While enrolled at UA college I met Dabi, we had several classes together for the general studies course and at first he seemed to be very standoff-ish. He didn't talk much to anyone in the class and when he did speak his words always seemed to be laced with a general hatred for socializing at all.
When we would pass each other in the halls between classes I only ever saw him talk to a blonde man with gold eyes, who I would later learn was his best friend Keigo. Every once in awhile Dabi and I would be paired for group projects where we would meet a coffee shop that he swore had the best coffee in the city. During our meetings, after we were finished with the bulk of our work, we would often ease into casual conversation over coffee learning about each other.
"So do you actually even know what you want to do with your life after graduation?" Dabi asked with a stern expression on his face
"What, just because i'm in general studies is that supposed to mean I don't know what I want to do with my life?" I countered with a huff.
"No, no i'm just curious about what kind of person you are based on the path you choose!" Dabi defended.
I giggle a bit trying to hide the slight blush creeping across my face at his sudden curiosity in my interests.
"I actually really like playing video games, so I was thinking of a career in the entertainment business." I say sheepishly.
Not many people knew the extent of my love for video games, after all there was that annoying stereotype that video games aren't for girls.
"Oh really?" Dabi looks again at me with those cobalt blue eyes, I had learned matched the color of his fire quirk he had shown me after our first couple projects together.
"Yeah, it's not something I talk about very often with others outside of my immediate friend group." Shyly averting my eyes from his intense gaze.
Out of habit I start to fidget with the lid of my coffee cup suddenly embarrassed that I had said that fact out loud.
"No, actually, I think that's really cool. I used to play video games with Keigo before moving into the dormitories here at UA." Dabi smiles and for a moment I think my heart is going to stop.
"You see, we always played at his house and when we both enrolled at UA he got his own apartment and I moved into the dorms." Dabi starts to rub the back of his neck nervously.
"So we only really see each other in between classes and on the weekends when he's available."
At that my head jerks up "Really? I would of never taken you for the kind of guy to play video games. You have this persona of general distaste for anything that requires socializing" I try to hold back my laughter at the thought of him and Keigo playing together.
"Well yeah, but that fucker always cheats!" Dabi exclaims with a slight irritation in his voice.
I start bursting into laughter at his accusation "While cheating in games is definitely a thing, Dabi, I highly doubt he cheated playing with you." Calming down from my fit, I shrug "Maybe he's just better than you."
Dabi's eyes, I swear, start to glow at my statement "Oh yeah? Care to test this theory?"
Sarcastically I say "Bring it on, pretty boy."
I invite Dabi over to my place, my sudden burst of sarcastic confidence gone. I think to myself 'Oh my god.. what have I gotten myself into?' What was I thinking inviting him into my apartment? Dabi was walking close enough to me that I could feel the heat radiating off his body from his quirk, which I thought to myself could only be attributed to what I had teasingly said. Instead of fixating on how close his hand was to mine I decided to focus on evening out my breathing that my anxiety had caused to spike.
Where I lived and the coffee shop Dabi chose for our meeting place were only a few blocks apart, so I had a couple minutes to gather myself before we would be in closer quarters than we are now. I look at Dabi again wondering what he's thinking as we walk in silence.
