Chapter Text
"Shopping, shopping, I love shopping!" The chimera sang as she walked down the street, a hop in her step. Teto loved shopping. It was always a relaxing experience and if she got lucky, she could see a hero fighting a villain! The chance was always worth it.
As the twin-drilled girl sang to herself, she entered a nearby corner shop. As the cold hair hit her face, she grabbed a shopping basket and made her way around the shop. She had started working half time at a fast food delivery place but the pay wasn't the best. It was enough for them to eat but they all had to pitch in to pay rent. Maybe with Dabi living with them, paying for that stuff wouldn't be so difficult anymore. It filled the girl with hope that she hadn't felt in a long while.
Teto left the shop with a carton of eggs, a carton of milk, a packet of cheese, a couple of apples, some chocolate, baguettes, butter and ham. Smiling proudly to herself she walked at a leisurely pace.
As she walked down the street, her eyes caught something. Long flowing blue hair. It wasn't as vibrant as Miku's but it's definitely noticeable. Stopping, she slowly walked into the alley. "Hey! Are you okay?" She called out in a gentle voice. The owner of the blue hair stiffened and pressed into the wall, as if trying to dissappear into it.
Grimacing, Teto stilled for a minute. Slowly, as if trying to approach a stray cat, she chimera shuffled into the alley. Having a better look at the girl, Teto's stomach dropped. She looked a lot like Miku's friend. Red eyes, pale blue hair. It wasn't uncommon to meet people who had similarities, but it was definitely mentally noted. The girl had a small horn and was wearing dirty clothes and had bandages on her arms and legs. Not to mention the look in her eyes.
The look in her eyes was harrowing. She looked as if she had seen things that no child should.
Teto pressed her wings closer to her body. She didn't want to frighten the girl any more then what she had already.
"Hey... are... are you okay?" The girl whispered out.
The even younger girl stayed quiet before finally replying. "Are you going to being me back..?"
That made Teto's heart sink. She was so, so tiny. Teto just wanted to make sure nothing bad ever happened to her again. The twin-drill shook her head. "No, if course not," she said quickly. Teto's eyes darted around before she rummaged around the shopping bag. She took out a bar of chocolate and handed it to the blue-haired girl. "Here. It's chocolate. D-do you want some?"
The girl stuttered slightly, trying to find her words. The younger girl's eyes widened slightly before delicately taking the bar of chocolate. As she bit into the bar, her eyes widened again. Teto could tell that she at least liked the treat.
As a silence slowly settled in, Teto shuffled to sit beside the smaller girl. As the silence lingered, Teto finally asked the smaller girl her name. "What's your name kid?" She questioned, her voice measured.
"Eri," the tiny girl introduced herself.
Teto smiled. "My name is Kasane Teto," her voice lowered slightly. "You want to know something cool?"
Eri blinked twice before nodding. "I'm actually a dragon!" The teen spread her wings out slightly. "See? Isn't that cool?"
The smaller girl's eyes widened as she nodded, awe in her eyes. "So cool..." Eri whispered out.
"What's your quirk?" Teto questioned, her eyes lingering on her horn slightly. Eri stiffened at this, fidgeting slightly. "I... I'm able to rewind stuff. L-like if you're injured. I can heal it," the smaller girl explained timidly.
Teto's eyes sparkled. "Woah! Really? That's super duper cool!"
Eri smiled softly at this. "Thank you... but..." the girl trailed off, fear tightening her chest. "There's a mean man who keeps on hurting me because of it..." tears welled up in her eyes.
Before the girl could speak again, a hand was placed on her shoulder. "You don't need to say anything else," there was pure compassion in the chimera's eyes. Giving the girl a shit-eating grin, she clenched her first slightly. "If I see this guy I'll give him a one two!" She punched her firsts in the air. "I'll make sure you don't have to go back, okay?"
Eri felt hope for the first time in a long time. Teto stood up and outstretched her hand. "Come on, let's go home, okay?" Eri nodded and slowly outstretched her own hand.
As the two exited the alleyway, Teto couldn't help but feel a small bit anxious. Dabi was going to kill her for basically adopting a random kid.
Teto paused for a moment, looking at Eri. It would be odd if a teen was just carrying around a child wearing nothing but rags. It would be the right move to get the hero's involved but frankly, the scary man could be a hero! Teto thought back to watching those conferences that Endeavour did, him gloating about his own child.
Frankly, Teto didn't want to deal with that.
"Maybe we should get you some clothes before we do anything else." Eri's eyes widened with excitement as she nodded her head. She had never been clothes shopping before!
Teto looked at her now depleted wallet. The girl felt as if she could cry. She wanted to cry. Why was everything so expensive?! Letting out a small sigh, she looked Eri who was happily skipping in her new dress. It was a frilly, pink dress with white accents and it went down just past her knees. It made her look like a princess! All she needed was a crown and she would look like she belonged in a movie.
Teto couldn't help but have a small smile on her face. She had no idea what hardships the young girl had to deal with but the older one was happy that she looked much happier. "You ever had a McDonald's? I'm pretty sure there's one near," Teto offered.
The younger girl looked up at the older one in confusion. "I've never had a McDonald's!"
Teto grinned. "Well, guess who's getting one!" The chimera lifted the small girl into her arms. Eri threw up her arms in excitement.
"Yippee!"
Teto couldn't help but laugh. She was going to be a better role model then what monster who had been looking after her before.
Was it kidnapping if you were bringing the child out of an abusive home? Questions for later.
As the two girls walked down the sidewalk, a loud crash could be heard. Instinctively, Teto clutched Eri closer to her chest. It didn't need a genius to guess what was happening.
It was a villain attack.
Turning around, the two saw a man with a sand quirk charging at them. Eri realised who it was immediately.
"He's... he's after me..." she let out a whimper.
Teto spread out her wings and flew up to dodge the man with the sand quirk. There was a resolute look on her face. "Not on my watch!" Breathing in, Teto let out a plume of fire from her mouth.
The man with the sand quirk yelled out in pain as the fire kept on coming. When Teto ran out of breath a sharp spike protruded from the smoke. Teto twisted her body in mid-air to protect Eri from the sharp object.
Teto let out a strangled yell as pain flooded her senses. The spike had gone right through her manubrium. Her eyes were wide as she saw the blood drip onto Eri. "Oh... shit," she cursed, the reality of the situation finally setting in.
She couldn't exactly focus on that as there was currently a madman attacking them. As more spikes shot at the pair. Ignoring the pain in her chest, the chimera did her best to duck and weave between the spikes made out of sand. "Close your eyes, okay Eri?"
Eri did what she was told and closed her eyes. Feeling the air rush all around her as Teto flew. She was putting another life in danger. Eri was going to be the reason she dies, like so many before her. Overhaul sent one of his men to capture her again and Teto was paying the price. Eri could feel the tears well up again. She didn't want another person to die.
With newfound determination, Eri pressed her hands against the red headed girl's chest. With a brilliant glow, Eri's quirk activated.
Teto's eyes widened as she could feel her cells restoring themselves. Letting out a cough, Teto looked at her now healed injury. A wide smile spread across her face. "Eri did... did you do that?"
The small girl nodded, "I... I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."
Empathy crossed the older girl's face. "And no one will, okay. Didn't I say I was gonna beat up the big meanie?" Teto darted through the air as she spoke.
Eri nodded. "Yeah...?"
"Well. The best way to beat up someone is to think of a plan. So that's what we got to do. Yeah?"
Eri nodded, understanding the logic.
As the chimera flew through the air, she was too slow at dodging another spike.
She could feel the sand tearing the flesh of her left arm and worst of all, it ruined her favourite jumper! Crashing into the ground she used the momentum to roll. When her back slammed into a wall with a thud she made sure to get up quickly.
"You okay?" She quickly asked Eri, the smaller girl's health a priority in the situation.
The smaller girl looked at the bigger one in worry. "Miss Teto please..." she grabbed onto her jumper.
Teto let out a long exhale through nose before standing up. "I'm fine. Trust." She clutched onto the nasty gash.
"But... but you're hurt!" Eri cried out as Teto extended her wings, intending to protect the smaller girl.
"Tis but a scratch." She chuckled. It hurt to chuckle. It hurt to move entirely but Teto didn't care. She promised to protect this little girl and she would be damned if she didn't!
The man with the sand quirk strolled up to the dragonic girl. "I believe you have something that belongs to my boss," the man's eyes narrowed as he sent a hateful glare towards the teen.
Teto couldn't help but chuckle, trying to summon her inner Neru. Neru always had more bravado then her.
"Nah. I don't think so. I'll be damned if she went off with a creep like you."
The man with the sand quirk let out a sigh. "Fine. It makes no difference to me whether you live or die." Turning his arm into a spike, Teto braced for another attack.
She wished she could use her fire breathing on this bastard but it physically hurt to do so. With her muscles tensing, she readied herself.
But that's when a flaming fist struck the villain.
The two girls looked at the hero who had just saved them.
It was Endeavour.
Teto couldn't help but inwardly grimace.
She hated Endeavour.