Chapter Text
Rose slumped over the dumpster, puffing tiredly but exhilarated. This was the fifth night in a row that she had helped a helpless human from being hurt by another human. She stood up, looked at the unconscious man, and shook her head in disgust. Stretching up, Rose decided that she would make the most of this opportunity and use her skills in the real world. They might not be up to par with what she was used to, but it would be good to practice. She wouldn't have to hold back completely, just tone down her strength so she didn't kill anyone.
Upon walking into the flat, she locked the front door behind her and checked on Lissa who was fast asleep. She pulled another blanket over Lissa, who was sitting on her bed tiredly. They had only been away from the academy for three months, but it had helped; Lissa was smiling again and even laughing a little. Her natural magnetism made it easy for her to blend in with crowds and make friends. As much as it killed Rose, she had to leave Lissa at the college while she went to work bartending and waitressing, doing all sorts of under-the-table jobs. Lissa cleaned the house in the spaces between. They had come up with an efficient system of cleaning the house and balancing Lissa's weekend job. They made ends meet the best they could, with their landlord being very understanding and Lissa only using compulsion when necessary. Magic was a no-go, but the compulsion was allowed only when necessary.
Lissa was feeling stressed about something, and as usual, she was cleaning up the house to cope with her stress. She went through her Novice wear to find something specific and was pleased when she found the protective vests that she had secured. She added the second part to the inside of her stretchiest pants and put on the all-black outfit. She then rifled through the makeup cabinet and found some blue contacts, which she put in before braiding her hair. Finally, she grabbed the training sticks they used for sparring and headed out into the street with a clear idea of what she wanted to do. She set an alarm on her phone to ensure she had enough time to sleep and get to work without being sleep-deprived.
Walking along the rooftops she kept an eye out when she heard a woman scream running to the closest exit she jumped down several platforms at a time. reaching the woman who was being held at gunpoint, not wanting to escalate or push the situation further Rose brought down the sticks on his head with enough force to knock him unconscious turning to the woman who was wearing a clubbing dress with her handbag clutched tightly to her chest. Making sure there wasn't any other danger to the woman except those ankle-breaking pine needles called shoes she took off to the roofs by the fire escapes. Now that she was looking she was very surprised no one had attacked her on her way back from work, on the route that Rose usually took she stopped two women from being assaulted, streetwalkers deserve to be safe to do their thing, they are just trying to make a living trying to survive just like the rest of them. Knocking out more people she had formed a pattern to assess the situation and deal with it in the most efficient and risk-free way. It was freeing like she was untouchable by the world below.
Her phone started buzzing scaling the roof Rose made her way back home, and climbing in through the bottom window she took the elevator up to the flat and let herself in stripping off her clothes and relaxing under the shower letting the hot water soak and ease her muscle ac. It had been exhilarating and a rush in a way a good hard training session was back at St Vlad's, but it had also helped calm the darkness that she felt the black pit of emotions. drying off and pulling on comfortable PJs Rose curled up in bed falling asleep after double-checking the alarm to wake up the next day.