Need To Fight
for mine and @lostcephalopods mafiau
Summary: The journey of Roman learning to fight including Summer growing an interest in fashion and his husbands trying not to let him fight.
I have reread some of our posts and may have shifted how Summer gets his name, oops, but it fit the story and his interests
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As much as Roman dreamt of being the hero and saving someone, this hadn't been something he'd taken the time to learn. The most he had ever needed to know about fighting was how to escape Remus when his twin got into a wrestling mood.
Then he'd wanted to learn when Remy finally shared some of the things that were happening around his brother's marriage. It seemed sensible, and a way that his boyfriends might actually tell him more information over what was going on. Besides, if he could convince Janus to teach him how to fight there must be plenty of touching involved.
Roman hadn't seen any flaws to his logic, but Janus had refused, smiling in their teasing way while stating there would never be a need for Roman to fight anybody. They'd protect him and everything would be under their control soon enough.
The words didn't seem entirely realistic given the little he'd known at that point was pretty dangerous for even one wrong move to be made.
It was simply annoying that Remy also agreed with Janus but he did still teach Roman some fighting techniques. Mostly though Remy's method of teaching him to fight focused on weapons, specifically being able to shoot at people trying to attack him, or at worst stab them.
Roman did get given a relatively decorated knife before Remy stopped training him though.
“Such violence, Roman. I still don't believe there was a cause for you to learn these skills. Perhaps you intend to include stage fights within the plays you're writing?” Janus observed when they saw his knife. “Would you prefer to assist instead in our schemes?”
That was the offer that caught Roman's attention. The most he'd learnt since being pulled into the entire thing was that his brother, Janus and Virgil were in danger of the mafia attacking them, and that Remy was as well, but intentionally so having infiltrated the mafia in order to spy on them. “I thought that for my protection, you weren't telling me anything.” He countered still, sheathing the knife.
Janus nodded a little at that. “Well it is safer for you to know less until we are able to remove the threat from the mafia, but the androids we've been speaking with still need help that doesn't include you being shown everything that's occurring, darling.”
“How so? Is Remus not confusing them to sentience well enough?” Roman blinked, sure that he'd heard something regarding that get mentioned.
“Gaining sentience doesn't necessarily mean they know who they are. The androids that Virgil or Remus have been speaking to are essentially reacting to the traumas or still trying to carry on with their previous roles since they don't quite know how to figure out their identity beyond doing things and learning what they hate or enjoy.” Janus mused, describing the situation as a curiosity but Roman could see some concern beneath the words. “As an actor and writer, I thought perhaps you could try helping one or two of them to figure out what they might like. Or maybe just introduce them into some different names as every android who's now sentient is against using the mafia names they were assigned.”
Roman frowned, gesturing to himself for a moment. “You want me to teach the androids acting?”
“Not as such. Really I just want you to spend time with a few of them. We're all going to do so if the androids wish to do so. But one that Virgil managed to bring sentience to via programming has shown some interest in make-up. He's asking if there's anything more he can learn about it and I thought he'd be ideal to ask as a sort of bodyguard for you.” Janus explained, gesturing behind him for someone to come over.
At the description of what the android had liked so far, Roman was already accepting the ploy to give him a bodyguard. He'd have someone to do makeovers with, and possibly even help with costuming if that took his interest. “Well I'm always willing to demonstrate make-up and costuming. Do you have a name in mind already, or shall we focus on your interests first?”
“Colour names possibly? He/him pronouns if you need to refer to me, but I'd prefer to focus on make-up or fashion. That was what Janus said you and he bonded over.” He stated.
“Shopping trip then.” Roman grinned. “Come with us, Janus. Let's get coffee on the way.”
“Of course, Darling. Let's go.”
/\/\
Summer ended up deciding his name based on the mentions of dressing for the season or people being suited to summer colours that he found in the fashion magazines he'd read with Roman. He'd been the one to return to the other sentient androids with the suggestion that they theme their names together also. He'd thought it would be a fashionable way to build a family as well as help the others struggling to figure out their names.
He also loved the discovery of stilettos, both the small knife and the shoe. It quickly became the shoe of choice for Summer and Roman if they weren't doing anything to strenuous, or for Summer even if they were. The idea of wearing weapons on his feet that could either be taken off to stab and whack or just kicked in to do more pointed damage was to his mind the greatest invention ever.
Roman also liked the idea when that was pointed out, but found his balance wasn't the best to try fighting in stilettos. Instead he spent hours with Summer learning the best ways they could harm assailants wielding the shoe in his hand.
Summer took that beginning and ran with it, figuring out the different ways fashion had concealed weapons in history, as well as the ways femininity could be either oppressive or attacking the status quo. He uncovered so many ways self defence could be built into dress, hand bags, shoes, and given Roman was his charge as a bodyguard, everything was shared and taught to him as well.
“Is there a specific way to punch someone which prevents most harm to yourself?” Roman muttered after one run through the latest way an accessory could be used as a weapon. “Other than stage punches where no contact should be made, I mean.”
“How do you not know that when you're one of the leaders of us all?” Summer had exclaimed, staring at him. “Put the accessories down, we are learning proper fighting techniques for hand to hand combat right now, Roman.”
Things hadn't been put away so fast since Roman's childhood as the space was cleared. “Do you mean sparring or just demonstrating techniques?” He checked but stood ready for either.
“Both. We'll start with demonstrations though. How about we schedule some time to teach you this everyday until you decide something else needs your attention?” Summer offered.
“Sounds good to me, so long as I'm not going to be breaking my hand hitting an android.” The concern wasn't a serious one. He knew Summer wouldn't intentionally let him get hurt, even if that meant moving back from his punches if he got a strong enough force behind them.
/\/\
“Well well well, Babes. It seems I've been missing out on tons of fun and all our morning coffee breaks too.” Remy drawled from the doorway just as Roman managed the first throw Summer had decided he should learn.
“Hi Starlight. Do you need us?” Roman didn't pause in getting up to kiss Remy hello.
Remy looked him over, glancing at Summer for a fraction of a second too. “Not at all, though I have been bereft of the time you'd usually spend with me recently. I thought I'd come learn what's been consuming your mornings.”
“I did say I wanted to learn how to fight.” Roman nodded, gesturing over to Summer. “And he got insulted when I questioned the best way to punch someone. We're going to practise sword-fighting some more after I'm able to hold my own in hand-to-hand fighting.”
“Janus won't know what to do with himself. Actually, neither will I. You're too hot to touch already and that was before I saw you throw Summer.” Remy half admitted, half teased.
Roman just smiled. “Well when my husbands have taken over a mafia, I need to be prepared to fight.” He agreed. “If it helps me put you where I want you, all the better.”
With those words he twisted them while going to his knees and ending up with Remy pinned to the floor. He knew it hadn't been fought at all but was still happy to have managed the move without falling or dropping Remy.
“I can't argue with this.”
“I'll leave you two to it then shall I?” Summer's voice was wry and got no reply as he left the room chuckling.