It was a bright and sunny day in vale the sun was shining the birds were singing an-
*CRACK*
"Ack!" Cried out in pain, a brown haired middle aged man on the ground in what seemed to be a run down apartment.
"Come on Ben just tell us where you put the money that you owe Roman and we'll be on our way" said a young man
The young man had red hair with black tips and silver eyes. He wore what seemed to be a school uniform and had a lollipop in his mouth.
"Ughhh" the older man just groaned in pain
The redhead just sighed and lifted his foot from the man's leg. He then turned around to look at a doorway and yelled out to his partner
Hey neo! Did you find anything
A moment of silence passed.
Then, a soft tap… tap… tap…
From the dim hallway, a girl stepped into view—twirling a parasol lazily over her shoulder.
Neopolitan tilted her head slightly, her mismatched eyes glinting with amusement.
She held up a small pouch and gave it a light shake.
Jingle.
Crimson raised an eyebrow. "That all of it?"
Neo shrugged, then raised her free hand, forming a small "meh" gesture with her fingers before pointing her thumb back toward the hallway. She tapped her foot twice, then mimed opening drawers.
"Hidden stash?" Crimson guessed.
Neo snapped her fingers and gave a satisfied nod.
Crimson let out a quiet chuckle, the lollipop shifting in his mouth. "Knew you'd find something."
Behind him, Ben let out a shaky breath. "T-that's… that's everything… I swear…"
Crimson didn't turn around.
Instead, his expression went flat.
"See, that's the problem," he said calmly. "People always say that after we already find more."
He glanced back over his shoulder, silver eyes locking onto the trembling man.
"And it makes me wonder… how much you didn't plan on telling us."
Ben started panicking. "N-no! I wasn't hiding—!"
Tap.
Neo's parasol lightly touched the floor beside Crimson. She pointed at Ben… then slowly dragged her finger across her throat with a playful smile.
Crimson stared at her for a second… then sighed.
"You're always so dramatic."
Neo placed a hand over her chest in mock offense.
Crimson walked back toward Ben, crouching down so they were eye level. Up close, his presence felt heavier—like the air itself pressed down.
"Relax," Crimson said. "If Roman wanted you dead, you'd already be gone."
At the mention of
Roman Torchwick, Ben visibly flinched.
"Lucky for you," Crimson continued, standing back up, "he just wants his money."
He turned and started walking toward the door, motioning for Neo to follow.
"Let's go. We got what we came for."
Neo gave Ben one last mischievous grin before skipping after Crimson.
Just as they reached the door—
"W-wait!" Ben called out desperately.
Crimson paused, not turning around.
"There's… there's more jobs, right?" Ben said quickly. "I can work! I can pay it back, I just—"
Crimson's grip tightened slightly on the doorknob.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes.
Then it was gone.
"Pay your debts on time," he said coldly. "You won't need to beg."
Click.
The door shut behind them.
Outside, the sunlight felt almost too bright compared to the dim apartment. The streets of Vale bustled with life—people laughing, kids running past without a care.
Crimson stood still for a moment, staring at it all.
Neo walked ahead a few steps, then turned back to look at him, tilting her head.
"…Yeah," Crimson muttered, pulling the lollipop from his mouth. "I see it too."
He glanced around at the peaceful city.
"Funny, isn't it?"
His silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"Same city… completely different world."
Neo watched him for a second… then gently tapped his arm and pointed forward.
Crimson followed her gaze—
Toward a red cloak disappearing into the crowd.
His eyes widened just a fraction.
"…No way…"
For a split second, his breathing hitched.
A memory.
A woman. Warm. Smiling.
Gone.
Crimson blinked—and the figure vanished into the sea of people.
"…Tch."
He shoved the lollipop back into his mouth and turned away.
"Let's move, Neo. Roman's waiting."
But as they walked off, his expression wasn't as calm as before.
Not anymore.