This is my first ever fanfic (and probably my last). I am not a writer. I read many fanfics and wanted to write one myself for fun. Please don't kill me for my mistake.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, just borrowed them for fun. (I have read this thing in many fics. Don't know if this is necessary or optional)

Usually I am not afraid of anything. And the things that do scare me, I just blast them off into bits. But I never thought I will be this scared in my life. Scared is an understatement. Terrified, frightened and horrified are more like it. And all of this is not because of the fact that I am in the middle of a dense forest, or the fact that it is pitch black and I can't see anything in 1 meter of my periphery, or because of the constant hooting of owls, or because of the rustling of leaves ahead of me. Because I can easily blasted them off.I can always blast off some bushes and scare the animal who is lurking in the bushes. Things that I can control never scares me.

But the only creature who spooked me is Deku. I can't control the way he is breathing. I can't control his temperature. I can't control the things running in his mind, can't stop them, can't alter them. And he is delirious enough that he can't comprehend anything I am saying. So much for a smart ass. NERD. I know, now is not the time to think that this all could have been prevented if I just abandoned my pride and listened to what Deku was saying. Helped him even when he said he didn't need it. Made this decision earlier even when he insisted he is fine. Because that's what heroes do. Isn't it? They observe their surroundings, read between the lines and make correct decisions. But I have only made wrong decisions so far.

Now we are here with Deku completely limp, breathing heavily, eyes glazed with fever, blabbering nonsense about random things, clutching his right side weakly to keep the pain at bay. I am aware that his right side is not the only place that's hurting him, as evidenced by the blood on his lips. I am completely out of my mind. I know I must do something but my body seems to be struggling with the simplest of task.

"Kacchan! I am sorry. I don't want to make you slow down. But can I just have some water please? I am really very thirsty." Izuku croaked. As if on auto-pilot, I picked the bottle lying a few feet away from my bag, limped back, screwed the top and lifted his head to help him drink some. Just after one sip, he starts coughing and his face contorts in pain. He clutches his chest tightly as if he is trying to keep it in place. As if his lungs will crawl out of his chest if he didn't hold them in place. His complete body converges in on itself with each cough and it feels like it's not going to end soon. I simply rub his back because that's all I can do right now.

After a moment, he lies supine on the ground, breathing heavily. Suddenly he grabs my hand when I lift his head to get him drink some more water. Some drops get spilled and mixes with the crimson drops on the ground and creating a puddle. "Mom, please don't leave me. It hurts mom. It hurts a lot. Please make it stop."he pleads, sobbing. I wanted bark at him to stop calling me his mom. Does he think I am as old as that old hag? But I can't say such things to him right now, when I know whose fault is this, why we are in this situation. Why he can't differentiate between what is real and what is a trick of his mind.

"Shh. Izuku, come on. Stop crying like baby and breathe." I try to console him. Wait! When did Deku become Izuku? It doesn't matter as he is not listening. "We need to complete this assignment and you are slowing me down by not listening to me. I say stop crying this instant and breathe damn it." I said. He is hyperventilating now, pulling his hair as he cry and kicking his legs. He is trembling from head to toe with each sob.

I held his wrist and tried to unclench his fist when I felt his trembling subsiding and his eyes rolling in his head.

"No no no no no no no"

"Deku, you need to stay awake. You know you have to damn it."

I started slapping his face lightly but he is not responding at all. I started shaking him.

"Deku"

"Izuku"

"IZUKU"