Roman Torchwick was a busy guy. Between classes and training, he had his hands full just keeping up with the rest of the Beacon. Even now he read over his notes over Grimm habits and variations of their manifestations as his teammates had their usual Monday argument.

"For the last time Em, I didn't take your textbook!" Mercury had been relaxing on his top bunk above Roman, reading one of his favorite comics. Unfortunately for Roman, that meant Emerald was practically yelling in his ear as she argued with Mercury.

"I saw you take it this morning!" Emerald fired back, her arms folded in stubbornness.

"I just needed it for morning class," Mercury responded. "I put it back on your desk after lunch.

"Well it isn't here."

"Guys," Roman interrupted. His head was pounding and he made a mental note to visit the Academy medical office the next day.

"If you wouldn't mind," he continued, "could you please continue your lover's spat somewhere else?"

"Wha-" Emerald was taken aback.

"We're not together," Mercury told Roman.

"Ugh, I mean, me and Mercury?" Emerald shuddered at the idea.

"Hey!"

"Lovers, siblings, mortal enemies," Roman listed off, "whatever you guys are, just do it somewhere else."

Emerald was about to reply when the last member of the group walked in. Cinder always had a sort of elegance to her, and Roman had to endure many of the male students interrupting team meetings trying to chat her up. It didn't help that Cinder wouldn't send them away, which usually left a very protective Emerald to do it for her.

"Cinder!" Emerald greeted happily. She wrapped her arms around Cinder's slender body and hugged her tightly.

"Good evening," Cinder replied, also cheerful. "is everything alright? I could hear the shouting from down the hall."

"The guys are bullying me," Emerald said with mock sadness.

"Em started it," Mercury said already back to his comics. "She keeps saying I took her textbook."

"That's because you did," Emerald added, her frustration returning.

"Um…did you mean this?" Cinder asked, pulling a book from her bag.

"Oh…um, thanks," Emerald said as she took it. Roman was still trying to study, but he could tell what was happening. The rustling above him was Mercury looking down at Emerlad, probably and expectant look on his face. Emerald would be blushing now, and Cinder would be over at her desk pretending to write something important.

"…sorry…."

"What was that!?" Mercury asked loudly, cupping his ear with one hand.

"Sorry!" Emerald shouted back.

"And the kids have made up," Roman said under his breath closing his textbook.

By the next morning everything was normal. Mercury and Emerald were arguing again, Cinder was eating breakfast quietly, and Roman was already reading ahead for the class two weeks from now.

"Roman, why don't you take a break for a while," Cinder asked him. She placed one hand on his shoulder and lightly brushed his white jacket.

"I would love to," Roman replied, "but the more I prepare, the better leader I'll be."

"You're doing a fine job," Cinder told him. "Your grades are top notch and your strategies are nearly flawless. I don't think you need to be reading airship flight manuals or advanced dust theory."

"Huntsmen should be ready in any circumstance," Roman replied simply. "You never know when some of this stuff could come in handy."

Cinder sighed, and turned her attention to the pair arguing. Roman felt a pang of guilt. He and Cinder had been partners since the initiation, but they haven't really had a bonding experience yet. Between his constant studying and her avoiding lovelorn students, they haven't found much time together.

"Cinder I-" Roman started, but a siren interrupted him.

"What's going on?" Mercury shouted over the noise. So many students looked bewildered that Roman wondered if anyone read the student handbook.

"It's a code Orange!" Roman yelled back getting up from his seat and gathering his things.

"What's a code Orange!?" Emerald asked

"Threat approaching or at the city borders!" he yelled back.

"Where are you going!?" Cinder asked, following him.

"Isn't it obvious!? To help!"

The siren's blaring was louder still in the hallway without the mass of students to absorb the noise. Roman made his way to the front entrance and started to work his way through the brush.

"Roman, what are you doing?" Cinder asked. "Students are supposed to stay at school while professional Huntsmen and Huntresses deal with the threat."

"I can't sit while someone might be in danger," Roman replied simply. "If you wanna twidlde your thumbs until someone tells you you're ready, then go back. I'm going to protect this city."

"Then could you at least wait up a bit!" Emerald and Mercury were out of breatehe by the time they caught up with them.

"Hey, we're a team," Mercury stated. "I think I've relaxed enough to warrant a bout or two."

"But how are we going to get down to the main city?" Emerald asked.

"This," Roman explained as he moved a dense part of the thicket. A large piece of wire was strapped to a sturdy tree and led down to edge of town.

"How are we supposed to get down that?" Emerald asked. "Can't you use an airship?"

"Do you see an airship?" Roman asked, pulling out his cane weapon Melodic Cudgel. "Besides, I'm only on chapter 2."

An explosion burst from the center of town and Roman, alarmed, quickly placed the hook of the cane on the wire.

"I'll see you at the bottom," he said getting ready to go. He felt someone's arms wrap around him.

"We'll see you at the bottom," Cinder corrected. And before Roman had time to protest, kicked off the cliff.

Roman was in decent shape, but it was still a struggle to hold on to his cane as he and Cinder hurtled down the line. Thankfully, as the line began to run horizontal, their speed slowed as well. His arms gave away and he and cinder fell onto the outskirts of town, in a forestry area in one of the parks.

"Ok," Roman started as he stood up and rubbed his arms gingerly, "lets agree to talk about things before trying them."

"Whatever you say Roman," Cinder replied, brushing the grass from her dress.

"Heads up!"

Roman had a second to register what he was seeing, before diving out of the way. Mercury leapt off the line, the grooves in his boots smoking from the intense friction. What was even more shocking was that he was carrying Emerald princess style.

"Alright we're down, now hands off," Emerald said pushing away Mercury's face. He responded in kind by dropping her.

Roman could hear screams of panic and several loud gunshots echoing through town. He had been analyzing the data for the past few months, and from the charts he concluded there was only one likely culprit able to commit terrorist acts in broad daylight. Someone with such deadly speed and precision to send anyone running for their lives. Someone he had been searching for.

"Come on," Roman commanded, "We need to hurry."

"What's the matter?"

"The Red Reaper is in town," he answered. "And this time she's not getting away."