"Oh, yeah. I mean Spider-Man swung her like….ten city blocks away or something. Even if the guy who had her was still looking I don't know if he could cover that much distance in an hour on foot." The young man reasoned, assuaging Kendo's worries slightly.
"Ok just….stat safe. Ok Izuku?" She asked.
She could hear him swallow from the soft way she said his name, "R…right. I will-we will!" He corrected. Ending the call, the inheritor took a deep breath to steady her nerves and immediately called her dad as All Might stood to get the truck. She was of two minds about her crush, one was proud of him for taking such actions to ensure this girl's safety, while the other part of her wanted to smack him for being so reckless.
Then again if I was in his shoes would I have done anything different? She asked herself.
She couldn't say she would.
Once Izuku had gotten off the phone with Itsuka, he returned to Eri when he saw her looking at one of the water bottles intensely, trying to understand how one would open it. Taking one for himself he twisted off the cap and traded with her. Eri looked at the opened bottle and then watched as Izuku opened the other one, "It's um….kinda hard to do at your age." He sheepishly said.
"Hmmm." She hummed before looking up at him, "T-thank you…..um….."
Izuku let out a squeak, he didn't even tell her what his name was!!!
"O-oh! Right! I'm sorry, I'm Midoriya Izuku." He said formally on impulse.
Eri's face scrunched up, "Midero….Midoro…." She attempted, dinging his family name a little hard to pronounce properly compared to most of the words she's heard all her short life. Izuku could also see she was struggling a little bit and winced to himself. She had to be what? Six? Seven? And clearly wasn't getting the standard education that he did at that age. He was once again reminded of himself at that age….
"If you want...you can call me Deku." He offered kindly with a smile.
"It kinda says, 'you can do it!' You know?"
Eri blinked, "Deku..." she said before nodding, "Thank you….Deku...I'm Eri." She greeted as she had been instructed to a long time ago. "Whats…..going to happen?" She asked nervously.
He turned on the beach to face her completely, "So, I was talking to a friend of mine, her dad is in charge of the police. So there's no way he's a bad guy." He assured her, making the little girl tilt her head to the side curiously. "So she's going to come here, and she and her….teacher are going to take us both somewhere very safe." Eri blinked at that, of finally being somewhere safe.
"R-really?" She asked. He nodded, she gripped the bottle of water tightly in her hands, "....I'm...I'm scared…." She admitted.
Izuku reached his hand out, palm up, she looked down at it before reaching her own hand out, the small thing looking tiny in his palm as he closed his fingers around it. "I know…..and you have been so, so brave." He told her earnestly with soft eyes. Her red ones looked down at his hand bashfully. "And I'm going to be with you every step of the way for this." He promised.
She looked up at him nervously, and then, summoning her courage she nodded.
It was another ten minutes before Izuku saw a familiar truck pull up at the edge of the park. Before he could get up to wave them over, the left side passenger door opened and Itsuka hopped out onto the grass and took off across the park towards him, her side ponytail waving behind her as her blue pullover closed in.
Standing up, Eri slipped off the bench and instinctively hid behind him as Kendo approached, a look of relief on her face. "Oh thank god." She breathed out, going from a run to brisk walk towards him.
"H-hey Itsu-" he began before she walked into him and enveloped him in a hug, "-KA." He squeaked out. Not expecting the show of affection, Eri jumped back a little when she heard him squawk like that. But her replication was replaced by confusion at the sight of Izuku being embraced.
He….wasn't being hurt. Was he? When she hugged her stuffed animals at night they would squish around her arms but that wasn't what was happening to Deku. In fact he was standing upright like a pillar of stone, and she couldn't see his entire face but the ear she could see was blushing red.
Kendo pulled back from him, her own face a little red, "I'm….glad your safe." She said, the young lady looked down when she heard a shuffle and caught a glimpse of white hair ducking behind Izuku's leg, a small hand holding onto his pant leg tightly. "Oh! Hello there." She greeted carefully as she knelt down to her knees so she was at eye level with the little girl.
Eri tried to retreat but couldn't, Izuku reached a hand down and gently placed it on her shoulder. "Eri, this is Kendo. She's…..my best friend." He said, his face blushing a little as the girl looked up at him and then peeked out. And while Itsuka herself might feel a wave of giddiness at being called his best friend, she was too focused on the girl. Izuku's description was accurate but he couldn't in any way convey the absolute fear that she held in her eyes.
"Hi there. It's nice to meet you Eri." She greeted with kind eyes and a soft smile. She peered out a little further, her head now fully poking out from behind Izuku.
"H-…..hi." She said with a mixture of shyness and fear.
Itsuka glanced over her shoulder at All Might as he got out of his truck. He kept a distance, watching her and noticing the girl's shyness. She felt a twinge of sadness, he probably didn't want to frighten her with his skeletal appearance. She turned back to Eri with a smile, "So Midoriya told me about what happened….are you ok?" She asked.
Eri nodded, her red eyes shyly looking away, "Mmmhmmm…..Spidey saved me. And he told me that a nice person would be here. And then Deku came."
She blinked and looked up at Izuku in confusion, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Er-yeah…..nice person is a good way to describe him." She smiled with amusement in her voice.
Izuku gently moved off to the side, allowing Eri to fully expose herself to Kendo. He quickly kept down beside her. "Kendo is really nice too….she's one of the kindest people I know." He said, causing Eri to look at him with wide eyes and then back to Kendo.
"Really?" Eri asked.
She smiled, "Yep." She said, knowing full well, that was a biased opinion on Izuku's part.
"Wow." Eri whispered, making both the young adults chuckle.
"Eri, my dad is a police chief. That means he's in charge of other police. So he knows the good ones and….other ones." She said. Eri's slightly bright expression darkened with fear.
"...I don't want….others to get hurt because of me again."
That sentence caused them both to gasp softly at the sorrow in the little girl's voice. Kendo felt the same surge of protective instinct she had for Izuku to return tenfold. "That won't happen." She said firmly. Eri looked up at her, "You're safe Eri. I promise...those bad people won't ever hurt you again." She swore.
Eri inhaled sharply at the conviction in Itsuka's voice. She swallowed and nodded, Itsuka held out her hand, "Come on, let's get you to my place. We can get you some food, a bath, and some new clothes." She offered. Eri seemed hesitant, but the promise of those things, and the kindness in the redhead girl's eyes made her tentatively reach her hand out into Kendo's.
"...I already had apple slices." She said, a hint of embarrassment in her voice as though she admitted to eating something gluttonous.
Kendo laughed as she clasped the little girl's hand, "That's fine." she said. As she stood, so did Izuku. And before he could react she reached out for his hand as well. The young adults blinked and looked down at her, then each other. Izuku smiled and shrugged, and Kendo did the same as they walked towards the truck.
"...Deku, is that man made of bones?" She asked upon seeing Toshinori. And while Izuku let out a sound of horror at the girl's completely innocent and thoughtless comment, Kendo had to hold her laugh back with her hand covering her mouth.
With Toshinori's truck only being a two seater, Izuku offered to ride in the truck bed while Kendo held Eri in her lap in the passenger seat. Eri seemed a little scared for him riding in the back but he assured her that he'd hold on tight. And that Toshinori, who Eri simply called Coach upon Itsuka seeing she was struggling a little. She didn't have the same issue with Kendo's name as she did with Midoriya's but he didn't mind.
While riding in the flatbed however, he activated the Picotech suit AI and made it send messages to his phone posing as Spider-Man to support his story. Better to be safe than sorry if he needed to hand his phone over to Ryuji for evidence.
Pulling up to the Kendo dojo as the sun set in the sky, he hopped out the back and saw Ryuji standing by the door in a suit and tie, smiling in relief upon seeing him. When his daughter stepped out of the car, and he saw the child he had been informed that his face for the briefest of seconds faltered but he quickly put on a friendly smile. "Midoriya, how are you?" He asked.
"I'm fine Mr. Kendo…..um, this is Eri." He introduced as Itsuka brought the little girl forward.
Eri looked up at the man with nervous eyes, Ryuji smiled and leaned forward, "Hello there." He greeted the small girl, he looked up to Itsuka and gave her a grin, "You know this isn't how I pictured you bringing a baby home with Izuku."
Itsuka's face lit up the same color as her hair as the young man's face went sub-atomic with steam pouring off it. "Dad!!" She hissed, growing her hand and bopping her father on the head.
It wasn't a hard smack but it got the point across, "GAK! Worth it." He grinned as he rubbed his head, peeking down at Eri hoping that would brighten her spirits a little. She looked more confused than anything, which only served to add to his already grown concern after his daughter's call to him. "Anyway, your mother's inside, she's getting a bath ready and is cooking up some noodles for dinner." He turned to Izuku, "I need to ask some questions but you're welcome to stay for as long as you need."
Izuku, whose brain was currently still bluescreening, could only let out a garbled mix of words. Ryuji blinked and looked at Kendo, "You broke him, you fix him." She told him in a deadpanned voice.
Eri looked up at him quietly before looking towards the door that led up to the apartment, "Come on honey, let's get you cleaned up and some food." Kendo told her. She swallowed nervously, but nodded despite her fear. Itsuka gave her an encouraging smile and tilted her head towards the doorway leading to her home.
Walking up the stairs, the smell of cooked food made Eri's mouth water with the unrecognizable but alluring scent. "Mom?" Itsuka called out.
"In here!" Emi called out from the kitchen before leaning out, her expression was attentive but when she saw Eri, she paused…..and then smiled. "Oh my gosh she's a baby!" She gushed, Itsuka chuckled as Emi knelt down in front of Eri who was taken aback by the woman. "What's your name sweet pea?" She asked.
The little girl blinked, "It's...Eri." She said unsurely, "You….look like Kendo….."
Emi smiled, "I should hope so, she's my daughter honey."
"Oh….your her momma?" She asked, a strange tone in her voice. As though the concept was absolutely foreign to her.
Emi nodded patiently, "Yeah...now, Eri, I have a question for ya. What food do you like? My husband's the chief but I can make a decent meal out of most anything." She said assuringly.
Eri frowned as she thought, "…..I've had…..potatoes...beets…..water…..and apples….if I was good." She recalled in a far off voice as she remembered. Emi's bright expression faltered at that, and Itsuka felt herself freeze up.
Thankfully, her mother gathered herself and smiled once again, "Well, how about I get you some mashed potatoes, and….gave you heard of Mac and cheese?" She asked. Eri's eyes widened and shook her head, "It's really good and sweet, and for dessert? You can apple some apple sauce."
"….apple….scauce?" Eri asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Itsuka nodded with a smile, "It's super good." Eri thought it over and with the approval from Itsuka she nodded. "Alright then, come on Eri." She guided her towards the restroom while her mom stood and went back to making the dinner, but not before looking back over her shoulder at the little girl with concern.
Eri looked around the bathroom in surprise, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary but that made it all the more stranger to her. Kendo walked over to the closet, took out some towels, and set them aside, "So Eri, which do you prefer, bath or shower?" She asked.
She tilted her head, "….Ive…..only had baths before...in small tubs." She said, looking at the porcelain one with surprise.
Itsuka blinked, "Like…..in a basin?" She asked.
"Mmmhmm...and a hose."
Itsuka felt her heart break from what had to be the dozenth time today. She swallowed and knelt by the bathtub, "Well….this is better than a basin." She said, trying to sound positive as she let the water run and begin filling the tub. She turned on her knees to Eri and noticed the girl shyly tugging at her gown nervously. "Eri?"
"Could...could you stay?" She asked.
Kendo blinked in confusion, "When…..it was cleaning time…..they'd fill the tub and….leave me alone to do it….." she explained. Kendo let out a small breath, relieved that she had been at the very least spared that form of abuse, but could also see that the result had left her scared to be alone.
"Sure thing honey." She told her.
She began to help Eri undo the bandages on her arms and legs, the old wrappings came off easily but what they hid underneath struck her to her core. She didn't know what to expect, fresh wounds of some kind or maybe some branding that she read human traffickers would do, but no, it was something just as if not worse. Scars.
They were lining her arms and legs, and not scars a child would normally have from falling off bikes or scraped knees. They were surgical. Itsuka bit her inside cheek to make sure she didn't let the internal horror leak out to her face. The last thing she wanted was to scare her by her reaction, as when she first exposed them her head lowered in shame, her hair making a curtain around her face.
There weren't any beneath her gown thankfully, and Itsuka helped Eri up over the tub's rim into the water. Eri immediately jolted, "Oh!" She yelped.
"Oh! Eri im so sorry is it-"
"It's warm...?" Eri noticed right away in confusion. Kendo let out a breath, severely relived that she hadn't let the water get too hot. Kendo and Eri waited until the water was high enough to cover her torso before Eri started rubbing herself with the water, Itsuka couldn't help but snort, "Here. Let's make this better." She said, reaching over to a bottle of body wash she used.
Eri watched as she held up a bottle that contained a purple substance within it, "….what…..is that?" She asked.
"It's body soap...let me guess, you only used bars?" She guessed. Eri nodded. Itsuka gave her a soft smile before she rolled up her sleeves and squirted some into her palm. "Here." She reached her hand out to Eri's and lifted her arm, and then gently ran her hand up and down it, covering it with suds. "I like it more than just a bar of soap, it smells better too-"
*sniffle*
Itsuka looked up from Eri's arm to her face and saw tears gathered in the girl's eyes. Itsuka's heart ached, "Eri….."
She raised her other hand and wiped the tears away, "You...you're not hurting me…."
"Wha-"
"I-I didn't…..I didn't know that you could touch my scars without….." she hiccuped.
Itsuka's heart broke again but didn't try to put up a brave face. She leaned over the rib, and pulled the little girl into an embrace, it got her pullover and shirt wet but she didn't care in the slightest. All that mattered were Eri's little arms wrapping around her, embracing her as she made a promise to herself. No one would hurt this child ever again.
After the bath, Emi had pulled out some of Kendo's old clothes and set them aside. The little girl was sitting with her at the table as she enjoyed the bountiful meal, she wasn't malnourished by any means but she would be fuller than she had been in a long time by the time she finished eating. Off in the living room, Itsuka sat down next to Izuku and blinked at the paper he set down and showed her dad and Toshinori.
"...."
"..."
"What?" Izuku asked.
"Nothing I just…..I forgot you actually have great drawing skills." Itsuka did, looking at the page that he had sketched out of the man who had tried to take Eri.
Yagi reached out and held it up, looking at it curiously, "Hmmm. I don't recognize him but the mask is interesting." He said, handing it to Ryuji who looked over it as well.
"I recognize it. It's worn by lieutenants in the Shie Hessaikai. The Yakuza." He disclosed gravely. The four of them looked over at Eri as she took an experimental bite of the Mach and cheese she had gotten and watched as her eyes lit up at the cheesy goodness before taking another bite with her plastic fork. "But what in the world could they want with her?"
"And what were they doing with her that gave her those scars?" Itsuka asked in a low voice, her hands clenching her pants at the knees where they rested. Izuku saw the subdued anger, his hand reached out to hers without thought and clasped over it. Kendo saw the attempt at comfort and sighed, flipping her hand over to entwine her fingers with his. She felt herself relax as she held his hand.
"Those are questions that the pros investigating might have...I erm…..may have an idea of who is investigating." Toshinori said, causing Ryuji to give him a curious look at how a trainer might know that. "Erm…..mostly gossip at the office." He quickly covered.
"Um….Ryuji…..what exactly is going to happen?" Izuku asked curiously.
The police chief turned to him and sighed, "Well, at the moment? I'm going to file a missing person's report and see if Eri matches anyone reported missing." He turned to the little girl with an unsure look. "But given what you and Itsuka said it sounds like she might have…..been born into these circumstances. Or if not, captured at a young age." He reasoned.
Itsuka frowned, and squeezed Izuku's hand.
"If we hear back from anyone who knows her, we'll investigate them but that's assuming that happened. Until then she'll technically be a ward of the state and placed into protective custody." He explained.
Both Itsuka and Izuku blinked at that, "Like…..with a random person?" Itsuka asked, looking over at the little girl as her mom wiped some food off her cheek.
Ryuji sighed, "Normally…..yes. But what she said about the police being ready to take her back has me concerned." He said.
Izuku frowned, finding that concerning as well. He would think that after the Kingpin's network was revealed that there'd be less corruption, but it was still there. "So...what's going to happen to her?"
Ryuji's expression turned into something between sheepish and smug. "Oh no." Itsuja drawled, knowing that look.
"Well...nobody knows she's here right now outside of everyone in this house."
"...."
"...."
"....um….can you just….do that?" Izuku asked unsurely while Itsuka just stared at her dad. Toshinori did too but he looked more impressed than anything.
"I'm the chief of police kid I can do what I want." He said cheekily.
"One. No you can't." Itsuka replied, "Two. You really shouldn't drop that on me out of nowhere like this." She added. She took one more look at Eri. Took a breath, and sighed, "And three…..we're gonna need some stuff." She said, letting go of Izuku's hand to cross her arms over her chest. "Like…..a lot."
"I'm sure." Ryuji said, "But first and foremost we need to give her a checkup. Heaven help us if she has some health issue she doesn't even know about, not to mention what her quirk is." He said.
Izuku glanced over at Eri, the little girl had finished dinner and hopped down from the chair and was approaching them shyly. He gave her a smile, "Hey Eri, how was dinner?" He asked.
She rubbed her stomach, "It was really good. And warm." She hummed.
Itsuka smiled, "Nothing beats a hot meal." She said, Eri could only nod in agreement. She looked at her dad and saw him staring back at her expectantly, she gave him a pout before turning back to Eri. "So, Eri...do you like it here?" She asked.
The little girl looked at her in bewilderment, "Yes!" She quickly said before getting flustered at the volume which she said that. "I…I mean….i do….i like it here a lot. It's very nice."
Itsuka couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm glad." She said, "Because...well, how would you like to stay here with us?" She asked.
Eri's red eyes widened, shining with shock and hope, "R-Really?" Kendo nodded. She looked almost excited by the prospect, but then faltered before looking over at Izuku, "Are…..are you staying too Deku?"
That question caused the entire room to come to a screeching halt.
"Erm…..well, Eri, I don't live here. I live with my mom and-" he began before Emi clasped him on the shoulders from behind.
"Yes he is." She answered.
"You are?" Eri asked.
"He is?" Itsuka questioned.
"I am?" Izuku blinked.
Emi smiled, "He will."
Yagi and Ryuji shared a look but wisely decided to stay out of it. "First off, Izuku, did you see what time it was?" She asked, pointing to the clock. The young man grimaced when he saw just how late it was, "So there's no trains running this time of night. And you're more than welcome to stay here." She added with a smile.
The young man's head fell in defeat. She wasn't wrong, obviously, it was late and while he could easily swing home, he doubted that the Kendo's would let him go out on his own this time of night. And he didn't want to inconvenience them by asking if they could give him a ride when they were already doing so much for Eri.
Itsuka smiled and patted his head, "You can take Wei's bed and some of his pajamas." She said with a somewhat entertained tone. She looked at Eri who was looking at them with a tilted head, "You and I can share Eri."
"….but….shouldnt you share with Deku too?" She asked innocently.
Which caused Emi to let out a squeak before she turned her head and covered her mouth while Itsuka and Izuku's faces flushed red with embarrassment. "S-S-Sh-Sh-Share?" He squeaked out as Itsuka tried to force her blush down and keep her composure.
"I-he-E-Eri. That's….hes….its kind of…..well it's just that…." She fumbled before tearing her dad snort, earning him a deathly glare from his daughter.
Eri didn't really see the problem. "Deku said…he promised he wouldn't leave. And he said you're nice, and you are nice. So can't we share sleeping with Deku?" She asked innocently.
"...…" Itsuka pursed her lips together at how, while stupidly simple she couldn't exactly dispute the train of logic Eri had.
She looked over at Izuku, took a deep breath, and stood up. "Alright."
"Eh?!?!?" Izuku let out.
She pointed at him, "Go find some pajamas in Wei's room." She turned to her mom, who still looked all too amused by this, "You are gonna help me get some pillows and blankets and help me set up the dojo." She then turned and pointed to Eri, "And you...are going to go brush your teeth." She said, faltering slightly.
Eri blinked, but then with a look of determination, balled up her hands and nodded as though she was given an important mission.
As Eri went off to do so, she looked to her dad and All Might. Her somewhat stern expression turned deadly serious, "…..and you guys find out who hurt her. And make sure they never hurt anyone again." As she stormed off to get blankets and pillows her mom followed her, leaving the boys alone.
"…"
"…"
"…Ryuji. Don't take this the wrong way. But your daughter can be quite intimidating." Toshinori finally said.
Izuku and her father could only nod in agreement.
The dojo of the Kendo household had more than seen its fair share of sleepovers when Itsuka was but a young girl. Thankfully the front of the building had large shades that prevented anyone outside from seeing in, so no one could see the large comforter blankets laid about the ground with pillows spread throughout. Eri looked at the large pilot with intrigue as Kendo and her mom finished setting it up, rubbing her eyes as she tried to keep awake for the time being.
"I blame you for this." She pouted at her mother.
Emi smirked at her, "Don't blame me, blame the sweet innocent little girl you couldn't say 'no' to."
Itsuka crossed her arms over her abdomen, she had changed into a pair of sweatpants and crop top she wore to bed. It was unfortunately the only sleepwear that she had which was clean and not in need of a wash. And now she would be having a sleepover with her crush in them, terrific.
Emi looked over at the little girl who was now testing out the pillows, "Not that I can blame you." She sighed.
Itsuka smiled, "Yeah....honestly I think if she asked me to commit a crime I'd be hard pressed to say no." She joked.
The two women shared a laugh before the door upstairs opened, Izuku walked down wearing a pair of Wei's pajama bottoms and a grey shirt. What was most interesting though was the bundle of black and white in his hands, "Um, Itsuka I found Felicia in your brother's-" he began before he looked up and found his tongue be swallowed by her appearance.
The black sweatpants and tank top left her arms exposed, which definitely bulked up with muscle since the last time he saw them. Along with her and which were now clearly defined. But that wasn't really what made him pause, "Your…..hair."
Itsuka blinked and reached back to her hair and realized why he was surprised, her hair wasn't in its usual ponytail. She had let it down as she usually did before bed. She smiled in amusement, "Did you think my hair was tied back all the time?" She asked. Izuku blushed and looked down at the car in his arms, Itsuka rolled her eyes and walked over, picking the feline up by her armpits. "What are you doing in my brother's room? Do you not love me anymore?" she asked in a cutesy voice.
"Merow."
"Traitor." Itsuka smiled before setting the cat down and rubbing her hand down the feline's spine. The cat's emerald eyes locked onto Eri, who was watching the cat with wide eyes, having only seen pictures of such creatures before. Itsuka noticed the little girl's reaction and gently gestured the cat towards her. "It's ok Eri, she's friendly." She assured her.
The cat stalked towards her, Eri taking a cautious step back out of habit despite her eyes being transfixed on the feline. Felicia rubbed into the side of Eri's leg, purring affectionately, the little girl gasped softly before tentatively reaching out and rubbing her hand over the cat's head. "G…..good kitty."
Both Izuku and Itsuka were tempted to clutch at their chests from the overwhelming cuteness they witnessed. Their hearts barely able to be contained in their chests from the swelling of emotion.
Emi shook her head and knelt down to Eri, "She is. Sleep tight honey. I'll see you in the morning." She said, giving the child an affectionate peck on top of her head before standing up and doing the same with her own daughter. She then turned to Izuku, "You call your mom?" She asked.
He nodded, "Yeah, she understands. She does want to come by tomorrow though."
Emi smiled and before he could stop her, she pulled him into a hug, "You did a good thing Midoriya." She assured him before pulling back and giving him a smile before walking up the stairs to the home above the dojo.
The two young adults looked at each other and then down to Eri.
….crap how do we do this??? They both thought.
Izuku's face turned red. "Erm….well, we should….should be getting ready for bed."
Kendo stiffly nodded, "Uh huh…..yeah."
"...."
"...."
Itsuka took a breath and then let it out, walking towards the middle of the blankets, she knelt down, "Eri, this is your spot. You can cuddle with Felicia." she said, the little girl nodded, and walked over to the spot with the cat following her as she laid down. Felicia curled up beside her with Eri's arm over her while Itsuka pulled the blankets up over her. "There. And we can each be on a side of you." She decided.
Izuku nodded in relief before walking over to Eri's right while Kendo laid down on the left. The trio lied together for a few moments, as though quietly resting out the system they had put in place. Only for the older two occupants to blink when they heard a snore come from between them. Looking over they found that Eri was out like a light.
"....can't really fault her for that." Izuku mused.
Itsuka snorted, "Nor really. No." She agreed before looking up to Izuku, seeing him laying down against a pillow brought some…..feelings with it. But she stuffed those down, "…..my mom is right. You did the right thing." She said softly. His smile became sheepish and he looked down at Eri, recalling how earlier when he had to leave her as Spider-Man it had particularly hurt him in a way he couldn't put to words at the time. Itsuka noticed and added, "Though she kinda trapped you with that promise you made." She lightly joked.
His smile faltered slightly, and Itsuka felt like she misspoke, "…..are you ok Izuku?" She asked quietly.
He looked up at her, his green eyes showing a vulnerability to them she didn't expect. He glanced down at Eri before looking at her again. "…..I just…..I know what it's like to be left." He said sadly. Itsuka gasped quietly but didn't speak, "…..when I saw her in that alley…..she asked me not to leave…..and at that moment? I thought...those were the last words I said to my dad. And…..he never came back."
"Oh Izuku…." She breathed out. He felt tears gathering in his eyes, and before he could wipe them away, the young woman's hand reacted out and chilled his cheek, brushing them away with her thumb.
He did lift his hand, but it was to hold hers, "I thought of that…..and I remembered how it felt never seeing my dad again...and how I would never want anyone else to feel like that." He shuttered, "That hurt….that….alone."
Kendo pursed her lips together. She knew what he was talking about, thinking about when she was younger and how her dad would be gone late into the night, that same fear of him walking out the door one day only never to return. How she would stay up late some nights waiting to hear the front door open so she could finally let out the breath she was holding in.
Itsuka let out that same one today when she saw her dad waiting for them at home. "I get it....i wouldn't want that either…..for anyone."
The pair laid in silence for a few moments more, Izuku's hand still holding hers against his face. And like Eri, the ends of the day that had weighed on both of them had begun to take its toll. And they drifted off to sleep, Kendo's last thought was, If it were just me and him here? I'd kiss him right now.