Infiltration

"Ow! You're on my toe!"

"Sorry!"

"Shush!"

Roman grit his teeth, concentrating. Holding his illusion over the six of them, even gathered close together, was quite difficult. It would have been so much easier to do a singular object like a vehicle. Even with the five of them gathered closely around and touching him as they slowly moved forward it was a struggle for him to maintain the illusion... and it wasn't made any easier by bumbling distractions.

"This isn't good," Malty said.

"Balls," Burt darkly muttered.

"Roman?" Knives whispered.

He still wasn't in his mothers league. Maybe he never would be. Hadn't evolved to the next level in his abilities yet.

"Roman...," Risty said concerned.

He couldn't be distracted. Mustn't be distracted. Wouldn't be distracted. Everyone was counting on him. He could do this. He had to... failure was not an option. Thoughts pounding away in his head like a hammer on an anvil... pounding away... pounding...

"Is he going to be... okay?" Burt asked.

"He'll be fine... probably," Saya said.

Knives wiped the trickle of blood from Roman's nose. "Roman... we made it... we're here... you can stop now." She was trying not to cry. Crying wouldn't help their situation... but...

Roman blinked as something wet touched his cheek. "Huh?" He saw Knives first then everyone else gathered around him. Was he... sitting on dirt? Wait, no. Something... comfy. Firm but soft. "What the...?"

"There you are," Knives whispered smiling and wiping away her tears. "You did it. We made it, Roman."

"Good job, Dummy," Saya huffed quietly also wiping at her eyes as she pulled out some of the healing herbs. "Hurry up and Eat this, baka."

"M'kay," He said around the small mouthful of the stuff unceremoniously shoved in his mouth and started chewing.

"Told ya he'd be fine," Risty whispered from behind him where she'd been holding him up. Her voice was tinged with relief though. She'd been worried as well. Not as worried as the bear but still... she gently squeezed the arms she had wrapped around him. She was glad he was ok. "He's a tough one!"

Roman felt his head clearing and the pounding lessened. Still... "Wha' happen?"

"I can only guess," Malty said. "My own abilities don't quite work the same way. But I'm guessing that you pushed to the limits of your abilities and then some."

"Oh?' Roman asked chewing.

"But you did it, Boss," Burt softly said through a grin. "We made it thanks to you!"

"Oh?" He asked again for more.

"He's right," Knives said picking up and dusting off his hat from where it had fallen to the ground. "We're currently inside their compound. You got us all the way here, over the ditch and up the dirt wall and in, undetected. But... well..."

"You were a pain," Saya said pretending to clean and adjust her glasses so she could wipe at her stupid teary eyes. "In some kind of self-hypnosis trance, shuffling along like a damn zombie! And even feebly resisted when we tried to stop you, I might add!"

"Oh," Roman said swallowing, sick of feeling like a cow chewing cud. "So... where are we now?" He asked trying to stand.

"Easy," Risty said her and Knives helping him up and Saya handing him his cane. They were as happy to see him on his feet as he was. "Hiding behind the nearest building we could. I think it's a kind of storehouse. Fortunately. I don't think anyone is inside. It hasn't been that long time wise either, thankfully."

Roman nodded his senses and mind was coming back on-line, rebooting like a fleshy computer. "Right," he said all caught up. "Thanks gang. Understood. We need to continue mission."

"Right!" Burt said grabbing Malty by the arm. "Let's go!"

"Are you sure you're alright?" Knives asked concerned holding out his hat to him.

Roman nodded and smiled taking it in his hand. He **** himself to not look like he was leaning on his cane as he weighted it in his hand, gave it a little toss and flipped his hat up onto his head. He gave a smile. "Still got it! See? Perfectly fine thanks to all of you." He kissed Knives cheek and then Saya's. "Go on now... and good luck."

Knives looked less but still a bit worried and Saya looked skeptical... but they both nodded and slowly crept away while glancing back. Roman gave them a grin and a cocky wave... then sighed once they were out of sight. "We should get going too- oh?"

Risty slipped her arm around him propping him up. "In a minute. You can't fool me. You're still not fully recovered. You want another herb?"

Roman smiled tiredly but shook his head. "I'm not sure it would help. It's not a physical injury or fatigue. I don't like that "Whore" but Malty's right. It's "Mp down" or "Mana depletion" or something like that."

Risty blinked. "What's any of that supposed to mean?"

Roman shrugged trying to think of a way to put it that she might understand. "My special ability needs to recharge for a bit? Don't worry... It's slowly refilling as we speak."

She nodded. "Okay yeah. That makes sense, I guess... Something mystical or spiritual and not physical. Sorry, I've seen magic and crazy stuff but I'm not an expert or use it myself."

Roman nodded. "It's not magic exactly. A Semblance is like a muscle. The more you practice with it, the stronger it will become. But if one only focuses on one aspect of it... if they fail to test the limits of what they think is possible... then they'll never truly grow." He smiled tiredly. "I just pushed the limits of mine for awhile."

Risty chuckled. "Got it. You weren't entirely certain that you could do that, but you did and now that 'muscle' is stronger but sore, right?"

He nodded. "I knew I could do it for myself and one or two others. But I'd never done five before. You're not mad?"

She snorted. "As if! You pushed yourself to do something that you were reasonably sure you could do. That's any technique. You can practice and train but until you actually do it for real under adversity it doesn't mean much. But hey it worked! Sounds like you're getting stronger to me. Congratulations!"

Roman grinned. "Yeah, I suppose so. Thanks!"

"Don't mention it," she said dismissively, thinking. "So we just gotta recharge your 'spirit' a bit, huh? Hmmm..." she took his hat off his head.

"Nah," Roman said dismissively. "We don't- urk! Mmmfff!"

Risty had pulled his head down face first into her cleavage, blushing. "Quit struggling," she said wrapping her arms around him. "J-Just... you know... shut up and recharge already!" She swallowed. "I know, you know?"

"Mmmff?" Roman asked. She was holding him tightly but that wasn't the problem. It was him... it was hard to resist. He-

"Yeah," Risty said looking away blushing but smiling. "I know you look at them... a-at me... You obviously like what you see... but you don't just look at me like a piece of meat," she placed her hand on his head and played with his hair. "The truth is... I like it... I like you... and I know that you know I... I'm 'next', right?"

"Mmmhmm," Roman said into her extra full and firm chest pillows. They were awesome! Big like Saya's but not that same plush softness. More firm like Knives perky tits...

...and he sighed nodding. He did know. Risty was to be 'next'. This wasn't just her being comforting but also her being direct unlike Saya. Risty was like that. He put his arms around her and slowly lifted his head and she let him. "I know," he admitted looking her in the eyes. "I like you too, Risty. After?"

Risty was still blushing as now they were properly embracing. It was somehow even more intimate the way he looked at her now. The eye contact... and the promise of... "After," she agreed her heart pounding and smiling. "I'll be looking forward to it!"

"Great," Roman agreed. "It's a date!"

"A date?" She asked and then laughed thinking about it. "It is!" This was their date! Not a courtship of dining, romancing, flowers and dancing. But of blood pumping thrills and the dance of battle and stealing in the night... and she liked that! It was very 'them'! "Let's do this! How you feeling now?"

Roman nodded. "Good... better," he said. He wasn't sure if that had actually 'charged his meter' but he definitely felt pumped up... And turn about was fair play. "Thanks... Risty!" He said leaning in and giving her a kiss.

"Mmmph!" Risty made a noise as his lips captured hers. Soft, gentle pressure. His hand sliding up her back and neck to cup her head, fingers in her hair. Kissing her lips with his. Softly but with an underlying intensity that took her breath away and made her yearn for more! Kissing him back. Sucking on his lips.

They broke apart before things got really intense. They both wanted more... but this wasn't the time or place. Not yet. "To be continued?" Roman asked.

Risty almost laughed at the smirk on his face. Classic Roman! She grinned and nodded. "You better! Don't forget. I know where you sleep!"

Roman chuckled and they reluctantly parted... but she put his hat back on his head and hefted her spiked Morningstar and shield and he twirled his cane. Both of them grinning and extra pumped up now!

"Let's go!"

[Roman Stark - Knives Chau - Saya Takagi and Risty

Will Return In

Raid: Knives & Saya

Coming Soon]