Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 8 ~ Part 2||

Momo's lips thinned. "He's my master. I sold myself to him when Troy fell to save Tokoyami."

Asui hummed. "Is that so, kero? He doesn't seem like any master I've ever seen, though," she said thoughtfully.

"Why do you say that?" Momo turned slightly to stare at Asui in confusion.

"He risked his life for you. I've never seen a master do that for someone who is just a slave."

Momo ran quickly through her memories, but couldn't pinpoint a time when he had risked his life for her. "What do you mean?" she asked again.

Asui's hand paused, and she looked at her seriously. "Todoroki was the one who saved you from drowning, kero."

Momo's eyes widened. She hadn't known.

"I've never seen someone jump into the ocean so fast. You must hold some significance for him to be so desperate."

Someone significant to Todoroki? That was impossible. Asui must have it wrong. He must have dived in because he'd realized she had taken his sword. There was no way someone like him would view her as anyone of importance.

She frowned.

There was a light knock on the door. Momo looked up as Tokoyami entered. Momo felt her chest loosen. "It's your shift."

Momo nodded and said a quick farewell to Asui before exiting the room.

Tokoyami was waiting for her on the veranda. She looked around but noted that Todoroki was nowhere in sight. He was probably still speaking with Aizawa.

Momo stepped up next to Tokoyami and looked out over the courtyard. A fountain stood in the middle of the garden adorned with a statue of Hephaestus, god of the forge and protector of outcasts. Moonlight shimmered off of the water. On the far wall, she could see the deep lacerations from the stymphalian attack two nights prior.

"How was your patrol?" she asked after a minute.

Tokoyami shrugged slightly. "There's not much to report tonight. Our paths did not cross with those creatures of darkness."

Momo nodded. Tokoyami looked at her, and his eyes seemed to narrow slightly as he studied her. "You haven't been sleeping again."

It was a blunt statement — an accurate one.

"I had another dream."

Tokoyami's expression hardened. "The same as before?"

"Yeah."

"Are you alright? We're safe here. There's no reason to be afraid."

"I know."

The shadows from the first floor shifted, and Todoroki stepped out into the courtyard. He raised his head, and his eyes met hers. He gave her a short nod.

It was time for their patrol. Momo straightened under his gaze.

You hold some significance to him.

She stilled and felt her face warm as she watched Todoroki go back inside.

"Yaoyorozu."

Tokoyami's stern voice caught Momo's attention. When she looked back at him, his expression was pensive. "What is it?"

Tokoyami looked at her for a moment and then tilted his head back. He stared up at the ceiling for a full minute. "Just be careful around him. Don't get too close," he finally said in a tight voice.

The corner of Momo's mouth twitched.

"You're too kind and forgiving. People take advantage of that," he continued, looking away from the ceiling to stare at her again.