This is the SAFE FOR RUBY edition of the story. You can find the smutty version in my pastes.

>You are anon

>Criminal Lackey Grade 3B

>That was your actual job title

>At least you werent Mook grade, those guys are basically cannon fodder, being slaughtered so Captain Bowler Hat can run away again

>Except for today, you wish you were a mook

>Because today you are anon

>Babysitter

>Due to your innate natural ability to go for more than 5 minutes without being killed you were seen as superior to the Mooks, and the perfect candidate to watch what you could only assume is one of Roman's lackeys in training. fucking great.

>You're so blinded by your hatred you don't watch where you're going, running into trashcans, benches, people, etc.

>Not like it matters, you just clip through them anyway.

>You find yourself in front of an apartment complex and ring the buzzer for the correct room.

>You're greeted by silence, but the door unlocks so you assume they're not in the mood to talk

>You aren't either.

> You take the stairs up to the room. Top floor, but this isn't as nice as what Roman would usually go for.

>You shrug it off and knock on the door.

>It sounds like someone sprints to the door, throws the deadbolt as fast as possible, and runs away again

>Open the door

>Fall on the floor

>You've tripped over a plastic dinosaur

>You feel the sweet, cold embrace of death as you bleed out on the floor.

the end

>Wait, no.

>That's just what you wished happened.

>Instead you swear a lot under your breath and get back up.

>Surveying the apartment, you see modest furniture, with a small couch and TV

>Behind said couch a tiny head with pink and brown hair and a pair of grey eyes are watching you intently.

>Weird. Realizing you've been having a staring match with someone across the room for roughly 15 seconds you decide to break the silence.

"Um...Hi."

>No response

>You walk towards this, as you've deduced using your superior 3B intellect, incredibly shy person kneeling behind the couch.

>The closer you get the lower down she goes.

>Not in the mood for this shit

"It's okay, Roman sent me, remember?"

>She seems to relax a bit at that, and her eyes seem to get a bit...pink?

>These kids just keep getting weirder

>She walks out from behind the couch

>She wasn't kneeling. she's just really really short

>Try to suppress laughter.

>If you'd have to guess, you were both roughly the same age, she's just short as shit. Is funny.

>She gives a timid little wave, looking like she's sizing up the window as an escape route.

"So...I'm anon, what's your name?"

>All you get is a stare

"Al....right..."

>Looks like she still doesn't trust you.

>You sit in the couch, sure she'll relax eventually

> You notice an umbrella that matches her clothing hanging on the coat rack nearby.

>That's not what coat racks are for goddammit

>Who the hell raised her like that?

>You notice her clothing.

>Bright white overcoat, with some sort of midriff...covery...thing that was tucked into the waist of her low pants, which were tucked into her knee high white boots. You notice the gap of skin between her pants and midriff thingy, allowing her hipbones to stick out.

>You never were into fashion, but this outfit is weird.

>Also, skinny and short? what has Roman been feeding this girl?

>Your gentlemanly disposition fitting your elevated 3B rank, you only just now notice her top shows a huge amount of cleavage.

>Like, damn.

>She's not as skinny as you thought.

>And you realize you've been staring at each other again.

>This is going to be an awkward night.

>You can't be attracted to her, Roman would probably kill you if you touched her.

>Besides, you're too creeped out by her to be attracted.

>It's always the quiet ones. Like that faunus chick that you used to roll with in the White Fang. She's trying to kill you now. Too many pussy jokes, if you'd have to guess.

>Deciding to actually do something tonight, you flick on the TV, and put on a movie. Some shit about two superheroes who touch dicks together or something, you weren't paying attention.

>You pat the couch next to you, and sure enough, she flops down on the couch, but as far away from you as she can. Which isn't very far.

>She seems to be relaxed by the end of the movie.

"So...do you have a name?"

>She jumps a bit at the question

>She stares at you again

>Her eyes are definitely pink now.

>Shit's weird. You really hope she'll stop that

"uh...Is that a no, or?"

>She gets frustrated at that.

>She puts her hand on her chin, in a half-pout, half deep thought pose

>It's fucking adorable

>She then sprints to the fridge in the small kitchen.

>She grabs something out of the freezer.

>It's a pint of Ice Cream

>She shows you the label, using her thumb to cover part of the name

"Neo? is that your name?"

>She nods enthusiastically and jumps up and down. And it's cute as fuck.

>She sits back down, much closer to you this time, and begins attacking the pint of Ice Cream like a hungry Grimm.

>She stops her assault long enough to look over at you, bits of ice cream all over her face.

>She holds the cup out to you.

>You figure why the hell not, you take a bite.

>You finish, and as you look over to her, you notice she's about a foot away from you

>How did she do that

>She comes even closer.

>Help

>She then runs her index finger across the side of your mouth, catching an errant drop of vanilla ice cream.

>She lets it run down her finger and then stares intensely into your eyes as she slowly licks her finger clean, never breaking eye contact.

>This goes on for a few more seconds, then she winks at you and runs into the other room

>HOLY WHAT

>What the fuck.

>You can't even

>You hear the shower kick on in the other room

>Welp, might as well get set up on the couch.

>Blankets probably in the bedroom, of which there is one.

>You notice some things laid out in the bed.

>Two school uniforms, one male, one female.

>Wait...

>School books, Scrolls and id passes for...

>WAIT

>Beacon

>OH

>OH FUCK NO.

>NEO HAS SOME SERIOUS AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND EXPLAINING TO DO.

>Neo comes out of the bathroom

>She's only wearing a towel.

>You know what, it can wait. You leave the room to give her some privacy. You still don't want to anger Roman by getting close with Neo.

> Neo lays down on the couch, still wearing a towel

>This is going to be a long night

>After some brief charades with Neo, you learn she knows just as much as you do.

>You call Roman

>Turns out the two of you are to infiltrate Beacon and keep tabs on some of the Hunters and Huntresses there.

>God damn you Roman, you sneaky chortling motherfucker

>"Listen kid. I'm only gonna say this once. Neo's never been out in public without me before. She's not as... accustomed to being around others as normal people are. Keep a close eye on her."

"will do, sir"

>"Good, because if you don't you'll wish you let Kittycat kill you back at the docks"

"roger that"

>"Good. You start tomorrow morning"

>Great. Neo is still in a towel, looks like she's about to doze off.

> You'd love to join he-NO. NO ANON, STOP IT.

>That shit can't happen, you like being alive.

>Neo isn't making this shit easy.

>It's you and Neo's first day at beacon

>Supposedly the two of you are late transfers from Signal

>You and Neo have just left your airship into the school, Neo carrying her umbrella, you carrying your weapon in a locked case. You assume her weapon, if she has one, is in the dorm.

>No sooner have you started to get your bearings, when an explosion of rose petals reveals a girl who was not standing in front of you two seconds ago, announcing herself with a loud "HIIII!"

>Totally didn't just shit yourself

>This goth red riding hood motherfucker is really friendly

>"HIIMRUBYWHATSYOURNAME"

>Help

"Er... anon. And this is Neo"

> You gesture to Neo, who is currently hiding behind you, and has been since you entered the crowd. You guess her lack of social interaction is to blame.

>Her eyes are grey again. you're pretty sure that happens when she's nervous.

>"WELLNICETOMEETYOUTWOMYTEAMISCALLINGMEBYE"

>She explodes into rose petals again.

>Off to a good start already.

>You remember what you're supposed to be doing and note what weapons the students are carrying.

>Mostly in cases, but some like to show off, like that guy with the mace. Like, just a mace.

>It doesn't even turn into a gun

>The hell kind of huntsman was he supposed to be?

>You look over and catch a glimpse of a girl with blonde hair.

>Her choice of armor catches your eye, or rather, unlike most hunters, she wasn't wearing any.

>Yep, her armor. Not the fact that she was wearing an incredibly low-cut top and tight spandex short shorts. that's not it at all.

>That's what you'd tell yourself, and also Neo, who was glaring at you and slowly nodding her head in disapproval.

>You two should probably get your dorm.

>Due to you joining late, you got a dorm all to yourselves.

>At least you don't have to worry about snoopers blowing your cover.

> You and Neo settle in immediately and she quickly pushes both the beds together in the middle of the room, under the window.

>She seems pretty proud of her creation, giving a showy arm motion like a host of a bad game show revealing a prize.

>Whatever, you can roll with it.

a few months pass

>After a few months of observation, and reporting back to Roman, the two of you have become very close.

>She never leaves your side.

>She's always watching for you, hanging onto your arm and happily twirling her umbrella (which you've learned is actually a concealed sword) around her wrist as you walk.

>It's not an intimate thing, it's just she feels safest like that, you suppose.

>She does follow you everywhere though.

>You've had to tell her not to try to come in the shower with you for the sake of your own privacy.

>A few times.

>A week.

>You know she's into you.

> On more than one occasion you feel she's tried to kiss you but backed out at the last second.

>It's sad, really.

>You love her too but fear Torchwick too much to act on it.

>Either way, you've still got a mission to do.

>More reports. You've always got work to do.

>You know the ins and outs of almost every student at Beacon.

>Where they're from, their past, everything

>Except Neo

>You know nothing of her.

>She seems a bit distant this week.

>Her usual happy demeanor is gone.

>Tonight is Solstice, the biggest festival in Remnant, when all the fragments of the moon align to make it look whole again, and represents a time of peace and love.

>Or some bullshit like that.

>You come back from a quick run to a neighboring room, to find Neo staring out the window at the full moon, and hundreds of celebrating people in the courtyard.

>She's not running up to hug you like she normally does.

>That can't be good.

>You sit next to her, and you catch her off guard, as she quickly looks away and hides her face.

>Is she...crying?

>You've never seen her cry, or show any emotion other than boundless love and happiness.

>You put your hand on her shoulder.

"Neo...what's wrong?"

>She then does something you've rarely seen her do.

>Neo pulls out a pen and paper and begins to write.

>Neo begins to write furiously on the paper.

>Looks like it's some pretty emotional stuff, she seems to be crying more.

>You feel like you forced her into this and feel like shit for it.

>The two of you sit there in absolute silence for several minutes while Neo fills an entire sheet of paper with words and a few errant tears.

>She finishes and hand the note to you, her eyes puffy and red, pupils a dark grey. >You've seen them a lighter color grey before, like when she's nervous.

> This is different.

>You can tell this is really hurting her.

>You should probably read that note.

"I need to tell you a story, from when I was just a little girl. My parents were out celebrating with friends, taking the night train into the mountains. I was left at home alone. As you probably learned, that night train was the victim of the first major Grimm attack in Vale history. They didn't make it out"

>More sobbing from Neo

"I remember watching tv at the time, before bed. I remember the news bulletin cutting in, showing the smoking wreck of the train and the Grimm attacking it. That's when I broke down. And then Roman showed up. Yes, before he was what he is new he wasa petty thief. He broke in to my house, thinking everyone was away for the night. He saw me sobbing in front of the TV, and put two and two together. He took me with him. I was forced into a life of crime, anon"

>You can't believe what you're reading.

"I didn't choose to be a a villain. I had no other choice. The things I've had to do working for Roman, I can't even write about. That's why I don't speak. I can't find the words. Being trapped in that apartment, only being brought out to do something terrible, I can't do it. Every time I protest, he claims I owe him, and I suppose I do. I don't really know happiness. until you came along. I felt something new. Love. I love you anon."

>Holy fuck

>You're going to murder that bowler hat wearing motherfucker.

>Neo stares into your eyes, tears in hers.

>Fuck it

>You practically tackle Neo and kiss her deeply.

>She jumps a bit, eyes wide, but when she figures out what's going on she pushes back just as hard, letting out a contented sigh as the two of you kiss.

>There's nothing else in the world besides you two.

>You both break for air

> You notice she's crying again.

>But this time it's different.

>You don't need words to read her feelings

>She's experiencing something that, as you've just learned, she hasn't felt in a long time.

>Joy.

>This is the first time you've felt really happy as well.

>You kiss Neo again

>You could get used to this.

>You decide to say what you've wanted to for a long time

"I love you Neo"

>You get another huge smile, more excited tears, and a another passionate kiss.

>And more of the silence you've become accustomed to

>Until

"I love you too, anon"