In the game of war, some sacrifice are needed, in order to save a life.
Sure, this train would probably extinguish the population of the city with the explosions and the grimm invasion, but…
Would it be enough?
Would a little extermination really be enough to disclose the fake bravery of Vale's huntsmen?
I didn't think so.
But those orders, those "plans", were coming from the top and we had to obey or… disappear in the dust, literally.
Nevertheless, at the moment I had nothing to fear of: the plan was going well, those beasts were making a great job loading the train and Cinder had come in my room only twice…
According to my calculations, the train would be ready to explode within a couple of weeks, way more soon than what Cinder thought!
Even in terrorism, I was still the best.
So, what to do first…?
Next week I had to stand up in front of a great audience, full of empty-headed protesters, to get their approval and trust, showing them my new big gun...
Next…?
Oh, right!
Red.
Tonight Neo should come back with the reply…
I had to admit, that the message I sent to Little Red was so romantic, poetic and mysterious that I could fall in love for myself!
Even in love, I was stll the best.
The last thing to do…
It was understand how to drive this damn machine!
- / -
How was I supposed to play the matchmaker? With a scrap of paper and my eloquence?
I tried to convince Roman to give me more than a catchphrase, but he told me that I had to be patient, that love didn't bloom in a day. We didn't have time enough to wait Red's non-existent detective skills!
«So what about you...? What is your name?»
The paper was being boring, outdated and painful for my hand, so I took the "fake" scroll from my pocket and started to write on it, to make it faster.
"I have no name… the guy in love with you pulled me off the street when we were both children.
The name he gave me was a joke, a mere similarity between me and his favorite ice cream: Neopolitan…"
Yeah, a great thief with no naming creativity...
«Neopolitan… it's a cute name, I like it!»
"So how should I call you? Little Red Riding Hood...?"
«That's too loooooong… just call me Ruby! Simple, cute and-»
"I love it."
Right in front of her face, which had become red like the cape, I saw her fragile smile and then I understood, that there was only one way to push her over the line: Roman had to be subtle and choose just one single and romantic surprise.
A wink, a compliment and she was already on the edge, imagine what would happen if he gave her more than some letters…
"I'm finally here, little Red. After weeks of letters, after all we've been through, keeping it secret…"
This is what he would say, coming in from the window of her room, blessed by the dim light of the moon…
She would be surely surprised, figuring out who this Mr.R was and a little shiver would go down her spine.
"R-Roman… Torchwick…?"
"That's my name, Little Red…"
A soft smile cursed by the darkness of the night and his bright eye from her blanket back to her wide-opened eyes.
After a first moment of confusion, she would become more nervous with her beating heart and the pathetical slight reddening of her cheeks.
. . .
What an annoying reaction, for someone who waited an eternity, just to reach him...
. . .
Later, when Roman would start walking towards the bed, a silent and warm feeling would start burning inside her…
She waited that moment, she waited his voice, his touch... his grasp….. his passion!
No longer apart, no longer cold, no longer victims of their own love…
"M-Mine is…!"
A quick forefinger to stop her babbling followed by a tiny creaking and rustle, while the owner climbed the bed, unseen by the other fools…
The danger of being caught would make everything more spicy, the fact it is illegal, even more ROMANtic…
«...and that was ANOTHER pun of Yang… I'm very, very, VERY sorry for my sister. She is a good person, but with a quipped sense of humor...»
. . .
What she was talking about?
«Anyway… what is your name again...?»
Was she serious…?
"Neopolitan…"
She blushed once more, probably realizing how much empty-headed she was...
«Right! Y-You already told me… sorry...»
I would have loved mocking her for this, but the clock was ticking and I had to report back to Roman.
"So…"
A little suspance to let her calm down and...
"Do you like him?"
«E-Ehm… I...»
Red, again… geez, what kind of hero was her? Did Roman really have problems with this brat?
«I don't know… it's all so sudden and… and...»
Those eyes, those pitiful eyes… I knew that expression, I knew it really well...
"It's just a fantasy only until you believe it is."
«W-What…?»
It got harder to digit on the screen…
It wasn't a mask...
It was me.
"If you let him leave… you would regret it forever…"
If I let him go…
. . .
Wait, why am I thinking it?!
Roman is my partner, my friend… my light… he would never betray me for something more emotional than a night of…
. . .
Would he do it…?
«You are right...»
Am I?
. . .
Right… it wasn't for me…
«After all he has done to talk to me, after everything you had to bear...»
She was shyly laughing to defuse the situation, someone so weak wouldn't ever get a chance with Roman…
. . .
That was the plan, right…?
So why I was so mad…?
Why I was so afraid?
I decided this…
I decided to bury my heart for Roman's sake!
«A-Are you alright...?»
I had to put on my mask, before she figured out the truth…
"Yeah, I am. It's just sad seeing you so hesitant… it seems that my friend failed with his first approach…"
«N-N-N-Nonononono! H-He doesn't, I swear! He doesn't!»
I hadn't the time even to think about a reply about it...
«I-It's just… It's just not fair for both of us… we should wait seeing each other before deciding something so important...»
It was pointless to keep pushing on that route, I had to change my path.
"Wanna eat something?"
«Oh, ok! Where do you like to go?»
"Neo's Neo ice cream parlour?"
«Neo's Neo…?»
"It is the place where he takes me when I'm sad."
And anyway I needed some ice cream to cool myself...
. . .
Yeah, that was nice.
«Alright! As your new friend, it's my duty to bring back the smile on your face!»
Even if she was my enemy at work and in love…
It was warm to see her energy and her unselfish help…
It seemed like home…
It seemed like Roman.