Eraserhead and Scribe II

Eraserhead and Scribe II Chapter 13

All Might and Aizawa arrived at the hospital together. Aizawa looked at the burner phone. "He says to meet him in Scribe's room."

"You really think this is the right thing, Aizawa?" All Might looked uncertain. "You really think he's figured out how to bring her back?"

"I have no idea." Aizawa turned desperate eyes to All Might. "But I'll try anything at this point."

Shigaraki sat beside Scribe's bed, his hand resting lightly on hers, his legs kicked out in front of him as he reclined in the chair. He looked up when they entered. "Afternoon, boys."

"You know where she is?" Aizawa ignored Shigaraki's blasé attitude. "Do you know how to get her back?"

"I have an idea on that front, yes." Shigaraki nodded. "And yes, I spoke with her earlier."

"You did what?" Aizawa stared.

"Don't worry. She's intent on getting back to you. I just happened to have access to the person who captured her. And leverage to get him to put me in there with her for a brief time." Shigaraki sat up. "Time is of the essence, however, and while she is quite strong now, I cannot guarantee that will continue. Though I have put an end to the torture."

"How do we know we can trust you?" All Might looked pointedly at Shigaraki's hand resting on the bed next to Scribe. "You could use your quirk on her at any moment. Have we all forgotten that?"

"I'm not interested in hurting Scribe." Shigaraki stood. "I haven't been for some time. But if it makes you feel better, All Might, I'll just do what I have to do over here." He moved to the corner of the room, leaning against the wall. He nodded to Aizawa. "It's better if you're next to her when we do this, anyway."

"What, exactly, are we doing, Shigaraki?" Aizawa sat. "Who has her and why?"

"An associate of mine took her in a misguided attempt, I think, at making me happy. You were right. The brainwashing was designed to make her love me. My associate didn't take into account that she was already in love with you." He paused. "I intend to make it clear that she is not to be touched again."

Aizawa frowned. None of this would get justice for what Scribe had been through. Was Shigaraki really going to protect this "associate" of his? "This isn't what we agreed to."

Shigaraki pursed his lips. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to trust a villain, Eraser? This is what I'm offering. I'll take care of it once Scribe is back to you. I haven't decided...yet...how to deal with...with my associate. He's a bit more valuable to me than you are, though, so you'll just have to trust me that he will be dealt with and Scribe will never go through something like this again."

"You just told me not to trust you. Now you're saying I have to." Aizawa took Scribe's hand in his.

"Yeah...I guess." Shigaraki sighed. "But she can trust me. Always. And that'll have to do for both of you, I think."

Aizawa looked at Scribe. He brought her hand to his lips and lowered his head. God, he wanted her back. "If you bring her back to me and swear you'll never touch her again, I promise I won't hunt you down...for this."

"I swear it. To you and to her." Shigaraki's voice actually trembled a little.

Aizawa looked up and caught the surprise on All Might's face. He nodded acceptance of Shigaraki's words. "What do I need to do?"

"Nothing abnormally difficult. Just sit there and think about her. If you feel you can make contact with her, do it."

Shigaraki's tone was casual, but something in it alarmed Aizawa. "What are you not telling me?"

Shigaraki didn't meet his gaze. "What makes you think—" Aizawa rose, but before he could take a step toward him, Shigaraki raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Trust. I get it. It's just that where she's being held...well, there's no real guarantee that she'll come back."

Aizawa felt as if Shigaraki's words had jerked an actual rug out from under him. "What?" He felt All Might's steadying hand on his shoulder, but he barely registered it. "What have you done, Shigaraki?"

"Remember it wasn't me. My associate used a quirk that can sort of hold a person's consciousness prisoner, but...there's no guarantee it can be returned. That's where you come in, Eraser. You have a connection with her and she with you. You can call her back here, you just have to do it as soon as she's free. Which will be as soon as I send one text." He held up his phone. "I made sure she's ready when I was there. She's thinking of you, too. She's ready to make the connection as soon as she's free."

Aizawa clenched his fists and closed his eyes for a second. He took a deep breath. This was a huge risk. Did he dare take it? He opened his eyes and met the other man's direct gaze. Shigaraki took a half step toward him. "She loves you. She'll come back to you." He lowered his eyes for a moment, and his voice was filled with a complicated mix of emotions ranging from envy to acceptance. "If I thought for a second that she'd come back for me, I'd never have called you." He looked back up. "And I would try. I'd try anything to get her back."

Aizawa nodded. How was it that Shigaraki had so much more faith in the power of her love for him than he did? He sat again, looking at her pale face. The doctors were uncertain how long her body could continue like this, but he knew every day was a step in the wrong direction. Every day she grew weaker. If she was strong in spirit now, they needed to do everything possible to get her back. He glanced at All Might. "I think he's right."

All Might looked grimly from Aizawa to Shigaraki and back again. Then he inclined his head. "It's your decision, Aizawa. But...I agree."

"Good." Shigaraki returned to his spot in the corner. He pulled out his phone. "Let me know when you're ready, Eraser."

When I'm ready? Aizawa looked at her pale face and stroked back her hair. She looked so small in the bed. He wanted so much to see her open her eyes and look at him, to see her smile again. He reached out to her. Oh Scribe. Please, please let this work. He nodded to Shigaraki, then turned his full attention back to her.

Scribe. Where are you? Please, baby, please come back to me. He pictured her as she'd been on their honeymoon at her bookstore by the ocean. Her hair shining in the sunlight that created crystalline sparkles on the water behind her. Lying with her on the warm sand, kissing or talking or just dreaming. I want to go back there. Come back to me and I'll take you there.

He hadn't allowed himself to go this far in his search for her. He felt as if his soul were calling out to her, as if he were falling into a deep pit of blackness. He knew if this didn't work, he would leave part of himself in that pit. He'd never climb out again without her there. He clung to a bit of the light, holding his hand out into the depths of the pit, but when he couldn't find her, he let go...