Neopolitan swung her legs idly as she glared up at the clear blue sky. A small pout graced her lips, and her currently green eyes were sharp and rigid. While anyone could easily perceive her as bored, that was anything but the case.

The lovely ice cream enthusiast was pissed.

It took someone with a lot of knowledge concerning the girl herself, and that knowledge only resided in her fellow criminals, that being Roman, Mercury, Emerald, Cinder, and the other guys that didn't really matter. Or, in Neo's mind they didn't.

Just two days ago, her partner in crime, Roman Torchwick, was imprisoned by the biggest idiot in all of Remnant, General Ironwood. Yeah, Neo was livid.

Granted, she was partially responsible for his imprisonment. She willingly helped Mercury fight off Lynae and Slate, with an almost giddy glee might she add, but she wasn't aware that Ruby had run off specifically because she spotted her ginger-haired friend. She merely assumed Lynae had backed her into a corner since the hawk faunus seemed so interested in Mercury's relationship with the cloaked girl.

Obviously, if Lynae had been watching little Ruby so closely, it went far beyond interest, and for Lynae to jump at the opportunity to try and at the very least spook the team leader was pretty alarming, if she looked at it through Mercury's eyes. She swore one day he'd have a heart attack over the amount of thought he put into the girl's safety, even if he didn't consciously know he was thinking of it.

But she was getting off topic.

The problem is that since Roman wasn't sulking around the hideouts anymore, that meant Neo had no one to really pester during the day. Yeah, there was Mercury, but he spent most of his time on campus with the students, primarily Ruby, and with her around he was a lot less irritable, and that meant his reactions weren't nearly as amusing. Neo needed some one-on-one criminal talk from time to time, it didn't mean she was needy in the slightest!

She closed her eyes, breathing in the crisp air. Maybe she could somehow find a way to meet him on Ironwood's ship? Maybe she could convince Ruby to help with that. Ozpin seemed to favor the silver eyed girl, and with that favoritism on her side, then Neo was sure to be able to see him at the very least once, right?

Then again, she would need a reason. What would that reason be? Information? Possibly, considering Neo could easily communicate with him through sign language and she could feed Ironwood false information as directed by Roman. She couldn't really think of another reason...hmm…

Before she could brainstorm more, or alternatively, impulsively seek out Ruby to try and weasel her way onto that ship, the sun that she could see through her eyelids was suddenly blocked out, and the sudden coolness on her skin clued her into the fact that someone was standing in a position that casted a shadow over her small form. She felt her eye twitch in annoyance before her eyes popped open.

"Nyx? What's got you sad?" The redheaded boy asked as he peered down at her, and Neo cocked her head at the concerned look in those green eyes.

Abruptly, Neo sat up before swinging her legs around and sitting properly on the bench, grinning slightly at Scarlet. She wasn't lying when she said that he was a cute one, and she forced Roman out of her mind as she let a twinkle of faked happiness enter her eyes. She took out her scroll and typed quickly, showing it to Scarlet a moment later.

{Sad isn't in my vocabulary, Scarlet. You were just blocking my sun}

Scarlet didn't look convinced, but he chuckled softly anyway before taking the seat on the bench beside the small woman. "Well, sorry love. What's brought you out here then?"

{Mercury is out with Ruby, and I'm not hanging out with Emerald or Cinder. So… here I am~}

"Ah, I see." Scarlet leant back on the bench, the red coat falling from around his shoulders. "Ever since the breach those two have been joined at the hip, ey?"

Neo felt a pout automatically come to her face as she bobbed her head in an almost childish fashion, gazing out at the peaceful courtyard. Bleh, too bland here.

"Are you… jealous to see them together all the time now?" Scarlet broached carefully, seeing an annoyed being sent his way by Neo. "I mean, I know you don't like that bloke Mercury in that way… but he's your lad, right?"

{Please speak English}

He blinked, "But I am—"

{No you're not. You're speaking Scarlet}

"…speaking 'Scarlet'?"

{Yes, the language where you make up words that no one knows and have a funny accent} Neo's mouth twitched as she watched his face morph into pure shock and slight offense, his mouth opening slightly as his face scrunched together in the awkwardest ways.

"Make up words? I— are you having a laugh?" Scarlet spluttered, still staring at the scroll. Neo was smiling fully now, her shoulders heaving in silent laughter as she typed a response.

{Well I'm laughing, if that's what you're asking. I can never be fully sure however}

He made an odd squawking noise that she supposed was supposed to be a scoff of indignation, but it came across more as an amusing bird noise. Neo giggled without making a noise before she playfully poked his nose, watching with a wide smile as he huffed and crossed his arms.

"Alright, calm down, it's not that amusing."

{It is to me~}

Scarlet leveled an unamused look at her, and Neo merely grinned while kicking her feet, scuffing them on the ground once in awhile. The redhead quickly lost his annoyed expression before that weird concerned look overtook him again. Neo wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

"You kind of avoided the question though, love. So, does it bother you?"

Neo narrowed her eyes at the green eyed man, suspicion overtaking her. It was most likely Roman's influence, because despite how much she loved the sarcastic crime lord, he could be quite paranoid at times. More so than that one White Fang member he always talked to. What did Roman say his name was? Perry or something?

{Why do you care?}

He seemed surprised at that question, tapping his boot on the ground as he replied, "Because I know how much you put into getting those lovebirds together. Figured after that was done, you wouldn't have something to do… Sun mentioned you only did it to see what would happen."

{While that's true, where did you get the 'have nothing to do' part?}

"What are you doing right now?" Scarlet challenged.

Neo puffed out her cheeks before making a small hmph. He wasn't wrong, since after the lovely DJS worked smashingly, she really wasn't needed to do much in getting the little gem and the confused spoon together beyond a few redirections on Mercury's part. Now they were together, and Neo… wasn't really needed.

She hadn't had the time to think about it until now. It kind of sucked to be honest.

"…no worries, Nyx." Scarlet wound an arm around her shoulder and shook her in a friendly manner. "I'm sure after they get through that pesky honeymoon stage of the relationship Mercury will spend more time with you."

Neo frowned. It was weird to actually think that she wished for that to be so. A few weeks ago and she would have gagged at the possibility.

She ignored that stray thought though, and merely arched a brow before pointedly looking at the arm around her. Scarlet went red at that, and he drew away quickly before looking away awkwardly.

Aww, he's a shy one. Well, those can be fun too.

Bouncing up onto her feet, Neo skipped away before turning slightly and looking expectantly at her, to which Scarlet stood with an unsure expression. Neo huffed, typing quickly in her scroll.

{Come on handsome, I'm bored. Let's find something to do}

Scarlet crossed his arms, thinking, "Well… I can show you around Vale? I heard you, Mercury and Ruby went out for ice cream, but there's always more to see in a city."

Neo thought on that for a moment, tilting her head upward as her eyes were looking up and off to the side in a cute and peculiar manner. Eventually, Neo grinned and nodded before wiggling her arm between his crossed arms, making it so their arms were linked.

{Sounds good! Escort me, good sir} A wink accompanied the message.

Scarlet laughed before obliging, directing them towards the airstrip, "Why do I get the impression you're going to be looking for trouble while in Vale?"

{Uh-uh, not looking} Neo corrected with a feral smile, {I AM trouble, darling}

And so began the adventures of Cherry on Top.

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Hello there~ welcome to the new trash ship that I now ship reaaaaally hard. ScarletxNeo anyone?

Welp, this is linked and canon to my MercxRuby fic, Wilted. I'm planning on making this little side story about ten chapters, just to establish Scarlet and Neo's relationship without taking away from the main pairing of Quicksilver in Wilted. I hope I can convert some lovely readers to this ship just like I have successfully done so with MercuryxRuby!

Happy writing to all! Lonessa out ;)