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He was a hero.
He saved people. Fought the bad guys. Worked with heroes and police.
So…
how did he end up here?
Feet draped over the edge of a building as night bloomed across the sky. His skin felt like ash- mind like the fire that killed it. His red shoes- the ones he’s come to love as he made them into a weapon to save- lay destroyed at his side.
It felt like a slap in the face.
He’d survived and managed through his mother's death. Silently, he gripped the locket of their only family picture together where she looked so happy, and he sat on her lap with a wide pumpkin grin.
He’d been five then. And she’d surprised him by calling off school and driving him around the city- and the adventures they had.
She’s taken him to the beach, laughing as the seagulls took his bag of chips.
She’d taken him to the forest, where they’d hiked the trail no matter how much it’d winded her- until they could overlook the city from their perch.
She’d taken him to the local festival two prefectures away- celebrating the blooming of some flowers.
And then she’d taken him to get his picture taken, and for the first time in a year- he’d felt so happy.
“You, my darling,” she’d spoken, holding him close. “Will do such amazing things.”
“How can you tell Mama?”
“It’s in your heart,” she replied, making him giggle as she poked him in the chest. “Maybe as a hero- or a doctor- or anything you want to be. But you’re so good and kind, and that will live on forever.”
“You mean it Mama?”
“I can do something amazing?” He whispered to the wind as it cradled his face. He leaned into the gusts, letting out a small breath of air.
She’s been killed in a villain attack when he was 8. Because when the quirkless kid begged for help- that his Mom was still stuck under the rubble-
“If she's like you, maybe that’s for the best.”
He hadn’t understood what the hero meant at the time- but in hindsight, if he’s told the man she was quirked…
Well.
Looking down at the racing cars- the taillights following them like the tails of shooting stars, he gently dragged his finger against the concrete ledge he was sitting on. The cars below called his name, as if when he fell he’d bounce like on a trampoline- just like when he was a kid.
Eternus the vigilante. What a joke.
His hand moved up to the side of his face, gently rubbing his thumb over the fresh burn that took up half of his skin and closed his eyes for a moment.
He’s gone through the day.
He’s taken the beatings. Attended the classes.
Then the teacher announced their schools and-
“Midoriya plans to go to UA.”
Of course, he did. It was the only place he could go- where he could be taught by the one man he knew wouldn’t dismiss him. But no one took it well- and his fingers trailed to his bruised torso and sprained ribs. Sure, Bakugou left after his suicide threat but… his lackeys wanted to take a more active approach. And so they held him down- and what could a malnourished 14yo do but take the beating?
And then he’d retrieved his notebook- the one he’s been taking notes on an active case for from the koi pond.
The sludge villain. Nearly drowning to death.
All Might.
“You can’t be a hero. No quirkless would ever be as competent as a quirked hero. You need to be more realistic.”
What had he suggested…?
Oh. Customer service, tutoring, banking, writing…
“You can’t expect the world to cater to your delicacy.”
“What a joke,” he muttered quietly, leaning back slightly. He could feel the wind trying to push him back- off the ledge. Like it wanted him to survive.
Finally, he looked down again.
Only a lean and- and it’d be over. He wouldn’t need to worry or suffer again-
His burns ached- even after saving Bakugou- the blond had been furious and made his anger known stretched across his skin.
One lean-
“ Pick up problem hero.” He froze as his ringtone went off. Eraserhead had thought it was hilarious- a way to scare the shit out of him. “ Pick up the phone or I’ll sicc Nedzu on you. ” He fumbled for it- before finally flipping it open and attaching the headphones.
Click.
“Hey kid,” Eraser’s smooth voice came over the speakers. “I got some info on that case you’ve been looking into. Tsukauchi said you weren’t responding to texts.”
He peeked at his phone and the barely functional screen.
“Oh…”
“Yeah. But I got some info.” And he began to speak. Izuku couldn't help but relax slightly at the low tones of the voice, closing his eyes. He wasn’t even really listening to the words. The man had practically taken him under his wing since he was 11 and had gone to the streets- training him into a hero worth his shit.
But…
Sometimes it burned under his skin how familiar Eraser’s hugs felt like his Mom’s. That caring, gentle…
…
“Kid? You still there?”
Surely…
“Eraser could you do me a favor?”
A pause, before.
“What do you need, Eternus?” He smiled fondly at the name. Eternus. The other surely wouldn’t mind such a simple request- childish as it was.
“I… haven’t been sleeping well. And I wonder if it has to do with the fact no one had told me to have sweet dreams.”
“ Of course Izu! If you want to sleep well, make sure someone tells you to have sweet dreams. Kindness makes those dreams much nicer, I promise .” His mother’s voice rang through the wind.
“My Mom always said that’s what gives someone good dreams. But… I haven’t had anyone tell me recently. Could you?”
An odd request but distantly, he hoped it would mean good dreams when he finally leaned forward. That maybe… something good might follow him. He wasn’t sure why Eraser stayed quiet so long. He opened his eyes to look down before he spoke.
“Eraser…?”
“Haven’t been sleeping well, kid?” The man's voice was a bit lower- but a bit softer than it had been a moment ago. “I can do that and a bit more. Hizashi always said I told good stories too.” his eyes widened a bit- looking down at the device.
“You don’t- don’t have to…”
“But I want to,” he replied, that low rumble. “Get comfortable, alright?”
He hesitated, before whispering a soft assurance.
And Eraser began to speak. A low-quiet thing that made his eyes droop and breaths slow. Even with his legs over the side of the building- he hadn’t ever felt more at peace.
His eyes watched the shooting stars of the road and briefly- he wished he could simply exist here forever. In that peace with someone whispering to him about tales of fantasy that he may never see.
“Kid, you still with me?” Eraser’s rumble of a voice came through and he blinked open to look back to his phone. “Don’t fall asleep till I wish you sweet dreams- remember? We don’t want you having any nightmares tonight.”
“I’m awake,” he confirmed, opening his eyes to look back at the phone.
“Good.”
And he began to speak again. Some heroic tale of vigor he would never associate with the man and distantly, he felt hands on his shoulders and in his hair, like someone wrapping around him and giving a hug. Like the wind telling him he could rest.
It pulled him from the edge but he leaned forward, slowly putting the headphones all off the way as he turned around, facing the roof.
“And the king wished the prince sweet dreams beyond heaven. That his imagination would pull together beautiful landscapes of love that he could finally rest in.”
Sweet dreams…
He closed his eyes and looked to the sky- looking at the beautiful stars with their tales and faintly wondered if he would see his Mom when he joined them.
The noise began to fade to nothing along with the rest of his senses as finally he leaned back.
And
He
F E L L
Eraser was a logical man. But he was also a man who trusted his gut. And when Tsukauchi called him saying that Eternus wasn’t replying to his texts, something in him screamed.
He wasn’t patrolling tonight but he got on his boots and weapon anyway.
And finally, he dialed. It took a few moments longer than usual and Eraser could imagine Eternus doing that fumbling thing he always did when he got a call before it clicked.
“Hey kid,” he greeted easily, leaning against his counter. “I got some info on that case you’ve been looking into. Tsukauchi said you weren’t responding to texts.”
A soft “oh” rang from the other side of the phone and he felt his brows furrow in worry.
“Yeah. But I got some info. The woman we had picked up had some information about the tail on Gang Orca. They think it might be some sort of anti-mutant group. He really appreciates all you’re doing for him, Problem Hero.” He paused a moment for the kid's usual fumble at the praise but stopped when he got was silence. “Kid? You still there?”
“Eraser could you do me a favor?” He stopped when he heard the empty tone in his voice. Something worried clenched in his stomach.
“What do you need, Eternus?” He used the name, hoping it would convey his seriousness. Eternus rarely asked for anything and…
“I… haven’t been sleeping well. And I wonder if it has to do with the fact no one had told me to have sweet dreams.” Silence rang over the phone and he finally picked up the strange noise in the background.
Wind.
Suddenly, Shouta had the vivid image of Eternus on a rooftop, that blank void accompanied by empty eyes.
He was texting Nedzu in an instant.
‘I need a location stat. Number X-XXX-XXX-XXXX.’
It was a few moments before he got a reply.
‘Location is on your phone now. Hurry Shouta.”
And if that wasn’t a warning. He was out of his house in an instant, sprinting. The location was nearly 15 minutes away-
“Eraser…?” The soft empty voice spoke.
“Haven’t been sleeping well, kid?” He didn't get a reply. “I can do that and a bit more. Hizashi always said I told good stories too.” And that was true. That and the group home he was raised in. It was a hopefully easier way to keep Eternus on the phone.
“You don’t- don’t have to…” He whispered, the wind nearly covering the sound entirely.
“But I want to,” he responded as gently as possible. “Get comfortable, alright?” He prayed the kid wasn’t on the edge of the building and mentally conjured up the first story he could think of. “Once upon a time there was a lonely prince…” and he rambled the old story off his tongue as he ran and jumped.
After a few minutes of silent breathing from the other end of the line, he stopped his story.
“Kid, you still with me? Don’t fall asleep till I wish you sweet dreams- remember? We don’t want you having any nightmares tonight.” he held his breath for a moment, praying he wasn’t too late.
“I’m awake,” the soft voice spoke, sounding exhausted. Shouta winced. A kid should never sound so tired. So he started his story again from where he’d left off.
Finally, a figure on the top of the aimed building came into view and his heart sunk- because the kid was right on the edge- and he was undeniably a kid. Legs dangling over the concrete barriers and what looked like his red shoes to the side.
He seemed relaxed- almost tranquil but that was the least reassuring thing.
Then- the kid turned around. Back facing the street below- his heart sank.
“Eternus- ETERNUS!” He raced faster- faster than he thought his legs could go, desperation lacing his voice.
And then he tipped back.
Shouta dove, wrapping his capture weapon tight around the nearest light as he slammed into the small body full force- taking it close and yanked.
He didn’t care if one of his arms definitely pulled out of his sockets or the way the impact to the ground left him with road rash all over his side. No- that was such little importance when Eternus sat in his arms, unconscious but alive.
He quickly got his phone- grimacing at the cracks- before dialing a familiar number.
“Nedzu, I need medical here now. Like-”
“Already on their way, Shoura,” the creature assured. “Did you manage to…?” he trailed off and Shouta let out a hysterical laugh.
“Barely. I think I broke my shoulder on the way down. But they’re okay.” With a hand, he gently brushed curls- green matted curls- to the side to see a large burn covering half of his face and winced. “I don’t think this was his first run-in today…”
“The medics are on their way Shouta. I’ll inform Hizashi and Chiyo to meet us at the hospital.”
“Get Tsukauchi too. The kid thinks he’s cool,” he murmured before the line went dead. Slowly, verdant green eyes slowly peered open- meeting onyx ones. “Hey, kid.” He couldn’t help the shake in his voice- not when the kid he’s come to see as his own nearly…
“‘ras..’r…?” It was soft- hoarse and Shouta wanted nothing more than to wrap him in some blankets and take him home. But he needed medical first.
“It’s me,” he whispered back, gently brushing the green curls from the burn out of his eyes. “You didn’t wait for me to say sweet dreams kiddo.”
It was a moment before-
“Please?” Ever so soft.
“If I do, you gotta promise me to wake back up, okay?” Gently placing his hand on the unmarred cheek. “Can you do that?”
Tears began to well- dripping out of the tired eyes.
“I’ll wake up.”
“Then, goodnight, and sweet dreams Eternus.”