A/N First ever fic in the My Hero section! Hello, hello!

So, just to clear up some things first - this is a TodoMomo fic. The story will focus heavily on them. I don't know about other pairings as of now. This fic is a slow burn. The romance will move at a reasonable pace given the premise.

Hopefully the plot will be interesting enough for some of you to keep reading!

Finally, I am going to set my update schedule for this fic based on the reception I receive. If a lot of people seem interested in this fic, then I'll update as frequently as once every week. If people don't seem that interested, then I'll just update this once a month or whenever I feel like it. So if you want to show me that you do want more of this fic, just sent me a review or fav/follow this fic! It's the best way to let me know people are reading!

Half Loved

Chapter 1 - Two Halves

Desolate.

Silence.

Death.

A singular, ragged breath left a raven-haired woman's lips. The chilly midnight air caused her warm breath to turn into visible vapor. No sooner did she begin to fall, straight down onto her knees, protected by a plate of armor. It still hurt however, causing the young woman to elicit a cry of pain as her entire body trembled.

It was painful to even stand upright.

The full moon's light shone down on her as the lazy clouds above her parted. Her pale skin, illuminated by the light, was marred with caked blood and dirt, but with no injuries in sight. She coughed, tasting the iron that filled her mouth right before she spat it out sharply to the side.

The clouds parted even more, letting in more light, and revealing the blood soaked sands of the beach in front of her.

She did it.

Her onyx colored eyes narrowed in triumphant victory as she surveyed the results of her battle. Dozens of lifeless bodies were scattered about, all of them impaled, cut, or both.

Despite the pain tearing through her body, she picked herself, as well as the bag of provisions that she managed to get from their ship. Even though she expected more from such a large ship, the bag she carried had medicine and anything else her people could use as supplies.

"Filthy pirates," she muttered spitefully under her breath as she turned to leave the beach. She was sure that the tides would come up soon and wash away the bodies, sending them out into sea to be claimed as a meal for some lucky sharks.

About halfway through her trek back towards her village, she could feel her legs give way again. With a sharp grunt, she fell on all fours, the pain raging through her body.

"Momo!" she could hear a familiar voice call out.

Weakly, the young woman looked up to see her friend running up to her. "Jirou...didn't I tell you to stay back?"

"As if I would actually do that!" the short haired female exclaimed, helping her friend up to her feet. "I was about to go down to the beach and help you if you didn't return just now!"

Momo laughed, her voice wispy as she leaned on her friend for support. "I'm grateful."

"Shut up," Jirou remarked, scolding the battered woman out of worry. Her dark purple eyes were wide with concern. "Just look at you! You're a mess. I should've just gone down with you!"

"You know that it wouldn't have turned out good. I'd rather it be me than you."

Jirou rolled her eyes, moving a stray bang from her eyes with the flick of her head. "I know. I know." A dejected sigh escaped her. "I know...you have the core inside of you. You can heal yourself of any injury, but -!" She grit her teeth. "That doesn't mean I can't worry about you when you go off by yourself to face a whole ship of pirates!"

Momo smiled, feeling the pain in her body slowly fade. "I have you, don't I? You were here."

Seeing as how scolding her friend never worked quite like how she would like it, Jirou simply dropped the subject with a scoff. "You're damn right, Momo. I would've blasted them all away with my sound magic."

She giggled lightly as she kept her arm propped up around Jirou's shoulders.

The two walked slowly up the hill, soon enveloped in silence together.

"...It's not enough, is it?" Momo finally asked, her voice soft, but broken.

Jirou furrowed her brow as she looked to her friend, who was hanging her head low. "...Don't say that," she whispered, holding onto the bag of provisions from the pirate ship tightly in her free hand. "It's more than enough."

"For us…? And for the village?" The skepticism was high in Momo's voice.

The purple haired girl pursed her lips slightly before answering. "...We'll have enough once we ration it. I can give my week's share to whoever needs it more. Elderly and children first, just like how we've always done it."

"I can...try...to make -"

"- Don't even think about it," Jirou responded venomously. "That core of yours may have given you the power of creation, but it saps away at your own energy, doesn't it?"

Momo remained silent.

"We don't even have much food as is. It isn't a good exchange for you to eat and create inorganic materials that we don't even need."

"We can...try to trade them -"

" - You know that won't work. You know the reason why all the other kingdoms and pirates attack Genesis. They don't care about anything else other than the creation core." Jirou looked at her friend again. Her expression fell. Her voice softened. "Momo...maybe...now's the time to…"

Feeling her strength return, Momo pushed herself away from Jirou, stunning the young woman in the process.

"Don't even suggest that we go ask Incendium for help!"

Jirou widened her eyes, shocked by her friend's violent response. "Momo...I -" It had been a while since she had seen her this upset.

Realizing how intensely she lashed out at Jirou, Momo quickly regained her composure and uttered a soft word of apology. "I'm sorry Jirou, but...they will never help us, understand?" she whispered. "Even when Genesis was under attack a few months ago...the battle that left us all like this, in such a pitiful state...they never bothered to come to our aid. Even after we let them take the creation cores, they turned their backs on us."

Before the two women could continue their conversation, a bright, cheery voice reached their ears, grabbing their attention.

"Momo! Jirou! They're back!"

A young girl, no older than five, was closely followed by a group of children, all around the same age as each other. They cheered, happily flocking around the two women.

"Are you hurt!?" the five year old girl asked, her round bright eyes tearing up as she looked up at Momo, still dirtied from the battle earlier.

Jirou watched her scoop up the little girl with ease into her arms, despite the armor she wore.

"Nope!" Momo exclaimed, her grin toothy and broad. "I'm okay, Sunny! Look! I wouldn't be able to do this if I was actually hurt, right?" She promptly spun around with the little girl in her arms with ease.

Sunny cheered, babbling happily as she clapped her small hands together.

It was subtle, but Jirou astutely noticed how Momo's smile fell slightly as she carried the young girl.

"Now," the black haired woman set Sunny back down on the ground and smiled. "Isn't it late for all of you? You don't want to upset your grandmas and grandpas by sneaking out here so late."

"We wanted to come and see if you and Jirou needed help!"

"Yeah! Help!"

The small group of children began chiming off of each other before Momo quickly quieted them down with a laugh. "You really did?"

"Yeah! We want to fight too!"

"Yeah! Fight! Fight!"

One of the older children in the group spoke up. His voice, full of vigor and determination. "We want to help you and our parents! They're fighting too, right?"

Jirou drew in a sharp breath and set her jaw. She swallowed a hard lump that was growing in her throat. Her eyes subconsciously avoided the curious, innocent stares from the children. She did not have the heart to keep it together if she continued to look at them.

Luckily for her, Momo spoke, her voice steady and calm.

"Yes, they're fighting. Bravely...everyday. Your parents are helping Incendium win this war."

The cheers from the children now sounded deafening to Jirou.

"Now, hurry up. Go to bed," Momo ushered, smiling warmly as she pushed the children back towards the small collection of huts that was their village.

Once the children were back inside, out of earshot from the two, Momo spoke up.

"Sunny...she's gotten lighter than last time. Now it was almost as if I was holding nothing. I'll have to give her some more of my rations for this week -"

"- Is it okay? ...To keep lying to them like that?" Jirou appeared apologetic for cutting her friend off.

Momo drew out a lone sigh, followed by a somber drop of her gaze. "Sometimes...lies are necessary because...the truth hurts. Those kids, especially Sunny, don't even have enough food to keep them awake nowadays, but look at them tonight. They came out of their beds just to come greet us."

Jirou watched as Momo took off her bloody gauntlets.

"The thoughts of their parents fighting in the war...fighting like heroes...that's what keeps them going everyday."

"But...the war -"

"- Is over. I know. It's been over for months, but these kids don't need to know that." Momo's hands shook and she desperately clasped them together tightly, willing them to stop trembling. Her voice cracked under the threat of tears. "They don't need to know that," she repeated, tilting her head back so that she could better fight the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.

"They don't need to know that…-"

Momo drew out a sharp breath.

"-...Soon we'll probably just end up dying on this island. Because with what little creation cores we have left...we won't even be able to survive."

A lone wind blew over the desolate landscape, an island devoid of any trees or animals.

An island of nothing.

Loud cheering and the whimsical sounds of celebration were commonplace nowadays in the kingdom of Incendium. Songs composed out of pure jubilance filled the streets, along with the tantalizing aroma of the finest cuisine crafted by the kingdom's best chefs. Men chugged large glasses of beer and danced drunkenly with the local barmaids or their wives, openly in the streets as if they had no care in the world.

"It's quite a spectacle isn't it, my Prince? We haven't seen a celebration to this extent since...well, I can't even remember," the high priest giggled, looking down at the crowds of townspeople from one of the large archways in the open-air corridor. She adjusted her bifocals and turned to smile at the royal prince. "I think it was nice of you to allow the townspeople to come view the botanical gardens and courtyards of the palace."

He did not crack a smile, his facial expression impassive as always, but he appeared at peace. "We just came out from a brutal war. It's the least I can do as their prince. However," his voice fell, "we must begin reparations and recover. We are no longer at war, but most of the country is struggling."

He began walking away, down the empty corridor. His high priest quickly followed, right on his heels.

"Yes, I suppose," she said in agreement, clearing her throat before beginning an awkward pause.

The young prince glanced back at her slightly, his heterochromatic eyes keenly picking up her apprehension. He did not question her until they reached the chapel room.

"What is on your mind?" he asked as he quietly let the young, white haired woman into the chapel. He closed the door behind her and waited for her to speak, only to see her walk up to the altar. "Fuyumi," he started, his voice taking on a gentler tone than how he spoke outside. "If you're nervous to say whatever is on your mind, you have no reason to be. I may be the ruler of Incendium now, but that title comes second with you. You're my older sister, no matter what."

Fuyumi breathed out a long sigh. "I understand that, Shoto." She turned back towards him and flashed him a warm smile and in turn, he gave her a smile back, breaking all formalities between them since they were now in private. "But," her expression fell slightly, her voice taking on a more somber tone, "there is something I must inform you of regarding the throne. You...understand that the title of 'king' cannot be passed down to you just because father passed away, right?"

Shoto immediately knew where this was headed. Unable to hide his disappointment, the young prince let a slight grimace make its way across his face.

"It's unfortunately something that even I, as high priest, cannot speak out against," Fuyumi responded, feeling the disappointment practically radiating from her little brother. "The other priests of the kingdom have declared that you cannot take the throne until you are wed. You may act as the leader of Incendium for now, but if you do not find a way to continue the royal bloodline, I'm afraid -"

" - Even if I were to prove that I can be a good leader, a worthier king than my father?" Shoto sharply cut in, expressing his frustration with the growing spite in his usually calm voice.

Understanding where his frustrations were coming from, Fuyumi said nothing back, simply letting her brother process this information to the best of his abilities.

There was a period of long silence between the two siblings before Shoto finally spoke, his voice regaining its gentle tenor.

"...So I will lose the throne if I do not procure a woman to be my wife?"

"Yes. It is...probably the best way to show the kingdom that you are an honorable ruler worthy of their praise. Unless," her voice trailed off, "you do not mind taking in concubines. The main goal is to show your nation that you can continue the Todoroki bloodline, after all," Fuyumi said lightheartedly, knowing that her little brother would be against the idea entirely.

And as predicted, he vehemently shook his head, putting on a display of child-like innocence as a rosy blush made its way on his face as well.

Fuyumi laughed at her little brother. Despite being 22 and having the pressures of ruling a nation on his shoulders, Shoto was still pure at heart.

"Are there any potential candidates you had in mind?" she asked, letting her laughter settle down.

"No," Shoto mumbled, "you know that with father's training and my isolation from the rest of the kingdom, there are very little suitors. Even some of the nobles didn't know I existed until when father passed away recently."

"I suppose," she replied thoughtfully. "Well, you have a whole month to figure it out -"

His stomach dropped. "...A month?"

"Is...that not enough time?"

Shoto stared at his sister's face, eyes wide and finding it incredulous that she was unfazed by what he thought was a quickly approaching deadline.

Fuyumi sighed. "I can't move the deadline further back, Shoto. The priests have forced my hand. Trust me, if I could, I would delay this as much as possible, but if I were to do so, they would say that I am making exceptions because we are related."

Hearing the strain in her voice caused Shoto to shake his head. "No, no," he muttered dismissively. "I'm sorry, Fuyumi. I know you've done your best and you did. I don't want any of the priests to question your loyalty because of me."

"I'm sorry, Shoto…" she said softly, her gray eyebrows furrowed in worry.

He shook his head again, mustering up a gentle smile at his older sister. "You are not at fault. If...this is for the sake of my nation, then I'll do it."

Fuyumi flashed him a tight-lipped smile, trying to hide the fact that she was still feeling guilt for the position he was forced into. "Shall I help you find the future queen of Incendium? Or would you want to personally oversee the task?" she asked as they slowly walked towards the doors of the chapel.

"I believe I can leave it to you and the other priests," Shoto replied rather dismissively.

She blinked, gray eyes widened. "Uhm, are you sure, Shoto? You don't care who your wife will be?"

He seemed genuinely confused, an eyebrow raised and heterochromic eyes narrowed, as he released the lock and opened the door. "No," he answered again, this time his voice rather curt and emotionless. "Why should I -?"

" - Prince Shoto!"

The siblings found their conversation to reach an abrupt end by the sudden interruption.

Immediately, Shoto's frigid, cold demeanor returned as he faced the knight that was rushing up towards him.

"General Iida," he started, "what is the urgency? I would prefer if you do not run inside the palace."

"My apologies," the tall, broad-shouldered knight responded with a deep bow. He tried to catch his breath as he spoke. "This is a rather urgent matter, however. Our scouts have discerned that one of our outer lying territories is constantly under attack by the other kingdoms and pirates."

Shoto took the scroll that was handed to him by the general. He opened it and quickly scanned through it. "The island of Genesis…" he muttered under his breath, the name causing his eyes to narrow briefly.

"Yes," Iida replied, wildly moving his hands as he spoke. "The citizens, or rather, what's left of them."

"And...the creation cores."

Fuyumi heard her brother scoff softly through his nose, followed by an arrogant smirk.

"They refused to join our kingdom as a colony and now they're going to pay a steep price for their ignorance. Normally, it would be a waste of our resources, but...they do possess a valuable export and I would hate to see the other kingdoms get a hold of it." Shoto rolled the scroll back up. "Very well, General. Gather up your troops and make way to Genesis. Bring back a representative from their island so that they can enter negotiations with me."

"Of course, Your Majesty." With a deep bow, Iida left, leaving the two siblings alone once more.

Fuyumi glanced at her little brother, concern painted all across her face as she watched him. It always worried her greatly when she would see his eyes devoid of any emotion and expression frigid, much like her late father.

"...To answer your question from earlier," Shoto suddenly said, catching the young woman off-guard briefly.

She stared at the back of his head, watching him as he ran his left hand through his red hair, leaving the gray, right side undisturbed.

What he said next stung her heart, even though the cold words were not directed towards her.

"There is no room in my life to love a stranger. That is all. You may bring me any woman to be my queen, but I do not plan on wasting my time loving her."