions.] Hi, Aunt Cass. [It's almost a whisper.]
It's great!
Hiro! How many of you are there around here? I can barely keep track of one of you, now there's like, a bizallion of you! Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I'm starting to feel pretty outnumbered... [But her smile begins to fade when she realizes just what, exactly, is off. This isn't the Hiro she remembers. He's a little older, a little taller... and that look in his eyes. So haunted. She stops in front of him, so surprised she doesn't hug him yet as she had intended to.]
Honey... what happened?
Yay! Thanks. <3
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Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay. Maybe... maybe I can help you, sweetheart.
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let's just pretend this isn't super late SORRY
Oh, Hiro... please don't shut me out. I'm here for you, okay? I don't care what you've done, or what you've been through. I'm still your aunt and I love you so much.
It's fine, real life comes before RP. :)
The words are still forced out through a barely repressed sob:] I killed someone. I killed the man who killed Tadashi, because I wasn't thinking right. I'm not safe to be around. I'm not - I'm not who I used to be.
And I am so, so sorry.