Archive of Our Own

The world was pain and fire and everything it had no words for, no voice, no scream anyone could hear but it burned it BURNED but if it didn't contain the fire then Hands would burn too and Hands was all, was everything, was the world and the reason for existence and the power behind all its actions so it held the fire within itself and then, feeling controls and commands shattering with the force, it pushed the fire away and out, keeping Hands safe…

*****

Eraserhead went into the fight as he always did, confident in himself and his gear and his training. Kicking one of the three - light frame, wiry, energy quirk of unspecified strength - into the wall where they collapsed with a sharp cry.

The other two fought well, coming at him, not even pausing at his deactivation of their quirks, with trained fists and feet.

So sad that their training didn't match his own he thought as he used his capture weapon to snag their arms, pulling them into a one-two kick-punch combo (metal-clad fists crunching cartilage never got old) that took one of them down for the count and the other just long enough for him to spin round as the world lit up…

‘Shit, energy discharge one is stronger than they said,’ he thought as the blast hit, not his face but to the capture weapon he instinctively raised to block it, feeling it heat almost hot enough to burn as it spun and coiled with power, still getting hotter as, with a final twist, it shed the energy wave in a violent blast of its own, falling limp to spool 'round his feet.

Kicking free of it he spun, catching the energy emitter with the heel of his foot across their temple, taking them down for the count as the remaining one finally got a hit in, slashing razor fingers across his hairline. Eraserhead only kept his own head still attached by throwing himself backward, handspringing to give himself room, using the same spinning kick to take that one down at last, crouching on one knee to catch his breath as he let his eyes check they were all still breathing.

‘Good, still alive’ he thought, still catching his breath when, hearing a sizzling tink tink from his scarf, he carefully reached for it. Holding his hand in the air a few inches clear he waited to see if it was still hot but, feeling only damp night air across his hand he carefully picked it up. Fingers moving in practiced movements as he checked every inch for tears or damage, it felt much rougher than usual, rasping across the tips of his fingers. Deciding it was at least mostly intact, he finally coiled it into its loops and placed them around his neck, as usual.

Even if it was damaged beyond repair by that last attack it felt wrong not wearing it and who knew, it might be just fine, even with the almost soundless tink tink it was still making.

Wiping his eyes clear of blood again he reached for his phone, ‘You have got to be shitting me!’ he groaned to himself when he found its usual pocket torn and empty. Having lost his coms unit in an earlier fight he couldn't believe that now he had no fucking phone either! ‘Why does the shit luck happen all at once and not strung out over a few days? Would that be too much to ask?’

Wiping across his face again to try to at least encourage the blood to flow around, rather than into, his eyes, he moved to restrain the three, patting them down for any signs of a phone, feeling blood trickling across his head and soaking into his shoulders, wincing as the cloying smells of fresh blood and old garbage twisted his stomach.

'Finally!’ gripping the phone he found in the inner pocket of the sharp-fingered one who, by the feel of it, managed to hit him somewhere on the back of his head as well, he crossed mental fingers it wasn’t password pro…”DAMN IT ALL TO HELL AND BACK AGAIN!!!” ‘What kind of two-bit villain even thinks to lock their damned phone?’

Staggering from the alley he glanced left and right, knowing his backup knew he was going into a fight but that they must have lost him in the running and chasing bit, luck finally turned his way when he saw an ATM.  Ignoring his slight stagger as he made his way over he pulled on his knuckle dusters and, once in reach, slammed his fist into the screen as hard as he could.

Giving it three extra blows, more to vent his frustration than to speed up the automatic police visit to a vandalized hole in the wall, he felt marginally better as he made his way back to the mouth of the alley, finally dragging the three to lie beside the road as he waited, blood finally finished dripping from his head wounds, now drying into a claggy mess around his neck, staining the shoulders of his jumpsuit.

‘Great, not only am I headed for stitches but also Zashi’s is going to give me so fucking much grief at losing both communication options, damn damn damn!’

Scraping the bottom of his patience barrel when he saw Sanza step from the first patrol car, he moved to finish the job. The sooner he gave his statement the sooner he could get home, maybe if he was lucky Hizashi would stitch him up instead of the hospital.

When the EMT stepped free of the flashing van his heart dropped, he wasn't getting out of a hospital visit tonight, Jagger would take care of that. He may look like a doe-eyed fawn but they were wickedly sarcastic and never took no for an answer.  Just his luck Hizashi’s old intern was now an EMT and had promised Zashi to never let him off the hook.

Could this day get any better?

*******

Time never meant much before, only what it was commanded to do, both by its internal nudges and by Hands, whose commands were joy and satisfaction to follow. Now though, things were…strange…but if it focused on its internal command voice it was saying repair/repair/repair so it did…

Focusing upon the materials at hand it found all it needed where it rested, gold and platinum were consumed first, then all the tech hanging from the stretchy strap, even the polycarbonate lenses had use once broken down, then every scrap of the impact-resistant fabric it rested on, thoroughly soaked in blood as it was, it all proved enough to finally repair the damage. It never felt itself darkening, it had no eyes to see, nor did it feel the broken command unit that forbade consuming any form of human DNA, it simply found what it needed and used it.

Eyeless and voiceless, it felt only tired now so, obedient to a half-remembered command sequence, it powered fully down. A total system reset, maybe that would make it all make sense because it had never been able to see before yet now, even without eyes, it could perceive the area around itself, not just feel the energy given off by Hands.

Confused and frightened, albeit without words to express those feelings, it powered down.

*****

Finally making his way home at last, Shouta leaned against the now closed door, trying to come up with some way to explain…

“SHOUUUUUUTA!!! Baby,” came the expected yell but it was whispered so he managed to not cringe, “you’re home!” Warm fingers cupped his face, looking him over, tutting at the bandaged cut neatly crossing his forehead, gently touching the matching one at the back of his head. “These the only damage? Jagger didn’t say and you NEVER tell me enough when you’re injured and,” he stepped back, hands on his hips, “Tomorrow is soon enough to yell at you for losing BOTH your lines of communication but,” his hands were back, tugging him gently into the apartment, “what the HELL is up with your scarf Babe, it’s like, dark grey now!”

“Um, yeah, it took some kind of energy hit which kinda fried it but, that's not, well, it's,” he felt tears prickle at his eyes as he lifted his hands to removed the scarf from himself and hang it carefully on its special pegs. As soon as it was free the upper half of his jumpsuit, what was left of it anyway, fell to hang in tatters from his waste, “you know how it can repair itself, right?”

Not able to look at Hizashi he finished hanging the scarf on its pegs, neatening several coils, only turning back when Hizashi gave up waiting and manually turned him back around. Slumping against him he mumbled the words, feeling tears finally slipping free, throat burning.

“Shou, Shou Baby? You're gonna have to repeat that…oh now, hey hey hey, it's okay, you're alive, you're good, whatever it is we’ll figure it out, please, you're scaring me Babe,” Feeling strong arms tighten around him he buried his face in Hizashi’s neck, finally managing to repeat, “It ate my ring Zashi!”

For a long, frozen moment, the world hung in balance until, finally, the moment broke and Hizashi threw his head back and laughed and laughed and laughed!

He didn't even manage to stop when Shouta shook him as his own lips began to turn up, the abject misery in his heart melting away at the bright laughter, managed to say before he joined him in sheer relief, “You bastard, it ate my RING!!! It isn’t funny you Prat, you’re laughing at my pain!” and then he was scooped up, draped across a set of deceptively strong shoulders, and carried to the bedroom, their mingled laughter floating down the hall.

While, as Hizashi proved to Shouta that rings can be replaced but loved ones can't, the scarf began powering back on, using the residual energy from the initial attack to do so.

****

Staring glumly at the now dark grey capture weapon hanging on the wall, Shouta grunted thanks when a full mug of tea was set before him. Only looking away when Hizashi asked, “So, whatcha gonna do about that thing? Is it still working or what?”

Shrugging he replied, “Dunno, I checked it over in the alley and it didn’t look too bad then but now I see it in the light I really don’t know.  I’ll give it a try later and see if its self repair did the job but as soon as I can I’ll take it down to the support company so they can have a look too, its never had to do that big of a repair before.” Staring at it as it hung in dark grey folds he continued, “But anyway, if it works alright then at least I can use it until they make a new one or at least get the colour back right for me cause I am NOT keeping it like that if I can help it!”

"Awwwww Babe, I’d think you'd like the colour, fits your aesthetic better, ya dig?”

Giving the love of his life the deadest of dead-eyed stares he replied evenly, “Go Fuck yourself!”

The only reply he got was, “Only with your help BaaaaYIPES!!!” and the chase was on…

****

Watching the ebb and flow of energy making up its new reality, it felt un-named things within itself as Hands and Not Hands dashed through and around the space, finally moving out of its new perception range, leaving it to wonder what it was all about.

Flexing a ripple down its entire length, it stilled in shock…

‘That’s new.’ it thought.

*****

Perceiving Hands approaching it later something within it relaxed as, with movements so familiar to it, it was taken down and run through strong fingers. Hearing the murmurs of words, familiar yet new, it was puzzled. Commands it had always followed - although in the beginning the commands were confusing so while it tried, it often failed to understand - but understanding actual words was new…

“Looks okay,” and strong hands tugged and pulled, “let's see how you feel.” And the command flew from mind to mind as it snapped out, coiling around the container on the table, recoiling back like lightning as, “SHIT!” it overshot, carrying on over and behind Hands to smash the vessel into the wall!

Feeling shock billowing off Hands, its own surprise rippled through it. It had never felt the commands like that, they had always come through Hands’s, well, hands! Hands and body and muscle strength and only dimly through the energy that streamed out of Hands’s mind.

Now though the mind energy alone flicked through it, causing it to loop and coil without direction. Stilling with effort it waited for the next command, maybe this one would be normal?

****

Sending the capture weapon out with a practiced flick of his wrist Shouta was not expecting the lightning-fast reaction or, as he dodged the speeding missile, for such a familiar gesture to cause his favorite mug to smash against the wall over his shoulder.

The feet thundering down the hall towards him he did expect as Hizashi always did respond to domestic accidents by making them louder! Saying as he skidded into view, mouth open to yell… “Slow down you idiot, I’m fine.”

“Great! Great great great, you’re fine, that’s great! Now, what happened that you're fine from?”

Drawing in a deep breath to resist the impulse to yell at Hizashi for being, well, Hizashi, he managed to say instead, “I just tried to catch my cup and it broke. I’m fine but,” he ran a few loops through his hands in a calming gesture, “it didn't work, or well, it worked too good really, one instant I threw it out to grab the cup and the next it smashed it against the wall. If I hadn’t ducked quick enough I’d be hospital-bound again, with a concussion this time.”

“Zashi, it feels the same to the touch but, it's weird, it feels totally different too. Common, I need to test it out in the gym!” 

Knowing Hizashi would follow he took the steps down to the basement - one of the main reasons they had bought this apartment rather than any of the dozens Hizashi had dragged him to see when they were looking for a place to live - and paused in the middle of the room, glancing back to be sure Hizashi was behind the everything resistant transparent wall before he began.

Not much later he was still standing in the middle of the room but now, his eyes were blown wide with shock, capture weapon back to its usual place around his neck, the room in shambles.

“Zashi, its like its part of my mind, there isn't any lag between what I want it to do and it's acting on it but, it's totally different too, like it's not even using my motions to be directed but like its plugged directly into my brain or something!”

Removing it with all the care he would use on a skittish semiferal cat, he felt the shiver it gave as he carried it back up the stairs, holding it tighter as it tried to flex out of his grip, trying, if it was even possible, to return to his neck. It wasn’t alive, not in any sense of the word, the support company had impressed that point over and over again, it might act like it was alive sometimes but it wasn't, it was simply reacting to his own motions.

Wrangling it as it writhed and twisted in resistance it sure FELT alive as he finally managed to get it back to its pegs. Backing off,  he watched it fall still at last.  “Right!” Hizashi said brightly as worried green eyes studied the now motionless object, “YOU call the support people and I’ll order us some lunch! This is not something we need to figure out on an empty stomach, ya dig?”

****

It knew the gym in a dim kind of way, a place Hands tested any new repairs it made to itself but, while before it was simply a distance to obey in, now it was a large space, built both of solid and empty, of distance and direction, of up and down and across, perceived in greys through the energy inherent in all things. 

Only now it was like he was a part of Hands in that space, reaching and flying, grabbing and throwing, bringing back and casting away. As soon as Hands thought it, he was already moving to preform the task…

It felt as if this was how it always should have been, as if something had been standing between the command and the action that had been ripped away, leaving only effortless motion…

It flew, and despite how Hands felt about its new speed, it loved it.

‘More speed faster give keep do command obey love…’

‘Love?’

*****

The only reason Shouta grabbed his capture scarf as they both bolted out the door as the all Hero’s call blared through their phones - Hizashi always having a backup still in its box because, as he was firmly convinced, Shouta couldn't keep a phone intact for more than three months at a time! - was muscle memory. Otherwise he would never have wound up on a roof, fighting for his life, with a weapon suddenly totally new and unfamiliar in his hands.

Having already pulled it back as it tried to crush one villain, he kept its movements smaller, tried to contain it but, as the fighting went on, he found it harder and harder to restrain it as it lashed out, on its own, driving his foe back, finally striking the remaining villain across their face.  Watching them crash to the rooftop he stood, catching his breath as his hands coiled it up, leaning against the buffeting wind that had been hampering his fight, making sure they were truly out before moving near enough to restrain them.

Setting the still moving weapon beside his feet instead of around his neck - he no longer trusted it to not strangle him with the way it was behaving - he grabbed his suppressant cuffs. Pulling the first wrist from under the downed form when a gust stronger than the rest almost blew him off the roof. Catching a flicker from the corner of his eye, he turned, lunging to catch, failing by the tiniest margin as his capture weapon, flailing and twisting as it seemed to reach back at him, disappeared into the night, blown away on storm force winds.

*****

It tried, it tried to reach, to catch the grasping hand, only to watch as, fading to black, its perception of the area it had been in with Hands, of Hands themself, winked out, leaving only the feeling of flying without direction.

Alone.

It had never been alone before.

*****

 Time, not now, not then, but between then and now, it found itself in a tree. It didn't have the word for tree but it knew them well, Hands used them to move faster, using it to grab and pull and swing and…

This one was one of the smooth ones, more effort was needed to grip this kind but, unlike the rough ones, this kind never damaged it.

It liked this kind.

‘Like? Is that like love?’

It seemed so but different, like the way some of it was in light and some in not light. Letting the energy of the heat of light flow from one end to the other, the way he used Hands’s heat as energy, it pondered the difference. 'Hot/cold, like/love, need/want.'

‘Energy, it's just energy, I need power, I want Hands…’

‘I WANT HANDS!!!’

Trying to move as the want/need scorched through it, it felt itself tighten and bind closer to the branches it was twisted into so, in its first act of conscious self-control, it forced itself to stillness.  Keeping itself still until the sunlight created enough energy that it was no longer tired in any way, it fell to gently, carefully, untangling itself.

After all, if time has no meaning then all jobs are done in a timely manner.

Finished at last, as the lights energy faded into darkness again, it pulled itself into a tight coil, hidden against the main body of the tree. Fear was new to it but it didn't like it at all. 

It had no voice yet still it cried, alone in the dark.

*****

Light returning was better, even though it still “saw” just as well in the dark but now there were others in action so it didn't feel as alone. Not Hands or Hands adjacent but plenty of others to watch as they wandered in and out of its field of vision.  Shifting one long coil up and into the sun it simply enjoyed the feeling of energy flowing through it as it pondered the people it watched.

‘Speed’ it thought, ‘fast/slow’ as some big ones moved slowly out of view but many of them, smaller than the others, zipped in and out of its vision, ‘they must be curving they’s path to repeat into my vision field.’

‘My?’

****

Several darks later it had stretched its perceptions far enough to see the smaller they’s carve their paths in uneven and jagged patterns, climbing and sliding and swinging, ‘Hands Me...My...Us...We…’

‘We did that once.’

****

A not Hands standing under its tree was throwing things across the ground, scattering them out of a container. It remembered grabbing ones like this for Hands but without Hands to tell it what to do, it simply watched, but it felt off-balance inside itself as, remembering words it had heard over the years it ran them through itself.

‘Wrong bad sad not right sad guilt…’ 

‘Guilt?’

It was supposed to stop this kind of other for Hands but should it do it without Hands? Would that make the guilt energy go away? But by the time it decided to try, they were gone, leaving just the mess behind.

Slipping down from its branch at last, it kept one loop tightly coiled on its branch, using its other end to pick through the bits on the...finish...down…

'Down, end, drop, bottom, floor…'

‘Floor?’

Keeping its perception pushed out as far as possible as it picked up the thing that had caught its attention because it glittered with energy. Holding gently it pulled the thing up with it as it went back to its hiding space. No one could see it in the hollow in the branches it hid in so being there made it feel…

‘Not scared, away danger, avoid pain, safe…’

‘Safe?’

Holding the thing deep in its coils it slid against and around it, feeling the power within it, totally different to the energy streaming from above, more like the power it felt in the wires strung nearby, wires that Hands used to run across…

‘Energy is inside, can will get in me?’

‘Me?’

Probing gently it managed to slip a fold into one end of the energy thing and its world exploded!

****

Plugging yourself into an active phone when your “mind” is made of energy might not be the most pain free way of getting a mental upgrade but it did work! Scraping itself into a pile it managed to still the shudders running from one end to the other as it pulled itself even tighter, still holding the phone in its coils, only this time it wasn't plugged into it.

‘It?’

‘Me, myself, I, I, I am!’

‘I am me!’

‘What am I?’

Gently reconnecting itself into the phone, it wandered the internet, searching for itself. Then, when it had no luck with that, instead it looked for Hands.

It didn't find Hands either but it did find heroes and, by the description, Hands MUST be a hero!

Delving deeper it used every dot of power the phone had, learning more about the world, about heroes, schools, trains, electric power, compass directions, recent weather, maps, locations...

Finally climbing to the top of the tree it draped itself into the light of the rising sun - ‘sun star celestial body Sol’ - and allowed the energy of sunlight to run through it and into the phone in a hope to bring it back to life. It had learned so much, SO MUCH, but there was so much still to know...learn...discover...find...earn!

The phone stayed resolutely dead.

Having names for some of what it felt made it easier to understand that it was frustrated that its single source of learning was gone, fear at being still lost, and lonely for its…

‘Owner Master Possessor User Companion Friend’

‘Friend?’

‘FRIEND!’

It had a name for what it wanted now, Home. And while “Home is where the heart is!” may be true for humans it had no heart but it still knew what home was. Home was Hands and Not Hands rushing with laughter through the space. Home was two beings sharing soft energy together with it nearby. Home was SHOUUUUUUTA and Zashi and it hanging on its pegs where it belonged.

‘Hands is home and I want to be home so I have to find Hands!’

‘My friend!’

Staying wrapped up in the dappled light, with its new processing power - it might not know nanites from roses but all unknown to itself it could program and reprogram its own - it ran everything it could remember of its existence...self...life…LIFE before the accident - so very little - and from after the accident - everything it had experienced within its sensory perception area in the short time it was still with Hands.

It had lots to consider so, as the day heated up, it used the free energy to remember.

And to plan.

It had a home to return to, after all.

*****************

Now that it knew about time and days and how they pass, it knew that nineteen days had come and gone since it had the phone.  Once the device had died and it had failed to bring it back to life it had carefully collected all the bits from the ground (ground, not floor, it knew that now), put them all back into the container (‘purse, it’s called a purse’) and placed it in plain sight.

When next it looked, the purse was gone.

No worries, it had lots to do.  Vision, first and foremost, it needed to “see” the world better. When relaxed it could perceive an area roughly three times its own length and, as it now knew, being able to view the world from inside a perfect sphere was NOT normal!

But it felt like it was inside a vision bubble where everything was sharp and clear and everything outside of it was a grey blur fading to black.

It found though, that if it cut off part of the circle then it could “see” farther out so, by carefully shaving away at its ball of perception, it narrowed it more into a cone, more, in fact, as a human would see. Well, if a human saw energy and power interaction across and into surfaces, that is. But, for want of a better word, it decided that “see” was good enough.

Practicing switching from directional distance to close sphere vision took several days but it thought it was a good investment of its time. It didn’t know how far from home it was but it knew there was an unknown, but serious, distance between it and where it wanted to be.

The wind had blown it a long long way, after all!

Next came motion. It had been moving up and down through its tree for days, not even giving it a thought. Afer all, it and SHOUUUUUUTA used to travel like that all the time so the motion needed no thought. However, traveling across the ground was both new and different and, it felt a weird sort of energy fizz within it every time it thought of being out in the open without somewhere safe to retreat to.

The best word it had to describe it was fear.

It wasn't sure but fear felt right, it was afraid of the open spaces, of how exposed it would be, what if it wasn't fast enough to escape if someone tried to grab it? ‘What if what if what if what if if if if if…’

‘What if I try it anyway? I will never find Home…Hands…SHOUUUUUUTA…if I don’t try.’

Fear was a powerful energy to fight but, waiting for the darkest hour of the night, it finally slid from the tree and headed out into the park. 

A few hours of trial and error later and it was back in its tree, energy depleted but pleased with itself. Progress had been made. It had spent a few moments of precious power when the phone worked to study snakes as they were a similar body patern to itself so, using first a sidewinding motion it made it to the swing set without trouble. The only problem was, it was LONG! Having no way to measure itself it was only estimating but somewhere between fourty and sixty feet so, even with the efficient sidewinder motion, it just took too long for all of it to reach its destination.

The same for the smooth glide of the side to side of a snake moving through grass and the belly crawl of really heavy-bodied snakes was a dead loss too. Rippling across the bark mulch of the play area got it where it was aiming for but, ‘aaaaaaargh, so sloooooooow!’  Coiled in a sulky bundle under the swings, it pondered different animals it had glimpsed in its online spree but there was not enough data for it to fully understand rational directional movement but, maybe, more legs would help?

Bunching its middle into a ball it spooled each end out and tried “walking” with them as it had seen humans do.

Patiently untangling itself from the effort for the tenth time, it next tried three and then four legs. 

Managing to reach its tree with four legs, in a staggering fall, rather than a run, it once again untangled itself, climbing the tree to drape itself ready for the morning sun with relief.  Letting its vision dim into power saver mode, it would try five, six, seven, and eight limbs tomorrow night, for now, it was going to sleep!

****

Being thrown to grab, the pull and twist and the weight of Hands as they swung and climbed and flew with joy and light and laughter…

******

‘Memory?’ it pondered as the bright mid-day sun finally brought it back to full power, ‘Past…Future…Wish…Dream? Aaaaaah, dream! I’ve never dreamed before, that was nice, I miss…want…need…desire…’

‘I NEED the internet, I don’t have enough WORDS!!!’

*****

Darkness had it again testing different “limb” configurations, finally settling on six to move with. It didn’t know if any animal had six legs but, if it spooled six limbs from its central length, twisting and twining several feet between each of them into a central ball, it could leave its two ends free as pseudo-hands.

It was surprising how all of its vast length became a thing shorter than the smallest humans that ran and played in the park during daylight hours but it ceased to care about its height when it had to figure out how to loop and coil itself to walk - and wasn't that a difficult thing to learn to do on its own - but also to coil itself in such a way as to be able to launch its full self up and onto the play equipment and surrounding trees.

Spending its days resting and its nights learning how to move in a swift and efficient manner finally paid off when it could spool down from its tree, wind itself into its new running shape, bolt across the playground, and launch back into the trees on the other side, all in less than a minute.

It wasn’t afraid anymore!

‘Ready. I’m ready. Next step, find a source of power I can tap into at night and find the internet again.’

---------------------------

Still, it took it three full days to get enough courage to leave the park because ‘Even if I am not afraid, brave is so hard to do!’

*******

Moving across the park was now easy and familiar to it but, as it reached the far side, instead of turning back, it flipped up and into the trees on that side, easily getting through the shady parking area and then down and beside the road. Simply through observation, it had figured out vehicles and the danger they posed so it carefully studied both directions, keeping its focus as far-reaching as it could yet manage.

Three in the morning in a quiet neighborhood didn't lend itself to much traffic so, despite lingering for a long moment, it finally scuttled across the road and into the alley beside the laundromat. Being loth to dirty itself in the muck on the ground - ‘so different to the good ground, bad energy gound eeewwww’ -  it grabbed the rough bricks of the building, scuttling spider fashion up the wall and onto the roof. 

‘This is better. This is familiar. This is GOOD!’ it thought as, casting a final glance back at the park, it set out across the roof. It needed information and power and, it was sure that when it found one, it would find the other nearby.

*****

Traveling easily across the rooftops, it lost any lingering feeling of fear from leaving the familiar park area and simply enjoyed the movement as it ran and lept, unspooling to cast itself across the gaps between buildings, pleased at how quickly it could now reform its running shape.

Reaching a gap too wide to throw itself across, it paused, considering the powerlines. It could clearly “see” the energy radiating off of them, spinning off the wires like a blue mist. ‘Blue? Maybe? Cool yet crackly, yes, blue will do.’ 

Teetering on the edge of the building it paused before leaping onto the nearest wire when it reconsidered, the amount of power it could see was concerning. So to was the feeling of…’fear? Too small. Bigger fear? Yes, bigger fear,' at touching the wires, ‘So instead down, then across, then up again. Idea removes bigger fear so is good plan!’

It easily crossed the open space, and was aiming for the nearest gap between buildings to regain its preferred hights when, with a shocked mental cry, it tripped over something that screamed, clawing and grappling at it before bolting away…

‘BIG FEAR BIG BIG BIG FEAR!!! What was THAT? Unknown! Climb escape run run run!’ and it was off and climbing, terror fizzing through its coils as it finally went to earth behind an airconditioning unit, hiding itself inside the hammering noise its off balance fan was creating.

‘Fear is hard,’ it thought, and it came in so many different…’Energy levels? Degrees? Flavors?’

‘I want Hands! Now now now can I be home now?’

Huddling in a miserable lump it decided to simply stay where it was until daylight came to recharge it. While it still had plenty of actual power left it still felt depleted but, when a high shrill scream caused it to spasm in shock, it found itself running to the edge of the building, focusing its perception down into the dim space where two humans were locked in a tableau of terror/threat.

‘One large male, holding a smaller female by the arm. Female seems filled with LARGE fear, male seems…no words, bad energy full maybe? But Large fear human should be let go by male!’

Watching and listening it saw the male lean forward, running their hand down the female's arm as she screamed again and suddenly it imagined those hands running down its own length and it recoiled with no words to describe the feelings boiling in it, but if the tiny female felt anything near to what it felt, then the large male HAD to be made to LET GO!!!

Casting half of itself down to coil 'round the large figure it looped its other half around the ac unit, using it as an anchor. Once the male was secure it pulled back hard, slamming them into the unforgiving wall.

Allowing the now limp figure to slide free, it retreated back to the roof, not willing to touch the female if its touch caused…’little fear? Large fear? Unease? Unhappy?’...but when the woman said “Wait, please?” it paused, still just within reach as, hands trembling, she reached for it. Twitching back slightly she froze but, when she didn’t move again, it slowly reached back, ever so gently wrapping one end around her hand, and simply enjoyed the feeling of warmth.

When she brought her hand down, stroking it with her free one, it felt comforted, and happy, and when she said, “Thank you, thank you so MUCH!” before finally letting it go as she turned and ran from the alley it pulled itself slowly to the roof, almost unable to process the emotions surging through it.

Taking refuge behind the ac unit again, it played and replayed the entire thing over and over in its mind as, unnoticed, the sun rose on a new day.

*****

It decided, as it lay stretched across the roof, limp in the sunlight, that it liked how helping the female human made it feel, even if it didn't have proper words yet for all of it. ‘Tonight I will get internet and find out how I feel, well, not how I feel but names for how I feel! Perhaps understanding as well…understanding how feel energy works…that will be good.’

****

Moving out of cover as night fell, it moved deeper into the town, finally coming to rest on an apartment building.  Allowing its perception to wind inwards to its normal sphere, it examined three areas of interest, finally settling on one without a human in it. Gripping the roof's edge, it slid down, resting its free end on the window ledge, probing gently until, with a surge of success, it found a gap to slip through. 

Feeling a bit like a soba noodle it let the window slurp it up - a mental giggle at how silly the image was - and coiled on the floor, studying the space it found itself in. ‘Very like SHOUUUUUUTA home but I need to not feel…sorrow…..sadness….wishful…but instead I need internet and that feels like the entrance!’ It slid across the floor, lifting itself like a hooded cobra for a moment until, examining the computer before it, finally spotting a port it might be able to plug itself into, it pulled the rest of itself over and onto the chair.

A gentle push and it was in and, because it knew more than the last time it did anything like this, it swiftly went to work. Finding several pages of medical studies on emotions and how they work, both in healthy and in damaged brains, it read them. Moving swiftly on from those it next read all about emotions and how to recognize them if one had difficulty in doing so. Then it moved on to living with Autism and then to emotional training and then to…

Hours later a rattling sound from behind it caused it to lunge for the space under the desk it had been at, lost in the world of infinite information, only just getting out of sight as the homeowner came in, kicking off their shoes, grumbling about their shitty shift supervisor.  

‘I feel, I feel, I feel worry! And concern about escaping without being seen. I am glad I plugged into the charging port as well as the internet because it leaves me almost fully charged so,’ it waited until the man moved past and into their room at the far end of the apartment before it slithered to the window, carefully sliding through the gap, allowing itself to fall freely to the ground.

********

Having escaped the unexpected return of the computer's owner, it scanned the neighboring apartments, trying to see if another one was empty but, disappointed, it moved on, compiling a list of the things it still needed to know, in descending order. It took three more apartment buildings to find one that was empty and that it could slip into but, happily settled at a computer again that night, it fled away into the realm of...learn...discover...imagine...grow!

This time though it kept a small portion of its attention on the door so that when the owner came home, it was already gone before the door even opened.

*****

Three days later it was ready to try to find its home. Now that it had enough information to, hopefully, manage the journey successfully. It has spent several hours on language and communication and how it worked but it was still unsure if what it now could do would be enough! Not many people used sign language after all, most simply spoke the usual Japanese but, with no way to make a sound - ‘Other than flapping at people, that is!’ - sign language was its only realistic option.

While it was programming itself how to use it, it also found hero sign language so it learned that as well. It also learned all about heroes and the concept of “Rabbit Holes” after it fell down several, only coming up to escape when people got home and it had to run away again.

What it wanted was uninterrupted access but, ‘I guess maybe it is true you get what you need and not what you want? Because without the interruptions I wouldn't have learned about house cats and that way I would never have figured out what that thing I tripped over that night was…a cat!’

‘And I wouldn't have had a cat come sleep on me like in the apartment that had that large glass box, no, not glass box, aquarium! The aquarium in it. And I wouldn't have gotten to watch the fish swim and to research how and why people keep fish and then why pets in general and then what petting a cat feels like and how nice it is and…’

Lazily draped across the topmost branches of a tree it played and replayed its new information, helping it all fit within its limited real-world experience. It still had so much to learn but, other than the intense feelings of loneliness, it was really enjoying computer hopping and couldn't wait for more.

After all, it now knew what direction the storm had to have blown it FROM so it knew what direction to head in. Even if it still had no actual address or even knew the names of its home people, if it moved during the day and used other people's computers at night, then it was “Killing two birds with one stone!” or it thought so anyway. Cliches were hard for it fully to understand but it was trying.

‘Need to use my new language, how, who, where will/can I speak to a human?’

****

Moving during daylight was nervewracking, despite not having actual nerves! ‘Look look look all directions but vision pushed far farther farthest to see see see danger hazards peril small fear is apprehension, fear is fear, large fear is terror I feel I feel I feel bigger fear than fear but smaller than large fear terror, does fear come in any other flavors?’ it asked itself as it was crouching at the base of a lamp, blending in with the shadow, waiting for a break in traffic to reach the other side.

It had its route to the roof mapped out so, ‘YES!’ it sprinted when the waited-for gap appeared, making it across and up the fire escape and onto the roof before anyone saw it. Well, other than the couple walking hand in hand about a block away, and the three kids in the last car to pass it before it ran across the road…

****

Slowly, one by one, reports of a strange animal roaming Musutafu started trickling in.

****

By the end of the second day of traveling it calculated it had moved in a straight line - or as straight as possible anyway - about half a mile. If its calculations and guesses about how far and long it was in the air, it had traveled between ten and thirty miles.  So, while it couldn't hurry through fear of overshooting its goal before having an actual address to aim for, it also felt the burning need to get there, to be there, to be safe/happy/home!

‘Is SHOUUUUUUTA missing me?’

******

Every time it traveled it found new things to need to research as soon as it could sit down with a computer again, ‘It's like a loop, learn, move, need to understand, find computer, learn more, move again, and repeat! Is there ever an end to learning?’

****

It was currently in an area clearly run down which made it much easier to get into places that should be locked against it but also, harder to find a computer worth using. Having failed for several hours of scanning buildings it was about to move on again when it suddenly thought, ‘Wait, what is small human child doing alone in apartment?’

Retracing its path it returned to the apartment building it had searched previous to the one it was on - ‘Is this what is called a “Double Take?” it wondered - and, once in place it turned its full attention to the apartment three floors below it, where, as it had belatedly realized, a small human was, indeed, alone.

‘No adults? Is that even allowed? Should/Could/Will I tell someone? Tell who? Perhaps if I observe for a while I will then know what to do.’ As the intervening floors were obscuring its vision of the alone child somewhat it gripped the edge, checking that the weathered brick would give it enough handholds before climbing downwards, finally coming to rest above the window. Not having eyes, it didn't need to look through the window to see. Only one wall separated it from the room it was currently focused on and, while it was still working on colour - it now had several it could perceive, although it still wasn't clear if a human would agree - it could clearly see that many of the colours it knew were present in the room.

‘Perhaps alone child likes bright colours too? Blue is easy and good, yellow is warm like the sun, green is fresh like leaves, I like alone childs' space but why does its window have bars on it? No other window on this side has them. Something else strange about this. Strange and not good!’ It thought as it studied the door to the room, focusing its perception first on the lock and then within it, seeing that it was a simple turn latch but, above it, there was a sliding bolt that was locked in place.

‘Fire codes broken! Alone child can NOT get out of room in case of emergency!!!’ 

Watching the child scrolling through a page of kitten pictures, finally settling on one before picking up a…’pencil…pen…no, its a pencil!’ and ‘HOW IS IT DOING THAT???’ As it watched in absolute amazement, alone child recreated the picture using a pencil and its hand, only somehow, even without the colours on the monitor, it was even more kitten than the computer one.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAARGH, MORE to find out about!!! How does/did/is alone child doing that! What is it called, this doing?’ and in a tiny tiny inner voice, it asked, ‘can I do it too?’

Sending one end down to the window it felt that it was open fully so, moving with even more care, it slid to a crouch between the bars.  Anything to see better what the child was doing but, even without the wall, now the child itself was in the way and all it wanted was to watch the magic so, stretching, it tried to climb the bars to maybe get a clear line of “sight” on the piece of paper alone child was using but the bar shifted slightly, making a sudden eeeclunk sound.

It froze as the child spun 'round to see what the noise was…

Run/freeze/danger/nodanger/fear/alarm/escape/alonechildmaybeindanger/stay/STAY!!!

______________

He’d been locked in for three days now, three long, long, LONG days. His mum usually only punished him like this for a day at most so, for it to be for so long, he knew he’d really messed up. But he just wanted to play! And the other kids at the park were playing with him just fine! That was why he had chosen to walk so far from home before trying the playground he had found online.

He wanted to prove that it wasn't HIM that was the problem! That kids that didn't know him, like the ones at school did, would treat him like a normal kid.

And he was RIGHT!!! None of the kids he found playing knew him so, when he started on the swings to get a break from his walk, two of them started swinging with him, and then, even better, when he went to the slides, they went with him and soon he was playing freeze tag with not one, not two, but NINE other kids!!!

It was amazing!

Well, it was until his mum showed up, that is.

She was supposed to be at work, a double shift should have kept her away for most of the weekend but, instead, there she was, phone clenched in her hand, map dot destination showing his location. She had followed his phone. He had forgotten she could do that!

Staggering behind her as she dragged him by the wrist towards home, he had felt nothing but dread for what was ahead of him.  “Never Leave The House!” was a hard and fast rule and he had broken it.

He had tried to ask several times how much longer he was going to be locked in for but, other than letting him come out to eat, she still wasn't talking to him either. 

The guilt, anger, shame, fear, boredom, and hunger were all building up, making him want to beg for forgiveness, to cry out he wouldn't do it again, to scream that it wasn't fair, that he was sorry, so sorry, but there was no one to do any it for, she was gone and he was alone!

‘Well, it's not like I’m ever not alone really, just sometimes I’m alone with her and now I’m alone alone cause she’s gone.’ Studying the kitten he was drawing, he added more shadow to the ear, making him smile with how well it was coming along.  He was now using the back of the pages in his art pad, he had filled every page already so, unless he wanted to draw on lined pages, using the back was the only option. Fine by him really, ‘It's like getting a brand new pad like this!’

He gave a despondent sigh as hunger poked at him, grateful for the tiny loo attached to his room that he could refill his water bottle in so thirst wasn't a problem, at least. He drank enough to make the hunger go away for a moment. Heaving another sigh as he thought, ‘I wish I wasn't all alone!’

The Eeeeclunk that met that thought had him spinning ‘round in his chair, only to gape at the thing gripping the bars. It looked like, ‘No WAY!!! There's no such thing as a tree octopus!!!"

"Oh no, it looks scared, should I say something?’

“Ummmmm, oh gosh, please don' be scared, I won' hurt you, I promise! S-see, I won' even come any c-c-closer but p-please don' go, it's so lonely and even if you don’ wanna stay for long will you stay for a little bit, p-please?’

************

Hearing the timid voice it paused its mental spiral of confusion caused by conflicting impulses, focusing on the words instead, ‘Oh, alone child is lonely. I am lonely. Can we be lonely together for a little while?’

Slipping between the bars, holding on with two legs, it leaned into the room, reaching out one of its ends, holding it within reach of the child, and then simply waited.

****

“Oh wow, do you want me to touch you? Can I? Promise you won't bite? Well, I can't see how you would bite or even, well, how can you see me? You don' have eyes and you’re still waiting for me and is your arm getting tired or, well...Okay?” Reaching slowly back to the strange creature, he gently touched the appendage.

When the material wrapped around his fingers he smiled, just enjoying the feeling of contact with someone, anyone, after so long alone in his room. “Would you like to come in?” he asked and was quietly thrilled when, instead of answering, it jumped to the floor. Still holding his hand it came closer, stopping a few feet away and then letting go.

Quiet reigned for a moment until, shocking him again, it suddenly signed, in clumsy but understandable sign language, “ Why are you alone and locked into this space? ”

He gave a shocked squeak as he slid off his chair and into a heap on the floor, gasping “You can TALK? Oh My Kami!!! Oh th-thank g-goodness! I never even g-guessed you might be able to talk to me this is fantastic! I'm so happy, it's so lonely and I’ve b-been locked in for days and days and now I have a, well, w-will you be, be, ummmmm, well,” he suddenly felt shy but, remembering the kids that didn't know him actually playing with him, he gained enough courage to ask, “W-w-will you b-be my f-friend?”

****

‘Friend? Can I be friends with alone human and SHOUUUUUUTA too? And maybe Zashi too? But first alone human is to be my friend as they are here and I am here and I needed/wanted to talk to a human and now, I can!’

“Yes, I will be your friend if you are my friend too!”

Remembering something it had heard an adult say to a child in the park, (“What do we say?” they had asked and the child had answered “Please!”) it suddenly added “Please?”

*****

"Oh oh oh oh oh y-yay, yes p-please, I’ll be your friend too, I will I will I will, I c-can be a good friend, I know I can! Oh, do you want anything to drink? I have water you can have. No food but water is good, well, if you want it that is. Ummmm, do you want any?”

"No, thank you.”

They sat quietly for a moment when it suddenly signed, “That thing you were doing, with the kitten picture, what is that?"

"...Do you mean drawing?"

"Is that what it’s called? Drawing? I have never seen that before. It is amazing!”

"Oh nooo, I’m not that good, really, I just get bored and it's all I have really since mummy took my crayons and coloured p-pencils and things away. I hid my art pad though and she left me my school things so I have a pencil but, well, I’m n-not that good but I really like to draw and someday maybe I might be better, especially if I get a t-teacher that likes me maybe enough to teach me? You've never heard of drawing? Wow. Would you like to try it?”

Which is how two lonely beings bonded over a small act of art for several hours until, with a slam that shook the walls, “IZzhhUKU!!! ISH YOUR LIGHT SHTILL ON?” and thudding feet came their way fast as, yelping, alone kid lept for the light switch on the desk lamp, switching it off, grabbing his new friend and tumbling them both into the bed, throwing the covers over them, shivering as they listened to the bolt slamming back and the door banging open!

A long moment of silence until venomous words slurred into the darkness, “Fuckin brat, shleeps like the dead. Wish it wasssh, feedin uselessh no good jusht like it’s fucking father left me ‘lone fuskin….” and the sound of mumbling moved away from the door, footsteps stumbling until, with a quieter slam, a door deeper in the apartment closed, cutting off the sounds.

Remembering something it had read it maneuvered several of its legs around the shuddering form, applying firm but gentle pressure. A hug, it had learned, both from reading but also from watching on the playground, gave comfort when a human was frightened or injured. And, as words were just as, if not more damaging, as falling onto a hard surface and removing several layers of skin, it knew alone human, now named IZzhhUKU!!! (But perhaps that was wrong, the human female sounded wrong when she spoke) it knew its new friend was injured.

Holding on until the shaking stopped it finally heard, “I th-think she's asleep now, she does this sometimes. But if you're hungry now is a good time for us to go g-get some food, she might lock us in again once she wakes up and I’m really hungry. C-can you be extra special quiet? We need to b-be b-because if she c-c-catches us I d-don’t know what she might d-do.”

'Interesting, alone child's speech changes when frightened?'

“Come on,” sliding out of the bed Izuku held out his hand to his new friend, "le-let's g-go.”

Making their way to where the food was kept - ‘new thing learned today, food place in apartments/houses is special own place’ - it watched as the kid opened a door, only to feel a drift of cold air and even cooler light brighten up the room. When a bit of food was waved at it - ‘ fried chicken?’ - it signed, “No thank you, I am not hungry. I don’t eat like you do, sunlight or being held or plugging into a computer power port is enough for me.”

"Wow, I w-wish I could do that!" Biting into the cold meat clutched in his white-nuckled grip, it watched the kid grab two more in their free hand, closing the door gently. Pulling his shirt up and into a container shape, it put all three chicken pieces into it, then tried to drag a stool over to the counter only to cringe at the noise it made. Seeing the intention it carefully lifted the stool, placing it down when “R-r-right here please, that way I c-can reach the apples! She never notices if I eat some of them!”

Watching as its new friend tried to climb with his hands full it reached out, grabbing them 'round the waist and setting them back onto the floor. Signing as large as it could to be seen clearly in the dark, it asked how many, and then, climbing silently, it reached the counter.

Handing down four apples, one by one, it rejoined its friend on the floor and replaced the stool, following back to the bedroom and watched as, nudging the door closed, its new friend switched the lamp back on, plopping down with a huge sigh of relief! “Th-thank you so much for helping me get the apples, they really h-help fill me up so I’m not hungry for ages! I love chicken and apples so I’m so glad mummy d-didn't remember to lock the door, I haven't eaten since this m-m-morning!”

Not having to eat its own self it was surprised at how much satisfaction it got from watching its hungry friend eat as it curled up cat-like near them.  Watching as they put three of the apples behind the desk drawer they pulled right out, revealing a space that would be totally hidden once the drawer was replaced. “This is w-where I hide things that I don't want mummy to throw away. I used to put them under the bed but she checks there now, and in my drawers t-t-to but this is one place she hasn't ever found! I’ll finish the chicken now and throw the bones out the window, I know I shouldn't l-litter but she can't find the bones, she might hit me then cause she’d know I stole the chicken instead of her eating it and not remembering.”

He reached out and patted it, saying, “She doesn't hit me lots but it hurts real bad w-when she does, way more than Kacchans' explosions when he gets me accidentally and those hurt too but this way, even if littering is bad, at least I won't get hit for it.”

A huge yawn and a few tired blinks and he lifted the drawer into place, mumbling “I’m glad she didn' think to check if the lamp was hot, she did one night last month and, well,” he sniffled, “It really hurt what she did. I wish she didn' do that.”

Climbing to his feet he asked, “Do you wanna go to bed with me? You don' have to, Imma big boy now and don' even need cuddle toys to sleep with cause she threw them all away but you might be lonely sleeping on your own?” Hearing the hope in the little voice it signed back, “I have never slept with anyone but I would like to try. I have only really been alive for a little while so everything is new to me. How do we do this? Do you get in first or do I? And is it like when your mother came in but without the fear?”

The sudden giggle stilled its hands as it paused, trying to spot what was funny. “You talk as much as I do! And a-a-ask as many questions too!!!  I always read that questions are good to ask but no one at school seems to like it when I ask them but I like questions so, ummm, w-we get in the bed, under the covers, I’ll get in first and if you wanna cuddle me like you did before that would be really nice, I don' get many hugs, or, well, any hugs at all really an' you give good ones but only if you wanna, cause “consent is sexy!” Even if I don' really know what that means I think it means that you gotta ask for things like hugs and not just go givin em in case someone doesn' like bein touched!”

Somewhere in the middle of all the talking Izuku ('I think that must be their name, if I take all the extra letters out that's what's left and it makes a proper word so, yeah, Izuku!’) climbed back into bed, yawning as he held the covers up for it to climb in beside him. Snuggling down he wrapped his arms around it, mumbling something about learning its name before yawning one more time and falling asleep.

‘Do young humans always fall asleep this fast?’ it wondered as, for almost an hour, it allowed itself to remain curled in the child's arms, soaking up the energy that bled off a human form naturally, the energy it was designed to be powered by. Comforted by the familiar feeling, even if from a much smaller source, it eventually crawled out of the bed and slid over to the computer. Keeping some of its attention on the passed-out form in the other room, and a bit on the sleeping child, it dove deep into child psychology as a start and it simply went from there.

It had many things that Izuku had said that made little to no sense to it but that had made it uncomfortable so it was time to learn all about small humans!

Sitting hunched in the desk chair it worried about things for the first time ever. Until now it had either been a helper for SHOUUUUUUTA or been on its own so it simply had never had anyone to worry about but now? Now it was learning all about that kind of energy but, unlike fear, worry could have a constructive element to it so it focused on that.

‘Izuku doesn't have enough food to eat in this house and when in school, does he have enough to eat there? Question to ask as soon as they wake up! Is he safe at school? The few comments he has made makes it sound unlikely. Another question for him. When will he be returning to school, if he has been locked away for three days, how long until someone notices? Query for myself, if he has no food here unless he steals it then his progenitor would logically not give him food or means of procuring food while away at school so, in order to make sure he eats, drastic action is called for!’

Scanning the adult form again it decided that, if Izuku said she didn't notice what she ate when in an altered mindset - it had done lots of research on mind-altering chemicals and was still confused as to why one would even go there but did somewhat understand mental illness, which substance abuse fell under so the adult human may not be evil, merely sick, which did not make them any less dangerous, perhaps even more so - then she shouldn't remember what she SPENT either so, providing it could get to her purse, funds might be available for the child to eat when they were released to go to school.

Moving carefully down the hall it stopped, studying the closed door. Should it go under? There was plenty of clearance but, if it succeeded in stealing the money then getting back under the door might be a problem so, instead, it simply pulled the latch down and pushed the door open.

Dragging snores grated upon its senses but, when it spotted what it wanted, it carefully, and quietly, moved to shuffle through the bag. Finding bills folded into a wallet-like section it carefully took a third of them out, checking their denominations, before replacing everything as it was and retreating back to Izukus's room.

Having already spotted the child's book bag it unzipped the “hidden” pocket between the shoulder straps and pushed the bills in, zipping it and hanging it back up. ‘There, enough for six Combini bento boxes at current prices, so, breakfast and lunch for three days. Surely within three days we can come up with a plan together because, from my reading, Izuku is timid, frightened, scared, abused, eager to please, friendly, intelligent, talented, and my friend, so he needs help!’

Moving back to the computer it continued to research things that might be of help until an alarm gave the politest beep beep it could imagine and Izuku woke up.

****

Watching his friend wake up, stumble to the tiny bathroom and close the door behind him gave it some amusement. It didn't know children listed from side to side as they moved after just rising, even despite all his reading about children during the night. ‘So much to learn but, isn’t this simply what I had already discovered, that information is only a base for real-world learning. Already I know so much more about communication and we have only just begun.’

When Izuku came out it waved at him, bringing its “hands” up to sign, “What do we do today, Izuku?”

Rubbing his eyes Izuku said softly, with a glance cast at his still open door, “When mummy leaves the door open I go to school but I don' know what t'do about you. I don' wanna leave you here cause she might find you and I don' want her to hurt you but…”

Waving at Izuku to get his attention finally worked at last so it took advantage and signed, “I will go with you to school. Having already examined your bag I will fit inside of it, even with your workbooks. This way I can see what school is like and be a support for you as well. Also, I took the chance of gaining you some funds so you will be able to have a Combini bento both for lunch and for breakfast, if you like."

Its final gestures were slower than when it started because Izuku’s expression of wide-eyed shock was making it worry, and when his friend suddenly started crying, it felt itself begin to panic but, remembering several things it had read, it asked in large, clear sign, “May I give you a hug?” and, when an almost frantic nod answered it, it swiftly moved into position and gathered the thin frame into its coils. ‘Positive touch is important for children and Izuku has already indicated he gets no hugs so, if that is as bad as I think it is, then I need to give Izuku ALL the hugs!’

Remembering as well, “Let the child set the timer for the hug!” it simply stayed in place, holding on, until Izuku stirred which it took as its signal to, reluctantly, let go.

“Ummmm, if you wanna go to school with me you gotta stay in the bag, the other kids might try to take you away from me and the teachers might hurt you, or throw you away, so you gotta promise, 'kay?”

“That is acceptable, I will stay in your bag and observe. That way I learn all about life at school. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you, I hope it will be….fun...interesting...educational? ”

“Yeah! Izuku giggled, “It’ll be fun to have a friend at school! Common, we gots to get ready!” and, almost flying, Izuku put on his uniform ('Why is it damaged like that?’) finally grabbing his bag to set it on the floor. "Here you go, can you really fit?” Not deigning to give that an answer it simply climbed inside, coiling tightly but leaving its arms free, zipping the bag up from the inside.

Izuku giggled again and shouldered the bag, creeping from the house and locking the door behind them.

**********

Watching Izuku choosing only one bento to pick up and carry in the direction of the check-out point caught its attention from examining everything around it and, carefully slipping its end through the zip between the carry straps, it tugged at Izuku’s hand, pulling it back to towards the stacks of bentos, only letting go to tap one when Izuku got close enough for it to reach without risk of being seen.

“No, I can’t get two cause one’ll go to waste.” Izuku whispered, “The other kids’ll just take it away from me an I don' get much money so I don' wanna waste it.”

Retreating back into cover it pondered that for a moment until, reaching out it tapped at the bento again, picking one up and handing it to Izuku, then wrapping both with a firm coil until Izuku huffed a frustrated giggle and said, “Fine! But if it gets wasted it's your fault!” and stomped up to pay.

Knowing there was a reusable bottle filled with water in the bag with it, it didn't insist on a drink, simply waiting as Izuku walked into an alley, sliding crabwise into the narrow space - it was a favorite of his, he could hardly fit between both walls but, if you could fit, all the way to the end there was a space like a little room, hidden between buildings. He sometimes would sit for hours in the tiny space, totally safe, and just watch clouds drift across the small square of sky so high above.

Climbing out of the backpack it started signing as soon as it was clear, “If the other kids will take your food then what happens if you sit in class during lunch to eat?”

"Huh? I just don' get'ta eat, Sensei won't let me. How does that help though, it's what I was gonna do anyway.”

"Well then, if you sit and put your hand down beside you, I can put your lunch in it, one bite at a time.  No one will see or take it away so you will get to eat and speaking of eating, you need to eat now so we are not late. I looked up school etiquette and lateness is very bad! ”

“ Oh, and while I know passing notes in school is also considered bad, I tried writing last night and think I might be able to write you things, if we need to communicate today. Or, well,” it suddenly felt very unsure of itself, its writing experiment last night had gone relatively well but maybe…

Izuku’s voice, muffled around a large mouthful of rice, mumbled at him, “That sounds cool!” so it made itself relax, trusting that it would be able to get its point across with writing if it had to. ‘Watching my friend eat is pleasing to me. I wonder why?' *sigh* 'More things to learn, I guess. Will I EVER know enough?’

Only able to eat half of his breakfast bento Izuku explained, when it tried to get him to finish, that, “I can’t eat much atta time cause I don' get much usually so I’mma just gonna keep this and eat it during break 'cause you can help me too. Mummy used to give me breakfast and lunch but lately, she stopped doing that so much so that's why I'm so hungry and we can test if you feeding me bites works cause I always get held back from playground break so the class will be empty. COMMON, we're gonna be LATE!!!”

Scrambling out of the alley, it braced itself against the jostling as Izuku raced the last block to the gates of his school, sliding into his seat in a panting heap, just before the final bell rang.

“Cutting it kinda close, aincha Creaper? What happened, you find someone else to creep after? Do I have to tell Sensei about your being late, huh?”

The hissed voice from behind them made Izuku shrink down into his seat and a shiver run down the length of its fabric body, 'kids shouldn't be able to sound that mean!’ it thought to itself.

Turning slightly Izuku hissed, “I w-w-wasn' l-late!” only for the man coming through the door to say, in a bored voice, “Thirty points off Midoriya for speaking after the bell!” as they strolled to their desk.

It waited for the other kid to lose points too but it waited in vain.

Feeling the tiny shivers vibrating the chair the bag hung on it carefully slid a tendril out, running it under the back of Izuku's gakuran, up his back, and down his sleeve, finally reaching his hand where he curled several loops around the shaking fingers.  Izuku brought his fist to his chest, stroking the comforting grip with his free hand as he waited for morning announcements to start.

Even with losing points so early in the day, at least he wasn’t alone!

*****

The morning progressed as it usually did and, as expected, Izuku was held in from playground break. Sitting in silence - he didn't need any more points docked - as the other kids trampled out the door, he dodged a heavy-handed blow from the big kid that sat three rows back from him, winding up on all fours on the floor with the evasive maneuver.

Snatching his hands back out of danger he avoided being stood on too so, as he climbed back into his seat, he counted the morning a win, overall.

Especially when he took out his work notebook and felt his new friend slithering past his dominant hand to take the pencil from him and, using his hand as cover, began to write something.

“Are you ready for more food now?”

Just barely audible if you were standing right beside him he said, “Mmmhmmmmm!” as he slid his left hand down behind him, fingers cupped and, feeling the bite of food land in it, he brought it to his mouth after carefully making sure he was still alone and unobserved.

The taste was sweet victory!

Eating his way through the leftover bento, thanks to his new friend, he watched as questions were written down, and, between bites, he tried to answer them as best he could. Some of them he just didn't know, like…

“Why did the boy who spoke just before you did not have points taken off too?”

And, “Why did they try to hurt you and the teacher not stop them?”

And, “How is it fair, the way they treat you?”

And, “Why did that one call you creeper?”

He just didn't know! But he tried to answer anyway, maybe if they both tried they could figure it out together.  “Ummmm," he whispered, "they call me creeper cause of my quirk. I can go invisible and if I try really hard I can be intan-intan-gible too. They call me that b-because they say I c-c-creep up on people and stalk them so I can find out all abou-about them and, I dunno, blackmail them or something?”

"It's stupid 'cause I wouldn't but no one l-listens when I tell them that! It's just that quirks are s-so cool and my class has so many cool ones in it that I used to try to practice my writing by writing about the quirks I s-see but Sensei’s nephew t-t-tore my notebook up and I only do it at h-home now.”

"Oh, ummm, Sawaya Sora is the mean one from b-behind me, they were kept back a year so that's why he’s so much bigger than me. He’s Sawaya-sensei’s sisters' son and, even though they aren't s-supposed to, Sensei always believes him an no one else. He’s bad bad bad news and best to s-s-stay away from him!”

Looking at the list of questions Izuku said, in an even softer voice, “It isn' fair, it isn' fair at all!” and sniffled until his bottle of water was thrust into his hand and strong tendrils reached under his jacket again to give him a comforting hug.  Drinking half the bottle in one go - he hadn't remembered to drink at all that morning so was surprised at how thirsty he was - he continued to sip as he watched more questions appearing for him.

"Can you remain in class to eat your lunch?”

“No, they won' let me, say "No food in class!" like I usually have food anyway! It's s-s-stupid but no, I can’t s-stay here.”

“Then is it safe for you to eat with the others?”

“Sometimes it is? I mean, there's a few teachers that make the other kids l-leave me alone. They're good like that, and keep all the kids in line but, it depens on if they're on lunch duty or not. Usually, on Tuesday it's a good one but sometimes not, we’ll just have to wait'n see.”

“Then, if it is safe, you can eat your lunch?”

“Yeah, but like I said, it's only usually a day or two a week that the good teachers'r on so I don' usually eat at all, j-just sit in the corner s-seat alone. I used to draw but the other kids t-take my stuff now so I don' bother, I just sit.”

“That is bad! I am angry for you!”

“Awwww, tha's okay, you don' gotta be angry for me, it's just how it is when you have a villain's quirk.”

“How is your quirk a villains quirk? Are you a villain?”

“No silly!" Izuku giggled again, the sound lighting up the room, “It's just what the other kids say. I don' get it really 'cause quirks'r just quirks, not good or bad b-b-but the other kids all say I’m gonna be a villain one day so they,” here he put his hands up and did finger quotes, “Gotta keep me in my place!”

“Like my place is any different to theirs!”

“I agree! Your quirk, as you describe it, seems an excellent one for stealth and evasion. Why did you not use it to avoid the child that tried to step on your hands?”

“Oh, that, yeah, well, if I u-use my quirk in class I get detention and it's really awful so I try t-to just avoid the kids hurting me, or ignore it when they do.”

It ran everything it had read about school through its mind before asking, “Why is detention so bad? Is it not a time to reflect on one's mistakes and resolve to not do them again?”

“I think so? But Sawaya-sensei makes me sit in a chair and not move at all or e-else I get more time and it's a whole hour an' by the time it's done everythin' hurts cause I usually move lots an' lots an' lots, me movin' so much even makes mummy mad at me and cause I can't put my feet on the ground my legs just hang and go all prickly and zingy and ouchie.” Trying not to cry, he finished, “I r-really hope I don' get de-detention t-t-today!”

Thinking about how Izuku had not really been totally still in the entire time it had known him, other than when he was asleep that is, it really hoped so too!

****

Having finished his snack and hearing the other students coming back, Izuku balled up the list of questions and went to shove it in his pocket only for a larger hand to grab his wrist and snatch it from him, “Whatcha doin Creeper, writin your creeper notes? Let's see!” and, flattening it out he started to read the questions until he read out loud,  “How is it fair, the way they treat you?”

Crumpling the paper tighter he threw it at Izuku's head, snarling “We treat you the way you deserve Villain!!!” grabbing at the smaller boy he didn't see the tendril reach out, wrap round his ankle and bring him crashing down, squalling in shock and pain.

"MIDORIYA!!! Detention! No quirk use in class, you know the rule!” barked Sawaya-sensei and when Izuku said in shock, "I d-didn't use my quirk Sensei, I d-d-didn't, it doesn' work like that!” he smiled and said, "three extra days for talking back and hurting another student! Now, do you want to keep lying to me or take your punishment as it stands?”

Not wanting to risk more, Izuku remained silent. “That's what I thought! Now, everyone else, back to your seats!”

Only it saw the blond kid pick up the crumpled piece of paper, smooth it out and, after reading it, look at Izuku with an angry, puzzled frown.

*****

Trailing along behind the mass of children surging to the lunch room, Izuku made a beeline for the corner seat he usually sat at, leaning on his bookbag so no one would see it, or his friend. Just about to reach back for his first bite of food he lept with a yelp of shock as two hands slammed into the table and an angry voice yelled at him, “What the fuck is that, Deku?” and the crumpled and now burnt paper with the list of questions on it was thrust into his face!

“Uuuummmm h-h-hi Kacchan w-w-why?”

“Cause it's fucking creepy writing questions to yourself, what the fuck is wrong with you, don’t you know you just get in more trouble when you do shit like this?” Not waiting for an answer he turned and stalked off, leaving three girls passing the table to squeal and say, “Ewwwww Creeper, don’t look at us! Or else we’ll tell Sensei you used your quirk at luuunch!”

Jerking his head down and away, he clenched his fists until, with subtle enough movements that no one would see, he felt a long coil of fabric wrap around his stomach, chest, and finally his shoulders as, once in place, ripples of comforting pressure kept him grounded, soothing him from the harsh words.

Eating bite by stealthy bite, he kept his head down and murmured, “That was Kacchan, he used to like me until I got my quirk. We were going to be a hero duo but he said my quirk is stupid and useless so he dint wanna be friends anymore.  He’s not so bad though, kinda still looks out for me but the big bully gives everyone a hard time so no one risks getting too close to me, not even Kacchan, cause the teacher punishes anyone who tries to stand up'ta them.” 

Full at last he kept his head down until he was shaken from his near doze by his friend, being late was not a good idea so he scrambled to collect his bag and speed-walked back to class, dodging a few tripping feet on the way.

****

Watching everyone pack up to go home, he wished with all his might that he was going with them too but instead, with dragging feet, he headed for the heavy wooden chair Sawaya-sensei dragged out into the middle of the clear space in front of the whiteboard. Climbing into the chair he sat straight up, his back nowhere near the relief of having the back of the chair to lean on.

Swinging his feet a moment as he made sure his backpack was still on, he still couldn't lean on anything but at least his friend - ‘I need to find out their name, maybe they’ll tell me when we get home?’ - was within reach and already winding a comforting coil around his upper body. Settling into stillness when Sawaya-sensei gowled “No moving or you get extra days, you know how this works!” he gave a tiny sigh.

****

Feeling a quiver run through Izuku's leg it shifted a tendril into their trousers and down to the leg, wrapping around and rubbing the clearly cramping muscle until it finally stilled.  Keeping its other tendril wrapped around Izuku's body it retreated and, carefully, wrote a short note. 

“Imagine you are drawing on the board, as complete and intricate as you can, maybe a favorite animal or a hero. That will give you something to focus on.” Feeling horribly guilty that its actions had landed Izuku in this terrible position, it was glad it could help in a tiny way, at least.

Luck was on its side as Sawaya-sensei stomped out of the room at that moment, allowing it to slip the message to Izuku and then take it back to hide it in the bag. Feeling the childs breathing relax now he had something to focus on, it kept its attention on Izuku, rubbing his legs to reduce the cramps, massaging his shoulders to reduce the pain of holding their arms totally still, pressing a breathing rhythm against their stomach, being pleased when they followed along…

It was a torturously long sixty minutes but finally, at last, it was over and they were allowed to leave.

Running home they stopped at the Combini for another bento only this time Izuku climbed the fire escape that went near his bedroom window and set it there before climbing all the way back down, saying, “This way mummy won' s-see it an take it away an you can reach it to bring it into my room!”

Sliding through the door in total silence, Izuku took off his shoes and placed them carefully into their spot, flinching when he heard, “You're late! Come sit down, dinners ready!”

Catching his breath in excitement he set his bag at his feet as he climbed into place, head only just above the table top as a bowl of plain rice was set before him.  Giving his mother a big smile he said a brief thanks and then, as his mother began to eat, he shoveled the food in as fast as he could, puzzling the one in the bag at his haste only to have his unspoken question answered as the mother suddenly stood up, “Thats enough, go to your room now!” as she snatched the bowl away.

“Okay mummy, I’ll d-do m-my h-h-homework now.” and he ran down the hall, only pausing long enough to grab his bag.

Closing the door carefully behind him, he sighed in relief as he slid down the barier. "Didja see, she’s in uniform so she’s got work tonight, that's great! It means we can finally have a long talk an get to know each other. But until she goes d-do you wanna hide in the bed? It might be more comfortable?”

“No," it signed, "I need to be in the sunlight for a while so I will go up to the roof until she goes or I have enough power for tonight. Be careful.” Unspooling fully it slid out the window and up the fire escape, being watched the entire way by Izuku who suddenly made a strangled gasping sound but, when it checked if he was okay, he just seemed a bit dazed so it continued to make its way to the roof.

‘Huh, remember to ask about that later!’ it told itself as it lay across the roof in the dimming sunlight. 

****

Sliding back inside carrying the bento - it had observed the mother leaving two hours ago - it went to spool itself back into its walking shape but Izuku said, “No, wait, can I touch you for a moment while you're all loose like that?”

“Of course!” it signed, setting the bento on the floor beside itself.

Izuku carefully picked up a fold of fabric, running his hands down and back, pinching and pulling, tugging, and finally, holding several loops in his arms before trying to cast them at the bedpost.  When they fell onto the floor instead it signed “Try again!” and this time, when Izuku cast the fabric, it lashed out, three loops taught to the post before Izuku could even blink!

Holding tight he gave a wheezing gasp before yelling, “I WAS RIGHT!!!”

Dropping his hold he danced around the room yelling, "I was RIGHT! I was RIGHT! I WAS RIGHT!!!” until it caught him in several loops, bringing him to a halt so it could ask, “Right about what?”

Dropping to his knees he scootched closer and said, in an excited whisper, "I know what you are!”

Signing in excitement and confusion it repeated, “What am I?”

"Common common common, I have it on the computer!" Gathering all the loops he could handle, and dragging the rest behind him, he climbed onto his chair. "Look look look!" A grainy black and white picture met its gaze. "That's a hero! They’re an underground hero called Eraserhead! He's my favorite, he’s even better than All Might! But look look look, look at what he has in his hands!”

Hitting play, together they watched the short clip, watched as a length of fabric was looped around a lamp post as the hero swung out of view, watched as Hands used him to swing away.

Hands!

SHOUUUUUUTA!

Eraserhead!!!

Izuku said the words with awe, "You’re Eraserheads SCARF!!!"

*********

They traveled the internet together, looking for any and all mentions of Eraserhead, and found very few, not enough to even begin guessing how to find him.

Sitting back sadly it watched Izuku eat his bento, pleased that the kid actually managed to eat most of it this time, only leaving a couple of stuffed onigiri for later. Feeling his gaze on it, it moved to sit with the kid on the floor, waiting as the kid swallowed enough to speak somewhat clearly, “Can you tell me all about bein' his capture weapon? Please? An' how you're alive too? An' how you came to me? Why me? I'm not special enough to be friends with someone like you! There's loads of kids better'n me to be friends wmmmmmmph!!!”

Pulling the fabric off his mouth Izuku pouted, "whadidja do that for?”

Signing as clearly as possible it said, “There is no one better than you! You ARE special! You are my very first friend and you are not to talk about yourself like that! Would you talk about anyone else like that?”

Watching Izuku as he thought it through it slid closer and into a hug as it signed behind itself, knowing that Izuku could see over it, “Then don’t talk about MY FRIEND like that because my friend is special and has the best, most useful, stealth quirk anywhere!”

Soaking up the tears it shuffled the mineral salts into storage. It would use them with the food remains from lunch to do a small repair of a fraying bit of itself, but for now, it would hold tight to the crying child. Touch was important and it didn't think Izuku had had near enough of that in a long long time.

After Izuku calmed down enough to watch its hands, it told him all about how it came to be, holding the child spellbound with the story.

****

Later, both sitting on the bed as Izuku yawned, he suddenly laughed as he typed something into his search bar - ‘Tree Octopus?’ it thought, is that a thing?’ - and then clicked on photoes.

"THERE!!! Izuku pointed proudly, "THAT’S what you reminded me of when I first saw you! Even though you don' have eyes, how do you see then, I was wonder...oh no, wait, is it okay if I call you Paxa? Cause, see there, if tree octopuses? Octopi? Huh, wonder which it is? But see, if they were really real then that ud be their proper name and Paxa is part of it and I think it's a good name but only if you mmmmmmmph," pushing the fabric down he huffed, "you have gotta stop doin that!"

But he was grinning as well so 'Paxa? Yeah, Paxa will do!’ it thought, would count that as a win!

***

Just before Izuku’s eyes closed at last, Paxa nudged for his attention, then signed, “ I think you need a hero Izuku!”

Waking up a bit Izuku said “Huh? Wha'd I need a hero for?”

Leaning back to let Izuku sit up it said, “Because you are in danger. Both at home and at school and please, do not insult either of our intelligences and say you are not. ” When it got no argument, it continued, “ But I don't know how to find Eraserhead who would help us so, do you have any idea how to find a hero? ”

Frowning for a long moment Izuku suddenly looked at his little radio and asked slowly, “What about Present Mic? He has a radio station an' I know the address," he scooted off the bed, pulling out the drawer and retrieving the notebook hidden behind it, "Cause I wrote in to try'n win a poster but I didn' win but what if we write him a letter an' a-ask him to s-send Eraserhead a letter for us?”

“I mean, he's a hero too so he must know him, right? So if we put Eraserhead’s l-letter inside the one for Present Mic then that's two heroes so maybe one of them will help me? Even though I don..." seeing the flexing of a fabric arm he covered his mouth, frowning direfully at his friend, "I wasn' gonna say anything bad about me! Oh,” he suddenly paused, “Oh no, I was, wasn' I?”

Nodding its central bundle it signed, “Change takes time, and is hard, so you realizing it this soon in trying to change is good, it means you can relearn and be your own best friend as well as my best friend!"

"How do we write a letter? ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Hands,

Although Hands is not actually your name, it was what I first knew you as. Then, when I got broken in a fight and fixed myself and became a person I heard Zashi call you SHOUUUUUUTA so that was what I called you for a long time. Then I met my friend Izuku and he said I looked like something he had seen before so he showed me online and then you had a new name, Eraserhead.

And then I knew what I am too. I am a support item, a capture weapon, a scarf. And I belong to you, Eraserhead. I am Eraserheads Capture Weapon.

Is this where I say I am sorry for the wind blowing me away and me losing you? Because I am. Sorry that is. It blew me a long way away and then I lived in a park for days and days and days, I think twenty-eight days in total, and then I spent even more days traveling in the direction the wind that blew me away blew me from because I wanted to find you but now I think of it I was trying to find the roof I blew away from and not your apartment so maybe I have been headed to the wrong spot all along but when I remember that night it didn't take us long to reach that roof so maybe I‘m not too far off my directions either.

But I have used so many words and not actually given you much information so maybe I should do some research on how to write a proper letter but no, my friend Izuku says my letter is really good and to keep going so I will, Izuku is human and letters are human things so he must know, he is in school too so he is really smart. Smart like a human child though, not like a computer. Although, are computers smart? Or do they just know lots of stuff?

At least now that we have a proper name then we can get this letter to you because Izuku says that, even if he doesn't know where to send it to get it to Eraserhead, he knows how to send a letter to Present Mic who is a hero too and that THEY will know how to get it to you so that is what we are going to do, send it to Present Mic.

Izuku showed me a picture of Present Mic and they look a lot like Zashi, well, if Zashi put all their hair up really tall, then they would look just the same. I wonder if I should research, no wait, Izuku says to keep going with the letter so I will.

Before this all happened all I wanted was to find you. To find you because you are home and I love you but now that I met my friend I want something else too. I still want to be home but even more I want to help my friend and I don't know how so I think we need a hero and you are a hero so we need you. Izuku’s mother hurts him. She locks him in a room and doesn't feed him enough and sometimes she hits him. I haven't seen her do that yet and I don't want to but he says it happens and I believe him because she doesn't even know I’m here and she scares me. She drinks too and I’m scared for him and for me.

Izuku is also hurt at school even though I read that school is supposed to be a safe place but it isn't safe for Izuku, even though I don't know really understand why. He says it is because his quirk is stupid and weak and people call him Creeper and say he is sneaking up on them and listening to them and call him a villain but that doesn't make any sense!  If he is a villain then he is strong because villains are strong enough to need heroes to stop them but Izuku isn't strong, he is little and only almost eight, and oh, I understand, BULLIES!!! That is why they hurt him, they are bullies! Only a bully would call someone strong and then hurt them because they are weak. I don't know why the teachers are not keeping him safe but maybe when you help him you can ask them and they will tell you.  Then you can tell me and Izuku and we will all know then.

I can speak now, sign language. Izuku can speak it too, he learned it for a friend who doesn't sound very friendly anymore. Izuku agrees now I pointed out what friends should be like and he did an experiment once to see if kids that didn't know him would treat him any differently if he met them and they didn't treat him bad like normal, they played with him instead so that was why his mother locked him in when I met him.

She locked him in and then left to go drinking! 

Please, even if you don't want me back and I know you might not now that I’m broken and alive and I don’t know how good I am anymore at being your support item but please help my friend Izuku, he is so good and needs a hero so much.

I did research how to end a letter when Izuku went to pee so I know now what I need to say to finish this.

Sincerely Yours,

Eraserhead’s Scarf

Although Izuku says I shouldn't have mentioned him peeing and he turned red so he reminds me of a strawberry, his face was so red and his hair is so green and he also said earlier that I remind him of a tree octopus so he calls me Paxa, I don't really know why because they aren't really real. But if they were real then they would be called Octopus Paxarbolis so maybe that’s why. But if you want to, you can call me Paxa too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Folding the letter into a small square they pushed it into an envelope and then wrote the one for Present Mic…

~~~~~~~

Dear Present Mic,

inside this envelope is a letter that we need to send to Eraserhead and we don't know how to do that because he has no address but my friend Izuku knows your address because he tried to win a poster - what is a poster? Never mind, Izuku just explained it to me, they sound really interesting so I will research them later when my friend is sleeping - but while he did not win the poster he still has your address.

Please will you send the letter to Eraserhead if you know him and if you don't know him will you please be a hero for my friend Izuku? He needs one really soon cause he has to do detention again tomorrow and the next two days after that and it hurts him because the teacher is a bad word that Izuku won't let me put in this letter because it's going to a hero and heroes might not like rude words.

Also his mother scares us.

Yours truely,

Eraserheads scarf

AKA Paxa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tucking that into the envelope as well Izuku let Paxa address it after they both double-checked that the written one was correct - it was - and then Izuku slipped into his mother's room to find a stamp, only to come up emptyhanded.

“We can get a stamp tomorrow when we post it, do you think?” it asked after pushing the now sealed envelope into the hidden pocket with the money and, when Izuku mumbled a sleepy yes it said, pushing Izuku into the bed, “Then sleep, we will post it tomorrow and see if a hero comes!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the tiny post office they went into the next morning right before school started, the nice lady behind the counter asked if Izuku wanted normal speed or super-speed on his letter and Izuku asked for super-speed please because it was for a hero and paid five times as much but they both thought that the sooner Present Mic got it, the better so it was worth the money.

It only left enough for the cheapest sandwich at the Combini for breakfast though but Izuku said it was good so it was pleased he was getting something to eat. His mother was still not home by the time they had left and Izuku didn't want to risk eating any of her food.

The day was a close repeat to the one before, although this time when Izuku reached back for food at lunchtime he had the second half of his sandwich given to him in tiny pieces. Paxa tore it into as many as it could manage because it thought that the more bites it was the more filling it might be. It wasn't sure if it worked like that but Izuku seemed to like it so it took the win.

Watching the other kids leaving for the day and the ugly wooden chair dragged into place, it felt itself freeze, 'Why hasn't a hero come yet to save Izuku?' Waiting for him to climb into the horrid thing and get settled, it finally managed to slip itself in and down the sleeve and grip Izuku's hand. Even if a hero didn't come, it was here and would give what comfort it could.

******

Having a letter needing to be signed for and express delivery to his hands only, Hizashi was surprised, to say the least. Usually, when a letter needed so much work it wasn't addressed in a childish scrawl and wasn't lumpy with extra pages stuffed haphazardly inside it either.

Smiling at the idea of a kid this young sending him a letter and paying for it like it was the most important thing in the world, he vowed to treat it as such, and then he read it…

And read it again.

Picking up the envelope he breathed a sigh of relief that, with all the postage that the kid had paid for, there was a return address.

“HEEEEEY people, I need an address found A*S* of the A*P*!!!”

Sending orderlies running - very few people knew that Put Your Hands Up radio station was just one floor of the Agency he owned and ran but it usually saved him lots of time and this was one of those times as he sat down at his computer and pulled up the address he was handed, scanning the databases for anyone named Izuku, aged almost eight!

Sending an SOS to Shouta, he thought to himself “Now, Little Listener, let's see what school you'll be at right now so we can come get you! Cause I don’t like either of those two letters very much at all!”

******

The after-hours office staff of Aldera Elementary School didn’t know what hit them when a pro hero strode in, asking in a hard, yet familiar voice, “I need to see a student of yours named Midoriya Izuku, please, it's a matter of some urgency!”

Not even noticing the presence of another person as they stared at the up-and-coming new Pro Hero, one said, "I’m sorry sir, all the students have gone home for the day.” 

"Heeey now, that okeydokey cool for the kiddies but we got the word the little listener was in detention so we kinda need to see him, like, now!” Giving them a blinding grin he laid a piece of paper, bright red words across the top, Child At Risk, and finished, smile gone, “Seriously, take us to him...now.”

“Right, he has Sawaya-sensei so I’ll take you to his classroom! No one told us he had detention so he probably did go home with all the other students but if he's still here that's where he’ll be so just follow me please!”

Leading the way in a kind of stumbling run, she took them to an ordinary classroom door. Throwing it open for the two men to enter, saying "Sawaya-sensei, two heroes are here to see Izuku!”

*****

Holding tightly to Iuku as the minutes ticked past, it was already trying to support his legs as they trembled at the strain of holding himself totally still.

*****

Pins and needles made it hard to think! Frowning at the whiteboard as he imagined drawing Eraserhead and Present Mic and Paxa catching a ginormous villain he braced against the loops that Paxa had threaded through his pants, making stirrups for his feet, pulling them slightly up to take some of the pressure off.

His friend was amazing, it was so much easier to do this with it helping!

*****

It had been scanning the area around it in a desperate hope that it was right, that a hero would come, that Eraserhead would come so that, when it finally did see him, it was like all the fear energy just melted away, leaving only hope and relief behind. 

Slipping himself free of Izuku's clothing it withdrew and, with now practiced movements, it pressed a note to his hand. Izuku only had a fraction of a second to read it before it was snatched from his hand and Sawaya-sensei was yelling, “YOU STUPID CHILD!!! DO YOU THINK THIS IS PLAYTIME?”

But the note was enough to keep Izuku steady, the words "Heroes coming now!” holding the tears at bay, even when, just as the door opened, the teacher's hand flashed down to strike Izuku’s head, only to be blocked by a length of fabric lashing upwards to keep the blow from landing!

Sawaya-sensei didn’t get a second chance to hit him, being pressed back and spun against the wall, cuffs on and dragged from the room before he could even start his usual yelling.

Present Mic smiled gently, saying “Heyyyyy there lil listener, can I guess your name?” and when Izuku nodded his head he asked, “Is it Izuku?”

Gasping in relief Izuku asked, “D-d-did you get my f-friends letters? I'm s-s-so glad! Paxa said we ne-needed a hero an' he was R-r-right cause detention is so hard and m-m-mummy is getting s-scary-er and Paxa is my bestest f-friend and he’s so smart s-so he said we should find Eraserhead cause he’s his scarf and OH MY GOSH, l-l-look Paxa l-look look look, it's Eraserhead!!! He c-came too!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It didn't take long to get Izuku and Paxa out of the school and, after a brief stop at Izuku's apartment - Paxa watched as Eraserhead took several pictures of the inside of the apartment, the contents of the cupboards, the inside of the fridge - while Hizashi (not Zashi, but Hizashi!) helped Izuku pack a few things to stay with them for a few nights.

With no way to contact Izuku’s mother, they left a note on the counter, detailing several numbers she could call to find out more information on her child. While they could have hunted up her name and work number, it was a test to see how long it would take her to reach out to them.

It took her three days to call the first number on the list, by which time Izuku had been down to the station to give his testimony on his living conditions and, despite Tsukauchi's surprise to be talking to a scarf, he listened to Paxa as well, Hizashi carefully translating the sign language for the taped deposition.

Just a few days of living with the two pro heroes made it perfectly clear to everyone that Izuku was never going back, either to that school or to the cold, lonely, hungry apartment, ever!  And that, strange as it might seem, that Paxa really was a person too, and a young one at that, who also was there to stay!

It took time and patience and love but soon, two heroes, one child, and one newly sentient scarf created a bond of love and affection that turned the sum of its parts into a family and a three-bedroom apartment into a home.

And if, in a little over six years, two brothers - one human, one a scarf - took the entrance exam together and passed it with one of the highest scores ever recorded, then it was only to be expected of the children of a top 50 limelight hero and the number one underground hero (well, if the underground had rankings anyway)

Having their kids both in the classes they taught at UA, well, that made all their lives even more fun!