Worthy (A Tadelsa One-Shot)

Heiress AU in which Elsa has inherited a massive company and is a prominent citizen.

It was fun writing Tadashi as the uncertain one this time.

Abnormally uneasy, Tadashi Hamada tugged at the suffocating collar of his button-up shirt, tapping a foot as he waited for someone to come answer the door. 

Why was it taking so long? Shouldn't they have servants or something? A butler?

It was an imposing door, carved from some sort of rich dark wood--mahogany?--and flanked by two creamy stone pillars that met in a smooth arch. The bronzed door knocker made a low, thudding sound.

Those few minutes he waited felt like an eternity. Then he heard the soft padding of feet behind the door and straightened, adjusting his tie, gulping down his nervousness.

As the door slowly swung open, it was all he could do to keep from gaping in a very inelegant manner. Partly because he hadn't expected Elsa, the mistress of the house, to open the door, and partly because she looked absolutely stunning, her rippling blue gown reaching to the ground, her platinum blonde hair swept up at the nape of her neck.

She spoke first, amusement in her eyes despite her formal tone. "Hello, Tadashi."

"Uh, hi, Elsa." Tadashi winced at his own awkwardness. Attempting to redeem the inauspicious start, he offered an honest, if inadequate, compliment. "You look great."

"You don't look so bad yourself," Elsa teased, lips curved into a quiet smile. "Come in."

As he stepped through the threshold, Tadashi couldn't help his eyes from darting all over the place, taking in the gilded wallpaper, the glowing chandeliers, the heavy picture frames filled with portraits of solemn ancestors. The sound of their footsteps changed abruptly with the transition from cold marble to deliciously soft carpet. 

Under the high, domed ceiling of the main hall, Tadashi suddenly felt smaller than ever, like an imposter in a place he didn't belong. Again, he gulped, the corner of his mouth turned down, anxious, almost grim.

Elsa had been about to beckon him into the dining hall when she noticed his expression. "What's wrong?"

"Um--" Tadashi tried to shrug it off. "I'm just nervous and stuff. You know, all this grandeur--" Here he gestured widely to the opulent room. "Not used to it. And I don't know if your relatives will like me. Just some random kid from the city, here in the Arendelle mansion--" He glanced through the floor-to-ceiling window at the silent street outside. Lined with neatly pruned trees, it was a far cry from the constantly busy streets of the central city, and just reminded him how far out of his comfort zone he was, here in the most prestigious district of San Fransokyo. Back there he was a student from a respected university. Here he was--well, if not a nobody, pretty close to it.

Shaking her head, Elsa cut him off. "Don't worry, Tadashi. They may be a bit hard at first, but they're just testing you."

"What for?" Tadashi kept his tone light, but inside he was quaking--and maybe just a little insulted.

"To make sure you're worthy to date an Arendelle, I suppose," Elsa answered, the sympathetic little quirk of her lips taking the edge off her words. "But really. They will warm up to you. Kai and Gerda will love you, I'm sure, and even if Weselton disapproves, he doesn't pull much weight in the family anymore, remember?"

Tadashi nodded. Elsa had briefed him beforehand, and he knew about her uncle Weselton and his misdeeds--as well as his adamant stance on marrying into the right social class. It was just their luck that he had happened to be in town this week.

"You'll be fine." Elsa smiled at him, a warm, reassuring smile, taking his hand and leading him towards the dining hall. "They were suspicious of Kristoff at first, but they've come to accept him, and that's opened up a lot of doors. Besides, you're a robotics student at one of the most renowned tech universities, responsible, hardworking, and incredibly handsome to boot--" 

Tadashi chuckled as she went on, brushing off the compliments bashfully.

"--What's not to like?"

With a nod that seemed to say "you'll do okay," Elsa opened up the double doors of the dining hall to reveal a long, white-clothed table with five other people sitting at one end. Tadashi set his shoulders firmly, kept his chin up, resolved to make the best impression he possibly could--to prove that he was worthy of Elsa Arendelle. 

"Uncle Weselton, Kai, Gerda, Anna, Kristoff," Elsa said, with dignity and yet also with sincerity, one arm extended in a graceful flourish, "my boyfriend, Tadashi Hamada."

~~~

The first thing Tadashi noticed was that Anna was laughing at him. Actually laughing. If not for the need to keep a pleasant, gracious smile on his face for the sake of the occasion, he would have scowled at his redheaded friend.

The second thing he noticed was that Kristoff looked grumpy, more so than usual. Perhaps he simply wasn't accustomed to all the finery--I get you, brother--or perhaps he'd been instructed to intimidate. If the latter were the case, it was working. Tadashi had met the man once or twice, and he seemed nice enough, but he'd also been the one to deliver the obligatory "break-her-heart-and-I'll-snap-you-in-half" lecture.

The third thing he noticed was that the tiny, white-mustachioed man at the end of the table was glaring at him through a pair of round pince-nez glasses with distinct disapproval. Evidently the infamous Weselton had taken a dislike to him at first glance.

"Good evening," he said, extending a clammy hand to each person at the table. Most of the handshakes were cursory, noncommittal, but Anna gripped his hand tight and shot him a helpful smile.

Though his heart threatened to sink (already?), Tadashi managed to maintain that dignified, easy smile as they sat down, smoothing napkins over laps. His place lay right opposite Weselton's. Figures.

"Humph." The little man peered at Tadashi through the glasses, bushy white eyebrows raised. Tadashi attempted not to shrink under the scrutiny, meeting Weselton's gaze with steady eyes.

"Welcome, Mr. Hamada." The stout man with a twinkle in his eye--Kai, Tadashi supposed--greeted the guest, not ungraciously. 

"A delight to have you," added the thin woman with the hawk like nose. Gerda.

"An honour to be here, ma'am," Tadashi returned, the appealing quality of his earnest face making up for the twinge of discomfort in his voice.

Elsa gave his hand a comforting little squeeze under the table.

Gradually, they eased into conversation, discussing the weather, the economy, topics safe and uncontroversial. To his relief, Tadashi found himself able to make intelligent remarks, to even enjoy the company. The chatter soon grew warm and lively, aided along by Anna's natural effervescence and Elsa's artful knowledge of when to pursue the subject and when to change it. Only Weselton stayed sullenly silent, still inspecting Tadashi like a scientist examining a specimen under a microscope. Even so, Tadashi relaxed enough to let down his guard and enjoy the excellent fare.

Only at dessert did things start to go downhill.

Weselton broke his blessed silence to ask Tadashi a question, harmless on the surface, but no doubt barbed with secret intent. "So, Mr. Hamada, you mentioned that you're not out of school yet?"

"No," Tadashi began, slowly, but Anna burst in, hair already coming loose from her elaborate bun.

"SFIT's one of the most prestigious tech colleges around, Uncle."

"Hmmm." Weselton only barely acknowledged the interruption. "A robotics student?"

"Yes, sir."

In a valiant effort to liven the suddenly forbidding mood, Kai exclaimed, "Isn't that nice! You know, we could definitely use some good tech brains at Arendelle Corporation. You should come down one day for the interview."

Tadashi smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, sir. Right now, I'm working on my final project. And after that--well, I was planning on taking an internship, and then striking out on my own--but thank you for the offer. I'll keep it in mind."

Not to be beaten, Weselton tried to regain control of the conversation. "And what is this final project, exactly?"

"A healthcare robot," Tadashi replied, eager to discuss his pride and joy. "He's programmed with over ten thousand medical procedures. Made of vinyl. Inflatable."

"Inflatable." Weselton pronounced the word with distaste as he speared a stray blueberry, gazing at it as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "An inflatable robot." 

Even though Tadashi was well aware that Weselton knew nothing about robotics, the man's knowing tone suddenly made him feel very insecure and made his cherished creation seem silly, doomed to failure, even. It was absurd--he knew Baymax was a revelation--and yet all his teachers' glowing remarks paled under the nose of this haughty little man. Annoyance finished off his confusing cocktail of emotions as Kai and Gerda exchanged uneasy glances across the table.

"What a quaint idea." Having exhausted the subject, Weselton switched tactics, the fact that Tadashi towered over him making no difference to the uppity way in which he carried himself. "So, Mr. Hamada, let us talk serious matters. Firstly--" He adjusted his pince-nez with a silk-gloved hand. "Tell us about your bloodline. Your family connections."

Inwardly, Tadashi groaned, and Elsa cringed at the ridiculously insensitive question. They'd both seen it coming--Weselton was known for his archaic ideas on preserving the integrity of the bloodline--but up to now they'd hoped they might somehow miraculously avoid the issue.

"Well--" Tadashi laid down his fork. "I'm pretty sure the Hamada lineage can be traced back to the samurai of Japan." That was good, right? The samurai were close enough to noble. Seeing that Weselton had yet to respond, he went on. "My great-grandparents came here after the 1908 earthquake to rebuild the city. We've been here ever since."

He took pride in his ancestry, a line dotted with heroes and innovators, but he knew it would do naught to satisfy Elsa's uncle. Hard to believe this fidgety little man was related to the love of his life.

"But your parents?" Weselton pressed. "Who are your parents? Are they prominent citizens?"

"My parents are dead," Tadashi said, flatly. Before anyone could speak, he went on, his courtesy tinged with wariness. "My father was a research scientist. My mother was a doctor. And I'm proud of them, sir." No matter what you or anybody else thinks, he wanted to add, but he was hesitant to go too far.

Weselton seemed oblivious to the edge in Tadashi's voice. "You see?" he erupted, gesturing meaningfully at the boy. "No connections, nothing. Just a random kid from who-knows-where. His relatives could be low-class. Criminals, even." (Here Tadashi mentally breathed a sigh of relief at not having mentioned his brother's botfighting exploits.) Weselton waved a fork. "Elsa, I disapprove. You are not to have a relationship with this boy."

Tadashi felt anger bubble up in him, eager to be let out, yet something stopped him from voicing it. Not just manners--Weselton was unreasonable, of course, but could his words contain a grain of truth? 

Elsa was practically nobility, a successful businesswoman, heiress to a vast commercial empire, while he was just a random kid from who-knows-where. She was way out of his league.

Then Elsa spoke, her tone icy. "Uncle, I advise you to stop now before you say something you regret later."

"I won't regret anything," Weselton retorted, shooting daggers at Tadashi with his large eyes. "The kid is distinctly below us, Elsa. And--he's Japanese."

For a few moments a stunned silence filled the room. Anna's hands flew to her mouth in shock, and she started from her chair as Kristoff put a firm hand on her arm to steady her. Tadashi stared at Weselton with insulted incredulity, too overcome for a second to speak, his fork clattering against china. And Elsa arched an eyebrow, pressed her mouth into a hard line.

"Is that a problem?" Her voice had a dangerous sharpness to it.

"Actually, I'm biracial," Tadashi said. Irrelevant, probably. But he couldn't think of much else to say; indignance and politeness struggled in him for control. He fisted the napkin in his lap into a crumpled ball.

Before anyone else could react, Weselton barrelled on relentlessly. "Even worse. You see, Elsa? He admitted it himself. The boy is a half-breed."

This time the silence lasted only for a split second.

"That is enough." Elsa stood, her head proud and erect, her eyes dazzlingly cold. "Uncle Weselton, I am sorry, but you will leave now. You are no longer welcome in this house."

~~~

"Not that he ever was," Anna muttered under her breath as a servant firmly escorted the raging Weselton out. Even in his ignominy, Weselton turned to shake a fist at Elsa, nearly hysterical.

"I won't have it! This is outrage! I am your elder! I deserve respect!"

"I lost what little respect I had for you when you betrayed my trust for your own selfish gain," Elsa said, her face impassive.

"You'll be sorry for this, young lady."

"You are dismissed." As Elsa delivered the ultimatum, Tadashi sat in silence, surprised at the steel in her tone. He was seeing a side of her he hadn't really seen before--only in glimpses, the rare instances when she leapt to defend her sister or uphold her family name. The side as fierce as a lioness, but really more like a bird of prey in its regality, its swift cold decision.

He wasn't just dating an heiress. He was dating a queen.

As the double doors closed behind Weselton's retreating figure, Elsa sat down again, folding her hands nervously in her lap, the mask dropping as quickly as it appeared. A heavy hush hung over the party.

"Wow," was all Tadashi could manage as servants came to clear the plates.

They remained for a while more, taking careful sips from tiny coffee cups, plucking uncomfortably at napkins. Finally Elsa gave a little sigh and signalled the dinner was over.

"I'd give you a tour of the house," she said, "but I think it's been a long night for everybody."

Tadashi nodded, agreeing. The Arendelle mansion looked fascinating, full of nooks and crannies and long family history. He could sense, though, that Kai and Gerda, as much as he'd like to get to know them better, were in a poor mood to entertain further, Kristoff was fiddling with the too-tight cuffs of his dress shirt, and even Anna was glowering at the chandelier. As for Elsa--gatherings, even close ones like this, took more of a toll on her than she let on. Above her practised smile her eyes were tired.

"Thank you for having me," he began, sincere eyes directed towards Kai and Gerda. As they murmured the usual civilities, Elsa stood.

"Come on. I'll show you out."

~~~

The two stepped out through the same door from which Weselton had exited just moments ago, back into the splendid hallway, and out into the cool night air of San Fransokyo. A fog hung low over the city, softening the moonlight into muted silver.

Tadashi cast a glance from Elsa back to the mansion, a classical building warmly lit, surrounded by the meticulously pruned grounds that they were walking through now. He wondered briefly how the luxuriant, evenly clipped lawn would feel under his feet. 

Tadashi had never really thought of himself as insecure. He was confident in his own abilities, comfortable in his own skin, and yet--

Weselton's words had found chinks in his armour. Tadashi shook his head at himself, frowning in the moonlight. The man had been proven a fraud and a liar; why would he pay him any attention? 

Or perhaps Weselton had simply voiced what Tadashi had feared all along. That Elsa, with her flawless familial associations, her pure Nordic blonde hair and blue eyes, the magnificent estate they were in at this very moment--was too good for him.

The moment in which she'd risen to defend him only further cemented this possibility. She'd been glorious in that moment, her breeding and aristocratic roots showing in every inch of her person, from the proud arch of her neck to her ramrod-straight back. And he'd merely sat by tongue-tied and slack-jawed, barely able even to say a word for himself or his family.

It was clear that she moved in a world in which he did not belong.

His footsteps slowed, and Elsa noticed. "What's wrong?" she asked, for the second time that day.

They stopped in the middle of the path, silhouettes stark against the light of the wrought-iron streetlamps. 

Tadashi shrugged slightly, his eyes darting down to meet Elsa's. "What if he's right, Elsa?"

She blinked up at him for a second, taken aback. "Right about what?"

"Right that...that I'm not worthy of you." He started to pace, eyes fixed on the smooth stone of the path. "I love you, Elsa, you know I do, but you're brilliant and successful and wealthy and--" His shoulders slumped. "Everything I'm not."

Elsa watched him, disbelieving. "You think he's right?" she asked softly, a mixture of sadness and amusement glittering in her huge eyes. "Tadashi, since when, in the history of everything, has Weselton been right about anything?"

"Besides," she went on, taking his hand in hers, "we promised to enter this relationship as equals, remember? Believe me, Tadashi, I never, ever thought of you as anything less than worthy."

"Yes, but--" In the silvery moonlight and the unflinching love in her face, Tadashi's protests faltered on his lips.

She shook her head, smiling up at him with certainty. "Tadashi Hamada, you have a beautiful mind and one of the biggest hearts I have ever known. You are one of the most remarkable people in my life. It is an honour to love and be loved by you."

He moved to take her other hand, halfway incredulous. He hardly dared to accept her words, and yet she would never lie to him. What did he ever do to deserve someone like Elsa in his life? "I am honoured, too, Elsa Arendelle."

"And you are worthy," she said, giving his hand a final squeeze.

At that she disappeared back into the house, her hair gleaming in the moonlight, leaving him standing there with a sappy grin spreading across his face. 

Was he?

(He was. As much as anyone could be of her, anyway.)

And with the coolness of her hand still lingering in his, Tadashi felt for the first time all night that--perhaps--he could be worthy.