In the weeks that followed, I learned much.

School was thrilling and we were beginning to move into true combat practice. I had yet to volunteer to be a practice show for my class. I decided to wait until called upon. But the rest of my team went and showed a prowess that was hard to come by. My weakest link was Peyton. He was clumsy and didn't strategize very well. But luckily Peyton was strong and big and once he learned something he never forgot how to do it perfectly.

And my team was all for my idea.

I had skills that wouldn't be taught in class, so I talked it over with the other three and I created a personalized secret training program, based off my old training; except without the fear and the pain of punishment if one failed. Every evening after dinner, we would meet in an old training center that had long been shut down by the school and we would practice techniques that weren't normally taught.

And my friends never asked me where I had learned these things.

I didn't see Oz again, even though on clear nights, after my secret training with my own team, I'd still go out and enjoy the night air in my special garden. I'd take my sketchbook and sketch by moonlight.

My ribbon though was not where I had tied it.

So sometime, he had come and found it. The thought made me happy.

I would sit beneath the pale beech tree and think about things I normally wouldn't because they hurt too badly. Yet in the garden, beneath that tree, I began to try and heal some of my own heart-and-soul wounds.

It didn't really ever work but at least I could try.

My bonds with my teammates grew stronger and I had an immense feeling of contentment around them. What they didn't realize is the deeper the bond, the more attuned to them I began to be. So it didn't take me long to figure out what had been going on since our first days together.

Elin and Peyton cared for each other beyond a simple friendship.

Elise knew too. We had spoken of it on several occasions but Elin believed that she and I still thought he was straight as an arrow. He flirted with me constantly, as if to prove something. Whenever he did, Peyton's face would go blank.

I couldn't figure out the problem though.

If they liked each other, why shouldn't they be together?

So one day, when Peyton was talking to Doctor Oobleck and I sent Elise on a long round about trip, I was alone with Elin.

"Elin... I have question. And you can't get mad at me for asking." I said. He smiled at me and placed a bookmark in the book he had been reading.

"Go for it."

I took a deep breath. "Elin, you know I'm a healer. You know I've got extra senses." He nodded.

"So you know that I can feel things from you..." He nodded slower, growing more cautious as I continued.

I groped for words. My few social skills didn't extend to these kinds of things.

"Do you have feelings for Peyton?" I blurted out.

He looked like I had slapped him.

"W-What?" He whispered.

I came and sat down next to him on the bed and put my arm around him.

"I asked. Do you have feelings for Peyton? And I'm not talking about friendship or brotherly feelings either." I said gently.

His throat worked convulsively. I had never seen Elin look so scared. He shrank, as if he was trying to blend in with the covers around him. "Y-Y-Yes." He stuttered as tears filled his sweet brown eyes. I smiled and hugged him tightly. "Good."

His breathing was harsh. "Good? Good?! I'm a freak! Boys aren't supposed to like boys!" I grabbed his shoulders and looked into his eyes. "Why not?" My voice was dead serious.

"Well, because..."

"Why can't boys care about each other? Why should two people not be allowed to be together because of their gender?" I said, thinking of my tentative feelings for Yang.

"Elin, there is no reason you can give me why you and Peyton can't be together. I think I care about Yang beyond the point of friendship." He looked at me confused. "Busty blonde on team RWBY." I stated saucily with a raised eyebrow. He gave me a tearful chuckle.

"Peyton cares for you deeply and you him. He's handsome and strong and kind. You are not a freak. Caring for someone should never be labeled as freakish. Now. If you had feeling for say, an Ursa or worse, Martris, then I would draw the line and call you weird. But Peyton is a wonderful person and your sister and I wholeheartedly approve."

He gasped. "Elise knows?"

I snorted. "She knew before I did."

The fight drained out of him. There were no more barriers. "But what will people think?" He whined.

"Do you honestly think I care about what ANYONE else has to think about it? I'm your leader. If I'm okay with it and Elise is okay with it, then who else really matters?" I was winning and I could feel the hope growing in him.

"But they'll go after you! You ARE my leader. They'll blame you for allowing it and say things and- and-" I tapped his chin and he shut up.

"Let them come after me. They are insignificant. You are what matters to me. You, Elise and Peyton are the most important things in my world. You're my pack. You have to realize that you three were my first friends I had ever made in my life. I've had comrades and family but they never liked me and I never cared for most of them. I've always been the lone wolf. You like me and respect me and it's real. Real friendship. I had never had it till you guys blundered in and took my heart." I hugged him again, sparking the hope to flare into a fire that warmed his heart and soul.

"And if anyone does anything to you... well, they'll face me on the battlefield... and if there is anything left of them when I'm done... I'll leave them for Elise." I grinned wickedly.

"Oh, you mean, mean darling." He said laughing, wiping his eyes. He hugged me tightly and something inside of him that had been previously broken, clicked into place. He was happy. Then Elise came in and saw the hugging and threw herself at us.

She looked at me and I nodded, grinning ear to ear.

"You finally admitted it!" She said, slamming into the two of us and kissing her twins cheek.

"What do you mean?" He saw pushing her off a little. "Elin, I knew when we were little that you weren't like the other boys in our town. You liked to play dolls with me and do my hair and makeup and paint my nails and let me do the same to you but I always worried that you wouldn't find anyone right for you. And now you have and I'm so happy!" She squealed.

Elin was dumbfounded.

"But, rule number one." Elise was right down to business. "No weird stuff while we are in the room. Holding hands, I'm fine with. Easy kisses? Fine. Don't make out with me in the room. That's weird. And no... Other stuff. If you are gonna do that… uh, tie a red ribbon on the door handle and we'll stay out." Elise stated as bluntly as only Elise could. I agreed and Elin blushed and nodded.

We made it a general rule about relationships. The red light for the other members was a red ribbon tied on the door handle and a locked door. We wanted no awkward walk-ins.

After all, I was nineteen, Peyton was almost eighteen and Elin and Elise were seventeen. Practically adults with… adult experiences in mind.

Elise and I made ourselves scarce when I felt Peyton coming.

Elin was buzzing with excitement and nerves when we left.

"Thank you so much Dally, for doing that for him. Too long he's been lonely. He and Peyton will be good for each other." Elise said smiling happily. There seemed to be a direct correlation between one twins mood and the others mood. If one was happy that other was happy, if something was wrong with one twin, the other acted accordingly.

I hooked my arm around the tiny girl's shoulders and she wrapped her arm around my waist like how we always walked and we walked to the library talking happily as Elin and Peyton became an official couple.

Now, I just had to steel myself for the storm that would blow up over it, because I would be their protector. And if it took me stepping onto a battlefield so to speak to defend them, so be it.

I felt sorry for whoever spoke up first. Because whatever I started… Elise would finish.