"Roman Torchwick. I've been looking for you for months, and yet here you are, walking right up to me. Are you stupid?" Lady Beat's voice carried a mocking lilt, her gloved fingers curling.
Roman, still standing inside the swirling inferno, gave her a grin. "I don't know, sweetheart, are you?"
Beatrix's shoulders slackened. Her gloved fingertips twitched before she aimed below his feet. Two shots rang out as she fired into the flames.
Roman barely had time to process what had happened before he felt the shift beneath him. He glanced down, his smirk faltering as ice rapidly spread across the floor. His reflexes kicked in, and he threw his weight back just as an icicle shot up, barely grazing the brim of his hat.
As if on cue, the second dust shot activated. A powerful gust erupted beneath him, sending him skidding backward. He cursed under his breath, shielding his face with one hand while using the other to keep his hat from flying off.
When the air finally settled, he lowered his arms, his cane tapping the frozen ground. His expression soured.
Lady Beat smirked. "How the hell did you even make it this far?"
Roman dusted off his coat and adjusted his hat. "You should already know. That little fire tornado did wonders."
Her smirk vanished, replaced by a clenched jaw. "How did you know they were spies?!"
Roman tilted his head, "Oh, come on. I'm a criminal, and a damn good one. What kind of thief would I be if I didn't do my homework?"
Her fists tightened at her sides. "It's not that easy… I want to know how!"
Roman exhaled, shaking his head. "Alright, I'll spell it out for you. You can change your name, you can change your face, but you can't change experience. Can't change attitude, either. The way your crew operates, the kind of jobs you take, the trail of destruction left behind, it all points back to you." He lifted a finger, twirling it lazily. "Looking into the staff's backgrounds was a breeze. The tricky part? Getting the layout of this school."
His grin widened. "Lucky for me, that little 'school performance' of yours turned into a full-blown disaster. Collapsed buildings, students running for their lives. hell of a mess. But more importantly, a news chopper got the perfect aerial view."
Lady Beat's eye twitched. "You thorough piece of shit…" Her gloved fingers twitched before she suddenly slashed the air in front of her.
Roman barely had time to react before a sharp, invisible force cut through the space between them. His eyes widened as strands of his hair fluttered to the ground.
He straightened, inhaling sharply. Then, with a realization, the front of his beloved hat detached and plopped onto the icy floor.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, Lady Beat let out a choked laugh, barely able to contain her glee. "You should see your face! Ahaha, was it really that easy to break your spi—"
PLOW!
Her words were cut short by a punch to the face. She barely had time to process it before she was sent skidding across the floor, eyes wide in silence.
Roman stood there, fist clenched. His entire body trembled. "I usually don't give a damn about pride fights," he growled, gripping his cane "But you? The lies, the arrogance, the sheer bullshit. Yeah, I think I'm gonna enjoy this one."
With that, he planted his cane behind him and fired off a blast, launching himself toward her at breakneck speed. He swung his weapon only for Beatrix to slash the air again.
WHAM.
A sudden, invisible force slammed into him, sending him flying backward.
He tumbled through the ruined hallway, twisting midair before stabilizing himself. His green eyes locked onto her as he aimed his cane, firing four rapid shots.
Beatrix barely moved. The dust bullets struck an unseen force, dissipating against the shimmering air in front of her.
Roman clicked his tongue. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Without missing a beat, he cracked his neck and broke into a sprint. Beatrix sighed, raising her hand. A barrage of dust shots fired from each of her fingers.
Roman skidded, ducking and weaving as if riding an invisible skateboard. Then, one came hurtling straight for his face.
He gripped his cane with both hands and swung like he was slugging a home run.
The dust shot connected, his arms shaking from the force, but he redirected it, sending it flying right back at her.
Beatrix barely had time to throw up her arms as the shot exploded against her barrier. The impact sent her hurtling backward, crashing through the doorway behind her.
Roman smiled, exhaling through his nose. Before he could advance, movement caught his eye.
Scarlet Rose. She lunged at him, fist raised.
He sidestepped at the last second, twisting his cane. With a quick strike, he slammed it into the side of her neck.
Her eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Roman didn't even glance at her. "Aura don't protect you from that," he muttered, already turning back toward Beatrix, who was slowly rising to her feet.
Roman eyed the woman with a grin, twirling his cane between his fingers as he slowly stepped forward. "How'd you know which Dust to hit?" she growled, clutching her shoulder.
"Each finger shoots a different Dust at different speeds, like I said." His voice was amused. "I did my research before coming here." His steps remained slow. "Planned out every escape, every possibility. I was destined to win this."
He grinned, resting the cane's tip just under her chin, tilting her head up slightly.
"W-wait! You don't wanna kill me! I—I have a family! What about yours? Robbing people is one thing, but actually killing someone?" She raised her hands in surrender, her voice trembling. "What would they think?"
Roman's smirk faltered, his face twisting in irritation. He rested the cane on his shoulder, crouching down to meet her eyes. "I know you're stalling and this is an act, but... I don't have a family."
He shoved the cane back under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"I never cared for a family, you hear me? I don't have a mother, a father, or anyone else. All I had was an orphanage, a miserable place that taught me the four rules of life: Lie. Steal. Cheat. Survive." His voice darkened, filled with disdain and exhaustion.
"I've always hated the idea of family because everyone's just in it for themselves. I've never met a single soul who wanted to help others without getting something out of it. That's why I keep this hat on. It keeps the peace. the peace of mind I need to keep going." He tapped his hat with a finger, a smirk on his face. "This hat, this piece? It's the perfect mask. Without it... well, let's just say it gets a lot harder to control my hatred."
His grip on the cane tightened as he pressed it deeper into her throat, cutting off her breath.
"But here's a real piece of me. I wanna be the best, the king of everything. I want the world to know my name, and if my mother does exist somewhere out there... maybe I'll snuff her out just like you Spiders." His voice dropped to a whisper, his finger twitching on the trigger.
Before he could fire, she lunged, her hand striking his exposed arm. Three fingers made contact before he pulled the trigger, blasting her backward with a powerful shot. She tumbled across the floor, barely managing to stumble to her feet.
Roman strolled inside at a lazy pace, twirling his cane once more. "That was stupid. You might still be breathing thanks to your Aura, but you took one hell of a hit. I'd be surprised if you weren't seeing double right now."
A sudden force yanked him sideways, slamming his arm into the wall. His eyes widened as he spotted Melanie Malachite gripping him from behind the door. Before he could react, Miltia struck from the other side, her boot flashing as a blade flashed in the dark room. She drove a series of kicks into his ribs, each blow forcing a choked grunt from his throat.
Gritting his teeth, Roman reached for the trigger, firing a blast of Dust downward. The explosion sent the twins flying, while propelling him into the ceiling before he crashed back onto the floor with a groan.
"Ugh..." He staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs. Across the room, the Malachite twins stood ready/
"Thank brothers for my Aura, or I'd be gutted like a fish." He exhaled, but his relief was short-lived. His knees buckled, and his breath grew shallow. Panic flickered across his face as he smacked his lips, his mouth suddenly dry.
"What the hell? I shouldn't be this drained..." His vision blurred slightly, his limbs heavy. Then, realization hit.
"That damn Semblance of yours..." he muttered, glaring at Beatrix's bloodied face.
Reaching into his pocket, he fumbled for a Water Dust crystal.
"Where'd you get that?" Beatrix snapped.
"We've never known you to carry that kind of Dust," Miltia added.
Roman grinned through his exhaustion. "Got it from Scarlet Rose. I'm a thief, after all. Knocking people out and taking their belongings with sleight of hand? Child's play."
He held the crystal between his fingers, but before he could use it, the twins lunged. Thinking fast, he sprinted forward. straight toward Beatrix. She swung her gloved hand, summoning her almost-invisible metal strings, but Roman smirked. Jumping off one of the threads, he twisted midair, locking onto a desk with a monitor.
Beatrix reacted instantly, flicking her hand to ensnare his leg. With a pull, she slammed him through the wall, dragging him across the floor before finally releasing her grip.
Roman hit the ground hard, gasping for breath. His fingers trembled as he lifted them, revealing the still-intact Water Dust crystal.
Just as he went to pop it into his mouth, Melanie stomped down hard on his arm, pinning it in place. He winced, his fingers loosening slightly.
With a soft click, the blade beneath her heel extended. The sharp metal pressed against his wrist, then slowly dug in. Roman let out a strangled scream, his palm twitching open by instinct.
Melanie smirked, watching the pain contort his face. She applied more pressure, the blade sinking deeper.
"Keep him there, girls," Beatrix ordered, cracking her knuckles as she shook off her dizziness. Her lips curled into a sadistic smirk as she advanced, "I'll chop him up into pieces myself."
"This is the end for you, Roman Torchwick," she declared. Slowly, she lowered her hand toward his face.
Roman's breath hitched. He tensed, clutching his cane like a lifeline. Desperately, he reached for the trigger only to cry out in frustration as Miltia's heel slammed down on his wrist, pinning it to the floor.
Beatrix's hand drew closer, her fingers twitching with intent. Roman gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut.
Then… nothing.
Peeking through one eye, he blinked in confusion. His hat now rested in his hands.
"Show me your true face, Torchwick," Beatrix sneered. "I want to rip that mask away before I kill you." She plucked the hat from his grasp and flung it aside.
She crouched down, close enough for him to feel her breath. Her eyes bore into his. "Tell me, have you ever heard the quote, 'Men are more moral than they think and far more immoral than they can imagine'?" she asked with feigned innocence.
Roman scoffed, his ponytail dragging along the floor as he turned his head away. "What kind of hack reads self-help quotes before murdering people? Just do it already," he snapped.
Beatrix tilted her head, "Hm? Where's all that bravado now? Did it vanish with your hat? Or was that all just for show? This whole 'lie, steal, cheat, survive' act. Is that who you are, or the mask you wear?" Her tone filled with mock curiosity, as she stared daggers into him.
Roman's lips twitched, his teeth clenched as her words cut through him.
"The Roman I know," she continued, "would've been bragging about his next great escape. The Roman I know wouldn't sit here sniveling like a beaten dog. Is this who you really are?" She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A fraud?"
Roman's shoulders shook. A chuckle escaped his lips. He met her gaze with a sardonic grin. "You're sharp, I'll give you that. But if I'm such a fraud, how'd I survive this long?"
Beatrix's eyes narrowed, her lips forming a thin line.
He smirked wider. "You want a quote? Fine. Here's one: 'Weep not for roads untraveled. Weep not for paths left alone. Every bend is a long blinding end, and that's the worst kind of pain I've known.'"
She paused, her head tilting. "No… I haven't heard that one," she admitted, her voice softer.
"It means," Roman paused, his smirk turning into something fiercer, "I don't waste time crying over what could've been. I don't beg. I don't quit. I take the hand I'm dealt, and I win anyway."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, Beatrix smiled. "Ah, there it is," she purred. "The real Roman. The one who stares death in the face and grins. That's the look I want to see when I rip you apart."
Her hand twitched.
Before she could strike, an orange glow enveloped Roman's body. Beatrix froze, her eyes widening in shock as smoke began to rise from her gloved hand. Behind her, Miltia and Melanie winced as their boots seared.
When the light faded, Roman was gone.
"What the—?" Melanie started, spinning around just in time to see him sprinting for the exit.
Beatrix recovered quickly. With a snarl, she extended an arm, firing a dust-infused shot that detonated ahead of him. The resulting explosion hurled him backward, slamming him against the wall. His aura shattered with the impact, leaving him slumped and dazed.
The three women turned, their eyes at the imprint he'd left on the wall, before hearing a crunch.
"Ah…" A familiar voice drawled from behind a desk. "Feels good to not be dehydrated. Dust tastes weird, though."
Lady Beat yelled at Melanie. "You didn't remove it from his hand!"
Melanie shrugged, "I was curious to see how you'd finish him off. Thought for sure he was a goner."
Lady Beat sighed, "No matter. He doesn't have the aura to survive another stab. And with his back against the wall—" She smirked, stepping forward slowly, "—he's done for."
Roman's eyes widened. 'Shit, she's right.'
'Back against the wall, no aura, and running low on ammunition.' His eyes darted around the room.
Then, a flicker of realization came. 'Wait. Why hasn't she just cut me down?'
His emerald eyes scanned the area. 'If she wanted to end this quickly, she'd slice through everything in her path. The twins could dodge or their aura would keep them intact. But she's not doing that. Why?'
'This isn't about pride. She had pride earlier when she wanted to take me down without my hat, but now… this is something else.'
His hand twitched. He moved to the left, drawing her attention away from the desk before jutting his head out. She swung and he barely pulled back in time, watching as the desk was cleaved clean in two.
'Damn.'
He shifted again, poking his head from another angle. Another strike followed and another piece of furniture reduced to scrap.
A shaky breath left his lips as he centered himself behind the remaining monitor. He hesitated before quickly ducking down again, except this time, no strike came.
His eyes darted to the PC beside him, the hard drive still intact, and a wicked smile spread across his face.
His hand shot forward, snatching the drive from the PC and waving it triumphantly in the air. Lady Beat's expression darkened instantly.
He angled his arm slightly, catching her reaction in the reflection of the clean drive. 'Yeah, that hit a nerve.'
'Now comes the hard part. Brat 1 to the right, Beat to the left, Brat 2 in the middle. No aura means I can't blast my way out without taking myself out, too. Fighting isn't an option. Pleading? Not a fucking chance.'
The trio moved toward him in unison.
Then his eyes caught something, his hat near a potted plant.
With a smile, he grabbed the monitor and hurled it at Miltia. She reacted instantly, cleaving through it with a kick. But then her eyes widened.
Because sailing just above the wreckage
Was the drive.
Her arm shot out to grab it, but just as her fingers closed—
A black hat landed atop her face, obstructing her vision.
She clenched her fist, expecting the drive, but all she felt was a chunk of the shattered monitor.
Lady Beat twisted, eyes locking onto the drive still suspended in the air. Without hesitation, she dove for it.
Melanie remained still, watching in slow motion as Roman was still behind the desk, his cane now wedged inside the potted plant. His jaw tightened. "Please be enough to not lose my legs."
With a click, his cane fired. The pot exploded in a burst of dirt and ceramic as the force propelled him past a diving Lady Beat, past a tumbling Miltia, and past a startled Melanie.
In one motion, he snatched the drive midair and bolted for the exit. Behind him, Beatrix hit the ground face-first, while Miltia landed on her back.
With a flick of his wrist, his cane's hook shot out, snagging his hat from atop Miltia's face and reeling it back into his grip.
The twins scrambled to their feet, eyes burning with rage as they gave chase.
Roman, grinning ear to ear, sprinted down the hall. "Ladies, it's been fun! We should do this again sometime!"
His smile faded as he thought to himself, 'Shit, that was close. Gotta stick to the original escape plan.'
With gritted teeth, Roman snatched his hat from the hook of his cane, tossed the stolen drive inside, and slammed it back onto his head. The sound of pounding footsteps echoed behind him.
'Right, left, right, left, left, and up. Should be a weak spot in the ceiling. Once I hit the roof, I'm golden.'
He took off down the corridor, twisting and turning through the labyrinth of hallways just as he had planned. Spotting a section of the ceiling that looked brittle, he didn't hesitate. Raising his cane, he fired a shot, shattering the surface. Dust rained down as he leaped, gripping the edges and hauling himself up just as his pursuers arrived below.
He barely had a second to breathe before they were on him.
"Nowhere to run, Roman," Lady Beat's voice rang out, "Hand over the drive, and I'll let you pick how you die."
Roman smirked, his cane resting lazily in his grip as he glanced at the drop below. "You really think I'd accept those terms?"
"Do you really have a choice?" Miltia added, arms crossed.
Roman's gaze flicked up to the sky. 'Cops should be here in about five minutes. Spies might have the perimeter locked, but if I play this right… I can still walk away from this.'
With a cocky grin, he tipped his hat. "Yeah, I'll take my chances on my own terms."
Without another word, he threw himself backward off the rooftop. His cane smacked against the ledge, and with a quick press of a button, the handle detached, deploying a retractable wire that shot down, slowing his descent.
The three women rushed to the edge, watching him dangle below.
"Kill him!" Melanie barked, anger in her usual bored voice.
"No," Lady Beat countered, "I can't risk damaging the drive. We'll let the faculty handle him."
She flipped open her scroll, "Roman Torchwick is escaping! Lock down the perimeter! Apprehend him, but do NOT shoot!"
Seconds passed and no response.
Her brow twitched. "Where the hell is everyone?!" she snapped, glaring down at the criminal below.
Roman, still hanging by the wire, smirked. "Guess they were all too scared of the big bad tornado."
He looked down, nervousness in his face.
"Fuck it."
He disengaged the wire. The air rushed past him before he landed hard. A pop shot through his leg as pain flared up, but adrenaline dulled it enough for him to keep moving. He stumbled forward, limping but alive, while the trio above watched him retreat.
"Miscalculated that whole 'surrounded perimeter' thing," he muttered to himself, wincing with each step. "Guess they were more afraid of getting caught in the chaos than actually catching me."
Chuckling through the pain, he mused, "Fear's funny like that. Makes you see a mouse and swear it's a lion. Biggest flaw in this school? Hiding your true self. All these students learn to fake it, but the second shit hits the fan, they don't even know who they are."
Silence stretched across the empty streets as sirens flared in the distance. He exhaled, adjusting his hat.
"Oh, right. Almost forgot." He reached into his coat, pulling out a small card.
"Can't leave without my signature."
He dropped it onto the pavement, the emblem of his calling card at the scene. Smirking, he straightened up and limped into the night.
'Close call. But a win's a win.'