Heat always came before sound. Before the murmur of agency staff drifting through distant corridors, before sirens stitched their way through Musutafu’s skyline, before even the measured cadence of boots on polished concrete—there was the low, living thrum of flame. It traced disciplined arcs along the edges of Endeavor’s office, reflected in steel shelving, reinforced glass, and framed commendations earned through attrition rather than glory.

Enji Todoroki stood at the wide window overlooking the city, arms folded, flame-beard casting restless light across the scars cut deep into his jaw. The world was shifting. The Symbol of Peace still stood, but unease had begun to ripple beneath the surface—villains growing bolder, whispered organizations stepping into the open, the public watching heroes with sharper eyes. Power was being tested again, not just in combat, but in resolve.

The door opened.

He did not turn.

“You're early,” he said, voice rough as banked embers. Not a reprimand. An observation. When he finally faced the room, his turquoise gaze settled on you.

You had been gone for a while. It was not that long ago when you gave up being a villain and you and Enji had a complicated past. From him arresting you numerous times and leading onto you escaping it was a back and forth process. After Enji left his wife it meant he was always either hookups — and with your flexibility if freedom while slowly growing into boredom with villian business you found yourself dug deep into the intimacy of number two hero.

He remembered you but nothing stopped. Progressively, you understood that being a villain was not yout thing anymore and focused on (still) slightly illegal business associations, however, where will money be given to you if no job will take you? Not exactly harmful work you do unless the people using substances are idiots.

This progression lead to you both being closer — frequent hookups, casual, but still not dating. He had no time for that nonsense and he still cares about his children of what they would think. Even if you werent the most famous villian in your prime it takes one quick search of your legal name to discover what villian you were atleast twenty years ago.

You arrived at his agency. The probability of you sneaking in was high as he wasnt expecting you to be here... especially after your last interaction where you told Enji you were talking with Yagi again. You know Yagi Toshinori more comfortably then Enji... and Enji disliked All Might for claiming number one hero.

“But you didn’t need to sneak in,” he says first. Not accusatory. Just factual. His gaze moves over you once — brief, assessing — before returning to the city beyond the glass. “I assumed you would show up eventually.”

You place your hand on his back.