Cartoonify Yourself

Adam felt like he was holding his breath for an eternity as he awaited her words on the matter. The world of Remnant showed him that you can’t always place your hope on others. But right here... right now... He was proceeding to belay that usual line of thought. He was holding onto that hope that Yang would want to perhaps... start over. His life was filled with singular chances, of which, were almost always wasted and amounted to absolutely nothing. He just wanted this one to... please work out. Adam was very exhausted of his mistakes.

The Taurus knew all too well that is what he wanted from his uncle, but he never could get it, never could even dream of getting it. And his mind wandered to the notion of his events coming full circle. The person who took his eye from him... he killed them, especially when it became apparent he wanted no second chance. It’d only be pure... irony... and justice, if Yang fulfilled that circle and got him in return. He’d be too consumed by guilt to resist... it’d be so easy...

His horrid train of thought towards himself was preemptively cut off by Yang’s initial starting words, her words in agreement but her mouth was in a coy sort of manner. Then a chuckle escaped her lips, full... surprise, but not of the fear variant. A pleasant one. She was... actually considering it. She was willing to meet him halfway, that’s why she even came here in the first place, she...

Adam finally allowed himself to breath easier, subtle enough where it’d just look like he was taking in some air before responding. The bull Faunus actually let a small, cascading grin form on his face as he took a bit of his food, at her words, before responding in kind to her. Maybe... this all could work out. Like he hoped it would. Second chances were rare indeed: “That could be arranged, Yang”.

“I can certainly understand that notion, always been skeptical with the feeling medicine gives internally”. Adam mused to the other, knowing the fact that everyone has different interactions whether in the past or present with the wonders of modern medicine. But he knew all too well that the feeling could be either overused whether on purpose or incidental. He didn’t peg her for someone that would overindulge, she was way too self deprecating for such.

“Wouldn’t be any problem, I’m a frequent visitor of our alcohol stores...” The Taurus watched as the other make a go for sitting up, actively surprising him as he got closer to make sure nothing bad happened or would entail. Succeeding that, he actively spectated her attempting to arise... only to plop back onto the bed once more. Seemingly, she was well enough to sit up, but not yet stand.

“We actually do have work for you, if you’re up for it. Plenty do around here with what recent events, could always need another pair of hands such as yourself”. Adam, knowing that this was his prime opportunity, made a start of a go for it with the woman. He didn’t want her to suffer the trip of leaving tomorrow if he could for certain avoid it, but he’d have to choose his coming words carefully.

“You may believe whatever you wish... Yang”. That was the first time using her name, that was the name Blake used. It was... weird, finally saying it. DIdn’t feel like he had the right for it. Still, he continued quick after what he said: “You can also communicate with Blake about this if you *wish* to, I’m not the only one that was there that night. I’m sure she’d be more than willing to tell you...”

Hm... why come to him? Without... Blake? As backup? To fact check him?

Unless...

His train of thought was quickly SHATTERED when he finally saw the state she was in reeling from her outburst after he had converse with her, watching her piece herself together. Adam was the model of sincere calmness and tranquility during her aforementioned yelling, letting her say what she needed to, but his expression softened a bit in concern on seeing her haggardly reassemble herself and try to calm herself. When she spoke up again, her voice and tone was much more easier, but she asked...

For... an apology? Council members demanded his aid, students demanded their revenge, EVERYONE demanded an explanation... but this one. The person he hurt the most... wanted an apology from him? It was... bizarre, as he felt no amount of words could ever make up for what he’s done, or ever will.

But he would try and do it for her, if it brought her some measure of peace.

“All my life... I’ve tried to do the right thing. Almost-- No.... Most certainly, all but one of my calls were cretinous in nature. No matter how much good intention I try to put behind them, I always end up fucking it up, making it worse than the problem we had. I’ve hurt my friends, and people who didn’t deserve the pain they got with all the mistakes I had made and continued to make”. Adam’s tone was unfeigned and heartfelt, evidently aware that no matter how much good he attempted, he always would mess up. He wasn’t the sort of person to pull it off. Never can get a handle on it. This... good guy stuff. He was horrendous at it. He continued, in his same unostentatious voice: “But most of all. What is and always will be one of my worst mistakes... Was hurting you. Whatever I had planned, to have you avoid any pain... I failed. Not only that, but I fucked up spectacularly in that regard. Your loss was the final indication that I need to stop trying to help unless it gets asked for, because I’m just... plain bad at this. One day, if I can survive that long and if we’ve continued to interact, i’d wish to ask for you forgiveness. But right now... right here... I know better than that".

“...Cinder had her two tools Emerald and Mercury kill my old friend, Tukson. All that power... and all she can think of using it for is hurting the ones we love”. He understood the pain of having people *ripped* away from you, no one better. Adam supposed the same could be said about him. All of his strengths, his virtues, his qualities... but what the best he could do wasn’t very nice.

And then *finally* came the question he was waiting for. His darted from the juice he was finishing off to wet his drying throat from the sheer amount of exposition he was giving onto Yang to the women herself. Even with all the context, he couldn’t blame her for wanting more. For wanting more.

“You’re absolutely right. When I sounded the retreat for my forces, Cinder Fall was none the wiser that I pulled out her support, leaving her with her Grimm. I was on my way out... when both Blake and I rolled bad luck to run into each other”. He took this moment to directly address the woman before her, so she had the last bit of context before he revealed the last bit: “I don’t know how much you *truly* know about Blake, quite frankly, that’s your business. But for this recollection to make ANY sense, you need know: Blake has a cover, a fictitious account so the authorities of Vale could not touch her or impede her. *Most* don’t know she stayed with the White Fang when her parents left it, and we’d like to keep it that way. Even WITH the CCT down, if word got out that she crossed paths with the enemy commander and she wasn’t even touched? That’d be plenty of proof enough for the Council of Vale that she was an accessory to my crimes, as there was some suspicions already... I wasn’t willing to drag another friend down with me, you have to understand that at least”.

“There was a mutual agreement between us to ‘make it seem real.’ As if there was an attempt to fight for our lives, to show Vale she’s one their side... it was the least I could for her. I didn’t want to take her second chance from her”. Adam actually proceeded to slid the part of the garment that fits over his left  shoulder, to reveal a fresh but deep scar on said shoulder. He pointed out: “If she was actually trying to kill me, she would of lobbed off the entire shoulder”.

“And then... when I was finishing our *fight*... you came in. I didn’t even know you were there, I only finally noticed when you yelled at me, for good reason”. She honestly startled him a bit that night, he honestly wasn’t expecting any of those remaining to be there. But he surmised this woman was filled with surprises. He continued: “With what little time you gave me, I planned to take out my sword, flip the blade to my hand, and then clonk you on the head to knock you out. However... you closed the gap too quick, I only had enough time to just take out the blade before you were in my reach and then it happened”.

“My... semblance. It’s takes all of the damage I receive through my weapon. My sword... my gun... my body. People tend to forget our bodies are weapons. It allows me to redirect back twice-fold, to give it all back. But there are of course complications. It’s unstable. It’s activation is *normally* under my control... unless I have sustained a LOT of energy in storage. And that night, I had block many attempted attacks on myself, and Blake had just given me a trashing”. There was a moment of pause, hoping she was getting where this was going. He finally continued, not wanting to leave her in suspense: “You were the third time... When I took out my weapon, everything went red. When it was over, we found you on the ground... arm missing. Blake was understandably livid with me. I was... too shocked to make an initial response. I remained quiet still when she took you and left, having no more words left for me. That was the night”.

All the good he was trying to do that night, that favor to help out his old friend and little sister figure... gone. Gone in an instance. And he ruined another person’s life in the process. People don't forget. Nothing gets forgiven.

“Ahhh... for *that* context, we need to go back to when I first ever met Blake. It’s a lengthy story, but it should provide you a majority of she and I’s prior connection and why I was there”. Adam explained, closing his eyes for a moment, knowing this was going to take some time. Luckily... he had all day. He quickly took a swig of his pineapple juice, before clearing his throat. The Taurus would need his voice ready and willing to share a majority of his own story.

“Our story begins with me as a younger man, who earned a reputation early on in the White Fang as a operative who was able to outsmart and outfight those such as Huntsmen. I was trained by a rogue Hunter myself, but never received any official training, making me a dangerous enigma to the Vale government. My particular skill set intrigued the likes of Ghira Belladonna... the former High Leader of the White Fang, and father to Blake Belladonna. He wanted me to train his daughter, ensure she could survive the worst Remnant had to offer. I took a shine to the sassy teenager, so... I agreed to his request. And thus my regimen for her began soon after, she was ready and willing to learn from me”. There was a pause as he reflected upon past events, remembering the family who treated him like one of their own, the much younger and still as snarky Blake Belladonna. It was just like yesterday... He quickly gathered himself, but continuing a bit more seriously: “The man who trained me: He wasn’t expecting me to survive, each of his requests became more and more demanding of me, he wanted me to die. Failing that... he made me a fierce warrior. While I held no ill will towards Blake, I had to push her like he pushed me... mentally... physically... The world of Remnant would not be kind to her, and she needed to be ready. She was by far, my most successful and greatest student I had”.

“However...” Adam gave another pause, becoming more sullen, more regretful. After such, he finally pushed forward: “As I rose the ranks, we... grew apart. She didn’t always agree with my actions, felt I was making wrong calls or being too harsh on those we opposed. To her... I wasn’t *just* her mentor, just a White Fang Commander... I was like a wayward older brother to her, one that was slipping away from her. I should have... listened. More than I should have”. There was another pause, actually looking away from Yang, glancing elsewhere in shame... in guilt. He muttered audibly: “I can’t imagine how much pain she felt... But before I realized how much of a fool I was... it was too late for us”.

“Then... one day. A human woman came to our camp. Along with two other humans. I tried to keep it brief, the meeting, didn’t ask for Blake to join it. The woman was named... Cinder Fall. And she changed my life for the worse”. Adam’s face was twisted with a multitude of emotions: regret, anger, sorrow. Still, he pushed on, despite the emotional turmoil of sharing it: “She tried to convince me to join her cause. Tried to appeal to me... I was already in hot water with the Vale council, and aligning myself with this woman would of been horrendous for everyone in my branch. I shooed her out, spared her life. Worse mistake... ever... Blake approached me afterward, asked me about it. I brushed it off as ‘nothing’, thinking this ‘Cinder’ was a one time thing. Little did I know... I was wrong on both accounts. That was the last nail in the coffin for Blake, and that woman came back to my camp later... changed. Changed for the worst”.

“Blake and I were to destroy a moving Schnee train carrying Dust, it was an op between the two of us. We took out the robotic guards, and moved forward to the prime area of setting the explosives. We were stalled by a bigger spider droid, which we dispatched together, but...” A small, but relieved smile overcame his face, as he went further: “I turned around, to find her on the side of a cart away from me. I rushed forward, trying to mentally comprehend what was happening. But when she took out her weapon... said goodbye... and cut the bolt connecting her and me: I understood”. He blinked, and it lasted longer than a moment, again that faint smile formed after such: “The student learned her final lesson: To know when to cut out the bad people out of your life”.

“I was... devastated... But also... glad for her? I think she made the right choice. If she hadn’t done that... I would have never learned. And she would have never grown on her own. It was... the best choice, for the both of us. Even when it hurts like hell. Only the strongest of people... can make that sorta choice”. Trying not to get too sentimental... he continued, to where he was leading to: “I returned to my camp. my Lieutenants volunteering to go find her. I declined them all, more focused to return to Sienna, and then Blake’s parents, to tell them that she had decided on her path... Then, Cinder returned. She knocked out half of my camp in a grand display of power with... abilities you only hear about in stories. This was not the same woman who entered my camp earlier. Something or *someone* changed her, and now she wanted to renegotiate”.

“I had a choice... Die right there, which, I didn’t mind. But then risk all the lives of everyone in my camp, and everyone in other branches if she left then and now. Or... accept, and be the sole person to take the fall for what came next. Dying solved nothing, and everything Blake had taught me in turn would be null. Therefore... I decided to become more hated, and spare the White Fang any more grief with this. I was already vilified by Vale, but she made me infamous”.

“She had my men work with a LUNATIC named Roman Torchwick, a eyeliner wearing freak with a penchant for disrespecting my men. And his mute little gremlin on his heels. The two of them got many good men and women dead on a train... so many lost lives... ordinary people who just wanted change. I could not even wring his neck for his actions, being ‘pinnacle’ to her plans...”

Adam finally maintained eye contact with Yang once more, looking at her dead in the eyes with his singular one. He had finally reached the end of it.

“Cinder Fall brought me and my people to the Fall of Beacon”.

One red-eye and one milky white eye glanced over the information brought to him. The intel was good, detailing very specific bouts of important targets and warning for the White Fang. Was it worth almost losing someone? ...He wasn’t sure. From the way, he was hearing it, she would pull through. But she’s been doing this sort of thing for a while it seems, with the doctor’s examination of her. He had assumed that those that held her before allowed her to go out in this state... but no. She’s the one consistently pushing herself into this sort of state.

He wasn’t one to tell someone how to live their life, but this path she was walking... she’d find no peace in it. And she very likely knew of such and kept walking it regardless. One thing of being a commander of the White Fang that they don’t tell you: is that you have to sort scenarios such as these out. Adam was a like wartime officer who wanted all of his soldiers to return home safe after their war was won, soldiers out of his division too. He was a romantic who was desperately trying to pretend he’s a cynic. They all deserved life.

“I’d offer you some bourbon if it weren’t for the pain medicine in you right now... infamously a bad mix together”. The Taurus finally spoke after she had sat up and was giving her leg wound a once over, he was standing at the entrance of the new tent with his arms casually crossed across his chest. She was a fighter, that was for goddamn certain. Someone who absolutely refused to die yet. That in itself was quite endearing for the Vale branch commander, being something very similar. Death was a constant visitor, but they always seem to leave empty-handed despite such. He continued soon after, asking in disquietude: “How are you feeling after the operation? Hopefully, the medicine isn’t too dazing?”

“So indeed”. Was all Adam could say to that singularly word start up, his own voice was a mixture of resignation and acceptance to what was to come. He knew what was coming. Everyone came to seek him one way or another. For various reasons, but... Beacon was the main one. How many students did he bat away? Those seeking revenge? But this one... Blake’s partner... she had the best reason out of all of them. Especially because regret was tied with her’s.

For a moment, they maintained eye contact. Strength, fortitude... small tinges of rage. One could read a lot about someone’s current situation through their eyes. His too. Out of his one, singular good eye, fatigue and affirmation. His milky white eye was unreadable, long since dead and void of any sort of life. The brand was the same shine as it always was, while the ‘X’ scar on between his eyes and nose was ever prevalent, a lasting mark of whom took his eye too.

“I have a good idea of ‘why’... I know what it’s like to have something taken away from you”. Adam confided to her, his eyes met her’s before she resorted staring at her fake arm, which the Taurus also took a glance at before looking back to her. He KNEW she wanted answers... but this was HER time. This was HER moment, and he wasn’t going to take it away from her. It was the very least he could do for her. He’s hurt her... so bad. He had to let her have this now. He finally continues, his gentleness more of understanding than anything else given: “This... has been a long time coming. We will do this at your pace. It’s the very least I could ever do for you... How would you like to begin?”

“Don’t worry... got a lot of drinks in storage for cases like this...” Adam found himself sighing at the sight of her passing out, not out of any disappointment towards her, but more weary for her situation. It was these sorts of sights of those who were truly pulling the White Fang to grand working order that made him wonder of their revolution’s light at the end of the tunnel... Adam personally did not trade lives if he could help it, but he couldn’t control those who would.

He proceeded to pick her up bridal style with relative ease, the exhausted woman was light enough with his strength and he kept a steady pace in his walking speed to one of the camp doctor’s tents. When he finally arrived, he carefully placed her down effectively on what was an operating table to a very surprised medical operative. Adam informed them, taking off the intel from her satchel before giving a glance to said doctor: “Tend to her wounds, make sure she gets some rest. If she need *anything*, send a runner to my tent. If it’s alcohol, send a runner to storage then, it’s on the house... she’s earned it”.

 He was to head back to his command tent, and see what exactly this agent risked her life on. Regardless of it’s importance, he’d have some choice words for it’s sender, sending the woman taped together by jury rigging and booze without any proper care. Every soldier of their cause means something to it.

“Very well”. Adam responded in kind, in the sense similar to water off a duck’s back, seeing he had almost no reason to worry. Whether he read her wrong or not, she was seemingly the type not to be too picky. Which, was good for him, picky eaters were something of an enigma to Adam, as someone who didn’t get enough to eat when he was younger. Either she wasn’t picky, or she was just as nervous as he was hiding it. It’d be pretty damn funny if they were both messes.

The Taurus finally cracked egg upon egg onto the bacon slices, the grease of the meat being a good natural oil for them, cooking them very quickly with the current level as well. On the side, the pancakes were being tended to as well. Those were no problem, whatever stylization someone had for them, could be added afterward. Nothing to have an existential crisis over for these cakes.

 Now came the next hurdle of this breakfast adventure... setting down the food. Her pancakes were ready, both of their eggs and bacon combination were ready... Did she set down the plates onto the table? He certainly wasn’t the one to expect the sort of family like dining this earlier in a interaction, the Belladonna clan were the only ones to ever get that far with him, so it was amusing--

Oh she’s right here.

Adam, even though not expecting her to straight up walk to his side. In a mix of tiredness and getting a better look at her from his left side due to his damned dead eye, it was a blank stare from him before he noticed the plate. She was... he always had a weakness for blondes, but this was ridiculous. Made him for a moment muse that Blake became friends with her on purpose... but knowing his life, this was just karmic coincidence. After skipping a beat, he noticed the plate she held, and he accepted it with a quiet thanks: “Much appreciated”.

He would take any other plates she had to offer, before starting to pile them with the allocated foods. He had a tray just for the occasion, so he wasn’t just carrying a bunch of plates by himself. Would also allow him to snag a cup of Mistrali pineapple juice, which is absolutely wonderful for any sort of nerves.

“Certainly depends on which Faunus Militia, er, timeframe for them. The colors tend to change over time, even if they dominantly keep a white color”. Adam was a bit informative on the subject, especially since he noteworthy lived through the sorta thing. Colors, sights, smells, those were things not forgotten.

“Thank goodness you gave me a Sniper to compliment the Heavy Gunner, even if these Overwatch shots don’t kill them... the higher ground and half cover will make things difficult for them to retaliate”. Upon mentioning such, with the movement of the newly arrived enemies, this triggered the aforementioned Overwatch action. The Heavy Gunner and the Sniper arose from their half cover and began to barrage the enemy Heavy with their weapons in question, said specific enemy being the first of the two to walk into their lines of sights.

Agni would have just taken the bag and left, thank the gods he wasn’t here.

It was sheer luck that she managed her way to their camp, a place where Adam had a chance to help her out. Even with the work and effort, he was putting into fixing up her wound, he knew that they’d one of the camp’s doctors to look at her. What he was doing now, was just something currently better than what she had. Something to hold her together before one of the doctors could take care of her. And to certainly tide her own until he could convince her for such.

“The intel can wait, the situation has changed significantly”. Adam was certain of such, just by looking at the amount of blood and where she was hit, it was for definitive that she was struck in an important location. His work done, he glanced at her, not even minding the information she had yet. Because goddamn it, he was the commander of the Vale branch, he didn’t willingly toss away members of the White Fang like it was nothing. He continued: “You’ve been blasted something fierce, going out on this now... it’s suicide”.

“I’m not gonna pull rank on you... I have too much respect for wandering agents such as yourself to do that. But what I *am* going to do, is offer you a situation that both help you, and makes sense”. Adam finally glanced over to the bloody case of information, before meeting his eyes back to the woman, continuing: “Over exerting yourself will help no one, most of all yourself. Let one of my doctors look over you and tend to that wound, get yourself a drink to dull the pain, and stay the night. While you do *that*, I can look over this intel, and it allows you to recover, and me to determine where the Fang needs you next”.

It wasn’t ironclad, but using logic was the best way with these sorts of people. His life was filled with stubborn people, he himself included. But utilizing logic and reason was a quick way to dissuade these sorts of foolish future actions.