None1066- Yup! and thank you for so consistently reviewing. Keeps me motivated!

Seriouslazy- thanks. Lol Adam's life advice is unconventional!

Kootranova1- I'm glad you like it! I suspect people just saw rosewick and forgot that this is fanfiction.

Lonessa- *Shrugs* people suck? I'm already on AO3, I've been moving things over slowly.

Lil- This idea is GOLD. how did I not think of this! I 70% rewrote this chapter. Not exactly what you proposed. I LOVE IT and thank you!

Guest- Roman does not care, lol. Yes Roman knows how to woo Ruby.

Professor Oobleck and Ruby scouted the perimeter of the modern ruins. Her team was setting up camp, and were disappointed that they hadn't found anything White Fang related in the south east quadrant. Not that they knew what to look for. A Faunus with a smoking gun?

The sun was setting, casting a red glow on distant grimm leading them to look especially menacing.

Uncharastically Oobleck's words were paced, "Professor Port mentioned how your ethics papers have changed."

"My grades still have been steadily climbing in his class." Weiss had been forcing Ruby to work really hard on her grades! And forcing onto the younger girl her 'blasphemous coffee'

"I wasn't commenting about your quality of work. Although your handwriting could use some improvements. You've been tackling questions that some hunters never ask." Was he taking additional care with his words?

Ruby felt her heart pound, "I don't know if hunters should take missions on criminals, maybe that should be left to the police or military."

"Criminals attract Grimm, whether it be from their own aggression or the despair they generate in their victims."

"I was just trying to think some things out. I want to be a huntress to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I just don't know what that would look like."

He rested his hand on her shoulder,"The classroom is a safe place to explore your doubts and questions. You're a leader and on the field, that sort of hesitation could get you or those you want to protect killed." He gave her a warm smile that just seemed caffeinated.

"When it comes to Torchwick I think I would hesitate."

"He is a ruthless man and you've had a lot of run ins with him. It's okay to be scared."

Ruby had accepted that fear was the last thing she felt for Roman. "I'm not afraid, I respect him."

Oobleck glanced at her sideways before gazing at the far away goliath. "I suspect it is more than that."

Ruby stared at the small calluses on her palm, how many times has she slayed Grimm? Would she be able to kill or maim a human? "Maybe I am a monster and I will use everything that I am to stop people from getting hurt." She clenched her fist, she would, but she hoped that would be a really long time from now.

Bart furrowed his brows, "A monster for humanity? You might be a little hard on yourself." he chuckled, "Although there was one time, you were a little fiend, I was visiting you father and you were napping."

Ruby clapped her cheeks over her hands "OH NO I sleep snatched you too! I'm so sorry!"

He patted her head, "I knew in that moment you would make an excellent huntress! Even at five you had fearsome grip strength."His words picking up their regular rush.

She was so embarrassed and tried to get away as quickly as possible. "Doctor, the perimeter is secure and I should probably take Zwei to use the potty."

"We are in ruins, he could do that anywhere."

"You try convincing him that."

"Ah well very well. Try not to fall through anything, the ground is weak in some areas."

That was too vague of a warning, Doctor.

XXX

Roman, had set up a few more bombs, he was getting good at it, it would take a few more hours. Even still he'd barely slept the past few days, he needed to lay down.

Perry nervously rubbed his hair. "Uh sir, I found something." Yes we are all very pleased that Perry had survived what happened in Roman's room with Cinder.

Roman paused before he opened his makeshift office, "A good something or bad something, cause let me tell you I'm having a day."

"Well it's a child, she's in your office."

Roman couldn't hold back the edge in his voice, "You tied up a child in my office." His grip moved closer to the trigger on his cane.

"Handcuffed her to your cot." Perry stood stiffly, sweating profusely, this sounded better in his head.

Torchwick let his head lightly fall against the door, "There is a child, locked onto my tiny mattress that I occasionally sleep on."

"Well uh I've been hearing about you and a kid. NOT that I'm judging." Perry began to mutter, "Okay I am judging, but I'm trying not to." Perry rambled faster, "I just thought since this kid fell in my lap literally it's sort of a thank you. For uh Cinder."

Roman, could only stare at the Faunus agape.

Perry just wanted to be dismissed or flee into a foregin country where he would never run into anyone he knew ever again. Where he could slowly die of shame because he put a child in this position.

Roman shook his head while he momentarily missed the days when it was a good thing that everyone assumed he was much older. That wasn't a problem for today, he needed to figure out what to do with this random kid. He opened the door only to be greeted by Red on one leg. Her wrists cuffed to the bed stretched out as her other leg was trying to knock something off his desk.

She grinned at him, and her boot kicked off his cigar he intended to have.

"Red no." What was she, a cat?

Quickly followed by a water glass crashing on top of his cigar.

Then she stood as properly as she could, "No fires."

"People buy drugs to achieve your energy level." He locked his door, he could not help but smile. He didn't know how he was going to get her out safely, but her company wasn't a miserable problem.

"Roman, come here." She tilted her chin up and looked like she wanted a kiss. He almost closed the distance as quickly as possible.

Almost, instead he looked at her fists, "Open your hands." She obeyed, nothing there. He gently ran a finger over her open palm and took the bobby pin hidden between her fingers. Tossed to the other side of the room.

"Hey!" She tried to scowl at him.

"Do you know how to pick a lock?" He cupped her face.

"I took a class!" she pouted as she nuzzled her cheek into his hand.

"How long did it take you?" He sat on the cot, looking up at her.

Embarrassed, "We just started a couple of days ago." She flustered, "I'm good at other ways to get out of these sorts of situations!" If she could have she would have put her fists on her hips, but you know handcuffed to a bed.

He pulled her into his lap. "You're terrible for my reputation, or good it's hard to tell." he groaned remembering just how Perry tried to earn favor.

She maneuvered her arms to be on either side of his head. "Good?"

He pressed his face into her neck inhaling deeply, "I'm more relatable, now. Some guys have been joking on how young they've had kids."

Ruby gaped. "And you want to work in this seedy environment?" she could feel him shudder.

"I was running away from upstanding citizens who did that. I didn't care what I needed to do to stay fed or keep Neo safe." He nuzzled her neck.

"I don't know what to say. I hope I can make the world safer." she really was an earnest hero.

"I'm not really helping matters am I?" He felt her shrug.

"You look tired, want to lay down?"

"No I'm good like this, Ruby. Let me hold you for a bit."

He must've dozed off on her shoulder. Ruby gently shook him, "Gunfire."

"Your friends." It took a moment but he got her off his lap and stood.

"You gonna unlock these?" hopeful wide eyes.

"Red, you're a trespasser. No."

"Boo." stuck her tongue out at him, before slowly exhaling as she pulled her thumb and slipped a wrist out the cuff.

"Did you dislocate your thumb?" He pulled at the collar of his shirt, why was that hot?

With a yip she relocated it, flexed her hand. She smiled sweetly, no hint of mischief in her demeanor when she took a key from the far corner of his desk and unlocked this other cuff.

"Red." He growled as he approached her, this woman was too much.

"I told you I learned-" He picked her up by hips and threw her against the wall, his mouth bruising against hers. Her thighs gripped him as she groaned. The gunshots got louder. She pushed at his shoulders and he took a step back to let her fall back on her feet.

"Sorry about tha-"
She pressed her finger to his mouth, "Our timing is terrible. I might not have a chance to say this again, I love you too. Also I'm going to stop you." With that she petal burst past him running out the trailer, to her friends.

Roman flipped his cane, he muttered, "Can one woman be all options in murder, marry, screw?" He launched the grappling hook after her, she must've heard cause she serpentined and dodged.

Roman yelled, "We gotta go start the train!"

Doctor Oobleck tossed the girl her Lunar Rose, "Ruby your mouth-"

Ruby interrupted, "We got to get on this train and stop it!"