Catch Me If I Fall [BakuDeku]

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The beautiful paradise of nothingness surrounded him. A silence so profound that even the faintest of sounds could be heard. He held his breath, afraid of disrupting such dubious calmness. White noise filled his ears, a static-like sound playing against his eardrums in an unpleasant manner. Hands pressed themselves against his ears, trying—but failing—to extinguish the sound.

Jade orbs glanced around the never-ending darkness, almost desperately. His heart thumped wildly against the barrier of its cage, anxiety crippling under every crevice of his skin. The white noise soon turned into a ringing, the screeching so loud it made him shut his eyes tightly.

A soft breeze kissed his pale skin, the ringing coming to an abrupt stop almost making his eardrums pop. A red hue slithered underneath his eyelids, causing him to open his eyes slowly, hesitating. The hands that covered his ears quickly placed themselves in front of his eyes, the sudden brightness deeming him blind for a short amount of time. The breeze swayed his unkempt curls, almost like fingers treading through the strands ever so lightly.

A shadow loomed over him, dimming down the overwhelming brightness. It allowed him to let his hands fall to his sides, eyesight clearing and taking in the person in front of him.

Her silky hair reached her waist, dancing with the light wind that embraced them. Jade orbs stared back at him, the most gentlest of smiles gracing her features. She stood a few inches shorter than the freckled boy, barefooted and in a lovely white dress. The same dress she wore at her funeral, the boy noted.

"Izuku," his mother said, reaching up to wipe a few rogue tears that had escaped his eyes unknowingly. He had forgotten how his mother's eyes looked like without the malicious red. How her gentle smile would ease his worries almost immediately. It was as if he were looking at an old picture of the woman—only that it wasn't a picture. A dream?

"Mom?" He whispered, forcing down the knot that had formed in his throat. Her touch was feather-like, the tip of her fingers gracing his skin like it was such a delicate thing. There were no signs of the woman that haunted his dreams. No sinister smile that taunted him. No static voice that sneered at him for every single mistake he has done.

No underlying hatred behind her eyes.

This was the version of his mother he most dearly missed. The version that had shifted into something malicious because of him. The words he had spoken, the secret he had spilled, like a rotten curse that flicked the switch in her. Horrendous memories flickering around the two like a broken rollfilm, showing bits and pieces of that one day.

But, even as the memories replayed in their peripheral view, her eyes held nothing but sadness and regret. It struck a chord deep within him. His heart squeezed with longing and sadness, feeling as more tears left his eyes.

Nothing else was said between them. His name had left her mouth like the flutter of a butterfly's wings—now dancing inside his chest with the weight of emotions. He was frozen on the spot, chest heaving and teeth gnawing at his bottom lip to hold back a sob. As much as he wanted to, he didn't reach out to her. Because he knew that the second his fingers made contact with her skin, she would vanish. This version of her would disperse with the wind and morph back into the person he created.

So, he stood there. Gazing intently with eyes full of sorrow and regret into the jade orbs that matched his. Hoping that, even in the afterlife, his mother would forgive him for his sins. If he could take back his wrongdoings, he would do so in a heartbeat. Anything to make his mother happy again.

But even as he kept to himself, she started fading away.

"No!" Izuku yelled, reaching out to her desperately. His fingers wrapped around one of her arms, eyes wide with fear. He couldn't lose her, not again!