Monsterking- Thanks!

The-soul-in-the-void. I'm glad!

Kootranova1- Mr Corcovan did call Roman 'kid', I didn't give the old man a lot of time, but he did do his research and actually read the birth date on Roman's file. I'll let you know the original plan for Ozpin, once I get to Atlas. Yes I'm outlining Atlas now.

Seriouslazy- hehehe

Ruby and Roman opened the door to the house their team rented and were startled to see Ren making so much food with Jaune and Nora assisting.

Ozpin, So wasteful!

Roman raised a brow, "Who decided the proportions?"

Nora excitedly, "Yang and Blake and Adam and Qrow are here!" The smaller ginger threw up her hands in delight accidentally stabbing Jaune...who fortunately had his Aura active.

Ruby gasped and fluttered upstairs.

Ren smiled softly, "We bumped into them on the way back."

Jaune carefully takes a knife from his teammate, "Neo is catching up with Adam I think."

Adam approached, "Not anymore, Ruby kicked me out. Guess she got some news for the family."

Roman pinched the bridge of his nose.

Ozpin, Well we have Long Memory at hand.

Roman, Do you want to fight Qrow Branwen?

Ozpin, He wouldn't fight me!

Roman, Says the old wizard in the passenger seat as I date his daughter/niece.

Ozpin, fuck

Roman, You swear more than I ever did.

He raised his eyes to the bull and smiled, "Good to see you friend, now then where is my hat?"

Adam scratched between his horns, "I've no idea."

"You lost it? Do you even know how expensive that was?"

Ozpin, Did you even buy it?

Roman, That is beside the points, it was the first thing Neo ever stole for me.

Neo thwacked the bull on the knees and showed him her scroll.

Adam looked guilty, "My regrets, I could assist you in stealing another one?"

The girl bounced on her toes.

Ozpin, May Neo has been the bad influence this whole time.

A yell from upstairs, "OZPIN!"

They could hear Red shout, "Birdie no!"

A large crow flew at Roman, to scratch and peck at him. The thief waved his arms about until Ren caught the bird in an empty pot. Nora held down the lid, wild confusion etched into her face.

Ren pointed with a spatula, "Torchwick! Outside, I'm not losing the security deposit over this."

Nora's body weight barely holding the lid down, "What is happening!"

Ruby ran in with Yang close behind. Red gasped, "All I said was Raven refused to give you the antidote if I didn't claim you."

Yang, "he started muttering about how he trusted Ozpin as an adult."

Nora, "Our group dad!" her eyes widened as the lid clattered under her grip.

Ozpin, allow me

The headmaster strolled outside calmly waiting with both hands behind his back, Long Memory laid out on the grass by his feet. The blackbird launched at him. The air rippled and Qrow was a man again rolling messily onto the ground.

"Enough." Plenty of children have heard this disciplinarian tone.

Roman, You can force them out of avian form?

Qrow, stood snapped, "I figured she and dickwick would sort themselves out. I trusted you to keep the kids out of a literal den of thieves."

Ozpin inspected his nails, "Why didn't you tell me that little Red is considered the heir apparent? Or warn me that Raven would even consider her over Miss Xiao Long."

Qrow mouth parted, "Raven mentioned it once years ago. Vernal was also thrown onto the table."

Yang scratched her arm, "Vernal would have only been temporary if Ruby or I were too young. If, you know, something happened to Mom."

Roman, Was Qrow never an option for even an interim leader?

Qrow ran his fingers through his messy hair. "Ozpin you do realize that this means you are married to my girl. That even after you Torchpin yourself, you will have a part to play in a tribe of bandits as Roman Torchwick."

Roman, Oh man I was starting to like the name Ozwick.

Ozpin looked at Ruby whose eyes were locked on to Harbinger and any sudden movements. "If Red will have whatever blend" gestures at himself, "this becomes. I will do...right be her and her family."

Roman, Did you just use my skill to force back a blush?

Ozpin, do you even have to ask?

Qrow, "The only form of divorce in my tribe is death."

Ozpin nodded, "So be it."

The drunkle blinked wildly and folded up his weapon. He looked at his niece, "You okay with this Ruby?"

She fiddled with her bracelet, she nodded shyly.

Yang squealed and took her little sister's hand. "Oh my goodness that is the prettiest gift you've ever received from a boy!"

Ozpin thought nastily, Other boys dared.

Roman, Oh MY god. Calm down your jealous ass.

Ruby flustered. Qrow slapped the palm to his forehead. "Torchwick, get in the driver's seat, and let's get a drink."

XXX

Qrow wanted to beat the living daylights out of Torchwick/Ozpin. It was one thing to agree to let the girls make their own choices when Ruby declared she wanted to be a scythe wielder.

Now he sat across from the ginger who happened to be...family according to any Mistralli bandit. Depending on how seriously you look at birth certificates or paternity tests that likely will never exist. Qrow Branwen was sitting across the table from his son-in-law.

FUCKING unacceptable

He had imagined this day and figured it would be a nervous lad attempting to look mature. If Roman was nervous, the old bird could not detect it. The boy knew they were in a bar owned by the tribe. He adjusted his bangs, and he leaned back in smug confidence that left no doubt who was sitting down with family.

It took a great deal of self-control for Qrow to not draw his weapon.

Unannounced a man approached carrying a tray, he placed down a bottle and two clay cups. He left as silently as he approached, leaving a sense of drama behind.

Roman raised a brow he'd done that plenty of times, a power move letting your opponent know whose turf you're on. He fingered the cup, he might not be able to keep up with an alcoholic. He could hold his liquor, he knew his scotches and...now ports.

Ozpin chirped, You're welcome

Raising the cup Roman Torchwick's nose uncontrollably crinkled and his hand reflexively pulled away from his face.

Qrow delicately brought his cup close and sniffed and before taking a long delicate sip. "If you want the tribe to respect you, I suggest you get used to Spirytus"

It was cheap shit.

The master thief had been hazed plenty of times and did it to those who thought they were hot shit because they lifted some jewelry or specks of Dust. He shot his head back and felt pure ethanol burn on its way into his stomach. Then helplessly watched as Qrow poured them another drink, to the bird these fumes smelled like victory. "You and Ru-Rose are married. You are both teenagers" The twitching line in Qrow's jaw indicated the diminishing restraint.

Torchwick nonchalantly, "Tell that to Raven."

"Oh, I fucking will." Qrow had an odd, yet firm expression. He took another swig of what Roman was beginning to believe was paint thinner.

The pair stared at each other and Roman drank until his head felt fuzzy and Ozpin was singing old Valeian sea shanties in his skull. He noted he had only three shots to Qrow's 9.

Roman caught the wrist of a young woman whose hand was in his pocket. The kingpin gave a lopsided smile. "Sweetheart, angle your hand like so with a sitting target." He stood and gently readjusted her hand "and this way if he is standing" his grip tightened and he leaned his face close "and never if it's Roman Torchwick's pocket."

She flinched and then puffed up her courage, "mind showing my friends Mr. Torchwick?"

Qrow decided it was a strange thing to watch Roman teaching bandits how to properly pickpocket. To charm or annoy with your words as the hands move about unnoticed. The boy was graceful in every correction of the tribe's folk. A queer sort of clarity claimed the old huntsman.

Roman and Oz made sense.

Qrow had stepped aside so his sister became head woman, Beacon changed him too much. Ozpin gave him something else to fight for. The headmaster taught him how to act with honor and to protect the precious family he made.

Now the old huntsman watched a boy with eyes as green as summer leaves teach with smooth elegance. Both Ozpin and Roman wanted others to do better and so they taught what they could.

Like-minded souls indeed.

XXX

Adam wasn't entirely sure how he was roped into Remanent-The Board Game. Or how he undisputedly destroyed Neo and Ruby. Jaune sat across from him, in his last vestige of opposition held tightly to Vacuo.

Blake leaned against her boyfriend, yawning and absentmindedly nuzzling him. Ninja and the loud one were waiting for the next round so they could take down the victor.

The bull Faunus smirked and a bead of sweat formed on Jaune's temple.

"I've given Grimm the Latest Atlasian tech, your precious Vacuo is doomed" Oh victory was close and it burned so sweetly on Adam's tongue.

Jaune with a trembling hand flipped a card and Adam forgot the meaning of breathing.

Jaune shyly, "My citizens are too hardy to be scared. And the Grimm cannot find them due to the lack of negative energy" he put down another card, "I paid a guild of hunters to kill your confused Grimm"

Ruby gasped and giggled, "Adam you have no army now!"

Jaune's confidence grew, "Atlas is now mine."

Nora cracked up, "and all of your other territories are forfeit. There is a reason why not even Group Dad can beat him."

Ninja smiled, "and Torchwick cheats"

Adam could feel his brow twitch, still he would not be a sore loser. He quietly reset the game, allowing Nora to take his seat.

Ruby had resumed telling Yang about how Roman and she were taking advantage of the alliance Raven forced them in.

Yang shook her head, "I know mom can be conniving, but to family?"

Ruby frowned, "She hates Ozpin, she thinks he fooled STRQ and now us into a hopeless war."

Adam, "so why a political marriage?"

Ruby, "if I have to stay in Mistral, you think Roman would have me try to learn how to manage this continent from the bottom up without him?" Ruby knew he had to leave if it came to that...she hoped if it did she could convince him without taking drastic measures.

It clicked for Adam, "Raven is angling for Roman to stay, which would handicap Oz."

Blake, "instead you two are dancing around that commitment," She covered her face in guilt, "and making up for our failure."

Ruby shook her head, "you did everything you could it isn't your fault that Perry had restraint"

Adam suddenly realized the allure little Red had for Roman.

Torchwick was protective, obsessively so, over Neo. The Faunus's therapist would have said it was maladaptive and unsustainable. When Adam first heard of Red foiling Torchwick the bull Faunus rolled his eyes. Hunters like her want to save everyone from everything. He told Torchwick not to worry she'll overextend herself into an early grave.

Both came from opposite ends of who they wanted to protect with their strength, both dysfunctional.

They agreed to protect Mistral, together they found a solution that didn't sacrifice their precious freedom.

Together they were finding balance.

Adam pulled off his ever present blindfold and looked at Neo who grinned with her friends as she laid down some cards. Roman was giving Neo the space to figure herself out now.

He looked to Blake and she helped him accept that everyone has a different path and that is okay. Yang accepted all of his feelings, even the ugly ones that just wanted the world to burn. He blinked. Did he help them?

The lovely blonde must have seen the contrition on his face as she laid herself across the Faunus' laps poking her finger on his nose with a "boop"

His lips twitched upwards and Yang grinned at her little victory. "You are pretty good at this world domination thing."

Adam, "Not as good as your classmate." His fingers curled through her blonde hair, her eyes softened feeling his nails lightly scratch her scalp.

On the other side of the front door, they could hear two men singing an old Atlasian folk song.

"HER LONG HER FLOWING IN THE MID WINTER WIND."

It wasn't singing...but what else do you call it?

Ruby rubbed her temples, "I'll get the painkillers. Yang, get a pitcher of water."

Neo bounced over to the kitchen and began to microwave popcorn, she was prepared for a weird night with her brother and the bird-dude.