"You're supposed to be dead."

"The rumors of my death have been greatly exagerated," Roman quiped back. Pulling a hidden key out of his pocket he unlocked his cell, "No matter how high security you get there will always be a guard that has a lapse in attention, and they won't even admit their mistake."

The dead man twirled the brass key around one finger, slowly making his way to the cell Weiss had been thrown in. Ruby said that he had been eaten whole by a griffon, she had never heard of anyone surviving something like that but if anyone could it would be a cockroach like Torchwick.

"My offer won't last long Snowflake," Roman rested his arms on the bars of her cell flashing what must have been his most winning smile to her, "What do you say? Sounds like you're facing the axe, this is your golden opportunity to keep that pretty head on your shoulders."

"And just what do you need me for?" It was a golden opportunity but Weiss couldn't think of any reason that after how much they fought Roman would try to help her. With his little pet, partner, minion, or whatever she was he could get out of here without lifting a finger.

"There's a brain in that pretty head of yours. I get it this is a two way street so I'll be honest with you, if things go sideways I'll use you as a hostage."

"Excuse me?" Weiss scoffed, "I am nobody's meatshield."

"Right, right," The theif placated, "I'll just *pretend* to use you as a hostage, even now I don't think anyone would risk harming a hair on a Schnee. So last chance Snowflake, you in or out?"

"I'm in," Without her semblance to break herself out Weiss needed an alternative and at the moment Torchwick was the only one available. Even if she was loathe to do so the alternative was facing trial against SDC lawyers for a crime she didn't even know she had comitted.

"Great!" Roman unlocked the cage, "Now stay close I got a good look at the place when they brought me in, oh and loose the heels."

The ex-heiress let out an indignant squawk, "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"If you can sneak around in them I'll give you my entire life savings."

"Are you truly trying to entice a Schnee with money?"

"I'm trying to save the skin of an estranged Schnee. Shoes. Now. Carry them if they're designers," Roman cracked open the door to their cell block, seeing there was only one guard he came up behind him and use his arm to cut off the guard's oxygen until he fell unconcious.

"Take his rifle but don't shoot unless you're shot at first."

Weiss did so after she slipped out of her heels, "Tell me where we're going."

"Personal effects, we get my stuff and whatever you got and then we get out nice and quiet."

She never thought she would even think it but Weiss was greatful that Torchwick was as good at what he did as he said he was. He knew when to evade guards and how to take them out silently, all she had to do was follow him in her socks. After a much shorter time than she was anticipating they found what they were looking for.

"See, I told you I got a good look at the place," Roman gloated as he unlocked the door, "Now grab whatever you need quick before they realize we're gone."

Alarms began to blare.

"I should not have said that."

"You think?" Weiss threw down her stolen rifle and tore through the assorted items that had been confiscated. There were knives, handguns, and dust but none of the containers held Myrtenaster. Rushing over it seemed that Roman had found his cane.

"Whatever it is you're looking for can't be more important than our lives, we need to go now."

"I hate to admit it but you're right," Weiss sighed and grabbed all the dust she could carry, "My rapier isn't here, without it or my semblance it's going to be harder to use dust but I can do it."

"Never thought I'd see a Schnee lowering themselves to fighting, but how do you have a semblance and not use it? A pretty big waste if you ask me."

"I didn't ask you," Weiss retorted, "I don't know what they did but I can't use my semblance."

Roman twirled Melodic Cudgel in thought, "That is strange, I never heard of anything that could do that." Suddenly his cane stopped it's rapid spinning.

"I have an idea, hold still Snowflake."

A smack of flesh on flesh echoed through the room as Roman slapped his new partner in crime squarley in the face. Stars dancing in Weiss' vision were the only thing stopping her from strangling the taller man on the spot.

"Huh guess I was right, what a shocker. You don't have your aura unlocked, no aura no semblance. Why don't you let me fix that?"

It might have been the blaring alarm, almost sustaining a concussion, or the simple fact that her aura had been locked but Weiss offered no resistance when Roman placed a hand on her shoulder and after a moment of concentration they both momentarily glowed their respective colors. Her mind whirled with possibilities on how her aura could become relocked. Penny was a machine with an aura made by Atlas, if they could make an aura maybe they could lock one as well.

Whatever the reason was the thunder of boots coming down the demanded her attention.

"They must have found us on the cameras," Roman took up a position on one side of the only door into the room, "I hope you know how to use your semblance right after your aura's unlocked otherwise this is going to be the least successful breakout in history."

"Keep them busy," Weiss crouched down in the center of the room, "Do that and I can get us out of this mess, it isn't the first time I've escaped my father's clutches.

"Keep them busy? Just what do you expect me to do kid?"

Weiss smirked as a large glyph appeared in front of her, "Be yourself."

Cursing Roman turned his attention to the dozen of guards assembled outside. One of them in a fancier uniform called out.

"Surrender now and return to your cells and no harm will come to you," He stated without lowering his rifle.

"As convincing as that is," Roman began, "How about a counter offer? You guys let us walk out and my friend and I won't hand out huntsmen style beatdowns."

The sound of silence was the theif's answer, "Alright I see you guys aren't pushovers and I respect that. In fact we surrender," Without exposing himself Roman dropped Melodic Cudgel to the floor so that it was visible through the door.

"You're out of time Snowflake, just what does that thing do?" He loudly whispered to Weiss.

Smiling Weiss stood up and with her rose a glowing white grimm. It barely fit within the room, it's wingspan reaching either wall and it's horns scraping the ceiling.

"That just isn't fair," Roman complained.

Weiss climbed onto the ethereal beast's back, "Does it matter when it's in your favor? Now are you coming or not, my offer won't last long Torchwick."

"I guess it doesn't," Roman snatched up his weapon and jumped up to sit behind Weiss, "What no cupholders?"

With an annoyed sigh Weiss urged her summon forward, smashing through the wall and the men lined up outside of it. The hallways were larger allowing the beast more movement, it didn't waste any time taking advantage of it clawing it's way through the facility as Roman shouted directions, bowling over anyone that was unfortunate to come in it's path.

When they burst out of the prison the manticore roared in victory and took off into the night sky. The air was cold as it whipped past their faces but the adrenaline of a prison break kept them warm. When they touched down in a secluded alley the manticore dispersed and Weiss stumbled before Roman caught her.

"Snowflake I think we might have seen the begining of a beautiful friendship."