Chapter 3: Comfort

Soon after they had been released it was decided that both Deku and Eri should live with Aizawa and his husband, under the watchful eyes of two pro heroes. Inko, Deku's mother, stayed at a safe distance and would visit a few times a week, All Might always by her side to protect her as well. Bakugo and the others took turns patrolling the city as the Hero Academy faculty began investigating leads into the whereabouts of the League of Villains. Lastly, Shoto was visiting almost every chance he had. After all, this was all his fault.

However, Deku and Eri were still cautious in everything they did, refusing to trust in the people who saved them. Deku was adamant that this was some sort of test, a new way for AFO to torment them. It certainly had not been the first time he had been 'rescued'. Eri was terrified of everything, she would not eat the food unless Deku ate first, she clung to his leg and followed him everywhere he went, if Aizawa or Hizashi made the slightest noise she would run for cover. It had become clear in the following three weeks from the hospital that Deku and Eri could not be separated. Aizawa would always find Eri asleep in the far corner of the room with Deku sitting in front of her, facing the door. The fear those two held in their hearts overwrote every action. Deku ended up yelling at Inko, cornering her and demanding her to tell him where they really are, strongly believing he was still in the facility. Shoto had to pull him away from his now crying mother and try to calmly explain that Deku and Eri were indeed safe, completely immune to Deku's outbursts after days of experiencing them.

Shoto knew it was hopeless and yet, he could not help but to cling to hope. Deku may have forgotten his own name, in fact it seemed as though he had forgotten everything, but his heart was the same. Deku's drive and passion was still visible, he was still the sweet and sensitive boy Shoto had come to love, but for now all of that was only shown towards Eri. In a way, being imprisoned alongside Eri had been a blessing. By being her hero, nothing All for One did would break him. For that alone Shoto wanted to thank the little girl.

"Midoriya, you need to eat." Having Shoto come over for dinner became a common occurrence in Aizawa's household. Deku refusing to eat was also a common occurrence. The emerald boy eyed the bowl of pho with suspicion, thinking up a multitude of ways on how they may have drugged the food. Black specs, he noticed, were floating in the bowl.

"It's pepper." Aizawa's curt response broke through his thoughts and Deku only nodded, still not willing to eat.

"So Eri," Hizashi interjected trying to make his voice soft as to not frighten the girl sitting next to Deku. "Do you like living with us?"

"I guess so…" Eri basically whispered, she was the most docile of the two and the easiest to talk to. Fearing she would shut down, Hizashi quickly asked his next question.

"Your mother must really miss you, could you tell us about them?" This was another task the married couple had taken to, they wanted to know everything about Eri to find her parents. Eri only looked confused and even Deku was paying attention now.

"Mother?"

"Yes, little listener, can you tell me about her?"

Eri ponders for a moment before looking up at Deku. "Deku what's a mother?"

He furrows his brows, focusing on the word mother. That short woman always claimed to be his mother…what was her name? Ah that's right, Inko Midoriya. If she was a "mother" then a "mother" must be someone who cries a lot and shies away from conflict. Is there anyone at the facility that matches that description? Maybe this was a trick question? Sometimes to test their loyalty, All for One would have them 'rescued' and try to get them to confess. He argued it was to prepare them for when they go outside, although the only times Deku has even been outside are during his many failed escape attempts with Eri.

Shoto seems to recognize his distress and answers for Deku instead. Thoughts of his own mother seem to gradually rise to the surface making his response easy. "A mother is a woman who gives you a name, they care for you no matter what happens."

"Oh!" The little girl brightens up almost immediately, "I have a mother! It's Deku!"

"What!?"

"Yes! Yes! You are my mother!"

Deku is blushing furiously as Eri continues in her enthusiasm.

"You gave me my name and no matter what happened at the facility-you protected me!" She smiles up at him. "So, you must be my mom."

"You named Eri?" Aizawa now chimed into the conversation, mildly disappointed at the fact that Eri may not have parents at all if she was named by Deku.

"Well yeah, only people have names. Father kept calling us by our numbers, we were no different then the nomus so when she told me she was nothing I gave her a name."

"I thought you said you grew up in the facility."

"Because I did?"

"Then how do you know your hero name if All for One only called you by your number?"

"Hero…" That word was so familiar. It was one word that always chimed in the back of his mind. "I…I was wearing green when I met Eri."

"That's right," The sweet little girl nodded, "You said you were the Hero Deku."

His baffled look is no surprise to Eri and yet this turn in the conversation has captured everyone's attention. "Sometimes you forget, but that's okay, I'll remember for you!"

Once it sinks in that everyone is looking at her, Eri shrinks back a way and hurriedly tries to fix what she just said. After all, when Deku said this may be a trap set up by All for One, she wholeheartedly believed him.

"Of course, that doesn't mean we don't like the tests!" She squeaks, "Deku just gets stronger a-and sometimes- "

"What happens after these tests?"

Aizawa's quick interruption seems to rattle the truth out of her.

"He forgets, but-but they come back! He remembers things eventually s-so you can't throw him away!"

That small glimmer of hope ignites inside of Todoroki's heart, an overwhelming amount of joy flooded through his veins. Without thinking Shoto puts his hand on top of Deku's, startling the young man sitting across from him. Dark green eyes meet his gaze.

"Do you remember anything? Midoriya?"

In a way he did, everything around Deku was strange and unknown. He could not recall anyone and gave into the ever-present idea that this is just another trap set up by All for One. Deku did not understand why this 'mother' cried every time she saw him or why the freakishly tall blond man would casually bring up these stories of Deku going to a UA or whatever. Nothing was familiar, nothing but this aching feeling in his chest when he saw Todoroki. There was something about this man that caused immense sadness in Deku's heart. It was as though they had been separated for a long time. He could vaguely feel a connection to Todoroki but with everything going on it was all too confusing.

"I don't."

There it was, that sharp pain like a dagger stabbing into his heart. Of all the things he could not stand, Todoroki's sad gaze was the worst. But why? Why should he even care? What made Todoroki so different from everything and everyone else? It was infuriating.