AN: Chapter 3! Woo!
Now Adam took the lead. They were too close to Vale and Blake would get them caught by patrols. They couldn't be seen entering the city. Vale had too many cameras, not in the same way Atlas or Argus did but more than enough to get a good look at them if they weren't careful. A shot or two of Blake would be fine, but Atlas strike teams would be on their way if they saw Adam. They didn't know his full face but they did know he was a red-haired bull Faunus. They had to have reports of his raids in Vale by now, they would be looking for him in the area.
The black and red pair made their move during the night. The mix of Vale militia and police at the gate were easy enough to get by. Adam had timed their entry, during the guard's shift change. A mix of men eager to get home and those that hadn't settled into their roles yet.
Their entry only became easier when they mentioned they were Beacon hopefuls from the frontier, they were waved in after showing their weapons. The leader clapping them on their shoulders and wishing them good luck.
Adam led them down back alleys and side streets. Avoiding the main streets and their traffic cameras for now. Adam stopped them at the edge of the alley, slowly moving his hand up and down the edge of the wall, looking for a sign. He smiled as his hand felt three deep grooves on the wall. He peeked out the alley and checked up and down the street for anyone or anything out at this hour, he smiled when he saw the streets were indeed deserted. He grabbed Blake's hand and pulled her after him as he walked into the building, a glance at the window to get the name and make sure he had the right place.
Welker's Café and Books
If his info was still good, one of the owners owed him. Could put them up for a few nights at least.
The White Fang had also marked it safe in the city. Three scratches at the alley and 3 more on either side of the door. They could rest here and he could hear the rest of Blake's plan, if she had even come up with one yet.
He took in the small café. The booths and tables were empty, bookcases covering most of the walls on either side of them. The back wall taken up by a counter and a doorway to the kitchen. A man behind the counter was busy counting their earnings for the day. A bucket and rag on the counter next to him, recently cleaned tables all around him. He was obviously wearing the business' uniform. A black apron, with the business' logo, over a dark shirt and gray pants.
He was a few inches taller than Adam. Though he lacked Adam's muscles created by years of fighting and training. He had more than enough strength to move anything in the building but that was where it ended. Stubble covered the tanned skin of his face, unkempt brown hair sitting on top of his head.
"Sorry but we're shut down for the night." The man didn't look up from counting tips behind the counter.
"We can always serve a late customer every now and then, Frank!" a woman's voice called from the back.
"Fine." Frank smiled as he turned his head to shout back. "But since I already cashed out the register, it's coming out of your paycheck!"
"Whatever you say honey!" he turned back to Adam and Blake, not even sparing a look at their weapons with a Huntsman academy so close. "What can I get you two?"
"Black coffee for me and a green tea for her, if you have it. I was hoping to speak to Michelle if she's still around."
"That was her in the back." Frank gave them his back as he turned to make their drinks. "You two old friends or something?"
"I am. Haven't had much of a chance to talk to her since she came to Vale a few years ago." Adam set his bag down and took a seat, Blake copying him a few moments later.
"She's probably told me about you before." Frank laughed. "I know we haven't met before, but I swear she's told me enough about you. Feels like I know you without ever seeing you."
"Really?" Frank didn't see it but Adam's finger fell to Blush's trigger. Aiming was easy even from his seat. The sword's handle would smash into the back of his head. Then it was a few steps between delivering the final blow and leaving. They could always find another safehouse, no need to use a personal favor. "Did she tell you how we met?"
"Only that you really helped her out." he shook his head. "I swear that's the one secret she keeps from me."
Blake let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when she heard the faint tap of Blush on the floor, the weapon lowered for now. Frank didn't even know how much danger his words had put him in. He didn't even know his next words had saved his life. He turned back to face them with a smile, their drinks in hand. He took his own seat at a nearby table and pulled out his scroll.
"Michelle! Come out here already!" Frank shouted to the back. "Got people waiting for you!"
"Okay!"
Michelle was drying her hands on her apron as she came from the back. Her uniform was a smaller copy of Frank's own. She was an inch or two shorter than Blake if they stood next to each other. Small patches of scales covered her exposed arms and face, yellow eyes with slits for pupils widened when they saw Adam sitting at a table. The red hair, sword, and horns were more than enough. It didn't matter to her that he didn't have his usual mask on.
Frank was already rising from his seat when he saw her stop. He left the two seated Faunus completely forgotten as he wrapped her in his arms.
Blake stood when Adam stood, his hands falling to draw Wilt. He'd gladly cut down the human now, before he could use her as a shield.
"It's okay, I'm here. You're not there." Blake's ears twitched as they heard the whispered words, her hand grabbing Adam's jacket and keeping him from moving forward. She shook her head when he turned his glare on her, he settled on frowning after he pulled his arm free but stayed right next to her. He took his hands off Wilt and crossed his arms over his chest, a promise to not strike first.
For now.
"Sorry if we scared you." Blake bowed her head. "We can go if you aren't comfortable around us."
Michelle sprang out of Frank's arms and quickly grabbed Blake's hands with her own.
"No! You just shocked me. I'm fine now. I just couldn't help but think back to when we met. It was a lot to take in." Her eyes focused on Adam, the revolutionary's eye showing sympathy for everything she had gone through. "I honestly never thought I'd see you again. Are you here about the kidnappings? What can I do to help?"
"Don't worry about that." Blake spoke before Adam could even open his mouth. "We just need a place to stay for a few days. Then we'll be out of your hair."
"We can speak about those later." Adam mentally cursed the Vale chapter. Of course, they kept something like this from him. Something every Faunus in the damn city knew about and here he was, absolutely clueless. "But Blake's right. We need a place to stay for a few days. Are you still offering?"
"Of course. We have plenty of rooms. Frank and I have the apartment on the second floor but you can have the entire third floor. It's all free ever since we moved in together. And my old roommate moved out."
"Thank you Michelle, really." Adam bowed his head. "I know I don't bring up good memories."
Michelle stepped away from Frank and grabbed Adam's arm.
"They aren't the best but I wouldn't have met Frank without your help. Thank you Adam. Really." she practically glowed when she smiled. "I swear I'll tell my kids all about the day I was saved by Adam Taurus and when I got to help him."
Adam smiled, accepting the reassuring hug from Michelle. She thought she had comforted him when might've doubted himself but Adam was smiling for a different reason. Blake knew it from the glance he sent Frank. The man finally realized who exactly was in the room with him and how much danger he must have been in. He quickly went to lock the door and close the blinds. Casting glances back over his shoulder when Michelle led the pair of Faunus up the stairs. She was already telling them where they could find everything and that she and him were here if they needed anything.
He had a lot of questions and this time Michelle was going to give him some answers.
Adam thanked Michelle for her help again as he closed the door. She had helped them get settled in and promised she would send food up later. Amber eyes narrowed when Adam turned back around. Blake was already sitting on one of the beds, their bags at her feet.
"Problem?" he asked.
"There's always problems with you Adam." She looked out towards Vale. "I'm waiting for the cops to kick down the door."
"Relax Blake. This place is safe and it has running water. Take a shower." He checked something on his scroll. "I need to figure out what Michelle was talking about."
"Can't that wait." She patted the bed next to her. "I want to talk."
"I guess I can call Bane in the morning. I can go one more night without him giving me a headache."
He took a seat next to her and Blake didn't waste any time.
"She said you saved her, what does that mean?"
"You could just ask her." Adam tried. "She'll tell you enough."
"I could but," she pretended to think things over. "I'm asking you. So answer me."
"Fine." He closed his eye and took a deep breath before opening it again. "I met her when I was out raiding with Sienna. She's not from Vale. She's from Atlas. Luckily, she wasn't born in a mine but it was close enough. Her parents both worked in an SDC mine. Both of them died in a cave in. She had moved to Menagerie long before that happened though. Found a job working on ships. She went back to Atlas to bury her parents. That's when they grabbed her. Her parents had old contracts. Had Dust and lien they owed the SDC that didn't go away just because they died. So, the combined debt passed on to her. Of course, the SDC didn't send their own people, they contracted it out. Told them how much she owed and to get it. They didn't care how. The kidnappers were keeping her locked in a basement, debating how they would make her earn the money. Then Sienna and I showed up. We had been following the kidnapping network for months, their little group was only a small piece of it."
"We had been raiding them for months. We hit their leadership one day and got a chance to go into their files. They were all monsters. Worse than the Grimm. The bastards would sell children and even babies to the highest bidder. Michelle got lucky. The things they had planned for her were sick. They would sell her to a brothel if she was lucky. They really wanted to sell her to a research lab. See if her being a lizard Faunus let her regrow limbs after they cut them off. We kept most of what we found from her, but she's not stupid. She knew whatever they had in store for her wasn't good. She promised to be there for us if we ever needed help. She's kept Sienna and me up to date, it's how I knew that she was here."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Blake's righteous fury was going through her. "I could've helped. I would've let you ask Michelle about these new kidnappings? Why didn't we know about them before?"
Her eyes narrowed as she knew the answer before she even finished her question.
"Bane." The spoke the name with the same level of distaste. Of course, he'd keep the problems in Vale hidden from them.
Adam deemed the conversation finished, rising to his feet.
"Take a shower Blake, you stink." He dodged the pillow thrown at him, smiling as the mood lifted.
"You first." She inched her nose closer before jumping back. "You smell like a farm."
"Ladies first." He batted the next pillow before shaking his head. "I need to make some calls. We're going to be busy tomorrow, getting the right papers for Beacon."
"Lead the way Commander Taurus." Blake was the only one who could make his rank sound like an insult.
"It's your plan Belladonna. Even if I've had to fix it every step of the way."
Adam fled the room as she dug through her bag, throwing most of what she found at the back of his head.
AN: They made it to Vale! Woo!
Adam and Blake have ups and downs in their relationship. It's not all bad. And Adam calls in a favor from his early White Fang days.
Going to try and keep the updates coming every 2-3 weeks. I make no promises though. Life finds a way to mess with the best laid plans.
A few questions for you wonderful readers though:
Does anyone want a flashback to some of Adam's and Blake's past missions/jobs, besides the train job?
Should I shake up the teams at Beacon or leave them close to canon?
Any character(s) that you want to see interact with Adam and/or Blake before or during their time at Beacon? Fights or just talking? Weiss and Adam are already on my personal list so that's going to happen no matter what.
Thanks for reading.