Cue Song
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The sound of a door opening to the room made the creature shrouded in darkness awaken, red hues glaring from the shadows.
"Eri has escaped." Came her new masters voice.
The creature said nothing as the sound of her metal collar and chained clattered against the ground and she was no longer confined.
"When you're done putting some attire on, come find us. Maybe having your presence there will make Eri more compliant in coming home. I'm sure she wouldn't want a renactment of last time."
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A freckled haired boy was walking leisurely with an older blonde male, both in their hero costumes patrolling the city. It wasn't until a small force crashed into him and he glanced down to see a small girl. A small girl with bluish, off white hair that was messy and unkempt pair with wide red eyes. She wore a plain dirty tan shortsleeved dress and had a small brown horn on the right side of her head.
"Sorry for the trouble my daughter caused, hero."
Izukus head snapped up to see a figure come out from the alleyway. It was a pale man with short shaggy auburn hair wearing a plague doctor mask. No way that's Chisaki?! The boss himself. Izuku thought as Nighteye had informed him and Mirio about the infamous Yakuza.
Izuku felt his hoodie suddenly fall on his face, concealing his identity as Mirio appeared beside him. "Did you forget to wear your hood and mask again? They must not have gotten the right size for you!" Mirio said with a grin causing Izuku to look at him in confusion.
What is he talking about?
But the blonde suddenly bowed his head toward the stranger. "We're the ones who should apologize." Mirio suddenly said, his expression far to calm.
Wait...Izuku thought and completely wiped the look of recognition off his face. He's putting on a good face...whereas my face was practically screaming 'no freaking way!' I can't do that, we're not supposed to know each other. Izuku cast his gaze down, relaxing his features. If I act suspicious I could impede the work Night Eye is doing.
"That's a cool mask you got there...you must be with the Hassaikai! You guys are kinda famous around here..." Izuku murmured scratching his head sheepishly. Gotta end this peacefully...
"Yeah don't mind the mask, I'm just sensitive to dust and grime." Overhaul exclaimed. "I've never seen you two before. Newcomers to the hero business? You're both so young." He stated casually.
"Yeah that's right, we're all nervous about being such newbies!" Mirio grinned with a friendly smile masking his anxiety much better than Midoriya was. "Stand up buddy, gotta face the unknown future on your feet!" Mirio ordered.
"And which agency are you working for?" Overhaul inquired, a chilling look on his face.
He's trying to figure out who we are. Mirio thought anxiously. "We're students actually! It'd be mighty presumptuous for a couple fledglings like us to claim association with an agency...just getting a chance to see what's what during our internship!" Mirio lied clean through his teeth astounding Izuku.
I won't reveal Sir's name. Let's get out of here quick. Mirio thought and turned his back to the two individuals.
"Well we've gotta make our rounds across the entire neighborhood before lunch! Let's go!" Mirio turned, motioning for midoriya to come as he could sense the tension growing thick between them and the stranger. However, the small girl clutched onto Izuku's costume.
Izuku froze at the pure terror and fear in her eyes as moisture coated her eyelids. "Please don't go."
"Um...your daughter seems scared." Izuku pointed out.
"Only because I just got done scolding her." Overhaul excused.
"Deku stop acting so suspicious. Let's go." Mirio whispered but Midoriya wasn't budging.
"Yeah but these bandages don't look like something she'd get by just playing to rough." This girl...she's holding tight and not letting go.
"She falls a lot." Overhaul countered and it was clear the villain was growing annoyed.
No, not normal at all. Izuku frowned not believing the man for a second. "For a girl her age to be trembling in fear, silently...I just don't think it's normal."
The tension in the air seemed to grow more, causing Mirio to tense.
"Don't presume to know what's normal...for other people's households."
Just stop...Mirio mentally pleaded, hoping Midoriya would take the hint. "Indeed, there are all types of families." Mirio leaned down, setting a stern hand on Izuku's shoulder. "He's cleary annoyed by your snooping. He'll be even harder to expose if he gets to wary. Gotta end this without incident!" Mirio mumbled so only the younger boy could hear.
"You're wrong. Not taking action would be even more suspicious! It's not natural." Izuku whispered back, cupping the back of the girls head protectively.
When we don these costumes and step into the city...
"What are you doing to this girl?" Izuku inquired, a determined glare in his eye.
We become heroes...
No true hero would abandoned a frightened child.
Overhaul sighed ushering for the heroes to step into the alleyway. "It figures that a hero would be sensitive to such subtleties. Very well." Waking further into the alleyway, he looked over his shoulder, "Its embarrassing, really I'd rather not be overheard. Could you come this way?" Midoriya glanced at Mirio whom had a stern look on his face. "Whatever happens, I will deal with it. We won't be taking this child away from him." He muttered quietly as they both took a step into the alleyway.
"I've actually been concerned about Eri lately. No matter what I say, she disobeys. Even her older sister has become quite troubled."
Is she being abused...? Izuku thought causing his brows to furrow. "Raising a child can be tough...I imagine..." Mirio replied and the two heroes tensed as the villain began taking off the gloves he adorned. "Yes, children are so d—"
"Father." A sudden voice interjected and Izuku and Mirio's eyes both shifted to a female approaching them from the depths of the alley. Half of her face was concealed by a black doctors mask and her horns were hidden by a black hood; paired with some baggy black leggings with two lone red and blue stripes on the thighs.
No...it can't be...
She may have looked different but Izuku knew that form. He knew those eyes...
"H...Hana..." He whispered causing Eri's own eyes to widen but her orbs were filled with sheer terror at the name. N-no he brought her?! The girl thought fearfully, her head snapping back to see said female in all her glory standing a few feet in front of Overhaul in her true form.
Overhaul stopped in his movements, leaving his gloves on as his eyes shifted to Eri whose eyes were wide in terror at the girls presence.
Without a thought, the tiny girl had pulled herself away from Midoriya and ran towards the girl. Eri orbs gazed up to look at the female, her lips trembling as her own red eyes made contact with a chilling pair of crimson.
"Hana..." Overhaul began, making Eri's eyes widen in terror remembering the last time her "father" had called her protectors name. Immediately, she lunged toward the females leg, clutching it for dear life. To Mirio and Izuku, he looked like she was hugging her beloved older sisters leg but it was Eri's own measly attempt to stop what was next to come. Hana would kill them.
"Oh? Done throwing your tantrum now?"
Eri nodded from the girls leg.
"Eri, um..." Midoriya muttered in confusion. His eyes shifting from Fumetsu to the trembling girl. W-why is Fumetsu with him...what's going on...and why is she in her true form... Eri wasn't the only one scared as Midoriya was beyond terrified at Hana's true form. Fumetsu had gone missing nearly a month ago. It was as if she had disappeared off the face of the earth, leaving everyone in class A in disarray. Yet here she was...with a villain this entire time with no care in the world.
T-this isn't making any sense...why...fumetsu...
"It's not her fault."
I thought you weren't a traitor...so why...are you with him...Izuku stared into the stoic females eyes, hoping that some part of Fumetsu would show. That she'd give him a sign but she didn't.
"She didn't have a choice."
Don't tell me...
"Yes, it's always like this. Sorry for making you listen to our problems. Didn't mean to trouble you. Good luck, with the job..." Overhaul turned to leave causing the hooded female to reach down and pick up the previously terrified girl.
As they walked away, Eri stared helplessly at the two heroes from the females shoulder and couldn't help the moisture in her eyes.
"Why...wait!" She heard one of the males call out and she immediately shook her head burying her face into the She-Devils shoulder. She remembered the last time someone had tried to save her and the life that had been taken because of her. A vivid image of blood coating the She-Devils hand made her shiver.
Eri hated this...she hated everything...maybe if she hadn't been born...her father would still be alive...things would've been better...now here she was...sucking it up and accepting the pain she would be dealt for the sake of someone else. Even though she knew no one would save her...she couldn't help but weakly reach out to the heroes who were but specks in the distance now.
Please...save me...
"Don't...cry...little one." Eri's eyes widened in shock at the voice of the She-Devil. Her heart pounded in her chest as she had never heard the demon utter more than one word, let alone even acknowledge her existence.
The She-Devil stared hollowly forward.
"That boy...will save you..."
Eri's eyes widened at the females words, confusion plaguing her features. "...w-why should I believe you...you kill anyone who tries..." Eri had given up hope long ago. She accepted her fate from the moment her own mother abandoned her...and left her with Chisaki. Leaning back slightly, she glared at the She-Devil, sadness and despair in her orbs. "What would you know huh?! You're just trying to suck up to me so I won't try to run away again but in reality you're a murderer just like him. You're no different then any of the—" Eri froze as the demon leaned close tilting her head so one of her crimson horns bumped gently with her lone brown one. Although minuscule, Eri didn't think the She-Devil was capable of comfort or apathy but she showed it.
Why...
Eri gazed into the She-Devils crimson orbs and for once she could see something other than emptiness. Sorrow, regret, and most of all pain lingered in her hues. And despite no words being exchanged between them, Eri somehow felt her chest get lighter. As if everything was going to be okay and the words the She-Devil had spoken were true.
Eri felt a tear trail down her cheek and she buried her face into the crook of the Demons neck. She would be saved...
But the same couldn't be said for the demon. No, she was far beyond saving. Because even if she had been freed from her chains, deep deep down, in the depths of the darkness she had been confined to, she could hear the rattle of chains and...crying.
Her own crying.
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