Roman's Angels II

You can break the trust and loyalty of the rest, but you can never break what I never give.

"I've told you guys plenty of times, never steal from anyone bigger than you unless you're sure you know how to lose them." Roman grunted, swinging his cane with such force he broke the legs of the two pursuing men who screamed in agony once Roman's Semblance had been dismissed.

"AAH!" They fell to the ground, clutching their legs.

"But since you've brought these two suckers before me, I guess we can see what they might have." Roman remarked with a small smile before he tapped his cane on the forehead of one of the men. "Agree to let us have whatever you got, and I'll be so kind not to bash your heads in."

"You little…punk." The man grunted. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"

"Right now, I'd say I'm dealing with two men, on the ground, their legs broken and are not particularly bright considering they are wasting my time instead of giving me what I so nicely asked for." Roman rolled his eye.

"We're Spiders, working for Lil' Miss Malachite!" The other man cried out. "She lives all the way in the capital but once she hears what you've done, she'll come and kill you all!"

"Well, that's only if she finds out what happened to the two of you." Roman pressed the cane on the other man's head. "Haven't you heard the phrase: 'Dead men tell no tales'?"

To signify his point, a reticle was raised at the base of the cane while a muzzle was uncovered, showing that the cane doubled as a gun. The two men paled, realizing what could happen to them.

"Like it? I stole the cane, but a friend owed me a favor, so they had it converted into this for me." Roman said slyly.

"Wa-Wait-Wait!" The men raised their hands. "We didn't mean anything; we were just trying to get our stuff back."

"And rightfully, considering we only take things of value." Roman replied with a chipper smile. "Still waiting for you to give me a reason to let you live."

"We-We can work for you! We know a lot of things in the capital, especially in the upper districts."

"Tempting…" Roman tapped his chin. "But you could also be waiting to sell us out to your boss when you're back on your feet. So…no thanks."

"Wa-Wait!"

BANG-BANG!

Roman turned away from the bodies, facing the two chumps he had for subordinates. "What you got better be worth the trouble."

"Things aren't looking good for us. Our weapon smuggling has fallen behind schedule, to say nothing of the imported Dust we should be getting from the Mistral Trading Company." The woman behind the curtain held up a fan and waved it at her face. "If this keeps up, we might as well be using sticks and stones against the Grimm and Huntsmen. If that wasn't enough, contracts in the outer districts are dwindling because of these street punks stealing from us. So, you can see why I've reached out to you. You're the best information broker in Remnant, even better than me as much as I hate to say it."

Before her was a man covered in red bandages and a cloak covering his body.

"The last thing I want is my life's work crumbling from the lack of money, weapons, Dust and even the lack of respects of my own subordinates." The woman closed her fan. "So, if you agree to find the source of these problems, specifically the little punk kids that are responsible I'll see to it you are set for life to life with whatever you want."

"How generous of you." The man stated stoically. "Though to be frank, I could care less about the plight of your gang. How do you know for sure I won't simply report you to the authorities?"

"Oh, I'm not worried at all." The woman smiled behind the curtain. "I've got information on all the right members on who to properly trust. Mistral may have fallen and been rebuilt in a day, but the same corruption will always be present."

"I see." The man narrowed his yellow eye. "So, the Spiders have worked to embed themselves in every corner of Mistralian society. Mistral was practically and literally rebuilt from the ground up following the Great War and yet you've managed to supposedly squeeze your way into the new peaceful society that was built."

"I wouldn't go so far as to call it squeezing. More like we evolved with the rest of the kingdom." The woman stated. "The inner city is practically a paradise, built with the dreams of Mistral rising to become the greatest kingdom on Remnant. Sure, Atlas has its military and technology, Vale has the sights and history, Vacuo values strength but Mistral…Our ability to channel art into every little thing, valuing wisdom and intellect even over money is what sets us apart from the rest. You can call us criminals; you can call us a gang but at the end of the day we still enjoy the fine arts and intellect that the Empress taught us to treasure at the end of the Great War."

"Clearly." The man simply said. "Despite that though, your Spiders are in conflict with other gangs forming in the underbelly of the so-called enlightened kingdom. You are even at war with an army of juveniles."

"If kids learn to survive on the streets, they can become pretty formidable." The woman replied. "But it seems their apparent leader has had some form of training, likely Huntsman training. The Spiders pride themselves on never being seen, where Huntsmen use weapons to beat their enemies the Spiders use information to outsmart them. Right now, these punks are directionless, without purpose beyond simple survival. It'd be too much a waste to simply kill them."

"So, you don't plan on killing them immediately." The man noted.

"Of course not, I'm many things but I'm no monster. Killing little kids that are still looking for their place in the world…If I did something like that, the Huntsmen of Mistral would come down on me and no amount of bribery would keep me alive or out of prison. People can only turn a blind eye to so much." The woman said smoothly. "Just find me the location of these punks and we will deal with the rest."

"…Very well." The man turned for the door.

"One sec." The woman called out, making the man stop. "I have to know, why the bandages? And why the name DiZ?"

"The bandages conceal my face and the name DiZ is short for my true name." The man simply said.

"Which is?" The woman prodded.

"…The one who lives in darkness." The man simply said, opening the door and stepped out.

The woman waited for a moment before the door opened and in walked a muscular man. "Uh, Miss Malachite?"

"Yes?"

"You said he would come back out the entrance, right?"

"I did."

"So…did he? I got the signal, but he never showed up."

"Hm…" The woman leaned back in her chair. "He's a real sly one."

"I told you idiots never to stick out like that and the only targets you were supposed to mug are ones you sure wouldn't be able to chase you."

Roman liked to say he was a fair man…

Yeah, right.

Even he couldn't lie that good.

But he liked to think he was practical and reasonable as long as the results of any operation or heist ended in him being satisfied no matter how little they ended up with. Was a little professionalism too much to ask?

Roman sighed as he ran a hand through his hair that was in a short ponytail under a hat. He also wore a green overcoat and black leather gloves that he stole from a wealthy man. Ever since he took over the streets of Wind Path, he had dozens of thugs and punks under his control, all of them desperate to please him with whatever little trinkets they find.

Well, he did ask for this when he told everyone he was taking over the streets.

Still, that meant holding a lot of hands which wasn't something he initially wanted to do. He would have preferred to work alone or at least with a competent partner, but the price of fame had caused many followers to seek him out since it was not everyday a lowly punk in Mistral had received Huntsmen training.

Wind Path.

One of the outer cities of the kingdom of Mistral that all though had seen improvement since the Great War, truthfully it was less lawful and home to people who couldn't afford to live in the inner district of the kingdom. In the last several decades, work on maintaining the outer cities and districts had declined while the inner district had remained pristine. The vert outer districts were homes to those who lived a more basic way of life while the mid and inner districts made way for people ranging from those with moderate to wealthy lifestyles. There was virtually no war or poverty in Mistral but a divide between inner and outer districts had grown over the years.

As the leader of the Spiders, Miss Malachite had said, Mistral had become the center for art and culture on Remnant, respecting the land, sea and sky for their abundance. Even the criminal gangs were somewhat…civilized, choosing to resort to less noticeable crimes at least on the surface of Mistral.

It wasn't perfect but still a nice place to live as long as you picked the right spot.

What made it even better for most people was that it was the most diverse of the four Kingdoms, having the highest Faunus population outside of Menagerie. What tied them all together was the capital city of the kingdom where Haven Academy resides. The Huntsman Academy is set up in the exact center of the kingdom, preventing any of the district cities surrounding the capital to suddenly declaring war so for the most part they are left to self-govern themselves outside of involvement by the ruling council and the one who leads the council herself, the Empress.

Not the Empress who led Mistral through the Great War and after but the current one who serves as a figurehead and leads the council.

DiZ knew better than anyone that the Empress who transformed Mistral into a better kingdom than it was before the Great War was not the one currently on the throne and these days, the title of Empress was little more than a figurehead to lead the council. Still though, he had a mission to complete here, and he was rather keen on completing it as soon as possible. That was why he was currently skulking around the alleyways of Wind Path, setting himself up as a potential victim to be mugged.

It was just a matter of time…

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

DiZ barely even blinked as he was soon surrounded by a gang of what were essentially teens, most of them holding knives for the purpose of intimidating him. However, it was plain to see their stances were completely wrong and a skilled fight would easily overpower them.

"Check out the fashion statement here." One of them, a teen girl chuckled. "Am I looking at a noble or a mummy?"

"Am I looking at a mugger or a little girl?" DiZ calmly retorted.

The girl glared at him for that, not happy that he was seemingly unintimidated by the fact that he was outnumbered and surrounded.

"I assume you are the Little Pumpkins." DiZ said calmly, remaining so still he might as well have been a statue.

"So, you know of us." A boy stepped forward, brandishing a knife.

"I know more of your leader than you. I assume he is not here…Pity." DiZ sighed. "You might have stood a better chance with him around."

That seemed to agitate the teens as they prepared to strike…

Only for DiZ to disappear and then reappear behind the male teen who simply blinked and then he fell over, fallowed by the rest of the gang. DiZ looked over his shoulder, staring down at the fallen children. They were not hurt as he simply cast a Sleep spell on them as soon as he teleported.

"It is a great pity that despite my friend's efforts, poverty can still find its way into places of great beauty." DiZ said, turning around. "When you awaken, tell your leader he can find me in the farming district of the kingdom. I do like to spend my time helping those in need."

With that, he disappeared, leaving the bewildered teens behind as they slowly opened their eyes.

The outer district, better known as the Farming District.

This was what supported Mistral's economy and ensure food and water were plentiful in the kingdom and sent outside to nearby villages.

DiZ was overlooking the endless fields of the Farming District that stretched all the way out to the Outer Wall of Mistral from the Inner Wall. The Inner Wall surrounded the inner section of Mistral, specifically the mountains the kingdom had been built into.

"So, you're the guy who made chumps out of my chumps."

DiZ glanced over his shoulder, seeing none other than his target approaching. "I take it, you are Roman Torchwick?"

"Exactly." Roman said, giving the robed man a thumbs' up as he approached. "Now, I'm not one for complaining very much. I like to think I'm actually very reasonable. But when someone comes along and easily takes down whatever thugs I have working for me that just looks badly on me."

"Perhaps you should pay for better subordinates." DiZ suggested, refusing to turn and fully face the criminal.

"Oh, believe me, I would if I could. I'm not in for the whole 'team' thing. So much pressure to make sure they all work and act competently." Roman sighed, stopping just a few feet away from DiZ. "If I had enough, I would have robbed them all blind and left for greener pastures but that's still a few years away. So, in the meantime, I'll have to settle for just making sure no heroes come along and breaks up my well-thought-out and very fragile little enterprise I have set up here."

"Hm, I can agree on the fragility of your so-called enterprise but well-thought out…" DiZ finally turned and faced Roman. "We'll have to agree to disagree on that."

"Is that so?" Roman raised his cane, the reticle rising. "And this is what I have to say to all my critics."

BANG!

Roman narrowed his eyes as his shot passed through DiZ like he was a ghost. DiZ then fizzled and vanished, leaving no trace he had even been there.

'A trick!' Roman's eyes widened and then narrowed. 'So where is he-'

"You seem to have a very serious impulse control problem."

Roman spun around, only for his cane to be batted away. Eyes narrowing, Roman held out his hand and an orange light engulfed DiZ, freezing him on the spot.

"So…this is your Semblance. The famous Clockwork Orange." DiZ slowly said, not showing any sign of distress.

"You're a tricky one." Roman lowered his hand. "Not just anyone gets the drop on me like that. And judging from that fancy getup, you are obviously well connected." Roman grinned. "So, here's a little deal. You can die now, or you can die after you've given me access to whatever funds and treasures you are hiding. Either way is fine with me."

"I'll have to ask you to kill me now then and if you can make it painless, I would be appreciative." DiZ simply said.

"Huh?" Roman raised an eyebrow. "A bit suicidal, are we?" He sighed. "I hate it when my victims are crazy. It just makes thing harder."

"One could argue you're a bit insane, yourself. Given that you've been trying to compete with all the other gangsters in this kingdom with just an army of juvenile delinquents." DiZ remarked.

Roman narrowed his eyes, raising his cane. "All right, I've had enough. You're getting your brains blown out."

BANG!

Roman's eyes went wide as a dark portal appeared in front of DiZ, swallowing his Dust bullet. "What?!"

"I see." DiZ grinned. "You hold your victims in with your Semblance, then you deliver a single fatal shot with projectile from your cane. Rather crude, don't you think?"

"And what was that just now? Your Semblance?" Roman snapped, twirling his cane. "Shooting you would have been much cleaner but if you're going to be stubborn, I guess I'll be cleaning blood of my clothes tonight."

Before he could make another move, a dark portal appeared under Roman's feet, and he fell in. "Wha-AAAH-!"

The effects of Roman's Semblance instantly ended and DiZ looked up, seeing another dark portal appear in the above the very portal he had just made. Roman fell out of the portal and back into the very one he fell into just a second ago.

"AAAH-!"

"This would be what I call an endless loop." DiZ remarked, watching as Roman fell from above and back into the portal a third time. "A little something for dealing with arrogant children like you."

"AAAH-!" As Roman fell he tried aiming his cane at DiZ, only for the portal under him to vanish and he fell onto solid ground. "GAH!"

"I'm sorry, were you planning something just before I cancelled out my Semblance?" DiZ calmly asked.

Roman grunted as he slowly got up. "So, you're not only a tacky dresser but a cocky prick as well. I hate people like you."

So, this guy could create portals with his Semblance and judging from the way he had just used it he was making a point instead of actually trying to kill him.

Meaning, someone, one of the rival gangs likely had sent him.

"All in all, not a bad Semblance you got there." Roman grinned as he pulled something out of his pocket. "I don't like fully relying on my Semblance, since I see Semblances in general as more of an overrated crutch but mine comes in handy enough times when I need it. And it just so happens, I know a few neat tricks from it."

He held up a Fire Dust Crystal…and crushed it.

BOOM!

DiZ's eye widened as the resulting explosion from the Dust crystal was frozen by Roman's Semblance, resembling a fireball the size of a Blitzball.

"Like it?" Roman grinned. "Dust can be affected by Semblances too. In this case, I freeze the explosion of the Fire Dust just as I detonate it. It's amazing how easily people overlook how Aura can protect you, even from an explosion in your face. It also lets me do this!"

He threw the frozen explosion right at DiZ and the Semblance instantly dispelled, allowing the explosion to grow to its original size.

Roman let out a laugh as DiZ was consumed by the fiery explosion that now scorched the top of the Inner Wall. "Whoo! Let's see you taunt your way out of this one!"

He took off, running as fast as he could as he knew the castle guards would come running to investigate. He never looked back as the smoke cleared, revealing only the scorched burning ground where DiZ had been standing.

"Man, it's good to come back a winner." Roman sighed as he walked up the hideout warehouse used by him and his crew. "Maybe this will send a message to those other gangs that Roman Torchwick now owns the streets of Mistral."

He had just opened the door and…

"ROMAN!"

Roman froze to see his entire gang on their knees, guns aimed at the back of their heads. Roman was stunned to see the entire warehouse that had been filled with anything and everything that had been stolen in the last couple of years being taken by away.

"So, this is the infamous Roman Torchwick, huh?"

Roman watched as several of the intruders stepped forward and he knew who each of them was.

Lil' Miss Malachite, leader of the Spiders.

Midas Goult, leader of the Gold Gang.

Lemon, leader of the criminal gang known as the Wave.

Lemon was a tall, light-skinned woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a gold suit and dress pants, and a lemon-yellow coat hanging from her shoulders.

Paul Parrot, leader of the Parrot Gang.

Parrot had a deep tan, from his time on the northern coasts, greasy, black hair that was kept slicked back, bushy brows, and a hawk-like nose. He wore a deep green tuxedo with a yellow bow tie and matching waistcoat, embroidered with an iridescent feather pattern.

Together, all four were the leaders of the biggest gangs in Mistral.

"Well, lookie here. The man of the hour has finally arrived." Paul Parrot said, chuckling as he brought out a cigar. "Roman Torchwick."

Roman was speechless at seeing his entire hideout having been found by not one but four criminal gangs. He glanced at the door behind him, but it was slammed shut as two guards stepped in, blocking that possible escape.

"Leaving so soon?" Miss Malachite asked with a satisfied smile. "How rude."

WHAM!

Roman grunted as something hit him in the back of his head, forcing him onto the ground on his knees while his cane was grabbed.

"You've been quite the thorn in everyone's side the last few years, honey." Malachite said as her guard brought Roman's cane to her. "It would be impressive if you hadn't been stupid enough to believe you would never be caught."

"So, should we kill him now?" Midas held up a hand. "Or just give him to me? Just another trophy to my collection?"

"Now, now, his fate is only up to one of you."

Roman's eye widened as he looked over to see none other than DiZ, the man he had thought he had killed, emerge from the shadows.

"It was Miss Malachite who hired me to track down Mr. Torchwick, find his hideout and deliver him to her. The rest of you are here as a courtesy." DiZ stated. "In fact, I offer a proposal to the four of you that will be most satisfactory in punishing Mr. Torchwick for his actions against you." DiZ said before facing the members of Roman's gang, still on their knees. "You have come very far, thanks to the efforts of your leader. You may have thought you were on your way to becoming the next most feared gang in Mistral. But is that what you really believe and is what your leader believes?"

He held up his scroll, showing a recording of Roman when he last met DiZ. "Oh, believe me, I would if I could. I'm not in for the whole 'team' thing. So much pressure to make sure they all work and act competently." Roman sighed, stopping just a few feet away from DiZ. "If I had enough, I would have robbed them all blind and left for greener pastures but that's still a few years away. So, in the meantime, I'll have to settle for just making sure no heroes come along and breaks up my well-thought-out and very fragile little enterprise I have set up here."

Roman's eyes widened, shocked to see that DiZ had somehow recorded him in their previous meeting. The members of Roman's gang were beyond shocked before that shock slowly turned to anger and they began shouting at Roman, hurling insults at him.

"Loyalty can be hard to come by." DiZ lowered his scroll. "This of course, will ensure that Mr. Torchwick will be in no position to rebuild his gang."

"Impressive but I rather we'd just kill him." Paul Parrot stated, smoking his cigar.

"Now, now, Mr. Parrot, death would be the easy way out for Mr. Torchwick. With the loyalty of his gang now gone, it frees them all up for potential recruitment from you and the others." DiZ gestured to the other gang leaders. "All of them having experience on the streets that can be most beneficial. And of course, the four of you are free to divide the possession they have amassed here. And finally, the fate of Mr. Torchwick belongs only to my client who hired me to bring him to her."

Malachite raised an eyebrow again before she grinned. "Is that so?"

"Yes. To kill or recruit." DiZ stated, causing Roman's eyes to go even wider. "Kill him now and he's another body lying with their face in the ground. Recruit him though and he serves as an example for any more potential opportunists seeking to their own dreams of glory and power. Let him be your subordinate and show him the folly of ever having thought he could simply waltz into your kingdom and take control. What say you?"

Malachite seemed to carefully consider DiZ's suggestion before she grinned in Roman's direction.