Work Text:
“Come on, Eri. Just—just a little further.”
Midoriya’s breathing was heavy, and his heart was hammering at his chest at miles per second. His hand held onto the small palms of the 6-year-old girl running beside him, her bare feet ran along the grassy terrain in a hurry, attempting to keep up with the teenager gently yet urgently leading her.
“It’s going to be okay…we’re going to be okay!” Midoriya tripped on a dip but immediately got right up, “We are going to escape him!”
Eri watched him as they ran, asking herself why. Why was he doing this? He was in the same situation she was in. Taken from the heroes and locked up to be experimented on just like her. All because he found out that he is actually quirkless. Once he knew that, Overhaul snatched him when he was injured and ran off with the two of them.
Midoriya tugged on her. She would occasionally yelp as she tripped on her own feet. She expected him to keep running, to leave her, but when she fell, he stopped and helped her back up before continuing their escape. Every time she fell, he would ask, “Are you okay?”, “Are you hurt?”. And every time she would reply with “I am fine” and kept moving.
But…whenever he did—when he asked her—she wanted to ask if he was okay.
She wanted to…she really did. She saw him do horrible things to him…the same things he did to her. He cut him, poked him, and sliced his skin. Sometimes he would be knocked out for it, but most of the time he was awake and aware of everything happening to him. He tried to be brave, but she heard him, his screams. She wanted to—she wanted to run into that room and grab Midoriya and take him away from that hell. But she couldn’t do anything.
What was worse—even after all of that, he would smile at her as if nothing happened.
They slept in the same room, and it was he who would tend to her wounds while his bandaged arms and legs continued to sting. She would watch him do it, hiding his own winces. Every time he would say the same thing.
“Are you okay?”
And when she asked if he was okay, it was always the same response.
“Don’t worry, Eri. I’m fine.”
Which was followed by a bright smile that she knew was forced.
But the truth came out when they slept. Most nights she couldn’t sleep because of her wounds, so she would lay there pretending to sleep. That is when she would hear him, Midoriya’s cries. The whimpers, they were quiet, evident that he was trying to hide his anguish. She wanted to get up and hug him, but she never did. She didn’t know what to do, plus she felt extraordinarily guilty. It was her fault Midoriya got kidnapped and put in this situation. If she stopped herself and never ran into his hands, then none of this would have happened.
Then, suddenly, they got the chance to escape, and well, they did. There was an opening and without hesitation, Midoriya took it. She wanted him to go and leave her here, she would be too much of a burden if she went with him. She would rather he get saved instead of herself. But he refused. He grabbed her and ran off before she could say anything else.
And now here they were, running for their lives. As they traversed through the dense forest, Eri watched him while at the same time being cautious of the terrain. His arms were bandaged, almost making it seem like he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but in actuality, he was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt. He wore a pair of black shorts, allowing her to see his legs which were just as heavily bandaged. There was some blood staining the bandages, possibly from the fresh wounds that hadn’t had time to heal, getting further aggravated the more they ran.
Unlike her, he was wearing white slip-on shoes that were getting increasingly dirtier the more they ran on the damp forest floor.
She wanted to help him…she really did. She could heal him, but she didn’t have control over her powers. She could kill him if she tried. Midoriya reassured her that it was fine, that he didn’t need her quirk to keep going. But Eri still worried.
Midoriya couldn’t use his quirk to get them out. Overhaul pumped him with something that prevented him from using it. Plus, his strength was limited. Being the constant victim of Overhaul’s quirk must’ve drained a lot of his energy. But he ran as if none of that mattered.
“Over here, Eri. We-we are almost out.” Midoriya exclaimed through heavy breaths, his eyes forward but his grip tight on her small hand, “Just a—just a little further.”
“Deku—I…” She needed to say something, anything.
“It’s okay, Eri. I said I’ll get you out and I will.” He interrupted, “I’m not going to let you go back there…” His voice quivered, “I can’t have you—experience that ever again.”
Eri saw how he used his unoccupied hand to rub on the bandaged arm currently held out for Eri to grab.
“Your—your hurt. I can—see it.” Eri said, laboriously, “Deku…if it hurts just leave me—you don’t deserve this!”
Midoriya sneered, “Absolutely not! We are both getting out! I’m not leaving you to go back to that hell! Never!”
Then, without warning, he stopped and scooped Eri in his arms. She was taken aback by the sudden action, but she did nothing. She let him do it. As he curled her up, he could feel how his arms trembled. He could also feel and hear his breathing and heartbeat, both sharp and rapid.
“You’re scared.” She whispered as Midoriya continued his sprint.
He glanced down at the small girl. Her red, worried-filled eyes stared at his emerald eyes, their usual lively glow gone.
“I-I’m okay. I-I’m okay.” Midoriya uttered, his tone quivering. He quickly swallowed, stopping the lump in his throat that was beginning to form.
“I’m scared too.” She said, “But I-I’m being brave—I’m being brave for you, Deku.”
Midoriya’s breath hitched. She hugged Eri tighter almost as if he didn’t, she would disappear from his grasp.
“I-It’s okay to be scared.” Eri continued, “You're still amazing, Deku. I know you are not okay, but I’m cheering you on. I-I’m here for you.”
Midoriya let out a soft whimper. His tears began to pool up in his eyes. Eri, unsuspectedly, brought a hand to his eyes and wiped them away before they fell. Midoriya looked down at her, surprised.
She wasn’t smiling, but he could see how the small gesture made her feel content. Almost happy.
“You’re—you’re going to be okay—Deku,” Eri affirmed.
Midoriya was ready to bawl, but before he did, he heard something. Immediately, his heart clenched with fear.
Was that him? Did Overhaul find them?!
The teenager stopped and put Eri down.
“Deku?”
“There’s someone here. Eri, go hide.” Midoriya demanded as he took a defensive stance, prepared to attack whoever may be there.
“But Deku, you can’t—fight him.” Eri commented, terrified, “Let’s both hide and maybe—”
But before Eri could pull Midoriya away, they heard the footsteps get louder and louder. They sounded quick and frantic, as if eager to reach something.
“Hide, Eri! Now!” Midoriya shouted.
“Deku! I can’t leave you! You’re gonna get killed!” Eri begged.
“As long as you survive, then I did my duties as a hero. So, go! Hide!”
Eri didn’t know what to do. She was frozen, petrified in fear. Midoriya swiftly prepared himself. Even without his quirk, he can still fight. He will make sure Eri gets away, he will not let Overhaul lay a finger on her ever again.
The black figure within the vegetation got closer and closer. Midoriya’s heart raced, and his body shook violently. But he remained brave. He is a hero, he will save Eri, even if it costs him his life.
“Midoriya?”
The young hero jolted. That didn’t sound like him…that sounded like—
“Midoriya!!” The mysterious figure emerged from the bushes and as soon as he did, Midoriya’s stance relaxed.
“M-Mr. Aizawa?”
“It is you!” Aizawa ran over and hugged the terrified boy.
At that moment, as soon as he felt his embrace, all the fear, anguish, and pain burst out of Midoriya. He cried, he cried more than he had ever cried before. All the tears he hid while with Overhaul came out. He cried on Aizawa’s shoulders, staining his hero suit as the waterworks flowed.
“You’re here! You actually came!” Midoriya wailed.
“Of course, I did. There was no way I would leave you there,” Then he looked up and his gaze locked on Eri, still frozen in place.
“Eri…” Aizawa began.
“Are you—someone good? Are you a—hero?” Eri asked, wary.
Aizawa smiled, “I am, I’m here to get you out. Both of you.” Then, Aizawa opened his arms, welcoming Eri in.
The young girl took a few hesitant steps. But after seeing that this was not a trap, he walked faster until she sprinted into a run. Immediately, she ran into his arms. Cuddling with Midoriya who continued to sob.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Eri wept.
Aizawa hugged them tighter, “I’m sorry…I promise you're safe now.”
The two enjoyed the embrace, glad to once experience the safety that they so missed, ignoring the various sounds as additional heroes and paramedics arrived in their vicinity.
They were safe now. They survived.
The horrors that they experienced were now over.