Even years later, Roman Torchwick could still remember how he met Neo like it was yesterday.
He had been cutting through an alleyway after a successful night pickpocketing, counting out the lien he had gained when he heard crying. Normally Roman would ignore it and continue on his way – the world was a cold, cruel place after all – but something about the sound made him slow, made him try to pinpoint where the crying was coming from. There was something broken about it, like a glass pane on the verge of shattering.
He finally found her in a dumpster, huddled against a corner and her knees tucked close to her face. She didn't even noticed him until Roman climbed in and laid a hand on her tiny shoulder. She was younger then, smaller, and a lot more frightened.
Her gaze snapped toward him, and the first thing Roman noticed was the absolute terror in her mismatched eyes, how she had shied away from, shrinking even more into herself. The second was the dried blood that led from her mouth to her chin. Were he a lesser man, Roman would have recoiled at the sight, but he wasn't, so he didn't. Instead he leaned in, trying to get a closer look.
"Don't worry," he said with a gentleness that surprised even him. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The girl's only response was to furiously shake her head, turning away and pressing against the walls of the dumpster, as though they would open up and let her escape. She wore only a white T-shirt that was several times too big for her, stained with red. There were bruises up and down her bare arms and legs, and upon closer examination, Roman could see her bones press against her skin.
Shit, he thought, somewhat disgusted. When was the last time this girl has eaten?
Roman reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the box of cookies he had been saving for the upcoming holidays. A little treat for himself. Roman glanced at the wrapped, pink box and groaned inwardly. "Damn my generosity," he muttered to himself as he undid the bow and pulled out a cookie. He tapped her shoulder and held out the baked good. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked, waving it in front of her.
Her eyes followed the cookie, but still she hesitated. Roman could see the debate in her pink and brown eyes. Then she snatched it out of his hand and devoured it in three quick bites. She looked at him expectantly, crumbs clinging to her face, and Roman sighed and gave her another. And then another. Before he knew it, half the box was empty and he hadn't eaten a single one.
The girl seemed like she was feeling better already, so Roman put the box away. He wasn't that nice. "Okay, I gave you some of my cookies and my precious time, so maybe you can answer a few questions for me. Small ones, like, I don't know, who the hell are you and why are you hiding in a dumpster in the middle of Vale?"
The girl didn't answer, only shift uncomfortably. "Hey, come on, I was saving those baked goods, damn it. Are you on the run or something?" The girl nodded at that. "Is there a reason you're not talking to me? Intimidated by my handsome features?"
The girl paused for a moment, face turned away from him. Then she faced him fully and opened her mouth.
Roman recoiled in shock, recalling why he hated the world. It's a cold, cruel place.
Neo didn't speak, because she had no tongue.