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Chapter 23: We can (not) feel warmth
On the western edge of Dicaea, past the taverns and perfumed pornai, elongated corridors of wooden and stone buildings stood proudly at the edge of the harbor. Towering walls of the warehouses were erected to protect the city's goods, preventing those with slippery hands from pilfering the valuables inside — or from the valuables escaping by themselves.
A high-pitched scream tore through the night.
In front of a larger warehouse, slavers stood blocking and beating men and women back inside. A body lay on the ground unmoving and was soon kicked to the side as the slavers and city guards advanced.
Wooden sticks and whips cracked against pale flesh. The smell of rust was thick in the air. Bright red blood dripped from fresh lacerations. The liquid fell like raindrops onto the stone road and smeared underneath sandaled feet.
On the other side of the commotion — down a narrow alley — Momo stood facing a tall, broad-shouldered man.
The clouds parted, and the moon gleamed silver off the tip of Momo's spear. She could feel the warm presence of the freed slave, Toru Hagakure, close behind her like a guardian spirit. It provided her with a little comfort as the crisp wind blew across the street, carrying the heavy smell of fear and violence.
"I'll hold him off. Go help the others," Momo said in a low voice to Hagakure. She didn't wait for a response. There wasn't any time. She would just have to trust that Hagakure would do as asked.
The wind rustled Momo's short chiton around her thighs. She slid into an offensive stance.
The man adjacent to her chuckled darkly. "The little rat wants to play? Very well." He reached into his chiton and pulled something out. "In honor of you killing my men and being such a nuisance, I'll give you something special."
Sticking out his long tongue, the head slaver placed a pebble-sized crimson berry in his mouth and swallowed it back.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the slaver groaned in pain. There was a ripping sound. Red mist seemed to pour out of his body.
His skin tore.
Flayed.
Momo gasped, shrinking back in horror as his body began to expand. The ripping sound was replaced by a curdling, chilling sound of bones breaking and reforming. It filled Momo's ears like an infection, drowning out the chaos from behind her.
A shiver of terror ran down Momo's spine. But she stood frozen, unable to move, unable to tear her gaze away as she watched muscles and sinews erupt out of his torn, bloody body. They slithered like serpents over each other, twisting and coiling to form giant gauntlets of blood and tissue.
The slaver hissed between his teeth. He slowly rose up, a giant.
Straightening, he cracked his neck. Crimson liquid leaked down his arms and saturated the front of the slaver's stretched chiton, dyeing him red. Then he looked at her, and his lips twisted up into something malicious. His teeth flashed as his black eyes met Momo's.
"What's wrong, little rat? Don't tell me you're scared already? The fun hasn't even started."
Momo swallowed hard. The blood had drained from her face, and she could feel her heartbeat resonate in her teeth.
Instinctually, Momo knew this fight could only end in one of two ways: death or victory. There would be nothing in between. And Momo also knew, now more than ever, she had every reason to live, to rage against any obstacle that stood in her path. She needed to save the slaves and return to Todoroki's side.
But could she do it?
Alone?
Her heart pounded heavily, blood coursing in her veins, as Momo took in the slaver's new form. Her hands were moist with anxiety. And she forced her fingers not to show her fear.
'You're a godslayer.'
Todoroki's deep voice drew to the forefront of her thoughts. And Momo's throat tightened.
'I can do it. I must do it.'
Momo sucked in a deep breath. Conviction swelling, she tightened her fingers around her spear and lunged forward.
The head slaver laughed and swatted at her. Momo dropped low, dodging his fist. She whipped her spear around and struck, aiming for his exposed neck.
But, despite his increased size, the slaver was fast. He twisted, and her weapon ricocheted off his shoulder.
Momo's hands quivered as her spear bounced off the corded muscle, and she stumbled back.
The bloody twining muscles were as hard as metal.
"Nice try, rat." The slaver chuckled low in his throat. He pivoted, and his fist flung backhanded towards her before Momo could even brace herself.
She dodged, but not fast enough. His fist clipped her side, and Momo tumbled backwards, slamming into the dirt.
The pain was indescribable. He had only grazed her, but it was as if Momo's innards had been smashed.
Slowly — too slowly — Momo's senses returned. She felt her face and hands against the ground. The dirt and her hair plastered against her cheek. Her chest was heaving.
Momo pushed herself up using her spear as support.
In the back of her mind, she noted that she could no longer see Hagakure. And Momo prayed that she had found a way to assist the other slaves. Momo wasn't so naïve as to think that they all could escape, but she could hope.
She spit out the dirt that caked her lips. Sand and gravel lingered on Momo's tongue, but the coppery taste of blood wasn't there.
No internal damage.
It was a small mercy, but Momo would take anything the gods gave her.
Momo wiped at her mouth and swung her spear around to sink into a defensive position, just as Tokoyami had taught her back in Troy.
The man let out a bark of laughter. "What's wrong, little rat?" The slaver's expression was gleeful. His eyes shone in victory. "Is that all you have? Where's that fire from yesterday?"
What could she do?
Momo tried to think. If she took one of his punches directly, she likely wouldn't survive. Whatever magic he had used was too strong for her spear to pierce. The only weak spots she could locate were his neck and feet. The rest of his body was carefully guarded by coiling, bulging muscles.
She wet her dry lips. Her heart pounded. She needed time to think of a winning strategy.
Close by, screams of alarm sounded.
Momo jerked her head up. Behind the head slaver, men and women raced out into the street. They stumbled and tripped over each other as they poured out of the warehouse, slavers on their tails.
Even through the fear racing through her heart, Momo couldn't help but feel a thread of pride at seeing the men and women. Hagakure had done it. She had found a way to turn the tide and free the men and women who had been trapped.
"What the fuck!"
The head slaver roared. He twisted and grabbed a boy who, disoriented, stumbled too close.
Momo's hands tightened around her spear, and she bolted forward.
The slaver pivoted and swung his fist at her. She skidded under the blow and struck out. Her spear sliced through his heels.
The slaver howled in pain and released the boy. The kid hit the dirt and quickly crawled out of range as the head slaver spun on her, his fist flying out.
This time, Momo was ready.
She held up her spear to block his attack. However, even indirectly, it was like being struck by a boulder. Momo's body was launched into the air. She slammed back into a stack of crates, hard.
There was a loud rumble as the boxes fell, scattering across the ground. Momo's body slumped down onto the stone street.
Distantly, she thought she could hear Hagakure scream her name. But wasn't sure as her vision swam.
The sound of heavy footsteps drew closer.
Momo scrambled. She tried to push herself up, but the world tilted, and she fell over as everything blurred. Her body was sore, and she thought she felt a wet spot on the back of her head.
She needed to get up. She had to keep fighting, but her body wouldn't listen.
A dark shadow blocked out the moon. Momo's head rolled back. And through her spotty vision, she met the dark, cruel eyes of the slaver.
"I'm going to enjoy seeing your blood," he said, lips curling back into a snarl. He reached out, his fingers wrapped around Momo's head.
Momo squeezed her eyes shut. The picture of a man with turquoise and silver eyes flashed through her mind.
'Todoroki.'
He wasn't here. Her heart clenched.
'Please.'
She needed to think of something. Anything. She had to keep fighting.
Momo could feel the slaver's rough fingers dig painfully into her scalp.
'I don't want to die.'
Suddenly, there was a boom in the distance; it was so abrupt that the warehouses along the street trembled and stones ground against each other. A freezing chill licked down the street, biting into her bones.
Momo's eyes snapped open. She jerked her head up as much as possible, and a silent gasp escaped her lips in a white mist.
The head slaver stood completely frozen before her. Hand extended, crystallized fingers still curled in her hair, ready to squeeze the life out of her.
Momo's breath condensed into mist as she sunk back against the wall, her body jelly.
She was safe.
She was safe.
She was safe.
As her heartbeat slowly steadied, Momo suddenly became conscious of the chaos unfolding on the other side of the slaver.
Lifting her head, she watched, almost detachedly, the men and women panicking.
The ice had torn down the middle of the street. The head slaver had apparently taken the brunt of the attack, but those within range hadn't been spared.
Those not fast enough to escape had been trapped up to their waists in beautiful translucent ice. And those who had been lucky either stood by, mouths agape, or were bolting in every direction. Like ants that had abruptly been thrown into chaos by a child's wicked intentions.
Hagakure sat on the ground, a woman leaning against her chest as both stared at the chaos, seemingly in shock. The ice had missed them only by a few steps.
"Yaoyorozu!"
Momo's heart jumped in her throat. She twisted her head around. Her gaze followed the ice back up the street and towards the man she had (just moments before) thought she'd never see again.
'Todoroki.'
A soft, inadvertent sob caught in her throat. Momo's chest clenched. She swallowed hard and hurriedly untangled herself from the slaver's grip. She scurried to her feet and stumbled forward towards Todoroki.
"Yaoyorozu," he repeated, stopping before her. His irises shook. Panting, he reached out with both hands as if to cup her face but stopped before touching her. His fingers trembled, and Todoroki's hands lingered in the air for a moment as if he was unsure whether she were real.
Momo's lips quivered. "To-Todoroki," she whispered in a voice barely audible. Even without touching him, Momo could feel the coolness of his skin from the magic. "You're here."
Suddenly, an array of emotions overwhelmed her. Momo's vision blurred, dewdrops accumulating on her eyelashes either from relief that she was saved or the cold. Or perhaps it was from knowing he hadn't abandoned her — Momo didn't know.
Her fingers quivered around her spear. She stepped closer and reached up with her free hand to take one of Todoroki's hands within her own when the rickety sound of wheels over stones careening down the street broke through the moment.
Momo twisted around. Her eyes widening at the sight of an oxen-drawn cart launched itself down the street. It was helmed by a man with silver hair and shark-like teeth and a woman with long auburn hair tied into a high side ponytail.
"Todoroki! Yaoyorozu!" The couple screamed. The man's deep voice rang over the mayhem unfolding around them.
Men and women dove out of the way as a cart launched into the street and cut across the chaos. It came to a stop before her and Todoroki.
Momo stumbled back in shock. "Kendo! Tetsu-Tetsu! How?"
"I ran into them on the way to find you," Todoroki said quickly. This time, when he reached out, he didn't hesitate as he took her arm and guided her towards the cart. "We can explain more later. Get on."
The oxen hoofed at the ground. Momo took a half step forward when a frightened voice rang out in alarm.
"Yaomomo!"
Hagakure skidded to a stop before Momo and held up a wooden stick towards Todoroki. "Let her go!"
Todoroki's expression rippled. His hand not holding Momo's arm dropped down to his sword's hilt.
"Don't!" Momo quickly snapped, pulling her arm out of his grip.
Todoroki stiffened and looked back at her.
"This is Toru Hagakure," Momo said, stepping in between them. "She's been helping me."
Everyone stared at her, waiting.
Momo took a deep breath and met Todoroki's silver and turquoise eyes. They were running out of time, the slavers and city guards had been caught off guard by Todoroki's attack, but they would soon regroup. If she was going to save the men and women held prisoner, she would need to act now.
She raised her chin. "I'm not going. Not yet. There are still people that need saving. Will you help me?"
"Wha-"
"Of course," Kendo said quickly, interrupting her husband. Her eyes gleamed, perhaps eager for retribution against the slavers for trying to humiliate her yesterday.
Todoroki's expression remained masked as he stared down at her. "What do you plan to do?"
Momo turned towards Hagakure; the tear stains on Hagakure's cheeks were still there but now were mixed with dirt and small cuts. "Will you help me?"
Hagakure reached out and squeezed Momo's hand. "Of course."
At the other end of the street, Momo could practically hear the shock wear off and the mayhem resume.
She wet her lips. "We need to get as many slaves away from here as possible. Hagakure, you're in charge of leading them to the cart. Kendo and Tetsu-Tetsu, please protect everyone. Once it's full, take them outside of the city. Don't wait for us!"
"Sounds like a plan." Tetsu-Tetsu handed the reins to his wife and jumped off the cart. His grin widened, sharp teeth poking out of his mouth. He wasted no time barreling into the commotion down the street, punching and kicking at men who were dragging a woman back towards the warehouse.
Hagakure gave Momo's arm one last squeeze and then slid back down the street, swinging her wooden stick at any of the city guards or slavers who tried to apprehend her. "To the cart!" She yelled to any of the slaves she passed.
Kendo looked back over and stared down at Momo from the cart. "Be careful." She glanced at Todoroki. "Take care of her," she ordered.
Todoroki nodded, and the group broke apart.
Momo grabbed Todoroki's arm. "Come with me. I need your help freeing anyone trapped in the ice."
They rushed down the street.
There were more people trapped than Momo had originally thought. Fifteen in total.
Momo swung her spear around and slammed it down against the ice. It shattered with a loud crack, and a man pulled his foot out with a cry of relief.
She hurried onto the next trapped victim. Her vision danced with dark spots, and her side pulsed in pain from where she had failed to dodge the head slaver's magicked fist. Momo bit her bottom lip and forced herself to breathe in a deep breath, pushing the pain to the back of her mind. She couldn't lose focus now. Stopping before the next slave, Momo began chipping at the ice around the woman's feet.
Todoroki crouched down opposite her. Heat shimmered around his body, and Momo could see the ice melting as he pressed his fingertips to the frozen extremities of the people trapped inside.
From the corner of her eye, Momo noticed some movement. She looked up as a slaver rushed toward her, spear raised.
Momo tried to scramble into a defensive stance but before she could strike out, a blast of heat skimmed her cheek.
The slaver screamed. He stumbled back, his body alight in shimmering red and orange flames.
Twisting around, Momo met Todoroki's gaze. He was staring at her with sweeping concentration as if looking her over for injuries.
"I'm okay," Momo said hurriedly, wiping at her forehead. Her skin was moist with sweat.
Todoroki's eyes hardened into sharp flints. Momo thought he would argue, but then he gave her a slight nod and turned back to continue freeing the slaves.
Momo breathed a sigh of relief. They were almost done. Just a little longer, and they could all escape. The slavers and city guards were strong. But they hadn't fought in a war.
Her heart rose in her chest in anticipation as she continued chipping at the ice trapping the men and women.
"We can't hold out any longer!" Kendo called over the commotion.
Momo looked up, wiping at her forehead as she found Kendo in the uproar.
"Go! We'll catch up."
Tetsu-Tetsu gave Momo a stiff nod. He jumped back onto the cart. Then he flicked the reins, and the oxen charged down the street, away from the violence. The slavers and city guard stumbled back as the cart dove down the street.
Men shouted in fury.
Momo slid across the ice. Her side burned in agony where the slaver had hit her, and her breathing was labored. But she didn't have time to slow down.
The ice shattered, and the last slave was free.
Her vision swayed as she stood. Momo ground her teeth, willing herself to not pass. She had overexerted herself, but she didn't have time to rest yet. Swallowing back the pain, she looked up. "I'm done. Let's go!"
There was a roaring crack behind her, like ice shattering.
Momo jerked around.
Everything went black.
It was like waking up suddenly from a deep slumber. The world swam back into view — blurry and disoriented — and Momo's stomach roiled as if she were going to throw up.
Slowly, her senses returned to her. Momo felt the hard surface of stones against her cheek. Her head was pounding.
Blinking slowly, her vision fading in and out, Momo raised herself up onto her arms, panting. Her stomach twisted painfully at the movement, and for a second, Momo thought she might be sick. She swallowed back the bile that rose up her throat.
Tentatively, she touched her forehead. What happened?
Distantly, the sound of shouting became clearer. She looked up, and slowly, her vision cleared.
Standing in front of her — back facing Momo — Todoroki stood like a god of rage. Snaking up his arms, magic of ice and fire crackled and hissed.
The slavers and city guards hesitated. Their expressions filled with terror as they stood sandwiched between the Spartan and giant behind them.
The head slaver had broken out of the ice. His gauntlets of blood and muscle pulsed as he stood three heads taller than the other men.
"Get them! Kill them all!" He shrieked, "But leave the woman to me; she is mine."
Searing blue and red magic erupted up Todoroki's arms. "She will never be yours," Todoroki roared. He thrust out his hand, and the spell erupted, shooting like an arrow towards the head slaver.
It burst in scorching ice and heat. Burning steam whipped down the street, obscuring everything in a thick cloud of white. Trapped within the searing cloud, the head slaver screamed in agony.
Todoroki didn't pause; he turned around and knelt by Momo's side, gathering her into his arms. He gave her his sword and spear to hold, then picked her up and took off down the street.
"Get them! Get them! You fucking whores!"
Sandaled feet clapped against the stones behind them. Momo's head pounded with each jerky step. Her fingers wrapped tighter around the weapons in her arms. Todoroki suddenly swerved. He darted around a corner in the road and took a sharp turn, halting almost immediately as they came to a dead end.
Momo's breath caught.
A shout came from somewhere on the other side of the wall. Another outburst sounded a little closer.
The slavers were almost on them.
Todoroki stepped back into the darkness and pressed up against a stone wall. His fingers tightened around Momo's body, holding her to himself as if afraid that she would disappear if he loosened his grip. His heart pounded through Momo in rapid palpitations.
Momo stilled in Todoroki's arms, too afraid to move. Too afraid to breathe, she listened intently to the footsteps pounding against the stone road on the other side of the wall.
"This way!" A deep voice barked. Close.
Momo shrunk into Todoroki's chest.
Sandals slapped against stone roads and passed their hiding spot.
After what felt like forever, Momo felt Todoroki's tense body relax. Todoroki breathed out a loud sigh of relief.
"I think we are safe for now," Todoroki said, his voice soft barely audible as he whispered the words close to Momo's ear. His grip relaxed, and he gently placed her on the ground before straightening.
Momo stood awkwardly in front of him, holding her spear close to her chest as she watched Todoroki re-sheath his sword at his side. Then he looked up, and his expression was masked as he stared at her. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay now. I just got up too quickly," Momo said, not meeting his gaze. Her fingers fidgeted around her spear.
Todoroki's jaw twitched; he breathed out slowly through his nose as he continued to stare at her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with intensity. He was angry, Momo realized.
"What in Hades' name were you doing there anyways? Why were you even over here? This late at night," he said finally. His hands curled into fists.
Guilt welled up within her chest, but also anger and defiance. Momo pursed her lips. "You were late. I went looking for you, and then..." she shrugged. "I couldn't leave them."
"But-" he breathed in deeply and raked his hand through his tousled hair as if trying to remain calm. Todoroki started again. "You didn't –"
He shifted. His fists shook by his side, and Todoroki's mouth twitched repeatedly. He appeared to be at a loss for words for how to deal with the situation. Finally, he breathed out through his teeth and stood staring at her. His pupils shook.
"I- I was worried," he said after a few moments. His voice was barely above a whisper.
Guilt slammed into Momo's chest. Her breath caught at the admittance. She dropped her head to stare down at the ground.
A stone lay at her feet, and she rolled her sandal over it, feeling it pinch into her skin through her sole. "I'm sorry. I thought- I thought you had left me," she admitted. Under the pretense of wiping dirt and blood from her face, she shielded her eyes within the crook of her arm and suppressed the tears welling in her eyes. It had been a long day. Momo glanced back at Todoroki, and tried to smile. "Forgive me?"
Todoroki looked pale at her admittance. His heterochromatic eyes searched her face. Then, as if he found something he couldn't stomach, he closed the distance between them and reached out. His fingers hesitated for a second before brushing against her cheek and cupping her face. His fingers were warm as he held her.
He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. "Yaoyorozu, I won't ever leave you. I promised, didn't I?"
Momo's bottom lip trembled as she stared into his gray and blue eyes. They were clear. He wasn't lying.
Her chest constricted. Letting go of her spear with one hand, she raised her fingers up to lay on top of Todoroki's hand, turning her face towards the warmth.
They stood like that for a moment before Todoroki slowly raised his head, hands still cupping her face as he stared imploringly at her. "Now, will you tell me what happened?"
Momo pressed her lips together then recounted what had happened. Todoroki looked more and more pale as she continued.
She flinched as his fingers gently reached around to prod at the back of her head, inspecting her injury. Todoroki's eyes grew hard.
"I don't think anything is broken or internally damaged," Momo said quickly as Todoroki's expression grew furious. "It's just a bump. It will heal with a bit of rest."
He withdrew his hand. Momo noted there was no blood on his fingers.
"I'm fine," she said with more force, straightening up. "I'm not going to let you leave me."
"You don't have to ever worry about that. I told you when we left Aretias, that I'd keep you close, which means I'll always come for you." Todoroki's voice was matter-of-fact. And Momo's chest tightened on his words, squeezing around her heart like a vice.
She turned her face away as warmth spread up her neck.
After a moment, Todoroki glanced out of the alley. "I think it should be safe. Let's go."
Momo looked up, her lips thinned. "No."
Todoroki turned back around and looked at her. His eyebrows pulled down as he stared at her, silently demanding an explanation.
"Not yet," Momo clarified. "They captured a nymph."
Todoroki's face paled.
"They said they were taking her to someone called Trumpet. It must be an alias, but we need to find him. I think they drugged her or used some sort of magic on her."
Todoroki's eyes darkened into foggy gray and murky blue. He stared at a spot above Momo's right shoulder as if in deep thought. "I know where he is," he said finally.
Momo jerked her head up, but he didn't elaborate. She wet her lips. "I'm not leaving until I've saved her."
Todoroki's expression rippled. "You get away from the town. I'll go rescue her by myself."
"No!" Momo straightened and stared at Todoroki. "You just promised not to leave me."
Todoroki was silent for a moment, then his shoulders dropped, and he sighed. "Fine. I'll do whatever you need me to do, but I don't want you to fight anymore. Not tonight." His voice was soft but firm.
Momo's eyes widened. Her fingers fidgeted around her spear. "But-"
"Promise me you won't fight." He interrupted.
"I'll do my best."
Todoroki's silver and turquoise eyes flashed. His lips curled back. "Promise."
Momo bit her bottom lip. "I promise."
Todoroki's shoulders dropped in apparent relief. "Okay."
"Now, tell me where you think they are."
Hesitantly, Todoroki told Momo about his recent encounter with Kaminiari and the quest he had tasked him with. His explanation was curt and straightforward. It felt like he was hiding something, but Momo knew this was't the time to dig into the details.
Taking a deep breath, Momo pressed a hand to her forehead. "It's hard to imagine a god would be involved as well. So, one wish for rescuing the nymph?"
Todoroki nodded.
"Okay." Momo straightened. She pushed off the wall and moved to slide past Todoroki. "Let's go then, before they find us. We are running out of time."
"Wait." There was a rustle of fabric. Momo looked up, and her breath caught as Todoroki pulled something out of his chiton. His battle-worn features took on a soft edge; his cheeks reddened. "A god slayer and nymph rescuer needs to be prepared."
Momo gasped at the sight of Todoroki's gift. The fabric was so finely woven it was almost translucent. At the ends were intricate patterns of the Aegyptos.
She reached out, barely able to breathe as her fingers gently touched the hair ribbon. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, let alone touched or worn. She pulled her hand back.
Todoroki dropped his chin to his chest as if embarrassed. "Do you not like it?"
Momo's lip trembled. "I don't deserve this," she whispered. Her voice was thick with emotion.
Her fingers tightened around her spear, and she pulled the weapon closer to her chest. Her chest hurt with longing, but Momo knew she couldn't accept it. She was a priestess. A slave. Even if Todoroki didn't consider her one, she still hadn't done anything to gain this kind of favor from him. This was too much.
Todoroki was quiet for a moment. Then he reached out, gently unclenching her hand from around her weapon. With a light touch, he grasped her hand, drawing it up. His touch was gentle as he leaned over and kissed the back of her hand.
Momo drew in a sharp breath. Warmth spread from the spot where Todoroki's lips rested. Like grape vines, the heat from his mouth spread up her arm and twinned around her heart.
Todoroki looked up, still bent over her hand. "That's not the way I see it. It's a gift. I want you to have it."
His heterochromatic eyes glittered in the rays of moonlight as he met Momo's gaze. And it felt as if she forgot how to breathe. The dark night, which had only moments before seemed clouded, suddenly felt alive with colors.
Momo's heart pounded, faster and faster in her chest. It felt as if she were about to break as feelings so intense her heart could barely handle them rushed through her chest. Her body trembled.
Todoroki let go of her hand and was about to retreat when Momo stepped forward and pushed up on her toes. Her lips met Todoroki's.
It was like a bright light burned behind Momo's eyes. Her lips pressed against Todoroki's lips. His mouth was dry. His lips slightly chapped, but Momo could barely think. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Finally, she settled on the two words that were burning strongest in her chest.
"Thank you," she whispered against his lips before drawing back.
Todoroki stood completely still for a moment, unabashadley staring at her as if in wonder, before the hint of a smile curled up on his mouth. "Here, I'll put it on you."
Todoroki moved behind her. His cheeks and ears were bright red.
Momo's bottom lip quivered. How could she have doubted him? How could she have ever thought, even for a moment, that he would leave her?
After a few tries, Todoroki stepped back. "Sorry, I don't know how to do it right."
A clump of bangs fell out of the ribbon to brush against Momo's cheek. She laughed and shook her head. "It's perfect. Let's go."
"As you wish, god slayer. It's your show."
HOW'D YOU LIKE IT?! WAS THE KISS GOOD ENOUGH?! WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT?! THOUGHTS? FEELINGS? REACTIONS?
Notes:
Aegyptos - The name 'Egypt' comes from the Greek Aegyptos which was the Greek pronunciation of the ancient Egyptian name 'Hwt-Ka-Ptah', originally the name of the city of Memphis.
Head Slaver - The head slaver in Ashes is Muscular from BNHA.