Last chapter before the end of the year. There will be no update next week to either Tuesday story, which means it'll be three weeks before the next chapter of this. Happy Christmas to you all!

Cover Art: JustFun101

Chapter 22

Blake knew she was walking on thin ice.

Confronting Adam's teammate, cornering her and pressuring her like this, it was bound to make her angry, and Blake had seen with her own eyes how well Yang Xiao-Long could fight. There was nothing else she could do, though. Yang had to understand what she was getting into, what she was unconsciously opening herself up to.

"You… You're Adam's ex…?"

"I am." Blake said it without pride or regret, just a statement of fact. "Adam and I were together for years. I know him deeper than you ever could in just a few months. He shared his deepest secrets with me, his desires and dreams. I know what he's like."

The blonde shook. For a second Blake thought it might have been shock, but the brief flash of red in Yang's eyes proved it was something far worse. "So?" she snapped. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not good enough?"

What…?

"No, that isn't what I'm saying at all." Why would she even think that? This wasn't a competition for Adam's affection for crying out loud. "What I'm saying is that you think you know him, but you don't. I do. I know the real Adam-"

"And I don't!?"

"No." Blake said honestly. "You don't."

Of course she didn't! Yang had no idea what Adam had done and who he used to be. She didn't mean it as some insult on her – this was obviously Adam's fault – but Yang took it as one, bristling and clenching her hands into tight fists. Wisps of golden light spun about her hair and Blake took a cautious step backwards. One that Yang matched, walking into her space and prodding her breastbone angrily.

"Fuck. You." Yang spat, taking her time with each word. "I know enough. I know that Adam has issues. I know he has some shit in his past – I've seen his scar!"

"He showed you!?" Blake was shocked, but only for a second. "No, you must have seen it while you were in bed with him." She knew she was right when Yang got angrier.

"So!? I've still seen it!"

"But he didn't trust you with it."

The finger poking her chest became a fist gripping her collar and hauling her face close. Yang's hot breath washed over her. "Are you saying I took advantage of him?"

"No!"

Blake pried the hand off and hopped back. This girl isn't making any sense. Why is she getting so defensive about everything I say?

"I'm not trying to make an enemy of you-"

"You're failing!"

"-I'm only trying to warn you. Like I said, you don't know Adam. You think you do but he's putting on an act. That's not your fault. I'm not saying you're an idiot to be fooled by it, only that you need to be aware."

"All I'm hearing is his bitch ex trying to ruin his life."

Oh for! Blake scowled back fiercely. "I couldn't give a damn what Adam does with his life. Stop making this about you. If you really want to shack up with him, do it-"

"I didn't say I did!"

"-but I couldn't sleep easily at night knowing I didn't warn you. He's violent. He's possessive. He's abus-"

"SHUT UP!"

"You have to hear this. Adam is-"

"I said shut up!"

A fist came swinging in and Blake panicked, vaulting back over the desk and dodging the attack by a fraction of a second. She'd touched a nerve. Why is she this angry? I'm trying to help her. And Yang Xiao-Long was angry. Her eyes were burning red but there were also tears in them. More than that, her hair shone with golden light and her teeth were gritted so hard together that Blake could hear the grinding of enamel.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Yang roared. "You don't know him! You don't! Adam is my friend, he cares about my sister, he helps us all get better and he gets up at four in the morning to train with Pyrrha just because she doesn't like training in front of crowds. Where the hell do you get off telling me he's abusive because of all that!?"

"Because he is."

"Did he hit you!?"

Blake frowned. "No."

"Did he ever force himself on you?"

"No, but-"

"Then fuck off!" Yang shrieked.

Blake winced at the ear-splitting volume. It cracked at the high pitch, breaking off into a strangled croak. Was she stupid? There was more to abuse than the physical signs, and Yang had to know that. Why was she being this obstinate? No, this wasn't stubbornness. This was desperation. Yang was desperate to absolve Adam, to cling to the idea he was a good man underneath all the rage.

The idea that he could be redeemed…

I've heard of this before, Blake thought, eyes widening slightly. There were always stories about those women who fell in love with dangerous criminals, even inmates on death row, falling for the danger or just thinking they could redeem those people out of some twisted notion that love could conquer all. Blake had read about it, but she's never thought she might actually see it. Of course, that also meant something else…

"You're in love with him…"

Yang Xiao-Long flinched. The fire in her eyes dimmed for a second, but only for that second. "No. I already told you we were drunk. It didn't mean anything. And it's none of your business anyway! You had your chance. If Adam fucked up as bad as you say he did, then that's it. It's over. Move on."

"And let you step in to take him for yourself?" Blake asked.

"I didn't say that!"

"No. But it's what you're thinking."

"Are you psychic now as well as a bitch?" Yang strode around the table, but Blake wasn't going to let her escape this through violence. She kept the table between them, setting her hands on it to stop Yang just ripping it away.

"Not psychic; I just have eyes. You're defensive about him."

"Of course I am." Yang gripped the table's edge and tried to wrestle it away. "He's my teammate. He's my friend. I'm not going to listen to you talk shit about any of my teammates."

"Is that why you slept with him?"

"We were drunk! He doesn't even remember it!"

"But you do."

Yang flinched again, shaking with fury. Blake knew she was on the money. This was a disaster. Yang had no idea what she was getting herself into, what she was opening herself up to.

"What is it? Did he do something wrong?" Blake grimaced. "Don't tell me he called my name. I don't need the nightmares."

"He called my name, you stupid-" Yang cut off with an indignant flush. Her entire body vibrated like a tightly wound piece of machinery. "Fuck this," she spat. "I'm not dealing with some jealous ex."

"Jealous? I'm trying to help you!"

"No. You're trying to hurt Adam. And I don't even know what I think! Stop putting ideas in my head!"

"You don't know his past!"

"I don't care about his past!" Yang yelled back, slamming her hands on the table. "I care about the now. What he does now. What he chooses to do. Maybe he messed up with you, but people make mistakes. As long as he learns from it, I don't care. Besides, we're not together. We got drunk, lost our senses and slept with one another. That's it. That's all it is."

Blake eyed her warily. "Do you wish it could be more?"

"Right now, I wish I could drive my fist through your face so hard it comes out the back of your skull. Listen and listen good. I. Do. Not. Know. What. I. Feel. We hung out, got drunk and slept with one another. I'm confused enough already without you harping on that I'm after your ex!"

She wasn't listening. Blake sighed. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she expected. She'd been just as defensive of Adam when her mother and father warned her how bad he was. Blake hadn't listened then and Yang wasn't going to listen now.

"Whatever," she said, turning away. "Don't say I didn't warn you. When he breaks your heart, you'll have no one to blame but yourself. If you want my advice-"

"I don't." Yang hissed. "Never talk to me again."

Rolling her eyes, Blake stalked out the room, slamming the door shut behind her. That could have gone a whole lot better. I tried. If she wants to make the same mistake I did, that's on her shoulders now. And Yang thought he was different now. How naïve.

Adam wouldn't change. People like him couldn't change.

/-/

Adam knew he was walking into a bad situation with Winter Schnee in the building. So did Ozpin, which was why he'd unsubtly asked Qrow to go with him and run interference. Ruby and Yang's uncle still wasn't much a fan of him – and he certainly wouldn't be if he knew what Adam and Yang had gotten up to – but he appeared to be even less a fan of Winter. Or more a fan of winding her up. Adam wasn't sure if it was a weird crush in action or not.

"So," Qrow said. "I bet you have a history with Winter."

"You could say that," Adam replied. "Ironically, it's not as bad as it could be. We were enemies. We fought. I'd still consider an opposing soldier better than someone working in the SDC."

"Think she'll see it that way?"

Adam doubted it. While he saw Atlas as enemy soldiers, they didn't return the favour. The White Fang were radical extremists, mad men and rabid faunus. They were monsters to be seen as evil and eradicated immediately. There was some theory around that, he was sure, something about how dehumanising your enemies made it easier for soldiers to kill them. Whatever the case, it didn't lead to much in the way of respect.

He heard the noise within Team RYST's dorm before he arrived. Never a good sign. Adam took out his scroll and swiped it over the keypad, then tactically stepped aside to let Qrow in first. The huntsman snorted at the courtesy, easily realising he'd been elected as a human shield.

Qrow did his job well, slamming into the room with a huge grin and a loud, "Hello, hello! Coolest Uncle has arrived! Contain your applause!"

Adam slid in behind him.

"Qrow," Winter sneered, voice dripping derision. She then looked to him, and while her eyes narrowed and the temperature dropped a few degrees, her address at least sounded less biting. "Taurus."

She recognised him. That was only too obvious. Her eyes flicked back to Weiss however, and he realised that she'd been instructed to keep it secret from her. Whether that was on Ozpin's request or an order from above, he didn't know.

"So, you are my sister's teammate. I've heard much about you." Winter reached down to grip Wilt, tossing it toward him. "Your weapon."

Adam caught it then, without hesitation, tossed it on to Ruby. "You wanted to have a look, didn't you?"

Ruby's eyes shone. "Eeeee! You're the best partner ever!"

Qrow burst out laughing. "So, he already knows the way to your heart, eh?"

"What are you doing here, Qrow?" Winter asked bitingly.

"Same thing you are, fridge-freezer. Looking up on my family." He rubbed Ruby's hear then jerked a grin at Adam. "Scaring any boys within distance so they don't get any ideas of shacking up with said family."

"UNCLE QROW!" Ruby wailed, blushing bright red. "Ew!"

"Good girl, Ruby. Keep on the `ew` with him."

Adam was suddenly very grateful that Yang wasn't in the room.

"Isn't that what you're here for?" Qrow asked. "Well, here he is. I'm sure you can say whatever you want to him in front of the girls. Unless you think they're not mature enough."

A challenge. Adam rolled his eyes once for Qrow resorting to it, then a second time for Weiss bristling and staring at her sister as if she'd never forgive her proving him right. He's good, Adam thought. Winter probably wanted to get me alone and threaten me. I wouldn't be surprised if she's wearing a wire and wants to catch me out.

Lucky for him he didn't have any nefarious plans in place.

"Perhaps we could talk in private," Winter said.

"Why?" Weiss asked immediately. "Anything you want to say to my teammate can be said in front of me."

It couldn't, but Weiss wasn't aware of that fact. Winter's face morphed between rage and helplessness before finally becoming as calm and deadly as the deepest ocean. Her eyes pierced his.

"Very well. You will watch yourself around my sister, Taurus. If I hear of even the smallest hair on her head being harmed, nothing shall stop me hunting you down." Ignoring Weiss' horrified expression, Winter brushed past Qrow to the door. "Good day."

The silence left behind after her departure was awkward to say the least.

"Well," Qrow laughed. "I guess even an ice queen like her can be hot-headed at times. And you thought I was bad."

"I-I'm so sorry!" Weiss babbled. "Winter is never like this normally. There must be some extenuating circumstances, something upsetting her… or stress," she added. "The Vytal Festival must have her unusually stressed. I'm sure she didn't mean anything, Adam. Please forgive her."

"I'll let it go." Anything else would just make things harder. Winter had her reasons to hate him. He only hoped she didn't make those apparent. Would the team turn on me if they knew? Adam was surprised by how much the question bothered him. They were only human, but he knew that if they did, he would walk out of Beacon and not return. This is bad. If Winter wants me out, she has an easy way to manage it.

"Thank you. I promise she's not nearly this antagonistic usually."

"That's fine." Adam looked around. "No Yang?"

"She ran off earlier, probably with friends from Signal," Ruby said. She hopped up and down excitedly. "Can we go to the forge already? I want you to show me how the ignition system lights the dust when you draw!"

Qrow laughed, and even Adam spared a quick chuckle.

"Sure. Let's go do that now."

/-/

Despite wanting so desperately to explore his weapon, Adam could tell Ruby's heart wasn't in it. She smiled and dithered and poked around Wilt and Blush, but she made uncharacteristic mistakes like dropping tiny screws and missing mechanisms. Things the Ruby Rose he knew would never do.

"What's wrong?" he asked when it became even more apparent.

Ruby sighed and placed his weapon down, still in its constituent parts.

"It's Weiss' sister."

"Did she say something?" He could make a guess. "Was it about me?"

"She was so rude!" Ruby complained. "I was trying to be nice because Weiss looked all nervous and stuff, but Winter kept talking about you, kept assuming you're a bad person. First Glynda, not Winter. I don't get it."

And for that, he was thankful. If Ruby thought about it, she had to be wondering why so many people were against him. Surely, it was only a matter of time until she started to ask herself if they didn't know something more, if they didn't have good reason to be like that.

One or two people acting out, she can dismiss. If everyone keeps talking about the kind of person I am, she'll start to wonder if it isn't her who's wrong. He was surprised she hadn't already; the only reason he was safe was likely because of how trusting she was.

"Adam…?"

"Sorry. I was thinking." Thinking deep, complicated thoughts. "Ruby…"

The young girl looked up. "Hm?"

"What would you say…" His words trailed off, the silence clinging. "If you were to find out that I wasn't always a good person, if someone told you I'd done terrible things in my past-"

"I wouldn't believe them!" Ruby said immediately.

That bothered him more than he cared to admit. "And if I was the one to tell you that…?"

"I wouldn't believe it."

"Not even if I told you it was true…?"

"I said I wouldn't believe it!" Ruby said sharply. Suddenly, she stood up, almost tripping over a nearby bench in her haste to get away. "I'm going back to our room. I'm not in the mood to look over weapons."

Before he could say anything, before he could even think of reaching out to stop her, she was gone. Adam sighed, looking back to his weapon in pieces and slowly reaching out to put it back together again. The simple and practiced motions helped keep his hands occupied, even as his mind raced.

Ruby knew something was wrong. That was the only reason for her to react so powerfully and be so defiant, especially when he was telling her the truth himself. The denial wasn't faith in him; it was a stubborn refusal to accept the truth. That it showed up now would only make sense if she was doubting her thoughts on him - if she was finally starting to ask if everyone doubting him might have the right way of things.

It's a miracle the secret of who I am has lasted this long at all. Mostly, it's because the faunus are too afraid to say anything. Secrets tended to come out sooner or later, however. They rarely lasted. Would it be better for me to handle how that happens or wait for it to naturally occur?

Adam didn't have an answer, but after putting his weapon back together and securing it in his locker, he moved towards someone he thought might.

Beacon's resident doctor and faunus, Tsune, could always be found in her infirmary. He had a suspicion she slept and ate there, and he didn't think he'd ever seen her out and about. Not that he'd thought to look very hard for that. True to her usual routine, he found her sat at her desk, feet up and skirt riding back as she read what appeared to be a raunchy romance novel. He recognised it as one Blake used to read.

"Ahem," he coughed to draw her attention.

"Back again, Adam?" He wasn't sure how she knew it was him. Her pointed, black-tipped ears flicked toward him, and her bushy tail swept left and right behind her chair, poking out through the open frame on the back. "I don't smell blood on you."

"Should I be concerned you can smell blood at all?"

"I'm a doctor." Tsune snapped the book with a smirk and set it down. "Spend as much time around blood as I do, and you'll soon recognise the scent. I'm not a vampire if that's what you're thinking." She bit the air theatrically. "Though I have been known to bite!"

"Spare me the sordid details. I came for advice."

Tsune stared at him. Her eyes blinked once, twice and three times before she rocked back in her chair and laughed uproariously. Adam scowled, arms crossed and lips dragging into the surliest frown he could manage. It wasn't that funny. It wasn't funny at all.

"Oh my, you're serious? Adam Taurus – the Adam Taurus – is coming to little old me for advice?" Tsune brought her feet down, smoothed her white skirt and peered at him. "Why? Tell me why and I'll offer it free of charge."

Adam raised a single eyebrow. "Because I need it…?"

"I meant why me," she clarified. "Obviously, you need advice if you're looking for it. I'm an MD. Give me some credit. Why trust me to offer you advice?"

Good question. Adam had to think on it, and Tsune gave him the time, watching him tap his chin and close his eye, sighing loudly. He wouldn't say he trusted the doctor implicitly. She'd helped him in some small ways, but it'd always been more helping Beacon by keeping him grounded.

Why did he consider her advice worthwhile?

"I think it's because of similarities," he finally said.

"That we're both faunus?"

"No. There are plenty of faunus here. What I mean is that we both had…" He struggled for the right word. "Different origins."

"Violent pasts?" she drawled.

Adam nodded.

"So, what you're saying is that you think I'm the best suited to offer you advice because I was to be trafficked off as a faunus pleasure slave until I ripped my captor's throat out with a butter knife?" Tsune clapped a hand over her face. "I was hoping for something a little more touching. Well, that's what I get for asking, isn't it? Go on, then. What do you need help with?"

He explained as best he could, removing his bandage and letting the doctor poke and inspect his brand mark as he talked. Tsune listened, humming occasionally while taking a soft white cloth, dampening it and dabbing at his scar tissue. He never did clean it as much as he was meant to, but only because it spent so much time hidden away. The only thing he left out the explanation was Yang; she'd asked him to keep it secret and he would.

"Should I tell them?" he finally asked.

"I think you know the answer to that already."

Adam grunted. "It's obviously better to control how the knowledge comes out then leave it in the hands of fate. Fine. How do I properly tell them? Preferably without them reacting in terror or asking to be transferred to a new team?"

"Ah. Now that is the question, isn't it? And it speaks so nicely of you that you're worried about it. I thought you found your team annoying."

"I do," he said defensively.

"But you're afraid to lose them? Despite how annoying you call them?"

"The two aren't mutually exclusive…"

"Would it be a crime to admit you care?"

Adam growled. "Fine. I care. Does that satisfy you?"

Tsune grinned. "Greatly. You're such a cute little grump."

He pulled away from her hand when she tweaked his cheek like a pleased mother. He didn't remember his, but he was sure it would never be someone as bizarre as this woman. He liked to think his mother wouldn't be such a pain in the ass either, or someone who took pleasure in causing pain under the guise of medicine.

"My advice, please," Adam gritted out.

"Advice. Yes. Well, there's not much I can offer."

If looks could have killed, it would have been a massacre.

"Don't give me that." A roll of bandage hit his face. Grudgingly, Adam started to tie a fresh bandage over his scar. "My advice to you is that it is better to come out to them before someone else takes it out your hand. As for how best to do that, how should I know? They're your friends, Adam. You know them far better than I ever will. Use that knowledge. Embrace that newfound empathy and put it to some good use."

Newfound? He'd always had empathy for other people. It was that empathy which led him into joining the White Fang in the first place, because he'd cared so much about seeing people hurt that he picked up a placard and marched with Ghira Belladonna. Sometimes he wondered how much simpler life would have been if he could have taken as selfish a route as Velvet Scarlatina and simply turned a blind eye to all the injustice.

Maybe he'd have an easier time fitting in at Beacon.

Still, Tsune made a valid point. He couldn't expect someone unfamiliar with the White Fang to plan battle strategy, and he couldn't expect Tsune to accurately predict and cater for the reactions of his teammates. They were his peers, after all. Not hers.

How to do this, though. I've no idea. Weiss would normally be the most reasonable but considering my past with the SDC, that's not going to matter for much.

His scar would either horrify or infuriate her, and he didn't know what reaction he feared more – that she would be stricken by it and sickened with guilt, or that she might not react with surprise at all, confirming that she'd known all along her family branded faunus and simply didn't care.

Ruby and Yang, well, he wanted to say Ruby would stick by him, but she was so firmly entrenched in what she believed was good and evil. He harboured no doubts on which side his time in the White Fang would count for. As for Yang, he wasn't sure he could hold a normal conversation with her right now, let alone broach this.

Talk about bad timing. I shouldn't have gone on that night out with her…

No use doubting now.

"Maybe I should just rip the bandage off," he mused. "Get it over with and-" A fist hit the top of his head sharply. "Ow!"

"No. Bad Adam. Bad."

"I'm not a dog."

"Then stop acting like one. Rip the bandage off. Really." Tsune tutted and shook her head. "Not everything is easier if you slap people in the face with it. Take this slowly. Explain to them. Try and get them to understand why you made the choices you did, even if they don't agree with them."

"I thought you were done offering me advice."

"That was before I realised how much of an idiot you are! You're not raiding SDC convoys or waging a war anymore, you're dealing with three young women who are going to feel like their faith in you has been shaken. Take it slow. Listen to them. And I shouldn't need to say this, but I shall, try not to cause them any distress."

"It's the last thing on my mind."

"Good. Now go. I'm incredibly busy."

"You're reading erotica," Adam pointed out.

"As I said, incredibly busy!"

/-/

Adam was halfway back to his dorm and nowhere closer to thinking up a proper plan on how to approach his teammates when his scroll went off. Grateful for the distraction, he picked it out and read the message from Qrow.

"Torchwick on the move tonight. You and I are going out. Winter is coming along."

Winter? He knew why she'd want to track him, but he wasn't sure what drugs one would have to consume to think it a good idea. Furiously, he typed a response, stating how poor a plan this was.

"I know. Ozpin does too. Ironwood's idea. Fml."

General Ironwood. Great. There was no arguing with it in that case – he could imagine Qrow and Ozpin had already tried. Wonderful. Now all he needed was something to go wrong on the job, almost guaranteed, and Winter Schnee to get injured or killed, and all of Atlas would be blaming him for it.

"I don't need this right now," Adam grumbled, squeezing his temples.

He typed back an assent and a promise he'd be in the city in two hours. Qrow sent back an emoji of an upward facing thumb. Before Adam could even think to put his scroll away, another text arrived from an altogether different person. Yang.

"We need to talk."

Now? Adam typed that very message to her after thinking it.

"Probs best, ye."

He had an hour, or two. Hopefully, whatever Yang wanted wouldn't take much longer than that. "Alright," he typed back. "Where do you need me? Dormitory?"

"Outside by the CCT. Now?"

The last bit seemed to be questioning, so he responded with a simple yes, not sure why she wanted to meet him outside, but already having an inkling that it might not be the best sign she wanted it away from the team. This is your chance to tell her the truth, a small part of his brain pointed out.

The larger part, with Tsune's backing, shouted that he should have a better plan on how to deliver that before he did. Not just battering ram her emotions by throwing out the fact he was a wanted terrorist.

"I'll be there."

Yang's response was a single letter. "K"

Yang is confused by her feelings and the weight of expectation, while Adam struggles with his own slowly emerging feelings toward his team and the very real fear of losing them.

Next Chapter: 12th January

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