Gold-spenser- Yes N is for Pyrrha Nikos...she's dead still. Oscar is not going to have a good time.
Neo paced worriedly her black and pink hair horribly askew. Her fingers moved in precise motions, -Just pull the plug on this. Bimbo's sister is your soulmate-
Roman looked at his glass of scotch as he swirled his glass. In a slightly annoyed tone, "Red doesn't mean anything outside of the money."
-We don't need money- Neo gripped her hair, her brother was too much.
"I know that, that's not why we steal anymore," he sighed his sister usually wasn't such a worrier. That was his role in their partnership, and if he wasn't concerned, why was she fretting so much.
-I know you were getting bored dealing in drugs and Dust. How about we take over the prositution ring? We could start killing random people. Fuck litterally anything else-
He tucked his bangs behind his ear to glare at her with both of his eyes. "That ring already pay their dues to us." He took a large sip, "This is different for us, I've not been able to get into weapons in Vale. Besides If it wasn't risky it wouldn't be fun."
-This is too risky. One wrong move and you could also have Tai Xiao Long AND Qrow Branwen gunning for you-
"I'm doing this Neo. You in?"
-You always let me pull the plug- she poked his chest. -Don't you see that this is your soul mark driving you-
He rubbed his mark through his shirt, he could tell Red had mixed feelings about him. "This is a score. I will get it done under all their noses. When they realize Roman Torchwick duped them, it will be all the sweeter."
-I'm in brother, you know I always have your back.- She handed him his laptop and stormed out the door.
Roman Torchwick sat on his couch, looking up Ruby Rose. She was a prodigy scythe wielder at 15. During her time and Signal she was the go to classmate if you needed anything done with your weapons. Her work on Crescent Rose earned her an early entrance to Haven's Technology Academy. Her sister might be a problem, Yang Xiao-Long and he had a violent history, she broke plenty of his hard earned stolen goods and Junior's men. The other members of JYBN had been a thorn in his ass, it was just bad luck his target was so close to them.
He looked at the napkin she dropped, it didn't matter she was his soul mate. She might be a fun for a fuck, but once he got the skematics he knew a buyer. It would be a pain to maintain the disguise, tens of thousands of Lien possibly millions would make it worth it. He knew even in her last year designs no other weapons manufacturer could compete.
He needed to steal a huntsman's weapon. Something he could use. Melodic Cudgel would give him away.
XXX
Oscar pinned Ruby to the wall of their apartment, "Why did I have to make this outfit so difficult."
Ruby unbuckled his pants, "It's a skirt Oscar, just push it up."
He did and he saw the awakened soul mark it glowed faintly, a distant star shining through. Her eyes caught the dim light too and the sadness in her partner's face.
He whispered, "Just reject it. We can get married, we've been happy these past few years."
Tears pricked at her eyes, it wasn't abnormal for relationships to form before one finds their soulmate. Yang threw a fit when she found out her little sister was dating a Stealer. It was dangerous she said, to fall in love with someone who could disrupt her soulbond.
Ruby cupped Oscar's cheek, when she met him their first day at Haven, Headmaster Leo made a point to introduce the pair of 15 year olds. He was the cutest boy she'd ever seen, she scratched his hand when she urgently took it for a handshake. So positive that this was her soulmate, it was a disappointment that he wasn't. Although that didn't stop them from falling head over heels.
This was the first time Oscar offered to steal her, anytime she mentioned it before he would say you had to give them a chance.
She took a few steadying breaths as she unfastened the beautiful garment he had made just for her. "Not yet, there is something there with Remus." She huffed, she didn't want to admit that she was drawn to him.
"He has the manner of a snake." He could hear his own jealousy seeping through.
Ruby raised a brow, "I'll be careful. You know me." she let her battle skirt pooled to the ground.
He chuckled and unbuckled her corset, throwing it aside. "You and your caution."
"I handle weapons, I have to be." She pushed him backwards to the bed.
He whispered, "I don't want to let you go."
"I know. If this is the last time, let's make it a night to remember."
XXX
Few people knew the rules when it came to Stealers. It was sad that Oscar would never have his own soulmate. All Ruby would have to do is say a few words and she would be bonded to Oscar, it'd never be of the same quality. A bond was a bond though.
Yang did not actually hate Oscar, she was just scared what he could mean for Ruby. Still over the years he faithfully proved himself. Without Pyrrha, whenever Jaune, her, and Blake needed a fourth for a mission, Oscar was the obvious choice. Even after Ozpin passed over, Oscar still had the centuries of combat experience drilled into his bones.
While Oscar could kick all of their asses, Yang understood why Ruby asked her big sister for help.
Yang sipped her coffee in her living room mischief glittered in her eyes, "So what you're saying is that you want to avoid a cane measuring contest."
"Yang!"
"Am I wrong?"
"Just will you tail us? For Remus's and my first date." She wrinkled her nose at his name, it just felt wrong. She was going to have to find a nickname for him.
"Yeah Yeah, because your boyfriend thinks your soulmate is a snake."
"Ex-boyfriend."
Yang gripped her sister's knee, "Ruby…"
She wiped her thumb across her eyes, "I don't want to see this through."
"You'd regret it, you would wonder."
Ruby sighed and nodded.
XXX
Roman sat on the grass, fall in Vale was chilly but beautiful. He was in the park waiting for Ruby, he chose one with a maze, it wasn't particularly difficult but it had plenty of hiding spots. Then he heard a boisterous laugh.
That fucking bimbo.
There was Ruby with one arm hooked around Yang. The other arm carried a small basket. Roman touched his 'new' folded up weapon hooked on his belt. After he had ruined the owner's face, Neo and him had practiced. He wouldn't be good enough to take Bimbo on head on. He had to assume Red was at least decent in a fight. He took a steadying breath and reminded himself that he looked nothing like Roman Torchwick right now, except for his eyes. With black hair, no make up, and these casual clothes, no one would be the wiser.
Ruby looked at him, her lips arched in a soft smile as she let her sister go, some weak minded feelings bloomed in his chest. It had to be her feelings he was feeling, through his soul mark. Obviously it was hers, his only desire was to get access to whatever latest designs Ruby and her team was working on and selling them to the highest bidder.
Ruby, "Hi Remus, this is my sister Yang. She'll be-"
"Ensure your safety incase I turn out to be a psychopath." He glanced as Red's belt there was clearly a folded up weapon.
Yang followed his gaze, "Oh Ruby can certainly defend herself." Yang grabbed the basket, "Why don't you show him Thorn."
"Yang it's not really necessary." Ruby went to grab the basket, but Yang held it overhead. Ruby had the dignity to not jump after it.
"Please I'm curious, I love meeting new weapons." He hated saying the word 'meet', but specialists treat what they are working on with such reverence.
It had the desired effect Ruby stopped looking annoyedly at her sister and she grinned at him. A flick of her wrist, her weapon unfurled to hip height, it was a small scythe.
The picture he saw when she was 15 the scythe was taller than her, she would have seriously hampered his success if they had crossed paths. Today with the confidence in her spine, her sure grip on thorn, he wasn't too sure if he would win a fight with her now.
Not that it would come to that, he smirked.
Yang's eyes shot to his curved mouth and tilted her head, "Remus have we met?"
He blinked, "I am a huntsman, so maybe?"
Yang furrowed her brows, "Well you two have fun, I'll be within hearing distance. So if you do anything dirty, be quiet." She winked.
"Yang! I should have asked Blake!"
"Well my wife has better hearing than me." Yang teased and waggled her brows.
Ruby visibly flustered grabbed Remus's hand and walked into the maze. He took the basket and laced his fingers in hers.
"I thought you had a cane?" She eyed the cylinder attached to the back of his belt.
"I only have it on me for nice occasions. So did you design Thorn yourself?" Roman figured obviously she did.
"Oh actually no, Oscar did. You met him last night."
Oh right the guy that growled at him because Roman was messing with his territory or something. "The Armor guy?"
"When we were traveling we all had to work on weapons, armor, dust cartridges."
"It must be useful to know how the other works."
She nodded, "Yeah there are plenty of times we need an extra hand...or 6. What about you? You have a team?"
"Yeah my twin sister... Nix." how could he let that slip?
"Just the two of you?" Ruby couldn't imagine her life without her team RORN or JYBN, it was a little hectic, but perfect.
"Yeah, been that way for years." He turned a corner only to almost walk into a statue.
She giggled and with her hand still grasping his she winded him through the lush maze, until they were at a lake with a tree slowly turning red with the season. The rest of the park could be seen across the lake and it wasn't as private as he liked. In fact he could see a blonde ready to cross that 'great' distance if needed. He frowned, the easiest way to get a woman to trust you was give her a bit of a dopamine rush. Ruby was shy enough to require privacy for that sort of thing, but before he could move them she took the basket and sat on the ground.
"This is my favorite spot."
He wanted to say her paranoia was annoying, but he had to admit she was smart to take care of her safety. He sat next to her and leaned back on his palms. His eye caught her thighs rubbing together.
Ruby tilted her head at him, "Are you okay? I think I feel irritation from my mark."
Oh her soul mark was on her legs, that might be fun. He gave an exaggerated sigh, "I understand your caution, soul mates are still flawed human beings."
"I get it, it's annoying, and it's Yang."
He gave a genuine chuckle, Yang had always been aggravating, perhaps a sister could truly appreciate it.
"Do you dye your hair?"
He gave her a startled look, "I uh grayed early, and I am a bit vain. I didn't think it was too obvious."
Her legs rubbed together again, "Oh um it isn't actually, and it suits your skin tone. It just doesn't seem right."
Of course she has a weird soulmate sense. "Maybe it's because we're soulmates you can tell?" He needed to distract her, he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and slipped her hand over his soul mark. "Mines here." He was glad he had the forethought to dye his torso, he'd have to do under the pants later.
Ruby sucked in her breath, he smelled like burnt cinnamon. Her fingers could detect ridges of old scars, and he felt so solid. Mostly she could feel the core of their connection under her hand just as easily as she could feel his heart beat.
She brushed her lips against his softly and chastely. He looked confused and scared. She pulled back gently and opened the basket.
"Red, did you only pack cookies?"
"And milk"
XXX
Yang and Ruby were walking back when they were out of his ear shot. Yang elbowed her sister, "I thought you were going to rip his shirt off."
"Oh I'm not strong enough to do that." Ruby absentmindedly chewed her lip. "He seemed scared."
Yang rolled her eyes, "He looked pretty cocky to me. I think you found a ladies man."
"I think that's why he's scared, I'm not just some woman. He asked to see my workshop."
"Why do you seem worried about that? It's normal for him to be curious."
"I know I know. Over the years we've experienced a lot of people trying to take out my team."
"Yeah, specialists are easier targets and without RORN my team would have been handicaped. And heart broken."
"No one really expected us to be okay in a fight."
"If you wanted to you could have been Qrow good."
"I like my way of helping." Ruby twisted her fingers anxiously
Yang paused for a bit, "Are you afraid Remus has ill intentions?"
"I don't know. I'd rather be careful, I'd like to get to know him better first."