grimmadventures | in which hiro goes on a field trip to kouka

[He's also being a brat and making a face at Hak as they walk away, taking Yona's hand and quickly moving through the rain. He might be confident now, but Hak could also probably kick his ass, so.

Anyway...he doesn't let go of her hand and he thinks. The things he was doing before he came here....he wonders if she'd be upset he went alone.]

...I was trying to find somebody. But it kind of looks like I made a wrong turn here. [There's a frown.] Yona, what do you remember about alternate timelines? We talked about it a little when we were figuring out how we all got to that castle, but.

[He'd explained once. About alternate timelines, stasises, timelines where people did something different, pockets of dimensions that existed outside of reality. They were theories and he didn't have a lot of backing, but she always let him ramble anyway even if she didn't comment or really listen.]

[Hak's watching you, Hiro. Always watching you. But apparently deciding that Yona is capable of holding her own against him if he tries something, he does as Yona says and leaves to reunite Lili with her own bodyguards.

Yona, oblivious to all of that, keeps hold of Hiro's hand and gently swings their hands back and forth between them.]

...I remember a little bit about it. I'm not really sure I understood all of it, though. You said it was sort of like... if there was a you who studied something other than robotics, or if there was a me who got tired of the castle and ran away from home. Our timelines might be the same up until that point, but then it's kind of like... taking either the right or the left fork in a path, right?

Yeah, exactly. [He seems pleased she listened to him.] In this case, it's like...I kind of learned about a possibility of where I can find something really important, so I took that path. But that path led me here instead.

[Something important...]

Are... Are you okay with the fact that you're here? [If this was a detour... Well, it's almost like being in the castle was. Something he has no choice but to put up with.] I've been traveling with a lot of very capable people, so if you want to go home, I'm sure we can figure something out fast.

[He shakes his head.] No. I think I was supposed to come here? It's hard to explain, but I know my coordinates were right when I opened the portal and jumped in.

[So yeah, he did a dumb thing. But he also considers her words for a moment.] ...besides, you're here. That makes it more than okay.

[The... portal? Kind of like how they got home after the castle, then. Yona nods slowly (though she looks very curious about what exactly he was opening a portal for), and smiles before squeezing his hand.]

...I'm glad you ended up here, if your path was always going to bring you to Kouka. It's really good to see you again.

[also lol can you imagine if he ended up in the capital and heard the rumors about her being dead first]

It's good to see you, too. [THANK GOD HE DIDN'T HEAR YONA WAS DEAD???] I don't know why it led me here, but I can't think of anybody else I'd like to run into here.

...I'll have to see what I can find while I'm here though. Recalibrate some stuff, see if I can get a better read on my target.

...what is your target, anyway?

[Kouka seems like it's pretty off the beaten path for something he'd have been looking for in San Fransokyo...]

[A long, silent pause.]

...Tadashi.

[She knows that name.

His brother - the one who had... died, in some kind of accident. But if Hiro is looking for him, then that means there's a reason he's looking. Portals are a thing in his world, and if they never found Tadashi's body, then...

...well, Yona can't think that it's impossible.

She brings Hiro's hand up and holds it between both of hers.]

If you were able to come here, he might have, too. [She definitely won't tell him it's impossible. If there's a chance, however small, she'll help him investigate it.] You chose a good time to come here. We're going all over the country... so, if you stay with us, you'll be able to look for him while we travel.

[From her very basic understanding of parallel universes and alternate worlds, something else occurs to her.]

...maybe that's why you and I both ended up in that place, you know? Our worlds might have already been connected.

You think? [It's something he's considered idly, something he's excited to pursue and there's relief in Yona's acceptance. His other hand comes to curl around hers, eyes wide and bright even as he blinks away the rain.]

What if we were always tied together? And we just didn't know it? That would explain everything. Why we were partners, why things worked out the way they did. If Tadashi's really here somewhere, I have to bring him home. How long do you guys usually stay in one place?

I think everything happens for a reason, even if we don't always understand what those reasons are. [It's a little bittersweet, saying that; she knows now that the night of her father's death played out for a reason, too. While she would do anything she could to bring him back, she also can't deny that there are people who have benefited form Soo-won's rule.] If he is here, we'll find him. And if we were connected because of him, I'm going to have to thank him when we do.

[Of that, she has no doubt.]

We don't usually stay in one place for very long... it would be dangerous if people figured out who I am. But we'll stay here for as long as we need to in order to solve the problem with the Nadai.

Which means I have to work fast. [It's fine. He takes a breath, nodding in agreement.] I don't know if I fully believe that everything happens for a reason. Not yet. But...I trust you, and you know that. We'll work together and...I'll actually listen this time. Anything I can do to help you solve the problems here I'll do, but if I find a lead I have to go after it. You get it, right?

I understand.

[...and she actually seems to. What they went through in the castle and what she's gone through since coming back has made it easier for her to see other points of view. If it was right after their return, she might have been more upset by it, but...

Instead, she just squeezes his hand lightly.]

And if there's anything I can do to help you with your goals, I want you to tell me. The others and I will do everything we can, I promise.

All we can do is keep our eyes open and follow any leads we find. That's what I've been doing and that'll apply to what you guys are doing, too. [A beat.] Are you sure the others aren't going to mind that I'm sticking around for now?

Mm. It will work out.

[They've... got this. Probably. They'll deal with the Nadai and find Hiro's brother; it will be fine.]

Well, Hak might make a fuss, but he's kind of a brat and I know how to handle him. [No one wants to hear "he's kind of a brat" from you, Yona.] The others won't mind. They're very kind people... even if they can be a little weird sometimes. But it's a good kind of weird.

He seems kinda dumb anyway. [Hiro????] I can handle a little weird though. My friends are kind of the same.

[Fred is a little more than a little weird, but whatever.] I think it's better to be around a good kind of weird anyway.

He acts dumber than he is, which is still pretty dumb, Hak!

[There's a rustling from the bushes behind them. Apparently, Yona's instincts are spot-on, but he's just keeping watch... for now.]

...but, anyway. I think you'll like the others a lot.

[She smiles.]

I'd like to meet your friends someday, too. Would you mind telling me about them? ...um, maybe once we're out of the rain, though.

[He turns to face the bushes, raising an eyebrow even higher before he just...ignores it...

...kind of. Hak, why.]

If they're your friends, I probably will. [Not guarantees, but he'll try.] I'll tell you anything you want. After we get out of here. [A grin follows.] Where are we staying tonight?

[Hak, why. Yona will teach him a lesson later.]

There's an inn we stayed at last night. I think we still have enough money for another night there.

[little does he know they're going to get hauled off to a nice resort by Lili as thanks for getting her the heck out of there]

After that, we might end up camping again. Don't worry! It's nicer than it sounds.

...camping. Like outside. Even if it's still raining? Are you sure?

It's not so bad. Camping in the mountains was worse - it was freezing up there!

[and this is why most people she meets no longer assume she's a princess]

Okay, nature and I aren't exactly best friends so...the only reason I'm agreeing is because I trust you. But that's it.

It'll be fine! If it gets cold, we can cuddle up together to keep warm.

[she's the worst and i'm so sorry.]

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