Rise of the Phoenix

~ C h a p t e r 30 ~

Sorry this is a bit short, no promises but we are going to try our best to get more out tomorrow. If not, look forward to a long update next week. Thank you all for everything. I had a to take a second look when I saw we were at 1000 kudos. Y'all really help me get through some hard times.  

     "Good evening kid," Eraserhead called from where he had been watching Izuku for the last ten minutes or so, "I brought more food, even though I know you aren't eating it."

Izuku narrowed his eyes at the pro in suspicion, how had he known that?

The pro snorted, "It doesn't take a mastermind to see that you haven't eaten a balanced meal in who knows how long." Izuku's suspicions grew further and the man sighed, "Look, I know you are asking why bring the food then," Eraserhead slid over the usual plastic bag with his foot, "Some part of me hopes that you will eat it, but even if you don't, I know it goes to someone else who does. But kid," the pro paused to stare at him seriously, "if you are going to be getting involved with that group you have been stalking every night, you should take better care of yourself. I can't stop you from doing anything, however I can't let you go into a major altercation that you are likely to pass out during because you didn't eat anything."

Izuku had to admit he saw the logic in what the pro hero was saying. He didn't want to get Big Mama or any of the rest of the gang to be hurt because he was not at his best.

This is why Izuku found himself reluctantly squatting down and reaching into the bag. Eraserhead respectfully backed away and took a seat on the roof while Izuku began to inspect the contents of the bag.

Izuku found a can of chicken rice soup as well as a can of mixed vegetables and a few fruit cups in the sweet syrup Izuku had never had but had always seen in Mori's lunch boxes when fresh fruit wasn't in season. He also found bottled water and also evaporated milk.

Izuku didn't know what to do with the canned heat that came with the food and after watching him fumble with it for a while Eraserhead spoke up.

"Would you like some help? I also didn't mean to pressure you into eating right now if you don't feel up to it." Izuku looked down at the can in his hands and also over at the food. He strangely wasn't against eating at the moment so he hesitantly slid the can over to Eraserhead.

The pro relaxed when Izuku didn't show any signs of being upset with him, "So, you have to twist the top here until it pops off. It can take a bit of work to get it off." A pop soon resonated through the night as Eraserhead took the top off to reveal a strange looking gel, "Next you very carefully light it with the match." The can was soon alight with a warm glow and Izuku stared on with wonder, "There you have it, your own heat source. The best part is, you just replace the lid when you are done and it can be relit. Now you can flip up the stand and place the can on top." (btw never heat aluminum cans and eat out of them. This is the future. It is safe here lol)

Eraserhead put down the now flaming can and backed away from it to give Izuku space. Izuku slowly inched forward with the can of soup and placed it on the flames. He watched fascinated as it started to steam and eventually simmer, making Izuku take it off the heat, ignoring the burning pain that came with touching the hot soup. (aluminum doesn't get hot, however it's contents do, be careful!)

"Kid! What are you doing, don't burn yourself!" Eraserhead suddenly shouted out of alarm, causing Izuku to flinch backwards. Thankfully he had already set the soup down on the roof, otherwise the hot liquid would be all over him.

Eraserhead winced and apologized again. Izuku slowly returned back to the soup and began to drink it, ignoring once again the hot temperature.

Once he had finished he returned the cap to the heat and retreated back to the bag. Izuku didn't even think about touching what was in the rest of the bag, he had barely been able to stomach as much as he did of the soup.

He had only forced himself to finish it because no reasonable person who lived on the streets and or was hungry for food, would take anything that was open from anyone.

"I also brought you this," Eraserhead placed another plastic bag on the roof before backing away from it, Izuku going forward to inspect it, "It's a bag of multivitamins and supplements. Please keep a bottle of something for yourself and give the rest of it to others. You know better than I do who needs the most help out here."

Izuku would be sure to make sure that all of the seals were intact before handing them out. He didn't think the pro would want to poison citizens, but Izuku wouldn't let it happen. The people on the streets went through enough as it was. If the pro had really given him what he said he did, it would be a tremendous help to some for a short period of time. You really didn't get a lot of nutrition on the streets.

Izuku nodded his head to Eraserhead respectfully.

"Stay safe kid," Eraserhead paused, "Do you have a place you would rather meet? Looking for you every night through the rooftops is getting tiring. I have a phone, you could type it out to me, or something... or lead me somewhere... whatever you wanna do, kid."

Furrowing his eyebrows, Izuku sat, deep in thought before finally pulling out his notepad he had been using to keep notes for Big Mama, and occasionally giving in to the urge to use the precious paper to write quirk analysis, and he quickly wrote down the name of Mori's store, and then for good measure wrote the fact it was a store because the name was fairly odd.

"Things I Found on a Beach?" Eraserhead questioned when Izuku showed him the notepad.

Izuku nodded and disappeared the paper back into his person. He wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not, but it wasn't like anyone was using the store anymore if the pro decided to show up and ruin it. It also didn't matter to him, not even it felt like a part of his heart was being ripped away when he had shown the pro the note.

Eraserhead raised an eyebrow, "Things I Found at a Beach?" Izuku nodded and looked away from the pro, who caught a clue that this probably wasn't a good subject to bring up.

"We can either meet there or I can leave the food and things I bring somewhere, again it is up to you."

Izuku immediately decided on the meet up, leaving things around was never a good idea.

Izuku held up his pointer finger, hoping the pro would get that he wanted the first option. He didn't want to use more paper than was necessary for this.

"Ok, before, after, or during when you go do... your nightly activities?" Izuku thought and held up two fingers and Aizawa nodded, "Do you usually turn in for the night around the same time or...?"

Izuku huffed at all the questions but still answered the man's question by holding up four fingers. Eraserhead's expression was unreadable for Izuku, but it soon morphed back into indifference as the pro sighed.

"Make sure you are getting enough sleep, kid," Eraserhead said, "That's important too," the man noticed how Izuku looked away from him and frowned, "Your safety and health is important, you are important. Just know that." With that, the pro used his cloth weapon to swing away like some pre-quirk vigilante Izuku had read about in a comic book.

Izuku ignored what the pro had said. The pro didn't know anything about him or his quirk he didn't deserve. Besides, no matter what he did, he would always come back anyways.

Izuku decided it was time to move to a different location, he had been on this roof for far too long already.