Experiment 007

Chapter 11: The Collar

-The next morning-

Izuku POV

"Ow." I hiss in pain as I try to sit up. I feel a hand on my shoulder and start to panic. SHIGARAKI! I pull away, expecting my shoulder to start disintegrating. After a moment, I notice it's still there. Completely fine. "What the helllll?" I ask myself, staring at my shoulder in disbelief. If that wasn't Crusty, who just touched me? Actually, where am I? What happened? I start looking around the room, trying to take in my surroundings.  I first notice the man in front of me. He looks really tired, maybe more than me. His long shaggy black hair was tied up in a half bun and he was wearing all black, a huge contradiction to the rest of the bright white room.

"Ohmygod you're Eraserhead!" I sputter out. The man looks at me and lets out a small chuckle.

"Yea. I'm surprised you know who I am." He looks at me with a smile. It's a warm smile. Actually, the whole room is warm, and bright. I look away from the man and have to squint while taking in the rest of the room. As my eyes adjust, the memories of the previous day catch up to me.

"Is this real?" I ask plainly. Reaching my hand up to my throat. Eraserhead places a hand on my shoulder. I flinch at the contact and he quickly lifts his hand, a sad look comes across his face. 

"Hey kid. You're safe now." I sigh and look out the window. Excitement pulls me from the bed as I run to the window. "Wow! Kid you should be resting!" I ignore him and stand on my toes, trying to get a look outside hoping up and down to get a better look.

"Kid what are you doing?" The hero asks.

"It's the sun! Can you believe it! Woooow!" I look out the window with my eyes wide. I crack open the window and a fresh breeze comes into the room. I deeply inhale the crisp air, savoring the moment.

Aizawa POV

I stare at the small boy as he struggles to look out the window that is just too high up for him. He bounces up and down, looking outside.

"It's the sun! Can you believe it! Woooow!" I feel my heart sink. When was the last time this kid saw the outside world?

"Hey, kid?" I ask cautiously. He spins his head around with a contagious smile plastered on his face. Hard to believe this was the same kid he found half dead and chained to a wall. "When was the last time you were outside?" His smile flickers.

"Well," he starts, scratching the back of his head with his hand. "I don't really remember." He looks down at the floor. "If I'm being honest, I don't even know how long I've been gone. It feels like it's been forever." His smile is gone now as he tucks himself onto a chair, bringing his knees to his chest.

"Do you know how old you are then?" He glances at me, not moving his head from his knees and shakes his head. I pause again. "Do you want me to tell you?" I ask calmly. I don't want him to have another panic attack. His head rises slightly, contemplating the question. He looks at me again and hesitantly nods. I take a deep breath. "Well, right now you are 15."

He looks at me with complete shock. "I-i-i'm f-fifteen? I was there f-for e-e-eight y-years." I stare at him in disbelief. The poor kid. I feel tears fill in the corner of my eyes, anger coming over me. Who would hurt such a good kid?

I slowly get up and walk to the greenette. He his looking out the window from his seat. I crouch down next to him. "Hey, problem child?" I ask, getting his attention. "Can I give you a hug?" This question seems to confuse him. Almost as if he doesn't remember what they are. With a confused look he gives me a small nod. I wrap him in a big hug. He slowly releases tension and melts into the hug, hesitantly wrapping his arms around me.