A Leaf Turned

Chapter 10
Memorial

I admitted they were my friends.

This thought all but haunted the bull Faunus as he moved over the rooftops of Vale with powerful leaps and long, quick strides with his superior mobility. His eyes narrowed and his grip on Wilt and Blush tightened the more he let his admittance weigh on his mind. How could he simply admit that? Did he even believe it or had it simply been a means to help his case in their eyes as they decided their judgements towards him?

Had it been true? Did some part of him actually want them to be his friends. Allies...Close allies?

Could he trust them as he trusted Blake?

As he moved through the air with slightly unattentive speed he could only ask himself why this bothered him so much. Yang, Ruby...And he supposed even Weiss had proven they were dependable as a team over the last few months. Even JNPR was something of a close knit group of friends to the team that was RWBY. But the idea of them being close allies, perhaps even friends? That had the bull Faunus a little...Hesitent.

And yet here he was. Out and about hunting his former comrades to prove to the Schnee that he was telling her the truth about his former affiliation.

I shouldn't care. He thought, clearing another ten foot gap between two buildings as his Aura enhanced legs carried him along. I shouldn't and yet...Here I am. He narrowed his eyes further to slits and he clenched his free hand tightly, leather gloves straining under the strength of such a grip.

But none of that would matter if he didn't prove to them that he was as honest as he was.

So the bull Faunus pressed onwards towards an objective he didn't know fully where to start on how to achieve. And it was then, he allowed himself a brief remembrance into the past he'd buried beneath the mask that he so wore to ensure the safety of himself and his partner, Blake Belladonna.

Nine years ago...

"My name is Blake Belladonna."

Adam blinked at the eight year old feline Faunus who had entered his room and announced she was his bunkmate so long as they stayed at the Orphanage in narrowed his eyes and observed her more closely while she fidgeted in place under the scrutinizing red eyes. Finally when he was positive of something only he could tell did he speak. "I'm Adam Taurus," He held out his hand and smiled, currently twelve. "Nice to meet you, Blake."

She blinked, amber eyes wide and surprised before she smiled too, glad to see his intensity was only temporary. "Nice to meet you too, Adam!" She took his hand and they shook. "I hope I make a good bunkmate!"

"You will, just stick close to me and I'll watch your back," Adam announced, pufffing up his chest and grinning, long brown hair falling beneath his shoulders as his still growing horns prodded through the longs on the top of his head. "Alright?"

"Right!" Blake nodded, smiling once more.

They shared that smile before he helped her settle into her bunk with her miniscule amount of personal belongings.

Seven years ago...

"I'm joining the White Fang."

Adam stopped short of finishing up his shoelaces and sat up, giving the now ten year old Blake a confused stare. Where she had remained small and adorable as a kitten, Adam had aged well in two years, he was now a "mover" for some no name company, he got paid only a small amount, but he was strong enough to move things to and fro, and he didn't ask questions.

It was hardly fortune making but it would serve their purposes for extra food, Blake made a little extra by handing out newspapers and delivering mail to people on their street. It wasn't the most dangerous work for a ten year old girl, but Adam still worried for her every time she was late.

So when she announced her choice to join the White Fang, a group of older Faunus bent on "making things right" between Faunus and Humans, a divide still so wide that while Adam made a laughable three lien a hour, in a four hour job, while his Human cohorts made fifteen to twenty. He could see it wasn't working. At all.

"What?" He whispered as if speaking aloud about what she said would have them whipped by the other non-Faunus children around them. Even though Orphanages like this housed a lot of Faunus, it seemed that the ratio between Human to Faunus was still 3 to 1.

"I'm joining the White Fang." Blake sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a stern look. "And nothing you say will stop me." She stomped her foot. "Nothing."

The bull Faunus stared at her, silent and surprised all the same before finally he found his voice. "Are you crazy?" He asked, before she could speak he went on. "If you join them, you'll go to rallies, you'll wave signs and the Humans will throw stones, maybe worse! At you and the other Faunus, and if they find you here, the other Human children will beat you up!" He grabbed her shoulders and looked into those defiant amber eyes. "You'll be putting yourself in danger."

She didn't hesitate for a second. "If it helps get us and everyone like us out of places like these, living just barely better than common animals, then I would throw myself off a cliff!" Blake announced, arms still crossed and oh so defiant. Her feline ears twitching in stubborn irritation. "And I put myself in danger every day delivering mail, by just being a Faunus. You know that. Should I try to do something better than scrape by?"

Adam stared at her, looking for any crack in her armor to exploit and keep her close, keep her safe and nearby where he could watch her like he'd done for the two years they had been bunkmates. He saw none and her resolve was set. She was stone. "...You're right." She was wrong, she was too weak, she had the spirit and the heart. But Adam knew she lacked the strength. "If you're so set on doing this, then I'm going with you."

That caught her off guard, enough that she blinked and cocked her head to the side. "But, you have a job that pays, and it's a lot safer! And it's stable! You can-" He placed a pair of fingers to her lips and silenced her, chuckling. She huffed. "What is so funny?!" She demanded.

"You, worrying is my thing. Yours is to give me a big headache with your ideas." Adam smirked, amused as he rubbed his long hair from his eyes and gave a dramatic sigh. "Like now. But I see I can't stop you, and since I have suddenly lost all interest in my dead end job, I think its time that like any good bunkmate I need to let you explore the world by yourself. And I of course am going to go with you to make sure you stay safe."

"Bu-"

"No buts. I'm going and unless you tie me to the bed and run off, Actually...Not even that would stop me. I'm a bull and we're-"

She hugged him, arms around his neck and her face buried in his neck, giggling happily. "Very stubborn, I know, Adam. And I'm happy you're coming with me! We'll make a difference together!"

The boy blushed and sputtered, glancing around, before...With another grumble, he returned her act of affection. "Yeah, yeah...Lets go tomorrow then. Get some rest tonight."

"Alright." Blake pulled back and offered another smile before she ascended to her bunk above his. Wishing him a good night, Adam returned the words and with a smile on her lips she slept.

Adam was frowning until sleep claimed him.

Four years ago...

Adam was seventeen.

It was his birthday and he'd been given a small party by his and Blake's friends some hours ago, to celebrate the day. All were members of the White Fang in some manner, and in the three years since their joining together Adam and Blake had been inseperable for much of the time until recently when a few of the White Fang members, former Huntsmen or trainers from local areas, asked him if he wanted to learn how to actually fight should the need arise.

Adam thrown himself into his training with full gears and it had turned out he was a natural fighter. He was described as fast, resourceful and cunning when it came to exploiting his enemies natural weaknesses. A prodigy with a blade by all accounts.

Blake was thirteen and she still attended rallies, they slept together most nights in a more clean bunkbed, given to them by the Orphanage run and owned by the White Fang, and bar a few sympathetic humans, it was filled with other Faunus of the Fang.

The day had gone smoothly. His training was progressing and he was told he would make quite the fearsome swordsman someday.

His real mentor, the woman in red and black...Told him he was still just a novice, not close to being ready for his ambitions to be made real. He'd need to try harder.

For now he sat in bed, Blake curled up against him while he read her a book she'd bought with her allowance that had been granted to her by the Orphanage. It was a fairy tale, fantasy. And the way it was written made it sound so romanticized. "And the beast, now turned into a prince, lived with his loving princess happily, till the end of their days." Adam recited, finishing the book after several nights of reading.

He closed the cover and gave Blake a look, she yawned sleepily and her ears twitched, feline ears, anyways. She was tired and that was obvious, she curled up all the more and looked up at him, smiling. "A nice happy ending for the princess." She grinned. "I wanna be a princess like her one day.;"

Adam snorted and set the book down on the bedside table. "Is that so, m'lady?" He teased her with a smirk. "If that is true, you'll need a beast who turns into a prince, won't you?"

Blake blinked, before she smiled. "Well that's easy. You'll be the beastly prince! Even if you're not scary enough for the part." She laughed, covering her mouth when he looked utterly lost to the idea.

"What're you talking about, Blake? I'm completely terrifying." He had long since cut his hair, now it was short, as his training masters suggested for his lessons, and Blake's hair was only growing more.

Adam raised his hands, curling his fingers like claws and flashing is teeth. "Rawr!" He tickled at her sides, knowing where she was vulnerable.

She broke down into a giggling fit, squeeling and hitting at his face with her palms, crying for mercy and ordering him on her authority as a princess that she stop. He kept at it, of course, for a few more moments before he finally pulled his hands away and laughed with her, laying back down.

She joined him, curling up beside him and yawning into his chest. He wrapped an arm over her, tuggin the blanket over them. Knowing she was too tired to climb up into her bunk, they'd be spending the night together. "I think I make a good beast." He whispered.

"Mh. And you'll make a good prince." Blake mumbled back, eyes closed as they lay together.

"We'll see, now get some sleep. You have another rally to attend, right?"

"Mhm. Good night, Adam." She nuzzled into his chest, hands reaching up to grasp at his nightshirt. "Sweet dreams."

The bull Faunus smiled, then replied. "Goodnight, Blake. Sweet dreams to you too." He held onto her, and let himself drift to sleep where his dreams were indeed sweet.

Three years ago...

Adam didn't know how this started but that didn't matter now. The gathering was in chaos, Faunus and Human screamed as fires raged, the stench of panic and fear hung heavy in the air as people moved to escape the flames of the now destroyed podium and White Fang bus, both of which had exploded during the opening speech of the White Fang's current leader during their Peace Discussion Session in the rented park of Atlas' Government choosing.

The explosions had injured so many, and probably killed. This had been the third attempt on the leader of the White Fang's life, and looking at the stage now, seeing the man, a older raven Faunus, clutching at his bloodied arm and writhing in pain. Adam could see this attempt had come very close.

The bus itself was alight, none had been inside but those near had been showered by heat, shrapnel and concussive force. Many bled, but they were all secondary concerns.

His primery was the fourteen year old feline Faunus in his arms named Blake Belladonna.

She was bleeding from a nasty looking gash on her forehead, she hung limply in his arms and she was covered in soot. She had been by the bus, sitting atop his shoulders to better see the leader of their movement in Atlas, who had travelled from Mistral, Blake and Adam in tow, and she was breathing...But it was weak.

"I need a doctor!" He cried out over the other panicking voices. Shoving past some stumbling Human without a second thought. "I need a doctor, please!" He tried again, coughing from the smoke.

"Over here!" Adam turned, seeing a Faunus waving him over and he rushed over, handing Blake over when the man beckoned him to. She was set down and he pulled a medical kit from his backpack, apparently one to be prepared. A quick check, cleaning...And he looked to Adam. "She'll be fine! Just a scratch! Worse than it looks!"

The bull let loose a relieved breath he'd been holding and nodded. Glad to hear Blake would be okay. He stayed at her side, sitting there on the ground until she woke some minutes later. "What happened?" She asked him.

Adam had only one reply, one very basic reply. "Humans." He took her hand, squeezing it comfortingly as he smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Blake. You had me worried there."

"Who would you read to if I left?" She replied, squeezing his hand back with tha smile he liked so much. "Are the others...?"

"Mostly fine..." He glanced around, the wounded were still being accounted for and miraculously no one had been killed, just hurt. They would all walk away from this. "Just a few scratches and some minor injuries."

"That's good, I was afraid we'd lose more friends..." She let small grateful tears gather at the corners of her eyes.

Adam squeezed her hand again and nodded. "But we didn't." And more importantly, he hadn't lost her. He could remain to protect her,, as he always had. They made it past this attempt.

But the leader and much of his old advisors would step down from leadership a week later, allowing the new regime to take hold...

Two years ago...

Adam struck Blake.

He stared down at her frightened amber eyes, swimming with unshed tears and hurt, a hand to her reddening cheek while the other clutched her White Fang mask to her chest, her attire had changed, as did his. Black dominated their bodies, but she chose white, and he was red. Blood red.

The last year had tested them, he'd been recruited into the new fighting forces...And so had she, when she learned they would all be taught how to fight starting a year ago when the new leadership announced it. She'd taken to it, like he had...And he'd been in charge of training her as he had mastered his art under his newest master.

Said master watched them from the side, her crimson blade hanging off the floor, dripping crimson blood. Adam's blood.

She'd injured Adam and Blake had jumped in to defend him, to say she was being too hard on him and that he was still healing from their previous training session not a week before that had left Adam with a gash in his side, not fatal but still very painful and bloody if he tore his stitches again.

Blake had been entirely unprepared for when Adam had rounded on her and smacked her when she suggested he find a new master. "Adam...?" She whimpered, now fifteen to his nineteen.

He stared at her, eyes narrowed and furious, one had blood leaking into it from a gash on his forehead. The hardened features, before had been handsome, and kind and open to her were now just cold and angry. His eyes flashed and his hand lowered...Before seemingly he remembered who she was and what he had done.

Adam stepped back, "I'm sorry." He said, tone low and a frown tugged at his lips. "I...I didn't mean to do that, Blake. I just..." He turned away, before looking over to his master, who had sheathed her blade. "Mentor, forgive the interruption but I reque-"

"We are done for today, apprentice." The woman said from behind the impenetrable Grimm mask, her ebony hair flowing from behind the mask itself, large and obscuring all angles of her face. "See to your wounds and we will pick up where we left off next week. I will return then. Be ready."

She flicked her sword, creating a darkened rift...and disappeared into it before closing behind her.

Adam watched her leave before he turned back to Blake and his eyes were regretful, his body relaxed and he raised a hand, "Blake...Is your cheek alright?" He asked, tone softer and less cold, he was always so cold when he trained and this had been the first time Blake had attended their training sessions.

She didn't reply right away but finally she nodded,. "Yes, I'm just...I didn't expect it." She said, honest as she stepped closer, planting a hand on his forehead to stem the blood flow as she looked at the clean cut. "She treats you so roughly..."

"It is necessary to make me stronger, Blake." Adam replied, closing his eyes and allowing her to assess his state, something she was doing more and more often these days as his training intensified. His mentor had always trained him in bits and pieces, leaving him to his other trainers when he had joined the White Fang militants...But recently, she had taken a stronger stance with him that resulted in his being cut, stabbed and beaten thoroughly...

When Blake announced she was done, he opened his eyes and suggested they retire for the night before the sunlight completely disappeared from the sky,.

Adam had stopped reading her books, she read alone now before bed and he would sit, maintaining his weapon, Wilt. Along with its sheath, Blush. But tonight, Blake was in his arms the monent they reached their tent, the flap closing behind them as he discarded his weaponry onto the ground in his haste to hold her.

Her own weapon, Gambol Shroud, was likewise tossed aside carelessly as she embraced the frustration and stresses of Adam's body onto her own, this had become a routine. Passionate that bordered on loving in some nights they spent together. This had been the first time he'd hit her and her cheek stung.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as he crushed his lips to hers, a gesture she returned with equal passion. They swallowed the sounds of heated pleasure from the other with their kiss and their hands fumbled for the buttons and zippers and belts of their clothing in the haste to make use of the frustrations they endured.

"I forgive you." Blake breathed against his lips as she peeled his coat off, working on the buttons of his red shirt only to gasp and arch her back when he leaned down and bit at her exposed neck, mewling in pleasure as he teased and suckled at the flesh there. "Adam..." She closed her eyes as his hands deftly moved to remove her own clothing.

They were naked shortly. Clothes scattered, the light in their tent was dead and they muffled their moans and groans as they writhed in their pleasurable acts. Blake was bruised, aching in places she enjoyed and he was covered in "claw marks" from her nails and more than a few of her own bites.

He held onto her that night, rather than dismissing her to her tent like he usually would to keep their...Relationship a secret. That night, he breathed into her ear and kept his arms around her waist while they drifted between consciousness and sleep.

"What are we, Adam?" She whispered, squeezing his hand around her waist. "...Are we lovers? Friends? Mentor and student?"

They had never defined their relationship. Days, they were best friends, laughing, joking...Others, they were lovers, passionate, physical and demanding. Partners in the field, watching the others back... But there was no real definition for their relationship. He taught her to fight, they would be fine as friends and only sometimes would they find themselves rolling onto bed in a passionate make out session that would end in their clothes off and bodies spent.

Adam didn't know what to call them. "What do you want us to be, Blake?"

She was silent. "...Whatever keeps you with me and the same, Adam." Blake finally replied. "You're changing, and I'm not sure I like where you're going. I don't want you falling down onto a path I can't follow." She gripped his hand tighter now, closing her eyes and moving back into him.

"I'm changing?" Adam frowned, confused. He didn't feel different.

"You're becoming angry, every day you get angrier and angrier and you train harder, you hurt yourself and that woman trains you without a care for your safety. Adam I've known you so long I can see what you're thinking." Blake looked up at him and her eyes were alight with concern. "Please, don't change any more... I don't want to lose you."

Adam stared down at her, before closing his eyes and mumbling. "Idiot." He kissed the top of her hair, between her feline ears. "You'll never lose me. I've stuck with you this long...And while I have had setbacks, I always return. Don't I?"

"You do," Blake responded. "Just...Be careful."

"I will." He whispered. "How else would I protect you?"

Now...

Adam hadn't realized then what changes had been going on through his mind. Nor had he realized what it would have meant had Blake not helped to remind him that he hadn't always been there to remind him that he should watch himself and how close he'd come to falling into the abyss of a darkness that he wasn't sure now he could have crawled out from had it taken him.

I owe you, Blake. He thought to himself, stopping when he found himself at the docks of Vale, having travelled further than he intended when he'd lost himself to his memories. He glanced around, frowning at a rather curious sight.

An unmarked Bullhead was descending down near one of the docking areas. And from the crest on the ship...A Schnee freighter?

That ship could have only been carrying Dust and if that was the case. Then it seemed that he might have stumbled onto one of the many Dust robberies, obviously on a larger scale than just some dinky shop. Holding Wilt and Blush, Adam took off towards the dock to investigate and hopefully catch the real culprits.

He never thought he'd find the White Fang. But he had.

End of chapter 10

Welp, there it is! Little tidbits into Adam and Blake's shared past for this story, a lot of stuff left out, I know, But I wanted to lay out that their relationship was a touch stronger, than seemingly in the canon, because of Adam's joining Blake in her defection. Now, is Tauradonna still a thing? Maaaaybe. Who knows! Will there be other pairings? Maaaaybe, who knows?

Yes, I do suck. But hey! Keep the shipping up, maybe I will ship Adam with one of the members of RWBY. Or maybe he shall remain as he is, the lone but not so much alone wanderer.

Next time, tis the Docks!

PS. Yes, I know it's rushed, and it does seem like such filler. DEAL WITH IT I AM TIRED AND I NEED SLEEP AND THIS LAPTOP I AM USING MAKES ME WANNA COMMIT GENOCIDE! Ahem. Sorry. Uh...Hope you enjoyed, at least!

PPS. Thanks to a reviewer, I had noticed that chapter seven and ten make a bit of a background error as to when Adam met Raven, so...I fixed it by adding a few lazy lines to do my best at damage control. I'm incredibly lazy, you see.