Level of (Dis)Association

"When my hope is lost and my strength is gone, I run to you and you alone!"

Izuku Midoriya wasn't the sort to shy away from trouble anymore, if anything he ran head first into it every time it reared it's ugly head. Whether it was to rescue Bakugou, Uraraka or even tiny Eri whom he'd only just met. So, really, he'd rush to help anyone that needed it, and so long as he knew about it.

He was kindhearted and smart, but as terrible as it made him feel he knew he couldn't save those he didn't know needed help.

He was still a student, he didn't get calls to action like the pros did.

Still, he got lucky again and rescued that adorable, terrified young girl and the sense of accomplishment he felt was giddying.

She refused to sleep or eat without him around at the moment though, so he'd once again had to skip his lunch break to go to the hospital to make fully sure she ate every scrap on her plate. He didn't mind much, Mirio was often there too and the radiant smile on Eri's face every time he got through the door made it worth the trouble. The Hospital always had an extra tray of food waiting for him too, neatly set beside Eri's own. His heart almost burst with affection when he turned up late once to see the young girl, only to find her waiting for him before she started eating.

The Doctors and Nurses loved her, she was skittish and shy but was polite to all of them. She liked Mirio a close second to him but the upperclassman was just a bit too loud for her tastes.

Oddly enough Mina Ashido had also bonded pretty well with the girl, having followed him once to get the latest gossip about the internships, apparently most of the class had secretly taken bets on who'd get into the most trouble. Landslide victory on him or so she said. Turns out, Ashido's horns had fascinated little Eri, having never seen anyone else with any before. She'd be in for quite the surprise once she's released back into public life.

If they can't find her birth family, he'd offered to see if his mum was willing to adopt. He didn't think he could let her out of his sight anymore anyway, at least not for more than his average school day.

Eri was a fragile girl at the moment, his mother would be the perfect saviour. Provided of course, they made sure no one was going to be coming after the girl. That was the last thing his Eri or his mother needed.

"Goodnight Eri" he whispered patting her shoulder gently and wrapping her up in the soft Blanket he'd begged Yaoyorozu to fashion, little white unicorns dotting the solid pink wool it was made of.

It had taken a good hour to convince her, and a further day for the girl to learn how to get her Quirk to create it and despite offering money as compensation all he'd actually had to do was tell her why he needed it. So he had, a scared little girl he'd helped rescue on his Internship could do with something cute and soft to cuddle with at night. Turns out, she wanted a favour in return as well, to meet the girl as soon as she was allowed. That wait had been only a few days, in fact it was the day after Ashido had followed him

He'd found endless amusement watching the stoic girl, who he often forgot was no older than him, fidgeting and nervous trying to interact with Eri. She was so out of her depth with young children he'd almost let out a sound he'd never made before, a coo.

He did find it odd that Kirishima and Uraraka had only dropped by to visit once. That said, they were better at the whole appropriate detachment from your rescuee thing.

Kind and capable as they were, getting too attached to someone you saved isn't the best idea.

Still, he failed Eri the first time, him and Mirio both, and they were more than determined to not fail again. So they both spent inordinate amounts of time visiting, usually together but he'd visit alone more often. It was pure chance really, but because he was the first one to get to her and carry her to safety, away from that drab hellhole, she had formed a powerful bond to him above others. All Might had praised him, but Sir Nighteye had been characteristically critical.

"Too big a heart will only lead to too painful a life" had been his words. He understood the meaning of course, but if there was anything he could find room for it was that terrified, lonely girl. After all, All Might made room for him in his heart, so he could surely find an equal amount in his own for little Eri.

He'd never, ever, thought he'd kill for anything before till he saw unbridled hope and tumultuous tears on that one tiny existence. He'd heard countless heroes mention how her Quirk would be amazingly useful to them, not quite treating her like an object but also not quite a person and he'd felt a snarl form in his throat. He'd wanted to scream at them, tell them that her quirk was her own and he wouldn't dare let them force her to use it for anything other than her own wishes. He'd kept his head though, he knew they wouldn't actually do anything like that.

By the time he got back to the dorm it was nearing midnight, thankfully it was the weekend tomorrow so he wasn't to stressed about class. There was a light on in the common room and he only hoped it wasn't Bakugou. He was happy right now, and he didn't wish to deal with the boys still explosive nature. So when the lift doors opened he was pleasantly surprised to see Ashido and Yaoyorozu sat waiting.

He gave a lazy wave in greeting, his smile still in place from his time with Eri. They waved him over hurriedly and he listened just as so.

"How is she?" Were the first words from Ashido with Momo following with a quiet "Well, I hope?"

He smiled wider and told them about everything they'd done and they listened raptly. It still surprised them how quickly he'd come to adore that young girl like his own charge, his own baby sister.

"They say she can go out for a few hours tomorrow. I'm gunna take her for a proper meal, maybe to an arcade or a movie, I hear there's a new bunch of really popular kids films she might like... or maybe..."

He started mumbling again and they shook their heads in amusement.

Yaoyorozu broke him from his strange habit easily enough.

"You're so good with her. I've never heard you this confident about anything before"

He paused and stuttered and blushed in some form frenzied realisation

"I-I am? I d-didn't k-know!"

They laughed quietly and his face flushed more, the sudden realisation that he was talking to two girls, alone, who weren't Uraraka who he'd somewhat gotten used to, forcing heat to his cheeks.

He sputtered out more nonsensical sounds before sighing in defeat.

"It's a good look for you Midoriya" Ashido declared easily "no wonder that girl admires you so much!"

Momo agreed instantly "It's true, Eri couldn't stop asking about you when I visited her yesterday. You've made quite the mark on everyone you've met, to be sure"

He suddenly felt out of the loop because before he could open his mouth to stutter a denial, that he'd done nothing worth admiring, Ashido had cut him off.

"Exactly! I mean first Uraraka and Iida, then Tsu and the Perv, Tokoyami and that Mei girl, Todoroki after that! He's just got a talent for digging into a persons heart... he's like a worm!"

He really didn't like that enthusiastic comparison.

"I'm still here" was his weak complaint but neither listened.

"Indeed, he gave up his appointment as Class Rep to Iida too. At first I thought he was simply too weak willed, but that wasn't the case. He recognised a weakness of his own and for the benefit of the class chose someone more suited. That said, I was a little frustrated that he didn't simply promote me..."

Again a useless "I-I-I, y-you see..." utterance from him was promptly glossed over.

"Oh! I just remembered, the other day he fell asleep in the chair and she kept playing with his hand, y'know the mangled one? It was the most adorable thing! She told me she didn't understand how such a damaged hand had held her that gently! Aww, our boy's first fan!"

He blushed deeply again, he hadn't known that. She did seem to enjoy holding his and Mirios hands when she could though, and she'd gotten quickly addicted to hugs from all her regular visitors but he didn't understand why he was singled out.

"Indeed, though it isn't surprising, she really looks up to both him and Togata. She looks so lost when neither are there..."

It was the call of "I AM HERE!" from his mobile that interrupted them all.

Eri, soundly unaware of those talking about her, tossed and turned in the night. Reaching out helplessly for something that wasn't there, something that she so desperately needed to at least pretend her dreams didn't bother her. She scratched at her sheets, her fingertips only finding coarse sheets she didn't recognise. Her rest became more unruly with her bodies realisation that the Soft Thing was gone, the warm Soft Thing that the wonderful older boy gave her. The one that smelled fresh, smelled like kindness and unadulterated caring, the thing that reminded her of the disfigured hand that held her gently. Without the Soft Thing, she woke with a bitten off shout and desperately searched for that disfigured hand.

"Izuku?" she called out frantically "Izuku!?" The dark was more oppressive than she was used to without that boys hand. Before, the dark had been something she'd just simply gotten used to. It was always there so it wasn't a bother, except for when the man with the creepy smile or the black mask came in. This dark was different to the usual empty one, it pushed down on her, made breathing hard and she clutched the sheets pooling at her waist to just below her eyes. Without that boy, it had gone from empty nothingness to the most terrifying thing she could think of. What if the boy was a dream? What if the Loud One was a dream? She called out once more again, much weaker than the last. If that boy didn't answer her, maybe the other would.

"Mirio?"

He voice was tiny, quiet and full of fear but that doubled when even the Loud One didn't answer her pleas. Her thoughts rang desperate to the Pink One and the Tall One, but she couldn't remember their names. They were kind to her, but she just couldn't bring herself to remember people other than that boy and the Loud One. As her head sunk under her protective cover, a loud continuous beep rang through the room. She huddled even tighter into a ball, still calling out for the two who saved her. She couldn't bare this to be a dream, she couldn't! So, she screamed loud above the continuing beep, above her fears.

"IZUKU!? MIRIO!? IZUKU PLEASE!"

She only thrashed harder when people rushed into the room and attempted to hold her down. They didn't seem to care at all about her screaming or the tears creating a waterfall down her cheeks.

He burst through the door without prompt, Mirio on his heels. The boy had phased through every wall he'd needed to, the only thing covering his modesty was a towel Izuku grabbed the moment he noticed his naked upper-classman. They both got the call and wasted no time. Yaoyorozu and Ashido were probably still trying to explain to the Guards and Receptionist just why he'd blasted past in Full Cowl and Mirio's friends were likely on their way too.

Neither of them cared, the message had been simple. "Get to Eri! Now!".

Recovery Girl had send them both the same message, and neither had spent more than a second explaining. As far as Izuku was concerned "It's Eri!" had been all his classmates had needed to sprint behind, by about a half mile at least.

The moment they entered the room and saw two doctors and two nurses trying to keep Eri from hurting herself in her panicked movements, the two leapt towards them. They quickly, but gingerly, removed the workers and grabbed Eri tight in their arms. The girl started once more, but Mirio grabbed her hand and Izuku cradled the back of her head, both of them whispering the words of their hero.

"I am here"

To anyone but them, it would've been amusing how quickly the girl went from a struggling mess to grabbing on for dear life. The tears hadn't stopped, in fact them and the sobs had probably worsened, but the girl at least seemed calmer. It had taken the nurses and doctors a few days to realise, though they had decades of experience with caring for young children, both physically and emotionally, the bond this particular young girl had with these two young men was probably the only thing she cared about. To hear of the torture the girl likely underwent, her body constantly destroyed and reconstructed, kept in the dark and on her own for her whole life, neglected and unloved... The two boys currently almost crushing her in an embrace made only of their desire to protect her for so long as they live, she probably didn't realise till then how much she craved such attention. It was likely that when she learned what an angel was, she would attribute those two boys to be exactly that. Guardian Angels that existed solely for her, angels that saw her plight that day and chose to dedicate their existence to her protection.

The head surgeon of the hospital, who'd jumped in to help when he heard the commotion on his way to get changed, didn't believe in such things. That said, quite honestly, the lengths those two boys had gone to, and seemingly will go to, to keep her safe astounded him. He wondered, just for a moment, if perhaps they really were angels. He shook his head, in the end not caring. There were no angels, but to that tiny girl, perhaps there were and they were currently whispering calming words into her ears.

Ashido and Yaoyorozu finally caught up, almost fighting each other to get through the door in their haste before they caught the scene and stopped. The view was beautiful to them, heartwarming and majestic. A crumbling fragile child, clinging on to her own personal heroes. They'd known Mirio for a short time, but both were sure he'd be an excellent pro, they had both thought the same of Midoriya, but to see them both now, as they comforted a scared and distressed child. It reminded them of the fact that "Hero" wasn't always a profession. There was a time when "Hero" meant something so much more than that, and it warmed them to witness that original meaning in full view.

To be a Pro-Hero is to be paid to save people. That is an undisputed fact, it doesn't matter the true motivation, that is what a Pro-Hero is.

To see these two young men going out of their way for this girl? Someone they'd saved but had no commitment to comforting, it was truly beautiful. Neither had to come here, not really, their "job" was done when they rescued her, but both ran at full power the moment they heard something was amiss. True heroes, the both of them.

They felt tears spring behind their eyes as they both rushed to Midoriya's side to comfort that tiny child. The girls crying picked up again, no longer sobbing but wails. They made no move to let go, they weren't the tears of someone scared anymore, they were those of someone so needing of love they almost couldn't bear this influx. Such emotions hurt, they burn and sear into people, but not in a way that you would ever seek to escape them. Eri only buried her head closer to the twin chests either side of her cheeks, her hands leaving Togata's and scrambling for holds with Ashido and Yaoyorozu. Those hands were snatched up eagerly, and gripped so firmly that the little girl could understand the meaning without the actual knowledge to understand.

No one was letting go, ever.

It sunk in at that very moment, despite having very little interaction with Midoriya, with Izuku, that they wouldn't ever let him and Togata be the sole protectors of this child. This girl was in desperate need of love, and they had plenty to spare, plenty to willingly give.

"We're coming" was what Momo whispered into Izuku's hair, where it had found itself because of the group hug "When you take her tomorrow, we're coming"

Mina nodded vigorously against the boy's chest, where she'd ended up when she shoved her face into Eri's stomach. Mirio withdrew slightly, to look into his friend's eyes.

"Let's make it the best day of her life!"

Izuku had never liked how easily he cried, but right now, hearing all these words... The tears that flowed into Eri's hair were the most welcome, he cherished every single drop. His hand hadn't quite caught her the first time, but now? Now four hands were grabbing onto this girl so tightly she'd never have to worry again. He didn't know what to say, not to them, but to her? That girl in their arms who was slowly slipping back off to sleep? Well, that was the simplest thing he could imagine.

"Don't you worry Eri... We are here!"

'And maybe perhaps' he thought with a smile 'we'll actually come through the door like normal people next time'

Annoyingly, i've yet again come up with another story idea. So, here's another starte story that will likely get bogged down with my inability to actually focus!

A couple of points to be aware of;

Names - You'll notice how when I use characters names, it switches from first to second name fairly often. Mostly it's to show familiarity, it changes depending on who the perspective focuses on (i'm also aware that the perspective is every changing and sometimes pretty damn unclear).

Eri's Quirk - It's mentioned, and we know from the Manga what her blood is made to do. In this story, her Quirk is similar to her father's (and from the whole Quirk Marriage thing we know that they are usually genetically transferred). His quirk is to dismantle and repair, like Todoroki's Half Hot-Half Cold when you think about it, so something like that exists in Eri she likely has a similar power. Then we remember Quirk Marriages and we have to question, what could the mothers be? I don't address that, but (Fanfiction story spoilers) Eri's Quirk in this is that she can - Completely mitigate and Damage Quirks but also make them stronger and more powerful... Hence my relation to the Half Hot- Half Cold. Two opposites existing in one body.

Half white hair, half red. A horn on one side, but none on the other... Ya get me?

Momo and Mina - Honestly, of the group, they've always struck me as the two that would be best with kids. Mina's got the attitude and Momo (who i'm pretty sure if voiced by the same person as Erza... They certainly sound like it anyway) strikes me as someone who'd be like Erza with kids. I mean, if you've watched and/or read Fairy Tail you've notice Erza is fantastic with Wendy (in this story it's a Momo is fantastic with Eri thing).

The lack of Kacchan - There is a reason for that. I honestly doubt i'll continue this, so I'll spoil it. Bakugou specifically asked him not to call him that anymore, and Izuku listened. There's more to that scene, obviously, but I figured you'd want reasons!

The blanket/Soft Thing - Eri reminded me of a unicorn, so I figured "Hey, that's an idea! If Izuku was gunna make Momo create a blanket, why not have the thing she makes him think of imprinted on it?"

Any questions? Good, now, go die!

Kindest regards,

Yourfellowwriter.