Chapter 8

What do I do...?

These words echoed inside of Eri's head as she stood to the side, idly sweeping up the floor with a broom as she tried her best not to look to her right.

Key word, tried.

"Uugh..."

Eri took a slight glance at the girl sitting across in the corner of the room, her face in her hands as she slightly shook. The girl, though she wasn't crying, looked more like she was breaking down; sometimes even whispering words Eri couldn't fully hear. Whatever Roman told her yesterday must have really shaken her to her core for her to still be in such a state even now.

While Eri didn't like that Roman would keep things about himself secret among the other things he usually did, she did keep silent about herself as well; a fact that Roman knew, yet never really pesued past finding out whether or not she wanted to leave and return back home. So, unless he ever asked her what happened to her, she will keep it hidden inside her for as long as she can.

As for where Roman is right now... he left her and the girl alone together as he left to go on a quick supply run. A lot of their supplies were ruined due to their fight, not to mention they also needed supplies to fix the room.

Eri grimaced as she thought back to the conversation they had earlier in the morning.

"You're... leaving me here to keep an eye on her?" Eri asked incredulously, pointing to the sleeping figure at the corner of the room.

The stranger Roman brought in, what was her name again? Simmer? Eri hadn't really been paying attention to her name, the girlhad a hard time sleeping yesterday, but it seemed she fell asleep eventually due to stress and exhaustion. Eri even heard Roman muttering something yesterday about falling asleep so easily in unknown territory.

"Yes. And yes, I know you don't want to, but someone has to stay here and make sure she just doesn't up and leave. She'll be useful later on, so keep her here will you?" Roman said, glancing towards the sleeping woman with a narrowed glance. Eri knew that glance; it was when he had a plan. And while Eri trusted Roman, she didn't at all like being left alone with the woman. While Eri did stop Roman and the stranger's fight yesterday, she did so with confidence in that Roman would protect her if she failed.

But now... she was being left alone with her...

"B-but-!" Eri stuttered, trying to make an argument against him; she did not want to be left alone with a person who was only an enemy a few hours ago.

"Don't worry about it, kid. I doubt Cupcake over there would hurt a little girl, even if said little girl is affiliated with a criminal like me," Roman tried to reassured her with a smile.

Eri did not feel reassured at all, even if the stranger didn't want to hurt her, that wouldn't stop the stranger from taking her as a hostage. So, not wanting to back down, she tried glaring at him to change his mind, to which he just stared right back emotionlessly.

Silence spread over the room as they held each other's gazes for a while.

"Tch... How about this then," Roman fumbled around with his jacket for a bit before pulling out... a small knife.

A knife.

Eri slightly backed off from it in surprise.

"What about it..." Eri said, still slightly startled from the appearance of the knife. She never knew Roman kept a knife on his person.

"Y'see, I bought this little thing a few days ago since I am lacking quite a lot of firepower lately. And well, a knife does solve this problem exceptionally well, especially when it's stuck between two ribs... you get what I mean," Roman said in a joking manner, though Eri didn't think he was kidding at all. It then hit Eri why Roman brought the knife out.

"Y-you want me to..." Eri stuttered; horrified at what Roman wanted her to do.

"Smart kid, but no, I don't plan on giving you a knife to stab Cupcake over there. Nor do I really expect that you could even use it in the first place against her or it working," Roman snarked.

Relief spread all over Eri's body. Then why did Roman want her to have a knife?

Roman apparently seemed to be able to read her expression as he smirked before turning the knife in his hand over, offering the handle towards her.

"If she tries to leave or tries to capture you, threaten her with the knife. While the woman won't take the threat seriously, it'll keep her attention on you and the knife. Kids with sharp deadly objects will often make people slow down. Especially when your target is a mother herself," Roman smirk grew slightly more evil at the notion, "Just buy time until I get back, okay?" Roman patted her head.

"Yes..." Eri dejectedly nodded after a moment of silence.

"Good, see you later, kid."

Eri sighed as she regained her bearings.

Why did Roman trust her with this? He should know that she wouldn't be able to do it.

The feeling of a weighted knife in your hands... she didn't like the feeling at all, and she wished she never will.

So, with the intention of not using the knife at all, she put it to the side. If the woman did try to attack her... well, there was always her quirk... even if she really didn't want to use it. She'll figure something out when she reaches that bridge.

Eri once again took a glance at the woman. Roman wanted her to keep the woman here while he was gone, though she doubted the woman would try to leave in the current state she was in.

Maybe if I talk to her... I can keep her busy until Roman comes back...

Eri tensely gripped the broom handle in her hands as tried to make up her mind. Taking a deep breath, she set the broom aside to a nearby wall, right before walking up to the crouched form of the woman.

She may not talk all that much, but she spent copious amounts of time with Roman, who she considered the most narcissistic person she knew.

C'mon me, you can do it. If Roman believes you can do it. After all, when was he ever wrong? Eri thought to herself as she closed her eyes. Okay... maybe he was wrong a few times... but now was not the time to think of that.

Opening her eyes again, Eri put on a smile, trying not to look as shy as possible. She was extremely nervous, almost to the point of wanting to just hide in a corner.

"H-hi... my name's Eri..." Eri spoke nervously, trying her best to keep her already timid smile aloft.

The woman looked up from her grievances after a slight moment, her expression that of someone who just lost everything they loved. Her eyes puffy and bloodshot.

The girl blinked at her before trying to put up a front, trying to smile but failing as it didn't really meet her eyes.

Her eyes looked dull... like how her own used to as well.

"Oh, hello again... sorry about not having any manners, I guess I didn't really introduce myself to you properly yesterday," she said, slightly straightening her posture on the ground.

"S-so... what's your name?" Eri asked, though she wanted to flick herself on the head soon after she said that. She really didn't have the same skill as Roman when talking to people. Though it was probably for the best she didn't talk exactly like him.

"Summer, Summer Rose," she tried smiling again.

After Summer spoke, there was an awkward silence. Neither of them really made any move to continue on the conversation.

No! The conversation's dying!

Think, Eri, think! Eri quickly beat into her head; a bead of sweat forming on her head as she tried to think of anything to talk to the stranger.

She needed to say something quick! Anything!

"... I... I like your cape!" Eri blurted out, surprising Summer by the sudden outburst. Eri quickly covered her mouth afterwards. No, it was going badly already!

"I... Thank you, I guess?" Summer awkwardly responded.

"Nnnnghiiiii..." A strange noise came from Eri as she tried to keep her nerves down, though her shaking pupils and wide eyes did not help her outward appearance.

While she did like the woman's white cape, it was probably wasn't the best subject to talk about right now. She should have tried to console or help her, not this!

"Snort... hihihi..."

Eri's anxious thoughts stopped as she heard the woman snicker.

Wait... snicker?

Eri brought her attention back to the woman and... She was laughing? Why was she laughing?

Summer had brought her hand to her face as she lightly laughed; it was an expression that fit her much more than that broken expression from before.

"Wha-wha… huh?" Eri mumbled, suddenly surprised at the change in the woman's demeanour. Wasn't she just… being all sad and everything just a second ago?

"Haa… Sorry. It's just that you made such a funny face and… I couldn't help myself," Summer said, a more genuine smile now on her face.

While the woman's eyes were still a bit dull, there was almost a small light in them now.

"Funny?" Eri muttered, completely confused at what the woman meant by that. Was that a bad thing? Roman told her he found the stupid expressions on people's faces funny before, especially when it was her own. Did she mean it like that as well?

She didn't know whether to be insulted or not…

"Yes, it's just that the expression you made… the way your eyes spun around and the almost panicked look on your face…" Summer laughed lightly.

Eri pouted slightly at the woman. First it was Roman, and now her…

"So, you like my cape?" Summer asked, smiling.

Eri blinked at the sudden question. Oh, right… She did blurt that out didn't she?

"Y-yeah… It's almost like a cape a hero would wear…" Eri blushed.

Oh… this is so embarrassing…Eri thought to herself.

Even though she was under the care of a criminal, and even sometimes helped him in his crimes, that didn't mean she didn't like heroes. Just like kids her age, she adored them, even though if she could only watch them from afar now.

The only reason why Eri decided to stay with Roman in the first place was because she didn't want any heroes to be hurt by Overhaul just because they tried to help her. At least with Roman, only one person would be in danger, no matter how much it hurt Eri to think of it now. And there was always the possibility of being returned to her mother if she went with the heroes; the woman who abandoned her and gave her to those monsters.

So, the fact that the woman wore a cape like a hero gave Eri slight admiration of her, even if the woman wasn't actually a hero. But was she? The woman did fight Roman head on, and the only ones able to do that were either heroes or some villains, and the woman didn't particularly look like a villain…

"Hero?" Summer asked, almost surprised at the comparison she made.

Do they not have any heroes where she and Roman come from?

"Y-yeah," Eri blushed, "Like All Might…"

"All Might-?"

Click.

Both Eri and Summer turned around at the sound.

Roman was back.

"Oh, did I intrude on your conversation?" Roman smiled as he came in. In his hands were two plastic bags.

"No… not at all," Summer replied before Eri could. The smile on her face was gone and replaced with a small frown.

She really didn't like Roman it seemed...

Eri knew Summer didn't exactly like Roman in the first place from what happened yesterday. But it looked like there was some sort of bitterness in between them as well.

Did Summer still hold a grudge against Roman for whacking her across the head? It did look very painful...

"Well, how are you now, Cupcake? Get all your tears out? You weren't exactly all sunshine and rainbows when I left?" Roman asked as he dropped the bags onto the ground, not sounding caring at all even with his question.

"I was doing better… but that dropped as soon as you came in," Summer replied bitterly.

"Now, now, don't flatter me, I might blush," Roman jeered. "Anyways, that's good, can't have you moping around all the time; makes the atmosphere in the room feel like shit."

"Has anyone ever told you sound like a prick?" Summer bit back, obviously annoyed at Roman.

Prick? What's a prick? Well, whatever it was, it was obviously a bad word considering how Summer used it to describe Roman.

Digging into the plastic bag, Roman pulled out a wrapped burger and threw it to Summer who caught it barely by surprise.

Summer eyed the burger curiously before looking back at Roman. Her eyes were narrowed as she tried to discern what Roman was trying to pull.

"What's with the face? Don't like fast food?" Roman asked.

"No... Just didn't expect you to get me food," Summer replied.

"Well, don't think I'm doing this because of the kindness of my heart, I bought you some food so you'll owe me later on. And from what I heard yesterday, you haven't eaten anything for a long while now, have you?" Roman said as he took out two more burgers, passing one to Eri as well.

"So I owe you now…" Summer muttered in an irritated tone before sighing.

"Sigh, fine… thanks for the food then," Summer un-wrapped the burger before digging right into it. She looked like someone who hasn't eaten anything in days.

"Oi, catch," Roman tossed a bottle of water to Summer as well, who caught it perfectly this time.

…

Silence.

No one in the room spoke. The only sound in the room was the quiet sounds of chewing. But there was something else that made Eri uncomfortable, and it was the air of tension between Roman and Summer.

It felt so thick that she felt she could cut it with the knife Roman gave her...

"… Where do you come from?" Eri asked, trying to ease the tension away, though she did also want to know more about the both of them. With how they spoke with each other, it seemed they came from the same place. A place Eri was very curious about since Roman came from there.

"Hm?" Summer hummed, slightly surprised at the abrupt question.

"Where… do you and Mr. Torchwick come from? I mean, both of you come from the same place, right?" Eri asked nervously. She was usually only used to talking with Roman alone, not when there were other people around.

"Yes, well… She doesn't know?" Summer said before turning to Roman in confusion. A silent meaning in between them passing as their eyes met.

Doesn't know what? Eri thought to herself. Was it another one of those things Roman didn't tell her?

"There's no point in knowing, though I'll watch your words if I were you," Roman replied with a slightly veiled threat.

"What's the point of even keeping it secret…" Summer mumbled in slight irritation.

Summer sighed before turning back to Eri.

"I don't know where Roman comes from… but I used to live in a place called Patch. A small… island town that I grew up in. Not many people lived there, but it was okay," Summer said slowly.

An island town? Was it like Musutafu beach, just... all around the whole island?

"What's it like there?" Eri asked in curiosity. She was curious about the place, though she was disappointed she couldn't hear anything about where Roman came from.

"It's… peaceful there." Summer said softly, almost in a melancholic way, "It's a place surrounded by many forests and a land so green it looks like someone almost painted it. I remember fondly planting roses in my family's front garden and taking care of them often and… never mind. All I'll say is that I miss the place."

"That… sounds nice…" Eri said. She didn't know what it was like planting roses, much less how they even smelled, but the scene of green forests all around sounded almost… beautiful.

Eri smiled as the scene passed in her head before turning to Roman with hopeful eyes.

"What?" Roman stared back at her, chewing his own burger.

"I think she's asking where you come from," Summer voiced her thoughts.

Thank you, Summer. Eri thought in her head eagerly. She really wanted to know where Roman came from. This was probably one of the only times she could learn more about him.

"I know, it's just that I rather not answer," Roman responded, making Eri's hopes disappear.

"Oh, come on... aren't you two close though?" Summer responded back.

Roman glared at Summer before taking a glance at Eri for a moment.

"Tch, fine, I'll entertain you for now, but don't expect the same green and grassy place Cupcake comes from," Roman said as he quickly finished his burger.

Inside, Eri tried to hide her excitement at finally being able to learn where Roman came from. Maybe in the future she could go there to see what it was like, same with where Summer came from as well.

"I was born in a place called Kuchinashi, a depressing city built on cliffs and valleys where the only weather is rain and fog. As for me, I lived in the lower areas of the city; I don't have any fond memories of that shithole, and I'm very glad I moved out of there as soon as I could."

"Oh…" Or maybe not…

"Kuchinashi… I've heard of it from somewhere, but I can't recall…" Summer said, putting a finger to cheek as she tried to recall where she heard it before.

"I'm not surprised, with a place filled with so much crime and corruption just south of Mistral City and outside of the council's watch, not many people like to mention it in conversation," Roman frowned.

Kuchinashi and Mistral… She'll try to figure where those locations are later if she ever gets the chance.

"You know, this kind of explains why you're such a jerk then…" Summer said, turning to Roman with a small smirk.

"Oh, don't you dare compare me to those people. I am a much more refined and dignified person than those ass-hats," Roman glared back, putting a hand on his chest as he looked mock-offended.

"That's not saying much and can you not swear around such a little girl?" Summer responded.

"Oh, don't worry about that, she doesn't mind; right, kid?" Roman waved his hand offhandedly.

"W-well…" Eri stuttered. She did mind, and she couldn't exactly lie with a straight face like Roman could...

"Well, she generally doesn't mind," Roman answered for her.

"Riiiight…" Summer said, not believing Roman's words at all.

"Anyways, why do you ask, kid?" Roman turned his head back towards her.

"Ah... I-it's just that I wanted to learn more about you and… make small talk?" Eri nervously said.

"So you're not sure?" Roman deadpanned.

"Y-yeah," Eri said weakly.

"Great… Anyways, eat up. We're going to be fixing up the apartment later, so you'll need the energy. And you," Roman said before pointing to Summer.

"Hm?" Summer hummed as she was back again chewing on her burger.

"We're going out," Roman motioned to the door.

"Ewh?" Summer could only blankly mutter with a full mouth.

o – o – o – o – o

"So… what do you want to talk about?" Summer called out to him, though her eyes roamed around their current surroundings. That had been a constant thing she had been doing as soon as they went outside.

Roman had taken her away from the apartment and into a nearby park, and since it was still early in the morning as well as being a weekday, it was completely empty. He had taken her here so they could talk without anyone hearing them.

"Y'know… I expected you to be more unwilling to talk," Roman said as he leaned against a nearby play structure. She was being a lot more… well, nice, compared to their last conversation.

"It's not like I have many choices to choose from. And right now, as much as I don't want to, you're the only person that I can to talk to about our situation," Summer said bitterly.

Ah, there's the hostility from yesterday.

"Indeed, I am. Now, where do we start?" Roman waved his hands to his side.

"How about telling me more about where we are?" Summer said, crossing her arms.

"You know, information doesn't usually come free-" Roman happily hummed.

"Oh screw you; are you really this much of an ass?" Summer glared at him, almost seething that he even suggested it. Well, too bad for her, because he wasn't backing down. He needed the help, especially now that they were going to Hosu.

From what he's heard around recently, a lot of villains and criminals have been making base there as well.

He couldn't rely on just himself to make money soon, and neither could he use Eri either. Melodic Cudgel was out of dust, and he was most likely going to encounter people who he couldn't handle by himself.

"More like an opportunist, sweetheart," Roman responded with a smirk.

"Oh, so it's sweetheart now? Can you just call by my name?" She angrily retorted.

"I can, but it would have to be through a deal," Roman smiled evilly.

"Prick…" Summer muttered.

"C'mon now, think of it more like a trade?" Roman offered.

"Really? I don't exactly have anything I can give or offer?" Summer retorted. Technically, she did have something she could offer but that wasn't what he was looking for.

"Simple, I need an extra hand and-"

"No," Summer cut him off.

"You didn't even let me finish," Roman frowned.

"It's because you don't need to. You're a criminal, no matter how young you look right now. You're even wearing clothes that scream 'mob boss.' So, don't think I will ever accept a deal from someone like you," Summer responded.

"Ouch, that's hurts. Are you normally this hurtful?" Roman asked in a mocking manner.

"Only to assholes that deserve it," She bit back.

"Tch… Then how about this, a partnership?" Roman waved his hand in the air. Maybe he should tone himself down a bit. With the way it was going so far, they weren't going to get anywhere.

"… Go on," Summer said after a moment. Well, at least she was willing to listen to this one.

"Y'see, me and the kid are moving out of this place soon and moving to Hosu, a city district in Tokyo," Roman explained.

"You know I don't recognize these places right?" She responded dryly.

"I know, but just sit still and listen for now," Roman answered.

"There, we plan on making base and making more money, perhaps get enough money to actually live comfortably for a while," he explained more and more of his plan. If they could get enough money, he could just lie low for a while as well as probably fixing Melodic Cudgel.

"And how do you plan on making money?" She asked suspiciously.

"By robbing-"

"No," Summer cut him off again.

"You didn't even let me finish. What I was gonna say was, robbing other criminals," Roman said before she went on another tangent.

"That doesn't really make it much better," she muttered.

"But it is better," Roman said.

"Then where do I factor in all this?" She asked.

"You help us make money; help beat up some bad guys and rob them. While we in return, help you in whatever you desire. Be it giving shelter, food, or anything, just as long as it doesn't go too far, of course," Roman explained.

"So… you want me to basically help you beat up some criminals and rob them, and if I do so, you help me in return," she echoed him.

"Simple, right?" Roman asked.

"You know, I thought you were a criminal… but you sound more like a villainous vigilante or something," she stared at him as if something unexpected yet interesting just happened, making Roman slightly twitch.

"The only reason I resort to this is because it's actually safer for me and the kid," Roman snorted, "The law here doesn't actively hunt vigilantes down. And it's not like I'm not committing crimes; is it not a crime for vigilantism, assault, theft, and possible endangerment of children?"

"Never mind, it looks like you're still an ass. Still… I don't understand what you gain from this… So far, as long as I help you, I get more benefits than you do yourself? Why do you even need my help? You seem strong enough that you don't need me," She asked suspiciously.

Here, Roman started to lightly laugh. Oh, her reaction would be priceless.

"Y'see the people in this world, do not have aura," he revealed, stunning her.

"W-what? How can they not have aura?! They have souls, right?" She nearly yelled.

"I think so, though I'm not a hundred percent sure; I've never really checked," Roman responded. The only way he could check was by unlocking someone else's aura, or simply through skin contact in a similar way; both ways being something that he wasn't exactly fond of trying.

"And while the people here don't have aura, I wouldn't underestimate them. What they do have here are quirks, which are basically semblances that almost everyone here has. This makes thefts quite hard, you know? Well hard enough were it not for aura, but even then it's certainly a challenge," Roman explained his situation.

"Ugh… The more and more I hear about how this world is different the more my head hurts…" Summer rubbed her temples with her hands.

"You're not the only one… So what will it be then? Will you accept this offer?" Roman asked her, hoping that she would agree, though he didn't show it.

"… How long does this partnership last?" She asked after several seconds.

"Ho, actually considering it now? How about as long as we both need something from the other then? The partnership ends once we finally both don't need other; is that fine?" Roman offered.

"That's quite generous you know… And how can I trust your words then? How can I trust you won't stab me in the back in the future?" She asked once again.

This was it. This was the possible deal-breaker. He needed to answer this in a way where she will still accept it.

"You can't," Roman began, her eyes narrowing almost instantly. "You'll just have to believe in me, and while I am a criminal, I do honour partnerships and deals, as long as you do as well of course. After all, if I went and back-stabbed everyone I worked with, that would lead to a very early end for me."

"An honourable criminal… It almost sounds like a dumb joke," she retorted but with less power. It looked like she was busy thinking it over.

"Far from honourable, Cupcake, but I'll take that as a compliment," Roman responded.

They both stared each other down, trying to almost see what the other was thinking.

"…"

"…"

"Do you have family? Anyone you care about?" She asked, confusing Roman.

"... Not anymore..." He carefully answered. He didn't know what she wanted from that question. But he felt he needed to answer honestly.

She eyed him for a minute straight, as he examined her expression as well.

"..."

"..."

"Sigh, I accept your offer," Summer accepted, though a bit reluctantly.

"It'll be great doing business with you then, Summer," Roman offered his hand.

"Using my name now, huh?" Summer asked with a raised brow, though she still accepted his hand and shook.

"I have to maintain a good relationship in between us now that we're working together now, right?" Roman asked, smirking slightly.

"You're still an ass, you know?" Summer smiled with a fake expression, squeezing his hand as he did so.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Roman retorted, making Summer squeeze his hand even tighter.

Everything was fitting together now. Now that there was him and a Huntress working together, they'll have no trouble in Hosu.

o – o – o – o – o

-Bzzzzzt-

Within a dark room, a small television flickered as scenes of the annual U.A. Sports Festival flashed by. A festival where the students of U.A. come to show off in front of thousands of people, competing to show who was the strongest, who can adapt, who showed promise as a hero.

"Heroes… Showing off and fighting each other for fame and wealth..."

The television flickered once more.

"Those… are not real heroes…"

Slash!

A blade slashed the television in half, ending its feed.

"The only heroes that should exist… are the true ones like All Might… not fakes like these," the voice muttered.

"And I… shall be the one to fix that."

o – o – o – o – o

BREAKING NEWS! HERO KILLER STRIKES AGAIN!

A/N: Yo, guess who's back from the dead. Dropped the story originally due to circumstances and the pandemic didn't exactly help. I'm planning on continuing this story like I said, though I do plan to fix up some of the writing in the earlier chapters as well as catch back up to what I was writing first. Sorry for everyone who liked the story.

A/N 2: Fixed up some of the earlier chapters. Next update will be a new chapter.