Roman hadn't expected Taiyang to hug him goodbye and waved the young couple off. Not that he'd complain spending the rest of the afternoon together. Ruby squealed, "I am so glad you stumbled upon us!" Her bright eyes widened at her now empty carton, "My strawberries are gone!"

"Happens when you eat them, Red." Tapping the tip of her nose, "Come on, the outdoor grocer is still open." Her lips curved into a big smile before skipping away, knowing he'd follow. Loving the way she bounced excitedly or chatted quickly. Every inch of her deceptively weak, yet there was always a knife up her sleeve. Something that thrilled him to no end to find the first time took off her shirt.

His lip curled into a snarl, making wide strides to end their pleasant distance. Twisting a stranger's hand that was much too close. Looming over, "You dare to steal from my woman?"

Red felt at the pouch on her waist, "I have everything." Her boyfriend's knuckles whiten on the pickpocket's hand.

Softly her fingertips rested on his wrist, "R…. He doesn't know who you are, besides no harm done." Her nails pulled back her own bangs, silver eyes flicked to a nearby police officer.

Roman loosening his grip and the tight-lipped, small-time crook had the sense to disappear into the crowd.

Her mouth pressed into a flat line, "Thanks for checking that I wasn't getting robbed." Then her lips flipped into a smile while she paid for her strawberries. Glowering, Roman shoved his hands in his pockets.

As Red finished her purchase, he drew her close and she tensed. He huffed, it wasn't like he did anything wrong. Still, he could feel her annoyance grow, and she pulled away.

Lowly, "I assume you want some privacy to talk."

Red nodded curtly. Leading her down alleys, pulling down his bangs. Opening the door to a pretty little cottage. Matron blinked in surprise before settling into a sly smile that made Ruby blush.

"Need me to make some room for you and your girl."

Ruby, "I'm not his." releasing a punchy exhale.

Torchwick forced his jaw to relax, "Matron, I need a quiet 20 minutes."

The woman looked at the small girl, and as smooth as silk, "you must be something special if Mr. Torchwick wants you all to himself." Amethyst eyes flicked back to the young criminal, "The Butterfly Room will have Jasper cleaning up. I won't need it again for another hour or so."

Ruby almost melted into rose petals until Roman grabbed her by the shoulder. A warning not to express herself. He led her down halls and up the steps, leading her up a back way. Where guests wouldn't see her. Giving a polite knock and waiting until there was a bored "enter".

She gasped at the elegant carvings. Butterflies etched into the wood furniture. Her eyes, drawn to a striking man wearing a colorful silk shirt. Jasper blue eyes moved between the pair, mouth cracking with mirth. His rolling gait moved him close, and Ruby couldn't drag her eyes from his hips.

Giving a high sweet laugh as Jasper lifts her chin, "Now this little cherry I wouldn't mind taking a bite out of."

Roman snorts, knowing that his girlfriend missed the meaning by how her brows furrowed.

"Oh um, well these are strawberries. Not cherries, but you can have one." Her eyes narrowed, "just one."

Roman rolled his eyes as Jasper rendered a nasal chuckle. The kingpin plucked a berry out of the carton, "No, he will not." His chin gestured to the door, "I need twenty minutes."

Jasper, "Food isn't allowed in here."

"Red." He gestured to her precious snack.

She huffed and handed the carton to the prostitute. "I want those back."

"Of course, Cherry." he sashayed out the door, throwing a Roman a little wink. "Take your time with the sweeting. I can take care of my bird in the other room."

Ruby swallowed heavily. After a few minutes of being alone, Roman spoke up, "look, we were on my turf, I am going to control crime."

Wringing her hands, "What is going to happen to that boy who tried to steal from me?"

"He has some skill, which is trainable. One of mine will bring him in."

Ruby bobbed her head, fidgeting. Finally, Roman discerned the amount of moaning they could hear, and he had the decency to flush.

"Oh, Red. I just brought you into a brothel. I am sorry this is inappropriate-" She pushed a small hand over his mouth.

"Roman, you're a criminal and we been," she covered her cheeks, "canoodling, I kind of have to accept your Mafia tendencies."

Softly taking her hand, "Then what are you upset about?"

"You called me yours."

"Excuse me?"

"Your woman, like I'm property." cheeks puffed in anger.

His mouth slacked. Then a woman obviously fake screaming in the room next to them. Ruby used her cloak to cover her face.

Clearing his throat, "You honestly don't care that I own this brothel?"

She buried her face in his chest, trying to block out the sounds, "I wouldn't tolerate you asking me to not be a huntress. So if I want to be with you, I have to accept this is your life."

His arms wrapped around, "Sorry for calling you mine. That was possessive of me." finally, she relaxed against him. He rested his chin on the top of her head, "Well shall we get out of here?"

Her fingers dug into his black tank top, "Umm, could we kiss a little?"

"You want to make out in a whore's room. Jasper is one of my best guys."

"OH this is his room. We just kicked him out!"

Roman shrugged, "they're used to it, several of my...council will have sudden meetings, and the Autumn Blossom is centrally located."

"Is it wise for me to know that?"

"You haven't turned over any of my safe houses to the police yet. So yeah, I trust you." He swooped down to kiss her, feeling her eagerly kiss him back before pulling away.

"We really should give Jasper his room back."

"He's probably eaten your strawberries."

"He's never getting his room back!" Ruby pulled him down into a kiss before an unfortunate chaotic knock on the door.

XXX

In Ruby's dorm, she was greeted immediately by Yang's bright red eyes, Weiss sighing dramatically, and Blake nervously glancing between the sisters.

"I just got off the phone with Dad. So he got to meet Ronald?"

"Well it wasn't expected." Ruby looked everywhere but her sister.

"I want to meet him."

A chill of fear flew up her spine, and Ruby looked her sister dead in the eye, "No."

Yang flinched, her eyes flickered back to purple, "No? Why? Are you embarrassed by me?"

Weiss muttered, "Obviously" everyone stared, "What I was agreeing!"

Ruby taking her sister's hand, "Ro runs a demanding business. Even today, we had to part early because something urgently came up."

Blake looked nervously upwards.

Ruby continued, "I'm not going to make any more demands on his time than I already do."

Yang's fingertips twisted her hair., "I want to make sure he is right for you."

Ruby, "I appreciate that truly. But, you're going to have to trust me."

Weiss crossed her arms, "This seems awfully fishy. Your Dad didn't know he was coming until Ronald surprised you."

Ruby stammered, "I didn't know if he could come until he did."

Yang's, "Then just start inviting him when we go out. Eventually, he can join us."

Gripping the hem of her skirt, "I um… don't want to get your hopes up or bug him." Ruby was trying to protect them too. If anyone found out, she wanted to make sure she was the only one caught with the criminal.

Yang's mouth went flat, "Seriously, Rubes you've been getting bruises and hickeys. This guy sounds like he's trash!"

Stepping backwards,"I already explain-"

Blake vaulted out of her bed to deck Yang across the jaw. The faunus seized Ruby by the arm and strutted out of the room. Ruby stumbled after, stunned by Blake's behavior. Finally, the crimsonette dug her heels into the ground, pushing Blake to face her, "Blake, what just happened!" looking the dark-haired beauty over, "Why are you cracking!"

Blake furtively glanced around before blinking them out of the hallway.

Rub found herself in a bright pink room. The door was open to a hallway one she'd been in plenty of times. "Why am I in Roman's apartment! And your semblance isn't teleportation!"

'Blake' suddenly was shorter than Ruby, and her glossy black hair shattered. Leaving behind a petite girl with pink and brown hair. Ruby grabbed the girl's hands, "Your that girl from the movies, Neopolitan! You're Roman's sister!" Her excitement faded, "um where is Blake?"

Neo gave a cheeky grin and showed Ruby a picture of Blake in the arms of a guy with his White Fang mask push up. He had glasses that couldn't hide his kind eyes and absolutely looked like Blake's type.

Ruby covered her mouth, "I guess I can't judge. You know his name?"

Typing (Perry, the leading strategic mind in the White Fang)

Ruby knew the White Fang was becoming aggressive in Vale and they stressed Roman out. "Is Blake or… Perry working with you guys?"

(Neither gives us the time of day) Neo offered a shallow smile.

Ruby could change that with Blake, "Why do you want to know more about the White Fang?"

(Adam is planning on attacking civilians, disrupting trade, and generally ruining Vale as we know it.)

Ruby frowned, "you don't know when or how." She didn't know if the criminal underworld might make things worse if they had more information.

Neo leaned forward, (you want to talk to Roman, before Blake)

"Just what will you do with the information. Would there be more violence?"

(I don't know, timing is of importance, and it might be too late to stop him) Neo started to sweat.

"Roman is gonna be mad that you told me about this."

With a lopsided smile, (we can wait for him to return from protecting what his ours.)

Catching that smug Torchwick smirk on Neo, the slightly taller girl giggled. "So, what would you like to do while we wait?"

Neo gave a bow and shattered only to strut into her room holding fur.

And it was purring.

"Is that a cat?" Fists on her hips, "Did you steal it?"

Neo bobbed her head twice. The cat hopped onto the floor and shook its long luxurious black coat. Unconcerned with the new surroundings, the cat flopped onto its side and looked up at Ruby expectantly.

"You require scratches?" She tentatively rubbed its cheek, only for it to purr louder. Neo clapped her hand softly and picked the cat up, carrying it to the living room. They had no idea how long they played with the cat or idly joked around.

"I think I am supposed to be relieved that my sister and girlfriend get along."

Ruby bounced up, and her mouth slacked. He was covered in blood, With wry smile. Neo gasped.

"Mostly theirs. Sorry I didn't call for backup. I needed to make it clear that both Torchwicks can fight. Text Jon, I'll need some stitches. "

Neo bobbed her head

Ruby with her eyes steady on him, "I'm the field medic for my year."

Both Torchwick's blinked at her slowly, and Roman nodded. "That's right, you were pretty proud. After I shower, you can give me a once over. Neo, you know where the kit is."

Ruby felt her chest go tight when he went to the bathroom. What was she doing? Neo gave her a sideways glance as she disappeared into her brother's bedroom.

Ruby knew she had accepted what he did and suspended judgment until she knew exactly what being a criminal meant to the city. Uncle Qrow and Dad told her bunches that sometimes people got demonized because they did the right thing in an offensive way. She also knew the government wasn't perfect. Uncle James said the only eyes you can trust are your own! Still, she was aiding a criminal.

Her eyes bugged seeing him step out with a towel tied about his waist and a jack-o-lantern tattooed onto his ribs. Rage boiled within her at the sight of an open gash on his back. Going to the kitchen sink and scoured her hands. She had expected to see Neo in the bedroom as well, but only a chemical sweet smell lingered in the air, and a Nyao in the living room started and was cut off

"I asked her to return the cat."

Ruby opened the kit and inspected the wound. "Smart to control your aura from healing it."

"Didn't want to heal in a way to limit my mobility. You know what you're doing?"

"I have stitched Jaune here before, and his was deeper. Some of the upperclassmen come to me cause I lessen the scaring. "Ruby started to dab ointment, wincing when he hissed. Finally, she growled, "who did this to you?"

His back towards her, and she knew he was smiling, "what you're going to do about it?"

"I um…" Threading a curved needle.

"It was the White Fang trying to hit one of my warehouses. They have Dust but not enough guns."

Her hands steady, she began making tiny stitches. He made a soft whine. "Roman?"

He hummed inquisitively, and she struggled to frame it without getting Neo into trouble.

"Do you need help learning about the White Fang?"

She saw him tense and poked him to remind him to relax before continuing her stitching.

"What are you offering, Red?"

"I have a teammate that defected from them, and I know she has someone she cares for still with them. So I might be able to convince her to talk to you."

"The price?"

"For me?" She giggled, "a kiss to get me to talk to Blake. I don't know what she might need to trust you." She wrapped gauze around his shoulder. "You're good to let your Aura heal you."

He turned to face her and, with his good arm, pulled her into his towel-covered lap. "Thank you, Red, for your expertise and for talking to Blake."

Her hand braced on his chest, "Excuse me, you haven't made good on my price." She turned her nose up and failed to stop herself from laughing.

His green eyes lingered on her, "Re-Ruby Rose. I love you."

Her heart stopped and restarted when his lips urgently found hers. She wiggled in his lap, adoring his grunt and hand tightening on her thigh. Shifting to straddle him, rolling her hips, gasping as he grasped her under her skirt, pulling her roughly against him. Her fingers latched into his hair as she desperately repeated the motion. Moaning, "R-Roman." Squealing as he flipped onto her back and he was stripping off her tights. Snatching her panties back, pulling them back on. He froze.

Her fingers brushed his face, "You okay, love?"

Holding both hands up, "I need to stop."

Head tilting, "You break a stitch?"

He blinked confusedly and then shook his head. "I need to be wearing pants."

"Oh!" She covered her eyes. That's why everything was so delicious, because of that towel. "I should be going anyways, talk to Blake and all...the real one anyway."

Roman cocked his head, "the real one?"

Puffing out her cheeks, "Which, by the way, is super creepy that you had your sister spy on me!"

Nose crinkled, "Wait what? I never had Neo …. Oh." Nervously scratching his cheek, "Um, so Neo didn't like that I protected you from the mystery gunman. And well took it upon herself to vet you"

"I thought Blake was an Alcoholic! Wait a minute, is Neo an alcoholic?"

"Aren't we all?"

"Ro! Not everyone has a drinking problem."

Smirking, "right there are other drugs."

She froze and realized he was purposely annoying her, "I can't believe I'm in love with you."

Grinning, "Sometimes, I can't tell when you're being sarcastic."

She gave him a quick kiss and flew out the door.