Do You Believe in Fairy Tales?

Chapter 11: Roman Torchwick

A RWBY Fanfic

Roman Torchwick, the man, the myth (or so he wanted people to believe), the most devious of criminal masterminds (if he did say so himself). Known for all the cheap low down things that one could do and get away with it. He was so jaded in life that there were only a few things that he did and he did well; lie, cheat, steal and survive!

Growing up Roman had heard all the stories of the huntsmen and huntresses and was always intrigued about them. How they were always able to make it and have everything that they would ever need. He had always thought that maybe there was a chance for this small time street kid to make it big and not have to worry about trivial things like food and shelter. But, as he was growing things had to be prioritized for the here and now, not the future and what might be.

Whenever he would hear the stories and think that he just might want to do that he would get a quick reminder that there were other things that had to be taken care of. His father would kick him out of the house in the morning and tell him that he was not allowed back in unless he brought home something that they could eat or sell to be able to eat. Roman would think to himself, 'Huntsmen never have to worry about food and I am sure they never had a father like mine.' But, he would still try his hardest to find something his family would be able to eat.

As time went on Roman finally decided to get up and leave home. 'Why do I need to stay in a place where all I do is what other people tell me to do? I don't need to take a beating every time I fail.' So before he left he ended up facing his father who tried to beat him one last time, only this time Roman fought back and his father received the beating that had been building up in Roman for a very long time. Now he was free from all ties that he had with a "loving" family and was on his own to follow whatever path in life he wanted to.

Since Roman now had the world before him he decided he would try to become one of the huntsmen he heard of in the stories of his childhood. So with that he headed to try to join one of the combat schools to start his training; only to be turned away because he had no one to sign for him as family. He tried a number of schools all with the same results and for the same reason. And since he had no family and couldn't get into a school he was stranded on the streets.

The streets of Vale was where he learned to survive. But, it was only by trial and error that he soon learned all the skills that he needed to survive. He even became a decent fighter as he had to fight off many people that would assault him for different reasons, such as to retrieve what he had stolen or just to take out some frustration on a homeless street kid. All of this was frustrating and infuriating making Roman feel that this is what fate and life had in store for him.

As he was dealing with all of this disappointment there was only one thing left to crush his desire to be something better, to be a hero, to be a huntsman. That event finally came one day as he was trying to find a meal for himself. Roman was so desperate at his young age that he was begging for money, everyone just ignored him or gave him a pittance of change, barely enough to but scraps of bread. He looked up and noticed a huntsman in the market area and the stories of the huntsmen and huntresses came back to mind. How they were the most loyal and kind hearted of all people in the world because they wanted to protect all of the world's citizens.

Thinking these thoughts and being desperate he approached the huntsman. "Sir, May I ask you a question sir?"

"Sure kid, ask away," replied the huntsman. Thinking that this was an admirer who might be enamored of him.

"Is it true that huntsmen and huntresses are the protectors of Remnant?"

"Yes we are. We are the guardians of Remnant. We are the ones to protect the world and make it change for the best. Just like the stories tell you." He responded haughtily. Almost too proud of himself.

"Well, I am just a street kid and I am starved. Would you have any money to help me get a meal? Then I can become a huntsman like you." Roman asked hopefully.

"WHAT?! You have got to be kidding me kid!" The huntsman roared with laughter at Roman's questions. "You think that a street kid like you could become a huntsman! Kid we may be the protectors but we aren't made of money, plus a street kid like you could never become a huntsman you're not huntsmen material! Thanks for the laugh kid!" He continued to laugh at Roman as he walked away.

Roman was devastated. 'Not huntsmen material, huh? Well then I will have to do something I am good at and become better than the huntsmen and huntresses.' Roman thought to himself. 'I will find a way to beat them at their own game.'

So Roman started to work at perfecting all the skills that he would need to survive on the streets. His new goal was to become the king of the street. He soon became able to con any one he could. He was even able to can the huntsmen out of much of their hard earned money. That feeling of beating the huntsmen with his wits enthralled him and he soon worked harder to widen his criminal skills and when the police and other authorities came to look he was able to elude them. He then figured the huntsmen and huntresses in the stories didn't mean much if he can beat them at every turn, he was a master genius. He was the best at life outside the law and he was proud for that fact.

That fact that he was the best at what he did; lying, cheating, stealing and surviving; had gotten the attention of someone really bad. He decided to work with that person and start to live his own fairy tale life. Until one day when he was pulling off a heist at a store called 'Dust to Dawn' and ran into a little girl with a red cloak and very big scythe who was trying to start her very own fairy tale.