After Story III: Blake

Five years after the Battle for Beacon

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Sun asked the cat faunus nervously. "I know that you were close once but...that was a long time ago."

Blake nodded. "Not as long as I'd like." She took a deep breath, calming her nerves. "I have dreaded this day for five years, Sun. But this day had to come eventually."

Blake stood proudly before Sun, wearing black trousers and black boots with the pant legs resting loosely atop them. A white dress shirt adorned with a black tie decorated her torso, covered by a black suit jacket. On the center of the jacket's back rested her emblem. Her long black hair swayed gently in the wind as her yellow eyes stared fiercely at the building before her; Vale Penitentiary. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I want you to wait for me here, Sun," she said.

Sun, slightly taller in his early twenties than he was five years ago, gave her a worried look. "Is that a good decision, Blake?"

She shook her head. "No. But its mine to make. Stay." Without waiting for a response, she entered the building with no hesitation. She was glad that her bravado and determination made her look so confident, but she was actually extremely nervous. She hadn't seen him in five years.

Not since that night.

"We're all monsters, Blake. The humans made us that way. That's why I wear this mask," he had taunted.

Blake strolled up to the front desk of the main office and stood there for a moment before the worker noticed her. "I'm here for a visit," she said coldly.

The woman at the desk gave her a glance from top to bottom, as if silently judging this black haired woman before her. "Visitation is by appointment. What is your name, miss?"

"Blake Belladonna."

The woman flinched and met Blake's eyes. "You...you really came. I thought this was a joke."

"No joke," Blake said. "I came to see him."

"Very well," the woman nodded, standing up. "Right this way." Blake began to follow the woman, who in turn started to explain visitation rules. "No weapons, no direct contact, no gifts, no..."

"If I wanted him dead," Blake interrupted. "There would be nothing any of you could do to stop me. I know the rules. You have nothing to worry about."

"Is that so?" The woman wasn't even taken by surprise at Blake's statement. "You wouldn't be the first to try to kill him."

Blake couldn't help but smile. Even on the inside, you have enemies. They entered a room with glass windows separating the space into two distinct sections; one for visitors and one for prisoners. The woman turned to face Blake with a polite, professional smile. "Please take a seat. They'll bring him out shortly." Nodding, the cat faunus did as she was told and sat down in the chair in front of the window.

It was now that she was her that her nerves started to get the better of her. Maybe now wasn't the proper time to do this. Maybe she should have waited a few more years. What would he even think now that she's here? Would he resent her? Threaten her? Blake felt scared at the concept, and briefly considered leaving. The buzzing of the door behind the glass caught her attention, and she saw it swing open; it was too late to go back. A man in a gray jump suit was led into the room, his hands and ankles cuffed. His face was bare, allowing her to look directly into his crimson eyes. He sat down before her and glared at her through the glass. "So," he said. "You finally came to see me."

She took a deep breath, steeling herself as she nodded. "Hello, Adam. It's been a while."

He chuckled to himself. "Five years is a while, I suppose. What? Did you never want to rub it in my face that I was wrong? That I'm a criminal and I'm where I belong?"

"You do belong here," she agreed. "But I'm not so low as to gloat to your face about such things. For the love I once bore you, I would never do that."

His mildly amused smile faded. "Love," he muttered. "It was for love of you that I did all I did, Blake. I wanted you to live in a world free of tyranny. No faunus should have to live under the boot of man. Was I really so wrong?"

"When peaceful actions could have been taken, you called for blood. When the governments started to listen, you bombed their embassies. When people started to accept us, you slaughtered them. Yes, I believe you to have been wrong. You were once a sweet man, Adam. The cause blinded you, and served as a fertilizer for the seed of hatred that grew within you. Had I noticed sooner, I would have destroyed that seed and preserved you for who you are meant to be." She looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap. "For that, I am sorry. I failed you."

Adam scoffed. "And how are those peaceful actions working for you now? Look at you; a huntress. The lap dog of humans to fight against the monsters that they fear."

"Grimm attack faunus too," she added. "I wish to protect everyone." She glared at him. "Maybe I should let you in on a little secret."

Adam crossed his arms. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"In another life, on another Remnant, I killed you," she said flatly.

The bull faunus was taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"

"Ruby told me everything. The nightmare she had wasn't a nightmare, but a memory of a failed life. A life in which the Grimm grew in strength, and in your desperation you joined Cinder and attacked us. You killed my friends in that history. You killed fellow faunus, and I did what needed to be done; I took your head."

Adam laughed. "That's a hell of a tale. But you know I would never kill another faunus."

"You tried to kill me five years ago," Blake reminded him.

He froze. "That was different. You betrayed my trust."

"It makes no difference to me. All I know is that I remember what you promised to me. I swear that I'll protect our people. No faunus shall come to harm as long as I have a say in the matter. Those are your words Adam. What difference does it make? Whether it's an alternate timeline, or the one we live in now, you tried to break your promise."

Adam opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it in thought. "I...I..."

"Maybe I should have given in."

"What do you mean?"

Blake met his eyes. "I beat you that day. I wanted nothing more than to kill you. Your anger towards me was so frightening. One swing...one swing of Gambol Shroud is all it would have taken. But I chose to let you live, Adam. Why? Why didn't I kill you?"

He stared into her yellow eyes, searching them for an answer of his own. "I ask myself that question every day, Blake. Death would have been a mercy. It's been five years, and your words still echo in my mind." He flagged over one of the guards and did a "lighter" motion with his hand. The guard rolled his eyes before producing a cigarette and gave it to Adam, lighting it for him as well. Adam inhaled deeply, held it, and let it out. "That's why we exist, you said. We make those fairy tale endings come true. I was there when you joined the White Fang. I watched you grow up, fighting for our rights alongside our brethren. Equality you would yell. We deserve equality! Yet, for the life of me, I've never seen so much passion in your eyes before that day five years ago. I gave up, not because you truly bested me, but because I saw the passion in your eyes. Your soul was on fire! And you know what, Blake?"

Blake watched him curiously. "What?"

He inhaled and exhaled the cigarette again. "It was beautiful. The most beautiful you've ever been. A beauty that calmed the raging beast of hatred within me, even if only for a moment." He smiled. "For that split second, I remembered that I loved you. I couldn't hurt you. I wouldn't hurt you."

Blake smiled. "You have no idea how much that means to me. I came here today, not to gloat, but to make amends for hurting you. To see if you had returned to the Adam that I once knew."

"Have I?" he asked.

She met his eyes once more. "No. You haven't. But you're trying. I can see that." She pointed at the cigarette in his hands. "My Adam refused to touch that."

He laughed. "Yeah. It gets pretty stressful in here, and they limit the pharmaceuticals in here to avoid drug problems. But they give out nicotine like candy. I just sort of started one day to relieve stress. I need to quit."

"I may not have killed you," Blake added. "But that will."

Adam nodded. "I've got two more years. When I get out, I'll see if I can drop the habit. Maybe kick it before then. I don't know."

The black haired faunus looked on in confusion. "Seven years? I thought the sentence was twenty."

He smiled. "Last year I did some thinking. I'm quitting the White Fang. You see, Blake, when you left, some power changed hands. I was named second in command. I told the feds about everything I know, which is, needless to say, everything."

"So you made a deal?" she asked. "I suppose that's good...for you."

"Still don't trust me?"

"Not really," she admitted.

"Well, here's what's going to happen. The White Fang won't be disbanded. The leaders still in active service will be arrested, tried, and jailed. I'll be let out and take official control over the organization where I will then step down. But first, I must name a successor."

"Sounds like a lot of work," Blake chimed. "Why are you telling me?"

"Because you're taking control over the White Fang."

"I'm doing what?"

"You can put it back on the right track, Blake. Peaceful petitions for equality. You can make it happen. You can keep them in line and prevent another civil war from breaking out."

"Why?" she asked. "Why are you asking me to do this?"

"Because you're better than I am," he said. "You can fix it. Make it better. I'm a remnant of the past. I'll just drag them down. I'll find a minimum wage job somewhere and live a meager life. It's what I deserve."

Blake shook her head. "No," she said. "I will not. Even if it were to go back to the way it was when I was a child, I refuse to waste another minute of my life in the White Fang."

"But, Blake! We need you!"

"Adam," she said menacingly. "I came here to square us. To forgive you if I could and to make sure we could live in peace from each other. I didn't come here to do you any favors." She glared at him angrily. "I want to believe you, Adam. I want to believe that you're becoming who you once were. But I have myself and my family to worry about. If you're getting free in two years, then that's all the more reason to make sure now that you're no longer a threat to me or mine."

Adam opened his mouth to speak, but he hesitated. Closing his lips, he stared sadly at the floor. "You're right. I have no right to ask you to do anything."

"Besides," Blake added. "If you truly feel like the White Fang should go back to the way it once was, then you should be the one to do it."

"But..."

"No one is more suited to execute a concept than the one who came up with it. Never let someone else run with your idea, Adam."

He stared at her for a moment before nodding. "I'll try."

Blake smiled at long last. "I think...I think this was good for us both. I also think, however, that this will be the last time we see each other."

"Yeah. Thank you for coming to see me, even if it's just this once. I don't have anyone else. This...this was nice."

"Thank you for letting me visit you, Adam." Blake stood. "Goodbye. Good luck after you get out of prison." She turned on her heel and started to walk out.

"Wait," Adam said, causing her to hesitate and turn to face him. "I know for a fact that you're an orphan," he chimed as he looked dead into her eyes. "What did you mean that you have a family to look after?" Blake hesitated, unsure of whether or not she should answer the question. "If you worried that I may hurt you, I know you and your friends could all easily defeat me now. I'm five years out of practice."

She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "The other day...three days ago in fact...I...I found out something." She took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant, Adam. That's why I came here. To make sure that I could protect myself and my child from you."

Adam smiled a genuine smile. "Congratulations. If anyone could be a terrific mother, it's you Blake."

"Th-thank you. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Blake left the room and felt a sense of relief wash over her, as though a thousand pounds of worry had been lifted off of her shoulders. "It's done," she whispered to herself as she made her way to the exit.

"Was you're visit as you expected it?" the lady at the front desk asked.

Blake met her gaze and gave a slight smile. "It was...enlightening." With that, she exited and entered the bright light of day where Sun Wukong waited for her.

"How did it go?"

She smiled at him. "It went well. I won't have to be afraid of him ever again."

He laughed nervously. "So, you feel better now? That's good. I was starting to worry that this was starting to mess with you." He approached her and gave her a tight embrace. Blake pushed off of him slightly so that her face was in front of his, and their lips met. When they parted, Sun's cheeks were tinted red. "You've not kissed me like that in a while. What's the occasion?"

Blake smiled. "Sun, I've got some news for you."

"What news? Did you get a kick ass assignment from Beacon?"

She shook her head. "Better. You see, three days ago..."

Song: Another Distance - 紫咲ほたる

Author's Note

Mild cliffhanger ending that I will NEVER write an extension of, because we sort of know how that turns out. Though if you are curious, I did come up with Sun and Blake's first child's name; Noir. Yeah, cliche, and probably been done a million times. But, eh, it works.

Also, as you are now made aware of, I AM NOT DEAD! :D I've had a lot going on since August. A F**KING LOT!

I quit my job.

Got my drivers license.

Started dating this amazing girl.

Applied for a new job.

Went to a funeral.

Mowed some grass.

Cleaned my house.

Cooked some food.

And I've been writing almost nonstop the entire time...just not all on the same project. That's my downfall. I work on no fewer than 10 things at once, so that's why I've been so slow to update. But I read you reviews and messages daily! Every time you guys send one, I read and reply to it! And hopefully I can dish out some more stories for you very soon. Life has been hectic, but it's been great all the same!

Fun Fact: I've known how to drive since I was 15, but only got my license last month (I'm currently 21.) I honestly don't know why I waited so long to legalize my driving.

Till next time! :D