AN: Chapter 5. Maybe they make it to Beacon in this one. It has been a while since the tackle...
Enjoy.
Their farewells that morning had been quick, they had stayed with Michelle for only a few days but trusted the Faunus with their future plans. Promising to visit her while they were at Beacon.
Adam had thankfully never learned of Frank's and Michelle's arguments or been witness to one. Blake had tried to talk to the man but he was good at avoiding her. Michelle assured her again and again that things between them would get better once he wasn't afraid of police kicking the door down and arresting them both for harboring international fugitives. Blake had promised her they were revolutionaries and offered to help but Michelle had declined. Blake trusted her but made sure to leave her scroll number with Michelle just in case anything happened.
Adam somehow had a car and driver waiting for them. They didn't make any introductions, the driver already knowing they were going to the Bullhead docks. He didn't need to and didn't want to know anything else. He helped them unload their bags and then he was gone, Blake pressing her scroll against a machine to get their boarding passes.
Even as they sat together on the Bullhead to Beacon, it still felt like she would blink and be back on the train in Forever Fall. That last few days had only been a hallucination after the spider droid had knocked her out. She'd wakeup with Adam above her, telling her to be more careful next time and they would have to finish the mission.
But she blinked and nothing changed. She was still on the Bullhead with Adam. She forced away any fear she felt, forced away any last minute doubts.
Now was the moment of truth.
A book was open in her hands but she wasn't reading. Couldn't keep her focus on the words on the page. She was still trying to wrap her head around that this was actually happening. She couldn't believe she was actually on a Bullhead on its way to Beacon from Vale. Adam next to her, their bags at their feet. The Bullhead was mostly empty, not a big surprise since Beacon didn't officially start for a few more days. Adam's glare did more than enough to keep the other occupants away from the pair.
"You could try and be nice." Blake closed her book, she wasn't getting any reading done anyway. "It wouldn't hurt."
Adam didn't give her a response, his eye going back to his scroll.
He had been doing that a lot, even after getting their transcripts. He hadn't even been talking to her. It was strange not being clued in on what he was doing, they were partners. She wasn't used to being shut out from his thought process. He had only told her when he was leaving the last few days, not where he was going or when he would be back. She knew Adam could take care of himself but she couldn't shake the worry she felt for him. Michelle's words had stayed in her mind, coming to the surface of her thoughts whenever she had downtime.
Don't let him burn himself out.
Michelle's words stayed in her head. So, she started thinking back. Thinking about everything she had seen and heard about Adam doing. He took on a lot but it wasn't any more than Sienna Khan did. Teacher and student were alike in their work ethic, she didn't think they knew the meaning of rest. She had never seen them take a day off. Adam had been sent to salvage the Vale Branch from Bane for a reason, Sienna knew he could get them up to her standard.
It took her till now to realize just how much work that was. No matter how she felt about Sienna and her methods, she didn't just let anyone in the White Fang, let alone go on raids. She alone had started training her followers, Adam had come along much later. Only shortly before she was the leader of the White Fang in all but name, no one had gone to her father asking for permission once they adopted her ways. Her father had never seen the coup until it was too late.
She glanced at Adam, trying to get her focus back.
Adam had taken over training, getting supplies, scouting targets and new camps, and so much more until he felt like he had capable soldiers. Blake hadn't exactly had a role during everything. She had been at his side, someone for him to bounce ideas off of him and someone he could vent his frustrations to.
They had practically spent every one of her waking moments together. It took her until just now to realize that Adam hadn't been sleeping the same time as her. He was up later than her and awake before her.
It wasn't until now that she saw what had only taken Michelle moments. He wasn't just burning the candle at both ends, the entire thing was on fire.
Going to Beacon was probably going to be good for him, he'd actually be able to sleep without having to worry about running the White Fang. She didn't even want to think about Bane and all the frustration his continued disobedience had caused. She'd be happy if she never saw that particular Faunus again.
"We're here.' Adam's voice pulled her from her thoughts. The doors opened not a moment later, the others rushing off the Bullhead as Adam and Blake gathered their bags. "I'm sure they'll do great against the Grimm if they're that afraid of me." He rolled his eye as they fled from the Bullhead.
"I'm sure they're just rushing to see their friends."
"Let's just get this over with." He made to follow the crowd, looking around them before his eye zeroed in on the obvious teachers sent to direct the new and returning students.
He didn't hide his surprise when Blake took his hand, pulling him after her as she led the way to Beacon Tower.
"What are you doing Blake? Where are we going?"
"To see Professor Ozpin."
"What? When?" he tried to pull his arm free, force her to stop and explain herself.
"Just trust me Adam. I worked all this out."
Adam actually laughed.
"Before or after you tackled me off that train."
Blake shrugged her shoulders.
"Somewhere in the middle. I haven't just been sitting around while you've been gone."
He let her lead the way, hand resting on Wilt as they walked through the tower doors. Blake ignored everyone in the lobby, holding her scroll to the elevator panel.
"We don't have to wait for him to be free?"
"I told you I worked it all out."
"I'm starting to believe you." he was quiet but Blake still heard it, smiling at the praise.
They stepped inside, the doors closing as the elevator quickly ascended the tower.
Blake was surprised when Adam pulled her into his arms, letting their bags fall to the elevator floor.
"Never stand in the doorway Blake." He spoke into her hair, closing his eye as he kept her close. "I taught you better than that."
"You taught me that for raids. We don't need that here Adam." She wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest for the few more moments they would be alone before meeting Professor Ozpin. "I promise."
"I'll play along Blake. But," He pushed her away so he could look at her, lifting her chin so blue could stare into amber. "I'm ready if this goes wrong. If it does, follow my lead."
Her face showed her confusion but she nodded. Adam smiled, giving her a kiss before the elevator doors opened.
Then they were stepping out into the Headmaster's office. It was less decorated than either of them thought it would be. No elaborate art or even bookcases lining the walls. The most impressive thing was the view from the floor to ceiling window. They could see all of Beacon and Vale from it. Why the Headmaster would work with his back to it, they would never know.
The man himself was behind his desk, motioning to the pair of seats set up in front of him.
The silver haired man closed whatever he had been working on, adjusting his spectacles as they took their seats. The man was dressed professionally, closing his eyes as he drank from a mug on his desk. He merely looked at them as he sat it down, intent on letting them speak first.
"Thank you for giving us this chance Professor Ozpin." Blake spoke first. "We promise to make the most of it."
"I'm sure you will Ms. Belladonna. I'm glad you reached out to me." He spoke with a smile but his face became neutral as he turned to Adam. A smirking Adam. "Your partner might pose some unique problems though. Adam Taurus. I've been told a lot about you Mr. Taurus. What do you have to say about yourself?"
"I followed Blake here, she convinced me." He looked at Blake with no small amount of shock, followed by approval.
"I'm glad to see it worked." He frowned as he saw the elevator descend. "Strange, it shouldn't go back down until I released the lock." He glanced down at something on his desk before speaking again. "I trust these records reflect your experience."
"Certain schools don't accept records from Menagerie." Adam explained. "We have field experience against Grimm as well."
"I saw that." A tap on his desk and video from one of their raids was projected. "And experience against human opponents as well."
Adam led the White Fang down white hallways, SDC logos on the wall. Uniformed guards fell to gunfire but mostly from Adam rushing them. They stood no chance when Adam got close, thankfully Ozpin paused the video. Adam smiled at his work, both in the video and in the office.
"That's where we have a problem." Ozpin closed the video. "Both you and Ms. Belladonna are on video committing crimes. Ms. Belladonna, I can deal with easily enough. Your crimes are more difficult Mr. Taurus." Ozpin's fingers drummed on his chair. "What I want to know, is if this fight is worth it? Vale and Atlas have a very strong alliance, I know they would pay a king's ransom for you." Ozpin laughed at some private joke. "I want to know why I shouldn't accept it Mr. Taurus."
"Atlas hasn't captured me yet. Believe me they've been trying." Adam's own fingers drummed against Wilt, still sheathed for now. "I can go if it means you accept Blake."
Blake didn't have time to be surprised at the offer before the elevator opened behind them. A beautiful blonde woman stepping out with her arms filled with papers.
"Ozpin, I need your signatures on these."
The papers fell to the ground when she saw Adam, then a black riding crop came to her hands. She cracked it and Adam was already moving when she pointed it at him. He was out of his seat, weapons ready for her attack. Blake saw the signs of his Semblance wrap around Wilt as he aimed Blush at the new arrival.
"That's Adam Taurus Ozpin!" she obviously thought her words would shock the headmaster, that he would get to his feet ready for a fight.
"I know Glynda. Please calm down." He looked between them, asking for peace between the terrorist and his deputy. "This is the interview I told you to clear my schedule for."
"A terrorist Ozpin!?" she demanded answers and accuse him of madness with the same words. "You want to admit a terrorist? Are you insane?"
"I'm quite sane Glynda, and I haven't decided anything yet. We always interview prospective students with questionable backgrounds. I'm simply handling this one personally."
"Questionable backgrounds?" He's wanted in all four kingdoms!" she shouted again. "He needs to be apprehended."
"I didn't know I was wanted in Vacuo." Adam dodged the chair sent towards his head. "This is a teacher?" he taunted her. "I've seen much better."
"I'm going to enjoy this." Glynda stepped froward, cracking her weapon through the air as she got closer.
"Professor, please!" Blake pleaded with Ozpin as she saw Adam just waiting for the Deputy Headmistress to get closer so he could attack.
Ozpin finished taking a sip from his mug before reaching for the cane that had been leaning against his desk. Blake hadn't noticed it until now. He decided not to grab it, only watched and Adam and Glynda traded barbs back and forth. He almost seemed to be enjoying it, uncaring that a brawl between them would wreck his office.
"Professor!"
He finally answered her plea, grabbing his cane for a moment to tap the ground twice. It had both of them looking at him before he spoke.
"Glynda. Please leave."
"I will not leave you alone with a terrorist Ozpin!" the anger at her dismissal had her changing target of her rage to Ozpin.
"Revolutionary." Adam corrected, matching her scowl.
"See, Mr. Taurus is a revolutionary not a terrorist." He gave a small laugh, the tension between Adam and Glynda not lessening even if Blake hesitantly joined in. "Besides, I am more than capable of defending myself against these two if it comes to it."
"Ozpin." Glynda spoke through clenched teeth, eyes passing between Adam and Ozpin.
"That is my final decision. Please leave us Glynda."
It looked like the blonde would continue to argue her piece but she closed her mouth at a look from the Beacon Headmaster.
"I will be down in the lobby then." Adam gave her a small wave when she glared at him. "I shall be monitoring the situation from there."
She reluctantly took her leave, the elevator doors shutting as she stepped inside. Her narrowed eyes never left Adam even as he set his chair back at the desk. Another wave goodbye had her snarling in the elevator.
"Please do not make a habit of antagonizing my staff Mr. Taurus."
"I'll try." His voice dripped with false sincerity.
"Good." He ignored Adam's sarcasm, turned his focus to Blake. "Now I believe we were discussing your enrollment. Ms. Belladonna's is easy enough to complete, you pose a unique set of problems though Mr. Taurus."
"Going to turn me away professor? My offer still stands."
"I should. Or at least honor Vale's alliance with Atlas, along with my own friendship with General Ironwood, and hand you over to them." Adam shifted in his seat, gripping Wilt for a quickdraw. Ozpin only took a sip from his mug. "But I see potential in the both of you. Potential to do great things."
"We already do great things. We're fighting for our people." Adam interrupted, ignoring Blake as she slapped his arm.
"I'm sorry, he's usually better than this."
"Am I your pet now Blake?"
"It feels like it some days."
"If we could please get back on topic," Ozpin smiled as they seemed to remember he was there and hid their embarrassment at their bickering. "I'd rather wait for the term to begin to hear students bicker."
"We're," Blake spoke and amber eyes silenced Adam before he could say anything. "Sorry. Please continue professor."
"I can offer you both protection if you enroll at Beacon. I won't defend you if you go around causing trouble but I'm sure I can talk James down if it comes to it."
"James?" Adam questioned.
"General Ironwood." Ozpin clarified. "I will need some assurances from you two though. Mostly you Mr. Taurus."
"Terms, of course." Adam closed his eyes and let out a sigh before opening them again. "Name them."
"Call them terms if you want Mr. Taurus, I see them as agreements between you and I. First, you will cease operations with the White Fang as long as you attend my academy. Second, you will respect my staff. If you believe you are being targeted, you will come to me and I will investigate the matter. Third, you will restrain yourselves against your fellow students. All of them will not be at your level but you will not toy with them or attack them with unnecessary force."
"Unnecessary?" Adam laughed. "They're coming here to become Huntsman. They'll be slaughtered if they think the Grimm will take it easy on them."
"But you aren't a Grimm." Ozpin almost looked bored as he looked at Adam over his spectacles. "Despite your poor attempts to mimic them, you are not a creature of darkness." He continued before Adam could say anything. "You are an exceptionally skilled, if misguided, youth who I see is still capable of great things. Why waste your life on the run?"
"I haven't been wasting my life!" Adam shot out of his seat. He snarled as he looked down at Ozpin, the man didn't move. He had to have expected for his words to incite this very reaction eventually.
It was almost like he wanted Adam to attack him.
Blake put herself between Adam and the professor before he could get what he wanted.
"Adam, please." Amber eyes begged for him to clam down as her hands grabbed his shoulders. It took longer than she liked for his eye to meet her own but he did. His anger at Ozpin lessening as he looked at her. Finally, he let out a sigh, returning to his seat and Blake returning to her own a moment later.
"I've been fighting for equality for my people." Adam began, much calmer. "Forgive my outburst, I'm very passionate about my cause."
"No apologies were necessary, I understand the roads unchained passion for a cause can lead us down." It was as close to an apology as Ozpin would get, Adam nodding along. "But I do have one question."
"What?" he was relaxed enough for any question Ozpin would ask him.
"What have you accomplished?" Ozpin asked and Blake felt her heart drop as she saw their chance at a new life go up in smoke.
"More than enough." Adam didn't sound sure about his answer, anger mixing into his voice again.
"What have you accomplished?" Ozpin asked again.
"If you're trying to die, you're very close to succeeding." he was far more sure of himself threatening the headmaster. He didn't need to justify he had done for the cause to a human.
"Your threats don't faze me like they do so many others Mr. Taurus. I've seen far worse than you in my life."
"But none of them have killed you like I will." He was back on his feet and Blake knew she couldn't calm him down this time, she didn't even rise from her seat to try. This was it. They'd go back to their old life because of Ozpin's taunts. Because Adam would rise to them and attack.
He'd attack the professor and they would have to fight their way out of Beacon.
Ozpin only smiled even as Adam stood, leaning back in his chair as he held his arms out, almost like he was welcoming Adam to try. Gave him the opening blow.
Adam almost did.
He didn't stop because of Blake, she couldn't stop him and didn't even try. She was just sitting there, numb as her plan for them fell apart around her. He didn't stop because of Beacon's Deputy Headmistress waiting for a moment just like this to make her reappearance. He didn't even stop because Ozpin had drawn his weapon to defend himself, Ozpin hadn't moved. Hadn't even summoned his Aura.
The Headmaster was completely calm. His breathing hadn't even changed. He wasn't preparing for a fight because there wouldn't be one.
All the combat instincts that Sienna Khan had spent years sharpening with her training were screaming at him to stop. His instincts were screaming at him in raw primal fear. They reverted back to the very thing that had allowed his ancestors to survive. Told that what was in front of him was only danger, that he had to flee to survive.
It was like a predator acknowledging a much more dangerous one. Seeing one that felt no fear because there was nothing to fear. It was like an ant trying to stand against a flood.
Adam would attack and Ozpin would put him down. It was a fact of life, a universal law like gravity.
Ozpin grinned when Adam's hand came away from Wilt. When the swordsman practically collapsed back into his chair as the fight left him. Blake's own eyes were wide as she saw it, saw her partner pull his hands away from his weapon and cross his arms over his chest. She would've kept staring at him if Ozpin hadn't spoken again.
"I'm glad that we don't have to resort to violence." Ozpin began, uncaring that he had been so close to a fight against an opponent as dangerous as Adam. "Forgive me for being blunt with my words, your self-control is admirable Mr. Taurus, but your efforts have long stopped bearing fruit. A few concessions to stop the violence while investigations proceeded. I believe things have returned to how they were before in both Mistral and Atlas. You sacrificed years, maybe even decades, of progress for a few fleeting achievements. All you thought you had accomplished with violence has been undone. Your actions have led to more suffering. I understand why you fight, I myself seek to do away with any injustice I see, but your methods to, put it simply, have caused much more harm than good."
"I did not come here to be lectured by you." Adam didn't speak with rage backing his words, his tone closer to a child trying to defend themselves against a parent's accusations when they had been caught red handed. His voice lacked most of the familiar fire and passion Blake had always heard him speak with.
"This is a school Mr. Taurus. I'm afraid you'll get many more lectures, not just from myself." Ozpin chuckled to himself again, pulling two scrolls from his desk. "But I have work to do and you two still need to get settled in. Are you both ready to see your rooms?"
Blake was on her feet, pulled an unresisting Adam to his own.
"Of course, professor."
"Good." He snatched up his cane as he rose. "It's good to get out of the office every now and then. I'll show you to your rooms and then speak to Glynda. Some fresh air will help me before that."
Ozpin led them to the elevator, letting them stop to collect their bags. Most would call him foolish for giving a pair of terrorists his back, but Adam knew better. The professor had nothing to fear from them. Now was the perfect time to cut the man down but Adam didn't dare put his hands on his weapons. He couldn't say why, but he knew he'd lose the fight.
The thought dominated Adam's mind as the trio took the elevator down, as they passed by his angered deputy. He saw Ozpin wave off her concerns as he led them out the tower. He would've wandered off if Blake hadn't grabbed his hand, guided him after the professor as he brought them to the dorms.
Glynda wouldn't be idle while Ozpin showed those terrorists to their rooms. She would make sure their stay was temporary. But she knew she alone couldn't fight against whatever madness had taken root in Ozpin's mind, she needed help. She probably had half an hour to set everything up, her fingers had never moved faster on her scroll. Messages to her fellow Deputies in Shade and Haven had their help before a personal call to the Headmaster of Atlas assured his own. Thankfully all the Headmasters were nearby, getting their academies ready for the beginning school year.
"These aren't troubled youth you can save Ozpin, they're terrorist." She gave a voice to her thoughts, speaking to no one to try and vent her frustration so she could be calm for what was coming. "Terrorists with body counts. We'll be lucky to subdue them without any casualties." She sent messages to Peter and Bartholomew, telling them to begin gathering the others so they could take the pair into custody together.
She shook her head when she remembered the briefing everyone had sat through. The Police Commissioner had been there personally with a representative from Atlas to present the information. They didn't have much on the girl but Adam Taurus was a monster. She'd go to her grave remembering what he had done to some of his victims. The boy left pools of blood and mutilated victims behind in his wake. He was cruel and enjoyed it. Glynda couldn't allow that around her students.
Ozpin knew Weiss Schnee would be attending this year, there was no way the two could coexist on the same campus. He couldn't be trusted around her. He'd try to kidnap her to extort her family or kill her.
Who knows how he would influence the student body, how he would stir up tensions between Faunus and human students?
She didn't even want to think about the upcoming Vytal Festival Vale was supposed to be hosting this year.
The more she thought about it, the more she hoped Ozpin wasn't really considering admitting him. He couldn't have thought about it for more than a few moments before agreeing. It was the only explanation that made sense to her. No, almost as soon as she thought of it she realized how wrong that conclusion was. Ozpin could be shortsighted sometimes but never in matters like this. He cared about Beacon, about all the academies, to do something like this.
Glynda could only think of one thing that could make Ozpin even consider admitting Adam Taurus into his school.
Her.
That was the only thing she could think of that made sense. The only thing that could make Ozpin risk the students like this. This was all part of his battle against Her. He wanted to craft a monster of his own to use against whatever she made next.
Fight monsters with a monster.
The mere idea terrified her. That Ozpin would start involving people like Adam Taurus in his battle against Her. He'd be sinking to her level.
"Why wouldn't he come to us, come to me?" again she spoke her thoughts aloud, bracing herself against Ozpin's own desk as her mind raced.
This wasn't like Qrow. Wasn't even Raven coming back into the fold, this was a terrorist. Were the scales between them really so unbalanced, was Ozpin really so desperate even with their help.
She had believed him when she told them all they were in a stalemate since his previous incarnation, had promised to help him keep the scales balanced even if it might cost her, that even a stalemate could claim her life. She was willing to give up everything to help him and this was how he repaid her. It enraged her, made her Semblance take hold of the gears in the office. She didn't notice until she heard the machines grinding as they were forced to a stop, pulled her Semblance back under her control.
"Enough Glynda." She chastised herself. "Deal with this madness then you can get answers. You're catastrophizing."
She'd get to the bottom of everything later, after she made sure her students, present and future, were safe.
She'd warn Ozpin of the dangerous road he was walking later. Right now, she had to put a stop to this.
Her scroll dinged, Bartholomew letting her know that everyone was on their way to the tower and Ozpin was at the dorms.
AN: Blake was practically pinching herself the whole time. She was really trying and everything still almost blew up in her face.
In Glynda's defense, she's right. That dude is like a lightning rod for trouble. Would you really let a terrorist into a school where sparring is a part of the curriculum? Expect more fallout from Adam coming to Beacon. She's not going to go down without a fight.
Was Ozpin goading Adam? Probably. The 'What have you accomplished?' was my favorite part. I know they say in the show that things got better with the violence but I feel like nobody checked in and things just went back to status quo or maybe got even worse. You can't sustain actual change with violence, eventually somebody is going to show up that's stronger than you or you'll slip up and someone gets in a lucky shot. Adam and Sienna might think they changed lives but what happens when they're gone and can't keep enforcing the changes? It's just a system that's set up to fail or end up with them destroying each other because change isn't happening fast enough or justice isn't being dished out right in their eyes. A fight between them and everything goes to hell.
And now I'm upset again that Sienna just showed up to die.
Adam really needs to work on his self-control. Ozpin's words definitely got to him. He's probably just stressed because he was busy the last few days.
But they're finally at Beacon. The term just hasn't started yet. I'm sure nothing bad happens when it does.
This is the longest chapter so far, honestly surprised it didn't take longer like the other one. I still cut some stuff out because it was running long. Next chapter should still take 2-3 weeks. We'll see what happens.
Hope you enjoyed it, any feedback is welcomed and appreciated.