Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY

Author's note: Hiya!


SPOILER ALERT: Don't read if you didn't watch the latest volume.


What did Yang quip after Adam removed his mask?

"Wow," she said with amazed eyes, pointing at his scarred face. "Is that brand new?"

Adam roars and unsheathes his sword.

Yangs shakes her head in exasperation and takes her stance.

"Fine, fine. I'll put you out of your moosery.

Or in another universe

"Cool! Nice tats, bro!" Yang gives him a thumbs up, smiling.

Adam blinks. "R-Really?"

Yang nods excitedly. "Yeah, got that whole edgy look going for you."

Adam shakes his head, "I... I never thought of it like that..."

Blake looks from one of them to the other, her weapon held ready in her hand. She frowned. Weren't they gonna fight?

"Hmm," Yang hummed. "You know, I think you should start a band."

Adam rapidly blinked. "W-What?"

Yang grinned. "You know, 'cause your girlfriend abandoned you." She snickered. "H-Hey, here's your first song for ya. 'Kitty come back~' " Yang clutched her stomach and started laughing.

Blake's eyes widened and she felt like screaming at her partner. Why did she have to remind him that! Gripping her weapon hard she turned to Adam.

...and saw a bull in contemplation... with a small smile.

Blake's arms began drooping in disbelief. He... he wasn't actually thinking about it, was he?

Adam opened his mouth.

"Kitty come baaack, I got you your favourite snack, I love the way you purr, and your soft black fur, Kitty just come back, you're the top of my world."

Blake's jaw was hanging.

Adam was scratching the back of his head with an unsure grin.

Yang had stopped laughing and pursed her lips. "That... wasn't half bad." She shook her head. "I mean yeah it could use some sprucing up, but I think you can make something out of it."

Adam's smile brightened for a moment before it crumbled. He sighed.

"I don't know what you're trying to do but... something like that is beyond me." He let out a bitter chuckle and ran a hand through his hair. "I came here to kill you." He looked at the two of them. "Both of you."

Blake immediately glared and hissed at him, taking a fighting stance.

Yang's face hardened and her eyes turned red.. "Yeah, I'll pretend you didn't say that for a moment." She tilted her chin up. "So, why's it beyond you? Stage fright?"

Adam's face was neutral. "I'm a murderer. An arsonist. A vigilante. A traitor." He glanced at Blake and barked a laugh. "And even a stalker." He gave Yang a wry grin. "I don't think I'll be allowed to rock the world any more than that."

Yang shrugged. "Eh, who cares? Mainstream's overrated anyway. Just go underground."

Adam and Blake stared at her.

"What?" she said defensively. "It is!" She turned to Blake. "And come on, it just sounds cool right? A faunus with a history who hides in the shadows, and like an urban legend comes out to jam in the night. The invites only passed through word of mouth, whispered in hushed tones by excited fans!" Yang shivers. "Man! I'm getting excited!" She punches a fist in the air. "Unite the world through rock and roll! Ohh boy, if you put your ass to work you really can do it!"

She grinned at Adam. "Doesn't that sound better?"

Adam looked at Yang, and then let his gaze fall to his hands. He furled and unfurled his fingers. He closed his eyes and pictured what she said.

His breath came out in shudders.

"I-It does," Adam opened his eyes and swallowed. "It does sound better." He gazed at his hands. "I... can bring them together."

He locked eyes with Yang. "A faunus or man may not, but maybe a legend can bring us together."

"A symbol," Blake whispered, she looked at Adam with furrowed brows. "Not the one we deserve, but the one we need."

The bull looked at her with anguished eyes. "Blake."

"Do it," blurted out the cat.

"Do wha-"

"Do it, Adam." she repeated. Blake looked at him with mixed emotions. "You wanted to bring peace, equality. It didn't work out. Now try again." She gave him a tight smile. "We all failed, the whole of White Fang is a failed attempt. So, if you're the Adam I once knew. The one I once looked up to, do it."

Adam looked away and pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed deeply and his shoulders began shaking.

Yang's eyes widened. "Uh, Blake, is he crying?"

Blake's ears twitched, and a grin slowly formed on her face.

Yang frowned, she was about say something before she heard it as well.

"...hahaha. Hahahaha! Ahhahaha!" Adam's shoulders shook as he leaned back and laughed. A broken laugh which cracked through the shards of all his misdeeds and regrets, a laugh which gallivanted up to the line of hopelessness. And stepped over it. Leaving it behind and bounding off towards the next something. Something unknown, and all the better for it.

Adam flicked his hair up and gave them a raunchy grin. "Say, girls. I must thank you kindly, for showing this cowboy some light." He winked at them.

Yang burst into laughs. "O-Oh man! C-Cowboy!"

Even Blake giggled.

Adam smiled at them and dipped his head. He then turned to Yang. "I'm going to be direct, I cut off your hand."

Yang stopped laughing and nodded. "You did."

Adam continued. "What do you want for it?"

"Hm, find guys like yourself and make them join your band." Yang glared at him. "See that they don't go cutting off anyone else's hands." She shook her head. "Just don't take in any crazies."

Adam gave her a curt nod. "It'll be done."

Then his posture became looser.

"I'll be off then, Blake, and...," he frowned at the blond. "I never got your name..."

"Yang Xiao Long," she shot him a peace sigh, "remember it, tats."

He nodded. "Yang Xiao Long."

He turned around and walk a few steps before he heard Yang call him.

"Hey, tats! What're you gonna name your band! It better not be lame!"

Adam turned around and shouted back with an excited grin.

"Red steel, baby! And you better not forget it!"

Yang leaned towards Blake and said, "uh, he sure looks pumped."

Blake looked at his departing back, and his carefree gait. She smiled.

"He sure does."