"This is preposterous," Lord Winchester boomed, slamming the documents down on the table.
"Some of these terms are negotiable," Velvet soothed, never raising her voice. "The last five terms, however, are not."
"You monsters are outlaws! Criminals! We don't have any reason to listen to the demands of your like." Lord Winchester continued.
"Okay, you listen." Adam spoke up finally, his voice commanding. "I was convinced to come here to at least attempt to settle things peacefully. But you lot need to understand something, we are going to get freedom — whether by peaceful means, or otherwise. We weren't born to serve your every capricious whim. We are smart and intelligent beings with a strong sense of self. We will get equality. It's just up to you to choose by which means." Adam gazed upon the council members expectantly.
"Did you just threaten us?" General Ironwood spoke gruffly.
"I am presenting you with two alternate scenarios of which you lot can choose from," Adam replied evenly, leaning back and quirking his lips.
"You aren't sending a very peaceful message if you threaten war unless we meet your demands," General Ironwood shot back. "You're acting like the monsters you claim you aren't!"
Adam laughed, cocking his head and glancing over each of the council members, his gaze resting upon Weiss'. "If humanity wants to make monsters of us, then monsters we shall become," he said, standing up.
Velvet spoke up quickly. "Perhaps we could talk about some of the amendments you would like us to make?" she asked, turning expectantly to Weiss.
Weiss squeezed her eyes shut and rested her head in her hands. What the heck did Velvet expect her to do? Weiss was having a hard enough time thinking straight as it was without Velvet's added pressure. "Okay," Weiss said, clapping her hands together to draw the attention of the group. "First thing's first, I want the White Fang to understand that change will happen, it just might happen slowly." Weiss started. "Some of your non-negotiable terms, stipulation number nineteen for example, we can grant, but in only the future. It isn't feasible to make the laws active right away."
Tukson frowned. "Freeing all Faunus from slavery should be the first thing you do."
"I understand that slavery is wrong," Weiss continued. "But forcing citizens to free slaves they bought for a small fortune won't end well. They'll think that we're stealing what is rightfully theirs."
"We aren't property for you lot to own," Adam seethed, his voice threatening.
"I understand that, I do," Weiss soothed. "I think we can implement stipulation eighteen — make slave trading illegal — right away. That way, no new Faunus are forced into slavery. But—"
"Are you kidding, Weiss?" Lord Winchester frowned. "That'll break the economy. The slave traders won't have any means of leaving."
Weiss shot him a look. "Trust me, they've made enough to last three lifetimes already. Slaves aren't sold for cheap." Weiss turned back to the White Fang. "And then we can implement Faunus right's laws so that Masters can't mistreat their slaves. We can also supply huntsmen that will enforce these laws. Will that be enough for now?"
"You want us to just leave our fellow Faunus at your mercy?" Adam quirked his eyebrow. "You must be mental if you think a silly law will stop violence against Faunus. The only thing that'll do is drive the violence behind closed doors."
"Look, it's a start. You can't expect this to be fixed overnight." Weiss retorted sharply, growing increasingly tired.
"We have been suffering for centuries! We don't deserve to continue suffering for an indefinite amount of time just because you made some vague promise." Adam shot back.
"Enough of this nonsense," Lord Winchester's eyes flared. "This isn't all about what you want," he spoke authoritatively. "You need to answer for your crimes! You killed innocent humans! You stole and attacked from innocent humans!" Lord Winchester breathed and calmed down. "We aren't going to implement any of your demands unless every single member of the White Fang is put behind bars for their crimes."
"Well then, this meeting is over," Adam spoke dismissively. "Because that's not happening. You seem to be forgetting about the centuries of abuse humans have enacted on Faunus. Not to mention that humans have killed ten times as many Faunus as Faunus have humans according to the documented reports. But everyone here knows that the real number of Faunus deaths is infinitely higher than the documented one. Oh and of course, you also forgot the years of servitude while being starved half to death. If the White Fang needs to answer for our crimes that we committed in the name of equality, than humanity needs to answer for the crimes they committed in the name of selfishness, neglect and plain cruelty!"
"Look," General Ironwood cut in. "Let's face the realities here. You have amassed a small army, stole a few hundred weapons and are hiding away somewhere in the corners of Remnant without any resources, without any backup. We, on the other hand, have armies at our disposal. We have a weapon's manufacturer on the council. We have backup from the other cities of Remnant. We could exterminate you in a blink of an eye. You have absolutely no leeway to bargain with. We didn't even have to meet with you scum. So I suggest you calm yourself down because let's face it, if you start a war with us, the Faunus are screwed."
Adam simply smirked. He stood. This time, Velvet and Tukson rose with him.
"You've made yourself perfectly clear then." Adam grinned devilishly.
"Consider this a declaration of war."
"Blake would you calm down?" Yang pleaded to the girl standing rigidly in the corner with hands clenched around her weapon. "She's unconscious, she can't hurt us." Yang said from her seat, wrapping bandages around her patient's arm. Yang had managed to convince Blake to help move the girl to a bed only by explaining that the assassin would be contained in a locked room. Blake now, apparently, took it upon herself to make sure that the assassin stayed in the room — no matter what.
Blake cast blazing eyes Yang's way. "What part of she's an assassin don't you get?"
"What part of she's an injured girl don't you get?" Yang shot back.
"She tried to kill your sister."
"But she didn't," Yang waved Blake's concerns away. "Let's let her explain. She obviously came here for help." Plus, the patient seemed too innocent to be some bloodthirsty assassin. She had such a tiny frame and such tiny fingers. Her hair was the most interesting shades — two tones over each half. Pink and a chocolate brown. What kind of assassin would dye their hair such a noticeable colour? And like, aren't assassins supposed to be all scarred and rugged and stuff? Shortie here had skin that was way too smooth.
Not that Yang was feeling her skin or anything. She just grazed it when bandaging her victim. Yeah. It's something anyone would notice.
"You're crazy." Blake muttered, not budging from her position blocking the door. She wouldn't let the assassin get to Weiss no matter what.
"Hey," Yang said, taking a peek at the clock at the wall. "The meeting should be over now. Why don't you go get Weiss?"
Blake shifted uncomfortably. "And leave you here alone with her?" Blake tried.
Yang laughed. "She's unconscious, Blake, I'll be fine for a few moments. Plus, I can defend myself if she wakes up and anything happens," Yang reassured, arming her gauntlets and waving them at Blake.
"No yeah, but like. Why don't you get her and I'll stay and watch her?" Blake suggested nervously, her ears deflating.
"Because you and her obviously need to work something out," Yang rolled her eyes, grinning at Blake. "You can't fix anything unless you confront her." Yang nodded to herself sagely. "Come on, don't make me push you out the door."
Blake frowned at Yang, crossing her arms. "Fine," she stated, unlocking the door and heading out. "Be careful with her," Blake nodded at the figure on the bed. "I mean it. She's really dangerous."
Yang waved Blake off. "Yes, yes," Yang reassured flippantly.
The door clicked shut.
That was when Yang turned back to her patient only to see two differently coloured eyes staring back at her.
The next moment Yang was staring at the ceiling and there were hands at her neck.
She couldn't breathe.
Oh shit.