Thanks to Midnight, I slept deeply, unaware of the bustle of the hospital. My dreams had been pleasant, and I wondered if they were also thanks to her quirk.

The downside was that when I woke, the aches and pains of my injuries had finally caught up to me. I was even more grateful for the assist from the students, because without their help I would probably feel much worse.

On my bedside table was a huge purple gift bag. The tag had Midnight's signature. She must have brought it when she came by earlier. Inside the bag was a massage wand, a huge, intimidating contraption. It was as long as my forearm, with interchangeable heads and a dial to control the vibration speed.

I was using it to hammer at the back of my shoulder when I heard a tapping on the door, followed by a cheerful: "Knock, knock!" It was Present Mic.

"Hey," I said. "Come on in."

His eyes grew wide when he saw the thing. "Whoa, what is that?"

"Midnight left it for me," I explained. "I'm not quite sure this is what she intended, but I'm choosing not to think about it too hard."

Mic looked at the card on the gift bag. "It says: 'to help you unwind when I can't be there.' Heh. I suppose that's left up to your discretion." He perched lightly on the edge of the bed and looked at me, smiling sadly. "You got pretty dinged up, huh?"

"I've had worse," I said, more for my benefit than his. "Plus now I'm stiff and cramped from being stuck in this bed." I switched off the massager. "I can't get these stupid knots out."

He raised one eyebrow. "Want me to give it a go?"

The promise of relief swelled in my chest. "Oh, would you?"

"Sure thing! I'd be happy to help." He picked up the massager and eyed the controls. "Lay on your side for me. Where's it giving you trouble?"

I gestured at the middle of my upper back. "Somewhere around here, I can't reach it." I heard the massager switch on.

He pressed it lightly between my shoulder blades, and I shut my eyes as the vibrations rumbled through my aching muscles. He moved it in slow circles. "Does that feel alright?"

"Amazing," I whispered.

"Let me know if I should ease up."

I let out a slow sigh as he ran it slowly up and down my back. When he hit a particularly tense spot, I sucked air in through my teeth.

He pulled it away. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

"No, not at all," I gasped. "Do that again."

"Right here?" Carefully, he pressed into the same spot.

"Shit," I hissed. He chuckled softly, and I felt my cheeks redden. "Sorry."

"Don't be!"

My stiff muscles protested as the vibrations forced them to loosen. "That's the spot."

He kept at it for a while. "How's this pressure?"

"You could go harder." He leaned into it, and I whimpered. Before long, the cramped spot finally let go, and I shut my eyes in relief. "Oh god, that did it. Thank you."

"Want me to keep going?"

"I won't say no."

He laughed. "I'm on it! Though I'm not sure how long I keep this up. I'm starting to lose feeling in my hands!"

I lay there like a rag doll as he continued. I was so relaxed that I drooled on the pillow, and I was grateful my back was to him so he couldn't see.

Finally he switched it off. "This bad boy sure is powerful! Nemuri really knows her gadgets." He set it down on the bedside table.

I stretched, my back cracking in several places as I rolled over to face him. "That really helped, thank you," I told him.

"Anytime," he winked, making me blush again. He sat back, looking more serious. "So how's it going?"

"Not bad. I can't do a whole lot, so I might go a little stir-crazy."

"Well then, I have just the thing!" He pulled out a small white box, and slid it open. It was a tiny music player, the case a bright emerald green. He popped it out of the cardboard frame for me. "There's earbuds in here too, somewhere. I didn't know what music you liked, so I mostly went with classic American and British pop tunes. There's also a playlist of zen music to help you sleep."

"Mic, this is so thoughtful, thank you so much!" I scrolled through the songs, a smile spreading across my face. "I can't believe you did all this for me!"

He beamed. "Once I know your tastes a little better I can recommend some more current stuff."

"Thank you," I said, yet again.

"You're welcome." He paused. "Well, I should probably take off. Shota, I mean, Eraser, threatened me not to tire you out too much."

"You don't have to go. Actually, I was thinking how I still don't really know most of the teachers. Maybe you could fill me in?"

He perked up. "You mean it? I'd be happy to." He began a thorough rundown of each of his coworkers at the school, their quirks, what subjects they taught, and other fun facts.

As much as I enjoyed his company, my eyelids were growing heavy.

"Oh, Marie, you look pooped! I'm gonna let you sleep."

"No, I'm fine," I insisted, and then I was out.

The next day, I was a lot more clear headed. I was able to have a light breakfast, but it made me miss the delicious food I'd had at the school, and the homestyle meals Kurogiri would bring me.

A nurse came by to help me shower, and I was far too grateful to be embarrassed. Once she helped me out of my hospital gown, I was surprised by how many injuries covered my body. Not the minor ones; I had already examined the tiny cuts scattered across my arms from Dabi's staples, and the red marks around my wrists from the cuffs. Yesterday in the bathroom mirror I noticed the ugly bruise on my forehead. Those were all insignificant. While the nurse rinsed me off, I took in the extent of my injuries. The cuts from Dabi's metal were worse on my stomach and thighs. I also had large bruises all over from the building collapse. I looked horrific. Thankfully, the nurse did not comment on any of it.

Later, I lay in bed and thought more about my time with the League. I still didn't know exactly what had brought the building down, or who else had been injured. I hoped that they were all safe somewhere. I wondered if they thought about me. I began to sort through my memories and try to piece things together. It was a lot to absorb.

I was relieved when a knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. It was Eraser. "How are you?"

"Great," I fibbed.

He hung back. "Do you remember our conversation yesterday?"

I cringed. "Yes, bits and pieces. I must have sounded completely bonkers."

"No, it's understandable. You've been through a lot. Things won't feel normal right away."

"I guess."

"We're all grateful to get you back in one piece."

"I wasn't ready to go," I said. For a moment he froze, and I wondered if he thought I was going to lose it on him again. "I was making progress. I can't just give up on that."

"Well, it will have to wait; you're in no condition to go anywhere. Besides, their headquarters were destroyed, and we have no idea where they might have relocated."

I sighed in resignation. There was no point arguing.

"Are you up for visitors?" I glanced up at him, confused. "If not, I'll send them away, but the students have not stopped pestering me since they heard you were awake."

I felt a smile pull at my mouth. "I'd like that. Help me sit up."

Eraser found the buttons to control the bed, and adjusted it so I was propped up comfortably. "Are you sure about this? They can be a bit much."

"Yes, I'm sure." I smoothed the blanket over my lap. "How bad do I look? I don't want to scare them. At least, not any worse than I already did."

He chuckled. "I'll send them in."

A few minutes later the little hospital room was packed with nearly half of class 1-A. I felt my smile brightening as each of them came through the door. Soon they were gathered around my bed, filling the room with their excited chatter.

"It's so great to see you all," I told them.

"We've been worried about you," said Tsuyu.

"I'm sorry," I told her. "But I'm glad you didn't have to fight."

"It sucked to just let you go," said Denki.

"We could have helped you," agreed Kirishima. He had been here yesterday to revive me.

I smiled. "But you did."

"You look awful. Did they torture you?" I didn't see who had asked that, but Aizawa made a threatening gesture from the other side of the room.

I touched the bruise on my temple. "Most of this is from when the building came down." The room was quiet for a moment.

"Were the villains mean and scary?"

I thought of Shigaraki offering me one of his spare hands, and Toga brushing my hair. "Nah, I've seen worse."

"Did it work?" This question came from Deku. "Were you able to make them trust you? Was it worth it?"

He understood, better than most. "I think so." I felt tears stinging at my eyes again. Shaking myself off, I looked around the group. "So, what did I miss?" They all broke out talking at once, filling me in on all the excitement that had gone on at the school, alongside the normal things that most teenagers face.

Before I knew it, a nurse was at the door, telling us that visiting time was over. A few of the students groaned in disappointment. Watching them file out of the room, I felt a little better. Because of what I did, I had spared them some pain in the long run. Despite everything, I was satisfied with my choices. Now I just had to figure out what to do next.

Toru, the invisible girl, hung back. "Mister Aizawa, can you make it so I can hug Miss Marie?"

"How about you ask if she wants a hug," he prompted.

I smiled. "Of course I do, come here."

Toru leaned into me, and I folded my arms over her back. It took me a second to remember that it was safe to touch her. I squeezed her close, and she pressed her warm cheek against mine. "I'm so glad you're back," she whispered, before pulling away.

Eraser stayed after the students left. He looked serious, but that wasn't unusual. "What is it?" I asked.

"They want you to do another memory projection."

My mind flashed over the past few weeks. I hadn't been thinking about my every action being broadcast to a room full of strangers. "Do I have to?"

"Of course not. But it would be a waste not to share what you've seen. Also keep in mind that this would help to solidify their trust in you."

I stared down at my hands, touching the red mark at my wrist. "There's stuff I don't want anyone to see."

He shuffled his feet awkwardly. "If there are things… of a sensitive nature, the mind reader can skip over those parts, for your privacy."

Did he already know something? I narrowed my eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Eraser rubbed his hand across his face. "Marie, I need to apologize for invading your privacy. It wasn't any of my business, but I read over your chart while you were unconscious."

"Okay?"

He looked at the floor. "I know you were assaulted."

My chest went cold. "No-"

"It was never my intention to pry. I am so sorry."

Dabi and I had been pretty rough. If the doctors had examined me on intake, it wouldn't take a huge leap to reach that conclusion.

"And I understand why you don't want me too close. I won't push you in that regard."

I stared at him, bewildered. Then it dawned on me; my reaction yesterday, the way I had panicked when he came in. "Oh my god, Eraser, no! You didn't… that's not…"

He frowned, still not getting it.

"It wasn't like that, I swear. You didn't hurt me; fake you, I mean."

Visibly relieved, he let out a huff. "Well, that's good to hear." Then he grew serious again. "But your injuries?"

"Not what you think," I insisted.

He did not press the issue. If only he knew how much worse the truth actually was.

As I waited for the memory projection, I dozed off again. At some point, I felt my quirk activate; someone had touched me. I raised a hand to my face, trying to brush away the sensation like a crawling insect.

My room was empty. The television was on but muted, and I could hear the drone of voices from the hall. Maybe it had been a dream. Yet, I still felt a prickle of discomfort, like someone was watching me.

The door was open, and in the hallway I could see nurses and visitors walking by. On the far wall stood someone in a dark hoodie. Through messy, pale hair, they peered at me with red eyes. Shigaraki? I quickly pushed myself up. Was I seeing things? He turned and walked out of view.

I was breathing fast. Was this real? I needed to find out. I swung my feet out of the bed. My legs were unsteady. Cautiously I stood, the hospital socks giving me traction. I held tight to the IV stand for balance and took slow, faltering steps. I went out the door, then turned the way I had seen him go. The hospital was busy this time of day; staff, patients, and guests bustled through the halls, but I saw no sign of Shigaraki. I couldn't move any faster than a shuffle. He could be long gone, if he'd been here at all. If I did find him, what would I even do?

Eventually I reached a fork in the hallway. I looked to the right. A few nurses were there, focused on their patients. I looked left. More patients, some visitors, and a flower delivery person. At the end of the hall where it turned a corner, I saw him.

We locked eyes. He was actually here. Shigaraki grinned, his cracked lips stretching wide.

I took a step towards him, and my ankle turned wrong. My hand tightened around the IV pole, but it wasn't enough to support me. I went down hard as the metal pole rattled across the floor. I sat there hunched over for a moment, wondering how many half-healed injuries I had just busted open.

An orderly rushed to my side. "Goodness, are you alright?" He reached to help me up but I pulled back before he could touch my skin.

Another nurse had joined us, and he knew me. "There you are, Marie! You should be more careful, dear." He had gloves on, so I didn't pull away.

I looked towards Shigaraki. He hadn't budged. There was no way I could get to him now. I could draw attention and point him out, but that could go very, very badly.

Between the nurse and the orderly, they managed to get me into a wheelchair. The nurse started to wheel me away. "Let's get you back into bed." He blocked my view for a second. I craned my neck as he led me away. Shigaraki was still there, grinning, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Author note: Only 2 more chapters left! I hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. If you could please leave me a review, even just a few words, I thrive on feedback. Thanks!