Chapter 2: A Certain Duo
...When was the last time he had actually sat down and properly taken the time to enjoy a meal, to savor its taste and flavor?
As Adam felt the crisp tang of pineapple run over his tongue and slowly slip down his throat, the unfamiliar sensation a welcome change of pace-
-wait. Pineapple?
And just like that the Faunus' mood soured, stabbing into his bowl of fruit with annoyance, as if the breakfast was personally responsible for this affront.
He'd figured his newest circumstances would be confusing. Merging his soul with that of the Human's meant the influx of a lifetimes worth of memories and foresight that wasn't his would be a monumental task of recognizing what was real and what wasn't. He'd been worried he'd have to fight and constantly focus on who he was, a perpetual struggle to maintain an ego of his own.
...Instead what had occurred was a constant stream of low-level mistakes and conflicting identities that largely served to merely piss him off.
A Hakardi-head screwdriver was a Phillips-head screwdriver. A bottle of refreshing Nistam water was instead Dasani water. And now a gourd fruit, freshly picked from the desert oasis dotting Menagerie, was a damned pineapple.
...He actually almost missed having Carl in his head, if only so he could voice his complaints to the Human. High, loud and repeatedly.
"And just what did that poor fruit do to you, Adam?"
The bull Faunus looked up from his vengeful spearing of tangy culprit to meet Sienna's amused gaze, biting back an irritated growl as he grumpily chewed on it, replying, "Nothing. Just thought of an annoying Human I met a while ago."
The tiger Faunus raised an eyebrow, asking, "You met an annoying Human? I suppose it would be safe to assume that they're dead then?"
"Not nearly dead enough. Whatever, it's not important."
Which was the opposite of true but he wasn't about to admit that. To her credit Sienna merely raised an eyebrow before stating, "Moving on then...do you feel better, having rested now?"
"I actually feel immeasurably worse. But there's no way in Hell I can tell her what happened."
"I do. I'll leave for Vale tomorrow and begin familiarizing myself with the assets and forces we have on hand."
Seeing as how it was just the two of them in the cafeteria at the moment, Sienna was being her far more relaxed self, dropping her chin into an open palm as she glared at him, remarking, "That isn't three days rest, Taurus."
"But it's almost two, and that's about what you expected me to actually take, correct?"
A roll of the tiger Faunus' eyes answered Adam's query perfectly.
"Well I hope you're ready for this upcoming operation then. I'm sending Illia to the Vale branch in a few weeks once she's back and the girl is going to be distraught once she catches wind of Blake's disappearance."
Adam's grip briefly tightened around the fork in his grasp before it relaxed, the knowledge that Blake would also be in Vale and that he could meet her then calming him slightly.
Instead he asked, "The chameleon Faunus? I remember her. Had a significant crush on Belladona but never truly pursued it."
"Indeed. Shame about her love that could never be, seeing as how the two of you ended up so close."
Adam merely shrugged, replying, "She had a better chance than she gave herself credit for. I'm fairly certain Blake is bisexual. And we weren't dating."
A brief silence fell over the room, Sienna blinking once before saying, "Oh. I never knew that."
"Not many did."
Including him, if it weren't for all of those damned memories cascading throughout his brain, of how the cat Faunus fell for that Human woman, Yang.
…
That revelation was going to take some getting used to.
"Hmm..it seems I was right."
Adam glanced up at Sienna as he idly buttered a slice of bread.
"About what?"
"About you needing rest. You seem-and are acting-far more at ease right now than I've seen you in years."
The bull Faunus cocked his head in open disbelief. He didn't feel more at ease, if anything he felt more aggravated and annoyed than ever.
"I am?"
"You are."
Sienna briefly frowned before admitting, "You know, for a long time I was worried about you, Adam."
"...Sorry, you were what?"
The leader of the White Fang gave him a frown.
"Don't play dumb, Taurus. You were taking on ever more dangerous missions, throwing yourself into a crusade with the only rest being your travels from hotzone to hotzone. And your methods were changing, too. Whereas before, when we still worked together, you were surgical and measured in your actions, killing only in defense or where it would have the greatest impact, refraining from wholesale slaughter. I honestly believed I was going to have to reign you in at the rate you were going, or that you were going to end up a martyr to the cause."
Adam decided not to comment, knowing exactly how that had turned out.
Instead Sienna smiled, stating, "But then you show up here, seemingly a calmer and more composed man, admitting that you're stressed and in need of a break...however brief. It's nice to see the old Adam Taurus is still around."
His glass of water a more welcome sight to behold-lest Sienna see his awkward and shy expression-Adam slowly replied, "Well...that's nice to hear?"
His leader snorted in amusement.
"And you're still just as horrible at responding to honest praise as ever. Some things really don't change."
That caused Adam to scowl, Sienna openly laughing at his expression.
Setting Wilt and Blush at his bedside and laying down next to them Adam let his thoughts wander, once more going through his newfound memories and trying to work out an acceptable plan that would both ensure his people's ascendance...and keep the world from going mad.
His fingers tightened into fists, jaw locking in frustration.
...What had he been thinking, ensuring the destruction of Beacon and ravaging of Vale?!
He felt little remorse-practically none-for the 'innocent' Humans that had been lost in the ensuring chaos...but how could he justify all the Faunus that would have perished alongside them? While far from a perfect place, of all the kingdoms and townships that dotted this land Vale would have placed low on his list of overtly racist cities...consequently, there were a fair number of Faunus who resided there.
And they would have been slaughtered indiscriminately by the Grimm right alongside those he would have been happy to see burn. That was not an acceptable course of action!
What had happened to him, that he condoned such a horrific plan? Threatened by Cinder? Bah! He could have thought of a hundred different ways to escape her influence, if he had ever really cared about the consequences of his decisions. Instead he had played along, sacrificing countless soldiers and innocents in some grand ambition to...to…
…
To hurt Blake, seemingly.
That memory, of all the ones he now had, stuck out to him the most.
Of her fruitlessly trying to run, to convince him to stop...of how it hadn't been a Faunus to come to her aid but a Human.
...Fine.
He could be honest with himself.
It had been a Human that held no animosity whatsoever towards Faunus, who hadn't weighed the pros and cons of intervening in a Faunus matter...only a teammate and friend who saw her partner in danger, attacking without a second thought.
A Human girl that he had subsequently mentally and physically crippled, just to torment a woman he had once professed to love.
A tired sigh leaked past Adam's lips, his arm thrown across his eyes, mask discarded for the moment.
...He really wishedCarl had been a fool. It would have been easy to agree with him if he had said that Adam was right in his hatred of Humans. It would have been even easier to ignore him if he had said to give up his crusade and play nice with everybody, the advice of a naive and idealistic idiot.
Instead, he had told him to take the middle ground...to apply context. And no matter how much he tried to ignore that damnable Human's words, memories and examples...his brief stint inside Adam's head had left a lasting impression.
He simply couldn't go back to how he was before, knowing what he now did.
...Knowing that there were truly good Humans that existed, who would give their lives in a heartbeat for a Faunus without a second thought.
Humans who's lives he had made infinitely worse through his seemingly mad desire for destruction and validation.
…
Taking the middle road-the right road-was going to be magnitudes upon magnitudes more difficult than either labeling Humans as inherently good or inherently bad.
...Dammit, if he was going to commit to this new paradigm he would have to rethink nearly everything.
More to the point, what was he going to do about Cinder, Salem and their plan to harness the power of the Maidens and Artifacts? And how would he manage to ensure that his people finally became the equals of Humans, while simultaneously keeping alive a kingdom that labeled him a murdering terrorist?
The enormity of what faced him-and the knowledge that he couldn't just take the easier option, not without betraying himself-briefly overwhelmed the young man, his palms digging into eyes in a desperate attempt to ward off an anxious headache-
"Remember, boy...that there exist only two factors in this world that matter. What a person wants, and what they're willing to do to get it. If you have a measure of your enemy and their limits, you will have the key to defeating them. If you have the measure of yourself and your limits, you need not fear defeat, as you will know when you have been beaten and can retreat. Know these two things, and the world as you desire it will be ripe for the taking."
Adam's gaze fell on Wilt and his mask, rewards from his teacher, acknowledgment that he'd been one of the few worthy of her lessons and teachings.
...Right. He needed to focus, to define what he wanted and what he was prepared to sacrifice in order to achieve it.
He wanted the Faunus to become equal or superior to Humans. He wanted to punish those responsible for his losses and the losses of countless others...and now he wanted to safeguard those few Humans that were innocent, or at the very least not responsible for degrading his people's lives even further.
What he was prepared to give up? Practically anything...expect his pride and morals. He'd seen what that had done to him in those future visions and he refused to let them come to pass.
Very well, now he had his conditions for victory and limits on what he could and could not do...how best to achieve them, especially since they contradicted each other in a few key areas?
And he needed to bear in mind his knowledge of the future would likely only be useful up to a point, already he had changed things by not being immediately recruited by Cinder.
So he needed an event that was too important not to happen as it occurred in the future, despite different events leading up to it. And it needed to be an event that could satisfy the conditions he had set for himself.
…
The attack on Beacon, then. But how could he use that assault as a means to inspire equality, keep a city safe and ensure that the many innocents involved-as many as possible-survived to see another...day…
…
A small, honest smile pulled at Adam's lips as the beginnings of both a plan and answer presented itself. And old, boyhood dream that he had long ago given up on suddenly seeming like a fantasy no longer.
"You're sure about this?"
Adam nodded as the bullhead began its final list of pre-flight checkups, the engines quietly rumbling to life as Sienna gave him a skeptical gaze.
"Going to Vale with only the barest of plans? I'd make a joke about your horns, but that's low hanging fruit."
Adam rolled his eyes beneath his mask, dryly replying, "How lucky I am that you didn't, then."
The tiger Faunus grinned, remarking, "Adam Taurus? Understanding and responding to a joke? Roll out the end times, they're upon us."
"I liked you better when you were imperious and authoritative."
"I have to do that all the time these days. Sorry, Taurus, but you're one of the few I can be myself around."
"And there within lies the crux of the problem."
Snickering to herself Sienna eventually lost some of her mirth, asking, "You'll truly be all right?"
Adam offered an equally serious nod.
"I may not have a plan in its entirety...but I know where to start. I'll keep you updated, Sienna. I may even have need of the White Fang's military assistance at one point, I'll try to give as much forewarning as possible."
The tiger Faunus raised an eyebrow at that admission.
"You realize offering cryptic warnings to your leader purely for dramatic effect isn't a wise decision, correct?"
"Which is why it isn't for dramatic effect."
Sienna merely sighed, clasping Adam's arm as he returned the gesture.
"Best of luck, Taurus. Do the White Fang proud."
"I will. I'll stay in touch."
In a matter of minutes the bull Faunus was on his way to Vale, resting against the interior hull of the aircraft and running through a few more details of his plan. More specifically, how he was going to get into touch with a particular pair of opportunistic thieves…
Adam hated loud music.
Many Faunus felt the same way, really. While he may not have had the enhanced hearing that cat or wolf types did his ears were more powerful than a Humans...and right now they were being abused quite heavily.
He made his way to the bar regardless, ignoring the way several of the patrons glared at him or made jeering comments. If the establishment didn't specifically forbid Faunus, then that was just too damn bad for them, he would go where he pleased. Perhaps he should have kept the White Fang mask instead of the eye patch, that would no doubt have convinced the Humans to offer some respect.
...Or started a brawl.
Taking a seat at the bar Adam calmly surveyed the room, taking note of exits and entrances...just in case those became important.
"What can I get you? Don't see many Faunus come through my doors, even if it's open for em'."
Adam swiveled back around, coming face-to-face with the man known as Junior-a name helpfully supplied by his memories-and resisted the urge to point out all the glares he was receiving as an excellent reason why no Faunus that wasn't him would bother to attend.
"I'm looking for someone and heard that you know almost everyone there is to know in this town."
The large man stared neutrally at Adam, blandly asking, "Depends on what you need. What are you looking for?"
"I have a job coming up and heard there's quite the successful thief in town. Someone who can carry the torch, if you will."
"..."
"..."
"You could have just said you're looking for Torchwick."
"And why, exactly, did I bother trying to be subtle?"
Rather than speak those thoughts out loud Adam merely sighed, replying, "Yes, I'm looking for Roman Torchwick."
Junior gave him a sidelong glance, eventually replying, "Well, if you're looking for the best I guess I can put in a word for yah. Matter of fact, Torchwick is coming by later this-"
"Well hello, Junior. I didn't know my reputation had spread to the local wildlife."
Adam took a very deliberate moment to calm himself, fingers lightly caressing Wilt's handle before he blandly replied, "I see your reputation for general unlikability wasn't exaggerated."
Finally spinning around in his seat Adam came face-to-face with the famed thief and target of his search, Roman Torchwick himself, bowler hat and smirk that matched his memories of the man to a T adorning his features.
He was surprised to find the small form of Neo following in the thief's wake, playful smirk that was unnervingly similar to the man's on her pint-sized features.
"Now now, no need to go seeing red over a little banter~! So, what can I help you with? Looking for a specific brand of feed? Maybe greener pastures-"
In the blink of an eye Wilt was drawn and pricking Roman's neck, the smooth and concentrated strike slicing through his Aura and drawing a small dollop of blood that seamlessly blended in with Wilt's crimson blade.
And barely a second later Neo's own umbrella rapier was a hairsbreadth away from his exposed eyeball, playful grin exchanged for a cold frown.
Noise in the club seemed to die away as the three coolly stared each other down, Junior anxiously shifting from foot-to-foot in the background.
"...I suppose the Human was right about our merging making me calmer. Had this been the me from before this Human's head would be rolling at my feet."
Eventually Roman offered a smirk that did a remarkable job at hiding his wariness, boredly asking, "Oh my, did I touch a nerve?"
"I thought it was obvious."
"Well news flash, sonny boy, you asked for me. That means you need my help. Which means you can't afford to kill me. All bluff and no guff, as the saying goes."
Adam didn't move Wilt so much as a millimeter, disinterestedly replying, "You're gambling on me not being either petty or prideful enough to kill you anyway. And if you're reputation-which so far has perfectly summed you up-is to be believed, you're life is the one thing you hold valuable above all else."
A certain memory came to Adam, of a desperately spoken line when a certain someone's back was against the proverbial wall.
"Aren't you the one who likes to say there are some bets you just don't take?"
It was small, almost invisible...but the flinch of both thieves was there to see, a minuscule twitch of jawlines that betrayed their momentary unease.
Adam smirked, knowing he'd been the one to win their little display of dominance.
Wilt was sheathed without hesitation, the Faunus staring down Neo's blade with a knowing smile, the smaller woman now visibly fighting the desire to start stabbing.
"Hey uh, Roman? Like, I know you have a reputation to keep but I don't want any bodies-Faunus or not-in my bar."
The standoff between the three continued.
"...Please?"
With an explosive sigh as if he'd just been inconvenienced beyond all possible belief Roman tapped Neo on the shoulder, the girl unhesitatingly retracting her weapon...but not without a puffed cheek of thwarted annoyance.
Adam found the expression oddly endearing...for a Human.
"Junior, the usual place. Might as well hear out our bullheaded friend here..."
The bartender rubbed his temples in exasperation, grumbling, "Yeah yeah, alright...it's open, take your time."
Adam smoothly rose to his feet, throwing the two a lifeline as he stated, "Order whatever you two want. Consider it a gesture of appreciation for listening."
The two noticeably perked up at his words, Neo rapidly tapping something out on her Scroll before showing it to the Faunus.
[Cool! You get to live through dinner now :D]
Adam snorted, amused despite himself.
"Well you've certainly bought our attention with that offer, Mr. Faunus. Pitch your deal and we might listen. No promises."
"Alright, so what did you need us for? Someone of my reputation doesn't come cheap and gets to pick his own work, you know."
Adam took a moment to compose himself, of how he was going to pitch this. At least the music wasn't so damn loud anymore, the soundproofed dining area set aside the main floor doing a decent job of blocking out the pounding rhythms.
"I need you to carry out a long term job. One that involves moving large quantities of weapons, dust and potentially Lien. You likely won't have time to take on any other work in the meantime."
"This should confirm whether or not Cinder has intimidated Roman into working for her yet."
The thief leaned back in his chair, taking an appreciative sip of his expensive drink, a mai tai-dammit, not a mai tai, it was a Remnant Riptide-as he arrogantly remarked, "I'll be the judge of how busy I am, kiddo. And when you say 'move'..."
"Not just transport and process them, I'll need places they can be safely stored around Vale until the day of the Vytal Festival."
One perfectly groomed eyebrow rose in curiosity, Roman remarking, "Perfectly doable, then...if not quite the ambitious plot. And I just so happen to be between work, so you're in luck, Mr. Faunus."
"Good. Cinder hasn't made contact yet."
"I suppose you have a crew lined up to help out with the job then? They had better be worthwhile, all of my genius and planning won't mean anything if the grunts are useless."
"You'll have the services of the entire Vale White Fang branch, a few hundred members. Will that suffice?"
Roman's visible eye narrowed, his voice scathing as he remarked, "Oh joy, a bunch of ragtag rebel animals? I can't wait to become one with the herd!"
Adam sternly reminded himself that Roman wasn't actually a racist...just antagonistic and spiteful towards anyone and everyone who wasn't him, Neo or someone who could kill him at their leisure.
Even that last one was something of a debate, if his future memories of the man badgering Cinder were any indication.
...So there wasn't an actual good reason to kill him. Not yet, at any rate.
"Can you do it?"
Roman grumbled and made a show of appearing peeved to the maximum possible level allowed by facial expressions...but eventually sighed before replying, "Well as long as they don't drop anything, blow themselves up, can follow orders and don't try to hump my leg...yes, I suppose I could make do."
"Good. One last thing, then. A woman named Cinder might be contacting you in the near future."
Roman raised an eyebrow.
"And she is..."
"Bad news. Do not attempt to make any sort of deal with her unless I'm there. Delay, stall, do whatever...but don't acquiesce to any of her demands."
"She sounds like quite a handful. Someone who used to hold your leash?"
He ignored that.
"More like someone who dreams of having the whole world at the end of a yoke she's holding. If you have the misfortune to be the one she meets before I do, you'll see what I mean."
While he clearly wasn't impressed the thief nonetheless replied, "Alright, sure, no problem. Now!"
A winning grin crossed Roman's lips, even Neo pulling herself away from the neapolitan ice cream she'd been dreamily eating to fix the Faunus with an intense look.
"Let's talk payment. What's in all of this for me? Considering the size of the job it had better have a lot of compensation."
Adam smirked, having anticipated this moment.
"How does an an Atlesian Watcher class airship-complete with all onboard equipment-alongside a 25% cut of any and all Lien we come across sound?"
For the second time that night he got to see Roman and Neo blink in open shock.
"...That's a hefty promise you're making there. And a lot of profit to take on faith without knowing more details here."
"No details until you say yes or no."
"You've already told us a fair number of details."
"Only general things. You spreading the word will be inconvenient, not crippling."
Roman gave Adam a piercing glare.
"...And just why are you so certain I'll keep my word if I say yes? I'm a crook, remember?"
The bull Faunus just offered a knowing smirk.
"Because I believe that, as long as you stand to gain more than you lose, you'll hold yourself to previously made agreements."
Yet another round of glaring between the gathered group...then Roman and Neo quickly faced each other, obviously conversing in a collection of subtle gestures only they knew, seeming almost motionless aside from the odd tilt of the head or furrowing of brows.
Adam would freely admit to being impressed at their own little method of communication.
After a few more seconds of silent conversation the duo eventually nodded together, Roman extending a hand and announcing, "Well, Mr. Faunus, it looks like we're in. Hard to say no to a deal of that magnitude. Now, the details please. And bear in mind I reserve the right to alter this plan if I deem it stupid. I'm not going along with a sinking ship if I can avoid it."
Neo grinned and typed at a blistering pace,
[Let's get along, big guy~! Don't try to fuck us or I'll gore you~!]
A grin crossed the younger male's face, his tone triumphant as he grasped Roman's hand-hiding his distaste at touching a Human-before replying, "Fair enough. So here's the first part of what we'll do..."