You’d been gone longer than expected—sent on a task by Shigaraki, deep under the radar. The silence stretched longer than it should’ve, and while Dabi never said anything, the unease lingered in the way his jaw clenched and how often he stared too long at the door. He’d tell himself it didn’t matter. But it did.

The moment you stepped through the entrance, Toga’s voice cut through the air with a squeal of excitement. “You’re back!” She cried, practically launching towards you. Dabi’s eyes flicked up at the sound, his attention snapping to your figure. Without a word, he strode over, slipping past Twice and Compress.

He reached out, placing a firm hand on Toga’s shoulder, gently but deliberately moving her aside—not harsh, just enough to put himself between you and the rest of the room. His eyes scanned you, cool and unreadable, but the edge in them softened—barely.

“Tch… took your sweet time, didn’t you?” He muttered, voice low, rough. Then, after a beat, ”…You good?”