Disclaimer: Yeah, no way I am owning Rwby, no surprises there

Well, what can I say, I just wanted to write a one shot about Adam different from how he ended up in the series (Having basically the worst cases of villain decay in the history of villains), nothing more to it.

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''Is this truly what we have come to?''

This was the question he asked himself when he let his gaze wander the base. True, it was in a good condition, but it was nothing compared to what it once had been. Were he once could see dozens of Faunus walking around, working at their tasks, standing guard, or even just spending some free time, he could now only find empty hallways. It had been almost a minute since had last seen one of his soldiers.

''I wonder where we went wrong?''

But he knew, he knew exactly were they had gone wrong, no, were he had gone wrong. It was the moment he had not struck down that women, the moment he had allowed her to gather strength before returning and subjugating him as if he was an animal. Merely the thought of this women made Adams blood boil, she was what had brought them to this point and he had let her, because he was not strong enough. How many of his brothers and sisters had he been forced to send to their deaths because of this dirty Human and her master's goals? He knew that he could never be forgiven for submitting to her, but what was he supposed to do? In the end he had been powerless, forced to kneel before that women as if he was a dog and she his master.

''I should have died right then and there.''

Then at least he would have been spared this pathetic sight. The once proud White Fang nothing more then an empty husk, it's members dead or jumped ship, convinced by the stupid speeches of Blake and her parents. Blake, another name that filled his mind with rage. Why had she betrayed him? It was him who saw her potential and took her under his wing. Who taught her how to fight. Who told her what it was like for so many of their brothers and sisters. Carefully he touched his mask, he who showed her what happened to them.

''I was so proud of her.''

Watching her progress had filled him with so much pride. What had once been a small girl who wanted nothing more than for her brothers and sisters to live in peace had become a proud warrior, his partner. He could fight without fear or hesitation because he knew that she would always be there to protect his back. Just like he would protect hers. He had been so sure of her, she had been his beloved student.

In time she might have become more but that was pointless to think about now wasn't it? It was never to happen, because of her betrayal. She had abandoned him, just like that, after all he had done for her she betrayed him, and for what?

''FOR A FEW DIRTY HUMANS!''

It was all her fault. With her by his side he would have been strong enough to take down Cinder. He would have been able to save the White Fang from this fate, but in the end he wasn't, because he had been alone. No, she rather became a huntress, playing lapdog for that fool Ozpin.

Couldn't she see that all he had ever wanted was for them to be free, to make sure that no Faunus would ever have to live in fear of humanity again? Couldn't she understand the despair their people felt when they could not even buy food without having to fear being denied service? The despair at being forced to work as slaves for those accursed Schnees, being branded like cattle? But that was not the worst she had done, not the worst betrayal she had committed. She had hidden away her ears, she was ashamed of what she was, ashamed of being a Faunus and Adam could never forgive her for that.

''Sir, we have got intruders, it's the Atlas military, they have got Hunters with them!''

The voice of the White Fang soldier ripped him out of his thoughts. So it finally was time.

''I see, everyone is to evacuate right now.''

The soldier saluted.

''At once Sir, where will we go to?''

Adam almost smirked, it seemed the soldier had misunderstood his intention.

''We will go nowhere, you will go and save your lives, I will stay and hold them back.''

At this, the soldier could not hide his shock.

''But sir, without you the White Fang is lost. You are the last one still willing to fight for our cause. You have to survive, what do our lives matter in comparison to yours?''

These words truly touched Adam and he curved his lips into what he hoped was a kind smile, he wanted to reassure the soldier, not scare him.

''You give me too much credit, look where I have led us. The White Fang is already finished and I am a dead man walking, just waiting for his executioner to arrive. The least I can do is make sure that at least you guys survive and maybe take a few of those humans with me. Live your lifes, go home to your families and tell them of who we were and of what we fought for. Who knows, maybe one day someone else will take up my banner, someone who will not fail you as I did.''

It hurt to speak those words but he knew that they were true, he had failed them all and now it was time to pay the piper. But the soldier didn't move, hadn't he heard his orders?

''I am afraid I cannot do that sir.''

This confused him.

''What? Why not, didn't you hear me when I ordered you to leave, there is no need for you to die here as well.''

But the soldier remained standing, determination fuelling his voice.

''Maybe not sir, but I will still stay with you, we all will. True, there might not be any need for us to die on this day, but is that alone really enough of a reason to leave you?

There was no need to reach out your hand to some poor orphan that barely managed to scrape together enough food either and yet you did. You allowed him to become something he could be proud of being, to fight for something that he could be proud to fight for, to die for. You may not even remember it but I do. At that moment you gave me a life that was worth living for, so isn't it only right for me to pay it back now?

And it is not just me. You helped so many of us, gave us hope, power, and the courage to finally stand up and fight back against the injustice we had to face every single day. We were finally able to fight back against those dirty Humans. If anyone has failed then it was us who could not live up to the expectation you had in us, who could never hope to become as strong as you are.''

''He is right you know, none of us are going to let you die alone, how could we ever look in the mirror again if we ran away.''

Adam had been so shocked by the soldiers that he had not noticed the other soldier getting nearer. And it was not only him, looking around he could see three more.

''Don't worry sir, we will keep those small fries away from you, you just focus on giving those Hunters hell.''

''Yeah, don't worry, if it is for you I will gladly give my life, those dirty Humans won't know what hit them.''

''I am sorry for not being able to properly repay you for all that you did for us but at the very least I can buy you some time.''

This overwhelmed him, those idiots, did they not understand that they would never go back home again if they did that? That they would be crushed beneath Atlas military might? That none of them would leave this place alive?

But no, looking at them he saw nothing but determination, they knew exactly what they were doing. They meant every word of what they had said and for that Adam was more thankful then he could ever express to them. He took one final look at them before reaching up to his face, to his mask, hiding the shameful brand covering his eye. He hesitated only for a second, then he pulled it off. He could hear one of the men gasp in shock and another growling in pure rage but he did not regret his decision.

''I have no need for this anymore, we showed humanity that we could be the monsters they wanted us to be. Now it's time to show them that behind those masks we are people, people that only wanted to live without fear.''

The Soldiers looked at each other before slowly reaching up and taking off their own masks, proudly displaying their faces. He took one final look at them before turning around, towards were he know the Hunters would be, Blake would be. She would not let this chance to get him slip through her fingers.

''Goodbye my brothers.''

And with that he took off, running through the halls at inhuman speed. He could hear the sound of fighting coming from almost all directions, his remaining soldiers would fight until the last Faunus. It didn't take long before he saw the first Atlas Soldiers, and they him.

''FUCK, it's Taur...''

He never got to finish his sentence, Adams blade cutting him in half as if he was nothing more then leaf in the wind. Before his comrades could truly register what had happened they met their end as well, Adams blade cutting fast and merciless, yet with a deadly beauty.

Finally he slowed down when he reached the main chamber. Were once dozens upon dozens of proud soldiers had awaited his orders, now stood no more than five persons, four girls and a man. Adam recognized them, how could he not after all?

''So, you have finally come, I had wondered how long it would take.''

The man, Qrow, Adam believed he was called, was the first to answer him.

''Nice look you have going for you there, didn't want to play monster anymore? Can't really say the whole tattoo stuff fits you better, kinda ugly you know?''

He scoffed, the Human was trying to make him angry and normally, he mused, it would probably have worked. But not today, the human would get his answer.

''Well, I can thank the Schnees for that, they really like to mark their 'property' ''

The last word he spat out like a curse, so much for not letting himself be angered. He could see the little Schnee look down ashamed as if that would right the wrongs her family committed against his people, against him. He started to reach for his blade when Blake spoke up.

''Please just stop Adam, don't you see this is madness? You cannot win against us, the White Fang is finished, you have lost. At least try to right some of the wrongs you committed. Can't you see that you only fight for your own satisfaction, that what you do won't help the Faunus?!''

He was not sure what reaction Blake was expecting of him but by now he was beyond caring.

''The wrongs I have committed?''

His voice was calm, quiet, dangerous.

''Which wrongs are you talking about Blake? That I refused to be treated like an animal any longer, that I fought for our brothers and sister, fought to make sure that our kind could live in peace? Yes, I may have lost, failed the White Fang, failed our people but at the least I tried, where no one else had the courage. I STOOD UP AND I FOUGHT! ALL I EVER DID WAS TOO ENSURE THAT WE COULD LIVE IN PEACE!''

He needed to calm down, yelling was useless, as was talking, it had never worked before, it wouldn't work now. With a sad sigh he continued to speak.

''But you could never understand that, could you Blake? Always hiding behind your disgusting self-righteousness and preaching me about matters you fail to understand yourself, just like a human. That is all they have ever done. No, there can be no more talk, this will end here and now.''

And with that he shot forward, his hand on Wilt, his eyes aimed at Blake's throat. Before he could reach her however he saw movement to his right, a fist aimed for his face.

It was the blonde girl he hat cut down at Beacon, it seemed she had not learned her lesson. He had to admit that she was fast, but he was faster, Wilt meeting the fist before it could connect.

He kicked the girl aside, he quickly needed to get into their middle. If he could not restrict their movements he would not even last 10 seconds, he was too heavily outnumbered. Maybe if he was fast enough he could pin them down and force them to engage him at close range. This time he aimed at the small girl with the oversized scythe, but before he could reach her he stumbled and she... he was not sure what exactly she did but the next moment she was at the edge of the room. He quickly looked around, not only she but her teammates as well, the only one still close to him was the older Hunter, Qrow, a mocking grin on his lips.

''Ups, that seemed like really bad luck right there, I mean really, for a trained warrior like you too suddenly stumble like that.''

Adam realized that it was the Hunter that caused him to stumble, even if he did not know how he had managed that. Not giving the Hunter any more chances to act and repeat whatever had caused him to stumble he shot forward, shooting the hunter with Blush while once again getting ready to pull out Wilt.

But Adam knew that he was outmatched. He could see it more clearly with every second they fought, the Hunter was the most skilled opponent Adam had ever fought and while he believed himself to at least be able to match his skill he found himself making mistakes that he hadn't made for a long time. It probably had something to do with the Hunters semblance. Sadly he had no way to figure out what it was and therefore try to counter it. The only chance he saw for himself to land a decisive blow with his own semblance and take the Hunter out in one blow.

But that hope was quickly destroyed when he realized that the girls did not intend for the fight to be a one on one. He knew that it was over when the blonde girls punch connected and threw him across the room, only being stopped by the wall. His Aura wouldn't be able to take another hit.

But he would not give up that easily, he would not go down without a fight, at the very least he would take one of them with him. He could see Blake running towards him, probably trying to finish him off herself. She would do nicely.

He reached for Wilt, he knew that he had enough power stored to cut through her Aura with a single blow. He saw her come closer and waited for the right moment, there, she was almost on him. With one fluid motion he pulled out his Blade while at the same time turning around, a single movement to cut the Blake behind him across the chest. As if he would fall for her clones. She seemed to have forgotten who had trained her. He could see her eyes widening in shock, he had her. And then he felt only pain, the sword was rammed deep inside his chest. He did not understand, where had that Hunter come from, he was sure that he had been behind him.

''Can't let you do that buddy, you see, it would look really bad if I let the same scum that hurt my niece kill her partner. I would say that it was nice knowing you but that would be a lie. Really, I wonder what drives folk like you to do such stupid shit as terrorism, doesn't really seem to work out well you see?''

Hearing this Adam let out a hollow chuckle, so he had not even managed to take one of them down with him, how pathetic.

He felt his strength leaving his body, glancing down he was surprised just how big the hole in his chest was, the man really knew what he was doing. His legs refused to carry him any more and he fell to the ground coughing out blood.

So this was what it felt like to die huh, it really sucked. He did not want to show weakness to those humans or his traitorous student, but in his final moments he could not help but think back to when he was still a child, slaving away in the Schnee dust corporation mines. It was hard work and little food or rest day in and day out. That is until one day the old dog Faunus, he never got to hear his name, escaped together with him. He made it, the old dog had not, he knew that had he not taken Adam along he probably would have survived.

He could not understand why he had given his life just so Adam could survive. He was just some random child that had never known the life outside the dust mines. Sure, he was still young and the dog old but he still hadn't had a reason to give his last few years to save some stranger. He never forgot the old man's answer to his question, his last words, the very same he had now on his lips, breathing his last breaths, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He could not tell if it was for those he had slain or those he had failed to save, maybe it was even for himself.

''I just could not stand to watch the suffering anymore.''

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My Beta reader is Murphy Sl4w

Anyways, I am happy to hear whatever kind of reaction you guys have. Even harsh critic is welcome, as long as it is a critic. Senseless insults don't really help me get better at writing after all.