"Just don't make a mess," Rina muttered as she finally let herself rest, curling up in the chair, her body aching with exhaustion. She could still hear the soft rustle of Dabi shifting on the couch, his movements slow and deliberate.
"Mess?" he scof...
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Rina turned the corner, hands shoved deep in her jacket pockets as she replayed the overheard conversation in her head. She didn't usually think much of Tat's business dealings, but the mention of the League and the tension hanging over it was hard to shake off. The brisk evening air cleared her thoughts a bit, helping her focus on the quiet of the streets.
That was, until she nearly collided with a familiar figure leaning against the wall at the end of the alley.
"Rina."
She halted mid-step, instantly recognizing the dark hair, the burn scars, and the intense blue eyes. Dabi stood there, hands stuffed casually into his pockets, his expression unreadable under the dim streetlight.
"You're joking," she muttered, a hint of disbelief edging into her voice. "Again?"
He tilted his head, giving her a slow, almost mocking smirk. "Good to see you, too."
Rina crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You sure it's a coincidence we keep running into each other, or should I be getting concerned that you're actually stalking me?"
Dabi's smirk widened, though his eyes didn't quite match the humour in his expression. "Stalking you? Don't flatter yourself."
She rolled her eyes, even as she felt a flicker of intrigue. "Well, you're here more than coincidence should allow for," she pressed, shifting her weight as she studied him. "So, what's the deal?"
"Funny," he replied, his tone light but guarded, "I could ask you the same question. You've got your fingers in more pots than you let on."
She felt a chill at that, wondering just how much he knew. Trying not to show it, she kept her tone dry. "I could say the same thing. You seem to be around Tat's bar more than anyone else from the League. What's keeping you around?"
Dabi's gaze grew more piercing, a flicker of curiosity sparking there. "Maybe I just like the drinks," he replied coolly, leaning back against the wall with a shrug. "Or maybe I'm just curious why someone like you doesn't seem fazed by people like me."
"Should I be fazed?" she asked, meeting his gaze evenly. "Besides, I get a fair share of people like you at the bar. Villains, antiheroes, wannabes...you all start blending together after a while."
Dabi chuckled, his smile growing wry. "You're gutsy, I'll give you that."
"And you're evasive," she shot back, feeling her curiosity sharpen. "Though, if you're going to be hanging around this much, you might as well tell me what you really want."
He was silent for a beat, his eyes studying her with that intense look she could never quite place. "Fine. You first," he said, voice barely above a murmur. "What's with you and Hawks? Seems like a strange match, don't you think?"
Rina's expression cooled instantly, her guard going up. "Hawks and I are on the same side of information, that's all," she said, keeping her voice neutral. "I hear things that sometimes he finds useful. Not that it's any of your business."
