A/N: We are back! Here is the next chapter of Wilt and Blush. Sorry for being so spotty, but infrequently infrequent updates are infrequent.
If you need something to pass the time you can check out my other stories. The newest one being 'A Simple Soul' a Ruby-centric story with some misunderstandings here and there.
Either way, Enjoy!
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An Enemy and a Friend
"You're awake! Finally! Oh, I thought for a minute that I did something wrong again, but you. Are. Back so all is good!"
Adam looked around the small room that he was in. He remembered being hurt, he remembered the fight, he remembered the fall. His new memories though were blurry. They were there, just hazy like trying to remember specific details of an event from along time ago.
Sherry looked excited. She was doing little twirls with a smile on her face, occasionally knocking over...basically anything she touched.
"Human...Sherry?…..Where am I?"
Sherry's smile falters as she looked at him. "You're in my parents bedroom. Where you've been most of the time. Oh no, you remember me right!?"
Vaguely. Everything was hazy. "I remember you" Sherry preened a little. "-And a torture device?"
"Ahh! I was trying to help!" Sherry said with a little pout. Sherry grabbed his arm and he felt something go through him.
"Don't touch me!" He flung her off harder than he meant to, with her falling onto the floor with a thud. He quickly got up to help her, but he felt a pain in his back. He fell on top of Sherry, earning a little squeak from the girl. He quickly rolled off of her onto the floor. "Sorry!"
Sherry immediately stood up, blush clear on her cheeks. "I'm gonna go get something to eat" she said as she rushed out the door. Only then did Adam realize he was only in boxers.
Well that did not go as planned. He got up and moved back to the bed. He felt odd. Stronger but lighter. The odd part was when he put his right foot down he felt a twinge in his back. Since he was expecting it this time it wasn't as bad, but it still hurt. The pain seemed to fade when a light came around his body, then faded. His aura…
Something told him that was wrong. He could feel his strength drain. That light feeling he had disappeared, but along with it, the pain.
He put some pants on and a shirt from one of the cabinets in the room. He grabbed the door handle when he heard a crash of what sounded like pans. He rushed out into the main area. Sherry was sitting on the floor rubbing her butt. Pans were scattered all around her, with a familiar sword stuck in the floor next to her.
"I forgot I put you in the top cabinet" She grabbed the sword and putting it on the counter as she got up. Only then did she realize that Adam was watching. "Oh um...I may have had an accident, no big deal, happens all the time.
Adam stepped up to Sherry. Sherry was startled when he didn't say anything and just stared at her for a second.
"Um...are you-"
"Where did you find this?" Adam said grabbing the sword.
"I found it in the river the day before I found you" She grabbed something out of the cabinet that the pots and pans fell out of. This goes with it. It was its sheathe as black as night.
"This is mine" He grabbed his head as some of the hazy memories came back to him. "Wilt and…. Blush"
Sherry's eyes lit up again. "Wait you remember. You remember! Mr. Bull, you got your memories back!?"
"Its Adam actually" he said when a rage came from his thoughts. "Mister Bull? That is so racist. Its things like that that make faunus hate degenerate humans"
Sherry looked down. "Sorry it was the first thing I could think of. I couldn't just keep calling you 'sir' all the time" She was genuinely sorry, but her face lit back up. "You remember though! We have to tell Doc, he'll know what to do now. I bet you're so happy!"
Adam tried to sort through his memories. They were still blurry, but some stood out. The saddest thing was for what he could tell most were not good moments. Death, torture, starvation, and the worst of all. Loss.
"Hey. Remnant to Adam? Come in Adam." He looked down towards Sherry who was waving her hands in front of his face. "Are you okay? You sorta spaced out there"
Adam sighed. "I just remember plenty. Too much." While saying this his hand went down, rubbing the wounds that were still healing. The ones that almost killed him.
Sherry smiled. "I know it couldn't be all sunshine and roses since you came in the way you did, but it couldn't be all bad. Right?"
Adam sneered. "What would you know about it human?" He grabbed the sword and sheathe and sword, putting them back together. He remembered the treatment of humans. The violence against himself and others just because they were not 'their kind'. "I think it's time for me to move on". He turned around, walking towards the door.
Behind him he heard Sherry. "What?" As he took some steps. "Wait! Whhaa!" A loud crash behind him made Adam remember a blade coming down towards his back. He flared his aura to stop the blade, only to feel a deep seeded pain shooting up his leg.
Adam went down yelling. Gripping his leg in pain. He rolled over onto his back seeing Sherry who had fallen over the cookware with a concerned look in his eyes. Adam's aura flickered and then broke.
Sherry crawled over to Adam reaching for his leg, "Hey are you okay-?"
"Don't touch me human!" He growled, "It feels like fire just went up my leg. What did you do to me!?"
Sherry was too concerned to care about the accusation. "I'll call Doc again, he'll know what to do" She got up and went over to the scroll. She quickly typed in the number for the clinic. "Yes, hello.
"Is Doc there?"
"….."
"What do you mean he's not available?"
"….."
"What about Doctor Bronze, his son?"
"….."
"Attacked by a crazy woman? Is he fine?"
"….."
Sherry looked at Adam who was using the back of the couch to get back on his feet, winching as he did so. He wasn't yelling anymore though. "Its not an emergency, but it is pretty bad"
"….."
"Fine, but tell him I called, will you?"
"…..."
"Thanks" Sherry got off the scroll. "Apparently Doc got into some trouble. Doctor Bronze his son got attacked by some woman that beat him half to death so he is recovering. Still working, but isn't really able to leave the clinic. She said we may have to wait a while, and be careful until then"
"There is no time!" Adam roared. He shuffled around the end of the couch, almost falling when he let go. "I have to find her" he said quietly.
"Look I don't know who this girl is but she would not want to see you kill yourself trying to find her!" Sherry said while going up to steady Adam.
Sherry heard him chuckle. "Then you don't know her" Sherry did not help but notice his hand go up to the wound on his chest. "That is exactly what she would want"
"I did not help you get better just to send you to your death! I don't care!" Sherry tried to pull him back toward the kitchen by his arm. She fell and Adam stumbled, catching himself on the couch again.
Adam looked like he was thinking on something, then went pale. "We have to leave"
"Like I said you are not lea-"
"No, WE have to leave to the doctor" Adam yelled still pale.
"Why? Whats wrong!?" Sherry looked concerned again.
Adam looked at Sherry, the first time in a long time she saw desperation in his eyes. "I can't feel my right leg"
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Qrow was not having a good day. The interruption last night that informed him his niece was on trial for attempted murder made Qrow angry, sure, but also sad. Even though he promised Ruby he wouldn't, he found himself back at a bar...until a certain ice queen showed up at least. That had put a damper on things, but he spent the rest of the night with her. Talking. Getting things off his chest. And last, stratigising for the immediate fight.
Either was here he was. Walking down towards the trial room where two of the brats he promised to take care of were going to show up. Close to the end of the hallway was the other team. Scheming in silence.
"I still say we should just break them out fearless leader! First their legs, Then anyone who stands in our way!"
Ren looked at her, "Did you have sugar today?"
"~Maybe~"
Ren shook his head. "I'm going to end up throwing you into bed later" Ignoring the mumbled response of 'I hope so'
"Look", Jaune said, "We have to be there for Yang and Blake right now. Prove their innocence like that old lawyer game. We need facts, evidence, witness testimony, and the like. We will get them out!"
"Go fearless leader!"
"We have an hour before the trials start, lets move!" With that they ran back towards the exit, a determined look on Jaunes face.
It wasn't until they were completely out the door and Qrow moved closer to the trial room that he heard a voice behind him. "They are an interesting bunch of students aren't they? Determined in their goals. Never ceasing to stray into danger if it means to help a friend"
Qrow got a scowl as he looked down at the boy/old man/ deceiver/other names he shouldn't say in front of a boy his age. "What are you doing here Oz?"
"I am simply concerned for the lives of my students, as are you"
"I..." Qrow knew that was crap. After all they had gone through? Qrow was still not happy with Ozpin. He wanted to yell at him for all those years of loyalty just to find out the goal they were working for was for nothing. "Just...fine, forget I asked"
He turned around, about to walk off when he heard Oz shuffle behind him. "Um..Qrow...Where am I?"
He turned back to Ozpin. "Whadaya mean?"
"Well I remember waking up this morning, but then everything becomes hazy"
The Ozpin now Oscar stared back in confusion. Qrow sighed, "I'm too old for this..." Qrow walked into the trial room. It was laid out in a circular fashion with the seats up in a balcony like view over the middle of the room. The large white marble judge seat was also up higher against the back wall. Qrow got the impression that anyone on trial would feel insignificant. Small. Maybe that was the point, it was Atlas after all.
Qrow waited for what he knew was going to be an unfair trial, all the while thinking of different ways he could break Yang out if needed. People started filing in ten minutes before the trial was set to start. Right before it began he saw a very angry group of kids (JNR) run inside the trial room.
A large military man in uniform came in and stood next to the judges seat. "All rise for the glory of Atlas! All the Atlesian people rose up as some old man came waddling in. It looked to Qrow like the man would fall over just by walking to the seat. When the old man got to the seat Qrow recognized him, and dread settled over him. The military man stepped back to the front. "Everybody be seated in the honor of Councilman Chon!" The people sat back down.
"Bring in the first accused!" Chon said raspy.
Two soldiers, one being Winter brought in Yang, cuffed with aura suppressing cuffs. She had red and black rings around her eyes telling of a depressing night with no sleep. Her skin was pale but the biggest sign that she had it rough was her hair. It was unkempt, to call it dirty would be a compliment, and it had flies buzzing around it.
"Yang Xio-Long, you stand accused of conspiracy with a faunus, assault and battery, attempted murder of a councilman, terroristic threatening, and destruction of government property on top of other smaller charges. What do you plead?"
"…." She didn't respond. Yang stared at the ground. Not meeting the councilman's eyes or complying.
Chon grimaced, clearly annoyed. "Due to the inability to comply with basic demands you are found guilty of all charges. Yang looked up at that. Her eyes turned red again, which did not help the councilman. "You are stripped of your rank as a huntress and sentenced to a public execution along with your faunus conspirator!"
Qrow jumped up at that, along with JNR and Oscar who had sat with them. Qrow tried to jump over the railing, but he couldn't. Something was holding him back. He looked down and saw several layers of black glyphs on his feet, holding him to the ground. "Don't you touch a hair on my nieces head or you won't live to see another day!"
Chon smuggly turned to look at Qrow. "Just what we expect from a Branwen. Bandits don't know how to do anything besides murder and steal. Be quiet or you will be sentenced as well!"
"HOLD ON!" The door to the trial room swung open. Ironwood came in at a brisk pace, two smaller people that looked like kids in soldier uniforms carrying a dozen or so pamphlets a piece following behind him.
"Councilman Ironwood. To what do we owe the displeasure?" Chon said blankly
"Councilman Chon, this is a farce and you know it. You cannot pass judgment on this girl"
Chon looked enraged. "And why not!? You dare in my my own sanctity!? Guards detain Ironwood!" Nobody moved against Ironwood. Chon looked around confused and angry. Honestly with his age Qrow was surprised Chon didn't have a heart attack. "Well what are you waiting for guards! I gave you an order!"
Another soldier came running in. He went up to Ironwood and whispered something in his ear. Qrow saw Ironwood smile. That was never good. The so called 'general of steel' never smiled. Chon noticed this as well and started looking around. Angry but now scared.
"It is with great pride that I arrest you Councilman Chon as is my right as military leader of Atlas for money laundering and enslavement of Atlesian citizens!" Ironwood looked up to the old man. "Guards arrest him" Chon tried to stand up, but he was pushed back down by the same soldier that announced his arrival.
"What is the meaning of this!? I never!" Qrow had to hand it to the old councilman, he put up as much of a fight as he could, but he was hauled away. The audience was in a panic, but was kept down by the guards.
Qrow felt the release of Winter's glyphs when the councilman left. Winter stopped right before she left behind the councilman. She smiled at at him and nodded. It was one of those 'I did a better job' smiles, Qrow was sure about that. He jumped down next to Yang. "Are you okay firecracker?"
Yang shrugged, "I'm fine I guess. Looks like I missed the party, and I was a part of it. You could say its been Xio-Long of a time. hehe" It was weak, even for Yang.
Qrow looked over to Ironwood who was climbing up towards the trial box. "You used my niece!?"
"It was the only way Qrow, you wouldn't understand"
"No Jimmy I don't understand, and I really don't ever want to understand. Unlike some people, I won't use people for political gain"Qrow grabbed at Yang's cuffs. "Come on, lets get these off of you" Try as he might Qrow couldn't get them to come off.
"This is where you will really hate me Qrow" Ironwood said now sitting in the boxed seat. He looked towards Yang. "Yang Xio-Long, you and your faunus conspirator will not be executed and several of the charges will be dropped entirely due to circumstances surrounding this trial, but you did still attack a councilman"
JNR, Oscar and Qrow now listened intently. Qrow reached back to grab his weapon before remembering they were not allowed to take it out of the base due to the closeness to the 'prisoner'. Ironwood continued, "You and your partner will have your huntress statuses revoked, as well as being banned from Atlas for the foreseeable future"
There was an uproar by the croud. The Atlas parts were screaming that there was no justice and that the sentence was to light, while their little gang was screaming that it was unfair and Yang should be set free.
Ironwood got off the box, exiting through the door they pulled the Councilman through earlier. "Yang Xio-Long and Blake Belladonna will be on the first Atlas bullhead to Argus we can find. Trial dismissed. Guards drug Yang through a side door into the hallway, grabbing and pulling down Qrow when he tried to fight back against them. Yang looked shocked. The last thing Qrow saw before she disappeared behind a wall was a single tear.
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Chardonnay was an interesting woman if she dared say so about herself. Think about it. She grew up in a farm in Mistral, yet now she was a specialist in the Atlas military. She was excited about this trip back home to take over the Argus military base that she remembered. She wondered how it changed over the years. Probably not much since the same person has been in charge.
Cordovin, always the pessimistic one. Chardonnay couldn't much blame her though. It worked well in Atlas, and certainly well in the military. Chardonnay would love to be able to command her own troops. She was a specialist, but she was more sent out for grimm and White Fang then she was given command of any troops.
Her ship finally landed on the Argus base. At least she knew the base wasn't in total disrepair from the flyover. She stepped out and was greeted by two large men with their Atlas caps lowered to the point that you couldn't see their eyes. "Hello Sir!" Both said while saluting. "We were waiting for you to arrive!" one said. ""So we could greet you!" The other continued.
Okay Chardonnay, time to do your thing. "Cut the pleasantries! I want a line up of all personnel in the main courtyard in five minutes!" With that she walked towards the main courtyard, noticing the two men scrambling to try to get the message to everyone they could in that short amount of time.
Five minutes later there was something of a ragtag line up of individuals, some that looked like real soldiers, others that looked like people playing soldier. Time to inspire the troops. "Listen up!" That got their attention as all of them stopped. One unsatisfied look later and the lineup was at attention. "I don't know how Cordovin ran things, but I am in charge now! You are here because you have shown that you are useful! Strong! Independent! While I am here I will want to see these qualities!" She walked up and down the line while giving her speech, making sure she looked over each person. Finally she settled on a guard that did not look like a guard. More a boy in uniform. "-You will exude strength, because if I sense any weakness, I will snuff it out. Dismissed!"
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Doc awoke to the sound of the large door to the cells opening. His back hurt due to sleeping on the rocky ground, his chains chafing his arms and legs. He looked up to see two guards opening the door to a familiar face.
"He is in here then?" Chardonnay said coldly.
"Yes sir! He is in the first cell." The small guard said.
Chardonnay took a few steps inside, never looking away from his cell, knowing that she was looking straight at him. The guard shut the door and followed behind her. She stopped and looked at the small guard. "Do you think me weak?"
"What? No sir! Defiantly not!" The guard looked scared.
"Yet you think that I need an escort to see a prisoner!?" She sneered.
"Yes sir! I-I mean no sir! I mean...Its policy sir!" The guard looked flustered and scared, not meeting Chardonnay's eyes.
"Look at me when I talk to you soldier!" Chardonnay yelled making the guard flinch but look her in the eyes. "You will give me an hour alone with the prisoner, while you can patrol the outer wall of the fort!"
"But..."
"Is that clear!"
"Yes mame!" The small guard ran towards the door, opening it quickly and slamming it behind him.
Chardonnay sighed before walking slowly over to the cell. "Always a pleasure to see you again Doc" She did a small smirk
"Chardonnay, you haven't lost your sense of Atlesian pride it seems. Done playing specialist?" Doc also smirked.
Both stared at the other. After a period of time both started chuckling that became full blown laughter.
"It really is always a pleasure to see you Doc. How have you been?" Chardonnay said whipping a tear from her eye.
"Well" he said holding up and jiggling his arm chains, "I've been better, but I have been worse so...not bad. You did a number on that guard. I bet he wet himself.
"Small Atlesian guards. For some reason every fort I've gone through has always had one. Don't know why that is." Chardonnay questioned.
"So does anyone suspect you?" Doc said looking serious
"Doc! Not so loud. Look I sent the guard away but these cells are probably bugged" Chardonnay got close to the bars, whispering to Doc. "No one suspects a thing. When I left there was a trial about to start for two women. Both are huntresses that I think will work with us against Atlas but you have to be careful."
Doc shrugged, "I'm always careful"
Chardonnay got a blank face. "You are blunt and stubborn, literally the opposite of 'being careful'. Maybe I should leave you in here."
Doc grabbed the bars, his chains pulling tight as they stretched to their max. "You know for a fact that if I go down there will never be justice for Saisei!"
Chardonnay sighed. "I know, I'm just messing with you. You will have to stay in here for a couple of days until I can find a reason to release you, you know that right?"
"I do. I just hope they go fast. I'm not as young as I used to be and this floor is doning nothing for my back". He stopped thinking before looking back at Chardonnay, "Hurry. While Cordovin is away we need to act!"
"I know. I know" Chardonnay said. We have an opportunity with these two though. One supposedly attacked the Councilmen. The other is supposedly her conspirator"
"Fine. If you get the chance, but only if it looks like they will help" Doc said.
Chardonnay looked around before walking back towards the door. "Oh and Chardonnay?" She turned back towards Doc. "Visit your sister Sherry" Chardonnay raised her eyebrow questioningly. Doc chuckled a little, "Lets just say her life just got interesting. Remember, for Saisei"
"For Saisei" She opened the large door and shut it behind her, Doc hearing a yell as she switched back to her Atlas persona. Probably off to ruin another guard's life.
"Guess I've got nothing to do but wait" He laid back down next to the back of the cell wall. "For Saisei". With that he went to sleep.
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Chardonnay was done with today. After the talk with Doc she thought the day would get easier, but no. Cordovin may love her 'glory of Atlas', but for all her talk Argus base was barely functional. Running off old technology and its people showing no motivation to do an overhaul, but just wanting small changes.
She lowered herself into the chair she had in her private quarters. She grabbed one of her suitcases and opened it. Inside she had her uniforms along with some casual clothes. Pushing the casual clothes aside she found her scroll. It had been a long time since she had turned it on, a few months at least.
She knew she would probably find messages about her mother's funeral, and the farm being given to Sherry. What she didn't expect was several voicemails from her sister Asti dated more recently. She wondered how Asti was doing, not hearing from her in so long. She wondered if she was still going by her alias 'Heather'. Ever since she meat and married her husband and had her daughter Asti had thought it necessary for her to have one for her huntsman missions.
'One can never be to careful', says the most explosive and carefree of them all. Still Chardonnay knew that Heather Shield was a top notch huntress.
She clicked the most recent voicemail, putting it up to her ear to listen. She expected a 'hello', maybe an update to know that Asti wasn't dead in a ditch somewhere. She did not expect what she heard.
"CHARDONNAY! Sherry found a MAN! Not a fake one or some small ugly one, but a big one! He looked strong, and though he was hurt when I saw him he looked huntsman grade! OUR SHERRY HAS BECOME A WOMAN!" Several more lines of disbelief came out of Asti before the voicemail recording cut her off.
Chardonnay remembered Doc saying she should visit Sherry. Her life just got interesting. She looked over at her casual clothes, grabbing the small picture she always kept in the side of her luggage that showed her mother and her sisters all together.
"Maybe I should visit after all" If nothing to vet this 'man' that Asti was going on about.
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A/N: That took longer than I thought it would. Also Happy Fourth of July!
Some people might think I am OOCing Adam, but I wanted to keep his hatred to humans while also keeping his appreciation to Sherry for saving him.
Until next time! Read and Review!