Karak- I am judgement

Trash yo- More women in STEM yay!

Oscar prowled Beacon, and Cinder had not been in sight all day. But in the courtyard, he found a target that softened his heart. Hoping it wouldn't take as long to turn 'Jerk Merc' onto their side. The short wizard wondered that if there had been an earlier intervention. Would he have been able to undo Marcus's theft to restore whatever semblance Mercury might have had? His hazel eyes narrowed as Merc walk by Nora without so much as a glance. Oscar pressed his palm to his temple. Pyrrha and Ren were still alive, Nora didn't need companionship. Today Mercury still thought he was pursuing power, not destruction. There was no need for the two to interact and rely on each other. If Oscar had any influence here, he would ensure Nora wouldn't see any of her teammates pass. Oscar jolted out of his swirling within the past and present, hearing Ruby's sweet yet frantic voice.

"Ro's been really sweet. I really like spending time with him!"

"This Ro bruised your ribs. That doesn't seem sweet to me." Weiss sounded sharper than her usual self. She seemed worried?

"Crater Face, we're concerned. You've been skipping classes."

Now Oscar beamed. This felt similar to when Ruby started dating Clover.

"Ruby, He hooked you with his fishing hook!"

"I was out of Aura, and I was about to be eaten!"

"You're going to hate that fish bait scar forever!"

"Better than being dead! Why have you been such a mean Weiss since I started to date Clover!"

"Because I love you!"

"You're with Jaune!"

"I love you both!"

"Oh! Okay. I mean, if Jaune's cool with it."

Oscar hoped that maybe Torchwick would trigger the three to have that conversation earlier and discover just how special they were to each other. The thought eased his shoulders a bit. Yeah, Torchwick was just a stepping stone.

Ruby's voice going higher, "He's been teaching me hand-to-hand combat. I'm going to get bruised! But, my grades have been climbing, and I still hang out with you guys most days." Ruby sounded near tears. "I really like him."

The classic Weiss snit, "If he's your boyfriend, I demand to meet him."

Softly, "Ro, is not my boyfriend."

Jaune, "then why have you been getting hickey's?" Who knew the blonde could sound so jealous.

"We haven't really talked about it."

Oscar poked his head in, "hey, sorry. I'm looking for the library. I promised to take my sister out."

Ruby screamed, "I'll help!"

It wasn't the first time Oscar had been dissolved into rose petals. He swallowed the tightness in his throat as he was grateful that he could have another trip. Standing in front of her steady before the library and she gave him a critical eye.

"You don't need to throw up?"

"No?"

"Question universal laws such as gravity?"

"I still trust gravity."

Ruby bounced on her toes, "How cool! I didn't give you a panic attack on your first ride."

Oscar flashed a grin, "So I made up the whole help me find the library." He softened, "You seemed ganged upon."

Ruby dropped her head, "they mean well, and maybe I would have been flattered by the attention if…"

Oscar raised a brow, "would you like to talk about it? There's a bubble tea shop off-campus…" Oscar stopped himself, realizing how fucking creepy he sounded. As he just offered to lure a girl off of school grounds with the promise of sweets.

Her brows knitted together, "For the record, you do know I'm a skilled combatant at a school with friends that are also skilled combatants. And I have several trackers hidden on my person."

Holding up both of his hands, "I meant to be friendly with someone who seems like she is having a rough time."

Warily, "Okay"

XXX

To Oscar, Ruby introduced him to bubble tea in Mistral right after they first met.

"Being a farmboy is no excuse for such ignorance!"

It warmed his heart to sit across from her and look into her silver eyes. No black veins painfully showing through her hand, cramping her dexterity.

"So, what are your friends worried about?"

"I've been coming home with strange bruises. I explained that Ro has been helping me improve fighting without my weapon."

"Aren't bruises normal for hunters in training?"

"Not for me, I'm usually too fast."

Oscar could attest to that. "Still, it isn't unusual, especially if you're learning something new."

"I started" Ruby self consciously covered her neck, "getting hickeys at the same time."

He nodded, "Oh the grabbling led to the other."

Ruby shook her head as she sunk down, trying to hide behind her drink.

"I don't need to hear all of it. What about being flattered by you blonde and…. Blonder friend." Was Weiss blonde?

"Oh um Weiss is just the prettiest and Jaune gives the best hugs and when those two get along, it's just nice." She smiled sweetly to her drink, "I thought I liked both of them, but then Ro and... "She frowned. She couldn't find the words.

"Your feelings for him make everything else seem shallow." The tightness in his throat returned, this time it was not gratitude.

After a slow nod, "I want to share everything with him and I want to learn all about him. I feel strong and smart with him."

Oscar knew that Ruby had only been with Clover because she was curious and the soldier was nice enough. However, Weiss and Jaune made Ruby see how superficial that was. If Roman Torchwick made Ruby feel like her best self, then Oscar had the duty of a younger (older?) Brother.

Swallowing his fear for the moment, "You should talk about making it official. And discuss if he can meet your friends. Meeting may make things worse or better. That's something for the pair of you to decide."

Ruby slurped through her straw, popping a bubble in her teeth, the strawberry flavoring spilled out of her mouth. Oscar laughed, wholly and freely, as the fearsome huntress glared at him with syrup running down her chin.

XXX

Later that evening, Oscar, smoking his cigarette, spoke to one of the ladies who would linger by the bus stop for hours.

"Oscar dear, you've truly been so kind. My son loves those books you've given me. I wish you'd let me repay you."

He looked at her curved ears at the top of her head, "Promiscuous, no thanks. I just wish the best for you. But, if you have to compensate me, just keep an ear out for the White Fang." He felt a pang of guilt for even asking this. Ozpin planned on some bold moves, meaning they would be flying blind again soon. Oscar had to start garnering information.

"Adam Taurus was recently made lieutenant in Vale. He'll be in town for the Vital Festival for sure. It'll be good for Faunus girls like me."

Oscar nodded...he knew that that's why he singled her out. "Thanks, I should go before your pimp gets angry with me."

XXX

Roman tucked in his chin as he landed hard on his back. Ruby looked down smugly at him.

"It's a pretty good view down here."

She huffed, "I'm wearing a combat skirt, and so it is not."

"I meant you gloating. You perv." With a wink, "And I have had much better views of you without your skirt."

She wrung her hands, "um, are you doing this with other people?"

Standing and straightening his sleeves, "teaching them how to throw me? That would be undermine my reputation as the headman of Vale's underworld and all."

"No, I meant kissing and touching." She ground her toe into the floor.

Slicking back his hair with his fingers, "I've seemed to have become celebrant still your oh so very heroic rescue of me. You?"

Ruby, "you're my only kiss and stuff."

His knuckles whitened with the sudden tension there, "Of course you're a virgin. You're 15."

Glancing up through her lashes, "Does my age bother you?" She hoped he didn't see her trembling. Hoping he wasn't going to put a stop to….to whatever this was!

"Red, it's the experience gap that bothers me. I don't even know the number of partners."

She took his hand, "Would you get a test? I mean I'll get one too!"

"Red, you don't have to, and yeah, of course, I will."

"To be fair!"

Smiling, "Fine, you want to see my guy?"

"Your back-alley doctor? Um no I'll just ask the doctor at school. Beacon occasionally get outbreaks and stuff, so it's routine."

"This is the- we are exclusively boyfriend girlfriend conversation, and we are actually preparing to have sex. Right?" If he learned anything from running a business, ambiguity led to people getting hurt.

Ruby melted into a puddle of rose petals before reforming, "boyfriend, yes. The sex… I don't know if I feel ready for that."

Torchwick nodded curtly, "right, A lot of this is new to you." He saw his girlfriend was flustered and grinned wolfishly at her. He hooked her knee and pinned her to the floor.

"Not fair!" She wiggled and laughed freely.

His teeth tugged her earlobe. "Didn't you realize, Red, I don't play fair."

XXX

He waited in the CCT, and he was angry. Almost 2 decades ago, Ozpin assured him that he would not have to get involved. Yet here he was because the old wizard had asked, in a security guard outfit. He also didn't like the boy running backend for him. He smelled like cheap smokes. At least he didn't have to fight in shoes and could wear his regular flip-flops. As Ozpin promised, Cinder was there in a black leotard and glass high heels that clinked as she walked.

"You're conspicuous." He took off a flip flop and threw it at her. He primed his semblance...he needed to touch her. He kicked off the other one, confident she'd charge at him. Instead, her left eye flared as she drew her bow.

He tilted his head, "aw, the half grown maiden can't make her glass weapons."

Her jaw clenched, and he shot him. He moved closer to the walls.

Her voice like taunt silk, "Come out here and fight. What is the use of hiding in the night?"

"Hypocrisy much? And besides, the sun hides at night. If not it would be day-tai-me"

Her head reeled back, a pun to her, one of Salem's elite. If she had the time, she would be sure to kill him slowly. Instead, she became a flurry of rage and spewed flames to match. The blond security guard chuckled and easily moved around her. His hand shot out and gripped her face slamming her head into the wall.

Her aura didn't protect her. No, she brought it up a tad too late. The room spun while rage boiled in her, and she lashed out afoot. It was easy for him to twist her ankle, forcing her body to crash into the floor. He pinned her arms behind her back and pressed a finger to his earpiece.

"Oscar, I got her. She's trying to flame her way through my aura."

"You probably have about...15 minutes? That's enough time to move her."

"How-"

"Lucky guess. Can you knock her out?"

"I'll be there in 10" this boy knew too much. He shook his head and finished tying up Cinder before throwing her thrashing body over his shoulder.

"Ozpin figured you'd be arrogant. Called me in specifically so that everyone important would still be seen at the dance and lull you into a false sense of security," he gloated. "Probably wouldn't have gone for it, but I can't let you hurt my girls."

"Your girls?" She had to try to get some info out of him.

"Names Taiyang Xiao Long, no doubt Salem forgot to tell you that there was a fourth member of Team STRQ."

"She mentioned you were a teacher."

"Ah, and those that can't do...teach. Your queen probably didn't know that Summer and the Branwen's couldn't beat me 3 on 1."

"Why didn't you-" Cinder yawned and felt her eyes closed.

"My Semblance getting to you?"

"I might have a concussion." Why couldn't she bring herself to even try to writhe free?

"Possibly, but my Moon Brain is taking its toll."

"Moon-" she couldn't stop herself from yawning.

"Makes you instantly sleep-deprived, useless on Grimm. Not great to have when I didn't know how to control it and Qrow being my teammate. Useful when fighting someone with anger issues."

"I do not…" fuck it she needed a nap and his shoulder was broad was not too uncomfortable.

XXX

Oscar traced his fingertips on Amber's glass cage. She was whole again...the part of him that retained Ozpin's regret for this maiden was soothed. With his jaw clenched, she would still die. When Ironwood took Cinder in for questioning, everyone knew her days were numbered. The general and Ozpin would not risk her regaining the powers of fall.

"It bothers you?" Tai crossed his arms and glanced at the interrogation room that they could not see or hear into.

Oscar didn't realize how painfully tight his jaw was or that he was smoking in the basement of a school. "Shouldn't you get a glimpse of your daughters at their first dance?"

"No doubt, they are beautiful." Tai waved a dismissive hand, "Yang is probably charming her way into someone's pants and Ruby…" Tai sighed.

"It was probably easier on you when she showed no interest in matters of the heart." Oscar's lip quirked, remembering when he first met Ruby she seemed more interested in weapons than romance

Tai scratched his head, "She was starting too, with the way she spoke about a teammate and a fellow team leader. Then Yang is telling me about a gun nut Ruby's been texting, then I get this phone call from the school." Tai trailed off. He wouldn't talk about this with a stranger.

Oscar hadn't expected the interest in weapons from his brother-in-law. It did explain why Ruby would even give the criminal the time to worm his way into her heart. "I met Ruby and she is good-natured. Whoever she's with might be okay?"

"You don't sound convinced."

Oscar shrugged, "I don't know him."

Taiyang silently questioned why that bothered this boy so.