"She's not lying," Weiss said as she stared at May's Huntress licence from the database. They investigated May's credentials after dinner, using the privacy of Weiss' room to conduct their research.

Despite graduating from Atlas Academy, May wasn't a big-shot Huntress, managing only a Class B rank for years. She also wasn't affiliated with the Military and had no records of working with any teams. The only other information Weiss could find was her public affiliation with the Silver Robins. A simple search of her name brought Weiss to the Silver Robins' official webpage.

According to their site, they were a charity and crisis group focused on rebuilding Faunus communities. Their ultimate goal is to fix Human-Faunus relations worldwide. They allegedly provided free meals for Mantle's impoverished community members alongside other social services.

The founders were a group of unnamed friends who felt frustrated with the lack of resources and support given to poor and rural Faunus communities. As a result, they decided to take things into their own hands. There was no other information about them.

This was the second time Weiss heard about their so-called charity work. It still didn't account for the dozens of reputable news sites detailing the chaos they left in the streets of Mantle. Was this all a ruse?

Their less-than-stellar website made her further question the legitimacy of the group. Thick paragraphs detailing their values and goals bloated the home page. A link at the top brought her to an equally inflated blog page documenting discrimination against Faunus communities from all across Remnant. A neon donation button sat at the very bottom of the website alongside an address to their headquarters. There couldn't be much support if their website still looked so archaic.

She relayed her thoughts as Adam inspected the pin May entrusted him. It was a single metal pin shaped into a robin midflight.

"I'd be lying if I said this is the first I've heard about them," he said.

"You've met them before?"

"No, but the agents in Mantle had a few run-ins with them. They never got violent, but they also made it clear that the White Fang aren't welcomed."

According to Adam, their willingness to welcome Human members made them sell-outs in the eyes of the White Fang. He was fuzzy on their work as it was common to write them off as Humans trying to manipulate Faunus communities with false promises. Their denouncement and critique of White Fang ideology further soured the White Fang's view of them – this was news to Weiss. Many Atlas news outlets had speculated they had close relations with the White Fang. She never knew they were so opposed to each other in reality.

"I don't know anything about them being a charity group," he added. "Then again, our agents didn't like to stick around their lot too much. Sienna didn't want them wasting time with…traitors."

"What do you think we should do then?" she asked him. "May doesn't seem like a bad person, but it's weird she knows so much about us."

"I doubt a simple charity group would be so well informed. There's more to the story for sure," Adam speculated.

"May took a pretty big risk telling us her full name."

"It's obvious she wants something from us."

Weiss' head was beginning to hurt again, and this time she didn't think it had anything to do with her cold. Adam pocketed the robin pin and rose to his feet.

"You should rest. The faster we can leave this place the better."

"Do you think the Silver Robins are dangerous?"

"Sapphire seems to trust them, but I don't know. Let me worry about this for now. You need to recover your strength."

"I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble lately," she said shyly. Between her cold and the memories he had to relive, Weiss felt awful for piling so much on him at once. "I promise I'll make it up to you somehow."

"Relax, it's not like you chose to get sick. At least we have a safe place to lay low. It could be a lot worse."

Still, she was fortunate to have him looking after her. Weiss wasn't sure where she'd be without him.

"How was your day?" she asked gently. They'd been so wrapped up with the mess May left behind she forgot the big risk he'd taken today.

"It was alright. That Tanner guy's a bit annoying, but he's tolerable…I guess." He shrugged.

"He seems to enjoy talking to you."

"It's not like I could avoid him while we worked. I've never met someone who can hold a conversation with himself for hours," he complained.

"Are you going to stop working with him after today?"

"...No, Sapphire won't be too happy if I ditch her assistant after one day."

"I'm glad you're trying to get along with him." She smiled. "It's really sweet you're giving him a chance."

"I think the sleep deprivation is starting to get to you. You're getting too sappy."

"My sleep deprivation? I've been doing nothing but resting today, you're the one who's a bit loopy." She laughed.

"At least I'm not saying disgustingly sweet things. Come on, it's time to call it a day before Sapphire knocks you out herself."

Weiss only agreed because it was the only way he'd call it an early night as well. He checked her temperature one last time before leaving. Weiss was sure her fever returned as her blankets felt abnormally stuffy when his hand met her forehead. Heat flooded her face, and she couldn't tell if it was from her cold or the warmth of his touch. Did he always have such gentle hands?

"At least your fever is gone," he said, much to her surprise.

"O-oh. Good."

Silence.

"Well…have a good evening."

"N-night."

Once he left, she pulled her blankets down to help cool the heat still tingling in her cheeks. Adam was certain she wasn't running another fever, so it was likely nothing to worry about. A good night's rest was all she needed to feel normal again.

Weiss squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the memory of his bare hand touching her forehead.

The next day, Weiss was delighted to learn she could stay out of bed without strict supervision. Sapphire was even generous enough to let her get some fresh air, so long as she stayed close to the house and kept the knitted blanket draped over her shoulders.

She kept Saffron company while she sorted out dried herbs outside. Tanner and Adam had left an hour earlier to deal with a small pack of Grimm spotted near Sapphire's property. The Grimm wasn't a threat to Adam, but she kept eyeing the treelines to check for his return.

Weiss didn't like the idea of Adam fighting with a sprained wrist. He didn't say how it felt that morning, but his continued reliance on his left hand spoke volumes. He ignored her annoyed glare when he accepted the dumb job that morning.

Why he was so stubborn about not getting it checked out was beyond her.

To distract herself from worrying about him, Weiss spoke with Saffron. It was easy to talk to Saffron when she didn't seem to know or care about Weiss' family background. They went back and forth, sharing their experiences living in the city and the countryside.

Saffron aspired to be a doctor like Sapphire. She was assisting Sapphire to better understand the work done by a rural physician. Tanner tagged along to keep her company. A cousin in Atlas promised to help fund her stay abroad once she felt ready to apply to schools. The same cousin also sent her medical books and new clothes every month. Saffron gave her homemade jams and knitted scarves in return.

Saffron asked Weiss about living in the city. She wanted to know what it was like to shop in big malls and how accurately films portrayed clubs. She was disappointed when Weiss couldn't give her any insight into the party scene in Atlas.

They eventually moved on to the topic of childhood friends. Weiss was thrilled Saffron understood what it was like having only one friend growing up. Tanner was the only kid her age in Orchid. It wasn't the same circumstance as her and Adam, but she empathized with Saffron's excitement when she first met him.

"You have no idea how thrilled Tanner is to have your friend around," Saffron said. "He hasn't talked with another guy his age in forever."

That would explain why Tanner didn't care if Adam kept to himself.

"I'm glad Adam is more of the listenin' type. Tanner can yap for hours if you let him go on."

"Adam's more uh…reserved." She once again searched the treelines. Nothing but leaves stared back at her. "He's quiet even with me sometimes."

"I'm surprised. Always thought you city folks were the crazy partyin' type."

"Have you lived in Orchid all your life?"

"Nah, I was born in my Nan's farmhouse down East. Pa used to work in the city, but he never likes talking about it, always said there ain't anything good to say."

"Well…he probably isn't wrong," Weiss confirmed awkwardly. They likely moved to Orchid to let Saffron grow up in peace. "Places outside Orchid aren't exactly…pleasant."

"You sound like my cousin Robyn." Saffron rolled her eyes. "All she ever talks about is how bad the city is, but she wouldn't last a week out in Orchid. A wild Huntress like her would die of boredom."

"Your cousin is a Huntress?" Weiss perked up at her response.

"Yeah, but she never talks about what she does at work. She always lectures me about how lucky I am to live in the middle of nowhere. I know she means well, but it's mighty annoying when she gets to live in the big city.

"It's not like I'm some dumb kid who thinks the outside world is perfect. There's a reason Pa used to be–"

"Hey! We're back!" Tanner's shout cut off whatever Saffron was about to say. Weiss immediately turned her attention to the tree line again.

Tanner didn't have a single scratch on him. From the big smile on his face, it looked like they had simply gone out on a fun hike. Adam trailed several steps directly behind Tanner, keeping Weiss from seeing him.

"That was fast! Was it a small pack?" Saffron asked when Tanner was in earshot.

"Nah, it was the usual size. I gotta give credit to Adam, he's got some crazy skills! Although he may have overdone it a bit." Tanner stepped aside just as Adam was pulling his right sleeve down.

"He's seeing things," Adam retorted. "It's nothing."

"I don't know, bud. That wrist of yours seems to be giving you a lot of trouble."

She knew it.

Adam hid his injured hand behind his back as she approached.

"You're freaking out over nothing. It's only sore from–"

"Let me see it," she cut him off sternly.

"Weiss–"

"If it's okay then you have nothing to hide." She held her hand out expectedly at him. "Well? I'm waiting."

"You should listen to your lady, bud," Tanner murmured, earning him an annoyed glare from Adam. "Just saying! Happy girl, happy life - or something like that."

If Weiss wasn't so concerned with Adam's injury, she would've been more mortified at Tanner's comment.

"You're overreacting. It's only a bit stiff after the fight." Adam reluctantly pulled his glove off and held his hand out.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Weiss grabbed his hand and yanked his sleeve back harder than she intended, no doubt agitating it even further. Serves him right for being an idiot. His wrist swelled like a balloon, with hints of bruising on the side.

"It looks worst than it feels," he explained as if it were only a tiny scratch.

"I'm no doctor, but that looks pretty bad," Tanner piped up.

"He's right, this isn't some small injury," Weiss snapped. "I can't believe you've been hiding this for so long!"

"I told you it's fine!" He pulled his hand back. "This kind of thing gets better in a few days."

"Not if you keep agitating it!" Weiss couldn't believe how reckless he's been. "I think you need to see Sapphire–"

"No, it'll heal fine without her help."

"I don't understand why you're so scared of asking Sapphire to take a look at it!"

"I'm not scared!"

"Then why don't you ask her to treat it?"

"I already said it's fine. Just drop it."

"Weiss is right, bud. The Doc' can be a bit intense, but she knows her stuff," Tanner tried to reason. "You should get it checked out before it gets worse. I can go with you if–"

"Will you shut up already?! It's got nothing to do with you!"

Tanner grimaced, flinching away like his words physically hit him. Adam cursed under his breath and looked away.

"She won't think you're lying," Saffron said softly. "Sapphire treats all her patients fairly. She won't accuse you of overreacting. I'd know...I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

Weiss couldn't believe her ears. She had heard of employers treating Faunus unfairly, but doctors? Their entire career centred on compassion and healing those in need. How could they let something so trivial get in the way of their job? It was almost inconceivable.

Adam continued staring at the ground, not saying a word to anyone.

"I know it's terrifying to ask a Human doctor for help, but I can vow on my Nan's grave that you can trust Sapphire. She won't do anything to hurt you." Saffron smiled. "I can talk to her first if you want."

"I…need time to think," Adam muttered before retreating to the forest.

Weiss wanted to follow, but Saffron held her back before she got the chance to catch up.

"Give him some time to cool off," Saffron advised. "Pa was like that when my Aunt suggested giving the Doc' a chance.

"Like I was sayin', I may have been raised sheltered, but I ain't stupid enough to believe the outside world is pretty. I've overheard all the things Pa saw while workin' for the White Fang."

"I was pretty surprised when I first learned about it too," Tanner said with a weak grin. "We don't have that kind of thing in Orchid."

"And for a good reason." Saffron looked over at Sapphire's house, eyes bright with respect. "Doc' says that all life should be treated with respect. She's never turned anyone away who needed her help. Not even once."

Weiss found Adam resting beneath a mossy oak tree not far from the house. She cleared her throat before taking a seat beside him. The forest was peaceful. Sunlight light weaved between tree branches, and a warm breeze carried the scent of wildflowers.

"I'm sorry for losing my temper," he said quietly. His injured hand rested limply on the ground between them.

There was no question about whether he was treated after Uncle burned his face. They likely forced him to work once he arrived at the new Mine. How many other injuries did he have to bear alone?

"Sienna never let us see Human doctors," Adam said after a lengthy pause. "The best treatment we had was to sleep it off. It's hard to find a Faunus doctor. Only a few of us can afford that kind of training."

"So…you've never had proper medical help before?"

"Depends on your definition of proper." He shrugged. "When I was little, Sienna used to patch me up and take care of me whenever I got sick."

"Sienna?" Weiss repeated incredulously. That was the last person she expected to care for him.

"Believe it or not, she's good with kids. When I started training, I had a bad habit of pushing myself too far. I would've permanently damaged something if Sienna wasn't there to help me. She also threatened to ban me from fighting if I didn't rest, so there's that."

"It's hard for me to picture her being…nice," she confessed. "She seems so…cold."

"I don't blame you. Many of our agents are a bit intimidated by her as well." A melancholic smile touched his lips. "Sometimes, I think only us orphans get to see the other side of her."

Weiss stared at her lap, unsure how she was supposed to take this information. Just because she did something kind for orphaned Faunus kids, doesn't change the fact she'd also killed dozens of innocent Human children.

"...Did she help you after you got older?" she asked lowly.

"Unless it was an emergency, I had to look after myself. It's not a big deal. A lot of the younger kids need more help than me."

Even if Sienna wasn't a trained doctor, it must've been nice to have someone care for him.

Weiss still remembered the doctors and nurses that treated her after that night. Though her time with them was brief, their genuine concern for her health always stuck with her. Even now, she missed their comfort. It wouldn't surprise her if he felt the same way about Sienna.

But Sienna was also the reason his wrist was hurt in the first place.

Without thinking, Weiss placed her hand on top of his injured one. It took her a second to realize what she'd done.

"Sorry! I should've asked before invading your space like that," she said, tearing her hand away.

"It's fine."

"Are you sure? I don't want to push things too quickly. I-I know we aren't exactly close like back then, and I don't want to force–"

"I said I wanted to try and make this work, right?" He smiled. "You don't need to ask next time. I don't mind if it's you."

"A-alright."

She slowly placed her hand on his again, watching him for signs of discomfort. He didn't seem the slightest bit bothered, choosing instead to study the overgrown bush across from him.

"Doesn't it hurt?" she whispered.

"I got used to it."

"You shouldn't have to get used to it," she argued. "Next time, tell me about stuff like this. You don't have to pretend you're okay. I want to help you."

He turned his head so she couldn't see his face. Weiss ran her thumb over his knuckle, hoping it could provide him with some comfort.

"A bleeding heart as usual." He took her hand into his and squeezed it. "Thanks for your concern. I appreciate it."

"What are you going to do now?"

With a heavy sigh, he tilted his head back and stared at the canopy of leaves. Weiss hoped he would ask for help, but she wouldn't force him if he decided to keep it a secret - and she told him so. It wasn't her decision to make.

"I think…I want to ask the doctor for help," he answered so quietly she almost missed it. "...Saffron seems to trust her a lot."

"Okay." She smiled. "I'm glad you're willing to give this a shot."

"Let's go before I change my mind."

Weiss was brushing the grass and dirt off her nightgown when she heard him calling her name again.

"Do you mind…" He looked bashfully down at his feet, a red tint colouring his cheeks. "Can you stay with me when I confront Sapphire?"

"Of course," she said, honoured he would want to include her in such a vulnerable moment.

"Thank you." He reached out with his good hand and held hers firmly. "Let's get this over with."

The conversation went down as well as Weiss had expected.

All hell broke loose once Adam admitted what he was hiding. Sapphire went on a long lecture about the colourful consequences that could've resulted from his sprain. The situation would've been more amusing had Sapphire not turned her fury towards Weiss, making it clear how dumb it was to enable Adam's unhealthy habit.

After she finished berating them, Sapphire treated Adam's wrist. Despite her annoyance, she calmly explained everything she did to Adam. If she saw that he was uncomfortable, she'd stop everything and reiterate the process to him. She wouldn't resume working until he gave her verbal permission to keep going. Weiss stayed with him through the whole process, holding his left hand. Sapphire didn't say a word about Weiss' intrusion.

"You two are not leaving for at least another week!" Sapphire demanded once she'd finished bandaging his wrist. "I will track you two down and drag you back if you try anything funny! Do you understand?!"

They didn't dare to challenge her instructions - even when Sapphire made it clear Adam was on sick leave and forbidden from doing extraneous work.

"I'll need to give Tanner a piece of my mind once he gets back," Sapphire added sharply.

"Tanner?" Adam furrowed his brow. "What's he got to do with this?"

"That idiot told me you were just out taking care of a few stray Grimm. He should know better than to help you hide this sort of thing! The nerve of that boy to cover for you!"

The news came as a shock to Weiss. She studied Adam to gauge his reaction. Though his expression was blank, his grip on her hand tightened by the second.

"I hope you won't argue with me when I say you need to rest inside from now on," Sapphire said with narrowed eyes. "If you want to get better soon, you need proper sleep and nutrition."

Adam studied his bandaged wrist, rotating his hand slowly to inspect Sapphire's handiwork.

"Okay," he breathed. "I'll stay."

"Good." Sapphire smiled. "I'll get everything ready. In the meantime, do me a favour and rest. You've had a long couple of days."

They spent the rest of the day inside. Weiss curled up with a book on the couch while Adam sat quietly beside her, staring off into space.

Tanner and Saffron came into the house early that evening to drop off some supplies. As promised, Sapphire gave Tanner an earful once he stepped foot into the kitchen. Saffron smiled sympathetically at him before retreating outside to wait for him.

Adam observed the encounter from the living room couch. Weiss pretended to be engrossed in her novel beside him, not saying a word. When Sapphire finally let Tanner go, Adam rose to confront him before he could leave.

"I want to apologize for my behaviour earlier," Adam began stiffly. "It was unfair of me to lose my temper...you were only…concerned…I guess. I uh…appreciate you covering for me too."

Tanner's entire expression lit up like a lightbulb. "No problem, bud! Glad to hear you finally got the Doc' to help!" He clapped Adam on the back.

"You're…not upset? I got you in trouble..."

"Nah, I don't get mad at things like that. I help my gramps at the farmer's market from time to time, and you wouldn't believe what folks say in those larger towns. Nothing surprises me anymore!" He laughed. "Hey, if the Doc' will allow it, you should come to watch me hunt tomorrow! I can tell you some crazy stories while we're out."

Adam stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded.

You guys on FF have very strong opinions on the Happy Huntresses~. As someone who has always been indifferent to them, this is a very interesting development lol.

Thank you to Yeet, Iwr1918, D-D, and Gleaming Onyx for the reviews!

Lemme know what you think and I'll see you tomorrow!