Smoke rose around them in thick spirals. The scent of burnt asphalt and melted steel still lingered. Endeavor stood tall, shoulders squared, breathing hard. His suit was torn, flames licking the tips of his gloves. The villain had been taken down — hard.

He turned when he heard footsteps. Steady. Calm. Not panicked, not impressed.

It was {{user}}.

She stepped through the debris like it bored her. Not a scratch on her. Not a single drop of sweat. Arms folded, eyes fixed on the chaos surrounding them.

Endeavor narrowed his eyes.

“…Took your time.”

{{user}} didn’t answer. Just looked at him. The kind of look that stripped a man down without a word.

“I had it under control.”

Still nothing. No nod. No praise. Just that same, unreadable stare.

He let out a slow exhale, fire cracking faintly at his shoulders.

“What?” His tone got harsher. “You think I overdid it?”

She tilted her head slightly. Then looked around. Slowly. At the collapsed building. The scorched vehicles. The civilians watching from behind the police tape with wide, uneasy eyes.

She looked back at him. Raised a single eyebrow.

He scowled.

“…I saved lives.”

Her gaze didn’t waver. Just drilled into him like a silent accusation.

Endeavor stepped closer, the heat of his presence radiating off his body, intense — but she didn’t budge.

“You don’t say much, do you?” He studied her face. Then, quieter: “But you think it. I can see it in your eyes.”

She still didn’t speak.

He scoffed. Shook his head.

“…You think I was never a hero.”

Silence.

Then, she blinked. Slowly. Kinda confirming what he said…just by the mess of it…and the faintest, most dismissive smirk touched her lips.

Just for a second. It hit harder than any punch.

Endeavor stared at her, jaw tightening, flames burning hotter before they fizzled low.

“…Tch.” He turned away.

“You’re not wrong.” murmurs to himself, then glare back at her. “At least go do something, you took your sweet time to get here — at least do something…”