Great responses in the last chapter.

I must say I'm surprised that you guys would like it so much, given that it's my first try at something like this. So thank you all for exceeding my expectations, I can honestly say that we're off to a great start... Here's another chapter for you guys to enjoy with more on the way. Your reviews will be answered at the end of the chapter.

I realized that I made a little typo in the previous A/N, so let me remedy it like this: 'While I'm not fond of CRWBY's blatant waste in developing Adam Taurus in that particular manner, I can only hope to use it as a catalyst for the redemption story I'm presenting you all with'

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy, for Chapter 2 begins right now!


Blake's day had a confusing start.

No actually, that was an understatement. What Blake Belladonna had felt at that moment was a very unhealthy mix of fear, shock and an overwhelming desire to leave the very capable and genocidal terrorist she had been practically dragging by the hand to a city filled with humans, run as far away as she could from him and never see him again. It should've been an easy decision to make, she was going to do it during their mission if he hadn't prevented that.

She'd been afraid then, more afraid then she thought she could ever be. He'd known about her plans, and practically dismantled them all with a single stroke when he sent Banesaw off for the raid instead of them. No witnesses were present to watch what had happened to every traitor to betray the White Fang. She couldn't run because he was faster, couldn't fight because he was stronger.

The fact that he took his mask off didn't help either, it was easy to disassociate him from the boy he knew for so long and the monster he'd become when it wasn't there to help her make the distinction. He looked younger, more innocent... The anger that drove him to commit those atrocities could be justified when one looked at the brand that had been burned into his face.

Then he told her that he wouldn't blame her if she ran.

Her shock had been palpable, and it had dispelled the haze of fear for long enough for her to look at him and realize that something was wrong. Adam didn't look like himself; the thirst for human blood was absent, his anger gone. He looked more exhausted than ever, more vulnerable he'd been in more then a decade. He said he didn't want to be alone, told her that he hadn't cared about the cause after the life they'd spent lauding it, then told her she was free to go while he stayed behind to fight three people who were clearly dangerous (given that they chose to approach an encampment where they were so hated while they were so clearly outnumbered spoke of their competency) on his own while looking like that.

He'd looked lost, the fanatical fervor he had leaving him behind. It had made her angry that he'd known, let and participated in the fall of the White Fang under his leadership, then telling her that he didn't want to be left alone when she wanted out... It wasn't fair to her...

But he was going to die.

Blake didn't want that.

So she decided to take him along on her flight.

She didn't believe he could change like that overnight, not when he'd given her an excuse that even he'd laughed off. More then likely something had happened and he didn't want to tell her about it, that was... Not ideal, but something she could handle. She'd need to keep an eye on him to make sure he wasn't lying, and even if she was taking a huge risk with taking him into Vale. The moment she'd discover he was lying to her, she would inform the Headmaster of Beacon, and even with Adam's talents, she didn't believe he could last against the entirety of Vale after his head.

She'd need to find an alternative way once to keep an eye on him once she was in Beacon, him being too old to attend as it was. Her limited funds didn't help matters either, even with the additional amount of Lien she was able to add to it with Adam's own funds. She was low on them as it was, having spent most of it on getting them a place to stay. A practically rundown apartment that made it possible for her to pay three months of rent in advance.

It had been a monumental discount on account of the slimy landlord being a pushover immediately folding once he'd caught sight of the veritable arsenal she was carrying with her and Adam's own weapons, along with Adam himself looking very intimidating no matter how one looked at him. But even with that discount it was enough to put a sizable dent in her funds. It wasn't enough to jeopardize her future, but with Beacon Entrance Exams still a week away and Beacon itself starting a month after that, she was sure whatever money she still had would be drained making sure they were fed and watered in that time.

That meant she had to get a job, with them laying low and waiting for the inevitable fallout of the upcoming raid to occur, it would have to be something that low-profile until she was safe in Beacon.

She'd think of a way to help Adam when the time came.

If he behaved that was.

He was still unresponsive, had been that way since he'd stopped laughing. Their entire conversation on the road had basically been her telling him to behave and him nodding along, he'd been the very definition of passive through the entire trek. His only reaction had occurred when she'd stopped them before reaching the city to tie one of her spare bows around his eye to hide his brand.

Adam had flinched.

Hard.

It was almost enough for her to bolt right then and there, the only thing stopping her was Adam's record time in returning to his passive state with only a slight tension in his shoulders to show for his outburst. She'd tried again, this time being more then a bit mindful of his tenseness and also accompanied by a feeling of guilt she just couldn't shake.

What a pair they made...

It was a morbid thought she quickly cast aside, they had settled into the small apartment with little trouble and she'd not found it destroyed after leaving Adam alone to do some quick shopping for the necessities they needed. He was still sitting on the same uncomfortable looking couch he was on when she'd left. He'd given her a quiet word of greeting, she'd not pushed for a conversation.

They ate their meal in silence and went about their business.

She still didn't trust him, it would be a long time before she could.

But he would have died, it didn't matter how much he and his pride would deny the possibility.

But... As much as he deserved it after all he'd done, he still had a place in Blake's heart and it would take more then a few spiteful actions to make Blake wish death on someone, let alone Adam.

She supposed it was foolish of her to not have given up on him already, but she couldn't help but hope he'd come back. She'd promised to hold him back from going too far, and she couldn't help but think he'd failed him in that regard. But if this helped her drag his battered body back from the ledge he'd fallen from, she would give him this one last chance, if only to soothe her guilty conscience.

It had taken the entire morning for them to trek to the city at their pace, an entire morning finding a place to stay before Beacon and get enough food to last the month. Blake felt as though she needed to get a good read after that exhausting day.

She was still keeping Adam on her peripheral, but she'd let him come to terms with his own decisions.

They'd talk tomorrow, and plan for the future.

For now?

Blake would hold onto the hope that was blossoming in her chest.

And the book she'd just dug out of her luggage.


Sleep would not come.

It used to be so easy to fall asleep, knowing how many lives had depended on him being in the best condition he could be. He couldn't afford the loss of function that came with sleep-deficiency saddled a person with lest those lives-Blake's life- fall at risk. It was an essential part of life, and the lack of it could lead to one of the worst ways to die if not remedied.

Still, sleep eluded Adam Taurus.

He opened his eye, the other still covered by one of Blake's bows, (and wasn't that a cruel joke?) examining the environment for what felt like a hundredth time. The apartment Blake had bought... It was a small place, with only two rooms and a tiny bathroom, the walls were so thin he feared he would collapse them if he so much as leaned on them slightly.

The living room could barely fit a precarious and uncomfortable looking pair of a couch and an armchair with the kitchen that looked like it had been stuffed into the room with how cramped it made everything. But it was an immense improvement over the ratty looking mattress in the bedroom that neither he and Blake didn't want to touch. His back could protest against the armchair digging into his back all it liked, he was going to stick to it.

Blake had fallen asleep on the couch, finally succumbing to the embrace of sleep after he made her think that he'd fallen asleep. She looked as uncomfortable as he felt, though he could take some solace in the fact that it was because of the couch and not his presence. One of the many books she'd stuffed into a secondary luggage was clutched to her chest, one of her favorites if he remembered right.

Adam gave up on falling asleep.

He couldn't be tired then he already was anyway.

So, that gave him time to plan.

With Banesaw and his men gone and out of the Red Woman's grasp, he would need to turn his attention to the rest of her schemes. Since he'd already given up on disregarding what happened to him before all this happened as a dream without much resistance, he would be able to use his insider knowledge into her plans to better effect. Roman Torchwick would be his first lead on that matter.

The criminal had been on his radar for the duration of his time in Vale, the face of Vale's Criminal Underground and a stain on Beacon's record of illustrious students. He'd gotten comfortable at the top without taking a lot of risks, but the Red Woman's appearance and the interest she'd taken on his reputation quickly made him a target. He was recruited, forcefully, and gained a sudden interest in acquiring large amounts of Dust as fast and loud as he could manage.

The lack of competent help would slow him down, though not much given that all Adam had deigned to give Torchwick was the greenest recruits that was the product of a drive he'd had little hand in.

Goes to show how much he'd cared then.

Not a lot...

He would start staking out some Dust Shops that would be prime targets, SDC shipments were also viable given the amount and value. He would also need to pick back up Blake's training, given how she was going to Beacon at a time of conflict. Her willingness might be called into question, but his willingness in not seeing her hurt was not something he was willing to compromise for, no matter the immense guilt still gnawing at his heart.

For now?

Sleep.

He needed it, despite how his tired body fought against it.


"I see it! The train is coming!"

The exclamation quickly swept through the ranks, eliciting a mixture of eager responses from the band of masked Faunus.

All fell silent when Rowan Banesaw revved up his chainsword.

"Prepare for battle," His voice stirred them into action, as simple and to the point as they were. Weapons were brought to fore, men and women exchanged words of encouragement, jeers and more. All of them were confident, even for a mission that had been sudden as this one was, his presence and the force of their numbers helped assuage concerns, the presence of Schnee's and the fruits of their slave labor fueled the fires of hate that gave them strength needed to do what must be done for the good of all Faunus.

Banesaw had his orders, and he wouldn't doubt them no matter how vague and rushed they had been. He trusted Adam with his life and knew that men wouldn't lead them astray. He also hadn't liked the look of those humans who had the gall to demand their submission anyway, who was he to deny their leader his chance to do some pest control? They were more then enough to handle something like this anyway.

The train turned the descended from the bridge, they needed to move.

"To your positions." Adam's initial plan had been to infiltrate the carts from the hills, securing them before decoupling the cars they needed and blowing up the rest to Kingdom come. Seeing as Blake and Adam were more powerful then all of the people currently under his command combined, Banesaw felt as though no one could blame him for modifying the plans to better suit the level and sort of talent he had available to him.

That's why he'd moved their position ahead, had the men destroy the rails some miles away from the descending bridge and have all of them take position behind the treeline, ready to strike when the opportunity presented itself.

And it worked, the conductor had noticed the state of the rails, the train was slowly coming to a stop.

Just as planned.

Banesaw raised his sword and gave the order.

"Kill them all."

They could do as they pleased once every Human in that train was dead.

Banesaw always felt as though they were being too passive to make any real impact on the status quo, maybe his success here would make Adam realize that this was the right way to go.

His men emerged from the treeline, bullets raining down on the numerous passenger cars.

He could already see the blood.

The slaughter had begun...


People adapt.

Now always in the manner you expect them to...

Onto the reviews:

HarryPlays:And I hope to retain it!

RadioRegicide: Thank you! I kinda agree on him having more potential as a villain, but this was one of those ideas that just stick to you and nag at you until you do something about it, and I can honestly say I'm pleased that it did.

willyjlipayon: Glad you're interested!

Military17: There is a criminal lack of those Adam stories, glad you enjoyed it though!

Zetsu-Bunshin: Thank you!

D.N Works: Thank you as well, I look forward to writing it.