A fiery embrace

Saved by the bell

It was supposed to be a simple trip. Shigaraki had grumbled something about needing supplies—food, batteries, things they'd been running low on—so he dragged Toga with him to the nearest market. Dabi was supposed to go too, but one look at the laziness in his eyes had earned him a glare from Shigaraki and a dismissive wave.

"Whatever. Just don't burn the place down while we're gone," Shigaraki snapped, slamming the door behind him.

Toga's singsong voice floated back through the cracked doorframe. "Be nice to each other while we're gone, lovebirds!"

The door clicked shut. And suddenly, the apartment was too quiet.

**The Silence Settles In**

Dabi leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching as Miyumi sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling absently through an old, cracked phone she'd found in the hideout. Her hair was loose today, framing her face in soft waves that made her look... different. Less like the quiet, capable fighter she was, and more like someone Dabi couldn't stop thinking about.

And that was the problem.

He exhaled through his nose, frustrated with himself. They were just friends—or, at least, something close to it. They were trapped in this mess together, nothing more.

But no matter how many times he told himself that, it didn't stop the way his gaze kept drifting toward her.

She shifted slightly, tucking one leg under the other, her shirt riding up just a little. Not on purpose—Miyumi wasn't like that—but it didn't matter. The smallest things set him off these days, like a match being struck inside his chest.

He should say something. Anything. Make a joke, tease her—anything to break the tension building between them.

Instead, he just stood there, his fingers twitching toward the lighter in his pocket like it could burn away whatever the hell he was feeling.

**Breaking the Silence**

Miyumi glanced up from her phone, catching Dabi's gaze. "You're staring," she said, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Yeah?" Dabi shot back, leaning against the wall with an easy grin. "Maybe you're just worth staring at."

Her smirk widened, and she rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."

Dabi shrugged, but he didn't look away. He couldn't.

A heavy silence stretched between them—thicker than usual, charged with something that neither of them seemed willing to name.

Miyumi set the phone down and leaned back on her hands, her eyes locked on his. "What's going on with you?"

Dabi's jaw tightened. He hated how easily she saw through him.

"Nothing," he muttered, pushing off the wall and pacing toward the small kitchen area. "Just bored."

Miyumi's voice followed him, low and steady. "You're lying."

Dabi stopped mid-step, his shoulders stiffening. She always knew when he was lying. And worse, she wasn't afraid to call him out on it.

He turned slowly, his gaze dark and unreadable. "You really wanna know?"

Miyumi tilted her head, curious but cautious. "Yeah."

He crossed the room in two slow steps, stopping just short of where she sat. For a moment, he just looked at her—really looked at her, like he was trying to memorize every detail.

"You're messing with my head, you know that?" His voice was low, almost a growl. "I can't stop thinking about you."

Miyumi's breath hitched, just slightly. But she didn't pull away.

"Dabi..."

He crouched down in front of her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her skin. His hands hovered near hers for a second—just a second—before he clenched them into fists at his sides, holding himself back.

"You make it really hard to be good," he whispered, his voice rough with frustration. "Really, really hard."

Miyumi swallowed, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

"And I'm not good at staying away," he admitted, his gaze locked on hers. "Not from you."

**The Moment Between Them**

The air between them felt like it was on fire.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. They were balanced on the edge of something dangerous, something they both knew they shouldn't fall into—but neither of them seemed able to step back.

Miyumi's hand twitched, brushing against his without thinking. The contact was brief—barely a touch—but it felt like lightning.

Dabi sucked in a sharp breath, his blue eyes darkening as he stared at the point where their hands had touched.

He was so close. Too close.

And yet, not close enough.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, his voice strained. "If you don't want this... just say the word."

Miyumi's lips parted, but no sound came out. She didn't tell him to stop. She couldn't.

Her silence was answer enough.

Dabi's hand lifted slowly, almost hesitantly, his fingers brushing against the side of her face. The touch was so light it barely registered, but it made her shiver all the same.

"I'm serious," he murmured, his thumb tracing a feather-light path along her jaw. "Tell me to stop, Miyumi."

But she didn't.

Instead, she leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering shut for just a moment—just long enough to make him lose whatever shred of control he had left.

**A Dangerous Dance**

Dabi's hand slid to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling gently in her hair. He leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers, his breath warm against her lips.

He wanted to kiss her. God, he wanted it more than anything.

But he didn't.

Instead, he stayed right there, balancing on the edge, his lips barely brushing hers—a whisper of a touch that wasn't quite a kiss but wasn't far from it.

Miyumi's breath hitched, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them.

Then the sound of the front door unlocking shattered the moment.

They pulled apart like they'd been burned, both of them scrambling to their feet as Toga burst into the apartment with a bright, mischievous grin.

"We're back!" she announced, kicking the door shut behind her. "Miss us?"

Shigaraki followed, muttering something under his breath as he dropped a bag of groceries on the counter.

Dabi shoved his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as he leaned casually against the wall, as if nothing had happened.

Miyumi shot him a quick glance—confused, frustrated, and maybe a little disappointed—but she said nothing.

Dabi smirked, his gaze flicking to hers one last time before turning away.

"Saved by the bell," he murmured under his breath, the ghost of a grin tugging at his lips.

But the fire between them wasn't out. Not even close.