ATTENTION: This is the original Chapter 29 that I forgot to post (hehe, sorry!). It is instrumental in the leadup to Chapter 30, as it explains exactly why Serena and Adam are suddenly at each others' throats. If you've already read up until the most recent chapter, I apologize for the slip-up. Simply read this one to understand where each of the two is coming from.

PS: I incorporated some of Adam's canon backstory into this chapter.

Again, I deeply apologize for the mishap. All other chapters will be reposted in order to keep the chronological order. Feel free to skip them, as they will remain the same.

Chapter 29 — Revealed

"What if I wanted to break?

Laugh it all off in your face

What would you do?

What if I fell to the floor?

Couldn't take all this anymore

What would you do?"

— 30 Seconds To Mars,

The Kill

Progress was slow, but it was progress nonetheless. With each new day, Serena could feel the change in her guest's aura. But it also became apparent in the Faunus' behavior — he turned more friendly, would occasionally help her prepare dinner or wash the dishes. Once, he even offered to go gather firewood for her.

The change was welcome, yet she could not get rid of the feeling that there was still something nagging at his mind. Something that not even the extensive meditation could get rid of. She knew it to be risky — if worse came to worse, he could revert to his old, hostile self — but she would have to address the blockade at some point.

It appeared that point would be tonight. The male was calm enough for her to choose that now was as good a chance as any she'd get to talk to him. She just hoped it wouldn't end in total disaster.

"So," she began cautiously, setting down her empty plate. "How are you feeling?"

The question earned her a confused glance, but he nonetheless deigned her with a response.

"Good."

Awkward silence reigned for a few moments, and Serena came to the conclusion that she should've planned this out better.

"Okay, what do you want?" It seemed he too was feeling on edge.

Taking a deep breath, she decided that she might as well be open and forthcoming, and simply asked the question. "There is something that's still bothering you." He was about to interject, but she cut him off. "Don't try to deny it. I can feel it in your aura. Talk to me about it."

"It's got nothing to do with you."

Back to hissing, are we? she discovered with dismay. Now, there was a ninety percent chance that it would all go to Hell. And I thought we could settle this peacefully.

"As much as you're not going to like this, it has something to do with me. As long as you continue to cling on to whatever is blocking your aura, the Grimm will continue to attack you. I protected you once, but don't expect me to save you every day," she ascertained calmly.

"I don't need you to save me! And you wouldn't have had to back then if you'd just let me take my weapon!" he protested loudly.

"You don't need to shout; I'm right here." The retort only earned her another glare, but Serena did not let herself be deterred.

"Look, all I want is for you to be able to go back to the White Fang. Preferably without being attacked by a Grimm on your way there. But, unless you decide to open up some and let go of those negative emotions or memories, I don't see that happening. So how about you swallow that pride of yours for once and just trust me."

His mouth was set in a firm line, and she could see how his jaw clenched. His eyes were burning with anger, fists clenched at his sides. Serena mentally prepared herself to be assaulted by him after launching such a speech at him.

Surprisingly, it was not a physical onslaught that she was confronted with.

"You wanna know what's bugging me? Fine, I'll tell ya! It's me! Me and my damn weak self that can't protect anyone!"

She was surprised to hear that he would open up so suddenly, but was happy for it nonetheless. Levelling him with a calm gaze, she spoke only two words.

"Tell me."

He slumped for a moment, and she feared he had regained his composure and would shut himself off once more. Then, he told her his greatest regret and sorrow.

"Mom, Dad! Look! I got an A!"

Young Adam proudly showed his parents his test, grinning from ear to ear. His mother turned form the stove to look at the sheet of paper, and his father gave an appreciative whistle from his seat at the table.

"Wow, looks like our son's quite the genius," his father commented to his wife.

"It would appear so," Mother returned with a loving smile.

"Show me! I wanna see," Adam's little sister demanded, stretching her body so that she was practically lying on the table, neck straining to see the jumble of words and numbers. She gave an excited squeal as he handed her the paper. "You're so smart, Adam! I wanna be smart, too.

Can I be smart like big brother, mama?"

"Of course, sweety. I'm sure you'll be just as good a student as Adam is. Maybe even better. Girls are, after all, smarter than boys." His mother shot Ozea a small, conspiratorial smile.

"Girls may be smarter, but boys are stronger. Right, Adam?" his father asked his oldest child, and both puffed out their chest comically.

The family shared a hearty laugh, but the idyllic peace was shattered by the shrill sound of an alarm. Covering their ears, brother and sister looked at their parents whose faces had paled to a chalky white. In a flurry of movements, their father grabbed Adam while Mother was carrying Ozea in her arms.

"Dad, what's going on? What's that sound?" Adam asked, alarmed by the reactions of his parents. He'd never seen them like this. Parents were supposed to be brave and strong. But what he saw was pure terror plastered all over their faces.

They exited the house. The streets were in chaos — people were running around, screaming and shouting at each other, and children were crying. The family ran along with the flood of people, Adam almost being crushed by the panicked adults around him.

"Dad! What's going on?!"

"Grimm."

Adam felt as though his heart stopped beating. His body froze and he could feel the blood drain out of his face. The tug on his hand set him back into motion, and he clumsily stumbled along.

Then, suddenly, his father halted, as did his mother. Crashing into his father's legs, Adam tumbled backwards before his eyes locked unto the hindrance the family had encountered. The Grimm was the most frightening thing he'd ever seen. Its eyes gleamed maliciously, and its fangs and teeth were oozing with blood. The Beowulf stalked towards the four Faunus, uttering a guttural growl.

Then, all the sudden, it started dissipating into ashes, drifting off in the wind. A person clad in white was standing in front of the family, and Adam barely made out the black scythe by its side. Another Grimm was slain as it tried attacking the small group.

"I can carry you to the airfield, but only one at a time." The female voice that spoke was calm, measured, as it explained the situation to the adults. "I will leave a clone behind to protect the others while I'm gone."

"Take him."

His father's hand tugged him forward, and Adam was thrust into the young woman's arms.

Looking up at his father, he felt his eyes tear up.

"No, take Ozea!" he protested, struggling as the woman positioned him on her back. "Leave me! Help my sister!"

But before anything else could be said, the wind was rushing in his ears and he saw them closing in on the airfield. The landing was anything but soft and unfamiliar arms ushered him into one of the bullheads. Looking down upon what was once his home, he watched helplessly as flames and Grimm consumed what was left of Mountain Glenn.

"My parents and sister died that night. As well as the Huntress. They were all slaughtered by the Grimm."

His voice was strained as he said the words, eyes long since boring into the ground. Serena waited patiently for him to finish, her own eyes heavy with unshed tears. It was never easy to talk about the death of someone close, and she understood what he was going through.

"I lived on the streets after that, until I was picked up by the Schnee Dust Company. Got sent off to work in one of their factories; dozens of Faunus were. I was lucky and managed to escape that hellhole when the White Fang attacked it. That was when I met Spike and decided to join the White Fang. I was paired with Blake, my former partner. We worked together for several years, but she betrayed us not long ago."

He gave a gruff scoff before adding, "She was always too soft. It's a good thing we're rid of her."

She frowned at this but stayed quiet. "I'm sorry. I know it's no consolation, but I know what you went through."

"Shut up!" he suddenly yelled at her. "You don't know anything!"

Her mind went blank for a moment. Then, a fire ignited inside her, and suddenly she was as livid as she had ever been.

Serena Caldron was known as a kind, patient girl. But right then and there, something shifted inside her.

She snapped.

EDITED 19/03/2018

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.