As It Turns Out 13

"You want me to pardon two criminals who were planning a terrorist attack of never before seen proportions on Vale?"

Elroy hesitantly nodded. "Y-yes, I am asking that." Even he could tell that sounded stupid.

Ironwood's eye twitched. "That obviously cannot be done, I'm sorry." He glared at Neo. "To be honest, I don't even know why this woman is not restrained like her partner, I'm certain I gave the order to do so, and yet she sits on your lap."

Neo smirked. The reason why she wasn't restrained was simple, there was simply no soldier in the ship capable of doing such a feat.

Elroy sighed. "Why not?"

Ironwood rolled his eyes. "Because they're dangerous figures who have commited numerous crimes in the past. Even murder." That was not something that could simply be pardoned. "I understand that you're being blinded by the Soul Bond, but... I'm sorry."

Elroy winced. "I..." He wasn't being blinded by a damn thing. "I ask that you see this through a pragmatic point of view, sir. I agree that they have commited crimes, and that those crimes need to be paid in full."

Neo sent him a affronted look. Was she offended by his comment!? Really!?

Elroy ignored her and continued. "But that payment can come in other forms. Roman has spoken of giving away information on their employer, and their skills could be quite useful."

Ironwood scoffed. "I can't trust their information, just as I can't trust them enough to send them on missions."

Elroy winced once again. "Have they not proven themselves? They gave their aid in the battle in the tunnels, and they willingly walked into this ship." And what a massive ship it was.

It made bullheads look like birds. The fact that the general could command one just made him even more intimidating in Elroy's eyes.

Ironwood shook his head. "They did that to save their own hide. It doesn't say anything about them that I didn't already know." Hell, the fact that they betrayed their own comrades made things worse. "They will both be imprisoned."

Elroy paled, and bit the inside of his mouth to calm down. "I am Soul Bonded with Neo." The girl nodded and showed her tongue, her Mark.

Ironwood raised an eyebrow. "So? I do not plan on executing her or her partner, they will be treated like any other prisoner of Vale. Your life is not at risk, young man."

Elroy waved him off. "I know, but that does not matter. What matters is that if Neo... is compatible with me, does that not say she can be at least redeemed? I do not believe I, nor my wives are complete scum."

Ironwood didn't budge at all. "That may be so, but redemption does not come in one day. And... I don't know anything about your character, or the character of your wives." The fact that they were Huntresses was admirable.

But not every Huntress was exactly the most moral person.

Elroy grit his teeth. "I see." It felt like the general was being stubborn just to be stubborn. Neo and Roman had fulfilled their part of the deal, so it was only natural they should fulfil theirs.

Ironwood finally smiled. "I'm glad you do. I really do mean no offense, but... a criminal is a criminal. Now take that woman off your lap."

Elroy sighed. "Do not misunderstand me, I see your point, I just do not care for it." Even if that was terrifying! Could he really talk shit to a general!? Was he about to get arrested too!?

He took a deep breath. "You may not know this, but when I Marked Penny... I prepared myself to confront you for her if necessary. Naturally I am ready to do the same for Neo."

Ironwood clicked his tongue. "Why? Is the Soul Bond really that strong?"

Elroy couldn't even feel this damn bond. "It's my responsibility as her husband."

Ironwood groaned in annoyance. "We'll talk about this again." He turned around... and left. It's not like he could make a big decision without Ozpin's imput.

Neo hugged Elroy, a blush on her face, and threw herself against his shirt.

His eye twitched. "That better be fake drool..."



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"This is so goddamned stressful." Yang said what everyone was feeling.

Elroy blushed. "I'm sorry, it's probably my fault that this is all happening." He still couldn't believe he went and threatened a man that was both a general, and a headmaster.

Blake interjected. "Don't blame yourself for defending..." She looked at Neo, who was smirking on the corner. "Her. You two are Soul Bonded after all, but the general is incapable of understanding people have hearts—."

Weiss groaned. "Can we please not start this, Blake? Please?" She was actually a bit scared.

Would her husband receive consequences of having talked back against a general...?

Blake squinted her eyes. "I didn't start anything Weiss, I wasn't even in the room."

Pyrrha clasped her hands together. "Now... and I don't want to sound like I'm intruding on anything... but I believe we should not fight amongst ourselves." This was the most awkward moment of her life.

One moment she had found the love of her life, the next he had disappeared. Then Penny apparently shared her Aura with him, and suddenly he comes back with a criminal as a wife, and now the headmaster had sent them all to wait in a room while he discussed things with the general...!

It was a lot. Which was possibly why her smile was so brittle. Nonetheless, she tried her best to calm everyone down like a good wife.

Weiss suddenly had stars in her eyes. "You are correct, Pyrrha." She had long ago given up on sharing a team with the legendary Huntresses-In-Training...

But now they were sharing a man!

Wait, was that a good thing?

Elroy cleared his throat. "Indeed, you have my thanks Pyrrha." He motioned to Neo. "How about we use this situation to bond instead? For example... how about you introduce yourself, Neo?"

If he was being quite honest, he didn't like this one bit either. He wanted to have a talk alone with Blake to discuss the White Fang matter... but if their hands were being forced, they might as well try their best.

Pyrrha smile became a bit more genuine. "A wonderful idea! Neo must be quite confused after all..." She didn't know anyone here. Or at least not personally.

She continued. "My name is Pyrrha Nikos, a Huntress-In-Training... Much like you, I am new to... this. So I hope we can get along!"

Neo chuckled, and created a wooden sign. "You sound like an absolute pushover." The only way she could sound more like a loser was if she suddenly started stuttering too. Neo almost wanted to make a locker so she could push Pyrrha into it.

Pyrrha flinched. "Well..." Could she argue back again her husband's wife? She wanted to.

Elroy glared at her. "Neo, restrain yourself. You do not need to make more enemies than you already have."

Normally he would be okay with a little teasing here and there, he didn't mind when team RWBY bickered amongst themselves for example. This was different though, it was malicious. If Neo kept acting like that, she would cause troubles for everyone.

The woman gave a silent huff, but nodded. She would at least make some effort for her husband, but if he expected good and polite Trivia, he would be sorely disappointed.

Penny raised a hand. "I believe now it's my turn." She was the one who came before Pyrrha after all! "I'm Penny Polendina! I am a robot turned Penny! Nice to meet you!"

A giant question mark appeared on top of Neo's head.

And Pyrrha was equally as confused. "Um... I'm sorry, but what did you mean by that Penny...?" It was just a joke right? But nobody was laughing...

Ruby awkwardly raised her voice. "Yep, Penny is... was... still kind of is... a robot." She pointed at herself. "And I'm Ruby! Leader of team... RWBY!" Wow, that made her sound so arrogant! "Nice to meet you Neo!" She was happy.

Making a bad guy turn into a good guy with the power of love!? That was right up in her alley!

Neo did not take her eyes of Penny. And the question mark certainly did not disappear.

Yang ignored it. "And I'm her big sister! Yang!" Her eyes glowed red. "I trust you somewhat, since my hubbie does, but I'll still be keeping an eye on you." Neo wouldn't do anything crazy like kill them... probably, but Yang would keep her guard up.

Pyrrha tilted her head. "So... Is Penny really a robot?" Was this a inside joke? Was she being the weird one out right now?

Weiss nodded... towards Yang. "For once we are in agreement." Actually, that had been happening more and more recently. Scary. "I'm Weiss Schnee, and if you do step out of like, I will end you Neo."

The woman pointed at Penny, a expression of frustration in her face.

Blake rolled her eyes, even as she smirked. "Yeah, she's a weird love robot. I'm Blake by the way." Honestly, her team was filled with clowns. Likeable ones though.

As Pyrrha and Neo had their views of the world broken, Elroy spoken up. "I'm glad introductions have gone smoothly. Now how about we..." Shit, what activities could a eight person group even do when stuck in a room together!?

"P-play a board game together?" That sounded good right? They could bond and stuff. "Yes, let us enjoy a board game together."

Ruby tilted her head. "Do we even have board games in this room?"

He closes his eyes. "We most likely do not." Damn it. He also doubted team RWBY or Pyrrha owned a board game that let eight people play anyways.

Neo grinned, and a table appeared in the middle of the room, with a board game of some kind on top of it. As soon as everyone's jaws hit the floor from the sight, she bowed, quite pleased with herself.

Penny walked forward. "Sensational! What an amazing Semblance!" But as soon as she touched the table, it cracked in pieces of glass. "Oh. It appears I have broken it." The poor girl was staring at it without knowing what to do.

Neo started silently laughing.

Elroy pinched his nose. "You did not break anything Penny. She was... pranking you." And pranking everyone else too. There went his board game...

Thankfully, in a stroke of luck, his suffering came to an end. Glynda Goodwitch entered the room. "Children, follow me." Neo glared at her... She was in her early twenties, after all.

"I am nineteen." And Elroy had his own thing too.



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"First of all, I would like to congratulate team RWBY and you Mister Reyne." There was a smile on Ozpin's face. "Many lives have been saved due to your efforts."

There was no way to know how much destruction would have been caused had the White Fang succeeded. So he really meant his compliment.

Glynda sighed. "Even if a civilian of all things should not have involved himself in any form of combat." Elroy could only stay silent. "Still, considering you... teleported there, I suppose your actions were fine."

She looked at Ozpin, almost as if expecting something.

The headmaster took a sip of his coffee. "Indeed. The Mark is a mysterious thing, and no doubt this is just one more of the challenges ahead of you, Mister Elroy."

Glynda glared at him. "Mysterious indeed. Any idea on why Mister Reyne teleported, Ozpin?"

The man leaned backwards into his chair. "I'm afraid I'm not omniscient." She scoffed. "There are certainly no records of normal Soul Bonding granting teleportation for seemingly no reason."

"Therefore, this is either a doing of a Semblance, or something from the legend of Ozma that has been forgotten. I suggest that you look more into it, young man." His face was as serious as it could be.

Elroy nodded. "I plan to do so, sir." The only reason he wasn't already doing that was because of this mess.

He build up his confidence. "But leaving that aside, may I ask what you have planned in regards to Neo?" If Ozpin agreed with Ironwood, Elroy didn't know what he would do.

Could he even do anything against the influence of two headmasters in the first place? Maybe cry and beg for the help of Weiss' father? But even a man as influential as Jacques Schnee had his limits.

Ozpin smiled. "I have come to a solution I believe will be... agreeable." He gazed at the mute woman. "Miss Neopolitan, please keep in mind that while you can reject this, I may not be able to negotiate a better deal."

Neo nodded. Silently. There were no jokes, it seems she was somewhat intimidated by Ozpin. He didn't project the same aura of force that Ironwood did, but the tranquility that surrounded him was... uncanny.

Ozpin pushed his glasses up. "Here's what I managed to convince general Ironwood after much, much discussion." And with the help of the ever reliable Glynda. "You, and Roman Torchwick, will be kept in... a form of house arrest for some time."

"Your partner gave us quite a bit of useful info, and we are trying to confirm its veracity. Once we do, you two shall be given better treatment, which will then improve with good behavior from you two." He took another sip from his coffee.

"Furthermore, once enough trust has been gained, you two will... be pardoned more or less. Although Roman Torchwick will need to change his name, and any mistake can and will break that trust." Neo didn't really need to change her name however.

She just wasn't as well known to the media as Roman. So it didn't really matter.

"Is that acceptable to you, Miss Neopolitan?" He had already gotten the okay from Roman, but he needed both to accept.

Neo gave the headmaster a shaky thumbs up. It wasn't as good a deal as she was hoping for, but she knew when to stop pushing it. Stupid husbands, ruining the criminal careers of their wives!

Elroy let out a sigh of relief. "You have my thanks, sir." He could feel the terror leaving his body. He wasn't getting arrested, and neither was Neo. Also, Roman... he didn't really care about Roman at all.

But Neo did, and she was Elroy's wife so...

Ozpin waved him off. "It's I who needs to thank you. The world is in desperate need of Huntsmen and Huntresses, to have brought more to the side of good is admirable." And most importantly...

To take them out of Salem's side.

Ozpin began looking around. "And to strengthen even more so."

Elroy tilted his head in confusion. "I believe I am more of a liability to them than anything else..." He had tied everyone's lives together. It could cause a horrible dominoe effect.

Not that he wished for any of them to die in the first place, but it was certainly a weakness.

His comment was immediately rebuked by Blake however. "You're the only reason why I've managed to give the White Fang somewhat of a fight." She still lost, but it would have been even more embarrassing without him.

Yang nodded. "And we kicked some ass back there!" It felt strange. She could fight more comfortable by the side of an amateur like him, then by the side of her own sister.

Ozpin chuckled. "As you can see, Mister Reyne, you are not weaking anyone. Besides... even if the Mark offered no benefits, I have seen many times that love can only be a strength." Especially in a world where negative emotions did what they did.

"However, I do have some... bad news." It was time to sadly bring the mood down. "I can no longer delay the parade." And if he was being honest, he didn't want to. "The council wishes to brag about their hero stopping terrorists." And he did too.

Because it would increase people's trust in their Huntsmen, and most importantly, it would allow him to kick Atlas' army from Vale. Something which Ironwood was very much not happy about.

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but I don't believe I was present for this conversation about a parade."

Penny raised a hand. "I was not present as well." Her eyes widened. "Oh, and since that is the case, I believe Neopolitan wasn't present as well." It was important to include her!

Weiss quickly replied. "In the day I Marked Elroy, the council of Vale decided to throw a parade to celebrate the return of the legendary Ozma. The headmaster managed to delay it for a month, however." This was bad...

If the parade was not gonna be delayed anymore, she would need to talk with her father as soon as possible...

Ozpin nodded. "Yes, and I'm sad to inform the parade will happen after tomorrow, on saturday. I sincerely hope that you all have already made preparations to inform your relatives, or have informed them already."

Ruby whimpered. "Oh no..." Much like everything stressful in life, she kept putting that for the next day until she forget about it!

Yang, was naturally not any different. "I'm sure it's gonna be fine Ruby!" She tried comforting her sister, even though she herself was quite literally trembling.

Weiss was even worse however, biting her nails. "I need more time..." She had prepared many essays to send her father, but none of them had been up to par just yet!

And in contrast, Pyrrha seemed completely fine. "I'm sure things will go swimmingly with my parents." They already had a Soul Bond in their family history, so they would be incredibly happy about another!

Elroy noticed the tension in the room, and tried his best to put an end to it. "We will manage, headmaster. And naturally, I will help my wives in this... endeavor." This was essentially his offer to them.

They could face this together.

Neo sent him a wink. She couldn't wait to introduce him to her parents! They could spit on their graves together!

Ozpin leaned forwards. "That makes me feel relieved, but that is not the only bad news I have. Naturally, with this parade, the pressure from the council for Elroy to become a Huntsman will... greatly increase."

Elroy took a deep breath. "It's fine. I've decided to accept your previous offer, and join Beacon. If that's still on the table of course."

Silence filled the room.

And then Ruby broke it. "Yes! It was the rapier wasn't it!? You fell in love with it, right!? You totally did, didn't you!?" She knew it, nobody could resist the allure of a weapon for long enough.

Weiss glared at her partner. "If you had any semblance of a brain, you would remember that I was the one who actually bought that rapier." She bowed. "You're welcome, Elroy." She had won! Yes...!

Yang smirked. "Actually... I'm pretty sure he wants to become a Huntsman after we kicked some ass together." It was so badass that he just couldn't resist. Proving that he was indeed a Yangman.

Glynda rolled her eyes. "Children. Silence." She was going to get another troublesome student, wasn't she?

Couldn't be worse than Arc... hopefully...

Ozpin more or less ignored them, and raised an eyebrow. "And may I know what changed your mind, Mister Reyne? What do you wish to do as a Huntsman?"

Elroy's answer was swift. "I saw the Grimm... I have the power, so it's my duty to kill them." He scratched his cheek. "Also, all my wives are part of this industry, so at this point I must accept it is simply destiny."

His face slowly shifted into a frown. "And... well, I've called in sick for work for multiple days, and now that I was supposed to return I did not, so... I believe I will be fired tomorrow." Or at least severly reprimanded.

He might as well jump ship.

"A fine reason... but why not go to Atlas Academy?"

"My wives seem to dislike the cold." Also, Ironwood was kinda scary.



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"I'm sorry to have suddenly called you here, Blake." To the library again. Though not the spot they had sex in.

"It's fine, but..." She winced. "You sure you shouldn't be going to bed early? You have a lot to do tomorrow." She did too, but it wasn't nearly as much as him, especially since they had been given a day off tomorrow, to rest.

Elroy meanwhile, would need to go get himself fired, and then individually help each girl introduce him to her parents, and then prepare for the parade. The last one was really the only part she was included.

Elroy nodded. "Worry not, I will make sure to get plenty of rest." He frowned. "And I'm afraid this matter is one I cannot ignore or delay." The matter of her once being a member of the White Fang.

"I have a feeling this will be some... serious talk." And here she was, almost getting ready to get her world rocked in the library once again.

He cleared his throat. "I'm afraid so..." He was clearly hesitant. "And Blake, before I say anything, just be aware that this not some plot to judge you or trap you."

"O-okay...?" She seriously didn't know where this was going.

He took a deep breath. "So, I was made aware through Torchwick, that you were once a member of the White Fang." He looked down. "I wish to know what lead you to this path, if you do not mind..." he looked at her once again.

"And she's gone... fantastic." He hadn't expect her to run away like this! All that remained was a clone!

He put a hand to his chin, and started thinking. Where could she have gone!? Maybe she had returned to the dorms!?

"Sorry." Actually, she was in front of him once again.

He gasped. "Blake!?" What was that!?

She blushed. "Sorry... I ran away... it's what I always do when I'm confronted like this..." It was almost instinct by this point. "Ugh, I'm so damn stupid." And scared. Her heart was beating fast, and not in a good way.

Team RWBY had accepted her. What if Elroy didn't?

He put a hand to her shoulder. "You may have run away, but you came back. That itself is worthy of praise." Probably. Honestly, he was still super confused.

She sighed. "Maybe if I always came back. I... typically don't." She always either left the past behind, or was forced back into it. She hated it. "But I guess I can't escape you that easily." It was strange.

How suddenly he had come into her life that is. She remembered... being worried about the White Fang, losing sleep over it. And then she stumbled onto him and those worries melted away. It reminded her of how she and... Adam were. Back in the good days.

Elroy smiled. "Then I am truly happy I seem to be some form of catnip." She scowled. "Sorry." Not the time!

She rolled her eyes. "It's fine..." She put her hands on her ribbon. "I get it, really."

Her hands trembled. "You wanna know why I joined the White Fang right? That's easy to explain. Really easy." The problems came later. "Back when I was young I... wasn't exactly in dire straights."

"I had a pretty good life really. But that did not apply to many people who I knew, so I heard talk of justice and equality and... went to it like a moth being drawn to a flame." A really stupid moth. "Not exactly noble of a privileged kid like me."

Elroy had no idea how a orphan was privileged. Maybe this was before she lost her parents? "Blake, the fact that you fought for justice without a need to make you more noble. Not less." It was admirable really.

She looked down. "Maybe you would be right if I actually cared that much for it, but clearly I didn't. I stayed with the White Fang after all, even as they turned into the monsters that they are today." Even now, calling them that felt... wrong.

She let out a self-mocking chuckle. "You know, people always you to not fall into echo chambers, and it's easy to scoff at it, but I fell into it like a damn idiot." A dumb stupid as Ruby would say. "I had this... mentor, a boyfriend named Adam. My first love."

Her only love until Elroy came along. "He was amazing. Skilled in fighting, charismatic, a smart tactician, you name it, but he started... socializing with the more extreme parts of the White Fang. And I followed him along without complaint."

"At first we were there just because they were friendly, but eventually Adam began agreeing with them, and I agreed with him, and he agreed with me and..." She grimaced. "Suddenly it felt like it was completely okay to capture hostages as long as we got what we wanted."

She let out a involuntary whimper. "But someway or another I managed to see what was wrong, maybe because Adam was falling into the rabbit hole faster than me? So I... ran. Because of course I did."

She looked around the library. "I came to Beacon. Hoping that now I would be going about things in the right way. But the White Fang kept spiraling down, and nowadays... they're terrorists. And I didn't do anything about it."

"So if you're wondering... yeah, I'm a bad person. You can hate me for it." There. She said the truth.

Elroy shook his head. "Self-hatred does not suit you. It does not suit any Huntress." She was a hero. "You carry a heavy burden Blake, one that you willingly put on your shoulders. I cannot even begin to imagine its weight."

He extended a hand. "But allow me to carry it with you nonetheless."

"H-huh?" What did he mean by that?

There was a smile on his face. "Blake Belladonna... Blake Reyne, you seek to do good in this world, I believe it may come off as natural for you. So as much as I wish to tell you to forget about the White Fang, to not blame yourself..."

"I know such words shall not reach you. Instead, allow me lend my aid. We will one day destroy the White Fang. Together. And then perhaps, rebuild it a new." It sounded crazy, but he was already becoming a Huntsman anyways.

She looked at his hand, deciding whether to grasp it or not. "Wow, don't you sound like the charming prince right now..." He had saved her like one.

He blushed. "I-I've been trying to sound cooler and more reliable. Is it working?"

She grasped his hand. "You sounded like that before, but... I like this." It played to her fetishes. "So it's okay in my books..." She nodded to herself. "Let's destroy the White Fang. Together."

"It shall be done."

But there was something Blake didn't understand. "By the way, aren't you like... mad? At me being..." An ex-terrorist. Really, he had come off as too forgiving.

He shrugged. "As I said, my aim was never to judge you or trap you. As far as I'm concerned you have already proved yourself long ago..." He snorted. "Also, I forgave Neo. I guess I'm just weak to my wives."

"Makes sense." Kind of.

He cleared his throat. "However, I must ask something. Do you ever plan on telling everyone else? I do not wish to pressure you, but I do not believe keeping this secret for forever would be... wise."

She hummed. "Well, team RWBY already knows. I'll tell everyone else eventually."

"They do!? Are there any more insane secrets I don't know!?"

"Yang peed the bed until she was ten."

"Wow." How did she know that!?