Movies and drinks, what could go wrong Roman thought. He picked 'The Hunt', and she was excited for it, he figured it would be a movie with cool weapons and fight scenes. No it was a demon movie and people kept going into the basement and then die. There was no hunting, he wanted his money back! He felt her lift the arm rest between them and snuggle up.

She whispered, "I got you."

He realized he'd been shaking, because why weren't the characters leaving the house and why did they keep going into the basement to 'check it out'. What was in that shity basement?

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she turned a little sideways in her seat, he pressed his mouth to hers. More urgently than he intended to, but she returned the fervor.

He never found out what was in that basement.

Later when they left the theater he dragged her into an alley.

"Remus what are oh!"

He pushed her against the building, his mouth descended hungrily on her neck. He dragged up her skirt, he needed her.

"S-stop" She gasped. He pressed himself harder against her and worked his tongue in her mouth. He groaned at how aggressively she kissed him back, her fingers weaved in his hair pulling them deeper into the kiss. He lifted her thigh up, fingers scratching her mark. She shuddered before pushing him away. Her voice firm this time, "No."

He internally scolded himself for losing control, "Ruby I am-"

She waved her hand dismissively, "Don't apologize I want you just as badly."

"Then why wait?" He looked around the alley. "Oh" he forced himself to blush, "Not exactly a romantic spot."

Ruby opened her mouth to say something but-

"As hot as that was, give me your wallets." a dirty man, shaking, was waving his gun between Roman and Ruby.

Roman, Are you serious? He noticed Ruby narrow her eyes at the gun and then slightly smile. When the gun was pointing between the two of them she lunged. Her hand caught the mugger's wrist, forcing the weapon upwards. Remus twisted the firearm out of the filthy man's grasp, pointing it at their attempted assailant.

Roman's finger on the trigger, "Well Well Well, you must be feeling pretty stupid."

Ruby, "The barrel is misaligned, don't shoot." Her fists on her hips looking at the stranger, "Honestly you could have blown off your hand with such a poorly maintained weapon."

Was she scolding the guy?

She huffed, "There is a homeless shelter at 6th and 2nd. Go." She took the gun from Roman and pocketed the bullet and then tossed the unloaded weapon into a dumpster.

Roman a little stunned, "He only had one bullet."

"He was desperate."

"Why'd you let him go?" He would have broken the man's jaw at least.

"Even criminals have bad days." She adjusted her skirt, "I don't know about you, but I could use a drink."

XXX

Neo tapped her foot impatiently as she was touching up his orange roots.

"I know she is annoyingly cautious. I asked to see her work space, she said some other time."

His sister gave him wide freaked out eyes.

"I made the mistake of letting her pick our next date. Ugh I just want to shower saying the word date. She isn't a huntress, I thought she'd pick a museum or a cookie factory."

His sister tugged at his hair.

"OWe! I know I haven't fought Grimm in years. I took an easy mission and we'll be gone for two days."

She gestured at his crotch.

"I will dye that myself."

XXX

Ruby held back and let him talk to the town's mayor. She had decided that since he was the licensed huntsman he should be in charge. It was easy to forge a license, but he never took a hunt before.

How did these things normally go?

He showed the mayor the contract he accepted on his scroll.

The mayor looked at the two of them. "It is quite the number of beowolves in the mine."

No shit, those are the only Grimm Roman knows he can kill.

Remus smiled feigning confidence, "I am aware I read the notice. Do you have a map of the mine? Where notable attacks had happened?"

After Remus took a photo of the map and spoke to some workers, it was starting to get dark. He did make a show asking if there was another room at the tavern, there was. Unbeknownst to Ruby, Neo just happened to be staying in it.

The barkeep looked amused, "And unfortunately you're next to the room of the local ma'am. I am sorry for that." he looked between the two and he absolutely did not seem apologetic.

Ruby seemed unfazed and smiled as she took the key. Remus was thoroughly amused by her blush when she saw that they would be sharing a tiny twin bed.

She squeaked, "Maybe I should see if they have a cot?"

He rolled his eyes, "I doubt it. If you like I'll keep my back to you. I have to ask, why are you so reluctant to have sex?"

They could hear moans in the ma'am's room.

"I've only been with Oscar." She looked at her feet.

"Ever?" Genuinely shocked.

Ruby nodded and her blush deepened as she heard a man cry out in the other room.

"How long were you two?" He wasn't sure what the appropriate hand gesture was and so he interlocked his fingers.

"A couple? I'd say 5 years."

"He was your first."

"In everything." her fingers brushed her lips

"Do you feel like you're being disloyal?" He couldn't help but hate the feelings of tenderness towards this woman, the wish to treat her with care.

"No No! I'm just nervous. Did I even learn how to do things right?"

He chuckled and pulled her in her arms. He lifted her chin and paused before he kissed her. "How about you tell me when you want me to stop?"

XXX

Things didn't go as far as he had hoped, still it was fun. Mutual hand play seemed to do the trick for trust. She was walking ahead to the mines, cheerfully chattering about a weapon design she wanted to do for Gambol Shroud. If only she could figure out how to infuse dust into the rope that would only catalyze when Blake wished it. She went on about the ways dust in cloth could be accidentally set off by impact or fire.

Lawd did he know about Dust and fire...because Pyro Bitch

Still when they got back, she would probably finally show him her shop. For now he was enthralled by his mate's passion and intelligence.

"Remus, why didn't you ask about the money?"

"What?"

She giggled, "Did I bore you that much that you weren't paying attention?" She really didn't, she caught him off guard. "For the contract? You didn't confirm the amount."

"Why would I?"

Ruby shrugged, "I've never taken a hunt without a hunter. My Dad, Uncle Qrow, Atlas Ace Corps,Team JYBN, Team SSSN, you get the point. They always confirm the amount."

"It's already in the contract."

"Sometimes it's hard on the town."

He was too much of a bastard to care.

"Or they can offer something more valuable than money."

Oh damn

"When we were traveling, whenever we could go without money. My team learned from local smiths or artisans. There were plenty of times when I would ask for metal instead so I could improve JYBN's weapons."

"There are some things more valuable than money. I just never really thought about it in a Hunt."

She looked at him appraisingly, before she stiffened and opened her short scythe.

Shortly after he could hear growls. He grabbed 'his' weapon with a squeeze it telescoped out.

Ruby excitedly whispered "it's a spear!" Sped off leaving a trail of petals for him to, uncharacteristically, rush after.

When he did catch up he could barely see her through the ash in her wake. A beowulf slipped past her and charged at him, he held firm and thrusted the point of his weapon into its chest a glance at his spear before he pulled the trigger to launch a lightning dust round to kill it. For every three Grimm she cut down, he killed one. They were merely two fighters in the same vicinity shooting rounds and slicing the enemy. They did not find a rhythm as partners yet they methodically worked their way through the mines.

Roman's whole body strained and he could tell Ruby was conserving her semblance. "Red we need to fall back."

She nodded, grabbed him by the waist and like a floral bullet they punctured back into the fresh air and fading sunlight.

She stood straight watching the entrance as he leaned heavily on his spear. She tossed him her water bottle, he drank greedily. She started walking back to the village, she was angry.

He took wide steps to catch up to her and handed her bottle back.

She sounded cold, "You picked a mission beyond your skill."

"I didn't realize."

"How long have you been a huntsman?" She faced him, stopping there path. Her eyes wide and her mouth pinched.

"A few years."

"How. Long." Her jaw was set, she was pissed

"6 okay, I usually take missions on people. Not Grimm."

Her face immediately softened "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's embarrassing, a huntsmen that doesn't have much experience with Grimm."

"What kind of missions."

Fuck. "The kind I can't talk about."

Ruby ran into that with the Ace Ops she would ask questions about their missions and they would be cagey about the details. She could feel his embarrassment. "You wanted to impress me?"

He brushed her sweaty bangs out of her eyes. "Look at you, how could someone like me ever be impressive to someone as skilled as you?" Was he so good at lying now, that he even convinced himself?

It did have the desired effect. She blushed and stammered, "Oh I uh um. You know one foot in front of the uh um hand?"

He rolled his eyes at her stammering, "Now come on Red, I need a shower and you can tell me about how I could do better."

XXX

Ruby was combing her wet hair when he came out of the shower. The comb hit the ground as he dug through his bag. He touched his soul mark which had heated pleasantly, he glanced downward and yes his towel was still tied about his waist.

"Red you're gonna kill me if you keep lusting like this and only letting me use my hands." He faced her. He was a little annoyed that she was already in her combat gear again, but they had to get dinner at some point.

"You really haven't fought a lot of Grimm."

She was staring at his chest, his scars were burns, bullets, and cuts.

Who was he fooling, sure he wanted the lien and he didn't want a soul mate. He jumped in without considering that he couldn't fool her. She had a keen eye and she was just as smart as him.

He only took the risk because his soul was desperately yearning for her. He needed to get out of here.

Her hand cupped his cheek, "Hey it's okay." her fingers traced a scar over his chest, "These are a proof of your strength" She unbuckled her corset. He panted and unfastened the belts across her hips. Her fingers slipped off his towel. "You have a desire to survive and that's beautiful." Her skirt fell to the ground as she rose to her toes to kiss away tears he didn't realize were there.

Tonight the ma'am had to hear their moans...not that she minded.

Neo on the other hand, certainly did mind.