16 ❋


"You want me to what? Babysit? When did you have a kid," I asked into my phone. "It's not my kid, do you remember that mission I went on recently?" Aizawa asked.


"How could I not, you were all frustrated and wouldn't stop drinking," I sighed, "Are you talking about the little girl you rescued?"


"Yes, Mirio isn't able to watch her today, and I can't take her with me to class so I need someone to take care of her, it's just for today," he replied.


I glanced at the time, "You said she was put through a lot of abuse, how does she deal with new people?"


"Right now she's scared of almost everyone, but if she's ever going to have a chance at a normal life, she needs to learn how to socialize," Aizawa sighed deeply.


"Alright, when are you dropping her off?" I waited and heard him talking to someone very faintly before responding, "Is now possible?"


"Now? Uh, I guess so," I replied hesitantly. I wasn't so sure about this. I love kids, but I've never babysat before.


Unless you count Keigo... then in that case I have plenty of experience.


"We're on our way, I'll see you soon," he hung up. Aizawa was never the type to make small talk or anything like that, but you could tell he really cared about this little girl.


He filled me in on the mission after he had gotten her out, apparently she went through a lot of abuse as well, to the point where she barely talked to anyone.


I know that pain and built up anger all too well to let a little girl go through that alone. For years I was antisocial and flinched at any sudden movement.


I can't imagine what she's been through.


I tried to shake my mind of the thought and started to bake some cupcakes to pass time. Aizawa had also mention she was isolated for a while so she probably hasn't had many sweets.


A few minutes passed and there was a knock on my door. "Come in," I shouted from the kitchen. Aizawa opened the door slowly and I saw a small figure clinging onto his left side.


I glanced at the little girl but my gaze snapped back to the hot cupcake tray in my hand. "Hey," I greeted softly as they walked towards me.


I bent down to her level to ease her visible anxiety. "You must be Eri, I'm Emiri Maki, but you can call me Em," I smiled softly.


(just to clear it up, Emiri is the main characters first name and Maki is her last. i've been putting all the other characters first names first and hers last. sorry!)


She slowly inched away from Aizawa and looked at me cautiously then glanced at my wings, fascination written all over her face.


God, I hate seeing kids suffer.


"You're only staying with her for about 4 hours, I'll come back and pick you up, okay?" Aizawa squatted down to her level as well.


The girl nodded slowly and stepped towards me. "E-Em- Emmy," she stuttered. I froze for a second, the only other person who's called me that is my mom and my ex.


Aizawa looked back and forth between us and gave me a concerned look. I blinked before giving a small smile, "That's me!"


With that, Aizawa stood up and walked towards the door, "I'll be back soon, call me if you need help and I'll be here."


I nodded and he closed the door, Eri glanced around my apartment. "Hey, have you ever had a cupcake?" I asked softly. She looked at me and shook her head, "Cupcake..?"


I walked over to the now cooled down cupcakes and began decorating it with frosting from a piping bag. She slowly walked towards me and peeked over the counter to see what I was doing.


"Here," I handed her a chocolate cupcake with white icing and star-shaped sprinkles on top, "Try it." She gave me a confused look before taking it and biting the cupcake wrapper.


I chuckled, "No silly, you're suppose to take the paper off first, like this," I demonstrated with a new cupcake.


She watched me and then did the same before biting into it and chewing. She chewed slowly before her eyes went wide.


She glanced at me excitedly and then quickly finished the cupcake that was almost bigger than both her hands. "Slow down or your stomach will hurt," I giggled.


Eri looked at me with puppy eyes, "C-Can I have a-another one, Emmy...?" she asked hesitantly. I beamed, "Of course! Just one more though, okay?"


She nodded happily as I handed her another identical cupcake, "Don't eat it too fast," I reminded her, then sat down on the couch together.


"Do you watch TV?" I asked, eating a cupcake myself. She shook her head, icing all over her mouth. I smiled and got up to get a napkin to wipe her face but not before turning a cartoon on for her.


Just then I heard her let out a high pitched whimper, "E-Emmy!" I turned around to see Keigo in the balcony doorway with his head tilted at the girl.


Eri ran over to me to cling onto my leg. I let out a small laugh, "It's okay Eri, this is Hawks. He's a hero like Aizawa and Deku." She seemed to be slightly relieved at the mention of the two people.


"You have a kid...?" Keigo asked slowly while furrowing his eyebrows. I gave him a confused look, "No, this is Eri, the little girl Aizawa saved on his last mission."


He let out a relieved sigh, "Oh, thank god," he mumbled, but I couldn't hear him. He stepped in and crouched down, "It's nice to meet you Eri! Don't worry I won't hurt you," he smiled.


Her eyes lit up at his smile.


I scoffed softly and crouched down to wipe her face. She gave me a very small soft grin as I wiped her cheeks, it was so small I almost missed it.


Poor girl.


I smiled back and threw away the napkin then took her to wash her hands, the whole time I felt Keigo staring at the little girl and I.


"Why are you here? I asked over my shoulder as I sat back down on the couch with Eri. "Oh, right. You weren't answering any of my texts or calls so I thought something happened."


꧁☘︎︎꧂


Hawks pov -


Seeing her with this kid, taking such good care of her, it made me melt. Of course she's also good with kids, she's good at almost everything.


I sighed and looked at the time. I would've been off in a few minutes anyways so I called in and told them I was leaving early.


I spent the rest of the day with them until Aizawa came to pick Eri up.


"Did you have any problems with her?" Aizawa asked Emiri. "Not at all, she hasn't eaten yet though. You can all stay for dinner if you want, I'm making some grilled chicken and-"


"What's chicken?" Eri asked. My eyes widened, "Wait, you've never had chicken? Never?"


She shook her head, slightly confused. "You have to stay for dinner now, there is no way I'm letting her walk out of here without trying chicken," I protested.


"It's late, and-" Aizawa started, but was cut off by Emiri. "Oh c'mon, you're staying and there's no getting out of it."


And with that, we all talked and ate dinner together. Aizawa and Eri had just left when Emiri got a call.


"Hello? Yeah this is her," she answered. I sat on the couch and turned the TV volume down so she could hear.


"What...?" I head her mumble and a small thud following, I turned to look at her over the couch.


My heart shattered.


She was on the floor, phone in hand but away from her ear, with tears streaming down her face and looking at the floor.


I jumped up and over the couch to her, "Hey, hey what's wrong?" I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders. She never even gave me a small glance, her eyes were glued to the floor.


I heard someone talking through the phone and took it out of her hand, "Hello? Who is this?"


"My name is Aimi, I work for ******* Hospital, I'm sorry to inform you that May Hajime has passed in an apartment fire. We tried everything, I'm so sorry."


May is... dead?


"Oh..." was all I could manage to get out. "It seems the fire originated in her apartment, and it was not an accident, so you'll have to follow up with the police."


It wasn't an accident...? But who would want to hurt May?


"Thank you..." I hung up the phone, my eyes never daring to break away from the sight of Emiri. "Angel..."


At this point she was visibly shaking, never looking anywhere but the floor. I didn't know what to do.


Something came over me, it was like I was willing to die protecting her. Granted I already was, the feeling was stronger. Way stronger.


All I could do now was hold her in my arms and be there for her.


So that's what I did.


I called Aizawa from her phone and explained everything to him. His voice was low and shaky when he responded.


Emiri had said Aizawa, May, and her were like family. May wasn't as close with Aizawa like Emiri was, but she was important to Emiri, which meant she was important to him.


He wanted to come and see her, but he was taking care of Eri. I heard him curse and mumble things like, 'I shouldn't have left' and 'She'll never recover'.


"Listen carefully, do not by any means leave her side. She can't be alone, especially not now. This happened with her mother's death and leaving her ex. She's hurting too much right now and she'll want to shut her emotions off. Do. Not. Let. Her. Make her feel something other than pain. I'll be over in the morning and I can take it from there. She just needs to know someone is still here for her. Right now she thinks everyone has left her. I am begging you Hawks, don't leave her."


Aizawa sounded like a completely different person. I don't know him very well and even I know he would never show vulnerability or even beg.


I stayed silent and glanced over at the shaking figure laying beside me, "Trust me, there is no way in hell I am ever leaving her."


꧁☘︎︎꧂


[ A/N: bruh i meant to post this last night but i fell asleep before i could press publish smh. hate me all you want, i'm sorry, i had to 😭 i loved May but i felt like i had to do this in order to lead up to the ending. don't worry, that isn't anytime soon, i'm too lazy anyways. also, we hit 800+ reads 🥺 i almost choked on my taco bell when i read 800 earlier. anywho, i'm sorry again if you liked May, she wasn't in it much but she was a major part of Emiri's life. i hope you have a nice day and remember, you are never alone. there is always someone willing to help you. as always, you are loved! have a nice day :) ]

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