Yang's tail catches Adam's and wrenches, just enough to make him stumble in his gait, and put him in line with the blonde. She still had words she wanted to have with him, and at this point no one glanced back at the way Yang had slowed him. Perfect.
"I'm still fucking pissed at you."
For a second, she doesn't elaborate, only tilting her sunglasses down to give the other faunus a sour look. It's only when they're far enough out of range of the rests hearing that she continues.
"When mom saw I was missing an arm, she asked if you had anything to do with it. I didn't answer her, but I should ask. Did you do it for her?"
If Adam had taken her arm for Raven, she'd throttle him. She hadn't left the tribe for Ruby just to have her bitch of a mother still deciding things for her.
He felt it: the sudden GRIP of the other's much stronger tail around his still weakened one, TUGGING him back, his footsteps matching hers as teeth grit. He knew what that meant, and he could tell from her words: she was pissed. (Not that he blamed her, and of course...he saw THIS coming a long way.) Grip tightens around Blush as he turned his head to peer at her from the corner of his mask, meeting that gaze of hers.
❝ ...if TALKING was your want, SAY IT, don't grab my tail, Hot Shot. ❞ A bite in his tone as he slipped his free hand into his pants pocket, turning to look forward as he contemplated her question now.
...what did he have to LOSE?
❝ ...I did it for YOU, not HER... I don't give a fuck what SHE wants anymore. ❞ Adam had given up on Raven the day she abandoned him, much like she always did...the day he STARTED the revolution of the White Fang in Atlas. His lips purse for a moment, before he then lowers his tone more, tail trembling a bit in her grip, but only because it was...building rage. The flame at the end starting to rage larger as he spoke again. ❝ ...I hoped taking your DOMINANT ARM would save you from what was to come. Blake, Ruby, Weiss...everyone here, they weren't ready for the war they were being dragged into. Nor were you...as you forsook everything we were taught, and CHARGED ME BLINDLY...Yang, that day, I could have killed you...but I didn't. Because I cared... ❞ He wasn't trying to diminish her strength, to make her feel WEAK...
Adam was stronger: he was personally TRAINED by Raven to be her equal.
Her PARTNER...once upon a time.
A deep breath as he turned his attention towards her, hand moving to remove his mask, letting those BLAZING scarlet eyes meet hers. ❝ ...I had the strength to take your head that day. I took your arm because I wanted to scare you...I wanted to show you that you were over your head: you had no idea...the dangers. If you were left to your devices, if SHE found you that day? You'd be DEAD...taking your arm, forcing Blake to get you out...I saved your life. Yet here you are, stronger, with a prosthetic, still fighting...but you've smartened up. You know what you're against this time...
I both DO and DON'T regret what I did...
...because now you're READY for what is to come. ❞
He puts his mask back on, turning his attention forward once more as he goes quiet for a moment, thinking on his next words. Carefully. ❝ ...how's your maintenance on your arm? Do you want me to assist? Or can you handle it? ❞
