Eraserhead and Scribe V

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Spring was always a difficult time to teach, even young heroes. Aizawa took his classes outside as much as possible, concentrating on physical training. He and All Might began building another obstacle course with the help of Cementoss, this one designed specifically to challenge the quirks of his class.

At least Scribe was sleeping better. True to his word, Shigaraki had at least hit the pause button on the nightmares. Aizawa often found himself wondering how he'd managed it if he was truly in the amount of pain that Scribe described. If he was in pain, it would take a great deal of self-control to keep from reaching out to someone Aizawa was sure Shigaraki saw as a source of comfort.

He could do it if he loves her.

Sometimes he caught Scribe looking thoughtful too. Mostly she was lighthearted and cheerful, almost too much so, though he could attribute that partially to the relief of being free from the nightmares. But not totally. They worked out in the gym together every morning and he'd noticed a new intensity to her drive. She also had begun meditating on a nightly basis. He had a feeling she was strengthening her defenses, as if she had a feeling that something was coming. Some sort of new challenge. And she wanted to be ready.

"Hey, man, heads' up!" Mic's voice pulled Aizawa out of the reverie he'd fallen into while watching Scribe sitting on the lawn below them with Class 1-A in a circle. They were doing some sort of storytelling activity Scribe had described to him that the kids all loved. As he watched, Kaminari took his turn and Jiro led the others in hoots of laughter.

Aizawa turned to his friend just in time to catch the pack of nails Mic had tossed at him not realizing he wasn't paying full attention. He looked at the plastic bag and shrugged. "Thanks?"

"You are totally not with it, man. What's up? Girl trouble?" Mic walked over to look at Scribe from Aizawa's point of view.

"Far from it, actually. How about you?"

"Nice try, but we both know that's one of my greatest hits." Mic grinned. "Not at the moment, maybe, but who knows?"

"Yeah, Kayama's not the most trustworthy chart topper." Aizawa reached for a hammer.

Mic snorted. "Maybe she's just never had the right lead guitarist. But seriously, how is Scribe?"

"Tired of everyone asking that question probably." Aizawa glanced again at his wife to see Kirishima rolling in the grass while everyone laughed. "Not that I blame you. I probably ask it myself about ten times a day. She seems better."

"But you're worried because of the Shigaraki thing." Mic had been there when Aizawa and Scribe told All Might about Shigaraki's visit to Scribe's dream. He'd been as concerned as the other two, but none of them had been able to figure out what could possibly account for the villain's wounded appearance and what Scribe had described as his triumphant scream.

Aizawa nodded, feeling weary. He set down the hammer. "I've been doing this for too long, I think. I'm just so tired of it all. Shigaraki, the League of Villains, being a hero, all of it. If I could take Scribe and Eri and disappear, sometimes I think I'd do it. But then...there's the class. The kids. They're just getting started and I can't leave them now. And neither can Scribe." He sighed. "So I just keep going. I've got to get them through. Maybe this will be the last class, though. I don't think I can do this for much longer." He glanced at Mic to find his friend staring at him with open mouth and wide eyes. "What?"

Mic lunged at him, throwing his arms around Aizawa in an enthusiastic hug. "That is the least rational thing you've ever said, Shota. I'm so proud of you."

Aizawa was temporarily torn between hugging his friend back and pushing him away. He compromised, giving Mic a quick pat on the back and then shoving him away. "Get back to work, Hizashi. This obstacle course isn't going to build itself."

***

As the class ended, Scribe looked up the hill to where her husband worked with Mic and All Might on the obstacle course. She smiled a little when she saw Mic lob a donut at her husband and he caught it neatly, taking a bite before he turned back to the work at hand. It was good that they were enjoying themselves.

Before Shigaraki returns, we all need to find the joy we can in life.

She felt time that way now. Like it was a countdown to when Shigaraki returned to her life. Because somehow, it felt as if all the joy she'd found in life would end then. Something is coming.

She felt it even now in the soft breeze that lifted her hair from her neck. She felt it at night when she kissed Eri and tucked her in, when Aizawa held her, whenever she laughed. A feeling of utter dread that she could neither define nor name. But that wasn't quite right, was it? She knew its name.

Tomura. Oh, Tomura, what have you done?

The nightmares had stopped, just as he'd promised. She no longer dreamed of dancing in fields of corpses or seeing the people she loved slaughtered in horrible ways. But now she had a haunting feeling that what would come would be so much worse. And she would have to fight it.

She'd tried to keep her dread to herself, but she knew Aizawa had picked up on it. Their connection was so open now, she couldn't keep something like this totally to herself. He knew something was wrong and that she was preparing herself for battle, even if he didn't know what her enemy was.

If I knew, I would tell you, my love. But she didn't. She only knew it had to do with what she'd seen and what little Shigaraki had told her. Nothing I didn't ask for, pretty. Nothing I don't want.

"Miss Scribe?" A hesitant voice broke into her thoughts. She looked up to find Midoriya looking down at her. He hesitated, then squatted next to her. "Are you okay?"

Scribe smiled at his thoughtfulness. "I'm fine, Izuku. Just enjoying a few minutes of sunshine."

He looked up at the sun, then back to her. "Yeah, I guess we have to enjoy it while it's out, huh?"

Her smile stiffened a little. "We do indeed, Deku." Her use of his hero name didn't go unnoticed by the boy. His brow furrowed a little. But he nodded. She inclined her own head, but she felt a little sad at the same time. She knew she'd be going into battle against Shigaraki. But she also knew she wouldn't be going alone.

At that moment her phone buzzed and she glanced at it. Then she turned in surprise to look at Aizawa. Her husband was also looking at his phone but he lifted his gaze to hers. She stood. Midoriya looked startled from one to the other. "Is everything all right?"

Scribe reached out and gave his arm a gentle, reassuring pat. "It's fine. Just something I need to take care of."

She looked back at the message from Tsukauchi. Spinner wants to meet with Scribe. Alone.