Peeks out from behind my computer. Hi…I'm still alive. Don't hate me. _ I'm so sorry for the long wait! I swear I tried, but it seems I have cyclical writing periods. And winter (so between January and March) I couldn't get the creative juices flowing. But, as soon as April hit, it was like BAM! My writing mojo came back. Anyways, I was debating if I should hold off on posting this chapter until I had the remainder of Ashes completed. But poll results said y'all wanted chapters as soon as they were done, so here you go! Hope you enjoy this long overdue update.

SUPER big thank you to my beta FlourChildWrites. She literally reread this chapter 5 times for me.

Chapter 32: We Can (Not) Be Alone

He was dreaming again.

A lump welled up in Momo's throat as she watched Todoroki's eyes dart back and forth behind his eyelids. His breathing was heavy, almost frantic. And his brow was beaded with sweat.

Momo swallowed thickly. She didn't know what to do.

Todoroki's dreams were getting worse.

When they arrived at the cabin, there had been a great deal to accomplish. The storm had covered the ground in pearlescent white and left temperatures near freezing. With nothing to eat and the cabin in dire need of repair, they were forced to spend the first days mending their shelter and foraging for food.

So when Todoroki had first mentioned his dreams, Momo assumed his unrest was attributable to their new environment and the compounding stress of the last few weeks. However, as a day turned to a week and a week to three, the dreams had grown in intensity and frequency. And now it seemed as though a night didn't go by without Todoroki waking in terror.

Momo watched as a bead of sweat dripped down Todoroki's neck to disappear underneath the front of his chiton. His skin was waxy and pale. Dark circles sat underneath his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

Momo reached out to touch Todoroki, paused, and then pulled her hand back. She curled her fingers into fists. She wanted to comfort him. Wanted to take away all of his fatigue and stress but didn't know how.

Momo's nails bit into the palm of her hands. Even now, she felt conflicted: torn between the desire to wake him or praying to the gods that Todoroki's dreams would go away by themselves.

It was a decision between Scylla and Charybdis.

Todoroki had always been a light sleeper and was prone to foregoing sleep. He wouldn't rest if she woke him now. But if his dreams continued, he'd wake screaming again. No matter her choice, it would be another night without sleep for him.

Todoroki's jaw suddenly clenched, and he moaned as if in pain. Or torment.

Momo pressed her lips into a hard line and made her decision. Reaching out, she took hold of his shoulders as gently as she could. "Todoroki," she said, shaking him.

She had barely spoken his name when Todoroki jolted awake with a sharp inhale. His eyes snapped open. His gaze was disoriented, but his expression was a mixture of shock and fear.

"It's okay," Momo whispered in her most calming voice. "You're fine."

His gaze twitched towards her, and confusion melted into recognition. "Yaoyorozu?"

Momo nodded. "You were having another night terror."

Todoroki blinked. Then he sighed heavily. He flopped his head back onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. His gray and turquoise eyes were hooded.

"I see." He ran a hand through his red and white bangs and sighed again. "Shit."

His masked expression wavered. A flash of unfamiliar resignation passed over his features. He looked bitter. Wounded. And more tired than Momo had ever seen him.

Her heart ached and shuddered as anguish washed over her. Momo shifted closer and reached out to gently run her fingers through Todoroki's sweat-soaked bangs. "They are getting worse."

Todoroki groaned in what might have been agreement. Then, he turned towards her and wrapped his arms around Momo's waist, burying his face into her, like a lost child.

The corner of Momo's mouth twitched. She slid her arms around him, running her hands up and down Todoroki's back before twinning her fingers through his silky hair and holding him to her.

"It feels so real," Todoroki mumbled against her throat, his voice strained.

Momo's fingers paused in Todoroki's hair. "The dream?"

"Yeah." His hands tightened around her waist. "I'm fighting some sort of golems. But, no matter how many times I destroy them, they keep coming back. Then, when I'm at my limit, I find the person controlling them. I try to kill them but, when I stab them, I realize I got the wrong person. And I end up killing someone I really didn't want to."

Momo didn't say anything.

Todoroki's shoulders shook faintly. "I can still feel their blood on my hands," he whispered, his voice cracking.

An overwhelming sorrow washed over Momo. She held Todoroki tighter. She wanted to pull him into herself. Take away all his pain. Do something. Anything to alleviate his torment, but she didn't know what that was. To tell Todoroki that it was only a dream wouldn't make him feel better. It wouldn't stop his nightmares.

Momo hated how powerless she felt. Todoroki had done so much for her: saved her and Tokoyami from the Athenians, protected her on Aizawa's island, lent her strength to free Ashido. It was unfair that all she could do in return was stay by his side.

If only she could do more.

Momo swallowed hard. "Let me make you tea," Momo finally said, untangling herself slowly from Todoroki's hold. "I was able to find some valerian root yesterday. I should be able to make you some tea with it. It will help you sleep."

"Valerian?" Todoroki repeated slowly. He pulled back and stared up at her as Momo slid towards the edge of the bed and began pulling on her sandals. "I thought that was for rabies?"

"It is," Momo agreed, standing and making her way towards the hearth. "But, you are most likely suffering from your humors being out of balance. Most specifically, your autumn black bile must be troubling you. Typically, physicians say bloodletting, purging, and exercise are the best treatments, but Aizawa said valerian can also help. The root encourages tranquility, and that will help alleviate the cold and dry imbalance within your humors."

"I see. As expected of Yaoyorozu. I knew I could count on you."

Momo's mouth twitched at Todoroki's awed tone. In truth, Momo wasn't fully confident that valerian would help. All she was taught at the temple was how to treat illnesses, not dreams. That was for philosophers and gods.

'Kaminari.'

Her nails bit into her palms.

She still had the wish.

It felt wrong to consider using a wish granted by a god to treat a nightmare, but Momo didn't have anything else to help Todoroki. And if his night terrors continued to haunt him, she certainly couldn't stand by and watch the man she treasured most suffer.

Momo pressed her lips into a thin line. Todoroki would try to stop her, of course. So she'd hold off for a little while longer. See if the night terrors went away by themselves. But if they didn't, even Todoroki couldn't expect her to sit by and watch him suffer forever.

A fluttering feeling filled her chest. Momo raised her chin and pushed back her shoulders as she made her way over to the hearth.

The room was cold. Drafts of frigid air blew into the cabin through holes and cracks in the wood. Momo threw more timber onto the fire before going over to the two cracked vases where they'd been storing their food.

The cabin didn't have much. Whoever had stayed last had cleared the house of anything of value. Luckily, there were a few rusted cooking pans and vases for storing herbs that had been left intact.

Momo pulled off the wooden stopper of the closest vase and reached in to grab the valerian then returned to the hearth. Setting a pan over the flames, Momo dropped the roots into a pan of water and waited; her thoughts wandering back to Todoroki's condition.

The temple taught that a person's health was connected to the harmony of their four humors. In contrast, illness was the result of an excess or a deficiency in one or more of their humors. And the only way to heal a person was to bring their body back into balance.

What could have caused Todoroki's humors to be out of balance?

She wondered if something had occurred to Todoroki that she may have missed. Momo thought back over the three weeks they'd been confined to the cabin and tried to identify if there was something she had overlooked. She couldn't think of anything.

The only thought that occurred to Momo was that perhaps Todoroki was becoming claustrophobic. Soldiers were used to traveling and fighting, and Todoroki more than others. After ten years on the battlefield, Momo wondered if perhaps he wasn't used to living inside anymore, especially not in a place as small and cramped as their current shelter.

However, that didn't explain the reoccurring dreams.

Momo gloomily turned the thought over in her mind, then glanced back towards Todoroki. "Do you think the gods may be trying to tell you something? A warning, perhaps?" she asked hopefully.

Todoroki snorted and pushed himself up. "If they are, then they aren't doing a very good job," he said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "I can't even remember who it is in my dreams."

"Prophecies aren't meant to be straightforward," Momo stated in a matter of fact tone. The water was boiling. Momo poured it into a cup and returned to the bed. "Reading them is an art, not a science. Perhaps, if you tell me more, I can help. Is there anything else that may be happening in the dream that we can use to try and piece together what you're seeing?"

"No," Todoroki said. His fingers brushed hers as he took the cup. His skin was still clammy. "I told you everything that happens." He stared down into the cup. "I'm in the middle of fighting these human-like golems. And as I kill them, more golems keep forming. So I have to burn them to keep them from regenerating."

"Do you know why they are attacking you?"

Todoroki frowned. And Momo watched as his eyebrows furrowed in thought. Then he shook his head and continued in a hollow tone as though he were repeating facts. "No. All I know is that I'm furious because they trapped me there and I can't leave until I defeat the one controlling them."

Momo nodded slowly. "So then you find the god or monster manipulating them?" she asked in a voice urging him to continue.

"Yeah." Todoroki's fingers tightened around the cup. "I jump over the fire and think I have the one controlling them cornered. However, when I go to stab the bastard, I realize he switched himself with someone else - I think a woman. And I end up killing them. Then, I wake up."

Todoroki's eyes darkened and became distant, and they fell silent.

Momo watched him carefully as he continued to drink, and the color slowly returned to his features. Her shoulders dropped, and she gave a sigh of relief as the tension eased from her.

"How do you feel?" she asked at last, when he finished and handed the cup back. "Do you think you can sleep more?"

Todoroki shook his head, and Momo's stomach dropped in disappointment.

"No, I don't think so. Not right now." He looked up and flushed with apparent guilt. "Sorry for keeping you up. You should go back to sleep. I'll go check the traps."

Momo bit her lip. "I'll go with you," she said as she placed the cup back onto the table.

Todoroki blinked, then his forehead creased. "Yaoyorozu, you don't have to. It's still early, go back to bed."

Momo shook her head. "I want to stay with you," she said in a resolute tone. She went over to where she had hung her red cape and pulled the cloth on. "Besides, do you know how you look right now?"

Todoroki snorted. "You're sounding a lot like Bakugou."

Momo turned back towards Todoroki and raised an eyebrow in question. "The Prince?"

"Yeah," Todoroki said as he pulled on his sandals and stood, sliding his sword into his chiton. "He was always telling me how I looked like shit."

Momo felt the corner of her mouth quirk up. "Is that so?"

"Yeah." Todoroki nodded. He opened the door, and Momo followed him out into the dark.

The sun had barely risen in the sky, but the morning was already overcast and dreary. Snow shifted, crunching under their sandals, but there were no other sounds on the mountain.

It was like the tense silence before a battle.

At the beginning of the war, each fight was accompanied by battle songs and chants to invigorate the soldiers drafted to the front. But, as the years passed, and the number of able bodied men diminished, the noise grew fainter and fainter until all that was left was the silence of the women and children left behind. Momo had always feared she'd become one of them someday. That one day Tokoyami's name would be summoned to fight, and then Momo would truly be all alone.

She shivered. Her mood darkened as she recalled the endless nightmares that plagued her during those days. Those nights had been terrifying.

She glanced at Todoroki's shoulders as he walked in front of her. Could Todoroki be having dreams about situations he was scared of? Did he even fear anything?

"Your dream," Momo wet her lips before continuing, "do you think it might be something you fear? Like your family being hurt. Or home destroyed. Or something about yourself? Night terrors can also be reflections of our inner fears."

Todoroki tilted his head back to stare up at the gray sky. "The only thing I fear is hurting you."

Something fluttered in Momo's chest at Todoroki's words. She swallowed, looking away from Todoroki as Momo felt heat spread over her cheeks. "You'd never hurt me."

"I'm not so sure," Todoroki said in a voice so low that Momo almost didn't catch it.

Her heart chilled. Her gaze darted back towards Todoroki. "What do you mean?" Momo asked. She stopped and stared at Todoroki as he turned to face her. Her voice rose as she continued. "You are the kindest man I've ever known! You saved me when you didn't have to -"

"That was because of Kaminari's magic," Todoroki said despondently.

"No," Momo stated firmly. Her hand curled over her chest. "You saved Tokoyami when you didn't have to and the children on Aizawa's island and Ashido. What kind of man would do all that for free?"

Todoroki didn't say anything. He dropped his gaze down to the snow.

Momo's gaze softened. "You won't hurt me," she repeated. She stepped towards Todoroki and brushed her hand against his before slipping her fingers through his. His skin was no longer clammy, she noted. "You'll never hurt me."

Todoroki grimaced, but he didn't pull his hand away. "I'm a son of Ares: the god of war." His fingers tightened around Momo's. "That anger and violence runs through me. I could end up hurting you like that bastard did to my mother."

Momo paused. This was the first time Todoroki had spoken about his family. What had Ares done to Todoroki's mother? Momo pushed her curiosity to the back of her mind, to be stored for later.

"You may share the same blood, but that doesn't make you him." Todoroki still wasn't looking at her. Momo stepped closer until she could feel the warmth of his body. With her free hand, she cupped his face. "Is there a reason you are afraid you'll turn into him?"

Todoroki's expression flickered. He met her eyes before looking away again. His lips thinned. "Dabi, my brother… Well, he wasn't always that crazy. When he was younger, my sister said he was kind. He'd look after her, and they'd play together, but then his madness took over, and he became like my father. I'm afraid the same thing will happen to me someday."

"You're not mad," Momo stated.

Todoroki's jaw clenched, Momo could feel the muscles tense underneath her fingers. "I could become mad though. I may not be strong enough to stop it."

Momo's chest tightened. She swallowed a lump in her throat. She slipped her fingers out of his to bring her hand up and cup the other side of Todoroki's face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "That's not true," Momo said, her tone sincere. "You're the strongest person I know."

Todoroki's eyes darkened. "I don't think so."

Momo shook her head and smiled. "That's because you don't see what I see."

Todoroki stared down at her.

Momo felt her skin prickle. Her heart felt as though it were swelling within her chest as she met his eyes.

Slowly, Momo pushed up on her toes and her lips skimmed against his. "You aren't mad, and you aren't weak. But, even if you were to lose your way, I'm a god slayer. I can create miracles, so don't worry," she whispered against his mouth. "I won't let you hurt me. I'll save you no matter what."

Todoroki's eyes flashed, and Momo pressed her lips against his.

The kiss was sweet. Gentle. Soft. Momo poured all her love and confidence into it. She hoped Todoroki could taste her belief in him as she pressed her lips to his.

After a moment they broke apart. Momo drew back and looked up at him. Todoroki's eyes were brighter than before. She could feel his breath against her mouth.

Todoroki's eyes drifted back down to her lips. And Momo stood waiting. Her heart thrummed unsure if he was going to kiss her again.

The trees around them rattled as a gust of wind blew across the mountain. Momo shivered.

Todoroki sighed and his shoulders dropped. "We should get going. Your hands are cold."

Momo tried not to frown as the moment was broken. She let her hands fall from his face. "All women are cold."

"Is that so?" Todoroki hummed. He took her hand. Warmth spread over Momo's skin, like the sun melting away frost. She sighed in contentment.

"Better?"

"Better," Momo agreed, closing her eyes with a hum.

"You know you could always wish for warm hands," Todoroki said in a flat voice. Momo opened her eyes, and his smile turned, teasing as he added, "Maybe feet as well while you are at it."

Momo snorted as they began walking again. "I don't know why you keep trying to get me to waste my wish on trivial things. First the blanket and now my hands and feet."

"Are warm feet and hands trivial?" Todoroki asked, arching a red eyebrow. "Seems very practical to me."

Momo huffed. She wasn't going to tell him she was saving her wish in case his night terrors didn't go away.

They came to the first of the traps. It was empty. The snare had been released, but whatever had kicked the trap had been lucky and gotten away.

Momo sighed. She wrapped her arms around herself as she watched Todoroki reset it.

The gods truly weren't on their side, it seemed. It made Momo wonder if they had angered any other gods besides Overhaul and Dabi. It felt as though they had to have; otherwise, it didn't explain all their bad luck. Momo sent up a small apology to the heavens, just in case.

As if in answer to her prayer for forgiveness, a cold wind whipped across the mountain, shaking the branches of the pines.

'Shouto.'

Momo pivoted around at the sound. "What?"

Todoroki jerked his head up and looked at her. "What is it?" He put his hand on his sword and stood slowly. "What's wrong?"

Momo scanned the trees. "Did you hear that?"

Todoroki tilted his head, apparently listening. "I don't hear anything," he said after a pause.

'Shouto.'

"There!" Momo spun around and froze in shock.

The snow shimmered and began to swirl upward. Like a mini twister, it twisted and danced, but instead of settling, the powder condensed into a colorless human-esq silhouette of a woman. It was impossible to tell what the woman would truly look like, but the height of the snow person was shorter than Momo with shoulder-length hair.

The humanoid snow turned, and although its eyes were fully white, Momo got the impression that it could see them.

"Shouto," the snow said; its voice was soft and feminine.

Momo gasped. "Did the snow just talk?" she asked, her voice jumping in surprise.

"Fuyumi," Todoroki whispered.

"What?" Momo looked over at Todoroki, but he apparently didn't hear her. He was staring at the snow woman, his expression filled with awe and disbelief.

"Shouto!" The snow said again, louder. It gave a choked sob. "I'm so happy to see you. It's been so long."

"How?" Todoroki asked, still staring with a look of amazement.

The snow woman – Fuyumi – continued, seemingly not hearing him. "But look at you! You're pale as Hades. And your eye and scar. By the gods!"

The snow fluttered closer. Fuyumi reached out to touch Todoroki's face, but her hand dissolved upon contact. "Oh gosh, I can't even touch you!" Fuyumi whined.

"Fuyumi, how are you here?" Todoroki asked again, louder.

The snow swirled back and pressed a hand to her breast. "I'm a winter nymph, remember? I'm not as strong as Mom, but I can use my magic on really cold days, like now."

Todoroki tilted his head. "But how did you find us?"

Fuyumi puffed up her cheeks. "Oh! Don't get me started on that!" Fuyumi said crossly. She put her hands on her hips. "I had to ask Midoriya for help tracking you. He told me that he had spoken to you, and yet, you didn't even think of reaching out to me!"

Todoroki's eyes widened. "That was because a centaur was helping me."

"But what about now? You know winter nymphs communicate through the snow. If you had asked the snow to take your message to me, I would have been able to find you faster."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't think of that," Todoroki said, looking slightly abashed.

"Geez, what am I supposed to do about you?" Fuyumi asked. It was obviously rhetorical. "Mother and I were worried."

Todoroki's expression shifted. "Mother?"

"Yes, didn't Midoriya tell you I'm with her now?" Fuyumi asked, raising a white eyebrow.

"Oh yeah…"

The snow didn't have pupils, but Momo sensed that the snow was rolling its eyes.

Fuyumi abruptly turned to look at her. Then its expression softened. "I'm sorry about my brother. Thank you for taking such good care of him…"

Fuyumi's voice trailed off, and Momo realized she had yet to introduce herself. Her eyes widened in alarm. "Momo. Momo Yaoyorozu. And no! It is your brother who takes care of me. I wouldn't be here without him," Momo said quickly, placing a hand over her chest.

Fuyumi chuckled behind her hand. "Very modest. I can't wait to meet you in person, Momo."

"What are you doing here, Fuyumi?" Todoroki asked in an expressionless voice.

"Yes," Fuyumi straightened and looked back towards her brother. Her expression hardened. "I came to warn you."

Todoroki frowned. "Warn us?"

Fuyumi's white lips thinned. "A Magi has been tracking you."

Momo's heart felt as though it dropped into the pit of her stomach.

"Magi?" Todoroki asked. His eyebrows furrowed.

Fuyumi nodded. "Powerful humans from the Persian Empire who delve into magic. Typically, they are astrologers or dream interrupters, but the more powerful ones can also cast spells and create curse tablets, drugs, and talismans. You have to be careful."

Momo could feel terror, colder than the winter wind, slide down her spine. She took in a sharp breath. "Since when?" she asked in a tight voice. "Do you know how close they are?"

Fuyumi shook her head; she seemed apologetic. "I don't. I wish I could tell you more, but I can't. This one is very talented and has been hiding his presence from both Mother and myself."

"Why'd a Magi be after us?" Todoroki asked, frowning in confusion.

Momo swallowed hard. "Ashido."

Todoroki looked at her, puzzlement still evident in his eyes. "Why? What does a Magi have to do with her?"

"It was a Magi who must have been supplying the slavers. That must be why they had magicked items," Momo said sullenly. "He must have been their backer."

The memory of the head slaver sent a shiver down Momo's spine. If their opponent was able to provide high quality magicked items like that to a lowly slaver, she was afraid to imagine what else they might have up their sleeve.

"So he is coming for revenge?" Todoroki asked.

Momo nodded faintly. "That is the most likely scenario." She looked back at Fuyumi. "We'll have to leave, and soon. Can you help us keep a look out as we prepare?"

"I'll do what I can."

Momo turned back towards Todoroki and met his gaze. "We've stayed too long here. We have to leave. Tomorrow morning, we need to go."

Todoroki's expression hardened. He nodded. "Alright."

Notes:

Scylla and Charybdis - Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom deriving from Greek mythology, which has been associated with the proverbial advice "to choose the lesser of two evils".