Legal Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or any of the show's characters. They are the rightful properties of Rooster Teeth. The True Runes and any other Suikoden-related lore that pops up in this fic are the rightful properties of Konami.

Chapter Nineteen:

"Well, look who's finally back in Mantle!" Robyn greeted Clover cheerily enough as soon as her violet eyes took in the mer crossing the chilly market square, patting him firmly on the back as she strode over to him, "Not a moment too soon, I'd say. Otherwise you'd start getting an Atlesian accent, Ebi."

He raised an eyebrow, "What exactly does an Atlesian accent sound like?" He asked her, genuinely curious.

The tan-skinned blonde grinned mischievously, lowering her voice to a whisper, "A bit like Jacques Schnee," she explained, "If you ask me. You know, like you have a stick up your ass."

Clover groaned, clutching a hand to his chest in mock terror, "Perish the thought!" He said jokingly.

"I thought you might like that. A little levity to start off the day." His friend replied, chuckling before her expression clouded over, "How are you with everything, really?"

The Rune of Punishment bearer frowned as Robyn guided them both off to the side of the street so that they weren't in anyone's way, "Haven't you been having Winter keep tabs on me?" He asked her, already knowing the two women were in contact with one another.

"Always better to hear it straight from the source when possible." Robyn answered as she glanced over at him appraisingly, "It's been over a week since the announcement, Clover."

He sighed, nodding his head as he ran a hand through his brown head of hair, "I know," he stated, "I would have tried getting in contact sooner, but things were moving in such a blur I didn't have the time."

"When His Majesty puts his mind to something, he doesn't pull any punches." Robyn said in terse agreement, "Too bad he doesn't have that same notion when it concerns Mantle."

Clover could only nod in response. Truthfully, there'd been little time to even adjust to his new routine following his agreement to be the Royal Consort as Jacques Schnee and the Council of Nobles had swooped in immediately after the announcement with a bevy of tasks that needed to be done or learned before they could even properly proceed with the official ceremony. He'd been training Harriet as his successor to the Ace Ops, still reeling from the fact that he'd have to step down from that position, however unofficial it had been. He found that it was difficult to train Harriet as his replacement given how hard-headed the woman could be at times, so it wasn't even shocking that he hadn't even had a chance to really check in with Pietro or Penny at home.

...Or what used to be his home, at any rate. It would still take him some time to properly consider the underground lake area as such from here on out. It was no wonder why he'd jumped at the opportunity to travel to Mantle for just such a thing when given the chance today.

Gods, he even missed going out on patrols! The sense of purpose one got from them was so different from the endless political talk he'd been forced to endure recently. He could understand Qrow's aversion to it all the more now.

Clover didn't even want to think on how he'd been unable to really talk to Soul Eater's bearer or the elf's many charges since this entire thing began, a spike of unease and guilt rippling through him whenever he did so. A part of him was honestly unsure if it was better or not that he hadn't been able to. On one hand, he enjoyed the company and he wanted to continue being able to have it. But on the other, that was just Clover being selfish given the circumstances, especially since he needed to figure out his new dynamic with King Ironwood. Thinking about his encounters with Qrow while trying to do that seemed like a fool's errand.

"Just because you're willing to make this huge sacrifice for us doesn't mean you have to stop living for yourself, you know." Robyn told Clover gently, as if she was reading her childhood friend's conflicted mind.

Clover paused, unsure of how to respond. He knew that she was right, especially since he was acting merely on political grounds as James had made explicitly clear earlier. Yet, at the same time...

"Clover!"

He started at the sound of Penny's voice then, noting the redhead standing just a little farther away down the Mantle street. The girl had let out a loud gasp and waved excitedly at him, racing over to quickly pull him into a sisterly embrace. "Hey, Penny." Clover greeted her, hugging her in turn with a smile on his face, "It's good to see you."

"It has been too long!" Penny said as she pulled away with a frown, "Every time we were in Atlas visiting, they said you were busy."

"I have been." The brown-haired knight replied, his smile turning apologetic, "But I finally managed to get some free time to come visit you and Father."

"That is good!" Penny beamed, "We just finished up a patrol, so we can head on back together!"

"We?" Clover asked as he raised an eyebrow inquisitively when he saw Robyn's lips curving up into a knowing smile nearby.

There was movement from off to the side where Penny had been standing mere moments before as Qrow stepped into view, hands shoved into his pockets as he regarded the surprised Clover with a guarded expression in his red eyes, "Hey, Cloves," the elf spoke up in greeting not a moment later, giving a small, almost nervous wave as he did so, "It's been awhile."

The walk back to Pietro's home was rather stiff and awkward, largely thanks to Qrow and Clover's refusal to really look at one another directly. Given that, small talk seemed like a daunting task. Poor Penny was at first oblivious to the tension in the frigid hair, skipping along happily in front of the two older males while swinging her arms to and fro. The townspeople of Mantle had long since learned to give the artificial girl a wide berth when she was in a cheerful mood after the first dozen or so accidents.

However, even Penny picked up on the tension eventually after noticing that her excited rambling was met with uneasy silence. She turned to face both men with a worried frown dotting her features, "Is something troubling you?" The young woman questioned, a nervous glint in her green eyes as she regarded them, "You're being awfully quiet."

Clover smiled in an attempt to reassure the girl who was, for all intents and purposes, his little sister, "Sorry, Penny," he said, "I've just had a lot on my mind."

"Yeah." Qrow was quick to chime in apologetically, rubbing the back of his head, "There's just been a lot to think about recently."

The artificial girl seemed to consider their explanations, "There has been many changes recently, so I suppose some reflection would be in order." Penny stated at length before nodding her head as if confirming something to herself, "I will give you the chance to genuflect then!"

"Penny, you don't have to—!" Clover stopped himself when she darted forwards down the street ahead of them, sighing in fond exasperation, "And there she goes."

Qrow chuckled softly, "She's a good kid." He said, light red eyes side glancing in the mer's direction.

Clover smiled, nodding his head in agreement as he saw Penny's red head of hair disappear down the street corner towards the workshop, "Yes, she is." He replied fondly.

A heavy silence settled over the pair once again following his remark, both men stopping in the street completely to regard one another in a rather awkward manner. Clover quickly averted his teal-eyed gaze once more, his face flushing despite the chill due to remembering what had happened the last time they'd been remotely alone together.

Qrow's own face reddened slightly as well, and Clover wondered if he was remembering the same thing, "So," the black-haired elf finally managed to get out, "It really has been a while, Cloves."

"I know." Clover replied, shooting him an apologetic look, "Things have been hectic with all of the preparations and..."

Red eyes stared at the mer as he weakly trailed off, a considering regard in them, "Jimmy been treating you all right?" He asked hesitantly.

Clover nodded his head, "Of course. It's just different." He sighed, "There are some things I'll need to start getting used to."

"I'll bet." Qrow replied as he smirked slightly, "Everyone's missed you out on patrols, you know."

"That's definitely one of the things I need to really wrap my head around. I miss them too." Clover said wistfully then.

"I'm sure we can figure something out with James if you really want to go on some of them later." Qrow tried, "He can't exactly keep you locked away from everything."

Clover nodded appreciatively, "Yeah, it'll just probably be awhile before that happens again." He paused then, his face blushing red as he felt he had to mention, "You were right, by the way."

"I usually am." Qrow was quick to reply smugly then, though he raised an eyebrow curiously all the same, "About what this time?"

"You and Robyn were both right about the underground lake." He muttered, once again averting his gaze, "It was meant for me."

"And that bothers you?" Qrow tentatively asked.

"I honestly don't know how to feel about it. It's just been a lot to process." Clover informed him, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, "Not that I should be complaining. I mean, I agreed to this and—"

He cut himself off by taking in a shuddering breath then, and Qrow took a careful step forward with his arm outstretched as if to reach for him, "Clover..." He trailed off, clearly hesitant because the mer really couldn't afford to give in to Qrow's kindness then, not when he was so torn up inwardly over his decision and when he knew he'd desperately take the act the wrong way since Qrow was just concerned for his partner and he was just confused, Clover took a step backwards, causing the slightly older man to pause.

"I need to visit with Pietro and retrieve a few more of my things." Clover woodenly murmured, "We probably shouldn't keep Penny waiting too long."

The older man's expression was unreadable, "Right." Qrow replied, just as woodenly. When both men rounded the corner a few seconds later, it was to find Penny waiting for them by the workshop door. She glanced once again at the silent pair in concern, but opted not to say anything even as her green eyes lit up in a considering fashion when she thought they weren't looking.

The palace was mostly quiet by the time Clover returned, feeling a bit better after having spent some time catching up with his family in Mantle, as well as with Qrow and Robyn. Clover was truly grateful that he could come here first to visit with Ironwood instead of heading to the underground lake. It was a beautifully nice gesture, but his new home was somewhat lonely and empty currently with no one around. Hopefully, after his visit with Ironwood he could get some training in at the knight academy given how it had been far too long since he'd done so. After all, just because he had to give up his title as unofficial leader of the Ace Ops didn't mean he had to give up on his training regimen entirely.

Clover hesitated at the door to the king's private chambers, unsure of whether current protocol demanded he knock still or if James expected him to just be comfortable enough to enter without doing so. Truthfully, that change in their dynamic would take some getting used to. He frowned, feeling the knot of anxiety building up in his stomach the more he pondered over such things before he deftly raised his fist to knock on the thick wooden door regardless. Old habits were hard to let go of, after all.

"Clover." Ironwood greeted him as though his showing up was a pleasant surprise before standing back and gesturing the younger mer in, "You didn't have to knock, you know."

Clover winced. Already he was making mistakes, how was this ever going to work? "You wanted me to stop by, James?" He asked instead to focus his thoughts elsewhere.

Ironwood nodded, seemingly pleased that Clover had remembered this time to avoid the honorifics if nothing else, gently gripping the brown-haired man's elbow just above his scales as he guided him over towards the end of his bed where he sat them both down side-by-side. It reminded Clover quite a bit of when he'd been shown his new quarters, and he couldn't help how his face heated up in a blush at the memory of that more surprisingly intimate moment he hadn't expected earlier.

"Of course." Ironwood told him in response to his previous question, his steel blue eyes studying Clover's face intently, "How was your visit to Mantle?"

Clover couldn't help but smile softly, "It was nice to see everyone again." He told him earnestly.

James nodded, though he frowned slightly all the same, "I'd have felt better had you waited until we could get a contingent of guards to accompany you." He said seriously, as if Clover hadn't been the leader of the Ace Ops just a few days ago.

Clover very nearly forgot that he was talking to his liege as he rolled his eyes, "I'm an accomplished knight, you know." He muttered before remembering he should probably not let his confidence take the reins of the conversation.

"Of course. But still," Ironwood said as the grip on Clover's elbow tightened a fraction, "I'd rather mitigate any chance of risk."

"Because it is important for the ceremonies to be finished." Clover surmised, the smile still on his face at the thought, "Believe me, James, I know." After all, he'd only agreed to all of this Royal Consort nonsense because of how important it was for both Mantle and Atlas.

Ironwood frowned, suddenly tugging Clover's arm slightly to pull the slightly shorter man towards him, "There is that as well, Clover, but..." he began before trailing off, his breath nearly hitting the other in the face due to their current closeness.

Clover raised an eyebrow when the king trailed off, his own heart beating hard in his chest as he realized he was perhaps missing a key piece of the puzzle here, "But?" He asked, wanting to know what Ironwood wasn't telling him.

"I—" Before Ironwood could finish his remark, there was another knock on his door. The bearded man sighed and hung his head, "Give me a moment." He told Clover as he stood up and headed towards the door.

To both of their surprises, it was none other than a rather impatient Arthur Watts who stood there in the entryway. His mustache quirked ever so slightly upwards at the sight of Clover in the room too as he stepped inside without waiting for permission from the king, "Ah. Good. You're here as well." He said, "That makes things a bit easier."

The feeling of dread in Clover only intensified at the sound of the man's voice for some reason. "Arthur." Ironwood addressed the newcomer in their midst, raising an unamused eyebrow as he crossed his arms over his chest imperiously, "What is this about?"

Watts' eyes lit up at the question, "I was just pondering over our dear consort's unique situation with the Rune of Punishment and how we could possibly mitigate some of its less desirable effects." He stated smugly.

Clover stood up at that, teal eyes widening. Was such a thing even possible? Surely his father would have mentioned it if it were. Ironwood's expression remained pointedly neutral, however, "And how would we do that, exactly?" He asked, steel blue eyes narrowing in deliberate consideration.

Watts smirked outright then as his haughty gaze fell on Clover over Ironwood's shoulders, "What do you know about Grimm Water?" He questioned amusedly.

Author's Notes: Welp, that can't possibly be good for anyone! 0_0;