Tyrian took a box of ice cream from Neo." dessert is after dinner." she pouted and flexed her arm. "You most certainly earned it, still you'll eat your greens first." Tyrian snickered and the sound rolled into giggles as he put the ice cream back into the freezer. These were stern giggles of a disciplinarian.

Roman asleep at the kitchen table began to snore until Neo dropped a clattering plate next to his head. The ginger startled with a snort.

"No huh wha-!"

The scorpion Faunus shook his head, "eat up kid"

Roman muttered, "you're only four years older than me."

Tyrian sat down with his plate, "I am and your father and mother entrusted me with both of you."

Neo pouted and Tyrian relented, "well just your mother, Ice Cream" he turned to the bleary-eyed Roman, "how was the hunt?"

Neo wiggled excitedly until Tyrian put a fork in her hand and she stabbed the kale in her plate like it was a vicious Grimm.

"Oscar is teaching me how to use a cane."

His tail bobbed amusingly next to his face, "oh your father would love that. He and his family insisted on barbed whips."

The boy snorted, "If he wanted me to learn how to not tear myself up on those thorns, he shouldn't have left."

The Faunus softened, "he didn't leave he disappeared a few years after his sister did. You might talk to that Rose girl, she could have some answers. Maybe you're distantly related? I know Remus mentioned a cousin or two."

"She is distrusting, and I get it. Life is cold and hard." He looked sad, "Still it's no way to live. I'll be nice, I'll help." He looked aside and touched under his green eye, then glanced at his plate and his little sister looking at him oh so innocently. He flustered, "I don't want your kale either you humanoid weapon!"

Xxx

Tyrian crossed his arms at the four and gave Rose the all-clear to go on missions. He shook his head before heading off to do his rounds. He'd have preferred company, but it was nice that Torchwicks had friends. Ruby fixed some spikes on A metal rod for Neo and the older girl realized it looked like the beginnings of some ribs of an umbrella. The quartet approached a ravine of Grimm. Ruby looked to Oscar who shook his head. Ruby announced, "Roman Neo remember I am your team leader today. I'll be giving the orders."

Neo tilted her head, why did Ruby need to announce that? She was the oldest in their team of four and a registered hunter. Maybe that was standard practice, but why did it look like she needed permission from Oscar? The youngest forgot the strangeness as the day wore on. Neo was in awe of the pair's teamwork. Ruby was vulnerable in her semblance and Oscar acted as her shield. He was slow and she sped him up. The two needed no words or signals to just know where to step and how to match the other.

Neo looked to her older brother, he tilted his head down at her, his bright hair obscuring an eye...it'd take work, but they could do that.

XXX

They had completed their mission and collected the bounty. Oscar had divided their earnings, equally into four. Ruby had gone off with Neo, the younger wanted to buy an actual weapon with her earnings. Roman shyly, "There's some blood on your shirt if you want me to take a look."

Oscar grinned, "It's your blood, Torchwick."

Roman flushed his head and had become pleasantly numb at the sight of those dimples. "I could buy you a new shirt?"

Oscar shrugged, "I know how to wash out blood."

Roman thought he got the hint, "Oh. I'll leave you alone then."

Oscar grabbed the future thief's wrist, "You don't- have to go if you don't want to." Oscar grabbed at his throat, when did it become so painfully tight.

Roman appraised him, "Are you okay?"

Oscar frowned, "No, I'm not." he sighed, "I miss… a friend. A constant companion of sorts."

Roman looked away, "Oh. I'm sure when you get back to your friends. You'll see them."

Oscar realized what he implied, "No it wasn't romantic. He was a mentor and showed me how to act with kindness and compassion. He was a man I hoped I could measure up to."

Roman saw the burden on the boy's shoulders. "Oscar, Would you like a hug?"

At a nod Oscar let those skinny arms embrace him in a tight hug and enjoyed the feeling of resting his cheek on orange hair. He couldn't stop smiling because he just realized he was barely taller than Roman Torchwick.

The ginger pulled away and grinned mischievously, "so Pine. What are we going to do with this money?"

The dark-haired youth tapped his chin, "We could join Ruby and Neo? Get you a better weapon."

He nodded gravely in response, "We could do that. It would be the responsible thing to do…" his green and silver eyes glittered.

"Or?"

"Excellent!" Roman grabbed Oscar's hand lacing their fingers together, before dragging Oscar with him.

"I didn't agree to anything!"

Oscar was dragged through cold streets winding their way into a nicer neighborhood. Roman came to a halt and Oscar almost ran into him.

"ooff. " The boy looked up and slowly, "A comic book store?"

Roman nodded and grinned, "I love this place."

The boys spent hours looking through. Jaune and Ruby geek out over these comics with him. He figured Ruby would love 1st editions.

Roman, "Did you enjoy yourself? Or did you just get some comics for your sister?"

"What no." Oscar held up a book with a dog Faunus on the cover. "I love this one with the dog Faunus takes on the SDC."

Roman furrowed his brows, "I don't know if he is taken them on, he's just trying to escape. It is notably political...and sad."

This is why Oscar didn't talk much in the store, he knew the plots and he didn't know when certain aspects became published. Oscar Pine eschews spoilers.

Oscar shrugged, "I figured that's where it will go."

Roman wrapped his arm around Oscar's shoulders, "Oh you like predicting the events."

He nodded and figured he'd roll with it. Besides he and Jaune got into some heated debates about the plotline. "You do like your comics."

"My dad used to take me here and my Auntie Summer did once as well. It's practically a family habit."

"Aunt Summer...Rose?"

Roman blinked, "Yeah I didn't take my father's name." He rubbed the back of his head. "Have you heard of Summer?"

Had Oscar heard of...oh fuck how do you navigate that. "Yeah, but Ruby would know more."

Roman gritted his teeth, "I don't know if I want to ask."

"Why not? It couldn't hurt to know more?" It dawned on Oscar and he internally hissed cousins. he half expected Ozpin time travel into his skull just to make a comment. His attention was brought to Torchwick self consciously pulling his bright strands over his eye. Oscar lifted his hand brushing a thumb under a silver eye. "Your eyes are so beautiful, Roman."

Torchwick flushed violently looking up slightly into hazel eyes. He really wasn't sure what he was doing, just those dimples were too perfect, as his bag fell to the ground and jerked Oscar Pine into his face. They both made a surprised noise. Oscar took a calming breath and gently brushed his lips against the future kingpin moving slowly in the cold air.

Roman might have squealed.

XXX

Ruby was grateful she managed to convince the bar owner to install a microwave in their little room. At the very least when Tyrian visited suddenly she was able to make him some tea.

"You didn't need to, Rose." He took the steaming mug from her.

Ruby shrugged, "You seem cold."

He snickered, "I'm a bit more built for the weather of Vacuo."

"Or you need to button up your shirt."

He chuckled.

She chewed her lip, "You've seemed to calm down some since we first met you."

He looked outside at the snow falling even though it was technically Fall. "I am an anxious man."

"You're strong, smart, gentle, and rather ha-" Ruby clamped her hand over her mouth and her face flamed.

He purred, "Oh do go on."

She glared at him, "I meant you have all of these good qualities. So where does your anxiety lay?"

He blinked, she didn't try to talk him out of his feelings. She stated what she saw and showed curiosity. He couldn't help but answer "I never belonged, with being a Faunus or my propensity for insane giggles, and yes I know how they make me seem." He sipped his tea slowly as he struggled with those giggles bubbling up his throat. "Remus caught me picking his pockets and I gave him a good fight. He took me in, thus I grew up with the Torchwicks, they're used to me. With you...and Oscar of course, I feel…"

"Like you have a home?" she gripped his hand and smiled sweetly.

He had a short nervous giggle, "Now I came here with a purpose. My birthday is coming up on Halloween-"

Ruby jumped up on her feet, "Mine too!"

He grinned, "Cute. I usually take the kids to the museum and there is a classics weapons exposition-"

That's all she needed to hear, Ruby bounced onto her toes, "I would LOVE to go. I'm sure Oscar would too."

"If only to sneak off with Roman and suck his face off."

"I can't imagine Oscar being brave enough for that."

Tyrian raise a sly brow, "Roman is."

The door burst open Oscar bounded in shouting, "RUBY I KISSED YOUR COUSIN!"

There was a pause and then Ruby collapsed into a giggling eruption. Suddenly she stopped, "Wait I'm cousins with the Torchwicks?"

Tyrian shook his head, "Neo's father isn't Remus. Who would be...wait Remus only had one sister and she would barely be 30 now, she has a 7-year-old...blast what is her name?" He roughly set his mug down, "How exactly are you and Roman cousins?"

Oscar closed the door and locked it. The Faunus's eyes narrowed and for the first time since they got here Tyrian pulled off his overshirt, revealing his vambraces.

Ruby moved between and took Long Memory from her friend's belt, tossing it across the room. Her back purposely to Tyrian.

"Rubes!"

"Oscar Pine!" fists were on her hips.

"He can't know!"

"Says the boy who basically announced it."

"I didn't know we had a guest!"

"You were shouting!"

Tyrian giggled, "Well I didn't think you were half-siblings before this spat."

Ruby fidgeted, "We are not- !"

Oscar pulled his hand over her mouth, "Rubes you can't!" His other arm was tight about her waist to pin her arms to her sides. Ruby was incredulous, stomping her heel on his toe, and shot her head back into his nose.

"Seriously? I have an Aura. OH GOD GROSS Ruby!" He released her wiping his hand on his pants and she vaulted over the bed to open the window as she held her hand to Tyrian.

He laughed, grabbing her hand, "What am I Neo?"

They dissolved into rose petals flying out the window and Oscar stomped his foot petulantly.

XXX

Tyrian found himself skidding on his back in the snow with a cute girl sitting on his waist, bent over. If he didn't punch her in the petals he wouldn't have minded.

Wait, where did he punch her?

She flopped off and held herself into the fetal position.

He giggled loudly, "Oh Rose, I'm sorry I got scared. Um, where did I hit you?"

She mumbled into the snow.

"Rose, you're going to have to speak up. I've been known to crack a few stones and you can't have your Aura up when you're using your semblance. I need to make sure nothing is broken." He ever so softly brushes her hair back.

"Don't touch me!" She lashed out and her nails came in contact with his cheek or his bright purple Aura. He skittered back and remembered she didn't like men touching her. He had assumed she was covering something up and left her to her privacy.

What if some guy put her through something heinous. He growled and wanted to carve off parts of whoever that fucker was. His attention was dragged back to Rose, on her hands and knees coughing out blood.

"Rose...Ruby, it looks like you-"

Her eyes closed and she was slowing her breath, "You broke my fourth rib." Her eyes still closed, "I'm not angry with you." She moved her fingers under her armpit and dug hard letting out a hissed.

"You just reset it."

She nodded her eyes still closed, "You're going to have to carry me back, it's a 10-minute walk."

"That's fine, can you tolerate me touching you?"

She chuckled, dryly, "Like I have a choice."

He giggled from the pit forming in his stomach, she sounded so defeated. He reminded himself she was in pain and whatever trauma that was being triggered had nothing to do with him. Soldiers misplace their fear all the time. So why was he so sure he was truly at fault?

Ever so slowly he lifted her to cradle her in his arms. She whimpered in pain and her eyes shot open, he felt her tense.

"Close your eyes and pretend I'm Oscar."

In a small voice, "But I like you." He felt her bury her warm face in her chest where his heart fluttered at her little confession. "You didn't do anything wrong yet."

"Well, I did break your rib."

"You thought you were protecting yourself from the loss of gravity."

"You're afraid of what I might do."

She nodded into his skin.

"I like you Ruby as well. I'm a patient man. I don't mind waiting while you get comfortable trusting me."

She smiled into his chest, "Well maybe getting a broken rib isn't the worst."

"Also you can't go on missions for a few days."

She glared at him, "You are the worst."

He giggled, "Well, it gives you time to explain your relationship with Roman."

"Time travel."

"Good one Rose."

"I'm serious!"