Hi all! I know it's been a while, and a lot has changed since my last update in January. I hope you all are doing okay during these crazy times. For those of you still following this story, a big thank you! This arc is about done and I'll be posting tri-weekly to ensure I have enough time so I don't have to do another break.

Thank you to my wonderful betas: Flourchildwrites and C'sMelody. Also big thank you to 666-HyuugaNeji-999 for doing a preview read to make sure everything flowed.

Before, getting into the next chapter, here is a quick recap of the story so far:

At the end of the Trojan war, Shouto Todoroki is hit by a magicked arrow from Kaminari, one of Aphrodite's erotes of lust. Forced to fall in love with the first person he sees, Shouto can't help but fight for a woman with long, black hair and obsidian the woman makes a deal to sell herself to him in return for saving Apollo's temple guardian, Shouto is unable to resist and so takes the priestess, Momo Yaoyorozu, as his slave.

However, the arrow that had pierced his heart is a lot stronger than Shouto could have ever imagined and he finds himself possessive of her to the point of violence. After encasing one of his comrades in ice, Bakugo, the Spartan Prince, has had enough and sends Shouto back to Sparta early.

The voyage home is no less treacherous, as they soon find out when Dabi, the god of terror and Shouto's older half-sibling, attacks the ship. Shouto defeats his brother, chasing the god off, but not without a price. In the battle, Dabi had burned Shouto over his left eye, knocking the Spartan out.

Momo, as the only one left still healthy enough to move, saves Shouto from drowning. Fearing that Dabi will return to finish them off, Momo decides they can't stay floating in the sea. Summoning all her will power, she pulls both Shouto and Tokoyami towards land when they are attacked by the fearsome whirlpool monster, Moonfish. In a last ditch effort to defeat the monster, Momo uses Shouto's sword, Endeavor, and slams the blade into Moonfish's flesh - but, out of breath and strength, Momo finds herself losing conscience when she feels arms wrap around her and pull her to safety.

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Chapter 7: We Can (Not) Move

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"Get her on her side!" Tokoyami shouted.

Shouto clenched his teeth and rolled off of Yaoyorozu. Everything within him hurt, and he was acutely aware that his vision had become one-sided. Even with his eyelid squeezed tightly shut, the pain on his left side was overwhelming. It made him feel sick. He pushed Yaoyorozu onto her side, trying to ignore the burning in his head that was steadily growing as though his eye was melting out of its socket.

Tokoyami scrambled across the wood plank. "Yaoyorozu, stay with us!"

His voice trembled as he clasped her shaking hands between his. Blood on his palms dyed her fingers a watery copper.

Yaoyorozu twitched and then heaved, her body rejecting the water in her lungs.

"She's not waking up!" Tokoyami said, looking up sharply.

Shouto felt something within him twist viciously. It must be an effect from using Endeavor as a mortal.

"We need to get her to a doctor." Shouto leaned back over her. From the corner of his eye, he could see Tokoyami stiffen. Shouto ignored him as he shakingly pushed tendrils of inky black hair out of her face. She was deathly pale, and her skin felt cold to the touch.

Shouto swallowed over a tight throat. His hands were trembling uncontrollably. He laid his left palm as gently as he could between Yaoyorozu's shoulder blades, but the usual sensation of magic rippling through him was gone. It felt like his insides had been flayed.

"Fuck," he said, pulling his hand away.

A splashing to his left drew his attention. Shouto slowly turned his head to keep from blacking out. In the water was a beautiful young woman with long, thick black hair and large dark eyes that seemed to take up her entire face. A nereid. Shouto stared at the woman as she approached the raft.

"Aizawa," the nereid said, grabbing onto the side of the wood and pushing Endeavor onto the plank. "Aizawa can help."

Shouto gave a short nod, instinctually pulling the blade back to his side. "Where? Take us to him."

"On the island of Aretias. It's close. I'll - "

"No! We can't!"

Shouto tilted his head back to stare at Tokoyami. The demigod's bird-slit eyes were wide and terrified. He looked as sick as Shouto felt. "That's the isle of stymphalians. It's a place of immense darkness. We can't go there. Not like this. The stymphalians will tear us apart with their bronze beaks."

Shouto's jaw tightened. "Then we'll break those beaks."

He didn't have the mental resources left for a debate. The searing pain in his head was overwhelming. If it wasn't for the curse making him so worried for Yaoyorozu he was sure that he would have passed out already. "I'll freeze them, or burn them, or cut them to shreds. It doesn't really matter," Shouto said coldly.

Tokoyami's eyes hardened and he straightened.

"We cannot walk in there thinking we will come out unscathed," he said slowly. His blood stained hand, not applying pressure to his wound, curled into a fist on his knee. "Hercules killed most of them, but the remaining flock migrated to Aretias. They are vicious and cruel. Not an easy foe to defeat even on one's best day. And, as you can't see out of your left eye and I can't pretend I am in better shape, we will be at a disadvantage. The stymphalians are led by eight creatures known as the Teppodama Hassaishu, and they are said to be cruel and ruthless with powers of their own. We must choose our path wisely."

Shouto stared at him, cold fury rolling through him

"I didn't realize you were such a coward," he hissed.

Tokoyami stiffened, and his eyes widened as though he had been punched in the gut. Shouto paused as guilt immediately struck him. He swallowed over a thick lump in his throat. As much as Shouto didn't care for the demigod, it was unfair of him to accuse Tokoyami of being a coward, especially when he was only speaking the truth. Shouto's chest tightened. He opened his mouth to say something - he didn't know what - but the nereid cut him off.

"Aretias is the closest island, and Aizawa is a skilled doctor. He can definitely help. And the stymphalians only come out after dusk. We should be fine, but we need to move quickly. Kero."

Tokoyami didn't say anything.

Shouto shifted and pulled Yaoyorozu closer to keep her warm as the plank teetered. He hadn't realized she was so skinny. He could feel the bones of her spine curve under her wet chiton. The war hadn't spared the temple priestess. Tokoyami was probably in no better shape. The only reason the raft hadn't capsized already was that, combined, Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu probably weighed as much as Shouto.

His lips thinned. Once they got out of this, he'd make sure she never went hungry again. For now, they needed to get to the nearest doctor. Shouto looked up and met the nereid's gaze.

"We don't have time to discuss. Take us there."

She nodded. Her gaze hovered over the left side of his face a fraction of a second too long before she turned and grabbed the rope attached to the raft.

A cold shiver ran up Shouto's spine, but he pushed the sense of unease to the back of his mind.

There was no turning back now.

It was midday by the time Tsuyu Asui, as the nereid was known, pulled the raft into a sandbank.

"We have to go the rest of the way on foot, kero," she said, setting off towards the shore.

Shouto lifted his head. The sun was high in the sky now. Carefully, he slid off the raft, then turned and picked up Yaoyorozu. She shivered slightly, and he pulled her into his chest to share his body heat.

"Todoroki."

Shouto paused and turned back around.

Tokoyami was staring at him with a pained expression, his right hand clenched tightly against his stomach where the sutures had ruptured.

"Do you think we can trust her?" he asked with a short nod towards the nereid who had walked out of earshot.

Slowly, Shouto raised his head to look up. Above them, cliffs rose up towards the sky, towering ramparts of stone dusted with the faint greens and browns of shrubbery. It looked uninhabitable, but Shouto could already feel the cold, oppressive eyes of the island's inhabitants. Yaoyorozu shivered as a breeze rolled off the water. Anger and something else curled in his chest.

They had to stay. There was nowhere else to go. Yaoyorozu needed help.

"What choice do we have?" he finally said. "Besides, the nereid saved us already. If she wanted us dead, she would have let Moonfish have us."

He tightened his hold on Yaoyorozu and followed after Asui onto the gravelly shore.

"This way. Aizawa lives up top. Kero," Asui said, leading them to a sandy path that looped up through the craggy, gray face of the mountain.

The climb was slow. Tokoyami lagged behind him, slow and unsteady on the gravelly path. He was so pale that Shouto thought he'd faint any moment from blood loss, but there was nothing Shouto could do. He wouldn't be able to carry both Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami.

As they climbed, a dense fog began to roll off the ocean. The hair on the back of Shouto's neck stood on end. It was almost dusk. If Asui was correct, then they were running out of time.

Shouto's eyes narrowed on the back of the nereid's head. She hid it, but Shouto could feel it in the pit of his stomach. She was on guard. He wondered briefly if the situation was not what it appeared. Shouto's lips thinned; he turned to scan the cliffs surrounding them, but nothing moved.

They continued on. He could see a statue of Hephaestus, the god of the forge and protector of cripples, peeking up over the ridge. They were almost at the top.

The air suddenly chilled and the putrid smell of dark magic curled around them like a heavy mist. Shouto shifted to gently place his hand on Yaoyorozu's upper back. He tried to summon his fire magic again, but his body felt empty, like all his power had left him. He scowled. Without magic at his disposal, he felt bare. Even with Endeavor at his side, it was difficult to suppress the sense of being weaponless.

Yaoyorozu shivered, and he pulled her back into his chest. Her hair smelled of salt and brine, offsetting the thick stench of magic weaving through the air. It unexpectedly calmed him. Shouto unconsciously leaned down to press his nose against her temple, then caught himself and drew back.

His lips thinned. It was the curse, he reminded himself. Whatever feelings he was experiencing were fabricated, just like the ravaging fear he had felt upon waking and not finding Yaoyorozu on the raft.

Shouto looked down at Yaoyorozu's unconscious face and his heartbeat sped up. She was pale and beautiful and, yet, there was strength in her as well. She had fought off Moonfish by herself, stood up to Bakugou and protected Tokoyami. And she had most likely been the one who had saved him. Shouto swallowed. In the back of his mind, Shouto realized that there were worse people to be tied to than her.

"What do you want from Yaoyorozu?"

The sudden question pulled Shouto from his thoughts. Reluctantly, he straightened.

"What is she to you?"

Shouto glanced over his shoulder at Tokoyami.

"I could ask you the same question," he said evenly before turning and continuing up the mountain. "She's the one who suggested the deal."

"I know that. But why did you accept?" Tokoyami asked, almost pleadingly.

Shouto stilled. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and following after Asui without responding. The knowledge of his weakness for Yaoyorozu still throbbed like a fresh cut, too sore to touch.

Dabi and his father knowing was enough of a problem. He didn't need anyone else to know.

Not now.

Not ever.

It would just lead to more complications. Still, it was strange, he could admit. Why had he sacrificed himself to save Tokoyami as well? If he had just grabbed Yaoyorozu and left Tokoyami to Dabi, then he would have been able to escape unscathed, but he hadn't. At that moment, all he could think of was to protect them both. Was that part of Kaminari's curse as well? Somehow he didn't think why? To please her? Or was there a strand of humanity left within him?

"Let her go," Tokoyami said with a clipped tone. "It's me you want, right? You only need me as a slave. Or is it my head that you're after?"

Shouto scoffed. "What would I do with your head?"

The island had suddenly grown unnaturally quiet.

"Then why?" Tokoyami continued, almost desperate.

Shouto ground his teeth.

"Doesn't matter." He turned his head to look at the nearby bushes. "Quiet. Something's there," he said, dropping his voice to a whisper.

Tokoyami tensed. There were loud screeching sounds, and a shadow jumped out of the brush.

"Shit!" Shouto whirled, shielding Yaoyorozu as a human sized bird-like creature shot from the foliage. His head swam at the quick action, and he stumbled, barely dodging razor-sharp feathers from shredding his arm.

The stymphalian screamed and twisted back to attack him again; its bronze beak now aimed for his throat.

Shouto grit his teeth and pulled back sharply, his right hand darting to Endeavor.

"Dark shadow!"

A shriek filled the air, filled with pain, as black spikes shot out of the ground and impaled the creature. It fell, limp. The shadows dissipated and the creature dropped dead onto the ground.

Shouto turned. Tokoyami stood behind him, breathing raggedly. Slowly, he raised his head, and his gaze hardened on Shouto. "As much as I'd love for these creatures to tear you apart, you saved Yaoyorozu. So, I will watch your back to fulfill our debt."

Shouto turned back around, a strange sensation of gratefulness in his chest. "Thanks," he said, preparing himself as more creatures emerged. He shifted Yaoyorozu to his left arm and drew Endeavor.

The neraid was ahead of him on the trail. She had used a spell to turn herself frog-like. She dodged a strike from a stymphalian then jumped up, slamming her now large webbed feet into a creature's head. There was a loud crack as its neck snapped.

A scream sounded from his left. Shouto whirled. A stymphalian leapt at him. He steeled himself, flipping his blade to meet the impact. Endeavor never hit. The stymphalian was dead before it reached him. A cloth wrapped around the creature's neck. There was a loud crack and its head fell to the side in a contorted angle.

Shouto turned. Upon the hill, a slim man with messy, dark hair down to his shoulders and bloodshot eyes had appeared. He was wearing the rusted armor of a warrior and around his neck was the white cloth that had strangled the stymphalians. Clutched to his leg was a little girl with long off-white hair. She would have been normal but for a horn growing out of the side of her head.

Several stymphalians turned in surprise at the newcomers.

They were dead before they could move, their feathers falling away as their bodies contorted into that of women by some strange magic that shimmered over their bodies.

The effect on the rest of the stymphalians was instantaneous. They screeched and promptly melted back into the undergrowth.

Shouto lowered his sword, his good eye narrowed on the man as he caught his breath, his head pounding from the recent exertion.

The man flicked his wrist, and the scarf released the stymphalian's neck. He recalled it and wrapped the cloth back around his own neck. Then he turned to Asui. "And these are?" he asked in a dry voice.

Asui released her magic, morphing back into her original form.

"Aizawa, this is Shouto Todoroki, son of Ares, and Fumikage Tokoyami."

The man's dark eyes widened a fraction as he looked back at Shouto. "Welcome, son of Ares. I'm Shouta Aizawa. Thank you for coming to our aid."

Shouto stared. Then, everything clicked into place at the man's words. Shouto felt every fiber of his being bristle, and his eyes darted to the nereid. His lips pulled back into a snarl. Anger flared through him hotter than Dabi's flames.

"What's the meaning of this, Asui?" he asked, his voice shaking as he tried to reign in his fury. His neck and jaw were tense, fighting to keep his voice neutral.

Asui lowered her head so that she was staring at the ground.

"I'm sorry, Todoroki, Tokoyami, for tricking you into coming here. Kero." Her voice sounded regretful. "But, it's true, Aizawa can heal Yaoyorozu and maybe help you both too."

Shouto opened his mouth, but Aizawa cut him off.

"She brought you here because I requested it." Shouto glared at Aizawa. "The population of stymphalians have been increasing, and they have been growing more violent. Asui and I can no longer deal with the threat by ourselves. I need help protecting this island."

Tokoyami took a step forward to stand next to Shouto. He was breathing heavily. Blood from his stomach wound colored the front of his chiton red.

"Why?" Tokoyami rasped.

Aizawa studied them for a moment. Then, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I run an orphanage of a type, but the children here are not from human parents. Or, at least, not entirely," he said, tilting his head slightly to look at Tokoyami. "As you must be aware of yourself, Fumikage Tokoyami, humans do not take kindly to those who are different. Especially not to those of half-blood lineages whose parents aren't one of the gods."

Tokoyami stiffened. Aizawa continued, "If we go to the mainland, the children will be deemed monsters and killed. Their best chance for survival is to stay here. Which means that I must take care of the stymphalian population."

Shouto trembled slightly as he struggled not to snap. He rolled his jaw.

"So you want us to defeat these creatures for you? Seems like something you could do yourself."

"The ones you just fought are the outcasts of the flock. The main flock is stronger. And you won't be fighting alone. I'll be fighting as well."

A snarl rolled through Shouto. "I'm not here to help you. We came because Asui said you could heal Yaoyorozu," he said coldly, tightening his hold on Endeavor's hilt.

Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly. "And I can heal her, but in return, I ask for your help."

Shouto glared at the man with all his bitter rage. He should have listened to Tokoyami before following Asui. He glanced at the demigod from the corner of his right eye. Tokoyami looked at him, but his emotions were veiled. Slowly, Shouto's eyes returned back to the man.

"Fine," he said, finally in a hard voice.

Not that they had much of a choice.

Aizawa's expression relaxed. He gave a curt nod and turned. After a moment, Shouto followed with Tokoyami on his tail.

The house was enormous — a two-story structure made of lime and plaster. Mosaic floors opened up into multiple rooms that surrounded an open courtyard, with wooden stairs that led to a second floor.

It wasn't a house of a commoner and in the back of his mind Shouto wondered who Shouta Aizawa was.

As they followed Aizawa through the house, Shouto could make out the big eyes of seven half-human children watching the party in a mixture of fascination and fear. Shouto's stomach twisted. Counting the young girl with the horn, that made eight children. All appeared under ten summers.

Shouto felt some of his anger dissolve. As furious as he felt for being tricked, the children were innocent. They hadn't asked to be the offspring of monsters. Didn't deserve the discrimination of humans and gods. His lips thinned; he didn't know if he could ignore the situation.

Aizawa paused on the stairs and spoke quietly to Asui. She nodded and turned into a side room as Aizawa led Shouto and Tokoyami upstairs and around an open veranda.

Aizawa stopped in front of a wooden door at the end of the veranda. "You can use this room," he said, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Shouto walked past him. Inside was a bare room with two wooden beds and a shaggy, white flokati rug decorating the floor for warmth. A window on the far wall looked out at the ocean.

"Unfortunately, we don't have enough space for separate rooms," Aizawa added, as Shouto carried Yaoyorozu to one of the beds and laid her down gently, pulling a woolen blanket over her.

"I'll be back with medicine. There's a bath downstairs. I instructed Asui to get you new clothes and she'll bring a change for her as well," Aizawa drawled, turning towards the door.

Shouto's fingers traveled up his bicep and lingered on the golden bangles adorning his arm; he hesitated then grabbed one and slid it off.

"Aizawa."

The older man stopped in the doorway. Shouto tossed the bracelet to him. Aizawa caught it, and then glanced down. He raised a brow and looked back at Shouto.

"For our stay," Shouto ground out. "I won't be tricked again."

Aizawa nodded and slipped out of the room.

The bathroom was functional and bare, devoid of any frills or unnecessary comforts. Stone floors surrounded a marble tub that was deep enough for Shouto to sit in. He made quick work cleaning himself. Asui had given him a new chiton. He pulled it on, re-sheathed Endeavor at his side, and returned to the room.

Aizawa was back with the little girl. She sat on the edge of the bed as Aizawa hovered over Yaoyorozu, who was now clothed in a fresh chiton.

Tokoyami stood behind him. Some color had returned to his limbs and he didn't appear quite as deathly haggard anymore.

Shouto shifted as he watched the older man tilt Yaoyorozu's head back and pour an elixir down her throat. His chest tightened. He clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides and then swallowed slowly.

"How's she doing?"

Aizawa looked over his shoulder at him. "She'll be fine. I gave her a special medicine that I created," he said, standing up slowly. "Eri has a rare kind of magic that allows her to reverse spells. She can use it directly on creatures, as you saw on the stymphalians. But that's dangerous and could rewind a mortal's life all the way back to infancy, so I diluted some of her power and combined it into an elixir to be used on humans," he explained.

Shouto's right eye widened slightly and turned to study Eri. The little girl blushed and looked down at her hands.

Aizawa continued in a tired voice. "She should wake up shortly." He glanced over at Tokoyami. "You can go clean up now."

Tokoyami didn't move.

Shouto looked at him. "Go. I'll watch her."

Tokoyami searched his face for a moment, then gave a short nod and limped tiredly out of the bedroom.

As he withdrew, Aizawa turned towards Shouto, and his eyes swept over the left side of his face. He moved closer and extended his hand to touch the charred flesh.

"It's miraculous that you weren't burned alive," he said, thoughtfully. Shouto hissed through his teeth but forced himself not to flinch. "Ares' blood flowing in your veins must have saved you." He pulled back his hand. "It appears that your magic contained most of the damage to that one spot. Was that where you were hit?"

Shouto didn't respond.

Aizawa stepped back unperturbed. "Sit down," he instructed, motioning to the bed.

Shouto hesitated before going over to the bed. Leaning Endeavor against the side of the bedframe, he sat down on the ledge of the second bed.

"As I said, Eri has potent magic that may be able to heal the wound completely." He looked over at the little girl and nodded. She hopped off the other cot and moved towards Shouto. "On humans it has to be mixed with other medicinal herbs to dilute its potency, but on demigods, the magic can be applied directly."

The little girl stopped in front of him and raised her hands. There was a sizzling sound, and then warm magic bloomed in her palms like a pulsing bird's heart. She laid her small hands gently over Shouto's eye. He stiffened. Fresh warmth flowed into him for a moment, before dissipating. The little girl pulled back with a small cough. She looked at Aizawa and frowned.

The burning in his left eye was gone. In fact, it felt like all sensation on that side of his face had vanished. Shouto tried to open his eye. It cracked open slowly as if breaking wax off a letter. Everything was blurry and misshapen. He touched the flesh under his eye. It was puffy but when he pulled his hand back his fingers were no longer coated in blood and pus. He looked up at Aizawa.

Aizawa's eyebrows lifted in apparent surprise. "Fascinating."

"What?"

"It would seem that the magic used on you is quite strong," Aizawa said at length. His lips thinned, and he looked at him for several more seconds before turning to retrieve a second bowl and cloth that had been sitting on the floor next to Yaoyorozu's bed.

"This should help with the swelling. Dab it around your eye. Once it heals more, we can see what we can do about the scarring," he instructed, handing the bowl to Shouto.

He gave Shouto one last assessing glance before turning. "When you finish resting, come downstairs and we can discuss your stay in more detail," he said, sweeping out of the room, Eri following on his heels.

For a few moments, Shouto sat on the bed staring at the elixir. The smell was cloying and heavy. His fingers twitched, and he tightened his hold around the bowl.

Could he trust Aizawa? The man was mysterious and all too secretive for Shouto's liking. He could read a battlefield, but reading humans was far harder.

He was still staring at the medicine when a dry voice sounded from across the room. "To-ko-ya-mi?"

Shouto's heart stuttered, and he looked up sharply. Yaoyorozu had sat up on the opposite bed, her eyes unfocused as she looked around.

"What happened?" she asked slowly. Then, she paused, and her eyes widened. "Where are we? Where's Tokoyami?" Her voice cracked slightly. She pushed herself out of the bed and attempted to stand. Her legs buckled, and she fell forward onto the floor.

Shouto stood and rushed to Yaoyorozu's side. He crouched down and reached out to touch her, hesitating. She didn't want him. She wanted Tokoyami. His lips thinned, and he lowered his hand to clench on his lap. "Don't strain yourself," he said, his voice tense. Shouto's knuckles were white and he forced himself to open them. "He's fine, just taking a bath."

A strangled sigh of relief escaped Yaoyorozu and she clutched a hand to her chest, her shoulders visibly relaxing. "Thank the gods," she breathed, closing her eyes and dragging in a deep breath. Then, she opened them, appearing to have composed herself. She drew in another deep breath and turned to him. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Your eye!"

Shouto's hand darted up and covered his left side of his face. He turned slightly away. "Sorry. It must be unsightly."

Yaoyorozu hesitated and then shook her head. "No – I just didn't expect it to be blue," she said softly.

Shouto blinked. "Blue?" he repeated, frowning. He dropped his hand and looked back at her.

She nodded, then tilted her head to study him. "Can you...can you see out of it?"

His lips thinned and he shrugged. "Slightly."

Yaoyorozu bit her lip and stared at him for another moment before pulling her gaze away to look around the room. "Where are we? The last I remember was Moonfish..." she trailed off.

"We're on Aretias."

Yaoyorozu's gaze jerked back to him. "What? How? I thought this island was uninhabitable?"

"You needed a doctor."

Yaoyorozu's gaze glanced over his shoulder, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "If I had just swallowed too much water I should have been fine after expelling it from my lungs so - because I touched your sword?"

Shouto nodded. "Endeavor is difficult to handle. It allows anyone to pick it up, but if it doesn't deem that person worthy, it will curse them if they use it in battle."

A shadow flickered through Yaoyorozu's eyes.

His chest tightened. Shouto's fingers twitched to touch her, reassure her, but he forced himself from moving. "You needed help and the nereid brought us here."

"And the stymphalians that are said to inhabit the island?"

Shouto sighed. He suddenly felt tired. "In exchange for saving you, I agreed to help the landowner take care of the flock."

He rocked back on his heels, before Yaoyorozu could question further and stood up. Yaoyorozu followed him. Her legs wobbled slightly, and Shouto's hand darted out and caught her elbow to steady her. She looked up at him. Her face was slightly flushed. An aftereffect from the medicine, most likely. At least her temperature seemed almost normal, he noted as he released her. "Rest. We'll stay here for the time being," he said, stepping back. He turned and returned to the bed, picking up the liquid elixir.

Yaoyorozu watched him for a moment before slowly moving closer. The bed dipped as she took a seat, facing him. Her black eyes searched his face. Shouto met her gaze silently. After a moment, she reached out and gently, almost tentatively took the bowl from him. Her long, delicate fingers brushed against his. Shouto's stomach flipped. Her hands were warm.

"Here. Let me."

She took the bowl and set it beside herself. Shouto watched through hooded eyes as she picked up the cloth, wrung out the excess liquid and brought it to his eye, pressing down gently.

It burned as it touched his still raw skin. Shouto hissed and pulled back slightly.

Yaoyorozu paused, pulling her hand back to hover in the air. "Sorry."

Shouto swallowed and forced himself to relax. "It's fine."

Yaoyorozu nodded and began applying the liquid again. "Burdock or marshmallow and grape must. It's a potent mixture for burn wounds."

"Hmm," Shouto said.

There was a scraping sound of the door opening. Yaoyorozu quickly removed her hand, swiveling around. Shouto felt his gut clench in annoyance and looked up to see Tokoyami standing in the doorway, fresh and completely healed.

Yaoyorozu jumped off of the bed and ran to the demigod, throwing her arms around his neck. "You're better! I was so worried!"

"I won't die that easily," he said, returning her embrace, but his gaze didn't seem to leave him.

Shouto's jaw tightened and he stood up. He grabbed Endeavor and trudged towards the door. He paused for a moment before exiting and looked back at the pair. His fingers twitched slightly and he curled them around Endeavor's hilt.

Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami broke apart. Yaoyorozu looked over at him and her smile faded somewhat. Tokoyami's eyes narrowed. Evidently their temporary truce had ended. Shouto's fingers tightened on Endeavor's hilt. He forced his fingers to relax.

"Don't get comfortable. We'll leave once we've repaid Aizawa."

Thank you for reading! Comments, whether from users of this site or guests, gives me life. So thank you for supporting! Updates will be tri-weekly.

Teppodama Hassaishu - otherwise known as the 'Eight Bullets' in English, these men are Overhaul's top guards. In this story they are the leaders of the Stymphalian.

Stymphalian - were a group of monstrous birds in Greek mythology. They devoured humans, and had beaks made of bronze. Their feathers were sharp and metallic and could be thrown against their prey, while their dung was poisonous. In one story they were not birds, but women and daughters of Stymphalus and Ornis, and were killed by Heracles because they did not receive him hospitably...nice guy!