Izuku browsed through the neighborhood's security cameras one last time before bed.

  He was about to hit the power button when a flash of white caught his eye on camera E2.

  A little girl, dressed in rags, had collapsed and crawled beside a bike of boxes in an alleyway.

  On camera G7, a masked man was speed walking through alleyways, searching between boxes, bins and garbage bags for something.

  Izuku frowned, activating the small speaker on camera G7.

  "Excuse me sir, what might you be doing out here in the middle of the night?"

  The man's head shot up, and he walked towards the camera.

  "I'm looking for my daughter, she ran off after a scolding. Have you seen her?"

  The man's voice was young and smooth. Izuku placed him somewhere in his mid 20s.

  "Small girl, with white hair, and a small horn on her head?" Izuku asked.

  The man nodded silently.

  Izuku clicked a few keys loudly, making sure the microphone was still on.

  "She was on cameras H9 to H2 3 minutes ago. She left the alleyways on 5th Street, by the happy cat corner shop. I don't know where she went from there." Izuku said calmly.

  The man considered Izuku's words a moment before nodding.

  "I know the place, thank you. If you happen to spot her, please call my number."

  The man held up a card to the camera.

  "Will do. I hope you find her, she seemed pretty stir-crazy. Goodnight."

  Izuku turned off the speaker, and watched the man head back down the alleyways, emerging on 5th Street, far from the girl.

  The greenette raced from his room, grabbing his coat and sliding his shoes on.

  "I saw a little girl getting chased on the cameras, I'm going out to get her." He told his mother.

  Inko stood up from the table.

  "I'll keep an eye on the cameras for you. What does the person chasing her look like?" She asked.

  "Tall, short hair, golden eyes. He's wearing a black surgical facemask, and a green coat with purple fluff. I sent him on a wild goose chase on 5th Street, and the girl is on camera E2."

  Izuku ran out the door and sprinted down the street, slowing when he came to the alleyway.

  "Hello?" He called softly.

  He heard a scared squeak, and shuffling about.

  Izuku entered the alleyway and immediately spotted the girl pressing herself up against the box pile.

  Izuku raised his hands, showing her they were empty.

  "My name is Izuku, what's yours?"

  The girl stayed silent, keeping her crimson eyes open wide, staring at him.

  Izuku sat carefully on a box, keeping to his side of the alleyway.

  "I saw you on the camera, up there" he pointed at the camera.

  The girl's gaze quickly went to the camera, then snapped back to Izuku.

  "There was a man following you, with a black mask. Do you know him?" He asked.

  The girl started shaking, looking around nervously, pressing her back against the alley wall.

  "I sent him away, he didn't seem very trustworthy." He said.

  The girl relaxed at that, her gaze slightly calmer, focused on Izuku.

  "You.. aren't going to take me back?" She asked.

  Izuku shook his head.

  "Not if you don't want to. I can keep him away forever, if that's what you want."

  Izuku wasn't stupid. He could see the messy bandages wrapped around her limbs. He could see the way the girl flinched at every movement he made, or any noise that they heard.

  He knew suspicious eyes when he saw them, no matter the smooth, manipulative voice.

  "Can I ask what your name is?" He asked her.

  The girl hesitated a second, before answering.

  "Eri.." she mumbled.

  Izuku smiled gently.

  "That's a pretty name. Do you want to come with me? I live a little way down the road, but it's not too far."

  Eri hesitated again, before nodding.

  Izuku got up slowly and took his coat off. Even in his hoodie, the air was brisk. He couldn't imagine how Eri felt.

  "Do you want my coat? It's pretty cold!" Izuku forced himself to keep still, not letting his body shiver.

  Eri eyed the coat warily, then nodded, stepping forwards slowly.

  Izuku wrapped the tiny girl in his coat and picked her up, turning out of the alleyway.

  "It's nice and warm, huh?" He asked.

  Eri nodded, clutching the dark green fabric in a vice grip.

  Izuku walked quickly, opening his door and stepping inside. He sighed in relief when the door was closed and locked.

  "Now the mean man can't get us anymore." He said, smiling at the silver haired girl.

  Inko, having watched the cameras, stayed in her room for the time being. She didn't want to startle the girl while she got used to the new place and trusted Izuku to a degree.

  Izuku walked into the living room, setting Eri on the sofa and pulling the first aid kit out of the cuboard.

  Eri flinched when Izuku reached for her again, making the greenette stop.

  "I'm just making sure you're not hurt under the bandages. I don't want you to get an infection or anything. Can I take the bandages off?" He asked.

  Eri nodded, holding out her arm.

  Izuku smiled gently at her as he unwrapped the dirty bandages.

  He struggled to keep the smile there when he saw what was beneath.

  White hot rage bubbled just beneath his calm exterior.

  *I wonder if Nezu could help me legally kill a man? I'm sure we could figure it out together.*

  Izuku's rage only grew when he took off the rest of the bandages.

  There were many, many scars covering Eri's arms and legs. Straight, surgical lines, cutting up and down her forearms and shins. There were also many small, round dots covering Eri's arms. Puncture wounds, from syringes.

  There were one or two more recent cuts and punctures, but they were surprisingly clean, and had healed properly.

  Izuku pulled out a clean bundle of bandages from the first aid kit and wrapped them gently around Eri's limbs.

  "I don't think you really need these, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll be back in just a minute, okay Eri?" He asked.

  The silver haired girl nodded, looking down at the white bands wrapping around her arms.

  Izuku knocked on his mother's door and walked inside, momentarily surprised at the collection of small dresses.

  Inko laughed quietly.

  "My mother kept the nicer clothes from when I was younger, and I never had the heart to throw them out." She explained.

  Izuku picked up a red and white checked dress and a dark blue one. They were the only two that seemed Eri's size, apart from an appalling vomit coloured one that his mother quickly removed from the selection.

  Izuku returned to the living room, kneeling infront of the girl.

  "Which one do you like?" He asked her.

  Eri looked questioningly at him.

  "Why are you asking me?" She asked.

  Izuku smiled.

  "Well, you're going to be the one wearing it. I thought I'd let you choose which one you liked."

  Eri looked between both of them, before pointing shyly at the red one.