Had to do 108 pushups on stream on Wednesday night, then went rock climbing with MrsTheGoose the next morning. Not a good combination. My poor arms.
Adam couldn't say he was thrilled with the plan.
Getting to Katai wouldn't be hard. Aside from the trade highway, the entire area surrounding Katai was dominated by forests, giving them easy cover for their approach. Katai's security forces rarely ventured far from the town, relying more on the sturdiness of their wall to protest them than trying to actually push back the Grimm, so the chances of being spotted early wouldn't be a concern. He and his men could nearly reach the walls before the guards would even know they were there, especially at night, no matter what direction they came from.
Unfortunately, there was more to the plan than just showing up.
This wasn't an attack. It was a rescue mission. That meant they needed extraction either at or near Katai. Worse, their targets would be children, meaning any retreat would be slow and leave them exposed to any response from Mistral. The moment they were spotted, Katai would send for help, leaving them a limited window to accomplish their objectives and get out before Huntsmen started showing up. In other words, he needed immediate evac capabilities, preferably by airship.
Adam knew the area better than most, which meant he knew there were only a few places they could stage airships from and still be close enough for a quick response. Two places, in fact. Higanbana lay to the east, but he doubted they'd let the White Fang park a few airships out back. It would also leave them a few days from Katai, extending their timeline and thus risking exposure even more.
The easier and far more rational approach would be from the west. Not only did they have a closer location to stage their attack from, but it would have a lot more open space for their airships and practically no way to report their presence. The small settlement was perfect for what they needed and wouldn't put up much of a fight, meaning he could leave a small squad of men behind to guard the airships while he took the rest to Katai. No matter how he looked at it, the answer was obvious.
Adam was going home.
Shizukana, with its wide open fields and minimal defenses provided the perfect opportunity. They could make it to Katai in a single day if they hurried. And with Adam's familiarity with the area, there'd be no risk of nasty surprises. Sure, the village had probably changed since he'd been there, but he doubted it'd be anything major. Shizukana was a quiet place, content to eke out a meager existence. A few airships would be more than they could handle, even before Adam entered into the mix.
A shame they couldn't just do a direct assault on Katai, but there was too much risk. Katai didn't have much in the way of anti-air weaponry, but even the two dated emplacements on either end of the town could cause them some grief. He wouldn't risk a lucky shot taking down an airship, and preemptive strikes were out of the question. The goal was to walk away without any deaths on either side.
So Shizukana it was. Home…no, not home. Not anymore. The boy that once called that sleepy village home had died long ago. Shizukana was nothing more than a distant memory now. But if that was so, why did it hurt so much going back?
His team hadn't been happy to hear they weren't invited. Even less so when Blake and Bane were. Their complaints earned them a whole lot of nothing. If Adam could, he would've done the mission alone. Sienna would've never allowed it. Even if they recognized him, a whole town might foolishly think their strength in numbers would be enough to defeat him. He'd rather not have to massacre the whole town for such foolish bravery, even if the thought of wiping that horrid place from the face of existence brought a smile to his face.
Cerco rounded up some volunteers for the mission, but Sienna wanted the bulk of the force to come from Nonemu. The odds of combat were low, so this would be a good chance to break in some of the newer recruits. More than that, this would be their first time meeting Adam in person. He knew it's be good to have them see their leaders in the field like that, but hauling around a bunch of green, starstruck fanboys wasn't exactly his idea of a good time.
Yuma was waiting for them when they landed. "Trifa's getting everyone ready. You sure you don't need us on this one? We could help oversee the newbies."
Nice try, but he'd already shot down anyone else coming. Though if he wanted to make up some halfway believable excuse, then two could play that game. "I need you here to keep an eye on the camp." And far away from Katai. To be fair, they weren't taking everyone from Nonemu, so someone had to stay back and oversee everyone else. Yuma would have to get over his disappointment. "How long until we can leave?"
"You in a hurry?" Yes and no. He really wasn't ready to go back to Katai, but he was definitely in a hurry to get it over with. Get in, save the orphans, get out. That's it. The sooner he got there, the sooner he could leave. "Trifa'll have a better estimate. She's got everyone assembled further in. A lot of them are excited to finally meet you."
Great. He couldn't wait.
Yuma led the way to the center of camp. He didn't see a single person on the way. No doubt, everyone in Nonemu was waiting for him, like some kind of celebrity about to make his big entrance. The first person that asked for an autograph was gonna get stabbed. Afterwards, he'd have to have a word with Yuma and Trifa about professionalism. They were freedom fighters, not a rock band. They needed to be organized, well trained, honed to a-
Adam nearly tripped as he rounded the corner. The center of camp had been cleared to make room for his arrival, but instead of a mob of wide-eyed sycophants, the inhabitants of Nonemu were stood in a loose formation, each and every one of them in matching uniform and mask. It wasn't as crisp and clean as some of the videos he'd seen of Atlas military formations, but he'd take it.
"No looking around!" Trifa barked, causing several of her troops to flinch and at least two heads to snap back to attention. "Adam. Nonemu is ready for inspection."
Inspection? Someone'd been watching too many military films. "That won't be necessary." Or wise, since he had no idea what he'd even be inspecting. He'd just end up making a fool of himself. "I'd rather get straight to the mission."
"Very good." More like good enough. "At ease!"
It was like a collective sigh rippling through Nonemu at her words. No one charged up to meet them or sing his praises. In fact, they hardly moved, aside from stretching or looking around. Granted, most of them were looking at him, but he didn't mind that as much as he used to. It helped that they all looked almost identical, with everything but the bottom half of their faces covered. It felt more like being watched by a bunch of one person rather than individuals, even if that made zero sense in his head.
What did make sense was Yuma's next words. "Trifa whipped them into shape before you got here. You should've seen her. Been riding this lot since the day they joined." Of course she was the one behind it. She was the more serious of the two by far.
Though Yuma had his own strengths. "Only because you brought in way more than expected." Was that a complaint, a compliment, or both?
More importantly, "Are you two actually getting along?"
Yuma and Trifa looked startled for a second, jerking their heads toward each other. With a nervous laugh, Trifa answered, "Yeah, I guess we are."
"Too busy fighting with the newbies to fight each other, I guess," Yuma echoed.
Adam checked the sky, convinced the end of days was upon them. The sky hadn't split in two and unleashed horrific demons upon Remnant. Dark storm clouds weren't rolling in. Everything looked surprisingly normal. Huh. Guess miracles could happen after all.
His faith restored a little, Adam focused back on the matter at hand. "Cerco will be in charge of the men for this mission. Have them report to him for their orders."
"Let's see just how well trained this rabble is. How long?" Cerco didn't miss a beat, knowing Adam wanted to be heading out sooner rather than later. It was still early, their team having left Reyno before the sun dared to crest the horizon, but he wanted to get to Shizukana before dark. A night attack would give them the advantage, but he'd rather they see just how hopelessly outmatched they were and avoid the fight altogether. The main force would leave the next day, hopefully reaching Katai early the following morning. With any luck, in just two days, he'd be on his way back to Reyno. But only if they could get moving soon. Otherwise, they'd have to wait until tomorrow, setting him back a whole day.
That didn't sound like it'd be a problem. "They're ready now," Trifa proudly reported.
"What?" Adam and Cerco asked in unison.
In answer, Trifa turned and shouted, "Attack squad, fall out! Get your gear and gather at the airships. Let's move!" As one, nearly twenty men broke ranks and ran off, presumably to grab their weapons and packs. "The rest of you, get those supplies loaded! Make it quick and Lieutenant Yuma will let you use him for target practice!"
"Yeah, get a move- wait, what! I never agreed to that!"
And just like that, the illusion of them growing up died an ugly death. Some things never changed. Still, Trifa's promise lit a fire under her men as they sprinted past, not even stopping to gawk at his presence. Some of them had probably seen him before, but surely a few were still new. On top of that, Bane and Blake were right behind him. Even if they hadn't heard of the daughter of the Belladonnas, Bane's size alone would've normally been enough to give most people pause the first time.
They must really hate Yuma.
Trifa couldn't help but bask in their shock. "I can have you airborne within the hour. Half an hour if they hurry."
True to her word, forty minutes later, they were loaded and ready to go. Adam wasn't the only one wondering how a bunch of mostly new recruits were this organized and motivated. Poor Cerco, though. The man looked like he'd just lost his job. Considering he was in charge of Reyno and had shaped the previous batches of recruits, Adam could understand why.
Yuma picked up on it too. "Most of these kids joined specifically to fight," he offered unprompted, hoping to cheer Cerco up a bit. He had to deal with mostly laborers rescued from poor conditions, while theirs were almost all volunteers. "Trifa told them this was their best chance to prove they were ready." They weren't wrong on that one either. Sienna wanted to test their latest trainees and gauge their capabilities, though Adam had never shared that tidbit. In a hushed voice, Yuma also added, "We also put the troublemakers on guard duty. Didn't want them ruining the first impression."
That sounded more like a Yuma plan. Fake it 'til you make it. Adam wasn't sure whether he believed Trifa would go for something like that, but knowing Yuma, he hadn't asked. Regardless, the insider info helped Cerco relax a bit. Not that he needed to worry. Reyno was all his. The only other option was for Adam to take over.
He'd rather die.
Just in case, Cerco made sure to make himself heard as he took control. "Load up! Those two airships are yours." Leaving the third for Adam, Blake, Bane, and Cerco, along with the Reyno contingent. It'd be a much tighter ride than the way there, when they'd spread out and enjoyed plenty of elbow room, but they'd manage. "It's a long ride, ladies, so get comfy. And if you think this is bad, just wait until the ride back!"
Oof. That was gonna suck. The airships were bigger on the inside than they looked, but not that big. If all went well, they'd probably have a few additional passengers after Katai. Children were smaller yet paradoxically needed more space. Especially ones that had endured the horrors of Katai. He'd need to make sure to carve out a corner just for them in his airship, which meant the Reyno troops were in for a very unpleasant surprise.
Bane did his best to press himself into the far corner, knowing he'd take up more room than anyone else. He'd left his chainsaw back at Reyno, thankfully. Adam squeezed in next to him with an apologetic smile. Blake followed, shrinking down as best she could as she pressed against his side uncomfortably.
It was gonna be a long ride.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Not too long, thankfully.
A muffled cheer rang through the airship as the pilot announced sighting Shizukana. Adam strained to look out a window, but even if there had been room, Bane blocked the nearest window entirely. Adam fidgeted nervously with his sword, suddenly feeling a little warm in the confined space.
Not that he was worried or anything. Shizukana would either surrender immediately or watch their pathetic defense crumble before him. He wouldn't even need to kill anyone. Disarming them would be a piece of cake. Panic would spread almost immediately, and by the time they realized how outclassed they were, he'd have the situation handled. Either way, the White Fang would take control in a heartbeat.
If it wasn't the possibility of fighting that had him so worked up, then what was it? He might know some of them - people rarely left Shizukana - but it'd been long enough he doubted he'd recognize most. He certainly didn't look like the same little boy that had been dragged to Katai after Father Bernard's death all those years ago. Besides, even if they did recognize him, who cared? None of them mattered. Most of them tolerated him at best growing up. When Father Bernard died, none of them had cared about him. None of them opened their homes to him. If they had, life could've been so much different. Odds were, he wouldn't be leading an invasion of his former home had they bothered to care for a poor little orphan back then.
They'd brought this on themselves.
Adam wanted to be the first one off when they landed, but he had to wait for the rest of the airship to empty so he could even reach the door. They'd landed on the outskirts of the village, but no one missed their arrival. He could already see people gathering across the fields, even before the alarm bell began to ring.
"Looks like we've been spotted," Cerco said.
"Looks like it." It wasn't every day an airship landed at Shizukana, let alone three of them. He spied movement in one of the towers as a lone guard took aim but held fire, ready to answer but not to start hostilities. He probably knew the hopelessness of doing so but was ready to die fighting if it came to it. Brave lad.
Brave, but foolish.
"I'll go in first," Adam announced, making sure they all heard. Some muttered words about bravery and heroism, but in reality, he just wanted to make sure any shots were aimed at him and not the cluster without aura. "I'll signal when they've agreed to surrender."
"And if they don't?"
With a long sigh, Adam responded, "Then I'll signal when I've won."
A single figure breaking off and calmly marching across a field shouldn't have been so scary, but as he drew closer, he could hear raised voices from the village as word spread of his approach. Whether or not they recognized him yet, they certainly knew who he was with. Given all the propaganda and vitriol Mistral put out about the White Fang, he had a suspicion he wouldn't be welcome.
Just as they probably suspected he wouldn't care.
"Who goes there?" The lone voice rang out, quieting the panic in Shizukana as Adam slowed to a stop. The small crowd parted to reveal a larger man Adam didn't recognize. No surprise there, though it couldn't be the same one from his childhood. It kinda looked like him, but Mayor Watterson had been older than that, even back then. Or was that just how he remembered it?
Looked like the moment of truth had arrived. Pulling his sword out sounded like a bad idea, since it might cause a panic. "We are the White Fang," Adam answered. "Surrender, and no harm will come to your village."
Short and sweet. Well, short and threatening. The promise of what would happen if they didn't surrender had more than a few onlookers shying away in fear. His reputation might've sealed the deal, but he preferred leaving his name out of it, just in case someone recognized it. Easier to keep things impersonal. The last thing he wanted was-
"Adam?"
That.
An older man pushed his way out of the crowd, his eyes wide and locked on Adam. He rubbed his eyes, looked again, and seemed even more surprised. "Is it…is it really you?"
Well, so much for that. He could lie and pretend he'd never heard of the name, but he knew that wouldn't work. Not when he recognized the shocked man who approached, only for the mayor to stop him. "Alan! It's not safe!"
"Hush, Calvin." Calvin? The name rang a bell, but Mayor Watterson's name was…Bill? Yeah, Bill. He'd heard Father Bernard use it every now and then. Wait. Didn't Bill have a son? No, two sons. Calvin and…something with an H. Regardless, it looked like the mayorship had become a family business. "Don't you know who that is?"
"Of course I do," Mayor Watterson hissed back. "That's-"
"Father Bernard's boy."
It just had to be him, didn't it? Most of them wouldn't even have recognized his name, much less known him at a glance like that, but Father Bernard had been well-known. It looked like most of the adults in the crowd remembered him, even if they might only vaguely remember the little faunus boy that lived at the church. Things were about to get a lot messier, and all because the one person he hadn't accounted for had outed him.
Alan Wilde. Or Brother Wilde, as Adam had always called him. Probably the only person in Shizukana who had cared about him in the slightest. He'd helped around the church so often that he might as well have been family. He'd also been the one to stay with him after Father Bernard died, then took him to Katai thinking that would be best for him. Even if he'd been dead wrong on that, he was still the only person in Shizukana that had seen him as a person in the end rather than just an inconvenience.
Which would make things a million times more difficult.
Adam tried to ignore Brother Wilde and regain a little control. "Tell your men to return from their posts and turn in their weapons. The White Fang will be staying at Shizukana for the time being."
"Call in the guards? But what about the Grimm?" Better. At least the new mayor had a level head.
"We will protect you while we're here," Adam promised, "but only if you surrender. Resist, and I'll be forced to take your village by force."
"Adam?"
"There's no need for violence. Captain!" Another face Adam didn't recognize. Good. It was better that way. "Tell your men to stand down."
"A wise choice."
"Not much choice," the mayor shot back. "I'd rather not see my boys slaughtered and our town left to die. Now, is there anything else you want? Burn our homes? Steal all our food? A virgin sacrifice?"
Off to a great start. Despite their reputation, Adam had no plans for Shizukana. More than that, he'd made it abundantly clear to Cerco that none of their men were to so much as enter the village. "We're not here for you. If you don't cause trouble, there won't be trouble."
"So you say." He wouldn't trust Adam's word. Not that Adam could blame him. Still, he hoped it would be enough to ensure he kept the village in order. All it would take is one moron with a vendetta trying to stir up trouble for things to go south. "I'd say make yourself at home, but it seems you already have. Now, I have a village to calm down. Since Alan is so eager for a reunion, I'll leave him to deal with you."
Not exactly what he wanted, but at least it looked like there wouldn't be a fight after all. Adam turned and headed back for the airships to update everyone. He'd hoped the obvious dismissal would make his position clear.
Somehow, Brother Wilde missed the hint as he hurried to catch up. "Adam! Is it really you?" Adam didn't bother answering. Not that he needed to. "It is you! I knew it! It's been so long." Not long enough. "I tried to keep tabs on you after you left, but the orphanage never gave us an update."
"No surprise there."
"They never told us anything, and then a few years back, a bunch of reporters showed up asking about you." Eager to make some quick lien off his life story, no doubt. Bunch of vultures. "I didn't tell them anything, though. Didn't feel right."
And for that, Brother Wilde would've earned his respect, if not for the fact that someone else had talked. Probably someone with an axe to grind, too. Or just someone greedy for a payout. Whoever it was, they undoubtedly had a less favorable view of him and had been more than happy to paint him as some sort of monster given the chance.
Brother Wilde sounded a little distressed as he asked, "Is…is it true? All the terrible things they said about you?"
Doubtful. The media loved to make him look like a coldhearted murderer bent on destroying humanity on a whim. They rarely bothered to look at how he tried to limit casualties. Or delve into exactly why he was doing everything. Nope. He was just a maniac with a thirst for blood who would kill you as soon as look at you.
Still, he wasn't exactly here making friends today. Adam came to a stop. If he really wanted to know, then Adam would clue him in. "I am Adam Taurus, leader of the White Fang. I'm here taking over your village by force. I've fought Atlas. Attacked the SDC. Killed people. So tell me, Alan." Brother Wilde recoiled at the impersonal tone. "What do you see?"
"I see Father Bernard's boy. A young faunus who wanted so badly to make the world a better place. The same boy who planned to train as a Huntsman and save everyone." Brother Wilde sighed as he looked from Adam to the armed faunus ahead. "Whatever happened to that boy?"
"He died," Adam bluntly answered. "He died the moment you abandoned him in Katai." And turned him over to the horrors of this world.
Adam started walking again, leaving Brother Wilde behind, though the man's voice followed him. "What would Father Bernard think of what you've become?"
Adam hated how those words made him stumble, though they didn't stop him from responding, "Why don't you ask him?"
Life was cruel. Father Bernard had been stolen from him at a young age. He'd been abandoned by the only people he'd ever known, offered up to a monster to have her way with him. Every step of the way, fate had conspired against him, beating him down over and over again until there was almost nothing left.
Only he didn't let it finish the job. He'd fought back, clawing his way out of the pit life had cast him into. He'd emerged scarred, battered, and with nothing to call his own, only to fight back against the world and fate itself. And he'd kept fighting. Not to avenge his own loss, but to save others from a similar fate. Life had sought to destroy him, but it'd only made him stronger. Strong enough to finally make a difference. He'd lend that strength to those in need until the day he was no longer needed, just as Jean had condemned him to years ago.
"Who was that?" Blake asked when he finally returned.
Adam looked to see Brother Wilde still watching him from a distance. "No one. Just an old man clinging to the past." A past that he'd rather forget.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Seeing Brother Wilde had shaken Adam a bit, to the point he wanted nothing more than to escape Shizukana and never come back. Despite everything that had happened since he left, that place somehow still had a hold on him. Unfortunately, the men needed the break, and that meant staying the night. And with the great time they'd made, that left a lot of daylight to burn.
Thanks a lot, Trifa.
He could only go over plans with Cerco so many times. Only make so many laps around the outskirts begging for a Grimm to appear. Something to take up some of his time and frustration. Instead, all was quiet and he found himself back in camp with nothing to do and a lot of time to do it. He was desperate for anything to waste the rest of the day. Anything but Blake's idea.
"This is where you grew up, isn't it?" She already knew it was, which meant she was building up to something.
"At the church." Because other than the fields and occasional trips into town with Father Bernard, he didn't really interact with most of the village.
"Did you want to go see if it's still there?"
Still there? Of course it was still there. Even if they shut down the church, there'd be no reason to get rid of the building. Not unless they were desperate for the materials or needed more space. Shizukana didn't have much, but they had extra space in abundance. Plus, he could see the top of the building in the distance. Not that it stuck out that much from the rest of the buildings. He just knew exactly where to look.
"It's still there," he assured her.
"Wanna go see it?"
"No."
"C'mon. It'll be fun." He seriously doubted that. "I want to see where it all started."
More like where it all ended. "Not much to see. Just an old church building."
"It's more than that." Yes, which is why he didn't want to go. Blake grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet. "I want to know more about Adam before the White Fang."
"I don't know…"
"Fine. Stay here and be boring. I'll go on my own." Blake wasn't very convincing, especially when she didn't even start walking. As funny as it would be to watch her wander aimlessly looking for a church in a strange village, he'd rather no one go near the village. "That guy you were talking to earlier looked like he knew you. I bet he has tons of stories about young Adam."
Dang her. She wouldn't exactly be well received in town. She could definitely defend herself, but he didn't want her presence stirring up any trouble. She probably knew that and was betting on him objecting, which only left one option. "Fine. I'll come with you. But only a quick visit."
"Great!"
Brat.
Adam took her the long way, keeping clear of the village as best he could. He could feel people watching them, but as long as he ignored them, they'd hopefully avoid him. It took a little longer to reach the church, but it wasn't like he was in a hurry or anything.
Before long, the familiar building came into view. He'd expected the place to be run down, but it looked like the Brotherians were still operating here. He wondered if the current preacher was the same one that replaced Father Bernard, but he'd have no way of knowing without asking. Preacher or not, he doubted the new pastor was eager to chat with him. It didn't look like anyone was home right now, anyways.
The closer he got, the more he realized things had changed. The building looked pretty much unchanged on the outside, but the fences around the field were gone. The horse pasture had been replaced by crops. Either Abel had died or they'd sold him off after Father Bernard left. Shame. He would've loved to see if the old horse recognized him. It might've even been fun to take Blake for a ride. Even more fun to watch her struggle to ride on her own.
Sadly, he'd have to hold off on that bit of entertainment. Instead, his attention drifted to the old gardens beside the church. Father Bernard had always taken such pride in them, growing more than enough vegetables to provide for them and even share with the villagers, not to mention all the herbs and medicinal plants that he'd spent his life cultivating. Even the village doctor came to them for supplies, knowing Father Bernard's remedies were often just as good or better than his own. Not to mention how it helped save his supplies for more serious cases.
Adam's heart dropped at the sight. The gardens were almost completely overgrown. Whoever the new denizen of the church was, it was clear they cared little for gardening. Either that, or they'd failed spectacularly early on and given up. Either way, he doubted many of the plants his father had spent a lifetime caring for had survived outside of the large rose bushes that stubbornly held their ground, though they could use a good pruning. They'd been left to fend for themselves against the harshness of their environment, yet it looked like they'd refused to give up in the end.
In a way, his old rose bushes were a lot like , uncared for, and yet still fighting the odds.
"We used to have horses here," Adam said, drawing Blake's attention to the old stable that looked like it was ready to collapse.
"Did you ride them?"
"All the time." He could almost feel the wind on his face as Eve sprinted across the fields, a young boy clinging tightly to her as even the birds envied his flight. "Mine was named Eve. I used to take her out for rides every chance I got."
"What happened-" Blake tried to stop herself, but the question was already out there.
"I lost her when I ran away from Katai." She'd probably been sold to that guy who kept trying to buy him off Adam. Knowing Madam de Thom, she'd probably demanded what she saw as a ridiculous amount, then been left shocked when he agreed. Normal people didn't understand the true value of a horse like Eve. He hoped she'd gone to a good owner for practically nothing, just to stick it to that evil woman. "I took care of our horses and even looked after the merchants' horses when they stopped for the night. Da- Father Bernard always let them stay for free, but most would make a sizable offering before they left."
"He sounds like a good man."
"He was." Too good for a place like Shizukana. Out of curiosity, Adam led her to the old gardens. Sure enough, the weeds had choked out pretty much everything. "He loved to garden. Looks like the new guy didn't bother to keep it going."
"What did you grow?"
"Everything." At least, that's what it felt like at the time. He couldn't remember half the plants they'd planted, but he could remember studying them for hours, learning how to properly care for each one and what they were used for.
Blake predictably zeroed in on the rose bushes. Mainly because there wasn't really anything else. "Are…are these your roses?"
Oh yeah. He'd forgotten telling her all about roses back in Menagerie. It felt like so long since they'd had one of their little art sessions in the Belladonna den. Simpler times. "Double knockouts. The first thing I ever got to plant myself." And oh how he'd obsessed over them. They had to be perfect. Those roses had been so much more than a plant to him. They were proof that he could do something on his own.
Blake carefully cupped a single bloom in her hand, lifting it to take a sniff. "They're beautiful."
Really? They looked like garbage to him. "You should've seen them back then." For his first real attempt, he'd done a pretty good job. Then again, he had years of experience from tending the rest of the garden, not to mention a skilled teacher ready to assist whenever he needed.
"Do you mind?" Adam shook his head. Those weren't his roses anymore. They didn't belong to anyone. They were wild. Free. Blake reached further into the bush and plucked the bloom she'd been admiring, holding it close to her as they moved on.
Reminiscing had taken hold at that point, carrying him to the door of the church. He called out for anyone inside, but his echoing voice received no answer. "Must be out for the day." Visiting a neighboring village, or maybe just hiding in town from the evil faunus outside. Whatever the case, it meant they had free reign of the church.
The auditorium looked much the same as always. Some of the decorations had changed, but the pews looked just as uncomfortable as he remembered. His hand traced along the end of each pew as he made his way forward, coming to a stop below the old, sturdy pulpit. He could just about picture Father Bernard up there, delivering a message to the mostly apathetic members of his congregation. He never cared for the number of bodies in the pews. As long as he touched a single heart, Father Bernard always said it was worth it.
"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned."
"Knock it off," Adam responded, shoving Blake and nearly knocking her over. "We weren't like that."
"So what were you like?" Devout yet relaxed, but she probably meant their beliefs. "I've never really heard of Brotherians before."
"You haven't?" They weren't the biggest religion across Remnant, but he'd always figured everyone knew about them.
"Nope." Guess they'd never really spread to Menagerie. Gods, Blake had such a sheltered upbringing. "So, do I take a bath back there, or is that tub for the wine?"
Now he knew she was pulling his leg. "Neither."
"Then what do you all believe in? Tell me everything. Who knows? Maybe you'll make a convert out of me yet."
"I…I don't really believe in any of that stuff anymore." How could he? If the gods he'd worshiped as a kid really existed, then they didn't care about him. Or maybe they hated him. They certainly hadn't done him any favors. "Maybe we should check out the house instead."
Blake could tell she'd touched a sore spot and let it go without complaint. He'd stopped believing a long time ago, but never really admitted it like that. It almost felt like a betrayal. Oh, he still liked the teachings on morality, helping those in need, and all the other little applications Father Bernard had taught, but the parts about immortal, invisible beings embodying light and darkness ruling over them had long since been left behind.
He wouldn't let anyone control his life again.
Walking into his old home hurt less than expected. Mainly because it wasn't home anymore. The furniture was different. None of the familiar pictures hung on the wall. The windowsill wasn't littered with freshly picked vegetables. It felt like walking into someone else's home, not his. He had to remind himself it was someone else's home now.
And yet, he still felt a tug at the familiarity of it all. The counter was still stained on the end. The floor creaked as it always had when he passed by the bathroom. The crack in the ceiling had returned once more. He could still feel the rough patch from Team SPVC's visit when Carina put a hole in the wall. Little details that bore a remnant of a life long forgotten.
"So, this is where you grew up?"
Adam nodded, unable to answer as memories flooded in. Cooking with Father Bernard in the kitchen. Playing games at the table. Reading by the fireplace on a cold night. Little moments that had felt so insignificant at the time now stood out in force.
Blake poked around a little, waiting for him to say something. She took her time exploring, even studying the tiny bathroom for a while. It was obvious she wanted him to take the lead, but what could he say? This was where he grew up. Where he learned what it meant to be a man. There'd been so much joy here, but also pain. Childish moments that seemed so important at the time. Little things that lived on through the years. How could he describe it all? Where would he even begin?
Not there! "Was this your bedroom?"
"No!" Adam lunged past her, slamming the door shut once more. He…he couldn't go in there. His hand shook on the doorknob until he forced himself to let go. "That's…that was my father's room."
Blake tilted her head in confusion. "It's okay, Adam. You won't get in trouble."
"It's not that." He'd never gotten in trouble for going in there. But he couldn't forget the trouble of his last visit. "I…that's where I found him." She had to know what he meant by that, didn't she? She looked like she might, but not quite. "When he died."
"Oh."
Yeah. Oh. That room had so many happy memories, but they were all overshadowed by that horrible morning. He doubted it looked anything like it had back then, but the thought of facing it right now was too much. Being in this house was too much. "We should go."
Adam didn't wait for her to agree. He wasted no time leaving, stumbling into the fresh air before the weight of the past could crush him. Maybe this was a bad idea. He should've known better than to revisit the past. Nothing good could come of digging up all that pain. Better to let it stay buried and move on.
Unbidden, his eyes drifted to the corner of the church. He knew what he'd find there, yet he couldn't stop himself. The moment he saw it, he rushed over and fell to his knees.
It was all wrong. Father Bernard's gravestone was still there, but like his roses, it'd been left uncared for and forgotten. Adam wiped it as clean as he could, dispelling the moss with his gloved hand before ripping a handful of grass away. In a flash, his sword was out, clearing chunks of grass in a flash. The stone itself was filthy. Without a word, Blake offered the bottle of water she'd brought with her. He emptied it on the top, letting the water run down the stone before using his coat to clean the surface.
Loving Father and Preacher
Loving, but unloved. No one had even looked after his grave, abandoning it just as they'd abandoned him. Father Bernard had spent his life caring for Shizukana, and how did they repay his kindness? By sending his son away and neglecting his grave as well as his memory. Life moved on for everyone but him and his father. Two men had died that day, but Shizukana forgot them both.
Shizukana could burn for all he cared. It wasn't home. It was just the place where his childhood died. A place of pain and suffering. A constant reminder of just how much the world hated him. He almost wished they'd tried to fight him, just so he could give them the justice they so richly deserved.
Instead, all they'd get was his hatred. It was more than they deserved.
Blake knelt beside him, carefully cutting away the rest of the grass with her smaller blade. She traced the letters of Father Bernard's name and epitaph, clearing out the small bits of dirt and moss with care. Once it was done, she carefully laid the single rose down, its bright, cheery blossom clashing with the heartless stone it leaned against.
It wouldn't last, but for one small moment, he could look after the man who had done so much for him. A single act felt so little compared to the sacrifices Father Bernard had made for a faunus baby no one wanted.
"Thank you, Blake." She reached over and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, then quietly left, giving him a moment alone with the only person to ever truly love him.
Adam fought for words, but there were none. Nothing he could think of felt right. Not when he knew what he had to do. Would Father Bernard condemn him for attacking Katai? Would he even recognize his son anymore?
Finally, the only thing he could think of came out. "I'm sorry." Sorry that they didn't have more time together. Sorry he couldn't live up to Father Bernard's ideals. Sorry that he had to do what he had to do.
The faunus needed him. He had to remember he was doing a good thing, even if he had to do it by evil methods. He'd protect the innocent by fighting the demons of this world, even if he had to go to hell to do it.
And that started with Katai, where his own personal demon waited for him.
It's almost as weird for me going back to Shizukana as it is for Adam. It's been over two years since the story left the quiet, little village. Man, how time flies.
More people in the town recognize him, naturally, but no one feels brave enough to confront him. Rest assured, Dorian is cowering in a corner somewhere, convinced Adam came back to get revenge on his bully. Instead, Adam's just having a trip down memory lane and has all but forgotten about him. Meanwhile, Shizukana has moved on. A new mayor (trusting more than a few of you got the name reference there). New captain. New preacher. Life goes on without him. And he'll go on without them. At least he's got Blake there to very platonically encourage him.
Next chapter: Adam heads to Katai.