"Get them out of here! Don't look back! Try to come back for me and I'll put a round through your chest faster than you can say 'oops!'" Roman yelled out to Qrow and the other men that were retreating. His voice was growing hoarse as he took a deep breath. Seeing Neo reaching out for him as she was being carried away by Qrow. Violent and terrible screams of a new species of Grimm tore through the air as one of the monstrosities tore through the sizeable steel gate to the catwalk connecting the two buildings between him and the rest of the people that were fleeing. "God damn it, Neo, how did it end up like this…?"
The redheaded man let out a deep sigh as the creature was joined by many more, all running in a group directly towards him, huge feline bodies with gnashing jaws that could apparently rip through steel. As the creatures closed in, Roman looked at the sky for one brief moment and saw the shattered moon gleaming in the night. Illuminating everything around him, and showing a number of Nevermores flying across the sky and over the top of the mountain behind him. Raising his cane, Melodic Cudgel, he let loose a barrage of dust-infused shots. Each exploding on impact with each of the creatures he aimed at and rocking the catwalk he stood on.
After several more shots, Roman knew that only a few shots remained, so he waited and let the creatures make their way onto the rather wide catwalk. Looking down at the abyss below, he knew what he had to do. Gritting his teeth as he took aim at the connective struts near his feet, Roman spoke one last sentence before firing. "I knew we shoulda left those idiots to rot outside. Neo, you better survive this. When I get back to you it better not be your grave."
The sound of the shots exploding was the last thing Roman heard as the beasts flooded the catwalk. Some lunging at him, but missing as the catwalk seemed to collapse from the middle. Taking him and all of the creatures he lured onto it into the abyss below. The explosion and collapsing catwalk seemed to shudder through the walls of the two adjoined structures.
As he fell, Roman couldn't help but think back to what led to this series of events…
"Neo, what'd I tell you about talking to those new colony idiots? They're just the next in a long line of worthless leaders that wanna pretend like everything hasn't already gone to hell!" Roman yelled, clearly aggravated, glaring when Neo quietly rolls her eyes at him and types out a message to him.
"You know they're offering us permanent food, water, and shelter so long as we can help keep their guards organized. The least we can do is try to be a little civil with them."
"Civil my ass! They rolled up onto our front doorstep months ago and decided this is where they just had to set roots! Now look at us! Stuck in a walled off, budding city that's the center of attention for an absolutely otherworldly Grimm invasion!" He replied, throwing his arms up incredulously. Upon seeing Neo typing again, the redhead crossed his arms and waited to read her response.
"They didn't exactly have anywhere else to go you know. Besides, even you said that eventually someone would try to move here to get away from the crap going on in Vytal and Atlas."
As he read her message, Roman gave a sigh of defeat and nodded at his shorter companion. Reaching into a nearby mini-fridge and pulling out a bottle of water, sliding it across his work desk to her. "I told them I'd have a meeting with them when they got this damned catwalk connecting the two continents for the land supply train converted into a bridge, and they decide to just get you to meet with them in my place. Crude bastards really know how to get what they want at least. What did they want this time?"
Rolling her eyes, Neo conveyed without even speaking that Roman wouldn't be happy to hear this. He simply waited for her to type it out as het puffed on the cigarette he had abandoned in its ashtray prior to Neo walking in.
"Well, for starters, they want to request an increase in the dust and munitions shipments that we've been sending them. In exchange they'll see what they can do to get us a bit more of a better reputation with the people. Maybe it'll stop them from wanting to keep us at an arms length?"
"Keeping us at arms length isn't an issue for me. Those idealistic idiots are the reason that all those damned Grimm are knocking at our door in the first place. Still, having the people around us NOT wanting to tear our throats out might be a bit better than having to contend with them and the Grimm too." Roman let out a puff of smoke as he put out the butt of his now spent cigarette into the ashtray and looked over to Neo. "I know that can't possibly be it if it was them. What else do they want?"
"They also wanted to request to actually meet you face to face for further discussion on some kind of top secret stuff. I'm not sure, but it sounded sketchy to me. They were really hush-hush about it."
Raising an eyebrow, Roman leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his messy hair. Having been extremely busy with the work that he had been assigned. The shipment routes, guard rotations, and reports of a power surge having damaged a series of important systems. Frankly, he thought this was more work than any one man should be asked to take care of, but there weren't many competent people left alive since things went to hell here. He let out an exasperated sigh and stood up. "Alright, alright, I'll go meet these idiots and see what I can find out. There's not much left for me to take care of here that I can do without any specialists anyways. Go get some rest for now alright? You've been working yourself too hard recently."
With that, Roman tried to pass by Neo, but the shorter woman held her arms out with a pout. As he stopped, Neo immediately gave him a tight hug, nuzzling into his chest and causing him to relax a bit. After hugging for a minute or so, Neo pulled away and typed onto her scroll as quickly as she could.
"I might be working hard, but you haven't slept in nearly 6 days. You really need to get some sleep before you collapse. If you don't finish up there soon, I'll come get you and force you into bed myself." She held up the scroll with a mischievous smile, winking at Roman.
After reading the message, the redhead simply rolled his eyes and ruffled Neo's hair to bug her. He knew better than anyone that he needed to rest soon, but this seemed important enough to postpone it for a little bit longer. "Trust me sweetheart, I plan to get some sleep. I finally got everything basically squared away now, I just needed to finalize the guard's timesheets and makes sure the delivery manifests are all still in order. Once I get back im gonna sleep like a rock for probably the next three days at this point. These people can't say I didn't do them any favors."
Stepping out of the office, Roman looked himself over. His old trademark coat and bowler cap had been missing for quite a while. Instead he was sporting a white t-shirt, brown leather jacket, blue jeans, and a pair of black combat boots. Granted, he wasn't a fan of the boots, but they were kind of a necessity when out in the field. After exiting the administration building that he had basically called home for the past week, Roman walked down the sidewalk towards the center of the town. Twirling his cane lazily around one finger, he patted the breast pocket of his leather jacket and felt the cigarette pack he had stored in it was nearly empty. This made him grimace a bit as he strode by various pedestrians. Some families going out to the local food vendors, and others off-duty guards who would stop and offer a respectful salute to him as he walked by. At town hall, he knew there were probably a handful of high-profile individuals that were waiting for him. He wasn't looking forward to this meeting...
Author's Note:
Hello again! Oak here with yet another AU story for the wonderful world of Remnant! In this world things don't seem to be going too well for humanity. One its last leaders, Roman Torchwick, is struggling to keep things running smoothly in his new and unwelcome home. How will everything unfold? Who will he be meeting at the town hall? I guess you'll just have to find out in the next chapter~