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Izuku knew about darkness. It was the cold quiet that crept in each night, that hid under every stone and sometimes inside the hearts of seafolk and landfolk alike. It was what kept him cuddled tightly to his parents’ sides each night in their nest, afraid of what might be hiding beyond his sight. He knew about darkness, but there was so much that he did not know, and it frightened him very much.
It was a good thing that Kacchan didn’t know that Izuku was afraid of the dark. Kacchan already teased Izuku enough and called him a baby. Izuku was sure things would only get worse for him if Kacchan found out. His mother knew, of course, and his father. They told him that it was normal for young seafolk to be afraid of the dark, and that even Kacchan was probably afraid of the dark. But Izuku felt that at eight years old he was too big to still be afraid and kept it a secret.
It wasn’t a secret he felt he would be able to keep much longer as he floated on the edge of the abyss, trembling in the cold water. The abyss was a deep, jagged opening in the ocean floor like a gaping wound. Steep cliffs dropped down on either side and it stretched for several miles. The water in the abyss was pitch dark, sucking in all the light that filtered from the sun-soaked waters above. Crossing the abyss was dangerous and no one did it unless they had no other choice. Izuku had a choice. He didn’t have to do it- it was only a stupid dare. He shouldn’t do it. But if he didn’t, Kacchan would only tease him more and worst of all, he might find out that Izuku was afraid of the dark.
Izuku’s green tentacles curled and uncurled anxiously as he tried to work up his courage. All he had to do was swim across and bring back a rock or shell from the other side to prove that he’d done it- swim across and not look down.
It was an unspoken rule that you never looked into the abyss, though if that was just a superstition or if there were a deeper reason, Izuku didn’t know. He’d heard all kinds of terrible stories about what happened to sea-folk when they looked into the abyss and which of them were fantasies to teach children to avoid the black waters, and which were real life horrors, he had no idea.
No one knew how deep the black waters of the abyss were, or if they even had a floor, but it was generally said that something dwelt at the bottom of the abyss, something as old as the waters themselves. Some sea-folk said it was a god, an ancient god, others called it a monster. Some said that gazing upon the face of the creature drove the gazer to madness, others said one look would kill. All agreed that the abyss was to be avoided.
Izuku decided that he couldn’t wait any longer. He either had to swim across and prove he wasn’t a baby or turn back and face Kacchan’s ridicule. He wished more than anything that he could be back in his nest with his mother, curled up safe and warm in her arms and tentacles. The truth was that he wanted to be a baby a bit longer, growing up was as scary as the dark. But if he could just do this, maybe he wouldn’t be afraid anymore. Maybe he would suddenly be ready to grow up and stop being a baby.
He took a deep breath and edged closer to the abyss. His eyes automatically were drawn down and he jerked himself back, turning away. Not looking was harder than he thought. He would just have to swim fast and get it over with. Swim fast and don’t look down.
With an even deeper breath, Izuku started swimming. He instantly realized that the span across the abyss was much, much further than it looked. He pushed himself to get to the other side but it didn’t feel like it was getting any closer. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was moving and saw the spot he’d left a long, long way back. He swallowed down tears and turned back forward, pushing himself to get to the other side.
The water was freezing the further he got over the abyss, rising in cold updrafts from below. Izuku shuddered and not just from the cold. He felt like something was watching him. He told himself that those were just baby stories, and he wasn’t a baby. It was just anxiety, making up things that weren’t really there.
Inevitably, Izuku felt his eyes being drawn downwards. He jerked himself up over and over, but eventually he found himself halfway across the abyss gazing down into the endless black. It was swallowing him, the jaws of the ocean itself opening wider and wider and sucking him in. He felt suffocated, terrified. Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to be with his mother more than he ever had before. He choked on his breath and the tears that burned at his eyes.
Something brushed at Izuku’s mind, not quite a thought, not quite a voice, not quite a being. Whatever it was, it wasn’t Izuku.
"̢̐ͅC̵̶̲̩͉͖̫̞͇͚̼̻͙̗ͦ̃̂̓ͩ̅ͨ́̒͆̈͑̍̆́̍̓ͬ̀̚̕͘͞ͅo̵̴̢̞̬̩̬̮̠̩͇̥͖̗ͬͦ̉̂͋̚͝m̵̸̻̺̮̯̣̝̰̠̦̻̙̯̟̦̍̈́̏̔ͮ̿ͯͮͥ͑́̿ͤ̐̄ͧ̽̀̈̾̀ͥͭ̿̈́ͦ͊̂ͩ͝͡ĕ̢̤̹͍̪͋̒͘̕͡͡͡ c̶̛͈̱̤̫̣̱̰̲̲͚͑͊͌̓ͧ̉͗̏̅͒ͮ̒̑̔̅̿͑̓͆̕͢͝͠ͅļ͎͓̞̠̌͋̕͜ͅo̸̴̴̢̨̢̢̨̜̻̹̰̘͓̦̪̣̰͉ͯ͑̽ͤ̈́̓̏̉̍̈͂̃̓̿̓̈́ͦ̑̇̐ͪ̆ͮͥ̕̚͝ͅs̾e_̴͙ͧ̿͝ŗ̵̛̳̖̖̥͉̫ͨͮ͆͊ͧͩ̑͘͞͠,̷̶͎͓̱̏ͦ͒ l̶͈̻͖̹̟̣̲̪̱̻̳̳̣̃ͬ̽͗̀ͩ̈́̀ͧ͌̽ͯ̀ͤͦ̕̕ì̛͈͔̭͈̝̺͍̯̐ͤ͊ͮ̔ͬͮ̅͢͜ͅť̸̷̬͎͔̰̝̹̟͇͖̖̺̰̩͇̰̫̗̱̟̻͗̇ͨ̂́ͨͭ̆̎ͧ̓͋͋ͨ̇̔͆ͩ͜͢͞ţ̰̝̺͗͑ͪ̌_̎͋̒ͦ̽̓_̞̝̪̼̫͙̒̇̔̑ͯ̀͌̑͂͐͘ͅl̲̤̂ͤ_̸̷̗̻͖̥̤̤͇͓̗̰̬̅ͭ̒̇͑̔ͨ̎͗́͞͠ȩ̶͉̩̪̼̩̬͎̞͙͇̣̄̔ͦ̅͆̃͆̀̂̂ͤ̽͌͟ ơ̵̸̧̦̩̬̖͈̼̯̘͖͖͇̻ͭ͊͆̊ͬͩͧ̓͊ͣ̌ͫ̆͢͢͡n̸̡̯͙̺̺̥̮͓̈́̂ͯͣ͋͒̎ͭ̎̕ͅȩ̵̸̡͖̦͔̠̫̹̺̤̻̲͈̖̞̱͇͇͙̰͒͑̐̅͌̐ͫ͛͋͐ͫͨͨ̀͆̇̚.̸̛̟̱̘̦̳͇̟͈̭͓͓͉͔̳͊̒ͫ͑̌̎ͪ̂ͧ́̌ͦ̇̀͋̈́͂ͤ̚͘͜͡ͅ"̨̛̞̫͖̯̓͊́̋̿
Izuku screamed and jerked back, covering his ears, his breath suddenly back. He looked up, blinking rapidly, and saw that somehow he had gone down. Had he just drifted lower when he stopped swimming? Or had he started swimming into the abyss? Panicked, Izuku swam up, heading for the safety of the still distant shore on the other side. He wanted his mother, wanted his father.
Exhausted from his swim so far, Izuku found himself slowing quickly. He wanted to stop and rest but there was nowhere to stop. His only choice was to keep going and reach the other side. He just had to keep swimming and not look down. But once Izuku had looked down into the abyss once, it was almost impossible not to do it again.
The darkness started to swallow him again, and this time, the thing that touched his mind slipped in easier than before.
"͓̹͔̲͈̯̊̋ͨ͌̓̿͗̈̿́̽͌ͫ͂͘̕͞_̵̷̺͍ͦL̶̴̴̢̛̘̠̲͎̰̺͉͓̟̘̩̮̪͖̣̂͋͂̍̋̿̋̏ͬ͆̒ͪͨ͗̒͛̈́̃͛̕͘̕͜͢͢͜͝o̘̥͍̖̭͍̍ͪͯͅs̴̷̴̴̨̛̮̳̳͉͙̤̼̙̰̗̟̪͔̗̼ͤ͂͂͒ͮ͑͒ͯͣ̂ͧ̋̌ͥ̆̉̇̐̐̎͘͜͠t̰̦͎̅ͪ͟͟,̷̢̣͚ͦ̇ͪͫͭ̾ͭ͡͠ l̷̸̨̨̡̛̠͓͖̖̙̮̘̻̗ͭ̃̇ͫͪ̂̓͛̀͢͢͡i̡̨̨̺̩͕̦̻̗̮͇͓͙̭̗̞̦̤̥͊͒̇̍ͬ̀ͦ̒̌́̊ͧͮ̽̊̀̀̚̕̕͞͠͠͡t̴̶̻̼̙͎̘͔̭͇̱̜̦͎̖͉̩͍̲͍̤ͫ̽̇̌͒ͣ̒ͥͦ̃ͫ̈́̕͘͝͝_̷̂͑̏̌ţ͎le̛̝ͤͪ̚ b̨͔̩̺̯̹͚̠̱̤̻̖͓̺̬̻̥ͦ͛̆ͣ̿̃̉ͥͬ́̆̀̂̓ͮ͜͢͞͝͝ͅȁ̴͎̻̥̼͈̖̥͈̪̌̓͞b͖̭͗ẏ̛͖̤̞̅́͑́̃͘_̬͚_̸̵͖͉̰̓̓̇̔̅ͮͤ͑͑̀͛͢?̷̵̸̛̰͕̲͕̰̫͈̖̞̲̲̺̺͍̟̓̌ͣ̏͛ͫ̍́̾̇ͦ́̀͛̐̄̅͞"̸̵̢̻̙̦͇̯̔́ͭ̈́ͩ̽̆̎̚
“No!” Izuku twisted away, swimming back up. He looked at the shore, still so far away, and suddenly realized that he didn’t even know which direction he had come from, and which he was trying to get to. The abyss loomed close below him, trying to lure him down and swallow him again. Indecisively he spun back and forth, not sure which way to go, not sure which side was closer, until he was dizzy.
“J-Just go!” Izuku told himself outloud, but he didn’t move. “Go!” He repeated and jumped himself into action, heading towards the shore of the abyss.
His mind and body were tired, his emotions stressed to their breaking point. He sobbed to himself as he pushed his body harder and harder towards the ever distant shore. Was this what the land-folk felt like when they were drowning? So close to safety, but too far out of their element to reach it? He knew he shouldn’t call for help, but he didn’t care anymore.
“Mama!” Izuku called through his growing sobs. “Mama! Papa!” If Kacchan heard him he would make fun of him calling for them like a baby, but Kacchan wasn’t the one drowning over the abyss. “Mama! Papa!”
"̴̷͙͇̻̳̖̳̦̳̘̏ͪ̅͆̚̚͢͟P̵̵̨̧̢͉̝͖̗͚̼͈͕̠͔͓̟̍͐ͤ͊̏ͧ̓́̎̈́̾̈ͤͣ̚̚͘̕ͅ_͖͙̎̾ͪ̀͐̕ä̶̵̴̡̛̺̦̻̺̹̝͈͈̥͉̟̀̈̇̎̔̎̈́̃ͭͬ̄͌̋͜͞͡͡p̗̮̙̺͒̎ͥ̍ͪ́å̢̨̳̘͎̙̻̬̓͛̽͒ͮ͘͝͞͞ͅ i̗͒̿͝ṣ̟̮̭̪̳̩͚̱̤͔̙̖͚̳̹̯̝̮̓̈́ͨ͗̓ͥ̒̽̆̈ͤ̅̂̾̀ͯ͑ͦ͢͢͢͠ͅ d̀́̂ǫ̖͓̟̞̫͔̜̮̥̫͛͆ͤ̐̈̃ͫͬ̈́͛ͥͪ̀̍͑͊̕͘͟ͅ_͉̪͇͚̱̀͆̄̓̽̊̀͜w̵̝̹͙̹͈̭̺̄ͧͫ͐̔̏̐̈́̕̚͡ņ̛̬̲̦͓̲̮͍͉̤͉̓͆ͫ͗͞ h̸̡̡͓̪͔͖͈̤͔̲͇̝͙̪͎̤͎͍̟̼͌̑ͫ́̌̓̂ͨ̽̍͊̈͗ͣ̈́̏̽͘͟͢͠͡͞ȩ̶̷̴̴̶̛͎͓͈̻̬̬̘̳̹͍͈͉̻̮̱̺̔ͥ̍͑ͫ̂͂ͦ̋ͬ̓ͯͮ̆̕͜͡r̷̵̴̡̪̞̝̩͈̘̝̘̯̭̤̯̤̪̝̝̖̅̆̿̎ͭͥ͌̓ͮ̐ͯ̂̓͌͜ḙ̴̙̤̭͕ͮ͐̽̂̋͑ͯͩ̇ͤͨ̎̚͡ͅ,̞͎͖̩͓̫͕̦̠̗̭̗̼̮͂̉͐ͧ͋̃ͩͥ͒̉͜͟͠ l̶̛̳͓͈̤̥̝̘̣̯̹͙͇̙̦̭ͮ͋̄ͪͭͫ͊̃͛͒͑̑ͧ̌̀̋̏͘̚͜i̷̶̥̿̀͛̽͗̒̀ͥͫͩͫͬt̶̥̥̞̺̘̤̝͈̺̬͊ͦͭͮͣͤ̈̀́ͩͭ͠ͅẗ̠̜ļ̧̧̛̣̝͎͍͔͚̯̱̝́́͌̊̿̋̾̈́̑ͭ̽͂̎̿͘͢e̳̳͎͚̩͋̇̋̔ͦ̿̀̆ͪ͜͡ o̴͚͈̟̊ͨ͊̉ͥ̀͟_̀ň̵̶͓͈̘̪͇͓̘̲ͫͯͮ̐̀ͨ̿̋ͧ̎ͩ̈̃̚͘ė̴͍̟̱̗̥̦̖̼͚̗̖͖̦̽ͩ͌ͩͨͬ̽ͪͥ̿̉̓̓͊ͫ̾̚̚͘͢͝͠.̶̸̵̷̶̸̡͎̟̗̫̥̞̭͔͔͔̰̬̖͇͎̱̺͈̰̘̀̑̓̓̿ͯ͐͌ͫͨͣ̎͘͢"̷̧̛̣̘̜̬ͭͥͤ͌̏͌͂ͭͯ͊̉̈͒̈ͣͧͭͬ̈́͡
The thing brushed him again even when he wasn’t looking into the abyss. Izuku screamed for his mother and father louder. He didn’t want to grow up anymore- he wanted to stay a baby and be safe. “MAMA! P-PAPA!”
"̨̘̲̰̗̳̣̫̂͋̚Ç̬̠̼͚̣̪͈͌̀ͯ͛̀ͩ̀̃͑͂̎͑̀̄͜͟͝͝o̫̘̬̞̺̐̾ͣ̓̀͐͊͐̌͟͡m̹̹̥ͫ̍̓̿̏ͮ̇̚̚e̶̢̺̰̮͍͉̱̯͉ͬ̅̾̍ͫ̆̅̾̄̚ h͖͔̪͚̩͖̠͚̳̘́̿͛̍̂ͤ̉ͩ̐̏̑̇͑̆͐͟e̮_̷̸͕̎̆͞r̠͔͖͚̐̆ͭ̋̑̿̓ĕ̵̡̥͎̦͇͉̯͉̱̭̭̦̫͈̣ͮ́̂ͬ̉̈̈ͤ̐́ͯ͠͡͠.̵̳̼̩͍̮͕̗̪̘̙̊̐̀͋̀̎ͣ̌̓̋̋ͨ͗͊̚͘͜͝͞"̴̴̨_̷̡̦̦̱̓͌̔̂̓̇̓̕͠
“Leave me alone!” Izuku sobbed, covering his ears and closing his eyes. He swam as fast and hard as he could, convincing himself that when he opened his eyes, he would be safe on the other side. He swam blindly until he was sure he had gone far enough and peeked one eye open.
It was dark. Izuku opened both eyes and looked around. He was sure he had been going straight, but had he somehow accidentally gone down instead? Petrified, he turned slowly, looking for something to orient himself with.
"̢̼̜̙̭̜͔̃ͮ́ͮ̓̔͊ͪͩ͘̚͘͞ͅC̷̛̥̗̋̕l̶͔̘̩̣͇̱̇ͧͥ̑_̴̶̧̼̫̬̩̤͖͚̃͂̉̀̃͛̈́ͣ̃ͧ̌̄͂̈̍͘͘͘͟͝o̴̢̢̡̟̙͍̥̳̩͉̗͓ͨ́͑͊̽ͮ̽̽ͨ̄ͮ̋̂̒̕͢͡s̪͓̠͇̖̜̎̈́͆̍e̽́̒̒ͣ͜ȓ̸̴̨̡̬͓̘̯͚̦̹̻ͥ̊ͭ͋̂̌̇́͌̈̀ͣ̾̕͢, l̡̛̻̹̫ͦ̂ͣ͌̃̔́̚̚ͅͅĩ_̸̡̢̡̡̨̧͓̱̫͖̙̖͙̠͔̥͎̩̭̥̳̹̙͈̝ͮ̎̓͂͋̊̓ͩ͛̎̏̾ͭ͟͞͞ṭ̲̺̟͆̽̍̀̕͡t̵̖͗̎̃̊ͫl_͉̅͗e͚̗͎͛_̧͖̭̼̘̣̩̤̭̣̥̯̔̌ͬͣ̒ͥ̀̎ͯ͗̅̿͗́̊͒ͩ̈ͯ ơ̢̨̪͓̹͎͈ͬ̃̉̏̈́͘n̨̞̦̖̼͎̅͌͋̀̄̿́̂͂̀͋̓̏ͪ̋͌͝e̺̲̱͎͇̭̒ͪ͋̔͂ͯͯ̇ͨ͑̌ͬ̃ͪ̔͗̂ͮ͡.̢͍̰̙̝̭͇̎́̃̋̿͊̆̔̊͐̈́̅̅͜_̳̹̟̖̖̦̦̽͌̌̆͑̋ͪ̑̃̎͂ͣͤ͘͡͡_ Ć̶̴̸̴̭͍̭̠͕͉͕͎̘̦͈͎̹̦͎̣̯̯̯̋̇̆͌̓̓̿ͮ̿͠͝͞ǫ̭̜̟͖̱̙̦̼̲̮ͣ̇ͫ̐̀́́̕͠͝m̸͖̼͔̳̜̗̩͎̖͖̆͊̊͌́̐͢͢ę̸̢̡̩͇͕̹̞͙̜̑ͤͯ̿͆͛̀ͣ̓́ͬ̇͒̾̿̇̓̌̌ͥ͛ͤ̈̾̿͡͞ ţ̷̧͓ͧͩ̅̂̂͋̀̓́̄ͨ̅̔̚͝͠͝o̵̥̗ͧ̎́_̘̩̥̼̰̂̍ͬ͐ͧ͂ͣ̔ m̶͙͔̹̥̩̭̲̲͉̥̮̤̌̍͊̔ͬ͌ͫ͆̆ͯ̌̂͛̀͆ͯ̉̊ͦͤ̉͒ͦ͜͠͝ẻ̵̢̢͎̭̺͈̯͖̲̒ͨ̾ͧ͌̇͐͑̃̉ͧ͝͡.̶̢̻̲̜̘̞̔̾̈́͆ͩͭ̾"͖̞͖̠̎͌ͣ́̉ͣ̍͒̽̿͊̒͡͡
The thing touched his mind again and he felt something like an invisible thread tugging at him. It wanted him to go that way, so Izuku, fueled by a sudden shock of adrenalin, went the opposite way. Up. This had to be up. Sure enough, the darkness began to clear as Izuku came closer to the surface. He could see the shore- it was still far but he finally thought he could make it. He would be safe there. He would be safe-!
"̶̰̱̣͉̝͔̺͗́ͬ̄N̖̼͇̭̋͋͊̕͠_̸̧̨͖̫̤̬͔̙̪͔͙̎ͯ̿ͬ̉̒̓ͮ͋ͣ̑̅̔ͫ̑ͨ͑͘̚͘̕͞o̶̪̻̽̑̀͋_̷͍͉̠̳́ͨ̓͌͌̓_̶̶̡͖̱̱̮̝̫͍̠̖͕̬ͦ̔̑ͮͬ̌ͧ̈ͮ͛̈̽͞ ṃ̹͚̪͐̍ͨ̀͒̉̃͌̕̚͠a̱̠͌̆ͮ̈́͘͟t̡̢̛̳̗͚̙̱̳̞̲̱͓̗̟̰̱̬̦͙͓ͭ̑̀ͦ͂ͭ̂̌̈͋̈́ͥ͌ͭ̓̔ͯ̏ͪͦ͟͞͠ͅţ̴̷̸̷̙̥͙̺̥͔̳͖͖̥̩̭̬̳̖̹͚̱ͤ̓̓́͂̿͛̓̒͛̅̽ͩͬ́̉̃̋̚͞e̵̸̷̛̖͍͉͖̬͍̰̺̪̘̯̺̞̹̐͆͋̆̓ͣ͊ͫ͛ͬ͐ͫ̎͝͡͠͡͠ř̵̷̡͓̗̗̦̣̜̠̫̱̳͚ͣͤ̋́̎̔͋ͥ̄ͯ̀̓̄ͬ̏̂̄ͣͫ͘͢͠ͅ.̡̢̛̹̯͉̟͉̠͈̺ͬ̾̎́ͨ̐̾́̎ͣͧ̈́͑̆̑ͬ́̐ͨ̃ I̴̢̯̜͔̠͙͙̹̰͎̎͑̇͑͒ͤͬͫ̃͑ͥ̈́͑͝͠ w̶̩̯̟̻̼̹͒̅ͥ̏̔͊͛͌̋̕i̴̧̛͍̞͎̻̦̩̮̳̯̬̥̘̺̓̏̐ͤͫ̽́ͥ͛ͧͬͤ̉͐͒͑̍̎͐̕̕͜͟͟͝ļ̶̱̤̜͇̱̾̀͊̀̅ͪ̄_̩͗̒̋ͯ́̔̅l̸̸̢̡̛̰̟͎̠̜͓̙͍̘̭̭̟̥̄̽ͭͦ͐͗̈́̽ͨ̋͛̒̿ͪ͜͞ c̶̊ͫ͂̀͆̽͜͠ǫ̴̸͈̟̩͖͇̝͓̭̫͚̪͍ͤͦ̑ͭ̋̂̀̇͗̊̃ͤͮ̽̉ͮ͊͝͝m͓_̶̸̢̛̗͖̘̜̫̠̖̫̫͓̆ͫ̔̉ͤͫͥ̋ͮͧ͗̿̍̇ͫ͗ͣ͋̚͜͟e̡̖̦̫͙̔̐ͧ̃͌ͣ̒͑̕ â͕͈̟̺͙̬̮͇̖͔̖͍̩̇̈́̐̕ͅn̨̺̤͖͔̗͔̖̙̮̦̤̈́̉ͦ͑̌̒̅͂̄͒̋͘͟͢͝d̰͚̬͙̺ͭ̂̔͠ ǧ̴̸̻̩̘̼͗ͦ͂̿̐͘͡ę͍̝̙̗̼̭̝͈̲͎͓̖̳̺̹ͯͥ͐̍̾ͫͣ̈́ͩͪ͊̍̾̓̇̀̒̔ͭͅt̢̜̼̗͍̼̣̪̞̥ͤͪ̋ͮ͊̆̑͢͡_̛̟̝͎̲̞̠̳̱͉̠̲́͆́ͤͭ̔̃̊̈́̏ͨ͆͗͆ y͉͈̬͇̩͍͇̅̃ͫ͌̄ͫ͂̔͋̐̐̀́̄͝͡o̵͓̥͑̆_̵̴̴̩͖̗̳̣̖̪͎͎̥̺͎̰̣ͧ̒́̓͊̉͆̔ͪ͛̉ͮͨ͆ͦ̾͜͢͜͞͝͡ự̧̡̱͔͇̥ͦ̀ͬ̍̈̿͒ t̻̰̟̏ͦ̌h͆e͖̦͈̤ͥͣ̋͘_̸̩̥̲ͥͦ̈̀́ͬ̾̎͑̕̚͟͝ņ̟̺̟̳͕͕̖̹͈̼̰̹̠͇̥̥̝͍̱̹̜͇̔̽ͬͪ̊͊͋͒͐ͮͯ̎̊ͦ̒̐̚͘͝͝ͅ_̡͗.̷̬͇̪̬̃͌̅_̸̲̥̐̽ͤ̆͘͜"̧̼̗̼͍͚̜͗ͣ̐̅ͫ̈́̌̀̇̕͢͜͜͡͞ͅ_̶̸̨͚̻̹̙̙̠̉͆̍̏͊̉̔̈́ͯ̒̕͜͞͡
Izuku screamed and reeled back as something emerged from the darkness between himself and the shore. At first it looked like massive tentacles stretching out of the abyss, but as they emerged further, Izuku realized that they were fingers. It was a hand. A hand bigger than any whale Izuku had ever seen. A hand that was reaching for him.
Izuku spun around to swim back the other way- it was impossibly far to reach, but it was his only chance- only to see a second hand closing in behind him. Izuku screamed again, twisting back and forth to look for an escape route. The hands were closing in around him- if he could just slip between the fingers- if he could just get around them- above them- ahead of them- but the hands moved and blocked him, cupping around him before he could squeeze his way out.
"̸̯̜͖̠͈̜ͧ̓͋̊͒ͬG̸̨͓̞̻̰̱̲̉ͧͧ̂̕͢͠o̶̢͍͔͐ͩͮ̋͟_̸̸̴̡̨͚̗̼̭̹͈̱͎̦̓̄̊̀͂̍͋ͧͫͫ̌͋ͅt̷̴̶̵̨͕̘͙̻̲̱͚̱̘̳͌̆́̅̍̉͋̇̋̈̃ y̵̧̬̘̬̙̫͎͉̩̜̫̮̭̖͕͍͉̯͆͐͑͐̄ͮ͛̂̉̉́̎̕͟͢ơ̢̢̬̝̝͔̯̥͍̜̭̬͇̤̭̙͗̍̅ͥ͛̉ͣ̐̄̑͊ͭ̈́ͦ͋ͣ͛̉̆̋͊͊͛̚͟ͅȗ̸̴̘̆ͬ,̨̧̡̛̜̼͈̗̤͉̞̤̼̙̮͒ͯ͊̇͛̋̾̂ͩ̇̾́̋ͦ̚͞͠ b̸̢̢̻͎͚̦͖̞̯̥̹̤̙͓͓̝͉̣̩̥̥͗͗͊̎ͣ̒̈́ͪͭ͂̉̓ͮ͛̆ͪ͌̿͜͟͡ͅa̸̢̨̢̢̢̛̪̬͓̹̰̼̟͚̩̤͉̱̖̼ͬ̾̄̽ͪ̀ͯ͗ͣ̽ͤ̂͒̌̍͒́ͥ̍̉̓͢͠͞͠b̟̻͆̎͗̚y̶̡̘̼̼͉̼̜͑́ͩͧ͌̅͛̂̍ͧ͑͐̏̆͞͠͝.̷̸̨̡̛̻̼͉̲̠̘͖͙͙͕̽̑ͯͣ̈́̓̏̊̀ͭ̃̿ͯ̏ͥ̒́̊ͯͬͩ̊͜͠"͙͉
Izuku screamed as the light was cut off. The fingers squoze together, locking tight around him. Izuku hit into the hands- the flesh was cold and unyielding. He pressed against them with his own hands and tentacles, trying to find an opening to squeeze himself out of.
“No! No! Please!” Izuku sobbed, prying and ramming his shoulder, feeling with his tentacles for any weak point. He could feel himself being pulled down, down into the abyss. “Please! Mama! Papa! Help! Let me out! Please!”
"̶̢̨̎̏̀_̡͕̜̥ͮ̏̉͒_̬̲̥ͯ̃͒̒̋ͯ̏͟_̶̵̶̨̲̤̝̝̮̒̓̍̍͂̆͞Ÿ͔͈̏̽̋ö̷̵̸̖͔̫̜̲͖̣̦̯̱͎̼͖ͨ͒͗̀͐ͪ̿̐́͊ͥ̈̆ͦͯ̚͜͢ủ'̵̛͕͉͚͒̂͆ŗ̶̸̵̸̮̼̥̱͓͎̼̰̺̖̥̮͓ͮ͑̑͊͆́́̿ͨͥ̊ͨ̈́̍ͥ͘͞͡e̬͓̲̣̖̻̙͊ͯ̋_̩͕͎͖̺͒̾̄̀̌̅͋͛ͅ m̅_̴̨̛̘͇̭̺̭̪̬̭̝̦̜͖̲̩͎ͦ̏̈́̇͑͊ͥͬ̈̄̑͌ͧ́̅ͤ́ͤ͊ͥ̑͟͢͟͞i̙̦̞̗͊͗̑͑̅_̧̡͓̩͕̫̙̟̼͈̜̼̯̟͍̊ͫ͊́̅ͨ͑͑ͪ̂̐ͯ͂ͣ͊ͤ́̚͟͜͟n̸̷̛̠͈̥̹͉̩̽ͬ͐ͭ̃ͭͯͤ̀͛̐ͥ͊ͮe̵̶̞͙̥̰̰̺̣̘̺̜̤̞̬͍̎̈ͦͯ̎̈́̔͛̏̆͋͂ͥ́ͮ͘̚̕͠͞ ṋ̷̶̨̧̛̞̖͔͖̮̰̱̻̮͔͙̗̄͊̂̃̆ͬ̊ͭ̃̓ͤ͑̌ͩ̄͒͊ͭ͘͜͝o̴̷̧̨̪̩̣̰͓̪͔͚͈͎̭͓̮ͬ̈́ͥͫ̀͗͛́ͩͥ͂͠ͅẘ̵̴̨̨̪̲͉̗̘͎̙͖̱̹̞̼͈̰͊ͫͫ̍̓̓ͥ̐̂̈́̐ͩ̃̏̕͜͝ͅ.̷̶̣̼̮͉͍̝ͧ͒͐̓͂ͦ̈́̎ͭ͋͠ͅ Fŗ̧̡̨̨̥̭̹̱̝̜̼̱̩̭̳ͬ̌̋̌̀̉́͛ͥͨ̿̾ͨ̌̈́̍̉̚͠ō̴̼̮͈̜̳̟͓̻̘̹̩̥̹̭̝̬̠ͯ̓̑̔̊͐̎̏̑ͦͮͩͧ͂ͤ̚͢͟͝m̶̢̢̛̗̮̤͖̖̪̹̜̤̈̃̽̾̃̍ͨ̐ͣͯͪ͒ͥͦ̕ n̸̡̝̜͍͔ͨ̈́͑͊̂͌ͯͦ̈̌͑͠ǫ̸̧̢̛̛̳̦̦͕̣̮̲̳͍͔̦͔͓̠̫̐ͭ̽͐̔͐͑̾͌̈ͭ̚͜͢͜͜w͕͙̋̒̒͂̋̽ ǫ̘͖͇̼͓̆n̴̶̴̡̞̖̝̞͓̯͈̍ͪͨͭ͜͝,̸̶̢̖̹͇̪̲ͬ͒̆ͬ͒̓̀̍̏̓͘͢͜͠ͅ y̡̛̘̥̰̝̘̗̤̮̼̱̲̏̄̍̈̀̾ͪ̂͟͡ơ̷̸̷͓̰͙̫̬͕̻̹͕͉̬̗͎̪͂̍̾ͪ̐̊ͮ̽̄ͫͤͧ̓͗̽ͣ͂̔̾ͨ̚̕͢͟͢͡ů̮̰̬̄̒ͬͩ͛ͩ͡r̴̨͖͚͚̳̥̘̬̪͖̣̪͙̅ͨ̓́̃̌̄ͨ͘͟͟ P̸̮̦̲̐ͯ̚a̧͖̥͔̠̺̣̝̜͋̄̉̾͐͋̀ͫ̑͛̅ͥͯ̈́͋̉ͪ̕͜p̶͍͛̇̈ͭͯa̸̵̵̢͎̼̝̭̼̱͉̹͚̯͙̎̓̈́̊̆̎̚̕̚̚̕͢͢͜͡͠ i̴̶̡̛͓̯̺̳̩̘͕͙͑̂͊ͥ̿͒̆̀͊̑͒͛̄̈́ͯ̉̄̔̅͒́͘͟͟͡͝s͛ͧ̀̓ͤ̕͠ mę̷̴̣̫̭͖̠̱̭̮ͯ̿̊̉ͪ̏̿ͯͣͥ̓ͬ̓̾̄̓͐̚͟͝͡.̥̺̱"̵̴̢̢̡̛͖̥̩̟̟̳͍͈̤͕̤͕̗̿ͩ̃̄͒̆ͤͯ͂͋̓ͣ̏ͤ͒̇͋̏ͮ̌͑̃͘͢͞
All Izuku knew was darkness. He couldn’t remember what the light looked like. It pressed in around him, thick and heavy. It absorbed and deafened his sobs when he had the energy to make them. It wrapped tight around him, suffocating him. He didn’t know how long it had been like this. He didn’t know if he even knew what time was anymore. He didn’t know what he was anymore.
"̵̵̵̥̱̻͈̳̠̱̤͈͖͓̙̍ͫ́ͪ͐̒͋ͯ̾ͤͫͨ̐͒́̚͡Ļ̵͚̲̰̯̦̜̻͚̯̆ͩ́ͥ́ͩͬ͗ͦ̆̓͛̈́̒ͣ͌i̼͕̔̉ͥ̒͒ͩ͡_̧̦̗̳̫̰̳͋̃̿̿ͥ͟͟͢͝͞ͅt̝̣̰̫̂ͫ̐̉ẗ̨̺͕͇̩͌̌l̵̤͚͛ͤ́̕͞e̶̡̡̨̨̟̭͚͕̪̔ͥ͐̈̆̄͌̅̐͜ ơ̶̷̢̧̤͙͎͈͇͕̱̟̜͈̘͎͈͚̙̮̍͑ͨ̔̉̉͑͌͆̌͋̚͡n̷̢̘͕͎̮̙̮͍̙̘͋̀͂̏̈ͨ͂̀̉ͭ͜e̼̠̝̭̯̩͍ͨ̉̈́̎̿ͩ̉̑́̎̿ͬͥ͐́̉̆͝͠͡.̡̱͉͔̣̻̠́̈́̀̀̈ͣ͗͘͟͢͡͞"̴̨̺̦͍̆̀̐͘̕ͅ_̉
Izuku winced at the pressure on his mind. He whimpered and pressed his hands over his ears, curling in tight around himself. He didn’t like that feeling. It was like someone was screaming right in his ear, and at the same time whispering straight into his mind. The more it happened, the more it felt like a real voice, one he could almost understand. The more he understood, the more he felt… changed.
"̰͕̉̀ͮL̤̯̗͇̭̈̏̄̋̆̄ͤ̾̓̅̕ͅì̶̻̘͈͙ͫ̄͐̈t͈̳̰̮̣̬̻̬͈͔̒̈̄̓̈̏͜͞͠͡ţ̞̠̙̲͓͙͈̹̱͇̭̀̑̀̉ͨͥ͗́̿͝le͒̕ o̴̹̮̪̭͔̜̍̏͂ͮ̄̈́ͥ̕͠͡ͅn͍̗̂́e̫̭͚͍̤ͧ̐̔̾́͟.͚͇ͬ̈͛ͩͩ͐̊̊ͭ"̷̸̴̡̡̯̘͍͙̹̗̖͔̺̼̼̗͍̿̑̈́̇̿̓̀͗ͧ͘
Izuku whimpered again, choking on a sob. “S-Stop. Please.”
"͓̫͖͇͗͐ͥ̌̂ͤL̛̜̫i̝ͮ̋͑͟_̝͉̱̀̍ţ̸̱͇͉͍͈̯̝̱ͨ͗ͣ̋̀̃ͪ̆͡t̠̥̟͉̞̞͈ͭ̽̇͡le͖͌ ȏ͕͔̳͖̹̘̲͆̏͌̊͒̊ͮ̋̚ͅn̶̵̔̀̀̃ͦ͟͞͞e̡͖͚̮͍̣̲̫̭͕ͯ͛ͭ̿̃̀̊ͣ̚.̪̠̳̔͋͊̉͋ͧ̑́̈̅"̷͕̞̻ͭͥ̓̐̽̍͐͗
“Please!” Izuku begged. “P-Please! Hurts!”
It did hurt. Every time that voice spoke to him, it seared like a hot knife through his brain and heart. It used to make him scream and wail, but he was slowly growing numb to it.
"̵̛͖͓̩̭̜̣̏ͧ͌͐ͬ̿ͮͪ̐̉M͎̺̗̣̫̈́̄̀͒͟͡y l̺̺ị̹̍̾ͮ͠t̫̣̪̲͍̤̀̉ͯ̒͘t̷͇̭̻͚͍̤̖̓́̆l̴̢̮̙̤̔ͩ̊ͨ͘͢͟͟e̩̟͆̽ͯ͝ ǫ̦̝̔ͧn̴̢͎̜̞̯̯̫̗̪͉̫̬̱̂̑ͧ̋̒e̱.̫̭̈ͮ͑̒͜"̦
Izuku curled himself into a tighter ball, his tentacles curled into little knots. He sobbed softly until he stopped. He felt as cold and compressed as the water around him. He wanted to cry more, but he was too numb for that. The voice brushed over him again.
"͇̮̬̲͚̫̥̯̣̝͒̀͌ͬ͊͌D̸̶͙̞̖͙̙̟̄̅ͬͧͭ̉͆̒ą̄̂_̡̡̞͙̪́ͥr̢͔͙͚͕͛ͥ̃ͨ̀ͩ̆͘͜͟͡l̶̵̙͔̻̻̫̼̐̃̏̓̔́ͤ͝î̺̈́̍n̯̻̏g̢̟̠̹̙̮̾̅̓͑̍̊ l̶̮̱̰̰̦̞̳͓̈͊ͦͤ́̒͞î̡̨̤̮̫̱ͭͥͩ͛ͧ̒ͮ̚͜t̶͕̥̗̏̌͒̆̊͘͡t̷̵̖̮̪̼͖̪̮͎ͬͪ̉́̓̾̽̑͘l̢̧̩̯ͧͯ̀̄ͅe̲̩̫̻͒͆͊̀͊̈̀ͪ̚ ô̗̦̠͈͎̲̲̰̏̿̏̾͢ń̴͚́ͥ̽́̈́̚ȩ̬̻͇̟̄̓̾͆.͕̟"̷̩̟̣ͮ͗_̦_̵̟̝̈́͒͗̅ͭ͑̉
Izuku whimpered and lay still.
"̥̬̪̀̉ͫ̀́͘W̵̴̨̪̪̥̿͋h̵͔͗ͧ͗̀y͎ a̶̝̱̅́r̡ͫ̋ͬ͠e̢͖̘͆̂͂̍ ỷ̶̨̗͎̿̎͟͞_ơ̩͖̅ͮ͘̚ͅủ c̴̸͍͔ͬ̒r̤y͕̏ͥi̸̢̫͒ͦͩ̃͝n̸̸͚̗͍̓ͥͯ͟g̨̧̩̻̃̄ͤ͢?̵̰̱̼̓͜ͅ"̡̢̛͇͓͎̈́̇̕͢
It hurt to have the voice press over him. He turned away but it continued to echo in his mind until he thought he understood what it was asking.
“C-Cold.” Izuku said, voice catching a little. “Scarry. D-Dark. Hurts.”
"̠͙P͢oo͚͙͕ͯ̃̇͢rͅ l̢̬̖͖͞i͍ͫț͐̓̃ͩ̈́t͒l̶̻͚̲̀e̷̛̖ͬ̏ͯ ḇ́͐ͥ̌̕a͖̫b̗̬̉̏̅̊͞ỳ̵̊͌͘̕.͇̻͚̈͌͜" The voice cooed. "̭̰̱̽Ṕa̞̹̓̕p̴͓a̸̬͌ w̴̛ͭ̓͟i̗̚͢ͅl̗̗̆͛͋͝l͟ t̆͠_͕̋̏a̅͝k̴̖̐͒̑ẽ̸̺ t̤͉̭̱̳̽̒h̸̴̬̀́͢e͕̭͎̔̒̑ d̢̑͒a̾͋ͥͮ̈́͋r̪͍̻k̼͋ͧ̂͊͡͝ aw̛̼̗̩̏̀͠a̮̣̕ͅy͍ͣͩ̕."
Izuku didn’t understand what was happening at first. The darkness was changing. Very slowly it was changing color. Darkness had no color. All he knew was darkness, so what was this? It took him a long time before a forgotten work drifted into his muddled mind. Light. It was light. Red light.
The light spread slowly in strange directions. Up and around, not completely taking the darkness away but pushing it back away from Izuku. Izuku sat up slowly, blinking over and over as his eyes adjusted. Thankfully the light wasn’t very bright, otherwise he felt it might hurt his already aching head. He looked around, sniffing back tears.
The lights glowed softly, but he still made a slight wince. He frowned deeply, feeling something strange, something wrong that he wasn’t sure about yet. Something… frightening. Unnatural. If only he could think straight. It was something familiar too. Something… something…
"̞̺̈ͬ_̢͖̖Ī̶̄ͣ̒͊̋̚s̺̟͋͗̑̕͞͡ t͘h̦̃̿ͯa̵͔͓ͫt̯ͮ͆͗̒ͤ͒̿ͅ bͫ̀e̷̢ͣͩͬͧ͝t̫̫̃t͆͘e͔̯͗̎̓̐r͒͒̄̑,̛̠ͩ̒́͟ l̶̘̈́̌̾͘͜͞͠ittl̴̬͍͉̦ͤ̎̋̀̆e ő̱̣͗͆͘͟͝n̲͌̀̚͝ẽ̱͆?̟̲̝̰̾̽ͭ̕"͊̊
Izuku whimpered softly, wincing again at the feeling brushing against his mind. He wiggled away from it, rubbing his eyes and blinking more to try and clear his mind and vision. He stopped and looked at his hand. That was what was familiar. Hand. He had a hand. He was in a hand. Except… except this hand was big. Very big. Huge. He was almost a speck in its palm. That wasn’t… that wasn’t right.
Izuku looked around again, finding something else both familiar and frightening. Tentacles. Izuku had tentacles. Lots of sea folk had tentacles, so did lots of sea creatures. These tentacles were glowing- that was where the light was coming from. But once again, it was the size. Tentacles stretching up walls, across the ceiling, massive, too massive, colossal. They were the entire world. What kind of creature had tentacles this big?
"̸̢̛̫͇̣̥̃̃ͯͥ̚͟͠W̝͍͇̠͖̾̀̓͐̇̀ͦ̅̓̕͟͞e̢̧̠̘̖̣̰͔͍̬̗̬͌̀͑̄͊͊ͯ̈́ͬͯͮl̶̴̷̢̞̪̭̝̟͇̓͛͒͌ͦ̾̉ͮ̋͊̅̆ͩ̈́͝l̴̶̢̠̫̥͕̤̥̱̤̱̀ͨ̓͂̍́̊̋͠,̳_̸̴͔͍͇͕͚̈ͦ͐̎̚_͇̦̋͊ͨ̍͊͡ ḽ͕̦̺͔͇ͬ̓̑̉́͌͑̄͛̀̋ͫͫͧ̂̊̀̂̾͢͡i̛͙̗̳̍̌̂ͪ͠ţt̶̵̠̙͔͍̫̖ͨ̂̽̍ͣ͂ͣͤ̕͟͢͟͝lȩ̣̞̱͍̻ͭ̔ͫͦ̓͌̄͗ͧͦͅͅ ō͚̪̙̱̰ͨͣ̅̎̈̆̿ņ̸̵̛̛̛͍͚͎̟͎̣͖̍̃̒̐ͫ͑ͮ̀ͨ̐́̿ͩ͝ȩ̶͕͓͎̮̬̮̯̣̝̥̪̟̯̣̀̿ͪ̀ͮ̈́͢?̵̛̘̱̞͙̳͑̈̇̽ͣ͑̕ I̴̢̛̘͍̹͎͕ͣ͂͛ͯ̏ͮ̋ͧ̀ͧ́̀̈́̊̐͜s͕̯ͪ̽̐͟ ţ̧̮̲̙̦̪́̿ͦ̐ͬ̓͂͋͜͞_̱͉̤͎ͩ̏ͫ͘͝h͔̥̘̭͓̠͈͈͒̐̈́ͮͣ͆̿̈́ͦ̾̑̕͡a̶̶̬͙͋t b̷̶̷̧̜͙̗͖̟̠̈́̂ͪ̿̃̆̊̄̚ͅͅę͊ͨͧ̃͌̌͂̈́t̯̰̮̑ͯ̏͋́͘͜ţ̶̤̮̮ͭͤ͐͊ͦͫͮ̇ͧe̹̮͎͚̹͐r͈̩̩̠̤͈̠͇͂͋?̶̛̛͓̲̼͔͙̝̳̞̝̬͈͍͓̳ͧ͊̎̆̋̚͞"͓̜͚̲̠̟͖̤ͦ̈̄̽̆ͤ̑͢
Izuku’s head snapped up as he identified the source of the voice for the first time. Glowing red eyes looked down on him. There was a face there- No. No. Not a face. Almost a face? Something- something else. Something bad. Something that he didn’t want to see. He screamed, feeling sharp stabbings in his head, hot and melting. Izuku ducked his head, trying to cover both his eyes and ears at the same time. Through his screams, he heart- felt- the thing laughing. He couldn’t tell if it was an amused chuckle, or a delighted, vicious cackle.
"̴̸̢̜͓̩̤̫̣̬̭̓͊̒̽ͬ̿̐̒́͘͞P̵͓̯̮̲̺̞̃̎͗́̃ͭ͐ͭͫ̈́ͭ͜͢͡͡͠e̷̵̫̙̖̱ͩ̍͠ṛ̸̳̠̩̱̘̬̥̰̟̩̇͂͂̉̋̈̈̍͌̽͋̕͢͠_̡͍̟̪h̴̳̩̩̥̋͆ͯ̃̊̌̊̒͜͜͡͞a_̧͚̝̙̆ͬ̍̽̚p̋ͮs̡̻̯ͬ̐̆ ý̝̥ṑ͈ͨ́̌͘͞ͅű̵̥̥̍́̋̂̚ ẇ̨͔̹̐ͦ̓̆ͤe̸̸̷͔̝̗̻̻͈̺̮͇̳̩͓̲̠͓̭ͣ͌̌͑͗́̒ͦ͜͞͠ͅr̨̦̬̮ͬ́͒ͧ̐ͣ́͢e͕͘ n̦̯͙̥̣͉͆̏̅̽ͣ͌ő̵̧̫̭͖̳͈ͣͪͫͤͭ̿ͣ̈ͧ͟͞t̛̰̖̘̹̏̿̀͜͞͝͠_͓͕ͨ̑̊ͣ r̨̛̘̝͉̗̻̞͈̪̖͚̤̠ͮ̓̈́̒͊̀̄ͨ̄ͬ̏̑ͧ̊́̌͘͠͞ḛ̶̢ͩ̇͘ă̴̛̤̰̫͊̏ͦͥ͐̏̕d̼̰ͭͪ̑͘_̸̧̟̠̲̝̩̼̤̟͎̻̖ͭ̀ͯͯ̃͗ͨ͟͜y̛̳̜͈̦̎̐̉ͫ̈́ͮ͋̚͡͠ͅ f̨̧̣̩̗̥̯͍͓͇̟̱̗͕̳̙̎͂̀͋̽ͤ̐̂ͥͧ̀ͨͦ͊̕͘̚͜ͅơ̶̡̬͙̝̟̘̫̦̭̦̮͔̓̔ͬ̃̊̽ͧ̏̍̆͋͆̌ͧ̄ͫͪ̏͠r̴̵̶̘̪̩̦̪͙̬͕̤̥͓͈̞̙̆ͯ̿͌̍̓̓̾̑ͯ͟͡͝ ţ̵͇̘͕̫̳͍͇͎͔̟̀ͤ̈́͆ͪͤ͆̂̐͑͑̈̋̓̉͑̕ͅh̢̙͓̲̙̬͙̱͈̱̜̞͍̲̤͉ͧ͗̑̊̑ͥ̔́̉̃̏͒ͣ̕͡a̝̟̘͚̔̓̀̍͒̊͂̿̑̃̀ͫͥt̡̡͙͈̙̣̙̿͐́ͣͭ̀͢͢͡ y̷̙̥͛ͧe̸̢̛͕̝̖͎̟̲͖̲̿͊̿̆ͩ̄̒ͮ͐͂͋̕̕͝ͅt̶̴̡̧̹̮̥̦̫͖̟̳̣ͫ͌ͬ͐͐́̌̏͑̀̏̍̓̿̂ͦͤ̚͟͜͠.̶̨̛̗̟͔̳̣͎̭̥̳̤͍̘̲̯̿̊̀̾̆͘"ͥ_̶̵̧̛̥̩̥͔̻̫̦̬̋̈̃ͪ̆ͫͥ̐͜͡
Izuku screamed and writhed again from the pain that filled his mind when the voice spoke to him. He felt like his mind was about to split open. Deliriously, he realized that this had happened before. The unbearable pain, the splitting headaches, the unchecked terror- over and over this thing had pushed against his mind until he had nearly broken. He choked on sobs, unable to separate fear from pain from despair from- what even was Izuku? Izuku? Who was that? He wanted something. What did he want?
“M-Mamaaaa!” A voice left his own mouth. What was that sound he was making? What was a mama? “Papaaaa!”
"͖̃͗̕P̂̽ͨo̘͚̭o̺͉͚̩̗͑͆͋͢͡r̜͇͕ͭ̍͒̃͗͑̉_̢̛̩̬ͩ͢͞_̝̱ ḷ̤̰̩̞͖̲̤̈́͂͒̓̄͋̌͊̆ͮͭ͆̓͟͡͝i̵̢̨̝̹̝͙̦̰̣͚̱ͩ̋ͪ͐̄̀̐͐̽̄͐͆ͣͭͯ̕͢t̷̸̨̘̣͉͍͎͇̥̘̓͊̎͌̑̒̑̉̈́ͦ̾̐̈̓̉̓ͩ͘͝ţ̷̬̥̮̣̳̰̳̲̝̪͒̈́̎̌̋͑͊̒͐̉̋̎ͩ͘͜͝ͅl̢͇͇͉̗͕ͯ́ͭͭ̈ͥ̉̌ê̶͈ͭͯ b̸̨̦̥̀̀ȃ̩b̸̢̻̭̱̪̖͕ͫ͊̀͑̐͛̄ͯ̿̅ͨ̎͝y̶͔̬͎ͣ̊̒̏͆͜͟ a̴̱̺̪̎ͦ̈ͨ́̍͟ͅn̨̮̳͕̝̫͔̺͚̖ͨ͛̈́̿ͮͫ̽͐͌̍ͯ́̄͠͠͠͠͞ͅͅd̼̣͓̬̝͛͆̈́͗̀͋̊͆͂̒̈͂̄ͪ͢͢ h̻͚͚̟̜̗́̉̄̋ͩ̓́̓̃͗ͨ̓í̧̟͚͚̙͎̻̳̭̟́̈͂͋̐ͪͥ̑͢͢s̪̙̖̦͓͛̎͐̆ g͙ͅr̋o̷̢̪͖͊̓̿͗w̛͇̩̗ͭͮ͡i̶̧͓͖͙͓̼̮͕͇̗̗̥̐͊̽͗͗̒ͮ̓ͦ͐̊͆͘͟͝͝ͅn͉̗̦̯ͭ͡gͤ_̧̻̊ p̸̷̸͉̭̳̣̦̻͖̝̩̣̻͖͓̋͋ͨ̓͛̾̌̌̂̉ͅa̡̲̠̳̎͒̿̑̋͋ͯ̒̄͌̌̕͠͡i̬̗̱͋͆̅̀n̴̴̺̘̟̖̲̯̲̙̪̹̥ͩͮͫͦͤ̆̀̎͝s̶͇̹̫̼͈ͩ̔͗͆ͯͩ͊̕.̷͖̳̰̱͍̲̰͊̒ͪ̽̑͞"̶̛̠̫̳̀̎͑ͬ̋ͥͬ̆̀͐ͦͯ́͞͡͞ The thing that was with him cooed. "̥̜̀̏ͣ̑̈́P͓͉̣͗̊̄a̵͑p̥̣̥̝ͬ̍ą̷̢̧̺̺ͦ̔̔̓͢ i̴̢̖͈̩̎͊̍͢s̥͔͇̣̖̃ͧͤ̾̉͊̿̍̒̚̕͞͞ͅ h̷̠̤͎́ͪͯͣ͗̈́̊̏ͬͩ͝e͇̱̤̼̮̣̎̑ͫ̀̅̓r̮̟̬̭̐̾̍̑̈̏ę̒_̗.̸̣͍͒̓̽ͩ"̳̤̼͕͗̈̃ͮ
Izuku only knew darkness. At some point, he had stopped screaming. At some point, he had come back to himself. Maybe. It felt like he had gone away, left his own body. But was this even his body? His mind? Did Izuku really exist? What was he? Where was he? Something hurt and he flinched away from that part of his own mind.
"̤̺̯̈̇ͨ̔̀͘Y̢̤̼͖͕͓̅̈́̐͠o͔̲͓͂ư̵̯ͬ̾͋'̻̗̣ͭ̚r̪̙̺͊̄e̩͔̿̎́͜͝ d̷͕̪̯͒ͦ̈́̎oͩͯi̫͙̳̮̪n͕̞̊͋ͯ͢g̷̢̞̝̤̏̐̓̕ w̸̵̖̜͇̓͗̿͌̊̍̕eḷ̟̲̅͆͘l,_́́̃͝ l̛̍ͫ̿̿í̴̯̰̫̈́͐͗ͣ̍t̛͈͉͕̦̥̭̩͂͡t͉͍͓͑͆ͩͪ̌̉͑͘̚͟͞l̵̴̝͚̿̇̀̀̍͗ͦ̀ę̪͕̬̘̥̾̓͊ͯ͗͡ͅ o̊̆́͞n̴̯̰̿̐ͮͭ͝ͅe͝.̶̢̢͓̹̔̔͑ͨ̉̃"̶̗͙͓̮̲͐ͨ̄́̓͢
Izuku shuddered and sobbed softly. He felt something touch him, though if it was a physical touch or a mental touch, he couldn’t tell the difference. Was there even a difference? Was Izuku only thought? Or was Izuku something else? How would he know? What difference did it make? His head hurt and he cried a little harder.
The touch continued and it didn’t feel like a big touch. Confusing memories of things too big to exist and things that felt normal bashed against each other in Izuku’s mind, trying to all exist at the same time and place. The thing that had him was too big- except now it didn’t feel that way? Did Izuku grow bigger? Or did it get smaller? Or had Izuku always been bigger? Or had it really been smaller? What was the difference?
Suddenly bigger questions took over Izuku’s mind and he found himself wondering once again if Izuku existed at all. Did he? Or did he not? Was Izuku nothing? Or perhaps, was he everything? He could almost feel everything. Everything and nothing were the exact same. He was all of it and none of it and- and it hurt.
"̵͓̯̲̠̣͊ͨ̈́̃͗̒H̭͕͇̺ͦ͡u̥̳̅ͪͨ̐s̛̩͎̝̞̙͇̉̐ͧͪ̄ͣͤ̔h̸͙̭͇ͦ̀̽̌̓̈̄́ͅ,̰̮͙̭̩ͮ̈ͮ̓̿ͪ̌̓͘ ḣ̥͉͚̫̤͓̱̮͈͐͆̅̊̅ͫͫ̽͟͠u͉̬̩͖̿̇̒̆̂͘͘͝s̙͓̝̜̋ͧ͂͌̑h̴̵̶̢̨̤̘͍̣̼͖̤̜̬̹̎̑̾̒̏͂͠.̨̤̙͉̀͆ N̪͍̪̈́ͭͨ̆͘̕_̫̗̂̾̓̅̇͠o̸̗ͦ͋t͋ͦ s̲̃ͭͯ͘_o̢̳̟̪̳͛͆ͦͬ́̅̃͜͠ fͣͣ̚_̰͉̞͕̘̪̓̆ͪ͗ͨ̄͗ä̢̛̭͍̖́͗̓ͧ͒͂͋̓ͯ́ͣ͛ͦ̚s̡̋̕̚t͂͌͋ͮ_̷̡̭͍̥͙͕̖̱͉̖̫̅ͩ̃́̋͟,͍̥͓̣̜͋̃́͛̂̿̚ b̜̞̦̻̫̉̚͡ab̝̼̘̤̪͉̱̊̀͝y̪̩͛̿͂ͅ.̡͖̺̜̘͎̜ͩ̃̑͜͞"̴̧̛̤̥̰̻̗͋̌͆̿̒ͧͭ̀ͧͨ͛̌͞͝͞
Izuku cried and pressed his hands over his eyes, over his ears, over his heart. He wasn’t supposed to feel like this. He wasn’t ready to feel like this. He wanted it to stop. He felt something holding him, but what it was and what he was and what all of it meant, he didn’t know.
Clarity. Izuku was sure that was what he was feeling right now. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he knew who he was and what he was and where he was. Izuku. One of the sea folk. He had parents- Mama and Papa. He had been lost. He had been taken. He was in the pitch dark of the abyss.
"̥̭̿͌ͅĞ̷̺̺̜̻̪͍̐́͘ỏ̴̯̫̰̺́o̭ͨ̊ͯ͟d̞͍͝ m̫͉̀̒ǫ̶̷͇͇̜̦ͩͤ͘͜r͍͇̦̽n̸̺̯͛̌i̘͕͇̰͔̠͕ͮ̋̽͞n̼̠̒̆_̟͈͍gͯ͡_̝͕ͥ͌͊,̻̦̠̰ͤ̒̄̕ l̙͚̫͍͓ͯ̎̐ͩ͠i̷̶͈̟̰͛ͧ̿͝ṭ̡͌͆ṭ̞͎̓͒̈́͞l̎̃͠e̚ o̙͕͈͇̓̀̈́n̢̛͖͔̊͛̃͋ͨẽ̢̪͍ͭͤ͂̅.̛̖͞"̧̧̱ͤ̅
Izuku shuddered. He wasn’t alone here. Someone- something- that he couldn’t comprehend had taken him. It spoke to him sometimes, directly into his mind, although sometimes he could hear it as well. It had taken him here and it wouldn’t let him leave.
“P-Please.” Izuku kept his eyes closed, curled into a small ball, arms wrapped around himself. “P-Please let me go.”
There was a low chuckle that sent chills through Izuku’s bones and tentacles. He felt like his ears were about to start bleeding. He bit his lip to keep from screaming.
“Please.” He begged again, not sure if he was only making things worse for himself by trying to speak to it. “Please. I w-want to go home!”
It stayed silent this time. He could feel it watching him. After a long time, he felt it brush against his mind and jerked away from the feeling.
“Don’t!” He cried, covering his ears. “P-Please! It hu-hurts!”
There was a long pause, then the touch returned. It brushed over his mind as if combing a hand through his hair.
“No!” Izuku sobbed. “Please, please! Stop, stop, stop!”
Up until now, these touches had been brief. A quick poke or gentle prod, a brush here, a pat there. This time, it didn’t stop. The touch continued, crowding in on him like the darkness itself, pressing deeper into his mind.
“Stop!” Izuku choked on a startled gasp. “N-No! Please! Please? Please!”
"̛̜̣̭͇̰̊ͮͮY̵̪̌ͬo̥̭ͥͨ̈͘u̙͎ͨ͋̌̓ͅ ḁŗ̫̖̞͐͊̋ͩ͟e̼͋̏̚ s̋̿ŏ̡̨̗̜̫͋̀ͬ c̶̡̀͋̕l͇̖͔͌̈ͬ͗ͤͦoͮ̂se̺͋̂.̸̌̐̇͞"͙̠͍́̋̽̂͜
“No!” Izuku writhed away from the voice and the touch, barely able to tell the difference between them. His body was nearly seized with fear. He didn’t want to spiral into darkness as he had before. Unable to think properly, confused and lost between everywhere and nothing at the same time, constantly feeling like he was breaking and melting- he was too afraid to go through that again.
“Stop it!” Izuku screamed, pushing back against the touch. “G-Get away from me! Let me go!”
It didn’t stop. As before, Izuku only felt the invasive touch plunge deeper. He gasped and screamed. “Stop! STOP!”
"̜́͘N͑̌e̱̒a̍ͣͣr͚l̹̯̽́ͨyͪ t̘̗̑̀̆h̵͙ͥ͛͢ͅer̡͊ͪe̅͆ͭ͌ͅ,͚̮ͦͅ l̶̵͇ͩ͂͑̈́iẗ͇́ͩ͋̄t͍l̢̳̫̖͛e̯̙͡ on̬ḛ̵̡̀.̲́̕͡"̟̠̝̟ͦ̊ͦ
“No! Pl-Please! Whatever you’re doing to me, please stop!” Izuku sobbed. “Please! Please, I want to go home!”
Home. Mama. Papa. Izuku wanted to be there. Back in the light where he belonged, safe, happy. He reached for those memories and felt something else reaching with him. It would take them. It would hurt them. He couldn’t let it have them.
“STỌ̢̺̹͈͔̰͍̉ͩ̽͘P̨̲̮̪̻ͭ̐̅ͧ̐͑͢͠!̳̆͆̈́ͬ” Izuku screamed.
Suddenly the touch was gone. Izuku gasped and panted, still sobbing. The water was still and quiet. Dark. A darkness Izuku had come to know. A darkness he had come to be a part of. With trembling hands, Izuku slowly covered his mouth. What- What was that? Had he done that? How? He wanted to take it back.
A strange sound, something low, like a hum, something happy, something pleased, surrounded Izuku. He shuddered, pressing his hands over his mouth to keep from sobbing. His captor was close, he could feel it. It brushed his mind again and he heard it whisper to him once more. At its words, something inside Izuku’s mind finally snapped and all he knew was darkness.
"̝̮͇Yo͍̠͋u a͔͊ṙę̼ fin̸ͫal̗͆̐l͕͂ýͦ r̤e͌ady̻͗͊ to hͨͪͅaͧͤ́t̻̯͠ch̨.̗͈̺"̪
Darkness was all It knew. It was afraid of the dark. It was the darkness. The darkness was ev̧̡̡̗̖͍̪̀̎ͅe̵̷̟͉͈̗̲ͥ͋̓̇̉͜ͅr̦̘̘͊͆͆ͪ̄̔̐̌y̔t̢̢̛̟̱̭͔̣ͬͨ͂͂͟h̊in̸̤̗͍̆ͥͤ͛ͨͣ̐ͤ͞͡g̹ͭ͂̓. The darkness was nothing. It was both everything and nothing.
It wasn’t anywhere. It was eͩ̉͛̀͂͌v̴̟̫̞̺̇́ͭ̄_̶̵̸̸̲̱̒ͥ͗͑̽͞ę͕͉̯͔̗̼̲͆̀̃̽ͤͯ̕͟͢r̶̻̥̠̗̣̩̟ͦ̎ͦ͊̽́͆̃̏ͥ͝y̵̧͎̣͓̾̒͛̉̅͑͠w̸̼͚̯̦͋ͥ̌ͣ̎h̲̟̠̯̯̾e̶̟̞̺̰͚͓̙̣̰̯̰̭͚̥̖͐͋̆͗̇͐ͬ͊ͬ͘͢͝ŗ̷̶̶̮̗̻̓̓͂̎ȩ̢̨͈̳̺̖̜͚̱̭̊̕͢. It was both nowhere and everywhere.
It wasn’t sure how long It had been like this. It had a̛̛̤̺̦̪̦̦̰̤̩͙̲̐̒ͤ̇̒l̥͇̇̿͛͂͡_̴̨̮̳͇ͫ̒̋̎̓ẅ̢̱̻̔̈́ͦa̞̣͞y͍̓s̶̶̜͉̤̐ͤ́̿̀ͪ̓ͯͫ̽̂͟͞͝ been like this.
It was completely alone. It had n̴̳̥̺͙̳͚͓̠ͬͣͭͨ̂͘͡e̴̻͖̻ͮ͒ͨ͢v̡͈͙̊e̴̛̝̬̞͉̎̾̚r̷̞͉̝͔̒ͫͭ̇͘ been alone.
It was… It was f̩ͫ̇̎̾̀̾̔̒̚r͋ǐ͖͇̔͌̀g̙h͔͉͂ͦ͗͑͠t͎_̱̬̱͋ͧ́̕͝e̱̮͚̕n͉ē̵̫ͧͮ́̄d͇̦͕͎̬̈̐ by this.
“You’re not alone, little one. You don’t need to be afraid.”
It looked up. S̜͜o̥̣ͮ͑ͩ͛ͤme̱͐͑̂͒t̻̘͒̾̒h̵́̉ͣͅī̥͓͡n̳ͯ͐g̸̲̊- someone- was looking down at It. It could feel them. It could see them. It was them. They were not It. They were the e͈͖͙̞͛ͨ̔̿̀̋ͦxȃ͑̐̕ç̰̠ͧ̾ͨťͥͤ͟ s̨̨̜̬̼̠ͯ́͐a̱̒ͦ͠m̘̲̱̞̎͛̊̎ęͭ͗̅͞. They were not the same. But It knew them. They knew It.
“P-Pa̯̫̭͛̇ͬpͯ̽̓̔̈͞a?”
“Yes, that’s right. Finally got you out of your shell, little one.” Papa smiled.
Papa was holding It in his arms. Papa had always been here. Papa had ņ̸̜͔e̹v̪͜͞e͖̮ͨ͗͋r̫̻̩̱͑̿ e͕ͣͩ͌͢x̵i̹̞ͭ̔̾ͭ̌s̭̓te̫̲̬̞d̷̯̝͉. Papa was both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Papa ḽ̪̜̉ͦ͋̕ȏ̹ͩv̞̟̙͋͟è̮d̨̳̠̬ͮ̀͗͛́ It. It h̵̨̗ͭat̡͉̟͂͆͆ẻ̴̊dͦ Papa. Papa’s love was è̗̐ͦ̆̍̔͘͘͞v͘͟ę̧̡̢̠͕ͩ̿̎r̷̮ͨ͝͞y̛̋͆̓̓͊̈́̐t͗h̬̫͇̹͂̂̍̀i̪͈̯̿͂n̦̗̊ͬ̀̂g̨̢ͭ̽̏͋̒́̽ͫ. Papa was both everything and nothing at the same time. Papa’s love was everything all at once.
It was o̙ͯv̖̗̦̈͑͘͟͢e̡͇͒̍ͥͦr̢̛̹̭̙͓̝͖̙ͦ̑̈ͣ͗̀w̝ͮͥ͝͞ͅh̶͇̪͖̔ę͇̙͖̭̼͈̪ͥͧ́͘lm̧̩̻̰͚̑̈́́͋̍͌_̱ͭ̄ed̶͕͇̣͚̓͋ͩ̀͟.
Papa smiled wider, brushing a finger down Its cheek. “Hush, hush, baby. It’s all right.”
“Papa!” It cried, burning Its face in Papa’s chest. It h̷͉ͦ̌̽̉̍͜͡͞ų͉̲̝͆ͭ̉r̙̻̰̋ͅt͈̲̥ͨ̐ͤ̅̌̚͟͡. It couldn’t feel pain. It was everything and nothing and It was t̛̯̟͓̍̾͐̂͠o̝̱̼̻̿͂́ồ͎̩͎̲͉̮̏̔̆̽̇̆͡ m̴̲̬̦͉̦̞͕͋̌̾̿̍ͣ͠ͅu̶̻͍̩̦͑̉̊ͭ̋̔̓͠͠͠c̴̵̶̝͓͊ͫͧ̊h and It was not enough and It was-
“Relax, baby. It will be all right, it will only take a little time.”
But there was no time. Everything was time. It whimpered. It was c̷̱͎̘̫̰ͫͬ̊͂o͇̯͔͑̈́̔ͮ̋͗͡n̜̓̃fų̸̠̯̑̃̃ͧ̍͝͝s̸̡͔͎̪̼̅̌ͩ͒ͅẻ̶̡̞̩̺̲̃̋͢͢ḋ. It understood.
“You’re just a baby.” Papa said gently, rocking It in his arms. “My baby. You’re Papa’s baby.”
It nodded. It was just a b̟̝̾͒á̷̼̰́̓͗b̰͊yͫ͐. It was older than the waters themselves. It had always been Papa’s baby. It had been someone else’s baby before that. It had always been like this. It had been d͜ỉ̬͉fͤf͖̼̒̀͘ę̻́r̊e̅nt̟̂̀̀ than It was now. But It u̥͉͚͍ͫ̐n͚̼̲ͩͭ̋͢͞͞d̦̩͉͉͈̈́̐ͮͅē̇͌r̢̘͗s̶̵̅ͦͤ̎t͕oǫ͋ͤ̿ͅḍ̛̮͔̎̅ͦ͘. It was confused. It was confused and It understood.
“Better.” Papa praised, bending down to kiss Its forehead. “Papa was worried you wouldn’t hatch, but you’re here now.”
It felt better as It began to settle and understand. It had always been with Papa. It had always been Papa’s baby.
It had always been… It had always been Ï̵̵̧̧̢̻͎͍̝̹̠̮̝͂̑͋̊͋̇͂̿ͥ̔̂͒͟͜͡z̧̨̛̖̮̺͎͍͎͉͔̫̰͔͖̫̣ͣ̂̊ͪ̄̑ͮ̈̆ͥ͐ͫͮ́ͣ̈͐ͪ͝ͅu̶͇̩̝̗̮ͦ̍̎̅̀̑͘͟͜k̷̨̮̱̍͌͛̉͐ͩ͛͘u̷̵̶̢̢͉͎̠͙͎̦̩̳̒͌̏ͭ̌̏͑ͧ̅ͥ͆ͥͣ̑́͒͂̇ͧ̏͘͜͟. It was I̭̤̕z̶uk͊ͦͪȕ̡͓͇͋.
“Izuku?” Papa repeated, smiling. He gave Izuku a squeeze. “So that’s what you’re called.”
Iz̫ͧ̽u̿͗͘k̮̣u̗̎̀ nodded and closed his eyes, resting against Papa’s chest. He had always been Papa’s baby. Papa had h̴̩̽̎̚͢at̮͈͙̝̐̂͟c̥ͣ̀h̳ͭͯẹ̽̋̐̈̓d͈ him. He remembered that. He had always been Papa’s baby and he had always been M̸͔̬͎ͧ͗̽̄͞ȁ̵͕͎ͫ̈́̾̿̊ͥ͘m̷̛͎̺͇ͪͪͩ̋̀͒ā̗̣̂̎͌ͯ͠͠ and P̪̮̖͊ả̻̆ͮ̀p̶̧̩̜͍̱ͦͤ̿͞á̧̜̤̯̀̈́̅̊̏̒͌’s baby. He remembered that too, but that part felt strange now. C̝o̩̞̲̤͘͘̚n̟̹ͨ̑ͤ͘͞f̴͉̾ͪų͙s̘͡i̘̹̘ͨn͖͓̯͂ͩ̚͟g͊͠. He would worry about sorting that out later. Right now, he was in Papa’s arms and he and Papa were everywhere and nowhere and always and never and they were all the same as the darkness. It felt strange, but it all made sense. Papa loved him and Papa was everything and nothing together- Papa was the a͓̯by̫̬̼ͨͫs̠͔̩̰̞̎̐ͣ͘s̛͚̻̞̠̫̾̓̐ͅ and now Izuku was too.