Chapter Text
Breathe.
His breaths came in short, shallow gasps as pain flooded through his body, pulsing through the gaping hole in his abdomen. His eyes struggled to remain open, eyelids fluttering against the harsh light of the sun. His ears ring, the only sounds being his stumbling heartbeat, his short gasps, and the faint sound of a voice laughing maniacally.
He wonders if this is his end, after years and years of struggle, bloodshed and death. His end at the hands of an overpowered enemy, someone he came so close to defeating. So close till a hand touched his torso in a moment of distraction and a raspy voice had whispered, “What a slow, painful death you’ll have- not the fast ones your pitiful friends got.” What a fatal moment it was. His hand reached out to touch something, anything, but it failed in its attempt and falling still against the dust.
He thinks about his companions – a girl with pink dreadlocks, long dirtied by the trials of survival and a fierce smile, a boy with blonde hair, matted and with a vicious tongue, and another with purple hair, discoloured so much it turned brown and with a lazy smirk. He thinks about how they fought with him in the last hour, their meticulous planning for this moment failing the moment they approached their enemy. One by one, they were stuck down. Down went the boy who once walked the ground with pride, the boy who mellowed out with time, the boy who was true. Down went the girl who giggled with madness lacing her tone, the girl who built with fervour, the girl who protected. Down went the boy who held insecurities, the boy who stood up and fought, the boy who cared.
Down went he, the reject of society, he who stood up in the dark, he who f a i l e d.
Tears trickled from the corner of his eyes, the harsh light slowly being overcome by the darkening edges of his vision.
He remembered his father, his saviour, his supporter. He remembered his tired eyes, small smiles, and hidden affection and concern covered by gruff, harsh words. He remembered his father who gave him a name, a name that was his and one he treasured. He remembered his father who was the first to believe in him, his words holding no falsehoods but truths, belief and sincerity. He remembered his father, who had fallen dead to those monsters a month before, his eyes pleading for him to run before they turned blank and unseeing.
He remembered his uncle, his loud voice, his broad smile. He remembered his boisterous laughter, his energetic tales and his bright presence. He remembered his uncle, who shared quiet moments they cherished, gave random gifts and was a solid pillar of support. He remembered how that pillar fell and wrecked devastation on their family.
He remembered his brother, his snarky smile, his sarcastic voice. He remembered his brother, once harsh and violent, full of rage and desire for revenge. He remembered his brother who let him lie down near him on the days that were cold, who treated him like he was supposed to treat another. He remembered his brother and his burnt body, too far charred to recognise beyond his hair and the bracelet melted into his wrist.
He remembered his sister, her soft smile, her loving gaze. He remembered his sister, once hesitant to trust and hesitant to smile. He remembered his sister who sang to him when the days were tough and who provided enough kisses and hugs to keep them loved. He remembered his sister, whose body was snapped in half, no mercy shown to the young by the monsters that ran rampant on the desolate land.
His vision was failing him as he felt the warmth of his tears against the rapidly cooling of his body as more blood streamed from his decaying wound.
He wondered about change. What would have happened if they had made a different decision. What if they had waited till night? What if they had more items on hand? What if they had waited just a bit longer? What if. Too many what ifs entered his mind, thoroughly rendering his mind incapable to think anything else or even acknowledge the voice that was steadily growing clearer.
Breathe.
He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn’t tell what was happening anymore.
He was dying, d y i n g.
His family’s smiles flashed through his mind, running like an ancient movie reel. His sister’s smile - crazed as she assembled junk into a functional machine, gentle as she fussed about their health. His brother’s smile - fake when he showed arrogance, true when he showed he loved. His brother’s smile - defensive when he first met, soft as he grew closer. His father’s smile - sharp as he protected, small with hidden fondness as he watched upon his kin. His uncle’s smile - bright as he pranced about loudly, mellower in the private comforts of home. His brother’s smile - cruel when he was hurt, kind as he tucked his siblings in bed. His sister’s smile - strained when she didn’t know how, loving when she did. His lips trembled as tired and failed to remember his smile, failed as his conscious slowly slipped away.
Breathe.
Louder. In his head, it reverberated as his grasp on his consciousness was weakening.
H e c o u l d n ‘ t b r e a t h e .
Breathe, Izuku. One breath and let go.
He breathed. Once – short and shallow, but a breath nonetheless.
And,
he
let
go.
Come, Izuku. We have much to do.
The world went dark.
And then,
Wake up.

HoraceNeitly on Chapter 1 Thu 08 Apr 2021 03:06PM UTC
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avaloque on Chapter 1 Fri 09 Apr 2021 03:27AM UTC
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Heliosbloom on Chapter 1 Mon 12 Apr 2021 10:37AM UTC
Last Edited Mon 12 Apr 2021 10:39AM UTC
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Last Edited Mon 28 Jun 2021 05:32AM UTC
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