Ruby happily lounged in her dorm. It'd been a crazy week, and it still wasn't done, but it was pleasant to relax even if it was just a single night. Which she would relax despite Yang resting her head in her lap.

Yang threw up her scroll arm, "Smash or Pass?"

Weiss hugged her knees, her lips twitched into a smile, "Tyrian Callows? Hard pass on Atlas serial killer. I had nightmares about him when I was a kid."

Jaune rubbed his chin, "yeah he was a real live boogie man when we were kids." Then, shuddering, "I remember Lisa Lavender reporting on him. I say smash."

Blake choked on her tea, "you serious? He's gonna kill you."

Nora making a vulgar motion with her hips, "after a night with him and that tail, I could die with no regrets."

Yang, "Rubbles, what do you think?"

Ruby had gotten to know him, if only a little, "He was a convict in Atlas. Faunus are forcibly lab tested there. So pass, but can I give him some cookies and maybe get him a therapist?"

Blake's ribbon twitched, "that's surprisingly knowledgeable for you."

Weiss rolled onto her knees, "testing like that is voluntary only!" Ruby bit her tongue. How did she ever tolerate such a brat?

Blake, "Convicts wave those rights. In Atlas, you're the property of the military. Occasionally you see a human in a study, but 87% of the criminals are Faunus. "

Ruby spat, "Apparently, Faunus aren't human, but they represent humans in experiments."

Weiss bristled, and Ren interjected peaceably, "how about a different criminal, Roman Torchwick?" Ren pulled up his mug shot.

Ruby, with zero hesitation, "I'd smash him so hard he'd be in little pieces."

Nora waggling her brows, "gotta thing for gingers?"

Pyrrha, "damn, I would love to do eyeliner that well. Can I smash him just so he'll do my makeup after?"

Ruby giggled. He couldn't do it evenly, which was why he had the bangs. Besides Roman's idea of aftercare was tossing the blankets over them. And if she made the mistake of complimenting him in anyway he'd try to fuck her again. She had no idea how that was a reasonable response to her saying he had a cute nose.

Roman's snoot was 10 out of 10 boobable.

Yang, "to suave for me, pass."

Weiss, "Smash, but I'm still taking him to the police after."

Jaune's cheeks pinked, "oh um he'd look pretty on his knees."

Ren nodded, "blow job smash."

Nora held up her scroll, "Adam Taurus! Train robber and natural energy thief."

Blake shuddered, "Pass."

For a moment, Ruby felt pity. Blake had seen a person she admired go down a spiteful path.

Ruby, Torchwick isn't safe. I know better than anyone how volatile a man like that can be.

Adam scared Blake, and as a result she was terrified that the same would happen to Ruby. Ruby pressed her palm to her stomach if only the little leader could have known what she'd lose from hysterical fear.

Nora, "you know Ruby Rose, and his motif is thorns. It'd be a pretty stylish couple."

Ruby, with her reverie interrupted, "what me and Adam?" Her treacherous brain started rolling through the politics, "hard pass, I'm still thinking about smashing Torchwick."

Yang opened her mouth to heckle her little sister. Then, there was a knock on her door.

Weiss hopped up to open it, "General Ironwood, how can we help you this evening?"

"I needed some assistance," he smiled warmly at the kids lounging happily, "and how impressive that a single team has the top three spots in their class." Nora looked away sheepishly. James continued, "Miss Valkerie, I heard you won an arm wrestling competition amongst the second years."

Flexing her bicep, "Wanna go?"

James chuckled, "my ego is too fragile to accept that loss." His face softened with fondness as laughter filled the room, "Miss Rose, a walk if you will."

Ruby bobbed her head, following him out. She forgot how soft hearted Jimmy was. When he didn't have to engage his semblance for long periods, he put his role as teacher and mentor above most else.

"You're lost in thought."

She hadn't realized he led her to a quiet section of a courtyard. It was easy to see all around them, and there were no trees for nosy little birds.

Privacy in plain view.

Her hands clasped behind her back, "You're different when you don't engage Mettle."

His brows ghosted up slightly, but really he wasn't surprised, "Ah yes, my semblance is a dangerous one, one that can make me a villain if I'm not careful."

Taking his hand, "Still you showed me how to make painful choices when they were right. We couldn't save everything when we killed Salem."

"We?" His voice sounded fragile, in disbelief and hope.

"I might have made her vulnerable." Tapping under her eye, "But we all showed her what it means to live and die." Spinning on her toes around him, "Why are we here, Jimmy?"

He ruffled her hair, "I know I don't have the memories you do, but I am rather fond of you."

Feeling delighted under the affection, "Well I'm absurdly adorable."

Still smilling, "Ozpin asked me to speak to you about Weiss." His voice hardened, "Did you orchestrate her rape?'

Ruby didn't recoil, it wasn't a shocking question. Instead, she gently took Ironwood's hand in hers, "No, but I did make sure Cardin and team died with the kerchiefs."

lightly holding her fingers, "You took advantage of an unfortunate circumstance to teach a lesson." he sighed, long and heavy.

Now Ruby was surprised, "You're not mad? Or think I'm overreacting?" Did he understand this burden of choice?

His jaw set, "You're old team purposely tried to wipe your mind and take your future children away from their father." Then, holding up his hand as Ruby's lips parted, he continued, "That mere intention alone is unforgivable."

Backtracking, "But to kill four students-" His fingers tightened painfully around her.

"Miss Rose!" clearing his throat and regaining some composure, "Unintentionally, your team gave Salem a chance to succeed. I assume CRDL played no real role in Salem's end but WBY did?"

"A necessary sacrifice."

Jimmy looked hard at her and Ruby squirmed, feeling every bit 15. "Ruby, necessary? No. You will have to sleep with you killed four people so maybe Weiss wouldn't drug you in the future." his mouth pursed for a moment, "Why target her?"

"Opportunity, and she would have bought or invested in the drug. So as prospects come up for Yang and Blake, I'll see what I can do. I think I have a possibility with Blake and the white fang soon."

He nodded, "You're priority is to protect Vale."

She wasn't sure how she felt being support. It was at least unexpected, "And if I can improve everyone's lives while I'm at I will." Silence hung in the air, and Ruby let gratitude wash over her. She still had old Jimmy to bolster her for the hard, painful choices.

Relaxing the grip on her hands, his palm falling to his sides, "One more question if Torchwick doesn't have to go to Vacuo now and become a powerful leader. Will you still marry him if you get the choice?"

Stepping backward, "Of course! I love him!"

"Hmm and if an opportunity arises for a more beneficial match?"

Her eyes narrowed, "Who?" she was ready to gag and die in an explosion of rose petals if he suggested himself.

"I..." impossibly gently, "genuinely don't know. You're bound to be a famous huntress and beloved given, as you say, how adorable you are. That has potential and it'll be at least a few years before Salem is defeated."

"I'll…keep it in mind."

Lips twitching, "No you won't, but it is out there now."

"At the very least I know I can rely on you for a practical opinion."

Bowing slightly, "Always miss Rose. Never forget I will do my best to consider my protege's well being."

"Did you just adopt me Jimmy!"

"You're just too cute, I can help it." He was fluffing her hair again.

"Stop! You're embarrassing me!"

"Not until you call me Uncle Ironwood."

Pouting, "Never."

"A lifetime of embarrassment it is then."

Xxx

Ruby chirped and skipped entering Junior's club after classes and too early for people to come into the party. Kerry called, saying it'd be the best time to come. Holding both suitcases, she flashed a big smile, "hi, Uncle Junior. Can I borrow a room?"

"Uncle?"

"You probably should have killed me by now, but you haven't. So yeah Uncle seems appropriate."

He laughed, "Red, Kerry said you'll need a room. Head on back." Chin gestured behind him.

Hefting one suitcase on the bar top, "For the trouble from your 2nd favorite niece."

"4th," he cracked it open and slammed it shut, eyes bugging out. "We will talk about this."

"Later Uncle. I got Kerry and the bros waiting for me." She flounced off, but not before hearing the big guy make a call telling someone to get down here. Well at least that apology wouldn't have to wait.

Spinning into the soundproof VIP room Ruby nearly stumbled, "Melanie?"

The woman blinked, "surprised you know my sister's name."

Oh

Oh right this was the sister her trusted friend never told her about.

The woman shifted uncomfortably under the smaller woman's stare, "Militia, but you probably knew that."

"Why did you help?"

"Seemed fun," Inspecting her manicured nails, "besides, I do love secret messages through corpses."

Ruby slowly opened a case of electricity Dust crystals. "I wanted to thank you for avenging my dignity." A rule about loyalty is never let it be used for free unless you must. She lowered her lashes. She never could fake tears, but she sure as hell could be moved, "I know it does not equal to a hit-"

Kerry gently rested his hands on her shoulders, "Miss Red, we didn't do this for money. We protect our own."

Milita scoffed, "you lost nothing of dignity because a lout couldn't control himself."

Ruby never expected to be in a group hug with a bunch of criminals, but what do you expect when you accidentally get adopted?

"Boys and lady, give us the room." Junior dipped his head, entering the space quickly, followed by Roman. Milita gave them a meaningful look and left only after Junior gave her the nod. Roman closed the door, his jaw tight.

Junior, "bold of you to steal my wares and then pay me with a pittance."

Red leaning against the table, "oh? I was under the impression you could not use it."

Roman, "biding our time." she knew he could sound more confident than that.

Ruby rolled her eyes, "do you recall what Cinder did to an entire encampment of White Fang, they were well armed. Her and her posse of two did that."

Junior, "No one in this room could take her."

Ruby, "Adam and I can. As long as we don't have to worry about an army and Emerald and Mercury."

Roman, "you want us to fight her."

"Preferably, but I will accept if you do nothing. Stand down. She lost the white fang and she can lose you."

Junior Huffed walking out the door. Roman lingered, "I don't want to fight you."

Ruby looked away. It was a gamble, a big fucking gamble, "I'm standing beside the white fang." Then, nervously laughing, "I'm fighting for a terrorist organization. It's up to you if you want to fight with or against me."

"Or abstaining."

"I'm sorry for chloroforming you."

Roman waved his hand dismissively, "I can respect completing a heist."

"If we fight Roman, I'll still be your girl."

She found herself in his arms, him speaking softly into her hair, "I didn't ruin this, little Red?"

Happily rubbing her cheek into his chest, "I'm worried you'll never listen to me. But I'm not mad."

"Can I kiss you?"

One thing her body automatically knew was that it was always easy to bring her husband down for a kiss.