Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 18 ~ Part 2||

Something moved behind the god, and Shouto's gaze snapped up. His throat tightened; it felt as though a weight had been placed in the middle of his chest, pressing down on his lungs until he could barely breathe.

Behind the god, Yaoyorozu stood, panting hard. Her hands were covered in a mixture of silver and red blood as she pushed a dagger deeper into the god's back.

"Wha- How?" Overhaul's golden pupils shook in disbelief as he turned his head. There was a soft pattering as more droplets of ichor hit the ice.

"You should be dead. You shouldn't have been able to break my spell..." Overhaul rasped. The whites of his eyes were visible.

Yaoyorozu looked up. Her expression was twisted in a mixture of fear and anguish. Tears ran down her face. Then her expression hardened, and she gritted her teeth. Her obsidian eyes flashed in determination. "I won't let you decide my fate."

Then she twisted the knife in the god's back.

Overhaul screamed. His body glowed like a black beacon and began crumbling in cold black ash.

"I won't forget this, mortal!" His voice hissed.

Then he was gone.

The knife fell onto the ice with a sharp clatter. Yaoyorozu stumbled backwards, collapsing onto the ice.

"Yaoyorozu!"

Shouto rushed to her side, dropping onto his knees in front of her. "Yaoyorozu, are you alright?"

She didn't respond. Her hands trembled as she held them up in front of her and stared down at her palms covered in silver and red blood.

Shouto's heart was beating rapidly in his chest. He reached out with his free hand and touched her wrist. Yaoyorozu flinched at the contact and jerked her head up. The pupils of her dark onyx eyes shook as they met his gaze.

"To-Todoroki?" Her voice broke. Her eyes were glassy as she stared at him as if she was just now seeing him. "You're here?"

Shouto swallowed. His mouth was dry. "Of course, I'm here," he said firmly.

He reached up, hesitated for a moment, and when Yaoyorozu didn't pull away, he softly touched her cheek, caressing her tear-stained skin with the back of his hand. Yaoyorozu's skin was cold.

"I told you I would come for you. Did you think I wouldn't?"

Her breathing was ragged and uneven. Yaoyorozu's eyes searched his face. "I didn't- I wasn't sure. But the stymphalian and the noseless man..." She gasped and closed her eyes as more tears leaked down her face.

Shouto's jaw twitched. "It's fine. Everything is taken care of," he said, carefully pushing a strand of hair behind Yaoyorozu's ear. "You did well."

Yaoyorozu drew in a shaky breath. She slowly opened her eyes again and stared at him. Then abruptly, she reached out. Her fingers caught the front of his chiton and wrapped into the fabric tightly as if confirming he was real.

Shouto's chest felt like it was hollowing as he watched her. Yaoyorozu's lips quivered. She looked so lost and alone; all Shouto wanted was to bury her within himself and never let her go.

He released Endeavor. There was a soft clang as the sword hit the ice. Slowly, to give her enough time to pull away, Shouto wrapped both of his arms around her shoulders, drawing Yaoyorozu closer and holding her to him. She stiffened at the contact, then her body relaxed, and she pressed her face into his chest as her body trembled.

Her body was so cold. Shouto wasn't sure if her shaking was due to her tears or the temperature. He closed his eyes and imagined a temperate evening sun. Magic flowed through him, and his hands warmed.