MrsTheGoose and I went to McKay's Used Bookstore this week. Used to love going there in college (different location, obviously). Picked up a great haul, including a ton of Horrible Histories, which I always loved reading as a kid. Also a few great movies, mostly from the classics section, which made me feel old. Not as old as seeing some of the games I grew up playing in a glass case labeled "Retro Games" though. Forgot to check the Manga section for any RWBY content, so guess we'll just have to go back soon.
Also, out of curiosity, I decided to look up Adam fics on FFN and AO3. We are officially the longest Adam-centric fic on FFN (second longest with Adam tagged) and second longest on AO3 (eighth longest with him tagged), though we're not far behind first there. Need to see if that one's still posting so I can tell if we'll end up passing it anytime soon. Never thought longest Adam fic would be something I could claim, but here we are knocking at that door.
Also, even though I feel like it shouldn't need to be said, thoughts and opinions expressed by characters (especially Adam) do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the author.
It didn't take long for word to get out of their visit to Shizukana and Katai. Anything White Fang related always wound up on every front page and breaking news report without fail. Despite all they were doing for faunus rights, the ones that seemed to benefit the most from the White Fang were the media. Ratings always skyrocketed the moment a mask showed up on screen. No other news story mattered at that point. Adam sometimes wondered just how many scandals he'd inadvertently helped cover up. Regardless, by the next morning, it seemed like every news station had a team out in the middle of nowhere, desperate to find some small detail to prop up as a big scoop.
Unsurprisingly, it all skewed against the White Fang.
Armed invasions of remote villages. Assault on an orphanage. Kidnappings. Revenge. Recruitment of child soldiers. Anything that might generate an extra view was floated by so-called experts with little to no proof. One even suggested this was the start of a new type of guerilla warfare aiming to topple a Kingdom by targeting smaller villages to scare people back to the capital and create a housing and food crisis. Admittedly, not a terrible plan, but if that was their plan, laying waste to a few villages would be a much smarter approach than just taking a few orphans and leaving peacefully.
As crazy as it was to watch the mainstream media lose their collective minds trying to spin up a catastrophe, the crazier part was finding out about the conspiracy theories online. When the major outlets all started parroting conspiracies, the conspiracy theorists had no choice but to push further. Laurence had shown him a few of the more popular ones over breakfast. Personally, his favorite so far was that the White Fang was actually a government psyop, though there were debates as to which government might actually be behind it. Some said Mistral wanted to stir up fear to justify higher security spending and taxes. Others argued Atlas had trained Adam and were using him to weaken Mistral for a possible invasion, executing false flags on their own soil to throw everyone off the scent, drive up dust prices, and take out a few political opponents. Anything, no matter how ridiculous it sounded, was possible.
Anything except the truth.
Despite all the coverage, there was almost no mention of Alyssa in any report. A few stations brought up an assault on a civilian, but they never bothered to look into it. As far as they were concerned, the White Fang had just beaten up some random woman. Not once did her name come up. One or two stations mentioned her as an orphanage worker, only to pivot to assuming she was some brave citizen who tried to protect the children or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They also somehow avoided any mention of the captain of the guard, instead focusing on the mayor, the sheriff, or anyone else who would further their agenda.
Biased reporting like that used to bother Adam a lot more. Now, it was just par for the course. The fact they refused to talk to the captain gave him a little hope. If he'd gone back on his word, every news agency on Remnant would be interviewing him right now. On top of that, the absence of Alyssa from every report was encouraging. If she'd gotten off scot-free, they would've been plastering her face on every screen for sympathy points. A defenseless woman cruelly beaten by the animals of the White Fang. Few things would garner more public sympathy than that. Instead, they barely mentioned a victim, focusing instead on the larger scale show of force and intimidation of both Shizukana and Katai.
Just to be safe, Adam would have to find a way to keep tabs on Katai. Maybe Sienna could get an informant in the town to make sure Alyssa faced justice. He needed to be certain. Not just for his sake - the five children he'd rescued deserved closure as well.
He'd talked with Sienna after getting back to Reyno. The children had made it safely, though it sounded like Lucia had a bit of airsickness halfway to Menagerie. Despite Ghira's issues with their methods, he hadn't hesitated to take the five of them in until they could find proper homes among the populace. Not that Adam had worried about that - Kali would never turn away children. Still, it was good to hear they were being looked after. He'd made sure to remind Sienna that Lucia and Lucian were related - as if their names didn't give that away - and insist they be kept together. Thankfully, it sounded like Sienna already had a lead on a few families looking to adopt.
Unfortunately, it also sounded like Navin had taken more of an interest in him than he liked.
"He's been asking about you," Sienna said as they wrapped up their morning call. Adam knew exactly who she meant, and not just because he doubted Ghira cared for him. "Wants to know when Mister Taurus will come visit."
Mr. Taurus? He suddenly felt about twice as old. "I told him I couldn't." Not because he didn't want to. Honestly, he would've loved the chance to be there for all five of them. No one understood what they'd gone through quite like he did, and while seeing Alyssa finally taken down a peg would help, he knew the road to recovery - if such a thing existed - would be a long one. It took him years to get to where he was now, and clearly that hadn't been enough.
"I know, but that hasn't stopped him trying."
"Stubborn brat." Exile hadn't exactly been his choice.
Adam could practically hear the smirk in Sienna's voice. "You seem to inspire that wherever you go." Hey! What was that supposed to mean? He'd grant that Blake wasn't a great example, but she'd been like that since before he'd met her. Ilia could be a pain sometimes when she didn't get her way. Yuma and Trifa had fought him about their assignment at first, but that was par for the course with Alpha Squad. Always demanding to be involved in every op and complaining when he didn't turn every mission into a full-blown field trip.
Okay, maybe she had a point.
Sadly, it sounded like that wasn't all he'd inspired in young Navin. "He's already asking about joining."
"The White Fang?"
"No, the Faunus Scouts." Now there was an idea. "Yes, the Fang. Keeps talking about how he wants to protect people like the great Adam Taurus. Seems like you've got yourself a fan."
He had enough of those to last a lifetime. "You told him no, right?"
"Worse. I told him to ask Ghira." Oof. Between getting ousted as their leader and seeing Blake side with them over her own father, Adam had a feeling Ghira wouldn't exactly sing their praises to Navin. He'd abandon the foolish thought just to get Ghira to shut up.
Or become even more obsessed with joining to spite him.
"Tell him he can't," Adam insisted. He knew all too well the path Navin would follow. He deserved better than a life of being hated and hunted. Adam hadn't saved him just to inflict that pain on another. "Tell him he's too young. Or that he needs his parents' permission." A low blow, but hopefully one that would turn him off joining.
"I don't recall getting a permission slip when you joined." He hadn't really joined as much as been recruited. "And Blake joined even younger."
So? They were different. Blake had practically been born into the White Fang, and he'd shown up scarred and with nothing left to lose. The two of them were different. He knew that wouldn't go over well with Navin, though. If he was anything like Adam, that would only push him to prove himself, which would just cause even more trouble. He'd see the refusal as a challenge and fight to overcome it.
How many times had Jean refused to train him? And how many times had Adam stubbornly demanded it anyway? Faced with his own mini-Adam, he finally understood just how aggravating it must've been for Jean.
More importantly, he knew just how pointless their efforts would prove. "Just…tell him to wait. Keep him focused on settling in and everything." With any luck, he'd get distracted and forget all about that stupid dream. Maybe some young girl would catch his eye and replace his priorities. Ayla had to be around his age. They already knew each other and probably had a lot in common.
Just like him and Nila. Adam shuddered at the realization that Navin and Ayla probably knew each other a lot more intimately than any child should thanks to Alyssa. He had a feeling that option was out.
"I've reached out to one of our agents in Higanbana to check in on Katai in a month," Sienna offered before he could ask for another favor. She must've known what he was thinking. "I can't promise much, but he can at least confirm someone else is in charge once the heat dies down."
And maybe listen in for rumors around town. The mayor's stepdaughter being arrested was bound to turn a few heads, no matter how much the mayor and the sheriff tried to cover it up. Would she be rotting in a cell somewhere? Shipped off to face trial in a larger city? Someone would hear something and ensure it made the rounds. A few drinks could ply even the most stubborn lips of the local gossip, which would at least give them an idea on what became of the horrible woman.
"Thank you." He'd rest easier knowing she wasn't preying on any innocents. Then again, if they dared put her back in the orphanage, Adam would just have to pay them another visit. If the humans failed to address such an injustice, then he and the White Fang would handle it themselves. Robbed of her power over him, he'd put an end to her treachery once and for all. Worst case, he'd have Blake there to help.
Blake. Ugh, he'd almost forgotten about his deal with her. She'd been avoiding him all morning, which only made him more nervous. He'd tried asking Ilia for hints, but she clammed up every time, refusing to let anything slip. His insistence only aggravated her, to the point she'd stormed off to the training fields in a huff. Based on the sounds he heard a few minutes later, some poor soul had suffered for his prodding. Whether or not she knew anything, she wouldn't betray Blake like that.
Such loyalty for her friend. It made sense, he guessed. She'd helped train her and spent the most time with her. All he'd ever done was rescue her from an abusive orphanage, help her and the other families escape Atlas, gotten revenge against the SDC, and made her part of the White Fang's elite Alpha Squad. What was that in comparison to sitting together at lunch?
It seemed he wouldn't be getting any hints beforehand. All he could do was wait and dread whatever devious scheme she'd cooked up. Training wouldn't require so much secrecy, and the fact she was avoiding him at all meant it had to be embarrassing. Gods, what was she planning? Make him sing some stupid song for her in front of everyone? Put him in a dress and makeup? No, it had to be worse than that. Much worse.
There was nothing he could do but wait and worry. With his call to Sienna finished, he didn't have much planned for the rest of the day, which would be a problem. He needed something to take his mind off whatever horrors awaited him tonight. With Blake distancing herself - and being the source of the problem - and Ilia terrorizing the training fields, aggravated at him for no reason, that really only left one option.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Considering where they'd gotten their start, this really shouldn't have been so cathartic. Bane's suggestion sounded like a terrible idea, but after hours of backbreaking work, he realized the simple beauty of not having time or energy to think. Instead, he'd focused everything he had on the repetitive task he'd learned alongside Bane years ago in that terrible place.
"I think that's good for today," Bane announced as two of the workers they'd brought along hastened to trim the branches off the latest tree to fall.
"Today? That's good for the week," the man commented, sweating profusely as he and others struggled to keep up. To be fair, two fully rested aura users with logging experience could keep up quite the pace, even after hours in the midday sun. Not to mention Adam had purposefully overdone it a little to keep focused. Bane matched his pace in silent competitiveness. The forest looked a lot thinner than it did when the two of them got started.
Adam stretched his arms, grunting at the tension that greeted him. He was no masochist, but something about the soreness from a hard day's work just felt good. It helped knowing his aura would smooth that out in no time, leaving him fit and fresh in the morning. Still, as Bane tossed him a canteen before cracking his own open and guzzling greedily at the cold water within, Adam couldn't help but revel in the results of their labor, both good and bad.
"Thanks," Adam grunted as he finished off his own canteen. He'd have to get a refill from the cooler in the back of their truck before heading home. "I needed this."
"The water or the work?"
Bane was more perceptive than he looked. "Both. Can't believe you're still part of the logging crew."
"He is the logging crew," someone joked, earning a spattering of laughter all around.
"Not as much as I used to, but it's good work," Bane answered, looking over their haul. They'd already sent a load back earlier. Adam had a feeling they'd still need two trips to get the rest. "Too busy with training most days."
"We wearing you out that much?"
Bane shook his head. "Not enough time in the day. Can only join when we have time off." Only Bane would consider something like this relaxing. Then again, Adam often practiced or exercised during his downtime. Different strokes for different folks. "What about you? What made you join today?"
Boredom? No, avoidance. Not really any good reason. He had a feeling telling these men that their work was nothing more than a distraction for him wouldn't sit well. "Figured I'd help out. You aren't the only one with experience. I was on that crew too, you know."
"I was there longer," Bane shot back.
Oh, so that's how he wanted to play it, did he? "I was trimming trees when I was a teen." Beat that.
Bane grinned. "Still longer."
"What?" That wasn't fair, both to young Bane and to Adam's pride. He honestly couldn't tell if Bane was bluffing and almost called him on it before remembering just who he'd worked for. He could absolutely imagine the SDC using child labor.
"Don't forget, I'm older than you." Why would that…
It all clicked into place. "Idiot." Bane could've started later in life and still been working longer with their age gap. Not that Bane was that much older than him. It only seemed like more because he was still young - a fact that he often forgot. He should've still been finishing university, getting his first real job, or maybe even starting a family, not working his tail off after a successful attack on a town.
"So, just wanted to pitch in today?"
"That's what I said." Even if it wasn't the whole story.
Bane saw right through him. "Sure it has nothing to do with a certain faunus girl?"
Son of a-
"That's not funny," Adam growled, though judging by the nearby laughter, no one else agreed. "And don't you have work to do?" he barked at the eavesdroppers. They got back to it, grinning at how flustered he'd gotten. Adam yanked Bane away from them and lowered his voice. "What did Blake tell you?"
Feigning innocence, Bane said "Blake? I didn't say Blake. Who mentioned Blake?"
"Cut the crap." They didn't have a whole lot of females in Reyno, and Bane had never referred to any of them as girls except Blake and Ilia. "What do you know?"
"Blake told us you owed her a favor from the mission. Said she'd tell you what she wanted tonight."
Not exactly breaking news. "And?"
"And that she's avoiding you because she's scared to ask you."
Blake? Scared? He doubted it. More like she didn't want to give it away. That only confirmed his fears of how ridiculous it would be. Still, he'd promised, so unless she asked for something impossible, he'd do his best, even if it cost him every last shred of his dignity.
If Bane knew this much, that meant he'd talked to her. Or Ilia had blabbed. Either way, he knew far more than he was letting on. "What else can you tell me?"
"That's all."
Bull. "That's all you know, or that's all you'll tell me?"
"That's all," Bane repeated, all but confirming the latter. Traitor. Why was everyone siding with Blake over him? It was a conspiracy!
"All right then. Keep your secrets." He'd find out soon enough. Blake hadn't set a time, exactly, but he assumed shortly after dinner. That was only a couple hours off now. Still, he would've loved at least a hint of what was in store. "Is there nothing you can tell me?"
Bane shook his head. "If you don't know, it's your own fault."
How was that his fault? Adam didn't have some sort of telepathy, despite what they seemed to think. Or was it just that everything was his fault? "Whatever. Fat lot of good you were." It was so hard to find good help nowadays.
They sat in a comfortable silence while waiting for the truck to come back. Walking wouldn't have been too bad, but Adam didn't want to leave them down two defenders, even if he and Bane had mostly been focused on felling trees, not Grimm. Adam still had his sword handy, and despite the soreness in his arms and chest, he could still go toe to toe with whatever monsters might venture close to Reyno.
Watching the steady trimming of their downed trees in silence took him back. As odd as it sounded, he felt himself reminiscing about his last tree clearing job. Not the horrors inside Orostachys, of course, but those rare moments of escape where they ditched the dark, dangerous mines for the freedom and open air of the forest. Working side by side with his fellow faunus. In those moments, he could pretend life was simple and easy. More than that, it felt…normal.
Was this how life was meant to be? Going out to work a job all day, seeing the fruit of your labor, and then heading home to a warm meal surrounded by friends? Such an amazing luxury. Those in the outskirts knew it well, striving to carve out an existence in a world that sought their demise. Each day was precious out here, especially when you never knew if it would be your last.
Not like in the cities. He'd heard of the complaints of the nine to five. Surrounded by modern living and security, those in the city saw little value in work. A quiet moment like this would hardly appeal to the fast paced lives of those better off. For them, a job was nothing more than a time consuming effort that stole them away from any true enjoyment. Not that he could blame them too much. Out here, every man pulled his own weight and saw the benefit of his hard work. They found their value in what they provided, both to their family and their community. The desk jockeys of the city were nothing more than cogs in a wheel, their efforts mattering little in the grand scheme of things. Only a small part of some larger, often unseen result that rarely benefitted them or anyone they knew directly. At the end of the day, they left not with the fruit of their labor, but the promise of payment to purchase someone else's work, all while surrounded by a multitude of their fellow drones.
Life was never as lonely as one lived surrounded by people.
Eventually, the truck arrived, the pile of trees replaced by a fresh batch of workers. A cheer went up from their shift at the relief. Most of the trimming work was already done, but the downed trees wouldn't load themselves. Just like back in Katai and even Orostachys, their truck had a small crane to load with, but it still required a team to secure the chains and help guide the log into place. Easier work than trimming, but more dangerous considering the massive weight dangling above them. One wrong move, and they'd be faunus pancakes. Then again, a tree falling the wrong way would have just as catastrophic results, so maybe they were even.
"Look at these two. Sitting down on the job."
"So lazy."
The trimming crew weren't the only ones getting relieved. "Not lazy. Just waiting on you two to finally show up," Adam retorted as Marcus and Indie approached. While they weren't nearly as strong as him and Bane, they'd be more than enough if a Grimm or two showed up. This close to Reyno, they didn't have many sightings, especially since Alpha Squad regularly patrolled the area to clear out everything. Not only was it good training, but it helped keep the workers safe too.
"Sorry. Didn't realize you wore out so easily." Sounded like Marcus was due a spar in the near future. See if he ran his mouth as much after a beatdown. "You hangin' in there, Bane?"
"Not even winded." The man was a machine. Even Adam could admit to being a little tired. "Just figured it was a good stopping point."
Indie whistled at the fallen wooden army ahead. "I'll say. This is gonna take hours to load." Hours spent sitting around watching everyone else work. The two of them were just there to guard the others, so unless a Grimm stumbled by, they'd have nothing to do. "Don't worry. We'll take it from here. You can head back."
Back to Reyno. Back to sitting around thinking about tonight. Great. "You sure you don't need any help? I could hang around a little longer." Anything to keep his mind occupied at this point.
"Really? You can definitely-"
"Nope. Back to Reyno, boss," Marcus interrupted before Indie could make the offer. She glared at him for interfering, but he shrugged it off. "Can't hide out here forever."
"Hide? From what?"
"It's from who." Actually, it was from whom, but Marcus had never been the brightest bulb in the box. "Didn't you hear? Blake is gonna ask-"
"Marcus." Dang it, Bane. He'd been so close to spilling the beans. "Not everyone knows."
Like Adam, though it looked like Indie was just as in the dark. Maybe they didn't trust her to keep it secret. Probably worried she'd tell him if he asked, given her feelings for him. That earned her a few brownie points for being one of the few still on Team Adam.
"It's nothing," Adam assured her, grateful to finally find someone else who didn't know. "I promised her a favor is all."
"A personal favor," Marcus felt the need to add. Of course it was a personal favor. What other kind was there?
"Oh?" Indie pondered the possibility before somehow piecing it together. "Oh." She dragged the word out, earning a nod from Marcus. Great. She'd figured it out in two seconds where he'd been struggling with it since yesterday.
It just wasn't fair. "Care to share with the rest of the class?"
Bane ignored him. "You okay, Indie?" Indie? What about him?
Indie nodded. "I'm fine. Really." What had gotten into her? With a smile that looked a little forced to him, she looked Adam directly in the eyes - something she often struggled to do before. "You should head back. And don't worry about tonight. I'm sure it'll be fine." Finally. Someone actually addressing him for once. He wanted to say she shouldn't underestimate Blake's deviousness, but she seemed so certain that he didn't bother.
"If you say so." He'd just have to wait and see.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Sure enough, Blake continued to dominate hide 'n seek well into the evening. Not that he went looking for her. As eager as he was to just get it over with, that didn't stop him from dragging his feet and avoiding it. Adam Taurus, fearless warrior of the White Fang, brought low by a little cat girl. Fighting Atlas? Defying Mistral? Taking on an army of Grimm? Child's play compared to dealing with his little minion.
Instead, he spent the rest of the day training. No one dared to accept his challenge to spar, so most of it was spent at the range, practicing with his scabbard gun. Range. Target acquisition. Quick fire. Anything to keep him busy, even if it meant burning through dust ammo. They had plenty after Euryale, but at this rate, he'd have to find another armory to raid just to make up for his distraction.
He took his time cleaning up afterwards, sweeping up not just his casings, but small piles left behind by others as well. He could see most of the camp heading to dinner, but he didn't follow right away. The sooner he ate, the sooner he'd have to deal with Blake. Besides, the range needed straightening up. Some of the targets were out of place, not to mention the ones in need of replacement. The tables could use wiping down, too. Not to mention the ammo stores could use reorganizing. He was certain he'd spotted a box on the wrong caliber shelf. He just had to find it again.
Eventually, his stomach got tired of his procrastination and dragged him off to the chow hall. Dinner was well underway, with some already finished but still sitting around talking and laughing in their little groups. Seating was scarce, and rather than look for a squadmate to join, Adam found a spot off to the side with people he didn't really recognize. They all went quiet when he sat down, too afraid to talk to their famous leader but also scared to exclude him. Instead, they ate in silence, which was just fine by him.
Almost as soon as he finished, a shadow crept up behind him. He knew who it was before she even spoke. "Adam? Y-you have a minute?"
So this was how his life ended. Not to the sound of Atlesian gunfire, screams, and explosions, but from a quiet, nervous question. "Let me clear my plate real quick." Then on to the execution.
"I can take it," his nameless tablemate offered, already stacking his empty plate atop his own and robbing him of his final delay. The entire table was watching at this point, staring at the girl hovering behind him. In fact, the room felt quieter all of the sudden. He caught plenty of people stealing glances in his direction, some even whispering to each other as they tried and failed to not be too obvious.
Adam spun in his seat, pausing at the sight of his first student. He'd seen her a thousand times before, but something was different. Her combat outfit looked almost brand new without so much as a speck of dirt on it. Not just that…was she wearing makeup? Not some garish amount that made her look like a clown, thankfully, but enough that she definitely looked out of place in the rough and tumble halls of Reyno. He imagined he looked like garbage in comparison. She'd gotten all dressed up, while he hadn't even changed after work. Whoops. If he'd known there was a dress code, he might've at least taken a shower. Now he just looked like a slob.
Great start.
"Let's talk outside," Adam offered, both to delay a little longer and to escape the growing audience. Blake didn't look like she appreciated all the staring either, so maybe he'd claim it was for her, too.
They probably could've just ducked around the corner, or even made their way toward the training fields, but Blake leapt at the offer of taking a walk outside the walls. Nowhere in Reyno was truly private, but outside, they could finally be alone.
They didn't go too far. Not that it would've been a problem. Even dolled up as she was, Blake still had her weapon with her, as did he. Still, a Grimm would've been nice, if just to disrupt the awkward tension in the air. They nearly completed a full lap of the camp before Adam realized he'd have to be the one to get the ball rolling.
"Nice night," Adam tried, hoping to ease them into things.
"Yeah."
"Dinner was good."
"Mm-hm."
C'mon. Throw him a bone. "You look nice, by the way."
"Thanks." Blake brushed some hair behind her ear.
Small talk was getting them nowhere. Looked like he'd have to handle it the way he did everything else - head on. "So, guess this must be one heck of a favor, then. Hope it's nothing too terrible."
The wrong words, apparently. Blake flew into a panic. "It's not. I mean, I hope it's not." Man, he was bad at this, whatever this was. At least she'd said more than a single word, though. So, progress? "You don't have to agree or anything. It's just…I thought, maybe…gah! This was so much easier in my head."
Most things were.
Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like she had to do anything. He was the one on the hook. Still, at this rate, they'd be out here all night. Gods save him from useless teenagers. "It's fine, Blake. You saved my butt back there. I said I owed you, and I'm a man of my word." He tried to be, anyway. "Whatever it is, just ask, and I'll do my best."
"You sure?"
How many times would he have to tell her? "Yes, I'm sure. So c'mon. Hit me with it."
"You promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise." He had a feeling everyone else would be laughing, not him. "As long as it's not too ridiculous."
He'd meant that as a joke, but it had the opposite effect. Blake clammed up again, eyes wide and looking like she'd make a break for it. How on Remnant was she the one looking to bolt when it was her favor? Nothing made sense anymore.
So not only did he have to agree to her torture, but first he had to coax it out of her? Talk about unfair. "I mean it, Blake. I really do owe you for…" beating the crap out of his childhood abuser when he'd frozen in panic and shown just how much of a coward he really was? "For what you did back there. You're a good friend." Probably his best friend, honestly, though he'd never admit it.
"Is that all I am?"
"Huh?" What sort of question was that?
"Tell me, Adam. What am I?"
And suddenly they were playing twenty questions. "A cat faunus?"
Wrong answer. Right, actually, but clearly not what she was looking for. "No, I mean what am I…to you?"
To him? "You're a strong fighter," he tried, unsure exactly what she wanted. Maybe she just needed a confidence boost. "Someone I can trust to watch my back. A good teacher, too. Easily the best pick for my number two."
Still wrong, it seemed. "Those are things I do. I want to know what you think of me."
He really stunk at riddles. "I've got no idea what you're looking for."
"Look at me, Adam." He was already looking at her. "What do you see?"
Alright. He'd humor her for now. "I see a determined girl who never thinks she's good enough. Who demands too much of herself and is always out to prove something. The type of person to spend the last few years hounding me for training, all so she can get stronger." Which had been a pain at first, but after what she'd done yesterday, he couldn't say he regretted any of it. "Honestly, if you'd told me when we first met that that little ankle biter would grow up to be my most trusted partner…okay, I probably wouldn't have believed you, but it's true."
A smile at last, though tinged with disappointment. How'd he mess up this time? It had only been a few years, but she'd grown so much, and not just because of the growth spurt that had brought her up to his chin. Like him, she'd had to grow up too fast, making adult decisions far sooner than she should have. Such was life in the White Fang.
Blake took a deep breath, preparing herself for what he hoped would finally be the point of all this. "I know what I want." Thank goodness, because he certainly didn't. "I want you to see me as an adult."
Even the crickets went silent, not knowing how to respond.
See her as an adult? What did that even mean? The ball was rolling now, so she continued, "I want you to stop treating me like a child."
He couldn't stop himself from pointing out, "You kind of are one."
"I'm fifteen." Not exactly adulthood age, but not some little kid. "I've fought alongside you. Left home to help others. Seen people die for the cause." He winced at the last one. She hadn't. Not in person. But she'd been there when they came back from Euryale with a pile of bodies. She'd known some of them personally, maybe even better than he did. And if she stayed with him, she'd probably see more fall in time. "I think I've earned the right to be treated as an adult."
That sounded reasonable. He just had no idea how to go about it.
He didn't see her as a child, did he? Would he have made her his second in command if he did? Let her train the rest of the team? Taken her on missions? Brought her to Katai? He hadn't just treated her like everyone else. He'd treated her better. No one received as much direct training from him as she did. No one, not even Bane, had as close a relationship. At some point, whether he realized it or not, she'd become his favorite.
And yet, it all started because he'd promised to protect her. No, because he'd promised to protect Ghira's daughter. His child. He'd been looking after her ever since, vowing to uphold his promise to Ghira - his promise to protect some kid in way over her head. Even his thoughts betrayed him. Stubborn brat. Little girl. Ankle biter. Kid. Minion. Terms he assigned to her jokingly but only reinforced how different he treated her compared to practically everyone else. In his head, he still saw her as the little girl that had pestered him endlessly for training when they met. He'd never really moved on from that. Even when he'd promised her a favor, he'd come fully expecting some childish prank, not something legitimate.
"You're right." She was just as much an adult as anyone in the White Fang, regardless of her age. Sure, she had her little moments, but didn't they all? Yuma's stupid jokes. Indie's embarrassed pining. Azul and Azure's constant spats. They could goof off and have fun, yet he didn't consider them children, despite his sarcastic comments. "You're right. You've worked just as hard as anyone else. Harder than most. I never meant to treat you like a kid, though."
"I know," Blake assured him.
"It's just…I'm not really sure what I can do different." He could stop thinking of her like a child, but that wouldn't be obvious or anything. Clearly there was something he did that bothered her. Even if it was something small, he'd try to change. Like she said, she'd earned as much.
Blake should've looked relieved at his agreement, yet if anything, she only looked more nervous now. "That's sort of the other part of my request." A two-parter? He'd never agreed to two. Then again, the first one shouldn't have counted. If she'd just brought this up to him before, he would've tried to fix it. He'd be a pretty crappy friend if he didn't. "I like you, Adam."
"Thanks. I'm pretty fond of you, too." He never would've put up with all her pestering if he- wait, no. He was doing it again. This was gonna be hard.
Blake shifted uncomfortably, slowly twisting one foot back and forth. "No. I like you, Adam."
The same words, yet a much different meaning this time. Even he wasn't dense enough to miss it.
"You…what?"
"I like you." No matter how many times she said it, he still wasn't ready for it. "A lot. I have for a while. And I…I don't just want you to see me as an adult. I want you to see me as a woman."
"Bwuh?" Eloquent as always, but hey, that was a lot to take in.
It didn't help when Blake put her arms around him. They'd hugged before, but this time felt different. Confusing. Exciting. Dangerous.
"I want this to mean something, because it means something to me." Unlike only yesterday, when he'd given her a friendly hug. There'd been no weight to that. Not like now. Looking back, she'd been kind of weird about it at first, right up until-
Oh gods. Did everyone know? Yuma's stupid comment about interrupting suddenly hit different. It also explained Trifa's response, not to mention Blake's panic at the time. Bane's jokes earlier. Indie's disappointment. That was bound to be a complicated mess. Even Ilia had been upset, probably worried that he'd steal her best friend away from her if Blake got her way.
Blake pulled back a little, looking up at him with a mix of hope and fear. "Just like this means something."
He knew what was coming, even as Blake's hands softly gripped his shirt, pulling him forward a little as she pushed up on her toes. He had every chance to pull away. To stop things before they went further. To refuse her.
Her lips were soft against his own. Hesitant and scared. He could taste something sweet but struggled to place it as his mind swirled with other thoughts.
Mostly of how nice this felt.
Adam had always been afraid of any type of intimacy. Alyssa had all but ruined that for him. He could still remember her first kiss. It had been brutal, stealing his breath away along with his innocence. There'd been many more, and while he despised each and every one of them, but he despised himself more for the small part of him that enjoyed the feeling. The small moments of physical pleasure that sickened him because of where they came from. No matter how often he told himself those were just natural, physical reactions, he'd never get over the disgust he felt at the thought.
This was no soul stealing assault on his lips. It was careful. Hopeful. Inexperienced. Somehow, that made it all the sweeter, because this kiss was meant for him and him alone. It was her first kiss, and just like his first with Nila, it meant so much more.
Blake finally released him, her face burning red as she stared a hole in the ground. "That's what I want, Adam. I want you to see me as more than a friend. I want…I want…"
"To date me?"
After everything, the words sounded so ridiculous, even she couldn't help but laugh. "Yes. I want us to be together. Dating. Whatever you want to call it."
Dating a teenager. Even if he promised to see her as an adult, there was no getting around the number. Fifteen. Five years. A full quarter of his life in difference. It wasn't like he was some sixty year old creep preying on preteens, but it still felt weird. Yet fast forward a couple years, and everything would be fine. Five years from now, their five year gap sounded meaningless. But that meant nothing when she was only fifteen.
That wasn't the only problem. Not even the biggest one for him. "You don't want to date me."
"I do."
"No, you don't." Because she didn't know what she was asking. "I'm not…I'm not right, Blake. I'm damaged goods." That was putting it lightly. His emotional baggage ought to incur extra fees when he flew. "What happened to me - what she did to me - it messed me up more than you know."
"I saw."
"You saw a glimpse of it," Adam corrected. She may have broken Alyssa's hold on him, but no one could remove her scars. "You have no idea what it was like. The things she made me do." And who he'd done them to. It wasn't just the kiss that reminded him of Nila. He wouldn't risk something like that ever happening again.
Blake should've run. She should've gotten as far away from him as she could. That would be for the best. Flee from the monster before it could hurt her.
"That's not who you are." Blake's hand rested over his heart. "This is. Your past doesn't define you. Only you can do that."
"I'm a monster."
"Not to me." She sounded so certain in her foolish declaration. "You're not a monster. You're a man fighting for what's right. And I lo- that's something to be proud of."
Proud of? Now there was a novel idea.
Blake pushed on despite his warning. "This is my choice, Adam. I like you. I want to be with you. You said you owed me, so I'm calling in your favor."
"Twisting my arm to date you?" That didn't sound like a healthy start to a relationship.
Blake smirked at his pessimistic take. "No. I want you to give me a chance. To give us a chance."
A chance, eh? That didn't sound so bad. No promises. No commitment. Just try things out with the possibility of it becoming more someday. She deserved better than him - everyone did, but especially her - but who was he to tell her how to feel. Maybe she'd come to her senses and realize they wouldn't work out, but maybe it would work out. He owed her the chance to find out, one way or another.
Adam pulled her in for a hug, and this time, it meant something.
"You drive a hard bargain, Belladonna."
"I learned from the best." Adam doubted any of his lessons from Soji covered this. Then again, he had often taught about that art of the deal. Boiling down choices to their reasonable roots. Focusing on long term benefits. Minimizing cost and risk. He'd always said that business was as much a matter of the heart as the pocketbook.
This seemed like taking it a little far.
The two of them walked quietly in the dark, her hand slipping into his own somewhere along the way. When they neared the gates once more, she let go, still too embarrassed to let others see such a mild display. His hand felt cold in the cool, night air as she said goodnight and left. No final hug. No goodnight kiss. Just a happy smile. A smile for him.
It was official. As weird as it sounded, everything had changed.
He had a girlfriend.
Gonna go ahead and clarify that Adam isn't just ignoring the age difference, but obviously he isn't going to let that be a sticking point as we progress. Just something that has to be addressed as he considers a relationship with someone five years younger. Got him at 20 here (might be the first time I've confirmed both of their ages at once), so the gap is pretty wide by percent. Also, I do not endorse/condone/etc. relationships like this. He is an adult. She is a minor. Bad. His thoughts will be his own, not mine. If it was me, there'd be no relationship, but the established canon demands it. Just want to head off whatever accusations and messages are inherent to an Adam prequel fic.
Actually had a weird situation when I was 17 and on a trip in Canada (think I've shared this before, but so what). One of the girls there was very obviously interested in me and kinda flirty. I wasn't interested, then a friend found out she was only 12 and it became even more awkward. Well, awkward for me. Entertaining for the rest of the group as they watched me try to avoid anything that might be misinterpreted as interest while avoiding being a jerk to a preteen with a crush. Was really glad to go home at the end and escape all that.
Anyway, Adam has a girlfriend now in what I'm sure everyone saw coming in some form. Having her just ask to start dating felt weird. Even the idea of her favor being a kiss, then revealing her feelings didn't sit right. Think this was the best option for her and actually plays into how he's thought of her for a long while. And as usual, everyone around them knows long before he does.
Next chapter: The White Fang's most eligible bachelor is off the market.