I smiled after defeating Team CRDL in battle.

"Thank you for a wonderful time." I beamed. Ciel just tapped her watch, and I had to resist rolling my optics.

/\/\/\/\

After talking with Ruby for a minute (literally, thanks to Ciel) and delivering my report to General Ironwood, I was able to sneak off again. As I wandered around the city, I bumped into...

"We have just got to stop meeting like this." Adam rolled his eyes, smiling. I instantly beamed. "People will talk."

/\/\/\/\

We started walking around, talking about the years since we'd last seen each other. I felt like Adam wasn't telling me something, but I didn't pry.

"So, that Torchwick man fired at Ruby, and I leapt down and took out all of his ships. I made sure not to hurt anyone, though. If I hurt them, I'd be no better."

"I heard about that. You were the one that fought everyone off?"

"Yep! Alone, too! I think I scared Ruby. She didn't seem to believe me when I said I was-"

"Combat ready?"

"Precisely!"

"It can be a bit difficult to process. I mean, you seem too innocent to be as skilled of a fighter as you are."

"Innocent?"

"Yeah. You seem like one of those kids who had an overprotective parent and a sheltered childhood."

"Well... The parent thing's true, but I've always been like this." I shrugged. "I guess I am a bit naïve. I can't help it, though. I guess in filling me with weaponry, my father forgot to give me the ability to see evil. Is that bad?" Adam frowned, contemplating the question as we walked down an empty street.

"Yes."

"It is? Why?"

"If you can't see the evil right before your eyes, you don't know when you're about to be betrayed or hurt."

"Adam..." I read his expression. "What evil did you not see?" Adam looked at me, sighing.

"You always know what people are thinking, don't you?"

"Not always..."

"Yeah? Well... I had a partner, once. We were in the middle of a mission, and she ran."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Was she scared?"

"I..." Adam looked down slightly. "It was my fault."

"How so?"

"I made a choice in the mission... And I was wrong. A lot of people would have gotten hurt if it wasn't for her running off and stopping me."

"You? Hurting people? Never. You're too good to hurt innocent people without a second thought."

"How do you know? It's been a long time, Penny."

"No one changes completely, Adam. Not really... Trust me, I know." I gestured, exemplifying the fact that I was the immortal seventeen year-old. Adam smiled slightly.

"Can't argue with that logic."

"Nope! You're taller, moodier, and violent, but you're still Adam... So, I've made it to the finals of the tournament! It's going to be so much fun!"

"Penny, maybe competing in the finals isn't such a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well... There are a lot of experienced fighters going in. Like that Pyrrha Nikos girl."

"I can take them, Adam. I'm combat-ready!"

"No, you're not..." Adam looked down, then up at me. "Make up an excuse, do anything. Don't compete in the final matches."

"What?"

"Penny, trust me when I say that you should back out."

"Why?"

"Trust me." Adam's red eyes were full of worry. I was REALLY confused. What did he mean?

"Adam, what's going on? What are you talking about?"

"Penny... If I tell you, you'll hate me. Just, please, don't compete."

"Adam, I could never hate you! Just like you couldn't hate me when you learned about my..." I looked at my hands, which had been patched up. "Situation." I looked at Adam. "You're asking me to trust you, so trust me."

"Penny..." Adam looked me in the optics, hesitation in his red orbs. "I'm a member of the White Fang." My optics widened slightly. "High-ranking, actually... Our group is being blackmailed into aiding a powerful human. The Vytal Festival is their endgame... I don't want you getting hurt in the tournament." I stared at Adam, unsure of what to say. On one hand, my friend was in the middle of a terrorist conspiracy against Vale. On the other hand, he just spilled everything for my sake. Here comes that innocence... I slowly smiled, taking Adam's hands.

"I don't hate you." I beamed. Adam raised an eyebrow.

"So, what?" He asked. "You REALLY hate me?" I punched his arm, nearly knocking my friend over.

"I told you I could never hate you." I rolled my optics. "You think I'm a liar? I didn't hiccup, did I?"

"No, you didn't... You're taking this better than I thought."

"Look who's talking... I have another friend who used to be in the White Fang, and she left when things got too violent for her liking. Though, I don't support their actions, the White Fang is the only group that's taking action for the Faunus. That's something I must respect... Adam, why protect me? I mean, you said it yourself: it's been a long time."

"No one ever changes completely." Adam replied. I smiled. "So, will you back out of the tournament?"

"I'll have to ask Mr. Ironwood..." I got an idea. "I'll tell him I've come down with a virus. He doesn't know about the hiccup-thing."

"You can be devious when you want to be."

"Yep! Comes with all the battle-strategies." I pointed to my central processor (head). Adam rolled his eyes, and we continued walking. When we had to separate, Adam gave me his scroll number.

/\/\/\/\

That night, I approached Mr. Ironwood and saluted.

"General, I do not think that I can continue participating in the tournament."

"Why not?"

"I believe that I am coming down with a virus. I do not trust myself to perform my very best."

"Well, I can run a full-systems check to see if you have a virus." Cornered, I was forced to let Ironwood use my father's scanner. "You're fine. Get some rest, you'll need it."

"Yes, sir."

/\/\/\/\

I went to my room to recharge, sighing as I looked at Adam's contact on my scroll. Deciding not to worry him, I closed my scroll and went to sleep.

/\/\/\/\

The night after that, Yang participated in the finals and broke a boy's leg. Something seemed off, but Mr. Ironwood told me not to worry.

Uh-oh. What, now? One night later, all Hell will break loose. I'm composing the next chapter, so tell me... Should I kill Penny and end the story with Adam being the jackass he is in the show? Or, should everything change? Review, or I'll have to decide on my own. Can you take that risk? I don't own RWBY.