Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 19 ~ Part 2||

Momo's head buzzed. The tavern was stuffy. Long rectangular tables with wooden benches had been squeezed into the hall at every angle. And the smell of stale alcohol hung in the air so strongly. It was as if it had seeped into the wooden fibers of the chipped furniture.

The rest of the hall was little better than the furnishings it was decorated with. The walls were threadbare. And there was a poorly patched-up hole by the doorway, as if a patron had gotten too rowdy on their way out and the tavern keeper had given up on trying to fix it.

On the far side of the hall, a wooden staircase led up to — what Momo presumed were — cheap rooms on the second floor. But it was doubtful that anyone would have been able to rest with the noise coming from the hall at the moment, as Fukukado's men packed along the seats.

Momo slid her hands around her empty cup and determinedly swallowed back a hiccup. Her cheeks were hot, and Momo found that her vision swayed if she turned too quickly.

The wine was stronger than anything Aizawa was able to brew back on Aretias. And after years of hardly drinking in Troy, Momo's alcohol tolerance was zero.

A pirate threw back his head with a throaty laugh. "This is the real stuff !"

"You should try this!" Another of the pirates said, reaching across the wooden table to push a small cup towards her. "It's ouzo. The best stuff."

Momo shook her head, smiling. "I think I'm good for now. If I drink anymore, Todoroki will have to carry me to Sparta."

The men around her laughed. Momo's chest warmed.

"I'm sure he'd love that," someone said smugly in the crowd.

A skinny tavern boy about thirteen was walking through the tables collecting empty mugs. The boy reached past Momo for a cup and she looked up. He had a distinct sweet and citrusy smell, like poppy flowers. Momo smiled at him and the boy blushed and ducked his head, hurrying away.

She giggled and turned her attention back to the pirates, rolling her eyes. "I doubt that. I've gained weight," she said, patting her stomach.

Todoroki slid into the seat next to her. Their arms touched as he placed a bowl of lamb stew in front of her. It was a huge portion; enough food to feed two people.

"Really? I don't think so."

Momo looked over at Todoroki. The bowl he had kept for himself was significantly smaller. Momo frowned. "Well, if you keep feeding me like this, I really will gain weight."

"Don't be too hard on Todoroki," one of Fukukado's pirates — Hiryu Rin — said, sliding into a seat between two of his crewmates on the opposite bench with his own food.

"Yeah," Koichi Haimawari took a spot next to Todoroki, nudging him. "Women are meant to be spoiled, right Todoroki?" Haimawari asked. He turned to her and winked.

Momo had the urge to stick out her tongue but held herself back. She glanced at Todoroki and lifted her chin. "If I fall asleep after this, it will be your fault."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Todoroki's mouth. "Then I'll just have to carry you back to Sparta."

The wine made her face warm. Momo pouted. "You shouldn't tell me that. I may take you up on that offer."

"That's fine."

Momo blinked at his blunt answer. She stared at him for a moment. Todoroki's gaze didn't waver. He was serious. Momo opened and closed her mouth. Then her eyebrows furrowed together. "But then how will I protect you?"