"So, would you like a Quirk?"

Tomura paused outside the door, exactly thee fingers clasping the bottle of aspirin. He knew that Makoto wouldn't mind talking in front of him either way, however, once in a while, eavesdropping was fun. Even if he would be found out the second Makoto shifted her complete attention from Izuku.

He remembered Sensei's words from the day before. He looked at his bloodied cuticles as he listened onto their conversation.

"Yes.....but what—"

"So, you would like a Quirk."

Izuku shifted a little in his bed and looked at her with disbelieving eyes.

"But...but, I am...am Quirkless."

"Oh you wouldn't habs to worry about that. Tomura, come in, this lurking might be fun for you but it's a headache for Izuku."

Ah, so he had been caught. Sheepishly, he stepped out from behind the door and stalked over to Makoto to give the bottle. Makato motioned him to stay his hand and he stood there, bottle in hand, impatiently tapping his foot on the floor.

She turned to Izuku and spoke, "I am going to gently make you sit up to swallow this. It will help with the headache and possibly get you to sleep."

Izuku made a pained nod because his throat was feeling dry after talking for so long.

Makoto motioned Tomura to take the glass of water in his hands and he did so as she hoisted Izuku up, drawing a pained groan from the younger boy.

All Makoto wanted to do was to hug him and just keep him there, away from the bullies and needless pain and get him anything and everything he wished for. He looked so small and fragile, he reminded her of seeing Tomura for the first time. Broken by those they admired, beaten near to death, left without a hero to protect them.

She gestured to Tomura to give her a pill, and he did so, delicately handling the medicine. She prompted Izuku to open his mouth and so he did and she popped the pill in and nearly snatched the glass from Tomura and made him swallow it.

Izuku felt his headache recceede and he closed his eyes in relief as a sluggishness settled itself in his brain. The bed felt cozy, so cozy that he really didn't want to get up until another thought lodged himself in his mind.

"Where am I, now?" he asked, looking at Makoto, "Like, how far away from home am I?"

"Four houses away," was the prompt answer from her.

He fell silent and just gazed at her. Now that his blurred vision had cleared up a bit, an important detail made itself known to him as he saw the left side of her head. There was no hair there, just a metallic plate. Something about that came off as wrong, as he noticed that her eyes were slightly mismatched and the right eye looked fake.

He swallowed. He was probably thinking too much, in this superhuman society such kinds of appearances weren't too uncommon anyways. He yawned as he felt sleepy again.

"I think you should sleep now, we can continue this conversation later," Makoto said immediately noticing his exhaustion.

Izuku tried to say something but only another yawn came out. He was dead tired, and the medicine was making him sluggish as well. However, a panic shot through him as he remembered that this was a stranger's house.

"When do I—"

"You don't have to worry about that, right now. You shall return home safe and sound to your mom. Now sleep. It will be alright, I promise."

Izuku felt a gentle hand making him lie down again. It reminded him of his mom, patting his head and telling him stories about All Might when he had a fever. How he would go to sleep listening to how his favourite hero's smile would put everyone to rest and keep peace in the world.

All Might. The Symbol of Peace.

He wanted to be like him too.

Save people with a smile.

Izuku fell asleep dreaming of how he would be the best hero and save all in trouble.

Makoto saw his smile and felt her heart crack a little.

Tomura mumbled, "Such awful abusers deserve to die."