New Day New Decade (Hiatus)

What to do with the child...

(The picture is of the Living and dining area in the house. You'll understand after you read a bit further into the chapter.)

I walked calmly down the street with the sleeping small underweight girl wrapped in my hoodie as I debated exactly I was going to do with the tiny child. It probably wasn't the best idea to leave her at a police station or the hospital as Kai more then likely had people working on the inside for cases just like this. I could just drop her off at the gates of UA but there was a high chance they would keep her around the school if she had been specifically dropped off there. Meaning there would be a chance that she could see me and recognize me and while I could play it off as her mistaking me for someone else and gaslighting her, that wasn't very ideal. 

I would need to call in a favor to an old friend. I thought to myself as I ran to a house nearby that Denki didn't know was under my name. With my brain already running a kilometer an hour I set the sleeping child down carefully on the couch and went into the basement to do some digging. I found a shirt belonging to one of the kids I had fostered a few decades back and figured it would work as a makeshift nightgown after I did some taloring. 

Once I was upstairs I quickly set the shirt down on the almost never-used coffee table that was only clean because of the wonderful cleaners I hired to come and keep it clean once a week. Then I tossed a long-sleeved turtleneck shirt and a pair of sweatpants in the dryer to warm them up. In the blink of an eye, I was back in the dining area with a sewing kit and I got to work fixing the shirt into something that would fit the child better. 

As I was finishing up I heard Eri moving about on the couch and I rushed to change into the warm clothing and then back into the chair as she cautiously got up and walked around the couch to see me. I watched as she peeked around the article of furniture with a small gentle smile. "Hey kiddo, how are you feeling?" I inquired as I waved for her to come over by me. "If you're worried about the bad guy coming to get you, he can't find you here. You are perfectly safe here with me."

That seemed to do the trick as she took the time to actually look around before rushing over and hugging me, locking on to me like I was a tree and her a Koala. "I'm okay, hungry and scared but I'm okay mister." 

"I see, is there anything I can do to help you not feel scared?" I asked as she dug her face into my still-warm shirt. 

"..." She was quiet as she hesitated on if she should say what she wanted to or not. 

"You can be honest with me hun, you won't be in trouble or anything." 

"Don't leave... please don't leave me! I promise I will be good and I'll always listen, so please... please don't leave me!" She all but pleaded as she gripped my shirt tightly in her smaller fists. I felt a ping of pain in my chest and unconsciously, I placed my hand gently on her head before carefully picking her up and moving the hair from her face. With her seated on my lap, she looked at her hands and fidgeted nervous about what I would say. 

"Eri, right? That's your name?" I questioned as I watched her stiffen on my lap at me saying her name in a more even tone that was far less gentle than my previous tone. She nodded slowly fear evident. "That's a very beautiful name, do you know what Eri means?" I asked bringing back a more gentle tone.

"No... does it have to do with me being a mistake?" She questioned with a shakey voice, I could feel myself seething at that question. Who the fuck told her she was a mistake?!

"Gosh no. Who told you that?" I inquired hoping to know who I would need to further smack. 

"My mom... she's the one who gave me to the bad man." I'mma kill her... I thought to myself as I continued to seeth internally. 

"Well, I don't think she knew what she was talking about," I told her as I gently rubbed the small of her back, in hopes of getting her to relax a bit. "Eri, depending on how it's spelled, more or less means Limitless Prosperity. Do you know what Limitless prosperity means?" Once more she shook her head. "It means you don't have any limit to be successful or thrive." Gently I tilted her head up so she would look at my face. "It means you will do great things. You are not a mistake Eri, you never were."

I noticed her lip quiver a bit as she tried to hold back her tears. "Also I won't leave you. I might have a friend watch you for a bit, but I will always come back to you." I smiled even though I knew I probably shouldn't have said that, because now I had to figure out a way to get her to UA without it being suspicious as all hell. 

"Here why don't you change out of the ragged shirt and change into this, when you get back we'll get some clean bandages on you and get you some food." With a shaky breath of relief, Eri nodded and gave me a hug before sliding off my lap and running down the hall to find the bathroom so she could change into the article of clothing. Through the walls, I could hear her crying with what I hoped to be tears of relief. 

With her busy, I decided on quickly making some fancy French toast and had two slices cooking on the stove after a good minute. Then while the food was cooking I laid out some bandages and some of the extra salve that I had made for Denki. Just as I was plating her food a good five minutes later, Eri came out all excited to be wearing her new nightgown. 

"Mister look! It's so pretty!"

"You like it? I'm glad, come here." I queried as I picked her up and sat her on the table. I handed her the plate of food and started unwrapping the gross old bandages on her legs. "Eri you can call me Izuku, Izu, Zuzu, or even Big Brother okay? No need to call me Mister." I told her gently as I cleaned the bandaged areas and applied the salve before rewrapping them to perfection. 

"Mi- Izu, what is this?"

"It's called French toast," I answered as I swiped my finger through the whipped topping and whipped it on her nose. "Is it good?"

"Mhm! I really like it!" I nodded with a proud smile on my face and started to work on rewrapping and cleaning the wounds on her arms. She didn't make a fuss about it simply working with me as she ate, I could tell she had considerably relaxed. When I finished I put everything away and then sat in the chair in front of her. I should see about giving her a haircut. 

"Eri would it be okay if I cut your hair? It won't hurt or anything and it will help a little in making sure the bad man doesn't recognize you as quickly if he see's you ever again." 

"Okay, I will believe you. Can I finish my food first?"

"Of course, hun. Take your time, I'll go set up everything and get the bed ready for you." I ruffled her hair a little then left and wandered into the bathroom. I threw her old 'clothing' in the trash and got out a towel and some hair-cutting scissors. I also took this time to send Denki a text letting him know I 'worked' tonight and that he could go to bed since I wouldn't be back till morning. With that out of the way, I went into the bedroom across the way and re-fluffed the pillows.

"Izu!" Eri shouted out to which I peeked my head out and noticed her sitting on the table looking puzzled about how to best get down. I walked out and helped her down only for her to grab my hand with her small slightly sticky one. She didn't flinch at how chilly my hand was. "We can cut my hair now Izu."

"Right, let's wash your hands first then we will." Gently I tugged her along into the bathroom and helped her wash her hands before setting off the cut her hair to be just before her shoulders. Things went quickly after that, I washed and dried her hair then laid her down to bed. I relaxed beside her and hummed a small tune as I gently patted her stomach. 

Once she was out I grabbed out my phone again as I walked out of the room. I scrolled through my contacts quickly before I tapped on the one I was looking for and walked into the living room. On the second ring, she picked up. "Hello?"