Although he was far away from me, I could see him clear as day. Dabi had a confident smirk on his face that oozed a mixture of fearlessness and assurance. He maintained eye contact with mine; his blue eyes bore into me.

I can't do this. Something about Dabi was intimidating. Maybe it was the aura of confidence he gave off. Although Kurogiri promised no one was going to get hurt, I couldn't afford to take this test lightly. This was my chance to prove to Tomura that my quirk and I aren't useless.

It was a small thing, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to impress Tomura.  I didn't understand why. I merely wanted to. This test– this fight, was the first step.

Dabi held out his hand. A dazzling display of beauty and danger erupted in front of me. Blue flames. I was melting under the intense heat. His flames were nowhere near me, it was apparent that he wasn't trying to hit me with that. Dabi was obviously showing off. Feeling just a small fraction of his quirk was terrifying.

My confidence was melting into nothing. "Are you ready?"

No, not at all. I nodded. A burst of flames came my way before I knew what was happening. The force of the fire shoved me back.

Scared, I looked at Kurogiri for help. He stood a far distance away, asking for help was not an option. Another burst of flames rushed towards me. The searing air burned my lungs as I gasped.

Heart racing and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I did precisely as Kurogiri and I had planned. My mind was racing faster than my legs were running.

Kurogiri promised Dabi wasn't going to kill me. Surely he'd intentionally miss me if I ran right up to him? His fires are a scare tactic, right?

I hurled a throwing star Dabi's way. Instantly, the paper weapon disintegrated under the heat. My heart nearly stopped at the sight of the embers.

Regardless, I flung more stars. Just like before, Dabi quickly burned them up. I continued the barrage.

With every set of throwing stars that I sent Dabi's way, I inched closer and closer to the dark-haired man. Sweat soaked into my hair and dripped down my face and neck with each step closer to Dabi. The humid air made my skin feel like it was being boiled alive. I could only register the smell surrounding us as burning. However, I had no idea where precisely the scent was coming from.

He was now within my range. The paper spear unfolded as I pulled it out of my pocket, and I lobbed the pointed edge towards Dabi. Go for the heart.

Dabi swiftly dodged, gripping onto the spear and ripping it from my hands. He reeled back his arm, forcefully striking me in the back of the head with the blunt end of the sphere.

My head was pounding. A high pitched ringing was booming in my ears. Pain shot up my arm as he twisted it behind my back. He held his free hand out in front of me. Small blue embers emanated from his hand.

Even fires so small and minuscule had enough to make my heart throb tightly in my chest. The heat slowly grew hotter. I took short, shallow breaths as my eyes darted around, looking for Kurogiri.

"What are you going to do?" Dabi growled.

I was Dizzy. It was like the ground beneath my feet was softly swaying. I pulled out a paper knife and swiped at his hand.

Dabi gripped onto my wrist tightly. The knife slipped from my hold. "Hot!" I screamed. My wrist was burning. Light sizzling forced me to look at Dabi's hand. Smoke escaped between his fingers.

"That is enough!" Kurogiri's voice boomed. Dabi's hold immediately loosened, and he released me. I fell to the ground. The rocks cut into my palms and knees.

"Let's take a look at this." Kurogiri's hands lightly cradled my arm. "It'll leave a mark, but it will heal in time."

Kurogiri helped me to my feet. "Dizzy," I whispered. He kept his hands firmly on my shoulder.

A black portal opened up. Dabi brushed past me before disappearing in the darkness. I slowly made my way to follow him.

The back door had closed before I had managed to inch my way through the portal, and Kurogiri manifested. He helped me to the couch. "Why don't you lay down and relax? You fought hard out there."

It didn't feel like it. To me, it seemed like Kurogiri was just trying to be nice. I quickly looked at the closed door before doing as Kurogiri said.

I rested my head on the armrest. Kurogiri disappeared for a moment and swiftly returned with a blanket in his hands. He gently stretched it out on top of me.

Kurogiri sat next to me, he rested my arm on his lap as he pulled things out of the white box. He pulled out a few of the things he had used earlier to patch up Tomura's hand and placed them off to the side.

"Dad?" I began. Kurogiri kept his head down. "Where did Dabi go?" I hoped Kurogiri wasn't going to say behind the door, and leave it at that.

"He should be speaking with Tomura Shigaraki right now. They are discussing how Dabi thought you did." My eyes watered as Kurogiri lightly rubbed a white cream on my burnt wrist.

"What if he doesn't say anything nice?" I asked.

Kurogiri placed down the tube. "Ah, well," the shadow-like man hummed; "I suppose that would mean Tomura Shigaraki may not find you suitable to be his bodyguard."

My stomach turned. I hesitated, scared of what Kurogiri might say. The room was silent for a while. Finally, I found the courage to ask my question. "What happens then? Am I going back in the tube?"

Kurogiri chuckled, and my worries melted away. "Of course not. We'd simply find a new place for you."

"A new place?" I repeated. "Like, a new family? I don't want a new dad."

"No, no. Nothing like that, child." Kurogiri pulled out a roll of bandages. He began to wrap up my wrist. "We may keep you in The League of Villains. You will be at the same level as Dabi and everyone else. Or we may keep you out of our group."

"Villains? Your group?" Another information overload. I had no idea what  Kurogiri was going on about. "What happens if I'm not part of this group?"

"We kick you out of our humble, little abode, and you must find a way to survive on your own." I held my breath. My heart was heavy.

Kurogiri chuckled as he placed a hand on my head. "No need to worry, I was merely joking. If Tomura Shigaraki doesn't think you fit, you will continue to live with us. We simply won't include you in our plans moving forward."

"Oh," I uttered. Kurogiri got up from his seat and packed the bandages away.

He turned to me before leaving. "Get some rest. Tomura Shigaraki should have made his decision by the time you wake up."

I was tired, but I couldn't sleep. I followed Kurogiri's plan as best I could. The throwing stars I made were meant to be a distraction. While Dabi was too busy burning away my stars, I would make my way closer to him. Dabi was supposed to not be good at hand to hand fighting. Kurogiri promised. Once he was in my range, I was supposed to win.

I stared at the ceiling as I wondered what went wrong. Dabi was supposed to lose his advantage, but he didn't. My eyes grew heavy, and I let out a yawn.

A warm hand caressed the top of my head. My vision was blurred when if first opened my eyes, but it promptly returned. Kurogiri and a familiar pair of cherry red eyes were looking down at me.

Suddenly, I remember exactly what I was waiting for. Tomura's decision! I quickly sat up, my wrist bumped against the armrest, sending shooting pain up my arm. I ignored it as best I could.

I looked up at Tomura, wide-eyed and expectant. He had his arms folded across his chest. The frown on his face deepened, and his eyes narrowed.

I was anxious. Even for me, it's been a while since I've felt this stressed. If I remember correctly, the last time was after I pushed that girl off the slide. When her mother tried yelling at Kurogiri over how I acted. That event ended with ice cream; something told me it won't this time.

"Dabi said more negative things about you than positive." The blood running through my veins stopped, it was as if I went cold. Tomura sighed. "But I expected that much from him. He's almost impossible to impress. He did say one good thing about you, though."

He did? I couldn't imagine what Dabi must have said. If I was in his position, I wouldn't have said anything nice about me. Especially since Tomura's safety is involved.

"So, what is your decision, Tomura Shigaraki?" I quickly looked over to Kurogiri, wishing there was some way to tell him not to rush Tomura.

It seemed like I wasn't the only one sharing that thought. Tomura growled under his breath. "I'm thinking!"

His eyes narrowed. He sighed. "The League needs more members, we can't afford to kick anyone, willing to join, out." It was like a weight was lifted off of my chest.

"And how about y/n as your bodyguard?" At this point, I was just happy Tomura was keeping me around. Even so, I wanted to hear what Tomura had to say about that.

"I don't think I could trust y/n with my life." Tomura's words hit hard. I tried my best.

"But," Tomura began. My eyes shot up to meet his. "I think I will keep y/n close to me. If all else fails, I suppose I could push y/n in font a hero as a quick distraction."

I frowned. "That's not very nice."

Tomura glared at Kurogiri. "Did you tell y/n that I'm nice?" He almost sounded disgusted.

"Do you remember the thing we've talked about, Tomura Shigaraki?" Kurogiri paused; "I don't think y/n can see you in a bad light."

Tomura's gaze shifted from Kurogiri to me. My nerves perked up as soon as his cherry-red eyes looked over to me. What was he going to say?

"I'm going back to my room. There's an event going on in an hour, and I want that rare loot." Tomura turned away from Kurogiri and I and left. The door lightly closed behind the blue-haired man.

A hand touched the top of my head, and I turned to Kurogiri. "Don't mind him. Would you like to help me cook dinner like you used to?" I nodded and followed him towards the kitchen.

My eyes scanned the kitchen. It was small but very tidy. My fingertips ran along the countertop, the surface was completely smooth. "So, what would you like? Today was your big day, after all."

"Kitsune Udon?" Kurogiri crossed his arms and looked at me.

"Have you eaten that before? I remember making it a few times for Tomura Shigaraki when he was little. Still, I don't recall ever making it for you." I froze for a moment, he was right.

"I think I had it once at the orphanage." I smiled at Kurogiri.

He crossed his arms and hummed. "I suppose so."

With Kurogiri's help and direction, we started making dinner. Just like all the other times we've cooked together, Kurogiri left me the simple tasks. Collecting the ingredients from the cabinets and fridge for him. Boiling the water and cooking noodles while Kurogiri cut the vegetables. Cleaning stray dishes and the countertops while he finished cooking.

Kurogiri's tone of voice was different. It was softer, or as sweet as his rather deep voice could get. He chuckled more and joked around much more often. He sounded happy. Hearing him talk made me feel fuzzy inside, comforted. I valued moments that reminded me of when I was a kid.

The kitchen smelled of the broth, I picked up specifically mushrooms, other vegetables, and tofu. It made my stomach rumble. I don't know when was the last time I literally ate. It felt like it was just the night before.

Kurogiri prepared three bowls. He offered me one. "Why don't you go sit down, I'll give Tomura Shigaraki his meal. He tends to eat in his room."

"I can do it!" The words just fell out of my mouth with no hesitation.

Kurogiri hummed. "Go ahead. I'll take your bowl to the table." I nodded and carried the bowl to the back door.

I stood outside of his room. It was quiet. Is he asleep? Slowly, the door swung open. "Tomura?"

He was sitting in front of his computer. Now that the door was wide open, I heard faint clicks coming from his direction. The closer I got to Tomura, the more I was able to see what he was doing.

The clicking sound was from him typing on his keyboard. He was hunched forward a bit, staring at his computer screen. I recall Tomura liking video games. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to play them. Kurogiri wouldn't let me. So my knowledge was limited to the fact that it was the blue-haired man's hobby.

I placed the bowl down beside him on his desk. "I brought you something to eat. Dad and I made it." The typing slowed down to a stop. Tomura turned his head to look at me. I then remembered Tomura requested that I not call Kurogiri my dad. Something deep down told me that I would never stop calling him that.

"Uhm," I stopped, trying to think of a conversation topic. "What are you playing?"

Tomura glanced down at the bowl before returning to his game. The screen was cluttered with all sorts of things, it was a little disorienting. "Shouldn't you know already?"

"No?" I didn't understand how I knew the things I already knew. Tomura kept his eyes on the screen.

I looked down at my bandaged wrist, and then to his hand holding onto the computer mouse. With a smile, I held up my arm. "Oh! We match!"

Tomura looked at me for barely a second before returning to the screen. My smile wavered, my gaze shifted to the game on the screen. "I hope you like it, we worked really hard to make it. I know Kitsune Udon was something you used to like, but I'm not so sure if you still do."

He was quiet. I decided to leave him be, his game was taking up his attention.

I sat down at the table with Kurogiri. I poked at the fried tofu. "Is something a matter, y/n?"

"I don't think Tomura likes me very much." I sighed. Being unliked wasn't unfamiliar to me. There were plenty of kids that didn't like me. I often played alone at the orphanage, and I struggled to make friends after Kurogiri adopted me. This hurt for some reason. I really wanted Tomura to like me.

Kurogiri waved it off. "Tomura Shigaraki has a hard time making friends."

I perked up. "He does? Like me?"

"Well..." Kurogiri hummed. "His case is a bit different. However, if that is how you wish to look at it, that's perfectly alright."

I smiled, Tomura's actions didn't hurt as much now that I had another perspective. "How do two people who are bad at making friends become friends?"

Kurogiri paused. "You just keep being yourself. He will warm up to you at some point."

"You think so?" I asked.

"I know so," he replied.