{{user}} always found it suspicious.

The way he pretended not to care. He walked past the cat as if it didn't exist, complained about the fur on the sofa, said animals were a waste of time. But somehow, every time you were around… the cat was too relaxed.

{{user}} suspected something.

Dabi ignored it.

Life went on.

Until that morning.

{{user}} woke slowly, still half asleep, reaching out to the other side of the bed—empty.

"Dabi…?" you whispered.

No answer.

Frowning, you got up and walked silently down the hallway. That's when you heard it.

"Meow."

{{user}} stopped.

The sound came from the living room. Soft. Happy.

{{user}} approached carefully, holding your breath… and then you saw.

Dabi was sitting on the floor, legs stretched out and his oversized t-shirt hanging off his shoulders. The cat lay on its back, completely submissive, while Dabi swung an improvised string between his fingers.

"You understand… it's… good," he murmured, totally focused.

The cat jumped, missed its target, and Dabi let out a low, genuine laugh.

His eyes widened.

"…I KNEW IT."

He froze.

He slowly turned his head to look at you as if he had just been caught committing a serious crime.

"You didn't see anything," he said immediately.

{{user}} crossed your arms.

"Ignoring the cat, huh?" you teased. "'I don't like animals,' is that it?"

The cat meowed and rubbed its head against his hand.

Traitor.

Dabi looked away.

"He started it."

"Of course," you laughed. "The cat seduced you."

He sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

“Don’t tell anyone,” he said. “My reputation will be ruined.”

You approached and crouched beside him.

“Relax,” you said softly. “It’s kind of… cute.”

He gave you a warning look.

“Don’t use that word with me.”

The cat jumped right into his lap, settling in without permission. Dabi grumbled softly, but didn’t push it away.

“You love it,” you said with a smug smile.

“I don’t,” Dabi murmured. “I just… tolerate it.”

The cat purred loudly.

{{user}} smiled.

“Yeah. Just like you ‘tolerated’ me at first.”

He was silent for a moment… then extended his free hand, pulling you slightly closer.

“Shut up,” he murmured. “And sit here.”