If that is your wish. Neopolitan may serve as custodian of the Flame.

Yang shrugged. "Well, sounds like it's up to you, partner."

Blake gently tapped the tips of her gauntlet against the Flame, eyes closed and breathing steady.

Then, she nodded firmly. "Okay. Obsidian, can you pass a message along?"

Yes.

"Then..."

"You know, Neo, there are things I miss about the way the city used to be before the fire-wielding lunatic had her fun with it...but shady meetings with our sort-of bosses?" Roman clicked his cane against the ground for emphasis. "Not one of those things."

She gave him a look.

"Sure, sure. I get it; the new boss is scary in their own way, and if they say we meet the girls then we meet the girls. I'm not doubting you, exactly. Just...voicing my doubts. Which are, naturally, about the situation rather than you."

The look intensified, as her foot began to tap against the warehouse's concrete floor.

"Right. Of course. It's not like the last time I met them they nearly killed me, or anything."

The look, somehow, became even more intense, and for a moment Roman worried she'd burn a hole through him. Is she using her Semblance to make her eyes look like that? That would be so pedestrian...so of course she is.

"Look, all I'm saying -"

The door clicked open, and four girls entered. Red, White, Yellow, and Black. The first two watched him carefully, while Yellow glared daggers at Neo...and Black was looking at her with something in her eyes. It wasn't a look Roman could quickly identify, which was a bit awkward. Complex feelings aren't great for this sort of employment.

"Hello, ladies." He gave a bow that was only moderately sarcastic, tipping his hat to their guests. "Lovely to see you in good condition."

"Tch. You weren't worried about that last time we met, Torchwick." Yellow flipped her hair over her shoulder, switching her glare from Neo to him.

"Last time we met I was on the job and we were on opposite sides. Now we're best friends! Isn't life grand?" Neo tapped him on the arm and he rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll stop antagonizing the boss' pet girls. So much fun though. So! Girls, I'm told we have some sort of business we're supposed to conduct? We do have a flight to catch soon, so we should probably move that along."

Yellow looked like she'd eaten something sour, but she turned to the side and allowed Black to step forward. "Neo." She took a breath, never breaking eye contact with his diminutive associate. "She gave you magic, didn't she?"

Neo held the gaze for a few seconds before she raised a hand and allowed water to play between her fingers. Roman had expected the action to be accompanied by a smug aura, but...Neo seemed conflicted about something. Hmm. Something to look into later. In the meantime, Black nodded and stepped closer to her. "Then I'm going to offer you something." She reached into her bag, and produced a shimmering red crystal.

A familiar shimmering red crystal. Neo's eyes widened, and Roman would admit surprise probably showed on his face as well. "You know, Kitty Cat, the last time we took that from you things got...a bit heated, yeah?"

Her eyes flicked to him with something like annoyance. "Don't remind me, Torchwick."

He held up his hands. "Now, now, I'm just...curious, is all. What's the occasion? And, er...what's the point?"

Neo gave him a look that made him even more curious. Does she already know what this is about?

Black sighed. "Much as I hate to admit it, you're right. We are...allies now. And that means we need to do our part to make sure you're successful. The longer you keep this with you, the stronger your connection to Obsidian becomes; the stronger that connection, the more she can teach you. I have a suspicion that...you'll need that kind of advantage."

He tipped his hat. "Typically, we make our own luck."

"Typically you're not up against Maidens, yeah?" Yellow tapped her foot in irritation.

"Why, Goldilocks, I didn't know you cared." He placed a hand over his heart with an exaggerated sigh.

She huffed. "If you get yourself killed, I won't be crying." Then she turned to the side, gritting her teeth. "...But if you're fighting them, then I'd rather you win."

"Ah." He nodded solemnly. "You hate our enemies more than you hate me. Well, I'm not unused to that predicament."

While they were talking, Neo had slowly reached out, almost brushing her fingers against the crystal. It glinted oddly in the light. Neo glanced down at it with an odd expression, and -

Yes.

Roman took a step back, hand gripping Melodic Cudgel tightly...only to notice that nobody else in the room had been startled. Oh. That's...not the best sign, I fear. Neo nodded once, and reached out to take hold of the crystal.

At that moment, Black took a step forward, gauntlet-clad hand surging forward and grasping Neo's forearm. On reflex, Roman took a step towards them, and the other three girls stepped into his path. Shit, if this is an ambush it's bad -

"Neo. I want to be very clear." Black's voice had dipped low, quiet and filled with painful promises. "As long as you're on our side, I'll defend you. Obsidian will defend you. My team will defend you. But if you betray us? Betray her?" She stepped even closer, her face so close to Neo's they were almost touching. "I will find you. And I will take the Flame back."

Neo held her gaze for a long moment...then nodded. Black stared into her eyes for a second longer, then released her arm and stepped back. "We need to be on our way. Good luck, Neo, Torchwick." She strode from the building without looking back, while the other girls kept their eyes on the pair of criminals until they were gone.

Once they were alone again, Roman let out a low whistle. "Well. That went...differently than I expected."

Neo didn't respond, staring into the crystal in her hand.

"...Neo? You didn't get shaken up over a little threat, yeah?"

She licked her lips once, then turned her head towards him, then shook her head sarcastically.

"Good. We've got a flight to catch – and now you have more luggage to pack. Joy of joys."

She stuck her tongue out at him. A moment later, the air rippled and for all anyone could tell, a completely ordinary father and daughter walked out of the warehouse towards some important business.