You even mention tights and a cape, I'm going home.
Ando doesn't have much time to think while they're teleporting. One second he's about to have his head cut off by Sylar and the next, he's back at the office with Hiro. The funny thing is that everyone else is so busy doing their work, nobody notices two men with swords appearing out of nowhere. He doesn't have time to think about that though. His mind is on Hiro, on what happens next.
"Hiro, you did it!" Ando scrambles to his feet, gleeful for the first time since Hiro regained his powers, which, by the way, feels like forever ago. "You were faster than Sylar!"
"Now I'll go back," Hiro says as he sets down the sword Ando went after Slyar with.
"We can go back together. Surprise him!"
"No, Ando." Ando's about to turn around and pick up the sword Hiro set down when Hiro continues. "This part of my journey I must finish alone."
"But...I am not afraid."
"I know." Hiro reaches forward and puts a hand on Ando's shoulder. He can't stand to be abandoned again, but after going to the Dark Future, he understands his friend's motives more clearly now. "You have shown me what bravery is." With that, Ando feels a little more proud, a little more useful, a little less...unspecial.
"Your whole life you talked about your favorite stories: Star Wars, Star Trek, Superman, Kensei...all the heroes you wanted to be. One day, people will tell the story of Hiro Nakamura."
Hiro smiles, looks deeply touched for a moment while he takes off Kensei's sword. Ando's not sure what's going on even when Hiro presents it to him. He's confused beyond measure. Hiro needs this sword to defeat Sylar. They saw it in Mr. Issac's comic book.
"So you'll know I'll be back," Hiro clarifies. Ando takes the sword, still uncertain about what this means for the future they saw. Hiro can't change it, can he? They tried with Charlie and she died anyway.
"But...your sword?"
"It's not the sword. It's the man," Hiro says, and Ando has never seen him so fearless in all the years he's known him. Hiro picks up Ando's sword. "This man is ready."
"Hiro. You look bad ass." Now is not the time to admit how afraid he is for his best friend. Now is the time to support him, to believe in him. Hiro will be back because he promised he would, and Ando has never known Hiro to lie intentionally.
"Really?" Ando nods once, firmly. Hiro grins and turns around again. With that, he's gone. Ando still can't believe it even though he's seen it a million times before. He takes a step forward as if he's going to say one more thing to Hiro or as if he expects him to come running down the aisle from his cubicle ranting excitedly about some comic book or sci fi series. He looks around for a full minute before one of his co-workers nearly walks into him. The woman looks at Ando like he's crazy and keeps on walking. It's then that Ando sinks down into his chair, setting the sword down on his computer desk for lack of any place else to put it. He puts his hand over his eyes, closes them and counts to five.
He imagines a cool breeze and a warm sun, birds chirping and waves crashing on the sand. He breathes deep and seeks peace.
Ando opens his eyes and looks around. His jaw drops and he just stares at the line of trees, at the sign post, at the waves, the pure blue waves crashing against the shore. He gets out of his office chair and looks around some more.
"What the..."
[ooc: italicized words are in Japanese. worry not, Ando speaks fluent English. cut text taken from season finale of Heroes. open to all. ST/LT welcome]