There was a point in Dabi's life where he had been afraid that he was falling in love. And what does a villain do once he realizes what a terrible idea that is? -he breaks it up and ditches. Asshole move, he knew, but it would've been worse if... she* * would have talked him out of it somehow.

Dabi wasn't someone to get serious with- he just wasn't- and he never had the intention of getting to the point of those feelings when he first met her. It snuck up on him. She deserved better. So, no matter how much he thought about her, the nostalgia and aching, he refused to go back.

But the universe happens to hate Dabi.

There was a fair being held for New Years, alit with game booths and food trucks, and along the river's edge people gathered twenty minutes early to get good spots for the firework show. Shigaraki decided that it was the perfect oppurtunity for a terrorist attack to scare the civilians on a big day, and then retreat before the heroes could pull them into a fight.

Dabi was tasked with scoping the area out for heroes. The villain wasn't sure why his prune looking ass was picked since he didn't really blend in with the crowd, but whatever, he supposed.

His hood was tossed securely over his head as he ambled through the crowds, sharp turqoise eyes on alert. Luckily, everyone was too busy to pay him heed.

Everything was fine until he heard a small pair of footsteps racing up behind him, a small figure dodging past his frame. Then was a familiar shout- and she ran past him, too, chasing after the kid.

Dabi halted, brain sputtering for a moment as he recognized his old love.