Roman loathed how his moments alone with Ruby were interrupted by Perry, who could sneak away from the White Fang. Little Red would tag along with Crescent Rose in her belt, straight back, all of her bouncing ceased. At his side, she became the charming embodiment of poise.

"What's here?" She pointed to the map the highlighted the strong city walls surrounding Vale.

Neo typed, [the city militia's armory]

Ruby bit her lip glancing at Torchwick.

Roman, "speak freely, Red."

She brushed her shoulder against his arm and visibly calmed, "the White Fang doesn't have weapons, and they didn't get your stockpile." He approved that she did not question. Ruby continued with a frown, "it'd make sense to hit the armory"

Neo, [walls are exceptionally thick here]

Ruby, "But they are lower, and if I'm past curfew. With my semblance, I can vault over them."

Perry scratched his otter tail, "we do have obscene amounts of dust. A few of my brethren can jump impossibly high."

Neo frantically typed, [to set up explosives on both sides.]

Perry snorted, "Cinder at least kept him on task. Now I have no idea what he will choose to do until he does it."

Gripping the back of his orange hair, "well, it is a weak spot. I'll take a look in the morning. Thank you, Red"

Perry glanced at his scroll, "if I'm gone much longer, it'll be suspicious."

Ruby digging her toe in the ground," Sorry, you don't get to spend as much time with Blake."

Perry gently nudged her with his broad tail, "I still get to work with her. I'll pass along information through her as much as I can."

Ruby gave a short nod, "and Torchwick or I will relay messages through her"

Perry let himself out, embarrassed as his large tail knocked over a coat stand. Ruby snickered until Neo clamped handcuffs on her wrists.

"Neoooooo."

Roman kissed her temple, "You wanted to work with us."

Neo handed Ruby a bobby pin, who split it in half before setting them in the locks. Her tongue stuck out in frustration as she worked. Then, Neo began to make ice cream sandwiches.

Ruby eyes shimmered, "mint chocolate chip for me!"

Roman, "They'll melt before you get out of those."

"Nuh-uh! Wanna bet? I'll get out of these handcuffs before Neo finishes my sandwich. Then, we will have our much needed conversation about dropping blocks!"

Roman chuckled and leaned against the counter, "And when you don't get out of these cuffs fast enough, I'll get to make a modification to Crescent Rose."

Ruby gulped, "you monster!"

Roman slowly waved his hand, "Not the gambling type, little Red?"

Turning her nose up at him, "You have a deal."

Roman, "Neo, would you begin?"

Metal hit the floor.

His girlfriend's face cracked into a cheshire grin. Her hands were solely rose petals. The cuffs fell through and onto the floor

Mouth falling open, "You cheat!"

Neo, with a fist on her hip, shoving her scroll in his face, [Oh like we're honest.]

Roman, "You are not helping."

Neo, [Well we are out of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I was going to do a run….I think I'll bother Amethyst instead.] Waving goodbye, she blipped out the apartment.

Roman nervously combed his fingers through his hair before leaning down only to have Ruby block his face with her hand. She plopped onto the couch and held out her arms, "So about low alloy steels as dropping blocks."

His eyes narrowed as he sat, "Red, even if you heat treat that steel after nitriding it. It is going to be too soft to be a dropping block." his head rested on her chest.

"But it'll be dense, so you'll need less." scratching his scalp, enjoying how his muscles would relax if she found the right spot.

"It will still only be useful a handful of times because it will deform with each firing."

"Not if you alloy it with Molybdenum. Inhibit grain growth-"

He sat up, and she grabbed his arm to pull him back. He stood, tilting his head, "I've a book…" walking down the hall into his bedroom.

She chased after him, "But I was warm!"

Sitting on his bed, leaning over a book. Fingers thoughtfully on his chin, glancing up to see her face fit her nickname. "You okay?"

"I've not been in your bedroom since I stitched you up.." her hands covered her cheeks.

Leaning back on his palms, "We decided we weren't ready to have sex yet… and inviting you in here while we…"

"Experiment?"

He smiled at the expression, "Seemed a bit pushy on my end."

She sat on his lap, kissing him lightly, "Why are you so nice to me?"

Mouth pursing, "I'm literally doing the bare minimum."

She booped his nose with hers, "It must be frustrating."

"Well I do take matters into my own hands after you leave. I trust you do the same." She buried her face into his neck, inhaling deeply and nipping at the exposed flesh. Sighing and appreciating the attention. Before, she pushed him onto his back, his shirt mostly off as his sweetheart giggled. She snuggled up to his side, hands wandered over him. Stripping her of her tights and, as usual, her underwear came with, but she didn't snatch them back this time. Raising a hopeful brow.

Dark lashes fanning over her cheeks."I was wondering if we could do...hands?"

"You want a handjob." He never ceased to adore how she'd fall into her semblance when he was a tiny bit vulgar. She also never ceased to surprise him as she reached for his belt buckle with a cheeky grin. He casually knocked her hand away. "I'd" he felt himself blushing, "be easier if you removed your skirt." he didn't like how much he acted like a teenager around her.

Oh wait, he is one.

She gave a little squeak and wiggled out of her skirt. Roman looked down at her in her corset...and only her corset.

"I like it when you look at me like that." When did she learn how to sound sultry?

"Like what?" He forced himself to look into her eyes.

She covered her face with a pillow with a muffled pretty.

Propping himself up on an elbow, "You're more than pretty." his hand kneaded as it traveled up her thigh, "I can't believe you let me touch you like this." His fingertips waited, and she frustratedly threw his pillow aside and whined. Not the most articulate girlfriend, but she was wonderful.

Ruby buried her face into his neck, and he rubbed his cheek on her soft hair. His quick digits worked a pattern. A tightness swiftly coiled and rose in her, and she was about to burst!

Her nails dug into his shoulders, "Ro, I'm going to explode!" He groaned and moved his hand faster. She writhed, how did he not understand? She was dying!

She melted into rose petals and gusted herself onto the other side of the room. Roman lost his balance and fell face forward onto the bed. Then, closing his eyes with a few steadying breaths, "Red, did I hurt you?" His eyes wandered over her, as she was naked from the waist down. Then it dawned on her what she was scared of. Wringing her hands, he tossed her skirt.

"Red, I want this with no second thoughts." clearing his throat, "If you think this is a mistake or if you don't actually want to be like this with me. Just tell me."

She moved towards him, cupping his cheeks with her hands. As awkward as she felt, she couldn't let his assumption stand, "I've never um that before," pressing her forehead to his chest, "I thought I was going to die because I think I was close."

His mouth twitched, "It'd be one hell of a way to go."

She was mortified, and he was making fun of her! Scowling at him, and grabbed her underwear and her skirt, putting them on at petal burst speed. She snatched her tights and stomped out to the exit of his apartment. The breath was knocked out of her as he pushed her to the wall. Oh she really liked it when he looked at her like this. He grunted as he rocked his hips against hers.

"Red, you're safe with me" He ground harder, eliciting a keening moan, "If you want me to stop, just say so this time." She urgently rolled her hips back at him with her teeth in his shoulder.

And then there was a knock on the door.

XXX

Oscar's hand hovered over the door he was about to knock on. He heard a few grunts and checked his scroll. He was late for his meeting with Torchwick. He thought about perhaps going around the block buying a pack and hoping his "boss" would be done... self-satisfying.

Then he heard a high-pitched moan. It wasn't one he wanted to know the sound of… but when you live in close quarters with your teammates for years you learn a few things about them.

For example, Qrow always kept lube and condoms on his person.

He broke a bottle on Salem once.

Her face was slippery but priceless.

Without thinking, he telescoped how his cane before rapping his knuckles on the door. Then, there was muttering a distinct annoyed tone from Roman through the door, "you can come back later, Oscar."

"I already heard her, and unless there is someone else with a semblance that sheds roses I know who is in there." There were no rose petals to be seen, but it was easier to explain than the truth.

He heard a sweet apologetic tone from inside Roman's apartment. "I sometimes can't help my semblance when I'm happy."

Ruby is happy.

With Roman.

He squeezed his hazel eyes shut and tried to sort out that this Ruby had yet to experience the Fall of Beacon. She had no idea what Roman was capable of. His grip on his cane loosened. Oscar knew what Roman could do, but without the primary motivation to restore Neo from her injury...Oscar had no idea what to expect. But, for now, Ruby was happy and full of life. Not having the heart to disrupt what could be a good thing, he started to spin his cane as he made his way back to the stairwell.

A squeak, "Oscar, Stop!"

Oscar's weapon was gone from his grasp, and Ruby was back in Torchwick's apartment. Oscar ran in, and her ear was to her scroll.

"Uncle Qrow! I have a question!"

Oscar was made.