A day late on this one. That's on me.

Started the week with the big presentation I've been focused on recently. Went pretty well, including my section. We finished in 5 hours (scheduled for 7) with minimal questions and actions, so all in all, a rousing success! Took MrsTheGoose out to The Melting Pot afterwards for a long overdue date night and had a fantastic time.

Took Friday off, just because I could, but a good friend of mine (EvilRottenBunny) was having her birthday stream, and I sorta got carried away with that. Got most of it done on time yesterday, but still had a good bot left this morning. Next week should go better, since I'm going back to a more regular schedule.

Adam lingered in the bathroom well after Nila left, staring at the monster in the mirror and wishing he'd go away. Instead, raw, reddened eyes stared back with a blank look. The flat expression stung more than Nila's hand ever could.

It wasn't until the door opened and an older teen girl screamed at him that he left. He neither heard nor cared for her words, walking slowly out of his execution scene as she hurled threats and accusations before slamming the door shut behind him. Nothing she could say compared to the bite of Nila's condemnations.

Which he knew he deserved. He'd earned each scathing rebuke. The reddened mark on his cheek still burned, though his shame didn't fade with the sting. That was all that remained for him, along with one simple thought.

What do I do now?

Adam wished he had chores to do, if only because they would help distract him. Right now, freedom didn't serve him well. Normally, he'd go find his friends and spend time with them, but that option had been ripped away. Nila wouldn't want him anywhere near her, and facing Erik like this would just lead to questions. Besides, he didn't deserve to be comfortable. But that still left him with time to kill and nothing to do.

You could come back to me, the familiar voice taunted. I won't turn you away. Come lose yourself in my embrace.

No. However bad things were, going to Alyssa definitely wouldn't help. He needed to find somewhere safe. Somewhere far away from everyone where he could do something he knew he'd regret…

Be alone with his thoughts.

The library wasn't completely empty, but there were few enough people in there that he could easily slip to a corner table, turn his back on the rest of the room, and stare mindlessly at the first book he'd grabbed - an encyclopedia covering everything from Argus to Beringel. Going back to his room wouldn't have worked. Right now, he didn't feel like talking to Erik, especially if he caught sight of Nila beforehand. That would just lead to questions - ones he didn't have answers for. Outside carried the same risk. But the library was such a random spot for him on a weekend that he doubted Erik would bother him there. Not unless Nila told him what happened, in which case Erik would hunt him down for the rest of the afternoon.

Adam's fingers periodically flipped pages, even if his eyes stared through the paper entirely, his mind elsewhere. What was I thinking? He hadn't been. Not rationally, that was. He'd trusted Alyssa's promise to not hurt Nila, and even though she'd kept her word - making him do everything instead - why had he believed her in the first place? It wasn't like she'd earned his trust. In fact, she'd already betrayed him before. So why did he listen this time?

Because he didn't have a choice. Because nothing he did ever helped. Even running away hadn't worked, as if the universe itself demanded he suffer, not even allowing him a full day of freedom before dragging him back to his personal hell. All he'd done was get Nila in trouble and focus Alyssa's attention on his friend.

And then he'd raped her.

He'd been the one to lure her to Alyssa's room, then followed each of Alyssa's orders as he dragged an innocent Nila into the flames with him. Months of railing against Alyssa's treatment of him ended with him taking his place beside her. No apology, no action could undo what he'd put her through. She'd carry those scars - his scars - for the rest of her life.

And all he'd carry would be the shame.

Shame at what he'd done, but also what he hadn't. He'd barely put up a fight before marching off to bring Nila to her doom. A short complaint was all he'd mustered in her defense. I'm such a coward. Did his own safety really mean more to him than Nila's? Could he really claim to love her if he didn't sacrifice for her?

Then again, what could he have done? Standing up to Alyssa would've seen him hurt or even imprisoned, but she might have gone after Nila afterwards anyway. He claimed it was mercy that he was the one to abuse her instead of Alyssa, but that was just the cowardice trying to rationalize itself away. Alyssa might've been too busy dealing with him to go after Nila. She'd made it clear he'd suffer for opposing her, but it couldn't be much worse than what he'd gone through by obeying. At least before he'd had Nila to comfort him. That last joy had been stripped away, leaving him with nothing.

Nothing except me. I told you Adam. You're mine. And I don't like sharing. Alyssa claimed she wanted to punish Nila for talking to Sheriff Taylor, but had that been all? She'd made him suffer for so long, tormenting and breaking him at every turn. Was it really that hard to believe she'd seen his one refuge and set out to destroy it? That sure sounded like her.

We should've run. To where, he didn't know. Leaving town wouldn't have worked. Even if the guards didn't question them, it wouldn't take long for Sheriff Taylor to find them again. Should they have run to him? At the time, Adam would've said no, but knowing what Alyssa had planned might've been worth the risk. At the very least, it would've kept Alyssa at bay for a bit. Maybe the two of them could've convinced him. Of course, he would've had to tell Nila first. She knew now, but if only he'd said something before. Why didn't I tell her? Even on the trail, away from Katai, he'd still hesitated, leaving her to walk into that demon's lair unaware. Convincing her would've been hard enough, but then proving it to Sheriff Taylor? It was his word against Alyssa's. A child against an adult. She had all the power and wielded it against him without worry, knowing he couldn't fight back.

So why not tell the sheriff now? Now, there were two witnesses. Two victims. Surely that had to count for something, especially with Sheriff Taylor already sniffing around. If they both went to him and told him what happened, he'd believe them, right? Two against one had to work.

Except it wouldn't be two against one. Even ignoring how Alyssa would just pin it on him and say he roped Nila in, she'd have Madam de Thom to back her up. She'd have to be pretty negligent to allow her daughter to get away with all this abuse without her noticing. An attack on Alyssa meant an attack on her mother, too. A woman who had already made it abundantly clear she'd bring her husband, the mayor, in to fight for her if needed. It would be two children against a very powerful trio.

Even if the sheriff believed them, Adam knew no one else would. Easier to assume him a liar than to admit corruption in the orphanage. As for Nila, they'd just say he convinced her to back him up. And not just because they were both faunus. Alyssa and Madam de Thom would be quick to point out that they'd run away together. To everyone else, Nila would just be some girl backing up her boyfriend, agreeing with whatever he said out of some misplaced devotion.

So where did that leave them? Ratting on Alyssa wouldn't help, and she'd already shown just how vengeful she could be when provoked. All Nila could really tell anyone was what he'd done, so unless he just wanted to add to his misery, involving her was a bad idea. Not that she'd listen, given how much she hated him right now. Besides, all they'd accomplish would be getting him in trouble.

What am I supposed to do?

/- - - - - - - - - -/

What am I supposed to do?

Erik thought himself a smart kid, and not just book smarts, either. His grades were more than proof enough there, though that had more to do with method than means. A strong short term memory and a good understanding of how Miss Alyssa tested meant a few minutes of studying could easily equal hours from someone else. Add in some decent writing skills for essays and a strict schedule to ensure homework was completed on time, and he barely sweated classwork. It all just sort of came naturally to him.

Beyond that, he wasn't a fool outside of the classroom. He knew how to do things. When Papi's crew had shown him how to operate the machinery, he'd picked it up quickly. In a couple years, maybe they'd let him run it a bit, and he'd prove just how closely he'd paid attention. Even without help, he felt he could figure things out pretty well. He'd fixed the toilet a few times over the years, though adjusting the chain for the flapper when it got tangled hardly counted as plumbing. Turning the valve at the back to cut off the water made sense when it got backed up. The pipes led there and he knew there had to be a way to stop the flow without tearing up the walls and floor. Simple logic for simple solutions.

But that wouldn't help here.

Adam hadn't exactly hidden the fact that he and Nila were fighting, though he'd left off all the details. Not that Erik could blame him. If he was fighting with Nila, he wouldn't want people to know all the gritty details. Then again, he couldn't really see himself fighting with her about anything. They might banter a bit and get into pointless arguments, but when it came to anything important, he knew he'd give in and agree in a heartbeat.

Well, if Adam wouldn't talk, then maybe Nila would. Hunting her down after lunch hadn't been easy. She and Adam had vanished, it seemed. That should've been a good thing. Maybe they were working out their differences now that their tempers had cooled. They always said that cooler heads prevailed, even if Erik had no idea who they were, exactly. Surely they could work out whatever differences they had and move on. Erik hated to see his friends fight. He should be happy to see this all settled and things returned to normal.

So why didn't that idea make him feel happy? Nila loved Adam, and being with him made her happy. And he'd told Adam he wanted nothing more than her happiness. But dang it, he wanted to be happy too! Having Nila happy was great, but why couldn't she be happy with him instead? He couldn't exactly blame Adam, either. Any man would've been a fool not to fall for Nila. And like he'd said, he was no fool. He'd always dreamed of the day they went from friends to more than friends.

But that day never came.

Erik hadn't just been friend-zoned. He'd gone even farther back. Nila saw him as more of a brother - an honor that drove a dagger straight through his heart. At least the friend zone had that slim chance to grow into more. Getting from brother to boyfriend wasn't just gross sounding - it was almost impossible! He hated watching someone else enjoy everything he'd ever dreamed of.

But he didn't hate Adam. While Erik sat back, pining for Nila in cowardice, Adam had been brave enough to pursue. He'd even been enough of a friend to talk to Erik first. Adam had been a good friend. He was good to Nila, too.

But right now, he'd clearly messed up.

Erik couldn't help as his eyes sneaked a peak at Adam across the cafeteria, only to see the boy's eyes dart away in shame. When Adam had first arrived and pointedly ignored Erik before quietly claiming a seat near some younger kids, Erik couldn't help but wonder what he'd done wrong. Had he said something to Adam that set him off?

That notion had died the moment he saw Nila. She'd been crying, even if she hid it well. Erik had known her most of their lives and could easily spot the change. She didn't walk with her usual confidence. She sat a little more tense, too. His attempts to drag her into conversation had been met with half-hearted responses at best. Whatever had happened between his friends wasn't over yet.

What am I supposed to do?

"Got any plans for the week?" Erik tried.

"Not really" was all he could drag out of her.

Well, this was going great. "You've got that map project due on Thursday, right? Do you need any help with that?"

"I'll be fine."

Another swing and a miss. "We've got a big math test on Friday. I think I've got most of it, but Adam and I will probably study together on Thursday."

Erik didn't miss the way Nila tensed at his last remark. Strike three, ladies and gentlemen! Since he doubted a math test she didn't even have to take would cause such a reaction, that left only one option.

Adam.

What did you do, Adam? He'd never seen Nila so upset. No, that wasn't right. She'd been furious at Pika too many times to count. He'd seen her turn into a ball of rage with looks that could kill. Heard her mutter vicious threats under her breath. He'd done his best to keep her from lashing out too much, even if that hadn't worked on Adam. But that had been hatred for a bully.

This…this felt much worse. Anger he could understand, especially hers. She tended to burn hot and fast, so if he could keep her distracted long enough, she'd eventually move on and nothing bad would happen. Not that she'd really acted out like that before. Not like Adam. She'd talk a big game, but she'd never really tried to force her way past him or chase down Pika. She sure hadn't ever attacked the boy, for which Erik was grateful. He wasn't a big guy, but if Nila had come back battered and bruised, he couldn't be held responsible for what he'd do.

But this wasn't anger. Well, not just anger. She was hurt. The who was obvious, even if he didn't know anything else. It was hard enough trying to help when he had no idea what had happened, but he'd never seen Nila so…broken before. It was like she was a totally different person today. Must've been a big fight to hurt her that much.

So what could've happened? Adam had been a little weird at dinner on Friday. He'd come back to the room with Sheriff Taylor after his lesson with Miss Alyssa. Erik had heard him crying Saturday night, even if he didn't say anything. Adam didn't seem the type to open up when he was struggling. Bit of a macho complex where he had to look tough no matter what. Always working harder. Always pushing himself to exhaustion. Never letting anyone help, even when he needed it. So Adam let him try and hide his pain from saying goodbye to his horse, even if he felt awful the whole time.

But Nila had been fine on Saturday. Whatever happened must've been after breakfast. Adam had chores, but what did that have to do with Nila? Nila had gone to her room to study, despite how Erik wished she'd joined him outside. He spent far too much time as a third wheel most days. A little one on one time would've been nice. Maybe Adam had finished early and gone to see Nila after his chores. Heck, knowing Adam, he might've snuck off to see Nila during his chores. That should've been a good thing, right?

Yet here they were. Or rather, here two of them were. A nearly silent Nila slowly shoveling in food while Erik tried in vain to get a conversation going. Meanwhile, Adam tried his best to hide his longing glances at them, despite the fact that they had a seat open as always. Nila was quiet and reserved while Adam hid away and refused to confront the problem, somehow leaving Erik as the one to fix everything.

Clearly, Remnant was coming to an end. Repent! The end is near!

"So…" Erik trailed off, tapping his fork against his plate. Awkward conversations weren't exactly his forte, but beating around the bush wasn't going to help, so with a deep breath he decided to get it over with. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Nila finally snapped out of her funk for a moment, releasing her death grip on her own cutlery. Her poor fork sported a strange, new bend in the cheap metal. "N-nothing. I'm fine."

And the award for best actress goes to…literally anyone else. "You don't seem fine." He let the silence between them drag on for a few seconds before realizing she wouldn't be adding anything. Fine. I'll do all the talking, too. "I'm guessing it has something to do with you and Adam?"

The look on her face answered before her lips could lie. "No. It's fine. We're just…"

"Taking a break?" Erik offered.

"Something like that." Nila's mumbled answer hinted at just how untemporary that break might be. Whatever this was, it was way worse than Erik had imagined.

"You…wanna talk about it?"

"No!" The force of her denial shocked him. Great, another brick wall. "I mean…no. I don't." This conversation was going great. So much talking. So much opening up. It felt like he was really making some progress here. Or maybe he could make some progress beating his head against the table. That sounded easier.

Still, he didn't want to pressure her. "Okay," he said, slowly raising his hands in front of him, hoping to calm her back down. "Just…know that I'm here for you if you ever wanna talk, okay?"

"Thanks, Erik." Nila seemed to relax a little, drawing a sigh of relief from him as well. Nila obviously wasn't ready to talk about…whatever had happened. He'd have to corner Adam later and see if he could drag answers out of him instead. Ugh. When did I become their relationship counselor? He thought about going over and pestering Adam now but worried Nila might see it as him abandoning her and taking Adam's side. He didn't want to make this a her versus him situation, but if it did, he knew who he'd side with. Team Nila, all the way.

Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, , they'd work out their differences and all go back to being friends. Whatever fight the two had would be put behind them and wouldn't split the group anymore. And while he was dreaming, Erik would throw in Nila becoming madly in love with him after seeing the error of her ways. Adam would support them wholeheartedly and even be the best man at their wedding someday.

If he was gonna dream, he'd dream big.

And while he was dreaming, maybe Pika would suddenly renounce his bullying ways and apologize for being a jerk so much. But it seemed like today wasn't the day for dreams to come true.

"Hey, squirts."

All his work was undone in an instant as he watched Nila bristle at their new arrival. He couldn't tell if she wanted to run or lash out, but neither would work here. Running away would just make him think he'd won. He'd come back again and again to torment them more. As for fighting…Pika wasn't exactly a pushover. Neither were the two boys flanking him. Clancy might've been absent, but Roan and Andúril would be more than enough against them. Maybe Adam could take one of them in a straight up fight, but three at once? Even all three of them wouldn't stand much of a chance, and with their main weapon avoiding them, Erik and Nila were on their own.

"So I noticed your herd's a little smaller today," Pika prodded. "What's the matter? Trouble in paradise?"

Seeing Nila's fists tighten, Erik tried to calm things down before she did something they'd both regret. "Lay off, Pika." Either Pika didn't notice how angry Nila was getting, or he just didn't care. "It's none of your business."

"What? Can't I show a little concern for little miss hops-a-lot and her bullheaded boyfriend?" Pika was the only one to laugh at his unoriginal names. "Speaking of which, where is your lesser half today, Nila?"

"He's not-" Nila cut off suddenly, but Erik didn't miss the unsaid part. Ouch. So I was right. They've actually broken up. That should've been good news for him. He'd be there to comfort her and cheer her up. Maybe she'd realize what a kind and thoughtful guy he was and they'd grow closer. Or maybe he'd just be her rebound.

Honestly, he'd be okay with either option.

"This isn't the time, Pika." As if that mattered to the bully. He probably sensed the split a mile away and decided he just had to get involved, if only to make things worse.

"Oh, my bad. Guess we could reschedule. How's tomorrow at six, boys?" Pika turned to his two lackeys, voice practically dripping with sarcasm.

Roan just shrugged, but Andúril seemed to pick up on the joke easily enough. "Nah. Got too much going on then."

"Well, that won't work." Pika made a show of thinking for a moment before shrugging. "What can you do? Oh well. No time like the present."

"Pika, please…"

"Join you? Oh, I'd love to." Pika propped his foot up on Adam's empty seat. "This spot taken? No? Good." Erik instinctively scooted away while Nila did her best to ignore the intruder. "So what's with the sudden change? Wasn't Adam like…the leader of your pack or something?" A dumb idea occurred to Pika. "Don't tell me you challenged him as Alpha."

"Adam is our friend," Erik countered, ignoring the pathetic jab as he glanced at Nila. Well, he's my friend, at least. The jury was still out on Nila's thoughts.

"Not a very good one," Pika shot back. Nila muttered something in return, drawing Pika's attention. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Nila grumbled before pushing up from the table and grabbing her tray. "Well, I better get going. See you around, Erik."

Nila only made it two steps before she was jerked back, crying out in surprise as Pika snagged her by one of her ears - a long, faunus one. She dropped her tray, dumping her half-finished food everywhere as her dishes scattered across the floor. "Where's my goodbye?"

"Pika!" Erik surged to his feet, but Andúril had already moved between him and Nila, making it impossible for him to intervene. Instead, he leaned around to demand, "Let her go."

"Not until I get my apology," Pika answered. The chatter in the room died down suddenly as everyone turned to watch the terrible display. Erik could hear some mutters of disapproval, but he also heard the indifferent responses and even a few laughs. He knew most of them didn't approve, but that didn't remove the sting of the few who did. Worse, not one of them bothered to help.

"Let go."

"Finally, she speaks!" Pika cheered, as if he'd actually cared. He didn't want a conversation. He wanted a reaction. His attacks on the group hadn't been enough to goad her into a fight, so Pika had chosen a more direct route. "I'm still waiting for that apology."

"I'm not apologizing to anyone," Nila hissed. Erik had a feeling her words were directed as much at their friend as the enemy before her. "I didn't do anything wrong."

Pika tugged a little, forcing Nila to stumble forward a step. "You were rude. Here I was, coming over to check on my friends, and you hardly spoke a word before deciding to leave. That's not a great way to treat a guest."

"An uninvited guest," Erik complained.

"I'll get to you later," Pika promised, drawing a nervous gulp from Erik. "C'mon, Nila. Just two little words. I'm sorry. That's all I want."

Nila kept her mouth shut, until Pika tightened his grip and twisted just a little, causing her to cry out. "Stop it!"

"Those weren't the words we were looking for." Pika twisted further. "Try again. All you have to say is I'm sorry, and I'll-"

Pika didn't get a chance to finish as a hand clenched onto his wrist, forcing him to let go as fingers tightened and turned, wrenching his arm to the side. A fist sent him tumbling over the table with a crash.

"You'll be sorry, all right," Adam seethed through clenched teeth.

"Adam?"

"Get him!"

/- - - - - - - - - -/

Roan and Andúril weren't sure what to do. They were just there as support. They didn't even want to mess with Nila. The girl had obviously been upset and tried to leave, but Pika just couldn't let things go and had to escalate everything. They'd instinctively blocked Erik from interfering, though, knowing that's what Pika wanted. They'd hoped it would end quickly and for everyone to go on with their lives. They were no more than unwilling accomplices in all of this.

Adam didn't care.

Before they could react to Pika's shouted order, he charged Roan, shouldering him away before kicking at Andúril's knee. The spry boy managed to jump back and avoid the hit, but that gave Adam time to focus on Roan instead. The pained groan as his fist bent the boy double was music to his ears. He didn't care about the spit that sprayed across his face. He ignored the weak return blow as he rammed his head into Roan's, causing the boy to stumble and fall.

All that mattered was Nila.

I swore I'd protect her. He'd meant from Alyssa, but the same would apply for anyone that tried to hurt those he cared about. That list was short, and half of it probably didn't like him right now, but that wouldn't stop him. He'd avoided getting involved when Pika came over, knowing Nila still wouldn't want him around, but the moment he'd touched her, Adam was out of his seat. If idiots would've gotten out of his way instead of clogging the aisle to watch, he might've been able to stop it sooner.

Worthless imbeciles, he thought as he leaned away from Andúril's clumsy lunge, letting the boy's fist glance off his shoulder. He shoved Andúril's side, using the boy's momentum against him and launching him into a nearby table. A pair of older teens cried out as Andúril landed on them, but they didn't do anything other than toss him to the floor. No one wanted to get involved. No one wanted to get in trouble. No one wanted to help.

No one but Adam.

Pika probably thought he was so smart, going after Nila and Erik with him out of the picture. Acting out this brazenly would've been beyond foolish normally, but it had only taken Adam a few seconds to notice both Alyssa and Madam de Thom were missing. They usually ate in the cafeteria, but every now and then, they'd skip or take their food back to their rooms. With them gone and his friends exposed, Pika probably felt invincible.

Wonder how he feels now? With Roan still struggling to his feet and Andúril down for a bit, he turned back to his real focus. Whatever he planned to do, it had to be quick. The moment he struck, he'd heard the cafeteria door burst open as someone ran to tell on them. Curiously, they hadn't bothered when Pika attacked Nila. Only when he came to fight back did they go for help. He'd expected nothing less.

Pika had finally recovered from his surprise attack, vaulting over the table to join the fray. "Decided to come back, did you?" Pika taunted. "Was wondering when you-"

Adam didn't let him finish, charging in once again without warning. He didn't have time for words. Pika wanted to stall because he knew time was on his side. Madam de Thom would be here soon to break up the fight, and while Pika would get in trouble, Adam knew he'd get the worst of it. Alyssa would probably be in charge of his punishment, too. And she loved punishing him.

His fate was sealed the moment he got involved. No, it had been sealed long ago. He had nothing to lose. Nothing but the safety of his friends. What were they going to do? Chores? He already had plenty of those. With Nila avoiding him, some extra time being kept busy might even be a mercy. Abuse? Alyssa would do that anyways. Pain?

That was laughable. What was a little pain compared to what he'd been through today? Pika's punches and kicks were nothing compared to the anguish he already felt. The bruises would heal in time, but he'd never recover from the scars on his heart.

And, honestly, the pain felt cathartic right now. Not just his, either. His heart sang with each grunt from his foe. He couldn't fight back against Alyssa. Wouldn't fight back against Nila. He'd only had himself to attack all day. But now, with a legitimate target of flesh and blood before him? That was too good to resist.

Their fight couldn't really be called a fight. Pika started out trying to focus on form and technique. His blows carried force properly. He aimed to disorient and divert. In a proper fight, he had the advantage.

But Adam didn't want a fight. He wanted to cause pain. He didn't wait. He didn't dodge. He just kept coming. Punches. Kicks. Bites. Scratches. If it could hurt, he used it. Harder and harder he pushed, forcing Pika to give ground as he sought breathing room, but Adam wouldn't allow it. He intended to cause as much pain as he could. That was all that mattered.

That was, until the doors flew open with a loud bang.

"Enough!" Madam de Thom practically roared. The loose circle of onlookers parted in an instant, eager to distance themselves from the hurricane that had just entered the room.

Pika shoved Adam away finally, straightening up as best he could. "We were just- ah!"

Unlike Pika, Adam hadn't given up yet. He tackled Pika to the ground, managing to score a final punch to his face before the teens from before dragged him off. Andúril stayed down, while Roan walked around them to help Pika up. They all looked like crap, but then again, so did he. But other than a sore ear, Nila remained safe.

And that was all that mattered.

"What's going on here?" Madam de Thom demanded, storming up to their impromptu arena.

"He attacked us," Roan offered up, pointing to Adam, who was still looking for a way to bypass his new guards.

"Is this true, Adam?"

Yes, but there was more to it than that. "He was hurting Nila." If they wanted to throw blame around, then fine. He'd do the same.

"Pika?"

"I…might have been a little rough," Pika admitted. "By accident."

"Bullsh-"

"Quiet!" Adam complied, his sentiment more than obvious. "All of you. My office. Now."

"Yes, ma'am," Adam's punching bags replied. He didn't bother, searching for Nila and Erik to reassure himself of their safety. Nila's eyes shot to the floor when he looked at her, the confused mixture of anger and gratitude both elating and sucker punching him at once.

"You two," Madam de Thom pointed to the teens around Adam, "come with me. I'll need someone to verify what happened." And to keep an eye on him, she didn't say. They clearly understood, though, flanking him as escorts all the way.

Pika grumbled threats under his breath, though that stopped after a single glance from Madam de Thom. He shot an angry glare at Adam, only to quail under the return look. Good. Pika was afraid. He was angry. More importantly, he was focused on Adam.

Pika might act out again against Nila and Erik, but Adam promised himself a repeat performance if needed. Pika would learn not to mess with them. There would be consequences for touching them. It didn't matter whether someone was watching. It didn't matter how much trouble he'd get in. Heck, it didn't even matter his chances at winning. He'd never stop. He'd exact his revenge each and every time without hesitation.

Because all that mattered was his promise.

All that mattered were his friends.

Ah, Pika. We can always rely on you to cause trouble and refocus Adam.

After much debating, I decided to switch POV for part of this chapter and let Erik have some time in the spotlight. It won't happen often, but I felt it would flow better than just Adam watching and angsting until he attacked. Plus, I like Erik. He reminds me of myself at that age. I was always good in school, but mostly because I could test well. Even had a Statistics test in college where I told a few friend several things that would be on the test and even predicted one of the questions almost exactly, including the correct answer and two of the wrong choices. The look on their faces when they saw that question was hilarious. Also, I learned early on how easy it is to fix most toilet issues (outside of major plumbing work). That little chain causes most of the problems. I've even fixed a few toilets at some of my old jobs jobs, since it was easier than telling the boss, closing the bathroom, and getting a plumber to come in. Earned every penny of those minimum wage jobs (and maybe more).

Anyways, Adam is starting to rebound and find purpose again, but he isn't ready to approach Nila. May never be. For now, he'll still protect her as best he can, even at cost to himself. After all, in his eyes, he's a worthless, irredeemable scumbag who deserves to suffer. Kind of a warped mindset, but hey, that's what this story is all about. He's at his lowest right now, so he'll come back a bit in time, but we're moving further and further down the path toward canon Adam.

Next chapter: Adam deals with the fallout of his actions.