Shigaraki and Scribe II

Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11

Scribe caught Tomura as he would have fallen off the couch. She had no clear idea what was going on, but then she saw Eri standing just inside the door. The child was crying, and her horn sparked in the semidarkness of the room. Something clicked in Scribe's head.

"Kurogiri!" She yelled the name as loud as she could. Somehow Kurogiri always heard. Maybe it had to do with his quirk, she wasn't sure. When he appeared, she pulled Tomura to his feet and shoved him at Kurogiri. "Get him out of here!"

Tomura's caretaker did not question her, warping them both quickly away. Scribe watched them go, then turned back to Eri, who had fallen to her knees, sobbing. "No, no! I don't want this. Please, no!"

Scribe knelt beside her and pulled the child into her lap, stroking her hair out of her face, murmuring silly, soothing words. "It's okay, sweetheart. It's all right. He's fine." Was he? She reached out to Tomura, felt his reassurance.

I'm fine now. I might not have been in another couple seconds. But do you have any idea what happened?

Not yet. The intensity of her relief filled Scribe. I'll try to find out. I'm so sorry. Can you stay with Kurogiri tonight?

She felt his dissatisfaction with that idea, but she knew it would be safest. And at that moment, Eri crumbled against her, her sobbing spent, obviously exhausted. "Is he really all right?" She whispered the words through trembling lips.

"He is." Scribe wrapped her arms around the child and rocked her gently.

Eri was silent for a long minute, long enough for Scribe to wonder if she had fallen asleep. Then she said very softly, "Tell him I'm sorry."

Good to know. Tomura's acerbic thought distracted Scribe. I'd rather know what she did to me, though. Not to mention why.

Scribe gathered the little girl into her arms and carried her into the bedroom. She laid her gently on the bed and covered her with a quilt. Then she sat in a chair beside the bed. I think she woke and was frightened. She saw us together, maybe thought you were threatening me. I don't know exactly, but she is a child and can't comprehend things the same way we do.

She felt Tomura's silence, knew he was thinking about what she'd said. She wondered if he was right about Murder Hornet's "mistake" putting her and Eri together. What if Murder Hornet was helping the hero commission all along?

What do you mean? His thought came so quickly she wondered if he'd been thinking the same thing.

He put us together. Maybe he doesn't want Overhaul's plan to succeed. At least...whatever it has to do with Eri. The hero commission set us up to retrieve her all along. Scribe felt a shock of surprise course through her veins. Does that mean we've put ourselves in danger bringing her here?

I don't think so. Tomura sounded both soothing and thoughtful. There's no way they can trace Kurogiri's portals, remember?

Right. Scribe sat back. So why would they put us in a position to retrieve her?

Maybe they thought we couldn't handle her and would gladly hand her over. Or maybe the hero commission doesn't actually know as much as we're giving them credit for.

Scribe could almost see his grin. The thought made her smile a little, too. Tomura, what are you thinking?

I'm thinking we may have the upper hand, pretty. And your little friend gave it to us.

***

Shigaraki sat back in the chair in Kurogiri's living room, tenting his long fingers under his chin. His grin spread across his face. All Might didn't think we could handle her. Maybe he thought she'd wipe us all out before we could stop her. But he didn't count on Scribe.