『Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a life lesson not a life sentence.』

When Eri woke up the first thing she did was panic. She couldn't feel Izuku next to her. She couldn't hear his heartbeat. Couldn't feel his warmth. In fact she felt very little.

There was a futon of some kind under her and a thin blanket over the top of her. Her head laid on a pillow and she felt the rooms warmth, but it was not her brothers. The girl also felt some sort of pressure on her arms so she's guessing she got injured, when moved to wherever she is.

Eri worked out pretty quickly, that she was not in the safety of her home. And that Izuku was definitely not next to her. Her brain tried to help saying; Maybe father had surprised them. Or taken Izuku away again. Maybe Izuku woke up and is making Eri breakfast?

No matter what she thought they all seemed untrue. Maybe there is a good, reasonable, explanation.

Or then again, maybe there's isn't.

As soon as she had calmed her thoughts new ones started circling in their place. It was like a door opened to a hidden cave deep in her brain.

Strange memories seemed to flood her mind of times when she pretended to be asleep. When you're asleep people usually leave you alone. Sleep can save you.

And a voice tells her not to show any signs of her being awake.

It's just like before, if we stay still we can survive.

Eri was confused by this as she is sure she's never had to deal with this situation before, yet her mind argues that this is just another day of protection. And that she must do what she always does or face the pain and trials of her captors. She was halfway through her thinking when a voice spoke.

"Kid I know your awake your heart rate picked up. You don't have to hide I won't hurt you."

The voice startled her half to death and it's amazing she was able not to flinch. A beep sounds out from next to her and Eri panics knowing she's failed to do what the voice had asked her.

She waits eyes screwed shut for the pain that her mind said would come. Trying not to let her fear overwhelm her. Trying to stay brave she doesn't miss the tears that squeeze through her closed red eyes. There's a few foot steps before a soft sigh. "Hay, it's okay. Sorry I scared you. I'm not going to hurt you. Didn't I already say that?" The voice repeats calmly.

Eri manages a small nod from her position, hoping the person was able to see it. Not knowing if she is allowed to speak or not or even look she stayed still opening her eyes a crack to try and take in her surroundings.

She was met with the sight of clean white walls that had stickers of animals in bright colours stuck to them. There was a a line of numbers that ran up one length of the wall and the lighting was soft.

There was a monitor next to her too, she couldn't understand what it said, but it seemed to play a line moving around and a few numbers. Maybe it was a game like Tomura played at home?

It seemed safe enough, maybe if she could look around she'd find Izuku? With that thought in her head she carefully pushed up, onto her elbows, raising her head to see more. There was a few cabinets, a toy basket, a table, and a seatright next to the bed that had a man sitting in it.

Eri had never seen this man before. The only other she had seen besides her family was her fathers assistant, kurogiri. Was this man another assistant? Was he a babysitter while father was away. Did he know where Izuku was? He was very scruffy looking, nothing like Kurogiri's neat suit and clean personality. If he was a helper kurogiri probably wasn't friends with him.

But he seemed kind enough even though he wasn't smiling. Eri wasn't quite sure how to process the new environment she was in or the man that seemed to not be enjoying her company. Maybe she should have stayed asleep after all.

"I'm glad you're okay. How do you feel." The man asked leaning to the side and stretching his arms up. Eri let's fear flash over her features as she back up on the bed. The man pauses his movements staring quizzically at the girl. Did she think he was going to hurt her? Typical abuse response right there. Damn villains will pay for this. "Look, I ment what I said." Aizawa huffs standing up slowly. He really didn't want to spook the girl further.

"I-" The girl trembles out. "Izu-" She mumbles scanning the room for her lost brother. The man cracks a small smile. "Don't worry. He's here." He says understanding the girls panic. "I found you too alone locked in a room, in an empty house." He continues. Eri nods. That's how father always left them when he went out and had to take Tomura. It was the safest option for them. Especially since kurogiri wasn't left to supervise.

"Why were you alone?" Aizawa asked curiously. To say Izuku was supposed to be his pride and joy he hadn't had much security other than a locked door. Eri looks around nervously, was this man not one of fathers workers? "You don't... you weren't sent by him?" Eri asks quietly. The man shakes his head. "Definitely not kid. I've been trying to save you and your brother for a long time now."

Eri nods hesitantly before pushing out an answer. "There was trouble at fathers-" she pauses trying to remember. "The bar?" Aizawa questions. "Yes sir, he took big brother and kurogiri with him." She informs.

"I see." The man thinks. "A golden opportunity it was then." Aizawa looks over to the still terrified girl.

"You're safe now Eri. We are the good guys. He can't hurt you here." Clearly that sentence triggered a response from the girl.

Eri shakes her head furiously. "He would never hurt us. Father is a kind man! He only protects and provides for us. He's saving brother!" She says gaining her voice.

"He really isn't." Aizawa says bored. "Zuku hasn't even woken up since we brought him here. He hasn't twitched, huffed or done anything for that matter. We had to get a doctor in to make sure he was, in fact, still breathing." He says gruffly. Then flicks his eyes to the girls arms.

"You we're missing blood you know. There were scars on your arms. We had to do a transfusion." Eri tilts her head. Clearly not understanding what the mans implying.

"They are not from my father."

She says. The man raises an eyebrow clearly not believing her. Eri frowns, "They are from my mother and the..." she trails off forgetting what father had told her. "They said..." she pauses.

"They didn't like me, so mother sold me away. Father tracked me down and fought for me and then I was happy with him and my brothers." She says nodding.

"Izuku is your brother?" Aizawa asks. Eri nods. "And tomura." She adds. "He looks after us really well, he protects us like father." She says.

The man falters. How many kidnapped children did this man have?! "Anyone else?" He asks. Eri shakes her head. No. "Good."

The man walks over again from his pacing. He take in a breath and puts on a small grin.

"I'm Aizawa shota, kid. I'm your new guardian. Do you know what that means?" He asks. The girl hesitated before shaking her head.

"Okay, well it means I look after you now. I protect you and provide for you, same for zuku. We are still planning what to do with tomura. But from now on, I'm looking after you." Eri pauses, doesn't that mean no father. "Why not father? Is he okay. Why isn't he here." She asks innocently.

Aizawa sighs. "He is a-" how should he phrase this? "Bad man. He hurt you and your family. He also hurt a lot of other people. After conducting tests by the doctors we found your memories had been messed with." Eri looks puzzled.

"It's hard to explain and even harder to take in but that man hurt you. He was the one who took your blood. He kidnapped you and your brothers. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Aizawa asks hopefully.

Eri shakes her head. "He wouldn't hurt me. Or my brothers. He loves us. And we love him. I want Izuku. Where is Izuku!" She says finding her voice again. He shuffles about trying to think of what to do next.

"I know it's hard to take in, but it's the truth kid." The man says sadly.

Eri shakes her head. "I want izu! Bring me my brother. I want Izuku!!" She shouts wriggling around in the taffled sheet. "I can't. He's asleep still." Aizawa says calmly. Trying to soothe the girl.

"Why?" The girl asks tears catching the dim lights as they spill over. "Because your father hurt him." He says again.

"But izu was his favourite. He was brother and uncle and treasure and doll and darling and creation and love and his and and- ." Eri says listing off what she's heard.

Aizawa cringes at the words. "That's not a good thing Eri. That's not good behaviour for your father." The man tries.

"But brother was always so sick! father looked after him so well. And the doctor helped too. They were helping him. Father said people wanted to take him away. And Izuku always talked about people in his sleep. I was scared. He looked dead sometimes. Father helped him. Please I want my brother!" Eri begged not bothered by her crying.

"He needs me to protect him. Father told me to protect him like he does for me. I need to go to him! Let me go to him please! Father! Where is my father. Please father help me!" Eri shouts desperately.

Aizawa frowns sadly. This child was so young. Izuku was so young. Even tomura wasn't that old. These poor children. He wished he could flick his wrist and make it better. But he knows the reality of this world. He was an underground hero after all.

He wished these children didn't have to understand. Didn't have to mature to understand. He wishes the world was kinder to them.

Or that the heroes hadn't failed that fateful day. If only he'd been quicker. If only endeavour hadn't been called if only- he could accept that he can't change the past.

He wasn't able to help 40 days ago but he can help now. And he sure as hell isn't going to give up on these kids.