Erased (Complete)

Roof Tops

"I only know basic stealth techniques, and what I've read. I don't know anywhere near the full practice needed."

"It's surprising, with your quirk, that your academy wouldn't go over it with you."

"I've already told you, it wasn't UA High. We didn't have personalized training that bettered our quirks. Our instructors had to follow assigned courses, and pass or fail us on how our quirks helped us or, as the case was for me, how well we did in spite of it."

"That isn't how you learn anything, especially battle skills. How can you grade two quirks on the same scale?"

"Yeah yeah, sad story. It's what we had. So moving on to learning now?"

I could hear the smirk he wore on his face. "If you join a hero organization it will be easier for you. You won't have to be out every night waiting. If someone is in danger and you're in the area you'll get a call. Coming from your school your options will be limited, unless you're noticed by the bigger groups. So you'll have to decide soon if you want to be noticed."

"Isn't being noticed out of the question for me?"

"No, it isn't. It would be difficult, and you'd likely have to call the press yourself at one point. But it's possible, and it's your choice."

I laughed, "In order for me to be noticed I'd have to look like an attention whore?"

"Uh--well, it isn't exactly uncommon. Especially for new heros. And it works for some throughout their entire career."

"Wonder who you're talking about." I bumped his shoulder. "Uh, no... No, I don't want to do that." My words were met with his silence, the only sound our footsteps. "Aizawa? If you're trying to communicate through facial expressions we might have a problem... What is it? Did you expect me to say something else?"

"No... it isn't what I expected, especially for someone your age."

"'My age', like im a baby or something. But I'm not wrong, am I?"

He laughed, "You are young, Leah. Neither option was wrong. But your choice is refreshing... There's a fire escape to your left. Climb to the roof."

I slid my cane in that direction. "It isn't on the ground, is it?"

"No."

I huffed. "How high up is the first step?"

"You could reach it."

I couldn't take my mask off. But swinging my cane, or reaching blindly would've looked ridiculous. Amidst my hesitation, a warm hand found my own, and moved upwards until I touched the first step. I kept one hand on that as I reached for the wall with the other.

Once I had a good idea of the distance between the ground, step, and wall I took a few strides back to get a running start. I kicked off from the wall and latched onto the step, pulling myself up before I sat on the first landing to wait.

"I said climb to the roof, don't wait for me."

"Fine, fine, just trying to be polite." I stood, but the fire escape shook and I reached for a rail. The sound of metal on metal scraped my ears. My eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Did you lower the steps? Why didn't you do that before?"

"You didn't ask. So I thought I'd see what you had planned."

I smirked, "And? Impressed yet?"

"Don't get cocky. Climb the stairs, it's a long way up."

"Well that's your fault for picking the tallest building in town."

"You have mapped the city then?"

"Well, we're still close enough to my apartment. I have to get around some how.. I've been out more, and mapped the way to the school and surrounding area."

"That's somewhat impressive."

"Only 'somewhat'. Jeez, you're tough."

"Get to the roof."

*****

"Now, what do you think you should do up here?"

"Get a visual of the roof so I don't fall off. My 'first things first' is probably a very different list from yours in any given situation. You and everyone else."

"We're the only two up here, you can take off your mask and I'll stand behind you for now."

I untied my mask, the only thing to see way up here were the tops of other buildings. "Smart. Guess I really don't have to worry about some poor sap looking out their window."

"You catch on quickly."

"And yet, I wouldn't have thought of it... What if we need to get off the roof quickly to find a villain?"

"I guess you should figure that out next."

I glanced over my shoulder at him, he'd already cocooned himself in a sleeping bag and fallen asleep

I laughed. "So if there's a villain I have to wake you before I can run after them? Good plan..."

I looked around. Everything was quiet, so I sat and studied the buildings from the new angle.

A distracting angle, I decided. As much as I enjoyed the view, after a few minutes of taking it in, I closed my eyes with a sigh. I had to listen, without all the distractions sight brought.

Hours passed before I reopened my eyes. The streets filled with the noise of people waking up and rushing about. So it was no longer safe for me to help if there was an attack.

"Eventful night?"

"The most..."

I'd already replaced my mask by the time Aizawa woke, but he slipped it off again. "Watch the streets," he said.

I glanced at him, "If you blink, I could cause an accident."

"I won't let that happen."

I hesitated, but in the end curiosity got the best of me. "It looks exactly like it sounds." I laughed. "It--I..." I held back the tears until Aizawa pulled me back over a minute later. He froze in my sight but I didn't release him right away, I hugged him. "Thank you... Aizawa, you have no idea what you've already done for me." My eyes filled with tears and I couldn't hold them open any longer.

Free to move again, Aizawa returned the hug. "I have to leave for UA. Let's take a break today, you get some rest, and I'll see you after class tomorrow. Can you get home from here?"

I nodded.

I'm going to sleep for days, and I didn't even fight a villain. How do they do it?