#debating if Roman falls n Neo jumps in after him...

[maskyartist]

Rewarded in Pink and Brown

more drabbles this time from my Roman Lives AU cause i've been missing them already, plus yknow me i love a good reunion scene

(small notes, Roman lost his leg due to damage and wears a prosthetic. its what he refers to with Pietro. Roman traveled to Mistral on the same train as Oscar, causing them to meet early by accident, which led Roman to join the main cast

right now we're at the Schnee party in V8

we caught up? good lets roll)

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Smoking calms the nerves.

That's what Roman's told himself for years. But lately, after being off them for so long, he coughs and coughs as the smoke bellows above him, the burn unfamiliar in its familiarity.

Coming to Atlas has been strange. This whole year has been strange. Has it been a year? It feels like longer. Maybe shorter. Roman can't exactly tell anymore. Time blurred together from all the…excitement, you could call it.

From meeting Oscar by complete accident on his way to Mistral, to nearly getting killed by Red's little crew, to fighting alongside them at Haven… It's been many ups and downs since Neo's disappearance.

Now, here he stands, carefully disguised with a fat cigar between his fingers, waiting for the choking to die down like he's some kind of first-cigarette-teenager again. Out of spite, and a need to not waste these beauties found in this…very legally obtained coat, he takes another long, long drag, allowing the smoke to settle in his damaged lungs before blowing it to the sky. Better. Much better.

After losing so much, he can't lose this. A literal addiction to cover his emotional addiction is fair, isn't it?

Roman sighs. Heavy and tired, running a hand through temporary brown hair.

He's tried…he's tried so hard to hold onto hope… Mistral was a dud. So was Amina. He was hoping he'd spot her in Mantle, his old stomping grounds, but not a spot of pink and brown to be seen.

Now, here he stands. Leaning on a balcony railing, cigar warm between his gloved fingers, in the one city that Neo wanted to see the most for its beautiful snow…without her.

It's empty. Hollow. A victory unearned. Just like his survival. And after failure upon failure, hit after hit…

He's tired. One last puff has Roman tossing the cigar, letting it land where it lands on the ground below. Not his problem anymore. Red may have taught him to be patient, but not kind.

Turning around, he finally pushes himself off the railing and into the hall. May as well put that nifty leg Pietro gave him to work, since it was free. A gift from the heart, as he said.

Roman calls it pity. Still helps him walk, though.

"Alright, Roman, no more tears." He whispers to himself, combing curly hair back with a huff. "Just gotta make it another day…"

How many more "another day"s can he take? A question that's been on his mind since all this chaos began. Since he got swept up in something much bigger than himself. Then Neo. If this is what Cinder wanted, maybe it's a good thing she's not here, he muses as he walks down the hallway. Without Neo, there's no chance of her getting hurt worse. May as well count his blessings.

"Oh-!"

Roman falters when he stumbles, looking down to see a poor servant with a dropped tray and some barely-saved glasses on the carpet floor, champagne that probably costs more than any amount of Dust Roman has stolen in the past staining the fabric.

With a sigh, he kneels down and offers the girl a smile. "My apologies, I thought the upstairs was empty." He smoothly offers, helping gather rolled away glasses. That is the one nice thing about Atlas. No one cares to remember the voice of the long-dead Roman Torchwick. He doesn't need to worry too much about that.

"So, what's got you up here, anyway?" He can't help it. He's always been nosy when it comes to rich parties. And servants always have such juicy gossip. "I doubt you'll get many good tips up-"

…green eyes. That's the first thing he notices are green eyes. Piercing, so familiar, it's exactly like looking in a mirror. The young woman near him wearing a black bob on top of that that just brings too many memories back. Far too many. Too many of disguise attempts, trying to find the most bland appearance possible, before the two settled on black hair and green eyes and easy hairstyles. Easy to blend into the background with a bob, after all.

The silence between them is heavy, the woman silent as ever, and Roman taking her in. Her size, her stature, her figure…

"…I haven't used boxed dye in so long." Roman finally offers. A tidbit. A small nudge. It makes her blink, mouth falling lightly open.

Roman finally smiles. Smiles. Big and large and impatiently joyous at a fact that hasn't been proven.

"I mean…you did a much better job at my disguises, didn't you…"

It's like falling in love all over again. His heart skips a beat at the sight of shimmering pink, and leaps into his throat as it falls away like delicate raining glass to reveal a familiar face. Pink and brown eyes staring back at him, to match her hair, with messy white streaks from the amount of stress she's been through.

Roman laughs. He laughs because he finally found his hat and scarf, tied delicately around her neck and donning the top of her head like a crown.

Fit for a queen, of course.

"…Neo?"

Her name rolls off his tongue like a prayer. Neo, Neo, Neo, he's thought it for so long, he's imagined it for longer, but seeing it, seeing her…

He's not sure who launches at who first. Roman remembers opening his arms, but by the time his mind is caught up with him again, Neo's clinging to him tight, silent sobs soaking the front of his stolen attire as Roman cradles the back of her head, rests his chin atop his hat that sits so perfectly on her head, careful not to dirty her perfect appearance.

"You're just as stunning as ever…" He hiccups when he pulls away, cupping her face in his hands. Hands that are bare, gloves frantically tossed away to ensure that she's real. With real skin, and real warmth, and real wet tears he wipes away even as they continue to fall.

Real, with small hands mirroring his own, letting her feel along under his bangs, the scar that got bigger from the accident, letting her count every freckle like she couldn't remember their placement, letting her stare right into him as he stares right back.

Roman wastes no time. Her lips are like candy, sugary with lip gloss and a tad salty from tears. Be it his own or hers, he can't tell, and he doesn't care.

All that matters is that she's here. With him. Held in his arms, and sat in his lap like nothing ever changed. Like they're back at the warehouse, holding each other as they try to quiet down their adrenaline-filled thoughts after a long day's work to get some good sleep.

When he pulls away, Neo doesn't let him, yanking him right back in for kiss after kiss, making Roman laugh as he gives her everything she needs. Everything she wants. Anything. Anything at all. She deserves it. She deserves the world.

"Neo-"

peck

"Neo, doll-"

peck, peck

"Sweetheart, we need to-"

peck!

"Okay! That's enough!" Roman laughs again, straightening up enough to make Neo have to stop. He wipes his face of stray tears, amusement clear at her familiar pout. Yes. Because how dare he deny her anything. What a cruel monster her lover has become with time.

He shakes his head, gently combing fingers through Neo's hair. More white streaks. More stress. "If we keep this up, we'll be up here all night. And personally? I'd rather not have our first night back together in a Schnee manor."

Neo's face scrunches in disgust. Clearly, they're on the same page. "Besides…"

Cupping her cheek, he thumbs over newly obtained, tiny scars. Then, delicately, he removes his scarf from her neck, Neo allowing him to see the riddling of slashes. Along with newer ones, along the collar bone. Light burns and small stabs.

He sets the scarf aside to steal his hat from her head, dropping it atop his own. Even with the disguise, Neo sees him. All of him. Every inch of Roman Torchwick and his dramatics.

…they're perfect for each other.

"I really need to fill you in on what you've missed."

Roman doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve her. Not now. Not after what they've gone through. Not after what he's done, his constant back and forth, his changing, his differences from back then to now.

But knowing Neo? She's too stubborn to give him up.

And, no matter how much time he's spent around those damn kids…

Roman's too selfish to let her try.