Quite a bit of anger last chapter for the collar. Good.

Also some saying it's lost all realism since Adam would simply never wear one. I agree that canon Adam wouldn't, but you have to remember that character development is a thing that exists. The Adam 31 chapters (about 85-90%) of the way through a redemption story HAS to be different from the one at the start otherwise what are you writing?

He's a changed Adam – subtly, not massively – but changed all the same. Also worth pointing out that he quite literally had no choice. It was accept it or be arrested. He can't run back to the WF as he can in canon, can't refuse on principle or tell them to shove it up their ass. It's the collar or imprisonment. That's it. Atlas are calling the shots right now. Canon Adam could spit in Ironwood's face and run away to the White Fang. This Adam cannot anymore.

Course, that doesn't mean it's not going to be an issue.

Cover Art: Terakali

Chapter 32

Weiss was fuming.

Ruby and Yang would be too, she was sure, and Adam couldn't have been any better, but at that moment and time she didn't care because her own sister was standing beside her teammate, her friend, and said friend had a blasted collar around his throat.

"Weiss," Winter began. "Do not start-"

"Don't start what, sister?" Weiss' simpering voice dripped with insincerity. Winter sighed into her hand. "Should I not ask why my teammate is being forced to wear what I believe amounts to a shock collar? Should I not ask whether you or anyone have thought of how this will look to other people? Should I not ask about old-fashioned human decency?"

"Ask about security instead. Ask about the tens of thousands of people that will sleep easier knowing there are no chances of Taurus regressing. Ask about the rule of law."

"I'd rather ask when my sister decided to become the next incarnation of our father!"

Winter recoiled. It said a lot about their family's twisted relationship that she would react so badly to that, not that anyone could blame her. Jacques was not a role model to aspire to.

"What's next?" Weiss demanded. "Will you start forcing faunus into some kind of penal legion? Perhaps with the threat of the White Fang out there, everyone will sleep easier if we attach tracking collars to all faunus, no matter their age. We can have children running around ready to be electrocuted at the push of a button!"

"That is… not the same…"

"But people would sleep easier."

"Atlas would never-"

"Menagerie." Adam coughed. It didn't surprise Weiss he would stir the pot. "Extraditions, forcing all the faunus there. Cough. Cough."

Winter's skin burned red. "General Ironwood and I weren't even alive when that was decided!"

"He isn't saying you were but claiming that `Atlas would never do this` is obvious nonsense when Atlas has done worse in the past."

"General Ironwood will never let it get that far again."

Weiss eyed the collar with obvious disdain. "He's already started." Reaching out, she took Adam's hand. "Come on. We need to talk. In private."

"He requires an escort at all times!" Winter called. "I'm arranging-"

"So arrange it!" Weiss had never been so rude to her sister before and couldn't believe she was now. Then again there were a lot of things she could barely believe, not least of all what Adam had agreed to. "You don't need to dog his every step for that. I'm taking him to our room. You know where that is."

She didn't care for what people might have thought of Weiss Schnee yanking Adam Taurus through the hallways by his hand. Her blood was burning too hot for it. Winter might have shouted out after her, but she could throw herself off a bridge for all Weiss cared.

When they reached their dorm, she all but shoved Adam inside, slammed the door shut behind them and planted her hands on her hips. "Explain."

"I was given an ultimatum. This or imprisonment."

"I thought Ozpin trusted you."

"He does." Adam moved over to sit down on his bed. He tugged at the collar of his shirt, adjusting it around what must have been a heavy, cold reminder attached to his neck. "I was surprised by how vehemently against the idea he was. Pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately for him and myself, General Ironwood has been given leading rule over security around the Vytal Festival. He outranks Ozpin now."

"I can't believe this." Weiss paced back and forth with her hands on her head. "Why would Vale let another Kingdom run their own event?"

"Probably fear over me and the White Fang. Those in charge must see Ozpin's decision to take me on as a sign of weakness."

It must have looked that way. To someone who didn't know Adam personally and had no reason to trust them it would be hard to believe he had changed. Those people reading the newspapers and watching the news who had no experience or input, but for some reason felt they should, were likely up in arms over the decision.

The headmaster had to have lost some influence and reputation by accepting Adam. That he would still do so regardless had Weiss' opinion of him rising drastically. "Ozpin is a good man," she said.

"He is." Adam agreed. "One of the rare ones."

"Am I…?"

Adam scoffed. "Don't fish for compliments."

That was as good as a yes. Weiss resisted the urge to smile. It wasn't hard, what with that constant reminder around his neck sapping her good mood. She supposed they should be grateful Ironwood deigned to do this at all instead of just arresting Adam outright. He had the authority to do so now, and every motive in the world to follow through. Weiss found it a little difficult to feel thankful of that, however.

"There was no other option…?"

"Don't you think I'd have taken it if there was? Ironwood said I'd be arrested if I refused. I'm trapped in the middle of Beacon, surrounded by huntsmen and soldiers. Even Ozpin and Qrow would have been forced to subdue me if I tried to run."

And where would he go? The White Fang was closed to him now, those bridges burned and the ground salted. Menagerie was his home, or so he'd told her, but the White Fang would find him if he tried to go there. They might even execute him as a display of what happened to traitors. Hiding in the Kingdoms would be difficult with his facial scar as well. There weren't many bull faunus with bright red hair and the letters SDC branded onto their face.

It was accept the collar or fight. Fight to what end? Fight whom? Everyone? That wasn't realistic. Even so, she was surprised Adam's anger didn't have him try that anyway, and she said as much.

"I'm not just a bundle of anger," he snapped, that self-same anger already making an appearance. Weiss raised an eyebrow and he growled back at her. "You don't get into a position of command without knowing how to read the battlefield. If I gave in to my temper every time it flared up, I'd have died years ago. As would everyone who followed me."

"So, this is the strategic choice?"

"It was the only choice. That doesn't mean I'm not going to make the most of it."

"Oh? Dare I ask what that means?"

"I think I'm going to fight in only my shirt. Low collar." Adam tugged his back, so the metal was contrasted against his skin. "Or maybe I'll go topless entirely. There are no rules against it. I'll make sure everyone sees this. I'll make sure everyone on Remnant knows what it takes for Atlas to sleep easier, and if anyone asks, I'll tell them to refer all questions to Ironwood."

The smile tugging at Weiss' lips couldn't be contained. She laughed, not at all surprised that even like this, in a moment where he should have – and likely was – livid with rage, Adam would still find a way to stick a knife in Ironwood's back and give it a little twist.

"You're insane."

"I'm spiteful." Adam countered. "There's a difference."

"Do you know the other advantage of this?" Weiss asked smugly. "If we're busy looking on the bright side, that is."

"No? What is it?"

Weiss smirked. "Yang and Ruby are going to be so furious at the idea of you being collared that they're going to forget the fact they were angry with you for keeping secrets in the first place."

Adam burst out laughing.

/-/

Yang swept Velvet's fist past her, ducked under Coco's haymaker swing and hopped away from her backhanded swipe. Before she could recover, Yang stepped back in, shoulders raised and hands up before her face. Her right shot out, a picture-perfect jab her boxing teacher would have been proud of. Coco staggered back clutching her nose and was therefore left completely unaware of the wild haymaker that struck her left cheek and launched her several feet back.

"Coco!" Velvet screamed and attacked in a fury, wild blows swinging, each of which Yang stepped out the way of, leaning her head back. They were older students and that should have made them better than her in every regard. To be fair, they probably were better than her.

When they had their weapons.

Ducking and stepping left, Yang guided Velvet's fist past her, sliding her own down the length of the faunus' arm to her shoulder. Her arm slid under Velvet's armpit and around her front, then she jabbed her hip into Velvet's and turned her body, dragging the girl up over her shoulder in a textbook throw. Velvet tried to catch herself in mid-air and probably would have if she'd had the full fall distance to work with. As it was, Yang had thrown her at a cafeteria table and Velvet slammed into it long before she could find balance.

"Rarghhh!"

Coco was back. One punch blocked on her arm, the second ducked. Yang powered two jabs into the bitch's stomach to stun her, then came up and drove her knee into it just to make sure she couldn't breathe. At that point she could have pushed Coco back and watched her fall, but where was the fun in that? Yang hopped back, twisted and slammed a roundhouse kick into Coco's face, sending her twisting away like a fucking corkscrew.

This wasn't an even fight. Experience aside, Yang was only unarmed in the sense that she couldn't fire shotgun shells from Ember Celica. Coco and Velvet were without their main combat forms. It wasn't unusual for students to focus on only one style, Ruby being a prime example, and it looked like Coco and Velvet were pretty new when it came to fighting hand to hand. Yang, meanwhile, had trained herself on Taiyang, Qrow and an entire club full of gangsters. It wasn't a close fight. Then again, it was more a brawl than a fight anyway.

It was cathartic too. Like those fights she and Adam used to indulge in, beating one another to a pulp before his bitchy ex came and ruined it. Yang bounced on her feet, shaking her hands out and waiting for Velvet or Coco to stand.

"That all you got? Come on, you talk shit, and this is how you back it up?"

"B-Bitch." Coco punched the ground and stumbled to her feet. Yang let her, wanting nothing more than for the arrogant cow to come in swinging so she could humiliate her. "We – pft – We were just t-trying to warn you. You're, gnh, as much of a psycho as he is."

"Yeah, whatever. Less whining, more fighting. Unless you want to admit you were wrong."

Coco spat at Yang's feet. "As if. I'll make you take back what you said about my teammate."

"Ha. And yet I'm the bad guy for wanting the same for mine."

"My teammate isn't a monster!" Coco roared.

She charged in, feinted high and brought her right leg into Yang's unprotected side. Or it would have been if she didn't bring her shin up to block it. A wild swing was leaned away from. Yang snapped a weak uppercut into Coco's chin, shocking her body and making her stumble.

There was an opening where she could have followed through and ended it. Yang pretended she hadn't seen it, letting Coco recover and come at her again. Two rapid punches, both caught on Yang's forearms. Purple eyes glaring past them, she parted her hands and made to kick Coco in the stomach. Coco's hands came down to dodge and Yang converted at the last second, slamming her foot down instead and driving her elbow into Coco's unprotected jaw.

Aura prevented it breaking, and Coco losing teeth, but the girl still wobbled back spitting blood from where her lips had been grated against her own teeth and cut open. Velvet was still on the table watching, out of the fight ever since she'd been thrown.

Pathetic, Yang thought. For all her claims of superiority, her helplessness ran deep. She wasn't hurt enough to be out the fight, yet she was already letting Coco do it all for her. I wonder if she was always like that or if it was Coco taking care of all her problems for her that made her that way. Meanwhile that idiot, Adam, won't let us even know if he has a problem. Nooo, he's got to handle it all on his own because he's such a badass.

Stupid asshole. Why couldn't he accept a little-?

The fist appeared in her vision too quickly for her to react. Yang only had the time to push her aura up and close her eyes before pain exploded across her nose and eye. "Fuck!" she swore, jumping back and wiping her face clean.

Coco stood smirking ahead of her, panting and bloody but pleased with her single solid hit. It barely even hurt, but Yang was more annoyed at the fact she'd let Coco get that small satisfaction at all.

"Enough!" The doors crashed open, and the hulking figure of General Ironwood came storming through, flanked by Goodwitch and Ozpin, with Qrow close behind. Yang swore under her breath. "Stop this childish fighting immediately!"

Coco rounded on them. "We weren't the ones who started-"

Yang's fist smashed into her cheek. Coco was so unprepared for it that she didn't even put her aura up. The girl flipped elbows over ass and crashed onto the ground.

"MISS XIAO-LONG!" Miss Goodwitch shrieked.

"What?" Yang snapped, shoving her hands in her pockets. "I'm in trouble anyway. Might as well get my licks in. Besides, he's not the headmaster. No one from Beacon told me to stop."

Behind her, she could hear Ruby whining in mortification. Yeah, maybe she was pushing it – okay, she was definitely pushing it – but no one had ever accused her of thinking straight when her hackles were up, and the adrenaline was pumping.

"Look at this!" Ironwood said to Ozpin, holding his hand out toward her like he was showing off some museum exhibit. "This is the kind of influence Taurus has on your students. If you let chaos into your school, you shouldn't be surprised when it-"

"Actually!" Yang shouted over him. "I got into a bar fight and smashed up a nightclub full of crooks two days before I got into Beacon, and three before I met Adam." It was satisfying to see the man's jawline become a flat line. "I'm responsible for my own actions, thanks. Don't lump that on others."

The huge man in military garb walked up to her. He was tall, she'd give him that. Imposing too. Yang had to fight the urge to take a step back. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he snarled.

Calm Yang would have defused the situation.

Calm Yang wasn't around.

"Atlas' latest prototype marital aid?"

"MISS XIAO-LONG!" Glynda yelled.

"Snrk."

"QROW!"

"W-What? It was worth a laugh."

Yang smirked.

It was short lived.

"Detention, Miss Xiao-Long." Ozpin sounded more exhausted than upset. "And to Miss Adel as well."

"But sir!" Velvet cried. "Coco didn't-"

"Did not what, Miss Scarlatina? Did not fight? Need I remind you that we do have cameras across campus. If you claim your teammate did not throw so much as a single blow then I shall be forced to watch through those tonight to discover why Miss Xiao-Long has the beginnings of a black eye. Do you wish me to?"

"But… But she said horrible things…"

"Goodness gracious." Ozpin cupped his face. "Well that changes everything, I'm sure." Louder, he addressed them all. "You are all of you here training to become huntsmen. You will be the generation that the people of Remnant rely on for safety. Your enemies are ruthless; they are evil and they are cruel. They are also armed with inch-long claws, inhuman strength and innumerable numbers. They are not your fellow students and I expect all of you to know that by now."

Shit. Yang kicked at the tiles. Angry teachers she could deal with, detention she could handle, but he was bringing out the `disappointment` speeches and she'd never been good with those. Sneaky, underhanded old man. Did she feel bad about it? Not really. Coco deserved what she got and right now Yang felt more alive than she had all morning.

Could have done without the lecture though…

"Both of you to my office," he added. "Miss Scarlatina, you will come as well."

"I didn't do anything!"

"Then, as my good friend James would say, you have nothing to fear from my watching over the fight. If you are as innocent as you say, you will be let off with no punishment."

Ha. As if. Yang would be the first to admit she'd goaded them, but Coco threw the first punch and Velvet chose to get involved. Sure, she was going down as well, but she was taking them both with her.

Coco groaned. "That's not fair…"

"Isn't it?" Ozpin turned and picked someone at random. "Mr Arc. Would you be able to identify who was involved here? Please keep in mind that I do have access to the cameras, so this would come to light either way. I'm merely offering the chance to save us the time."

Sat beside a stunned-looking Blake, Jaune answered, "Yang, Coco and Velvet…"

"And did Miss Rose get involved?"

"No, sir. She didn't get off her seat."

"Thank you." Ozpin raised an eyebrow, waiting for Yang and the other two girls to reluctantly trudge toward him. "Everyone else, please enjoy your dinner. James, if you will come with me?"

The General continued to glare at Yang. "Of course, Ozpin. Lead the way."

/-/

Cinder watched the whole display with barely concealed mirth. Her little ruse couldn't have gone better. Who could have possibly guessed getting the White Fang to reveal Adam causing quite so much chaos? Now, even Ozpin and Ironwood were distracted and feuding. And, of course, she would make sure this reached people outside the school.

Accepting dangerous criminals, brawls in the cafeteria, constant fights between students and authority figures. Things would start to look very bad indeed, and Ozpin would be so busy putting out fires he wouldn't know what to do about her.

And if I read the room correctly, Ozpin and Ironwood aren't best pleased with one another. Hmhmhm. This has gone better than I could have ever imagined.

"That was a pretty good fight." Mercury remarked. "A real beatdown. Kinda funny to see two upper years taken down by a freshie."

"The freshie was a fist fighter and they weren't," Emerald said. "She had the advantage."

"They should have known that before they picked a fight."

Mercury's outlook on the world was simple like that. It more closely matched her own than Emerald, though Cinder would hesitate to say either of them were close to her, be that emotionally, mentally or in terms of skill. They were useful tools at best.

"Not seen Taurus all day." Mercury whispered. "Any news, ma'am?"

"Some." Cinder wondered if she should spoil the surprise or not, then reminded herself she shouldn't care. "Atlas have collared him. The proud commander of the White Fang has bowed down and allowed the humans to put him on a leash. I wonder what the White Fang will think of it."

"They'll either despise Atlas or hate Adam." Emerald said. "Either is a win for us, right?"

"Precisely." Cinder swirled the orange juice in her cup, wishing it were wine. "And this is but the beginning of things. Atlas has made our job simple, and Adam, in his hate, will make ruining the Kingdoms that much easier."

"How?" Emerald asked.

"Because he is spiteful. Because he is vengeful. Because no matter how much he believes himself to have become a better person, he will parade his collar around and rub Atlas' nose in the dirt. He will take pleasure in the disgust people feel on seeing it, he will deflect all of that onto Ironwood and that, Emerald, will serve our purposes quite nicely."

Mercury snorted. "That predictable, huh?"

"All men are predictable. It's just a matter of finding what makes them tick." Cinder's fingers drummed on the edge of her glass. "And let us just say that Atlas' problems are going to get quite a bit worse once the festival begins." Her lips curled upward. "Not that Adam will be around to savour it."

/-/

"Well don't the two of you look like a lovely pair."

Yang snorted, finding some small amusement in Weiss' twisted sense of humour. Her eye was swelling and starting to blossom into lovely colours or blue and purple, matching the black eye she'd given Adam. "Yeah. We're birds of a feather now. It's great…"

"You shouldn't have goaded her so much," Ruby whined.

"Hey, Coco threw the first punch. Besides, it's not like I didn't tell them the truth. Coco is doing everything for Velvet, and Velvet is hiding behind Coco's back instead of facing problems herself. It's pathetic."

"It's learned." Adam said. "When you are pushed down and told you are worthless, there are two ways you can go. You can rail against it as I did, or you can adapt to survive in such a world. There are no shortage of faunus who, even if they won't admit it, accept that they are less than human." He sighed angrily. "It's easier for them that way."

"Easier how?"

"Easier to get a job, easier to keep it, easier to stay out of trouble and survive day by day. It's what most want. To live their lives normally."

"Doesn't look normal."

"Your perception of what is and isn't normal changes." Weiss said. "It's the same for anyone. Rich people think they are normal, that everyone else isn't and somehow chooses to be poor. Even I fell for that…"

Yang grimaced and looked at Adam. The metal collar caught her eye. "Do you have to show it off like that?"

"Yes. I want to make sure the world knows what they've done."

"I suppose I should be thankful you didn't do the same for your scar." Weiss held her breath. "Are you going to? I wouldn't blame you after what Winter did-"

"No."

"No?"

"This and that are two different things."

"What he means," Ruby translated, "Is that you're his friend, Weiss, and he wouldn't want to hurt you like that."

Adam sighed. "Translate my words however you wish…"

"Well now I feel even less sorry for calling Ironwood a big sex toy." Yang was pleased to hear Adam stifle a laugh. "Guy deserved it though. There I am, stood over both of those cows, and he acts like it's your influence! Like, hello? I did this. Give me the credit to make my own decisions."

"What now then?" Weiss asked. "Are we really going to sit in our dorm and hide away all day? The student body are already against Adam, most of them anyway, and I imagine they're not much happier about us four, less so since Yang publicly defended you in the cafeteria."

"I told you Coco threw the first punch!"

"No one cares who did or didn't start this," Adam growled. "It's never about that. Humans started the Great War and we're the ones to suffer. It only matters what the majority believes. Or what the loudest preach. By now, you're a nutcase. You're corrupted by me. You all are."

"I haven't even done anything," Ruby said.

"You're biding your time, sis. It's always the quiet ones you need to look out for."

"Whaaa-? That's not fair!"

"It isn't." Weiss agreed. "But we still need to decide what to do. As a team. The festival is only a few days away; it wouldn't be too hard for us to skip lessons and stay in our dorm. I imagine Ozpin would let us if we asked, considering the circumstances…"

"That's-"

"-hiding."

Yang looked to Adam, each of them finishing the other's words, the other's thoughts. Despite the last minute secrets and the shiner she'd given him, she grinned his way. He smirked back. Weiss sighed, but there was no hiding her amusement.

"I had a feeling you'd say that. What will it be, then?"

"Let them stare. Let them whisper." Adam tugged at his new collar. "Let them see with their own eyes."

/-/

No one expected Team RYST to show up for lessons, not after what happened. That was why there was no small amount of shock when the doors to Doctor Oobleck's classroom slammed open and the four of them walked through. They moved in unison, almost in formation, with Adam and Yang in the lead. The former was in uniform but had done without his jacket. His white shirt was popped open, showing some chest and also the markedly obvious band of metal locked around his neck like a shackle.

Doctor Oobleck appeared stunned. "Team RYST. So glad you could join us."

"Education is important. As is history."

"I am glad you agree, Mr Taurus, but… that…"

"This?" Adam touched his neck, touched the metal collar. As his fingers slid inside, it released a small crackle of static. He released it. Whispers filled the room. "I'm sorry, doctor. I know it's not standard uniform, but I don't have much of a choice. I'm sure General Ironwood would be willing to write out a note excusing me if you asked him."

"General Ironwood?" The teacher's eyes narrowed. The book in his hands trembled as he gripped it tight. "I see. I do believe I will speak with him later today. Perhaps I can teach him a thing or two about history, specifically about not repeating the mistakes of the past."

"You can try, sir. The headmaster already did."

"Well, young man, you will find that I can be quite persuasive when I want to be." He released the book, setting it down carefully. "Please take a seat. In case it is not abundantly clear, anyone who bothers Mr Taurus over his new uniform will be receiving an immediate detention. Do not make me repeat myself on that."

Team RYST walked up the central aisle and to the top and back, past every other student. All were watching, craning their necks to see what had happened. Some grinned smugly, others looked uncomfortable and several festered in silent anger, hands clenched tight atop their desks.

Blake was of an altogether different variety.

Stunned to silence.

Her golden eyes were locked on Adam's back, on the ring of metal around his neck, a collar in name, application and design. One that he had doubtless been forced to don, but one he'd donned all the same.

Why? Adam would never let a human do that. He'd have rather died than let something like this happen to him. Her eyes followed him as he walked on by. He never once acknowledged her, not even to meet her gaze. What's happened to him? What's changed…?

And why did this result bother her so much?

Three rows down, Cinder Fall toyed with her hair, a wicked smirk on her face.

Silly Blake. Adam has changed. That's what.

Not much. Only a little. But he's changed in what he finds important and is determined to achieve his goal through less violent methods now. Less violent. Not non-violent. Small difference there.

Next Chapter: 8th June

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur