"And what will you do, hmm?" The snowy haired matriarch spat, hands on her hips with a noticeable ire in her voice. "I've never seen Weiss so confident in her life."
"Confidence in what, disrespecting me?!" The man yelled back, his darker lochs starting to gray. "Ever since that boy started spending time with her, she'd been growing brazen."
"It's not 'brazen' to speak her mind Jacques, she simply disagreed with you."
"And therein lies the problem, Willow. It's one thing to merely disagree, but this is far from a simple matter of conflicting ideals. She's actively refusing to learn." Jacques crossed his arms as a snarl crippled his maw. "If we allow her to get away with ignoring what we teach her, she'll only grow into a rebellious troublemaker."
"Forcing her into things will have the same effect." Willow countered, having a tad bit more confidence in her voice. "And don't give me any of that 'refusing to learn' nonsense. You prattling on about the servants rightful place in the working order isn't a meaningful lecture."
"If she does not learn how to separate her place from them, she'll only open herself up to their manipulation." He shot back, only for Willow to sigh.
"I highly doubt our housekeeping will deceive her."
"Not them, but others." Jacques returned with a stern tone. "It doesn't take much to topple a man, and no matter what we do there are going to be those who wish harm upon her. Jealous rivals, bitter servants, activists even; there's no end to the list."
"And tell me, dear, just what reasons do these people have to hurt her?" Willow wasn't going down without a fight. The man simply chuckled.
"Ah, just as simple as ever, although I don't entirely blame you; with ignoring most of our company meetings and what not." Willow hid her scowl, but looking closer it was easy to see how her lips twitched before settling into a simple flat line; Jacques proceeded to elaborate. "These people don't need a reason. They would rather concoct a delusion of their own, building her up to be their worst enemy as they actively misconstrued her words. They despise their own poverty, and as such are resentful of those who have success. Pity really, they make us their enemy, while actively ignoring their own woes, causing them to only fall further."
Yeah, you have success, but it's not a good success, is it? Adam remained quiet throughout, yet inside he was seething. This bastard of a man, Jacques Schnee, was blaming others for their poverty, hyping up his 'success' as something earned. Oh he earned it alright, earned it off the backs of all the slaves in the mine.
"Fortune is fleeting." Willow threw out, prompting Adam to set his focus back on the pair from his hiding place behind a cabinet. "A hard chunk of it is based solely on luck. Skill and determination can only carry you so far; it is up to chance to determine whether your efforts pay off."
"Chance is a rickety bridge." Jacques let out, his tone swaying into a more sly expression of interest. "Relying on chance can never guarantee a stable future. However, opportunity is something which can be crafted. Not only that, but it surrounds everyone on a daily basis. A skilled eye who knows how to spot these opportunities will most certainly find a wealthy future; yet most do not possess this skill. This is what I'm trying to instill into our daughter; we cannot let her be blinded with senseless pity. Yes, it is fine for her to pity them, but she cannot let that pity drag her down to their level."
"Their level..." Willow looked a little shocked, just a hint, but still it was there. "Jacques, not everyone has the same amount of opportunity."
"No, not the same amount, but always some; it is always there. Those who cannot find it simply aren't looking, and at that point their failure is all their own, and well deserved."
Willow opened her mouth, but was silenced as the door to the room was opened, and a smaller balding man popped himself in and spoke.
"Apologies if I'm interrupting, but our guests are here."
"Right, thank you." Willow looked to her husband. "We'll finish this later."
"Yes, we will." Jacques tone challenged equally as the pair followed the man out, and the door shutting behind was the signal Adam took to slip back out into the open.
It had taken a bit of skill, but he managed to tail the pair as he was brought up for his daily scrubbing. As far as the other servants were concerned he was just in the washroom down the hall, a few doors away from the room where Weiss and him would spend time. At first he'd just needed the restroom, but once done and about to head back, Adam spotted Jacques. His curiosity was peaked, and as the two started their argument out in the hall he'd slipped inside and hid; they walked inside just as he thought and continued.
That was over now however, and the boy realized he was now presented with a unique opportunity.
Wasting no time Adam scampered over to the large desk, about to pull open a drawer and look for things, but froze when he noticed something. Sat innocently under some papers was a card, and picking it up he saw three numbers. Most alarming of all however was that these numbers matched the large door he'd seen when being pulled out to visit Weiss. He knew the door was how most of the workers came and left, needing special key-cards to open, and this must have been what was used to open it; a key of sorts.
Why Jacques had a personal card to their particular mine was unknown, but if Adam had to guess, it was probably due to himself. Choosing their mine for the rigged inspection had been pure chance, but it lead to Weiss growing an interest in him, which then allowed him time out and into the 'high-life' as some called it. None of this mattered as Adam abandoned all restraints and took the card.
Finally, they would all be free.
"Hello?" The voice rung out again, and ahead he saw the pudgy man from just moments ago. Thinking quickly Adam slipped the card into his pocket; he could fish it out later to hide when returning to the mine. Raising his hand he waved back.
"Hi."
"Young Adam?" The man wandered over puzzled. "Whatever are you doing in here?"
"I saw Mr. and Mrs. Schnee walk out, and thought Weiss might be here." He said innocently, watching as the man gave a short laugh.
"Oh, no my boy, you are mistaken. Here, follow me; I'll take you back to see her." The man held out his hand, and with an internal smirk Adam took it.
"Thank you, mister..."
"Just call me Klein, no need for mister."
"Right, thank you Klein." Adam saw how the man smiled warmly, similar to that of Weiss.
"You are most welcome."
.
.
The piercing light of the sun had been the catalyst to Adam's awakening, and once more he chuckled at the influx of memory apparent in his dreams.
What a fitting conclusion. The scant few moments before he would say goodbye to Weiss, recalled just before meeting her for the last time. There was a chance they'd let him live, but that was a seriously low chance. He wanted to win, but something inside was whispering of doom; a small aspect in the back of his head. This would be the last time they crossed paths, as Adam wasn't about to leave unless it was in a body bag.
The question now was did they have the strength to do the same?
He leaned back, allowing himself to enjoy the sun as it peaked above the cityscape; finding peace in the dawn of a new day, and for him, the final day.
The crunching of snow proved his predictions right, and with the last relaxed sigh he awaited their full arrival. Blake would be at her side, and he'd get to face both parts of his history head on. Somehow, the knowledge he'd most likely fail didn't really sting anymore. Maybe this was because he had yet to lay eyes on them, or because he was content in V carrying out the final promise he'd made to the other slaves on the day of his escape.
Whatever the reason, Adam was more than ready when he heard the startled gasp of Blake.
.
.
"Adam..." Blake called warily.
Rather than answer immediately, she watched him stand, slowly, and with a fluidness to the motions. The woman had no idea why he'd shown up here of all places, or how long he'd been in the snow. All she knew was what he wanted, and before her inverted teammate could utter a word Blake stepped before her; guarding the Schnee from the monster who helped orchestrate Beacon's fall.
"Why are you here." It was calm, or at least as calm as Blake could muster, considering she was staring at his turned back. Again he was quiet a moment, and without turning he finally spoke.
"Of course... would you expect anything less?" He chuckled a little. "Admit it Blake, you knew I'd face you all again."
"Yes, but not this soon." His tone was calm, as it had been before; a terrible sign. He was either confident, or relaxed, and she wasn't sure which truth was worse. Confident Adam meant he had something planned; he was brave, but not foolish, and wouldn't risk himself unnecessarily. Relaxed Adam was a different beast entirely; him being relaxed meant things were already going his way, which was a deadly omen for their well being.
"Oh, and what made you think I'd stall our meeting any longer than it needed to be?" His shoulders slumped as the wind picked up, brushing his hair wildly. "We're finally right where we need to be."
His confidence was clear, and it made her skin crawl. Regardless she steeled herself, drawing her weapon and pointing to his back; particularly his heart.
"You want Weiss, right?" She brought it in, taking her usual stance as she tensed. "We won't let you take her."
"I know that perfectly well." Blake was shot with apprehension as he slowly drew his blade, "But I won't ever stop until I have her again." He turned to face them, and she noticed the tiny smile across his lips. "How long can you keep running away?"
"We won't run." Blake never got the chance to speak before Weiss's declaration pierced the air. The heiress stepped forth, her rapier readied at her side, and taking a spot on Blake's right. "I don't know what you want with me, but it ends here." She raised the sword. "You've killed so many innocent people, and for what, equality?"
He chuckled, and not lowly like he usually did, but with a jovial playfulness.
"Sometimes, but recently my efforts were to collect you."
"So it's even worse." Weiss was clearly upset, although she hid it well enough, even if Blake could hear the cracking in her words. "So many dead, and all for me... is this your way of hurting me, of getting back at my family?
"No." A more relaxed voice now. "I'd never hurt you Weiss. You mean more to me that you can possibly ever recall."
"Why?" Her firm tone bled with confusion. "Why me, what is it about me you want?" She waited, and he repaid her patience with silence. Fed up she lashed out vocally. "Well! Why is it me!"
Again they waited, and just as Weiss was about to yell again, Adam shifted. They paused, ready for any coming attacks, but instead he rose his free hand, grasping at the cloth covering his eyes, and pulled it away.
"Do you remember now, Weiss?"
It was a grisly sight, even Blake could admit to that. Right across his nose and carving into his eye was a brand; 'S.D.C.'. The affected eye itself was a dark shade of crimson red, as if the branding had ripped apart every blood vessel within all at once. It was clear from the looks of it alone; that eye was blind.
"I... I'm sorry." Weiss was a little stunned, but grounded herself fully quick enough. "Going to Beacon I never believed the accusations, seeing them as just senseless rumors by those who hated my family and I. I was proven wrong on Menagerie, where your pawns 'educated' me." Pulling down the cloth nearest her chest, Weiss revealed the branding over her heart; the White Fang wolf-head painting the skin a deep dark pink.
"I never ordered that." The man spoke, his tone lowering. "They were to capture and deliver you to me."
"They set up my execution."
"And you turned the tables it appears, otherwise you would not be here." His voice eased a bit as Weiss subtly nodded. "You recognise me though, don't you?"
"... You were a slave, am I correct?" The pale dressed woman grimaced. "A victim of my father's cruelty."
Adam stilled, his relaxed body tensing for a scant second, and Blake could have sworn she'd seen something akin to betrayal in his eyes as his face left it's calm smile for a more somber mask. Almost immediately his smile returned, rising a little as he giggled. His breathing stuttered, and he spoke yet again.
"Is that all you see?" His giggles died down. "Of course, how could you remember?" His breathing became rhythmic once more with the rising and falling of his chest. He steadied himself and raised his blade. Blake immediately noticed how worn Wilt looked, and wondered how Adam could let his prized weapon fall into such disrepair. Weiss however had more questions for the man.
"Remember... what?" Her expression softened. "Why say that? What is it you think I've forgotten?"
"Nothing, what's done is done."
"Please." She called out, with her speech cracking more overtly as the words tumbled out. "Tell me what it is. If we're going to fight, at least let me know what I've done to hurt you; what I've done wrong."
"I could offer plenty of answers, but you'd never learn to search if I simply handed them to you. I've already warned you of a hidden war, is that not enough."
"Salem." Everyone paused with that, all except Adam who softly smiled.
"You've done some digging..." His stance grew bold, more ready for battle. "Good, there are more answers out there, that is if you have the heart and will to hunt for them."
"What do you know about Salem?" Weiss didn't ask that, and Blake didn't ask that. Qrow never asked, and Maria never asked. Heck, Yang hadn't even asked.
The question came from Ruby, who merely gazed at Adam with a plain expression. Blake wasn't sure what it was, but Ruby had this sort of... disturbance to her, like her words weren't her own, or at least, not her usual way of speaking. Blake was certain even Weiss could feel it, the cold oppressive atmosphere her lone question presented, but nobody said a thing.
Adam hummed, drawing all eyes back to him.
"You've changed as well, little girl." He smirked violently. "Strange, it's as if you've swapped roles with him. Have you stolen V's menace, or perhaps you've learned his darker aura all on your own." Ruby said nothing, merely holding a firm glare. Adam's smile rung true, truer than any before. It was as if a fire lit in his stomach, and he bore his teeth in his twisted grin. "I know little in regards to the woman, only that she is the reason we still live. She can eradicate us at any moment, but chooses not to." His smirk changed again, this time with a taunting glow. "Although I do hold secrets in regards to you, little rose."
"What?!" It was Yang, who snapped the concerned glances from her little sister towards the terrorist fully now. Her eyes were wide, and this seemed to amuse Adam.
"Surprised? It's true; I may not have much on Salem herself, I've got quite the few interesting bits on your family."
"Bullshit!" Yang accused, only for him to slip his free hand into his pocket, teasing the edges of his scroll before slipping it back in.
"Prove it to yourself, not me; I already know the truth. I'll give you a freebie though, if only to light a fire in your will, so I know your not holding out in our battle. Does the name 'Summer Rose' ring any bells."
"Mom..." Ruby spoke, seemingly now pulled fully from whatever state she was in. "How... do you know that name?"
"Apparently she has a journal; a twin to the one I have recorded on my scroll." He put both hands on his swords grip again. "But if you want more answers, you'll need to take them from me."
"You really won't quit, will you, even against all of us?" Weiss asked, and Adam nodded.
"No, I'll keep fighting until my very last breath." He steadied himself. "I won't hold back, and unless you plan on fighting me at the fullest, you won't stand a chance. I only need you alive, Weiss; the others are meaningless to me now." Weiss clenched Myrtenaster tight enough that her arm was shaking, however Blake was lost in her mind, with the next question giving a glimpse into her shattered spirit.
"Is that how you feel... was everything we shared a lie?" Her voice was broken, but so what? What did it matter if they knew how she felt. " It's true, isn't it? I was only ever a second thought, or had I just been too useful to throw away?" Blake didn't quite know how to react. He'd just called her worthless, right then and there, all for a woman he'd often complained about so many times before she left. "You hate Weiss, and yet you'll kill me for her?"
"Memory fades with time." His tone remained even, all the while Weiss's shaking grew more apparent. "You left, leaving me to ponder if I did something wrong. V left, and it made me reconsider this even further, until the realizations spilled over into understanding, and with it came the remembrance of my... 'personal' promise." Nobody else heard the pitch shift, but Blake did, and his next vocal paired with this change restored some sense of her self-worth at the very least; although it still remained fairly broken. "I do care about you Blake, and I remember our bond, however Weiss is more important right now; I have loose ends to tie." His stance shifted, ready for the inevitable battle. "And if I have to, I'll go through every single one of you."
Gone was the prideful freedom fighter; the man who she adored and idolized. In his place stood a fallen champion, corrupted by desires for vengeance, who had shifted into something else entirely. The Faunus woman couldn't easily see who he'd become, but it was certain that his thoughts and desires were focused once again, like the days long gone. Adam Taurus was now something different; an unwavering train of destruction. Yet unlike the chaos one might have seen, his sights were locked along the tracks, and those tracks were directed to Weiss.
Blake didn't know what he had in store for her teammate, but she wasn't about to let him take the heiress away, not when Weiss herself had finally come to better her beliefs.
"Have it your way Taurus." Weiss stilled again, only this time any shreds of worry or doubt had been violently discarded to the winds, and only a sturdy determination lay in its place. "I won't go easy on you, not this time. I'll put an end to this, here, and now."
"We'll put an end to this." Blake fell back into her stance, shooting a ready look to Weiss, who nodded back as the duo faced the man.
Blake saw it then, and for a second she froze. It was there, faint and small, the dark glow of the once bloody cut along her neck. This should have worried Blake, and yet despite its glowing, Weiss spoke clearly as if in full control; no, she was in control. Blake let her concerns wash away, and while she had no reason to trust that things would turn out alright, there was this feeling in her heart which claimed it to be true. With this knowledge she gazed towards Adam once more, her hand now steady, just barely noticing how both Yang and Ruby took places beside them, with the clicks of their respective weaponry being the tells.
Team RWBY was united as one.
On Adam's face sat a content smile; a little playful, but nonetheless filled with pride. Perhaps he saw this as something good? Maybe he believed he'd already won. Maybe he had just lost his mind. Whatever the case he smiled competitively...
And then he charged.
.
.
"Are you sure about this, sir?" Winter wasn't one to question the general, but she couldn't quite understand the reason for such a drastic action, especially one so obviously personal. The people would accuse him of abusing his power if they found out, that was if they could even understand it in the first place.
"I know how this might seem, Winter, but we don't have a choice anymore." The general stared out the massive window, overlooking the entirety of the floating city. From his office at the highest peak of the academy it was easy to overlook the world below; a constant view of who they fought for. "He's turning out to be resourceful and reliable, more so than I've previously believed. We can't afford to let him go to waste."
"The people will rebel sir." Winter hoped her concerns wouldn't fall on deaf ears. "With his reputation the city will tear itself apart. Tensions are already high with the embargo; this will only cause more chaos. Penny is doing her best to keep the peace, and while the people appreciate her efforts there are some who accuse her of being a plant; a way to monitor them further."
"I understand that, however we won't be alerting the people to this new information. We'll allow him into the circle, but as far as legality goes he'll still be seen as a criminal. This will allow him to gain a better relationship with the rebel huntresses already active in Mantle."
"And if we're caught meeting with him?" Winter challenged, to which the general released a small snarky hum, his shoulders relaxing as he returned his answer.
"He's still a criminal. We won't be meeting with him, the contact will." James turned around, his face worn from stress, and his beard slightly ragged. This was a far cry from the once proud protector back at Beacon, and Winter felt a small part of her flinch internally at the sight almost each and every time she laid eyes on him. "When we bring him in for more delicate briefings, it will be under the guise of arrest. He is incredibly skilled, so breaking out and returning to the streets should be no issue for him, much to my... 'disappointment'."
"Of course." A firm response, but not without its concerns. The general seemed to overlook such worries as he nodded.
"Good, now then, you are dismissed."
She took her leave, and yet as the door to the office shut she couldn't stop the flood of worry rising to the surface of her mind, all the while she wandered down the halls to fulfill the next of her orders.
Everything was going according to plan, yes, but the people were getting rash, and with the 'Happy Huntresses', as the criminals dubbed themselves, things were only made more difficult. Worst of all, their leader Robyn Hill had made a reputation stealing large amounts of their supplies, unknowingly hindering the 'Amity project'; the secret 'ace' general Ironwood had set up. This had the effect of not only slowing down their own work, but the woman had then taken to distributing those supplies around Mantle, meaning they couldn't very well retrieve them without arousing even more ire from the people. The criminals were heroes in the eyes of the Mantle citizens, to the point Robyn herself had decided to become a candidate for the Atlas Council, going up against Winter's own father Jacques, and general Ironwood himself.
What a mess. Winter sighed, realizing just how rotten things had truly become.
"What's got you feeling so down.?" Her head rose up, and she saw the small playful smile of Clover. With him were the rest of the Ace-Ops, who appeared rather relaxed of all things. Winter straightened herself, ready to give the orders, but under no pretense of ease. She didn't mind allowing her personal gripes to show a little, considering how open Clover was on his own end.
No reason to hide your emotions when he could read them like an open book.
"We're allowing him in our circle." She said curtly, watching as his face twisted a little in confusion, only to settle once more as he appeared to fully understand why she was in such a poor mood.
"Ah... and you don't quite agree, do you?"
"It's not that I disagree, but I can't help but consider all the ways this can go wrong. He's a wildcard on the best of days; how would he react to the truth?" Winter told, noting the smirk which slipped itself so casually over the man's face.
Clover had grown into a fine leader since their little scuffle at Beacon. Upon their return his courage had slowly rocketed upwards, and his reserved nature was chiselled away into a sense of certainty. His orders were bold, and that hard-headed will bled over into his team, forging them into a force apparently lacking in fear. Among the chaos of Beacon's fall, Clover Ebi learned the importance of sticking with the decisions you've made, and not faltering in self doubt during the middle of a mission. Or, in his own words, "we can regret and panic later, right now we fight".
"I'm not to worried. You know what he always says about himself anyway. He's a survivor, and he'll do anything to stay alive and prosper. After his last 'employer' he's seemed rather content working with us." Clover paused, and reaching into his vest pulled out a small envelope. "Speaking of, his little bodyguard dropped this off earlier."
"I see." Winter took the envelope, finding a small bit of comfort in how he at least agreed to send his reports in this fashion. Data could be tracked, but physical letters could be burned after their purpose was fulfilled, whereas a data trail could always leave some shards behind, making it difficult to fully expunge all the evidence. "And then there's her. I've no doubt she'll be there when we have the meeting."
"Honestly, with how glued to him she is, we wouldn't be able to stop her if we tried; she just comes with the package." His smile quirked into a smirk. "But I don't thing she'll be a worry either. They've been tame since their arrival, and they've delivered every report perfectly on time. I'd dare say they're having fun with this."
"They're in it for the money." Winter said plainly, not even chipping at the man's content look.
"And we're willing to pay for their aid it seems. It's a beneficial relationship."
"They're still criminals."
"Criminals willing to do anything for the right amount of money." His smile fell into the usual calm look once more. "Sure, they're helping Robyn and her crew, but they're also keeping tabs on them. We've been able to mitigate several transport missions by altering the routes based on this info, all the while allowing the acquisition of our more 'replaceable' trucks to be captured. And yes, I'm not too fond of letting criminals do crime and get away with it, but we don't have too many skilled allies we can trust, so we have to take what we can get."
Winter scoffed, crossing her arms as her eyes shut in thought.
"I understand that, but it doesn't mean we have to enjoy it. I still don't like how we willingly allow some of our equipment to be taken."
"They let the drivers go, so it's not a problem... you know, after blindfolding them and driving them to random parts of the city. Besides, there's only expendable junk in those crates; much better than our Dust shipments being hit."
"I suppose I can't argue with that; it was the general's decision regardless." Winter relaxed herself a little as she addressed Clover again. "How has the council taken to Robyn's inclusion in the debates."
"They're not happy that a wanted criminal is allowed to compete, but with how touchy the people are, they're too scared to do anything about it. Her position in the race is technically illegal, but the general's statement earlier seemed to quell them."
"I know." Winter had been watching, but couldn't quite believe how they accepted the excuse.
Within his statement general Ironwood claimed to allowed Robyn's open inclusion as a way to speak with her, face to face, and make attempts at having her abandon her criminal ways; to work together for the betterment of the people. This was spoken during his interview with the Atlas press in regards to the council race, meaning all of Atlas and Mantle below had heard it. According to reports afterwards Robyn would only consider stopping the robberies if Mantle had a 'true voice' in the decisions being made by Atlas, something she claimed was lacking since the general's embargo; again, spoken in the interview for the race.
Winter also knew her father had something to say about all of this during his own interview, but he was a non-factor in everything, and so she ignored him entirely.
"We do have some good news though; news I was about to report directly to the general, before I saw you looking so conflicted anyways."
"Oh, and what is it?" She didn't recall any other orders going out, unless something had happened; something substantial enough to justify forgoing the usual forms of contact.
Clover took a stern face and began to explain.
"Earlier today a one-man ship shot into our airspace. Radars picked it up and were about to send a team to capture it and question the driver. Before they could do this it suddenly slowed down and sent a rapid report; a single message."
Winter's eyes widened at the next part, and all of a sudden the previous worries she held became meaningless.
"Black-Heart is on route to Castle."
Author's note
...
Oh no, got 'cha again. You thought it would be the battle scene with RWBY and Adam, but it was actually frivolous debate. Better luck next time.
Regardless, this chapter sees the return of Winter and crew, with Clover having changed into his more recognisable state. Yes, he's a little bit different, but that makes for interesting interactions.
You may also have noticed how the meeting with RWBY and Adam was a little... off. All of the main four have personal ties to Adam it seems, and he ain't going down without a fight!
Let's call it here for now.
Catch you later.