YOU ALL ARE SOOO AMAZING! I was so moved by all your love and support! Thank you so much! Now here is chapter 2!

Again, thank you to all my betas: C's Melody and FlourChildWrites. Seriously, thank you for pushing and encouraging me throughout this! And thank you Evieeburn125 for the fantastic art that will be included later in the piece!

For chapter 2 also thank you Estelle for giving this another set of eyes.

Disclaimer: Boku no Hero characters are owned by Hori. Only thing I own is the story and

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Chapter 2: We Can (Not) Win

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'I have to win. I have to win. I can do this.'

Momo grasped her spear with both hands and held it above her head, blocking another attack. The feeling of steel striking against her weapon reverberated through her arms and down her spine in painful vibrations. The blisters on her hands stung. In the back of her mind, she registered pain as a few popped and liquid leaked through her fingers.

She didn't have time to stop and inspect them.

Gritting her teeth, she bundled the pain, thrusting it to the back of her mind as she used her spear to shove the soldier back.

Her halberd spear had been specially made for her. Shorter than a normal lance, it was lightweight and durable. Instead of a wooden shaft, the entire weapon was made of tempered metal, and it had a hook on the end like an axe. Tokoyami Fumikage, the half-man half-bird guardian of the temple, had given it to her as a gift.

She spun the spear around to create room and returned to her position in front of her friend, panting heavily.

Ash whirled around her like a snowstorm. The smoke from the temple fire made it hard to breathe, and her body wasn't used to endurance battles. The times she had sparred with Tokoyami had all been quick, short skirmishes, and never against so many opponents at once.

Never against men who weighed twice as much as her.

The worst part was that the soldiers knew it. They were taking their time, wearing her down, slice by slice, until they could move in for the kill.

Momo clenched her jaw in frustration.

There was a hidden passageway underneath the temple that Tokoyami had dug over the last ten years. It was small and could only fit one grown man at a time. Some of the younger priestesses and orphaned children had already escaped through it. If they could just get to the passage, she could fight the men one on one.

They may be able to escape.

Tokoyami moaned softly behind her.

Momo's heart twisted painfully at the sound.

He was trying to keep quiet so she could focus, but he was fading fast. The smoke from the fire was getting to him, and his stomach wound was deep. He had lost too much blood. If she didn't treat him soon, he'd go into shock.

Her throat tightened.

She couldn't let him die. If he died, she'd be all alone again. Tokoyami was all she had left. And a part of her, no matter how unrealistic, had hoped that they could escape together. Wetness prickled at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked back the tears.

"Ah, your monster doesn't look too good. Don't think it will last much longer," one of the soldiers sneered from within the crowd.

Momo forced herself not to look. Pulling up mental barriers, she tried to block their voices as the rest of the men began to jeer at her, taunting her to look back at Tokoyami so they could close in. She knew the only reason they hadn't rushed her yet was because of the demigod. Although hurt, Tokoyami was still a frightening enemy. With his power over shadows, he had perfect offensive and defensive abilities. The soldiers were cautious for now, but that wouldn't last.

Momo squared her shoulders, grasping her spear tighter. She couldn't give up. Not yet. Not when Tokoyami was still alive.

She just needed time to think, but the never-ending attacks and the slow-building headache from the smoke weren't allowing her to.

One overconfident warrior stepped closer.

She thrust her weapon at him. And he jumped out of the way, bringing his sword down to jam her spear.

She twisted her weapon. Using the axe side of the spear, she tore at the Athenian's calf.

He screamed and fell to the ground; dropping his sword.

'I can do this.'

It was just like Tokoyami had made her practice. She whirled her spear around, slamming the butt into the soldier's head and knocking him unconscious.

Momo tore her gaze away as a flash of silver caught the corner of her eye. Instinctually, she twisted and jumped back. Her vision swam at the quick movement, and her foot hit the sword that the warrior had dropped moments before.

Her eyes widened as she fell, the momentum pulling her to the ground.

Her left hand hit first; a jolting, jarring pain shot up her arm. Momo hissed through her teeth as the fire licked through her wrist.

'Stupid. She was so stupid.'

"Yaoyorozu!" Tokoyami's dark shadows shot out of the ground to protect her.

She took a moment to look down at her wrist. It was slightly swollen. She flexed it experimentally, and relief flooded her. It wasn't broken, only a sprain.

"I'm okay," she said, using the spear's pole to pull herself back up. She tried to wrap her fingers around the weapon's shaft and flinched. Her eyes widened and she tried to grasp the spear again, but her wrist throbbed horribly. She swallowed over a sudden knot in her throat.

The warriors were watching her. Their eyes gleamed in the morning light, like a pack of wild dogs that had scented blood.

A sickening thud echoed through her chest and reverberated down to her stomach.

They knew.

A couple of men took a hesitant step forward. Momo spun her spear around and pushed them back, but her speed and strength were gone. A ripple passed through the crowd, and then they moved forward in unison.

She tried to breathe, but felt like she couldn't. Unwelcome tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Anger and frustration filled her and made her heart pound in short little stutters.

Again. She was going to lose everyone she had ever cared for again, and the only person she could blame was herself.

If she could have just been stronger. If she could have been smarter and faster, then maybe she could have protected Tokoyami. Maybe he wouldn't have even been hurt in the first place.

It was all her fault.

Dread coursed through her as the Athenian's moved in.

No.

She wouldn't let them have him. They'd have to kill her first. He was all she had left. A desperate cry bubbled through her, and she clenched her hands as hard as she could around the spear. Preparing herself to fight.

"No! Yao-"

"Stop!"

Momo's heart stilled at the command, and she looked up.

Standing at the perimeter of the temple square was another soldier. He was lithe and taller than most men. Golden bangles wrapped around his left arm. Hanging from around his broad shoulders and billowing behind him was the red cape of Sparta.

Unconsciously, Momo swallowed as the warrior stepped forward. And she squinted through her tears and the smoke to get a better view of his face. He stepped into the early morning light, and she gasped.

The Spartan's hair was split evenly between two colors: half as red as blood, the other as white as fresh snow. Storm gray eyes, colder than steel, stared out from an otherwise soft face. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and yet, at the moment, all she felt was terror.

Shouto Todoroki.

The Spartan demigod was Ares' favorite son and renowned for his battle prowess. Every Trojan knew his name. He had taken down a whole battalion at the beginning of the war when he had only been sixteen.

He had burned them all.

His gray eyes swept impassively over the scene, and he stepped closer, making his way across the square.

Momo shivered.

"Get away," he said, his voice a low and even baritone. The men hesitated, and he touched his sword's hilt in warning.

A brave Athenian stepped forward. Momo couldn't see his face but suspected when he spoke that he was young.

"Fuck you, Todoroki. This is our kill. We were here first." His voice held the confidence of youth. He must have thought because they outnumbered the Spartan that he was safe.

Todoroki's voice lowered. "On what basis do you think you can fight me?"

Momo shuddered, and the man cowered back at the deathly edge in the Spartan's tone.

"Fuck. Just leave it. Don't mess with Ares' brat," an angry voice said from near her. Suddenly, her spear was wrenched from her hands.

She had let her guard down.

Momo's eyes widened, and she jerked back, but not fast enough as a hand roughly grabbed her sprained wrist. Momo gasped, both in shock and pain.

"We'll just take her then." The words had barely left the Athenian's mouth when the soldier stilled. His hold on her wrist went slack, and he dropped dead at her feet. A sword with a red hilt protruded from his forehead. The Athenians froze in surprise as the warrior hit the ground.

Then Todoroki moved, and there was chaos.

He was as deadly as the stories had said. He killed everyone, showing no mercy as he worked his way through the soldiers.

He slammed his hand on the ground and ice erupted from the earth. Six Athenians were immediately impaled. Screaming. He stood back up.

His movements were fluid, like a dancer. No wasted movement, no hesitation. He made it look effortless as he picked the warriors off one by one with deadly precision.

It was utterly terrifying.

A warrior charged. He slashed at him, intending to cleave the demigod in half. Todoroki slipped low, under the sword. He pulled a short dagger from the soldier's side and slammed it into his throat. The man died, choking on his own blood.

Todoroki skimmed the ground and picked up a fallen warrior's sword. Another attacker came from behind him, and he spun, avoiding the strike. He brought the weapon down, cutting off the Athenian's arms.

Momo just stared. Fear unlike anything she had ever experienced gripped her heart. It felt like she had been frozen, rooted to her spot, unable to move a muscle as she watched him tear through the remaining men.

He blocked another attack, sliding the other warrior's sword off his own with a resounding clash of metals. Then, with a quick movement, the demigod cut off the man's head. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, and Momo realized that he had been the last one. No one was left, only the sickening stench of blood and smoke. He had killed them all.

Todoroki paused. He took a deep breath and threw the sword to the ground. Then he turned towards her, and his eyes flashed.

Ice curdled in her veins.

Blood speckled his face and covered his armor. He was intimidating, but it was his eyes that scared her the most. During the fight, his gaze had been cold, almost impassive, but now, as he looked at her with those steel-gray eyes, all she saw was a gluttonous possessiveness reflected back at her.

It was terrifying.

She needed to move; she needed to get away, but her limbs wouldn't listen. Momo shook as he approached. Her whole body trembled but wouldn't listen as she ordered herself to run.

He reached a hand out towards her.

She inhaled sharply, and her eyes widened as his fingers skimmed her cheek.

A vice-like grip closed itself around her arm and wrenched her away as black shadows shot out of the ground, forcing Todoroki to jump back.

"Yaoyorozu, go! Get out of here! I'll buy you time with dark shadow," Tokoyami rasped. He was barely standing. Blood was streaming down his front.

"Toko-"

"Go!" Tokoyami roared. His yellow eyes flashed in warning as he looked over his shoulder at her.

Momo hesitated. She couldn't leave him. He couldn't fight like this. Todoroki would kill him.

A roaring sound tore Momo's eyes back to the middle of the square.

Bright, hot flames slammed heat across the temple, burning through Tokoyami's shadows like dry leaves.

In the middle of the firestorm, Todoroki stood unhurt.

Tokoyami dropped to his knees. Gasping. He had used all his power in the last attack, she realized.

Todoroki's gaze narrowed on Tokoyami. His face was enraged. He raised his left hand.

Cold sweat dripped down Momo's neck. He was going to kill him. She couldn't let him. She couldn't be alone again. If she could just save Tokoyami. If she could just keep him alive.

If she could.

Momo's body moved before she could think. She flung herself in front of Tokoyami, and both men froze. It was like Kronos had stopped time.

For a moment, Todoroki just stared at her, and then his face hardened. "Move."

"No." Her voice was a whisper, but she was thankful it came out firm.

His eyes flashed, and she thought she saw the same desire from a moment earlier swirl back through them before he pulled his indolent mask back into place.

She swallowed. She was walking on a thin rope. If she dared to look down, she'd fall, but if she played her cards right, she could win. "I won't! Not unless you let me save Tokoyami. He's hurt already. He needs help. Let me save him."

"Yaoyorozu, no!"

Todoroki's eyes narrowed. The fire leaped all around him, making his eyes glow bright silver. It made him look harsh. Dangerous. Everything within her warned that this was not a man to cross. He was a step above them, but they were out of options. There was no way she or Tokoyami could fight him now that they both were exhausted and hurt. This was their best option for survival.

She raised her head and looked him in the eye. "Let's make a deal!" There was a sharp inhale behind her. She ignored the temple guardian as she continued. "Let me save Tokoyami, and I promise I'll be your slave for as long as you want me. I won't run. I'll do whatever you ask. I promise." Her eyes stung and she bit her lower lip to keep from crying. "Just please, I can't let him die."

Todoroki's eyes shot down to her lips. His face didn't show any emotion, but she got the distinct impression that he was fighting against something.

Slowly, he walked closer.

"Yaoyorozu, no! You have to run. Please!" Tokoyami's voice was weak. She could barely hear him now, and she had to stop herself from turning around as she felt his hands reach for her, his fingers skimming against her calf.

She clenched her hands into fists and straightened. She was thankful she wasn't trembling anymore.

Todoroki stopped in front of her, and she forced herself to meet his gaze. She could feel the three fates measuring out her life's thread. Whether to extend the string or to cut it she did not know.

"Fine." His voice was a low baritone. "I accept." It must have been her imagination, but he seemed to relax. "From now on, you'll be mine. I'll let you do what you can to save your monster. But I won't help you, and you aren't to bother anyone else. If it lives, it's because of your own actions."

Momo jerked as his hand slipped around her neck to close around her nape. His grip was gentle but firm enough for her to know she was powerless against him.

His thumb stroked over her pulse. "Deal?"

Momo shivered at the unchecked dominance in his tone. She swallowed, but made sure not to drop her gaze. "Yes. It's a deal."

His eyes flashed in triumph, and his fingers tightened possessively around the nape of her neck. He leaned down. Momo closed her eyes and forced herself to remain still as his mouth met hers.

She could endure it. She would. Anything to save Tokoyami.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed.

Also, I want to make it absolutely clear that there will be NO rape in this story. I can't handle rape and so will not be writing it. With that said, most Greek stories center on woman being raped so there will be references/fear of un-consensual sex but I would never do that to my favorite characters.

Notes:

1. Yes, both of Todoroki's eyes are gray right now and he doesn't have a scar.

2. Momo is not weak, she just thought the most practical way for both Tokoyami and herself to survive was to make a deal with Shouto.

3. Halberd spears – sorry, these actually weren't used until the 14th or 15th century, but we'll just say Momo had a prototype. It's a spear with a hook like an axe head.