Controlee

94. The One Saved

Rule 96: Strong feelings can disrupt even the greatest control.

Save Eri. Save Eri. Save Eri.

Simple but effective. The mantra was the only thought in Otsuka's head.

Eri would not spend her life in and out of quirk cuffs. Eri would not learn 'the needs of the many'. Eri would not consider herself second to everyone else.

Eri would not be Otsuka, not over Otsuka's grave.

Save Eri. Save Eri. Save Eri.

She apologised to nurses and patients alike, running fast but pushing herself to go faster. An hour. They just had to keep Eri safe for another hour. As long as those men didn't get to Eri before then, they wouldn't be able to take her.

She hopped over a chair just to turn a corner faster. How many times had she walked these corridors visiting Eri? Navigating them was like walking the halls of her old school, even with people moving about, she could do it with her eyes closed.

Faster. Faster!

Save Eri. Save Eri. Save Eri.

There was a squeak and the clatter of a small chair as Otsuka burst into the room. Aizawa had been sitting contorted over the small drawing table with Eri but was now stood protectively in front of the frightened child. He relaxed only minutely at seeing Otsuka there as opposed to a threat. "What's going on?"

In the simplest terms, Otsuka answered, "They're here."

Save Eri. Save Eri. Save Eri.

"I need details, Kaos." And there it was again, her hero name. Because this was a situation for heroes. A child needed protecting.

Otsuka relayed what she knew. Two men. Stalled by Yamada. Coming to this room. Coming for Eri.

Aizawa cursed under his breath, wincing as he looked to the child who was far too young to hear such words. Oops. His eyes hardened then, because here was the child they had to keep safe, and they had to get her safe right now. "Take Eri," he ordered. "Hide with her somewhere but stay in the hospital or you could be charged with kidnapping."

Right now, Otsuka couldn't care less about a kidnapping charge.

"You're still on thin ice after what happened with TT; this has to be done carefully."

They could throw her in a jail cell for all she cared, just so long as Eri stayed far away from any control schools.

"Return here in three hours, no less. Do you understand?"

Otsuka nodded, crouching to Eri's height and reaching out. "Eri, we need to go for a little trip, ok?"

Eri darted for Aizawa's leg, small fists wrapping tight around his clothes at the knee. She shook her head, eyes screwing shut.

There wasn't time for this. Yamada couldn't stall those men forever. They needed to get moving.

But Eri was a scared six-year-old, and that did not lend itself to speed when it meant being pulled away from the one who made her feel safe. Aizawa's eyes found Otsuka's and she was startled by the uncertainty there.