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Requested By : Polemoduke

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Luckily, the rain that had pelted Vale for the last week or so let up, at least for a few days, in time for the march. It was still humid, of course, with the warm front pushing through and jumping the temperature by ten degrees, which didn't go well with how wet everything was. It made the air moist and clammy, and chilly, too. But if Nora cared, she didn't say anything, just sitting outside their warehouse on one of the crates while the Faunus got ready around them.

"So…" Nora hummed while Blake watched her father hand out blue tunics to the White Fang that they pulled on while her mother handed out porcelain animal masks and kept her Scroll close, in case Illia gave her a call to warn them about the police doing… Something up the block. "What's the difference again?"

"Blue is older, back to form, and technically matches Menagerie's militia colors." They wore black, more often than not, but internationally the local militia was only recognized as the first one they'd ever had. The Kingdoms were, after all, slow to update anything about their records. "The masks add to anonymity, and distance us from the so-called Old Fang."

"But if the uniforms are old, wouldn't y'all be-"

"Yeah, yeah, it's a bit backwards." Technically, the 'new' uniforms were the 'old' ones, so they'd be the 'Old Fang'. But that would hurt the branding, apparently.

At least according to her mom…

"Hey." Murmured Nora, hopping up from her little crate to bump into her shoulder and shake her out of her thoughts. "Don't get into your own head, babe. Things'll be fine."

"How can you possibly be so sure…?"

"Because," Nora raised an arm, flexing her powerful bicep and wrapping the other around Blake's shoulders, "I am here!"

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes, "You stayed up watching anime… Didn't you?"

"You can prove nothiiiiiiing, babe~" She beamed, squeezing the Faunus gently and letting her go as Blake's parents came over. They were only holding a handful of the uniforms, now, with the dozen or so volunteers finishing getting ready behind them. "Hey, Mister and Missus B. How's things?"

"Fine enough…" Her mom muttered, flicking her dad a look and flicking her ears at him.

"Hmph." He rumbled, crossing his arms and sighing wearily while he watched Nora wrap her arm back around Blake's shoulder. Caught between them apparently having some kind of stand-off, Blake just pursed her lips and listened as he went on. "We're missing four people. Two were new, but the others were old timers. Loyal."

"To you, or to the White Fang?" Nora asked quietly, something… Heavy, somehow, in her voice. She caught Blake's shoulders tensing as she turned and met Blake's gaze, explaining. "Stuff I picked up. Out in Mistral."

"Ah…" She still hadn't gotten the details, there - although she already knew enough to know better than to push for them. Turning to her parents, she said, "Dad?"

"To the cause." The old man answered with a weary sigh, "That can be a bit hard to settle, sure, but they said they'd be here. They didn't strike me as liars."

"They should be here…" Her mom finished quietly, turning to Blake with a frown. "Ghira and I are worried something happened. What with the protest and all…"

"We're worried that the police busted them for something, and we could be walking into a trap." Ghira explained, sighing wearily and turning to appraise the nervous Faunus gathering at the warehouse lot's exit. Banesaw was there, recognizable by size and his bare arms, but he was only watching from under a deep hood while Tukson handed out hand-made signs made of two-by-fours and planks of plywood. "Tukson has all the permits-"

"Because of course he would." Her mother chuckled, flicking Nora a look and offering, kindly, "Tukson was always the more… Attentive of the old guard, back in the day. At least when it came to trying to follow the law."

"Gotcha."

"-so we're legal, that way." Her dad went on, smirking thinly and then grimacing as he looked up and watched the heavy clouds drifting by overhead. "Still…"

"Still?"

"Let us organise, let us get up the road, and then the police come in behind us. Then you just… Order the group to disperse, and since they have nowhere to go, they can't. So you can arrest the lot of them, and shut the protest down." Her mom went on, shrugging tiredly in a very 'what can you do' sort of way. "You didn't do many proper protests from what I understand, so…"

"I get the gist." Blake sighed, flicking her dad a look. "More importantly, did they-"

"Mhm." Ghira rumbled, "They blocked Basa from appearing on the voting polls. 'Suspect connections', apparently."

"What does that even mean…?"

"His brother was a White Fang soldier, just after the Revolution." Her mom explained as patiently as ever, gesturing at her father in turn and explaining for Nora's sake. "Like us. Back then, of course, it was merely a rights organisation. Protests, signature collections, canvases- The like. But, nowadays, the Fang is used as a bludgeon against anyone it can be. And being connected to it…"

"You may as well be a serial killer." Blake grunted, frowning deeply and shaking her head. "As if we're all the same as…"

"You're not." Nora cut her off, smiling when Blake turned. "Old idiots may not see it, or want to, but… It's obvious to everyone else."

"Yeah…" If only 'everyone else' had the power to do anything… Or the will. Shaking those thoughts off, Blake asked, "How long until we head out, then?"

"A few minutes." Her father answered, shrugging off his open coat to hand to her mother and grabbing one of the larger tunics to throw over his bare chest. Pulling it back on, he held one out to Blake and grunted, quietly, "You don't have to, Blake. But…"

"But it would look better," She nodded, taking the folded cloth and holding it for a long, quiet moment. It was warm and heavy and… Familiar. Too familiar. Handing it back, she shook her head and grimaced, "I-I can't. Not- It's too soon. I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't apologise, dear." Her mom cut her off, reaching out to take her hand and holding it gently. Smiling, she said, "There was never an expectation. But… We respect you enough to let you choose, rather than choose for you."

"Oh…" For some reason, that brought more than a little heat to her neck and she ducked her head, muttering, "R-Right… Thanks."

"Awwwww." Nora teased her from behind, "You're cute when you're embarrassed."

"Nora!" She squawked, turning and pouting as the woman backed up a step, laughing with her hands up in faux surrender.

"Oh, dear, if you think she's cute when she gets flustered, you should see her father!"

"Mom!"

"Kali!"

"Ha!" Nora squawked, "Looking forward to the dinners, Miss B."

"Nora!" Blake squawked, turning and swiping at the woman's shoulder. She laughed and ducked back, turning to keep out of reach while Blake pursed her lips and turned to point a finger at her mother when she opened her mouth to speak. "And you! Behave. We're here for work, not picking on me."

"Hey!" Her father laughed, spreading his arms and waving at himself meaningfully. "She was picking on me, too!"

"You married her," Blake grunted, "you agreed to it."

"I don't feel like that's how that works…"

"I'm basically married to Ren at this point and that's totally how that works." Nora snorted, crossing her arms when Blake shot her a look. Her father rumbled deep in his chest and furrowed his brows, and Nora explained, "Part of our lil' oatmeal cluster we got going on. You'll meet him eventually, I'm sure, and don't worry. You'll like him."

"I see…" Her father rumbled, giving her a curious look. "Are you also-"

"No." She sighed, "I… Just Nora."

"Ah."

"Yeah, she's missing out~!"

"All I want from him is dinner at best, and someone who gets my complaints about you at worst." Blake rolled her eyes, waving Nora off and sighing wearily. "You, behave."

"Your words cut pretty deep, babe." Nora murmured, throwing her head back in faux-grief. "Deep indeed~!"

"I'm certainly glad that you're all having fun." A voice past her parents spoke, making them them turn and step away as a middle-aged Faunus joined them, clasping his broad hands behind his narrow waist. He was dressed in a simple, dark brown suit that complimented the thin layer of dusty fur that covered his hands and face, and though he kept it brushed back, his hair was still wild and hung around his head like a main and framed sharp green eyes that flitted between each of them coolly.

Quietly, he asked, "You are the Belladonnas?"

"Yes." Ghira spoke up for them all, stepping forward, straightening his back and offering a hand and a genial smile. "Or, three of us are. The Human is-"

"Last name pending~" Nora quipped, effortlessly catching the thump Blake tried to catch her shoulder with and holding the hand with a beaming smile. "Nice to meet you, Mister Basa. I'm Nora."

"Hmph." The broad-shouldered man rumbled, smirking just the tiniest bit and taking her hand to shake it. "Basa is my first name. It'd be Mister Jabusim. And while it's a pleasure to meet a Human trusted enough to… Well, be here, of all places, I have to ask if you're truly on board with our fight, or just… Along for the ride."

"Blake's involved, so I am." Nora shrugged while a truck pulled up just outside the gate to the warehouse and drew Blake's eyes. Why, she couldn't be sure, but… Something about it screamed out to her instincts and her hand itched towards Gambol Shroud resting across the back of her waist. She felt a hand on her shoulder and flicked Nora a look, and the woman's brows narrowed worriedly, "What's up? You look like-"

"Aaagh!" A deep, bassy voice cut through the air and Nora slid in front of her seemingly on instinct, hand reaching for a hammer she hadn't brought.

"Banesaw!" Her father called as her parents stepped to the side, dragging Basa behind them where Ghira could shield him.

With them out of the way, she could see what had happened, and Blake's heart ran cold…

Adam stood over Banesaw's shoulder, holding him by the head with his sword buried in his back. He was flanked by four armored White Fang in scarlet and white robes and armor while a fifth climbed into the bed of the truck she'd backed in to block the gate, trapping them in as best they could. They all had stubby, black rifles they waved at the blue-clothed Faunus who scrambled away, but Adam wasn't paying any of them any attention. Instead, he focused on Blake and Nora, lips pulled down into a deep scowl. Blake staggered back a step and Nora followed, stepping even more in front of her and asking, quietly.

"Babe, what's up?"

"Adam…" She muttered, the name filling her with dread and leaving a taste like acid in her mouth.

"Oh, well, fuck…" Nora muttered, flicking the man a look. "That's wonderful…"

She'd never talked much about him, beyond the few details she'd opened up about lately, but…

Nora knew more than enough to be angry, and her parents did too.

"You…" Her father rumbled the word, the threat in it echoing deep in his chest while Basa waved the protestors away and stepped out to shield them as they made for the door into the warehouse.

Before they reached it, Adam's other hand snapped up, the rifle concealed in his sheath barking two shots. One missed, but one struck Basa as he stepped up to shield the fleeing protesters, one arm stretched out protectively while the other slipped into his coat. He staggered away as Blake backed up another few steps, blood roaring in her ears while she watched her mother rush to press a hand against the back of his shoulder where red was spreading out through his suit from an exit wound. He said something, and her mother turned to say something to her, but Blake couldn't hear anything.

Just the roaring in her ears, and the echo of the gunshot…

Then, slithering into her ear in spite of the distance, she heard Adam sigh, "Blake… Look what you've forced me to have to do."

"I…" She blinked, Gambol Shroud trembling in her numb hands. "I never- I didn't-"

She felt a hand on her shoulder and flinched, spinning and stepping out of the grip as she met Nora's gaze. She was frowning, a bit, and flicked her a look while she kept her gaze on the armed Faunus in front of them. Raising her voice, she asked, "Is this guy bothering you, babe?"

"N-Nora…?"

"Oh, and you must be the Human that put a collar on someone else's woman." Adam sneered, tilting his head back and yanking his sword out of Banesaw and off to the side, flicking crimson across the pavement and kicking the huge warrior over onto his side to lay, clutching his stomach. Stepping over him, he waved his hand out and his goons spread out further, watching all of them at once.

Still ignoring the unarmed group, he went on, smiling, "Ah! And the family is here, too. A run-away twice over, and cowards who would rather sit in our prison before they would dare to pick up a sword and fight for our people. Much less for themselves. Isn't that right, old man?"

"No one asked you to do what you did." Her father snapped, "Not me, not Kali."

"And if I hadn't, you'd have died."

"You can't have known that!" Her father argued, "He may have missed, or-"

"Oh, stop trying to debate me, coward." Adam snarled, baring his teeth and taking a single menacing step towards them before he caught himself, took a long breath, and reigned himself back in. Like he always did. "This isn't a conversation. It's an ultimatum. Hand over the sorry excuse for a 'representative' you lot have propped up, and give me what is mine," he gave Blake a smile, "or I will kill. You. All."

"Like we'd-"

"Sorry, question!" Nora slipped forward, between her parents, raising a hand like she was in class. When Adam scoffed and cocked his head, she crossed her arms and rested her chin on her knuckles like she was thinking. "How are you so calm? You fired a gun. The cops have to be on their way."

"As if the Humans care to step into this." One of the red-Faunus scoffed, shaking his head, "All they see is Faunus killing Faunus. Saves them the trouble."

"Got it, got it, racism sucks and is super, duper dumb but, uh, second question." Blake saw Nora take a breath and cock her head, and knew what she was going to say would not be helpful even before she spoke. "Who the fuck do you think you are trying to act like you own Blake, you very obviously overcompensating potato of a person?!"

For a heartbeat, all Blake could hear again was her blood roaring in her ears and her heart hammering against her chest until Adam sighed.

Shaking his head, he said, "I'm going to enjoy taking your head, Human."

"Dude, I've been struck by lightning and all that did was let me punt an Ursa a hundred yards." Nora rolled her shoulders, reaching into a little pouch on the back of her waist and gripping something tightly. "What are you gonna do? Slap me with your big red rocket there?"

Adam snarled and launched forward while his five riflemen brought their weapons up to bear on the terrified protesters.

In the same moment, Nora turned and hurled a little cylinder across the space and over Adam's truck where it landed. A trail of smoke followed it and Blake had time to blink before sparks flew into the air. The Faunus there scrambled over the edge while the closest of the riflemen turned, confused by the sound, before another heartbeat passed and the grenade went off with a whumpf of fire and rushing air that billowed ten feet up and swallowed the closest gunman, the driver, and part of the fence in a flash of white-hot fire.

Even Banesaw scrambled away, and the rush of air was enough to make Adam stubble halfway to them and turn towards the fire, grunting something she couldn't catch.

Nora reached him before he turned back and snarled, "And this is for making me waste my best grenade, asshole!"

The fist caught him in the gut and threw him to the side, off into the fence along the outside of the small lot they were in. He slid down it as Nora followed, cutting off another punch to duck back and away from a lightning fast slash. He blocked a quick one-two from the woman as she weaved to the side, keeping herself between the man and the rest of them, and Blake turned as the gunmen shouted in surprise.

Her father, always so gentle with her, had left his coat behind and leapt into the fray, crushing a foot down on one's face so hard her mask shattered while he lifted another and pummelled a fist into his chest. The blow snapped him back and into the ground like gravity itself had been twisted around, but another man was leveling a shot on her father from the other side. Before two loud cracks split the air and he staggered back and collapsed, bleeding down his front.

"I'll help Banesaw!" Her mother said, stepping past her with a long, brown and brass revolver in her hand. "Basa is getting everyone else out- You help your girlfriend!"

"B-But-"

"Gah!" Blake turned, watching her father rip a knife out of his leg and turn, knocking the broad-shouldered gunman he'd punched to the ground before over and kneeling to try and wrestle the revolver he drew from his hands.

"Your father needs help!" Her mother said, stepping past her and adding in parting, "You have to choose, Blake. Fight or flight."

"Fight or flight…" She turned and managed a step towards the two as Adam laughed and turned, peppering shots around Nora that forced her back.

Nora was fast and strong as ever, but all that meant was that Adam's sword glowed brighter with every powerful punch she threw. She threw another and he turned and spun past her, coming up behind her and lashing out as she leapt away, red searing the air between them. Nora screamed more in shock than pain and staggered a bit, turning and rolling her shoulder to shake off the blow he'd punched through her Aura, cutting a shallow line across the breadth of her shoulders.

His sword still glowed red-hot, though…

He was playing with Nora. Toying with her, and shooting Blake looks whenever he could. Because he was faster than her and, unarmed as she was, a better fighter, too. But… Not stronger. Nora couldn't connect because he was too fast and had the reach advantage, but Blake knew that Nora was the stronger of the two of them. At least, in terms of pure, raw power.

She just… Needed a boost.

"She punted an Ursa a few hundred yards…"

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Nora's shoulders felt like they were on fire, but it was a distant ache. Washed away by the adrenaline of it all and shoved right to the back of her mind while she ducked and weaved between and around slashes so fast the air whistled around the red blade. Still, she knew he could be even faster. He'd done it to score her back, after all, and lunged in quick as lightning more than once to knick at her Aura and sneer. As if he was a lion toying with a mouse.

The prick…

"Honestly, I don't know what she even sees in you." The man sighed, shaking his head and turning towards the other woman again. He could only see out of one side, though - she noticed that by the way he turned to look at Blake - and had to turn almost entirely to see where she'd left her girlfriend. Laughing loudly, he rested his sword across his shoulders and backed up a step, waving a hand away dismissively and adding, "Evidently nothing!"

It was a risk, but he'd backed up and another few steps left five or six feet between them. Enough she felt safe to turn and watch Blake… Run.

Along the wall of the warehouse, until she found an old pipe and clambered up it, pulling herself towards the roof. The metal and wood were wet from the rain, of course, but… Blake was agile and smart, and knew how to climb, and got up to the roof in only a few quick breaths. She vanished over the roof but Nora saw her turn at the last second, headed off to the side, towards the road. But why…

A flash of red and she threw herself down and back, landing on cold concrete as Adam's sword hissed by overhead, trailing red while he laughed, "Don't get distracted!"

Rolling over to dodge a stab he thrust down at her, she spun on her back and swept her legs around the way Blake had shown her in sparring. He jumped, but she clipped him anyways and he turned and landed in a kneeling position, snarling as she rose. He sheathed his sword and turned, spreading his stance and lowering it, but Nora's attention flitted up to the wooden pole built into the sidewalk right outside the fence.

"I dunno what she sees in me, honestly, dude." She said, making the man pause and frown as she paced to the left and he to the right, the two of them circling each other while she talked. "But I know all the things I see in her."

"What do you possibly see in her now?" He sneered, "She left you like she left me! Alone! Abandoned! Betrayed!"

"I know she's smart, and I know she's kind. Enough to put up with my bullshit even when, honestly? She totally shouldn't." Which, honestly, was more often than Nora liked, sometimes. But Blake had always taken it with a roll of her eyes and a weary, good-natured sigh. Just like Ren did. "She's brave, too."

"Oh, really?"

"Even after everything," Nora argued, circling until her back was to the fence, "she still wants to fight. Against the Grimm, and for her people."

"She abandoned her people!"

"No, she just dumped your ass! Because, like I said, smart." Nora smirked, "But, most importantly? She's a great listener."

"What-"

He flinched and she straightened at the electric zap and whumpf of the electrical transfer thingamawhatsit on the telephone pole going off, showering them in sparks that made the man back up, raising his sword to shield himself. Nora just turned, though, reaching up as Blake came down, her black overcoat thing smoldering and smoking where it was wrapped just about the business end of a sparking, severed wire. Electricity arced up along her arms and made her hair stand on end, but Blake just grit her teeth and came down on Nora, letting go of her ruined shirt when Nora pivoted and hurled her away with a hand, grabbing the cable and slamming it into her gut.

Pain ripped through her as a city block's worth of electricity briefly washed through her and into the ground before the wire went dead, cut off automatically from somewhere - or connected to a transformer she blew.

She couldn't tell - she could barely hear over the buzzing in her ears.

Super-charged, she leapt for Adam and grabbed him by the face, turning and throwing herself down, slamming him head-first into the ground. He roared in pain and she turned, throwing him away and into the warehouse wall where wood and metal splintered and fell around him. When she leapt, though, he was already recovering, sword glowing ominously as his mask started to crumble. It was too late to change course, but she didn't care, spreading her arms as he thrust up and she brought a fist in.

It only managed to knock the sword off course by inches, and Nora still felt the distant thunk of it punching through her, but Adam's smile was short-lived.

Her arms closed around him and she laughed, fully aware of how insane she had to look when she said, "Who wants a hug?"

His snarl was cut off by a wheeze as she crushed him in her grip. His Aura held for a moment, sure, but supercharged like she was she'd have been able to rip a tank in half. His Aura, then, didn't last long - barely a few seconds before it shattered and fell away like glass. His ribs followed suit, along with his arm on her good, un-stabbed side. Feeling her power starting to drain out of her, she spun and hurled him into the wall again, snapping a fist out that sent porcelain flying as he slid to the ground, his sword clattering between them.

"Whooo!" She crowed, screaming into the sky and turning, staggering away as Blake and… Older Blake rushed towards her. The first caught her as she fell and she blinked, turning to let them lay her down and muttering. "Oh… I'm finna pass out…"

"Mom-!"

"She'll be fine." The woman said, pressing a hand to somewhere ache-y on Nora's stomach. "Call an ambulance!"

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Blake turned, fishing out a Scroll that exploded in sparks, glass and plastic as it opened. Turning, she met Adam's gaze as he stood, coughing up red and using one hand to hold his sheath. The other kept his mask on as he staggered forward, bellowing hoarsely, "You don't get it! I'm not finished until I'm-" Two cracks split the air and Blake watched him stagger back, lean against the wall and wheeze, "Finished…"

She turned as her mom lowered the gun, face flat, and turned her attention back to Nora.

Quietly, Blake said, "M-Mom… You just…"

"We have more important things than your psychotic ex to deal with, dear." Her mother grunted as her father joined them, collapsing on a stiff, hurt leg to help keep pressure on Nora's injury. "Her Aura is still working, a bit, but we need-"

"Already on the way." They all turned as Basa joined them, kneeling and giving Nora a worried look. "Once everyone was safely out one of the other doors, I reported the incident. Help is on the way."

Distantly, Blake could hear sirens starting to echo across the now incredibly silent industrial block and she smiled, weakly, and sat with Nora, holding her head in her lap and muttering, "Good… This idiot isn't allowed to go anywhere until I give her a piece of my mind."

"Dear…"

"Hush, sweetheart." Her father grunted, smiling thinly in spite of everything. "You were no different when I got shot that one time, just after we met."

"That was different!"

"How…?"

"Well…" Her mother huffed and pouted, "You got shot. Not stabbed."

Her father just chuckled.

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"The incident was led by known terrorist, Adam Taurus, and a now-delineated splinter group that Sienna Khan has informed us was called the 'Red Blades'. Local CCTV footage taken from the defunct Maryweather Manufacturing plant, a now known activity point for the local White Fang, shows their arrival and attack, proving the actions taken there-after were self defence by a group registered for a protest march scheduled that day." Lisa Lavender reported, her voice sounding tinny and echoing from the old, cheap hospital television set. "VTV has reviewed the footage and confirms the reports, along with one Basa Jabusim's claim that police had already been deployed nearby for unknown reasons, and yet did not respond to the gunfire or explosions reported and confirmed by this network in the area. As of now, VPD has offered no comment. In other news-"

The TV cut off suddenly and Nora pouted at the seat in the corner, "Hey!"

"You're supposed to be resting." Blake sighed, laid across the chair and glowering at her from just across from the door. It was late, so technically she wasn't supposed to be there, but the room was private so no one was complaining.

And Nora certainly wasn't going to change that.

"Hey, I got stabbed and you electrocuted me." Nora whined, crossing her arms gently and pouting. "I get to watch the news cover me being a super badass."

"Getting stabbed is not a good thing…"

"No," Nora agreed, "but it is super badass, and that fits a super-"

"If you call yourself a 'super queen Nora' I won't cuddle for three days." Blake threatened dryly, flipping a page on her e-book and giving Nora a side-eye and a smirk. When Nora pouted, Blake rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'll help Ren smuggle in something sweet tomorrow afternoon."

"All is forgiven then~!" Nora chirped, smiling and sighing tiredly, "Speaking of Ren… I definitely prefer him to your ex."

"Prefer him how…?" Nora wiggled her eyebrows and Blake scowled, rolled her eyes and groaned all in the same motion. "Gods, you're so weird when you're high…"

"Morphine~!" She chirped, smiling, "Hell of a thing~!"

"If I come cuddle with you and turn on a movie, will you behave?" Nora nodded and Blake sighed, hopped up, and came over to lay on the bed with her. It was only wide enough for one, really, but Nora didn't mind scooting over to make space, and Blake didn't mind resting her head on her shoulder while they flicked through movies on her Scroll. "Action or comedy?"

"Action." Nora smiled, pressing a kiss to the side of her forehead, "Laughing hurts, ya know?"

"Yeah." Blake sighed, "Fair…"

Nora heard something a bit more than fatigue in her words, but…

She let it go, at least for now. Hopefully Blake would relax after a little while. And in either case, she didn't want to step on any landmines right now. Not when it could ruin an otherwise pretty damn good day. Or, well, as good a day as you could have after getting stabbed really could be.

A soft kiss at her collar snatched her attention away from the movies as she scrolled through the menu and Nora turned as Blake leaned up to steal a proper kiss. Nora blinked, surprised, and turned to lean into it. But Blake pulled away before she could, tucking her face into Nora's neck and choking on a sob that Nora didn't understand. But she didn't need to, wrapping an arm around her and humming quietly, like Ren always had when they were younger.

"I don't understand…" She choked, hand bunching into a fist on Nora's stomach, "He was vile- I hated him! Why-"

"People are complicated." Nora cut her off, running her fingers through the Faunus' hair. "You knew him for years and… And you watched him die. It's gonna mess you up."

"It shouldn't-"

"Babe, if you saw that and didn't feel something, I'd be scared." Finally, Blake looked up at her, eyes already turning red, and Nora said, "Emotions are dumb but very important. Whatever you're feeling is okay to feel. Anyone has a problem with it, they can talk to me."

"As if you could do much right now…" Blake muttered ruefully, burying her face in her neck again. After a moment, she relaxed and turned back to the scroll, muttering a quiet, "Thank you. I…"

"Needed a cry?"

"Yeah…"

"No problem." She smiled, "S'What I'm here for. Killin' big monsters, and crying on."

"You ass…"

"Oh you love my ass."

"Just find us a movie." Blake sighed, "...And stop being cheeky."

"Heh, that was pretty good!"

"Uh huh…"

"And that wasn't a denial~" Blake just rolled her eyes and Nora smiled, easing back onto the bed and looking for a movie to play.

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Basa is based off of Mufasa from Lion king but without the death flags. In my humble opinion Mufasa is the only big cat I'd trust in any political office, lol. -Polemoduke

So, a lot happened.

To preempt - yeah, as you can see, Blake has… Complicated feelings, at this point in her life, regarding Adam. Bear in mind, this is an Adam pre-Fall of Beacon. Fallen, in Blake's eyes, sure - but not as broken as he GOT. Not to say he was at all DECENT at this point but… Blake is still too close, here and now, so seeing him die? It hurts.

Of course it does.

As for the fight… Well, before anyone argues, just note that Nora VERY TECHNICALLY lost the fight. She was down and on her way out, but he was just hurt. He was getting back up - Kali just double-tapped thanks to Basa's gun. Further, Adam was tactical in the leadup to the confrontation as a whole in ways you may be able to piece together throughout the chapter - for instance, eliminating Banesaw as a combatant, since he's one of the better Faunus there.

Regardless, hope y'all like it.

Stay twisted, my friends.

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