Chapter 24 — Trust

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."

— Ernest Hemingway

Serena did her usual workout routine. She'd just finished her jog — she'd woken up way later than usually; it had almost been noon — and was now running through her usual series of moves, spinning and spiralling around. Adam was not yet healed enough to resume his own training, and she felt his attentive eyes follow her every move.

It unnerved her how he observed her. She got it; he didn't trust her. But, seriously, they'd been living together for more than a week now, and he still thought she was going to kill or rat him out? The guy had a serious paranoia problem, if you asked her.

Another involuntary shiver raced down her spine, as though she could actually see his eyes narrow in scrutiny of her. She didn't have anything against being watched — it was uncomfortable, yes, but she could handle it. She did, however, object to being analyzed and watched as though she were a lunatic or dangerous criminal — or possibly prey.

"Could you stop staring at me, please," she finally voiced her discomfort, having had enough of his staring. She turned her head in his direction, and watched how his eyes narrowed even more. Honestly, if he kept this up, he'd have some serious permanent furrows by the time he left.

"Do not tell me what to do, human."

His reply was rude, as always, and Serena gave a huff of irritation. "I'm not telling you what to do. I'm asking you nicely to stop staring at me. It makes me nervous."

A brief smirk flitted across his face — why did she have to say that him looking at her made her nervous? — before he resumed his scowling.

"Seriously, though, stop staring. It becomes creepy with time," she teased him. Maybe that would help?

Nope, didn't look like it, for in the next moment, he was up in her face — well, her face was confronted with his chest and he was confronted with air, but whatever — and sneering.

"Do not mock me," he commanded.

"I'm not." It was her turn to wrinkle her eyebrows. If he wanted to be cross, she would be too. Then another thought hit her. "Why don't you trust me?"

His face became lax for a moment — she had caught him off-guard apparently — before he barked a laugh. And not a friendly one.

"Have you lost your mind? I would never trust a human."

"Why not? What have I done to earn your mistrust," she countered. "Ever since I took you in, you've been nothing but hostile. Like I didn't save your life."

"You did no such thing," he sneered, lip curling in disgust and anger.

Oh, she was getting to him.

"Oh, then I guess you bleeding out in the middle of buttfuck nowhere was all a part of your plan. I'm sure you had some kind of contingency plan. And I'm sure it was also all part of your plan for Eric and Steve to die." She crossed her arms across her chest. "Right, all part of your grand scheme."

Before she even knew what happened, he had jumped her and pushed her to the ground. Straddling her waist, he had one knee on each side of her body, hands resting on either shoulder of her. Anger was rolling off him in waves, and Serena knew that she'd crossed the line. But this dude was seriously getting on her nerves with his "Humans are shit" policy.

"And now you're resorting to force," she told him calmly, her own eyes blazing. "Because that's how everything can be solved."

He looked about ready to burst by now.

"Go ahead, punch me. It won't make you feel any better."

Red clashed with blue, both locked in a silent battle. For a moment, it seemed like he really was going to punch her, but then he suddenly released her shoulders and got off her. Serena creased her eyebrows, rightening herself up, and watched him turn his back to her. His fists clenched and unclenched a few times, and he punched the outside of the cave once. Apart from that, he didn't do anything.

"You saved my life," he suddenly admitted, and Serena's eyes almost bulged out of her head. "I give you that much credit. But that does not mean that I will trust you."

He seemed to want to say more, but a voice interrupted them.

"Serena! I'm back!"

Oh shit, Ruby!

Serena's brain scrambled for a plan, and before she knew what she was doing, she'd shoved the Faunus into the cave, to the farthest back corner, and piled blankets atop him. He gave minor prostest before she hushed him with a "shut up and be quiet", then she went outside to greet her surprise guest.

"Ruby! Good to see you."

"You too."

The two hugged and Serena invited her inside. "Want some tea? It's a new recipe."

"Sure," the teen agreed, detaching her folded up scythe from her back and leaning it on the boulder she sat on. "Do you have anyone over?"

The question made Serena tense, and she cautiously glanced to where the male nuisance was still securely covered by blankets. "No. Why do you ask?"

Ruby pointed to the black coat that lay forgotten on the bed. Damn it, she'd forgotten to clear that away. "Oh that. I bought it to use it for… mending some clothes. I got a few holes in some of them." The lie wasn't perfect, but it was the best thing that came to mind.

"Oh, okay."

Phew, catastrophe avoided.

"Anyway, what's up? Anything new from Beacon?" Serena asked the girl in an attempt at changing the topic.

"Nah, nothing really. Team's still the same, though Blake and Weiss are getting along better."

Serena raised her eyebrows. "I thought they weren't that close?"

"Yeah, but ever since some time they're getting along better. I think Weiss finally sees that Blake's not like the rest of those White Fang guys. She's not a fanatic or terrorist like them. Weiss says she should be glad she's gotten away from those lunatics."

Serena could practically feel Adam death glaring at Ruby from his soft hiding spot. She only hoped he didn't let his temper get to him like just a few minutes ago.

"Oh, by the way, the Vytal Festival's coming up soon," Ruby announced merrily.

"And the Vytal Festival is what exactly?" Serena asked a little sheepish. She still didn't know all the traditions and festivities of this strange world. She hoped she hadn't affronted Ruby; maybe that Vytal thing was super important here.

"Oh, right; sorry I always forget you're not from here. Well, basically, it's this big celebration where the four kingdoms come together to celebrate their traditions and cultures. There's food from all around the world, and there'll even be a tournament. And guess who gets to compete in it!"

"That's great, Ruby! I wish you and your team the best of luck," Serena rejoiced.

"Thanks! If you've got the time, you could visit." The teen saw that her friend was about to object, so she promptly continued. "And don't worry. There are so many people of different nationality and ethnology there, I'm sure you won't stand out. Even Faunus come to celebrate with us."

Serena's eyes widened for a moment before returning to their usual size.

"I'd love to, really. But I have things I need to do here."

"Ohh?" Ruby looked suspicious once more.

"Um, yeah. I encountered some new Grimm, and they prove to be quite the challenge. I wouldn't want to leave the forest unsupervised when they're still so wild. You know, to avoid incidents like the one with Azuna."

Ruby nodded her head in understanding. The two females conversed for a little longer before Ruby had to return to her dorm. Something about having been late once and Miss Goodwitch being scarier than any Grimm when angry.

"No problem. Take Ajax with you; he'll accompany you for some of the way," Serena said and watched her friend leave with the Grimm at her side.

She heaved a sigh before telling the Faunus that it was save to come out. "I didn't know that there were also Faunus who were on good terms with humans," she mumbled to herself.

"Those Faunus are traitors to their own kind," Adam's gruff voice reached her.

"Why? Because they are ready to trust humans? I don't see why not. It seems to work."

"Ha! You want me to trust you and your kind. All your kind does is destroy. And then blame us for it!" he accused her.

Serena's lips twitched for a moment. "That's funny. You do the exact same thing," she said, turning her head to him. His eyes widened and his mouth parted slightly. She had him. "You are the ones that attack and terrorize humans. Yet you claim that we are the destroyers. Isn't that hypocritical?"

His mouth closed and opened, and he wanted to say something, but nothing came. He had no counter argument, because what she'd just said was the truth. The White Fang was a terrorist organization, and they did attack human society. They killed if needed.

And still the humans were the ones to blame?

Serena watched the inner conflict the Faunus was experiencing. It seemed like he'd never even considered the notion of them being just as much at fault as the humans.

"For war, there always need to be two parties. Humans are not perfect, and neither are Faunus. But if you actually tried like some other Faunus, I think you could find some common ground," she spoke, thinking that those might be some of the wisest words she'd ever addressed to someone.

"Then again, I'm only some girl living in a cave, so I don't really know. Which reminds me, I need to go out and hunt. I'll be back later."

Adam watched as she went to get both her bow and arrows, and then wandered off into the forest.

And somehow, through this conflict that they'd had, he felt like she was the only human he could actually trust. She was honest, and she showed great kindness. She saw the world for what it was, and not how she wanted it to be. She was fair.

Maybe… Maybe if all humans were a bit like her, a peaceful relation between Faunus and them weren't as much a fantasy as he'd always thought it to be.

I wrote the entire chapter from scrap again. I wasn't really happy with the first version, but now I'm quite content with how this turned out. And I think it would suit Adam better, to be pissy and irritating like this hehe XD

Anyway, the base used for the comic — you can't imagine all the work, but it was worth it — is by SeraphicMayin on DeviantArt (it's a YCH Base). Go check her out; she has great work, especially if you want to render your chapter a little more alive with a comic like I did this time. But she also has normal pose references etc.

Here's the link to my page (just remove the brakes) : caroline982. deviantart art / Unlikely-Comic-Strip-Conflict-Chapter-24-702913458? ga _ submit _ new = 10 : 1504639239

And I do hope that all of you people who live at the coast line of the US and are threatened by Hurricane Irma will be safe. Wish you all the best of luck.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or any of its characters. All I do own are my OC and the idea and plot of the non-canon parts of the story.

Edited 05/09/2017