My Hero Academia: Unsaved

Chapter 9: To Ask for the Stars

"What do you think, doc?" Dr. Marshal had her hand on her chin, as she stared through the glass partition into the patient room.

She watched as Vaila read a children's book, practicing sounding out the words there, her brain attempting to tuck each word away for future use. The room seemed warmer, despite the white walls.

Dr. Marshal recalled the endless days where the girl didn't do anything much less talk or eat. But now she was here, fighting to recover. To move forward.

Priority and Bakugou stared daggers into the doctor.

The doctor sighed, raising her hands up in defeat. "Alright, alright. Calm down, you win."

An aura of excitement burst from Priority.

"However, I still expect her to attend her sessions, and..." The doctor trailed off. Her brain trapped in thought.

"What?" Priority egged the doctor on.

"She would need someone to help her and hold her accountable for her home exercises, and given that she doesn't have family... I just don't know if state services would have the resources to give her that much one on one attention."

A dark cloud hovered over the room. Priority shifted uncomfortably.

"She could..." he looked at the doctor. "Stay with me?"

Bakugou shot him a stern glance, which was given in equal magnitude from the doctor.

"This is a big decision. I know you care for the girl..." Priority looked down as he was chastised by the doctor. "But you have to think about what's best for her, not your ego. You can't just say childish things like that and not think them through. She may seem better, but she is still recovering. She needs consistent one on one care. What will she do while you are away during the days or on a mission?"

"She'll be at U.A." The three turned around to see Eraser Head standing in the doorway to the equipment room. He sighed, as he pushed his pitch-black hair from his eyes. "You said she needed one on one care, and there is an excellent general studies program there that is often overlooked. I'm sure any number of the teachers would be happy to give her extra tutoring before or after classes to help her keep pace."

The doctor blinked as she contemplated the new suggestion. With Eraser Head providing new strength, Priority asserted himself.

"I want you to know, I am thinking about what's best for her." His eyebrows furrowed as he addressed her. "After all this time she deserves to have someone who truly cares about her. To experience a home without pain. Tiva and I already knew this day might come, and we talked about it." He took a breath. "I may not be very knowledgeable as a guardian, but..." He paused pressing his feet firmly into the ground. "I can learn."

Bakugou's jaw clenched, a distinct vein popping out of his forehead. Biting his tongue just wasn't his style.

"Who do you think you are?!" The adults looked down at the angry child. "She's right there!" He slammed his fist in the direction of the glass partition. "Shouldn't she get to fucking decide?!"

The three adults stared blankly.

"Although I don't approve of the tone." Eraser Head spoke quietly and apathetically. "He's right."

After a moment of silence, all four of them entered through the door, Vaila raising her head to greet her new visitors.

"Vaila..." the doctor approached first. "So...you said you thought you might be ready to leave?"

She put her hand to her chin. "Oh, Baki must've told you."

There was a short silence as the three adults heard the nickname for the first time. Bakugou tightened his arms across his body.

"Shut up! It's not like I wanted the stupid nickname!" He clenched his jaw.

Vaila blinked, emanating an aura of confusion.

"Anyway, about you wanting to leave." The doctor continued. "How would you feel about going to live with Mr. Priority."

Vaila looked up, meeting the gaze of the familiar dark-haired hero who came to visit her so often.

Priority shifted his feet and looked away from her gaze. "I know... well I mean there... we would be happy to have you, if that's what you wanted of course." He paused, a ball of nerves rising up within him. "During the days you could attend U.A, and you could practice your exercises and learn, and the food would be better... I think. I mean, Tiva's really the better cook, but if she's gone I can manage, but what I'm trying to say is..."

"Would it... be okay?" The words trickled down like raindrops. "I know that... I'm broken." She looked down at the white linens that were somewhat askew on the bed. "I still can't do a lot, and it takes me a lot longer than it should to get things..."

Tears built up in the corner of her eyes. "So, is it really okay?" A wetness stained her cheek. "For me to want that?" She looked back up at the dark-haired hero.

The tears wouldn't stop falling. She knew there was a time when the sight of the man with a blue cape filled her with anxiety, and maybe even anger. But the more he came to visit her, as she healed, she realized just how much he actually did save her. It may not have been when she wanted, or how she wanted. But in the end, it wasn't just her body he pulled out of that dark abandoned building. It was her heart. Bit by bit, with flowers and warm smiles. With conversations, even if they were one sided, he showed her what fatherly love was supposed to look like.

She felt a tightness surround her as Priority's hands wrapped around her shoulders. Her head resting calmly on his chest. "Of course it's okay." His dark voice settled over her like a warm blanket. "It's always okay to want that."

The other three looked on in silence, as a single tear fell from those dark brooding eyes.

"You deserve every star in the sky Vaila..." his grip tightened. "So you go right ahead and ask for them."

'Thank you.' She thought silently to herself, as she buried herself in his embrace. 'For loving me.' Her thoughts traversed to her mother, who above all else wanted her daughter to be happy.

'For saving me.' She wrapped her arms around Priority, letting his warmth caress her.

'For caring for me.' Dr. Marshal stood in the corner, a soft smile on her face.

'And for teaching me again, how to fight to move forward.' Bakugou stood with his arms crossed, his mouth turned down into a frown.

They stayed that way for a while. Holding each other, tears of happiness tumbling freely from her eyes. And to Vaila, it was one of those memories that etches its way into your soul. One that she would never forget. An everlasting monument to the fact that just as life provides pain and suffering, it also provides hope, and love.