[A/N If you could take the time to tell me if the plot is moving too slowly or not, that'd be awesome. Thanks.]

It seemed like bad days were the only kind of days Dabi had lately. He blames Revite. The child is a bad omen. Ever since he partnered up with him a few days ago, he hasn't been able to do anything remotely productive other than sit alone in the abandoned building he found. Since he missed his weekly raid on the truck that drives by, he's been living off whatever food he can by with pick pocketed change or mange to shoplift. He's getting tired of granola bars.

He was exhausted and done with life, like usual, and really didn't need any other inconveniences. At least he had a place to go home to now, even if the place was dusty and looks to be on the verge of collapsing but still, it's a roof over his head. He'll even put up with the damn cat that seems to also inhabit the space. He wishes it would stop curling up next to him in the night though, he doesn't want a fucking disease.

Grumbling to himself about dumbass cats, he walked down the sidewalk to 'his' flat. He stopped in front of the door, an odd feeling crawling up his spine. Shaking his head, he ignored it. He's just being paranoid. He pushed open the door and stepped in to flat. His hand flailed around for the light before remembering about the buildings lack of electricity. He groaned and lit his hand, letting his fingers be engulfed by blue flame. He was surprised that fucking cat hadn't started clawing at his legs yet like usual. That's when he looked up.

He yelped and jumped back. "What the fuck!"

There in the middle of the room sat the shitty cat, and what's better was it was sitting on a lap. Of a person. A very familiar and annoying person.

"This is a nice place you got here," Deku commented grinning like the trouble maker he is, "though it's a little... bare."

Dabi was not impressed by the joke, not in the slightest. His day was bad enough. All he wanted to do was go home and pretend the stolen ramen packets he'd be eating are soba and then pass out on his heap of blankets he calls a bed, but no. That was too much to ask for. His day had to be interrupted by a muttering green haired boy.

"How do you even know where I live," he deadpanned, scooping a pebble out of his pocket and throwing it at the boy who had the audacity to dodge it. Bitch.

"I stalk heroes and hack data bases for a living. Do you really need to ask that?" Revite asked, petting the cat. Dabi scowled. Of course the two nuisances in his life would get along.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "What am I going to do with you."

"You," Deku answered, hoping to his feet, the cat still tucked in his arms, "are going to help me stalk Natsuo and Fuyumi Todoroki."

That was little unexpected in Dabi's opinion. He knew if Revite was here it had to be something somewhat important but he thought he was going to get his help on stalking Endeavor, not his siblings. In all honesty, Dabi wanted to throw Deku through the large widow on the outward facing wall all the flat. He didn't sign up for this. He wants to kill Endeavor, not save his children.

"No," was all he said, staring the boy down.

"Yes," he chirped and set down the cat who started to weave in and out of his legs. Deku watched it. "What's her name?"

"Fuck if I know."

He glanced at him in confusion. "It's not your cat?" Dabi snorted and shook his head. "Huh. I'm going to call it Ash. After you, and 'cause she's black."

He wanted to throw him out the window more than ever. He comes into his home (shut up, it's his), tells him what do do and names the cat demon. Dabi sighed and leaned against the wall. "Don't avoid the the topic."

Deku grinned at him. "What's there to avoid? You're coming with me to watch Fuyumi and Natsuo."

"No." The gremlin can try all he wants. Dabi isn't helping him with this.

-:-

Why am I helping him with this? Dabi thought as they approached one of the small cafes in town, tugging on his hood and adjusting his sunglasses that covered his scars. He's tried to convince himself he has a good reason for playing along with this plan. He has to keep an eye on Midoriya, if he doesn't than he might not share all the information with him. If he wants to kill Endeavor he needs as much info as he can get so he can succeed. Or at least that's what he told himself.

"Remind me again why you need to watch Fuyumi and Natsuo?" He asked, flicking a ladybug that landed on his shoulder off. "I thought we're going after Endeavor, not his kids."

He was starting to realize Revite liked to ramble. If you start him on something he won't stop. In the past hour that he'd been in his company, Dabi had to sit through him ranting about a dozen different heroes and their falsities all because he asked one little question about who was next on his hit list. Demon of child.

"You're going after Endeavor, I'm going after his kids," Deku corrected. "Natsuo and Fuyumi run the family. Fuyumi is the glue that keeps them together and the decision maker from what I can observe. If her brothers want to do anything that requires a big decision, she sees it over.

"Natsuo on the other hand is like the bouncer. He's the protector of the family. If you want to get close to the Todoroki's, you earn his trust and approval. Of course, you have to get through Endeavor first 'cause gods forbid he lets anyone see his children. That's why I'm interning with him but if I want to do more than just meet them and instead save them too I have to get close enough for them all to trust me when the time comes. Fuyumi will help them make the right decision and come with me but only if I can break past Natsuo's walls. He's been overprotective since their oldest brother died so it might be hard."

Dabi tried not to wince at the mention of his death. It was surprising how well Deku had his family figured out for only being around them for a few weeks. He felt a tug at his gut but pushed it down. Now was not the time.

He picked a stick up off the ground and ran it against the short metal fence around the cafe's outdoor tables. "So where do I fit into this plan?"

Deku paused outside the cafe door. "Well, it's a little less strange for a fifteen year old boy to be accompanied by his older brother to a cafe. Even better if that 'older brother' gets to know a certain Todoroki barista a little better."

And before he could protest, he found himself being dragged through the door of the cafe by the wrist. Deku pulled him into line where Dabi smacked him on the back of the head. Under his breath he hissed to him, "Are you crazy? Did you hit your head or something? I am nobodies little puppet, especially not yours. I won't just play ever dumb role you-"

"Hi, how can I help you today."

Oh shit. He recognized that voice. It was deeper than he remembered, more empty and deflated too. His back went stiff as he looked up from Midoriya to the counter where his brother stood in all his glory.

Dabi gaped at the white haired boy with blue eyes unique to the Todoroki family. He could lie and say it had been years since he'd seen his brother or he could tell the truth and say he's seen his brother in passing, at a distance. It's a good thing he's a liar. He hasn't been this close to Natsuo, hasn't spoken to Natsuo in years. He can barely remember what it was like to talk to him.

"I'll have an iced tea and my brother will take a coffee with extra sugar. Sweet, like his soul," Revite cut in before Dabi could say anything. He glared at the child who only smiled at him innocently. Brat.

He rolled his eyes and turned to Natsuo again, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Ignore him. I'll have a black coffee."

Natsuo nodded his head as he wrote their orders down on a cup. He waved his sharpie at them. "Name?"

"Midoriya."

No fake name? What kind of amateur is this guy? It's like he's asking for more murderers to come to his house and try to kill him.

"Okay. Go wait over there."

Deku was quick to make his way over to the waiting spot while Dabi pinched his nose. Why? Does the world hate him enough to put him with an incompetent child who doesn't even use a fake name?

"Little brother, hey?" Natsuo said, grabbing Dabi's attention. The white haired male's eyes followed Deku. "I have a brother his age. Siblings can be difficult. At least yours messes with you."

He wanted to snap back that he knew the difficulty of younger siblings, he had three of them but he remembered none of that really counts. He doesn't have any brothers or sisters in the way that matters, in the way that Natsuo was telling him he should be grateful for. How ironic, his younger brother who thinks he is dead is telling him how lucky he is to have siblings.

Glancing at Deku who he knew was watching their interaction out of the corner of his eye, he sighed. Fuck. He has to play along. "Yeah. Your siblings don't?"

"No." Natsuo seemed to have drifted very far off then. He could swear he saw something shimmer in his eyes as his eyebrows arched downwards, suddenly serious. He got what Deku meant when he said he's the protector of the family. That defensive look said it all. The collage student shook his head. "Your drink should be ready soon. Have uh, have a nice day."

Dabi watched him scurry away to the back room. He may be the warrior protecting the Todoroki family, but his armor is weak. Know where to hit and it'll crack.

The villain sighed and turned away from the counter, walking over to where Deku was getting their drinks. Deku grinned at him, handing over the cup of coffee he'd ordered. "What were you two talking about?"

"We..." He glanced at the door to the back room, wondering if those short words exchanged even really counted for anything, before shaking his head. Spinning on his heel, he and Midoriya started to walk out of the cafe. "It was nothing. I don't see what good any of that did to your 'investigation'."

"Oh it did plenty of good," Revite confirmed, kicking at a rock once they were outside. "Or at least it will in the long run. Your real role in this is to come here most mornings, get a coffee and try to talk to Natsuo. You don't honestly expect to get him to trust us on the first day, do you?" Dabi didn't respond. He took a sip of his drink. "And don't complain about why you have to do this. I have school and my internship and I know very well you do nothing all day but sit in your empty flat with that cat."

He could try to protest and defend himself but it wasn't much of a lie. He only ever went out if he needed information or food nowadays, and that's always in the night. He'd heard all the jokes from other lowlife villains about how he's probably a vampire.

Grunting to himself, he tugged on his hood a little more, paranoia of being recognized turning in his mind. He looked at the gremlin next to him. He had to admit, he was proving to have some intellect, even if he was a nuisance to him and the rest of society. Gods, it was annoying that he was right about half the things he said.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Revite asked out of no where.

Dabi frowned, suspicion rising in him. "Nothing..."

"Good. I'm supposed to have my first day on the field as an intern."

"I'm not your actual brother, Deku. I'm not going to watch your stupid first day or whatever."

The boy laughed. "No. Not that. I thought you'd want to watch Endeavor fight, study his moves so you know how to take him down when the time comes."

Now this, this is what he signed up for. As well as he knew Enji's moves, it's still been years since he's seen some close up action. Observing him would prove useful. "What time and where?""

Deku smirked at him as they arrived at the street where they split ways. "I'll tell you tomorrow when I find out. Catch you later!"

"How will I reach you?" He called after him.

As the boy ran down the street, he yelled over his shoulder, "I'll contact you when I need! I have my ways!"

Dabi was left standing in the street, a small smile working onto his face before he had the chance to shove it down. The bastard stole his line.

Changing his smile back into his typical blank expression, he walked back to his flat. Today didn't seem like much but if Deku played things right, he'd get what he wants. Natsuo would warm up to them and Dabi would endure it if it got him closer to killing Endeavor. All he had to do was let Revite do his thing then he'd kill him and his father. It's a win win.

Above him, the darkening sky came with the setting sun and rising moon. He felt like the moon then. Not as noticed, but always there, waiting for when the sun disappears. A manic laugh escaped his lips. The sun was setting surely now. Anytime now it'd be rid from the sky.

Watch out Endeavor, he thought to himself. Even your fire can't burn forever.