Reminder/warning AN: This fic follows an AU that was created shortly after season two's release.
This story follows that level of cannon and will continue to do so.
Please do not correct theories I already know are incorrect, at the time they were just fun theories.
"You're sure you're fine watching all five of them alone?" Ruby asked as Sombra stuck her finger up Romans nose.
He pulled the little hand from his face and nodded. "I'll be fine, you just make sure to come back safe."
Ruby kissed him and smiled. "Don't worry, we will be fine."
"You be sure to behave for your uncle Roman." Yang was telling the other two girls who both nodded.
"Same for the both of you." Blake added to the twin boys who looked nothing alike.
They nodded and once heartfelt goodbyes were said and hugs shared the three huntresses left, leaving Roman with five children and a dog standing at the door.
Sorin was the first to do or say anything, pulling off his shirt then claiming to be cold and clinging to his brother.
"Then why did you take you take your shirt off?" Roman questioned the boy.
"It itches my fur…"
"Oh."
"Uncle Roro… I want munchy yumyums!" Sombra spoke up suddenly.
Roman sighed. "Who else is suddenly hungry?"
Four little hands shot into the air in answer.
"Fine. Sorin, put your shirt back on and we will go."
Once they arrived at the diner, the same one where the lovely waitress had figured out what exactly 'munchy yumyums' were four years prior, they took their usual booth.
The waitress came over, smiling warmly at the lot. "The usual?"
"Yep."
She nodded and headed off to put in the order, returning a few minutes later with a tray of drinks. Coffee for Roman, milk for each of the girls, hot chocolate for Sorin and orange juice for Soleil. What surprised Roman was when she set down a tall cappuccino of assumably Neo's favorite flavor in front of the empty spot next to Sorin. However he decided not to question it. After that the waitress headed off to clean a table that had just been abandoned.
Roman heard the little bell over the door as the people who had just finished paying left. Then it jingled again and Roman glanced up to see Neo just as she rounded the corner and stepped up into the area he and the kits usually sat at then sat next to Sorin.
"Roro."
"Neo."
"I don't like orange juice anymore." Soleil piped in suddenly. All eyes turned to the four year old.
"What brings the sudden aversion?" Neo tilted her head.
"I dunno…"
"Come'on Soli, just drink it." Roman encouraged.
"No." With that the small blond curled to his side, tucked his wings behind him then stuck his feet straight up in the air while hanging his head off the seat with his little arms crossed. All that was visible above the table were his shorts and legs sticking straight up. He held his feet rigid as if standing on the floor, so Neo set the salt shaker on one foot and the pepper on the other.
Roman let out a long sigh.
"Everything alright?" The waitress asked when she came over to check on them, noticing the odd scene but not seeming surprised by it.
"He suddenly doesn't like orange juice." Roman sighed.
"Hmm…" She noted, taking the glass away. "What would you like instead darlin?"
"Something more… growed up."
"Not coffee though." Roman quickly interjected, knowing it's effects on children and not wanting to risk Soleil falling asleep.
With a nod she took the juice back to the kitchen.
Neo started making paper lotuses with the napkins and stacking them on Soleil's feet. The girls giggled through the whole thing.
The waitress returned, weighed down by a heavy tray that she had to set on the next table before serving. She set a mug down by the now decorated upraised feet. "Apple chai tea with milk."
Little knees bent then launched all the things stacked on Soleils feet into the air, quickly he returned to a proper sitting position, caught the salt and pepper shakers then set them back on the table amid a rain of paper flowers.
For a moment, everyone present just stared at the dragon faunus as he sipped his new drink then smiled wide. "I like it!"
"Good." The waitress chuckled then started setting out the plates of food. Munchy yumyums for all five children, ham egg and cheese sandwich for Roman and a mountain of fries for Neo. "Everything look good?"
"Yes, thank you." Roman smiled.
With a smile and a nod the waitress left.
Neo received the ketchup from Lila while Sombra buried her food in pepper.
Roman smiled and sipped his coffee, silently thanking Ruby once again for coming to him in her time of need all those years ago. Not only had she turned out to be the love of his life she had brought such an amazing family with her without even knowing. Before that fateful day he never would have imagined his life like this.
After breakfast was finished Neo and the kits pestered Roman into taking them to the park. Deciding there was no harm in it, they headed out. He and Neo sat on a bench and watched the kits play.
"How do you do it?" Roman asked after a few minutes.
"Do what?"
"Run an underground crime network and still be able to show your face? After all this time you've never been caught."
"It's like you said, I've never been caught. No one knows who I am, so… I mean, it's easy enough if you're careful. Considering I'm not working with or for a bitch - I think I'm fine. That was your problem. Cinder."
Roman nodded his agreement, he wouldn't have been caught the few times he was if not for the nonsense she had put him through. Not that it really mattered now. Ruby had killed Cinder, ending her reign and allowing Neo to take command.
"OW! Leave me alone!" Narzisse cried.
Roman and Neo both looked up just in time to see Soleil jump from the swings, spread his wings and half glide, half fall into a pair of bullies that were picking on the girls. The larger, older children had been pulling on Narzisse's ears.
The little dragon-faunus-turned-missile managed to knock one of the boys off balance and started hitting him. "Don't touch my sister!"
The bully started screaming and the other one grabbed Soleil by the wings and pulled him off the much bigger kid on the ground. Sorin hopped in and bit that kid on the arm, forcing him to let go of Soleil's wings, he was then batted away like a ball.
Roman stood, Neo close behind, and headed over to break up the fight.
"Worthless Faunus freaks!" The boy who'd been knocked to the ground shouted as he stood and punched Sombra in the face, causing her nose to bleed. The boy laughed, until he realized there was now two of her.
His confusion was short lived as Lila and Narzisse joined in with Sombra and her double in pushing the boy over and sending him rolling down the hill. The second bully had hold of Soleil again, this time by the throat and it looked like Soleil was struggling to breathe. Roman slapped that boy's wrist hard with his cane, forcing him to drop the much smaller faunus boy.
"That's enough." Roman snarled.
"You ain't my dad!" The kid snapped back.
Roman leaned in closer to the kid, giving him a cold stare only a practiced killer could have. The boy swallowed hard then ran away, picking up and dragging the other one after him.
Roman let out a "hmph." As he stood straight again and looked to the kits. Before he could say anything though he was shoved. Stumbling forward then turning to see who had pushed him Roman found himself face to face with a man slightly taller and thrice as bulked as himself.
"You and your little rats are gonna regret picking on me boys."
"I'm not the one going to be regretting anything." Roman growled back, the murderous look returning to his eyes.
Neo was almost startled, she'd not seen Roman like this in years. She ushered the children back and out of the way then started cleaning up Sombra's nose.
"Big talk for a shrimp like you."
A grin crept onto Roman's lips. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"No and I don't give a shit! I'm gonna pummel you into the ground all the same."
"Let's see you try." Roman taunted, grinning.
The other man growled and swung his fist down hard, hitting only air as Roman was already gone. He then received a swift kick to his ass, he stumbled and turned to find Roman examining his fingernails.
"You need to move faster than that if you are going to catch me."
The man yelled in rage and charged Roman, swinging his fists left and right, much faster but easily predictable to a fighter with as much experience as Roman. Roman dodged, causing the man to miss by the narrowest margins which enraged him more. "How dare you protect these faunus scum!"
Roman's grin vanished and he sidestepped, spun and struck the man in the face. "How dare you judge my beautiful family."
Stumbling back the man rubbed his face then growled at Roman, charging him again. The irritated ginger waited until the last minute to duck under the next strike and blocked the following one with his cane, which bent slightly under the strain. Roman spun away and kicked the man, sending him off balance, Roman then charged in and jumped, landing both feet in the middle of the man's back and sending him face first into the dirt.
"You regretting this yet?" Roman asked, standing on the man and bending his weapon back to it's proper angle. The guy only growled in response before shaking Roman off.
Again the predictable punches came as soon as the man was on his feet. Roman continued dodging narrowly, throwing in the occasional punch just to show the man how sloppy he really was. As the man slowed down Roman sped up, throwing three rapid punches in place of one or dodging around behind him and forcing him to turn.
"I'm going to kill you!" The man roared angrily.
About that time two cops patrolling the park looked over after hearing that.
Roman dodged again then made sure he was in view of the officers. He waved at them, pretending to be distracted and letting the other man strike him hard enough to send him into a roll. Roman rolled to his feet and grinned, seeing the police now in a dead run and the man still ambling after him, grinning after landing that hit.
"You sure you don't want to know who I am?"
"Don't matter, I'm gonna have em' write 'scum' on your headstone." The man followed this with another punch that Roman narrowly dodged, he rolled away as if being hit though.
"FREEZE! Vale police!"
Roman stepped back, grinning. The man stopped, glaring at Roman then at the police.
"You are under arrest for assaulting a government official." One officer informed the man, cuffing him.
"Are you alright Mr. Rosewick?" The other officer asked.
"Yes, fine. See to it this man is charged not only for attacking me but also for threatening children in a faunus hate crime."
"Yes sir."
"Wait, what?" The now confused man stammered. "What is he, a judge or something?"
"Try something closer to a senator." The first cop snapped.
Roman tipped his hat. "Roman Rosewick, maybe you should find out who you are up against before trying to kill people."
With that Roman left the situation in the hands of the officers, he, Neo and the kits strolled out of the park.
As they walked down the street, Roman carrying Sorin and holding Sombra's hand. Sorin sang in the adorable way only a toddler can, a song he made up about how Roman had saved them all from the stupid giant.
Roman smiled ear to ear, most certainly having a good day. Neo followed along behind, carrying Soleil and holding Narzisse's hand, Lila held Neo's coat tails and hummed along with her little brother's song.
Ice cream was a must according to Neo so that was where they went next, Neo's favorite ice cream shop. Neo and Roman held the children up each in turn so they could see the choices and get what they wanted, the devious ice cream queen ordered far more than the children needed though they would have no trouble eating it. Not to mention she ordered them the sundae special which included a brownie with a scattering of almost all the toppings.
Roman paled at the sight when the order was brought to them, looking at the towers of sugar that each kit was about to devour.
"Neo… Was it really necessary to order this much?"
"Yep."
Roman sighed but decided against arguing further.
Sorin started acting a goof before he'd finished half his ice cream and the girls were not far behind. Soleil appeared to be too distracted by the dessert itself to get hyper just yet, seeming to very much enjoy the lychee frozen yogurt he'd gotten.
Once all bowls were empty and the bill was paid Roman swept the kits back out of the shop and towards home, no reason to plague the public with five atomic kittens.
Reaching Roman's mansion the kits charged in the door screaming and terrifying Drei. Roman and Neo just stood in the doorway a moment, watching them charge around the foyer screaming, running up the stairs and chasing the dog.
"Raaagggghhhhh..." Sorin groaned, sticking his arms out and walking like a zombie while Soleil ran from him.
About that time Roman spotted Sombra step up onto the rail of the upper landing.
"I can fly!"
"NOYOUCAN'T!" Roman dropped his cane and ran to catch the kit as she dove off the railing. He jumped, caught her, pulled her tight against his chest and twisted his shoulder to land on his back. Sombra just giggled.
"Uggagh..." Sorin continued stumbling about, chasing his siblings.
Roman grunted as Sombra stood and stomped on him, running off to join her siblings. Neo just stood off to the side laughing maniacally.
With a sigh Roman pulled himself to his feet and followed the monster children as they made for the stairs. Once up there they got harder to follow, though. They all split up and went into different rooms. The girls went into their own rooms and got out toy diamond swords and pick axes to beat each other with while the boys went into every bedroom and stole all the blankets, throwing them over the railing to the first floor below.
Watching the kits play, Roman just stood at the top of the stairs and made sure no one tried jumping off the railing again or ran on the stairs. There was a blur of pink and white that passed him and darted into one of the rooms, followed by a crash. Neo stepped out of the room holding the now empty toy box over her head and giggling.
"Hurry girls! Into the mine cart!" Neo exclaimed running past Roman with the girls and their weaponry in tow. Neo reached the other staircase, let the girls climb into the toy box then hopped in after, causing the box to go sliding down the stairs. Roman then watched as the last blankets in the house went over the rail. The box reached the bottom of the stairs and all four of it's occupants laughed as it continued sliding across the smooth tile floor.
Sorin and Soleil hurried down the stairs past Roman and he was just glad they hadn't tried to jump. Roman headed down the stairs as the girls continued their battle and the boys, now with the help of Neo, started dragging all the blankets into the living room. With a defeated sigh Roman helped drag the blankets and build a massive blanket fort.
Once the fort was finished the kits had tired themselves out, the girls and Neo crawled into the fort together and fell asleep, quickly followed by Sorin.
Soleil looked drowsy too and that worried Roman, normally Soleil didn't need sleep or rather, wasn't supposed to sleep at all. However Blake had explained what to do in this situation so he scooped Soleil up and headed outside, off to the garden to the north side of the yard, there were fewer trees there and only a mazy of shin high flowers. There was also very soft and durable grass which Roman plopped down into. Roman laid on his back in the grass, letting Soleil lay on his chest where the child was fully exposed to the warm afternoon sun.
Soleil stretched his wings slightly and flopped them to the sides. The feathers seemed to glow faintly as the sun beat down on them. Roman watched as the tired little dragon faunus drifted into the light, almost-sleep that he could only achieve in full sunlight like this. Content that the sky was clear and they wouldn't fall into shade any time soon, the exhausted uncle pulled his hat over his eyes and laid his head back in the grass for a nap of his own.
A/N:
Shameless plug: I have a twitter, follow me werewolf714FFN
Yo, so, long time no post, sorry about that. TLDR, adult life sucks and needs to go into the garbage can.
I'm going to appologize now, this is the raw, unedited version. I'm pretty sure I had this one edited and uploaded and formatted. RIP that since ffn dumped the file. I couldn't find the other edit so here we are. I'm not pestering my former editors right now, everybody is busy and I just wanna get things posting again now that I have a working PC and a few hours here and there to get some writing in.
Working six days a week in fast food is probably the most anxiety inducing job I've had yet, but I've escaped and am just gonna try and pretend the last year didn't even happen.
I'm going to attempt to figure out a new posting schedual, not likely to post this one every week since I need to figure out what the fric I was doing with it. I will admit though, the RWBY oneshots, this RWBY and the one that was supposed to follow will probably be the end of my RWBY fics since I've sort of lost insperation with the series with as large of a genra shift as it's gone through.
Also, I think I had intended to write a chapter or two between this one and the last one but let's be honest here, I don't know the first fricking thing about babies. So I'll just skip on to the rest of the fun stuff.
If you've read this far, thank you very much.
Reviews and dms are welcome, I don't bite.