The world shook, the concrete beneath his feet trembled as his mother's wrath enveloped the place. As her powers burst into the open and rose past their limits. The sheer force overwhelming the building's structure. The building that was currently threatening to give out and collapse on itself.

Izuku couldn't say how he knew that this was the end. If you'd ask him, he'd say it was a primal instinct. A strong yet familiar dreadful feeling in his guts. Whose end was it, he didn't know. Yet, he felt that no matter what, one of them wasn't going to make it out of here alive.

It didn't make it any easier though. Seeing her like that, her corpse hanging by the metal spike embedded in her torso. The blood and gore oozing from her wounds, fast and spreading as it dripped onto the dusty floor beneath her.

It didn't hurt any less as he watched the light dim and fade from her eyes. Witnessing as she rasped out her final cold, shuddering breath.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her, even as static filled his mind and his heart rocketed against his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. His mind involuntarily taking in every last detail of the scene before him. However, in the midst of all this chaos, he could vaguely hear someone calling out for him...Aizawa...

His eyes snapped to meet dark onyx orbs. His guardian made sure all his focus was on him, even as the world dimmed around them and dark spots filled his vision entirely.

Yet, it was at that moment that he realized that he probably won't make it out of here alive.

_______________________________

His eyes were unresponsive as he fell in and out of consciousness. Barely processing what was happening around him. He felt as if his body was floating, although he reckons that he was being moved and carried by someone.

He heard shouts being called out, but his brain couldn't make out what was being said. The voices blurred together and turned into a constant maddening buzz in the back of his mind.

He felt as if every nerve in his body was being lit on fire. As if they were going to burst at any moment by the amount of pain he was feeling.

Everything stilled as a blinding pain wrapped and overtook his chest, effectively making it impossible for him to breathe.

A blinding light accosted his senses and the next thing he knew, he was in complete darkness.

Panic spiked in his mind, his heart rate skyrocketing, thinking he was back under compress's quirk.

Yet, this wasn't the suffocating darkness that surrounded him and engulfed him.

This wasn't the darkness that robbed him of his senses and replaced them with a striking, paralyzing fear.

This was different.

He just knew it. Felt it.

This darkness, surrounding him, didn't feel imprisoning. This was the darkness you'd see just before the sunrise, just before the red hues of light filled the sky at dawn.

This was the darkness you'd feel just before you fall asleep, just before you surrender your consciousness to the sweet pull of slumber. It was quiet, almost... serene.

Somehow, he felt calm. A strange, yet tranquil atmosphere surrounded him, making it easier to just breathe. in and out.

He looked around and found that the obscurity, was, in fact, some sort of a tunnel.

It was as if he was being given a choice. On one side, the tunnel was pitch black, a never-ending void. Yet, on the other side, he could just barely make out a light. It was so far, yet so bright. Almost inviting.

Warmth radiated from the distant opening as if calling out to him. Taking a hesitant step forward, he found himself being drawn to it. Each step he took, the calmness increased and for a moment, maybe for just a fraction of a second, he felt as if he had nothing to lose by entering it. The light was shining brighter, tendrils floated into the tunnel, encircling his wrist, binding him. Pulling him forward, lulling him into an easy sense of relief and pure bliss.

He didn't know what would be at the end of this tunnel. He didn't know- couldn't know, what was waiting for him on the other side of that light. However, what he knew without the shred of doubt was, that he would be safe. That the pain and suffering would stop. That he'd finally be free.

Everything inside of him told him- screamed at him to just walk into it. To just... let go.

He felt his body resume its action unconsciously. Felt his limbs move, his mind surrendering to the calmness, accepting it with open arms.

Yet, as he was taking his final step, as his arm was finally within grasping distance. As his fingers just barely grazed the rays, bathing in the light. He felt his body freeze.

A crushing sense of sadness encased his heart as he felt something calling out to him.

At first, the voice was muffled, barely audible. Static in what seemed to be an endless hole. Yet it pushed him back. Whatever it was, his heart was being tugged towards it.

It echoed through the tunnel. Soft and familiar. It's source seemingly coming from the other end of the tunnel.

"Izuku-          -need to-          -kid-" That voice... "         - hold on-      -me" He could recognize it anywhere... "         -keep fighting."

He's never heard his guardian sound so... broken before.

Suddenly, the weight of his actions came crashing down on him. What was he doing? Just, letting go. Just giving up, when he knew people were counting on him. When he knew his friends, his family were counting on him to fight. If not for himself than for them. Aizawa was counting on him to pull through. To fight. To survive.

Make it back alive problem child.

He let out a breath he didn't know he'd even been holding in.

The tunnel shifted around him and he found the light in front of him dimming.

The opening was closing in on itself, shutting down for good.

He didn't belong there. Not yet, at least.

Turning around he found the other side of the tunnel was no longer empty. Instead, in the midst of all the darkness. In the heart of all that void, was a small flickering ray of light.

It wasn't as calming as the previous one. Nor was it as inviting. Yet, he knew that he needed to follow it.

In his mind, in his very heart, he knew that by going in there, he'd be safe. His family, Aizawa would keep him safe.

And so, he walked, his slow steps quickly morphing into a jog. His movement rapidly turning into a full-on sprint as he finally reached his own little light.

His own spark of hope.

Hope that although life was hard. Although it was tough and tiring, there was still a better future ahead of him.

Maybe, just maybe, that tiny spark of hope would be enough. He would give life one more chance. One more try.

__________________________

Beep. Beep. Beep...

Came the rhythmic sound from the heart monitor. The sound was almost comforting, grounding.

A constant reminder that his kid was still there. That Izuku was alive.

That his heart was still beating.

It didn't hurt any less. Didn't make it more bearable for Aizawa, seeing him like that.

Lying there, so fragile in his hospital bed.

He looked so small. So young at that moment.

Aizawa's heart clenched as he took in the dark bruises that blossomed on his student's skin. A huge contrast to his too pale complexion.

His head was wrapped in gauze, along with his shoulder and multiple other body parts. Too many injuries, his mind supplied. Too much pain for one person to handle. Yet, Izuku did.

His all too white hair was a testament to the pain he had endured.

His kid had suffered and he wasn't there to stop it. His kid was hurt and he wasn't there to keep him safe.

_______________________________

It's been three days and Midoriya has yet to show any sign of waking up.

Class 1-A had taken it upon themselves to camp out the hospital waiting room. All of them. Including Shinsou and even Kota had come.

However, despite the huge number of people gathered in one room, it was eerily silent.

Everyone kept for themselves, trying, willing their nerves to settle.

All of them were on edge. Waiting impatiently for their friend to wake up.

For Izuku to just, be okay.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was on the fourth day of their newly acquired routine that it happened.

Aizawa was scrolling through his phone, looking for any new news on the league.

However, all the news was being flooded with All Might's fight. All for One had gone down, and All Might's hero days had gone with him. Yet, this battle, despite its revelations gave hope to the people.

Gave them a reason to keep their trust in heroes.

It was then that he heard it.

Rushing footsteps echoing through the halls. The sound getting louder and louder as whoever it was burst through the room.

A nurse, probably in her twenties rushed in, her eyes searching frantically for someone.

Finally, her gaze settled on the doctor. Doctor Collins, who was currently in the middle of a conversation with another nurse.

"Doctor Collins! He's awake! But he won't respond! He kept thrashing and fighting against anything and anyone that got close to him!" Her tone was rushed, urgent as she urged the doctor to follow her, Aizawa hot on their tail.

______________________________

Aizawa hears his heart pounding against his ears, feels the blood flowing through his veins as he rushes towards Izuku's hospital room.

He's awake. His kid was awake.

He doesn't know why, but as he rounds the corner that leads into Izuku's bedroom, his mind flashes back to the doctor's words, on the first night they came here.

The Izuku you found may not be the same kid you lost.

The hall seemed to go on forever before he finally reached the room.

The nurses are scattered by the door, hesitant on what actions they should take.

"Sir, you can't go in there" One of the nurses called out to him.

He ignored her, promptly pushing through the rest and making his way towards his ward.

Izuku was curled in on himself, rocketing back and forth in his hospital bed. His arms wrapped protectively around himself despite the bandages and the cast.

Aizawa grimaced at the sight. Izuku shouldn't be moving with those injuries.

The kid was mumbling, sobs breaking through his incoherent words.

This was bad. Izuku didn't even seem to be aware of his presence yet.

Taking slow, projected movements, as if he was approaching a small wounded animal, he made his way near his kid's bedside.

"Izuku" He spoke tentatively, making sure his voice was low but audible nonetheless.

The kid kept rocketing, however, his mumbles were getting louder, turning in shouts.

"Stop, please! No, no no" Another gut-wrenching sob escaped his student's lips as his thrashing became stronger. "Stop! Don't do this!"

"Izuku, it's me. Please, kid, listen to me" He crouched down, finally on the same level as the seated child. "Izuku, look at me."

"This- this isn't real! Stop doing this!" The kid wailed, his movements getting more and more erratic.

This was bad if this was going to last much longer, Izuku was going to hurt himself.

Taking a chance, he did the only thing he thought would calm the kid down.

He wrapped his arms around the boy, cradling his head to his chest, protecting him from the world.

The boy froze in his arms, Aizawa worried he'd stopped breathing.

"It's okay, you're safe." He whispered, "You're okay, your safe, I'm here." He didn't know if the words were meant to reassure the child or himself.

Either way, they seemed to have the desired impact. For, a moment later, the kid seemed to melt into the embrace. His arms tightening their hold around his shirt, hands clutching onto him as if his life depended on it.

He could feel dampness spread on his shirt, yet he couldn't get himself to care.

The only thing that mattered right now was Izuku's safety. His kid was right there. His kid was home.

They stayed like that, for what felt like an eternity, yet it wasn't enough.

They stayed like that until the child fell asleep, already exhausted and in too much pain to stay awake.

This was going to be a long and painful recovery. Yet, he'd do everything in his power to help his kid along the way.

"It's okay" He whispered, his voice echoing through the quiet room. His words going on deaf ears. "I'm going to keep you safe."

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