Chapter Text
Eri gasped as she woke up and clutched the large unicorn plush that the girls of class A had gotten her. The images of bird men surrounding her and Overhaul's voice chanting about how her quirk was a curse slowly faded from her mind, but the fear stayed. Tears pricked her eyes as she sniffled and tried to close them and go to sleep, but it was no use; fear crawled around her and forced her eyes open.
The young girl pulled herself out of bed and held the unicorn plush close. Eri took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and headed towards the door. If Izuku could fight Overhaul, then she could do what she needs to do as well.
Eri slipped out of her room and crept through the dark halls of the dorm building. Once Izuku's class had moved up to the second year, Eri insisted that she wanted to stay in the dorms so she could be close to Izuku and the others since Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire had graduated, and Eraser was still in physical therapy.
She was glad the hallways were dimly lit and not totally dark. As she moved down the stairs so she could leave the girl's side of the dorm, she lamented that Ochako wasn't in the dorms tonight since the dragon lady she was working with was doing something important.
"Eri?"
The small girl jumped and looked over where she spotted Izuku walking towards her with a glass of water. "What are you doing up?"
Izuku braced himself as the small girl practically threw herself at his legs and muttered quietly. "Nightmare."
Izuku patted her head as he smiled softly. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to stay with you?"
"Can I go to your room?" Eri asked as she looked up, and Izuku could just barely see her large watery eyes.
Izuku smiled as he crouched down and scooped her up in his arm. "Of course. Come on, let's go to bed."
Eri nodded and held on tight as Izuku adjusted his grip on her and started up the stairs. She felt so at ease just being near Izuku, and it was always fun to get picked up. Her nightmares seemed so distant as Izuku opened the door to his room and set her down on the bed. As he drank the water he had gotten, Eri scrambled under the covers and held the unicorn plushie tight as Izuku chuckled and slipped into the bed. "How are you feeling? Think you can go to sleep?"
Eri nodded happily and smiled. "Thank you, Izu."
Izuku leaned down and kissed Eri's forehead making the girl giggle and hug him tight as she started to drift asleep. For the rest of the night, Eri slept soundlessly and peacefully as Iuzku held her close.