As It Turns Out 08

"So... um..." Jaune desperately tried avoiding eye contact. "I'm sorry for my previous behavior. I won't try to challenge you to duels anymore."

Elroy gave him an awkward thumbs up. "It's fine, Jaune. We cool." He was a bit nervous, and not because of poor Jaune of course.

But because of the angel of death that was watching them. "Good. Good. I'm now satisfied, we may all begin eating." Weiss had held the entire table hostage until the little cretin apologized to her husband.

Oh well, now that he had actually done it, he was no longer a little cretin... he was a tolerable little cretin. A very big upgrade in her eyes, he should be proud.

Elroy looked down on his food. "Don't mind if I do." It was free! And it didn't look like crap! Beacon students sure had it good.

As they began eating, Nora addressed the elephant in the room. "So my despised archnemesis, are you just coming here for some breakfast before heading out?" She needed to know how much time she had to eliminate him!

Elroy tilted his head. "Just a couple of days... once team RWBY heads for their mission I'll be leaving Beacon." If he had managed to solve the Penny situation of course.

Until his... robot wife was confirmed to be safe and sound, he would keep being here to bother the general. Well, at least he hoped to do that, Ozpin could kick him out at anytime, and he wouldn't be able to do much about it.

Nora squinted her eyes. "I see..." So she had plenty of time... "By the way, another strange question, but what do you think would be the best way to die...?" So she could avoid giving that to him.

He winced. "I... I have the right to remain silent, don't I?"

Ren interjected. "You do." That was the one thing she could never take away from someone. As long as their will held strong at least.

"So..." Jaune awkward tried to bring the topic that had bothered him. "Is Penny okay? Did you talk with her after the dance, Ruby?" He was not exactly super friends with her, in fact he barely knew her, but he was understandably worried.

He didn't really know what happened, back then he was getting dressed as a girl to comfort Pyrrha, but when he showed up the dance was being closed and tons of rumors were flying around.

The entirety of team RWBY shared suspicious looks between each other. They had not exactly decided how to go about this...

Elroy cleared her throat. "We touched and Soul Bonded to one another. Something happened though, and she had to... seek medical care." He definitely wasn't telling people about the robot thing.

He continued. "That's actually why I decided to stay here for a few more days, I'm kind of worried about her. And since she's... a important student for Atlas, I don't even know where she is."

Once team RWBY had to go to classes, he would go see the general and ask him about Penny. It shouldn't be too hard to find him, hopefully. He had expected Elroy to contact him eventually after all.

Jaune gasped. "So... you're now married to another girl. Cool." And people called him lucky.

Pyrrha clasped her hands together. "I think it's just... wonderful." Her voice sounded super weak.

If she was being honest with herself, she was a bit... sad. Nobody had invited her to the dance, as she predicted, and the dance in general had been a disaster. Well, at least she got a giggle out of Jaune keeping his promise, but that technically happened after the dance was already over.

Nora nodded. "Yes! Now if Penny succumbs to whatever health problems she has, the entirety of team RWBY goes down the drain, and we basically win the Vytal Festival! Yay...!"

The entire table glared at her.

She pouted. "Sorry Weisses, just a little bit of dark Nora humor."



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"Yeah... I'm gonna go confront the scary general... gonna look him in his eyes and demand my wife back..." Elroy was doing something he hadn't done in quite a while.

He was hyping himself up to face something scary. It reminded him of when he had just started looking for work.

As he had expected, finding the general was easy. All he had to do was ask a random Atlas soldier, and then he was pointed towards a big ship. He was now making his way towards it, hoping to confront the general.

However, as he walked there he was distracted enough to stumble on someone. "S-sorry!" How embarrassing—.

And it was Penny. "Salutations husband! It's a joyous occasion to be meeting you once again!" She was surrounded by soldiers from Atlas, but it was certainly Penny.

Right? He almost scratched his eyes just to make sure. "Penny!? You're okay!?"

She jumped at him with a hug. "No! I believe the word okay is not adequate enough to describe what I'm feeling!" She tightened the hug. "I am feeling simply sensational!"

"T-that's great Penny...!" He couldn't breathe. "But I'm not talking about now, I'm talking about what happened during the dance...!" He might not survive any future Penny brand hugs.

She released him, a worried expression now adorning her face. "Ah. Yes. I... passed out due to anxiety!" She hiccuped. "However, do not worry, I am a normal girl who does not have any health problems." Another hiccup.

His eye twitched. "Penny..." She was trying to hide her true nature even after they got Soul Bonded. "I..." He stole a glance at the soldiers. They probably knew, but...

Just to make sure, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "I know you're a robot, no need to hide it." Was that rude to say? He hoped not.

She shivered. "Guh..." Oh, my how embarassing for her. "My apologies, but it seems you getting so close and whispering affected me! I did not understand you, may you repeat it?" This was exciting!

"I know you're a robot, no need to hide it." She sure was something special.

And now she flinched, stepping back. "How did you figure it out!? Are you a genius...!?" She had managed to hide it from everyone until now! With only one exception.

"Um. No, I don't think I am. Ruby told me." He almost felt bad throwing the girl under the bus.

Penny's eyes widened. "Oh! That is understandable." She could not get mad at Ruby for being truthful with her husband.

In fact, that's what she wanted to do as well, but she was advised against it. For example, she was told to not release any confidential information she may have received before her evolution. Since she did not want to get her husband in trouble with the military, and because her father called her a good girl, she agreed to it.

Penny looked down. "I'm sorry for not telling you the truth, husband! I was under the impression that I should tell you after our relationship has progressed farther, so that you may not feel uncomfortable, or have a existensial crisis!"

He tilted his head. "It's fine..." He wasn't about to go bananas because his wife was a robot. In the end of things, she was his wife. "Though, should we really be talking in front of these guys?" The damn soldiers were snickering to themselves.

Embarassing.

"It should be fine, husband! They are my temporary security detail!" And now it really was temporary. Soon she would be freed from them, due to certain... reasons.

She continued. "So please ignore them for now..." She looked down. "I wish to know... does it bother you that I am a artificial lifeform?"

He shook his head. "Not really." He put a hand on her shoulder. "All I know is that you're my wife." Recently he had greatly developed his resistance against insanity.

Maybe by adopting some for himself.

Stars appeared on her eyes... or hearts. "Amazing! I'm so happy right now!" Her face became complete red. "May I initiate a kiss!?" She wished to convey her happiness with intimate contact! As was normal for a wife!

"Sure...? I'm surprised you're asking..." He was kind of curious about how it felt to kiss a robot.

She frowned. "Is that... weird? I was under the impression that one should ask consent before initiating intimate contact with someone...?" Had she messed up already?

Elroy put a hand on his chin. "Um... No, I guess it's not weird." He couldn't exactly look her in the eyes and say that asking for consent was wron—.

"Sensational! Then as I have received your consent, let us kiss!" She pulled him by his collar and... gave him a quick peck on the lips.

After it, she stepped back, wonder and awe in her voice. "Wow... my first kiss, and it is with my husband...! Amazing!" What a unforgettable experience!

He chuckled. "Yeah, amazing." She was just adorable.

Huh... now that he thought about it... wasn't he being kind of a creep? He didn't know when she had been... created, and it was clear she didn't have much experience considered she had raised such a fuss for a single peck...

Nope, he wouldn't think too hard about it. That was now his stance on this.

Leaving that aside though... "By the way Penny, do you mind meeting team RWBY for a bit, when they get a break from class? They're really worried about you."

"Of course not! I would love to see them! Especially since I have much to discuss..."



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Ruby circled Penny, looking her up and down. "So... you're not a robot anymore?" No, that wasn't quite right. "Or more like... you're a super robot now?"

Penny nodded. "Yes... in a manner of speaking. I do not really understand what I am."

Ruby pat her back. "Well, Penny is Penny, I guess."

Penny gasped. "That is essentially what my father said! Could it be that you're on contact with him, Ruby?" That was a bit sad. She wished to eventually introduce the two to each other.

Ruby snorted. "No, Penny, I'm just stating the obvious."

Blake interjected. "Which is all well and good, but where do we go from here now?" She didn't want to sound mean, but... "So far we had the advantage of all of us living around the same location, but Penny is from Atlas."

"So we need to know... is she going to return there? What does Atlas plan on doing with the robo—, with the Penny that now controls our lives?" Some spite she felt towards the kingdom was definitely coming out, but she couldn't help it.

Penny gave her a salute. "I plan on being with Elroy until further notice! And I have been given permission to do so...! For now I have..." She frowned. "Been disqualified from the Vytal Festival, and I will not be attending classes for a while, so..."

But her smile quickly returned. "I will stay by Elroy's side at all times! Even when his break from work ends, I shall simply live with him!" Like husband and wife! And more importantly, as the general had put it, bodyguard and VIP.

Blake's eyes widened. "That's..." Was Atlas really letting her essentially run free? "A bit insane." She looked at Elroy, in the end his decision was going to be the one that mattered.

He didn't seem to bothered. "I'm fine with it, but my apartment is pretty small. Expect a pretty uncomfortable stay... Honestly, you would probably be happier if you stayed with team RWBY or something. I'm sure I can convince Ozpin to—."

"I do not wish to stay with team RWBY, I wish to stay with you." She sent Ruby a smile. "Even if I'm excited to spend time with everyone here as well."

Elroy relented. "Okay then, Penny. When I return, you can go with me." He really didn't mind it, but she would probably regret it once she saw that his apartment was basically one long corridor.

Penny giggled, her emotions leaking out and brightening up the room. "I will be the best wife ever! I promise you, husband!"

Weiss huffed. "Best wife might be a bit impossible since I'm here, but considering soon I won't, perhaps your presence will be a good thing." She just hoped Penny would be the last one.

She liked her well enough, she supposed, but a woman had limits. She could only take sharing her man with so many people... especially since she wasn't supposed to be sharing in the first place!

Yang sent the ex-robot a wink. "You take care of my hubbie while I'm gone." And then she sent Elroy one too. "Though you shouldn't be too sad, mommy Yang will be rushing through the mission as fast as possible to make it back to you."

"M-mommy Yang...?" Since when did that become a thing!?

The blonde approached him, putting a finger on his lips. "Shuush, I'm gonna miss you, so just let the magic happen..." She had to enjoy this to the max, before the big mission day came.

"I'm pleasantly surprised with everyone's attitude." Blake suddenly spoke up. "I was certain a few of you would be freaking out about Elroy sleeping with one woman, all by himself, with no interference."

Ruby squinted her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean...?" And then she blushed. "Ah! Penny and him are going to have tons and tons of sex!"

The room froze, the only sound was Penny's humming.

Until Weiss sighed. "Ah, I actually stopped thinking for a second. Congratulations Blake, congratulations Ruby, I was brought to the level of you two for a moment."

She motioned to Penny. "Although she may be a super robot now, she is still one. Why would one have the necessary parts for that...?

Yang snorted. "She has a mouth, Weiss." The heiress gasped. "But yeah, I mean, Penny is like a mini-Ruby. Or a mega-Ruby depending on the way you look at things." Perhaps she also had a pinch of Jaune here and there.

No sex allowed.

Elroy smiled, in the end this conversation ended in a neutral state. Much like with the forgotten talk about his exes, he almost thought his life would be in a jeopardy for a moment.

But Blake would not let him escape so easily. "So Penny, people have been discussing about it, but no one questioned you. Can you have sex? Do you want to?" She was genuinely curious.

Penny sputtered. "I-I am combat ready! And I have made much progress, I even kissed our husband! W-with his consent of course! And so, eventually I do wish to have intercourse with our shared husband!" There she said. How embarassing.

Blake grinned. "Great to hear."

Elroy sent a look of pain towards her. "Are you mad at me for some reason?"

She was not. Making a Schnee angry was just her natural instinct.

Weiss prepared herself for battle. "What!? What kind... what kind..." She pointed at Penny. "What kind of lady of the night are you!? Do you have no semblance of restraint!?"

Penny tilted her head. "I do not know what a lady of the night is..."

Elroy pinched his nose. "Don't worry about it, Penny." She didn't need to know—.

Ruby whispered in her friends ear. "Penny, a lady of the night is a prostitute. As in, someone who has sex for money."

Yang gasped. "Ruby!? When and where did you learn that!?" Her eyes were red. She would have to kill whoever shared this information with her baby sister.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "I'm fifteen and shy, not a baby." Or a Penny, apparently.

In the meanwhile, Penny gasped. "I see, but I will not ask for money in exchange for sex with Elroy, therefore I am not a lady of the night!" Unless that was the norm for wives? She would need to ask Ruby later.

At this point Elroy was at a loss for words. "What a mess..." Today he had expected to confront a general, and as the time went on, it seemed like that would have been the easier thing.

"Everyone, please calm down, this isn't a big deal." They were married!

Yang glared at him with red eyes. "Of course it's a big deal!" Why did some home wrecker come and... Well, Penny wasn't a home wrecker, but still!

She began stuttering, much to her displeasure. "S-she should have at least taken you to a date first or something!" Yes, relationships were important!

Weiss puffed up her chest. "It's disgusting to say, but I agree with Yang!" Seriously, how weird was that!? "If one can move before even a date, then what order do we have!? None! We have none!" And she could not live with that.

Her life was already chaotic enough with the whole sharing thing!

Elroy cleared his throat. "So..." What the fuck was he supposed to say in this situation!? "I think you guys are spooking Penny, so let's tone down, okay?"

The poor girl was as shaken as a leaf. She had no idea what kind of rule she had broken, but she had certainly broken one. Which wasn't ideal when she was the invader element in whatever dynamic they had established.

Ruby was patting her back. "No need to be like that, Penny. Everyone here is just a jealous pervert for some reason." Would it be weird that she longer had respect for her teammates?

Yang flinched. "Sorry Penny, that came out as a bit too competitive from me."

Weiss nodded. "Yes, you have my apologies as well."

It was strange though. This whole talk of someone kissing Elroy before them was bringing back memories of something... Just what had they been discussing before Penny got Marked? That felt important for some reason.

Penny smoled. "You all have my forgiveness!" Even if she still didn't get why they got angry in the first place.

Blake rolled her eyes. "Honestly, this team always makes mountains of molehills." She walked over to Elroy. "You are married to this man, if you want to do something, then..."

She pulled him over for a kiss, one which he did not resist.

Afterwards, she took a step back and smile. "See? Not a big deal at all."

Penny gasped. "But she did not even ask for consent!?"