Happy belated Independence Day to all my US readers! My wife and I had a nice day at home to celebrate. Grilled up some steaks and watched a WW2 movie together (was gonna do The Patriot, but it's a little bloody for her). We also wore matching Bluey shirts, because why not? Celebrate the Red, White, and Bluey!
Work travel has moved again. Now, I've got nothing until mid-August, but I probably won't be home any of September either, including my birthday. Kinda bummed about that, but it helps that I got a raise and a bonus for my performance review. On top of that, they selected me as Employee of the Quarter, which I normally wouldn't care about, except that it apparently comes with another bonus! Nothing says thank you for your hard work like more money.
A lone figure ambled down the main road of Shizukana village, chilled by the brisk, pre-dawn breeze as most of the town lay quiet. Despite the relative silence, Adam knew the growing light on the horizon would soon herald the start of another busy day. He could see light briefly spilling from the window of a nearby bakery as someone peeked through the curtains, saw him, and immediately vanished. Smoke drifted its way lazily skyward from the White Fang encampment outside town. And if he listened close enough, he could just make out the sound of some idiot trying to stir up trouble by opposing their temporary occupiers.
Adam frowned at the suicidal ideations but continued past them all. Despite his leisurely pace, he had somewhere to be this morning. Or, rather, he had somewhere he'd rather be.
Coming back to Shizukana after all these years had been a terrifying prospect. Too many memories of a life long lost. Even after all these years, it all felt so familiar. He knew his way through the village without a thought, passing by buildings that hadn't changed a bit. Little memories leapt out at every turn, sights and smells that had long lay dormant returning as if he'd never left. It all harkened back to a simpler time. A time when his biggest concerns were chores and lessons and his thoughts rarely strayed beyond Shizukana, at least until Team SPVC arrived and opened his eyes to the world beyond.
He was meant to grow up in Shizukana, training hard to get into a prep school someday and start his journey to becoming a great Huntsman. He would've been a shoe-in, of course, easily proving himself and eventually earning a spot at Haven. With all the training he'd done, not to mention the help from Mazarin.
Gods, how long had it been since he'd even thought of Mazarin. Yesterday had stirred up some unpleasant memories of his almost mother. Not that the memories themselves were unpleasant. Just…it hurt to think about. Old wounds that he'd rather not reopen.
Which was why he'd been so apprehensive about coming back here. For all the joy and happiness he'd found in Shizukana, the bitterness of leaving overshadowed it all. Yet even yesterday, inside the place he'd once called home, things felt…different. He'd been so scared to go home, only to find it wasn't home at all. Not anymore. The familiarity was still there, but he felt like a stranger in his own house.
Because it wasn't his house. Or his fields. Or his town. These people weren't his. Shizukana wasn't home anymore. Nowhere was home. Not Katai. Not Mistral. Certainly not Orostachys. Not even Menagerie, where he'd finally found a place among his own kind, only to have it ripped away the moment he got comfortable. Reyno was where he lived now, but how long would that last? How long until life tore him away again? Was he doomed to wander Remnant forever, an outcast in a world that hated him? Was this to be his punishment for daring to dream of happiness?
In some small way, he was grateful to feel nothing about Shizukana. His past was a weakness, and he couldn't afford to be weak. The White Fang needed him. Faunus everywhere needed him. If he hoped to take on the world and push it toward a better future, then he had to be strong. He couldn't afford attachments, which meant he needed to make sure his past was well and truly buried. No, not buried. Forgotten. Nothing tying him down.
Shizukana had long ago lost its grip on him. Now he just needed to remove the claws of Katai.
But that would have to wait until tomorrow. They wouldn't be heading out until later today, leaving him far too much time to kill. Sleep hadn't come easy. And who could blame him? He knew what awaited him in Katai. There was always a chance she wouldn't be there. Maybe she'd left. She'd always talked about wanting to leave Katai behind. She could've died. Katai had a better hospital than somewhere like Shizukana, but they couldn't treat everything. A nasty infection. Some sudden illness. People died all the time out here. Or why not the most common killer of the outskirts? Katai was well-defended, but that didn't make them immune to the Grimm.
Except Grimm didn't tend to kill each other. Mindless as they were, they recognized their fellow monsters and instead preyed on people. And no one was as monstrous as someone who preyed on children. Besides, life wasn't that kind. Not to him. He knew exactly what - and who - awaited him in Katai. She'd be there, waiting for him. He'd have to face her again.
He just hoped he was ready.
Adam tried to ignore the growing dread of tomorrow. Katai was future Adam's problem. He needed to distract himself, and he knew the perfect place for it. But first, he had something to take care of.
"A little early for a stroll, isn't it?"
Adam let his off-hand rest on his sword as he approached the armory, a subtle threat should Shizukana's captain even think of trying anything. He wasn't the old man from back in Adam's day, despite his effort to copy the last guardian of Shizukana. He even carried the old man's pistol on his hip.
"I've always been an early riser," Adam answered, stopping a few paces short. More than close enough to take the man down before he could hope to do anything.
"I remember," the captain said, much to Adam's confusion. With a slight smile, the captain added, "You don't remember me, do you?"
Not in the slightest.
"Can't say I blame you. Too focused on training with the old man back then. You were good for a kid. Hard worker. I remember thinking you'd go far with that kind of attitude. Just didn't realize which direction you'd go." No matter how hard Adam tried, he couldn't recall the guy at all. He had to be one of the guards back then. There weren't a lot of them, but then again, Adam didn't really spend a lot of time with them outside training. "Figured you might come by."
Just as Adam assumed the captain or some of his men would be here waiting for him. Even if he had no hope of withstanding an attack at this point, only an idiot would leave their only defense unguarded. "I wanted to talk."
"Could've led with that yesterday." Sighing, the captain pushed off the wall of the armory. "Well, go ahead and talk. Ain't like I got anything better to do than listen."
Not exactly a friendly start, but Adam didn't need him to be friendly. Just compliant. "Some of my men will be staying here for the next few days. They're under strict orders not to enter Shizukana, so they shouldn't cause you any trouble. I have business elsewhere."
"Katai." An easy guess. There wasn't exactly a lot near Shizukana.
Adam nodded, uncaring whether or not the man knew. "When I'm finished, I intend to take my men and leave. Your town will remain unharmed." His town. Not Adam's.
"And I'm supposed to take the word of a terrorist?" the captain scoffed. "Fine. Not like we've got much choice in the matter. I'll keep an eye on my men, if that's what you're worried about. Make sure they know not to try anything stupid."
Because Shizukana wouldn't survive that fight. Even if they somehow beat the guards Adam was leaving behind, Adam would be coming back in a matter of days. Too soon for them to get any help. He'd burn Shizukana to the ground, or so the captain had to assume. "That's all I ask. There's no need for bloodshed here."
"The boys'll behave themselves, as long as yours do the same. We may not have much, but we'll fight to the last if it comes to it." A brave sentiment, but a foolish one. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd prefer if you left. People round here won't feel easy with you prowling the streets."
Adam nodded, just as eager to be free of Shizukana as they were for him to leave. Job done, he headed out, but not for the White Fang camp. Nothing to do there but wait around and be bored, and boredom would just have his mind wandering east to Katai. Instead, he found himself cutting through the fields, following a path he hadn't trod for years. The gap in the trees seemed smaller, and not just because he'd grown. The forest had begun to reclaim the trail in his absence, but the small branches and vines were easily cleared by his sword.
The path was a little harder to follow, but he could still see the signs. Eventually, the narrow trail opened up to a familiar clearing. The sound of rushing water had grown steadily louder along the way, assuring him he was on the right path.
Shizukana might not be his home, but this was still his waterfall.
It must've rained recently. The river surged stronger than usual, charging over the edge and smashing against the rocks below before continuing on its reckless path toward Shizukana. It would calm before it reached the village, hiding any trace of the chaos of the falls.
In a way, the river was like Adam. People depended on him for so much. On the outside, he tried to appear calm and in control, keeping them away from the destructive beast inside. Controlled power. He'd had to fight against impossible odds at every turn, carving a path through an unforgiving world on his own. His life went through twists and turns without warning, but still he pushed on, refusing to quit. He'd even fallen from time to time, crashing down to the harsh depths below, but that only served to make him stronger. The tumult of his past would someday lead to peace in the future. He just had to keep pressing forward until he found it.
Adam claimed his old spot, legs dangling over the cliff's edge as he took a deep breath, letting the chaos of the outside world be washed away for a brief moment. It was oddly calming to be surrounded by the crash and roar of the falls. He leaned back, uncaring for the moisture that tried in vain to soak through his blazer. His father's blazer, or so he liked to think of it, but made his own with the wilting rose across the back. Even that was born of his past, reminding him of happier days with Father Bernard and the simple life they'd led, once upon a time. The only bit of his past he'd allow to live on.
Adam lay still, letting the minutes drift by in silence with a smirk on his face. How long was this going to take? He didn't have any reason to ruin the peaceful moment and decided to wait and see. Patience had never been her strong suit, but it looked like the awkwardness of interrupting held her back. As funny as it would be to call her out, letting things stretch an uncomfortable amount of time proved far more amusing.
Finally, her impatience won out. "Adam?"
Just to mess with her, he pretended not to hear.
He could hear her slowly approach. "Adam?"
He let out a snore.
"I know you're awake."
"Prove it," he shot back as he felt a shadow cross his face. Cracking an eye open behind his mask, Adam was greeted by a slightly annoyed Blake looming over him.
"You're talking to me."
No sense of humor on this one. "I could be talking in my sleep. I've heard it's a pretty common problem."
"Yeah, well maybe you should sleepwalk off a cliff." Adam sat up with a chuckle. It was just too easy sometimes.
"Was wondering how long you were gonna stand there."
"You knew?" Of course he knew. Blake had been following him around ever since he joined the White Fang. After a while, it was hard not to notice her lurking in every shadow. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Adam shrugged. "More fun this way."
He had his aura up long before she kicked him, even if there wasn't much heat behind it. "Jerk." Blake plopped down beside him, copying his position with her feet dangling over the edge. "So, this is the famous waterfall of Shizukana."
Famous? Since wh- oh yeah. He had told her about this place once, at the edge of a waterfall in Menagerie, if he remembered 'd followed him back then, too, though this trip wasn't nearly as far or eventful. Not even a single Grimm to pass the time.
"It is," Adam confirmed. "I used to come here all the time. Not much else to do in Shizukana."
"I bet."
Adam pointed to the ledge across from them. "Right over there's where I saw my first Grimm. Scared the living daylights out of me." And rightfully so. He would've been little more than a mouthful to a Beowolf back then. It was almost funny to think how little he worried about them now. "Chased me all the way back to town. If it wasn't for Eve…well, let's just say I wouldn't be sitting here today."
He would've been just another nobody slaughtered by the Grimm. A sad blip of a statistic in Remnant's unforgiving history.
"Cerco was looking for you," Blake suddenly announced.
"Is that why you followed me?"
"Yes." Heh. Blake Belladonna, messenger girl. It didn't really suit her. "No. Not just because of Cerco."
"Worried I'll get lost?" Adam joked. He was the only one who knew his way around Shizukana. "So, what did the old man want?"
"He said to tell you he'd have everyone ready to leave by the time you came back." Cerco's way of saying they were just waiting on him. He never was any good at confrontation. Are…are you…"
Adam cocked his head. "Am I what?"
"Are you ready? To go back there, I mean."
She knew. Of course she knew. She'd seen the reports. Heard the truth from his own lips. Most of the men probably had no idea the hold Katai had on him, but Blake did. Bane, too, most likely. They'd been his closest friends ever since…since Jakob died. They knew this mission was about more than just rescuing a couple orphans.
"I don't know," Adam admitted. He hated how weak that made him sound. "It's stupid. I'm the one who came up with this mission. I volunteered to lead it. Yet here I am, second guessing myself all because of…because of…"
"It's okay," Blake assured him, reaching over to touch his hand.
Adam jerked away, pushing up from the ground as he stared at the waterfall. "It's not okay, Blake! It's not! I'm Adam Taurus, the scourge of Atlas. The indomitable warrior. I can't afford to be weak. To show fear. I'm supposed to be the one leading the charge of every battle. Facing impossible odds, only to come out on top. I'm not just beyond fear. I am fear!" At least to anyone who dared stand against him. The very mention of his name was enough to strike terror in the hearts of men. "So how can I be afraid of one woman?"
A demon. A monster. Things he told himself to justify being afraid of someone who was flesh and blood like the rest of them. Not even someone who could fight, like the Schnee Specialist. She'd nearly defeated him - should have defeated him - and yet he didn't truly fear her. The worst the Schnee could do was kill him. She could harm his body, but his soul was safe.
But then there was Alyssa. He'd been so weak back then. And not physically weak. Had he wanted to, he could've killed her easily, even as a kid. She had no aura. No training. No weapon. Yet she'd cut him deeper than any knife could ever hope to. Her cruelty had followed him when he fled, chasing him wherever he tried to hide. Even now, he could just about hear her cruel mockery at his panic. He'd barely escaped in the end, and now he wanted to go back there?
"You don't have to do it," Blake offered, trying her best to be helpful.
"I do. I have to face her." Because if he didn't, he'd never truly escape. He'd never be free of her. He'd live the rest of his life cowering before a specter, desperate not to let the world see just how much of a coward he really was. Even now, he could see the doubt on Blake's face. The concern. She was worried about him. Pitying him.
He hated that more than anything.
Adam took a deep breath to calm himself. When that failed, he took another. "I can't keep going on like this, Blake. This has to end. I can't keep living in fear."
He'd been living like that for so long. Despite the brave face he wore, it felt like he'd always been afraid. And not just of Alyssa. He'd feared the guards at Orostachys. The bandit tribe in Anima. Even here, he'd tasted fear for the very first time. True fear. The kind that robbed a man of hope. The same fear that would one day get him killed. Or worse, someone else.
Alyssa was right. "I'm a coward."
"I don't think you're a coward."
Blake stepped around in front of him, facing the mask that hid his true self. Carefully, she reached up and removed it, then pushed the ribbon - her ribbon - away from his eyes to reveal the scarred face beneath. Adam hated letting anyone see the real him, keeping his face hidden away from the world. Better they not see just how beaten and broken a man lay beneath the mask that was Adam Taurus. Better they forget the man and remember the legend.
But Blake wasn't interested in the legend. "You're the bravest man I've ever met."
"I'm not. I'm afraid."
"A brave man fights despite his fear," Blake recited. "You're allowed to be afraid, Adam. We're all afraid."
"But the men need someone strong."
"No, we don't. We need you. I-" Blake stopped, choosing her words carefully. "I think it's brave of you to face your past like this. And no matter what happens, we'll be right there with you. Not with Adam Taurus, the indomitable." Okay, now she was just mocking him. "With you. We've only gotten this far because of you. We'd follow you to hell if you asked, because I know you'd be the one to get us home safe."
He would, even if it killed him.
Blake handed him back his mask, the decorated plating staring up at him expectantly. "I'll head back. Take all the time you need. When you're ready, we'll be waiting." She brushed by him as she passed, leaving him to stare down at the Adam the world knew. "Oh, and Adam? Thanks."
Adam turned. "For what?" He hadn't done anything. Honestly, he ought to be thanking her.
"For everything." Her smile was so genuine, it almost hurt. "But mostly for letting me past the mask."
Blake left him alone with his thoughts, content in the knowledge that she was one of the only people on Remnant who truly knew him.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
The journey to Katai felt longer than he remembered. Then again, he'd never done it on foot before. The merchant wagons had never been the fastest, but riding always helped make the trip more bearable. Unfortunately, they hadn't brought any vehicles this time around, and Shizukana didn't even have a horse for him to borrow, which meant they were walking the whole way.
Despite the lesser mode of travel, they were making good time. He made sure to stop for breaks periodically, more for the men than himself. Aura and training meant he could've kept going for hours without slowing, but most of the White Fang didn't have that advantage, especially not the newer recruits from Nonemu. They were almost all from the outskirts, so fitness wasn't a huge concern, but that didn't make them indestructible. The extra stops were annoying but necessary. He'd rather not have his entire force collapsing the moment they reached Katai.
On the other hand, letting everyone rest up in Shizukana meant they didn't need much rest that night. Most people wouldn't dare travel after sundown in these parts, but being a fully faunus force had its advantages. They easily made up the ground they lost from the extra breaks that night, pushing further until he started recognizing the area.
Katai lay ahead. The lights of the walls, illuminating the immediate surroundings for the night visionless human guards, were just visible through the trees. Just to be safe, he had his men fall back a little further and break off the trail a good ways, setting up a rough camp away from any accidental onlookers before he and Blake crept quietly forward to scout out their target.
Katai had a few more guards than he remembered. Not enough to withstand their attack, should it come to that, but enough that they might feel brave enough to try. That could be a problem. He could probably take most of them himself, as long as he could get past the gates before they closed. This late at night, they were locked tight, but they'd open in the morning for merchants coming and going. With the heaviness of them, they wouldn't be able to shut fast enough to keep him out. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.
By the time they got back to camp, they only had a couple hours until sunrise. They'd wait just a little longer before approaching. Better to make sure the gates were open and waiting that way. Plus, the night guards would have turned in their weapons and returned home, giving them less resistance to worry about.
Sleep didn't come easy. In fact, it didn't come at all. Every time he settled down and tried to rest, she was there. Mocking him, taunting, and far worse. It was almost like being this close made her stronger. He knew it was all in his head. Alyssa wasn't some all-powerful witch invading his dreams, yet only a few hours from potentially facing her again, he couldn't help but worry.
The sun found him pacing outside the camp, having abandoned his attempts at a nap. Between Alyssa's haunting and his own nerves, there just wasn't any hope of sleep. He'd snuck closer to Katai, lingering somewhere between the horrible town and his own camp. His men didn't need to see him like this. As far as they knew, the raid on Katai was just another mission. A non-lethal mission. They'd force the town to surrender, secure the orphanage, take the faunus children, and go. No muss. No fuss. Just get the job done, call in the airships, and head home.
That's how it had to be. The orphanage wouldn't exactly be a hard target, so most of the men would be busy watching the guards and the armory. He'd handle the orphanage himself. Madame de Thom may have been intimidating back when he was a kid, but she'd hardly pose a threat to him now. None of the staff would. He'd just order everyone outside, make it clear to the vile woman and her despicable daughter that he'd overcome their years of torture, then take the kids and leave. The sooner he was out of there, the better.
Ahead, he could hear the bustle of Katai as the town awoke and began their day, unaware of what lurked nearby. Adam found a secluded spot closer to the edge and watched until the first merchant wagon left, eager to be on their way and cover more ground. With any luck, they'd almost all be gone by the time the White Fang attacked. Not that it mattered that much. Sure, they had their own guards that might bolster Katai's forces, but not enough to hold him and his men off. Still, the less fighting, the better.
Cerco had everyone ready by the time he came back. Their new recruits may have lacked experience, but their discipline was a credit to Yuma and Trifa. He'd make sure to pass the praise along to Sienna. Good work deserved to be recognized.
"Remember," Adam instructed, gathering them all for a final talk before the attack, "we're here for the kids. Nothing else. Blake, Bane, and I will lead the attack. Cerco, I want the men visible but out of range until we give the all clear." Or call for backup if things went south. Either way, aura users went in first. "Afterwards, have a team secure the armory and check for a landing zone nearby. There should be some space behind the orphanage."
At least, he hoped so. They might've built on that land by now. Worst case, they'd have to land outside the walls, but that would be a mess. He'd have to guard against Grimm out there, while the guards in Katai might decide to close the gates and take their chances in a shootout. Better if they could find a spot inside and keep everything guarded until the last possible second.
"Once we've rescued the children, we'll regroup with Cerco and call in our exfil. Keep it clean, and we'll have you home in time for dinner." Well before dinner, if all went well. "Cerco's in charge from here on out. Follow his lead, and if anything happens, trust the three of us to sort it out." By force, if necessary. "For the White Fang."
"For the Fang!" Their voices rang in unison. Hopefully, the guards wouldn't hear them this far out. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter. Adam and his forces would be inside within the hour, whether they liked it or not.
"Let's move."
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Guarding a place like Katai could get pretty boring. Sure, there was always the chance of Grimm, but the walls of Katai had held for decades. The guards might not be able to withstand a Grimm in a fair fight, but when they were busy trying to scramble up a wall, Grimm made relatively simple targets. Put enough holes in them, and they'd die quick enough. Bandits were more dangerous, but why bother attacking somewhere like Katai when there were so many merchant caravans to prey on instead? All in all, a shift on the wall normally meant hours of boredom and patrols where nothing happened.
Today wasn't a normal day.
A single person approaching the gate wasn't cause for alarm. Making the journey to Katai on foot was rare but not unheard of. That person wearing a Grimm mask and brandishing a sword? That was new.
"Who goes there?"
Showtime.
Adam sliced through the air in front of him. On cue, Blake and Bane emerged from the trees and joined him. "I am Adam Taurus of the White Fang!" he called out. A few guns were instantly pointed his way, but no one fired. He could see other guards further down the wall hurrying to their side of the town. "Too long have you allowed the oppression of the helpless to continue. That ends today."
There. Direct. Succinct. What more could they ask for?
A lot, apparently. "What?"
They wanted the longer version? That could wait until he got inside. "Lay down your arms! Do so, and I give you my word none of you shall be harmed." They could probably figure out the alternative on their own.
The guard who'd first addressed him - a younger man that had probably never aimed a gun at a real person before - looked around in confusion. "I, uh…I'm not sure I can give that order."
"You would fight us?" The man's face paled further as he looked beyond the trio, no doubt spotting Cerco and his men gathering further back. He had to know just how pointless resisting would be.
"N-no! It's not that. I just…can you hold on a minute?" Huh? Adam waited, not out of compliance, but just stunned by the strange response. The guy up top was arguing with someone. "Stay there a sec. Captain's on his way."
"Well, that was…interesting," Blake summarized.
"Now what?" Bane asked, utterly confused. To be fair, so was Adam. He'd figured they'd either surrender or try to fight. Fetching someone else because it was above their pay grade hadn't exactly made the list.
"I guess we wait." The gates weren't moving, so there wasn't really any reason to push things, and if their captain could be reasoned with, they might be able to avoid any fighting. Charging might spook the guards into fighting, which would be a real pain to deal with. They could always attack if the captain refused, so what would waiting really cost them.
He definitely wasn't just getting cold feet about the whole mission and dragging things out to buy himself some time.
Eventually, another man arrived that just had to be the captain. He looked a lot more seasoned than the first guy and glared down at Adam while the younger guard quietly explained the situation. Blake tapped her foot impatiently through it all while Bane spent the time looking around at absolutely nothing.
By the time the captain finally addressed them, Adam had begun to regret waiting. "Private Kwon tells me you intend to attack Katai. Is that true?"
"Only if you do not surrender." How could he forget that detail? Did this Kwon guy want to get everyone killed?
"Shouldn't you be out attacking Atlas or blowing up a parade or somethin'? Katai ain't exactly a big place."
"Katai has allowed a horrible crime to go unpunished. We've come to-"
"Cut the crap, Taurus." Awfully bold of him. "Stop spittin' your propaganda and just tell me what you're after. The mayor? I'm not exactly his biggest fan, but can't say he's done anything worth killing over. Not many faunus here, but they get along just fine. So what, exactly, is this horrible sin we've committed that has the White Fang at our gates?"
Fine. He wanted it plainly? Then Adam would give it to him. "Your orphanage is run by people who prey on children. Faunus children. I'm here to set them free."
"Prey on- son, I don't know what you think's happening over there, but that de Thom lady wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Trust me. She would." No one knew better than him just how cruel and vicious Madam de Thom could be. Alyssa was the real problem, but her mother bore just as much blame for letting her vile daughter get away with everything under her watch.
"Oh, so this is personal, then." Yes. Yes it was. "That's right. I remember hearing how you came from that orphanage. Thought they hauled you off to Keseki for what you did to that girl." They tried. Thankfully, the sheriff intervened and got him out, likely at the cost of his own job. "Look, whatever issues you had growing up, ain't no reason to take it out on all these innocent people. You want the faunus orphans? That's between you and Madam de Thom. Work something out and take them with you. Find 'em some nice faunus families to live with. Gods know they could use a good home." Finally, something they agreed on. "Just so long as you don't hurt no one, including the people runnin' the place."
"I have no intention of hurting anyone." No matter how satisfying it would feel. "Now, we're coming in. If anyone tries to stop us-"
"Yeah, yeah. C'mon inside." Several of his men made to protest. "Stand down, boys. This ain't a fight we can win. We'll just have to take the gentleman at his word."
Sarcastic, but sensible.
Adam waved everyone forward. He, Blake, and Bane made it through the gates without anyone getting in their way. The commotion had drawn a bit of a crowd as word spread through Katai, to the point the streets were lined with people watching the invaders. Idiots. If the White Fang were as violent as the humans always claimed, this would've been an absolute massacre. Some of the guards were there, forming a barrier between him and the citizens, but they seemed more focused on keeping people back than actually protecting them.
By the time Cerco led the rest of the White Fang in, the captain had come down to meet them. "Orphanage is up this way. Then again, you already know that, don't you?" He could stand to lose the attitude, preferably before he lost something else. "I'll take you there myself. Wanna make sure you don't do anything to the place."
"Fine." He could come see the truth for himself. "Cerco, secure the armory."
"No need for that," the captain tried. "Already told you we would stand down, but we'll need those weapons after you leave."
"We're not taking anything. Just the orphans." Besides, Katai's weapons were worthless next to the equipment they'd stolen from Atlas. His men were armed with military weapons, not a bunch of hand me down rifles. Katai could keep its pathetic arsenal.
"If you say so."
The four of them marched their way across town, every step watched by the fearful citizens of Katai who seemed resigned to their fate and wanted to at least see what happened before their execution. No doubt they expected Adam to slaughter the human orphans in some sort of cruel sacrifice, or maybe burn down the orphanage with everyone locked inside. Despite that, none of them so much as lifted a finger to stop him.
Typical. Humans talked a big game, but that was all they did. Talk. None of them ever bothered to actually do anything. The SDC abuses its workers? Someone ought to look into that. Atlas passes more anti-faunus laws? I wouldn't vote for them. Orphans in danger? Somebody do something! Somebody else, of course.
Adam wasn't Alyssa's first victim, and he'd be willing to bet he wasn't the last. How many others had gone through the nightmares of that orphanage because no one bothered to look into it? How many had Alyssa scared for life, all because it was easier to ignore?
He wasn't innocent, either. He'd known all about what went on here. He'd escaped, but never bothered to do anything about it. He could've told someone. Reported it to the authorities in Mistral. Soji and the rest of the caravan would've backed him up. Even after that, when he'd joined the White Fang, he'd steered clear of Katai, never once bothering to use his newfound power to help those in need. He'd never be able to live that shame down, but at least now he was actually doing something.
He'd rescue those orphans, free them from Alyssa's clutches, and hopefully expose her for the monster she was. As terrible as it sounded, he hoped at least one of the orphans could back up his claims. Let this captain see what he'd allowed to continue within his walls and see if he was as just as he pretended to be.
The orphanage loomed ahead, sending a chill down Adam's spine. How could it not? So much had gone wrong here. He'd been brought to this building after Father Bernard died. Suffered horrible abuse from Alyssa. Lost Eve. Had everything stolen from him. And the moment he dared to push back, they'd condemned him for a crime he didn't commit, forcing him to leave his friends behind. Erik had probably taken his place as Alyssa's new toy. Nila…
He'd make things right.
The captain pushed on ahead, knocking on the familiar entryway until a young boy answered the door. A human boy. He was probably one of the older teens, judging by his height. Word must not have reached the orphanage on their arrival.
"Mornin' son," the captain drawled. "Is the madam in? Got a few folks here interested in adopting some faunus kids. "That was putting it nicely. Then again, he probably didn't want to panic anyone, especially not some kid who'd just answered the door for them.
"I'll go get her," the boy promised before disappearing back inside.
"See? That easy. Could've come here and adopted them any time you wanted." He still didn't get it. Whatever. Adam didn't need the captain to trust him. Maybe he'd trust the orphans.
"Ah, Madam de Thom. Glad you could join us."
Adam looked up…and froze. Madam Gael de Thom had always been a horrible woman. Large, draped in more makeup and jewelry than he'd known existed, and always looking down on him. She could appear as friendly and kind as can be when talking with adults, but that only lasted so long as there was someone to impress. After that, she turned back into the domineering taskmaster he'd done his best to avoid. Facing her again as an adult - apparently as a prospective adopter, no less - should've earned him that same fakeness, which would at least make things a little easier.
But this wasn't her.
The woman before him was so much worse.
"Captain. I heard you had someone looking to adopt one of my children."
"More than one, actually," he corrected, still building up to the truth. "This is-"
"Adam Taurus."
The way she hummed the name made him want to vomit. He tightened his fists, hoping to hide how badly his hands shook. He'd thought he was ready. Oh, who was he kidding? He wasn't ready, and he never would be.
Alyssa looked almost exactly the same as she always had. She may have added a few pounds, but she was still the type of woman who turned heads, and she knew it. She practically dripped with confidence as she came down the steps.
"I'm surprised to see you here, especially after what you did to me." What he'd done to- what? Was she insane? "Captain, why exactly did you let this madman into our city?"
"Wasn't exactly by choice, madam."
"Oh? Is that so? You never did shy away from taking what you wanted." What he wanted was to be about a million miles away from here. "So tell me, Adam, what brings you all the way back here? Finally decided to settle down and start a family?" Her eyes drifted over to Blake, who instinctively stepped closer to Adam. "Not bad. A little young, but who am I to judge?"
"We're not-"
"Don't," Adam hissed, cutting Blake off.
Too late. "Oh?" The fake smile never left her face as she looked over Bane. "I never realized you swung that way, especially with all that attention you gave little Nila."
How? How was she like this? Here he was, one of the most dangerous men in all of Remnant, marching into Katai unopposed, and yet she still had all the power. "I'm not here for you."
"You're not? Then what on Remnant could you be here for?"
"I want the faunus children," Adam growled, forcing each word out. "The ones you've been abusing."
"Abusing? Oh, Adam, don't tell me you're still making up lies about me." Adam didn't dignify that with an answer, knowing she was just toying with him. The sooner he got the children out of her clutches, the better. "Very well. While I'm not thrilled with the idea of turning them over to a bunch of terrorists, it seems my hands are tied."
Just like yours were more than a few times.
Great. Now there were two of them.
Alyssa called out for someone, summoning the boy from earlier. "Go fetch the faunus children. Tell them to gather their things. Someone is here to adopt them." The boy hurried away to do as he was told. "See? We can be civil, even after you left on such bad terms." Because of her. "Now, why don't the two of us go wait in my office? We can catch up on old times."
"Madam, I wouldn't recommend-"
"Thank you, captain, but I can take it from here." The captain stepped back, following her command. Even he seemed to wilt before her. "Besides, if Adam wanted to harm me, there's little either of us could do to stop him. There is, however, paperwork to be done. We can use my desk."
Just like we used to. Hm, I wonder if it's the same one. Or maybe she kept her mom's desk. That thing looked pretty sturdy. Bet you could bend her over it and-
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"So rude. Don't worry. You can bring your little friend along." And let her become another Nila? Absolutely not. "Fine. I can fill out the forms later. I don't suppose you plan to pay the adoption fee, do you?" Over his dead body. "A shame. After all we did for you, you won't even help support the other orphans."
"Adam…" Adam ignored them both, keeping his mouth shut to deny her any extra ammunition. Why did he ever suggest coming back here? After all this time, he was just as powerless as ever before her.
Eventually, a group of five children were led out of the orphanage. Two boys. Three girls. All of them faunus. All of them worried.
"Children, this is Adam. He used to be an orphan here when he was your age. Say hello." What was her game?
"Hello, Mister Adam." The resigned chorus sounded miserable.
"He wants to take you all away to live somewhere else. Isn't that wonderful?" No answer. None of them dared to even look at him. "No? Don't you want to go with him?"
"No," the oldest girl answered. The others shook their heads along with her. "We're happy here."
They sure didn't look it.
"Oh my. It looks like they don't want to go, Adam." She smiled victoriously, a hint of her true self bleeding through for just an instant. "Do you really want to tear them away from their homes, just so you can pretend you're a good person?"
Adam hurried to one of them - a young boy with wolf ears that kept his eyes locked on the ground. Adam knelt, but still the boy refused to look at him. "It's okay. I know what she's like…what she does to you. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here to rescue you."
He saw the flash of hope in the boy's eyes, only to watch it die an ugly death when Alyssa coughed.
Adam tried the girl next to him. "Don't worry. She can't hurt you anymore."
"Can we go back inside now?"
Adam nearly fell backwards. What? They…they didn't want to go? He grabbed the first boy by the arm, only for him to wince and pull away. Carefully, Adam lifted his sleeve to reveal a nasty bruise.
"Careful, Adam. Poor Navin took a nasty fall a few days ago. His arm's still recovering."
They both knew that was a load of bull. "You did this." Adam looked to Alyssa, who seemed far too pleased with herself. "You did this to him."
"I fell," Navin repeated.
No, he…he couldn't have. It all sounded so familiar. Injuries that were covered up. Refusing to talk. Adam didn't see a young boy named Navin. He saw himself.
Alyssa held all the power back then. How much worse was it now that she was fully in charge? Here he was, offering to free them, but none of them wanted to go. Why? Why would they want to stay and endure her torture?
He already knew why. Alyssa had sunk her claws deep into them, just as she'd done to him so long ago. They'd never be free of her. None of them truly wanted to stay, but she'd broken each and every one of them to the point they didn't dare oppose her. When faced with a choice of trusting a random stranger to save them, they still couldn't even imagine defying her.
He'd been the same back then. Too scared to tell anyone for fear of what might happen. He'd forced Nila to keep quiet, too, all to protect them. Or so he kept telling himself. What exactly had he gained from complying? Alyssa never stopped. She never gave him so much as a break from her tormenting, even when he obeyed. Yet still, he'd blindly followed her orders, somehow convinced it was the right choice. The easier choice. The safer choice. And all along, she became worse and worse.
"There you have it, Adam. They'd rather stay." She'd won, and she knew it. All his power, and he couldn't do a blasted thing to help these kids. Not without killing her.
He'd promised not to. Sienna told him no bloodshed on this mission. He just needed to get in, get the kids, and get out. If he could prove her crimes and make her face punishment, then all the better, but that was looking more and more hopeless by the minute. Still, he couldn't help the way his hand slowly moved for his sword.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," the captain warned, sensing the growing danger. He knew he couldn't stop Adam, but he'd die trying all the same. His men would turn in an instant, convinced the White Fang had gone back on their promise. It would be an all-out war. He'd win, but at what cost? How many of his men would fall in the fighting? What measures would Mistral take to respond? He'd be condemning countless faunus to death, just to strike down a single woman.
And the worst part was, he still wanted to. Knowing just how disastrous it would prove, he still wanted her to die. His fingers tightened around the hilt. One swipe. That's all it would take. He could end her in the blink of an eye, long before the captain could stop him. Or he could kill the captain first and possibly prevent further violence. They'd come alone, so no one would know at first. He could get the kids out and retreat before the fighting erupted, leaving two bodies behind to rot. An innocent man and a monster.
Two of the girls stepped between him and Alyssa, making themselves human shields for the one who'd hurt them most.
"Now then, I think you've overstayed your welcome, Adam. It was so good to see you again. Feel free to visit sometime."
No. She couldn't win. Not like this. He had to do something. But what exactly could he do? She held all the cards here.
The captain. A longshot, but the man seemed like a decent person. Adam just needed him to see the truth. "You can't let her take these kids. She's been abusing them."
"Abusing them?" Alyssa laughed, the sound far too pleasant to have come from such a creature. "I've provided for them. Given them a home, food, and clothes. That's more than you and your little White Fang have ever done for them."
"You got any proof to back up those claims?"
"Look at his arm!" Adam yelled, pulling Navin's sleeve up again. "She did that to him. That's what she does."
The captain looked to Navin. "Son, is that true? Did she hurt you?"
Please say yes. Adam could help him. He could help them all. All they had to do was tell the truth, and he'd make sure she could never hurt them again.
He knew the answer even before Navin spoke. "No. I fell."
"Sorry, stranger, but it looks like the kids don't want to go with you."
Adam's heart dropped. They…they'd rather stay. He stared into Navin's eyes, but there was no hope there. He'd seen that look before. It had stared back at him from the mirror countless times. Navin was just like him - resigned to a fate that would haunt him until the day he died.
Adam had to get him out of there. He had to get them all out of there. "I'm taking them."
"We don't want to go."
"Yes you do," Adam assured them. They didn't know what they wanted. Someday, they'd look back on today and thank him. "You're coming with me. I won't let her hurt you ever again. And someday…someday…"
He'd what? Come back and do it all over again? The next time a faunus orphan came to Katai, they'd just be subject to the same horrors. Adam couldn't always be there. She'd probably do even worse, too, just to spite him.
She was a monster. An honest to goodness monster. He'd always known it, but he'd forgotten just how terrible she could be. "'I'll find a way to stop you," Adam promised. "I won't let you win."
"What are you even talking about?" She was good. Too good.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else." Not one more soul. He'd put a stop to her, once and for all, even if it killed him. Screw the costs. He couldn't let her continue causing so much pain. She'd pay for her crimes, and if society wouldn't hold her accountable, then he would. "These are the last kids you'll ever hurt."
"Easy now, son. Don't go doing anything foolish." The captain was already pulling his gun out, ready to respond to violence in kind. He'd be the next to fall, along with anyone else who dared defend such a worthless piece of scum. If he had to burn Katai to the ground to send this demon back to hell, then so be it. "You can't go making up stories about folks just to justify your violence."
"Who said he made it up?"
Time seemed to stop at Alyssa's voice. Not the cheerful, singsong tone that she hid behind, but the mocking voice that he'd heard in his head so many times. The real Alyssa.
"Oh, Adam, you're so much fun," she laughed, the bitter sound causing all of the children to flinch along with him. "You were always my favorite. So much fire. Not like the rest of this garbage."
"Madam?"
"Can it, captain, or I'll have you marched into the forest for Grimm bait." The captain - the leader of Katai's security - stood speechless. "Much better. Men are so easy. A sweet voice. A pretty smile. They just can't resist." Alyssa rubbed the heads of the two girls instinctively shielding their abuser before shoving them aside and striding forward. "What? You thought you could just waltz in here and take what belonged to me? I thought you were smarter than that."
The old man still couldn't quite understand what was happening. "What are you saying?"
Alyssa rolled her eyes at his obliviousness. "I'm saying he's right, captain. Things around here are so…boring! Watching a bunch of snot nosed brats all day while everyone else gets to live their lives. So, from time to time, I make my own fun."
The back of her hand softly brushed against Navin's cheek. He shuddered but stood still, knowing better than to fight back. Even when she gave his arm a squeeze and tears sprang to his eyes, he kept quite aside from a tiny, pained squeak.
"Better," she complimented. "Next time, maybe you'll learn to keep your mouth shut."
"You can't-"
"I can't what, captain?" Alyssa demanded, any trace of the sweet woman that had greeted them earlier well and truly gone. "Go on. Tell me. What can't I do?"
"It's not right."
"Silly man. Life isn't about right and wrong. It's about power. That's all that really matters in this gods forsaken world." Alyssa's eyes slid back to Adam. "Isn't that right, Adam?"
"I could have you arrested."
"Can you?" The captain didn't move, proving her point. "Go ahead. I won't stop you. Cuff me." She held out her hands for him. "I could have Navin go fetch my handcuffs. He knows where I keep them." No one doubted her at this point, finally seeing the true Alyssa. "No? You sure? I've committed a crime, captain. Arrest me. Or call the sheriff. He'll do it. Unless you think my idiot brother might side with me instead. We could ask the mayor. I'm sure Daddy will get to the bottom of this for you."
Alyssa was terrible, but she was also terribly well connected.
"That's what I thought. Now put that gun away before you hurt yourself." The captain complied, as everyone did when Alyssa got her claws in them. "You really thought you had all the power, Adam, just because you learned to swing a sword? I taught you better than that. Real power is in control."
"You don't control me."
"I don't?" Alyssa held her hands wide. "Then kill me. Prove you're more powerful, once and for all. That's why you came here, after all, isn't it? To try and convince yourself you were stronger than me?"
N-no. He'd come for the kids. To save them.
"This is my turf, Adam. I left you the rest of Remnant, yet here you are, crawling back to me. Just like I knew you always would." Alyssa took a deep breath in holding it before exhaling in a primal sigh of pleasure. "Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. You want me to leave the kids alone. I haven't had a good lay in a while. They try, but they aren't anywhere as good as you were." Navin and the others ducked their heads further, somehow ashamed at not being as much fun for their abuser. "Stay the night. We'll have some fun, and in the morning, I'll even let you take one of them with you."
"What?!"
"Oh, come on now. I know you heard me." He did. He just coil;dn't believe what she was saying. "You get one of the kids. I get a good time. Everybody wins. Even you. I still remember some of your favorites." He very much doubted that, unless she planned to hurl herself out a window onto the pavement. "Make it good, and I'll even give the kids a break. See? YOu're helping everyone."
"How could you-"
"Oh, don't worry, you can come too," Alyssa said, interrupting Blake's complaint. "Wouldn't be the first time Adam brought a friend. Or did he not tell you about Nila?" He had, though she knew the moment Blake's face paled. "Don't worry. I'll make sure both of you have fun. Even more than you usually do."
"We…we aren't…we've…"
"Really? Never?" Blake shook her head frantically. "Well, that changes things." No, it didn't. "Adam, I want both of you tonight, or the deal's off."
No. Heck no. There was no way he'd give her yet another victim, especially not Blake. He wouldn't turn her into another Nila. "There's no deal."
Rather than look disappointed, Alyssa's smile only grew wider. "Let's try this again, shall we? It's been a long day. One way or another, I'm having some fun tonight. So, either you and…Blake, was it? Either you two are going to amuse me, or Navin and one of his friends will." All of the children shied away from Navin. "Meanwhile, our pathetic little captain is gonna keep his mouth shut, or I'll make sure tonight is his last night in Katai. Understood?"
Silence.
"I said, understood?" The captain nodded in shame, unwilling to risk his life and career for them. Not that it would do much good. The mayor had her back, and out here, his word was law. "Now don't look at me like that, Adam. You brought this on yourself, coming back here. You should thank me." Thank her? For what? He had a bad feeling she'd tell him. "It's obvious your little brat here wants it. Admit it. She's kinda cute. I can see why you like her."
"Shut up."
"I didn't hear a no in there," Alyssa taunted, leaning in so close he could smell her. His stomach clenched at the familiar odor. Quietly, sensually, she whispered against his ear, "Think about it Adam. A young girl in her prime, and she's all yours. I'll even let you have first go. After tonight, she'll be all yours, just like you always wanted." Adam felt the warmth on his ear before she leaned back, licking her lips. "Face it, Adam. After all this time, you're just like me."
"I'm n-not." He hated the way his voice cracked as he spoke, making him sound so small.
"You are, Adam. Why else would you bring your little plaything to me?" He hadn't. And Blake wasn't like that. "Because you missed me, Adam. You need me. And I'm so proud of you. You've become strong. Powerful. I want to taste it. I want to feel that power. And I want to help you.
"The strong take what they want. I took you, and now you'll take her. And I must say, you certainly have good taste. Just grown enough to really have some fun. Not to mention she's a cat faunus. I mean, I always knew you liked pus-"
Adam jolted, but not nearly as hard as Alyssa did when Blake's hand struck.
"Shut. up."
"And fire, too. A real-"
Blake struck again, her aura flaring from the force of the blow. Alyssa fell to one knee, but more importantly, she didn't speak.
"Adam's nothing like you, you…you monster!" Blake towered over the downed demon, shaking with rage. "Adam cares about people. You only care about yourself! He's fighting so scum like you can't hurt anyone again. Not him. Not me. And not these kids!"
Alyssa wiped her mouth, somehow still smirking despite her split lip. "Oh please. I know Adam better than anyone. After all, I made him." More like she'd unmade him. "He's just as cruel and vicious as me on the inside. Just wait. You'll see. He can pretend all he wants, but someday, he'll show you all what he really is. And when that day comes - and even you, little kitten, turn on him - he'll come running back to me. Because I'm the only one who-"
"Rargh!" Blake hit her square in the mouth, knocking her to the cold, unforgiving pavement. "I said shut up!"
Adam watched in shock as Blake's foot struck Alyssa's side. Again. And again. Tears poured down her face as she screamed at the vile monster at her feet. With a pained yell, she delivered the final blow to Alyssa's face. Blood trickled across the once beautiful features. Now, battered and bruised, Alyssa's true, ugly self finally began to show.
Blake panted as she stood over Alyssa, glaring down in a twisted look of pain and vitriol. Alyssa wasn't moving, though Adam could see her breathing. When it seemed the silence couldn't last any longer, Blake's attention snapped to the captain. "Arrest her."
"A-arrest…"
"You heard me." Blake marched over, standing several inches shorter than the man yet seeming a thousand times taller. "She admitted to her crimes. Arrest her."
It took him a minute to gather his thoughts, looking between the terrorist before him and the true monster on the ground. "R-right. I…I'll need my men."
Blake shot a single round into the air. Almost immediately, half a dozen guards came running up the street in their direction. "Here they come."
"Captain, are you al- good heavens! What happened here?"
The captain shook himself, but it did little for him. "You two, take Miss de Thom into custody. Hold her in the barracks. Don't let her brother anywhere near her. The rest of you, with me."
"Where are we going?"
"To deal with the mayor." Before he left, the captain turned to Blake. "I…I'm sorry. We'll make this right. I promise."
"Don't promise me." Blake pointed to the five children watching nearby. "Promise them."
"I promise," he repeated. "Take them. Get them as far away from here as you can. And…and thank you. Both of you."
Through it all, Adam could only stare at the ground where Alyssa had fallen. The small bloodstains didn't seem real. After all, demons didn't bleed. He wasn't the only one locked on the hallowed spot. Five more sets of eyes stared in disbelief, unsure what had just happened.
Alyssa was gone. Well and truly gone. Adam didn't know if he should jump for joy, vomit, pass out, or all three. In the end, he did nothing. Just stood there dumbfounded at the place where a monster had been defeated.
"You're safe now," Blake assured the children. The words hit him just as much. "Bane, call in the airships. We're leaving."
"I'll go tell Cerco," Bane confirmed, leaving Blake with the victims she'd just rescued.
All six of them.
The Slappening.
This was a pivotal chapter that I've had waiting in the wings for a long time. Opening paragraph is a mirror of Chapter 1's opening. It's also exactly 100 chapters since Alyssa first abused Adam, which felt too perfect. Wasn't planning on it being a 10k word behemoth, but here we are. Tried not to undercut the seriousness too much with the references and stupid moments, but had to slip in a few. Gotta get a little light before delving into the dark.
Adam tries to face his abuser, only to freeze up in the moment. Don't have firsthand experience of this kind of stuff (thank goodness), but I imagine it's at least vaguely accurate. The children's reactions reflect Adam's when he was younger. They don't always make sense from the outside, but she has such a hold on them that they can't bring themselves to oppose her. Even with Adam offering to take them away from it all. After all, he's just some guy who showed up and claimed to want to help. They don't know if he actually can. What happens if he fails and they tried to go with him? Alyssa would just make them suffer. In their minds, it's not worth the risk, especially since they assume he'll fail.
In the end, Blake has to be the one to break her hold, proving everyone needs some help now and then.
Next chapter (obligatory Harry Potter reference): Blake has given Alyssa a slap. Adam is free!