RWBYond Human
AN: New week new story. Thank God Adam isn't real because he'd probably be pissed that this story got postponed three times. It was originally going to be the first anthology story, then Jaune and his sisters, then Cinder's. But we're here now. I'm a bit worried that this is going to be too similar to RWBYond Destiny, but we'll see.
Chapter 1: I Don't
Adam had always had a rough life. Even now that the war was over, Faunas weren't exactly treated fairly. Adam didn't really understand why. He was only five years old. All he knew is that his mother had died in a hospital in Vacuo towards the end of the war. His father had died shortly before then. So, five-year-old Adam was technically on his own. But he wasn't alone. A few members of the White Fang organization looked after him. He didn't live with the Belladonnas, but if he was ever starving, or desperate for a bath and a warm bed, they were always there to help. In the meantime, he lived on the streets.
Adam kept to himself. He rarely interacted with people, especially humans. He could take care of himself well enough. He knew he couldn't rely on the Belladonnas' help, especially with a new born baby in the house. Even though Blake was turning two soon. They had their own problems, he had no right to become a burden to them.
Today was different. Today he wanted that delicious loaf of bread. It was an impulse really, and Adam was regretting it. The sun had barely begun to rise and he was being chased by a pair of people. They weren't very old, they looked younger than the adults. They had seen him swipe the loaf of bread and decided to give chase. One of them had some sort of collapsed weapon strapped to his hip.
Adam's heart was racing faster than his feet. He turned down an ally but the one with the weapon cut him off and punched him in the stomach. Adam tried getting up only to be kicked down from behind by the other guy.
"What do we have here?" The guy said. He was wearing a yellow shirt and jeans. He took his weapon out and unfolded it, revealing it to be a bat. Two more appeared from around the corner. They leaned against the ally walls while the other two stayed close to Adam.
"A little thief." The other one, who was wearing red, said. He grabbed Adam by the hair. "Horns? He's a Faunas."
"Typical." The one with the bat rammed the blunt end of his weapon into Adam's gut and the other punched him. "Why don't you go back to Menagerie where you belong?"
"You Faunas are nothing but trouble." Said Red-Shirt.
"You may have won your little battle for independence, but look around you, you've been nothing but a burden to us ever since." Yellow-Shirt said.
"Screw you!" Adam punched him in the face, but his fist was deflected by a flash of light.
"Give it up kid. We're second year students at Haven Academy. Try all you like but we're stronger than you." He slapped Adam across the face. Adam tossed him the bread.
"Take it and leave me alone." Adam said, wiping blood from his mouth.
"You think giving it back will change anything. You've already infected it with your stench." Red-Shirt said.
"If we leave you alone you'll probably steal again." Yellow-Shirt said. "So we're going to make sure you never think about stealing again." Adam's eyes went wide at the threat.
"Two grown men, beating up a toddler." A voice said. In an instant the two that had stayed silent were kicked into a pile of trash and thrown into a wall. "You're a disgrace to your profession." She moved like a blur and kicked the yellow shirt guy in the chin. She had a large, what appeared to be a sheath strapped to her hip. "Then again…" She smashed the sheath into the red shirt guy's face, forcing him to let Adam go. "Huntsmen really have been scraping the bottom of the barrel lately." The one that had picked up the bread took a swing at her, but he was kicked in the stomach. The woman caught the bread as it left the man's hand. "And second years? I think it's time for Venice Azul to call the headmaster business quits."
"Listen toots." The yellow shirt guy stood up and pointed his bat at her. Now that she was standing still Adam could see her. She wore a red outfit and had feathery black hair that drifted down her back. Her face was obscured by an elaborate mask.
"Come again?" She sounded irritated.
"We were just doing our job. The police would have done the same."
"I don't recall beating a defenseless child to be the huntsmen's job. Leave that to the parents."
"Listen, I usually wouldn't be so easy to forgive someone that ruffed up my team."
"Oh, this'll be good."
"But there's four of us and one of you."
"Bring four to ten more and we'll make it a challenge."
"Shut your cocky mouth!" He swung his bat at her. Whatever happened next, happened in an instant.
"It is WAY too early for this shit." She said. In the blink of an eye she had moved forward several feet. A sword chinked back into place in its sheath. The bat clanged to the ground. The man dropped to his knees. A small line of blood went from him to the ally wall.
"You bitch. You cut my thumb off."
"If you hurry you can get it reattached." The woman said condescendingly.
"How…how did you do it? My aura was still in the green."
"Well then what a pathetic excuse for an aura you must have. Against a real man that wouldn't have even been a paper cut." The other three jumped her. They tried punching and kicking her but she didn't move. In fact, she yawned. With just a few quick strikes they were down on the ground. "Better get going if you ever want your thumb back."
The four people scrambled back up and made a run for it. The woman looked at Adam, or at least Adam was sure she was looking at him. She flipped him a few credits and gave a sigh. She then turned and walked away.
"Thank you." Adam said.
"No problem." The woman waved without turning back.
"Are you a Faunas?"
"Nope." She stopped and turned to him. "What gave you that impression?"
"Only other Faunas have ever helped me."
"Well then, sucks to be you. There's plenty of good people if you know where to look." She kept walking and Adam followed after her.
"Can you teach me how to do all that."
"No."
"But I want to be strong."
"Then when you're old enough, join a combat school."
"But I don't want to be like them. I want to be as strong as you."
"Flattery won't work kid. How old are you anyway? Four? Five?"
"I'm five." Adam was struggling to keep up with her long strides. "I want to be as strong as you."
"Then do as I already told you. It worked for me."
"I'm not willing to take that chance."
"Go. Home. You. Stupid. Brat."
"I don't have a home, or a family. How can I hope to be strong unless I stick with someone like you?"
"Oh no you don't." She turned around. Adam looked at her pleadingly. "I am not about to be guilt tripped by some stranger. If I wanted to spend time with a kid, I'd go back home and deal with that insufferable lot."
"You don't have to take me in or anything. I can take care of myself. I just want you to train me." He bowed respectfully to her. She muttered something under her breath, something about summer, odd because it was fall.
"Why do you want to get stronger little boy?" She said through her teeth.
"So that I don't have to worry about bullies anymore." Adam said.
"God…damn it." She muttered. "What's your name?"
"Adam Taurus." He said.
"A Grimm surname? That's a bit demeaning. Well from one Grimm name to another, you can simply call me Nevermore."
"Thank you Ms. Nevermore."
"Damn it, don't call me Ms." She started rubbing her temples. "I'll train you, but on my time." She knelt down in front of him. He could see her eyes now, peering from the four little slots, they were red, just like his. She handed him a pendant that looked like a horseshoe. "Go to the north gate of Haven Arena every day at noon. Somedays I'll be there, most days I won't. That's where we'll do your training."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. I've never trained anyone, and the only way I know how is hell."
"I'm not afraid."
"You will be." They walked into a restaurant. "I suppose sense you followed me this far, might as well have company for breakfast."
"Ah, Arbiter Nevermore." The waiter said. "Right this way." He led her to a room with a long table. "The usual accommodations for you and your son."
"He's not my son." Nevermore cleared up.
"But I thought, with the eyes…"
"Just a coincidence. He's a kid I decided to help out of the kindness of my heart." Nevermore took a seat. "Coffee, black, and some bagels."
"Of course Nevermore." The waiter said. "And you, young man?"
"I'll have waffles and a glass of milk." He said.
"Bring us both some eggs and bacon as well." Nevermore said.
"Of course. I suppose all of this will be paid for by your group account?"
"As always. I have a feeling my boss will be ecstatic that I've picked up a potential pupil." The waiter scurried off. Nevermore removed her mask, confirming Adam's suspicions. Not only were her eyes red, but her face was white as snow. She was the most beautiful woman Adam had ever seen. She didn't look any older than Mrs. Belladonna.
"So…you're first names Arbiter?" Adam asked.
"No, that's just my job title. Nevermore's not my real name either. But that's not your business."
"And…your boss…he's not going to be mad…is he?"
"Nope. I was not being sarcastic with that response. He actually encourages us having pupils to train in our free time. Says they make good potential future Arbiters. At least two of my associates were at some point trained by a previous Arbiter."
"Were you?"
"No." The waiter came in with her coffee and a glass of milk for Adam before scurrying back away. "In fact, I've only known about their existence for a few years now."
"What are they like?"
"That's not my secret to tell." Nevermore took a sip of her coffee. "I'm not about to tell a stranger anything about my personal life or my profession. All you need to know is that it keeps me really busy and despite that, they encourage taking students. That's the only reason why you're here."
"Then why were you so mean earlier."
"Because you are five." She took a bite from a bagel. "I still have my apprehensions for training someone as young as you."
"I understand." He took a drink of his milk. "If I were older I wouldn't be such a burden…right?"
"You'd certainly be easier to push right into things."
"Like I'd be ready to take whatever you throw at me."
"That's right. You're so young I'll have to take it easy."
"I promise; it won't be that way forever."
"For your sake, it better not last more than a year."
An: Sarcastic and condescending Raven is my favorite Raven. The big question is; how do I make Adam sympathetic. At least with RWBYond Destiny, I laid the ground works of Cinder being sympathetic in the chapters featuring her in RWBYond Vale. Adam, is actually easier because keep in mind, Blake did look up to him at one point. So the majority of this story will be the Adam Blake loved. Also, the irony of this story, the origins of a terrorist, starting on 9/11, is not lost on me. Please Review, Follow and Favorite.