(E) Helping Eri

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Hebi-suki's P.O.V.

I tried to blend in as much as possible but that's pretty hard when you're holding a beat up little girl at 2 in the morning. I arrived in front of my apartment building. The woman who owned it was named Sakura and she was very sweet. She thought I was just a normal teenager so to avoid suspicion I climbed up the building using the fire escape. Eri was shivering from the cold. I slid open my window and stepped into the apartment. I laid her down on my bed, careful not to wake her and started tending to the wounds. They were mostly on her arms and legs though she had a few scratches on her face and one big gash above her eye. I cleaned out the wounds and bandaged them. I would have to ask her tomorrow if there were any others. I looked at her thin, weak, and hurt body (She is still wearing the same ripped white dress) and decided from that moment on I would protect her with my life. I had enemies in this world so I would have to keep her a secret. I went to the bathroom and changed out of my vigilante outfit. I took my mask off and sighed as I looked at my face in the mirror.

Those ugly scars and mismatched eyes. I hated them. They were a reminder that I hadn't won all my fights. I turned on the shower and stepped in it while it was still warming up. The cold water pushed away my thoughts and I calmed as it slowly started to heat up. I changed into some more comfortable clothes and ate a snack. Then I walked over to the bed. Eri was still sound asleep. I got under the covers next to her, careful not to wake her up. She was shivering so I pulled her in a little closer, falling into light slumber.

~The next morning~

The light streamed through my window and I woke up with a groan. I tried to get up but there was something holding me down. I looked down to see Eri curled up on my chest. I pet her hair and she slowly woke up too. At first she was frightened. She tried to run but she was still injured.

"It's okay Eri, I'm here for you. It's me Deku, remember?" I said.

"I-is he c-coming?" She whimpered.

"No, you're safe here with me." I pulled her into a hug and she giggled.

"Hey Deku," Eri started.

"Yea?" I asked looking down at her red eyes.

"Do you have something else I could wear?" She whispered.

"Oh, of course! I'll be right back!" I ran to my closet and pulled out a pink OF hoodie and some shorts that were too small for me. We would have to go shopping later. "Here!" I said handing her the clothes. "Do you want to shower?" She nodded her head and took the clothes.

"Thanks Aniki!" I chuckled at the nickname.

"Do you need help?" I asked.

"No, I'm a big girl!" She said and ran off towards the bathroom. I got dressed in sweats and a shirt. I quickly put a concealer on my scars and a green contact lense in my red eye. I walked towards the kitchen and started making breakfast. If I want her to be successful then she will have to go to school or I will have to teach her. I don't really have anything else to do except go to work....She could come to the library cafe with me though. The books would help her learn. I could ask for a shift that ends earlier so I can teach her math here....I was lost in thought. I think I was just going to take her to work with me and keep an eye on her. Today is Sunday, my day off so we will get her new clothes today. I had finished cooking the eggs and bacon when Eri came out of the bathroom.

"Aniki...I need help..." She whispered.

"Yea?" I asked as I set the table.

"Can you brush my hair? I can't get through the knots." She complained cutely.

"Of course!" I walked towards the bathroom and looked through the shelves until I found my mother's old hair brush. I pushed down the emotions I felt and turned back towards Eri. "Go sit at the table. I'll brush your hair while you eat."

"Oki! Thanks!" She said. She sat at the table and took a bit of her food. "Wow this is good Aniki!"

"Aw thanks Eri!" I said laughing. I started working through the knots in her hair. "So Eri, today is my day off from work so we can go shopping for clothes. OK?" I asked. She nodded happily. I finished brushing her hair and eating breakfast in silence. I stood and started putting my shoes on (obviously not the red ones because then everybody would know! They are just black converse). Eri didn't have any.

"Aniki, I don't have shoes.." She said tears welling in her eyes.

"It's ok, it's ok!" I confronted. "I'll carry you to the shoe store and then you can pick out as many pairs as you want. I put her on my back and walked out the front door. We made it to the ground floor and I waved at Sakura.

"Hello Deku!" She said. "Who's this darling?"

"Oh, I'm just babysitting for a friend!" I smiled sweetly and left the building.

A/N: Yay! Another edited chapter. Tbh i'm not too sure how i feel about this book. I want to try another vigilante deku book to see if I can come up with anything better! Stay tuned for updates my little stars <3

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