After the deal was done and he made sure his soldiers where alive,- and they luckily were -he made sure to let them know they should all rest after the unpleasant surprise that was Cinder's second visit to his cell. He himself went to his tent to relax his own way, by doing maintenance on Wilt and Blush.
It was usually a solitary and quiet endeavor. One that he hoped would help ignore everything that happened today.
"We should go out and hunt her down!"
but not today.
"This is unacceptable Adam!" Edward- Banesaw paced back and fort, while he just sat cross legged on his mat with everything he needed for his weapons around him.
"How could we let that human bitch get her way, and let her go just like that!" Adam felt the eyes behind the mask settle on him, waiting for his reply.
Adam started polishing his blade. It needed more edge.
"Would you rather I let her burn this whole cell to the ground? Forcing our brothers and sister to die unnecessary deaths?" Questioned Adam.
"We could've beaten them!" Replied the frustrated giant.
"We could have, but at the cost of our already beaten soldiers." Argued the bull faunus, trying to be precise with his strokes. The fire dust infused within the metal made this task more bothersome than it should be.
He's not over Ilia chuckling at him for having to re-water the stones several times that one time. Even less so when she told Bla- No! He shouldn't be thinking about her. Not now.
"But there must be something we can do! Sienna won't-"
"Sienna won't know nothing about this!" Adam yelled to the lieutenant, shining bright red thanks to his semblance. Rose petals flew from the forceful stroke, vanishing soon after.
Adam took a deep breath, bottling up his anger for another time. "She would have me cease this partnership when I can't afford to. "He started polishing again, wanting to finish this part quickly to start refining the surface.
Edward, now more cautious, asked. "And if she sent us some help?"
"For three humans?" He scoffed. "She would tell me I should be able to handle them, since I've got a reputation of solving problems on my own." Looking at his blade, he felt satisfied with the result. Now he just had to do one hundred long strokes to refine the surface on the next wet stones.
He let his right hand man know to keep quiet, since he would need all his focus for this. Re-watering was always a chore, and it was inevitable in this part. But at least Banesaw would be quiet for now, letting him calm down at the moment.
"You can speak now."
He was done with Wilt. There was no need to add to the dust in his blade, and the power of said dust usually removed the stains it would get with a light application of his aura- saving him the need to use oil like in other purely metal blades.
"You finished?" Asked Bane, thinking it would take longer.
"Just with Wilt. It's Blush' turn now, but I can afford to listen whatever is on your mind."
He disassembled the rifle when he first came in, now he just had to clean it all, assemble it and load it. Adam always kept it loaded at all times. He started with the bigger parts, since they were easier and hard to miss.
Using solvent, some oil, the cleaning rod and his toothbrush from his younger days, Adam started cleaning his rifle.
"Alright… Can I inform her about other matters at least?" Adam would be a fool to not know what he meant.
"I'll inform Sienna about the traitors." He said with disdain, finishing cleaning the barrel with the cleaning rod. "Now, will that be enough for you to drop the matter about Fall?" Adam asked while cleaning and lubing some parts, making sure to not overdo it with lubrication. Dealing with goop in his gun wasn't something he wanted to ever deal with again, specially now.
"Yes sir." Bane said, pleased with the result. What he didn't know was that Adam would inform Sienna through Ilia.
Adam didn't doubt Ilia's loyalty to the Fang, but he knew what she felt for Blake. Love provoked changes, and their mutual love for Blake changed their relationship to go from camaraderie to 'superior' and 'soldier'. A shame, he remembers when she- kinda -looked up to him. Hopefully the news wouldn't affect her duties. She hat the potential to one day be like him. A leader and a symbol for the White Fang.
The bull faunus released a sigh. He didn't want to think about Blake, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. He wished he could let her go from his thoughts, just like he did in the train.
"Do you think Tukson had any involvement with her?" He talked while assembling the gun, before he loses such small parts like springs, screws, etc. Today just wasn't his day.
"Tch! Of course he was involved. He was close enough with the Belladonnas; sharing their ideals and acting as a guardian for the girl when they couldn't during our peaceful days." Bane crossed his arms. "Wouldn't be surprised if he gave her the idea in first place either."
He will be dealt with in due time. If only he had enforcers like the Albains…
"At least, my mission today already gave us a head start with our… Ally." Adam had assembled Blush. Now he just had to load his gun.
"The train? How does a destroyed train help with whatever she wants?" Adam grabbed the bullets to insert into the magazine.
"I didn't blow it up," One in. "And it payed off."
"How so?" Two.
"The cars, and their cargo. They are essential for her plans." Three. "Plans I don't know about... Yet."
"Will you be able to go to Mistral?" Four.
"Remembered that did you?" He chuckled. "I can't, she made sure I understood the importance of my presence here to make this partnership work." Five.
"What did you wanted to do there? Talk with Sienna?" Six.
"Yes. About a new goal," Seven. "And a promotion." A smirk adorned his face, and he slid the mag in with a satisfying click.
"What brought this on?" Bane was curious. He knew Adam could be ambitious, but this sounded bigger than his usual goals.
"I just don't believe equality is possible, and I think most faunus do too." Adam sheathed Wilt into Blush, letting them rest in his thighs. "I believe it's either us on the top, or them. They may fear and respect us now, but give it time and they will subjugate us again. If we let them."
Banesaw agreed, unlike those traitors he never fought for equality. He didn't even join for it, the Fang just gave him an opportunity, a purpose when he had nothing. And Adam earned his loyalty while the other just earned his respect; Sienna fought when Ghira cowered, but she still fought for a dream. The Albains already spilled blood even when Ghira was in charge, but they did so in shadows, trying to cover up their deeds from the public.
Not Adam. He didn't fight for the impossible, he wasn't an assassin, and lead his men like true warriors.
"Do you think most would follow me, to another Faunus War?" His leader asked.
And he replied without doubt. "Yes."
Most if not all White Fang members- no matter the cell or the Kingdom -admired and respected Adam Taurus, seeing him as an example of what every member should aspire to be.
"It trust your word." His smirk turned into a grin. This helped fill the hole Blake left, and the distaste of having to work with that Cinder witch. Focusing on his duty with the White Fang, and his goals for all the faunus of Remnant.
He stood up. "Let's go outside. I have an announcement to make." Seeing his lieutenant nod, they both walked towards his command tent. His soldiers had to know of the deal he made with the devil, and to prepare for operations in Vale. That was because of both Cinder and Sienna's orders.
The faunus would get what they deserved. He would make sure of it, no matter the cost.
Sooo… If by any chance you've read my first fic 'Why Banesaw?' and read the AN at the end, let me say I'm sorry for the wait. Hope I can keep on with my own deadlines for this one and other projects.
Hope this was enjoyable enough for any one reading this, and that my skill and lackluster knowledge on weapons wasn't too bothersome for your experience. Thanks for reading and follow this story if you want more; I'll write about all the known Fang members, with minimal use of OCs. And please, leave a review so that I can know what I should work on and improve upon.
Next chapter will come around 23-28 of this month.