Chapter Text
Terror clawed its way up my throat, but my screams were muffled by the hand of my attacker. They were behind me, so I couldn't see them. But they were pressed hard against me, their broad and sturdy body pinning me to the brick wall in front of me. My temple scraped against it painfully and I was sure it'd leave a mark.
"I said be quiet, bitch!" The man growled in my ear, his deep voice rumbling against my back. He pulled my head back and smacked it against the wall as some sort of violent punctuation. No, it was more than that. It was a warning.
I silently kicked myself for taking this shortcut home as tears streamed down my cheeks. Even though I'd done it a dozen times before without problem, I knew it wasn't exactly safe. This alley was dark and long enough that no one on either street would be able to see or hear me without effort. But I was just so tired and so ready to get back home where I could take a steaming shower and then sleep. Now I wished desperately that I'd taken the long way.
"Hurry and get her shit before someone notices." The same voice hissed to their partner.
"Yeah, yeah. Get your panties outta that knot they're in." The other man grumbled as he began patting me down. He started at my boot-clad feet and slowly made his way up. My heart hammer painfully in my chest and I desperately prayed that someone came down here. I didn't want this creep to touch me anymore. I just wanted to go home.
I should have fought back. I maybe even could have fought back if terror hadn't seized me and locked all of my limbs firmly in place. I couldn't even move my head or eyes. All I could do was stare down the dark alleyway- at the light at the end of the tunnel. It was dim and yellow-orange, but it was there... Just out of reach.
The man's hands reached my thighs and it was almost as if my soul left my body. It was like I was floating overhead, watching the assault happen from the sky. My brain was protecting itself from this experience, keeping me from feeling any of it firsthand. I thought that I might lose consciousness at this point, as everything around me began to blur and blend into the night sky. But a bright blue light knocked me right back into my body.
I blinked rapidly and squinted at the blinding light. It almost looked like a clear lake with the sun reflecting off of its rippling surface. My attackers both grunted and faced the light in confusion. The one patting me down shielded his eyes and the one pinning me to the wall released my hands to do the same. Something about the light woke me up and thawed my frozen limbs. This was my chance to get away and get help. I snapped my head back as quick and hard as I could. If I was right, I was just tall enough in these boots to reach his nose. I would have been right, if he'd been looking at me and not at the light that was now beginning to fade.
The back of my head smacked against his jaw hard enough to startle him more. He stumbled back a step and I pushed off the wall, throwing myself into him before he could realize what I was doing. I sent him stumbling successfully, but his hand was still able to snake out and grab my elbow. I tumbled painfully to the ground with him. I started to scream, but the sound had barely left my mouth before the man backhanded me roughly and cut it off completely.
I fell to the side, whimpering quietly as stars danced across my vision. This would be it. I wouldn't be able to get away now that his guard was up. It would take a literal miracle to save me from whatever he and his friend decided to do next. I wanted to try to scream again, but my throat was so dry and tight, I could barely suck in air.
A boot flew at me, connecting with my midsection and knocking whatever breath I had in me out. I gagged as it came again two more times. I tensed my body as much as I could, preparing for the fourth blow. But it never came. Instead I hear the sounds of someone else's choked grunts.
I lifted my head shakily, peering around in the dimly lit alley to find the source. I could see two people going at it, one's shadow was lean and quick while the other was lumbering and burly. Had my assailants turned on one another? Was this my chance to run?
I shifted my weight to get a knee under me, but the sharp pain in my side halted that effort. I hissed and dug my nails into my palm. A cracked rib, maybe more. I needed to fight through it and put as much distance between me and these men as possible. But how could I get away? Maybe if I could crawl to the dumpster a short ways down I could pull myself up and creep along the wall...My thoughts of escape were cut off by a sharp crack followed by a dull thud. There was now only one shadow standing in the alley- the lean man. He approached me, causing me to duck my head and cover it with my arms. I prayed that he would simply step over me and leave. Instead, he stopped right in front of me. I held myself and braced myself for more pain, hoping that maybe he'd have mercy and at least knock me out.
"Are you alright?" This voice was different from the two I'd previously heard. It was deep and rich and almost comforting. He sounded concerned and wary, as if he were talking to a wounded animal. I wondered where he came from, since I hadn't seen anyone else approach before..."I..." I peeked out from between my arms and found a shaggy haired, bleary eyed man crouched by me. His brow was furrowed deeply as he pushed a pair of golden glasses... No, not glasses. They looked more like a costume, like party shades set atop his head. "My side hurts, I think I may have a cracked rib." I reply, trying my best not to stare into his chocolate gaze. Instead, I focused on his strong, stubbled jaw.
"Hm." He frowned and glanced behind himself at the two lumpy shadows laying on the pavement, "What were their quirks? I want to make sure we give the police a proper report when they arrive. Can you stand?" He asked, turning back to me and holding out a hand to me.
"Uh... Quirks?" I asked, bewildered at the question. "They were just thugs. I think they just wanted money or my phone or something."
"So they're both quirkless then?" He asked, waving his hand at me impatiently.
"What do you mean quirkless?" I huffed, grabbing his hand and letting him help me to my feet. I winced at the pain and let out a slow breath. This guy just took out two guys that are twice his size and now he's asking about quirks... He's got to be mental.
"Someone without powers, abilities. Quirks, you know?" There was an annoyed edge to his voice. It was obvious that he was trying to maintain his calm voice, but my ignorance to whatever he was talking about seemed to irk him greatly.
"You're a lunatic." I laughed and shook my head, "I've been rescued by a loon." I mused aloud and smacked my forehead with my palm, "This alley must be bad luck."
"Me? A lunatic?" He scoffed and actually looked offended, "You're the one who doesn't know what a quirk is. How do you live in a world filled to the brim with heroes and villains and still don't understand what a fucking quirk is?" All kindness was gone from his voice now, he was all snark and ire.
"What do you mean heroes and villains? This is the real world, not a comic book!" I threw my arms in the air in exasperation and immediately dropped them back to my sides when pain shot through my shoulder. I was more beat up than I realized.
"I'm calling the authorities. You should leave unless you want to be taken away, too." I muttered, digging in the deep pockets of my coat for my cell.
"I'm a pro hero. I saved you. The only people being taken by the police are these guys." He nodded to the two incapacitated men behind him.
"You're insane and I'd like it very much if you left me alone. Thank you for saving me." I began dialing emergency services, but the guy snatched my phone from my hand. He held mine next to his, inspecting the screens intensely. With the glaring light of the phone illuminating his features I could see how red his eyes were. He was also covered in...Blood. And not just a little from the fight he was just in. No, he had blood across his forehead and down his white shirt. He was practically covered.
"Y-you..." I pressed a hand to my mouth in horror, "Blood. You're covered in blood." I raised a shaking hand to point at the blood soaked clothing as my blood ran cold with fear. I began backing away from the strange man. My eyes were trained on him and I was unaware of my dim surroundings. I backed right into some trashcans and nearly fell backwards over them. Before I could hit the ground something snaked out lightning fast and wrapped around my wrists. I gasped as I was wrenched forward, stumbling again. Except instead of landing on hard pavement, I collided with a sticky, solid chest. I yanked myself away from the man, gagging when I realized the blood from his shirt was now on me as well. The smell was putrid, copper and sickly sweet. I wondered who it belonged to and whether or not they were still alive. My chest rose and fell rapidly as panic set in. Was this man a murderer? Shit. He still had my phone, how would I call for help? Could I make it to the street before he catches up or-
"Hey, hey. Snap out of it." He was careful not to touch me, aside from his scarf still wrapped around my wrists, "I can explain, okay? Just look at our phones.
"He held them both out to me, the screens both showing the navigator. Mine showed our current location while his was offline but showed the same city. I frowned at the phones then at him, not understanding what it meant. He rolled his eyes and pulled his phone back and tapped the screen a few times before presenting it to me once more.
This time it showed the phone's general information. I didn't recognize the carrier or the make of the phone. It was strange that while they were built similarly, they were completely different. I grabbed his phone and scrolled through the apps, not recognizing any of them. I clicked on the calendar app and blanched at the screen. The year... Forty years in the future.
"How... What?" I looked between the man and the phone in complete and utter shock.
"I can explain, though we should probably discuss it in a private area. You should call the authorities about these two first." He said, nodding to the two unconscious men.
"Um. Right. Can you explain the blood, first though? I just.. I want to make sure you won't try to kill me while we wait for the police." I admit, my face warming with an embarrassed blush.
"It's a lot to explain and better explained elsewhere. Trust me. I'm no murderer and I can assure you that I would be the last person you should worry about trying to kill you." I stared at him, clutching his phone tightly in my hands. I searched his face for any signs of dishonestly. But he was completely earnest, his face open and kind. Part of me screamed to run, to not trust him or anyone covered in blood in general. But another part of me, even louder than the first, said that I could trust this many with tired brown eyes.
I nodded and took my phone from him, dialing the police. They were quick to arrive and question myself and the man whose name was apparently Aizawa Shouta. He recounted that he was cutting through this alleyway himself when he happened upon these two criminals assaulting me. He said that he intervened and was able to incapacitate them both. The police were shocked and didn't quite believe him, but our stories lined up so well that they couldn't say we were lying.
I was relieved when the police finished questioning us and took the criminals away. They were coming to as the police loaded them up. Aizawa gazed at me expectantly as I carefully shoved my phone back into my pocket and adjusted my bag. I warred internally with myself about whether or not I should bring him to my house to talk. After all he was a completely stranger, but there was something about him... An air of authority and kind, trusting eyes.
"Follow me." I muttered finally, stalking toward the end of the alley. He followed me silently, walking in stride with me through the city. His eyes scraped over every inch of the street, taking in all of the shops and streets like a tourist. We were both from here, but somehow it seemed like he had never seen this place before in his life. It made me that much more curious about what he had to tell me.
My apartment wasn't far from the alley. Altogether it took us minutes to reach it. I lived on the sixth floor and opted for the stairs, not trusting the elevator that only seemed to work half of the time. Aizawa did not complain about having to climb six flights. Instead, he cocked an eyebrow at me in surprise.
"I don't trust the elevator." I admitted as we climbed the last of the stairs to my floor.
Aizawa let out a chuckle and shook his head as we stepped into my modest apartment. I gazed around at the cluttered space sheepishly, shutting the door once Aizawa stepped inside. There were books covering most surfaces. There were a few dishes in the sink and some folded laundry on the couch. I silently cursed myself for not picking up last night before passing out on the couch.
"Excuse the mess. I've been, uh, a little busy." I frowned, moving quickly to move the laundry from the couch to the foot of my bed in the other room. When I came back into the living room Aizawa was standing over the coffee table with my copy of Lord of the Flies opened. He scans the pages, eyes grazing over the notes I made in the margins.
"You're a teacher?" He asked, eyes not leaving the book.
"Um, yeah. I teach literature." I reply.
"Hmm." He shut the book and set it down, "I'm sorry, but I never asked your name."
"Right, it's fine. I mean we got kind of caught up with..." I trailed off and awkwardly waved my hand, "It's Reina. Er, Ishida Reina."
"You're not from here, are you?" He asked, his lips quirking a little.
"N-no. But. Um. Can you just explain to me what's going on? Then, I'll answer your questions." I felt rude demanding an explanation without any small talk, but I couldn't wait any longer. My curiosity was eating away at the final shred of patience I had left in me.
“Right.” He sighed and looked around the room before plopping down onto the floor, careful not to let any of his dirty, blood stained clothing touch my furniture. I felt a little bad that I didn’t offer to let him clean up and change his clothing first, but he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed oddly comfortable on the floor. His posture was completely relaxed as he raised his knee and rested his arm on it.
“So I have a theory about how I ended up here in your time and city. But I’ll explain that in a minute. First things first, I’m from the year 2098. In my society people have superpowers that we call quirks. I’m a pro hero as well as a teacher at one of the hero schools. My class was attacked by villains today during a ceremony and one of the villains has a quirk that... Well, my theory is his quirk can send people to different dimensions. It makes sense, considering you’ve never heard of quirks or heroes or anything like that.” Aizawa sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “I will have to find a way back or a way to get in touch with the people from my time, but... I don’t know how I’d do that in the first place. My cell phone doesn’t work here and even if it did, the battery is low and I doubt you’d have the right charger for it.”
“So...” My brain worked tirelessly to wrap around the small information Aizawa just dumped into it, “You said you’re a hero. What’s your power- er, quirk?”“I can erase someone else’s quirk as long as I’m looking at them. Or well, I guess a better way to describe it would be that I deactivate it. So mine would be pretty useless here in a quirkless society.” He blinked at me and his eyes turned red and his hair stood up straight. When he blinked again his appearance returned to normal. I felt nothing through the entirety of it, though it was shocking to see the way his eyes and hair changed so rapidly, as if at the flip of a switch.
“Wow.” I deadpanned, unsure of what else to say. Needless to say, I believed him. I didn’t know why, maybe it was the way he tried to display his power, or maybe it was the fact that he was completely earnest. “Well, you can hold your own in a fight even without your quirk so... That’s a plus?”
“I guess so.” He huffed and glared up at the ceiling, “I need to get back...” he trailed off, sounding troubled now as reality seemed to set in. He was stranded here in an unfamiliar time and place with no way to get home or contact his friends or family.
“Well I can’t help with that, but um. I have some fresh clothes you could borrow for now. And you can shower, I’m sure that’ll make you feel better.” I said, doing my best to smile at him. I felt sorry for him and felt the need to help him, even if it was in just a small way.
Aizawa teeter-tottered his head, pondering my offer before finally nodding, "I'd like that."
"Great. The shower is through my room. I'll leave your clothes by the door. I can put your dirty ones in the wash tomorrow. Just, um, put the shirt soaking in the sink or something so it doesn't stain too bad." Aizawa bowed his head to me momentarily before disappearing into my bedroom. I waited to find clothes for him until I heard the bathroom door close. I dug through my closet and drawers, trying to find something that wasn't so... Bright for him to wear. Thankfully I had a few gray shirts and some baggy black sweats. Hopefully he wouldn't mind them. As I set the folded clothes outside the bathroom door, I wondered how long he was going to be here. He'd probably need clothes of his own at some point. And a job if his stay would be extended. My salary wasn't great, but I'd help him as much as possible. He saved my life earlier, the least I could do is help him while he was stuck here. And as long as he wanted my help.