Izuku brought the fallen hero to the hospital. When they asked him what had happened, he lied. He said he found the man bleeding out in an alley way, and that he didn't know how he had gotten that injured.

Something in the back of his head told him that that was wrong, that he shouldn't lie about something so serious. But he dismissed the thought without an ounce of regret. The police showed up at the hospital and questioned him further. Izuku kept calm and stuck to his lie. They eventually thanked him for his help and let him go. By then, it was dark out.

Izuku sighed, quickly taking out his phone and texting his mother a quick message saying he was okay. He knew how much Inko worried about him, but it seemed to take too much effort for him to care. He shook his head, smacking his hands onto either side of his face in an attempt to feel anything.

Izuku took off at a trot, only barely aware of his surroundings.

"Izuku?" said a small voice. Izuku turned to face the speaker, and a small smile tugged its way to his lips.

"Oh, uh, hi Fray."

The girl was peering up at him with her eyes that seemed even brighter in the dark. "Are you okay?"

Izuku nodded "Yeah, I'm fine." He swallowed down the lump in his throat. His chest ached.

Fray frowned "You look pale."

Izuku shook his head, giving her a smile "I'm fine, really. Don't worry."

She stared at him a bit longer. A bit too long, really. Izuku started to sweat nervously, eyes darting back and forth. "Uh, shouldn't you go home?"

Fray shook her head "I wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed so upset earlier."

That faint smile returned to the boy's face. He moved closer to her, putting a hand on her head and ruffling her hair.

"I'm okay, really. Do you need me to walk you home?" he said. Fray gave a little nod, fidgeting with her hands.

"It gets scary walking in the dark." She said. Izuku smile grew a bit stiff, recalling the near-murder he had witnessed earlier. Somehow he doubted there'd be many people scarier than she had been.

Izuku's eyes widened as he looked at her. His heart skipped a beat and something finally clicked.

"I should turn you in…" He said out loud, staring at her.

"Turn me into what?" Fray said with a small tilt of her head.

She's just a kid. Izuku thought, biting his lip. A kid who's been killing people. But still a kid. Izuku thought back to earlier, remembering her genuine attempts to comfort him. If she had that bit of kindness in her, then it could be reasoned she had more, right? She wasn't bad, she just….she just did bad things.

Shouldn't a Hero try to save everyone?

"It's nothing." Izuku said, swallowing down his hesitation. "I'll walk you home. Which way?"

Fray smiled, pointing down the street "This way." She said. Izuku nodded, his smile unsteady, becoming even more so plus stiff and slightly terrified when Fray took his hand.

She didn't talk much as they walked, instead humming a little tune. Izuku kept her in view through the corner of his eye, on edge. Fray wasn't hostile in the least towards him. And every once in a while she'd give his hand a little squeeze, as if to assure him she was still there.

Fray guided him though the streets and alley ways. As they walked, it got darker, with fewer lights illuminating their way. Fear gripped Izuku in its icy grip, his stride becoming slower as his caution grew. Eventually, they apparently arrived at their destination.

The building was falling apart. Part of its roof had already collapsed, the lawn was overgrown. An iron fenced surrounded the building, a mounted sign faded so the only letters visible were 'O-r-p-a-g-e'.

Orphanage? Izuku thought, his lips creasing into a frown. It looked so run-down. So old. Why did Fray bring him here?

She let go of his hand, pushing open the iron gate, which creaked in protest. A wide smile was set to her face "Thanks for walking me home!"

"You live here!?" Izuku exclaimed.

Fray gave him a little nod "Mhm."

Izuku stared, struggling to find words. Eventually he said "Do…..er, do you live with anyone?"

"Nope. Just me." Fray said. She waved "Bye, Izuku."

"Um…" Izuku swallowed, fidgeting with his hands. Fray's smile fell.

"Izuku?" she said "Is something wrong?"

"I'm….I'm just worried about you." He said "You live all by yourself here, and it's dark….Isn't it scary?"

"….A little." Fray admitted. She began to fidget with her hands. "But I'll be fine." Her smile returned, weighed down by some intangible weight. "Thanks for worrying."

Izuku gulped "Um….sure." He shifted his feet "Hey, uh….Fray?"

"Yes?"

His first thought was to bring her back to his house. But memories of that hero, bleeding on the ground, brought the bile of doubt to the back of his throat. His mother….he couldn't expose her to that kind of danger, but he couldn't just leave Fray alone, but he couldn't let her just do what she wants… Too many things could go wrong. And he was too tired, felt far too drained, to really give his course of action too much thought.

"I'll come visit tomorrow, alright?" Izuku settled for this response.

Fray's eyes lit up. "You will?" She bounced towards him suddenly, not allowing him time to respond before she threw her arms around his waist in a hug "Okay! I'll stay here allllll day and wait for you! You promise you'll visit, right, right?"

The corners of Izuku's mouth twitched up in a smile "I promise."