"He is merely a boy."

"That excuses nothing!"

Adam watched with a small hint of satisfaction, content in his annoyance of the man. For all his bravado and crisp wording it seemed the head of the family was incredibly irritable; this was good. He himself was more than prepared to take advantage of their little arrangement if it meant upsetting Jacques. The woman didn't seem that bad at first, but Adam was far from trusting, even if she was currently making excuses for him.

The small tugging at his sleeve pulled him from the display.

And then there was the little girl who brought him here. Apparently little Weiss was curious enough to ask her mother for his presence, and while he hated being forced into things against his will, the boy found it hard to really fault the toddler. Weiss spoke softly most of the time, only really speaking up if her father demanded it. He could see the hint of fear as he deepened his voice, and Adam was reminded of the many reasons he wanted to gut Jacques Schnee.

"Yeah?" He questioned, only for the girl to keep pulling at him. Adam decided then to follow, and he watched as she brought them over to the source of this whole commotion; a small little bird.

Black as night and with a threatening air, the crow now sitting on the floor almost seemed to face him with the same wondering they held for the bird. However Adam knew little of birds, and when they saw it sat on the windowsill of their play room Adam had thoughtlessly opened it up. Rather than fly off the bird came inside, and little Weiss was most intrigued of all. She spent all their time watching the thing hop around on the floor, and when Mrs. Schnee came to check on them her shock was just a little bit too verbal.

"Look at them Jacques." The woman was waving to them now, and looking back Adam saw that Weiss was still infatuated with the bird as it did a little dance, which was a strange thing for a bird to do. "They're just curious. It is only a small little thing."

"They let a dirty animal is our home, and I will not stand for it. We're already suffering most of the estate to foreign students for this years Vital Festival, and I won't allow anything to present our establishment as anything but perfect." He walked over with barely hidden fury and tried to reach for the bird. In response the crow hopped on his hand and began pecking rapidly at the palm. This got a small pained response, and Jacques tried to squeeze the creature this time. It flew back, only to dive in again and peck at his face.

Stumbling back Jacques tried to shoo the thing away, but the crow wasn't having it.

"Come now children." Mrs. Schnee called, to which the two of them obeyed. While it was fun watching Jacques be overthrown by a black ball of feathers Adam knew Weiss's mom was intent to give them a more... pleasant experience. "Why don't we go visit the other children."

Adam soured his face at that; he hated the other children. They were still kids like him and Weiss, but they carried the same air of arrogance and narcissism that Jacques had, which only made them just as scummy in his eyes. A quick glance over proved to him that Weiss wasn't so keen on the idea either as the girl practically shrank in on herself.

Weiss was kind of strange in Adam's opinion, but not in a bad way. It was thanks to her that he now had Fridays off from mine work, and even now Jacques was forced to put up with the nonsense they got themselves into. All of it started a few weeks ago, after he first met the little girl. According to Mrs. Schnee Weiss was curious about him, and while he didn't know what she wanted from him Adam wasn't all that upset about the following arrangement.

Thanks to his now constant appearances out of the mine he wasn't allowed to have any visible signs of damage, which meant that if he caused trouble while mining they were only allowed to lock him in his cell; no more beatings for him. Along with that he was given double rations to keep up the look of an ordinary childhood, as if he was never kidnapped in the first place.

It reminded him of home, and it stung.

"Here we go." The noticeably kinder woman lightly pushed the two ahead, right into an open - yet still decorative - room where several other kids were conversing as if they were adults. "Now play nice you two; I'll be back again once I have my husband calmed down."

They were alone left free of the woman now, and Adam was instantly accosted with the all too familiar looks of disgust and annoyance his visible horns attracted from the others. This hadn't been the first time he they were around others their - or at least Adam's - age, and once again it seemed they were looking for a fight.

"And yet again you keep company with him." A rather rotund young boy began, walking over to look down at Weiss in disappointment. The girl kept her eyes to the floor, and Adam noticed the small shine to them. "What does he have that makes him any different than other peasants?"

"U-um..." The girl's words were so small, and Adam instantly heard another little girl speak up from the back.

"My father says only degenerates like spending time with animals."

"What does that mean?" The boy next to her asked, a little taller than her. The girl only shrugged.

"I don't know, I think it means dirty."

Adam watched as the other children went about discussing filthiness and the what not, holding back his anger as they proceeded to ignore him. It was a small relief to be left alone once more, only that relief would quickly dissipate as Weiss let out a small squeak. Adam turned, and saw the boy from before now held her wrist.

He did not approve.

"Come now, leave this filth behind and be a sensible lad - agh!"

He flinched, good, and now Adam was certain his point would be made clear.

"Don't touch her." He emphasised the former, his voice dipping to express his feelings on the matter. The kid from before looked to him in exasperation, which quickly morphed to fear as he saw Adam's face. Adam let go, and the boy scampered off to the others; just another coward in the horned boy's eyes. Seeing this the others appeared intent to ignore him; another win for Weiss and him.

Speaking of, Adam faced the little girl, who held her wrist. He didn't see any visible strain, so he supposed it was just shock that silenced any response from her.

"Are you okay?" He tried, and Weiss nodded as her eyes met his.

"Yes."

"Good." His face took on more of an irritated look now. "Why didn't you tell him to bug off? I know you didn't like him, so why?"

"He's big, and I'm small." Weiss offered. "He wouldn't listen anyway."

"Maybe, but you can't just let him get away with it." Adam held back a sigh as he focused on her. Out of all the Humans he met, why did the only good one have to be so frightened of everything? "Look, all I did was spook him and he ran off. He's a coward, so all you needed to do was raise your voice."

"Mom and dad say raising your voice is rude." Weiss told, and Adam bit back the face-palm practically calling his name.

"And? They're not around right now, so they wouldn't see it if you told him to scram." Adam crossed his arms. "Besides, I don't think that loser back there was allowed to grab you anyway, was he?"

"No... I don't think." Adam smirked as he continued, realizing she was finally beginning to come around.

"Well, why not fight fire with fire?"

"Wouldn't that just make more fire?" Weiss asked, and Adam took a second to process that.

"What, I don't..." He shook his head. "Never mind, it's just a saying. Look Weiss, you can't let people push you around, or they'll keep going further with it. Then, one day, you'll get hurt; badly."

"But... I don't want to hurt people." Weiss spoke, and Adam eased his words.

"You won't be, you're just letting them know they can't mess with you."

"But, but what if I'm scared?" She looked at him in worry, and in response he just smirked.

"They don't know that. Put on a brave face, like a scary mask, and they'll be the ones who are afraid." He watched as the worry turned more into doubt.

"Are you sure that will work?"

"I am." His smirk was downright devious now. "Nobody will ever hurt you again, and if they do, that's when you remind them who you are." He leaned in and took her hands, all the while she looked to him in wonder.

Everything shifted a little as the world began to fade, and only Weiss remained in his vision as she listened to the last words he said

"Make them fear you."

.

.

Tumbling, turning, and swerving was his gut as he shifted awake.

Adam had been rudely tugged from slumber many times before, but unlike most he was usually sober. Although his vision was still a little hazy Adam decided to reach down. His eyes caught the general shape, and pulling up the glass bottle he looked at the sticker.

Sweet Apple Splash? What the hell kind of name for a wine is that? Disregarding that he looked over the label for the alcohol percentage, intent to know just how fucked he was.

Last night had been dull, and being stuck in the storage car did little to offer entertainment. His interaction with Weiss back at Haven had shown him she didn't remember their childhood, for what reason though he had not the feintest idea. Yet drowning himself in times long past would do little for him, and he sought out something to purge those thoughts, at least for a while.

Luck seemed to favored though as he stumbled across a box of wine, and having nothing better to do he decided to indulge himself a little. It had been months since he'd taken a drink, but the man was fairly certain he still held his tolerance for the stuff well enough, which was why he was looking for the number telling just how strong the bottle was, and he found it.

Four percent... The hell? He recalled drinking at least a few bottles, four of them if the empty ones surrounding were all he had, but that low of an amount didn't make any sense. With how thrashed he felt he expected more, and looking around the compartment revealed to him that, no, he had only drank four bottles.

And then he noticed it; along the edge was a rough loose section.

Hold on, are you... Peeling at the small corner he saw just why he was so fucked up. Well damn... moonshined, of course I got moonshined.

The stickers were all well and good, but hidden underneath seemed to be smaller sticker, with nothing but a number to be seen. A large red ten was present, and Adam could understand why his head felt like it would fall off. Just who the Dust was smuggling moonshine of all things into Argus? It had been years since he'd last had a taste of the stuff; back then things had been better.

Blake had been his apprentice in those days, and while she was still relatively innocent he still felt a sense of pride in knowing how far she came. He'd taught her everything she knew, and rather than leave it at that the girl set out to improve herself even further, taking the style he'd taught her and molding it into something all her own.

It was unfortunate how things turned out.

V... you were just like her, why? Here he was again, allowing Vermillion to invade his thoughts. An irritatingly noble sounding name, befitting of the confounding paradox of a man. When V left Adam didn't know what to make of it. Originally he could understand why Blake left, as her desire for a better more peaceful way of doing things fit with her childish hopes; even if she wouldn't admit it. Vermillion had no such delusions, and so when he turned coat it sent into motion a machine of fury. The cogs of confliction turned, and as they roared and creaked Adam eventually came to the reasoning that he also had similar desires; though hidden they appeared.

It was then Adam saw the similarities in both traitors, and his fury morphed into a muted palette of pity. They were only kids at heart, and their decisions were founded on the shared desire to do what they believed was right, regardless of how realistic such decisions were. Personally he knew all too well how dastardly simple it seemed, and how relentless reality could be; the recurring memories infecting his sleep was a testament to that.

Hung over or not he needed to move.

With a dulled headache Adam quickly shadowed himself behind a couple of the crates as the sides of the car opened up, and he heard the ruffling of men making their way in.

"I don't get it." A plucky sounding boy started. "If it's really so risky then why not haul it in the classic way? You know, with one of our own trucks."

"With how heavy the Grimm have been?" A brash voiced woman countered. "It would be a waste of resources. The train may be a bit more risky with how easy it is for anyone official to check beyond surface level, but at least it's safe. This here isn't cheap you know."

"Yeah I get that, but..." Adam didn't like that pause.

"What is it?"

"Look at these." Hearing the hollow clink of glass Adam swore silently - he never cleaned up. "Aren't these part of the shipment.

"Yeah. Fuck, someone's been dipping." The feminine voice wasn't all that concerned sounding, which Adam chalked up as a positive at least.

"What do we do?"

"Nothing." The woman replied. "Thief is probably long gone by now. Just keep packing it in."

"But half of these are huge." The boy complained, to which Adam heard a sigh.

"Quit your bitching. The others will be here soon to help, so just move what you can." The sound of several vehicles came into hearing. "Ignore that, they're here."

Others? That didn't bode well, and Adam just so happened to be stuck dead center in the car; right between a few boxes. All of them were filled with the liquor, and from what he already deduced these all belonged to the group who sent the goons. He couldn't risk trying to run and being seen with so many witnesses, nor could he just off them as the massacre would no doubt draw many of the authorities. He needed to find Weiss again, as his pride and honour depended on it; being captured would ruin those chances. This left him with one final - albeit irritatingly risky - option.

Quietly Adam propped the lid of a long crate, and as silently as he could laid himself across the bottles. There was minor clacking, but not enough to drown out the constant work of so many others. With covered irritation Adam surrendered himself to the factor he hated most in life...

Luck.

.

.

"Ah, It's good to be home." Oobleck didn't quite share the same sentiment as Gold, but he felt happy that the boy was comfortable again.

Regardless of Gold however Oobleck took in the natural beauty of Kuo Kuana. There was no doubt that the port town respected it's natural landscape, as while the buildings were fashioned to their own style they did not impede on the earthy warm beauty around them, rather it seemed they were built to emphasise it instead. Many homes made use of the land, and in turn it gave the place a strange sense of chaotic unity, as if it were one with the world.

Though the people didn't seem too happy about his sudden visit.

Another thing Oobleck noticed immediately upon stepping off the ferry was how distant everyone had become. Many sent looks his way, but they were piercing and filled with ill wishes. It seemed the evils of Humanity were distinctly remembered by the islands population; as it should be. He was not the first to try and remedy the hate Humanity had wrought on the Faunus, but the act of remedy does not wipe away the sins of the past from afflicted hearts, and while he may have been a know and open supporter of Faunus rights in Vale, the people here knew nothing of him. In their eyes he was an oddity, a stranger, and a potential danger.

This time, it was a Humans turn to face ridicule.

Oobleck expected the subtle glances and looks of unease sent his way, this was normal when your history spanning rival walks by, but he never expected they would be approached by a pair.

"Ghira." A woman's voice came from his side, and looking over he saw the girl who opted to keep an eye on them as they moved about the island: Ilia, he believed her name was. She looked to the shorter woman at the man's side, and with a nod spoke again. "Kali."

"Nice of you to get back in one piece." The woman, Kali, leaned sideways to look past them. "And I assume the others are okay as well?"

"Yeah." Ilia replied with a noticeable relief. "V's little stunt went off near perfectly."

"Near perfectly?" The large man, Ghira, questioned, and Ilia seemingly chose to elaborate.

"We lost a single person, but they were a member of a local gang who chose to help. They knew what we were getting into, and how dangerous it could be, so as far as we know the group won't hold it against us." Ilia's voice lowered a little. "But it was weird. With how many Fang were present I expected things to go worse. As nice as it is, the level of success we had was... concerning."

"You feel as though it's a bad sign, don't you?" Ghira offered, to which Oobleck saw Ilia nod. "Understandable. When a plan goes perfectly it is only natural to question why."

"Yeah, it's just that nothing has ever really went so well before. I don't know, I have this sour feeling in my gut thinking about it, you know?"

"I do indeed." Ghira faced him now. "And who is this?"

"This is Dr. Oobleck, a professor from Beacon, back before it was destroyed." Ilia began as the man's focus narrowed before him. "He was captured by the Fang. He and Gold have some... problems they need to settle, so we voted to bring him with us."

"Hmm." Ghira hummed, but ultimately nodded; much to Oobleck's relief. "I suppose so, however having a Human on the island will no doubt cause some complications." He wore a less unnerving look now. "Many here have nothing but ill-memories of their experiences outside the island, so I hope you'll keep that in mind when facing any forms of scrutiny. While many here love to humor the idea of equality, others will no doubt allow their personal feelings to overwrite that judgement. I apologise in advance, and hope you will not hold it against them too harshly."

"I will not." Oobleck responded with an equally careful tone. "I know just what horrors the Faunus have faced firsthand from my kind. I only hope that my actions here will prove that not all of us approve of the past, nor the less savory acts of many nowadays. Change is slow, but I honestly believe it can be achieved if we all put in the effort."

Oobleck saw both Ghira and Kali smile.

"Wise words indeed." The man started with a nod. "If only all peoples could hold values so highly." Ghira looked over to Gold. "And Gold, I haven't seen you in some time. Would I be correct to assume you had stuck to Adam's side?"

Gold grunted as he crossed his arms, and it seemed Ilia chose to respond for him instead.

"He's pouty today, and yes, he did." Her tone eased back. "But he's back with us now, or... we think he is." She looked past Oobleck and locked eyes with the boy. "You're not planning trouble right?"

With a scoff Gold looked away. "I'm here to deal with him." He motioned to Oobleck. "But without Adam anymore I don't really have anything else to do. So no, I ain't planning trouble, at least not for anyone else." He nudged Oobleck with his elbow. "Greenie here's in for a world of payback though."

"Not violent I assume?" Ghira's voice held an underlying threat, but Gold appeared to brush it off.

"Nah, he doesn't respond to physical pain. I'm more set on showing him the consequences of his past choices; see how he handles it." Gold said, and Ghira made certain his stance spoke clearly his disapproval. Rather than await any worded expression Oobleck decided to lay out a response of his own.

"I've accepted Gold's wishes." Ghira cocked a brow questioningly, and so the ex-professor continued on. "If it means steering him clear of more violent destruction, I'm more than content with whatever mental hurdles he has prepared for me."

"We'll see." The irate boy said, and Oobleck fought back a sigh as the explosive terrorist stoned his face.

"Cut the drama already." Ilia started. "The gang's all together again. C'mon, let's just go get Magenta."

"Magenta?" Gold asked as the crew was once more on the move, with both Belladonna's in tow. "She's here?"

"Yeah." Ilia gave as they trekked through the crowd littering the street. "She's been kept under watch since we captured her. Lapis has been keeping her under wraps."

Both Oobleck and Gold froze to a halt, with both men sharing the same thought, however only Gold had the strength to open his mouth.

"Impossible." His face was more strained now. "Lapis can't be here."

"What do you mean? He's been here ever since we left to chase you and Adam down." Ilia's face scrunched. "Was he supposed to be somewhere else?"

"He's dead." Gold spat lowly, and as Oobleck's thoughts began to harden back into awareness he saw the way Ilia's expression fell in both confusion and concern.

"No... he's back with Magenta. He's been watching her since we stopped Fennec."

"I watched him die." Gold's voice was so starkly harsh, just like in Haven, and it was then that Ilia began to show true concern; unbound and pure.

"You're serious, aren't you?" Gold nodded, and Ilia brought up the most important question of all. "Are you sure it was-"

"Positive." Gold left no room for argument, and Ilia allowed her words to tumble free.

"If... if Lapis is really gone, then who's watching over Magenta?" Immediately her eyes widened as her head turned and looked in the distance ahead.

"I don't know." Oobleck chose to be the one to set things in motion again. "But whoever they are is currently in control of this 'Magenta' woman. I don't know why they would disguise themselves as your late friend, but I can almost certainly say it isn't for anything good."

"No shit." Gold spat with so much hatred it stilled the spectacled man momentarily; it was not loud, but it was most certainly powerful. "But whoever they are is going to feel just what it's like burst apart from the inside. Now come on." Gold started down the street with a determined march. "Let's go pay our buddy a visit."

"Gold!" Ilia called as she ran to him. "Hold on a bit!"

Oobleck had a sinking pit in his gut.

Author's note

...

Starting off relatively calm this time around.

No time with V or the others this chapter, which I'm sure disappointed some of you, but there are other characters we need to attest to. Both V and the RWBY crew are about to hit the shit, especially with Adam back in play already.

We get some more backstory through Adam's dreams, and while under the effects of alcohol it seems he's haunted by memories of his past experiences with the Schnees. Weiss, it seems, has more history with our current foe than she even recalls; what this entails is still up in the air... for now.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts, and I'll catch you later.

Take care.